SS: Dheere Dheere Se - ArDhika + NeSam ~ 2/13/16 p63 - Page 32

Please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors

**No copyright infringement intended. I do not own the characters but storylines are my own.

Chapter 13: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

With the assistance of a local mechanic the flat tire on the Mahindra XUV was replaced quickly. Thirty minutes later they were back on the road again. Radhika sat on the passenger seat quietly holding two brown paper bags on her lap. She glanced over at Arjun waiting for the right moment to offer him their lunch for the day.

"Arjun Sir, I bought some samosas and pakoras. It was the only thing I could pick up under short notice since the mechanic arrived earlier than expected."

"You eat first Radhika I can---" Arjun stopped in mid sentence as he felt the flaky cover of the samosa enter his mouth. He looked over with a bewildered expression.

"You're driving you should eat first." Radhika smiled as she held the other half of the samosa.

Arjun glanced downward and saw all the crumbs on his shirt and sighed. "This really isn't necessary. I can eat myself," he replied and took the samosa from her hand. He took a bite causing some of the filling to fall over. It landed on the left pant leg leaving an oily stain. His shoulders slumped while soft giggles came from the passenger seat.

"Here Sir," Radhika offered as she cupped her hand. Arjun hesitantly placed the samosa down and let himself be fed. As they came to the last bite he felt the gentle touch of her thumb graze across his lower lip trying to catch some filling that had escaped its destination. A twinge of uneasiness flowed through him as he swallowed. "Sorry Sir..." Radhika apologized unaware of what had truly bothered him. She then grabbed a tissue and reached over to pick up the filling that had dropped on his shirt. Her eyes sparked in surprise at Arjun's knee-jerk reaction as the sport utility vehicle suddenly swerved. "Arjun Sir?!"

"Wh-what are you doing?!" he panted looking at her wide eyed. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat tucking his legs close together.

"I was just picking the food off your shirt," Radhika innocently replied showing him the tissue. "You've got crumbs all over."

"I-I can do-do that myself..." Arjun took the tissue from her and brushed the crumbs off his shirt and pants.

"Sir, you have a little here," Radhika instructed as she pointed at the corners of her mouth.

Arjun nodded and wiped his mouth clean. "Here, I don't need---" He found himself speechless again as another deliciously fried item was popped into his mouth. "Radhika..." he mumbled with his mouth full.

"I got pakoras too," she simply answered.

Arjun took another into his mouth and chewed quickly swallowing hard. The dryness of the food caused him to suddenly start coughing. Without saying a word Radhika handed him his water bottle so he could drink. When he caught his breath again he ordered, "Radhika you eat now. I'm serious..."

"But Arjun Sir..."

"Eat."

"But Sir..."

"Do we have to seriously argue about this? Just eat. Is it that hard to understanding?" he snapped.

Radhika watched how his mouth had tightened and knew saying anything further would result in an even worse consequence. She obediently opened the small paper bag and took out the samosa. A few minutes later she went back to the medium sized paper bag with the pakoras. She ate a couple and then cautiously inquired, "Arjun Sir, I ate my samosa. Can I...May I give you some pakoras now?"

"Okay," Arjun simply replied and tilted his mouth towards her in acceptance of some food. Radhika gently dropped one into his mouth before she took one for herself. She repeated this process as they continued driving down the road towards their destination.

Dark brown eyes browsed hurriedly along the computer screen while impatient fingers rolled the mouse wheel. "I can't believe it. Everything is out of order. The entire reservation system just went down," muttered a young hotel clerk. "Anil Sir!"

A chiseled middle aged man wearing a dark royal blue suit came out of the back office and answered, "Yes Sumit?"

"The hotel reservation system just went out. Wait it just came back up. It doesn't appear it kept any reservations for this entire month. We are going to have to call corporate. There is a chance we have double bookings now."

"Great and we are in the middle of the vacation season."

"I know we only had a handful of regular rooms left. We only have one suit available. I just don't recall the room numbers of the regular rooms. It may take some time to go through that," Sumit explained as he checked the computer.

"Okay, for the next customer that comes give them the suite and tell them we are booked for the rest of the week. Until this gets fixed there isn't much we can do. We will have to handle this the old fashion way. I'll go make a call to corporate and inform the rest of the staff."

"Yes Sir," Sumit nodded and then went back to checking the computer. He glanced upward sensing someone in his presence. He saw a man wearing khakis and a light pink dress shirt with an oil stain on the left side strolling over. "How may I help you Sir?"

"Arjun Mehra...I made a reservation here for two rooms."

"Welcome Sir," Sumit cordially replied. "Our reservation system has unexpectedly gone down. I am unfortunately not able to see the rooms that had been booked. But I can offer you the President suite at no extra cost for this inconvenience. I truly apologize for this." He looked on with mild surprise when he heard Arjun break out into laughter. "Sir?"

"Suite?"

"Yes Sir. You will have to share the room but it has an excellent view and it is very spacious."

"Wow a suite?"

"Yes Sir Mr. Mehra...thank you for being so understanding," Sumit replied feeling positive that Arjun's laughter was due to shocked happiness.

"I'm so angry right now...I could strangle someone..." Arjun sputtered in between laughs. "One suite...sharing a room with that crazy woman..."

"Sir? Do you want to cancel?" Sumit meekly asked concerned over Arjun's odd behavior.

"Any other hotels you can recommend?"

"I'm sorry Sir, it is vacation season and most hotels in this area get fully booked. You're more than free to try your luck."

"Suite..."

"Yes Sir," Sumit replied swallowing uneasily as he heard Arjun continue to mutter the word suite and laugh. "If you do not want the suite..."

"We'll take the suite!" said a couple waiting in line behind Arjun.

Sumit jumped to attention when Arjun slam his fist down on the counter. "Give me those key cards. I made a reservation and you have to give me a room."

"But you just said you didn't want them," complained the husband behind Arjun.

Arjun turned around and raised his finger to silence him. "It is very rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. It is my turn to talk to..." Arjun paused with a perplex expression on his face and leaned over the counter to stare at the badge pinned to Sumit's suit jacket. "Hey what's your name again? Su-Su-mit...Sumit."

"Are you drunk?" the husband inquired.

"I am not drunk. How dare you Sir make such an accusation...you are just trying to steal my room away from me."

"You said you didn't want it."

"I never said such a thing. Sumit, did I say to you I didn't want my room? In those exact words?"

Sumit shook his head, "No Mr. Mehra you did not."

Arjun gave a satisfied grin. "See. Sumit, key cards please." He then stared at the husband and wife while he waited with his outstretched hand for the key to be given to him.

Arjun walked towards the bell boy who was keeping a hold of his and Radhika's bags. His eyebrows arched questioningly causing the bell boy to answer, "Madam went to the restroom Sir."

"Of course she did," Arjun replied with a nod.

A few minutes later Radhika joined them with a soft smile plastered on her face. As they walked into the elevator she asked, "What room number?"

"Room 3220 and you know what's funny?" chuckling a bit.

"What Arjun Sir?" trying to contain her own giggles.

"It's one room."

"One room?"

"Only one room," he repeated with a laugh as he held up his index finger.

"With one couch?"

Arjun nodded, "With one couch..."

The bell boy looked back and forth between them trying to decipher their conversation wondering why they were laughing. Was this some sort of inside joke between them? He felt relieved when he heard the ding of the elevator announcing their arrival on the third floor.

Radhika followed the two men down the hallway with a pleasant smile on her face as she breathed in the faint aromatic smell of lemongrass. It was a calming scent that the hotel had chosen to line their corridors with. She felt extremely at ease when they finally arrived at room 3220. She paid little attention to what Arjun and the bell boy were doing as she entered; her eyes simply focused on the clean, modern, and spacious design of the hotel room. She couldn't believe this was going to be hers for the night. She swiftly headed towards the balcony with giddy giggles to take in the breathtaking view of the valley below. This was like heaven she thought to herself. She leaned against the railing and took in a deep breath feeling the soft breeze making her chuckle. She then popped back inside to check the bedroom and found a huge king sized bed awaiting her! She plopped down on the bed with arms and legs out stretched feeling the gorgeous comfort. After a few minutes she got up and inspected the bathroom to discover a beautiful marble shower on the left and a cozy soaking tub on the right. She spotted the complimentary bath robe hanging behind the door and grinned widely. She quickly put it on and hopped back over to the living room and twirled in awe at the fantastic suite. She paused in mid twirl when she heard the door close and footsteps coming back into the room. "Arjun Sir?" They both looked at each other briefly before she continued her twirling and asked, "Do you like my room?"

He couldn't help but chuckle at her silly behavior and answered, "I like my room."

"My room," Radhika corrected.

"My room."

Radhika stopped her twirling and stared at him. "My room."

"My room," Arjun answered.

"My room," Radhika repeated vehemently with her hands on her hips.

"My room..." Arjun stated again with just as much vigor as she had. His eyes had narrowed while his mouth turned slightly pouty.

They both stared at each other for a few seconds before Radhika started to process what both of them were saying now and what had happened in the elevator. "One bed?"

"One couch..." Arjun replied.

There was a moment's pause before they both made a mad dash to the bedroom. Arjun made it in first and with a triumphant smile he shouted, "Mine!"

"That's not fair. I thought you were joking earlier..."

Laughing hysterically, "Why are you wearing the bathrobe? You look like a dwarf...it's too big for you..."

"Fine, I'll take it off," Radhika pouted and began to slowly walk by the bed. Arjun knowing her intentions quickly grabbed her arm and swung her away. She fell backwards onto the couch in the sitting area of the bedroom. She huffed angrily but then screamed as she covered her eyes. Arjun had stripped his shirt off and was standing by the bed with a smirk.

"What's the matter?"

"Why are you naked?"

"I'm not naked." Radhika slowly brought her hands down to inspect and then shrieked again. "You're so noisy. All you do is scream..." Arjun said and then proceeded to mimic her talking and screaming. "The lights are off I'm scared! Ahhh! Sir, there's a rat...kill it for me please! Sir, why did you scare me? Ahhh! Sir, help me! Sir, Sir, Sir!"

"Stop making fun of me," she pouted with her eyes now fully open. "You're mean."

"I'm Grumpy," Arjun corrected and then unbuckled his belt causing Radhika to hide her face underneath her hands.

"Wh-what are you doing Sir?"

"No, no, noo...What are You doing in my Room?" Arjun asked with great emphasis. Radhika gently spread her fingers open curious to see what was going on and then gasped shutting her eyes closed as Arjun unzipped his khakis and dropped his pants to the floor.

"Sir, this is highly inappropriate...p-p-pput your pants back on!"

"This is highly inappropriate...you should get out of my room!" Arjun childishly replied.

"W-well th-this...this is our room," Radhika stammered as she got up from the couch. She swayed a little trying to find her footing and then walked forward only to bump into the coffee table. She whimpered and opened the cracks between her fingers to see where she was going. She quickly closed them again and spun around as she caught a glimpse of Arjun in his boxers hopping into the bed. "Arjun Sir!"

"What?" he hollered back as he lay underneath the covers. "This feels so good," crooning as he stretched out his arms and legs and made bed angels underneath the sheets. "Mine."

Radhika hobbled blindly around the room bumping into things trying to make her way out. Arjun was too busy enjoying the bed to notice her walking back towards him. He soon found himself gasping for air. Radhika opened her eyes and panicked seeing herself on top of Arjun. "Arjun Sir!"

"Get off...get off Radhika..." he panted. She scrambled off but sat on the bed clutching her robe tightly staring at him. Arjun pulled the sheets up and covered himself including the top of his head and stared back. This only lasted for a second before they burst out into laughter. They mimicked the other's expressions and the way they were covering themselves up.

"I don't know why Arjun Sir, but I can't stop laughing," Radhika replied as she tilted her head back.

"That's because you fed us something strange!"

"You really think so?" she asked looking at him innocently in the temporary lull of hilarity.

"Yes." he replied seriously but then broke out into heavy laugher again. "I haven't laughed this much for a long time. It feels good."

"You look good when you laugh Arjun Sir. You should laugh more often."

"I wish I could. It's hard to laugh now-a-days."

"It's because of your parents...because they passed away?" Radhika inquired but then quickly covered her mouth. "Oops...I mean...I don't know anything about your parents...not like Ramu Kaka told me..."

Arjun chuckled and gave a soft grin, "It's okay. You were bound to find out...you're always so nosey."

"You don't like me much do you Arjun Sir?"

He shook his head around in such a manner it caused the hold from his hair gel to weaken and his bangs to flop downward, "Nope."

Radhika giggled at the way he looked and then changed the subject. She held out her hand and commanded, "Thumb war for the bed."

Arjun arched his eyebrows and shook his head childishly, "No. It's my bed. I got in first. First come first served!"

"You are suppose to be a gentleman and let me have the bed!" Radhika pouted. "But since you won't we should play for it."

"HA!" Arjun exploded and offered his hand. "You don't know who you are playing with!"

"We'll see..." Radhika replied with confidence.

"I'll be right back," Sam said as she closed the car door shut. Neil nodded as he sat comfortably in the driver's seat checking radio stations. It was just a little after 1:00pm and he and Sam had finished their assignment without any issues. They took new pictures and had a good time thinking of different slogans they could pitch to the client. Things were definitely looking up. He heard the car door open and then slam shut prompting him to greet, "Where to now Sammy?"

"Drrrive! To the hospital now!"

Neil turned and noticed that Sam wasn't sitting beside him. He glanced to the back seat and saw a lady he had never seen before sitting there. "You're not Sammy. Why..." He stopped short when the lady yelled in pain. "I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm not a taxi---" He was interrupted again by her yelling making him nervous.

"Stop talking and drive! My water broke!"

"Wh-Whaat?" Neil sputtered and then looked down realizing what she said was true. She was pregnant. "I---I---I..."

"I don't have time for this. If you don't drive me there then I will just have the baby in your car." Neil yelled along with her when she heaved a painful groan. "Why are you yelling?"

"I don't know...you're making me nervous. And I just...Aaahhh---"

"Drive already!" she hollered then muttered in anger, "He thinks he's the King of the House. Fine. Let's see what he does when I leave for the hospital and have this baby without him."

"Huh?" Neil replied as he started the car.

"Will You Just Drive?!"

"Yes, Ma'am," Neil squeaked. Just as he merged onto the road he saw Sam running towards the car.

"Neil?! What are you doing? Neil!" Sam yelled wondering why he was suddenly leaving. As the car left she saw to her surprise a woman sitting in the backseat. She stood stunned for a few minutes then heard some commotion behind her causing her to turn around. She saw a man dressed in a blue shirt with black pants shouting in the same direction as Neil's car.

The man quickly flagged down a patrolling police car and ordered, "Quick officers, that man just kidnapped my wife! She's pregnant and needs to go to the hospital. Follow that car!"

The officers without hesitation took him into their jeep and drove off to tail Neil. Sam panicked and jumped into a rickshaw and ordered the driver to follow them.