ArShi FF: UNSPOKEN LOVE #5 [Ch53 Pg103 + Ch54 Pg112] Link to Th6 given - Page 5

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Unspoken Love

Chapter 47

Due to the extended work, Arnav and Khushi couldn't leave for Mahabaleshwar before 6:30 in the evening. Both had got small hand-bags with them consisting of their clothes for a couple of days. Both had got their sacks too with them carrying the laptops. Khushi was waiting in the lobby. She became alert when Arnav came there, her heartbeats increased.

"Ready to leave?" asked Arnav softly.

Khushi nodded in reply.

Arnav walked ahead towards his car and Khushi followed. They kept their baggage on the back seat and got into the car. Khushi was feeling uncomfortable to sit in the car beside Arnav, but she had no other option. Arnav very well knew of her discomfort and he had decided to be very careful not to add to it. As they began the journey, Khushi called her Amma to inform that they had left for Mahabaleshwar.

"It will be late by the time you reach there... Have a safe journey! And there is nothing to worry as Arnav is there with you" said Garima.

Khushi completely disagreed. She thought, "That's the main problem Amma! Arnav Sir!!" But she did not say anything about it. She told Garima that she would call again after reaching the hotel and ended the call.

Khushi was looking outside the window. Arnav glanced at her. She had changed a lot. She was not the Khushi he had met when she had come for an interview. She was bubbly, full of energy and enthusiasm then. And now look what he had done to her... He didn't want Khushi to fear him. He wanted to make her believe that he was not what she thought him to be, that he never meant to hurt her. Khushi didn't look at him, nor had they spoken a word since they began the journey. Khushi's silence was making Arnav uneasy. He wanted to make her speak... something... anything!

Arnav was about to say something but Khushi's ringing phone didn't allow him to. Arnav felt jealous that why this Shyam called her so often. But he relaxed when he came to know that it was Anjali and not Shyam.

Aman, Shyam and Anjali had reached the hotel already. Aman had called Arnav to inform about it. Khushi spoke to Anjali and told her that they had just left and would reach there by 9 - 9:30 P.M.

Khushi again began looking out of the window. Arnav was thinking about how to make Khushi talk. He didn't want her to look outside. So he purposely closed the windows to put on the A/C. Khushi's lips parted as she watched the window-glass move up. She glanced at Arnav who was driving silently looking in front. Khushi too looked in front.

After a while, Arnav noticed that Khushi covered herself with her dupatta as she was feeling cold. Arnav immediately increased the temperature by a couple of degrees and looking in front said, "If you want something, you should speak up! How will others know unless you tell them?"

Khushi knew this was for her. "Like you knew now!!" she said curtly, as she put on the dupatta around her neck as usual.

While changing the gear, Arnav's hand brushed over Khushi's. They looked at each other and Khushi pulled her hand to her lap at once. Something crossed her mind and she suddenly spoke.

"You are doing all this on purpose, aren't you!!" she said angrily, "Closing the windows, turning on the A/C so that I feel cold, touching my hand..."

"What the...!" Arnav couldn't believe she was saying this.

Khushi continued strongly, "Look Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada!! I don't know what you have on mind, but don't ever think of anything like..." she stopped suddenly as she could hardly imagine what Arnav would do with her. "I am telling you..." she said trying to be strong, "If you..."

"Stop it!!" Arnav yelled. He couldn't stand it any more. He pressed the brake in anger. "Just shut up!!" He had lost his temper now. "I am not as cheap as you think... And I know very well what to do and what not to do! You don't have to tell me!" Khushi was taken aback by his sudden outburst. He turned off the A/C and opened all the windows completely. He threw an angry glance at Khushi and said, "Aur waise bhi, mujhe koi shauk nahi hai tumhaare saath Mahabaleshwar jaane ka!! I am unfortunately compelled to take you with me to Mahabaleshwar because you are handling the project. Let me tell you clearly, I am not at all interested in going with you!!"

"Good!" said Khushi, "Nor am I..!!"

Both looked away jerking their heads.

Arnav released the brake and their journey continued.

The sun had set. As they moved closer to Mahabaleshwar, the weather became cooler. Also it was drizzling and the roads were wet. Now they had to close the windows to stop the rain from coming in. As their car moved through the rain, they both thought of the rain that day... the rain that they had enjoyed together! Arnav remembering his Maa, Khushi making him feel good, the rain, the tea, the closeness... They looked at each other, their hearts beating louder. They were so close, yet so far! Both looked into each others eyes and were lost for a moment. The loud horn of a truck passing by made them regain their senses. They both looked in front sadly thinking that the other would never think the same, that the other would never feel the same... They were wrong, but they didn't know.

They stopped at the toll booth. Arnav paid the money and got the receipt. He was used to keep the receipts in the compartment on the dashboard that was in front of the passenger seat. He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over to keep the receipt in its place. Khushi's heartbeats increased as Arnav leaned over her, the aroma of his perfume entered her lungs through her breath. Arnav retracted to his seat and fastened his seat belt. He saw Khushi looking at him and then he realised what he had just done.

"I am sorry... I ... I was just..." he tried to explain, but he didn't have to.

"It's okay!" said Khushi.

Both silently looked at each other. The man at the toll booth tapped on the car roof and told them to move ahead as there were vehicles waiting behind. Arnav began driving.

They had not come far from the toll booth when Arnav's phone began ringing. He stopped the car by the roadside and picked up the call. Khushi could hear the voice on the other side and she could easily make out it was Lavanya. She could hear her speak as, "Arnav, where are you? I am missing you so much... Drive safely okay... Oh I will miss our morning jog tomorrow! Come soon... I am bored here all alone!"

Khushi's jaw dropped as she heard all this. She was irked by this but she didn't know why. She was looking at Arnav to see his reaction, but he was okay with it. Khushi felt more jealous now. Arnav too was replying in the same way. Miss you and morning jog and blah blah...

After the call, Arnav noticed Khushi was staring at him. "What?!!" he said and Khushi looked away. Their journey continued.

As they moved on, the traffic on the roads reduced. It was dark. There was no vehicle around. Only theirs, moving through the lonely road with dense forest on both sides. There were no street lights, the only light source was the head lights of their car. Suddenly, the car began experiencing jerks.

"What's happening?" said Khushi.

"I don't know!" replied Arnav as he guided the car off the road.

Finally the car came to a stop.

"Damn it!!" exclaimed Arnav banging his hand on the steering wheel. He tried to ignite the engine but couldn't. He got down from the car ignoring Khushi's "Where are you going?" He opened the bonnet of the car but he couldn't make out what the problem was.

Khushi too came out to see what he was doing. "How did this car stop right now?" she asked.

Arnav looked at her in anger and said, "So you are suspecting me, haan? You think I did this purposely... Our car has stopped here, and you are talking nonsense! I just can't believe this!!"

Khushi was afraid of this angry Arnav. And she didn't mean what Arnav was thinking. "I didn't mean that Sir... I was just..."

"Oh shut up, will you?!!" said Arnav in frustration.

Arnav called Aman to inform about the situation but Aman's phone was switched off. Arnav looked at his mobile screen to see the time... 8:05 pm. Aman, Shyam and Anjali had a meeting with their client at 7:30, and it was supposed to go on for a couple of hours atleast. So there was no point in calling any of them now.

"We need to find a mechanic now" said Arnav.

Khushi looked around and there was nothing but darkness. There was no rain thankfully.

"Where will we find a mechanic here?" asked Khushi.

"There was a small shop on our way... May be we could get some help from there... I will go there...!" said Arnav.

"I will also come with you!!" said Khushi as she followed him.

"No!! You will NOT! Later I don't want to hear that I did everything on purpose! So, you stay right where you are!! Get it?!!"

Khushi tried to speak, "Sir please, I don't want to wait here alone... I will come with..."

But Arnav didn't listen to anything. He handed over the car keys to her saying, "If it rains, get into the car! And don't go anywhere! I will be back in in less than an hour!"

Arnav left.

Khushi stood there as she watched Arnav walk away. The distance between them was fast increasing and so was her heart

beat. Suddenly she heard something behind her. She turned to look back but saw nothing. She was scared. She looked ahead and could still see Arnav at a distance. She began praying, "Hey Devi Maiyya! Please bring Arnav Sir back soon!" She sensed some movement behind and saw the bushes and tree leaves moving. She tried to calm down telling herself that she was only imagining things but she was wrong! She saw a tall hefty man coming out of the trees. And the worse thing was that he was walking towards her. The wildness in his eyes and his dirty devilish smile that revealed his brownish-yellow teeth made her shiver all over. She looked back to call out for Arnav but he had vanished into the darkness. She looked in front and couldn't believe that the man had reached so close to her. She couldn't breathe. Tears filled her eyes. She wished this was all a dream...

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