Arshi FF - A Heart That Loves... (Chapter 10 on Thread 2, 29/01/17) - Page 27

He didn't need this hug now. Nor the words. But when he got them, he felt something inside of him melt...

Khushi felt Arnav's arms wrap themselves around her waist, moments later, pulling her close.

But it only lasted for a few seconds before he pulled back with no expression and said, "Let's go."

She followed him meekly, though slightly confused - not with his expressionless face but the hug.

Just before he'd pulled away, she'd felt the lightest touch on her hair, as though he'd kissed her hair gently. But it was so faint that she wasn't even sure if it had actually happened or not... Had she imagined it? Should she ask him?

No, she decided. This wasn't the time for that.

But she was happy that he'd responded to her words. Maybe he hadn't shown any expression on his face, but the way he reciprocated her hug showed that it meant something to him.

And that was enough for her.

**********************************************************

A few days later, it was the weekend, and so Khushi had come over to RM as she did almost every weekend to spend time with Arnav's Di and Nani.

They both loved her company and had made her promise that she will come over to their house every weekend.

Arnav was up in his room, as usual, working on his laptop - he knew that Di, Nani and Khushi were a dangerous combination when put together. They were all as crazy as each other, believing in all the traditional crap that he didn't give two hoots about. And sometimes they cornered him with their emotional blackmails and he barely escaped them. And so he had made sure that whenever they were together, he isolated himself in his room, out of their reach.

Anjali, Khushi and Nani were all chatting together with their share of jalebis in front of them when out of the blue Anjali questioned, "Khushi, what time will you be joining us tomorrow?"

Khushi was confused. "Tomorrow? But tomorrow is Monday Di - I have office na? If I don't go then your Rakshas brother will eat me up!"

"But Khushi bitiya, it's Teej tomorrow! You're going to be fasting right?" Nani asked.

"Teej?" Khushi asked. "Oh... Di... Nani... Umm... I've never fasted for Teej before..." she said, hesitantly.

"Are koi baath nahi Khushi! Tab toh Chote aapke zindagi mein thi nahi. Lekin ab hai, or aap dono ek dusre se pyaar bhi karthe hain... Toh ab aap dono ke sukhee jeevan keliye vrath rakhna bohot zaruri haina? Aap... vrath rakenge na? (Oh that's not a problem Khushi! My brother wasn't in your life at that time. But now he is, and you both love each other... So now it's important to fast for your happy lives ahead right? You... will fast right?)" Anjali asked, becoming hesitant as she got towards the end, as she didn't want to force anything on Khushi.

Although Khushi had never ever fasted before, she did know the symbolism and meaning behind each vrath. And now, after listening to Anjali, she realised that she actually wanted to fast this year. For Arnav. For her. For them. She didn't know why, but just the thought of fasting for their well-being as a couple just felt so... intimate... special... and it gave her a sense of satisfaction...

"Of course Di! I would love to!" Khushi replied enthusiastically. But then her face fell, "But... That means I need to take the day off work... And Arnavji has to break my fast too... And he doesn't believe in all this..." Khushi started getting worried thinking of Arnav's reaction.

She knew that he hated all these rituals and would be annoyed if she asked him to break her fast. And she knew he would be even more annoyed if she asked for a day off for some stupid' ritual like this.

But Nani and Anjali didn't seem as worried as she was.

"Don't worry bitiya - Chote loves you too much to say no to you. He might shout at first, but he'll definitely succumb sooner or later. Don't worry about anything - Devi Maiyya will be with you," Nani said, comforting Khushi.

Even though Khushi did feel slightly better with Nani's words, she knew that they weren't entirely true. Sure, Arnav did have a slight soft corner for her - but it was nothing close to love, as far as she knew. And plus Nani only felt so positive about this because whenever she has seen them both together, they have always seemed so in love. But Nani didn't know that they both did that on purpose to make her and Anjali feel that they were truly in love. In other words, they always acted as the perfect couple' in front of Nani and Anjali. And that's what made Nani so confident about Arnav saying yes to this Teej fast.

Khushi sighed inwardly before she said to Nani and Anjali, "I better go talk to him."

"Of course," they replied together, sharing a secret smile.

Khushi however wasn't so enthusiastic about this. She knew that she was going to war, and she sure wasn't going to enjoy it...

Slowly, she entered Arnav's room to see him working on the laptop.

Arnav didn't look up from his laptop at first as he was absorbed in his work.

However, it was only a few moments later, he realised that Khushi hadn't spoken a single word since she'd entered the room. And he knew that she hadn't moved an inch from where she was standing the entire time.

He looked up at her to see her fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"Do you want to say something?" Arnav asked.

Khushi didn't look up from the floor but she nodded.

"Then say it," Arnav said, not understanding what the matter was.

"I... I need a day off work tomorrow..." Khushi said, hesitantly.

Instantly Arnav's ASR mask came on. "Do you not know the rules of AR Designs Miss Gupta? In order to take a day off work, you must do so giving at least 48 hours of notice," he said, his voice platonic.

Khushi didn't fail to notice the way he called her Miss Gupta' and not Khushi.' "I.. I know ASR, but it's kind of an emergency... Its unav-"

"Emergency? Is everything okay Khushi?" he asked, interrupting her.

Khushi looked up into his eyes to see them filled with concern for her. Although his face refused to show any emotion, his eyes betrayed the worry and care he had for her. And she had also noticed the way he had addressed her as Khushi' again in his concern.

Khushi nodded, "Everything's fine Arnavji... It's just that something personal has suddenly come up and I can't really say no..."

Arnav's eyes hardened hearing that. He didn't like the fact that Khushi had called it personal' and had subtly refused to share it with him. He wanted to be a part of each and everything that was part of Khushi's life, and he didn't like her denying him that. Actually scratch that - it was his right to know each and everything going on in Khushi's life, being her boyfriend, and he didn't like anyone taking that right away from him... Even if that was Khushi herself.

"Well then Miss Gupta, I can't give you your day off. I need a valid reason if you are going to ask me for a day off at such short notice. And if you don't want to give me that reason because it's personal' then I'm afraid I can't give you what you want," he said, in a steely tone.

Khushi was starting to get annoyed with his attitude now - especially with him calling her Miss Gupta' instead of Khushi. Little did Khushi know that it was because of his possessiveness over her that he was reacting like that.

"You can say anything but there is no reason for me to share my personal life with you Mr Raizada. Personal life is something you share with your close ones, and a boss doesn't come into that list for me," she replied defiantly, making Arnav grit his teeth. "And now, if you are done being a laad governor, then can I please speak to my Arnavji. If there's anyone I'm going to share my personal life with, it's him ASR. Not you."

Now that got Arnav smiling - yes, smiling - inwardly.

All the irritation and anger he'd felt previously disappeared instantly, hearing that.

What had she said again? My Arnavji.' He liked that. He liked that a lot.

Deciding to play with her a little, he stood up and took predatory steps towards her, "And what if I say no?"

Seeing the glint in his eyes, Khushi felt her nervousness come back, making her step back with his every step forward.

Arnav backed her up into a wall before he placed both his hands on either side of Khushi, trapping her in his cage.

"What if I say, you can't have the Arnavji you want?" he asked in a husky voice, stepping forward so that now their bodies were plastered together, making Khushi flustered.

She placed her hands on his chest in an attempt to put some space between them, though she failed miserably as she could almost feel every inch of him pressed against her.

"What if I say, you are stuck with this ASR today?" he said, nuzzling her cheek, making her close her eyes trying to control the overwhelming sensations she was feeling, while her hands automatically clutched at his collar for support.

"What if I say, you have no choice but to share your personal life with me today?" he whispered against her cheek, bringing his hands down to her waist to pull her into himself, not letting even air pass through the gap.

Khushi gasped at the intimate contact, her eyes widening like saucers... And as if he'd been waiting exactly for that one moment, Arnav took advantage and took her lips into his, taking her into a world of desire and passion.

Khushi didn't even try to fight him off - she was too lost in the haze to deny him. And anyways why would she have a problem with kissing him? Whether he was ASR, or her Arnav, she loved and accepted both parts of him, and she knew there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. They were simply expressing their love for each other - or at least she was.

And more than that, even without realising it himself, he'd actually given her exactly what she'd wanted - her Arnavji. This man who'd just teased her naughtily and was now kissing her with so much ardour was not ASR, but her Arnavji.

And that's why it wasn't long before Khushi started to respond just as fervently, her tongue fighting and dueling with his, her lips sucking his with hunger, and her hands pulling him closer with need...

It was a good few minutes before they broke the kiss breathlessly, still holding onto each other as they leaned forward, their foreheads touching...

A minute or two later, when their breathing came back to normal, Arnav asked a shy Khushi, "So what was that personal' issue that you wanted to talk about?"

Khushi still couldn't get herself to look up from his collar, let alone speak.

Looking at Khushi's flushed face and well-kissed lips, Arnav smirked, liking the effect he had on her. But seeing her like that made him lose his control too, leading to another steamy kiss between the two.

After a fair share of kisses - just enough to keep their appetites under control - they broke away from each other with Khushi immediately hugging Arnav, unable to face him.

When they kissed, she had no problems with responding just as wantonly as him, but God knows why she always feels her shyness take over the minute his lips separate from hers...

A smile threatened to peak out of Arnav's lips as he saw this action of hers, making him hug her back extra tight. This innocent yet sexy vixen was his...

"Khushi if you don't speak up within the next 10 seconds, then don't blame when we end up on my bed... doing more pleasurable things than just kissing..."

Khushi buried her face further into his neck, tightening her arms around him as her blush intensified even more.

"Voh..." she started.

"Hmmm?" he encouraged her to go on.

"Umm... Di and Nani want me to fast tomorrow... For Teej..." Khushi said.

The second the words were out, she felt him stiffen.

"Then say no," he replied, instantly.

"I... But I w-want to..." she stuttered, fearing his wrath. "And... I need the day off tomorrow so that I can make it to the temple in time..." she continued.

Arnav stepped back immediately, withdrawing from her, making them both feel cold all of a sudden.

"Fine," he replied curtly, his ASR mask falling back into place. "Your wish," he said, before turning his back on her.

Not liking the feeling of being bereft of his warmth, Khushi went and hugged him from behind saying, "But I need you..."

For a second, Arnav was shocked with the blatant admission - something he couldn't associate with the Khushi he knew.

But then he smirked when Khushi stuttered, "I mean... to be with me... I need you to be with me..." Khushi tried to tell him properly as her previous attempt had come out completely wrong. "I need to be with me to break my fast..."

And then his smirk disappeared.

"Khushi, you know I don't believe in these things and I don't like to be a part of them," he said, darkly, not making a move to place his hands on top of Khushi's like he normally would.

"I know Arnavji but it's for our good... For our happiness..." she tried.

Arnav's hands turned into fists as he gritted his teeth - but he tried to control his anger as he bit out, "Khushi I've told you this already. I don't believe in all this and I'm NOT coming. End. Of." His steely tone clearly meant no more discussion on this topic.'

But Khushi missed the warning completely and still tried to convince him, "Please Arnavji - can you not do this much for me?"

And that broke the dam.

Arnav swatted off Khushi's hands on his chest before turning around to grab her shoulders as he yelled, "When you know I don't believe in this SHIT then why do you try and make me do it???!!! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!"

And that's when Khushi heard the first crack...

Of her heart breaking...

Hey guys! Sorry, I know I'm really late - like REALLLY late. But I just couldn't seem to write for a while - I would open the document every day and I would only manage to write one sentence, or even just one word sometimes. I don't know why... I've just been feeling so demotivated with writing...

But thankfully I finally found it in me to finish this update... I know it's short - I was going to write more but then thought I might just give you this short update now instead of making you wait a few more days for a longer one. But there's good news - I've already started writing the next update so you won't have to wait too long for the next one :)

So how was it? Please let me know with your likes/comments. Positive criticism is welcome too. And pleeeaase comment - like I really could do with some motivation right now...