IPKKND FF: JALEBI by Jalebi Jane Thread 2 EPISODE 043-052 - Page 13

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 046)

HOW CAN HE POSSIBLY WANT ME? Khushi wondered. I, who have disparaged him at every turn? She reflected on how impertinent, how very insolent, she had often been in their many confrontations. Though always with good reason! Yet. Yet! Why would Mr Raizada want her when he was surrounded by women who showed him deference and attention? She had observed it day-in-day-out. Models. Clients. Vendors. Even staff. Fawning over The Textile Tycoon. What made him then interested in the one sour grape when he could have his pick of sweet plums? Was he sick of their civility? Was he disgusted with those women who were always speaking and looking and thinking for his approbation alone. Perhaps she roused and interested him, because she was so unlike them.*

This was the line of questioning Khushi's mind had veered towards the last leg of the journey. And it was a reasonable speculation. Though our Heroine was a confident woman with healthy self-esteem---she found it a stretch that a man like Arnav Singh Raizada would prefer her to someone from the glamorous world to which he belonged. He, who was so class-conscious. So arrogant. So---

But what of that other question, Sisters? The larger question: Why did she keep succumbing to him? Why did she respond to him as she did? Why did she despise him yet desire his kiss? No answer came to the surface.

Khushi had never felt this sort of physical desire for any particular man. Her dreams had been about her imaginary Raj Kumar, and they had never encompassed this sort of physicality. They had been about pure love. And pleasures equally pure. The first time she had experienced that had been after reading some books shared between friends at school. And those moments had been infrequent. She shared a bed with her elder sister, after all.

But everything had changed after her experience with Arnav in the locked room on the night of the fashion show. The sensations had grown stronger and the need more frequent. The memory had crept into her thoughts. Unwarranted. And though uninvited, the dark stirrings had grown with each visit down that imaginary path. The whole idea was beyond her experience. Yet, somehow familiar. When he drew near---when he touched her---she felt it inevitable. And she was somehow powerless to stop it. She knew it was wrong, but one part of her shyly encouraged it with pleas for more-more-more.

By now the driver had entered the underground parkade and positioned the vehicle opposite the elevators. She only became aware that they had reached HQ when the car door opened and the driver waited for her. She climbed out, thanked him, almost absent-mindedly, and made her way to the lifts.

Her thoughts were still preoccupied as she stepped into the elevator at the far left. Of course, everyone knew, this was Arnav's private elevator, which accessed the three top-most floors known as The Roof, his residence. This elevator required a fob to operate; a fob possessed only by Arnav, Aman and Arnav's household staff. Becoming immediately aware that she was in the wrong lift, she moved to exit, but before she could, the doors slid shut, trapping her in the compartment.

And then to her horror, the elevator began to ascend, bypassing all the lower floors.

It finally stopped at the top. The doors parted to reveal the interior of a receiving lounge. And the man to whom this airy elegant space belonged now stepped into the elevator.

In finding Khushi ensconced there, Arnav's surprise was great. And for a moment he was speechless. As was she! Indeed, Sisters, though I always wish to present Our Heroine in the most self-assured terms, finding this man opposite her made her feel deeply awkward. This man whom she had kissed without reserve last night. This man whom she had offered herself to on a tray (for one night only). This man whom she could not stop thinking of.

He recovered sooner than she. He touched his fob to the panel, and the doors sealed them from the world. Khushi avoided his eyes and waited in silence for him to press one of the floor buttons and activate the lift.

But he did not. The elevator did not move. She now looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"Did you come upstairs to review my domestic arrangements? I assure you, your nights here will be very comfortable. Your every need will be met," he teased, leaving his briefcase on the floor, and taking a step towards her.

*Adapted from Jane Austen's -Pride and Prejudice-.

By Jalebi Jane

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 047)

"DON'T GET EXCITED. I'm here quite by accident. I got into the wrong lift." She took a step back, glancing over her shoulder to locate her position in that small compartment.

"I've noticed that you are quite accident-prone, Miss Gupta," he returned. Taking another step forward.

Her next step away from him brought her up against the wall. Though trapped physically, she was still able to fire back, "Yes, I am. You might find this hard to believe but I recently fell out of your office window---quite by accident!"

"---And before that you fell off a runway." He closed the distance between them, removing her satchel from her shoulder, and added the words, "Conveniently into my arms. I often think about our unconventional first meeting? Do you?"

"Never." Khushi perjured herself.

"Liar," he said, as he lightly traced his finger along her jaw, touching her lips, her eyes, her brows.

Her breath quickened, and her eyelids lowered.

"Always so eager to do battle with me," he remarked, in a low tone, as though he was speaking to himself. "Yet, the moment I touch you, you melt."

In view of her recent thoughts, Khushi's eyes widened at this accusation, and she flicked his hand away, with a roughness uncharacteristic to her, and managed to slip away from him, creating more space between them. As much space as was possible in an elevator cabin.

He pivoted to face her, and said, "I'm feeling magnanimous this morning. Though I never offer the same deal twice, I'll allow you a second chance. Say yes to one weekend with me and all your worries disappear. Trust me, the pleasure will not be mine alone. I know you are as curious about me as I am about you."

His words were so unexpurgated; however, Khushi didn't feel any of the offence. Perhaps she had become so immune to his forwardness that she could almost laugh it off.

"No, thank you. I don't wish to offend you, Mr Raizada---" she began, in a tone designed to offend, "---you are my employer, after all. But I'm pleased that you did not acquiesce last night when I called you; that phone call was made during a moment of fear and I would have most certainly reneged by this morning."

Khushi was gratified to see surprise cross his eyes. But it was transient. Soon replaced with amusement. He asked, "How will you fight Shyam?"

"I have a plan." Khushi stated, lifting her chin with confidence.

And this was more than bravado, Sisters. Our Heroine did have a plan. She felt that Shyam had bought the charade of her engagement with Arnav Singh Raizada. And that had bought her some time. But more significantly, the way in which he had ransacked their house told her that he was panicked by her possession of the memory stick. If she was careful, she could counter him---at the least, stand him off---by creating the illusion that she knew what was on that memory stick. It was not a flawless plan. Having the memory stick in her possession would have been far better, but Khushi was banking on the rare occasion when two birds in the bush were equally favourable to a bird in the hand.

"So you do not require my help?" he asked.

"No, I do not."

He indicated her left hand, and said, "Then we should pay a visit to the jewellers and have that ring removed."

Oh! Khushi had forgotten about that. She now had multiple reasons to wear the ring. Shyam. And Jiji. And soon Buaji.

Her momentary hesitation was not missed by The Businessman.

"Ah! You are back to your original---unsound, deficient---plan."

She shrugged, not willing to concede nor deny.

He continued, "And you need my support."

"Just your ring, Sir."

"The ring is a mere symbol. If I should encounter Shyam, then you would hope that I would authenticate the ring with my word. You need by support in this ridiculous engagement charade."

Khushi saw where he was going. But she would not be blackmailed in order to keep another blackmailer at bay. "I doubt very much whether you will encounter Shyam, Mr Raizada---but if you do run into him, you would have my Buaji's highest regard and gratitude for saying nothing that will jeopardize her life. She is an old, frail woman."

"Your Buaji's regard and gratitude is everything to me, Miss Gupta."

Khushi could not help smiling at him playing along with her. But that smile was wiped away when he said, "But the ring is another matter. I can be generous with my silence, but the rental of the ring will come at a price."

Here we go. Cue Mr Raizada's theme song. Yet another business deal.

He drew near. And again, Khushi stepped back. She found herself at the steel wall. "We'll make a tidy arrangement," he said. "For each day that you wear my ring, I will exact a small price---"

Khushi waited with bated breath.

"---A kiss."

Kya! Khushi began to protest, when his mouth covered hers. His parted lips tasted her, biting into her lower lip. Her soft gasp allowed his tongue to slip into her mouth, coaxing her tongue to play. From somewhere deep within her, she heard a moan escape. He heard it too. And his energy changed. With an arm tight around her waist, while his other hand protected the back of her head, his mouth plundered hers. Now demanding. Now purposeful. Each flick of his tongue, unleashed a fresh fire within Khushi. He drew her closer.

But as he did, her belly was pressed against his male hardness. It was the most real contact she had ever experienced of him. Of any man! Something very real and primal leapt up in her womb. Her eyes flew open and she immediately pulled away from the contact.

Arnav let her slip out of his grip. He did not say a word. Thankfully! She turned her back to him, struggling to catch her breath. After some time, he reached past her to press two buttons on the panel. His office and the ground floor.

The lift moved.

He exited when the doors opened opposite his office. He looked over his shoulder to say something---but he didn't finish his words, as Khushi was right there, hard upon his heels. She had followed him out.

Arnav's brows lifted, and he said, "If you wish to continue, Miss Gupta, we should really return upstairs."

She ignored his remark. Primarily because it did not deserve a reply. But also because if she thought too long about what he was suggesting, she would not be able to have this next conversation. "I want to speak with you about another matter," she stated.

*Adapted from Jane Austen's -Pride and Prejudice-.

By Jalebi Jane