LITTLE MOMENTS (OS Series) 10| So Far, Yet So Close.. (Pg 103)[24-Mar] - Page 17

Khushi heard her phone vibrate. She shifted her gaze from the laptop screen to her phone screen. Arnav calling... was flashing on the screen. Khushi missed a beat as her cheeks flushed red with blush. She had spoken to Arnav over the phone twice after they had agreed to marry each other a week ago. And every time Arnav called her, she felt the same tingling in her stomach as she missed a beat. And this was the third time now. Sitting at her desk in her office, she looked around to ensure no one was watching. She quickly picked up the phone in her hand, took a deep breath and accepted the call.

Arnav couldn't hear anything from the other side as Khushi remained silent. He knew what she was going through. He had already experienced this twice before.

"Stop blushing now... Say "hello" atleast!" he said.

This sent a wave of shiver across Khushi. She was surprised to see how Arnav knew this every time. She just smiled and Arnav could feel her smile over the phone.

"Why don't you speak freely over the phone? I am not a stranger any more, am I?" asked Arnav in a teasing tone.

Khushi chuckled.

Oh God! Why am I so attracted to her? Arnav couldn't hold himself back. "I want to meet you, Khushi" he said.

Khushi was surprised. She didn't know what to say.

Arnav waited for a moment to get a reaction from Khushi but she was silent. Arnav further said, "Today at 6 PM... I will pick you up from your office. Is that okay?"

"Today?!" Khushi's eyes almost popped out.

"Any problem?" asked Arnav, "Feel free to say..."

"Umm... No problem... I will just inform Ma and call you back in a minute..." replied Khushi.

"Okay... I will be waiting!"

Khushi was very excited to meet Arnav. She happily called her mother to tell her about the meeting and her mother too agreed on the condition that she shouldn't be very late.

Khushi called Arnav back immediately.

"So, 6 PM... Be ready... See you!" said Arnav.

"Arnav!" said Khushi just as Arnav was about to end the call.

"What happened?"

"Umm... Is it... uh..."

"What is it Khushi?"

"Is it a..." Khushi was too nervous to complete her question.

"Is it a what? Say it..." insisted Arnav.

"A date?" she said finally, shutting her eyes tight, though she couldn't see Arnav over the phone.

Arnav was amused by her innocence. "You are really cute, Khushi" he said.

Khushi opened her eyes, her heart beats rising by the moment.

"Khushi, I am not at all a romantic person actually. Just felt like meeting you, that's it. If this is what people call "a date", then yes, it is!"

Khushi was silent.

"Khushi?" Arnav checked whether the call was still on. "I think you didn't like me not being romantic, is it?"

"No... It's not that..." said Khushi nervously.

"Then what is it?"

"What if you don't like me?"

Arnav was surprised at the question. "If I had not liked you, I wouldn't have agreed to marry you" he said with a chuckle.

"That was because I was ready to meet you, I had dressed up well and..." she paused, "I am wearing this very simple kurti and legging today and I would be having that dull face by the evening and you said you would pick me up directly from the office and..."

"Oh ho Khushi..." Arnav interrupted her, "Your simplicity is what I liked the most in you. And I have chosen you... Don't you dare doubt my choice!" he said naughtily.

This made Khushi cheer up. She wasn't feeling uncomfortable any more.

"So, 6 PM?" asked Arnav again.

"Yes, 6 PM" said Khushi gleefully.

*****

Arnav shook his head as he smiled thinking of Khushi's innocence. He checked the time. 4:33 PM. 87 minutes more before I see Khushi! Though he saw Khushi's photos in his phone and on Facebook n' number of times a day, seeing her in person was a different thing altogether. He was impatiently waiting for the clock to strike 5:30 so that he could leave from his office to meet Khushi at 6. Work seemed so much fun now when he knew he was going to meet Khushi in just a little more time. There was this surge of enthusiasm through his body. He had been enjoying life much more since he had met Khushi. He was very thankful to have her with him, not officially yet, but she was there with him. And the thought that soon she would officially be his forever made his mind travel to a totally different world... his dream world, where there was no one except the two of them. He stopped his mind from flying away at the moment. Focus on your work, Arnav. You have to finish today's targeted work before you leave!

*****

Khushi sat in her chair oscillating it as she drooled over her conversation with Arnav over the phone. Your simplicity is what I liked the most in you. She blushed recalling his words. She had always wanted someone who would accept her as she was and with whom she could be herself. She didn't believe in faking something in front of someone with whom you look forward to spend your life with. I have chosen you... Don't you dare doubt my choice! Arnav's words were reverberating in her mind and she couldn't stop blushing. She thanked God for bringing Arnav into her life. The wait to meet him was making her impatient. She checked her watch. Hour hand reaching 5, minute hand nearing 10, and second hand seemed so sluggish at the moment to her. More than 70 minutes to go...

Both were desperately looking forward to their first date...