ArHi FF: Highway to hell-2, chapter 38, pg 141 - Page 93

Amazing update Vidhya!👏

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last couple of chapters. I'm so glad so many of you are now curious about Malli and what's going to happen in her life, as well as Arnav and Khushi's big wedding. I will update fairly quickly.

Cheers!
Vidhya

Touching, as always! Waiting for Malena's story to unfold. I really wanna know what it is that broke down Arnav so terribly!


***EDITED***

Eeks! I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't realise I still have a chp or two to catch up on! :P

No story progression at all. I decided to have fun with this one. (How can I write a serious chapter with all that ASR-KKG chemistry burning up the screen this week? I'm only human peeps. 😉 Anyway, no PMs for now. Send 'em out later.

Chapter 37: Of invertebrate Spidermen and mood swings.

Malli was sitting by herself, sipping a coke disinterestedly. She was bored. She didn't do well in social situations, and certainly not high class society events like this one. She tucked her ankles one behind the other and stared into space. A little smile played on her face as she remembered going shopping with Khushi and Arnav. For all her external bravado, she was at heart a girly girl. She loved clothes. And she loved what she had on just now. The starkness of the plain white chiffon against her black tresses and dark eyes made an impact, to say the least. She was smoothing over the pleats of the dress, when she heard someone settle into the seat next to her on the couch.

"Hel---Hi Malena!"

Her eyes flashed surprise for a moment, then she lowered her lids, and when she looked up again, the only emotion in them was disdain. "Only the ones dearest to me call me Malena. I'm Malli to you!" she said quietly.

"I'm sorry Malli. I know I behaved badly. How are you? I'm so glad to see you again!" he said shamefacedly.

"I'm leaving," she placed her drink down and stood up. As she turned to leave, he caught her hand. "I just want to know you're doing Male…sorry, Malli," he said.

"I'm fine," she said, pushing his hand off her wrist. "Its funny you seem so concerned now, you weren't nearly as concerned for my welfare months ago when I begged you for help."

He turned red and looked down. "I'm sorry."

"I don't need your f**king apologies." She was walking away, when she felt him follow her. So far, they had attracted no attention. They had been conversing softly. She walked towards where Arnav and Khushi stood talking to Freddy.

"How much longer are we staying?" she asked in her abrupt way.

"Oh! Are you tired Malli? We can leave now, if you like. I'll go get the kids," said Khushi, rushing off. Arnav and Freddy looked at her, puzzled.

"Do you need to sit down Malli?" asked Freddy.

I'm fine," she said quietly. She sidled close to Arnav, who looked at her curiously.

"Malli, can I speak to you for a moment?" the boy came to her directly.

"Arnav, I'm going to go help Khushi with the kids." She turned on her heel and marched off without looking back.

Arnav stared at the young man in front him. He looked about 19 years old. He had dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was about 6'5" tall and looked like a Greek God on steroids.

"Who are you?" asked Arnav.

"Peter Parker," said the boy. "No relation to Spiderman," he said smiling feebly.

"OK Peter Parker. Listen up. I'm Arnav Singh Raizada. You seem to know Malli. She doesn't seem to want to talk with you. That being the case, I suggest you don't try to talk to her again. In fact, come within 50 feet of her and I will lynch you. You seem to know your Spiderman well. Think of me as the Green Goblin." He said casually.

"Listen Mr.Raizada. I'm Malli's ex-boyfriend. I've been worried about her. I just want to make sure she's OK," said the boy.

"Listen, I don't care who you are and what you were to her. If you've been so worried about her did you ever contact the police? Did you do something to try and find her?" One glance at the boy's face gave him the answer. "God! Is there not a man in that girl's life with balls?" asked Arnav, watching Peter flush. "It's obvious that you didn't. And since she doesn't want to speak with you, I suggest you leave well alone. Now, out before I do you some real damage."

"I'd listen to him. He's got a mean temper," said Freddy sipping his champagne as if they were discussing the weather.

"What's she to you anyway?" asked Peter aggressively. "Is she sleeping with you? Are you her sugar daddy?" Before Arnav could answer, Freddy intervened.

"Listen you snotty-nosed piece of pond scum masquerading as a pimply teenager, another word from you, and I will swat your bottom like you are 6 years old. And I'm gay, so I'll get a kick out of it while I do it too. What Arnav is to Malli is none of your business. Now, get out before I waste some perfectly good Dom Perignon by throwing it on your face!" All this was said in a low, steely tone with a good-humored smile on his face. Any onlooker would've thought Freddy was telling a funny story, not threatening to beat a chap up.

Peter Parker made a wise decision. He scarpered.

The drive home was quiet. Nigel had gone off with Freddy for the weekend. The kids fell asleep in the car. Khushi yawned several times. She was tired too. Malli was wide awake in the back of the car. She was thinking about him. She hated herself for it, but she was thinking about Peter. Arnav looked at her in the rear-view mirror a couple of times. She looked sad. He decided not to ask her anything. She would tell him when she was ready. Since she didn't leave the house unaccompanied, he no longer worried about her safety.

"Arnav, help me with this zipper, please," asked Khushi struggling to get out of her gown. They'd just gotten back home and put the kids in their beds. Malli had gone to her room as well.

"With pleasure," he said grinning. He unzipped her, and watched as she changed into cotton jammies. "What was that with Malli and that boy at the party? Unwanted admirer? I knew she'd have dozens of men panting after her," said Khushi brushing her hair. Arnav walked to her and took her hairbrush from her hand.

"Don't want to talk about Malli now," he said, nuzzling her neck. She laughed. "What would you rather talk about then?" she asked, eyes twinkling.

"I'd rather not talk at all, actually," he said, picking her up and throwing her on the bed with a flourish.

"Save it for the honeymoon He-Man. I'm sleepy tonight," she said, grinning. She pulled the comforter up and scooted over to her side of the bed.

"Killjoy!" he muttered, walking to the closet to fish his shorts out. By the time he'd changed and slipped into bed, she really had fallen asleep. He pulled his side of the comforter up to his chin and turned away from her. "Think of the North Pole," he told himself. "Think of how icy cold it is at the North Pole. Think of eating ice-cream in the open air at the North Pole. Without a jacket. Or gloves," he told himself. Unfortunately all that it resulted in was his imagining Khushi licking ice-cream in the open air at the North Pole. In a chiffon sari. No jacket. Strapless blouse. "Damn this ain't working," he said. He changed tactics. He thought of Freddy swatting Peter's butt with a stick. That did the trick. He felt like someone had poured cold water all over him. He fell asleep very quickly after that.

When he woke in the morning, Khushi had her arms around him and was nestled against him. He began to invoke Freddy again in his head, when she startled him by kissing his chest. "I'm not sleepy now, are you?" she asked, eyes full of mischief and promise.

"Me….er….No. But save it for the honeymoon sweetheart, I'm not in the mood now," he said, sitting up quickly. She pulled away and pouted while he got out of bed. "Think of Freddy. It helps," he said cryptically, going in to the bathroom to shower. He grinned as he closed the door behind him.

When Khushi went down to the kitchen, Malli was sitting at the kitchen table drinking Orange Juice.

"Good morning," called Malli cheerily.

"Morning," said Khushi desultorily. Malli looked at her puzzled. Khushi was usually a morning person. Very chirpy and happy in the morning. She stared at Khushi's face. She looked cross, she thought. Malli's face fell. Arnav had told her about Peter at the party, she supposed. Khushi was probably mad that Malli just couldn't stay out of trouble.

"I'll move out next week," said Malli quietly.

"I'm sorry, what?" asked Khushi, looking around for a saucepan so she could make herself some chai.

"I'll move out next week. As soon as I can find a place," said Malli, voice quivering. Khushi stopped doing what she was doing and looked at Malli sharply.

"You're not happy with us? Is there anything the matter?" she asked kindly.

"Me. I'm the matter. I've never made anyone happy and I never will," she said stonily.

"Aren't you being a little dramatic? I haven't even had my tea yet," said Khushi mildly.

"Look. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Peter. And everything else. And I get it. I get that you're mad at me. I'll leave," said Malli mutinously.

"OK. First, why are you sorry? Who the heck is Peter? And I'm not mad at you. Am I supposed to be? Have you done something terrible? Murdered someone before breakfast maybe?" asked Khushi. "Was it Colonel Mustard in the Library with a knife?' she quipped.

"I'm being serious." Said Malli.

"Clearly. But what about? You may as well be speaking Swahili for all I understand of what you're saying right now,"

"Peter's the guy from the party last night. Don't you remember him? I thought Arnav must've told you."

"Oh. Just a random guy who wants your number, or do you know him?" asked Khushi busily making her tea as she spoke.

"He's my ex." Said Malli bitterly.

"Bad break-up?" asked Khushi nodding sympathetically.

"He's a turd," said Malli. Khushi laughed and turned her laugh into a cough.

"OK. Do we need to worry about him?"

"No. Arnav and Freddy took care of it. Arnav didn't tell you anything?" she asked, bewildered.

"Nope. Not a word, "said Khushi, now breaking an egg onto the frying pan with unnecessary vigor.

"And you're not mad at me?"

"I will be if you want me to!" she said, chopping an onion quickly now.

Malli threw herself into Khushi's arms and cried on a choking sob. "I thought you wanted me gone. I thought you'd decided I was a nuisance and a problem. And not a good influence on the girls."

Khushi stopped chopping the onions and hugged her quietly. "You're not a nuisance. In fact, you're a godsend. And for the girls, I want strong girls like you to be their role models. And why I am supposed to me upset anyway? Please explain, and I will see if I can dredge up the right amount of outrage. Since I'm in a relatively bad mood, it shouldn't be a huge problem."

But you said Good Morning so differently. Almost like you were upset," said Malli, pulling out of Khushi's hug.

"You got all that from my "'Morning"?" asked Khushi incredulously. Malli shrugged her shoulders in embarrassment. Khushi realized how sensitive and insecure Malli was underneath all that braggadacio. "Want an omelette?" she asked smilingly.

"Yes, Please," said Malli.

"Me too," said Arnav who pulled a chair out and plonked himself in it.

"I'm not making you anything. Get your own breakfast," said Khushi crossly to Arnav.

"Are you two fighting?" asked Malli curiously.

They spoke simultaneously. "Yes," said Khushi. "No," said Arnav.

"If the lady says you're fighting, you're fighting," said Malli, smiling at Arnav.

"Thus spake Malena. Wisest of runaway teenagers," said Arnav mockingly. Malli threw a cornflake at him. He dodged it. Khushi tossed more flakes at him. Soon they'd made a mess of the kitchen floor and table. Cornflakes lay everywhere. The bell rang.

"I'll get it," said Malli, panting with exertion. The cornflakes fight had been fun, but a lot of running had been involved. She walked to the door and opened it.

"Who is it Malena?" called Arnav from inside the kitchen.

"Someone who isn't allowed to call her Malena," said Peter Parker loudly.

So...should Malena listen to Peter? Should Arnav and Khushi give in and have sex, or should they build anticipation for their honeymoon? If you seek answers to these Earth-shattering questions...keep reading Highway to Hell😊.

Cheers!

Vidhya

PS: If it seems like I'm in an inordinately good mood...it's because I am. Some significant progress in the career graph happened this week.

reserved😊

loved the light hearted update vidhya!!!! i dont really mind if they wait till their honeymoon 😉