part 5
Everyone came down after getting ready. Arnav could not help noticing that Khushi looked really slim and ravishing in jeans and a sleeve red shirt with her hair tied in a ponytail. Khushi also noticed him in his well fitting jeans with a t-shirt accentuating his well-chiseled physique and biceps. She felt guilty for noticing Arnav in that way'.after all he was her future brother-in-law!
"Main'.apna bag lekar aathi hoon'"she lowered her eyes, well aware of Arnav's piercing gaze on her.
They drove to the hiking trails and carried their bags on their backs. payal held onto Arnav's arm and started walking ahead of the gang. akasht gave company to Khushi and lavanay. Khushi was a little relieved that Arnav was ahead of her; she could be more relaxed in lavanay and karan's company. After they had been walking for a while, Khushi noticed that akash was starting to get closer to lavanaya and walk a little slowly. She got the message; she smiled and said, "aap log saath saath walk kariye'.main thoda jaldi chalnaa chahti hoon'." She lied and tried to get ahead of the lovely couple. She spotted Arnav and payal ahead of her; payal was still hanging on to his arm and engaging him in a deep conversation.
Khsuhi took her walkman out and started listening to her favorite music and walked at her own pace.
Arnav had been following Khushi all this while with the corner of his eyes every so often. He took out his phone and clicked some pictures with the built in camera; payal thought he was taking pictures of the natural beauty but Arnav managed to capture various poses of Khsuhi- wiping her sweat, eyes closed while listening to her music, smiling to herself''
"Arnav ruk kyon gaye?" payal saw Arnav looking behind
"Wo'Khushi akeli reh gayi hai'.."
"Ussey tho aadat hai'.she will be fine'.she knows how to entertain herself'.waise bhi she won't be able to keep up with our pace'.chalo'" she pulled Arnav by his arm.
Arnav started walking with her as they discussed a recent merger of 2 companies and their share values.
payal did not realize that as she kept talking, Arnav had stopped midway and was walking with Krhushi now.
"Khushi'kya sun rahi ho'" Arnav interrupted Khsuhi
"Oh'aap?" she removed her headphones.
"Tum apney bare mein kuch batao'kya college mein ho?'" Arnav asked
Khsuhi was surprised at his curiosity about her, "Haan'main BA final year mein hoon'aur sangeet mein bhi training karr rahi hoon'."
" That's great'ek saath do-do degrees'aagey kya plan hai?"
Khushi was more relaxed now that they were talking like 2 civilized people.
"Main. journalism karnaa chahti hoon'." She smiled and answered. Arnav was pleased to know that Khsuhi was not as unambitious as he was made to believe.
payal caught up with them and was not happy that Arnav left her to give Khushi company
"Arnav'let's go'.wahan ek bahut sunder jheel hai'aur aagey ek bahut khubsoorat trail'"
Angad looked at her and then Khsuhi, "ya'let's go'."
The 3 of them walked together for a while till they came across the stream.
"Humein jheel cross karni padhegi'." payal pointed to the other side of the stream. payali, the more athletic of the two sisters, was fearless and started stepping on the rocks in the stream to cross. Arnav followed her.
The stream was very shallow but the rocks were extremely slippery. Khushi stepped on them carefully; she was not the most athletic person and before she knew it, her foot slipped and she fell in the stream. Arnav heard the big splash and looked behind. Khsuhi's foot was stuck between 2 big rocks and she was partially submerged in the water. He retraced his steps and extended his hand to help Khushi. payal also turned around and was not too happy to see the sight- Arnav was holding Khushi's hand and helping her free her foot. The foot was stuck firmly; Arnav maneuvered her leg and freed her foot. He was also drenched in the process. He helped her get up on her feet but Khushi had sprained her foot. Arnav picked her up in his arms and walked in the water to cross the stream. Khushi had no choice and she saw no point in protesting. Her shirt was completely wet and she could feel his wet and warm body through it.
Arnav placed her down when they reached the other side. He regretted that the stream was not a little wider.
"Khushi'tum ab yahin aaram karro'tumhare pair mein moch aa gayi hai'.Arnav chalo main tumhein aagey uss trail parr ley chalti hoon'" payali tried her best to control her anger.
Arnav was reluctant as his shoes were heavy with all the water, "payal yahin baith karr'.thoda dry ho jaayein'.chalo kuch khaa lete hain'." He tried to find a reason to stay back as he did not feel like leaving Khushi alone with a sore foot.
They unpacked their lunch and were soon joined by karan and lavanaya. After lunch, Arnav took his shoes off and lay down under the shade of a tree and dozed off.
akash, lavanay and payal chatted for a little bit till lavanay looked at Khushi, who was listening to her music and humming something.
"Khsuhi'please hum sab ko gaakar sunaayo'."lavanaya pleaded
"Oh..yes…please gaana sunaayo.." akash requested.
payal was not liking the undue attention Khsuhi had been receiving from the raizads's but before she could protest, Khushi had started singing- "ek din fursat" from "zindaggi rocks"
Arnav woke up to the melodious voice; he sat up and was in a trance as Khushi finished singing. payal noticed Arnav staring at Khsuhi; as soon as the song finished she said, "Oh…Arnav…hum yahan baithney nahin aaye hain….let us get some exercise…"
Arnav had a brilliant idea. " Let us play tug-of-war….I have a long rope in my bag…"
akash protested, "Nahin….nahin…Arnav tum sabsey strong ho….hum sab ko haraa do gey.."
"Nahin bhaiya!….Ok let's do one thing….Main aur payal vs aap teeno….then it would be fair…2 vs 3…"
"OK…let us try….Khsuhi can you take part?" lavanay was concerned about her foot.
"Haan…ab theek hoon…I think the rest helped…"Khushi got up and tested her foot.
payal was happy as Arnav had chosen her over anyone else.
They were ready for the tug-of-war: Arnav leading on one side with payal holding on to him from behind; Khsuhi led from the other side with lavanaya behind her and aksah pulling their team from behind.
Both sides tugged evenly but Arnav finally used all his strength and pulled the other team with a sudden jerk…..Khsuhi's team got pulled with a big force and they all fell down on their opponents. Khsuhi landed right on top of Arnav; her hair clip falling off in the tussle…her hair covered his face….he could not resist himself and planted a kiss on her earlobe under the veil of her locks….
payali shouted, "Arnav you are crushing me!!!" Arnav realized that payal was lying under his weight, "Oh..sorry payal.." he rolled over still holding on to Khsuhi and this time landed on top of her staring into her eyes…. she was in a state of shock and anger as she realized what he had just done…..was this an accident or part of his game plan to embarrass her like he did in high school???
Khushi freed herself, still red with humiliation and anger…
akash said, "Arnav…you are Hercules….next time I am not playing this game with you!" they all started laughing but Khushi's heart was still pounding as she touched the ear, Arnav had just kissed….it was still warm to touch….she could feel his lips on them….
Edited by siya03 - 13 years ago
