ArHi OS: Unanswered Questions (part 21 page 88) - Page 24

Originally posted by: Madafterarhi

beautiful...i wonder how you write so well!

had me staring at it for sometime loved it!

Sorry for any typos, do let me know what you think.

Part 13

Arnav got up just a little bit early the next day

He showered and changed into his jogging tracks a wee bit earlier than usual

He reached the track before Mr. Malhotra who otherwise was headed for his home when Arnav was entering

The guard almost lost his balance when his greeting was acknowledged instead of being ignored and he wondered if he had imagined what just happened

Before starting off, he texted Khushi, smiled and set off

Khushi woke up with a start when her cell phone gave the sms alert. "What the'," she said annoyed at being waken up like this but stopped surprised at what she had just said. Shaking her head, she hoisted up to lean on the back rest and checked the text. "See u in another 60 minutes J, Arnav." Blushing furiously, she remembered the events of the day before, she remembered how she had given herself to him in total abandon. How he had kissed her without hesitation, without restraint. Coming out of her reverie, she quickly got up to get dressed. She had to cover up herself properly with her dupatta, for Arnav's work had left its mark on her neck and shoulders. Within twenty minutes she was ready and was about to leave when she remembered what she had planned to tell Arnav. Suddenly sobering down she went to where Devi Mayia sat, she prayed fervently for everything to go right. "You know I tried to tell Anjali Di and I was the only one in my family to decide on that, but you also know why I stopped. And when I tell about it today is because I cannot accept his love knowing what I know, he has a right to know, she has a right to know. Please, help me go through it," then breathing deeply she ended by saying, "don't take him away from me."

Arnav was finishing his last lap when he saw Khushi enter; she was looking around for him, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. Changing his course a bit he went from behind her and lightly put his arms around her waist surprising her out of her skin. He laughed out at the way she had jumped leaving her in a daze, for Arnav laughing out openly was a rare sight. Her eyes widened as she saw his eyes glow with passionate desire, her dupatta had slipped off revealing the marks on her neck and shoulder to his eyes. Arnav lifted his hand involuntarily to touch the place where he had left mark of his love a day before, he caressed that spot with a feather light touch sending shivers down Khsuhi's body. The bark of a dog from nearby startled them and brought them back to the present.

"Hi" he said in voice huskier than usual with emotions, his hands in his tracks pockets.

"Hi," she said, looking down with her face turning the color of beetroot under his unrestrained gaze.

"So..? Any special reason to meet me here or you just wanted to see me without my entire family lurking around somewhere near! You know' getting some work done is easier when you know no one will come and knock on the door." he said shamelessly reminding her of everything that had happened a day before.

"Please Arnavji''." her voice quaked, " I mean Please Arnav'., " she was on auto-correct.

Laughing he took his hands out of the pockets and took one of her hands to lead her to a bench behind a bunch of trees. Due to the trees, it was pretty much a secluded place. He sat down right next to her, his knee lightly brushing hers when she slid away from him. With a smirk on his face, he got hold of her arm and pulled her closer before slinging his arm across her shoulder and making her a captive there. He nestled into her nuzzling his nose against her morning-soft cheeks before kissing them and said huskily, "So, what did you mean when you said you don't want to lose me, you see I was a bit hazy yesterday, preoccupied, so I didn't pay enough attention. That happens to me when I get disturbed in the middle of something!" he said in such a nonchalant tone that it Khushi a while to understand what he was implying at. She turned her head to give him a glare and he burst out laughing at her annoyance and quickly stole a light kiss on her lips. However, she couldn't smile as she was contemplating on how to say what she had come for.

"Khushi?" he asked when she didn't speak for some time at which she looked up and extended her arm across to hold his other hand, caressing his palm lightly with her fingertips she said, "there is something I need to tell you."

"Oook, say it," he said not understanding her hesitation.

"You see the problem is I don't know how to say it, so please promise me that you will listen to all I have to say, because I am sure I will be incoherent. Please do not stop me in the middle and don't shut down on me, question me. And''." she stopped to consider her next words, "I love you and no matter what I will continue to do so," she finished and looked up at Arnav who was visibly confused.

"What is it Khushi for which you are so tensed?" he asked with his eyebrows raised quizzically and as if to reassure her he snuggled her even more and rested his chin on her head which now was rested cozily on his neck.

While still holding his hand, she took a deep breath, and started her story from Lucknow and why did she come to Delhi. Without mentioning Shayam's name she told Arnav how he had saved her from some goons and then he had later on become her bua's paying guest saying he didn't have a place of his own. She told Arnav how he virtually became a family member as he took part in all their activities.

"Nothing he did or said ever showed he was lying through his teeth, only babuji was wary of him but we never really paid attention to the way babuji was always reserved with him. Then Babuji fell ill and he again gave us a lot of support," Khushi sighed remembering the cunning way in which Shayam had fooled them before she continued, "Buaji fet herself obliged and as a sign of gratefulness she accepted his proposal for me and we got engaged as you know," she looked at him as he squeezed her hand to comfort her.

"The most I had thought of him was as a friend and I could never reconcile to the fact that I was going to marry him, since everyone thought that babuji wanted it, we went through it," Khushi continued her narrative, "And I was completely stressed out at that time, there was too much going on in my life, you confused me, and after Diwali night I had lost most my ability to think. Anyways, I tried to get acquainted with the fact that I was engaged, you and my feelings for you were the ever present hurdle in doing so. You made it even more difficult for me to keep myself normal, and settle down with the new turn my life had taken. " Arnav cringed remembering how cruel he had been to her at that time and hugged her to himself as if apologizing for his callousness.

"Then one day in your house I met Anjali ji's husband on the terrace, and I found out that not only did my fianc and Anjali ji's husband had the same name but'." She stopped to look at Arnav and kept her eyes locked with his and continued to drop the bombshell, "they were the same!"

She felt him stiffen.

She paused enough to let the information sink in and then said, "Shayam Jha had been deceiving us and you all throughout. The reason he stayed out on foreign tours was most probably due to my presence in the RM."

She felt the arm around her shoulder loosen up.

"That was the same day you were trying to call me but couldn't reach me, a day before you were getting engaged to Lavanaya ji"

She felt her heart beating a little bit slower as the hand she held slipped out and only their fingers remained in contact.

"the very next day I went to the RM to tell Anjali di about it and I was about to when her mangasutra fell off. She took that as a bad omen and freaked out fearing the worst for Shayam, she was so distressed and out of her wits that I couldn't tell her. I knew it will leave her devastated, I stupidly thought that maybe Shaym will now stop playing double games and things will get better between them. I kept quiet when I shouldn't have."

Her heart was crying by now as Arnav was quite detached now, she was resolutely holding on to his hand.

"I managed to avoid him for most of the time when wedding preparations were in progress, however, on the haldi day he made an attempt to talk to me, which alarmed me about his intentions, then all that happened when you got me those bangles and went off to London."

All she wanted by now was some indication of what he was thinking, but was too afraid to ask.

"Your letter made me cry, the absolute openness with which you shared everything made me realize the folly of my decision. Your letter made me realize that I shouldn't have been hampered by Anjali's reaction; she deserved to know the truth. She is the one in this case who deserves to know the truth." She finished with a deep breath and looked towards him.

Arnav was looking dead straight, his face was emotion less not giving away whatever he was thinking.

"Arnav.." she almost whispered shaking his shoulder, "Please say something," she pleaded.

Breathing deeply he simply turned to her and said, "okay, thanks for telling me, let's go, hmm?" to an open mouthed KHushi.