ArHi FF: Kya pata kahaan hum Chale(Part 25last 112 - Page 46

Ok this is long and disjointed. I had started it a few days ago and when I finished it today I was in a different mood. i guess that affected.

Part 20 – they meet after their first

"AAArghhh," Arnav let out an angry groan when his cell phone refused to shut up, he had thrown it somewhere and now someone had been calling him non-stop. "People don't know when to stop!" he grumbled as he ransacked the lounge looking for the cell.

"Yes!" he snapped and Aman on the other end lost his footing.

"Actually Sir, Mr. Armaan was trying to contact you and since he had to go into surgery, he asked me to locate you and give his message….." Aman explained, "And sir I also wanted to ask you about today's meeting but now it is already too late, I have already apologized to Mr. Prakash Mehra on AR's behalf and told them that you were not well," he informed very cautiously.

Arnav had cooled down considerably bearing in mind that Aman had to do what he did, "Ok, and what is Armaan's message?" he asked gruffly.

"Oh he wanted to you to call him asap, and he must be out of the OT by now," Aman was always ready with required info.

"Ok!" Arnav said shortly and cancelled the call to dial Armaan's.

"Hey! Arnav meray baap! Where were you? And that lady, Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta she is not answering her calls either, were you two busy or anything…," his tone became suggestive towards the end.

"What do you mean?" Arnav asked a bit confused at what Armaan was trying to imply.

"I mean you two have your riding lessons and Harley trips that keep you busy, OOOr is there any more action?" Armaan continued to tease but hoping that they move forward in their lives with each other.

"Armaan! Come to the point. Why were you calling?" Arnav asked annoyed, he had been trying to keep the memories of last night at bay and Armaan's cheeky comments were not helping.

"Chill! It's just that I am too tired of my mundane life and want some action, so I have reserved tables at Evolution today; it is a good hangout, good food, good drinks, dance floor and amazing Dj. So tell your girl to get ready and the two of you should be there by 9, okay?" Armaan casually said.

"ummm okay, so tomorrow or day after?" Arnav asked.

"What? Tonight! See you tonight! Bye, Shashank coming," Armaan said and cancelled the call hurriedly.

Arnav just stared at the cell for a while and then sat down thinking. It was 6 in the evening, he had nothing else to do, "What the heck!" he thought shrugging his shoulders, "At least I'll get to see her."

He called her up and tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for her to answer. After what seemed eternity to him he heard her voice, "Hello!"

"Hi, I just called to say that Armaan has invited everyone out. I'll be coming to pick you up by 8, so be ready!" he didn't let her say anything and cancelled the call.

"So……….Khushi is playing 'NORMAL'. She isn't the only player in town. I'll play along, in fact I'll redefine normal," he said rising up and taking off his T-shirt and headed for the shower still incensed at the way Khushi had seemed to forget what had happened last night.

"Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta, you don't know who you are dealing with!" he thought as he stepped under the cold jet of water that soothed him down considerably. He groaned inwardly and cursed himself, "What am I thinking? What am I trying to do? Show her down?" he checked himself.

"But I will be totally normal and continue as we were before last night, I am not going to give up after all the progress we made before last night, no way, I can't give her up," he resolved silently as he changed into black slim fit pinstripe pants with a coordinating blazer over a classically cut button up shirt with an embroidered cuff and placket showing off his in-shape body to hilt. Breathing deeply he braced himself for meeting with Khushi, he had all intentions of being normal but as much as he hated accepting it, he was nervous.

Khushi had just stared at the cell for some time. She had spent the entire day in bed munching away on the supply of chips she had stashed away for rainy days. To block all thoughts she had tried to listen to the radio but that day all RJs had decided to play crap music and if by chance they played a good one they started to talk in between making Khushi swear like a street urchin. "For once, for once Devi maiyyan please stop making me think, I don't want to!" she whined as she sat cross legged on her bed. She was still in his T-shirt and loved the soft feeling against her skin, just like his breath had been soft and warm against her skin, "Errr no no no, I don't want to think about last night!" she asked for something unattainable as she bent down to hide her face in the sheets, "AAArrRgghhh!" she groaned into them as she realized she didn't have much time to get ready. Getting off the bed she stomped off in the direction of the bathroom for a long shower.

Half an hour later, she came out considerably calmer and normal. With a towel wrapped around her, she stood in front of her wardrobe trying to decide what she was going to wear. "He didn't even tell me where we were going, so either I'll be under dressed or over dressed! Arghhh" she grumbled to no one. She picked up a black dress. It was very different from what she used to wear, a bit on the daring side; but can anything be more daring than what she had done last night? It was a V-necked dress with two wide shoulder straps that crossed at the back. The bodice was gathered on the left side, where the waistline was decorated with a shiny clip. The A-lined skirt was designed with layered fabric with sheer material at the hemline. After slightly drying her hair she put on the dress and stood on a chair to check herself in the mirror. The dress ended just below the knees showing off her slender legs to perfection, she liked the way it swayed as she carefully twirled around on the chair. Draping her shoulder with a towel to keep her dress safe, she then looked ruefully at her hair, it was straight and humidity was soon going to make them lanky, she pouted at herself grumpily not liking what she saw! Finally, she took a wide-barreled curling iron to twist spirals into the bottom half of her hair giving herself a comfy yet a very attractive look.

Another look at the mirror and Khushi started to grumble again, she was just not satisfied and on top of it she didn't know what she wanted which irritated her. She figured through her jewellery to accessorize herself. She had just picked up silver with inset zircon set comprising a pendant, drop earrings and bracelet when she heard a knock at the door. She stomped off across the room and opened it with a jerk and was about to say something but just froze when she laid eyes on Arnav. Finally she realized why she had felt irritated, she was nervous as hell about facing Arnav again after last night.

Her heart missed a beat.

He stopped breathing.

She quietly stepped aside.

He quietly stepped in.

She felt butterflies in her stomach as his hands brushed her.

He felt an electric jolt at the touch of her hand.

Within few seconds of him being in her room, the air was completely charged, emotions running high in both as the passion from last night hung between them.

Arnav shoved his hands deep into his pockets tying to keep them to himself

Khushi intertwined her fingers behind her back for the same purpose.

Looking at nothing in particular, Arnav asked, "Ready to leave?"

Searching for her voice she cleared her throat to manage, "in a bit" and rushed to the mirror to put on her jewelry.

"Ok," he said shortly sitting on the edge of the couch with elbows resting on knees and chin on his hands.

Trying to relax his nerves, he looked around only to behold Khushi in her complete glory as she had removed the towel she had draped around her shoulders earlier. Desire fired up in the pit of his stomach. In his nervousness of meeting her he hadn't noticed what she was wearing. His gaze fell on her and settled there. It was his throat's turn to go dry as he watched her put on her accessories.

Trying to clasp the bracelet around her wrist, Khushi turned around and walked towards him saying, "Let's go, I am ready."

Seeing her struggle with the bracelet, he took the two steps that were between them to hold her wrist making her lose balance, his touch sending electric shocks through her body.

She just stared at his face as he clasped the bracelet very cautiously and tenderly with a frown between his eyebrows as if the task required all his concentration and focus. What she didn't know was that he was trying his best to keep his hands from shaking. Her nearness disturbed him at a lot of different levels.

Once done, he cleared his throat to tell her, "Your shoes. I think you need to change them," he pointed to her slipper clad feet.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as she started to put on her heels lying nearby. Spontaneously, without thinking she rested one of her hands on his shoulder for balance.

Arnav's could foresee his resolution of normalcy failing miserably while Khushi was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up the cool front.

Her smell was driving him crazy.

She was getting intoxicated by his proximity.

Heart beats raced.

Breaths hitched.

Desire alighted.

Her hand slipped from his shoulder to his waist.

His eyes met hers.

Time stopped.

Thinking ceased.

He took her in his arms and bent his head to do what he had been dying to do since she had woken up in his bed this morning.

She took his kisses hungrily for she had found it hard to think about anything else.

Arnav's hands had just started to explore when the cell phone rang. "Damn the cell!" he said, his lips on hers, and let it ring.

However, the ring had set off an alarm in Khushi's head as she froze to his kiss and broke it.

"No," she gasped, "We are getting late!" she tried to extricate herself from his arm.

"Khushi.." he said huskily with a pleading tone.

"They must be waiting for us, we shouldn't be late," she didn't refuse directly.

Getting over the sudden surge of emotions he took her hand in his and walked out with her.

He wasn't just holding her hand, he had lightly interlaced his index finger with hers and with his thumb he was gently rubbing it.

During their drive they never attempted to make any small talk. The air between them was too charged up with emotions for them manage even that.

Not being able to take it anymore, Khushi turned on the radio only to have Lata croon,

Rahen wohi wadi wohi Badla kuch nahi

Phir bhi tere milnai sai hai Dunya kyu haseen

Kahi khwabo mai hum gum na hotay

Merai humrahi jo tum na hotay

Aisa samaan na hota, kuch bhi yahan na hota

Merai humrahi jo tum na hotay

A sideways glance from Arnav sent her heart fluttering and she turned off the radio but he turned it on again.

Hum tum jo na miltay Tu na chata yeh nasha

Hota kuch bhi hota ye na hota jo hoa

Yahan mil kai na dil aisai khotay

Merai humrahi jo tum na hotay

All she could do was fold her arms across her chest and look out. She was afraid of letting her hands go free lest they started to move on their own accord. None of these gestures were missed by Arnav who looked away to hide the smile that had spread on his face.

And as if this wasn't enough the RJ got down to full blown enmity with Khushi, for this song was followed by another classic, "Dori na rahe koi" and the last straw was "raat ka nasha abhi Aankh sai gaya nai" at which she blushed furiously while Arnav snorted trying to suppress the laugh that threatened to break out. Fortunately for Khushi, they had reached their destination bringing an end to the sensual torture on her nerves.

Completely flustered, she tried to get off as quickly as possible but forgot to unbuckle the seatbelt and came crashing back into the seat with the same swiftness with which she had tried to get out. Arnav who had freed himself by then leaned across smiling widely by now and released the catch while looking into her eyes, being terribly close.

Khushi's eyes got riveted to his and she forgot to breathe. When she tried to look away her glance inadvertently settled on his lips which immediately curled up in a smile that sent butterflies yahooing from her throat to her stomach. Shutting her eyes tightly she said, "Please, stop doing that!"

"What?" she heard him ask softly.

"Being near me," she said haltingly, eyes still closed tightly.

"Ummm I am not near you now Khushi, you can open your eyes," he continued in his husky voice. Without giving him another glance she got off quickly while he handed over his keys to the valet and quickly followed her to hold her hand lightly as they entered together.

Armaan, Riddhima, rahul Atul, Anjali and Priya had already settled down and were chatting away as Khsuhi and Arnav approached their table. Everyone looked up and they were amused by what they saw. Khushi was blushing furiously while Arnav who was holding her hand, looked he was on cloud nine. There was something about them that was changed, this was what everyone felt.

Armaan looked very closely at how comfortable Khushi was with Arnav holding her hand, he didn't miss how Arnav was gently caressing her fingers with his thumb. Somehow he felt as if they had made some progress. His smile widened as he was genuinely happy for his friend, she looked fragile but was very strong. He knew how she had struggled and frankly he had been bowled over by her grit.

Everyone sat down after the Hi and hellos fell into chatting with each other. Arnav got up to get drinks for him and Khushi. He was at the bar when Armaan saw a girl trying to get into conversation with Arnav. When he tried to inch away she practically clung onto him.

Armaan poked Khushi to turn her attention to what was going on.

"I bet you a thousand that you go and get Arnav out of girl trouble!" he tried to provoke her.

She simply scrunched up her nose not buying into the idea.

"Umm well are we chicken or," he teased as he lowered his voice into a whisper and continued, "you are too affected by him and are nervous to even think about doing it!" he ended with a wink.

Rolling her eyes she got up and sauntered to the bar. Armaan watched amused as she pried her way between Arnav and the girl saying sweetly, "Honey! What is taking you so long to get our drinks, haan Jaan?" sending Arnav into a eyes-wide-open shock. The other girl took the message and ambled away and just then she turned in Armaan's direction to show a thumb down making Arnav realize what had just happened.

Taking advantage of the situation, Arnav grabbed her hand and before she knew what had hit her, she found herself on the dance floor. A jazzy number was playing so dancing along wasn't difficult but soon it changed to a slower number. Realizing the danger, she tried to move away only to be held back by Arnav's hand on her waist as he pulled her towards him. From there they had no idea what song was playing.

They were just aware of each other,

Lost in each other's eyes,

Their breaths tangled

They moved to the music that their hearts was playing,

Him leading her

Her, spinning to his cues

Together, they made music on their own

Their eyes were locked with each other's when the music ended,

He could hear her heart beat

And she could hear his

His eyes asked her a question

Her eyes gave him hope

no other word apart from BEAUTIFUL.