The ash grey sky was being hovered by the blurry clouds that were trying to hide the moon which had started to come out. It was almost evening, the birds were returning to their nests, early today, due to the turbulent weather. It had been drizzling throughout the day, giving out an earthy scent into the atmosphere.
---
Khushi stepped out into the small balcony attached to their room and breathed in the air, the smell of wet earth. She loved monsoons. And she had come to realize that Delhi monsoons were to die for. As her fingers drew patterns over the brown leaves, which had fallen from the eucalyptus trees due to the stormy weather, she went over the events of the day before, she felt it. Light, cold, tiny raindrops, fell onto her face. She closed her eyes and looked up into the sky, letting the drops fall all over her eyes, her neck, as her mind replayed the images of a certain man she had been waiting to see, since afternoon.
Her thoughts were interrupted by two soft knocks on the door. Familiar knocks. Oh no, Khushi muttered to herself as she went to open the door, not being able to conceal either the smile that had found its way to her lips, or the soft blush that had crept up her cheeks, at the mere thought of seeing him again.
---
Arnav took a sharp intake of the pleasantly cold air, as her face came into view on opening the door.
She was wearing something white. He couldn't notice exactly what, because his eyes were too focused on her face. He slowly smiled taking in the image of her messy, tangled hair, a few droplets hanging here and there over her pale skin with a tinge of the softest pink, and her eyes mirroring the joy that her smile told of.
'Hey,' Khushi waved her hand stupidly, trying to get his attention, as he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
'Hi,' Arnav said softly.
'So, this date thing is still on, right?' Khushi blabbered on.
'So, it's a date?' Arnav smirked, finally getting back his groove.
'No'I mean...not if you''
'Khushi, I got you something,' Arnav managed to say in between her blabbering and his own laughs.
Khushi looked on, as she saw him handing her over a gift box, his face a little serious.
'What is this? I can't''
'No, please Khushi, it's just a ...a small gift. I mean, I could do at least this much. You are doing a huge favor by coming with me to the ball tonight, so please wear it, that is, of course, if you like it.'
Arnav looked on, as she slowly opened the box, and took out in small folds the cloth colored in the softest pinks from the tissue. A range of emotions crossed her eyes. Awe, admiration, a little joy and some hesitation.
'Elle Saab?' Khushi asked, a little too surprised at hiss gesture.
'Hm, you like it?'
'Well, at least I get to tick off another wish from my bucket list, you know, wearing a designer thing,' Khushi said gleefully.
'What was the other wish?' voiced a curious Arnav.
'Going out on a date,' she said sheepishly.
'You have never been out on a date?'
'Well, Lucknow boys don't classify as the date type, you know,' Khushi grinned, seeing Arnav laugh heartily.
'So, I'll see you at eight?' Arnav asked as he started to walk away,
She smiled at him, closing the door.
---
If someone would have been glancing out of their windows to look at the path covering the distance between the hostel and the Guesthouse, they would have been greeted by a very unusual sight.
Arnav Singh Raizada had done a small happy dance, after Khushi had closed the door. Jumping a little, kicking all the pebbles he could find, smiling too himself, in contentment.
---
Khushi, slid against the door, and let herself fall to the floor. She felt tired. Not physically, just tired to keep up with the charade of being the brave girl, always thinking about the aftermath of every situation. She didn't want to think. She wanted to just be. Be the normal girl who would feel giddy with joy on the prospect of going out on a date, deciding on what to wear, and whether she would keep her hair open or tied. Tumors and tears could wait, thought Khushi, tonight she was going to enjoy, dance away to glory, and leave the thinking for tomorrow.
---
To say she looked beautiful would be an understatement. The way she walked towards him, it was resplendent. Her hair tied in a low, messy bun, the enticing pink lips held in a small smile looking at the ground, as the gown sashayed behind her. The floral pattern worked its magic on her pale skin, giving an ethereal glow to her.
'Another thing to tick off the list, travelling about in a limousine,' Khushi said, admiring the handsome man leaning on the sleek sedan, creating a very statuesque picture.
'Tuxedo and all huh, you look pretty dashing,' Khushi smiled, making Arnav laugh.
This girl was something, thought Arnav. Before he could utter a word, she had complimented him. And now was about to make her way into the car. He slid his hand around her waist and opened the door for her. He felt her stiffen momentarily at his touch, but he probably imagined it, he thought. They were silent throughout the journey; the silence was not uncomfortable, but suffocating nonetheless. It was as if they both wanted to say so much, but couldn't find the right words or the courage to do so.
---
When they entered, heads had turned, some in admiration, some in awe. But none quite understood the sea of emotions that the couple was floating through, as they walked into the magnificent hall, her arm slinked into his own.
Khushi felt immensely comfortable, like she could walk with him forever, hand in hand, without a care in the world. But she knew it would not be so, as she gently pulled away.
Arnav was partly relieved and partly deprived of her touch as her hand moved away. They perfectly fit into his own, custom made, he thought. Needless to say, he felt proud, happy, and an odd sense of calm surrounded him when she stood beside him. He saw her take in the sight surrounding her. She looked at the flowers, the draping, the vintage lights and the rosewood doorways. Then she looked, longingly at a group of young women dancing their way onto the dance floor, a small smile playing on her lips. Arnav didn't dance, but that look on her face, he couldn't hope but think that maybe, just maybe, he could make one more of her wishes come true.
He took her hand, again, placed it on his shoulder and slid both his arms around her waist, his eyes not leaving hers for a moment. Khushi looked at him, her eyes held a searing shot of longing, but she smiled at him, her hands placed firmly on his shoulders. They didn't really dance, but just moved about in rhythm with the soft tunes of the piano in the background. Sometimes she looked into his eyes; sometimes she rested her head on his shoulders. Sometimes she laughed softly at something Arnav said; sometimes she looked nowhere in particular, with Arnav trying to figure out what she might be thinking about.
---
They had stopped for dinner on their way back to the campus. Arnav had stayed back to pay while Khushi roamed about in the street ahead, twirling the material of the gown between her fingers, the faint wind blowing over her shoulders, caressing her face.
'Can I offer you a lift?' A man swooshing past her on a motorbike asked, stopping right in front of her.
'No, thanks,' Khushi replied, stepping back, gaping at his overly gelled hair and the piercings on his eyebrows.
'It's pretty late, you shouldn't be roaming around alone, hop in,' the man said, getting slightly impatient.
Before Khushi could say something, Arnav came and took her hand.
'Really Khushi, your brother is looking for you; he has already called me seven times. I mean, having a police officer for a brother isn't really a joke, you know,' Arnav said, confidently, without a glitch.
'Yes, yes, we should get going,' Khushi replied, sincerely, trying desperately to hold back the laughter bubbling up inside her, looking at Arnav's face , his lips pressed into a thin line, but his eyes with a glint of mischief.
With a rumble of the engine, the man on the motorbike rode away, a little fumbled, by the whole situation.
---
Khushi laughed. She laughed like she had never before. A clear, ringing laughter, taking away the exhaustion of the past few days, and painting over the numerous tears she had shed. She laughed, like she didn't have a care in the world, without fear of the future, her head taking support of Arnav's shoulder.
Arnav didn't know what to say, or do. He couldn't find the words. His breathing had hitched. He wanted to tell her so much.
He wanted to tell her that her voice sounded like the earl grey tea. And her laugh liked manic pencil scratches. He wanted to tell her she was beautiful. And that he wanted her beside him, always. He didn't want the night to end. He felt terrified. Terrified of his own mind, his heart that had never opened up so much, to anyone, in ages. He was terrified of his heart's constant hunger of whatever that it wanted, he was terrified of the way it stopped, and started. But in that moment, he realized that he was completely and irrevocably, in love with Khushi. He loved her, and that would be the end and beginning of everything.
---
He brought his fingers up to her face, they moved of their own accord, tracing an outline of her lips that seemed to be trembling at his touch. She stopped laughing, caught unaware, as his thumb pressed slightly over her lips, her eyes staring at her with an intensity, so deep, that all she wanted was for that moment to never end, they stood there for a few minutes like that, before the rain decided to interrupt.
The moment was broken into, as he watched the first few drops fall over her lips, and he removed his fingers, and she moved back a little, only to smile and then take his hand into her own. She dragged him onto the centre of the road from under the tree under which they had been standing. The road was deserted and the rain fell with full force on the two people standing under the turbulent sky.
'Khushi, what are we doing exactly?' Arnav groaned as the rain sluiced down his neck seeping into the crisp white shirt.
She didn't reply, but kept smiling, and took his hand and placed it on her waist and held on to the other, attempting to waltz with him.
Arnav laughed. He didn't think it was possible to deny the woman in front of him, of anything. With her every touch, she seemed to be healing, taking away the painful memories of the past and filling the voids with memories that held her beautiful face.
'I can't dance, Khushi.'
'I can see that, you have terrible feet.'
The wobbled down the street, sometimes splashing water over her gown, and his trousers, sometimes looking at each other from the corner of their eyes as they finally made their way back to the campus.
---
'Khushi, you looked beautiful tonight.'
Arnav spoke softly. He didn't want to let go of the one chance he had to admire her.
'Thanks. For the gown, it is lovely. Also for this amazing night, I don't think I've had this much fun since a long, long time.'
They looked on at each other for a few minutes after which she disappeared behind the door of her room and Arnav headed to the Guesthouse.
They were both absorbed in their own thoughts, trying to figure out the course of their actions, replaying the events of the night.
The winds had taken their course, and so had the rain. They both tried to sleep, but failed, very much aware of the approaching storm.
---
PMs will be sent out later, as the ones I send out have the wrong link. Sorry :(
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