Rules Of Attraction ( Updated Part 21)- Pg 139 - Page 65

Khushi stared at the dark green slate of the blank blackboard, her face bearing a very similar expression. At times she would look out of the window, stare blankly at the light rain that made its way through the green window panes, splattering a few drops here and there. The rain reminded her of him. Her head had started replaying the many beautiful moments they had spent together in the past few days. As soon as her eyes met the sarcastic ones of the new AV technician, as he was giving out some guidelines about their documentary assignment, she finally put together her thoughts and slid in the memory card of the camera into the sides of the laptop. Arnav had mysteriously taken the camera from her yesterday, and asked her to enjoy, and she had obliged, because she was not much of a photography person. And now she knew exactly why he had taken the camera from her yesterday.

The pictures flooded the desktop. Some, barely a few of the colorful stalls, some of the amusement rides and random people. She had begun to admire his acute eye for capturing those beautiful images, that the next batch stilled her thoughts. She saw them perched on the top of the Giant Wheel, laughing their hearts out. Then she saw probably a hundred pictures that had only her. Sometimes her eyes, her smile, her purple lips, she almost laughed out loud, a tear or two stinging her eyes.

'Arnav'You shouldn't have done this.'

---

Arnav was mentally cursing Khushi for missing out on their meeting in the evening. After wasting the morning hours chatting with an over-enthusiastic Aakash about Payal and an annoying Aman about impending contracts, by late evening he had found solace in the tranquil atmosphere of his studio. He sat on the stool, staring at the picture he had painted of her hour a long time.

He wondered how he would be able to get through a single day, without seeing her infectious smile or the twinkle in his eyes. He wanted to hell her, how he felt, but he didn't know how. He knew that she felt something for him. But he also was aware, that she needed time. Time to understand what was happening between them. And he was also not blind to the fact that over the last few days, she seemed oddly distant.

For a man whose thoughts were aligned with his wants, he felt thoroughly confused that day. She had laid bare his heart, broke through his faade and awakened the Arnav, only a few had the privilege of knowing, in him. She had with the softest of her touches, changed all his nightmares to blissful dreams. She had made him let go of his anger, his frustration, and he knew he wouldn't be able to live, without her presence.

---

'Chotte, have you planned something?'

'Planned? For what?'

'I can't believe this. It her birthday tomorrow Chotte.'

'Whose birthday'?'

'Your girlfriend's.'

'She is not my girlfriend Di. Wait, it is Khushi's birthday, tomorrow? I can't believe you are telling me this at ten in the night.'

'You are Arnav Singh Raizada. Do something.'

Before he could retort, Anjali cut the line. Her thoughts drifting back to the day Khushi had come over to their place. She immediately pondered over the fact if her decision to hide Khushi's secret had been a right one. She somehow felt, that if and when the truth had to be told, it had to be done by Khushi, herself. But the thought of her brother breaking down again, troubled her mind again and again.

---

Khushi had made a stupid excuse of piling pending work to Arnav to back out from meeting him in the evening, hoping against hope that he would understand that she was trying to increase the distance between them. It had been the truth, about impending assignments. But her brain didn't want to work, so she curled up into a ball and tucked into the blanket calling it an early night praying to God, for her dreams to not be haunted by a pair of black eyes, she so desperately wanted to see.

---

Arnav couldn't believe that he was trying to make a cake. A cake from one of the million recopies that Google had flooded his laptop with, for Khushi. He knew he could have simply ordered one, but call it love, mush or whatever else, he wanted to do it himself. And he was slowly starting to realize that it had been a very bad idea. The cake looked like anything but a cake, more like a blob of white, dark brown and shreds of chocolate.

Anyhow he took it and those bangles wrapped up in crumpled newspaper and headed towards her hostel.

---

'Khushi''

First her back was turned towards him. Arnav was literally crouching beside the bead, his face hovering over hers as she turned around. Khushi felt brush of something like bristles, only much softer across her cheek. She was dreaming about him, mostly his face, at times only his eyes, when suddenly his voice broke in. Unconsciously, she blurted out in-between her deep breathing.

'Go away Arnav.'

'Were you dreaming about me?'

Her eyes opened immediately to gaze into his, that is whatever she could make out in the soft glow of the moon seeping in through the small window of her room. She brought herself into a sitting position and finding her voice, spoke trying to cover her glee with pure shock.

'Don't flatter yourself Arnav. And what are you doing here, now?'

'It is twelve in the night; well a minute is still left.'

'Exactly my point. It's almost midnight, what are you''

'Happy Birthday Khushi.'

She blinked her eyes in confusion, and then looked at the hapless crumbling cake in front of her, a lone candle glowing, providing just enough light for her to see the small smile tugging at his lips, his eyes full of laughter.

'You did this'?' As he gave her one of his signature smirks, she moved towards him suddenly, closing in whatever little space they had between them, hugging him tightly, muttering a few hundred thanks and something about Anjali. Arnav staggered a little and tried to balance the cake in his right hand, the other entering into her blanket of silken hair.

She moved back reluctantly, her voice coming out in soft whispers, ''you really shouldn't have done this'' brushing away the tears that had started to well up in her eyes.

'I'm sorry I did this, I really am...' a sarcastic look dripping from his smug face, ''.but can we cut this thing now, please?

Arnav watched her adorable face, break out into a fit of giggles, as she cut out a tiny piece stuffing it through his mouth. He on the other hand cut out one huge piece and shoved it through hers. She choked a bit, and then finally gulped it down.

'You paint, own a business empire'cook too?'

'Ws it that bad'?'

'It was delicious, but you really shouldn't have''

'Shut up Khushi. Let's go somewhere. The rooftop?"

She couldn't refuse him anything at that moment. No one in years had done something so special for her. To say she was touched would be an understatement. She had lost her heart, her mind to this one man, who was hell bent on making her fall deep, as deep it gets into the abyss of his love. She nodded meekly, getting out of the blanket and following him out of the room.

---

The stood there, she leaning across the black tanks, and him standing a little away from her, staring into the pitch black darkness, the only light being the shimmering silver glow of the moon, witness to the soaring levels of electricity jolting in between their bodies. And the treacherous rain came to play its part, starting out as a soft drizzle.

Arnav looked at her, as she looked into the few stars that were embossed in the Delhi sky. Clad in a white t-shirt and blue cotton pajamas, he saw the raindrops make their way down her bare arms, through her slender neck. She looked ethereal, beautiful, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he lost his control.

---

'I got something for you.'

'Arnav, why''

Her words died on her lips, as she saw him move towards her. He looked every bit like a predator. A predator, with eyes that held pure passion, and she noticed for the first time an inane sense of purpose, determination. He moved further, his hands taking out a newspaper packet from his denims. She felt, extremely vulnerable at that moment. Vulnerable? Or was it more of a sudden fire kindling in the recesses of her ice cold heart. She felt his hand over her arm, slowing moving downwards towards her wrist, his fingers accompanying the raindrops, making soft stokes down the line. Within seconds, her wrists were adorned with the very same silver, she had seen yesterday. She looked up into his eyes, that seemed to be exploring every contour of her face. She wanted to ask him so many questions, but she had lost her voice a long time back. He came closer. Still and then his hand left her wrist, and slowly grazing over the thin white cloth that was drenched to its core, and found its rightful place on the tantalizing curve of her waist.

Arnav body had lost whatever control it had the moment, the soft gasp escaped her lips, as his hands slid around her waist. He felt her cold breath fanning out over his heated skin. His fingers fluttered over her skin, touching, sliding, memorizing. As if in a trance, Khushi's hands moved upwards, sliding over his chest, to find themselves over his neck, pulling him closer. Their skin tingled, his with soothing cold, and hers with much needed warmth, as each bit was examined and caressed with fingertips and frenzied breaths. Slowly, with one staggering hand that rested on her face, cupping her cheek, the other still heating up the skin of her waist, he tilted his face, brushing her lips with his. The first touch, a memory that would be infused with lavender and strong musk. And the smell of wet earth, of monsoon rain as it came over their molded bodies, in full flow, showering them a seeping pleasant atmosphere. As if on a queue, Arnav pressed is lips on her trembling once, building up the softest of pressures and was taken aback only for half a second, as she parted her lips letting go of any resistance he thought she might have had.

His lips coasted over hers, memorizing to detail the taste, the treasures and secrets it held. Khushi responded with equal vigor, her mind a whirlwind of ice, that was slowly melted by the fire that Arnav had so perfectly lighted up in her heart. Her hands fisted up in his hair, as the dance of lips that had started to be slow, giving and taking, was fast moving out to become urgent, raw hunger emanating from his lips, demanding more every second. As his deft fingers combed her silken mop of hair unconsciously, Khushi felt the worry, the frustration, all thoughts seep of her mind and body. She pressed closer to him, giving all and taking whatever he was giving her. Arnav hand left her face and roamed over her drenched back impatiently, his lips not breaking the sync as they moved against hers. Their tongues serenaded each other, slowly reducing the pace, their faces moved apart slightly, gulping in the woodsy air surrounding them, foreheads pressed together, their half lidded gaze met.

Arnav took in the desire in her eyes, and pulled her against him once again, resting her face on his wet back shirt and he himself buried her face, into the crook of her neck, as his lips came in contact with the raindrops sliding down the porcelain arch. Leaving a trail of feather light kisses, he tilted her face upwards and claimed her lips again. This time wretchedly slow, delving deeper, the alluring silence speaking much more than words, telling stories of dumb, mute confession. Their frolicking lips involuntarily gave birth to a raw passion, so strong that wouldn't be dimmed in a thousand years. He played with her lips, like infants would play, with dove-like fondness, with chaste concession. His fingers roamed dangerously below the sensuous swell of her breasts. Khushi felt forsworn and held on to him tightly, her lips wanting more, needing his searing touch over her body. She heard him moan her name in the quietest of whispers, undoing whatever little was left of her control. She felt his hands gripping her hips and lifting her, as his lips left hers, moving down to her chin, and as she felt the loss of ground beneath her feet, she arched her neck back and felt the shimmering, moist lips graze over her neck, and as mourning the loss of the touch of her lips, he took them again, not wanting to leave them ever, his thirst increasing with every touch. They both hung on to each other for a long time, lingering lips, and drenched bodies moved in rhythm with each other under the monsoon rains, to an unknown song.

A song of ice and fire. The touch of her cold skin against his, the fire in his eyes, lingering lips taking away all fear, all sorrow. Leaving behind, memories and a tender pledge of future bliss, sealing their love for an eternity.

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