FF: It all started with 300 Rupees Updated Part 22 - Page 18

K replied "Man……he had to leave…….his assistant informed him about some meeting in New York tomorrow, so he had to catch his flight tonight…..he is probably gone by now, or in his room getting ready to leave……..I wish he had stayed here little longer……..it's too bad he had to leave……"

Khushi's ears heard what K said…….those words transferred to her brain………all the cells trying to connect the dots…….process……..those mere words……..comprehending the auditory data……transferring it to a meaningful content………her blood pumped fast…….so fast……throughout her body………signaling Khushi's body to move…….to get up……..to go…….to stop him…….to find him……

She was frozen……..her brain couldn't get through to her……..

Now her brain signaled her heart………the memories……….her love……..her life……….the only person she has ever loved……..was leaving…….or already left………..she didn't know………

She was shaken………..

Her brain sending signals to her body……no response…….

Her heart sending signals to her body……..she is shocked……..

After few minutes…….which felt like eternity…….she got up, picked up her clutch, her phone and RAN…….outside the banquet……..she kept running………but where…….what was his room number……..where would he be………what if he has already left the hotel……..oh my god…….he came to talk to me…….but I didn't listen to him……how could I do that……..but did he really leave…….where should I check….where…….outside…….or inside………she got dizzy……she couldn't take the thought of him leaving her…….not NOW…….not AGAIN……….she had to find him……….

She ran to the EXIT first……just to make sure he wasn't there………she looked around in panic…….no….he wasn't there…..is this the only EXIT……..I don't know………where should I find him…….WHERE?

Her mind jolted her…..THINK KHUSHI……THINK…….THINK FAST……..

DAMN! I should check the reception……..YES…….I should ask the reception desk……

She started running…….again……..out the canopy……...on the sand……..again……..stupid sand…….even stupider Sandals……….why did I wear high heels today……….WHY……….she took them off…….pulled it out so hard……she hurt her foot………stood up……..and started walking again……..holding her pair of unnecessary footwear in her hands…….how far is this building……it looked only few steps away…..but much farther than it actually seemed…….it felt like forever………between the canopy……to the hotel itself………..UGGGHHH thought Khushi……finally…….after what felt like infinite minutes………she got there…….to the hotel……

She entered the Hotel………passing all the people…….all the staff…….she just ran and ran……..she continued running…….towards the reception……..until she finally got there…….

AT THE RECEPTION

She rushed to the reception desk……bumped on the front desk………looked up……..out of breath…..trying to catch her breath………finally……she asked…….

Which…….whichhh room……..still trying to catch her breath………whichhh room is…….Mr. Raizada……in?

The receptionist answered "I am sorry ma'am, we cannot give you any information on any guest".

Khushi asked again "Listen, I understand, but I need to know…..it's urgent……very urgent……I have to know his room number….."

Receptionist replied again "I am sorry ma'am, I wish I could help you but I am not allowed to give you any information on any customer".

Khushi: "I have to know right now…….can you at least tell me if he is still here…….or has he checked out?"

Receptionist: "I am sorry ma'am, I can't do that either, that is the same thing as giving out information about the guests"

Khushi was frustrated now……..she screamed "Listen, I need to know……..he is my hus………I am his wi……..I NEED TO KNOW HIS ROOM NUMBER, WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Receptionist replied "Ma'am, please wait, let me ask my manager", she was about to dial her manager's number when Khushi stopped her, she said "No don't call your manager, call Mr. Oberoi, tell him Khushi wants to speak to him", the receptionist agreed, she dialed Mr. Oberoi's cell phone number and requested him to talk to Khushi, khushi pulled the phone from her and said "Mr. Oberoi, I need a huge favor, if you don't mind……I need to know Mr. Raizada's room number……it's urgent...yes……please…..thanks…..I appreciate it…….", she returned the phone to the receptionist…….who then talked to Mr. Oberoi and hung up.

She said "Sorry, ma'am let me check his room number right away……" she checked her computer………after some clicks……and LONG irritating seconds…..she replied "Mr. Raizada is in Presidential Suite, The Kohinoor Suite…….on 21^st floor…….suite number 2182……..I will get an attendant to escort you there….".

She ran towards the elevators………the attendant followed her………the attendant pressed the elevator up button…….and then she pressed the same button ten more times out of frustration and impatience, the attendant noticed her do that……..DING………the elevator finally arrived…….it opened slowly………she rushed in……..and pressed 21……..and pressed it few more times…….over and over again…….the attendant noted her actions…..but didn't say anything……..the door closed……..elevator started moving…….up……her heart was racing……….faster than Nascar………DING…….the elevator stopped………she started getting ready to exit…….that's when she heard "ma'am this is not 21^st floor, we are still on 11^th floor….." she stopped…….people came in……and went out…….the elevator continued moving up……

Was it her……or the stupid elevator was just extra slow today……..how slow could this elevator be……..she was getting irritated……..she pressed 21 again……..and again……..without worrying about people looking at her……..DING……the door opened…….again……she looked up…….it was only the 16^th floor………again…..people got in……people got out……..

The elevator started moving up again……..even slower than before……..she thought out loud…… "I could have walked faster than this……what kind of elevator is this….?" Her mind racing……her heart pounding……..blood boiling…….the fear……..the tension……..the ache……..the pain……the agony……..the love……she thought……I hope he is still in his room…….how could he do this to me……..how could he……what is wrong with him……….the restlessness was killing her………..how could he still have that kind of effect on her……..

DING…….she looked up again in frustration…….it was 21^st floor…….the door opened…….she rushed out……..looking for direction…….which way is Kohinoor Suites……she wondered………the attendant said "this way ma'am" and pointed to her left……….she started walking……fast…..very fast…… trailing along the carpeted hallway………her heart racing faster than her legs……….her mind rambling even faster than her heart………she stopped……..another door……..she tried opening it……but it was locked…….she looked around…….to get some help……..the attendant finally got there……..and said "sorry ma'am you were running so fast…….let me swipe the key in…..this is private area……..not open for everyone……." Saying that he swiped the key……..the glass door opened……..she ran again……leaving the attendant behind…….ran like a maniac……..

Divided hallways now………where…….which way……..what was his room number………21……something…...21 what…….2182……yes………2182……….she followed the direction……..towards 2170-2190……..turning right…..she ran again…….even faster……..just few more moments……..she would find him…….yes……she told herself……..Khushi…….c'mon……run faster……..before I miss him………her feet hurt………but she continued running again………still holding her sandals in her hands……

Panting……..out of breath…….anxious………afraid………..exhausted……….angry………

That's when she saw someone standing…….in the hallway……..a blurred image……..in distance……..she also heard something……..someone was talking………maybe on the phone………she continued running even faster……unbearable pain taking over her mind……..her heart……..her soul…..she felt……. lightheaded……almost dizzy………

She stopped………..the blurred image becoming clear……..bit by bit……..the voice becoming more familiar…….as her steps got closer……….now she could see……clearly………it was……him…….he was still there……she saw him…….his back facing her……….he was talking to someone……..on the phone……..just few more steps Khushi……she told herself…….keep walking…….don't give up Khushi……..don't……he is right there…….don't give up……….

She put all her strength together……..for those last few steps……to get to him……..to touch him…..to stop him….to ask him……to…….

As she walked further……..her eyes welled up……..between the tides of emotions…….the physical pain…….the stress……..the worry……..

Finally……..she ran…….fast……..she ran…….

AND THREW HERSELF AGAINST HIM...from the back…..her arms wrapped across his chest………holding him tightly……..so tight……..

KHUSHI??

He said………without turning around…….

He was shocked at this sudden smash…..then slowly he felt her………it was Khushi…….touching him……her arms around him……..he felt her chest move……fast…….in and out…….she was close to him…..tightly snug……….

He wanted to see her face…….feel her…….touch her……..he saw her hands………on his chest……holding him so tight…….and also her sandals…….dangling in her hands………

He turned around…….to see her beautiful face……..but what he saw……..terrified him……….

Her face was…..red……..wet with tears………hint of black…….her smeared mascara on her face………before he could even look at her properly……

She screamed……

"HOW CAN YOU JUST LEAVE LIKE THAT……..WHY?" sobbing even harder…….

"YOU KNOW HOW I FELT……..WHEN K SAID THAT YOU LEFT FOR NEW YORK………" she said, trying to wipe her tears……

She held her dizzy head…….without completing her sentence…….

He held her hands…….supporting her…….that's when she fell on his chest…….and mumbled "how could you……?" in-between her sobs………

He wrapped his arms around her………embracing her…….tight…….fitting her petite body…...into his…..skin to skin……soul to soul……….and said… "Khushi..."

She was still resting on his chest……..crying……….but relaxed…………she had found him………..he was still there………she stayed like that for a while………

And he let her……..without disturbing her………

THEN

She stopped crying………

She composed herself……….

Controlled her super-fast beating heart……..

AND

Detached herself from him………..

Moved back……….

Almost leaning on the wall now………away from him……..right there in the hallway………..and said….. "Sorry……I……just wanted…….to see you……….before………you left……..for New York……….that's why……sorry……I didn't mean…….to……." she looked down avoiding any eye contact………fiddling with her sandals……..

She saw his shoes move towards her…………she looked up………..he was walking towards her………closer……and closer……….so close to her……..

She was unable to understand his intentions………..was he mad at her……….was he upset……..was he angry…….what was he thinking………..what is he going to say……..she thought…………

What happened next was THE UNEXPECTED……….

He picked her up……….in his arms………and started walking towards his room……….he opened the door……..and crossed the threshold………

The threshold……..leaving behind the questions……….confusions……….regrets………..pain……. and the past……….

And entered towards the New Beginning………with his Khushi…………in his arms………just like the last time…….when tradition had demanded……..except this time…….he wanted to………..to….…lift her in his arms……...without any force……without any hesitation………Only LOVE……….

They both entered the room………a secluded shell………away from any piercing eyes………away from the world…….away from the pretense………just them……..without any disturbance……closing the door behind…….securing their privacy………

He was still holding her in his arms…….looking at her…...

Khushi saw those eyes……..those passionate eyes………..making love to her just by looking at her……..

She still couldn't resist those eyes……..even though it had been years……….since he had looked at her like that…….but……..he was still able to hypnotize her………like a illusionist……..

She gazed at him…..without blinking…….her whole body was numb………externally………but Oh-So aroused internally………..desiring him………wanting him………craving him………

She was embarrassed about how much he could still affect her…….like that…….even now……...nothing has changed…….she thought……..trying to keep herself together………very hard……to not give in………her heart started beating faster……….clearly visible in that thin fabric of her sari……..her bosom rising and dropping……..unconsciously……….so close to his chest………..which didn't go un noticed by Arnav……..she saw his eyes moving……..towards her chest…….then back at her face………

She was startled………by this………she blinked………..and started struggling………trying to get out of his arm…….to break away from his spell………

He noticed her being uncomfortable…………he slowly……….put her down………gently sliding her off his arms………placing her on the floor…………

OUCH – screamed Khushi………

Immediately, he asked her……. "Khushi……..are you alright? What happened?"

She grabbed his vest………involuntarily……..dropped her sandals on the floor…….. and replied "Nothing……I was running so fast……through the stupid sand……..in these sandals……..and I obviously couldn't……..so I took them off……and…….I think I pulled it out so harshly………I might have scraped my foot…….I don't know……..I will have to check……" saying that……..she started to bend…….to check her foot………when she heard him say……. "wait…..", he picked her up again………in a jiffy……..and placed her on the couch…….gently………..in the living area……..and said "wait……let me check…….."

He lifted her sari…….marginally………and saw………blood………on her left foot………right by her ankle……..her feet had sand all over them……..which made the wound even worse……..many scratches all over her feet………worsen by sand around them…….he looked up and said "Khushi…….you are bleeding……why did you…….why would you……..never mind……..let me call for a doctor……..come……let's clean it before the doctor arrives…….."

Khushi was shocked at his reaction……..she didn't know who had changed more…….her? Or him? she wasn't sure……..since when did he become so calm……..no yelling…….no screaming…….just a caring person…….a considerate being………trying to soothe her………trying to heal her pain……..worrying about her……….she said "Don't worry about calling the doctor……it's just a minor cut…….I will just wash my feet………." Saying that…….she started getting off the couch to start walking towards the bathroom………he stopped her……….and said "let me help you….." he picked her up again…….and walked to the bathroom……..opened the door………..and entered the bathroom with her…….she said "thanks…….I will just be a minute…….." without directly asking him to leave the bathroom…… He understood her unspoken words……… said "let me know……if you need anything…." And left……closing the door behind him……..

Khushi was in the bathroom……..standing………staring the mirror………lost………in her thoughts……..about the whole today………the evening………is she really in his bathroom………she wondered……….did he just drop me to the bathroom………in his arms……….she had never seen his love towards her like this………did he really worry about my hurt foot…….foot?...oh…….yes……my foot……..she realized why she was in the bathroom……..she walked towards the bathtub…….turned the faucet……….sat in……..lifted her sari……and let the water wash the sand……..the blood………the wound……….the pain………the fear………

She sat like that for a long time………soothing herself…….not with the water though………but her thoughts…….how he was still here………how he had lifted her in his arms to enter the room……..how he was looking at her……..with those intense eyes………how much love he had in his eyes for her……..how worried he was when he saw her bleeding foot……..he didn't even yell at me……she thought……..has he really changed that much……….for me……..does he really love me like he claims to………I don't know…….but……it doesn't matter……..I like him like this…….she told herself………..

KNOCK KNOCK

She heard his voice "Khushi…….are you alright? It's been half hour………do you need anything? Should I call the doctor………how is your foot?" She replied "Yes I am fine……sorry…….I didn't realize I was in here for that long……..the water felt so good on my feet……..I am coming….." He interrupted "that's fine Khushi…..take your time……I was just checking to see if you were fine…….." Khushi was overwhelmed with his love and respect towards her……..she had never experienced that…….in their six months of marriage………. He never bothered about what she wanted……….never cared about her feelings………..and now……..it's just the opposite……..he told her to take her time………he was just checking……..she didn't want to think anymore……..it was driving her crazy……..too much to deal with right now……..she turned the faucet off……….grabbed a towel……..dried her feet……..

She was about to open the door when she saw her face in the mirror……….oh my god………she screamed…….I look like a mess……..she started washing her face in panic……….

"Khushi Khushi…….are you okay……..?" He asked her from outside………..she said "I am fine…..what happened?" He replied "I heard you scream……..are you alright……?" Khushi replied "Oh…..sorry…….I just…….nothing…….I am fine…….I will be out in a minute……", she told herself…….khushi what's wrong with you…….stop overreacting……..and she continued splashing water on her face……..

She opened the bathroom door in a rush……….and bumped right into him……….with her wet face………landing on his chest………he saw her………with…….droplets of water on her face……partly wet hair…………water dripping from her hair…….down to her collarbone……..making her look more exquisite……..those big pretty eyes……shying away……….she moved back……….

OUCH……..she screamed again……….she turned to see that she had bumped her foot into a table……..

"Be careful Khushi………" that's all he said…….grabbed her by arms…….and took her to the couch again……he said "sit……let me get icepack for you……..that should help with the swelling……." He came back with icepack………kneeled down………held her foot gently with both hands………placed it on his knees……….lifted her sari slightly up……..and placed the icepack around her ankle……….

DEJAVU

She looked at him……..remembering the Diwali night………while trying to read his face……but all she saw was concern for her…………that's it………nothing more……..nothing less………maybe he doesn't remember…..she told herself………and felt cold…………

"It's so cold……..my foot is numb now……I think……..I can't feel anything………." She said looking at her foot……….

He replied "few more minutes………you will feel better……….." looking at her………

She said "Ummm…….I can hold the icepack……..you don't need to………."

He replied "I want to…….." still looking at her……….

She said "I think I am fine………now……..it was just a minor cut……….it doesn't hurt anymore……..after I washed my feet……..I am okay………"

"Are you sure?" he asked……

"Yes"……she replied

He put her foot back on the floor………got up………and placed the icepack on the table……….

AWKWARD SILENCE SPREAD THE ROOM…….

They both had so much to say to each other……..but neither one of them knew where to begin……..what to say…….how to break the ice………

Khushi got off the couch………

The room filled with jingles…….of Khushi's bangles………..she walked towards the table…….to get water……….but……

She saw……..his passports……….on the table……..with his ticket……….by his laptop bag………..

She picked it up…….turned……..and rushed to him……..and asked "when is your flight?" in panic…….

Arnav looked at her……..and started walking towards her……….she moved back……..she didn't know why…….she had always done that……..every time he walked towards her……..she always moved back…….but why today……..she didn't know………she was lost in her thoughts……..until she hit the wall………she shook a little……..when he got to her…….so close to her……standing with only breath space between them……..

She tried to get hold of her rising emotions……….and said "I……..when is…….your flight….?"

He held her……from her bare waist……..making her shiver……….then……..slowly……..he leaned in………and whispered………in her ears……….."An hour ago"!

To Be Continued……….

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