Arhi FF:Mirage #2 Next thread link on Pg 151 - Page 12

"No. Buaji won't allow." Khushi pouted, sticking her lower lip out.

"I'll go and get her permission. I'm sure she would allow." Arnav persisted but Khushi wasn't convinced.

"She doesn't allow me to step out of the house after nine at night." Khushi added.

"That's when you are all alone. If I'm there with you, I'm sure she won't have any problem." Arnav said tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. They were outside Khushi's gate and discussing about the plans for the night.

"Don't say later that I didn't warn you beforehand." Khushi warned him. Arnav got down from the bike and followed Khushi into the house. Upon entering the door, they found Buaji sitting on the couch watching her favourite program on television. She didn't notice their arrival. Hence, Khushi called out her aunt from behind to gain her attention towards them.

"Buaji!"

"Oh, you arrived!" Buaji exclaimed turning around, but was utterly surprised to find Arnav along with her. "Oh Babua! You again? Come in!" she asked him to take a seat.

"Actually Aunty, I wanted to ask you something." Arnav began, noticing a nervous Khushi fidgeting with the ends of her dupatta. "I wanted your permission to take Khushi out for a movie with me."

Buaji stared at him for a whole minute without any reply from her side. Arnav began to feel equally nervous at her silence. He couldn't understand why was he feeling nervous for such a trivial matter.

"What time is the movie?" Buaji asked in a serious voice.

"Now, at 8:30 pm. We will be back home by 12." Arnav responded back.

"But babua, that is too late and you know the things that happen at night in this city. How can I let my girl go out at night?"

"Aunty, you can trust me. I'll make sure that she returns home, safe and sound. You needn't worry. I'll take care of her. I promise." Arnav reassured her. "Please Aunty, give me one chance to prove myself." He pleaded her.

"Since you are asking so much, you may take her. But I'll be waiting for her till she returns home. If anything happens to her, you won't be spared." Buaji warned in a stern tone.

Arnav smiled back, glancing at Khushi whose face was brightened up with enthusiasm and excitement. This was what he had wanted to see in her face and he could go to any extent to see her like this.

o0o

"Zombies on Streets. What kind of name is that?" Arnav asked quizzically raising his eyebrows. He had asked Khushi to choose a movie. Never had he imagined that she would select a horror movie on such a romantic occasion.

"Arnav, you have no idea how good is it. I saw the trailer on the tv. I love horror movies." Khushi said delightfully, stuffing some popcorn into her mouth. He looked all around them. The theatre was almost empty. He looked back at Khushi and saw her getting all excited as the movie began. Just when he thought he had figured out this girl, she would surprise him.

He didn't give a damn about the movie. The whole time, his eyes were only fixed on her, lost in her trance. Her animated expressions never ceased to amuse him.

"Aren't you watching the movie?" she asked turning around to find him staring at her.

"I think you shouldn't be watching this. It's too violent." Arnav replied back staring shockingly at the screen as dead bodies lay scattered on the streets, half eaten by weird looking zombies. Were they really crazy to create movies like these? He thought to himself.

"Aww.. are you feeling scared Arnav?" she asked amusedly pulling his cheek. "Don't worry. If it's too scary just tell me. We'll go and watch kids movies in the next theatre." She teased him, while he scowled back at her.

He was feeling so restless that he didn't know what to do. He managed to put his arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer to himself. But she had been too engrossed in the movie to notice it. He started fidgeting with her open hair, inhaling the fragrance, trying to guess the shampoo brand.

"Arnavvv..." she hit him lightly on his hand. "Stop touching my hair!" she hissed out furiously, making him to withdraw it immediately. All he could do now was stare aimlessly at the screen, waiting for the movie to get over.

When it was finally over after one and a half hour, he got up thankfully, vowing to never go with her to a horror movie again.

"So how was it?" he asked mockingly, knowing very well what would be her reply.

"Awesome!" she declared as they made their way outside the theatre hall. It was eerily quiet around them as all other people were busy watching movies in other theatre halls. It had been too cold inside and the effect was very visible to Khushi as she came outside.

"Where is everyone?" she asked nervously, finding the area empty. The spooky silence was slowly starting to haunt her as she relived the movie she had just viewed.

"I don't know." He replied non chalantly walking towards the exit. Suddenly, he found Khushi missing beside him. He turned around to find her standing a few feet away behind him.

"Khushi? What happened?" he enquired curiously.

"I need to go to the washroom." She said shivering with the coldness of the temperature around her.

"Ok, I'll wait for you." He replied back. He saw Khushi walking towards the washroom, but found her stopping mid way and turning towards him with a nervous frightful face. "Arnav, can you come with me?" she asked in a soft voice. "I'm scared. Please?"

Arnav was stunned and amused to find her frightened. He couldn't believe that she was the same girl who had watched a horror movie without any slightest hint of fear and now, here she was, just too scared to walk a few meters to the washroom!

"Oh, So now who's scared?" he teased her as he strode towards her.

"Don't make fun of me." She frowned back at him, walking towards the washroom, holding on to his hand tightly. "Did you forget that I was the one who had saved your life that day?"

"Ok, fine!" he replied bowing down to her. "I accept that you are my brave lioness. Happy?" he asked smirking back at her, while she punched him lightly on his abdomen.

"Arnavvv..."

o0o

Khushi was strolling on the road outside the mall, in the middle of the night, holding Arnav's hand in hers. This was something that she was very fond of. Such leisurely walks made her feel relaxed. She could see people still roaming around her, half of them who were hurrying back to their houses, the other half who seemed to have lost all track of time, behaving like nocturnal animals.

They had dined at a restaurant and had now decided to take a stroll outside, since they had some spare time left until their deadline to return home.

"Arnav," she called out his name, breaking the silence hovering between them. "Have you ever desperately wished for something, from the bottom of your heart and dreamt about it day and night, hoping that it comes true?" Khushi asked casually, staring at the taillights of the vehicles, zooming away from them into the darkness.

"Like what?" he asked back, turning to look at her face.

"You know, like for example, I've always wished to take a stroll on the beachside, play with the water, build sandcastles like a kid or simply lie down on the sand lazily. I've always dreamt of how it would feel like to do these things. In my entire life, I've never been to a place which has a beach. But after reading about it in so many novels, I'm so curious and excited about the way they describe it in the books. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be coming true. Afterall, I'm struck in this completely landlocked Delhi." She replied chuckling slightly, shrugging her shoulders. "What about you?"

He seemed to be lost in his own world.

He had desperately dreamt of only one thing in this world. Something he couldn't share with her.

For a second, she actually thought that she would be responded back, with only silence from him. But she was taken aback with surprise.

After pondering over it for a minute, he spoke. "I've always dreamt about skiing on snow. How it would feel to just let go of yourself and feel the adrenaline rush into your veins. My mom used to say that she had once visited Kashmir during winter and she had described how wonderful the snow felt. Cold yet magical." He suddenly gulped, finding his throat dry up, unable to proceed further, as enormous pain flitted through his eyes.

Khushi could only stare at him stunned. This was the first time he had spoken about his mother. She didn't know whether she should be happy that he was slowly opening up to her or be worried for the pain she was seeing in his eyes. Why was he so uncomfortable when he spoke about his past?

She firmly squeezed his hand with both her hands, bringing it up towards her face, as she placed a light reassuring kiss on it. There was no point in pursuing the matter. He would never open up to her and she knew it very well.

"If we had gone to Shimla in December, maybe you would have got a chance to experience a bit of snow." She replied back not knowing what else to say.

He desperately wanted to share his pain with her, because somehow, he had felt that he could trust her. But then their relationship would never be the same, would it?

He simply nodded back. As they continued to walk ahead, he noticed how she was rubbing her arms for warmth. The nights were getting colder now and the wind getting harsher. She tried to shield herself with her dupatta, but it wasn't helping her cause.

Suddenly, she felt his arm glide over her shoulders, pulling her sideways towards his body, providing her with the warmth of his body. He was rubbing his warm palm over her cold arms. She titled her head upwards to look at his face, his eyes that seemed to be concentrated ahead. But she felt like she saw a faint smile flash on his face for a second. Enjoying the warm feeling, she wrapped her arm around his torso, leaning her head on his shoulder. The faint sound of his heart beats was somehow, very soothing and comforting to her ears.

"Buaji is waiting for us." She whispered into the night air, not wanting to let go of him. But she knew they had to get home.

"You're right. Let's go." He said leading her towards their bike.

o0o

They could see the lights still on in the living room, confirming the fact that Buaji had stayed awake, awaiting their return.

"Thank you so much for tonight. I had lots of fun with you." Khushi said hugging him tightly, after getting down from the bike. He too got down from the bike, taking her hand in his and lead her inside the compound. She was slightly taken aback by this gesture, aND she looked back at him enquiringly.

"I had promised your Buaji that I would drop you home safely till your doorstep. And I've kept my promise." He replied back clearing her doubts.

"Oh!" she smiled back at him, feeling warmth envelop her heart at this gesture. "Hey listen!" she said suddenly remembering the earlier event. "If there is something bothering you and you feel like sharing it with someone, remember that I will always be ready beside you." Khushi stood on her toes as she pulled his face closer to hers placing a warm, soft feathery kiss on his forehead. "I don't like to see you fighting a lone battle with your inner demons and struggling with the pain. It helps if you share it with someone." She whispered into his ears, brushing aside his ruffled hair on his forehead. He stood silent without uttering anything. Seeing no response from him, she continued."So I guess, I'll see you day after tomorrow then."

"Why? Why not tomorrow?" he asked surprised, breaking his silence.

"Coz it's the neighbour's wedding tomorrow right? Have you forgotten? Didn't we purchase the red saree for that? So, I will be going to the community marriage hall in the evening. Hence, I can only meet you day after tomorrow."

"Ok, then, I'll still see you tomorrow." He said waving back at her as he walked towards the gate. He could hear her shouting back something at him. But he didn't bother.

He was definitely going to see her tomorrow. Afterall, hadn't he purchased her the saree? And how was it possible for him to miss out on this golden opportunity?

CHAPTER 23