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Arnav looked around... everyone was in the lounge area.. except Khushi! It must have been at least half an hour or so ... he had not seen Khushi around.
Since his return...after the whole kidnapping saga... he had spent the night in bed.. getting nursed by Anjali, Mami and Nani... no one had left him alone.. Khushi had stayed at a distance.. bringing what ever Anjali asked for... Khushi had not even made eye contact with him..
Is this the same Khushi that could not stay away from him when they ran away?he wondered. Arnav's eyes..thirsty..to look into Khushi's eyes.. to read her mind.. to know what is going on in her delicate heart... Arnav's heart.. yearning to see Khushi.. feel her presence close to him... Arnav's mind... longing to see that love in Khushi's eyes that he had seen in the warehouse.. across from the grill... Aranv's soul... asking for that moment of solace.. peace.. of knowing that Khushi meant all of it.. when they were away from home...
Arnav drifted into deep sleep... after returning to his room... his mind still focused on Khushi...
Ahhh! Wish we did not start like this Khushi! To this day I do not know what came over me.. why did I behave so badly.. Khushi, how I wish.. I could erase this scene from both our memories..

But then.. came all those beautiful moments... You and your half ripe plans... landed us in the jungle...on our way to Nanitaal... Those tender moments we shared.. I never want to forget any of those, Khushi!

And the most beautiful moment ever... I never thought I could love someone..

Before that...this was me.. that no one knew about.. my heart had recognized you... and me.. and this special bond...

This.. I never believed in destiny.. but, how and why did this happen... I broke your fast on teej...

I tied the bandage around your ring finger... all I knew was that you were hurt and I could not see that.. I had to take care of you...that was my apology... But destiny was playing some other game..

You brought smile back to my face... you are all the fun that I missed in my life..You are the mischief I want to have happen all the time in my life..

Khushi, once I decided to step on the stage with you... my heart ruled.. my brain went with my mind and heart.. I just went with the flow... With you in my arms...

And Khushi, you may not have realized.. but you just followed me.. you became my Khushi.. I could feel it... your mind.. your heart.. your body... just reciprocated every touch and every gaze of mine..

I put a stamp of my authority on you... you allowed me to...

And since then.. I never had to ask again... I knew.. you had me written all over you..

Some of the most tender.. and most beautiful moments we shared...

Then... everything went wrong...everything looked beautiful on surface ... but
nothing was right... the most beautiful bride on this earth ever... "Khoon ke aansoo pee rahi thi uss raat"... you were crying your heart out ... my heart was full of anger then... it is full of shame now.. asking for your forgiveness...

One fine day.. you showed your soul to me... I realized.. it was me and only me...
but you said nothing...

A long journey...after...some stolen moments..

Some heart breaking...

Came the separation.. even before we could meet...

It seems like a dream that we met and ...did it really happen?

I am sorry Khushi, to have rushed... and as it turned out, it was not the right time...

"Khushi..." Arnav felt a warm breath on his face... he opened his eyes..
Khushi was straightening the blanket over him.. unaware that he had woken up...
"Khushi!" called Arnav in a soft voice...Startled, Khushi looked at him... she immediately turned her eyes away as soon as she realized that Arnav was indeed awake and talking to her...
Next moment, she rushed outside the room... Arnav got up from the bed.. still feeling tired.. he looked around.. it was night... full moon was up in the sky... he stepped out... he had forgotten how beautifully the pool water reflected light at night time.. a breeze came by.. and Arnav's heart jumped with anticipation... he turned around...Khushi stood by the poolside.. next to the glass door..her angelic face...mesmerizing with the reflection of pool water...She looked so beautiful that his heart reflected tenderness through his eyes.. Arnav took some slow steps towards Khushi... Khushi did not take any backward steps this time.. anticipation mounted in his heart.. his eyes searching for Khushi's eyes.. Khushi closed her eyes.. Arnav was standing so close to her... they could feel each other's breath...
'Khushi, meri taraf dekho..look at me, Khushi," said Arnav gently..
Khushi bit her lower lip and shut her eyes closed even more..her right hand crushing her red saree... her breathing getting heavier by the moment...
"Khushi...andar chalo.. yehaan tumhe sardi lag jayegi! Let us go inside, you will catch cold out here!" Arnav said in a firm voice and turned around. All of a sudden he felt a soft hand holding his arm firmly...it reminded him of..

Arnav turned around.. looked at Khushi.. her eyes still intermittently looking at the floor... said Arnav, "Khushi, tumhe yaad hai.. uss din tumane mujhse poochha tha.." "Do you remember, Khushi..you asked me that day..."
"Aisa kyuon hota hai,jab bhi aap humare paas aate hai toh humari dil ki dhadkan tez ho jaati hai.." Khushi said!
"Why does this happen, whenever I come closer to you my heart starts beating faster..." said Khushi.

"Khushi?" asked stunned Arnav..."Toh tumhe...yaad.."
Khushi placed her finger on Arnav's lips and said in a heavy voice,
"Ab hum samajh gaye hai.. aisa kyoun hota hai... Arnav ji... hum aapse kuchh kehna chahate hai..""Now I know, why it happens.. Arnav ji.. I have something to say to you.."
"hmmm" said Arnav ...his eyes looking at her with anticipation.. his face soft.. Khushi removed her finger from Arnav's lips...
Aranv held Khushi's hand.. Khushi took some backward steps.. got snug against the glass door.. nowhere to go...Arnav held both her hands...entwined his fingers into hers.. his lips brushed against her cheek as he leaned over and said in her ear, "I love you, Khushi!"
Khushi looked up, gazed deep in Arnav's eyes.. her eyes moist but twinkling.. her soft lips parted, a soft voice said, "Hum bhi ... aapse... bahot pyaar karte hai!" "..I love you.. very much.."
Time stood still... the first time lovers in each others embrace.. by the magical poolside.. full moon in the sky.. with thousands of stars..twinkling in the night sky...finally.. the magical poolside had witnessed the most beautiful confession ever...

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