ARSHI FF: Addicted to Love (Chap 1) Pg 25 17/06 - Page 15

Arnav reached London.

He was done with his immigration. He headed straight towards the exit. He didnto have to wait for his luggage coz he never had one. He only carried his backpack which he took while coming to London.

He picked up one road map which had all the details of underground and bus routes.

He asked the security about the address he wrote which was dictated by his mamaji.

Without wasting further time he headed towards the place.

After about traveling more than 2 hours he reached infront of a tall building

Arnav: I think it looks like an office.

He entered the compound and rechecked the address with the guard.

The guard said it is in the 17^th floor of the 2^nd tower.

Arnav quickly ran towards the second tower which almost took him 5mins to reach.

He was heavily panting.

The elevator opened ding'she saw a pretty English girl looking weirdly towards him. He gave a fake smile and turned to press 17^th floor.

The elevator closed'ding

He nervously took out their photo and saw it for the last time. He placed their photo close to his heart and started talking.

Arnav: please come back lav, I will do what you want. Don't leave me like this. I will be shattered. I am here to get you back. And I am sure I will get you back in my life. My life is meaning less without you. You have to come back to me. I will make sure you do. He said that load.

The elevator stopped'ding.

He saw the floor it was 11^th. The girl went out saying all the best. He smiled back. "Thanks"

Finally he reached to the 17^th floor. The elevator opened Ding'

He did not know but somehow the noice of the elevator seemed to be very pronounced. Everytime it dinged his heart skipped a beat. He did not know whether it was due to excitement or nervousness or what. But it was nerve racking for sure.

He cleaned his shoe top rubbing it on his trouser and started walking towards the huge glass door.

It was indeed an office. A fashio firm he could make out from its appearance.

He pushed the door and entered.

Receptionist: Hi! May I help you? (ooh! This guys looks hot) Looks like you have come here to drop your portfolio?

Arnav was dumbstuck for a moment. He was taken a back with the receptionist attitude. No no no'well I would like to meet Lavanya'

Receptionist threw a weird look towards him'who's lavanya?

Arnav: Lavanya Kashyap, I guess she is working in this firm.

Hi!

Arnav looked behind. He saw another girl waving in front of him

The girl came near him'zaina, I will take care of him'she said to the receptionist.

Arnav adjusted his back pack and headed towards the huge sofa in the waiting zone walking behind the girl.

Pam, my name is pam and I am LK's friend. You are Arnav right?

Arnav: Hey you know me? (he was surprised)

Pam: Ya, you are LK's Ex-boyfriend right?

Arnav: Hey don't say that, I don't know whats wrong with her but I am sure I can convince her.

Pam: Its too late arnav' she is'(get cuts off by him)

Arnav: No pam. I will. Where is she?

Pam: Today she has taken off.

Arnav: Oh shit'doesnot matter. Can I have her address?

Pam: I am so sorry arnav, but I cant give her address.

Arnav: Hey sweetheart, please dear. You know how much I need this and you know me right? She has told you about me. And I have come all the way for her.

Pam (felt a little sympethitic towards him'poor boy she thought). Ok I can give you in one condition'you are not going to disclose it to her that I have given you her address.

Arnav: don't worry. I will take care of that.

Pam: Arnav, just think about it once before you go there.

Arnav: Pam, just give her address please.

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He rushed to the elevator, waiting impatiently inside it. Stormed out of it once it reached the ground took a Cab and headed towards her residence.

Finally he reached his destination. He paid the cab and got out. He checked the address in the board and headed towards the apartment list.

He searched twice but couldnot get Lavanya kashyap anywhere.

He opened the note where he wrote her address and saw the flat no. He once again went through the whole list and found the flat owners name as Jay Mehta.

Before he proceeded towards the entrance he felt someone is behind him. Turned to see, but there was no one.

He jerked his head and went straight upto the flat.

He looked the door and tried seeing through the eye hole. He moved back and then gathered the courage to press the bell and waited

He could here lavanaya's voice which said, " Honey will you please open the door?"

Arnav was about to knock the door but he stopped listen to a male voice which said " I am in the bathroom honey, so you have to check the door.

Arnav pressed the bell once again, this time the bell got stuck and the noise did not stop.

He man inside the apartment was furious and was shouting at the top of his voice. Arnav did not know what to do. He man inside was cursing and was furious. He quickly made his way to the exit. The man opened the door and when he did not find anyone there he curse more and more and then slammed the door behind.

Arnav was extremely heart broken to find his love staying with someone else in the same house.

He was looking down at the road when he was about to get hit by a bike rider. The ridered zoomed and pressed the back. Looked back to Arnav, who gestured him sorry but putting his hand up.

The rider then rode away.

Arnav was totally lost in his thought continuously looking that the apartment when his gaze shifted to a seized building beside the apartment. He had a plan. He tried to open the entrance door but it was locked. He tired his luck by trying to enter from the backyard, which he was successful.

He practically hoped, fallen, hurt himself while trying to reach the same floor from where he could see their flat directly. And finally he came near the broken window and saw lavanya.

She is so pretty he thought who was sitting beside the window looking outside.

After sometime he saw a man coming close to her. He slowly pulled her head and rested on his abs while caring it.

Arnav was quite sure that the man was none other than her new boyfriend. And their behavior with each other made it quite obvious.

The whole night he sat near the broken window and looked at their apartment.

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Next morning he went to a PCO and called his best buddy Aman.

Arnav: He aman, whats up?

Aman: Hey dude, where are you? I have heard from Mama ji that you are in London right now. Is everything alright?

Arnav: Aman, I will explain that to you later on. I need a help from you.

Aman: tell me dude

Arnav: aman I need a projector, a video cam and a screen here in London. As I have rushed to come here I forgot to bring any money and you know it very well that I will not ask from dad about it. I will return you once I am in India.

Aman: Dude don't worry I will send you cash as well

Aranv: No aman, that I will manage. You please arrange for the things I had asked for I just need those urgently so I had to ask for your help.

Aman: you will never change ASR. Fine I will send it to you. Give me your address.

Arnav: I have opened a mailbox send me there. The place where I am living right now has got no proper address.

Aman: Fine dude. Please take care.

Aranv: I will. And hey thanks buddy.

Aman: My pleasure.

While talking to him he saw the same man in motor bike staring at him. He looked carefully, yes he is the same person wearing same wine coloured leather trouser, black leather jacket and silver helmet. He felt a bit weird. He disconnected the line and came near the road to see him but he accelerated and drove off.

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It was almost 7 days, he was observing Lavanya's and his boyfriends patterns. Their life style, they way they behaved with each other. He concluded that the man was a way to perfectionist. He never compomise in an inch and which was very irriating for the partner.

He also saw lavanya's unhappy face when her new boyfriend often freakout in some minor issues.

In the meantime, he received the mail from Aman which he had asked for. He placed the video cam in front to the window and connected it with the projector. The screen was placed near a broken sofa (almost springs were coming out) and then he switched on the video cam. He could see the entire house on the big screen now. He doesnot have to sit near the window he thought and felt happy as he did not want to disclose his presence infront of lavanya so soon. Before that he wanted to be 100% sure of their relationship.

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It was night when he saw someone in their house in the projected screen. He knew that lavanya and his boyfriend were not there in the house. He thought it must be some thief or something. He walked up to the window and saw a black figure throwing torch light on his face from their apartment.

Arnav: Shit he thought. This guy has seen him. And wait a minute, he is the same person who followed him that day was who was about to ride his bike on him.

He saw him going down then coming towards the seized building looking up.

Arnav: Oh SHIT! Who the f**k is he. He took an iron rod in his hand and prepared himself to hit him hard.

He screamed'don't you dare come here. But his words did not effect him much. He broke the glass pane with his legs and entered. He threw a huge bag straight in front of arnav.

Arnav looked at the bag and then looked at him. He tightened his grip on the rod and was about to blow when the person opened his helmet and jerked his hair.

His eyes widened to see the sight infront of him. He has never imagined a girl behind those helmet.

Hazel nut smoky eyes, wearing black leather jacket and wine coloured leather trouser. She placed her helmet beside her waist and looked at him.