WW Maya's -About Last Night- (June 25 2012 Pg 140) - Page 98

Oh! she could see that he was so turned on by this victory--or rather, her defeat. And, what was worse!--she was on fire too. The game was always their most expedient aphrodisiac."These 2 are irresistible.

"Never react the way he expects you to."…So very true…never let a guy know that he understood you completely…

""you and your brother share the same skill.""…seriously love the way…Yash pays attention to minor details between the siblings…

""consider yourself thoroughly kissed.""…and I just died reading this….he is too good to be true… 😳😳😳
😳

Thx for the PM

OP

June 25 2012

Everybody knows that schemes are fine--but they are nothing without concrete details. However, as yet, our heroine had not worked out every crease of her plan; she only knew that alteration was essential if she was to exalt in this marriage. But how? How could that problematic man be squashed, if she herself was not fully clear on the process? She knew the why but was quite lost on the how. Well, not entirely lost--she knew this: Arnav Singh Raizada would not be bested at his own game, so Khushi Kumari Gupta had to fashion her own game. A better game. Perhaps, the way to annihilate a man was not to become a man, but to become more woman. And, until she knew what that entailed, until she had clarity and direction on those subtle female powers, she must avoid him. In every way. Again--in every way!

This was surprisingly easy.

On the flight she managed to slide into a window seat meant for Aman, next to Pari. Aman didn't object--for reasons of his own, he seemed pleased to not be intimately sat with his wife. Pari was relieved too. And when Arnav suggested that she vacate Aman's seat, Khushi told him with her eyes that Pari had especially made this seating request. Arnav's brow creased with a frown but he said no more. And from this, Khushi also learnt something new.

Rule Number 2: Do not reveal the real reason behind your actions.

If she had appeared unwilling to sit with Arnav, he would have known that she was annoyed with his overbearing actions in relation to Anjali. And, through this lens, he would analyze her future behaviour. Perhaps anticipating her counter-attack. Or, attributing her distancing to an egoic blow. And, then tease her about it. No! It was best that he continue to exist under the impression that Wifey was unchanged. Because if he knew that she was altered, he would alter his game--and then, she would be forced to devise another new game...

Aagh! This would all require a very cool head. She doubted her constitution. She was not a strategist; she was a mender--she fixed what was broken; that was how she lived. They were so unalike.

She glanced at him--and was alarmed to discover that he had been observing her all this time. His one elbow was on the arm rest, with his finger and thumb resting on his chin. His eyes--! It was a look that Khushi immediately recognized--not from scientific deduction or logic, but from what it stirred within her. She drew a deep breath. His gaze touched her bosom. And, then met her eyes again.

It need not be stated, but we may as well pronounce the words: In his mind, she was on his desk, and he was locked inside her.

A shaky breath tumbled from her lips and she broke his gaze. From the corner of her eyes, he saw him speak a few words to Aman, who passed his message to Yash, who passed the message to Pari, who...

Yes, if this sounds familiar, somewhat like a parlour game, it is because that was exactly the process by which his message was conveyed to her. And, the message was: Fasten your seatbelt.

Oh, Sisters, how we all love innuendo!

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Two vehicles met them at the airport in Delhi. One to drive Aman and Arnav to AR Headquarters, and one to take Yash and Khushi to Raizada House, dropping Pari off enroute.

"Khushi?" Arnav said, coming to her side--he gripped her elbow--, "I've arranged to meet Angelica at around eight this evening. Do you want to be present?"

"Of course," she said, looking directly into his eyes. "I want to see what decision you have made about Angel Refrigeration." She stressed 'you', then added, "and, I want to meet my rival."

His eyes touched her face, and she saw his lip curl slightly. "We both know, Khushi, that you have no equal."

It was ambiguous enough to appear both a compliment and a critique. And, therefore, it was useless to her. How typical of Arnav Singh Raizada. He never declared himself. Almost never. She made a mental note to stop flaunting her love for the world--and especially her husband--to see.

In a cool voice [but not excessively cool!] she said, "if we are meeting her at eight, would you be home by seven so we can dine with the family." And, before he could protest that he had work at the office, she added, "we are here for only two evenings. It will make them happy, especially Naniji."

He gave a nod.

To counteract the aforementioned coolness, she now showed some extra warmth. She knew that contrasting points had a decided effect on Arnav. Fire and ice. Pain followed by pleasure. "Thank you," she said, softly with a smile, and pressed her lips lightly to his cheek. Khushi then moved towards the waiting vehicle.

But his fingers tightened on her elbow, and prevented her. She looked down at his grip and then met his eyes with her question.

"Tum theek ho?" he asked.

Was he already sensing a change in her? Khushi, be inscrutable!

"I'm perfectly fine," she said. She came back to his side and asked, "Aap, Arnavji? Are you fine?"

"Tolerable," he replied.

Ambiguity, again! This must be his Rule Number 1.

She had no qualms about stealing from her husband. She made it her Rule Number 3: Be Ambiguous. Never Commit. Never fix.

"Are you unsure about Angelica?" she asked.

She knew he was never unsure. She knew with absolute certainty, that waiting at AR Headquarters, upon his desk, was an envelope from Mr. Rao's law firm, containing a document drafted up exactly as Arnav had requested. At eight tonight he would make Angelica sign a paper preventing her from selling her business to anyone but him; at a time he stipulated, at a price he deemed right. That was ASR.

We must not imagine that Khushi did not feel some pride here. She did admire Arnav. She admired him greatly. For what he had achieved at such an age, in such a country. Khushi respected his sharp mind and his indefatigable will. This challenge she had set for herself was not to question their love, nor to devalue his role as a husband. She simply wanted to be his equal, and not his subject. She wanted to develop herself, not to best him, but to meet him.

And, perhaps there was in this also a longing that Arnav would look at her with admiration and esteem. She held no pretensions that she could teach him anything--she wasn't sure he was teachable!--but if he should accidentally learn something from her, that would be something too.

He shook his head. "No. I'm not unsure about Angelica," he said. "However, I am unsure about you."

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Oh, Sisters, how we all love innuendo!