Arjun closed the file and asked the two of his employees to come later. He sighed and leaned back on the chair and thought about what happened sometime back. Like always he's got a call from his receptionist that Arohi was here. He was shocked at first as it was really early for Arohi to come from the university and even the driver was still at the office. Was she okay? How did she come here? Were the questions that came in his mind. He stood up from his chair, ready to go out and make sure that Arohi was okay, when he looked out from the one way window from where he could see all his office staff working, he saw Arohi greeting the employees whilst walking maybe towards his cabin. He stood rooted at the spot when he realized that he was not yet ready to talk to her, without thinking about his dream and wanting to do everything for real. Even in the morning when Arohi had started walking towards him, he did not think about the words before it left his mouth. It came out automatically, he just knew that he had to go away from there, he needed sometime before he could face Arohi again, so he lied that he has some work and left from there. He knew that what he did was not right and he might have . . . no, he HAS hurt Arohi, but he's decided that he would apologize for it later. He had thought that by the time Arohi would be back from the university, his mind would be out of the gutter but now that she was early he had to think of a way to avoid meeting her at least for some time and compose himself. He was thankful to his employees who had decided that particular time to come to his cabin and show him the file. If it would have been some other day he would have asked them to come later but not today. He sat in his chair and kept looking at the numbers in the file though he did not understand anything, when there was a knock on his door, he knew that it was Arohi. He literally forced the words 'come in,' out if his mouth. Then he did not acknowledge Arohi, he knew she was waiting, and even he wanted to say something but the words didn't come out of his mouth. From the corner of his eyes he noticed her sitting on the couch and looking at him but he kept his eyes on the file. He could feel her gaze on him but he didn't have the courage to speak and look to her. After sometime when she left he had noticed her voice was not normal and that he had hurt her again. He wanted to stand up and stop her but sat frozen at the spot. After getting his composure he asked the employees to come later.
He heard a knock on the door and before he could say something he saw Dhruv entering the cabin. He opened his file and started turning the pages as if telling Dhruv that he was busy reading the file. And now Dhruv was very much sure that something was wrong with Arjun and he was willing to know that. He knew that Arjun was just pretending that he was reading the file. He stifled the chuckle when he saw that the file was upside down. He quietly went and sat on the chair opposite Arjun. Arjun looked up at Dhruv and saw him staring at him. "What?" Arjun asked frustratingly. "That's what I want to know," Dhruv said coolly. Arjun shook his head slightly and again said, "What?" Dhruv sighed and questioned directly, "What's the problem?" "What's the problem?" Arjun repeated, knowing what Dhruv wanted to know but he was trying to avoid the topic. "For the last time, what's the problem?" Dhruv said, through his teeth. Arjun grew frustrated, "Arohi," the word came out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Arohi?" Dhruv questioned knowingly.
Arjun gave a defeated sigh and said, "The problem is that I'm attracted to Arohi." 'Took you a lot of time,' Dhruv said in his mind knowing that if he would voice it loudly it might not be good, he'll have to be careful with his words. "So? It's good that you are attracted to your WIFE right?" Dhruv said, deliberately emphasizing on the word wife. Arjun shook his head and then said, "No, I'm physically attracted to Arohi," trying to explain his friend that it's not good. "So? What's the big deal?" Dhruv said shrugging his shoulder. He knew what Arjun was trying to say the moment he added the word 'physical' and he now kind of understood, why Arjun was avoiding Arohi. But avoiding will not do any good; it will only create differences between them, which was out of the options. He will now have to make sure that Arjun realizes that being physically attracted to your wife is definitely not a bad thing. "The big deal is that I'm lusting my wife," Arjun said angrily shoving the file on the desk. Dhruv waited for a few seconds for Arjun to handle his wrath before he asked, "Are you sure about what you feel Bud?" Arjun knitted his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes at Dhruv, "What do you mean?" he asked with a bit of irritation in his voice, he'd just said what his problem is and now his so called best friend is asking if he was sure about what he's feeling? "What I mean is, are you sure about what you feel, because all the three times what you said, 'says' a different thing," Dhruv tried to explain. "I'm not getting you," Arjun said, now in confusion. Dhruv leaned forwards and kept both his hands on the desk and then voiced carefully, "Being 'attracted,' being 'physically attracted and 'lusting' are three different things," Dhruv paused and then said, "are you sure what you feel? And more importantly whatever you feel makes no big deal. Arohi is your WIFE; it is okay if you feel such things for your WIFE. You just have to be sure about what 'you' feel," Dhruv so wanted to yell at Arjun and tell him that what he feels is 'love,' which he's named as attraction but he knew that if he tells Arjun now then he would not believe him. And moreover he wanted Arjun to figure that out and of course he's going to help him with that. Arjun sat silently for a few seconds thinking about what Dhruv said, he was right, if you think all the three terms will give you a different meaning, though the difference might be very slim but still there was a difference and he was really not sure what does he feel. But that doesn't matter; he should not feel those kinds of things for Arohi. "It makes a big deal. I shouldn't be feeling these stuffs for Arohi. You know what kind of relationship I and Arohi have, we are just friends, we don't even share a bedroom and then these things might spoil our relationship, we are happy about the way we are," Arjun tried to explain his point but Dhruv was not ready to let go, if he does not speak to him now then it will be never. Dhruv shook his head and gave a sarcastic laugh and they said, "It's weird you know, to hear that a newly wedded couple don't share a bedroom. And people will laugh at you when they will know and the way you say we are 'just friends,' it does not go with your relationship. I'm not saying that a husband and wife cannot be friends, they 'should' be, it's a good thing, but 'just friends' is not what they should have," Arjun tried to interrupt but Dhruv didn't gave him a chance to speak, "You and I both know what I'm saying is correct and you really need to think about it now Arjun. You can't be 'just friends all your life. And do you really want be 'just friends' all your life? You have to think about it Arjun and you have to face it and not run away from it," Arjun looked up at Dhruv, a little astonished. "I noticed your behavior," Dhruv answered the unasked question to which Arjun just nodded. "Running away might really spoil your relation with Arohi. You have to face it and know what you feel. And you should also know that Arohi is really upset because of all this, I just met her and she didn't look good. You need to talk to her," Dhruv said and saw Arjun sigh and then nod. He didn't give all the details about his chat with Arohi, not that he minded, he just wanted them to talk to each other. He was sure that Arohi would speak but he still had his doubts about Arjun. What Arjun is feeling is very new to him and it is somehow confusing him.
"You know I have a wonderful idea," Dhruv said breaking the silence between them. Arjun who was thinking about what Dhruv had said to him, looked up when he heard his friend. "What?" Arjun asked. "We should go for a small vacation," Dhruv said with glint in his eyes. Arjun was about to protest but Dhruv said before him, "We've been working like hell from last three months, we should really take a small vacation and go somewhere. It will give us time to relax and you to think about everything calmly." Arjun thought about it. "Please?" Dhruv pleaded, making an innocent puppy dog face and joining his hands in front of Arjun. If Arjun does not agree for the vacation than his and Jai's plan will go out of the window. "Well, I think it's a great idea," Arjun said and almost jumped when Dhruv literally yelled and said, "Amazing."
Dhruv stood up from the chair, "I'll talk to everyone and book everything, you know I was thinking about it from some time and have an amazing vacation spot in my mind but before, let me talk to Rajvir, Jai, and I think we should also call Romit and the twins, it will be fun," he rambled, walking towards the door and Arjun just laughed at his friend who was happy just like a kid would be when given a candy. Arjun was following Dhruv when Dhruv turned suddenly and pointed his figure at Arjun, taking Arjun off-guard, "And you go have lunch with your wife and talk to her," Dhruv almost ordered. Arjun nodded, "and you?" he asked. Dhruv glared at Arjun which was enough for Arjun to know that, ". . . are not coming." "Right," Dhruv said, slapping Arjun at his back and left from there.
~*~
Arjun cooled, calmed and collected himself . . . well not exactly but to some extent, before knocking on Arohi's cabin door. He told himself again and again that he will talk to Arohi and will not avoid her. He walked in and at that moment Arohi looked up. He was just a second away from running away before he scolded himself. "Umm . . . Lunch?" he rambled and pushed his hands in his pants pocket in nervousness. Arohi who was a little shocked to see Arjun in her cabin, smiled and nodded her head. They together left Arohi's cabin and walked towards Arjun's cabin, where their lunch was waiting, but neither of them said a word. Arjun opened the door and let Arohi inside first and then followed her. They sat on the couch and served food for themselves. Arohi took a few small bites and then started playing with her food on the other hand Arjun was trying to find a way to start the conversation.
"Did I do something?" Arohi asked breaking the silence, who was looking at her plate and still playing with her food. Arjun looked at her stunned, "huh? Why would you say that?" he asked, not believing what she just said. "You are avoiding me . . . from morning. You are not speaking to me, you didn't even ask me why did I come early from the college, you didn't even ask me how was my day . . . You are just not yourself," Arohi paused and looked up, her eyes filled with tears, "I did something right?" she asked in a low and shaky voice. Arjun was really shocked seeing the tears; one thing he hates the most is Arohi's tears and the person or the thing responsible for it. And now he hated himself. But before he has to tell Arohi that she hasn't done anything. He kept his plate on the table and shifted towards Arohi; he then kept her plate aside and pulled her in a hug. He felt electric current pass through him but he ignored it. Arohi clutched his blazer tightly in her fist as if Arjun would run away if she doesn't hold him and hugged him back. Few tears came out of her eyes and stained his shirt. Arjun cursed himself mentally, gave himself all sort of bad words for being so lost in his own that he didn't notice how much this was hurting Arohi. He had never thought that Arohi would blame herself when she didn't even know what kind of games his mind was playing with him. He cupped her face with both his hands and made Arohi look up at him. He then wiped her cheeks, looked directly in her eyes and then said, "I'm sorry I was such a jerk . . . But you have to know that you haven't done anything Arohi, it was just . . . my brain was so messed up with some things that . . ." Arjun paused and shook his head, not knowing what to say next. He looked back in Arohi's eyes, "It's me who's wrong here, you haven't done anything," he said putting each and every word strongly so that there will not be any doubt in Arohi's mind that she's done something. "You promise?" Arohi asked innocently and Arjun nodded before whispering, "Promise." Arohi again hugged him, not ready to move out of his warm embrace while Arjun kissed her head and thought that Dhruv was right, he really has to think about everything and that should be real quick.
Unknown to them, someone was looking at them and was grinning widely and that someone was none other than Dhruv. He had seen them walking towards Arjun's cabin "together," and he couldn't help but follow them and see everything through the left ajar door. He knew it was a bad thing to intrude in their personal matter but he wanted to see if they would speak to each other and he was glad that they did. He was more surprised about seeing the way Arjun immediately pulled Arohi in his arms when she few tears fell from her eyes. One look at them and you'll say they are so much in love but only if they knew. They'll know now, he'll make sure they do. He left the two alone and went to his cabin to call Jai and give him details and tell him the good news that Arjun has agreed for the vacation.
Arjun and Arohi sat silently in each other's embrace. Arjun hands were placed on Arohi's back and the warm feeling of her skin, even above her kameez, was bringing the wild side of Arjun. His hands were itching to do stuff's which Arjun mind didn't want to and Arohi one arm which was around Arjun's waist and other still clutching his shirt was not helping him. It took everything in him to push those thoughts out of his mind. But he couldn't help but think how good it felt to be this close to her. "I didn't like it when you didn't talk to me," Arohi said breaking the silence for the second time. Arjun looked down and saw Arohi playing with his blazer's button. He couldn't see her face but he was sure that her lips were pouting making her look cute and he was proved right the very next second when she looked up, meeting his eyes. "It didn't feel nice," she added. Arjun for the umpteenth time cursed himself seeing the sadness in her eyes which was there because of him. He took hold of her hand which was still absentmindedly playing with his blazer button and looked directly in her eyes and said "I'm sorry Arohi; I know my actions have hurt you. I knew it from the moment I walked out of the door earlier in the morning." "Yeah, that was very bad and very mean of you," Arohi said, anger and hurt could be seen and hurt in her voice. Arjun looked down, not being able to look in her eyes and said, "I know . . . and I'm sorry. It was not intentional. My mind . . ." he trailed of, not know what to say. He couldn't really tell her the reason.
"It's okay," Arohi said. "Huh?" Arjun looked astonished. "It's okay . . . I forgive you," Arohi said, she could see in his eyes that he regretted what he did and how much it upset him and for some reason she didn't like seeing him upset and she knew that if she didn't forgive him then he'll keep on regretting. "Really?" Arjun asked not changing his previous expression. "Yes. But you'll have to tell me what's going on in that brain of yours and if you remember we've promised each other that we'll not hide anything from each other, so don't even think of that and tell me," Arohi said, she really wanted to know what was the reason for his odd behavior. Arjun ran his hand through his hair thinking about what to tell her. Obviously he could not tell her the truth though he hated lying to her but he couldn't help it. "It's just the stress. Last couple of months, were hell with so much work load; no rest, no proper sleep. I guess my brain is tired and is just thinking . . . stuff's," Arjun answered, the last part was said in such a low voice that Arohi didn't understood what he said after 'tired.' He apologized to his wife in his mind for lying to her. Arohi didn't believe him at first but then he really looked tired and she couldn't think of any other reason with which she could relate Arjun's odd behavior; so she chose the option of believing him. Arohi kept her hand on Arjun arm and rubbed it lightly, "you need a break," she said. Arjun nodded his head and said, "Yeah, I guess . . . In fact Dhruv is planning something. Going on a vacation or something; he'll let us know later. What do you think? Dhruv is going to talk to everyone; Jai, Archana, Rajvir, Rashi, the kids, Romit, Shefali, Sanchit, everyone," he looked at Arohi waiting for her reply. "That would be great," she replied with glint in her eyes. They then talked about how their day was. Arjun asked Arohi why did she came early from her college and how did she came. She told him, she couldn't concentrate in the lectures and that Sanchit came to drop her. Arjun felt a pang when he thought about Arohi and Sanchit coming together in his car. He shook his head mentally for being ridiculous. They talked for some time with Arjun apologizing a few more times and Arohi telling him that it's okay and in the last telling him that if he apologized again then she'll not talk to him, which was enough for Arjun to shut his mouth.
~*~
"Do you think 6 days will be enough?" Jai asked Dhruv who was taking out the print outs of their tickets. They were at Jai's place and in his room where they discussed their plan and then booked the tickets, "Yes, it will be enough," Dhruv replied confidently, looking at the papers in his hand. He looked up at Jai with naughty smile on his face and then added, "Haven't you heard that dialogue, 'Che (6) din ladki ek?'" Jai looked at Dhruv as if he had two heads and then shook his head. "Stop shaking your head and let's go down" Dhruv said slapping Jai at his back and pushing him towards the door.
They climbed down the stairs talking in low voice; they reached down and saw everyone seated in the living room. Jai's and Archana's parents were sitting on the sofas and chatting among themselves. Rajvir, Romit and Sanchit were sitting in a group and chatting. The ladies were sitting in a group and having their girl talk and Arjun was sitting down on the rug with Chirag in his lap and Tanvi besides him. Everyone in the living room were so busy that they didn't notice the mischievous smile exchanged between Dhruv and Jai. Jai winked at Dhruv and went and sat on the other side of Arjun and tickled Chirag which made him laugh.
Dhruv cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention. Once he was sure that everyone was looking at him, except the kids of course who were busy in their own, he started, "Okay so about the vacation," he paused and looked at everyone's curious face and continued, "We are going on a 6 days cruise to Maldives." As soon as he finished everyone squealed with excitement. "Well obviously it's a return trip via Goa and Lakshwadeep and then finally Maldives and then back to Mumbai. And we are going to start day after tomorrow at 10 in the night," Dhruv finished and looked at everyone's shocked face. "Day after tomorrow?" "How will we pack our bags in such a short time?" "How did you manage the tickets this early?" "How will we go shopping?" "No, we can't go this early, postpone the trip." Everyone was saying different things at the same time which made Dhruv jump and Jai laugh. "SHUT UP," Dhruv shouted when his previous few pleads didn't work for him and everyone went quite. Dhruv took a few deep breaths to calm himself and then said, "Well yes we are we are going day after tomorrow and this cannot be postpone because the season is going to end and there are not many ships which are going to sail and mind you they all are packed. And about these tickets," he showed the tickets in his hands to everyone, "We got lucky with that, there were only 3 rooms available but then there were some cancelation and we got the bookings," he paused and then continued, "And you all have got two full days to pack and shop whatever you want, the ship sails at 10, we have to reach there by 8 so see how you'll can manage." They then discussed the other details about the cruise. The ladies planned the shopping trip for the next day and then they went to their respective rooms and of course the others left for their respective houses.
~*~
The two days passed in a blur and evening of their cruise trip came. Arjun walked in Arohi room and saw Arohi struggling with her suitcase zip. His eyes grew wide when he looked at the size of her suitcase. Arohi looked towards her bedroom door when she heard it open and saw Arjun entering. "Arjun, I need some help here," Arohi said as she tried to pull the zip of her big suitcase. "Arohi, we are only going for six days and not for six months," Arjun said walking towards her and then helped her closing it. "I know, these all are not my stuff's, half of it is Shefali's and Archie's. It was not fitting in their bags so they asked me to put some of their stuff's in my bag," Arohi said as the zip was finally closed. She looked at Arjun who was shaking his head and she didn't need to ask the reason, she knew it. "You've taken what you want?" Arjun asked. "Yup," Arohi said with a nod. "So, shall we leave then?" Arjun asked another question to which Arohi nodded with glint in her eyes. Arjun chuckled looking at his very excited wife and picked up the suitcase. Arohi picked up the carry bag and followed Arjun, the big smile not leaving her face. They left their house after picking up Arjun's bag, checking the windows and locking the main door and went down the elevator and then after loading the bags in the cabs trunk, they left for their trip.
After meeting the others at the dock and checking-in in the ship and other stuffs, Arjun and Arohi walked towards their cruise room. Arjun swiped the card and open the door. He let Arohi walk in first and then followed after her. Arohi gasped looking the beautifully decorated room. The wall and the furniture's of the room were all white. The carpet and the bed covers were of navy blue color. One side had big glass sliding door with a small balcony and had a spectacular view of the sea. Arohi opened the glass door and went and stood by the railing and was greeted by the cool breeze. Arjun kept their bags in the corner and went and stood beside Arohi. They stood there silently looking at the sea when the ship started sailing. They view left them both in awe. They could see the reflection of the moon in the water and they both were left speechless.
Arjun looked towards Arohi and saw her yawning. "Tired?" he asked breaking the silence between them. Arohi looked at Arjun and nodded her head, "a bit," she said. "Well I think we should go to sleep then?" he asked and Arohi again nodded her head. Since they were on a vacation with others, they were to share the room. They didn't talk about it with each other; they didn't see a reason for it. They had shared a bed room when they were in Chandigarh just after their marriage so neither of them had problems with it. Arjun had already thought about the arrangement, he would give Arohi the bed and he would take the couch. They walked back in the room and Arjun closed the balcony door. He helped Arohi with her suitcase and then removed his clothes from his suitcase. Arohi went and changed in the bathroom while Arjun changed in the room.
Arohi came out of the room when she saw Arjun folding his clothes. She took kept her clothes and the suitcase and went and stood near the bed. Arjun came and stood beside her after keeping his clothes on his suitcase. He cleared his clothes and said, "Um . . . you can take the bed and I'll sleep on the . . ." he left the sentence in between and frowned, "where is the couch?" he asked when he didn't find it in the room. There was only the queen sized bed for sleeping. But this was very strange, from what Arjun have known, these room usually have couches but this one doesn't. "I'll see if they can arrange a mattress or something," Arjun said and was about walk towards the intercom when Arohi held his hand and stopped him. Arjun turned and looked at Arohi when he felt a tug on his hand and gave her a questioning look. Arohi looked down biting her lower lip. Arjun may not have noticed earlier that the couch was not there but Arohi had noticed and while she was standing in the balcony some time back, she was thinking about it and had come to a decision. "Um . . . you don't have to . . . um . . . call for the mattress . . . we can . . . um . . . we can share the bed." Arjun eyes grew wide and he was stunned. Arohi looked up at Arjun when he didn't reply. "You don't want to share the bed with me?" Arohi asked in a dejected voice. "No . . . Yes . . . No . . ." Arjun shook his head when he fumbled and then asked, "Are you sure?" because he wasn't, he didn't trust himself; he didn't trust the demons in him. It was very difficult for him to get his mind out of the gutter after his so called dream and now sharing a bed . . . he didn't know if he could control his wild thoughts, with having Arohi sleeping in the same bed with him. "Yeah, I'm sure. And we are married to each other so technically you know we should be sharing the bed," Arohi said embarrassedly. "Technically," Arjun muttered and nodded his head. "So shall we . . . sleep?" Arohi asked to which Arjun nodded his head. They slipped under the covers, both of them facing the opposite direction. Arjun switched off the lights after they wished each other good night. Arohi fell asleep moments later and before the sleep overtook Arjun, he prayed silently that his mind stays under control.
Naagin 7
Cricket
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
