*Completed* ArHi SS: Call Me ;) - Page 50

Part 4

Khushi stopped herself at the swimming pool, balancing herself. She took a step back and looked around. The poolside was lined with plants of various types and a lone tree in a corner. A flight of stairs to reach the upper landing was on her right. Khushi raised her head and saw the night sky full of stars. Khushi instantly liked this place. She slung the yellow dupatta around one shoulder, took its edges and tied it around her waist in a knot.

She removed her slippers and lifted her right foot a little stopping a little away from the water. She wanted to check the temperature of the water. Her foot was a millimeter away when she felt a warm breath on her neck which sent tingling sensations throughout her body followed by a husky 'hi' which startled her and she lost her balance. Next she knew she had landed in the pool completely drenched. She spun around ready to scold whoever had scared her.

She saw the same handsome face that had troubled her this morning, but which quite surprisingly looked more handsome, may be because he was smiling. But the smile instantly faded and brought Khushi out of her observation.

"Nannav?"

"Chamkili? What are you doing here?"

"This is Arnav's house. Arnav?"

"Khushi was supposed to be here. Khushi?"

Arnav sat down on his knees and stared at her as if looking at her for the first time. Gone were the chubby round cheeks and the quiet eyes. Khushi had grown much taller than what he had expected considering he always told her that she would grow horizontally rather than vertically. This brought a sudden smile to his face. He was a man, sorry he is a man and he couldn't help but notice how beautiful Khushi was. Her perfectly curved body, her hazel eyes, her long black hair, her smooth fair skin with a hint of natural pink blush, the tiny water droplets dripping from her cheeks down to the curve of her neck, she had transformed from a gol gappa to a gorgeous girl.

Khushi again noticed how handsome he looked when he smiled. Khushi had never thought he could develop flesh on his body considering how lanky he was. Although he ate as much as or may be more than Khushi, he never put on. She was a woman, sorry she is a woman and she couldn't help but notice his complexion, his deep brown eyes, his strong jaw, a light stubble which gave him a rugged look, broad shoulders, bulging muscles, and she already knew that he was quite tall. He had transformed from a kankaal (skeleton) to a killer.

The moment they saw each other everything was forgotten except for the fact that they were together right now after a very long time.

"You have changed so much?"

"You have changed so much?"

Both asked each other the same question at the same time and they both smiled at the various memories that played in their head where they had done this so many times.

"Arnav as much as I like this pool, I think I should come out of it" Khushi said with a hint of a smile playing at her lips.

"Yes of course" Arnav extended his hand to Khushi which she grasped. Arnav felt her soft skin against his rough one and was lost in the touch when he felt a tug and he was pulled in to the pool.

"What the?" Arnav wiped his face off the water with his hands and glared at Khushi. But looking at her laughing so freely melted his heart and he found himself being drawn to her. He walked slowly towards her, his movement causing ripples of water in the pool. Khushi stopped smiling when she saw Arnav moving towards here with a look on his face which she couldn't recognize.

He stopped a few inches away from her, their toes touching underwater. Arnav noticed a lock of hair stuck to her wet skin. He lifted his hand gently, and very slowly tucked it behind her ear. She closed her eyes the moment his finger touched her skin. Before she herself realized what she was speaking she blurted out "Where is your wife?"

Arnav who had involuntarily leaned his face towards her pulled back and asked "Why should I have a wife?"

She looked down and answered "Wohh, Akash bhaiji got married, so I assumed since you are older than him, you got married too"

Arnav noticed for the first time in all these years that she had never called him 'bhai' but continued to call his younger brother 'bhai' "I am not married"

"Engaged?"

"Nope"

"In a relationship?"

"I am in many relationships" at this Khushi's mouth opened wide but closed and turned into a smile when he continued "but none are of the romantic kind"

"Hmm" she nodded. Why is she nervous? Why has she become pinker? Arnav thought. He knew she was not married because there was no sindoor or mangalsutra adorning her hair parting or her neck respectively. He also checked her left hand for any ring but they were thankfully empty too. Thankfully Arnav? Arnav asked himself mentally. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he couldn't stop himself from asking this question.

"No" she stated simply.

How come such a beautiful girl like her doesn't have boyfriend? he thought.

"None of them made me happy" Khushi replied to his question. He realized that he had spoken the question loudly. He couldn't believe that this beautiful, drenched girl standing just inches apart from him had made him nervous. He couldn't understand why he was nervous before her. It was time to make her nervous.

"Khushi as much as you like my pool, I think we should get out of it" Arnav looked at her with a naughty smile on his face.

Arnav came very close to her, snaked one arm around her waist, which fit perfectly in to his embrace he noticed, bent down placed another arm behind her knees and lifted her in his arms. She automatically wound her arms around his neck "What are you doing?"

"Getting you out of the pool" he walked to the edge of the pool and gently placed her on the floor. She stood up and extended her hand "Take my hand and don't pull me back inside ok?" Khushi offered her hand which he took, although he didn't need her help to get out of the pool, he wanted to get a feel of her soft hand one more time.

"I never thought that I will be able to lift a gol gappa in my arms" he teased her.

"I never thought that a kankaal can ever lift anything" she didn't leave any chance to tease him either.

They both laughed together and Arnav asked her "So are we even?"

"Even? No. I still haven't forgiven you for cutting my hair when I was 9"

"That was just 1 cm Khushi"

"I.2 cm!"

Arnav rolled his eyes and walked towards his wardrobe to remove two towels, one for himself and one for Khushi. She took the towel from him and made him sit on the recliner and started drying his hair.

"Do you remember Arnav, when we used to get wet in the rain Badi Amma would dry my hair first and then yours and you would get so jealous" Khushi felt Arnav stiffen under her and she realized what she just spoke. She kept the towel on the head rest of the recliner and came round to sit next to him. She placed her finger under his chin and made him look at her. His eyes were moist and so were Khushi's. He suddenly pulled her in a tight hug which she reciprocated.

"Khushi, why did you not contact me?" Khushi broke from the hug and answered, "Arnav, when we reached the USA, it took us a month to settle down and by the time we contacted the Malliks, they had left" she said with a hint of pain in her eyes, not for herself but for him "After we came back to Lucknow a month back, we had a difficult time to trace the Malliks to the Raizadas and the moment we discovered that you were here, we took the first flight to Delhi" She didn't want to hear his side of the story as she had already heard from Nani what all he and Di had to go through after they had left. She hugged him again and cried on his shoulder, tears which he would never shed which she shed on his behalf.

After she had composed herself a little, she lifted her head from his shoulder and cupped his face with her right hand and kissed his cheek lightly "Now I am here and I will not go anywhere"

"So are you all settling in Delhi?"

"No we are not settling, I am settling here"

"Why?"

"Waha dil nahi lagta" she shrugged "I want to live in India" Khushi looked at him trying to convey something with her eyes. Just then someone knocked on the door. "Chotay"

"Yes Di, come in" Khushi answered. Anjali raised her eyebrows and entered. "Arre how did you two get wet?" Anjali didn't fail to notice Khushi's left hand on Arnav 's shoulder and Arnav's left hand holding Khushi's right one.

"Di she pulled me in the water" Arnav accused Khushi.

"Haww! no Di. He pushed me in the water!" and hit him on his chest lightly with her left hand.

"Liar. I didn't even touch you"

"Bas bas. Stop you two. Khushiji come with me, I will get you some change of clothes." Anjali beckoned her with her hand.

"Di she will come in a while"

"Okay!" Anjali gave a knowing smile and left.

"When did I push you in the water Khushi? It is not my fault that you are so jumpy!"

"You knew I am jumpy yet you did it. See my clothes are all wet now. I will now have to wear clothes which don't fit me well" she pouted.

Arnav pulled her right cheek lightly and said "You are sitting in the room of a guy who owns a fashion house. Don't worry, you will get clothes that will fit you, all the clothes"

Khushi blushed a deep shade of red and stood up. "I will see you later" Khushi was about to leave when Arnav stopped her.

"Khushi, wait. I got you something" Arnav went towards the table and picked up the pack of jalebies that he got for her. She inhaled deeply and exclaimed "Jalebi!!!!!!!!!!" She snatched the packet from his hand, tore the packet and ate one Jalebi. "Hmm this is so good"

"You are still very fond of jalebies, aren't you?"

"Yes very" Khushi answered while putting the third jalebi in her mouth. How does she maintain her figure? Arnav wondered and opened a drawer to take out a book and a pen. He scribbled something on it hurriedly and gave it to Khushi.

"Here is my number. Although I know you don't need it as you can arrange my number from anywhere I guess. Please don't distribute my number this time." He smiled at her affectionately and she returned his smile. She came forward and took the paper from his hand. "Tell your makeup girl that NK is a good guy."

"How did you know? Her name is Lavanya by the way"

"I am Arnav Singh Raizada. I know everything" he said with pride. She made a face and left.

"Khushi" Khushi turned around and looked at him asking him with her eyes, Arnav continued "Call me"