Differences Between Us :: Arshi FF [COMPLETED] - Page 8

So, Malvika busied herself with her fashion magazines, Khushi kept her nose buried in her novel and Arnav pretended to be occupied with his work. It was only Akaash who walked around the room, with nothing to do, except trying to start a conversation, but without any result.

Finally Khushi went back upstairs to meet Payal when a maid came to tell her she had woken up. After a while, Dr Jain came along to check on her and he said another day in bed, and Payal could go home.

"Theek hai Akaashji, humein ab ghar jaana chaahiye," Khushi said when the doctor was gone. (Okay, Akaashji, I'll go home now.)

"Par Khushiji... raat ho chuki hai, aap dinner yahin kar lijye aur raat ko yahin rahiye. Phir kal subah main khud aapko-" (But Khushiji... It's already night, have dinner and stay here tonight. Next morning I myself will-)

"Nahin Akaashji! Hum chale jaayenge, Bauji humaara intezaar kar rahe honge." (No, Akaashji! I'll go, Bauji must be waiting.)

"Khushiji, aap aise andhere mein... saare drivers jaa chuke hain aur raat ko to main gaari chala nahin sakta..." (Khushiji, in the dark like this... All the drivers have gone home and I can't drive at night...)

"Aap fikar mat kijye, hum jaa sakte hain." (Don't worry, I can go.)

"Par-" (But-)

"Akaashji! Hum Kolkata mein bade hue hain, humse achha koyi nahin jaan sakta iss sheher ko. Hum ghar pohonchte hi aapko sabse pehle phone kareinge. Shubh raatri!" she skittered away before he could say anything else. (Akaashji! I was born and bred in Kolkata, No one can know this city better than me. I'll phone you as soon as I get home. [Good night!])

"Shubh... what?"

"Akaash!"

He turned to see Arnav staring at him and the open door.

"Ya?"

"What happened?"

Akaash sighed. "Some people really have a thick head."

Arnav grinned at his friend. "Talking about me?" Then he frowned. "You seem quite worried."

"It's Khushi. She went home," Akaash paused and waited for a reaction from Arnav but he received none. His friend's face was clean of any emotion. "I told her to wait till tomorrow. You know I can't drive at night ever since that accident last year. It gives me the creeps. But I'm kind of scared for her. It's already night, her house is across the city and it's already dark... I just hope she doesn't run into something... unpleasant..."

Arnav stared at Akaash for a few minutes, his calculative eyes slightly narrowed. Then, without warning, he snatched his keys from the table and stormed out of the house.

"Arnav!" Akaash called out. But he did not stop. He went straight for his car, instead.

***

Khushi shivered. These nights were particularly cold since a few weeks, though the days were still hot. She was wearing a simple churidaar whose kurti had short sleeves and that made her feel the bites of the arriving winter even better. She removed her dupatta to wrap it around her like a shawl but she still felt as cold, mostly in the back, where the neckline went deep down. On the shoulder blade, two doris emerged from the neckline to join in the middle of her back, accentuating its milky tone.

With a sigh, she reached for the elastic in her braid which was falling apart and ripped it out. She ran her fingers through her ebony hair so that it hung loose on her shoulders, covering her back. That was better. Her hair helped to keep the warmth from escaping. She slipped the band on her wrist smiled and walked on faster as the darkness gained power overhead. Her hands rubbed her arms to keep them warm.

In her heart, she was chanting the Hanuman Chalisa which her Nani had said would protect her from every harm. Well, she could only hope it was true because Kolkata was not a very safe place to roam about at night, and surely not for a lone girl like her. Yes, she had told Akaash she would be alright, but she was not sure of that herself. Recently, there had been a few horrible crimes around the city and she was scared. But she was not a coward.

Now, she thought, Akaash might have been right. She could have stayed till the morning. But she did not want to be a burden on him and his household. Her sister was already there, sick and Mr Dogra had enough to worry about. Also, he had been kind enough to them and she would never abuse of that.

She passed a dark alley and heard some male voices laughing. They were drunk, she realised. She ground her teeth, taking in deep breaths and quickening her pace. She should not panic. They were just some gunda- mawalis. They would not even see her.

"Eh!Chhokri!" she heard behind her. (Hey! Girl!)

He Devi Maiyya! She pinched her eyes shut for a brief instant before she lowered her eyes to her feet and sped ahead. But she still heard them laugh and tease her from behind. They were gaining on her gradually.

He Devi Maiyya! Raksha karna! (... Protect me!)

Bam!

She suddenly hit a wall. It made her take a step back and stop, panting a bit. Her eyes watered a bit. She was cornered now. There was no escape.

But something reached out, grabbed her waist and pulled her back to the wall. What was happening? Her eyes popped wide in alarm and she opened her mouth to scream but a hand closed over her it muffling any noise she would have made.

Behind her, she heard the mawalis get quiet, talk into hushed voices then they left. But that thing was still holding her. Gathering her courage, she angled her mouth against the hand over it a bit it with everything she could. She was immediately released and pushed.

"What the hell!" she heard a thunderous voice.

She blinked. It was no wall. This was a man! A living walking man! And he was as solid and as hard as rock. Could that be possible?

Anyway, she tried to see his face but there was bright light shining right behind him, blinding her. All she could see was his outline. Fear gripped her heart with its icy fingers. She had indeed been able to flee the gang of gundas but now there was this man. For all she knew, she could be a sadist!

She licked her lips, her eyes searching for an escape. Abruptly, she turned on her heels and started running but it was too late. The person that probably read her mind because the minute she took her first step forward, he grabbed her waist and lifted her off her feet. Khushi squealed and kicked, pitifully missing him, though her gold-coloured kolhapuri chappals flew off.

"Chhodiye humein!" (Let go of me!)

"Have you lost your mind, woman?" a voice growled furiously in her ear. She was punching the arm that held her when a teeny bulb flickered in her head. This voice was familiar.

"Shut the hell up, Miss Gupta!" that husky voice, warm was hot chocolate caressed her, however much fury it contained. It calmed her slowly and the recognition brought with it a sense of safety.

Finally, she was safe...

***

He felt her stiffen in his arms, then relax. She had recognised him. He sighed, letting her slide down his length, that amazing mane of dark chocolate waves that fell past her waist grazing him softly. Her feet did touch the ground but she did not look at him. He stepped back and looked at his hand where he hand bit it. A ghastly red welt sat in the middle of his palm.

"Are you some kind of dog or wolf?" he hissed as viciously as he could, though some part of him wanted to laugh at her stupid reaction earlier. Not really, stupid; she had not seen his face so she was right to be scared.

She rounded on him immediately. "What?"

Arnav raise his hand near her eyes. "You bit me hard enough to draw blood, dammit!"

Khushi's jaw fell open. Whether it was shock at her 'ability' or consternation at his words, he did not know. He strode to his car and opened the passenger door for her. "Get in!" he commanded.

Originally posted by: blue-eye

Ohh what the?
Hhaterd track? Already? No plxx