Chapter 47
'Bitiya... I want my grandson to be happy, but I don't think you realise the difficulty of this situation... But I don't think... Bitiya, I don't think that he will marry you' whispered Deviyani sadly.
Khushi looked at Nani-ji and smiled, 'No Nani-ji, please don't think like that.' Khushi took a deep breath as she began to tell Nani-ji what was in her heart; things that she hadn't even told Arnav.
'Nani-ji, Arnav-ji is changing like you said...his thoughts are changing... and he... he loves me, just like I love him' she admitted bravely, 'He told me that he doesn't believe in these things... but Nani-ji, I dont know why, but I have faith in Devi Maiya... I believe that she will heal Arnav-ji... it's his pain that doesn't allow him to form relationships - he's afraid of loving anyone because he's afraid of losing them' she said sadly.
Khushi took a deep breath, her voice full of conviction as she spoke, 'Nani-ji, I believe in my heart that Devi-Maiya wouldn't have ever given Arnav-ji to me if there wasn't a reason. I have faith in him, he said it will be ok and I trust him.'
Deviyani was bowled over by the quietly confident way Khushi was speaking, her voice full of strength from her love and belief. Perhaps this young girl was right; it was time to leave this to Devi Maiya she thought as she sent up a silent prayer for her grandson and this special young woman. Deviyani couldn't help but lean forward as she cupped Khushi's face in hands as she placed a kiss on her forehead in blessing.
I believe in my heart that Devi-Maiya wouldn't have ever given Arnav-ji to me if there wasn't a reason. I have faith in him, he said it will be ok and I trust him...
Arnav hadn't meant to listen to his Nani and Khushi's conversation as he walked back towards the living room but because he had; he couldn't get her words out of his head. How could she have such strong faith? How could she believe in him so strongly when he himself had no idea about what he was going to do? Arnav sighed as he ran his hand through his now very short black. This was getting harder. He took a deep breath and coughed discretely to alert the ladies to his arrival.
Nani turned around and wiped the stray tear before Chote could see it. She cleared her throat, 'Bitiya, you must stay for dinner... otherwise I'm going to be stuck with Chote and he doesn't like what I cook half the time' she said with a smile.
Arnav cocked his head; wow Khushi had become bitiya and had scored a dinner invitation all in one evening, looks like in the space of one hour Khushi's ranking had clearly shot up he thought in amazement but silently pleased at the same time. He watched as Khushi continued to chatter with Nani as they walked to the kitchen and she began to help Nani... Khushi she looked like... she looks like she belongs here you duffer shouted the omnipresent twin duo that were suddenly in cahoots against him all the time these days.
Dinner was an animated affair. Looks like Nani had met her match in the talkativeness stakes, thought Arnav as he ate quietly; he really didn't need to say much as both women chatted nineteen to a dozen. Arnav glanced at his watch, it was almost 10pm, and he really should take Khushi home he thought. In any case, he could really do with some alone time and space to clear his head. He quietly excused himself to go and get his car keys but neither Khushi nor his Nani took any notice of him.
Devyani was thoroughly enjoying Khushi's company and was really impressed when Khushi stood up of her own accord and began clearing the dishes away and covering the food while she continued chatting with Deviyani. Such lovely manners thought Devyani with a sigh as she stood up 'Bitiya, it's ok you leave this... Hari Prakash will take care of the tidying up. Why don't you go and see what Chote is up to' she suggested knowing that the two would appreciate some alone time without her interfering, 'In any case I must retire for the night now so I will say my goodbye now Bitiya,' Devyani said as she stood up. Khushi came round to her and Devyani cupped her face in her hands as she lightly kissed Khushi's forehead 'I'm very glad that my Chote found you bitiya'. Khushi smiled, as she leaned to hug the older lady. Deviyani returned Khushi's hug 'go... Chote's room is upstairs... last room on the left of the passage.' Khushi nodded silently.
The house was enormous thought Khushi as she paused outside his bedroom. She knocked hesitantly. 'Yeah?' she heard him say as she slowly opened the doors.
He was standing with his back to the door, the snow white dress shirt stretched across his wide shoulders, floating down his narrow waist and into his black trousers. She could see his shoulder muscles ripple gently as he flipped through a file. 'I said come in... 'began Arnav as he turned around to find Khushi standing at the door of his bedroom.
'Nani-ji... sent me up...I can go wait downstairs..' Khushi began, not sure what to say as they looked at each other across the room. Arnav slowly put the file down on the table. 'No its ok Khushi... come in' he said. How many times had he imagined her in here in his bedroom...in his bed...with him... he thought.
Khushi slowly stepped in. Her heart was thudding lightly as the door slid shut quietly behind her. Even though she had spent a night with him in the penthouse, there was something different about being in this room with him... it felt even more intimate being in here knowing that this was the room where he spent the most time in when he was in the family home. She looked around hesitantly; this room was furnished more casually than the penthouse room. Painted in a light beige hue, the first thing she laid her eyes on was a huge green chaise lounge which dominated the room. Behind it sat a floor to ceiling bookshelf crammed full of books. Khushi could just about imagine Arnav lying on the chaise as he read or worked on his laptop. Her eyes wandered around and came to rest on the wide king sized bed... Khushi couldn't help but wonder if someday she would share this bed with him, reddening as she realised that Arnav's eyes were on her. Khushi quickly diverted her eyes to the opposite end of the room. Her eyes widened - there was a swimming pool outside the door!! She ran towards the sliding door staring in awe at it with the same look of wonder that a child had when they see a toyshop or a lolly shop. Khushi turned around, her eyes shining in excitement, 'Can I go outside?' she asked. Arnav nodded, he couldn't help but follow her out in to the courtyard.
It was beautiful warm balmy Delhi night, a combination of the pool's underwater lights and gentle moonlight bouncing off the water's surface illuminated the outdoor space whilst numerous rose bushes perfumed the air. Khushi sat down on the ledge by the pool as she ran her water through the water as she continued to look around in awe. She heard his muted footsteps on the terracotta tiles and stood up quickly. Too quickly in fact, she realised as she struggled not to lose her balance and fall into the water. Arnav was by her side in a flash as her pulled her to safety, 'Careful Khushi!' he muttered through gritted teeth as she recovered her balance and he let her go.
Khushi tilted her head to one side; he seemed tense she decided as she looked into his eyes and smiled.
'It's not funny Khushi - what if you'd fallen in and drowned?!' he hissed.
Khushi's eyebrows rose in amazement. 'Arnav first of all, I wouldn't have drowned because you would have jumped in to save me...but more importantly, I definitely wouldn't have drowned because I can swim!' she retorted.
Huh?
Khushi could help but laugh at Arnav's shocked expression 'What?... I learnt when I was in University' she said simply.
Arnav nodded, yet another thing about her that he didn't know about her. 'Khushi I think I better take you home, it's getting late' he said quietly as he turned back towards the bedroom when he felt her grab his hand. He turned around.
'Arnav... what's wrong?' she asked.
He really didn't feel like talking about it.
'Khushi... nothing is wrong, I just want to get you home before it gets too late and your Amma and Babu-ji start worrying...' he said, silently hoping that she would buy his excuse.
Khushi took a step closer to him and looked into his eyes silently.
'Arnav, remember that day when I tried to lie and you caught me... well I can see what you probably saw in my eyes; I know you're not telling me the truth' she said quietly knowing that she was right.
Arnav sighed. She was right. But that still didn't mean that he felt like talking. In any case what was he supposed to say... Khushi this whole marriage, commitment, trust conversation is beginning to bug me so can we stop bringing it up again and again... oh and this whole trust in me thing... well that's REALLY stressing me too. He knew full well these were his issues and he was going to have to deal with them. He rubbed his forehead whilst he tried to think of an excuse.
Khushi could see that Arnav was grappling with something; his body was emitting that tense energy. She took another step closer to him. 'Arnav look at me...' she whispered. Arnav sighed and did as she asked.
'Arnav, something definitely is bothering you. I'm not going to push you and its ok if you don't want to talk about it. I'm going to take a guess and I could be wrong, but if you are thinking about what we spoke about earlier at the penthouse then please remember what I said - I don't need you to say anything, or make a decision now or even the near future about the whole marriage issue. I know you'll talk to me when you're ready and I'm absolutely ok with that... so Arnav...please don't worry about it... in any case... right now I'm just happy to be in love... , ' She said as she smiled at him.
Arnav couldn't help but looked Khushi in awe - how had she known what had been bothering him?! On one hand he was glad to hear her reassurance, but on the other it didn't help; the sense of pressure was still there and probably would remain until he decided either way.
Khushi stared into his eyes and even though he hadn't responded to her, she could still see that he was struggling with something. She sighed; he really didn't want to talk. Khushi had one more idea.
'Arnav... Mohit tells me that I give the best hugs in the whole wide world... so... I was just wondering...would you like a hug?'
Arnav's head shot up, his eyes narrowing and his shoulders broadening. 'Who the hell is Mohit and why does he know how well you hug Khushi' he growled instantly seeing red at the thought of another man touching Khushi!
'Well... I was meaning to tell you about Mohit... I've kind of been seeing him every day after work and he is really quite a sweetheart...' Khushi said wholehearted enjoying Arnav's reaction.
'Khushi... don't play word games with me!!' warned Arnav as his voice dropped a notch as stepped closer to her.
'Arnav... you didn't answer the question... do you or don't you want a hug?' she asked innocently.
Even though it was the oldest rick in the book and she was getting a good laugh out of it, Khushi really didn't want to push it too much with Arnav as she watched his temper rise.
Arnav pulled Khushi towards himself, as one strong arm circled her waist and the other hand sank into her hair cupping the back of her head, 'Khushi, one, I don't need an invitation from you to hold you... and second, I certainly don't need a referral from some pipsqueak to tell me how good your hugs are Khushi. You belong to me... now and forever, Mohit or no Mohit!' he hissed as her stared into her eyes.
Khushi smiled, 'that's what I meant Arnav... I belong to you right now, marriage or no marriage...so stop worrying about it! Oh by the way... Mohit is three and a half years old and I'm teaching him his alphabet' she said as her eyes twinkled.
Arnav swore under his breath 'Khushi... that wasn't funny!' he said as he glared at her.
'It wasn't meant to be funny Arnav... it was meant to deliver a point and I think you get it now don't you...?!' she retorted.
Arnav sighed, she was too stubborn for her own good he thought as he looked into her eyes, but at the same time he couldn't help but be overcome by an intense feeling of love for her for trying so hard to make him feel better.
'I get it Khushi and thank you for saying it again, it does help' Arnav admitted quietly, 'and you are right, it is what bothering me but Khushi you don't need to worry about it.. It's my problem and I'll deal with it' he whispered.
Khushi cupped his face in one hand, 'Arnav... there's another thing you need to understand, there isn't a 'your' problem anymore. Ok, look at it this way, when I didn't tell you what was bothering me that morning, you got worried and concerned because you wanted to help me right?' she asked and he nodded in response, 'well this is kind of similar... even though I know what's worrying you and even if I can't really do much to help, I can listen if you need me to Arnav and you don't need to work through this alone. I'm with you... do you understand that?'
Rage at himself; love and longing for her coursed through him like water and oil...could the two ever blend. Why had she picked such a broken person to fall in love with screamed his brain?!
I believe in my heart that Devi-Maiya wouldn't have ever given Arnav-ji to me if there wasn't a reason. I have faith in him, he said it will be ok and I trust him...
Her words kept running through his head. Frustrated he pulled closer, craving contact with her.
He was kissing her. Kissing her with a hunger that shocked her. Khushi immediately felt her own senses kick into over-drive and she instantly sensed the desperation in his kiss as she felt a guttural moan rising through his chest. Khushi felt her guard going down, her body instinctively responding as felt herself replying to the kiss as she matched his every move, met his rhythm. She felt his hands shaking as he undid her ponytail, spearing his fingers into her hair as he held her in place. She thought she was going to faint when he invaded her mouth and he sucked on her tongue, slanting his head against her and deepening the kiss if that was possible.
Arnav couldn't help it as he became rougher with his kiss; his world always felt perfect when she was in his arms... so why was this so hard?! He moaned her name against her lips again and again. Khushi felt his hands slide down her back as he pulled her hips ever closer. Khushi sighed as his lips slid against her jaw and down to the soft skin of her neck and then she gasped loudly as he bit her neck gently. He groaned as a shudder jolted through his body and made him pull her even closer as he tried to contain his feelings, both physical and emotional.
Khushi cupped his face 'Arnav...' she whispered.
'Khushi... don't look at me like that...' he pleaded.
'Why? Does it bother you when I stare at you Arnav' she asked huskily.
'Khushi... you have no idea...' he replied in a guttural voice.
She stared into his eyes, desperate to ease his subconscious mind.
'It's ok Arnav...I won't ummm... take advantage of you tonight... your virtue is perfectly safe with me...' she murmured in a soft voice, as her eyes twinkled.
Arnav pulled back as the meaning of her words struck him; his innocent Khushi was flirting sexually with him! He couldn't help but laugh unreservedly.
Khushi smiled as she looked as him, relishing the sound and feeling of him laughing. It was a beautiful and uplifting sound and after seeing him so tense, it felt like a lifetime since she had heard him laugh. Oh Devi Maiya... give him strength please... I can't bear to see him like this...Khushi thought as prayed silently.
First this is two chapters merged into one... so hold the comments on 'not long enough'... I could post the next ten chapters as one update and it still wont be long enough... so just enjoy the ride 😆
my poor Arni-kins is clearly having a difficult time navgating his emotions as you can see... aww well no one ever said that the path of true love was smooth my darlings😳
Right... go on... hit me with your comments... as you can now see... the more YOU write... the more I write!!
p.s heading out for a meeting... so will send out PMs later...
Naina😳
Edited by warriorprincess - 12 years ago
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