FF|Arhi|Th4 How IPK should've been[ch22sc3 pg102 - Page 8

To say it is a mad house in Gupta Niwas would be the understatement of the century. Nandini had stayed the night over and so, Khushi and Nandini had been up most of the night chattering up about their old days of friendship, reminiscing about all the funny things they had done. Payal would have rested had their punctuated giggles and laughters not kept her awake. She had resorted to every trick in the book to make the two go to sleep but to no avail. So now, Khushi and Payal both were looking like bleary eyed zombies as they rushed to finish off their last minute packing.

"Khuseee! Your towel is still hanging on the rope outside to dry. Remember to pack it in your bag," Garima shouts from her room. "Why didn't you pack your things like Payal did last night?" Payal shoots Khushi an exasperated look as she helps her younger sister pack her things.

Garima is tending to Shashi who is smiling amusedly watching Khushi run around the house. Was it just yesterday that his little girl was all sad to return to Lucknow? And now look at her - running around like her rear was on fire.

Just then they hear a loud horn blaring through the morning air. Aakash had reached. He comes inside the house and greets Garima and Shashi.

"Amma, should I have the luggage kept in the car?" Garima nods in reply. Aakash summons the driver and both of them start loading the luggage in the car. Payal walks out of the house carrying Khushi's bags and smiles at Aakash warmly. She is extremely happy that they were finally returning back to Delhi, and onwards to Shantivan. Despite everything that had happened previously, it is a reassuring feeling that things are slowly progressing to normalcy.

Finally after bowing their heads in front of the idols in their tiny mandir, the Gupta family locks the front door of their home and gets inside the car. The drive from Gupta House to the airport took exactly 30 minutes. It was a good thing that they had decided to leave couple of hours early as Shashi needed a separate check in owing to his medical condition. The Raizadas had already reached the airport and were waiting for them for the Gupta family in the executive lounge. They all were travelling in Business Class from Lucknow to Delhi. Once Gupta family complete their check in formalities and join the Raizadas, greetings are exchanged between everyone. Payal touches her mother-in-law's feet and then Nani ji's. Khushi too touches Naniji's feet.

Arnav is talking on the phone at a distance when he notices Khushi.

"Aman, I'll give you a call once I land in Delhi. Yes, they are all here now. Okay, good." he says before disconnecting his phone. He stands still watching Khushi as she hugged Anjali and gave a high 5 to NK. Was it just his eyes or did she look tired and sleepy? He goes closer to the group and greets them. He notices Khushi meeting his eyes a little warily but he doesn't react. She is obviously suddenly starting about the previous night's meeting.

Soon the announcement is made for them to board the airplane. Naniji, Anjai, Shashi and Garima first go in. Arnav quickly pulls NK and Aakash to a side and whispers something to them. Aakash smiles, NK winks and then both nod conspiratorially at Arnav. Shortly after, it is their turn to board the airplane. Aakash immediately whisks Payal away with him first. NK pairs up with Mamiji and they both proceed towards the gate animatedly talking about their experiences of Lucknow.

Leaving Khushi with Arnav.

He stands still and lets her walk before him. The flight attendant checks their tickets and shows them in with a smile. As soon as they enter the Business Class of the airplane, Khushi notices that all the Raizadas and Guptas were already sitting together in pairs- Shashi and Garima, Naniji and Anjali, NK and Mami and Payal and Aakash, leaving only two seats for them. She frowns while Arnav smirks to himself. He walks close to her.

"Window or Aisle, Khushi?" he murmurs near her ear. Khushi jumps away from him.

"What?" she replies confusedly.

"You prefer window seat or the passage seat?" Arnav asks patiently. Sit wherever you want Khushi, you're going to end up sitting next to me, he thinks smugly to himself. He watches as Khushi looks dubious between her choices. Arnav knows that it is her first time on an airplane and so her confusion is endearing.

"I want to sit next to the window," Khushi finally announces, having grudgingly accepted who her co-passenger was going to be after all. Arnav stands back and extends his arm politely showing her in. They both settle into their seats.

"OUCH!" Khushi suddenly exclaims, straightening up.

"What happened?" Arnav asks concernedly.

"Uhm, what is this?" Khushi stands up and looks towards the upturned buckle of the seat belt.

"It's a seat belt Khushi," Arnav replies, suppressing a smile. He parts the two straps and keeps them on the either side of her seat. Then he motions for her to sit down.

"I get its need in a car, what is the need in an airplane? Who's going to apply screeching brakes here?" Khushi mutters to herself and settles down. The plane starts taxing out. The air hostess suddenly appears and starts explaining the safety procedures. Arnav, having heard the instructions a million times, just buckles his seat belt and ignores her. Khushi on the other hand has her eyes and ears glued to what she was saying, her eyes widening when the air hostess mentions about masks dropping from the cabin above them and the directions to be followed in case there was a water based landing.

"But there is no sea between Delhi and Lucknow," Khushi suddenly exclaims loudly. Arnav stares at her. "Are they going to land the plane in the river Ganges?" she asks innocently. Arnav stifles a chuckle. Trust Khushi to come up with perfectly insane questions. But that wasn't the end of it. Once the air hostess goes back to her seat after finishing the announcements, Khushi's struggle with the seat belt begins. Arnav watches her tongue slightly stick out from the side of her mouth as she studies each buckle and belt and checks how to get it right.

"Should I help?" Arnav offers. Khushi looks at him as if he is mad and then shakes her head vigourously.

"I'll do it on my own," she replies sternly. Arnav sits back and goes on watching her. After hearing the fifth grunt of frustration from her, he leans over to her. Khushi grips the armrests tightly and her eyes widen in shock as she watches Arnav come close to her. She gulps trying to moisten the sudden dryness in her mouth. Arnav gazes into her eyes, knowing quite well the way he was affecting her, while his hands dexterously buckle her seat belt into place.

Khushi is suddenly transported to another time; the first time she had gotten into Arnav's car last year when they had gone looking for Anjali Di. She had had trouble putting her seat belt into place back then too and Arnav had grudgingly put it for her. History repeats itself eh? She is getting more and more aware of the way Arnav's hands are brushing her gently near her waist. He tugs one strap to tighten it, and Khushi suddenly gasps breathlessly. Arnav allows a smirk to appear on his face. Then he loosens the seat belt to a comfortable level.

"Are you okay?" he whispers huskily to the wide eyed Khushi. Dazed as she is, she nods mutely. He hands her two ear buds. "Put them in your ear. You won't feel uncomfortable when we take off," Arnav explains. Khushi timidly takes it from him. The demerits of sitting on the window seat suddenly fly into Khushi's mind. Trapped between the wall of the airplane on one side and Arnav Singh Raizada on the other wasn't the best of conditions to be in.

The plane starts racing on the runway and Khushi is pushed back onto the backrest as if an enormous weight is resting on her chest. Khushi shuts her eyes in panic. Hey Devi Maiyya! It would have been so better for us to go to Delhi by train itself, she thinks scaredly to herself. Arnav notices Khushi's expressions and smiles shaking his head slightly.

Suddenly she feels a pat on her shoulder. Her eyes snap open and she sees it is Arnav tapping. She freezes. I have an elephant sitting on my chest. What the hell does he need right now? She wonders. But he merely points towards the window. Khushi suddenly realises the reason why she had chosen the window seat was to watch outside while the plane took off. Excitedly she turns to the window, forgetting all about the elephants sitting on her chest. Arnav smiles again.

Once the plane reaches the cruising altitude, Khushi's excitement fades and she yawns widely. Watching her so closely, Arnav realises that she indeed was looking tired. He frowns. Didn't she get any sleep the previous night? He watches from the corner of his eyes as she coils up to one side, tucking her feet under her and closes her eyes. Arnav notices the goosebumps on her forearm and realises that she's probably feeling cold, the vent being directly on her head. He adjusts the vent but when he sees the goosebumps still present all over her bare arm, he motions for the air hostess to get him a blanket. He carefully spreads the thin shawl-like blanket all over Khushi. He's actually surprised that she had fallen asleep so quickly. He always had trouble sleeping during flights. In her sleep, Khushi's head slowly droops inch after inch till it falls on Arnav's shoulder.

Arnav freezes for a moment and watches her unsurely. Once convinced she indeed was asleep, he gently adjusts her head on his shoulder at a more comfortable angle. She mumbles something incoherent but cozies up to him. A fuzzy warm feeling envelops Arnav's heart as he watches Khushi sleep. Who would have thought that just a few hours ago, she was fighting so hard to stay away from him?

Anjali suddenly shifts in her seat and turns her head sideways. She watches Arnav and Khushi sitting diagonally behind her. Well, Arnav sitting and Khushi sleeping on his shoulder. As if the message was being telepathically passed between the siblings, Arnav suddenly glances across the floor to look at his sister. A happy smile lights up Anjali's face; happiness at seeing her brother slowly reducing the distances from his beloved Khushi. Arnav smiles back his sister and then goes back to watching Khushi.

It is so strange that the a week ago when he had flown down to Lucknow, all he had been doing was hopping from one seat to another, so much so that the entire 45 minutes of the flight duration he hadn't been able to work at all on his laptop. Right now, Arnav doesn't even remember that he has brought the laptop with him. He realises he is holding his breath, as he watches her sleep. Shaking his head slightly at his idiocy, he resumes breathing again.

A jolt and snapping noises jolt Khushi out of her sleep. She had slept all through the flight and also through the landing. She feels a strange pain in the crick of her neck and she realises it was because she was resting her head on something hard. No, not something, someone. She raises her head and looks up to find the chocolate orbs looking down at her. With sudden recognition, Khushi straightens up wiping the corner of her mouth, hoping she had not drooled on Arnav's coat.

"Are you alright?" Arnav asks again. Khushi stares at him. Twice within one hour?She wonders. She again nods mutely at him. "Should I unbuckle it for you?" he offers. Khushi just sits back in her seat, knowing that he'll end up doing it for her as it is. Arnav smirks as he understands her reaction and undoes her buckle. He stands up and gets out of the way for Khushi to come out to the aisle. Khushi immediately rushes next to Payal as if staying with Arnav for a moment longer could be hazardous. Arnav smiles amusedly at her antics.

A few minutes later, the big gathering makes their way to the baggage claim. It is decided that they would split up into two parties with Anjali, Nani, Mamiji, NK, and Arnav heading to Shantivan and Aakash, Payal, Khushi, Garima and Shashi returning to Laxmi Nagar. Once Shashi gets settled, Aakash and Payal would go back to the alternate house to pack up their remaining things and finally return to Shantivan in the evening.

Khushi waits for her bag and Arnav walks to stand next to her.

"Till when are you going to ignore me Khushi?" he asks her in a low voice so that only they can hear each other. Her eyes widen.

"when did I stop talking to you?" she counter questions him. Now it is Arnav's turn to get wide eyed.

"You have been avoiding me since yesterday. Why are you constantly running away from me? I'm not going to eat you up," he says with a smirk on his face. Khushi's eyes narrow. She knew that cocky expression all too well. She starts getting irritated.

"What do you want to talk? Speak!" she hisses at him. Arnav looks around him in surprise.

"Here? Now?" he asks.

"Yes. Here. Now. Speak!" she repeats, looking at him crazy eyed. Arnav is about to open his mouth when NK smilingly walks between them and picks up his bag. Aakash immediately follows after NK. Khushi stands and stares at Arnav with her hand on her waist. Finally her own bag arrives that she picks up, puts on her trolley and starts walking towards her family, leaving Arnav standing alone and frustrated yet another time.

Writer's note: dedicated to all those lovely people who aren't getting enough Arshi 😉 and patience people bas thodi aur doori between Arshi.. a big showdown is on the cards.

Feedback is most appreciated 😊