New ARSHI FF- Beauty And Her Prince- Chap 19 - Pg 91/ July 1 - Page 24

As Arnav's mind shouted again and again to him asking him to react, he suddenly blurted out, "I didn't mean what I said in the morning." Khushi stopped in her steps as she heard him. "Is he talking to me?", she questioned to herself not believing what he said, trying to confirm if she heard right. She turned around in a haste disoriented yet eager to know if he was really addressing her.

The supersonic speed with which she turned around made her lose her balance and trip. Khushi instantly shut her eyes so tight as if that would save her from the nasty fall coming her way. Anticipating what was coming next, she waited for a loud thud followed by excruciating pain. As her hands danced in the air working with gravity, she felt a crushing pain takeover her right palm. Khushi immediately twitched in pain and opened her eyes confused by the origin of the pain. "Why didn't I fall yet?", she thought puzzled. She was shocked to find her hand being crushed by Arnav's strong grip as he held her suspended in the air with her feet barely supporting her balance and her body just few inches from hitting the ground.

"Did he just stop me from falling to the ground? What is it with this man? Every time I conclude he is one big arrogant Laad Governer, he proves me wrong. May be he is not such a bad person after all. He did save me just now.", Khushi thought, baffled by his action and at the same time terrified at what might come next.

Arnav realising what he said looked at her and felt happy that his words made her stop. But he was not sure what to say next. As he kept thinking about it, he saw her briskly turn towards him, making herself trip. He instantaneously ran to her and held her at the right moment preventing what could have been a very nasty fall. He kept staring at her amused by how she tightly shut her eyes, enjoying the moment, enjoying her beauty. Suddenly she opened them in a flash and stared right back at him.

Arnav couldn't stop wondering how big her eyes can get when she opened them wide in shock of seeing him. He noted she looked very cute when she did that. Then he evidently saw terror hidden in midst of the hysteria. He understood she was confused and terrified of him. Even though he was happy that she halted, that he was there to save her, that he was holding her, it was short lived as disappointment took over. He simply hated the fact that she is terrified of him yet again. Trying to sound as gentle as possible he said, "I didn't intend to scare you earlier nor now." He placed a tight smile on his lips with great effort as he slowly tried to bring her back to upright position.

Khushi was amazed by his words. "How does he know I was scared of him? Was it that obvious from my face? What must he be thinking? Was I wrong to think bad of him? And what's up with that artificial and forced smile of his? He really does not know how to smile naturally for sure.", she mentally noted.

Disheartened by getting no response from her, he spoke worried, "Aap theek hai?" (Are you ok?)

"Umm... Ya, I am fine. Thank you for asking and thank you for helping me.", Khushi said still a little dumbfounded.

"I didn't mean to scare you. You were looking elsewhere while walking and on top of it my phone broke. I got really mad when I saw it lying on the pavement and I snapped.", he said gently but in as a matter of fact manner.

Khushi looked at him stunned. "Is he apologizing for what he said or is he taunting me by pointing my mistake to me?", Khushi was not sure. Whenever she tried to give him the benefit of doubt he made it more tough on her to do so. Suddenly her eyes landed on her hand as she was debating on whether he was nice or arrogant person and if he was trying to apologise or complain about the happenings.

As he saw her eyes dance between him and his hand a few times he followed her gaze confused. That was when he realized the reason for the discomfort setting in on her face. He was still holding her hand. He gave a quick look at her face, then at the hand and released it slowly. There was an awkward silence for few seconds as he stole glances at her who was looking down, fidgeting with her dupatta. He thought hard trying to come up with something to kill the silence. But it was not him who broke it though.

She softly spoke, "I was not scared of you." She lied, trying to be polite. She continued, "I was in more of a shock, I think. Sorry if I made you feel that way. As I agreed earlier, it was my mistake. I know it was not your fault. So if possible let's put it behind us and move on." She completed with a small smile trying to sound as normal as possible.

Astounded, he nodded his head in acknowledgement unable to get any words out followed by his signature businessman smile.

"Wow, he looks really nice when he smiles.", she noted mentally and immediately scratched it as it contradicted with her previous notes. "Khushi, You just decided he can't smile - remember. And don't be fooled again by his fake smiles. Before he snaps again save yourself.", her intelligence warned her.

She softly spoke again, "Ok. Good night. Thank you once again for saving me from the fall." Just like earlier before he could say anything she waved her hand to him saying bye and walked of.

----------

After hurriedly walking away from him Khushi realized that it was really dark with few streetlights broken, clouds suddenly blocking the moon making it hard to see ahead and adding more to her horror roads were deserted. A small shiver swept her body as she prayed and complained, "Devi Maiya, Raksha karna. Sab uss Laad Governor ki vajah se hai. Na woh humein idhar milte na hum itne der tak rukhte. Waise wo bahut ajeeb kisam ka aadmi hai na? Ab uss Laad Governer se kabhi nahi milna hai mujhe." (Devi maa, keep me safe. This is all because of that Laad Governer. If I didn't meet him here then I wouldn't have stayed till this late. By the way, he is a very strange man, right? I don't want to meet him ever again.)

She almost ran to a glowing streetlight and taking a deep breath relaxed. In the silent night she felt she heard someone's footsteps approaching her. At first she thought she was imagining things but then the sound grew louder and pace faster. She wanted to turn back to see who it was but she was scared to her core that she couldn't even blink. The relaxed feeling vanished even before it set in. As her brain flooded her with different ways to escape imagining the worse, she noticed the footsteps come to a stop behind her.

"This is it Khushi. It is now or never. Just turn around give him/her a strong push and run like hell. Can it be a thief? No, may be a drunked or some psycho. Stop it Khushi, stick to the plan.", she layed out her final plan. She took a deep breath all set to turn around and surprise the person behind her when she heard "Aap ka..." By the time her mind processed the voice and surprised her regarding whom it belonged to, it was too late. Her plan was already in motion.

Arnav followed her walking briskly and stopped behind her noticing that she stopped. Just when he started to speak the unexpected happened. She turned around in lightning speed with her hands charged towards him. He held her both hands to save himself from whatever she was trying to do. Arnav Singh Raizada was startled for the first time. He never gave anyone chance to startle or surprise him but this girl somehow managed to do both. It might have been only for a fraction of second but he was startled and there was no denying that. He was not in control of the situation, leave control he didn't even know why he was in this position. "What is wrong with her? What was she doing? I thought she said to forget what happened and move on. Then what now?", he questioned both puzzled and irritated.

Khushi looked at him blinking her eyes numerous times as if questioning herself if it was a dream and as she realized it wasn't, she instantaneously pulled her hands out of his grip. She felt embarrassed for her actions and stood still for a moment.

Arnav not able to come up with any good reason for her behaviour and was waiting for her to explain as his temper was returning. "What is it with this girl? Who does she think she is to act like this with 'me'? That too after I apologized to her.", his thoughts were interrupted as his heart questioned him, "Did you? Did you really apologize to her? Do you call what you said an apology?" He brushed those thoughts aside saying, "Nothing, Absolutely nothing gives her the right to behave like this with 'me'."

All of a sudden it hit her, "What is he doing here? Why is he here? Was he following me? Hey Devi Maiya, Is he some kind of stalker? No, he can't be, he did look decent. Then why is he following me? Devi Maiya, ab mai kaha phas gayi. Raksha karna hamari. Aap ko ek kilo jalebi kilungi. Main nahin darungi, nahin darungi, nahin darungi.", she repeated to herself.(Devi maa, where did I end up now. Please help me. I will offer you 1 Kilo Jalebi. I will not be afraid, not be afraid.)

Gathering all her courage she looked directly at him and almost shouted, "What are you doing here? Were you following me? What are your intentions? What do you want from me? I might look weak but I am very strong. And if it is still about this afternoon event then I said sorry. So leave me alone or else I will shout.", she completed in hurry before her courage ran out. Even though she didn't intend on shouting at him the panicky state she was in made it come out like that.

Arnav couldn't believe his ears. He really wanted her to give a rational explanation for her actions and she is shouting at 'him'. Who does she think she is? Who does she think 'he' is? She is questioning his intentions. He could get people like her stand in queue for him in a snap. His face was turning blood red the more he thought about it.

Khushi could see his face change color under the streetlight. For some reason all her courage went down the drain as she saw his face burning with fury. She is terrified now. "What did I do? Did I say something bad? May be I said too much? Wait, he was the one following me, so why am I feeling guilty and intimidated?", questions without proper answers poured in suffocating her brain. She wished she knew what he was going to do next. She looked around, desperate to find someone who could help her but this time there was no lavanya to come to her rescue. It was only her and her Devi Maiya. But it felt like even she deserted her at this moment. She pleaded her Devi Maiya, "Aap hame aise nahi chod sakti. Aap ko hame iss Laad Governor ki gusse se is baar bachana hi hoga. Aap ko ek nahi doh kilo Jalebi dungi, bacha legia." (You can't leave me like this. You have to save me from this Laad Governor's anger this time. I will offer you not 1 but 2 kilo jalebi. Please save me.)