FF: When Love And Hate Collide... Pt26 pg145 10/07 - Page 38

Originally posted by: smdosi

Awesome yaar...loved it...jus read it today...plz plz plz pm me weneva u updt...

Originally posted by: Deepika06

Next update kab 😃

PART 12

Ahluwalia mansion…

"Di please… ek baar mere liye!"

"No Sanchit! I find it too ridiculous ok…. Grow up!"

"Cmon Di… For old times sake… pleaaassseee…"

Arohi looked at Sanchit and smiled. Her brother can really be a baby at times. Tuning her guitar strings, she started playing and Sanchit sang along.

Arohi had finally found her solace… spending time with her family.

Usually she spent all her spare time working more, but that ended up with Arjun staying back at the office and THAT, was definitely not good for her peace of mind. She had still not gotten over her inner struggle or forgotten the kiss, and having Arjun around was not allowing her to forget it. One fine day, she had been reminded of the scene where Arjun was playing the keyboard and her family was singing away happily. She had promised herself then to make sure she gives them this happiness again. And she had done that in the past few days by spending her evenings with them.

The doors to the music room opened and Sudhir and Arjun were greeted to Arohi and Sanchit, sitting on the carpeted floor, with Arohi playing the guitar and Sanchit singing away to 'lakdi ki kaathi… kaathi pe ghoda…' The unusual but adorable scene brought an amused smile on Arjuns lips. He had never seen Arohi when she was in her comfort zone. She had always been on her guard with him around. And now that she had not noticed him, he could see the genuinely happy smile on her face.

As soon as the song was over, Sudhir clapped his hands and entered the room with Arjun. Arohi and Sanchit smiled and got up but Arohis smile vanished the moment she noticed the devil.

"Chalo… Dinner is ready. Lets eat." Sudhir informed his children.

"Just one more song dad… Aaj kitne dino ke baad Di guitar baja rahi hai. Aap log bhi aaiye na. We all will sing." Arjun smiled at Sanchit but his focus was on Arohi, who had now gone back to the blank-face mode that she was famous for sporting in office.

"Nai Sanchit… Mom will get angry. We will do this again tomorrow, ok?" Arohi smiled at her brother and took her guitar to be packed away in the case. Sudhir and a sulking Sanchit headed towards the dining room and Arjun stayed back. He walked up to the corner where Arohi was busy enclosing her guitar in a cover.

"Kaafi achha bajaa leti ho tum…"

Arohi stopped her actions realising that she was alone in the room with Arjun.

"Thanks." She resumed her work.

"So… kiske liye seekha tumne guitar???"

Arohi turned around confused. "Kiske liye matlab? Apne liye. I wanted to learn it so I learned."

"Yaa… but generally log kisiko impress karne ke liye seekhte hai. So that they can stand beneath their window at night and woo them with love ballads…"

Arohi glared at Arjuns mooning romeo look on his face, imitating a teenager in love.

"Im sorry. But I don't need to 'woo' anybody. I learnt it because I like playing a guitar." Turning around, Arohi resumed packing away the instrument.

"Oh yaa… I forgot. You don't like to 'woo' people… you like to 'boo' (scare) them!" Arjun chuckled and Arohi put her guitar away, shutting the door of the cupboard more forcefully than she had intended.

"Why are you here Arjun???"

"Because my uncle invited me to dinner!"

"Then why don't you go and irritate your 'uncle' and leave me alone."

"Naah… Irritating uncle is not as much fun as irritating you. C'mon Arohi, we are at home now. So you can stop behaving like a machine and act like a human being."

Arohis nostrils flared and she was going to punch Arjun when she heard her mother call her and Arjun to the table. Tightening her fists, she walked away to the dining room with a smirking Arjun following her.

Dining table…

"No dad… I don't think both of us going to the conference is a good idea. Someone has to stay back here. I will do that and take care of the back end work, you and Arjun can go to Singapore."

"Hmm… ok beta. I think you are right. There is still time for the conference, so we can take this call later." Sudhir smiled and everyone resumed eating.

Arjun looked at Arohi, who was sitting next to him. She had not looked at him once since he had come to the house. She had also been missing from office in the evenings for the last few days. Was she avoiding him? Was it because of what had happened that night in the party? Arjuns lips lifted in a small smile thinking that Arohi was not as unaffected as he had thought her to be.

"Arjun bhaiya… Aap kitne dino baad aaye hain ghar. Where have you been?"

Before Arjun could answer, Arohi spoke up.

"Sanchit… Lagta hai tumhare Arjun bhaiya ki date ne aaj unhe ditch kar diya. Issliye unhe yaha aana pada."

Amrits eyes widened, Sudhir chuckled and Sanchit sent a surprised smile in Arjuns direction. But Arjun gritted his teeth. How can she talk about him like this in front of her family… especially Sudhir uncle!

"Aisa kuch nahi hai! Tumhari Arohi Di itna kaam karaati hai ki mujhe khaana khaane tak ki fursat nahi milti."

"Mujhse jyaada workaholic toh tumhare Arjun bhaiyaa hai. Aajkal toh voh apne cabin se bhi baahar nahi nikalte."

"Voh issliye kyuki mujhe kisine kaha tha ki Ahluwalia group of Companies mein kaam ke time pe sirf kaam kiya jaata hai."

It was Arohis turn to grit her teeth. He was making it sound like she was a tyrant and making him work till his neck breaks. Sanchit was watching his Arjun Bhaiya and Arohi Di like he was watching a tennis match.

"Arjun beta… Aisa kuch nahi hai. Tum jab chahe mere cabin mein aa sakte ho. In fact mein soch raha tha ki hume lunch bhi saath mein karna chahiye. Tum rehte ho toh khana khaane mein bhi majaa aata hai."

Arjun smiled at Sudhirs kind words. "Sure uncle. Waise mein toh sirf mazak karraha tha… kisiko tang karne ke liye." Arjun looked at Arohi and grinned. Arohi glared back.

After dinner the table was cleared and Arjun went to wash his hands. As they were all walking towards the garden, Arohi pulled Arjuns shirt and yanked him behind everyone. Waiting for everyone to go out of earshot, she turned him to face her.

"Tum kyu aaye ho yaha Arjun?"

"Are you suffering from amnesia Arohi? Didn't I tell you I came because Sudhir uncle invited me to dinner?!"

"Toh tum koi bahana kar dete. Why did you have to take up his invitation?"

"Kyu? Why should I lie to him? I wanted to spend time with everyone so I came."

"This is my time with my family. You cant come here and ruin it! Do I ruin your tea time chaat rendezvous'???"

It had been too long since Arohi had managed to rile up Arjun now. And so Arjun could literally feel the bubbles of his boiling blood climb up his body, ascending towards his brain. So much that he missed the sarcasm in her last comment.

"This is my family too Arohi. I don't know about you, but Sudhir uncle and Amrit aunty have treated me like a son. Not to mention, that I see a lot of Romit in Sanchit. So me having fun with them has nothing to do with you."

"First of all, this is MY family, your family is in US. And secondly, I have to take enough of you in the office, so I should not have to put up with you at home too. This is my time with them, in my house and I donot want to see you in it!"

Arjun stared at Arohis stern face. Arohi could see the clenching of his jaw and the ticking of the nerve on his forehead. But his eyes didn't flash anger. If Arohi was not angry right now, then she would have recognised that emotion as being… sad… or even hurt. But right now she didn't care. Arjun had his Natasha and his long string of girlfriends to entertain him but she only had her family. And she was not willing to sacrifice that for anyone.

Arjun just turned around and walked towards the garden. Arohi exhaled with relief and followed him.

Later… Arohis bedroom…

It was again one of those nights when Arohi could not sleep… and the reason was the same again… Arjun.

In her anger and irritation, she had managed to throw him out of the house but Sanchit had overheard their argument and had immediately informed his dad the 'real' reason for Arjuns sudden departure. And then Arohi had got an earful.

FLASHBACK

"I've never questioned the way you conduct yourself in office Arohi. Because I know that you have your own set of rules for working. But this is our house… and I will not tolerate any kind of mannerless behaviour in here towards any guest. Arjun is not just a guest but extended family. You yourself were very fond of Arjun as a child. Then why this cold behaviour now? You both may have your difference of opinions in office but it need not be carried home. You yourself stress upon keeping personal and professional lives separate… don't you???

Do you even realise that that boy is living alone over here? His entire family is in US and he must be missing them. Yet he never complains or cribs about it. I have always seen him in a good and friendly mood. If you cant extend the same courtesy to him then atleast keep your hostility in control. He is not just your partner, he is my best friends son. Never forget that.

You will apologise to him tomorrow and invite him for dinner next week. I donot want to hear any arguments about it! How you do it is upto you. But I want you to make him feel welcome. Consider it as an order from me.

FLASHBACK ENDS

Her father had not even allowed her to open her mouth.

Now she had to 'convince' Mr Singhania into believing that she was genuinely sorry and wanted him to have dinner at her place. Come to think of it, she did regret her words. Maybe she should not have spoken what she did, but she had been angry at him before coming home. Ever since she had seen him having fun with that Natasha, Arohi had felt an irritation building up towards him. Why she still did not know… neither did she want to analyse!

Well, the damage was done and now was the time to do some damage control. She will tell him a plain sorry, the way he had told her, and then put forth the invitation as a treaty for peace. No… that will make him feel she wants to compensate for it, and her dad was clear that she has to make him feel welcome. Dammit!

Should she take Sanchits help? Maybe she can. Afterall Sanchit had built a very friendly rapport with Arjun in the few weeks that they've known each other. So she can probably emotionally blackmail Arjun through Sanchit and get him to accept the dinner invitation. But the million dollar question was 'will sanchit help her?'. She already knew the answer to this… a big, fat, NO!!! That little sadist will enjoy it if Arjun gives her a hard time. The tattle-tail had not wasted a minute to go and complain against her to dad when he heard what she spoke with Arjun. So Sanchit was out!

Arohi had never thought or planned or spent sleepless nights over any meeting or deal. No matter how big it was. But dealing with Arjun Singhania was definitely taking a toll on her nerves. She could do it! She was Arohi Ahluwalia. Itne bade bade deals crack kiye hai, ye Arjun kya cheez hai. All she needs to do right now is a keep a check on her feelings and not let them ruin her talk with Arjun. THAT seemed like a much bigger challenge right now.

Arjuns flat…

Arjuns grip tightened on the receiver as his dads voice filled his ears.

"Hi Arjun… kya baat hai? Aaj hamari yaad kaise aagayi? Abhi to waha pe raat ke sirf 10 baj rahe honge na? Itni jaldi ghar bhi aagaye???"

"Haan dad… bas aaj aap sabse baat karne ka mann kiya issliye phone kiya… Hows everyone?"

"Sab thik hai beta. Tumhe bohat yaad karte hai, especially biji. Lekin abhi voh gurudware gayi hain, warna tumhari baat kara deta."

"Mein bhi aap sabko bohat yaad karta hoon. Dadi se mein baad mein baat karlunga. Unse kehna ke main thik hoon. Dad… are you planning to come here??"

"I was… but you are handling everything so well that I don't feel the need. Why? Do you want me to…?"

"Nai… Just wanted to know…"

Arjuns low voice and his words trailing away alerted Rudra. He knew his son very well and so he understood that after so many days Arjun was feeling homesick and missing his family.

"Kya baat hai Arjun? Do you want me to come there? I can come if you want…"

"Nai dad. Theres no need. You must be getting late for work. You carry on. Mein aapse baad mein baat karta hu."

Arjun hung up and sat back in his arm chair. Arohis cold behaviour had made him realise how much he was actually missing his family. He had his friends and Natasha with him here, but family was family. And meeting Sudhir uncle always gave him a very warm feeling. Today he realised how much he hated coming back to his empty flat where noone was waiting to welcome him, or ask him about his day, or have a late night drink and discuss family and business. He even missed bullying Romit and giving him a hard time!

Getting up from his chair, Arjun headed towards his bedroom. Lying on his bed, Arjun got thinking again.

Maybe it really was too long that he had been in a relationship. Of course, it will have to be a temporary, no-strings-attached one. But that will take away his loneliness. He had 11 months to stay here before he can go back to US. Maybe he could take a small vacation sometime later too. But right now, he needed to show Miss Ahluwalia that he did not need her permission or her mercy to spend time with HER family. He cannot refuse if Sudhir uncle insists again, but he definitely will avoid his daughter at all cost!

... and here it is 😆 let me know how was it! romance will take time people... they are still learning to bear each other 😛 but realisation and some fun is on the way 😉

Originally posted by: smdosi

Awww...I feel bad for arjun...arohi was downright rude!!... that ws v.mean behaviour...hope she genuinely says sorry n arjun accepts her apology...plz dun stretch d apology...plz plz plz let arjun accept arohi's apology in next updt itself...pretty please with cherry on top..