ARHI SS : BEYOND WORDS *COMPLETED* - Page 74

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Chapter-16

Arnav felt her gaze on him and turned to look at Khushi who was mindlessly staring at him as if in some deep thought. He moved his hand from gear and waved it in front of her breaking her gaze.

"What's going on in that wicked mind of yours?"

"Uh-oh nothing" she spoke hesitatingly.

Arnav eyed her curiously while keeping an eye on the road ahead.

"You know we can talk about anything, you can share with me if something is bothering you" his tone gentle melting her heart.

"I was just thinking about our day." She smiled assuring him. Khushi didn't lie to him but that was not the entire truth either. How could she tell him that she was thinking about their conversation, still bothered about those missing words?

Arnav smiled at her words getting lost in those whirlwind thoughts himself. Neemrana would always remain special to him not only for the memories it has given him but also for the reason that it was here where he and Khushi have begun their relationship.

Khushi saw him grin and asked the reason behind it.

"I all of a sudden feel so young Khushi. After college I never actually dated anyone, immersing myself in work making it my aim to erect a business empire and the time I achieved it all this dating stuff appeared a time waste to me. But now I understand the reason. May be I was waiting for you." He turned his eyes towards road to avoid looking at her as his words seemed cheesy to himself.

He felt her dropping a noisy kiss on his cheek saying "You are cute you know"

"Girls are cute not guys" he said making a face.

"Young guys are cute" she answered pulling his cheek laughing openly at him.

As she looked outside at the setting sun giving an orange glow to the sky Khushi smiled feeling happy with her decision. She wondered if it all was a dream and someone would soon wake her up. If it was a dream she would prefer sleeping feeling his love all her life.

Arnav halted the car outside her apartment building with Khushi sleeping in the passenger seat. Her head had slipped on his shoulder somewhere in between their journey. He tilted her face making it rest on the seat moving the stray bangs behind her ear. He got down and opened her door side thinking not to disturb her and take her with him. But the sane part of his mind along with the thought of her reaction once she wakes up stopped him.

"Khushi" he shook her. She turned in her seat mumbling "Sone do Jiji. Itna acha sapna dekh rahi hoon."

Jiji? Does she think she is at her home?

"Khushi wake up. We have reached your place." Khushi frowned wondering how her Jiji voice could become so manly and this instantly brought her out of her hazy thoughts.

She reached for her seat belt opening it she stepped out. Arnav in the meanwhile took her bag from the backseat. As her fingers brushed against his taking her bag she felt him holding her hand. She looked up at him to find him looking at her longingly. He stepped closer as his hand touched her face. He leaned in pressing a kiss on her forehead inhaling her jasmine fragrance.

"Good night and sleep well. You look tired." He told her tracing the skin under her eyes.

"You too." She smiled. She stood there as he got in the driving seat not starting the engine looking at her. He instructed her to go in before him. As she rang the bell of her flat she looked down to see his car still parked, he looking at her. As the door opened she found Payal hugging her and at the same time heard the engine of his SUV coming to life as he drove out of there.

Payal asked if she was hungry to which Khushi denied as she had lunch before leaving for Delhi and also snacks while coming back, demanding just a special ginger tea from Payal to which her sister immediately obliged. Khushi lay sprawled on the sofa sipping her tea answering Payal's questions regarding the trip and meeting effectively avoiding everything that transpired between her and Arnav.

Khushi relaxed on her side of bed once again thinking if she should let Payal know about her recent secret. Payal on the other side was engaged in her own thoughts thinking about the last day that had passed.

(Yesterday)

Payal woke up late after spending most of her night awake talking to Akash. She was picking up her handbag as the doorbell rang. She moved with fast steps running already late for her office. Opening the door a gasp escaped her mouth as she found Akash standing at her doorstep looking as if he has just stepped out after taking a bath. He looked down at him his eyes gazing her from head to toe. She suddenly felt conscious under his unwavering gaze wishing she had worn her blue tunic than her current baby pink. Her all thoughts froze in her mind when she heard him.

"You look as beautiful and fresh as a blooming rose."

"But not more than you" she voiced her inner thoughts from a moment back almost immediately.

"Do I look like a rose?" he chuckled.

Payal flushed at that, embarrassed at her own words "No, I mean yes, uhNooo. I meant in freshness."

Akash smiled seeing her confused and stammering for the first time, happy at his idea of surprising her. It gave him more confidence to continue with what he had planned.

"Would you mind giving me some time of yours?"

She looked up at him; his eyes were serious behind those rimless spectacles. She nodded not able to speak anything.

"I need your whole day" he continued in his serious tone.

Payal thought about the file she has to complete in the office. How could she cancel her office knowing there was an important meeting after two days and she has to complete that file before that? She once again weighed her options and asked Akash to give her few minutes. She made a call to her office telling that something urgent has come up her way and she won't be coming to office today but would work from home and complete the file. Payal came up to him and asked about the plans.

"Don't you think you should invite me in and ask all these details while I sit down for sometime?"

Payal realized that he was standing at her door from past minutes but she corrected her mistake immediately letting him inside. While sipping his tea Akash told that he just wanted to go out and spend the day with her.

They spent the first half of the day in the college from where Akash had completed her graduation. He told her how he used to spend most of his time in the library closely followed by the playground where he played football with his friends. After hearing his college tales Payal got to know that he was not only studious but equally excelled in sports. They sat together having their lunch in Eatopia in IHC as their conversations from childhood and college gave them beautiful company. Payal had a hard time holding herself almost doubling over his crazy stories of fresher days and ragging during which they were made to do weird stuffs entailing from doing MithunDa step in middle of the canteen to sing 'Pehla Nasha' in front of their Professor Mr. Shekhawat who was old but quite a funny man. Mr. Shekhawat had once detained him, as he was caught doing it third time, saying that he was bored of this song and he wants him to sing and dance on 'Pyaar hua ikraar hua' along with one of his seniors who was ragging him.

They were in Khan market having coffee. Akash excused himself when his phone rang. He joined her after ten minutes. A waiter came up to them with a tray in his hand making space at their table. Payal told him that they had not ordered anything apart from the coffee they were sipping right now to which the waiter just smiled and placed the tray on the table and went back after smiling at her again.

Payal looked at Akash who just shrugged his shoulders in response. She lowered her eyes on the table and froze on the spot not able to think or say anything. Her eyes glued to the cake with everything blurring out except the letters on it.

I LOVE YOU

Akash looked at her apprehensively gauging her reaction but was unable to do so as no emotion showed up on her face. After sometime he saw a lone tear escaping her eye. He moved his chair next to her in a second wiping her tear and found her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"I am sorry if it offended you. It's not necessary for you to love me back. I know it is all quite fast for you. I know I behaved lik..." he felt her finger against his lips before he could mutter some more. She nodded her head in a no telling him to stop his rambling.

His heart constricted in his chest looking at her tear filled eyes. She removed her finger from his lips but telling him with her eyes to not open his mouth. He saw her getting up from her seat moving towards the counter, may be to get the table cleared he thought. She returned immediately and moved her hand forward. He saw something like a candle in her hand but instead of placing it vertically she placed it horizontally on the cake and turned it towards him. He looked at her confusedly and then the cake. His worried eyes smiled learning the reason behind her tears.

I LOVE YOU 2

He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles mouthing 'I love you'.

At 11 they stood outside in the parking outside her apartment.

"Thank you for the wonderful day Payal. This was my best gift ever."

He saw her confused expressions and to ease her out he told him that it is his birthday today.

"What? Why didn't you tell me before? I didn't even gift you something." She replied sadly.

"Your feelings are the best gift for me. No other gift could have been more special than this."

"There could have been many more special gifts. But right now on such a short notice of time I can't think anything more than this. Happy Birthday" saying this she gave a chaste kiss on his lips and scurried away before he could register anything. He looked at her fast retreating back, his lips still tingling with the feeling of her soft ones. He smiled knowing she was right, this gift made the already unforgettable day as the most special for him.

Payal looked at Khushi who was still fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt.

"Khushi I want to tell you something."

Khushi lifted from her position to sit on the bed thinking if anything was wrong or if Payal had seen her with Arnav. As Payal started telling her about meeting with Akash on the rainy day followed by their numerous secret rendezvous after office she smiled. She jumped in pure glee as Payal told her about their last day and their confession holding back that one moment of intimacy. Khushi thanked Devi Maiyya aloud for giving happiness to her Jiji. She hugged Payal tightly in a bone crushing hug expressing her delight.

Khushi held herself back from sharing details of Arnav with Payal as she didn't want to worry her sister. She knew Payal would instantly know that something is amiss and how would she tell her that Arnav doesn't know what his feelings for her are exactly. She decided to share it with her once Arnav confesses his feelings more accurately and she knew she has to work upon it soon.

A/N: I was quite apprehensive for this update. So please let me know what you think.

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