FF: When Love And Hate Collide... Pt26 pg145 10/07 - Page 82

PART 22

"So just sit down like adults and have a mature conversation. That will help you both figure out how to take things forward, ok?"

Arjun remembered Natashas advice and he fumed all the more. How could any normal sane human being have a mature conversation with a woman who was constantly running away from him! If anyone had their eyes on Arjun and Arohi right now, then they would feel that these two were playing 'pakda-pakdi' in the lawns. Whenever Arjun approached Arohi within 10-feet radius proximity, she would find someone interesting in the opposite direction and move away quickly. At one time Arjun had literally dived to catch her hand and stop her but she had proven to be more agile than he thought.

Arjuns frown turned into a scowl when he heard his phone ring and his attention had moved from stalking his prey towards the phone. Without checking who had called, Arjun pressed the green button.

"Hello?!"

"Is this Arjun Singhania?"

Arjun let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes dad… this is Arjun Singhania! Aapne kisse phone lagaya tha… Tom Cruise ko?"

Rudra chuckled at his sons irritated reply. "Nai… lagaya toh mere bete ko hi tha… lekin ussne aajatak mujhe phone pe itna sada hua hello kabhi nahi bola… toh mein confuse hogaya!"

Arjun rolled his eyes. "Very funny dad. Kisliye phone kiya?"

"Bas apne bete ki irritated awaaz sunne ka mann kiya issliye socha thode dollars karch kar doon. Lagta hai tumhe India kuch khaas pasand nahi aaya hai?"

Arjun sobered up immediately. "Aisa kuch nahi hai dad. Bas dadi ne iss stoopid mehendi aur sangeet ke function mein bheja hai… voh bhi Hitler Ahluwalia ke saath! Issliye thoda bore hogaya hoon…"

"Mera beta…? Aur bore??? Tumhe kabse company se farak padne laga. Jahan tak mein mere Arjun ko jaanta hoon, voh jaha jaata hai, party wohi shuru hojaati hai."

Arjun smiled listen to his dad cheer him up. "America jaisi parties yaha nahi hoti dad!"

"… aur waha jaise functions hote hain voh bhi yaha nahi hote son. So stop sulking and enjoy them to your fullest. Jab yaha aaoge tab ye sab miss karoge."

Arjuns face went blank listening to his fathers advice. "You're right. Mein ye sab bohat miss karunga. Thanks dad…"

Rudra smiled hearing his sons voice soften. "You're welcome son. Aur waise humne biji ko isiliye waha bheja hai… taaki voh humey disturb karne se achha tumhe tang karey!"

Father and son both laughed together. Saying an emotioned bye, they both hung up. Arjuns eyes returned to stalking the Phoolan Devi again… only the frown was gone and his eyes had mellowed. Now when his anger had vanished, he could see that Arohi resembled a cat on a hot tin roof… nervous and jumpy! And all this just to avoid him. Arjun smiled.

yaha aaoge tab ye sab miss karoge…

He will definitely miss all this… and her… when he returns back. So he had to make the best of the time that he had… and make sure that she does too. With a new determination in his eyes, Arjun started walking towards Arohi. He could make out that her body immediately got tensed and she started looking for an escape route when she saw him approach her from the corner of her eye. But before Arohi could take a step away, Arjun reached her and blocked her way.

Arohi looked left… and then right. And then up… right into hazelnut luminious eyes.

"Arohi… relax. Mein tumhe firse kiss karne nahi aaya hoon."

Her confused eyes turned in to glaring ones making Arjun chuckle. "Pata hai Arohi… tum sab se achhi tab lagti ho jab mujhse naaraz hoti ho. Tumhari smile ekdam bekaar hai."

Arohi flared her nostrils and looked away.

"Yahi… yahi! Jab tum aise naak fullati ho na toh gazab ki sexy lagti ho… haaye…!"

Amused eyes looked up. Arohi pressed her lips to stop herself from grinning.

"Aur jab tum mann hi mann mujhe gaali deti hona… tab I can actually imagine smoke coming out of your ears and fire coming out of your nose. Gorgeous!"

Pursing her lips Arohi looked up and Arjun smiled. "If it can help you relax, then forget whatever I said sometime back. If you're not ready then im willing to wait Arohi. But I don't want to lose the friendship that we had developed for the past few weeks. You're the person who has made me realise that first impressions are truly not the last impressions. Mein jaanta hu ki hamari pehli 2-3 mulaaqaatein kuch khaas achhi nahi thi. But you will agree that we have come past it now. So I can understand why you don't want to think about 'us' but we can still be friends right?"

Arohis anger and her anxiety both slipped away gradually with every comforting word that Arjun said. She did agree with him but her anger was not allowing her to. Now that she saw the understanding in his eyes, her rational brain returned and she relaxed. Slightly smiling, she gave a sharp nod.

"Good. So then lets enjoy this function. Tumhe pata hai maine US mein bhi aise functions attend kiye hai, but yaha isski baat hi kuch aur hai. Pata nahi fir kab… mein aur tum… aise function ek saath attend karey. So lets have some fun, what say?"

Ahluwalia dining room…

"Kheer… Kay… Ech… Ee… Ee… Aar… Kheer!!!"

Dadi smiled as placed all the letters one by one on the board.

"Dadi!" Sanchit sounded exasperated. "Ye scrabble hai! Issme aap hindi words nahi use kar saktey!"

"Kyu nahi use kar sakti?!" Dadi looked at him in anger. "Aur tuney ye jo ell. o. o. tee. loot banaya hai hindi mein, usska kya?"

"Uffo dadi! There are some hindi words that are adapted by the English vocabulary. Like Loot… or Jungle… or Guru. Lekin ab tak Kheer nahi add hua hai!"

"Achha?" Dadi gave him a fake OTT surprised expression. "Aur kaun hai ye log… jo bataayenge ki kaunsa word chalega aur kaunsa nahi… haiin???"

Sanchit looked defeatedly at his father. Sudhir promptly hid his face behind the newspaper and Amrit peeped from the kitchen to smile, listening at this adorable banter.

"Dedh sau saal tak ye kamine angrez loot hi macha rahe hamare desh mein! Ab ye game mein bhi hum pe hukum chalayenge??? Aur tu unnki waqaalat karraha hai… khotta kahi ka!"

Sudhir started giggling behind the newspaper and Sanchit threw an angry look in his direction. Deciding to try his luck one last time he turned back to the game. "Nahi dadi. Oxford dictionary mein jo words include hote hain sirf vohi scrabble mein allowed hote hain."

"Agar aisa hai toh mujhe nahi khelna ye angrezon ka khel!" Dadi pulled the dupatta on her head and turned her face away.

Accepting defeat, Sanchit kept the 'kheer' back on the board. "Ok fine. Chaliye aage khelte hain."

Dadi looked at him in anger and started arranging the letters on her wooden rack. Her angrily whispered 'angrez ki aulaad' was caught by Sanchit but he decided to ignore it to avoid anymore arguments.

The phone rang on the table and Sudhir picked it up. His face broke out in a smile hearing his best friends voice. Sanchit and dadi abondaned the game and Amrit left the kitchen to take turns in talking to their extended family.

After a while Amrit returned to the kitchen and Sanchit and Sudhir started setting up the table for dinner, whereas Teji Singhania settled on the sofa to talk to her daughter- in-law.

"Kaisi hai Kumud puttar?"

"Thik hu biji. Aapki kami bohat mehsoos horahi hai."

"Arre pagli… yahi to mauka hai… jitna chahe utna romance karle. Fir mein aaungi toh tujhe Rudra ke liye time nahi milega."

Kumud blushed and dadi chuckled. Rudra raised his eyebrows in direction of the phone, indicating that he and his mother thought on the same track. Kumud had put the phone on speaker so that she and Rudra can talk to everyone together. Now she regretted doing it!

"Mein bhi kabse yahi keh raha hoon biji… lekin aapki bahu toh sirf aapse pyaar karti hai… mujhse nahi."

Kumud hit Rudra on his arm and dadi laughed out loud.

"Waise biji… meri Arjun se baat hui."

"Achha? Kaisa hai voh… function enjoy karraha hai ki nai?"

"Abb, voh thik hai biji… aur usski fikar mat kijiye. Voh jahan jaaye waha enjoy karta hai. Lekin mujhe Arohi ki chinta horahi hai."

"Kyu?" Teji was surprised but hearing Rudra chuckle, she smiled.

"Kyuki jab Arjun enjoy karne pe utar aaaye tab voh kisiko udaas nahi rehne deta. Aur jaha tak meine Arohi ke baare mein suna hai, usse gussa karna achha lagta hai. Toh ab bechari jyada der tak gussa nahi karegi toh bimar padd jayegi naa?"

Dadi, Rudra and Kumud laughed together. Dadi sobered up first.

"Oye… Fitte mooh… Khabardar meri poti-bahu ke baare mein aisa kuch kaha toh!"

Rudra and Kumud became silent. "Biji… Mein jaanta hoon ki meri aur Sudhir ki ye purani wish thi, ki hamare bachhe apas mein shaadi karle. Lekin abhi Arjun-Arohi ek doosre ko thik se jaante tak nahi. Aur aap unki shaadi ke khwab dekh rahi ho? I don't want you to get disappointed."

"Tu fikar naa kar. Janna kya… ye dono ab take ek doosre ko itna pasand bhi nahi karte. Lekin mein jaanti hoon… inn boodhi aakhon ne itne saal office mein files nahi dekhe hai… teri tarah! Maine duniya dekhi hai… aur mujhe poora vishwas hai ki ek din Arjun aur Arohi ek doosre se hi shaadi karenge. Dekh liyo!"

"Hum unpe jabardasti toh nahi karsakte biji. Lekin agar aisa hua… toh mere aur Sudhir se jyada khushi aur kisiko nahi hogi. Bhagwaan karey aisa hi ho…"

"Tum dono bas dua karte raho! Sab kuch bhagwan karega toh hamey akal kyu baanti hai ussne? Ab jo karna hai mein karungi… tu office jaa, der horahi hogi tujhe… "

Kumud hid her giggle behind her palm and Rudra shook his head. Bidding goodbye to his mother, Rudra glared at his wife.

"Don't worry Rudra. Aur ye mat bhulo ki hamari shaadi bhi dadi ki wajah se hi hui thi. Warna tum toh apni hi dhunn mein reh jaate aur papa mera haath kisi aur ko de dete!"

"Hmm… fir mein tumse shaadi karta bhi nahi! Ek haath ke bina tum bohat bhanayak lagti…"

Kumud took a moment to understand the joke and the next moment she sprinted behind her husband to hit him.

Khurana lawns…

The next one hour was the most enjoyable in recent times of Arohis life. She had loosened up around Arjun and they both were actually having lots of fun. The brides sister, Simran, introduced them to all her friends. Even though they were much younger, Arjuns lively nature made them connect easily with each other. A few of them had flew down from London directly to attend their friends sisters wedding. The jokes and stories went on and on, making them feel that they had known each other for a long time. Arohi looked around at everyone smiling and having a good time, when Simran pushed her to apply mehendi on her hands.

"Nahi Simran… mujhe… mujhe mehendi ki smell achhi nahi lagti."

"WHAT!"

Arohi jumped an inch when she heard Arjun scream near her ears.

"Kis ladki ko mehendi ki smell achhi nahi lagti?!"

Arohi glared at him. Pointing towards herself she said, "Iss ladki ko!"

Arjun immediately looked around. "Kaha hai… kaha hai ladki…" That earned him a slap on his arm from Arohi and the Britain born-Punjabi girls giggled. Arjun smiled back at them and Simran laughed.

"Arohi… iss mehendi mein jyada smell nahi hai. Aap chahiye toh thodasa lagva lijiye na. If you don't like it then leave it, I wont force you… ok?"

To keep Simran from getting disappointed and to get back at Arjun, Arohi agreed. Simran had told the truth, the mehendi didn't smell as much as she had dreaded, so she decided to get both her hands done. After sometime, Arohi heard a few people clapping and a dholak playing near the lawns. She turned around in time to see the older women start singing.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umyn-WhcNA8[/YOUTUBE]

Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi

Tere Hattan Vich Phool Bann Khildi
Mehndi Badeyan Naseeba Naal Mildi
Te Gaadha Rang Je Chadhya
Ho Gayi Balle Balle Oye Oye Oye Oye

Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi
Mehndi Ni Mehndi

Simrans friends, who were good rappers, walked to the centre of the lawns and started singing and dancing.

Hey Yo
I M Telling You So Lets Go
Feel It In The Tempo
We Not Care About Them
We Just Super Like Nintendo
We Gonna Buzz It Off
Feel The Music In You Bones
DJ Play That Tune Give Me Something New
We're Gonna Party All Night Long

The girls pulled Simran to dance with them and she in turn pulled Arjun. Sparing a glance at Arohis sceptical face, Arjun smiled a wicked smile and followed Simran. He ignored Arohi and started dancing with Simran and the girls.

Biba Meri Biba Jo Aayi Hai Cham Se
Bibaa
Biba Meri Dhadkan Khan Khan Khanke,
Bibaa

Arohi watched with a blank face as Arjun danced around, with the shameless English girls brushing themselves against him, under the pretense of dance.

Dont Worry About A Thing
Just Let The Music Play
Just Feel It In You Soul
We Are Burning Up The Floor

Arjun looked at Arohi and she smiled. But it dropped the next moment as Simran came to sing and dance next to him.

Enna Tu Sohna Hai
Panga To Hona Hai
Dil Ne To Khona Hai
Bach Ke Tu Reh Zara

Simran pulled Arjuns cheek as she sang and Arohis breath hitched. She gulped.

Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Dil Se Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Dil Se Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya

Simran came dancing towards Arohi and Arohi immediately looked down. Simran sat near her, staring at her mehendi, which was getting done.

Biba Tere Haathon Mein Mehndi Damke
Biba
Hoyeee Biba Teri Aankhon Mein Sapne Chamke
Biba

Arjun sat on the other side of Simran and sang looking at Arohi.

Haan Tezz Tadaka Hai, Bilkul Patakha Hai
Daala Kya Daaka Hai, Dil Pe O Jaaniya

Arohi looked up and he turned his eyes towards Simran, clutching his heart in a mock pain.

O Ho Ho Ho, Aankhein Yun Seke Hai
Daane Yun Phenek Hai, Chup Chup Ke Dekhe Hai
Keh De Khul Ke Zara

Simran looked at Arohi and she gave her a fake smile. Arjun got up and pulled Simran to the middle of the lawns.

Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Dil Se Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Sab Se Keh Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya

Simran flared her fuscia pink ghagra as she danced gracefully. More people joined in the dance and everyone started dancing. Arohi wishfully looked up, suddenly wanting to join them.

Tere Nakhre Mainu Luteya Vee
Tere Nakhre Ne Maar Suteya Vee
Tere Nakhre Mainu Luteya Vee
Tere Nakhre Ne Maar Suteya Vee

The noises and the dance stopped for Arohi. All she could see was Arjun dancing and the girls dancing around him. She could feel her anger start to boil as one of the girls pulled Arjuns collar in a dance step to turn him around. How dare she! Arohi wanted to get up and drag Arjun out of there, just like he had dragged her to the gazebo. But her mehendi was only half done and… and… what right did she have to do so! Arohis attention snapped back to the present as she saw Arjun look straight at her and sing.

Dekhe Teri Aankhon Se Nazaare, Biba
Ho Chamke Hain Kal Ab Saare, Biba

Mehndi Kehndi Mehndi Kehndi
Mehndi Kehndi Mehndi Kehndi

Arohi quickly looked away. She told the mehendi wali to hurry up because she had to leave.

Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Dil Se Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Rola Pe Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya
Sab Se Keh Gaya, Rola Pe Gaya

Arjun smiled. Arohi was uncomfortable again… only this time, he had not done anything… to her atleast!

An hour later when a hasty Arohi had dragged Arjun to the car, he had given an amused look but kept quiet. After putting on her seat belt, Arjun did not rest back in his seat. Instead he grabbed her wrist.

Arohi gasped. "Meri mehendi…"

"… sookh chuki hai!"

Arohi looked up and couldn't look away. Arjun was barely a few inches away from her. His hold on her hand has loosened and his fingers were drawing patterns on her pulse point. His eyes spoke volumes of what he wanted to say but not a single word came from his mouth. Arohi had lost the strength and will to pull her hand or gaze away. Her eyes widened when Arjun slowly came closer and stopped barely an inch away. His eyes shifted to her lips and she gulped.

"Arohi…"

Goosebumps broke out on Arohis skin and her eyes shifted to Arjuns lips too. He licked his and she bit hers.

"Mein jaanta hoon tumhe mera dance karna achha nahi laga. Ya fir… mera Simran ke saath dance karna achha nahi laga…"

Arohi opened her mouth to protest but stilled when Arjun pressed his index finger on her lips.

"Shuussshh… let me finish. Don't interrupt… and don't deny. Because we both know that it's the truth."

Arohis eyes widened and she stared at Arjun. His heart went out to her, right now she looked like a lost child who wanted a lollipop, but her elders had told her that its bad for her. She was torn between her heart and her brains. And tonight Arjun was going to help her to choose to listen to only one of them.

"I want you to think Arohi. Why you felt jealous? Why despite of you telling me a firm NO, I still cant keep my eyes off you? Its not just you… even I didn't want to get attracted to you. But we cannot plan everything in life Arohi… somethings and some people just come along. And we have to treasure them for how muchever time they stay."

Arjun could see Arohis heart win over her rational brain. But he still had a long way to go.

"I know you are not looking at a fling or an affair. But we both don't know whats going to happen in the future. All im asking you is to consider giving this 'whatever it is between us' a chance… give us some memorable days to live by. This is not everlasting love that we will break each others heart. This will be friends who are in an open relationship."

Arohis eyebrows furrowed. She tried to concentrate on what Arjun was saying but his finger on her lips kept distracting her.

"If you feel that you donot want to be in this relationship or if I feel so, at some point, then we can talk it out amicably and be adults about it." Arjun slowly retracted his finger when he saw Arohi actually thinking about what he said.

"Think about it."

The entire drive till Ahluwalia Aashiyana had been a quiet one, with Arjun stealing glances at Arohis face. But she stubbornly looked on ahead. When he parked the car outside the gate of her house, she did not even question him why he had not dropped her till the entrance. She just opened the door and ran inside the gate, with Arjun following her close behind.

"Arohi…"

She came to a stop near the front porch. Her breathing increased as she heard him take one step at a time to reach her. She shut her eyes and did not turn around. Arjun stopped behind her and leaned near her ear.

"Tumne mujhe jawab nahi diya… tum sochogi na?"

Arohi could only nod her head slowly in response.

"Kab tak bataogi?" Arjuns warm whisper caressed her earlobe and she shivered.

"Ka… kal…" If Arjun had not been standing so close to her, he would have never heard her.

"Nahi… aaj! Aaj raat ko. I will wait for your call."

Arohi again gave a short nod and looked down.

"Goodnight…" Arjun turned his face and placed a soft kiss on her right cheek. Arohis head snapped up and she turned around. Arjuns eyes had softened and she felt warm all over.

"Tum mujhe goodnight wish nahi karogi?" She could make out the mischeivious glint in his eyes and her lips gave a small smile.

"Goodnight…"

"Aise nahi! Jaise maine wish kiya… waise. Unless you're scared…"

Arjun knew what to say and when… Arohi Ahluwalia was not scared of anyone and now she will prove it to him. Arjun didn't care if it was an underhanded attempt. He just wanted Arohi in his arms now… and he wanted to feel her soft lips on his skin.

Arohi bent forward and turned her face to kiss Arjun on his left cheek. Arjun stood there but bend back. Arohi frowned at him and bend further. Arjun leaned back more. Arohi bend more and Arjun followed. Finally irritated, she grabbed Arjuns kurta collar and pulled him to her. Arjun chuckled when he bumped in to her and his stubble brushed against Arohis baby soft cheek. They both stilled.

Warm breaths caressed their faces and Arjun closed his eyes to revel in the moment. He turned his face and brushed his nose against her sinfully soft skin. Arohi gasped and tightened her hold on his collar. Arjun smelled the sweet jasmine scent… that defined Arohi for him and kissed her again on her cheek. His hands went behind her to pull her close and his cold fingers touched the warm skin of her back.

Arjuns self control snapped and he couldn't stop himself from caressing the bare skin. Arohi tried to pull back but Arjun pushed her and she grabbed his shoulders. Arjuns breathing laboured.

"Arjun… please let me think. I will call you tonight."

Arohi panicked… Arjuns harsh warm breath was making her intoxicated.

"No. I want an answer now."

"Arjun…"

He touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. He needed to slow down. If he wanted Arohi to think in his favour then he should not scare her. Fighting with himself, he slowly pulled back from her, his head still bent down. One step back and he was already missing the warmth of her body.

Arohi smiled looking at him. She could make out how diffcult it was for him and she appreciated that about Arjun. She herself was having a hard time in letting him go. Her heart started beating rapidly and she stepped closer to kiss him goodnight. Arjun saw her shoes come in his view and he looked up. Arohi bent at the same time and her lips missed his cheek and touched his lips.

They both stopped breathing and after a brief moment, Arjun pulled back. Staring at each other wide eyed, neither of them moved. Arohi did a huge mistake of licking her lips and what happened next, was a blur to her.

Minutes later when Dadi stepped out on the porch, cursing her grandson for not receiving her call, and when Sudhir followed her to drop her home, they completely missed the animated shadows, pressed against the wall behind the porch, which were a tangle of hands and legs, with their mouths plastered to each other.

i dont think this Arjun has the patience to wait anymore 😆 but do you guys think that im going too fast??? let me know your comments please 😊