FF: When Love And Hate Collide II Pt33 Pg64 27/08 NEW!!! - Page 18

Part 30

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Arohis heartbeats were synchronised to the 18^th century clock that was adorned on the paint-peeled walls of the room. It was a masterpiece, almost a vintage item, whos seconds hand made a peculiar cricket noise as the time passed by.

Arohi had done a fine job of faking calm when she had got in the bed, leaving Arjun standing in the middle of the room. Even her sleeping form act had been quite convincing, but she could not fool herself in to realising that sleep was far off from her eyes tonight. She had been wide awake and very much aware when Arjun got in the bed on the other side, when he pulled the rug on himself, when he turned sideways to check on her once and when he sighed and settled back on the mattress.

A few moments later Arohi half turned to peek at her nemesis. The damn bare muscular back again!

Arohi swiftly turned back and closed her eyes, desperately trying to erase the visual that she had just witnessed. It looked like Arjun had slept off, displaying his magnificent muscles to her, which she could not ignore, even with the wall of pillows in her line of vision. Arohi opened her eyes and sighed. She had to find a way to catch some sleep. She became alert as she felt Arjun move, probably trying to get more comfortable. After a few moments of bed creaking, the room went back to being completely silent.

Arohi let out a breath and turned her eyes upwards, asking god in her mind 'why me!' Waiting for another minute, Arohi slowly turned again to check on Arjun, but instead of his gorgeous back, his magnificent stomach came in her view and she froze. Arjun had turned to face her and she could see his six-pack slowly rise and fall as he breathed deeply. Arohis eyes followed the washboard abs to his chest, moving upwards to his fabulous shoulders, his strong chin, pink lips and finally clashed with his hazelnut eyes... which were open!

Arohi jerked as she realised that Arjun was watching her all the time when she had been shamelessly letching his half-naked torso. She gulped as she saw a mischevious glint in his eyes and a sarcastic smirk on his lips.

"Kya hua Arohi? Cant sleep?"

Before Arohi could nod her head or answer him, he smiled. "Me too. Mujhe bhi naye bed pe neend nahi aati."

Arohi gave him a small smile and turned around to face him, settling her cheek on her palm.

"Do you want to talk? Or maybe play a game???"

Arohis eyes opened wide. "Arjun... ye time game khelne ka nahi hai!"

"I know... but since we both cant sleep so..." Arjun curled his arm on the pillow to elevate his head and Arohis eyes skirted to the buldging bicep which made its appearance. "Ok ek kaam karte hain. Lets tell each other something about ourselves, that we don't know."

Arohis eyes snapped back at him. "Matlab??? You know everything about me."

Arjun smiled at her prompt answer. "I know. Im not talking about secrets... but something fun, something out of character that we both have done. Shayad bachpan mein... ya college mein..."

Arohi grinned. She didnot have many stories to tell that way but there were a few.

"Ok. Ek baar... Sanchit mere room mein without permission aaya tha... aur maine..."

"... poore ghar mein usse bhagaya aur usske baal kheeche!" Arjun finished blandly and Arohi stared at him with her mouth open.

"Tumhe kaise..."

"Sanchit ne bataya! I said something that we don't know... and this was not out-of-character. Ye tumhare gusse waale avatar ka hissa hai. Something more daring... maybe you are even ashamed off." Seeing Arohi widen her eyes he quickly added, "hum kisiko nahi batayenge... promise!"

Arohi looked at him sceptically. Arjun smiled in encouragement and Arohi sighed.

"Ok i will start." Arjun volunteered seeing Arohi have second thoughts. "But you have to keep it to yourself."

Arohi nodded eagerly.

"Ek baar... when i had recently started working... i had gate-crashed a wedding... because my friends girlfriend was getting married to some other guy..."

Arohi frowned in confusion.

"Wait! Theres more... we both had gone there... dressed as... girls!"

Arohis eyes widened. A visual of Arjun in a short black cocktail dress came to her mind. The image was equally hilarious and revolting!

"It was a fully covered salwar kameez since it was a wedding! Stop thinking otherwise..."

Arohi pressed her lips to control her smile.

"Anyway... one of the girls single uncle actually thought i was a real girl and...he... he hit on me..."

Arohi saw the shameful disgusted look on Arjuns face and burst out laughing. He looked offended but Arohi could not help it! The masculine Arjun Singhania... dressed as a woman... getting hit on by a man... as if he was a piece of meat!!! That should have told him something about his attitude towards women.

Arjun felt like an idiot but watching Arohi laugh so freely after so long, mesmerised him. He loved the way her eyes crinked up and when she showed her pearly white perfect teeth. The happiness brought a glow to her face and he could not move his eyes away.

Arohi became aware and slowly her laughter died. Arjun grinned widely. "Your turn. And no matter how embarrassing it is... just say it. Im sure nothing can be worse than what i just shared."

Arohi bit her lower lip.

"C'mon Arohi..."

"Ok... Ek baar...college mein... hum ek disc mein gaye they... aur maine bohat... bohat jyada sharaab pi li thi... i actually got drunk..."

"Bas? Ok this is not that bad..."

"...aur fir maine table pe chadhke dance kiya tha..."

Arjuns eyebrows shot up. "O...kkk... its still..."

"... AUR... jab bouncers mujhe utaarne aaye toh... toh ek ko jorrrse karate kick kiya... where it hurts the most..."

Arjuns eyes widened further.

"... aur dusre pe vomit karke... behosh ho gayi!"

Arjun kept staring as shame crept up Arohis cheeks and he burst out laughing. "Oh my god! Who could believe that the famous Arohi Ahluwalia lost control of herself..."

"Once! Only once." Arohi chided him in mock anger. "Waise tumhari story bhi interesting thi."

Arohi winked at him and they both burst out laughing again. After that point, more shocking and embarrassing stories came out, some funny and some serious. Forgetting where they were or in which state, Arohi and Arjun continued to talk till dawn, and both of them didnot realise when they dozed off facing each other.

Some peaceful hours later...

Instead of the damp musty smell of the old sheets, a strong musk cologne filled up Arohis nostrils as she slowly became awake. She rubbed her face in the pillow but she felt something warm and cosy against her face instead. The familiarity of the smell and the inviting warmth made her bury her nose more in the soft entity next to her. When she settled comfortably, the pillow slowly moved up and down and Arohis eyes snapped open.

A vast expanse of naked skin, peppered with golden brown hair came into her view. She slowly turned her face upwards and her eyes clashed against a soft kissable stubbled cheek, which belonged to Arjun Singhania. Looking further up, she realised that Arjun was asleep peacefully and both his hands were above his head. She gulped and closed her eyes.

Jiska darr tha wohi hua! She had not only reached out and touched Arjun, but was half-sprawling on him. She was literally hugging him whereas his hands were above his head, as if surrendering his body to her... or denoting that he had no 'hand' in this situation.

Arohi started pulling herself off him slowly when she heard Arjun exhale sharply. Stopping in mid-position, she waited till he went back to sleep. But to her horror, he turned to face her and dropped a 3 kg hand on her petite waist, pinning her to him. With her face in his neck and her hand near his waist in the air, Arohi panicked not knowing how to release herself. The worst was yet to come, when Arjun dove his hand inside the rug, grabbed her bottom and pulled her more into him.

Goosebumps broke out on Arohis skin as she realised how close his hand was near the hem of her shirt, which had ridden up in her sleep. Arohi started breathing hard realising the effect this position was having on her. After a few minutes that she spent in fighting with herself, Arohi finally gave up and dropped her hand on his waist, hugging him back. She had been trying to resist him for so long now that she actually felt relaxed in his arms. For the first time in years, Arohi Ahluwalia surrendered to her heart, her desires.

Making the most of the situation, she dug her face more in his chest and deeply breathed in his musk scent. Arjuns hands involuntarily tightened around her and his nose nuzzled her hair. Arohi in turn rubbed her nose on his warm skin and was tempted to drop a soft kiss on it when she realised that Arjuns hands were moving on her back, caressing her.

She looked up at him and saw his sleepy eyes look at her with adoration. Arohi became conscious but could not bring herself to look away.

"Did you sleep well?"

Only a unsure "hmm" came out of her mouth.

"Aise... meri baahon mein sona... achha laga?"

Arohi blushed hard and buried her face back in its cocoon.

Arjun hugged her tightly. "Mujhe bhi."

Arohi hugged him back. Only this time she was sure that she wanted to do that. They stayed in the same position for a while... with Arjun caressing Arohis hair and Arohi drawing circles on Arjuns back. After a few comfortable moments, Arjun drew back and pushed Arohis hair out of her face. Her pure and innocent face was like morning dew, drawing him to her. Arjun leaned down towards her just when Arohi kept her hand on his lips.

Arjun sighed in dejection but Arohis next words opened his eyes wide.

"Tum yahi rukna... mein... mein 2 minute mein brush karke aati hoon!"

Before Arjun could understand, Arohi had jumped out of bed and ran inside the washroom.

'Unbelievable! Here was the most romantic moment he had ever felt and she was worried about bad breath???' Thinking for a second, Arjun got out of bed and followed her inside. Arohi was standing at the wash basin, brushing away furiously, as fast as she could, making Arjun smile. He picked up his brush and started brushing his teeth too. No sooner had Arohi finished and dabbed her face with the towel, that Arjun picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

Arohis heart beat so fast that she thought it might come out of her chest. Placing her very carefully on the left side, Arjun got in the right side, pulled the rug over them and settled on the bed, turning towards her. Arohi scooted a little closer to him and Arjun smirked. She nervously laid her hand on his chest and heard Arjun growl. Before she realised, Arjun had grabbed her and captured her lips in one swift motion.

Arohi tried to tell him to slow down but Arjun seized the moment and drove his mint-fresh tongue in to play with hers, making Arohi lose her senses completely. She could only moan. Breathing in sharply he leaned more into her, deepening the kiss and gathering her in his arms. Arohis hand went to Arjuns neck on its own and his lips smiled against hers.

Pulling her closer, Arjun nipped her lower lip and sucked on it. Goosebumps broke out on Arohis skin and she shivered a bit. Arjun pushed her in the mattress with his body until Arohi was completely covered by his large form. Arohis arms went further around his neck and Arjun sucked on her lower lip, giving her butterflies in her stomach.

Arjuns one hand went lower, below the edge of her shirt and placed itself on her thigh. Arohis stomach gave a jolt at the soft yet firm contact. Arjun could feel the small prickly goosebumps under his palm as he moved his hand slowly upwards, touching her skin and stopping at her waist. The soft tender skin made him want to lose control but he continued the upward journey.

Arohi was too lost in the kiss to realise that Arjuns fingers had reached her bra strap. She was in another world to even decipher that they were dangerously playing with the clasp on her back. She only returned to reality when Arjun pulled back from the kiss and sighed. Removing his hand from under her shirt, he placed it on her hair and stroked them. The sudden pause in passion made her look like a lost child to him and he smiled. Arjun leaned in again and placed a soft tender kiss on her lips, staying there for a few moments, relishing the taste.

"Arohi..."

Arjuns soft husky voice made Arohi smile.

"Hmmm..."

"I don't want to hide this anymore. Im telling dadi today about our relationship."

Arohis eyes suddenly opened. "But Arjun... we decided..."

"I know what we decided. But im tired of hiding. Besides ive never hidden any relationships from dadi before... even when they were not serious. So i want to tell her about us."

"Arjun..."

"If you want time to tell Sudhir uncle then its ok. Or i can talk to him if you want... or dadi..."

"No. I will talk to him... today."

Arohis declaration made Arjuns heart soar. His face broke into a radiant smile and Arohi smiled back. She had never felt so free... so liberated before. Neither had she felt so sure about any impulsive decision that she had taken till today. Reaching up, she pressed her lips against Arjuns, surprising him completely. Within seconds, passion flared back to life as they both tried to make up for the time when they had been away from each other for the past few days.

8am... Ahluwalia group of companies...

Natasha dumped her bag and files on her desk and pulled out her phone. Seeing no message from Arjun, she kept it back on the table and sat on her chair to check her emails. The moment she had got up, Dhondus late night message had popped up in her head. It had been two hours since she had been thinking about it and now could not wait anymore. She didnot see D's car in the lot which meant he hadn't arrived yet. Looking back at the blank screen of her phone, she tried to divert her attention by responding to all the overseas emails that she had received in the night.

A few minutes later she heard a knock on her door and the door opened. She got up from her chair knowing who would be in such a hurry to enter her cabin. She saw Dhondu enter with two mugs of steaming hot coffee and he kept them on the desk. She sat down when D took the chair in the front and stared at him in anticipation.

"Do you need an invitation to open your mouth now?" She spoke exasperated.

"What??"

"Tell me dammit. Aisa kya hua hai that you sent me a text at 3am in the morning."

"It was 2am... not 3! Don't exaggerate..."

"Arrrgghhh... not important you dodo! Spit it out now..."

D became serious and stared at her for a moment before uttering what Nats can only term as bad news.

"Naveen... Naveen Malik... is back in town."

so this one turned out to be more descriptive than i would've liked it 😒 some of u may feel that nothing much happened in this one but from now on the paradigm of their relationship will start changing 😊 please comment and let me know how you found this one! your words mean a lot to me 🤗