Arhi FF 'Sandcastle' Th 1. Reposted all the parts - Page 36

Chapter 5

"Umm"

He sighed with closed eyes as he took another bite of Laddu, savoring its taste. If there was something that could make him go water with weak knees, that was this little sweet dish his mother used to prepare for every special occasion just to irritate him further. Occasions like he visited them in weekends and in childhood, like re-joining in school after summer break. He would have laughed and run away for his dear life if it were made by his mother. But days like this, were he was forced to stay away from Mumbai, all he could do was have as many Laddus as possible. And thankfully, Khushi offered them in desert, as they settled on the couch, with him changed the channel from soapy cheesy romantic thing to much bearable international sports one.

"It is heaven," he commented, now looking at her staring at him with something in her eyes that he had never seen in them before. Something he failed to point or name it. Something that left her eyes as soon as she saw him seeing it. Her hazel almond eyes that had the power to captivate everyone's and anyone's attention. Eyes that could let men battle each other to ask for her hand. He smiled at her with a slight shake. "I get it why your family can never say no to you or raise their voice at you even when you are at fault." He said with another chuckle and watched her go stiff for a second before that fierce look clouded her eyes. "No one can say no to you," he continued, intrigued with her more with each passing moment, "or you can kill them without uttering a word. All you have to do is look at them."

Rolling her eyes, she fixed her gaze on the screen. "Tell something new that I don't know," she said, ignoring his amusement look. "I never met a man who is a food lover," she commented, throwing a glance at him as he took yet another piece from the box, "and how come you have South Indian middle name?"

"I am not a food lover," he disagreed, smiling at her, "I am a Laddu lover. And don't even go there."

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes but stopped as a wicked smile made its way on her lips. She turned completely towards him. "Why Suriya?" She asked, suppressing a smile, "okay, let me guess. Your parents had a love marriage with one belonging to Southern part and you wanted to have their last names to you. Now, you are regretting for introducing by your middle name to me." She waited for him with her brows rose in challenge. "Correct me," she added.

"Wow," he exclaimed sarcastically, "let me buy you an award, Khushi. You are outstanding."

"Thank you."Khushi grinned sheepishly at him. "What makes you come here, Arnav?" she asked with a serious tone that it was hard to miss for anyone around her. Arnav could feel the change in air around him, with the change in her.

"I am sorry you happened to stay away from your room because of me," he looked at her, pausing a second to study her reaction but she sat there, staring at him, devoid of emotions. "A client wants one of the chief Architect's from head office to inspect his work over here," he explained, "he can't take risks for a project worth millions. It's hardly three and a half more weeks, Khushi."

"It's not about my room," Khushi looked away from him, her arms hugging her knees to provide warmth for herself. The rain had picked up again, increasing its pace and their friendly conversation and teasing sessions turning into much serious one. "It's about you in general," she then looked at him, pressing her cheek on her knee, "it's clear in your face that you hated to come here. You miss home. Go, disagree with me." She smiled when he tried to object her, "but I can see it."

Arnav smiled at her, amused at how accurate she read his inner feelings. "I am not 10," he grinned though, "to feel homesick." He shifted his weight as her gaze fixed on him, feeling uncomfortable. "It's my nephew's second birthday two weeks from now," he admitted finally, "I had so much in mind but stuck here with this project."

"You can fly home for the weekend," Khushi suggested, "or better, make your boss understand your situation and convince him that you will take care of it after the occasion."

"Aman has this unbreakable philosophy of not mixing personal pleasures with professional seriousness." Arnav sighed, swallowing few curses not wanting to utter them near an innocent crazy girl. "He knew how important it is for me to be with my sister and him on that day and I knew how important this project for him to the company."

It took a moment for her to understand his words. "Your boss is your brother-in-law?" She asked in utter disbelief, "yet, here you are, instead of speaking him into cancelling your this trip? Unbelievable, Arnav. You are just unbelievable."

"I think it is not even a minute ago that I said how particular he is about not mixing personal relations with professional relations," he snapped annoyance. "As I said, we are not 10, Khushi, to take advantage of this to avoid working. He is my boss and here I am, just like any other employee in our company."

Khushi smiled at him, suddenly she felt much at ease with the way he confessed his little family matter without holding back anything. It made her, forced her to think about the day she first saw him. "I don't like family man," she confessed her own little secret, now staring intently at a pair of narrowed whisky eyes that added beauty to the personality. "I prefer dark and smoldering man."

Arnav stared at her, shocked at first, but intrigued more than ever the next minute. "That I am, baby!" He said huskily, "I choose not to show that man in me to make your parents insecure about me staying as a PG in your room, with two beautiful daughters."

"You think so high of you." Khushi hissed, once again facing him completely, "Kiran will never let a stranger stay with us if he is not sure and he knew your boss well enough to agree for this arrangement."

"That is the mistake," Arnav chuckled at her, enjoying every bit of teasing her, "I might actually make my boss believe that I am decent enough and can turn out to be a psycho and a serial killer."

"Oh really!" She sat straight, challenging him, "so, you might be a psycho." She continued when he nodded, "Okay, let's check on it, Suriya. It's been nearly two hours that we are together with no one with us. And you knew my parents will not be here for another hour or so. Still, you never made me uncomfortable with your gaze, let alone touch me. Now, does a psycho leave such an opportunity?"

Arnav nodded again, suppressing his smile. "If the girl is not up to his level," he said, looking at her as her chin dropped, "and if the girl is certified insane, he will not risk his life for timely pleasure. Now," he winked at her, "can he?"

"You are insanely rude," she remarked him and turned back to watch sports, half of her lost in her thoughts.

She had been against the whole PG idea when her father had announced that he was okay with a stranger living with them for a month. They did not need to earn in such way. Her father did pretty job to carry on with their households and living, with her mother joined hands with him. She had been disappointed when they asked her to vacate her room. Now, as she saw Arnav working on his laptop, which he brought downstairs after their dinner as he decided to accompany her as per her father's request, she couldn't help but wonder about this wonderfully insane man. She never thought him to be a family man, who respected and wanted to be a part of every special occasion in his loved one's life. The way he smiled and said that he did not want to hurt her mother when she snapped at him to have breakfast in a hotel... Khushi knew in that very moment that Arnav was someone her family would make a habit. Three days of his stay and with his personality of speaking when required during dinners and leaving them alone as soon as the conversation addressed towards her family matters. It was not a shock when her father accepted her request of staying back that night.

"You work a lot," she stated, breaking the silence. "I don't understand why people work 24/7."

Arnav shook his head in her direction and said, "You sound like I am a neglecting husband, not to mention, a workaholic."

"I am serious," Khushi said plainly. "I am surrounded with people who works like there is no tomorrow," she defended herself. "My family is highly ambitious," she commented.

Arnav faced her, only to find her rolling her eyes. "As much I gather about your family, your father is a Chem. Professor in Post-Graduation level, which really kills his time in examining his students' works in daily basis, but that does not make him a workaholic." Arnav raised is brow at her, "they take time for family gatherings, Khushi. In fact, I was wondering what you are. I never saw you working on any of your college works. Always shouting and picking up fights with Bindu. Actually, you are lazy-aholic."

"I never heard such a word," she complained with a pout. "In many occasions I was left alone while the trio did not care about me and mind you, I am a busy girl, Arnav. I just prefer to complete work in time, and does not bring it to home for most of the time."

Arnav controlled his urge to snap a comeback to her. It was a shock, to see such a crazy girl doing nothing in a highly educated family. What with her father being a Professor, her mother having a double degree in classical music and Bindu doing her PhD in mathematics. "What are you interested in?" He asked finally, giving in to his curiosity.

Now it was Khushi to shift her weight, avoiding looking at him before having her smile in place. "There are a lot of things I am interested in," she said cheerfully.

"Like...?" he probed further, not understanding her words.

"Like..." Khushi glanced sideways for a second and then faced him. "Like wanting to understand philosophy, understanding human behavior, having a grip on all epics and relating it to our modern world. Like educate poor and children the importance of real life experiences that are beyond things that are taught in educational institutions. Like help people who are suffering from emotional breakdowns."Khushi paused to look at his wide eyes and said, "there are a lot of things that interests me, Suriya. However, life is too short to fulfill them all." She pouted at him, tugging a lock behind her ear, "how much a man can study in his span of sixty years when there is a whole world to study?"

Arnav chuckled at her description. "You are right," he agreed with her. "So Miss I-know-all, I hope you will teach some of your philosophies while I stay here." He asked her, amused at her personality.

"Let me check out my schedule and inform you," she said seriously and they burst into laughter, as the rain joined them with its soft thunders.