Arshi FF: Entwined(T1) *Completed* - Page 24

Sigh! Finally here it is! not gonna give any bahanas for delay.. just sincere apologies :) :)

Oh and this one dedicated to my very own Vaaaiiisssh!!!--- this is for you--

"To our silly 24/7 talks, To our own logical views, to our weird Telly-pathy, and to our never-ending 'sensible--secret' bitching, more than anything, to the underlying care and love you shower on me and to the default punching-bag, you play for me...tch..I love you <3 <3"

And my confession list today includes--- PM's! I'm using a bloody damn mobile 2G, the only internet I can access at the moment and I'm really glad I can actually access IF and make updates using it through lappy, but other than that, all other complex tasks, seem even more complex! Uff!! so I'm sorry, not gonna be doing PMS for a while until I set up a proper internet--its such a pain in ass yaar!

But anyway, with or without PM's the number of comments has always been same, so the readers who are coming back, chapter after chapter, are somehow finding the updates, so I'm glad..! well okay..go on.. read..real looong one!

Entwined:

Chapter-14(part 2)

"It's like you play tennis alright, why the hell do you look so lost, common you are pretty good with the ball, trust me" Arnav said to an almost nonreactive Khushi, as they stood at one side of the net with people around them busily warming up for the match.

"Yeah" she just said staring ahead and he frowned looking at her void expression.

"You, uh, throw the ball this way up in the air" he said his hands working along with his words and Khushi seemed like she was trying to observe his actions keenly, but the uncertain look was still evident in her eyes. "And hit it with your hands.."

She nodded observing the ball as it travelled to the opposite side of the net efficiently. "It travels exactly that way and like every other ball-game would have it, you have to make sure you hit it with right force making sure it doesn't... What's wrong?" he asked losing his patience, giving up on the little coach avatar he was wearing.

"Uh?" she said as if snapped back from some deep thinking and it only deepened his frown. Sighing, he walked towards the end of the net where she stood, throwing a look at the busy people around him and stopped when he was at an audible distance. "What's wrong Khushi?" he asked as his one hand reached up to tug at the rim of the net.

Khushi blinked her eyes rapidly, a habit he noticed, was to compose herself from whatever little zoning out world she often wanders off and then flickered her eyes between his hand and his eyes.. "I, uh, n...never, um...pp..played..."

"You're sacred!" he butted in, referring to her shutter as she just looked on into his worried gaze.

"...uh, yes of s..s...sports"

"Since when?" he frowned even more.

"I..uh, I don't know" she shrugged sighing finally being able to get rid of her tied up tongue. "May be its just this crowd or something, this one time I tried to play before, I uh, freaked out, so..."

"So, face it, your own theory and no problem even if you freak out..."

"I, uh, can't play any good..."

"We will see" he said with finality in his voice and turned around to resume his warming up session. "But Arnav?" he heard her call and turned back to meet her eyes that instantly flickered around the vicinity apprehensively communicating something to him. He just smiled and nodded brushing it off, whatever her concern was and jogged away removing his shirt as the toned muscles exposed themselves through the whit vest and he did a little flip of his body warming up, even as he looked back to throw another assuring look at Khushi.

**

She missed once, making Arnav jog towards her side and hit the ball; she missed again and Sheethal came to her rescue this time; when she missed yet again, just rooted to her position, looking down, her face tortured, her stance rigid, they missed a point.

Arnav cursed as another game came flying his way and he jumped hitting it with his fist which was effectively hit back by Shyam making it fly awkwardly in weird direction; Sheethal jumped to its rescue hitting it with her head sending it back in the same weird awkward direction, effectively earning them a point.

"Perfect!!!" She heard Arnav squeal as Khushi looked up from her rooted spot to see Arnav and Sheethal exchange a small high-five, their grins adding to the enthusiasm around. She then looked around to see Anjali giving a very amused look at the duo and Khushi instantly looked down, a vague uneasiness settling inside her.

Arnav glanced at her and one look at her troubled face, he instantly knew something was even more off with her than she is letting on and it only made him frown in that deep thinking way oblivious to the serving call from the other end of the net. Before he could notice it, the ball came flying towards Khushi, their contenders obviously targeting her and Arnav looked on baffled as she just looked up to see the ball easily targeting her head, and he cursed audibly noticing her rigid limbs not making any move to either hit or to at least escape it..he looked on in horror as she just looked up towards the ball totally lost in a different world.

"Khushi!!!" he uttered loudly, instantly pulling her away, his hand firmly gripping her wrist as he twirled her around, causing the ball to hit the ground instead, missing her head with a flip of second, making the water below to sprinkle over their faces in little droplets. He again saw her little flicker of her eyes like she have just woke up from an open-eyed deep sleep and it only irked him even more.

"Are you out of your bloody senses???" he almost but barked causing her to quiver, her hand inside his grip trembling instantly, but he was too possessed by his rage to notice it.

"You either hit the hall or move away from it if you cannot, you DON'T BLOODY STAND TO GET HIT BY THE BALL, YOU FOOL!" He yelled on the top of his voice as his sane side did notice another small shiver run through her arm and thus her entire squirming self. "Don't you already have sufficient injuries on your head!!???" he added still yelling even as they heard random are you alrights' from the people approaching them.

"I, uh..." her voice trembled.

"What?" he urged still gripping her wrist in fury. Her eyes snapped between his angry ones and his hand that was gripping hers, nervously as she struggled with her words. "I'm sorry, I, cant...cant play" she muttered nodding her head a little, her gaze dropping down to her shoes as a loan uninvited tear escaped her eye.

Something flinched inside Arnav as he noticed the unwanted water droplet shining at her eye-lashes and he instantly loosened his grip around her wrist, causing her to look up to meet his eyes. He found himself taking a sharp breathe as he registered the tortured look in her face with her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. &he stepped away and looked on as Sheethal came rushing to Khushi, consoling her about something which was no longer in focus for him and he just looked on as she walked away with her head down, towards the dry shore, dropping herself on the sand beside Anjali, her troubled hazels even from that distance still flashing in his vision.

**

"I think you should leave her alone Arnav, she would find her way back, she wanders off alone sometimes and she prefers to be alone" Sheethal said as she walked ahead of him towards her car having exchanged her good-byes with the jha-duo already.

Arnav just nodded as he watched her drive away, his ASR mind already deciding what he wants to do. He walked across the sea-shore at the extreme end of the beach, the uphill of the shore filled with huge stones scattered everywhere, the sun in the distant shedding away down into the water bed and all he could hear was the sound of juggling waves that splashed his legs quite often. He flinched internally at the aloofness and as well as danger in the place but sighed trusting Khushi's brave external more than his own instincts for a change.

"There you are!" he said making his way towards the lone stone on which she was seated, with her knees tugged inside her chest as she stared away into the distance.

She jerked at his sudden voice before registering his presence and he could see irritation edging in her stance. "Oh please! Leave me alone!" she groaned already getting up from her place and hopping down lazily from the slippery stone causing Arnav to gasp with worry, but he knew better than to make another impatient comment.

"Here..."

She looked up at the right time to hit the flying ball away with her hand, making it to splash in the water and Arnav smirked. "Argh!"

"See, you could do it"

"Satisfied? Now, leave!" She said dusting her bottoms off the sand and walking past him towards the beach exit.

"Man, you are mad, listen I'm sorry, I dint meant to yell..." he followed her, walking right behind her easily catching up with her fast strides in the thick mud.

"You're forgiven"

"You really want me to leave?"

"I do"

"Okay, okay, stop" he said walking ahead of her and turning around to face her. She took a step to her right, he stepped in her way; she stepped to her left, he repeated his action, she did the same for another two steps, as he continued to block her way keeping his eyes on her as the evening breeze joined in their little game having its way with her hair. "Whoa! Okay! stop! This is crazy" he said finally blocking her. "I said I'm sorry.."

"I said you are forgiven"

"So what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong Arnav, just let me go!"

"But then you still are pissed"

"How does it matter to you!" she yelled stepping away from his proximity throwing her hands in air and he looked positively baffled. "Khush..."

"Why don't you just go spend time with the people of your league Arnav, why did you come up looking for me?"

"What?"

"...and why are you still here Arnav, why aren't you going away on your business trips already, it's been a bloody damn week!"

"A Week??"

"...and what the hell do you think you are doing here? Haven't you had enough of me already?" they went dead silent after she said those last words, as they stared into each other's eyes, both of them registering the fact that the conversation is no longer about him yelling at her.

She sighed looking away from his gaze and turned around to start walking again, in an attempt to get away from the conversation threatening to come in between them.

"Hey wait, wait" he said hopping behind her and she did. He yet again he walked around to stand in front of her. "What was that about?"

"Arnav!" she sighed throwing her hands in air as if giving up on something and he looked completely lost.

"Why Arnav?" she asked after a brief pause, her voice filled with such raw emotion, he struggled to force himself not to look into her eyes; and when he flipped his head to do exactly that, his insides churned with that same unknown feeling he once witnessed all those months ago. Another stream of sea breeze hitting their stance made it even more worse for him, as it made him engulf the innate clover of orchids, an aura that started haunting him now and he stepped away not trusting his own amending tangle of emotions beneath his chest any longer.

"What why?" he asked looking away in a much toned down voice, the ASR in him taking charge to shield his emotions as his own voice sounded void and even to him.

He could see her tilt her head in order to observe his face, but he was sure he dint give away any, yet something at the way she continued to lookat him, made him turn his head only to be locked with her hazels instantly-----bad move, he thought even as he found himself imprisoned in those orbs. "What why Khushi?" he asked dazed.

"Why did you come up to save that stupid girl on that terrace?"

"Why?" he just repeated his voice hoarse and eyes still, fixed on that of hers.

"Wh..why did you decide to leave her, when she asked you to?"

"..why?"

"Why did you bring her to hospital? You could have easily walked away Arnav, even after getting her admitted you could have walked away, but five months? FIVE BLOODY MONTHS!!! You dint have go through all that shit!! You...you don't know what I'm Arnav, what I've turned out..." She trailed off, her voice breaking, and tears choking in her throat. He just looked on observing every nerve in her moves. "You dint have to...I...I'm not what you think I'm Arnav and I..I don't deserve..." she trailed off again, as her eyes shimmered with those annoying droplets again, that for reasons unknown irked him suddenly.

"You don't deserve what??" he asked suddenly causing her to squirm because of the intensity of his voice, but his gaze was only fixed on her tears that were at the verge of dropping down from her thick lashes. She instantly used her palms to dry her eyes up and stepped away from his rather close proximity.

"This, everything, you saving me, you hanging in there in that goddamn hospital for freaking five months, you being accused of my murder attempt and even going through that investigation crap, every damn thing Arnav! Why?? You dint have to do it all!" she exclaimed.

"I did nothing. It was the court that ordered me to stay in Mumbai until we hear your verdict..."

"You could have definitely used some influence Arnav, you could as much, I'm sure..."

"I don't misuse law..."

"Is that why you made sure the suicide case against me was dismissed, even though there weren't any proofs to support my statement?"

"That's because you were saying the truth"

"And how do you know that?"

"I just know it okay? You just can't jump, definitely not after a few of minutes of preaching philosophies of life!" he uttered in his frustrated tone and came dead close to her in that next instant. She took a step away as a reflex action and blew a frustrated sigh through her lips, before beginning to walk away from him again.

"What is that you want Khushi?" she heard him ask and turned around to face him again.

"Why?" she just said looking up to meet his furious gaze.

"Why what Dammit!!!??" he yelled causing her to shiver.

"...th..tha..that n..niight?" He snapped his look back at her in one swift moment and he knew what she was asking. why you?' was the obvious unvoiced question. Because I couldn't see anyone else doing that you' was his instant answer. But she dint dare to ask and he dint find the need to answer even. He looked away taking a step back, running an impatient hand in his air, as she fixed her gaze to her feet, she found herself voicing her mind.

"I'm scared..." She whispered.

"Khushi?" he extended his hand, but thought better of it; but even before he could decide on his actions, she walked around him away towards the exit yet again. This time he just came rushing to stand in front of her completely blocking her way, causing her to look up bewildered only to be met by his angry daggers directed towards her, his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed.

"Stop walking away from me Khushi! I'm doing everything I can to not grab you by your arms and just...just captivate you until we complete this conv..." he clenched his teeth just as his hands waved towards her attempting to do what he wants to, but turned into fists as soon as he noticed her gasp and he stepped away, dropping his hands to his side. "I'm not a very patient person, right Khushi?"

She nodded, not meeting his eyes. "So, would you please enlighten me why the hell are we doing this, whatever..we are doing and why the hell are you crying dammit!" he spoke with his gritted teeth.

"I'm not crying!" she protested.

"Okay, why the hell are you disturbed?"

"Because, I'm tired!"

"Tired of what???!!!"

"Owing to you Arnav! God! You just don't understand!!" she exclaimed her voice emotionally breaking yet again causing him to shriek his eyes shut as he stepped away again.

"How am I supposed to feel waking up one day and to process a big heap of information that you did whatever you did only to bring me back to my senses, to bring me back to life and what did I give you in return Arnav? NOTHING! You even went over the board to save my life, pay the hospital bills, take care of investigation, and appoint city's best doctors who happen to be your friends, that ridiculous blame on you and all for what Arnav? Just because I was that stupid girl you met all those years ago in college? And what did you get in return Arnav------again NOTHING! And how much can I repay you with my earnings Arnav and how long!!?"

"...you were repaying me?"

"Great! Now you don't even know, I understand RichieRich, my deposits obviously accounts to nothing for you, but they are my goddamn savings, at least don't insult!"

He chuckled a little at the sudden U-turn in conversation and looked at her with his smiling eyes. "Is this all what you have been stressing about?"

"THIS IS ALL? NO Arnav you aren't getting me, I really don't want to be your charity case"

"f**k!! Who said charity, that's not what I intend to, okay?"

"...and why the hell are you trying to get me play, get me talk, what now? How much more do you want to do things for me? Oh poor thing, let me help her settle in her life' is that what you thought?" she mocked.

"Nope, that's not what I thought" he stated firmly.

"Then why?" she said desperately, her eyes boring into his. "Why Arnav?" she repeated, her voice giving away a lot more why's than her question actually was about and the look in her eyes threatened the ASR in him to resume back. He was yet again bemused, seriously why? , he dint have an answer.

"I don't know" he stated in his low voice shrugging and that somehow calmed her down instantly. They looked at each other, communicating a lot more through their eyes with some kind of sudden warmth filling around them for minutes unknown and uncounted. She observed him for another brief moment before looking away releasing another sigh of helplessness as her shoulders slumped down giving up her little feisty act.

"I, uh, don't know too, why am I having this kind of conversation with you.." she stated sincerely now looking everywhere else other than his eyes and took another conscious step away. "Now can I walk, please?" she asked with a hint of humor in her eyes that sparkled up at him.

"Not before we play one game" he said with a smug as he retrieved the ball that was tailing down by their legs. She gave him one incredulous look, as if asking him How the hell did he get the ball again?'.

Escaping, avoiding, keeping at bay...words familiar to him since so long now, he almost mastered in putting them to use in situations like this. That's what he best does, that's what makes him feel good about himself, or so he thought. For reasons unknowns the conversation hanging in air between them, threatened him and he dint want to even go near it. &so, he chose to ignore, something he is best in doing.

For her though, it was different, or rather indifferent. She dint know why, but looking at those very honey orbs gleaming back at her with unknown something, she felt rather safe and easier to ignore and play along with him crossing the line, instead of stopping by and analyzing it-----whatever it was.

"You won't give up, would you?"

"Not known to..." he let the sentence hang in air as she smirked taking the ball from his hands and hopping away already playing with it.

The rest of the evening saw the two of them playing at the either end of the net, dipping half of their bodies in water as she continued to give back at him with her weird, awkward blows, hitting him in places sometimes combined with his witty comments, as their laughs continued to echo around the lonely beach.

**

Chapter-15:

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Phew! WAs that confusing?? !!! Lemme know!!!