Hameshaa -Thread Two- Ch14 To 26 - Page 50

Chapter 23

Shadows and Fog

Khushi's breath came in gasps, as Arnav stood plastered to her form. Her eyes stared into his brown ones while he too seemed lost in her. Both his hands were clutching onto her shoulders while her hands were been pressed against his chest, for support. She looked sideways at the people who were running here and there, panic evident on their faces. Khushi frowned and looked at Arnav questioningly.

"There was a Bison.."

He whispered breathing heavily. Her eyes rounded and she leaned to her side to have a look at the animal who was been scaring the hell out of the people.

"Will you be alright, I will just go and check on those shop keepers...

He asked leaving her form and she nodded absent-mindedly. He left from there immediately searching for the bison while it had already disappeared into the forest. He heaved a sigh of relief and looked around if anyone was injured. Few people had fell onto the road during the stampede. He helped them to get up and phoned the nearest dispensary to come with some help with the first aid.

Khushi watched him closely as he observed those injured people and helped them to the nearby benches. A small smile stretched across her lips as he carried a small baby girl in his arms and walked towards the candy shop. the kid was crying badly, she was frightened with all the fuss happened and Arnav just wanted to calm her down. He tried to console the girl in his broken tamil ,but it was not helping.

Khushi stepped out of the alley and walked towards him with a small smile on her lips. She gathered the girl in her arms and Arnav's eyes widened as she kissed the girl's chubby cheeks and whispered something into her ears in tamil.

The girl's eyes widened and she looked up at Khushi with a huge smile.

"Nejama?" [Really?]

The girl asked grinning widely while Khushi nodded her head. She jumped out of her arms and ran towards the gates of the waterfalls. Arnav watched the girl curiously and then his eyes rested on his girl who was smiling widely at the kid, who was now waving her hands at Khushi.

"What did you say to her?"

He asked curiously, as the shopkeeper extended a candy bar to him and he took it by paying the man.

"I just said that, one of the monkeys on the jack fruit tree next to the falls has given birth to a beautiful baby monkey..."

"You lied to her?"

Arnav asked horrified while Khushi shook her head slightly annoyed by his sudden question.

"NO. the monkey indeed gave birth to one... I just saw them..."

Khushi frowned and looked away. Arnav could not help but smile at her antics.

"Here, I think you are the one who needs this more than that little girl..."

Arnav said teasingly, as he raised the candy bar in front of her. she shot him an angry look and turned onto her heels towards the bus waiting shed. Arnav followed her silently and before she could climb inside the bus, he blocked her way outstretching his both arms in front of her.

"Come on Khushi, I was just kidding..but I don't mind if you want to have this candy bar..."

He smiled and found her features relaxing. She smiled back at him and took the candy bar and bit onto it, her eyes still glued to his face. He watched her chew onto the same and then the next moment she shoved the same back into his hands. he looked at her bewildered and then arched an eyebrow as if what's wrong with the candy.

He, without any word bit onto the same and found her eyes almost popping out of its sockets. And then she was blushing furiously not meeting his gaze. He enjoyed her nervousness as they stood next to the bus, lost in each other. Arnav was aware of people boarding inside the bus, as it was going to leave soon from there.

"Thenmalai.. Thenmalai..."

The driver shouted from the top of his voice while Khushi was startled and moved away from there, standing onto Arnav's sides.

_____________

Arnav straight went to the orphanage taking a leave from his part time job. He was disturbed beyond words, as Suzanne's scandalous words played inside his head. He could not concentrate on anything as he dumped himself onto his bed. Shyam his best friend was blabbering about something while he did not paid any attention to the same.

He could not believe as he was too attached to the girl, he liked her but not in the way, she wanted him to. It was definitely not love from her side it was always been lust. His head throbbed and he sensed a hand on his shoulder. He fluttered opened his eyes and turned on to the other side to look at the person.

"Suzanne? What the hell are you doing here?"

He barked getting up onto the bed, his eyes spitting fire at her as she stood there her arms crossed over her chest and a wicked smile on her lips. Shyam was little surprised to see her inside their dorm, and the way she was dressed, well he did not seem to appreciate it.

"For the official break up, what else?"

She seethed mockingly and Arnav climbed out of the bed, standing right in front of her.

"I never knew that you are an orphan, I was always intrigued by your personal life, but you never shared anything about it. Well is not it cool to find out everything before I proceed with anything. However, I knew that you were not my type, but I just wanted to have some fun with you, because you know Arnav, no matter what a loser you are, you got a stunning body..."

She said rolling her tongue while her eyes roamed all over his form.

"Just get out... I don't want to see you anymore.."

He turned to the other side while she left from there, laughing loudly.

"Who wishes to be here, anyways?"

__________

"Look who's here, is not he the "Orphan" hotty..?"

Anirudh mocked leaning onto his car while other guys laughed at Arnav. He fisted his both hands and walked inside the classroom. He was there to study, and he will just do that instead of getting into ugly messes like "Suzanne". He was thankful to almighty to have opened his eyes before it was too late.

Suzanne's friend Joanna had called him to his phone last night. And the things she shared had left him speechless. Suzanne was just interested in him because of his surname which mother superior had attached during his admission in the school. He was a "Schneider" and that had dragged her towards him. all those things happened with him after the first day of his college was all planned by her and her millionaire boyfriend "Anirudh". He was nothing but a piece of entertainment for them. They mocked him behind his back while they hung out with him like long lost buddies.

Joanna was standing at the door of the classroom and Arnav's eyes caught the red bruise on her face. She frantically pulled her dupatta and draped it over her head and turned to the other side. He, without any word reached in front of her and removed the dupatta.

"What happened?"

She nodded her head and entered the classroom, as the professor was already been started with the attendance of the students. Arnav's eyes faltered towards Joanna every now and then while she tried hard to concentrate on the class.

Arnav straight went to her after the professor had left from there. Joanna tried to get away from him but he caught hold of her free hand and pulled her onto her seat. She sat on the bench, her eyes downcasted.

"Who did this to you? Suzanne?"

He asked tilting her head to have a better look. She nodded her head as tears pooled in her eyes.

"How dare she, hit you? And you don't have to tell me why, I know the reason..''

With that he stomped out of the classroom followed by a running Joanna. She did not wanted another fight between them and then have to face the wrath of Suzanne and her girl friend's at the hostel. She was not used to all this and no one had hit her like she had.

Suzanne was busy inside the canteen partying around with her nonsense friends and her eyes bulged out as Arnav hovered over the table, staring directly into her eyes.

"What the f**k, Arnav orphan...? Well, is not that a cool surname to have.. Aint it guys?"

She asked grinning widely and Arnav grabbed her neck this time. She choked and fear was evident on her face.

"Don't you dare touch Joanna, if you do I wont be this gentle with you... you get that, bitch..."

He stepped away from her and then grabbed Joanna's hands as they both walked away from there.

"Arnav, I am scared..what if they..."

"Don't worry they wont.. just trust me... do call me if they does something.. I am there, right?"

He said squeezing her hands and she smiled relieved at his words.

"Thanks, Arnav.."

______________

"Yes, they will be reaching there in few hours, be ready to grab that girl, are you even listening to me? You know Krishnan's truck, right?"

The man barked over the phone and the person on the other side noted down the details as he had mentioned.

"Fine, I will just do that, and don't forget my share.."

He said before slapping the phone down.

"Share my foot..."

The man growled walking back to his bed, where Krishnan's wife was waiting for him with open arms.

___________

Krishnettan patted Khushi's cheeks as he stopped the vehicle. His eyes flashed towards Aman's sleeping form snuggled next to her. he smiled and smacked Aman's head lightly. He groaned in his sleep and then sat up on his seat rubbing his sleepy eyes as he looked around the place.

"Khushi, we have reached Chennai..."

He exclaimed excitedly and then his face fell thinking about leaving her there. Khushi yawned and hoisted up onto her seat and looked at Krishnettan smiling widely at her.

"I have talked to my friend Mr. Sundareshan who's working for this women's shelter home in Chennai, you will be just fine there..."

He assured patting her hair and she smiled contently to him. They climbed down of the truck and took a small way in the right. Khushi read the board, which was been written in English.

Mary Matha Shelter Home For Women.

Khushi looked at Aman and Krishnettan, her eyes welling up with tears. A woman with a sweet smile walked towards them and held onto Khushi's hands.

Mr. Sundareshan smiled at her and asked the lady to get her inside. she waved bye at them both and then disappeared inside the home. Aman watched her leave helplessly, he did not know as why it was hurting so much to leave her. but she will be just fine there, he had faith in Krishnettan.

They turned to leave from there but stopped by Khushi's distant voice from the behind. She was running towards them and then the next moment she was hugging Krishnettan's waist.

"I cant thank you enough.."

She sobbed while the man patted her hair, lovingly. Aman watched her with teary eyes as she looked at him and then hugged him too. He was little taken aback by her gesture, he knew it was only a friendly hug from her side, but he just realized that it was more than friendship he had in mind for her.

"I will miss you both, promise me that you two will come to meet me, whenever you will come to Chennai.."

She said wiping her face vigorously while Aman nodded his head, and Krishnettan assured her with a smile.

"Bye, Khushi Kutty..."

_____________

Khushi and Arnav sat in silence at one of those benches in front of the falls. Arnav had his fingers entwined with hers while she hesitantly let him. her stomach was doing weird things and heart was beating like crazy at his close proximity. They watched people leave from there one by one, as it was getting dark.

It was almost twilight and the count of tourists lessened by time. After few more minutes, it was Arnav and Khushi who were still there, holding each other's hands as if there is no tomorrow.

"Its getting late..."

Khushi whispered stealing glances at his amazingly amazing face. He looked sideways and sighed heavily.

"I know... but I don't want to leave, yet.."

He admitted his hold on her hand tightening. She felt her whole being shudder in excitement as he raised their entwined hands and then pressed his lips onto her knuckles. she felt her eyes closing on its own accord as his lips finally made contact with her heated skin.

What was happening to her? why was not she resisting him?

She asked to herself and felt his lips once again pressing onto her knuckles. it was too much she could take. Her eyes snapped open and looked into his eye, who was now staring at her.

He leaned closer, his breaths fanning on her cheeks and she inhaled sharply waiting for the unexpected. His lips almost brushed against her reddened cheeks and then pressed firmly against the softness. He too was breathing heavily while he felt her hands on his hold tightening in anticipation.

Was that too much? He did not wanted to rush with her, but when she was too close to him, he could not help but kiss her senseless.

"Sir, this is the last bus to Thenmalai.."

The familiar shopkeeper informed him as he pulled the shutter of his shop and left from there.

"We should leave.."

Arnav said standing abruptly and then grabbed her hands walking towards the bus.

___________

"Khushi...?"

Aman whispered looking at her from across the road. She was standing there, holding onto the man's arms, and she was smiling at him while the man had eyes only for her. They started walking towards the bus waiting shed while Aman tried to cross the road to meet her.

He quickly reached to the other side of the road but could not stop them as they both climbed one of the buses and it already left from there.

"KHUSHI"

He yelled looking at her form through the window and found her turning to his side. Their eyes met across the road and she suddenly looked away.

"Aman?"

A gasp left Khushi's mouth and she almost stood up on her seat, pressing the bell to stop the bus. Arnav looked at her panicked form and followed her to the door. The bus stopped and Aman climbed the same, his form almost hovering over Khushi's form.

Arnav looked at them helplessly as Aman stared into her eyes while Khushi's eyes were almost teary finding him there.

"Aman, you are fine.. you are alright..."

Khushi said touching his face and Aman smiled at her concerned gaze.

"I am perfectly alright, mujhe kya hua hai?"

He said absent mindedly and pulled her onto one of the empty seats. Arnav watched them closely as they both sat together and he took the adjacent seat to them.

"Arnav, this is Aman, my friend... And Aman this is Arnav.. my Sir, I am working under him in one of the resorts..."

Aman looked at Arnav and their eyes clashed across the seats.

"Hi, nice to meet you Aman,.."

"Same here, Mr. Arnav.."

____________