Chapter Seven
Passion Unfurled!
Khushi watched his mischievous eyes and a hint of smile on his beautifully carved face which made her giddy like never before. Her heart escalated when she found him walking towards her with calculated steps. He stopped right in front of her and narrowed his eyes at her obvious confused expression.
"What you mean by flings?"
Khushi stuttered, not meeting his eyes this time and heard his let out a brief chuckle at her question. What was there to laugh at? Is he laughing at me? Does he think that I don't know the real meaning of "flings"? questions over questions erupted inside her already clouded head and she lost the war finally meeting his eyes.
"Trust you to ask such a question to me. But I wont lie to you, neither I love to lie to anyone. I hate liars. Period! I had few girlfriends in the past, but I did not had a serious type of relationship with anyone, except Sheetal.."
He stopped abruptly and Khushi's heart twisted brutally. She did not know as why she was feeling all green and abnormally angry at the mention of a slip of a girl, who was his past. but the adrenaline rush was beyond control as she looked at his face with curiosity. He was not smiling, his lips were thinned and one finger was rubbing his firm jaw line.
The gesture itself gave her goose bumps and she looked away instantly, chiding those butterflies away from her stomach.
"She was one of my team leaders and mostly she was out of India because of her jobs need. She was in foreign affairs and we barely met. I was not aware of her feelings for me, until she proposed me on a valentine's day. I have no idea why I give into that relationship, but soon I realized that I was not in love with her, I always had a fine relationship with her, like between friends!!
Arnav sighed and Khushi heaved a sigh of relief at his words. It calmed her insides and she felt the color back on her cheeks at his heated gaze. He smirked and sat next to her, his lips curving upwards at the mere sight of the girl, who was now smiling. He had watched her expressions few seconds ago, when he had announced about his flings to her. she did not look happy neither did she enjoyed the one sided conversation. She was like an open book to him as her troubled thoughts reflected on her cute features, giving him a mental pat on his head for hitting the right spot to know her feelings towards him.
That means, the dude she was in love with had already vacated her heart. Or this is just a compromise for her, to make her family happy once again? his thoughts went haywire when she left her side of the bench and stood up facing him, with a questioning look in her hazel depths.
"Khushi, I just wanted to be sure about this, before we proceed.. are you willingly accepting this proposal or just for the sake of your family..?"
He looked at her face earnestly and she stared directly into his eyes, as if conveying everything with her eyes. it was like he could read her eyes and her thoughts too, well to some extent, not fully though.
"It was... For the family...at first...but now I think...its more for me at this moment... I think I have started a liking...towards you..."
She stammered and Arnav felt like jumping up in the air. The heaviness in his heart had subsided at her soothing words and he did not wanted anything else but kiss her adorable pouts, which was now stuck between her pearly white teeth. She was nervous he could feel it.
"So?"
"So?"
She repeated rolling her eyes as her cheeks grew hotter than ever. Will this man ever stop making her so edgy at anytime and everytime? Her treacherous heart did the unexpected by seating next to him. he was smiling staring at the full moon, a romantic look on his face while Khushi too looked into the same direction as his as the song " Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho" played inside her head non stop.
"Its getting late.."
"I know.."
"Are not you sleepy?"
"Nope.. I am feeling amazing.."
"So do I..."
A shrill sound of Arnav's phone broke the spell and the one liner conversation they were having. He reluctantly left her side to answer his annoying phone and the damned person on the other side. Why people invented this blasted things called telephones? Just to ruin precious moments like this, obviously. He let out a groan and heard Aman's worried voice from the other side. He was talking about that video tape and Arnav was in no mood to discuss about anything at that moment, lest attend a call.
"Arnav, I shall leave.. its really late.."
Khushi said leaving her seat as well only to be stopped by Arnav as he caught her wrist in a firm grip. She rounded her eyes at him and then looked at their hands. Her breathing became ragged as she heard him answer to that person in a distasteful tone.
He disconnected the call and turned to her sides. His eyes hungrily roamed all over her petite form and then rested on her quivering lips, which conveyed more than he wanted. His hands pulled her towards him and she came crashing onto his chest. He steadied her before they both hit the benches and bruise themselves before their engagement next morning.
"I was not done yet..."
He said staring at her lips hungrily and Khushi understood his hidden meaning. His eyes were enough for her to lose her control and now that its been settled on her lips made her all the more cranky. She gulped nervously and his hands left her wrist. She let out a sigh of relief and then her breath hitched in her throat as his fingers brushed on her bare upper arms.
It was a torturous sensation and the worst part was she was enjoying it..Thoroughly!! Arnav watched the way she heaved as his fingers made its way towards her shoulders and then stopped abruptly. She fluttered opened her eyes and turned her head only to be banged with his.
"Oww.."
He yelped in pain and Khushi touched his head, rubbing his forehead with so much force.
"I hope it wont swell.."
She managed between the rubbing as she blew onto his forehead, panicking. He was smiling and he does not know as why the small gesture of her concern for him made him happy and content at the same time.. her hands slowed down and her eyes finally looked into his. There goes the butterflies. Cant they just sleep in the night time? Annoying insects. Khushi muttered under her breath and left his face reluctantly. Her ears throw hot air outside while his eyes glazed with something else.
"I was just..."
She bit onto her lower lip, the corner of her eyes crinkling as she tried hard to control her racing heart.
"Do you know what I want to do now?"
Arnav asked taking her both hands in his while Khushi looked into his eyes, a confused glint resting in her hazel ones.
"Kya?"
Her voice was almost like a whisper and Arnav felt a sudden gush of excitement ran through his whole being. Damn this girl and her sexy voice. He groaned inwardly deleting all those scandalous images of him and her flashed in front of his eyes, when her voice registered in his mind.
"This.."
He said and pressed his lips onto her both knuckles one by one. Khushi felt the scorching heat of his lips on her skin and that was her undoing. She waited without blinking an eye, her chest heaved uncontrollably as he pulled her by her hands. their bodies smashed together and a gasp left both their mouths at the contact.
Arnav's hands instantly came to her face and cupped her cheeks. She felt lost in his eyes and so was he. He leaned closer and pressed his lips onto her forehead, in a cute way. The butterflies intensified and turned into something giant, umm whatever.
Khushi closed her eyes and her hands automatically came resting onto chest as if it was the place she belonged.
"I wish I could capture this moment, thank you for accepting me and coming into my life. I have never thought that I would be feeling something like this... I am glad that I opened that mail..."
He winked at her once again and her heart skipped several beats at the moment. She too wanted to capture that moment forever. She had never felt something strong for anyone, not even for Shyam, when they were head over heels in love with each other. The thought itself gave her goose bumps and she just wanted to stay like that forever, in his arms, safe and secure.
She inhaled sharply as if saving his manly fragrance forever and he kissed her cheeks one by one. Her heart beat escalated and she bunched the fabric of his tee in a tight grip. He pushed those wayward hair behind her ears and leaned closer aiming her quivering lips, to devour it till his heart's content.
He had spent one whole night, just thinking about her lips and how would it feel against him, when he touched it with his own lips. His head clouded with the desire for her and vision she created in his arms was not helping him either.
She squeezed shut her eyes, when she finally felt his hot breaths against her parted lips. She had fantasized about the same since she had saw him for the first time. His lips were her favorite thing to stare on and now that she is about to feel the same against hers, she could not help but wait impatiently with a wildly beating heart and an almost weak knees.
"Yo...Nannav... on the roof in the moonlight.. not bad... Nannav mere bhai..."
f**k!
Arnav muttered under his breath as he reluctantly left her delectable form from his hold. Khushi stepped back from him, a rosy tint spreading across her cheeks before she ran out of there.
"What are you?"
Arnav blurt out before walking towards the stairs while NK scratched his head thinking to himself.
"What kind of a question was that?"
"Go and think about the same... bad night.."
He muttered before slapping the door on his annoying cousin's face.
"I am dying to have a conversation with that annoying friend of your fiance and here you are already going to kiss her, and that too on her lips. Kya saamna aa gaya hai yar?
"Saamna Nahi NK bhai.. Zamana..."
Anjali said before leaving the terrace while NK's jaw dropped to the floor. Where was she been all this while? NK was speechless as she strolled downstairs following a limping Anjali.
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Khushi looked at herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time while everyone let out another sigh of displeasure. She was been doing the same from past one hour and they were obviously getting bored by her antics. As far as they knew Khushi never spent so much time on getting ready for anything, this was for the first time she was worried about her look and Garima knew, she just knew that her daughter has been finally managed to move on. She have started a liking towards Arnav in the meantime.
"Khushi..you look stunning... Shall we go downstairs, now?"
Preetika asked rolling her eyes while Khushi scrunched her nose, looking at one strand of her hair which was been peeking out of those several hair clips she had attached with her hair.
"Ugh"
Payal left from there holding her heavy lehenga with her both hands, while Sasi too waved his hands at his elder daughter. Woman! He muttered joining his little girl. Garima put little kajal behind Khushi's ears, while Preetika arranged her hair once again, much to Khushi's satisfaction.
"There...all done.."
Preetika exclaimed looking at her handiwork all satisfied while Khushi pouted some more.
"I really want him to like this dress... I hope he does.."
Khushi said dreamily while Garima almost hugged her daughter. She was changing and that thought itself gave her some relief.
"He will like you more when don't wear anything at all..trust me.."
Preetika whispered into her ears and Khushi slapped her head playfully before blushing a crimson at her friend's teasing words. She shook her head as if removing those wayward images of her standing in front of him came into her mind. Damn!!
"Khushi ji, aap ready nahi hui ab tak?"
Anjali peeked inside the room and her eyes widened instantly looking at Khushi's beautiful form.
"You look gorgeous.. Chottey is a dead man.."
She exclaimed before grabbing Khushi's hands as she led her downstairs for the ceremony.. everyone were ready and waiting for Khushi's arrival. her eyes scanned for his form and frowned a bit when she could not find him. where was he missing? She thought sadly and then her face lit up seeing him standing at a distant corner, watching her with those beautiful eyes of his.
Khushi's grip on her lehenga tightened as his gaze burned into hers, leaving her almost breathless at the sensations. How was he doing this to her, without even touching her? she thought sheepishly while Anjali made her sit on one of those decorated chairs.
"Chottey... If you are done with your "watching" you can join Khushi ji for your engagement..."
Anjali teased and Arnav rolled his eyes at his di's words. He walked straight towards the chair next to Khushi while she clasped and unclasped her hands nervously.
"All set to kill me, huh? Have mercy on me GOD.."
His flirtatious yet genuine words boomed inside her head and she felt like burning from within, if eyes could do that, she would have turned into a puddle of ashes...
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Khushi was speechless at his perfection as he seated next to her on the heart shaped chair, which was specially been decorated by Akash for his brother's engagement. Arnav was wearing a cream colored designer sherwani and he had left his hair without any trace of gel on them.
Khushi's hands itched to push back those loose fringes that rested on his forehead or tickled him. she just wanted to run her fingers through his thick mane and feel its softness against hers.
She gulped hard controlling the urges and putting a fullstop to her wayward thoughts for few seconds, if it was even possible.. she sighed and Arnav looked at her sideways.
"I can hardly wait now...you know for what?"
She nodded her head in negative and a wide smirk appeared on his face. Anjali extended the box in front of him and he took the gold band from the same and took her left hand in his.
"To take you..."
He slipped the band into her ring finger and everyone applauded congratulating the couple. Khushi's hands trembled as she removed the ring from the box and touched his hand to slip the same around his ring finger, completing the ritual at once.
"Take me?"
She whispered back questioningly and he winked at her in response.
"To take you to our farmhouse in Ludhiana...obviously"
Khushi's eyes widened at his words and she knew she just knew, that was not he meant when he said those words before. He was a heart beat manipulator and she was not expecting such a decent answer from him, was she?
"Farmhouse?"
She asked sounding desperate as they both sat onto their respective chairs while everyone started feeding them with several types of sweets.
"Yes, what did you thought?"
Dang it!
Now she was the one who's been accused here. Was not he the one, who started this? How beautifully he managed to embarrass her when she was not the one at fault. But, does not she enjoy the same? whenever she was in the receiving end?
"I cant wait to see this "farmhouse" of yours..."
She cooed batting her eyelashes and an alarm went on his head. So, playing along huh? Not bad, I like strong contenders!! He thought inwardly before flashing an infectious smile at her, making her go weak on her knees.
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Aman was hell worried after seeing those clearer tapes that the Indraprashta hotel had send to him the other day. He was trying hard to have a talk with his boss ASR, but he was too busy with his engagement functions and fiance ignoring his every call. He cant blame him for this, because he was getting into some girl for the first ever time. He had never found ASR behaving this way and the reason was his fiance.
He will just wait for 1 more day and then break the ultimate news to his boss about the traitor. Although, he would be shocked at first, but it was the truth and he knew ASR always stands for the truth and he wont back away this time.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
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