PART 4
The day after the discussion.
Arohi's POV
I was ready to go. Bags packed and ready to go. I was nervous to face him again but that was bound to happen sooner or later. I just choose sooner. My family his family and my and his brothers were coming to see me off.
I slid out of the car as it came to stop near the tarmac. The luggage was pulled out and placed on a trolley.
"Take of yourself" my brother demand. He had rescheduled all his meeting to come see me off and spend the day with me. He hugged me tightly and asked "arohi will you be all right?" I smiled at the question. I was his baby sister. Always protected and under his care. We were super close to each other though we couldn't live without annoying the living daylights out of one other too. I loved him, dearly.
"yes bhai I'll be good, plus I've traveled alone before " I said "yes but still "he decided to get serious, but I wasn't having it, so I decided to teased him "aha, look the heir of one of the biggest building companies, one of the most eligible bachelors in India , the tough guy, known to get things don't his way , being a softie ??" I completed with a smirk and I was rewarded with a smack on the back of my head. I whined calling daddy . Yes I was a big time daddy's girl and a proud one. Dad glared at him looking dead serious. I stuck my tongue out to him and he laughed and kissed my forehead. "Arohi, arjun's friend will be holding a board for arjuns father, Since they don't know you are going, take care of yourself...'' I sighed. We had been through this a million times in past 2 days. "Yes brother" I said in dismissing tone and kissed his cheek and moved to say goodbye to others. "chotti, ill miss you" he said once again as I hugged him. I made a move to grabbed the luggage trolley which was beside him.. I held back my tears and nodded and mumbled a "me too" and turned to leave. With one last look I walked into the check in line.
I had to be there with arjun for at least 1 and 1/2 month before he would heal properly and his casts would go off. I was really nervous seeing him.
But this had to be done one day or another.
18 hours later.
I just had landed in Boston at Logan international airport from where his friend mark was collecting me. I went through security check and half an hour later emerged with my luggage and carry on to find this friend. I quickly spotted him holding one with dad's name on it. "I'm Arohi" I told him. "I'm sorry" he said frowning and den realization struck on his face "you are arjun's arohi?" he asked, his accent made our names sound funny. "but his dad was coming "he said frowning. I smiled "no, I wanted it to be a surprise for him and hence he was told his dad is coming" I replied with a smile. "Oh" he said and then added "okay lets go, we will first leave you luggage at his home and then we will go to the hospital , that work for you ?" he asked me as he moved to take my bag form me. I shook my head and followed him to his car. Nevertheless he took the bags from me. Some gentlemen he was.
Arjun lived alone in a 2 bedroom apartment which he had rented since past 2 years. It was on 7th floor with nice pool in the balcony. Now I know Why he didn't want a dorm room. This was a nice neighborhood and a perfect apartment building. I settled my luggage on the bed and was ready to go when mark me "aren't you hungry or tired after all it was a long flight?" "no, I just want to see him" my voice desperate and needy.
Form what I had got to know in the car ride that arjun had talked a lot about me to him and his friends, and the hospital was near his condo too. Mark and his other friends were yet to give their final exams but nevertheless every one visited atlest once a day. Some friends he had. Mark was a sweet guy and told me all about himself. He was in the football team with arjun. Jose was their quarterback and the captain whom I would supposedly meet there as he practically lived in hospital for arjun.
My nervousness grew as we came to a stop at the Boston hospital.
Mark guided me to his room. He was kept in one of the private rooms. I could hear a lot of voice coming from the room. "The guys must be here watching football and the girls must be whining about the same" mark explained the noise with a hearty laugh. I laughed as he opened the door and shouted "guy's Arohi is here" I heard the gaps and ooo and aaahhhss coming form his friends. I guess they knew about me then.
"So you are arjuhi"s arohi? No wonder he is head over heels with you. Dude she is hot" a guy commented and arjun slapped the back of his head and hissed probably because of the movement. I flinched inwardly as he winced. I knew he was in lot of pain. His face showed it as he tried to smile.
"that's Jose" mark introduced me waving to the guy who had inappropriately commented few moments ago. I looked arjun in the eye and show shock as it registered that I was really there. "I think we should leave them alone to get ummm ..." a pretty blond started and was interrupted by a guy "to let them kiss and make out??" he said and everybody started to woot again and a nurse came by and shouted "I'll kick every one of you out if you don't stop making noise" she hissed "oh come on Christy, you love us" another guy said smirking. Christy the nurse rolled her eyes and said "sure do" she said and closed the door with a loud thud. Arjun sighed and mark raised his eyebrows in a question and arjun nodded and mark shrugged. I didn't know what was going on but marks eyes lit up with mischief and he said "let me introduce you to everyone arohi". I smiled and nodded. "That's Jose, as you already know" he waves to the guy with inappropriate comment. "then that is Michael next to Jose, that's jai next to Michael and his girlfriend kara, next to them are Kyle and Rosie, and then there is Jenna next to Rosie who happens to be my girlfriend and then next to her is Sara" "oh and rishi has gone to buy food" Sara said and on right on que rishi came in with food enough for the whole words. "that is rishi," arjun said as a boy walked in with maybe 50 bags of food. Finally he had spoken after arohi entered. Arohi was almost regretting her decision of coming. It wasn't worth coming if he wasn't talking to her.
When arohi had entered arjun was shocked. never in million years he thought that arohi would come. Seeing arohi around made him crazy with love again. When his eyes fell on her, his world went spinning. She looked pretty in photos but in reality she was even more beautiful. She had a neck of like that swan that made arjun go crazy. When arohi had entered the room all he wanted to do was kiss her Senseless and make her dizzy with anticipation. But he knew she wouldn't appreciate that. He didn't find words to speak. He wanted to talk, beg her to be his. He turned to look at her and she was sitting and talking with his friend. She laughed at something Michael said. Her laughter was like music to his ear.
Arohi frowned when she looked at arjun. He had a concentrating face on and was smiling. She cleared her throat and everyone looked at her. "You guys should eat, your food is getting cold" she said "oh, yes we should definitely eat and leave she wants to be alone with arjun" Rosie sais with a laugh and wink. Third time that day blush rose to her cheeks. She didn't know what else to say.
Everyone passed food around and ate, all the while fooling around.
Arjun had great friends, arohi thought and surprisingly they knew a lot about her. Jose continued to pass inappropriate comments and one or the other guy would smack him if he did that. While leaving the girls gave arohi their number and promised to go shopping with her during the weekend.
"They are good friends" arohi said closing the door behind them "yes that they are" arjun replied with a frown. Why was she being so formal he thought? There was bit awkwardness there. Arohi once again regretted her decision to come. They had never been awkward at all, even when arohi got her first period and she sat in bed all day long, arjun was there with her making her laugh through the cramps. She missed him, dearly!
"How are you?" arjun asked finally breaking the silence. "I'm good" she replied with a straight face not giving much away. "arohi how are you really?". arohi knew arjun would see through her and that's what happened. She wanted to arjun work for her to confess but now she was in good mind to reconsider to wait to tell him that she loved him too. "I missed you" she said as she stood near his bed. Arjun patted the space on his bed, the side which was unaffected. Arohi hesitated but eventually sat down. "I missed you too, and I love you" he said. Arohi felt her insides flutter as the butterflies in her stomach had a wild party. "how are you arjun ? Dose it hurt "she asked him changing the subject. Arjun smiled "it's going to be better now that you are here, but yes it dose hurt, would you kiss it better?" he asked innocently and arohi hit his shoulder and immediately regretted it, as arjun winced. "oh god, I'm so sorry" she.said.as tears welled up.in her eyes. She didn't like seeing him in pain. "hey don't cry, I'll be okay" he said as he kissed her hand. Arohi was about to reply with the doctor walked in. "hello arjun, how are you feeling ?" the doctor asked as he went through the reports. "arjun you scans look good, you can go home tomorrow after we do the scans again, but you will have to have complete bed rest for next month and half atlest. You will need someone to take care of you, or else you will need to stay here" the doctor said. "absolutely, arohi here is to stay with me and take care of me" arjun motioned in Arohi's direction "aha, you have got yourself a pretty one" the doctor said as he shook arohis hand and she blushed. "that she is doc" arjun grinned in amusement. "Doctor, is there anything arjun can't do or isn't allowed to eat?" arohi asked.
"Well there is a list of things he can't do , ill tell you no physical activities for 6 weeks, and that means s&% too arjun" doctor said with laugh as his face fell. Arohi's face heated up nth time that day. "He can eat and drink pretty much everything, but nothing too heavy for a week" the doctor said. "No moving arjun" the doctor said and turned to leave "thank you doctor" arohi said. "You will be free to go tomorrow, and then every week I'll come for a visit" he said as he left the room.
Arohi moved around the room and grabbed a seat next to his bed. Arjun caught her hand. Arohi looked at that and frowned. "You look beautiful when you blush" he said making her blush once again. "Sleep arjun, you have a tedious morning ahead of you" arohi said not knowing what else to say and she settled on a make shift bed put in his room for the person staying the night.
Arjun had turned into this hot muscular guy with a clean lean body in 2 Years. His height had certainly grown arohi thought. She was having a hard time resisting grabbing the insanely handsome face and kissing him senseless.
Arjun and arohi fell into comfortable silence till sleep took over them.
The morning after
It was a furry of activities. Arohi waited for arjun's tests to get over as she filled the discharge papers. She was officially 18 today.
As arjun returned she expected him to wish her but he was in his own little world.
Arjun remembered it was her birthday today. He just had something planned out for when the got home.
Arjun was seated in wheelchair and wheeled out. With marks help who had come to pick arjun and arohi and drop them arjun's condo seated.
Arohi led arjun to the house. When they entered the house arohi switched on the lights. "Surprise" she heard a chorus of voices. She looked at arjun who had a smile on his face. She almost had tears when everyone took their turn to hug her and wish her. "sorry we couldn't do anymore, Mr. smarty pants here told us this morning " Sara said "hey, I'm injured" arjun replied deafeningly and Sara flipped him off "guys this is soo good, thank you" arohi said.
The whole living room was filled with red and white balloons and gifts were scattered in the room.
She didn't know this people, but arohi knew that arjun was safe here with them and had great friends.
Arohi celebrated her birthday with everyone till arjun kicked them out at midnight. They had been sitting in arjun's room once the lunch was over not to tire him out. They laughed and played. Arohi knew her stay her was going to be good.
15 day's late
The phone was ringing, way to early for arohi's liking. Groaning she went to pick up the phone. She wished it wasn't one of arjuns bimbo friends that he had "done" in 2 years he spent here. Arohi was getting irritated with a new girl calling the home phone every few days. She had already lost count of how many girls wanted to get back with arjun.
She had fun seeing how arjun rejected them flat out and sometimes they turned up at the house if the answer on phone was no. She had enough about them. She never showed it to his face but it was getting really irritating now.
The past 2 weeks had been fun for arjun arohi. Arohi helped arjun do his daily chores, she helped him dress, and comb his hair, she cooked for them and they ate together. They talked all night, Fell asleep besides each other sometimes. It was turning out to be everything arohi desired for. They friendship was back to where arjun had left it. Arohi had a good mind telling him that she loves him too. But stopped herself every time she was about to speak. She needed to make him suffer just like she did for 2 years. Arjun used to say I LOVE YOU very night to before going to sleep. The sadness showed in his face every time she replied with a smile or just a plain good night. Arjun had been recovering well. His rib was fast healing. And the shoulder dislocation would take more time to heal but it was in good place.
Arohi picked up the phone and cringed inwardly. The shrill talking on phone made arohi want to slap the girl with a fish right across her face. "hello" the girl repeated in her fake Barbie accent.
"who is this?" arohi asked "this is Maria, who am I speaking too?" "that doesn't matter miss Maria, arjun is not interested in you, and oh please have manners and look at the time before calling other people's home" arohi almost shouted "listen girl, don't talk to me like that, you might be the flavor of the week for arjun, but I don't care he is mine, and I get what's mine back" Maria replied.
This Maria girl had jumped into the picture out of no where. She hadn't heard of her and she was talking about wanting her arjun back. Like that would happen! Arohi shook with anger, how dare she call her flavor of the month! "Miss Maria, I don't want to fight so early in the morning with you, so just listen and try and process the information in your pea sized brain. I'll try to use normal language." arohi said and smiled when Maria cursed. "i don't care what the hell arjun said or told, its not my business to say anything else. But you are not welcomed in arjuns life anymore so please shove your plastic nose in someone else's business, good luck and goodbye" she replied smugly and bang the phone off.
She turned around in arjun's room's direction to see arjun lying with a smile on his face. "what are you bloody smiling about" arohi asked. She was irritated now. First that bimbo and now him she couldn't tolerate it anymore. "Nothing" arjun replied. "then stop smiling" arohi said and arjun burst out laughing. "arohi you almost sound jealous of Maria" arjun teased her "how did you know it was her?" she asked narrowing her eyes. Arjun pointed at a phone besides his bed side. Arohi's eyes widened. "what the hell, arjun you could have talked to the bitch face" arohi said fuming as she picked up a pillow and hurled it at him. She was really angry now. But arjun was still smiling. She wanted to kick him "arjun stop smiling this instance or next time I'll hurl the phone at you broken rib instead of the pillow on you leg "
Arohi said. Arjuns face turned serious quickly. He knew how aggressive she could get.
"Arohi admit it you are jealous" he teased her further
"Jealous of what arjun" arohi asked getting impatient and angry.
"Of all the girls calling me theirs"
"Oh don't think so highly of yourself monkey" arohi said using one of her many pet names for arjun
"You only call me that when you want my attention arohi, I know you are jealous! You just have king sized ego to admit it!"
"Oh yeah, like that is true"
"Oh, it indeed is ! I see how you look at me when a girl that has been an acquaintance calls me, or how irritable you are when they turn up"
"It's nothing like that arjun" arohi said in a small voice
"Arohi I want you to tell me you love me too, I know it that you know it, you just don't want to tell me"
"I...um...no"
"You what arohi, you are jealous" arjun probed further. She was getting highly frustrated. She wanted to shout
"You are jealous" arjun kept on repeating
"Yes damit I'm jealous" arohi shouted and the breathed to catch her breath as if she had just ran a marathon
"Why are you jealous arohi?" arjun said, his face serious.
"Arjun..." arohi started
"Don't arjun me arohi, answer me, I want answers! Now"
"I'll kill you arjun singhania" arohi said as she walked up to sit beside him. And the started hitting his non-hurted side. Arjun smiled as he heard a small cry. Finally she was letting him in. He thanked god for Maria's phone call.
"I hate you for putting me through this, I hate you for leaving me arjun, I hate you for making me wait, I hate you for all the mistresses you've had, I hate you , I hate you. I hate you" she said crying as arjun ran a soothing hand down her hair and pulled her into one sided embrace. Arohi was careful not to touch arjun's affected or the surrounding area.
"I know and I'm sorry, but I love you" arjun said as he pressed a kiss on the top of her head.
"I hate that I love you arjun singhania" she said it, finally.
"I love that you love me arohi alluwalia" he said as he pulled her up pulling her face close to kiss her but arohi quickly pulled back and said "I don't think so, you made me suffre for past 2 years. You can't kiss me till atlest 2 months now, that's you punishment! You will have to do with speaking"
"Oh, come on arohi ! That's not fair.
I've waited for 2 years for you to tell me that you love me, and when you say it, finally, you wont allow me to kiss you" he said with a pout so cute that arohi almost gave in
"patience little grasshopper, your time will arrive soon" she said as she got up patted the top of his head and skipped out of the room smiling with joy. She was truly happy now.