Chapter 21 - Je Veux Que Tu Saches (I Want You To Know)
Flat
502 - London - (Week 4) Sunday - 10:30 pm. GMT
The winds picked up blowing the curtains wildly as Arjun started for the balcony.
His heart raced erratically and he couldn't name
the feelings coursing through him as she came into view.
Finally
after all this time...
"My
Purvi" he said in a whisper and he thought he saw her
shudder. His eyes must have been playing tricks on him.
She was curled up in a blanket with only the top of her
head peeking out. She looked so small and fragile with that adorable pony tail
on her head and when she looked up at him his heart stopped.
She was far more beautiful as she had ever been. His
eyes drank in the sight of her until they were drunk with ecstasy. Her face was
leaner and still a little sallow from last night's events but she was
absolutely gorgeous.
She looked away and he cleared his throat nervously.
Purvi couldn't believe her eyes.
Arjun?
Here
in the flesh?
Not
a dream?
He looked like a vision standing there in a black
V-necked Ferrari T-Shirt and track bottoms. He had just gotten out of the
shower Purvi noted from his still wet hair. He had shaved too as there was no
evidence of stubble.
That mole above his lips was going to be the death of her!
Have
mercy!
He
smelled like the heavens!
Purvi had to look away as his proximity was wreaking
havoc on her senses and she couldn't think. He sat on the edge of the other
lounge chair and still didn't say anything. He looked out at the water and just
his presence made her calm and centered.
This was the balance she had been missing in her life.
Him.
Arjun felt the same way as he sat quietly next to
Purvi. He felt as if he had come home and all his worries were forgotten. Purvi
was his home and he was never going to give that up.
They sat in silence for several minutes each not making
a move towards each other. Not wanting to rush or upset her Arjun got up to
leave.
It was enough for now that she didn't shun him and the
rest they would work on when she felt better. He took her phone out of his
pocket and placed it in front of her and turned to leave.
Purvi closed her eyes and all the feelings from the
past few months came bubbling up to the surface and she knew if she didn't say
anything now if would be too late.
Arjun turned to leave.
"Months ago I set you free to be with Ovi and today I
found out that you broke things off with her the day you went to Canada." Purvi
began with a strange tone to her voice.
"And it would seem that you both haven't spoken since
then. Why is that Arjun?"
Arjun stopped and turned around to face her.
Purvi stood in front of him as the wind whipped around
them both.
"Purvi..."
"You hurt me Arjun. A hurt so deep I don't know if I
will ever be able to recover from it. I tried to forget you but somehow you're tethered
to my soul and you won't let go."
Emotions flooded her eyes and went by so fast he didn't
have time to register them all. Underneath them all though he saw longing,
caring and most importantly love.
The spark of hope roared into a raging flame within
him.
"I've been crying for months because of what you did
and I don't know how I survived when I could barely speak, barely eat or even
barely had the courage to go on."
Tears welled up in her eyes and she was trying to hold
them back. Arjun clenched his fists at his side so he wouldn't reach for her.
"I put on a brave face for everyone to show them I was
ok but when I was alone I felt like an invisible hand was crushing my
heart. I couldn't breathe and everyday
it just got worse."
"Purvi..."
"Do you have any idea how much I loved you? I never
thought I had a right to fall in love but you made me see you. You made
me see how beautiful and wonderful life could be and then you snatched it all
away before my very eyes the day you got engaged to Ovi."
Arjun closed his eyes in pain as he recalled that awful
day his world shattered.
"Purvi..."
He opened his eyes at looked at her with such longing.
Purvi held up her hand to stop him. She had to purge
all these tortured feelings from her heart if she truly ever wanted to be free
again.
"You shattered me Arjun. You shattered my hopes and
dreams for a life full of happiness and love. I am the shell of the person I
used to be and I don't know if I could ever get over that pain."
Purvi turned and looked at the water.
"Now our love only exists in my dreams. I've moved on
Arjun and I think you need to do the same."
Purvi's voice faltered. "Y-you n-need t-to l-leave
n-now"
Arjun knew Purvi was trying to be brave but he was not
going anywhere.
Arjun stepped up so closely behind her that she could
feel his hot breath on her neck. Purvi's heart hammered in her chest. Arjun
whispered next to her ear.
"Purvi,
I am so sorry that I've hurt you like this. I cannot imagine how you have
suffered all these months because of me but I need you to hear me right now."
He reached up and put his hands on Purvi's shoulders to
turn her around. The delicious warmth of his touch raced all over her skin
making it tingle. He brought her back over to the lounge chair and made her sit
down on the edge of it.
He sat next to her to give her as well as himself the
much needed connection they had been starved of. He knew she wanted to run but
he finally had her attention as he wasn't about to lose what may have been his
last chance.
Their eyes exchanged volumes with each heartbeat yet he
knew the words needed to be spoken.
"In
all my life I've only loved one woman apart from my mother and that woman has
always been you. Never Ovi - only you."
Purvi looked uncomfortable and wanted to look away but
Arjun held her gaze and waited for her breathing to calm down.
"Back
in Canada, I agreed to the engagement with Ovi only because there was no one
else in my life and I didn't want any harm to come to her. You see, when I
initially refused her she tried to make me jealous by being with someone else
and when he tried to force himself on her I came just in time to stop it."
Arjun gave a little laugh, "Actually it was Teju who gave the guy a solid thrashing. I never want
to get on her bad side."
Purvi thought back to the comment Tej had made earlier
in the day and got a little worried for him.
"Anyway,
I did agree to the engagement and Ovi suggested it be done after I got back
from India as she knew how important my work was for me."
Purvi started fiddling with the edge of the blanket and
Arjun captured her hands to keep her concentration focused on him.
"Then
you came into my life like a whirlwind Purvi and I didn't know what to make of
you or how to handle it. You turned me upside down and inside out. Never had
anyone dared to speak to me like that - never. I always thought people had to
be pushed and prodded to get what I wanted. You made me realize that I was
going about it all wrong."
"You
made me see the value in people and helped me to understand that respect and
courtesy goes a long way when dealing with people. You've changed me too and
before I could realize what had happened you had made a place for yourself in
my heart."
Purvi closed her eyes to starve off new tears that
threatened to fall. A few fat salty drops escaped and raced down her cheeks. Arjun
reached up and gently brushed them away with his thumb.
Purvi trembled at his touch and he kept his hand back.
She opened her eyes to let him continue.
Arjun looked out to the river as he continued. "I could think of nothing else but you
Purvi. Nothing else. Everything I did was for your happiness. I didn't realize
what you had meant to me and then I fired you on the day you were supposed to
get engaged. I was hoping the guy would never come back"
Arjun gave his
little laugh again.
"Little
did I know that the joke was on me. The guy turned out to be Vinay."
Ajrun ground his teeth together and Purvi's heart leapt a little at his
jealousy.
A small smile crept up to her lips.
Arjun noticed the smile from the corner of his eye and
his heart lurched in anticipation.
Hope bloomed furiously in his chest.
"Anyway,
it was after the Pune fiasco that I truly figured out what I felt for you. I
came to you and you turned me away. I almost left but when I saw you at the
airport and told me what you felt for me, Purvi I felt as if my whole world had
finally shifted into balance."
Arjun turned catch Purvi's eye again. He held her hand
in his.
"Everything
was perfect and I was just about to tell dad what we felt for each other when
this surprise engagement happened." Purvi's hand stiffened
under his and he chose his next words carefully.
"I
was just as surprised by it as you were - maybe even more so. I know I should
have handled it better and the mistake is completely mine. I should have
explained to my dad and Ovi right then about us but I was in shock and when you
blew me up in the garden I felt like a piece of me had died that night."
"I
tried so many times to talk to Ovi before - to explain to her that I was in
love with someone else and that I couldn't go through with the engagement I
previously agreed to. Every time I tried something came up and I couldn't tell
her. I know that's no excuse but I wanted you to know that I did try."
Arjun went down on one knee in front of Purvi and continued
to hold her hand in his as if it were a life line.
"I've
tried to apologize so many times and you ended up sending me away from you. I
tried to do what you wanted but I just couldn't. I never loved Ovi that way - only you Purvi. You are the woman who has always held my heart. Even to this
day."
Purvi looked scared and surprised. He didn't want to
give her time to think about the past so he plowed on.
"I
left her the day we went to Canada and I have been here in London ever since. I've
wanted to come to you so many times but I thought you didn't want to see me or
have anything to do with me."
Purvi's face had softened and Arjun's heart melted. "I have loved you in my dreams too. So much
so that they always seemed very real to me yet I've craved for you every day."
The 'every day' came out almost in a whisper and Purvi's
breath hitched as she saw the heat smoldering in Arjun's eyes. That slow burn
that had always simmered just below the surface was starting to blaze through.
Arjun brought his face closer to Purvi's.
"I
am sorry for hurting you my Purvi and I will spend the rest of eternity trying
to make it up to you in every way I can. You are the only woman I will ever
want."
Purvi couldn't speak. She saw the honesty and sincerity
in his eyes. She saw all the hurt, pain and loneliness of her heart mirrored in
his eyes and her heart was heavy.
"Don't
ever ask me to go away from you again Purvi. I couldn't bear it."
He brought their clasped hands up to his chest and
flattened her palm over his heart. He covered her hand with his own and offered
up his soul to her.
"Will
you forgive me and give me a chance to right all the wrongs?"
The cools winds blew over them and Purvi knew it was
time to let go of all the hurt and pain and forgive the man kneeling in front of
her. She knew that she was the only one who could release them both from an
eternity of torture.
Purvi tentatively brought her free hand up to his face
and cupped his cheek.
"Yes, I forgive you, my Arjun"
Arjun closed his eyes and turned his faced to kiss the
palm of her hand. He heaved a sigh of relief.
They both felt as though the weight of the world had
been lifted from their shoulders.
'She
said my Arjun.' Arjun shot up and pulled Purvi into his
arms. He let out a big whoop as he spun her around making her laugh out loud.
When he stopped, Purvi had the most amazing smile on
her face.
Thank
you God for this miracle, he thought as he could have never
imagined such a beautiful sight. He grinned back at her.
Purvi saw Arjun's thousand watt smile and she faltered
in his arms. She couldn't recall him being this happy and the sheer emotion of
his being this close had completely floored her.
Thank
you God for bringing him back into my life.
Arjun pulled her close and wrapped his arms around his
flower.
This
is my home, he thought. It
feels so good to come home.
He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes to
relish the feel of her in his arms again.
He never wanted to let her go.
Purvi sighed and held on to him a little tighter.
This
is where I'm supposed to be - in his arms.
"We still have to take things slowly" Purvi started as
she snuggled against Arjun's chest.
"Of
course" Ajrun murmured against her head. He would give her the
moon right now if she had asked for it.
"And we have to be completely honest with each other.
About everything."
"Goes
without saying"
"A-and I'm not coming back to work for you"
"Good.
I... what?"
"I have a good thing with Karma. I am doing well in all
my projects and the people that I work with are great. Especially Karan."
Arjun held Purvi away from him a little so he could see
her face.
"What
do I need to know about this Karan? It would seem that he is very close to you
and I'm not sure how I feel about that." Arjun eyed Purvi up and down.
Purvi swatted him. "Karan is just my boss but he has
been a very good friend to me when I needed one."
Arjun still had a suspicious look on his face.
Purvi had to stifle a snicker. "I mean, he's been there
for me when I was really sad. We've had some really long heart to heart talks,
he's a really good listener and his hugs aren't that bad."
Arjun stiffened and held Purvi at arm's length with a
shocked expression on his face.
"Hugs? What hugs? Is this the same Karan who is engaged to Laurie?"
Arjun look exasperated.
Purvi broke into a fit of giggles and Arjun couldn't
help but smile at the sound. It was like music to his ears and his heart raced
knowing he was the reason for her happiness.
Purvi smiled at Arjun and he was amazed how this slip
of a girl had such a grip on his soul.
"Yes, he has become part of my small family here and I
would really like it if you got to know him better."
Arjun started to grumble but he had to admit to himself
that Karan took care of Purvi in his absence and he would forever be grateful
to him for that. Even if he wanted to punch him a few more times.
"Ok
I will give him a chance - for you."
"Thank you."
Arjun pulled Purvi back into his arms and they held each
other completely unaware of the world around them.
Karan and Laurie walked in with dinner a few minutes
later.
They put the food on the table and saw Arjun and Purvi still
on the balcony, holding each other close.
Karan set his jaw and started towards the open doors.
Laurie reached out and held his arm just in time.
Karan had a pained look on his face.
"He's hurt her Kachori. Hurt her deep down into the
depths of her heart. You didn't see her face when she ran into me. Pure
devastation."
"She's tried to hide it from everyone for a while"
Laurie agreed quietly.
"As much as she was hurting, she needed to deal with
this situation before got worse. I know you love her and you want to protect her
from him but, my love, she had to do this herself. She had chosen only him and
no other would ever have been able to take his place."
"And from what I see all may be forgiven. Just look at them."
"I don't want to. She's my little sister." Karan pouted.
"They should be standing at opposite ends of the room
just staring at each other."
Laurie giggled.
Karan sighed and brought his hand up to his face. He
hissed as his fingers brushed over the small butterfly dressing that the doctor
had patched him up with. No stitches - thank God - otherwise he was going to
have to get creative with Mr. Kirloskar's next 'talk'.
Laurie immediately turned all her attention to Karan.
"Oh my poor baby. Is it really painful? Do you need anything? Can I get you
something? I'll make you some tea. You wait here and I'll be right back."
Karan caught Laurie's arm just as she was about to make
her way to the kitchen.
"It hurts but having you by my side is what's easing my
pain."
Karan looked into Laurie's eyes and held her hands in
his. "I know you don't need to hear it but I need to say it. Thank you. From
the bottom of my heart - thank you for being there and taking care of her
when..." Karan choked on his words as unexpected emotions threatened to overcome
him.
Love shone in Laurie's eyes as she shook her head. "I
love her too Jani. I already consider family and, just like you, I will always
take care of her."
'God
he loved this woman!' Karan pulled Laurie into a tight hug and
held her close for a few minutes.
"Fine, if I have to play nice I will be watching him
like a hawk. I want to be here to bust him just in case he tries any funny
business. Then you can be my witness that I had a good reason to give him a
sound thrashing."
"I'm sure you don't need a reason for that." Laurie
rolled her eyes.
"I don't but I
like to have a plan, just in case." Karan winked at her.
"Jani?"
"Hmmm?"
"I can't believe you let him hit you. I told you not to
hurt him but I didn't want you to get hurt either. What happened to all your
ninja skills?"
"I let him have a lucky punch so I could tell Purvi
that he beat me up and that she would sympathize with me in case I need to get
rid of him."
Laurie chuckled. "You are devious. Always thinking one
step ahead aren't you?"
"When it comes to her... always. Besides, I hear that chicks
dig scars."
Karan wiggled his eyebrows at Laurie and gave her a mischievous
smile.
"You are incorrigible."
"I know. Watch this."
Karan cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "Dinner's
ready"
He smiled wickedly as Arjun and Purvi jumped apart and he
thought to himself, "Now, things are about to get interesting."
Edited by Axiom - 11 years ago
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