Chapter 13

13

"And this  ..," he whispered again, ".. is because .. .."

Khushi could not hear him finish the sentence as all her senses got instantly occupied to feel the sensation oozing from her lips – as his touched hers.

Devi Maiya blushed profusely and decided to get busy in some pending tasks.

The two could use some privacy now.

And just then .. Arnav's phone rang.

Arnav still could feel the soft, wet lips shivering against his own. He could neither deepen the kiss nor move away as his phone kept ringing.

"Arr-nav..ji .." he could feel her lips brushing his as she talked.

"Hmmm?"

"Aap ka phone ..," she stammered, still with her lips touching his.

Arnav kept his eyes shut for a second to gulp down the frustration and then slowly moved away. He sighed and opened his eyes.

Perfect timing!

He kept staring at Khushi as he took out his phone from his pocket.

Aman.

For the first time Arnav doubted how good it really was to have such a dedicated & efficient employee.

"Yes, Aman?"

Khushi opened her eyes the moment she heard his voice. Her eyes were full of a mix of emotions that finally turned into confusion & fear. Her brain was not functioning yet but she could not decide how to perceive the moment that just had transpired between them. She watched Arnav talk in the phone still standing only inches away from her. He had not moved an inch and his eyes were fixed on her.

Khushi swallowed. She better leave now.

Arnav watched Khushi trying to move away. He stretched his left hand & placed on the wall blocking her. It was not over yet.

Khushi looked into his eyes, startled. His eyes had the kind of intensity and finality that she knew she could not ignore. She tried to move his hand but was stopped instantly as Arnav covered the remaining gap by stepping ahead. Khushi feared her bosom would touch his chest any moment if she even breathed deep. She did not dare to move anymore. She stood still with holding her breath, clutching her saree on her sides.

Arnav finished talking to Aman avoiding his usual probing questions. There was something more important at stake now than having dinner. He put the phone back into his pocket in a daze, lost into her eyes. They kept staring at each other, not saying a word. Seconds passed, minutes passed. None could figure out what was to say.

Arnav finally broke the silence .. as he brushed away her hair from her face. She closed her eyes not knowing what to expect or what to do. She felt his fingers touched her ears .. down to her earlobe .. to the side of her neck .. and stopped at her shoulder. She felt his both hands reached her nape. She could feel him tying the dori of her blouse. He lingered with his fingers on her nape for a moment as he was done and then moved away.

"We should have dinner now," he said cautiously not wanting to give in to the moment anymore. He felt like he had already crossed the line.

Khushi opened her eyes. She nodded almost invisibly.

Arnav curved his lips into a slight smile before he walked away.

The moment Arnav went out of her sight, Khushi's body gave in. She supported her body leaning against the wall. She felt like she did not have an iota of energy left in her body. What the hell had just happened? And why the hell had she behaved like a docile doll all through? And .. what was wrong with Arnavji? Was he on drug or something? Was he sick?

Khushi touched her left cheek first – then her right cheek .. her forehead .. and then finally her lips. She shivered. It must have been a dream. Had Arnav Singh Raizada literally kissed her?

Khushi took some moment to gather herself. Her thoughts & reasons were still incoherent but she decided those can wait. She sat on the floor to get her phone and noticed the other phone that lay on the floor.

Arnav's Blackberry.

It must have slipped while he was put it in his pocket.

Khushi kept both the phones in her purse and walked back into the party.

The rest of the evening passed awkwardly for them.

Khushi tried to keep herself busy with work but there was nothing much to do again. Wherever she went, Arnav was there. Their eyes would meet and they would look away the next instant only to look back again.

Arnav was not sure why he did what he did but it did not feel wrong. What did he really do? He kissed her. Dammit! He kissed her? What the f**k was he thinking? Why could not he just say sorry and walk away? Arnav wondered why he saw her everywhere he was. They kept bumping into each other and the awkwardness did not leave Arnav alone. He could see the same reflection in her eyes. The uneasiness in her demeanour was too evident.

Arnav could bet this was not something Khushi Kumara Gupta came across every day. Then why didn't she protest? Why did it feel like she did not want him to stop?

It was half past 10. Only a few guests and some of the AR employees were only remaining in the party. Arnav would have left long back if it was any other day. He did not want to ponder why he really had sent Akash home alone & stayed back himself.

Arnav was appreciating Aman for pulling off the party nicely when he noticed Khushi walking towards them. She stopped a few feet away from them, trying hard not to look at Arnav. Before Arnav could ask her something, Aman butted in.

"Yes, Khushi? You want to say something?"

"Oh, haan Aman-ji. If it is ok with you, can I leave now?"

"Sure, Khushi. It is late. You take an office car, ok?"

Khushi nodded.

"You did a wonderful job, Khushi. See you tomorrow."

Khushi waited a few seconds to see if Arnav said anything. Nothing came.

"Thik hain. I am leaving then. Bye."

Arnav watched Khushi leaving. When she no longer could be seen, he could clearly feel the emptiness that grappled him instantly. Why did the hall feel so suffocating all on a sudden? Why was he still in the party anyway?

"Aman. I think I should leave too. Good job. See you tomorrow in the office."

He hardly listened what Aman told him in reply as he started towards the door in long strides in the very next second. He had no time to waste.

Arnav almost ran into the parking area, searching for Khushi along the way. She was nowhere. F**k. She must have left already. Why could not he say her to wait for him? Why did not he want to talk to her in front of Aman? What was he hiding?

Arnav walked towards his car all frustrated. His frustration was increasing even more realizing his own desperation. Also he started to feel raged at Khushi. Why could not she wait for him?

All the tension & rage & frustration vanished the moment his eyes fell on his car. He froze on his tracks.

Khushi was standing in front of his car, fidgeting with the end of her pallu – confusion evident in her face. She was not sure why she was waiting for him. She was not sure what made her think he would come for her. She was asking Devi Maiya for a solution to her "Dhak-Dhak" & "acidity" problem while all Devi Maiya could do was smile. She could not but wonder how she landed up herself with such a crazy devotee. Devi Maiya's smile grew bigger as she saw Arnav frozen on his spot. These two were so made for each other!

Khushi suddenly felt he was there. Those eyes .. were on her again. She instantly turned on her right and could see Arnav standing only a few cars away, staring at her. She did not realize when her lips curved into a beautiful smile.

Arnav skipped a heartbeat. She indeed was waiting for him. He too did not realize when his lips curved into one of his rare smiles. He walked up to her and noticed the confusion in her eyes was replaced with nervousness. Why was she so nervous around him these days? Where was the feisty girl?

"Woh .. Amanji told me to take office car .. par ..," Khushi stammered.

"Get into the car," Arnav did not let her finish.

They both got into the car. Arnav fastened both of their seatbelts and drove off. There was nothing but silence in the car as even Khushi did not know what to say. A strange feeling of warmth & peace engulfed them both. The discomfort vanished into the lemony air.

Arnav kept driving with a nearly invisible smile plastered on his face. He was relieved that Khushi did not give any negative reaction. He could kick himself for behaving so wanton but if Khushi could accept it, he could, of course, feel less awkward.

Khushi, on the other hand, could feel her cheeks going warm now & then.

Both of them kept reliving those few moments. It felt good.

In no time, they reached Laxmi Nagar. Arnav unfastened her seatbelt like always.

"Thanks, Arnavji," Khushi smiled at him before she got down of the car. She exercised great willpower to let not herself turn to see him again. She had taken only a few steps when she heard the car door open. Was he getting down?

"Khushi," she heard him call her. She turned to face Arnav who was lazily leaning against his car.

"Ji?"

Surprising her, Arnav touched his left ear with his hand and gestured meaningfully. Her hands automatically went to touch her left ears too. It was empty. The jhumka was not there.

What happened? Arnav raised his eyebrows.

I don't know where I have lost it. Khushi pouted.

Bye, Khushi. Arnav smirked & blinked.

Bye, Arnavji. Khushi smiled & blushed.

Half an hour later Khushi was lying in her bed still reliving the most knee-melting experience of her life. Payal was staying at a friend's place. That was why she had called to let Khushi know when she was in the party. "Laad Governor," Khushi murmured with pamper, "Why did he think I was talking to some guy? And even if I was .. why did he get so angry?" Khushi had trouble accepting the first reason that came to her mind. She could not associate that with Arnav. Could it be that .. he was .. jealous? Why he would be? He told her sorry .. and kissed her. May be that was how "sorry" was done by the rich ones.

But why did he kiss her on the lips? What was he saying when he kissed her lips?

"And this  ..," he whispered again, ".. is because .. .."

Khushi could not remember what he uttered after that. Why? Or did he just leave it there?

Khushi was brought out of her reverie by a monotonous sound. What was that? She could hear a phone ringing. It was not hers. She never used such boring ringtones. Whose phone was it?

The blunt sound was coming from her purse, she realized. She quickly opened the purse and took out the black alien phone that was ringing & vibrating in her purse.

Arnav's Blackberry.

She forgot to return it. How come Arnavji did not notice it too?

Khushi checked the screen to see who was calling.

Devi Maiya sighed because she knew what the screen showed.

Incoming Call

Lavanya