Chapter 19

The glow on her face was unnerving her.. The smile that din't seem to leave either, was becoming her constant head ache.. She's got a skip in her step and a sway to her walk adding up to the already heading misery.. She began to hum and giggle, now, even in her nightmares... In a matter of a fortnight, she began to become herself from what she made her become..

Parmila Gupta was on the verge of banging her head to window sill as she looked down into the garden where Khushi was busy in nurturing her latest fantasy - 'The Red Rose Plants'..

What is going on behind her back? She made sure that this girl would feel like a piece of scum and oh it did happen.. What not did she do to keep her grounded and broken.. Everything was fine until a few days back.. What in the world happened all of a sudden? Why are her eyes twinkling as they used to? Not to mention but her eyes and smile always reminded her of the fool of the Sister she once had.. She snapped from her thoughts finding Khushi walk away.. What is going on? She was sure that ASR was having some fling with this good for nothing girl.. But then, he made it clear that he's in Love with some one .. Could that some one be Khushi? No! How can some one like ASR fall for her? Scratch that option.. Then what is so different happening in her life that she occasionally found her smiling to herself, blushing and humming..?! WHAT?!

Slumping back onto the chair, Parmila made up her mind that it was time.. Time to set her final trap.. A single huge shot that would hit this filthy girl so hard, that it would be a miracle if she would survive.. With an evil smile intensifying her already dark and dangerous eyes, Parmila reached for the receiver of their land-line..

"Shyaam?"

Arnav sat in his cabin, facing the lush green terraces of Manali through his window.. He leaned back into his chair and pinched the bridge between his eyebrows.. He just won a deal that would aid his company with profits ranging from 2-3 billion dollars per annum and also help in establishing a new benchmark in setting up Indo-Mughalian line of fashion around the world creating a new trade mark.. He was happy.. Very happy, infact.. This deal made AR rise to be the 2nd top fashioning house in the World.. But something seemed missing.. A hollowness.. His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock.. Not caring to look up, Arnav gave a low 'come in'..

"Bhai, you okay?"

Arnav sighed and smiled at Payal.. She did her best to make this deal come fruitful.. He din't want to make her gloomy with his sudden confusions..

"It's just a slight head ache, Payal.. It'l go with a coffee.. Congratulations Bachu.."

Payal smiled her brightest and squealed back hugging him, making Arnav flinch at her pitch but nevertheless, a smile broke out..

"Oh My God!!! Congratulations Bhai! AR is now world top 2nd fashion house!! Bless you Bhai.. You'v made us proud!"

Arnav smirked and replied softly..

"Pretty impressive way to Congratulate your boss with an attempt to make him deaf, permanently.."

Payal narrowed her eyes for a moment and then began to laugh making him join her as well.. After the laughter subsided, Payal looked up to Arnav and found him looking at his mobile..

"Umm.. Bhai?"

"Hmm..?"

"Woh.. I was wondering if I could take a half day.."

Arnav snapped up from his mobile and creases of worry and concern began to crowd his forehead..

"Are you Okay, Payal? Is anything wrong?"

Payal began coloring immediately ; and much to Arnav's amusement, and to her misery, he concluded that she must have caught fever..

"Why the hell din't you tell me earlier? Why are you still in office? I'l ask Raj to drop you back and by the time you reach, you'l have the doctor ready.."

Payal looked shocked not understanding what was going on..

"Bhai.. BHAI.. ASR!!!"

"WHAT?!"

"Why the hell do I need a doctor?"

"What the! 'Coz you have fever!!"

"What?! Where did that come from? And how did I not get to know that I'm suffering from fever, but, you do?"

Arnav was struck with silence for a moment.. She is okay? Then why is she behaving in all these weird ways? Must be tired..

"You are not sick? Okay tired? I.. You were coloring up a moment ago, Payal.. So I thought you'v caught up with fever or cold or something like that.. You'v been working and stressing a lot lately.."

And Payal began to blush again..

"God! See.. It's happening again.. Are you sure you.. Wait.. You are blushing??"

Payal stopped her smile immediately and transformed it into a sarcastic one..

"Thankyou for enlightening me up so quickly.."

Finding Arnav still waiting for her response, Payal shifted uncomfortably and spoke in almost a whisper..

"He.. He's going to cross Manali before he'l head back to Delhi.. And for Christ's sake, for the first time in the history of Aakash Singh Raizada's Love Life, he asked me if I could meet him.. I.. I too wanted to.. No matter how mad I am at him, I do love him, Bhai.. And since today, we'v succeeded too, I wanted to share this joy.. So.. Can I take a half day leave?"

And as if the lightening struck him, Arnav realized the reason for his hollowness..

He din't have Khushi in his arms to share his success.. He dint have her to laugh with.. He dint have her to make him coffee.. He dint have her to Love.. He dint have her to care.. He dint have her to share his burdens.. He dint have her to place his head in her lap.. He dint have her to wake up kissing her.. He dint have her to sleep cuddling to.. He dint have her to feel belonged.. He bloody dint have her!!

Arnav dint know when he gave Payal her permission.. He dint know when she left the cabin.. He dint know when Aman came saying that finally Lavanya was going to come to Manali.. He just din't know anything!! Nothing except his heart screaming for his Khushi!! He so desperately needed his Love to be with him, right now, right here! But, when did she make him disappointed? Arnav kept staring at the green gardens when he saw something of the same color moving.. Rubbing his eyes, he strained to look at it slapping himself mentally to come out of the hallucination..

"Khushi?"

A involuntary smile lit up his face, transforming all the creases of concern, tiredness and frustration into bright content and joyous love filled face, as he saw his Love walking towards his Office building, clad in White and Green looking as fresh as the Lily of the Valley's... Unable to hold his happiness, Arnav gave into a series of chuckles.. He din't know when his eyes misted up.. Wiping them away, he soothed his raging heart.. What if he dint have her now? He's gonna make her his, one day.. And that, would be for a forever!! Not caring of what and why she was here, Arnav dashed past his cabin, all the way smiling, making his employees happy that finally their boss had succeeded in grabbing the deal.. Well, he actually is going to grab a deal - A deal of lifetime, his Life's most important and precious deal..

"Khushi?"

Arnav saw Khushi still at his voice.. A smirk broke out on his handsome face.. Damn! She's so very affected by him.. Smiling, he turned her to face him..

"Woh.. Jiji asked me to come here.. She wanted to give something, I guess.."

That was when Arnav remembered that Payal did leave something in his cabin.. Smiling, he nodded and asked her to follow him.. As they reached his cabin, he turned to pick the package and saw that she was looking everything of his office in awe..

"You like it?"

Like it? It was beyond words!!

"Its too good to be called an office.."

Arnav smirked and moved dangerously close to her making her stagger back till she became imprisoned between him and the chairs.. Khushi felt her breath hitching.. And Heck! he's dangerously handsome.. Too handsome for her sanity.. His scent began engulfing her.. His smirk fueling her already fast heart.. Khushi felt his warm hand caressing her waist and settle at the back of her slender form.. She gasped in pleasure and shock at having him pulled her towards him.. She closed her eyes in sheer anticipation of what he might do the next.. What ever it was, it is not wrong..

He loved her to death - a fact that she too knows..

She loves him more than she can ever believe - a truth she needs to accept yet..

His very presence brought in her the serenity she dint find even in God's presence.. His touch so pure.. His words so divine.. Him - her Savior..

Arnav stood awestruck at finding her surrendering herself.. Oh how he wished to devour her right now.. He is no saint dammit!! But it should be her call first.. She needs to realize, accept and take a step.. Just one single step.. A step of accepting what her heart already knows and he'l walk the rest of the journey for her.. Unable to control himself, Arnav placed a lingering wet kiss to her right cheek, way too closer to her lips.. He felt her weaken and tightened his grip on her.. He felt her shudder at his kiss but more to his breath caressing her lips.. With a control that seemed to amaze him, Arnav pulled back, enough to see her face.. Smiling at her with those warm eyes, Arnav called out..

"Khushi?"

Khushi opened her eyes to the scene that threatened to make her heart burst out of happiness.. What did she do to deserve Him? His eyes were oozing out his Love for her.. Did she need anything more? No! Never! With him, she's ready to go to any end.. With him, she's alive.. She is henceforth Arnav's Khushi..

"Hmm.."

Arnav placed his hand at her waist drawing imaginary patterns while his other cupped her nape.. Having Khushi in his arms all lost in him, with her arms splayed over his chest was threatening his last threads of control.. Smiling into her eyes, he breathed out raggedly and huskily.. His smile broadened further at feeling her skin at her nape erupt goose bumps at his voice..

"Be ready by 4:00.. I'l be there to take you somewhere.. Trust me, Khushi.. Will you?"

Khushi, unable to bare his ministrations, closed her eyes.. Her breathing rapid, her lips parted, highly temptingly inviting.. She nodded slowly and felt his grip tighten on her once more.. Before she could decipher what was going on, Khushi felt his hard toned chest crush to her soft one.. She could feel his athlete abdomen flat and hot against her slim and tender one.. She felt his hands go around her, squeezing her and pushing her into him.. She gasped at feeling his lips warm just below her jaw.. She felt her knees give away at his wet kiss to her throbbing pulse.. She felt being loved!! She felt special!!! Her eyes began to sting.. She couldn't believe that all this is happening to her.. But his actions were keeping her at bay from thinking nothing but him.. Khushi felt herself getting wobbly as he kissed her ear lobe and whispered in the same husk with a bit off rasp added to it, making it even more seducing and uncontrollable..

"Can you wear something Red, Sweetheart?"

Sweetheart?! Did he just call her sweetheart?!! Her heart was thudding so fast that she was sure he could feel it.. Heck! they were practically stuck.. So, he might even hear it.. Feeling embarrassed and elated at the same time, Khushi tried to disentangle herself only to be pushed back into him.. He took her hand and placed it on his chest.. Khushi's eyes opened wide at the realization..

"I'v told you already.. Mine does too.. Far more than you can ever imagine.. Every time, Khushi.. Every single time you are with me, it beats like this.. Please don't shy yourself away from me.. Everything of you is mine to cherish.. Get that straight into your head.."

Arnav let her wet his shirt as she reveled in his words.. Not trusting the words out of her, she kept nodding to his chest fervently.. Smiling, Arnav spoke..

"Red?"

Arnav felt her smiling to his chest as she nodded again.. Arnav kissed her hair and let them both drown in their cocoon of love for some more time..

Khushi couldn't still believe that she was out with Arnav.. Her Arnav was taking her through the crowd.. Never once leaving her hand.. Gentle yet firm.. Warm and soothing.. She lifted her eyes to his back clad in white.. Arnav looked out of the world for her.. Out of all the places her mind could think, he stepped out exceptionally stating the fact loud on her face that he is her man.. Its been 3 years since she last came to the Fare.. And now, he brought her here..

"Gol gappe?"

Khushi blinked her eyes to understand what was going on.. The next moment, she felt herself being pulled into his warm side hug..

"I know you love them.."

Khushi kept staring at the man in front of her as he kept feeding her, her favorite Gol Gappe.. In no time, Arnav began to sigh and smile in content as he saw Khushi jumping around, as herself.. They played a few games.. He won her a teddy.. She dint part with it even a moment making Arnav feel ridiculously jealous of it.. They rode a Ferris Wheel.. Ate her Jalebi's.. Took snaps wearing traditional dresses.. Walked through crowds, almost giving a heart attack to Arnav at finding Khushi slipping away easily through the crowds.. He did see a few girls ogling at him but he had his eyes all for his Lady.. As expected, Khushi began to distance herself from Arnav, when she saw those pretty girls drooling over him.. What did she think? That he wasn't aware? Or that he couldn't read?! Immediately Arnav pulled her towards him, making Khushi crash into his chest.. Making sure that all those girls were looking at them, Arnav placed a heated wet kiss to her cheek earning his favorite color changing session.. Moments after that were filled with pure joy and bliss as both of them lived their lives in true sense, in love, without giving a chance to any mask to pop out..

Arnav hooked his right hand with Khushi's left as they walked back home as per her wish, while she still clung onto that teddy.. Walking in silence and contentment, both of them relived their memories making them develop a sly dreamy smile with a hint of blush.. The cool breeze and the stary night witnessing their blooming Love.. A few moments later, Arnav pulled Khushi to the edge of the road where there were number of huge rocks.. Making her sit on one of them, he sat close to her and pulled her into him, cuddling her.. Silence for the first time felt soothing.. Words weren't needed to express what they were going through..

"Thankyou.."

Her low, soft whisper broke through the silence only intensifying his love for her.. Arnav placed a lingering kiss to her temple and replied into her eyes..

"Thank you.. For making my day wonderful.."

Pulling her closer into him, Arnav sighed as Khushi rested her head on his shoulder as he laid his head on her's..

"I'v won a very important deal today, Khushi.. So very important that now, our company is the 2nd top of the world.."

Khushi dint miss how he included her in that 'our company'.. Over whelmed enough already, she just prayed this to be true..

"Congratulations.."

Smiling, Arnav closed his eyes and whispered softly, with his voice almost cracking down..

"Say it once.. Once more, Khushi.."

Tears began to cascade down as she understood his need to hear her words.. Did she mean so much for him? So much that he wanted to be congratulated by her? A mere common girl above those world dignitaries? Will she be ever able to Love him as he does.. No.. True she loves him with every ounce of her but, its nowhere to what he does..

"Congratulations, Arnav.."

"Once again.. Please.."

This time, her voice dint betray her emotions.. In a broken whisper, Khushi rasped..

"Cong..Congratulations, Arnav.."

Arnav kissed her hard and heated on both her cheeks and forehead.. He pulled her crushing into him before he lost his control not to devour her, right then, right there..

"This is the 1st project I'v done after I'v come to you.. And it made me go to the peaks.. You know Khushi, today, after I won the deal, everyone was partying but I could not.. I was happy.. Very very happy.. But I felt hollow.. As if I was missing something.. Then after a certain incident, I realized that I had no one special to share my success and happiness with.. It was a moment when I was drowning in frustration and helplessness.. And then, You came.. In white and green like a fresh Lily.. I simply rushed to you.. Do you know that I'v been so happy that I kept laughing to myself seeing you coming to my office? I love you so very much Khushi.. So much that I dont know if I can ever tell you how much.. And the moment I held you in my arms, I finally felt the joy of success seep through me.."

Khushi was, by now, sobbing silently so as to not to let him know.. Why did he love her so much? Why?! She was not able to take so much of Love and happiness at a time.. Everytime she thought she knew how much he loved her, he was making it double to what she knows.. She let him crush her into him.. More than happy at receiving his warmth, she heard him continue..

"I wanted to celebrate, Khushi.. Our success.. With you.. Together.. But I know you Khushi.. I do.. I dint want you to feel uncomfortable.. I know what truly makes you happy.. Thats why we visited the Fare.."

He pulled her out of the hug and made her turn to him.. Holding her hands gently, he kissed the inner sides of her wrists and pulled out a gift box from inside the left of his coat.. As Khushi opened them, she sat there in shock with her eyes giving away how ecstatic she felt at that moment.. Arnav kissed away her tears and slipped the Red Bangles that she wanted to buy but dint at the Fare, into both her hands with a care and gentleness that brought tears to her eyes.. They went perfect with her dress.. Kissing her inner palms, Arnav whispered..

"Thankyou Khushi.. For making my day.. For coming into my life.. For making me Love you.. Thankyou for each and everything.. I Love you Khushi.. I really really do.."