Chapter 10

She was alone in the darkness. Alone, cold and scared. Darkness had always terrified her. She needed to get out. Her hands reached out to feel for something but they greeted only empty space. Her eyes hurt with straining but she saw nothing except for the black. A scream bubbled inside her but it never came because someone else had been quicker.

She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her from behind, pulling her against a hard body, into a comforting warmth that chased away all traces of fear and she let her eyes drift close in relief. But the warmth soon simmered to scorching heat as a finger travelled teasingly across her bare waist, making her shudder. Without being allowed to catch her breath again, she was turned around violently.

Hot demanding lips slammed onto hers while her soft pliant body was moulded against the stranger's muscle hard one. She instinctively recognised that touch. Only, this time, he evoked no negative feelings in her. She the feeling of being safe in those arms bolted inside her and she leaned in, letting herself drown in the kiss. The hands ran over her fervently, making her moan. The lips glided to the base of her neck, nibbling and teasing.

And then, there was only emptiness that remained around her. He had left. She was once more alone, cold and scared in the invading blackness that closed in on her menacingly...

***

She jerked, suddenly awake. It had just been a dream, she sighed. Khushi sat up and pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. She had dreamed of that man... again...

Eyes shut tight, she felt the unknown tremor wash over her. That mysterious first kiss would not stop haunting her. Not even after all these months. She wondered why. And she regretted not having seen the man's face. But her feelings? She no longer knew what to feel, what to think about it. She would prefer not to ponder on that but the memory persisted through her dreams. Why?

And why was Arnav Singh Raizada here? She knew Payal, her half-sister, was getting married sometime in the coming days, which was why she had retreated in this summer camp. She would be far enough to shield Shashi Gupta and Payal from the inevitable questions that her presence would attract. And from what she had been able to make out of the relationship between Shashi Gupta and Arnav Singh Raizada, the man should have been there. Payal had told her once that he was like the elder brother she never had.

Then why was he not there? Why was he here?

***

He ran his eyes sceptically over the children sitting at the table he was supposed to be supervising. What the hell? He could have kicked himself. He should have know this would spell immense trouble for him. Kids... How was he supposed to manage kids?

They looked back at him expectantly and he shook his head. He was Arnav Singh Raizada. He shouldn't forget that. He controlled the lives of millions of people across the globe, what was a bunch of kids for him? And anyway, Akaash had instructed him, right?

Yeah, he could do this.

***

"Uncle, how is mine?"

His eyebrows shot up in astonishment. Uncle? The little girl was watching him with wide innocent eyes. He felt a pang. She reminded him of the old Khushi. He lifted his eyes to her table on a hunch, to find her actively talking to the children she was in charge of, smiling and laughing. A small smile tugged at his lips tentatively. Maybe the camp was not such a bad idea since she was okay for now, but still, he couldn't stop worrying.

"Uncle!"

Arnav turned to the girl who was yanking at his sleeve and smiled at her before reaching for the paper she had been holding out to him. He frowned at the mess of tangled colours.

"What the-?" Okay... what was that supposed to be? He turned the sheet to look for the girl's name. "Geet, right? Ahh... what... what have you drawn exactly?" he asked, an unsure smile splashed on his face.

Grinning, the child slipped from her little chair and stumbled her way to him. "This," she pointed to a sky blue ellipse, "is my doggy, Don."

Horrified stupor slowly seeped in as he listened to the girl explain her drawing. No, really? A blue dog named Don? A pink tree that gave shoes? A red sun with black teeth grinning down at a green skinned Geet who had purple hair? Was it him or... what?

He shot a bewildered look at the girl. She looked extremely pleased at herself. He looked back at the piece of art, gulping. He was ready to tell her it was just a whole crappy mess but the twinkle in her eyes did something. She looked so happy. He didn't want to break her heart. He glanced at Khushi again and this time, she was observing him across the room, amusement clear in her eyes. he felt his lips twitch with a smile he could barely repress.

"It's... It's very good, Geet. Umm... Keep it up..." he nodded uncertainly.

"Thank you, Uncle!" she shrieked right in his ear, making him flinch - because of both, the high pitch and the 'uncle' - and completely surprising him by throwing her arms around his neck. His eyes popped out with shock.

On the other side, Khushi had looked away, shaking with silent laughter. His amazement melted away and he smiled as the girl pulled away, patting her head gently.

***

He deliberately sat down right next to her during lunch and sensed her go rigid at once. He never spoke to her however. She kept biting her lip, almost causing the desire and lust pooled in him flow over the limits of his self-control. He wished she would stop doing that... but she didn't. Damn!

The day had not been that bad. He was getting along with the kids well enough but for one thing. They were all calling him uncle. That was irritating. He couldn't be that old, could he?

***

Her eyes half-heartedly went to him. He was sitting all alone on a bench, watching the children in the huge compound as they played tug of war. She felt her heart melt at his loneliness. He appeared to be watching the children but the faraway look in his eyes said he was not remotely aware of what was happening around him.

She couldn't believe this was the same man whom she had seen raging over his employees like an angry hurricane, the man who had always been gruff and rough, the man who had been so vile to her. Especially that morning, when he had surprised her by gently complementing a five-year old's incomprehensible drawing. Her brow knitted together in a slight frown. She wished she could know why he was there...

Did he know about her? About her... Khushi squeezed her eyes shut, repressing the words that were forming into questions. She could not even call those people her parents. She had no family, she was alone. She was an illegitimate child... The knife in her gut twisted painfully. She could run wherever she wanted, that would never change. This stigma would never fade. She would always be alone.

"Chamkili?" Lavanya held her shoulder worriedly as she pried her eyes open. "What happened? Are you alright?"

She tried to nod but her friends hands were already fluttering over her forehead, cheeks and neck. "Khushi! Your skin is feeling so hot and you've turned red, what happened to you? Oh gosh, it must be the sun. Go inside and have some rest, okay?"

"La," Khushi brushed the hands away. "I'm fi-"

"I'll take her," came a stern voice from her side. She turned sharply to see Arnav Singh Raizada looking at Lavanya reassuringly. "I'll take her in, you don't worry."

He received a thankful smile from the girl who had come to fetch a box of goodies for the kids. She gave Khushi a side-hug before jogging back to where she was being waited for. Khushi frowned and turned towards the building, feeling him follow her closely.

She paused without even glancing at him. "Isski koyi zaroorat nahin hai," she snapped rather rudely. "Hum khud jaa sakte hain." (There is no need for this. I can go by myself.)

As she resumed walking, a wave of sudden dizziness crashed upon her and she stumbled. He caught her just in time. When she looked up, he was glaring at her darkly. He didn't utter a single word but his eyes said it all. She had better shut up. His expression softened a bit as he draped an arm around her shoulders and held her elbow in his free hand. She let him steer her to the dormitory in silence...