Once she was out, as usual fidgeting about with the dress but oddly enough self- satisfied with how she looked she beamed at Arnav who had cart wheeled only seconds ago hearing the changing room door creak, his gaze directly fixed on her, stupefied with the radiance of her beauty that had stunned him beyond belief. The gown fitted her so beautifully and perfect, it was like without even knowing it had been made for her. The crimson in her earlier pale cheeks, gave an added ambiance to her magnificence as without having control of his urges to touch her, he let his body free, moving towards her, at a pace that wasn't quick, but definitely wasn't slow either.

"How do I look?" She asked timidly, almost bewitched by the way he was looking at her, but out of somewhere she had found her words, and with the way his smile was growing she was now sure that her words were out and audible too.

"I know I haven't seen anything as magnificent as you look right now." Arnav told her truthfully, moving a step closer to her, so that the way her chest was heaving and her heartbeat accelerating he could even make out every single minute involuntarily sound she was making. Khushi's feeling rocketed off to a level which she was sure did not exist, in her mind all of her wanted to ask him to pinch her so that she would be sure she wasn't really dreaming, but perfectly realizing that that would look overly dramatic she let that urge pass.

I was bruised so bad inside
You sheltered me and gave me light

"Thankyou Arnav. (Arnav smiles at her softly still mesmerized) I had no idea you could be so good with compliments too." Khushi added slyly, in fact it was more of an expression of genuine surprise that she was expressing to him. Without giving any warning he had already whisked her off her feet and slammed her into himself, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, momentarily knocking the breathe out of her, her pupils dilating, but much to her surprise he was oddly calm, and was enjoying every bit of their new found territory that he had gained excess to.

"You do things to me that no one else can do Gupta." Arnav moved in towards her ear, his voice lowered to a whisper, like he was in fear of someone eaves dropping on to their conversation. But it was mostly because he was resisting violent temptation within him, that subtle moves was all he could do to satisfy the hunger she had ignited within him.

"Like what?" She asked him, unable to control her curiosity even though she knew this was a total bummer in a completely romantic situation, seeing the unflinching attitude of his, she was sure she may as well get the answer to this too. For a moment he hadn't even realized she had asked something, but seeing the expectant look in her eyes he remembered she was waiting for an answer, and rambled his brain for something that sounded sensibly romantic. Or at least to the very least something that wouldn't screw up his romance with her for good again.

"Like feeling the urge to swoon because of the tempting feelings going wild inside me." Arnav said finally. His voice a deep passion filled one, making the blush in Khushi's cheek go even more red, this time even the tip of her nose seemed to have gone more red than she had ever even imagined. She stood silence, clamping her mouth shut by an invisible hand so that she didn't ask any more stupid or silly questions, this was the time to live in the moment, wordlessly.

You gave me love

You gave me hope

"Did you see yourself in the mirror?" He asked her suddenly and she was pulled out of her eye gazing session, though still maintaining eye contact with him, his star gazing look had evidently faded considerably giving way to a curious more normally accessible look.

"Just a glimpse." She told him honestly, which was actually the way it had been. Silly as it may sound, she was too excited to show him how she looked, she hadn't given much thought to feeling how she herself thought she looked like. To her it didn't even matter all that much, since he was now the better judge of her. Instantly Arnav released his hold on her body, slightly putting her off with the sudden loss of intimate touch that she felt, but the very next moment he was holding her by the shoulders and leading her to the full length mirror at the end of a pile of black gowns. Khushi had only enough time to admire them when he had turned her away from the racks and facing her towards the mirror, standing closely behind her he stood full length, his face directly above hers, since she only barely managed to reach till his shoulders.

Her sight fell upon the gorgeous gown that she was now sporting and it was a bizzard moment when she was gaping at herself just the way Arnav had been doing a while ago, not being able to imagine if it was really her, having that gown adorned on her skin. It just looked too good to be real. Arnav had read her expressions and interpreted them accurately enough, smiling to himself, inching more towards her so that now her back was directly pressing against his chest but he dare not make any other move, reminding himself that they still weren't officially a couple.

"See that. (keeping a hand on her bare shoulder) That's you. Did you know you could look this beautiful?" He asked her in a tediously self assured tone, bluffing her about her own appearance but he knew the answer to the question even before he had asked it.

"No." She said promptly, seeing the grin on his face growing larger, and her own smile increased as well seeing him genuinely happy. The first thing she had noted was herself looking breathe taking, but instantly that thought had been replaced by a more pressing, more pleasing thought. This was the first time that she was practically in reality seeing the two of them standing together with her own eyes, through the vision of a mirror. She had been receiving compliments about how good Arnav and she looked with each other, and she had come about to only vaguely believe in it, but never had she known that their perfection was stunning. It was corny to say, but they did look made for each other.

"We look so good together." She said unconsciously, not realizing how close Arnav was standing to her that he could even hear her heart beating against her chest, and this being a more audible sound than the other things he was hearing, his grin that had turned into a smile now grew wider, taking her briefly abacked and embarrassed by the fact that he had heard her.

"We surely do." He confirmed her thoughts, believing with all his hearts in his word, it was really the first time in his life that he was being pure and good about something without somehow being forced by a circumstance to be that way. If he was to be honest with himself, he had never loved anything more than now, more than her, more than them.

You pulled me from the flames and through the dark
Out of this bed and into open arms

Hearing his words her heart gave a silent leap, like she had been officially accepted as his partner but the moment that thought crossed his mind, her face went grim startling even him as thoughts of everything that had happened between them, came rushing back to her.

"So..erm..I wanted to say..that I have been kinda weird lately, and you must be wondering why. So..its like on the field trip..I realized something. (Taking a deep breathe, collecting her words) I really like you.."

"But I don't."

"Excuse me? I am not done yet."

"You don't have to..dont complete it. I don't like..you..that way..like.."

Her face was turning into a painful and dreaded expression now, when she thought of the fantasy that she had began to envision as real. How could she be so foolish to trust him with her heart again, when he had so effortlessly chosen to broke it once? Hadnt he been like this, flirty and close, and desirable to her before she had made up her mind to confess her love to him? What had changed now? And then a deadning silence came to haunt her. Nothing had. He hadn't told her he loved her, he hadn't said anything that implied that, his words were remarkably pleasing but was that enough for her after everything that had happened? She didn't think so.

Suddenly turning around, surprising even him with her sudden movements, who had mentally started preparing himself for another interrogating face your past session with her, where they would be revisiting everything that had happened earlier.But nothing of that sort had happened. In fact something that was totally unconceivable to him up till now had happened. She gave one hard look, more like a good resolved, determined look and pulled his loosely standing body into her arms, standing on tip toe, her eyes staring blankly at the empty room in front of her, hands stiffly touching his back, sensing the tension in his body which was beginning to calm down slightly now.

"If you are still not sure, just draw away." She said with a hard yet determined and bold edge to her voice, not at all unsteady like it would have been before. He was trying to make her defenses breakdown but she wasn't going to let them down without a good fight, at least without hearing what she really wanted to. Arnav had hardly seen this coming, or something or these lines being thrown at him, but then this was Khushi, she had the nagging ability to surprise him, but most oddly, for the first time in his life he was glad about being surprised.

"I have never been more sure of anything Gupta. I promise." He said assuredly, his voice firm and holding the undeniable steadiness to them which Khushi had wanted to hear. She wanted to say something in reply, the only thing that she wanted to say. 'Thank you for saying the right thing', she wanted to say how grateful she was that he had said that one thing she had wanted to hear, but instead she remained silent, and instead of staring out she let her feet relax back on the ground, lowering her body, so that she could now easily keep her cheek rubbing his chest sideways, without any of her paining. His grip on her tightened so protectively, in a long time she felt alive, like she had gained back something she had lost all hope for.

If it was possible they would stay in each other's embrace like that for the rest of their life, but reality had began to dawn up on Arnav and though he hated to break this news to her, who practically seemed like she had fallen asleep, it was getting really late, and they should be hurrying.

And even though it might be hard

to stop what I can't start

"Gupta, you need to go change. It will be getting dark and busy here soon." Arnav gave her a reminder, smiling softly when he saw her nose twitch into an irritable expression realizing she had to draw away from, and without wasting another second, looking at him in distraught she made way back to the changing room, this time appearing within seconds out just as she found Arnav on the phone, his tone seemed apologetic and ushered, making her guess that Sir Brendon was checking up on them.

Seeing her come out, he gave her a small smile, though now he was back to being professional, but the softer, more embracing Arnav Singh Raizada was still most prominently at the surface. Quickly he told her that Sir Brendon was waiting for them downstairs having had received Arnav's clothes already at the counter and they had to only carry down Khushi's dresses. Even though she had insisted a lot, Arnav had stubbornly carried both of her gowns downstairs alone, balancing it on one arm while his other hand was tightly gripping on to Khushi's much to her utter delight.

Once they were downstairs getting a thumbs up sign from Sir Brendon on their remarkable choices, he negotiated with the manager on the head table, while the two of them lurked in the background observing other things. It occurred to her that they hadn't had the chance to take accessories, but suddenly she felt lethargy hit her, draining out all thoughts of any more choosing. She had had enough shopping for one day. Out of nowhere, while they still stood close to each other, the sales girl they had met earlier, Sally Copper appeared in front of them, holding a satisfied smirk on her face when she looked at Khushi, automatically earning a deadly scowl from Khushi, which she was apparently least bothered about.

"Did you like the dress Ms.Gupta?" She asked Khushi tentatively, surprising her with how she knew her name, since hse clearly remembered she hadn't told herself. Come to think of it how did she know about the dress either? Nobody was around as far as she knew when they had been passing from rack to rack to look at the gowns. She threw a suspicious, awkward glance at Arnav who clearly did not seem eager to meet her eyes and looked away, searching else where but her and Sally to look at.

"Yes, indeed." Khushi managed to give a response, without actually strangling the girl to death, clearly vexed with the velvety sultry looks that she was passing Arnav's way who seemed to effectively avoid them, though was evidently only a tad bit less bothered about them than she was. That exact moment before the sales girl could create any more mess, much to Arnav's relief Sir Brendon ushered the two of them outside and into the car, Khushi resisting the temptation to ask Arnav what was going on, but with the drama teacher breathing down their necks it seemed impossible that she would be able to do it anytime soon.

The entire ride they had spent quietly, Khushi glancing his way time and again, finding her chance to question but whenever she was readysomething or the other random topic was brought by the Sir, so she had to evidently shut up all the time. It was still noon, and there was still another thirty minutes to go for twilight to arrive, when they reached the school grounds, by their apologetic drama teacher who apparently had some problem dropping them off home. Khushi was only glad to hear that, and once Sir Brendon had made sure both of them were seated in the taxi he took off on his land cruiser in the opposite direction to where their taxi now turned to.

"So, what extra favors did you have to do to get that dress?" Khushi said, glaring at him testily her patience running out with every milli second that he chose to stay quiet.

"I didn't do any favors. She just gave it to me." Arnav said dismissively avoiding any eye contact with Khushi, because he knew the moment she looked she would get the truth out of him wordlessly.

"Has anyone ever told you how bad a lier you are?" she said in an reproachful sarcastic manner, making him evidently annoyed, not with the sarcastic comment, but with the hopeless act of how well she knew him. But he managed not to say anything and still remain quite seeing that as his only option to buy time until they got home and she would hopefully let this matter rest.

"Stop lieing and tell me the truth." Khushi said her voice menacing, gaze fixed on him like laser, penetrating through him as he briefly looked up at her, and commented in an emotionless voice.

"Kiss. She wanted that." Arnav said in a non committal voice like he didn't care about it, though he couldn't hide the shaky feature from his voice, seeing Khushi next to him go stiff, as if all energy out of her had been sucked out.

"Where?" She asked coldly, blood thumping into her brain causing her completely lose her sense of thinking and processing rational thoughts.

"Lip." He said, his eyes now fixed on her but before he could even meet it, she looked up fighting back the tears that were welling up in her eyes, and she looked away to the other side, outside the window, trying to figure out her conflicting emotions. She wasn't sure if she was falling in love with him for what he did, or hating him more the price he had to pay for her.

and even though it might be hard

to you it's not so far

The awkward moment of silence were something that he wasn't going to adjust to, when he knew she deserved to get an explanation for it, though considering his circumstances he wasn't sure what he could have possibly done in the first place to avoid being in this situation all together.

"Gupta look, I didn't do any of it on purpose because I liked it. I just wanted you to wear what you wanted, that day is going to be our day, our day to shine I just didn't want you to settle for something ordinary." He said as calmly, and convincingly as he could but to him like he already had predicated she was turning a completely deaf ear.

"I am not wearing that dress." She said coldly, giving no further explanation. Arnav's eyes went wide with unexplainable shock and irritation taking over him at the irrational way she was thinking. Why in the world was she comprised of so many shades? It was difficult to deal with one, that now he was subjected to a lot of them in a short span of time.

"Of course you are." Arnav replied back evenly, and she hotly turned her gaze at him boring her eyes into him angrily her jaw clenched in dead vexation inside her.

"No I am not. How many languages am I supposed to tell you that in?" Khushi lashed back at him, her body now shaking with the fury that was running strongly and wildly inside her.

"As many as you know." Arnav said coolly, his eyes holding that fixed resolve in his voice, which he usually had up when he knew he was going to get what he wanted.

"Haha is the only language I know apart from normal human language. (Arnav winces slightly) I am not wearing that dress and you can't do anything about it. Not any more." She replied back in a completely infuriated tone, still looking at his calm questioning demeanor.

"Why?" He said conversationally, driving her to the point of insane madness, and she felt like slamming her fist right into his jaw, and shaking him until, his brain went back into place.

"You freaking kissed that bitch for that stupid dress! You kissed her! Danmmit hell! That dress can burn into ashes for all I care because you kissed her for it! (Going low and depressed now) When it should have been me." She was shouting at the top of her voice, and even the taxi driver now seemed unnerved with all the shouting she was doing, Arnav shooting him an apologetic look though he normally wouldn't have but his mood was spiriting up so high, he didn't care if he was acting vaguely strange from his normal self.

"I kissed her and not you. Is that the problem here?" He asked her relaxed, enjoying this game, now that he knew where the real problem lie. Khushi eyes popped out in disbelief and another blasting session was to follow, hadn't it been for the taxi drivers immense luck that they had reached Gupta residence and the driver was ushering her out. Completely thrown aback, and vexed she stomped her foot in fury, Arnav handing out the money to the driver, and closely picked up her steps which were literally running into her house.

This runaway heart

"Why the hell are you following me?" Khushi lashed back at him almost making him trip over the stairs of the door way but luckily for him he missed a step and jumped directly on to the next one thankfully enough keeping his balance.

"Because I am supposed to. Your mom and my parents are out, and bhai-di are with their friends, so I have been told to stay over with you." He revealed to her, smirking all his way, impressed with how everything seemed to work perfectly in his favor. After hearing this, if he thought things would be a little less harder he was wrong, because Khushi went even more madder than before.

"What else have you been keeping from me? I won't be surprised if you tell me now that you have been having sex in the school locker room!" she said angrily, her voice filled with disgust and animosity and she quickly turned away from him opening the door to step inside but he was much more quicker than her and in no time had her pinned against the wall next to the door in the living room, carefully closing the door behind them, her chest heaving up and down rapidly, taken completely by surprise.

"What do you think.." she had began saying, but before she could say anything more he had growled a hoarse 'shut up' and landed his mouth on hers, tentatively at first but then with more force. She shut her eyes, taking in the pleasure of his warm lips holding on to hers, his long body half covering hers, letting her feel the strength in his hands, as they skimmed down her sides and pressed her closer to himself, the pliancy of his lips moving over hers, his velvety tongue swirling inside her mouth igniting unexplainable havoks inside her. At first she was just shocked with the suddenness of it at all, but the moment she felt him drawing apart she had pressed on to him closer, defeating everything else and giving in to her desire. She had longed for the flavor of his kiss for so long, and it had seemed like an unachievable thought to her, until now when it was finally happening, getting her lost in sensations so rich and powerful, that everything else faded away except her own emotions, her own desires. When Arnav finally broke off the kiss, they were both gasping dragging in bulks of air, not sure of what kind of expression to show, though Khushi had decided on a dazed one, Arnav was going to go with a sly grin.

And now my heart it runs to

you in open arms.

"You have it now. (Khushi was only beginning to curve her lips into a smile) Wear that dress now." He told her in a bargaining tone, but she was too happy to object, though she still didn't want to wear the dress, she coudnt just let an opportunity of a life time slip away. Instead of answering him with a yes or no, she pressed her body against his moving away from the wall, so that he was now the only one supporting her body, and skimmed her lips, digging her fingers though the bush of his hair, and kissed him hungrily, for all she cared and longed for. Two minutes later without any warning she drew back, this time her face looped down into an apologetic expression which was appearing to unnerve him terribly.

"I am sorry, but I won't wear that dress." Khushi said in a distant voice, and before he could even catch hold of her or anything, she had stalked off to her room as quick as lightening and bolted it from inside, leaving him outside alone to reel with the shock of her words and stubbornness.

This runaway heart

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Regarding The Title

Hallelujah- 'Hallelujah' is basically a Hebrew word which translates into 'Praise to the Lord' in English. This chapter and the joyous occasion that it has been posted on Eid, it is fittingly the most appropriate title for this chapter. Starting from the talk between Khushi and Casey, it deeply reflected on how people are chosen to do things they otherwise wouldn't due to the circumstances that are created for them, by their Lord. We can only complain as to the bads in life, as to the one who die, or live, to get true love, or to find the most bliss full of happiness, but in the end it is all in the stars, and in the plan that has been written.

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Events In The Chapter

Well quite honestly this is one of most favorite chapters only because of the basic most beautiful of relationships being highlighted in it. The fright and possessiveness, of Khushi and Vivek in their friendship, is like a huge bonus for this FF itself, and without their comrade I am sure the success of this FF would be demeaned to nothing. Arnav and Khushi themselves and their remarkable equation, as the comeback full force couple, was on fire here, for which I am going to be blasted with love for (I know that you have been waiting for this forever. :P The kiss. ;) ).

I am not giving out any judgments on critical characters like Nikhil, or on Vivek's decision to hold back the truth from Khushi, or of Khushi to be stubborn about not wearing that dress. I guess you will have to wait for the story to tell its secret guys.

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Precap:

She had propped up her beam back directly in front of the large window in her room, that she left ajarly opened letting the sparse amounts of snow flakes enter inside the room directly landing on to her outstretched palm that had a piece of velvet resting ideally on it. The moment she had caught enough snow flakes, lousily she shut the window firmly enough so that the howling wind would no more reach her; succumbing her surroundings into an uncomfortable silence. She had been observing the beautiful five vertices snow flakes so intently that she hadn't realized when her mother had come inside her room and quietly dragged a beam bag next to where she sat.

"What are you doing Khushi?" Aparna asked her casually, but Khushi hardly seemed surprised by the fact that her mother had been silent in her entrance and was still peering closely at the snowflakes in her hand.

"Just seeking peace." Khushi replied back in a mildly non-committal tone, causing Aparna to pull a grave expression on her face.

"Do you want to talk about things, things in your life with me dear?" Aparna asked her in a hopeful, pleading voice, this time Khushi looking up to meet her mothers calm yet faintly disturbed eyes, but she quickly looked away and back at the snow flakes, contemplating in her mind what would be her best approach at the moment.

"My dreams are coming true." She said slowly, in a faint quivering voice, revisting the thoughts that had been haunting her all day.

"That's great sweetie. That's what you wanted." Aparna said gladly, in a reassuring smile, heaving a sigh of relief only too soon, because her next words had caught her breathe to hang mid way in the air.

"My dreams and my night mares are coming true Maa." Khushi said in dreadful voice, her tone deadly and lost, hiding the frightened terrified soul that was living inside her, as Aparna looked at her with a deadened expression.

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Precap for Special Update:

As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment. And then the moment was gone.

The limp body in his lap was bleeding profusely, the warm blood trickling his fingers, but he knew the reality of it all, their was no warmth in the moment he was living, he could only feel a sickening feel grow inside him, even though he knew nothing of this was really happening, he felt himself going sick to the stomach, seeing the terrifying sight that he was now a part of. He didn't have to act it out, he just didn't have to, it just came naturally, and it came in a way that it invaded all sense of reality from within him, it was like he had lost himself in the character, it was like it wasn't Jamie's story but his very own story.

The strings, the red ribbons that tied his wrist and ankles with her were a bundle of mess at the dreadfully sorrowful sight before him, and distantly enough he could hear someone weeping, some people shaking their heads, when he lifted his gaze up from the stained body in his arms to the crowds throwing them all to the mercy of his tears. To the mercy of a lost, worthless lovers tears.

He could feel the curtains drawing down any moment, and this would all be over, the torture to endure something like that, they would be rushing to act the most important scene of their life, he knew she was very much alive, but he knew somewhere in his heart, in his mind, he went cold thinking of the naked reality of how this could be a reality without him knowing. The softly yet tearful wail of a dying soul filled the now quite theatre, making him wince with unconceivable pain.

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nav_bat2013-08-08 17:37:18