It was 7:00 by the time, Vivek pulled over in front of Khushi's house, who sat next to him, shooting out of the seat as soon as he stopped giving him last minute advice at which he grinned at her and nodded attentively, Khushi parting with a last assuring pat on his shoulder, turned around walking up to her front door, unlocking it with a key and signaling a last thumbs up sign to him wishing him luck she disappeared inside her house locking the door behind her, with Vivek taking off to his destination. Casey's house.

A bouquet of white peonies and purple orchards lie on his back seat, handpicked by Khushi, who had proved to be extremely feisty about getting everything perfect, and he had let himself be the puppet to her wishes mainly because he was consumed up with the feeling of that glowed so strongly inside him, because after such a long time he had finally reconnected with her like in the old days, without letting the thought of his secret burden and strain their relationship. The though was certainly there, itching at his conscience at the back of his mind, but for now he could push it back, just to feel happy again, to crack jokes, and get a full grasp on his humor, which he had realized had become pretty stilted in the past few weeks. A huge smile played luxuriously on his lips, as his eyes searched in the dark, for no 44 as Casey had told him so, all thoughts of his disease, the underlying tension with Khushi, escaping from his mind as he focused his mind on the task ahead.

Finally having had located number 44 he stopped his car a bit away from the front door, fetching the bouquet Khushi had so painstakingly collected from the florist, and giving one last look at his reflection in the rear mirror, pleased with what he saw, he walked forward to Casey's front door. It was difficult to see clearly the flowers that grew in the dark, the moon having had taken refuge behind the clouds, however he could see clearly the front door, which was a black oak, a plate reading the number 44, that was embossed in black ink on to it. He rung the ancient door which was supposed to be pulled, Vivek, almost jumping out of his skin at the shrill voice the bell gave out when he pulled the string. What was like seconds of nervously tapping his feet at the white tiled front step the front door opened, and he looked up greeted by the dazzling sight of a smiling Casey.

She blushed as he looked up, smiling that charming smile of his, which she had come to regard fondly, and had apparently fell in love with, but it was his eyes the way he gazed at her, as if he was really looking at her fully for the first time, that sent her heart beating fast, and her stomach doing crazy somersaults inside her. He was clad in a white and navy blue striped full sleeves t-shirt with denim blue jeans and a black digital wrist watch clinging to his manly wrist. His dark brown hair were their usual messy self, though she could see that he did seem to have put some considerable effort in setting it straight but it clearly hadn't worked out though really she was glad it didn't, his cute boyish smile wouldn't look as good without his messy hair complimenting it so diligently.

"Hey" He said giving her the biggest smile he had to offer knocking them both out of the silent moment they had been transfixed in and she replied back in the affirmative side stepping to let him enter and that he did, her closing the door behind him.

"For you." He presented nervously, the bouquet of flowers he was carrying with him, amused to see her deeply blushing at it and murmuring a quick thankyou ushering him to the mint green couch in the living room. Dressed in a simple sleevless lavender tank top and black tights, he thought to himself of how coincidently the tank top played in perfect sync with the flowers he had brought, a new feeling of satisfaction and pleasure at this consuming him as he sat down on the couch Casey had led him to, sitting next to him.

"The flowers are beautiful. Thankyou so much." She said after sometime rather awkwardly still blushing heavily, and he just smiled at her shaking his head at her innocent antics shrugging off his gesture modestly. Catching sight of the folders in front of him, he picked the top one which consisted of a number of poster designs and details for them, rough sketches, each one of them having something missing in them.

"Is that what we are going to be working on today?" He asked her, still flipping through the designs taking in every detail, but hearing no verbal response from her, he looked up to see her getting intensely flustered like he had broken a living in the bubble' moment of hers and pulled her back from her dazed form, she though to her credit quickly recovered from it and steadily nodded, awarded by one of his heart stopping smiles.

"We need to complete these with the captions or any one liner with the name of the play, and here (drawing herself closer to him pointing at a blank box in the page in front of him) a picture of Jamie and Lindsey in the middle going in synch with the name of the play and the one liner we decide." Casey explained to him passionately, and he just nodded having not the least bit of idea how he could be of any use to her in this task, like wasn't it evident from his face that he had base level negative creative scales? However he did not raise his immediate concern and let her ramble on about her own ideas and the poster should be impactful, and explaining the basic principles in designing the structure. Realizing that he hadn't said a word while she had been on her tirade, Casey stopped mid sentence and looked at him still nodding at her and listening attentively hanging on to her every word. A blush crept up on her face without any reason, no matter how hard she tried to compose herself in front of him, it was difficult not being all jelly with him having that sort of affect on her.

"I am sorry..I..is that too much information to take in? I mean..I started rambling..I am sorry I..(Vivek shakes his head and keeps a hand on her shoulder to relax her she momentarily calming down) Do you want to eat something before we start?" She asked timidly, still reeling from the affect of his hand on her shoulder which was doing inexplicable wonders to her body.

"Well if its mac and cheese then sure." He said jokingly in an attempt to lighten the mood, but hearing her words her mood instantly plummeted and she looked away from him murmuring something inaudible to herself.

"Hey! Hey! Its fine, I was just joking (Casey looks at him uncertainly) really I was just joking, I'll eat whatever there is" He said soothingly, seeing her panic expression but she continued to shake her head and detached her hand from his head which he had held in a futile attempt to calm her, she getting up and walking in to the kitchen quickly taking out stuff from the cabinets before he could intervene and say anything. Sprinting from his place, he stood next to her, dazed by her speed at collecting all the materials and finally halted her movement by keeping his hand on both her shoulders, pressuring her to look at him who was continuously avoiding his gaze.

"Casey seriously its fine. I really was just joking you don't have to make it right now. What was there for food anyway?" He asked trying to divert her attention but she shook her head adamantly refusing to acknowledge his words.

"Pizza. (Vivek is about to interrupt she cuts him short) But that's besides the point. I mean..you are here at my place..for the first time..I want you to eat whatever you want to eat. (Vivek about to protest again) Please Vivek" She said pleadingly and he loosened his grip on her shoulder relenting to her wishes.

"Well at least let me help you then." He offered and she grudgingly nodded much to his immense satisfaction and he flashed another one of his wondrous grins at her, much to his amusement she keeping her recently acquired composed look intact and instructed him to take out the grater and the bars of goat, mozzarella and cheddar cheese from the fridge telling him to grate it half its original size. He nodded and set to work while she boiled the macaroni and rummaged through the drawers to fine pepperoni, and then in refrigerator to find cream.

After approximately 30 minutes, Vivek finished grating all the three cheese, organizing them in three different bowls, and wiped the sweat of his brow, turning around to see Casey multi tasking with sieving off the water from the macroni, and blowing the hair that irritatingly kept coming on her face. Washing his hands in the wash basin and wiping it dry, he moved towards her standing next to her, watching her struggle with her bothersome hair and the task at hand.

Without voluntary control based purely on instinct, he tucked the stray strand of her blondish light brown hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing lightly with her ear lobe, instantly freezing her movements. She stood still craning her neck to look at him, blinking them in slow motion, to gauge the true reality of her surroundings, his face smoothened out into a relax expression as oblivious, or at least acting to be oblivious to the mirage of emotions that warred on her face and the way her insides seemed to clench painfully and relax all of sudden with every renewed touch of his.

"Would it be easier if you pulled your hair back? (She nods dazedly) Do you want me to bring you your hair tie?" He asked her gently, and hadn't he been concentrating so acutely on her every motion he would have missed the barely imperceptible nod that she gave and giving a quick smile to her he immediately retreated his hands from where they had had tucked another stray strand rushing quickly in the direction of the room she had pointed, leaving her behind to suffer the consequences of losing his touch. She gripped the marble work bench tightly, until it felt like she was cutting of her circulation and loosed her grip a bit, restoring activity back to her rigid legs and stood still, trying to exercise a firm control on her wayward body and even more haywire emotions.

Vivek entered her room catching sight of a purple hair tie, his keen eyes scanning the room, that was painted in peach and white , furnished with one single bed, a study table and two bed side drawers each having a lamp on them, overall giving the room a rather homely and cozy feel. Smiling to himself he strode out with the hair tie, from his vantage point seeing Casey mixing the cheese he had grated and the dried macroni in a large transparent glass bowl. He was about to leave when his sight lingered on the door next to Casey's room the angle at which the door was open at, giving him a view of the inside of the room, showing prominent tell tale signs of it belonging to a boy which he concluded would be her brother.

Back on his way to the kitchen he took his place standing next to Casey, handing her out her hair tie, though he quickly noted that her hands were dirty due to the manual mixing of the cheese and macroni with her hands. Wasting no time, he stood behind her, collecting her hair to the back with his hands, combing her hair tightly with his fingers, much to her complete shock, her hands working without any voluntarily control while her mind zeroed on to the emotions that his touch evoked on her. His fingers brushed the exposed nape of her neck as he bunched her hand into his hands pulling it gently so that it was firm enough to tie the hair tie around which he after some initial fail tries, got right and tied the hair tie into a poor excuse of a pony tail, brushing his fingers through her hair to smoothen it, standing back to admire his craftsmanship which he was actually pretty pleased with.

"Better?" He questioned, resuming his place next to her to which she gave him a nervous, embarrassed smile, her features lightening up at it, and so did his smiling at him like that, the emotions welled deep inside her finally coming to surface mirrored perfectly in her eyes which would be easy to read for even someone who hardly knew her.

"Yeah. Thanks." She replied finally finding her voice, from some lost pit where it had gone into hiding, and gathering some confidence looked up at him, who was still regarding her with a mixture of awe and she let her smile grow joining her sight with his, happy to live in the moment and shed all her reservations.

****************************************

His eyes stretched out to take in the view of the street in front of him, as he walked casually through the similarly architecture-d houses, confident that his legs would stop when he reached his destination. It was second nature coming to this house to him now, flashbacks of all the times he had walked this same street, each unfolding a new chapter in his life with her, a new mysterious emotion he had never encountered, and sometimes on unusual days, learning a secret he wasn't fully sure he wanted to be let on. Taking this path had led to a lot more activity than all of his 17 years had offered him and all because of that one girl. That one girl who dictated his life no other, and to him it was a wonder how she had broken into his heavily constructed, thoroughly revised emotional walls. Yet she had and there was no denying that after some initial reluctance, no scratch that, after a huge time period of pretending to be oblivious to his feelings, he had finally come to terms with it fully, more than happy to reach the answer to this complexity of emotions he had been subjected to against his will.

Stopping in front of the gate that read no 46 he took confident steps towards the brown oak door, about to ring the bell only seconds before though his sight lingered on to the neighboring house, with it lights on, an unwanted memory playing back in his mind effectively removing the smile that had crept up on his face and replacing it with a worried scowl. He was tempted to know and find out the cryptic reason behind Nikhil's haywire attitude and confirm his suspicions for once and for all, but the prospect of being let on an unwanted secret bugged him as well. Was he ready to let himself be subjected to somebody else's secret for her again? Being a Secret Keeper was hard, that was one thing he had learnt very very thoroughly in the past few weeks, it was risky business, that could cost him great deal of emotional trouble not to mention all the other problems that brought with it, but that aside was he really that eager to know what Nikhil had to say after all? Was this it? Finding everything about this guy who he had a toxic hatred for, the density of which even he did could not fully comprehend or logically reason for that matter, because for all intents and purposes he knew it was more or less baseless. He was jealous, yes certainly, of Nikhil's very presence around Khushi, but his suspicions were more or less dependent on a sixth sense he wasn't quite sure even existed, something he had to grudgingly accept that he might have made up.

Warring within himself, still standing on the front step of her door, steeling himself and gathering all of his will, his fists clenched with the effort of getting himself together, he forcefully took a step back on the lower step and turned around trailing his path off to the front step of no 45, ringing the bell without any hesitation, indignant to get this done with as quickly as possible. He had acted against any rational reason, not sure how it would pay off only hoping that it wouldn't further result in any complication in his relationship with Khushi. He had enough secrets and complications with her to deal with for a life time now.

Arnav stood waiting ringing the bell for a second time, consumed up with his thoughts that were going more and more berserk by the moment unaware of the silent figure that had been keenly watching him from the neighboring window an expression of confusion and curiosity defining her facial features. What in the world was he doing on Nikhil's footstep? It took a considerable amount of pushing on Sir Brendans part and sometimes by her too, to have him cooperate with Nikhil during play practice for their act but beyond that, Arnav had absolutely no reason or drive to even bother acknowledging Nikhil's presence. Why was he here then? She stood staring at him from the window in her living room, seeing him go inside Nikhil's house and disappearing inside for God knows what reason. Perplexed Khushi took her seat back on the rickety old chair near the window puzzling over this new scene she had accidentally witnessed.

Inside Nikhil's house, Arnav followed Nikhil to his room, the impassive expression that he had totally aced at this point surfacing on his face.

"Tell me now. What was all that cryptic nonsense earlier about?" Arnav asked getting directly to business once Nikhil had locked the door behind him, refusing to sit down even though Nikhil insisted and exasperated by Arnav's illogical stubbornness he himself sat on his study chair, Arnav leaning by the frame of his door his arms crossed around his chest, gaze boring into Nikhil's nervous, uneasy form. After a few fake starts, uncommon for him, he finally began his speech, no longer being able to delay this moment of truth. Not in his wildest dreams had he imagined himself in such a shameful predicament nor in testifying to a crime like he was in court in front of a boy who already hated him for no plausible reason at all.

"The thing is well..I befriended Khushi for well..because I had to. (Arnav gives him an explain yourself look') I mean shes a great girl, and an even better friend but..I...I..made a deal with someone which involved her. (Arnav exterior becomes iron solid looking silently at Nikhil coldly) I swear I didn't know..I didn't even know her..and I just agreed because I had no other option..it was a good deal. (Nikhil looks away from Arnav in shame) My girlfriend would get financial aid..if I..if I spied on Khushi. (Looks up to see if Arnav makes a move who remains frozen to his spot all eyes on Nikhil)..I don't know..I..cant explain it well I mean..My uncle..Purabs father..he wanted me to spy on her, to give him daily reports on Khushi in exchange of securing financial aid for my girlfriend in Bulgaria." Nikhil explained, stammering most of the way, losing aid of coherent speech almost all the time during his confession, his gaze flicking on and off to Arnav's expressionless stoic face, stopping now to look at him who hadn't even moved an inch from the original position he had assumed his eyes zeroed on Nikhil giving nothing away of what he felt.

A hundred thoughts and emotions had zoomed past in his head, hearing Nikhil's words which to Arnav seemed like coming from a distant source, something that was a hum in the background, and did not really belonged to his present situation. His mind was having a hard time coping up with most of the facts Nikhil had just told him, anger and revulsion for this boy sitting in front of him triumphing any other emotion he felt, except maybe for confusion. He was deliriously confused beyond his wits. Even if he made sense of Nikhil's words somehow, why was he being told all this exactly? Why now? Was this a confession of guilt, because if it was, he wasn't so sure if he could act rationally and not slam Nikhil's head to his bloody his noticeboard, or even better give him some heavy punches to knock some sense into his convoluted thought processes.

The silence between them stretched ominously, Nikhil searching in panic into Arnav's barren of any human emotion face, while Arnav struggled with his own thoughts, trying to weigh the importance of one question with the other.

"What is Purab's fathers interest in Gupta?" Arnav asked finally, swallowing a lump of throat to keep his mind clear of irrational brutality, the final consequence of this action being his voice sounding raspy.

"I don't know. That's what I have wondered for so long believe me..but I don't know. I have tried asking so many times but he cuts me short by threatening me with well either my girlfriend or my parents. I have tried to make a connection but really there is no other reason. (Arnav arches an eyebrow at him) I swear Arnav this is all the truth is, and I had to tell you since I had no other option. Vivek would have been the more safer guy to confess this problem to, though I am not sure how that would be any worse than is, but..telling you..(Arnav's posture stiffens more if that was even possible)was prime because..he..my uncle.. told me that..I had to take measures..to uhh..keep you away from Khushi." Nikhil finished uncomfortably, foreseeing a potential bruised jaw and a number of broken bones with the rage filled mental expression that Arnav had on his face coupled with the way he had inched gradually towards Nikhils stopping at a safe distance the warring emotions on his face confirming as much that it had taken a monumental amount of effort on Arnav's part to hold back.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Arnav bellowed losing control of his anger, the pitiable face of Nikhil striking him as the potential target to let out all of his horror and rage on, however he held back seeing the guilt and shame of his acts already having had taken a considerable toll on Nikhil's slumped defeated form.

"I am sorry. I don't know what else to say, or do. I don't..I don't expect you to understand ofcourse Arnav, but I don't know what to do. I am..I am sorry." Nikhil said in a tiny almost inaudible defeated voice, burying his face in his hands that were propped up on his thighs, Arnav standing in front of him his shadow towering over Nikhil, his face portraying an expression of complete incredulity.

"What in the world do you mean you are sorry? God damnniit Nikhil look up! (Nikhil looks up haggardly) What did you expect me to do when you told me this tale of yours? (Nikhil shrugged, Arnavs voice becomes low and urgent) Nikhil what did you expect me to do?" Arnav asked him confused with that note of urgency hitting the bulls mark as he finally seeing the need sat on Nikhil's bed still drilling his gaze into Nikhil's slumped unresponsive form.

"I don't know Arnav! I really don't know! If I did know what to do why would I tell you everything and blow up my cover? (Arnav gives him a disgusted look) If only I knew his business with Khushi I could maybe maybe do something about it. (looking at Arnav) Have you seen Purabs father?" Nikhil asked Arnav in a last hopeless attempt who shook his head still seething in anger but his mind churning within him to possibly figure out this mysterious man who was going through such lengths to keep a track of the ongoing events in Khushi's life.

"Describe him." Arnav said finally, Nikhil being prompt in his response describing Purabs father as best as he possibly could, Arnavs expression turning into one of utter shock as his mind seemed to make a picture out of Nikhil's more then vivid descriptions. But it couldn't be true, could it be now? He had motive, but what, why would he do something like that? Something so despicable?

"What is his name?" Arnav questioned a faintly excited Nikhil who seemed to have been scrutinizing Arnav's expression with a microscopic gaze, this giving him a vague impression that Arnav might, just might have figured out the connection between Purab's father and Khushi, much to his enormous relief.

"Aryan."

********************************************

Regarding the Title

Rhythm Of Love- It is actually pretty clear that every thing set into motion in this chapter stems from one single emotion i.e Love. Then may it be Khushi and Arnav calling a truce to their on going war or Vivek-Casey initiating developments to their existing relationship, or guilt ridden Nikhil who has been stuck in this mess of secrecy to ensure the very best for his own love. Hence the title goes aptly with the events in this chapter, and after all there is the ultimate connection to the title of this FF too isnt it?

***********************************************

Events In The Chapter

The fact that this chapter at some points was a build for the eventual future of each relationship and at some points also served as the basic conclusion for some of them speaks in itself volumes about the content of this chapter. Every important character has been given some space in this chapter, which is why it is monumental in that regard. The events themselves are pretty much self explanatory so there is nothing that I wish to particularly throw light upon.

*************************************************

Precap

(Same as the previous chapter since I couldnt inculcate that particular scene in this chapter)

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.

******************************************

P.S: I hope I did a well passable job with this chapter and it was worth the wait. Please leave back as many likes and comments (comprehensive ones would be much appreciated) so that they serve as well off encouragement for me! I will try to update the next chapter as soon as possible!

Thankyou so much once again everybody for being so patient with me!

Love,

Batool 😳

nav_bat2015-06-16 05:05:18