Chapter 12

Omoraboti

@Omoraboti

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12

Khushi woke up with a really good feeling. Her body felt light and she felt like waking up from a really good sleep. Still with her eyes closed, she smiled. She tried to stretch her limbs but she felt bound. That was when her eyes flung open wide only to see an innocent face sleeping peacefully within inches from her. Arnav! His usual stiff muscles were relaxed, there was no imposed toughness, his forehead was even. His usual gelled up hair was tousled, falling all over his face. Khushi smiled again. She wished he were always this relaxed, free from all his burden.

Khushi could feel they were sleeping with their body intertwined with each others. She was completely into his arms without any gap between them. Her hands were also wrapped around his body while one of her legs was between his. Khushi smiled a bit shyly but leaned her face a bit more towards him. She could feel his smell in her breath. She neared more as she breathed his breath. Her eyes fell on his perfect thin lips and everything came running back to her. She remembered their love making in his office and then ..

Khushi jolted back. The last thing she remembered was falling down in his office. Migraine! And now she was lying with him in her hotel bed. He must have brought her here. But what happened in the mean time? And why was she in her t-shirt? But he seemed dressed. "No, no, no ..," Khushi mumbled. They could not be together after what they had discussed. She started to try to free herself from his grip but his protective hands were holding him even tighter in his sleep.

Arnav could feel someone was shaking him out from his perfect sound sleep. He had no wish to wake up so soon; he had not slept so good in years. But the movement within his arms increased and he opened his eyes to face a pair of wide hazel eyes staring at her. Khushi! Arnav smiled. His arms tightened around her.

"Morning." His voice sounded huskier ridden by sleep.

Khushi was taken aback by his gesture. It felt so real & natural, waking up in his arms and then welcomed by a morning wish with a smile. Could life get any more perfect? She shook her head to shove away the thoughts and tried to free herself.

"Don't move so hard," Arnav stopped her, his voice still husky and sleepy. "Are you feeling any better?"

Khushi froze as he snuggled more into her. He dipped his nose into her hair.

"Don't you ever dare do that to me again, Khushi Kumari Gupta."

Khushi had never fought such tough battle within herself. One part of her was telling her to forget everything & enjoy the moment as long as it lasted – it was beautiful. The other part was telling her it was not right – as soon as the moment will end, there would only be emptiness –there was no promise for future.

"Let me go, Arnav," Khushi whispered.

"Mmm," Arnav's nose touched her neck as he snuggled more.

"Let me go, Arnav Singh Raizada," Khushi forced herself to raise her voice. She could feel Arnav stop and stiffen. The loss was eminent for Khushi. How badly she wanted him to continue cuddling. Arnav faced Khushi and he could feel the tension in her eyes. Arnav realized she must have gone back where they left it together in his office.

"Khushi …" he wanted to tell her something.

"First let me go."

And he let her go.

Khushi quickly get off the bed. She realized Arnav was fully dressed and there was no sign anywhere in the room that could prove what they might have done at night. She was feeling very bare in her t-shirt – it did not even cover half of her thigh. She pulled the duvet from the bed to cover her lower body as Arnav kept on staring at her.

Arnav lied on the bed lazily and smiled.

"I have seen more of you, Khushi."

Khushi glared at him in reply. She took a shalwar from her suitcase and went to the bathroom for cleaning up. She was relieved to see she had her innerwear on. She cleaned up & wore the shalwar. Arnav was still lying in the bed when she came out.

"What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like?"

"You should leave. It is 10 and it is Monday."

"Oh office!"

Arnav really had forgotten about work, first time ever in years. Arnav checked his watch and got up. He really should leave.

"May I use your restroom?"

"You have used it before."

Arnav gave her his breathtaking lopsided smile in response and went for cleanup. Khushi was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed when Arnav came out. He started to fix his dress.

"Have you ordered breakfast for us?"

"Why should I?"

"Well, I just assumed you would because you did last time."

Khushi just made a grumpy face. Arnav smiled.

"In fact, I deserve the breakfast more this time."

"Why?"

"How do you think you came back to your room? Walking?"

Khushi was having random glimpses from last night – they in the car, she in his arms, Arnav giving him water. All she could make up from that was he must have brought him home & gave her meds. She found the capsule strips on the bedside table. He took care of her! And he did not leave her alone. And he changed her dress. Khushi was feeling flabbergasted.. She was not sure how to react.

Arnav suddenly walked up to her. Staring into her eyes he started to lean on her.

"Wh-what?" Khushi stuttered as he leaned more.

A small smile appeared on Arnav's corner of the mouth. He leaned further with his face inches apart from Khushi. Khushi's breathing hitched. She was constantly scolding herself. Why did she lose control every time he was near? She started to tremble slightly and Arnav noticed. She almost closed her eyes in anticipation when she felt Arnav brushing her nose with his own.

"Your nose is flushed." Arnav whispered.

Khushi opened her eyes fully to meet his dark eyes and forced herself to move away. She could feel her knees going weak again. She hated herself for giving up so easily to her charms. No. It had been enough. She would not allow him to play with her anymore.

"How dare you change my clothes?"

Arnav frowned.

"Sorry?"

"I said how could you change my clothes?"

"Your dress was sweaty. And you were already sick enough to handle. So I thought I better not let you catch cold."

"Why does it matter to you?"

Arnav stared at her. He perhaps knew the answer now but he was not ready to acknowledge it to himself, let alone to Kushi. He lied.

"I would have done the same for anyone else."

"Great! That explains, of course. You can change any girl's cloth. It is nothing to you. What was I thinking?"

Arnav realized he had only made things worse.

"Why are you only bothered about the t-shirt? Why is it so wrong? We had been close enough already. I just changed your clothes, dammit!"

"I would never have allowed you to do it if I was in my senses."

"Exactly. That is why I had to do it. Why would I change your clothes if you could do it yourself?"

"Because that is how you are. All you care about is .. just ..:

Khushi could not complete her sentence. She could feel her whole body was trying to give up. The stress of last night's migraine was still there. To add to it, an ocean of tears was trying to force out of her. She sat in the bed again holding the bed sheet tightly. She did not want to faint again. And there was no way she was going to cry in front of him.

Arnav, on the other hand, was totally taken aback. He knew what was wrong with her. She would never allow their attraction win over their beliefs – at least not her belief. He had never felt so helpless. He could do what he did best – be angry at her. But he could not bring himself to shout at her too. He was feeling raged but it was not against her. Arnav's face was masked as always. Khushi could not make out a bit of the turmoil he was going through. That indifferent face was killing her even more.

"Arnav, just leave."

Arnav turned. It was better he left. What did he expect? Just because he cared she was going to forget everything else and embrace him?

"It is only a matter of a day now." Khushi said more to herself than to him. "We won't be meeting any soon. I am sure when we meet next, may be after months, we will be able to push whatever happened behind and work properly."

Arnav froze in his tracks. Whatever they were doing, whatever he has been saying – it never occurred to him that he would not be meeting her again. He forgot she was here for a few days only. She was leaving Delhi tomorrow! He could hear the slight shakiness in her voice. Would he be able to hide his if he talked? He did not say anything & left the room, shutting the door behind him silently.

As soon as he left, Khushi broke into tears. Why was this happening to her? Why did she have to faint & he had to take care of her? Why could not she control herself with him? Why it hurt so much to let someone like him go – someone to whom she was not significant enough? He did not even turn to bid her good bye and here she was crying for him.

"It is all your fault, Khushi Kumari Gupta," Khushi whimpered, "It is all your fault. You welcomed this and now you are pretending as if he has cheated you. He has been honest all along, you fool. It is you who have screwed everything up."

She had seen the neatly folded damp towel in the bathroom. He must have given her a massage. He could have been her perfect partner but only if he believed.

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While driving away from the hotel, Arnav called Aman, his manager.

Arnav: Aman, are the delegates from S&S Industries leaving tomorrow?

Aman: Yes, sir.

Arnav: I want to throw a party in honor of them tonight.

Aman: Tonight, sir?

Arnav: Don't make me repeat. Get Martha to arrange it. It can be in the guest house. I will invite Mr. Sharma myself.

He did not bother why it mattered but he was not letting Khushi leave with a grudge.