Chapter 29

28

Arnav had not expected to meet Khushi at this hour in the office. He had come to meet Mr. Sharma and discuss on a few things. He had thought he would surprise her the next day. But when he had turned his face and saw her standing there, his heart leapt. It was her. Indeed. It felt like he had not seen her in ages even though it had been only a day and a few hours. It took him all his might to not give her a full smile, to not walk up to her and to not wrap her inside a bone crushing hug. Had he ever been this happy seeing anyone?

His thirsty eyes motioned over her from top to toe. He could see her slightly widened eyes, slightly parted mouth. And then he saw her eyes shine, reflecting his own.

"Ms. Gupta." He managed to keep his voice leveled.

"Mr. Raizada."

Arnav widened his eyes slightly, raising his eyebrow, as her voice came out hoarse. Khushi quickly coughed and cleared her throat. Looking away from him, she walked into the room. She started sipping her tea nervously as she settled herself in one corner in the chair.

"Mr. Raizada," Mr. Sharma sat back after ordering some refreshment for everyone. "My team is here. So let's go over the timelines and decide on something feasible."

Arnav nodded and in no time, everyone got engrossed in business. Throughout the discussion, both Arnav and Khushi behaved most professionally and they exchanged words too as normally as possible when required. They both stole glances at each other though and got caught by themselves only. Khushi responded to the humor in Arnav's eyes by either glaring or flustering. The day, however, had suddenly turned brighter for both, even when all they were talking about were deadlines, materials and machineries.

It was around half past eight when the two owners decided to close the shop for the day.

"See you all tomorrow." Arnav stood up eyeing everyone and stopping at Khushi. His countenance was still professional but his eyes glowed with promise. See you soon. Khushi nodded her head almost invisibly and looked away.

After Arnav had left, Khushi too took her leave and gathered her things from her desk. She called Payal to let her know she was on her way. She sighed as Payal gave her an earful on how worried everyone was getting at home. She quickly took the elevator not willing to waste another minute. As she approached the exit, walking through the lobby, she halted in her track. She could see him standing near the exit with his back towards her. His well-fit jet black suit accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow hips so well that Khushi could not but undresses him subconsciously, her mind flying back to the time when her fingers and tongue had caressed those flesh and bones. A delicious sensation ran through her, from top to bottom, making her shudder.

Arnav turned his head as if he could sense her presence. There she was, clad in a simple dark pink kurta, looking as ravishing as ever. His eyes travelled hungrily from her top to her toes, not missing an inch of her delectable body. His eyes finally set on her face and he could tell from her face what was running through her mind. He could not help smirking. His smirk broadened as red crept on her cheeks, clearly giving away her caught red handed expression.

Arnav reached her in long confident strides. As he stood towering over her, his beautiful face still adorned with a beautiful smile, Khushi's heart lurched.

"Hi." His voice came out husky, drawling.

"Hi."

Khushi swallowed trying to figure out why she was suddenly feeling so shy and nervous. Could only a day's gap do this? Or was it because he now knew how she felt about him? Or was it because .. she had missed him so much?

"Kaisi ho?"

"I am good. You?"

Arnav shrugged. "Going home?"

Khushi nodded her head in response.

"You must be late?" Arnav checked his watch.

"Yes, a little." Khushi paused and further added, anticipating his offer. "I will grab an auto."

"I am dropping you." Arnav ignored her. "Let's go."

"It's fine, Arnav. I can manage."

Arnav frowned at her incredulously.

"Don't fuss, Khushi."

"I am not fussing." Khushi gathered up herself. "This is Lucknow, Arnav. Not Delhi. My family will go mad if they see you dropping me."

"Why? Can't your boss ever drop you home? Especially, when you are this late?"

"You are not my boss."

"I am not letting you go alone at this hour, Khushi."

"You really don't have to bother." Khushi raised her voice a little. "I have managed without you all my life. And if you had not been here today, I would have gone home alone anyway."

Arnav stared at her for a second in silence and then declared in a matter-of-fact manner.

"But I am here now."

Khushi blinked. What else was there to say when his logic was so irrefutable?

She stared into his eyes for some time and then she sighed. This conversation was over, she knew. The finality in his eyes was evident and she knew she can only keep arguing with him for the sake of it. He was here now. And her life was no longer the same.

"Fine." She gave up.

She followed him to the parking and in no time Arnav was driving a black SUV along the streets of Lucknow. A strange silence lingered between them, as they both were caught in a mix of different emotions. They felt at peace yet their heart raced. They felt elated, yet words were not coming easily.

"I am staying at Sheesh Mahal." Arnav finally broke the silence after some time.

"I could have guessed." Khushi shifted in her seat, still feeling strangely uncomfortable. "You own it."

"Hmm. How far is it from your home?"

"Ten-fifteen minutes."

Khushi explained her home address to him.

"Are you sure you understood?" She sounded doubtful.

"I left Lucknow at the age of 14. Not 4."

"Oh." Khushi again shifted in her seat most uncomfortably, not being able to carry on the conversation very smoothly which was quite uncharacteristic for her.

The silence in the car was rather awkward and this time Khushi resolved to break it.

"So.. what brought you to Lucknow?"

"What do you think?" Arnav's eyes were fixed on the road.

"Work?" Khushi sounded doubtful.

"Of course," Arnav consented. "What else will bring me to Lucknow?"

Khushi swallowed. Ever since her eyes had landed on him today, her heart was racing fast. Something had been whispering in her ears that he was here for her. But would Arnav Singh Raizada really fly from Delhi for her only? Though she had her doubts and was not willing to let herself believe she mattered that much to him, she could not deny the feeling of blissful happiness.

"I don't know .." She turned her face to see him.

"I am here for work only," Arnav replied bluntly, his eyes still fixed on the road. "Nothing else."

Disappointment stung Khushi bitterly. Even though she had been trying to avoid him, her world had suddenly seemed brighter the moment he had walked in again. The secret thought of him being here for her had made her heart flutter. But he was here for work only. Why else would he be here? Khushi fidgeted with her dupatta, letting herself being ground by anticipation and questions. Would he tell her even if he came to see her?

"How is your family?"

Arnav's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Ji, everyone is fine. They are very happy I am back. How is everyone at your home?"

"Fine." Arnav paused and added cautiously. "In fact, Di was asking if you had reached home safely. That's why I texted to know."

"Oh." Khushi could manage just enough to hide the feeling of disbelief and disappointment. So he now wanted to say he had texted because of Di?

"And how are Mamiji and Naniji?" She further asked in an even tone.

"Fine. Maami was asking for your phone number."

"My phone number?"

"Yes. I wonder why. I have not given yet. Shall I?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Ok. Don't tell me later I did not warn you."

Khushi wondered what he was warning her about but did not reply.

"And Nani was asking when you would be in Delhi next." Arnav paused. "When do you think you can come to Delhi again?"

"I don't know," Khushi replied carefully. "Whenever the project will need me, I will be there."

Some five minutes later Khushi asked Arnav to stop the car.

"Which one is your house?" Arnav asked as he put the car in neutral.

Khushi showed a two storied simple house a little away from the car.

"Then why are we stopping here?" Arnav asked surprised.

"I don't want anyone to see us together and make a fuss out of it."

Arnav nodded his head in understanding.

Khushi still did not move and sat silently in her seat, fidgeting with the end of her dupatta. Arnav glanced at her, waiting for her to say something. His fingers rubbed along the plush leather of the steering wheel, his teeth biting into his lower lips as his stare kept shifting between her face and his own hands. Why the f**k wasn't she saying anything? The competition of silence today was killing him.

He watched Khushi parting her lips quite a few times and then withdrawing.

"Have you lost your voice?" Arnav raised his eyebrow, hint of amusement evident in his voice.

Khushi's mouth rounded in instant response as she looked up and met his eyes. Arnav's amused gazed immediately shifted to the perfect "O" made by her thin lips, still shining slightly with the remnant of the lip gloss. He swallowed. How he loved when she did that! And how his thoughts went wanton ..

Khushi followed his gaze and instantly shut her mouth. His gaze still kept burning her lips and she bit the inside of her mouth in attempt to control the instinctive trembling. She could see him swallow hard and continuously and she swallowed herself. Her gaze too shifted to his perfectly chiseled mouth, surrounded by his late night stubble, making his lips looking only more pink and prominent.

Both of them looked up at the same time. Their eyes met. They could clearly see the fire of desire flaming in the other's eyes and they very well knew that only reflected their own. It did not matter who moved first but in no time they had their lips slammed against each others'. There was a feeling of need more than desire as they found each other and they wasted no time. Arnav unlatched both their seatbelts as they kept kissing and his hands went under her knees. As he tried to pull her to his lap, they lost contact for a second and Khushi drew herself way.

"No." She protested

"Khushi .." Arnav's voice was hoarse and full of need.

"Koyi dekh lega." Khushi said through her labored breathe.

"It's tinted, Khushi." Arnav did not hide his impatience.

Before Khushi could protest again, he pulled her on his lap. With his left hand supporting her from the back, his right hand went around her waist as his lips captured hers again. Time flew away as they made up for the lost time, for a day and half's angst and loss. Arnav's mouth travelled down and up her neck as she arched back before settling on her mouth again. Her fingers went deep inside his hair, pulling him closer to herself, inviting him deeper inside her.

They broke the kiss only because they had to, as their lungs no longer could support the madness. They sat panting - her still on his lap, him still within her hold. Their hairs were a mess, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. As they both looked up, they could see satiety and hunger coexisting in each other's eyes. There was need for more, yet there was a calming sense of completeness.

As Khushi tried to move away, Arnav stopped her. He himself settled her on her seat the same way he had pulled her on his lap. Khushi started fixing her hair, her chest still heaving as an aftermath.

Arnav suddenly chuckled and Khushi looked up in surprise. His eyes were shining with amusement. Khushi frowned.

"Hundred and ten." Arnav chuckled again. "Out of hundred."

"What?" Khushi asked confused.

"Looks like scoring has become my habit."

Khushi stared at his amused face and suddenly she knew what he was talking about.

"3 .. 7 .. mm .. 9 .. mm ... 13 .."

She could hear his voice.

"What are you doing, Arnav" Khushi asked, surprised.

"What," Arnav managed to ask, as he tried to bring her face forward, his eyes focused on nothing but her lips.

"You are counting, Arnav," Khushi exclaimed.

"Oh, that" Arnav smirked. He held her face only an inch away from his as he replied with pouted lips, "I was not counting .. I was scoring you, Khushi Kumari Gupta."

"Wh " what," Khushi exclaimed, flustered and tried to push himself away from her.

"That was the deal, wasn't it," Arnav winked, "And your scoring starts now."

Khushi started laughing as their last maddening encounter in his white SUV in Delhi came back to her. Arnav's smile broadened.

"You are crazy, Arnav." Khushi said, still laughing. "You know that?"

"Crazy? Me? And you are saying that?" Arnav raised his eyebrows, still smiling.

"That reminds me. You never told me my score."

Arnav's smile faltered.

"It does not matter." He looked away.

"That's not fair." Khushi persisted, quite not noticing the change in his demeanour. "It was a deal! You were supposed to tell me my score. I had told you yours!"

"What's the point, Khushi." Arnav suppressed a sigh. "You tried to fail me. Still you could not. And I was not even trying to fail you .."

Khushi rubbed her fingers against each other as she could sense the change in his voice. The issues between them came rushing to her mind and she sighed. Why things had to go this way now? Couldn't they just part in a lighter note?

"I should go now." Khushi said not willing to risk spoiling the mood further.

"Yeah." Arnav pressed his lips together. "It is late."

Arnav sat silently as Khushi got down of the car. Hesitation was written all over her face as she fiddled with the strap of her bag. Finally, she looked into his eyes.

"Bye, Arnav."

Arnav nodded slightly, trying to read through the cloud of hesitation in her eyes.

"Good Night."

Khushi crossed the road and reached the door to her house quickly. She turned to see the car before pressing the bell. The black SUV was still at the same spot and Khushi could not but smile, the weight on her chest feeling little lighter.

Stubborn as*.

Did he really think she would believe in all those "because of Di and work" crap without any question? He definitely could confuse, but not convince her. Khushi shook her head and pressed the bell, still smiling. Men!

Arnav watched Khushi disappear inside the house and he sighed. Did they really have to remember now the unsolved issued between them? He latched his seatbelt and started driving, her smell playing with his senses. A peaceful smile slowly started to adorn his beautiful facial features as he gradually relaxed in his seat and drove towards Sheesh Mahal.

It was no less than hell for Arnav since he had bidden her goodbye yesterday at the airport. His resolution to not to let her walk away had made him feel better. His excitement had reached heights since he had boarded the plane to Lucknow. But only after he had finally seen her, he had found peace; he had felt he was living. Besides other things, he was not sure how he was going to deal with this strange sense of protectiveness he was feeling for her. Her being alone in the world of wolves was no longer settling down well with him. He felt like being with her always, to save her from everything, to keep her away from the slightest chance of danger. He was craving for more of what he had had during the last two days with her. He wanted her all to himself " in front of his eyes. Always. Now that she was home safe and sound, he could perhaps have a sound sleep tonight knowing she was not far from him anymore.

He was in Lucknow for her. Only for her. The discussion with Mr. Sharma could have been managed through a teleconference. Or perhaps Aman could have come and settle. But Arnav had wanted to see her immediately since he had figured he would not be able to rest until things were sorted between them. As was his nature, he could not bring himself to admit this to her. And also, quite habitually, he had tried to give a boost to his ego by not letting her understand why he was here. He could not seem so desperate!

Well, things no longer were working the same way for him. Arnav had immediately realized that his ego did not seek attention when it came to Khushi Kumari Gupta. Instead, his ego had been rather deflated as much as his heart had soared anticipating her disappointment at his denial.

"Damn." Arnav cursed himself. Couldn't he just tell her that he was here to talk to her? Couldn't he just tell her how much he longed for a glimpse of her?

However, smile returned to his face as he remembered their madness in this very car only a few minutes back. She always responded to his need with the same passion, if not more. After so many issues and so much denial, she yet gave in to their desire and there was no lack of warmth in her. Could she really walk away from him?

"I will not let you walk away, Khushi Kumari Gupta." Arnav's eyes shone with promise. "You. Are. Mine."

Some two hours later, Khushi was staring at her parents in the sky, sitting in the verandah. Arnav had not let her be quite alone since she had left Delhi. He had kept barging into her thoughts with or without the texts he had sent. He had admitted he knew she loved him. And then they had talked only to let Khushi drown in thoughts of him even more. Still she had felt incomplete and restless. She had missed him. Badly. She could gauge the depth of her despair only after she had seen Arnav again today.

Why was he here really? It could not be work only. Why did she feel he was here for her? The thoughts accompanied by the memory of his beautiful face and striking presence occupied her mind as she sat silently.

Khushi jolted back to reality as Payal too joined her in the verandah.

"What are you doing, Khushi?" Payal inquired as she sat beside Khushi with her legs crossed under her.

"Nothing specific, Jiji."

"Accha?" Payal frowned. "I am observing, Khushi. Since you are back from Delhi, you are daydreaming a lot!"

"Accha?" Khushi mocked. "How can you tell that?"

"I know everything about you." Payal declared confidently.

"Then tell me what I am thinking about, Miss Know-it-all!"

"It's easy." Payal rolled her eyes. "You are thinking about your Laad Governor."

Khushi's eyes widened instantly in shock and her mouth rounded.

"What made you think that?" Khushi demanded to know.

"Tell me if I am right!" Payal's eyes danced in humor.

"You can think whatever you want." Khushi stuck her tongue out. "I will keep my thoughts to mine."

"I know I am right." Payal boasted. "But tell me one thing, Khushi. You said you had not met any other boy in Delhi. So who is this Laad Governor?"

"No one special, Jiji." Khushi tried to avoid the discussion. "Are you done with your late night session with Jijaji?"

"Tell me the truth, Khushi. Who is Laad Governor? I read a text where you had addressed him as Arnav."

Khushi's mouth dried. She kept staring at her sister, not being able to find the rights words to reply with. She was used to sharing everything with Payal but this was the only thing she had not told her about.. yet. And she was not feeling very comfortable either, talking about her and Arnav. What would she tell her? That she herself approached Arnav Singh Raizada for his time to get over her obsession? That she gave away her virginity to him on a silver platter? That she had confessed loving him? That he did not believe in ties and commitments? That still he was persuading for a relationship? That everything inside her wanted to say yes to him?

Khushi did not need to tell anything.

"Oh my God!" Payal whispered and her eyes rounded. "It is Arnav Sigh Raizada!"

Khushi neither denied nor accepted. And reading her face, Payal knew she had guessed right. There was something brewing between her sister and the Arnav Singh Raizada. Hell! Payal was both excited and horrified at the possibility of her sister being somehow involved with Arnav Singh Raizada. He was any bachelorette's dream come true but he was so out of their league! As she remembered the printed images of different girls in his arms, her face paled.

"Khushi!" Payal murmured. "What have you gotten yourself into?"