Chapter 33

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32

"Damn." Arnav's brain answered as if in sudden realization. "I love her."

"Mr. Raizada. I believe you have already met Khushi. She has just joined us."

Both Arnav and Khushi flinched as the voice broke through their trance. They blinked at each other and recalling the ambience they were in right now, slowly turned to see Abhishek addressing Arnav, drawing himself up.

"Yeah. We have met." Arnav nodded, forcing himself out of the daze caused by the sudden, life-changing realization. He did not question himself. He did not ponder over it. Acceptance came most naturally. He loved her. It sounded so right. And it felt so peaceful.

He turned to Khushi again and cleared his throat slightly.

"It is good to have you back here, Ms Gupta."

Khushi only smiled in response, not willing to fluster herself. She walked round the table to find a seat opposite to Arnav. As she took her seat, with an easy and unobstructed view of Arnav, her eyes met his. There was something a little different in those eyes today. There was a softness she had not seen in him before. And slowly a light of amusement took over his intense gaze. Khushi could clearly tell he knew very well why she had chosen this seat.

"What?" She raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Like the view?" His eyes danced with humor as his lips curved into a quick, small smirk.

"Very much." She bit the inside of her lips to swallow the naughty smile creeping up her face.

"Me too." He leaned back on his chair, his face devoid of any expression but his eyes alight and smiling.

The meeting started immediately and it went on with both of them participating sincerely. No one noticed the exchange of unnecessary glances between the two. Everything seemed as formal and as normal as it should be.

Arnav was not supposed to attend this meeting for long. He had just meant to pay a courtesy visit. Since Khushi was here, he was now all set to stay till it was over. He was loosely engrossed in the ongoing argument between Aman and Abhishek on some terms used in the project charter when his phone in vibration mode suddenly buzzed.

'Someone isn't very happy to see me here.'

Arnav quickly glanced at Khushi and caught her staring at him. She quickly curved her lips as if she were sad and then pretended sighing.

"Drama queen." Arnav murmured, all amused. He typed in a reply, holding the phone below the table.

'Who is this someone?'

'Someone who I am very happy to see.'

'Lucky him.'

He does not feel so.'

'How do you know?'

'Because he seems all grumpy.'

'May be he is happy.'

The next reply came after a few minutes. It was an MMS with a brief description attached to it.

'Happy? Probably.'

The image was of a grumpy looking bird claiming this was how he looked when he was happy.

Arnav stared at the MMS for a few seconds and before he could restrain, the bubbling laughter broke free. There were these rare moments in life when one could not control laughing despite sincere effort and this was it for Arnav. He knew he was doing the most inappropriate thing sitting in a meeting right now but he just could not stop himself. His eyes welled up in the most unusual way, his stomach started to hurt pleasingly. And he let himself go, cherishing the feeling of amusement, making a point of the humor of the message.

The meeting room had gone silent the moment the sound of his laughter had been first heard. Everyone was staring at him shell-shocked as this was a first for them to see Arnav Singh Raizada laughing his heart out. Even his courtesy smiles were a rare view. They were not sure how to perceive something so unusual and looked at each other, baffled, wondering what had gone so wrong.

Khushi had not expected him to react this way and so she was first startled to see him laughing. But it was not a first for her and so his carefree laughter touched her too. She bit her lips and still could not control the full blown smile. Her smile broadened as she saw the jaw-dropped faces of others and so she lowered her head in attempt to swallow down the laughter that was threatening to break free.

'Stop laughing!'

She typed in as her body shook with the suppressed laughter. She watched him lowering his head to read the text and then he bit his lips, still smiling from ear to ear. He glanced at her, the smile slowly fading from his face but not his eyes.

He shifted his gaze towards others and could read the bare shock in their faces. He opened his mouth, little embarrassed and then shut it.

"Ermmm..." He finally said. "Let's carry on with the discussion."

Everyone nodded their head in unison, trying their best to get back from their state of shock. Aman cleared his throat and volunteered to initiate the discussion again.

Few seconds later Khushi's phone buzzed.

'He seems very good-looking to me.'

Khushi looked up to see him staring at her. Her mouth rounded slightly in disbelief and she typed in.

Does the mirror lie? Now stop texting me.'

You stop first.'

Khushi curved her lips, as if in rebuke and then put her phone on the table in front of her, glancing at him once. He imitated her, his eyes still smiling.

The rest of the meeting went mostly uneventful. Some important decisions were taken. Some deadlines were fixed. Some responsibilities were assigned. And both Arnav & Khushi waited eagerly for the meeting to end. They were looking forward to the first opportunity they could grab, to catch up with each other.

Arnav and Aman accompanied Khushi and Abhishek till the exit and engaged them in casual talk as they waited in the driveway for the car. Mahesh, the Operations expert, had left on his own as he had some other plan. In no time, the black sedan rented by AR for the delegates arrived.

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Raizada." Abhishek shook hands with Arnav. "See you, Aman."

Aman waved his hand to his school friend. Their twenty years of friendship had recently got the professional dimension. It was through Aman, Abhishek, on behalf of S&S had approached AR in the first place and then had managed to negotiate the deal.

"Let's go, Khushi." Abhishek gestured Khushi to get into the car.

Arnav immediately glanced at Khushi who seemed as startled as he was, at the offer. They both were expecting to make some plan with each other as soon as Abhishek would leave.

"I thought Ms. Gupta was not staying at the guest house." Arnav said cautiously. "Haven't we arranged a separate car for her, Aman?"

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary." Abhishek replied before Aman could speak. "I would drop her on the way."

Arnav did not reply further but Khushi could tell he was not happy with the arrangement. In fact, she had not expected this either but she found no other alternative but to feel obliged to listen to her boss. She glanced at him and pressed her lips into a somewhat apologetic smile. As she moved to get into the car, she saw Arnav stepping ahead to open the door but Abhishek got it for her instead. Khushi nervously glanced at him before sliding in and she could see the lines of his face hardening.

"Crap." Khushi muttered as she saw him stepping back and shifting his gaze off her. This was not how any of them had expected the day would turn out to be.

Khushi had to utilize the last bit of her willpower to not turn her head and watch him as the car started driving away. She could not wait to get off the car and call him. This was what she had been waiting for all this while - to get some privacy to talk to him. She knew Arnav was expecting the same.

"Khushi, are you sure you will be fine at the hotel?" Abhishek's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Yes, Abhi. Don't worry. I have stayed there last time too."

"Ok. But I would suggest you not to go out alone. Are you planning to go to your buaji's?"

"I may, but not tonight."

"Ok. Tell me if you want to. May be Mahesh or I can go with you. At least, you should get a secured transportation."

"Thanks, Abhi."

Abhishek smiled.

"Would you like to stop for tea somewhere?"

"Not today." Khushi apologized. "I am very tired."

Khushi would not have said no unless she was dying to be alone with Arnav right now. Abhishek was friendly in nature and he treated his team quite informally, otherwise needed. Having tea with him after office hours was nothing new for Khushi or the others in the team. She saw no harm in it, especially after attending an invite to Abhishek's place few weeks back. He clearly inherited the warmth in his nature from his parents. She had liked his mother as much as she liked his father - Ashutosh Sharma, the CEO of S&S.

"I thought tea was the ultimate medicine for the tired soul." Abhishek chuckled. "Well, I actually wanted to go over the plans with you before the final meeting tomorrow. We have to do it tonight anyhow. How would you suggest we can spend some 30 minutes on that?"

Khushi hid a sigh. Though Abhishek had asked most casually, she knew she was in no position to refuse. She was here for work, she reminded herself. Well, tea did seem like the better option.

"Ok. We can go to my hotel. We can have tea in the lobby and review the plans too."

"Sounds good to me." Abhishek nodded in approval.

No sooner had they settled themselves in the lobby, they got engrossed into the intricacies of the implementation plan. Some fifteen minutes later Khushi's phone buzzed. Checking the screen of her phone, Khushi instantly got up.

"I have to take this call." She excused herself and walked to a somewhat quiet corner of the room.

"Hello."

"Have you reached yet or not?" Arnav's impatient voice came from the other side.

"Yes.."

"Were you planning to call me at all?"

Khushi could clearly feel his irritation.

"Sorry, Arnav. Abhi and I are just going through the files .."

"Abhi?"

"Abhishek. My boss."

"Oh!" Arnav paused for few seconds. "Where exactly are you doing it? Is he in your room?"

"No." Khushi said incredulously. "We are in the lobby."

Arnav remained silent. Khushi felt a little annoyed with the way he had been interrogating her, but she understood him too. Judging by the level of her own impatience, she could feel he must be frustrated too. He had sounded quite excited about them meeting again every time they had talked after her confirmation. And now, nothing was going right.

"Arnav." She softened her voice. "Give me 20 minutes. We should be done by then. I will call you, ok?"

"As you wish."

Khushi sighed as he hung up the phone not letting her speak further. He seemed to be in a very irritable mood. She went back to the table and started to review quickly, her mind ruminating somewhat with the unhappy tone of a seemingly unhappy man.

"What's your plan for dinner?" Abhishek asked casually as he closed his laptop.

"Nothing much. I will just grab something." Khushi stood up, not willing to linger the conversation.

"You should try the meals in the guest house. The chef is really good." Abhishek praised genuinely.

"Mr. Raizada would not settle for anything but the best." Khushi quipped as she remembered Arnav boasting about his standards and choices. They had been talking about AR's next season fashion show and Khushi had suggested about trying some of the local models. Arnav had rebuffed the idea claiming only the best models could make it to AR.

Abhishek raised an eyebrow in surprise and then smiled.

"No wonder he chose you."

The statement startled Khushi and she looked at him flustered. Her mind quickly provided her with the correct interpretation. He must be talking about her being the project coordinator.

"Oh .. that." She smiled nervously. "Thanks to your dad. He must have made a suggestion."

Abhishek shrugged.

"Ok. See you tomorrow then. You give me a call if you need anything, ok?"

"Sure."

Khushi started dialing Arnav's number as soon as Abhishek left.

"Yes."

Khushi smiled at the unusual greeting as she could almost visualize his grim face.

"Looks like someone is not really in his best mood."

"What does that have anything to do with you?"

Khushi chuckled.

"True. He looks the same always anyway."

Arnav did not respond to her joke.

"What? So you are not going to talk to me even?"

"I am talking."

"Yeah right." Khushi snapped. "Fine. Don't talk. I just called to tell you that I am alone now. Bye."

And she hung up.

"Laad governor kahin ka." Khushi muttered as she made her way through the lobby towards the elevator. This was not how the day was supposed to be she thought, somewhat disturbed.

Her phone buzzed.

"What?" She snapped again.

"Don't ever hang up on me." His voice was serious.

"Why? Only you can do that?"

"No." Arnav paused. "None of us should do it. Now stop talking and come to the bistro. I am bored."

"What bistro?"

"The restaurant in your hotel where we dined last time." Arnav replied impatiently. "Are you coming or not?"

"You are here?" Khushi sounded surprised.

"Yes."

"What are you doing here?" Khushi exclaimed as she started pacing towards the bistro.

"Playing football." Arnav retorted.

"Kya?"

"Uff, Khushi. You are unbelievable! What do you think I am doing?"

"Having pasta?"

"No! I am not having pasta!

"Liar!"

"What?"

"I can see you are having pasta."

"What ..?"

Arnav looked up to see Khushi on her phone, standing near the entrance of the bistro. Her smile broadened as their eyes met.

"Looks like you are hallucinating these days." Arnav smirked as she saw her walking towards his table.

"Good that you are not having pasta."

"Why?" Arnav leaned back on his chair as Khushi came and stood opposite him.

"Because.." she hung up the phone. "I am not feeling like having pasta."

"So what does Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta feel like having today?" Arnav too kept his phone away.

"Something normal. Regular."

Arnav stood up. "Fine. Let's go and eat somewhere else then."

"Can you give me 10 minutes?" Khushi requested hesitantly. "I want to change. I am in this suit since Lucknow."

Arnav stared at her. Waiting? Again? Why was nothing going smoothly today?

"Do you really have to change?" He said cautiously.

"I better .." She smiled apologetically.

"Ok." Arnav shrugged. "I am waiting then."

Khushi stared at him as he slumped in his chair again. He was still wearing the same dark grey suit and white shirt. His stubble seemed to have grown a bit more. He had come straight from office. For her. His eyes were shining when she had entered the bistro and it had just mellowed down a bit.

"Aren't your coming?" Khushi asked, smiling slightly.

Arnav raised his eyebrows, questioning.

"Are you going to wait here alone or come with me to my room?"

Khushi watched with a warm heart as a slow smirk spread across his face.

"If you insist."

Arnav followed Khushi into her room. It was somewhat similar to the room she had stayed in last time. Arnav settled himself on the bed as Khushi quickly took out a fresh dress from her suitcase and went to change in the bathroom. She came out soon in a simple black chudidar. She stood in front of the mirror and Arnav watched as she quickly fixed her face. She dabbed some face powder. Then she redid her kajal and applied some lipstick. She combed her hair and realized she had not tied the back dori yet. As she swept her hair off on one side and started tying the dori, Arnav felt his palms prickling strangely. He forced himself to remain seated, swallowing down the desire to go and help her tie the knot, to run his fingers on her skin, to feel her softness. Damn. It felt like ages he had touched her.

Arnav sighed as he watched her moving within her reach but he was determined not to give in to his desire. He had consciously avoided talking about themselves in last three weeks. It was more because he had feared of losing the communion otherwise. That Khushi was keeping in touch had given him hope and he had no intention to risk it. He had constantly thought of her, he had fantasized about having her in his arms. But he had also realized that its not only the physical intimacy which he longed for. He missed each moment spent with her, even watching her chat with his sister from the distant. The moment he had had the sudden realization today, that it was love he felt for her, he had suddenly started to feel very apprehensive about their physical intimacy. He wanted to convey more of his feelings towards her; he did not want to make her feel that all he longed for, was her touch.

Khushi could not believe Arnav was just sitting idle like that. Though she was pretending as if she were completely busy in getting ready, she, with her whole being, actually was anticipating a move from him. Anything. It was true that she had no plan to encourage any physical intimacy but from the moment she had seen him she was longing to feel him again - his hardness that melted her softness even more, his hold that made her feel home and protected. She just wanted to feel him, to be sure he was there for real.

When she was completely ready and there was no more excuse left to remain in the closed doors any longer, Khushi finally walked up to him.

"Let's go?" she gave him a small smile.

"Yeah." Arnav instantly stood up and smiled back.

As Arnav turned and walked towards the door, Khushi's mouth rounded in shock. What the f**k was wrong with him? She followed him to the door, still hoping him to take her in his arms, sweep her off her feet, to kiss her senseless and may be more .. or at least anything. Disappointing her to the core, Arnav opened the door and walked out.

"What the ..?!" Khushi muttered, little shocked, little disappointed, little angered, as she removed the room key from the slot. Had he suddenly started practicing austerity or had he suddenly lost interest in her?

Arnav took Khushi to Bukhara, at Mauryas, famous for serving the finest Indian cuisine in Delhi. The ambience was cozy and the food was delectable. Khushi thoroughly enjoyed her time as they chatted on random things between chewing, swallowing and sipping. However, Arnav behaving all friendly had still not settled down well with her and the nagging feeling did not go.

Around ten Arnav dropped Khushi at her hotel. When Arnav stopped the car in the parking instead of dropping her in the driveway, Khushi's heart leapt up again with anticipation. Her heart started to race reminiscing their previous encounters in his car.

"Let me walk you to the entrance." Arnav unlatched his seatbelt and started getting off the car.

Khushi sat still for a few seconds as if cold water was thrown all over her. It was so difficult for her to digest how indifferently Arnav was behaving. He had not even held her hand once. Forget holding hand, he had not even properly flirted with her. What the f**k was wrong with him?

They walked in silence side by side and Khushi could feel her frustration slowly turning into futile anger. As they reached the entrance to the hotel, Khushi took a deep breath and turned to face him.

"Thanks for the dinner. It was good."

Arnav smiled in response.

"So .. see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Bye, Arnav."

Khushi turned and stomped off, disgruntled, not allowing Arnav to speak further. Arnav watched her receding form and shrugged slightly. Now what had gotten into her suddenly? Did she run away fearing he might ..?

Arnav frowned and decided he had made the right decision to not make any move. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her feel uncomfortable.

Some five minutes later, as he drove down the road of Delhi, his phone buzzed. Slowing the car a bit, he checked the message.

'Laad Governor!!'

Arnav frowned in confusion. He could almost hear her gritting her teeth as he read the message. Why was she mad? He replied when he stopped the car at the signal.

'What did I do?'

Reply came instantly.

'Nothing.'

'Then?'

'Wohi to problem hain.'

Arnav stared at the screen for some time and started laughing as the meaning of the message registered with him. If he understood her rightly, he had been behaving himself today for the wrong reason.

"Pagal." He murmured as he started the car, still smiling. She was unbelievable. And she was so cute. And he was such a .. fool.

At the same time, in her hotel room, Khushi was seething in anger and continuously cursing Arnav as she changed into a white salwar and her favorite, almost worn-out oversized white t-shirt.

"What does he think of himself?" She kept muttering as she switched off the lights and started arranging the bed. She lied down in the bed, still frustrated and pulled the duvet over herself. She could not close her eyes as she tossed and turned on the bed restless, pondering over the strange behavior of Arnav.

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Who has come now?" Khushi cursed under her breath and got off the bed, her frustration reaching its peak.

She opened the door loudly.

"What??" She barked and froze.

"Whoa!" Arnav widened his eyes. "Did I wake you up?"

"How did you come here?" Khushi snapped, recovering from the initial surprise.

"By car?" Arnav said matter-of-factly.

"Very funny." Khushi snapped again. "How did you manage to reach the floor?"

"Seriously?" Arnav raised his eyebrows. "Is that what you want to know now?"

"What are you doing here?" Khushi crossed her arms, her voice irked.

Arnav sighed. "You know what? You are incorrigible."

Before Khushi could come up with a reply, she saw him move. In the next second she felt she was standing inside her room, her back pressed against the closed door. Arnav's breath was warming her face as he stood inches away from her, his hands resting on the door on either side of her head.

"Bahaut bolti ho tum." He murmured.

Khushi could feel her heartbeat picking up rapidly, her chest started to heave slowly, her hands sweating in anticipation.

"Why are you here?" She managed to murmur feebly.

Arnav tilted his head on one side and smiled slightly confirming to himself that she was indeed mad because of the "nothing".

"I figured we have some unfinished business." He scanned her face, his eyes filled with both amusement and desire. He lifted his right hand off the door and caressed her hot and flushed cheeks seductively with his fingers.

"What business?" Despite her earnest effort, her voice weakened further.

Khushi shuddered as she felt his hands on the sides of her thighs. He smoothly slid his hands up and ran inside her t-shirt. He held her by her bare waist and pulled her near him. By now Khushi's frustration had transformed into complete longing and every inch of her body cried in need. God! Khushi's hands too, wrapped around his waist reflexively, pulling him as close as was possible.

"I was trying to behave." Arnav murmured huskily as he brushed her nose with his, breathing in the familiar smell deeply after a long time. "But .. what's the point of depriving ourselves from a proper reunion?"

"You talk too much." Khushi reprimanded as she let her nose brush against the stubble over his cheeks. Oh! How much she missed the dizzying effect of his smell. How badly she longed his proximity. How terribly she missed his touch on her bare skin.

Arnav felt her squirming inside his hold. Squirming in need. The thought hardened him. He could feel his body reciprocating the same need, urging him to give her what she had not asked for, but he knew she needed.

"Welcome to Delhi, Ms. Gupta." He murmured before taking her lips within his.

The contact sent spark through their bodies immediately. The wait was worth it. They felt more what they had missed and they deepened the kiss.

In response to Arnav's gentle probing, Khushi reacted violently. She first pulled back and then claimed his lips vigorously. Arnav felt her ravishing him - her mouth, tongue and teeth abusing him and he surrendered willingly, with utmost pleasure. He opened his mouth, giving her all the access she demanded and he helped her take him as brutally as she wanted.

He wanted to tell her - he was her. Only her. He wanted to belong. To her.

"Damn, I missed you, Arnav." Khushi murmured as she started pushing him back.

Even with his body on fire, Arnav felt his heart flutter. Before she claimed him again as they toppled on the bed, he managed to say the one thing he had always felt sounded so lame but now he felt was the only truth.

"I missed you too, baby."

- Reviewed by Ritz (iritz) & Dips (bs_deeps)