Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation for Section 2

While he held the car door open for her, she got seated. Closing his eyes, he imbibed with pleasure, her jasmine scent that was flooding him, and her loose hair flying around her, gently stroking his face. He deliberately fixed the seat belt for her at leisure, all the while taking in her beauty at close quarters. He observed her hair caressing her cheek, her nose pin, her bright eyes, her trembling lips, her body in white suit. With great reluctance shutting the door, he drove them to an empty square.

Khushi noting the place asked him, what he was planning to do next. He asked her for the information of the place she had sold her payal. But the adamant Khushi remained silent. Seeing her refusal to answer his query, he told her that he wouldn't mind staying the whole night with her there and in the morning he would take her back home and ask her Buaji.

Seeing that he too was adamant and wouldn't let go she asked him what was ailing him. At his persistence, she told him that she did not sell but had pawned it at Kishorilalji's and he would keep it for her till she would redeem it at the beginning of the next month. She also asked him to keep his anger stashed away to be utilized on some other gullible person but not her. Arnav who knew that he had to get the information out of her could only afford to just grind his teeth and ask her for the location of the shop. Khushi was in confusion as to why he needed that information and asked him so. Arnav's reply not to test his patience had her take a jibe at him. She told him that she never knew that, he had patience that could be put to test and praised her Devi Maiyya for bestowing it on him. Hearing him grind his teeth, to rile him further, she called out to him and asked what the sound was of? Answering herself she continued saying that it was the sound of grinding teeth and he would look ugly without teeth. Continuing in the same vein without heeding his angry eyes boring into her, she said that it would be a shame to let people talk about it. They may say that it was a shame for such a young boy to be without teeth! They may say that maybe it was knocked out by someone.

Arnav who was at the edge of his patience roared out her name! Not one to cower by his bellow, she too roared an answering what? When his demand for Kishorilal's address was meted with a firm refusal, he told her calmly, that they would spend the whole night there itself. Saying that he was welcome to do so but she would go home, tried to open the door but found it locked. Khushi seeing his smug expression, fumed. He haughtily told her to be ready to face the volley of questions that her family would seek answers from her in the morning then. Cornered Khushi gave him Kishorilal's address and sat back with her arms crossed. Having got what he wanted, Arnav with a slight smile playing on his lips, drove her back home. When they neared her window, just to rile her up, he asked her whether she needed his help to climb knowing fully well she did need. Cursing under her breath at his haughtiness, she clambered through the open window with his help. His goodnight with a smile evoked a good bye, Mr. Raizada spitting fire and fury.

The fire was at his audacity and haughtiness and fury at herself for being the soft target and helpless!

That noon saw Khushi providing a feast of her lunch to the dogs at the alley behind the godown. She was not able to eat much of her Buaji's much loved cooking. Returning to her table to clear it of the lunch box spread she felt a gentle breeze caress her face and a sharp increase in palpitation of her heart. She turned to see Arnav present there.

Exasperated, she asked him now what? Without bothering to reply he quickly strode towards her, gathering her in his arms. lifting her by her waist made her sit on her table. His proximity made her hitch her breath and her hands automatically clutched his shoulders for support. His hands clasping hers gently placed it slowly on her lap. Pulling her chair he sat down. Lifting her left leg and bereaving it off its sandal, placed her foot on his thigh, all the while his eyes never leaving her face. Khushi was a nervous wreck, not knowing what he was upto.

Drawing out her payal from his pocket he fastened it on her foot not bothered by her attempts to withdraw it. Then he did the same with her right leg too. He lingered his fingers on her skin, enjoying the feeling, the softness and the tremor it produced in her. When she withdrew her foot with a jerk he let it go and stood up.

He drew out her mother's bangle studded with rubies and came very close to her. Her eyes darted from the bangle to his eyes. Taking her right hand he slid it on to her arm. The edge of the bangle grazed her at the knuckles, making her flinch. The man with the molten caramel eyes who had the power to make her into a putty in a sec asked her with concern, whether she was hurt. Khushi who was already swept in by the sensations produced by his touch and not to mention his eyes and voice couldn't trust herself to speak. She just shook her head to indicate that she was fine. Arnav bent his head close to her hand to inspect the knuckles.

His warm breath fanning her skin made her tremble. He looked up at her and took in the signs of her distress and pleasure with great pleasure. Placing a soft, feather light kiss on the bruise he whispered that he was sorry for hurting her.

It was an apology meant for all her sufferings for which he was the cause.

It was an apology for slighting her and her feelings.

It was an apology for emotionally wringing her with his scathing comments.

It was an apology for pushing her away from him.

It was an apology for making her unnecessary upheaval in life.

It was an apology for making her his favorite punching bag while all the time his anger was in fact towards himself for not being able to understand his emotions.

"And a step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction"

~ Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano

In this update we see the change in the direction of thoughts and attitude of Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta for the better.

Realizing that her Payals were missing he tries to find its whereabouts. He visits Khushi at midnight and gets more details of it. Next day he makes amends by procuring it from the pawn shop and adorns her feet with it. He also procures the bangle and slides it into her arms.

He apologizes to her for hurting.

He who had spoken scathingly about her was asking for her forgiveness, for inflicting unnecessary wounds.

He realizes that his talk of status, class were irrelevant. He sees that it was not an easy task to subjugate Khushi Kumari Gupta.

If he roars loud she too could roar back and match him too!

The entire update is the Volte face of his behavior so far and the change in him is for the better.

Khushi Kumari Gupta, has also changed for the better. She has shown herself as a person who values her dignity.

She refuses to divulge the details of the missing payals as it was her personal matter. Only when cornered she gives out the details.

She has shown that even though belonging to the middle class she carries herself well and with self- respect, that he had thought lacking in her.

This Khushi is different in her attitude and stands for herself.

The attitude of Khushi is Volte face to what it was before.

That is why I call this update VOLTE FACE

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can START NOW and MAKE A BRAND NEW BEGINNING"

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it.

rulama2013-03-16 03:30:59