Chapter 41
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Silent Whispers
-CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE-
The Taste of Flight
"Yes, Mr.
Sharma. I'm well aware of our agreement and I assure you, the terms are not
going to change any time in the near future. Don't worry."
Khushi gazed
out the glass walls of Arnav's office, staring at the empty desks on the
deserted first floor of AR Designs.
She didn't have to think hard to know why most of the company was absent. It
was tradition to end Friday evenings early, a custom she sorely missed at her
new job. Not that she was complaining, of course. She would take her tiny, busy
and stressful new job over her old one any day. She wouldn't and didn't put it past her old colleagues to
bombard her with inappropriate questions about the nature of her relationship
with their boss the second they got the chance.
"Perfect. I
will have my secretary fax you the details," Arnav said. He was on the phone
with an important client. "Have a great weekend Mr. Sharma."
Khushi felt
his eyes drill into her back as he disconnected the call. She determinedly
continued to look down at the first floor, reminiscing the days of her employment
there. Did Arnav ever watch over her, like she was now? Or was he too busy with
work even then?
A strong pair
of arms suddenly encircled her frame. "What are you looking at?" he asked, his chin
resting on her shoulder.
The hairs at
the back of her neck stood up. She was yet to get used to his proximity. "Did
you ever look for me from here?"
He chuckled.
"That's an interesting question."
"So you did?"
He pointed to
the far left corner of the floor below them in answer, where a line of cabins
stood, all with translucent walls. "That was your office. Of course, you being...
well, you, never left that tiny room
for longer than five minutes. I used to wonder why I even assigned you a cabin...
I should have just given you a cubicle. At least that way I would've seen you
more often."
She turned
around in his arms, her back pressed against the glass wall. "I liked that
office."
"I thought
you would. It was another thing that I was reminded by multiple people that
interns don't get offices."
Her eyes
widened. "So, what did you tell them?"
"Nothing...
your presentation to the board of directors on the very first day sent everyone
my reasoning loud and clear - you deserved it."
Khushi felt
herself grinning sheepishly. "So that's
why you put me on the spot that day..."
His arms
tightened around her as he leaned in closer. "I don't do anything without a
reason birthday girl."
"And I used
to think you weren't even impressed with me."
His breath
fanned her face. "Silly."
A sharp knock
echoed through the room. Khushi jumped as Arnav withdrew his arms -calmly- and
stepped back. "Come in," he called.
To her utter
embarrassment, a burly looking man walked in, who she instantly recognized as
Jai, one of the company's trusted managers and not to mention, her close
colleague back when she was an intern.
"Do you have
the papers?" Arnav asked, his voice business-like.
Jai nodded
and extended a blue colored file.
"Give me a
minute," Arnav replied, collecting it and striding back to his desk.
"Of course."
As Arnav
became absorbed in the file, Jai turned his attention to a rigid Khushi, sniggering
shamelessly as he darted his eyes to his boss, his question clear.
She felt her
cheeks color in answer.
Jai chortled
with silent laughter. Fortunately, Arnav spoke just then:
"Get Kunal to
read this over before you send it off."
Jai
immediately sobered up and took the file back. "Sure Mr. Raizada. Have a great
weekend." Then, after a quick thought, he added, "You should visit more often
Khushi - we miss you here."
"Sure you do
Jai," she muttered when he winked slyly at her before leaving.
Arnav looked
blankly at her. "Did I miss something?"
"This is why I didn't want to work here,"
she groaned, dropping in the chair across from his desk. "The last thing we
need is for people to jump to conclusions every time we stand within two feet
of each other!"
He raised an
eyebrow. "What conclusion did Jai make exactly?"
"He was
snickering like a two year old. He thought we were snogging in the middle of
your office, which by the way, has zero
privacy!"
"Well, I'm
sure Anjali didn't foresee that I would use my cabin for anything other than
work while designing it."
"Clearly you
missed the point."
Arnav sighed,
picking up on her sour mood, before walking around his desk to settle in the
chair next to hers. "That's because you don't have a point."
"I was your intern! Do you even know what that
means? The only type of "relationship" a boss and an intern have-"
"-is none of anyone's
business. If the whole company thinks we are just sleeping with each other,
then let them. They will be in for a rude shock when they realize there is much
more between us."
Khushi wasn't
convinced. How could she possibly explain the doubts eating her away?
"Listen to
me," he said, seriously. "You are not
an affair or for that matter, a fling that started because our hormones were
out of control."
She rolled
her eyes. Sometimes he was such a gentlemen that she had a hard time believing
he was even real, forget dating him.
He pressed
on. "I liked you long before I even knew you were going to be my intern. So
please stop feeling like this is some typical office romance."
She stopped
short. "Really? You liked me even before the interview?"
"Yes, really. I liked you since the night of
your birthday when we shared that infamous kiss."
She couldn't
believe her ears. As far as she could remember, their encounter that night was
disastrous, both throwing retorts at each other as if they were going to be
sworn enemies and her storming out of the room, vowing to never see him again.
How did he still like her after all that?
"Now, if you
are done brooding over what people may or may not think about you, can we get
going? As much as this office is beautifully designed, I would rather spend my
Friday night somewhere else."
Khushi
nodded, dazed. He was right; the night was young and much too promising for her
to worry about pesky rumors flying about them. So, when they were safely
driving away from the AR Designs, she
turned to him and asked:
"Was it
really the kiss?"
He flashed
her favorite crooked smile. "A little bit."
"So what was
the other bit?"
"You," he
replied simply, taking no time whatsoever to answer. "I just couldn't keep
myself from falling in love with you."
And no matter
how hard she tried Khushi couldn't stop a warm fuzzy feeling from occupying
every inch of her body, as her lips pulled back for a wide, giddy grin.
* * *
"It's me!"
came Payal's voice.
Akash didn't
answer, staring determinedly at the darkening canvas in front of him. He had
been mixing colors for over an hour, trying to find the perfect shade of peach
for the girl that came to him just that morning.
From the
corner of his eyes, he saw Payal walk through his studio apartment to stand
right behind him. She tilted her head and gazed thoughtfully at his painting.
"Is she falling or flying?"
Akash smiled
and set down his paintbrush. "You tell me."
She stepped
closer to the canvas and peered closely at the girl in question, while he
washed his hands at the nearby sink.
Another day
was gone.
Another
glorious day filled with unaccounted possibilities and endless new thoughts.
Even though it had only been two months since he moved into his one bedroom
flat overlooking the city of Delhi, he felt as if he had been living there for
years, as if he had always stood beside the scenic balcony, painting image
after an image, stopping only to answer his unavoidable human needs.
Truly, Akash
savored his independence. More than he expected and definitely, enough for him
to never give it up.
"I give up,"
Payal said, exasperated. "Just tell me what it is supposed to be."
Akash dried
his hands with small towel. "Neither."
Her jaw
dropped. "Neither?! Then why did you ask me which one it is?"
He grinned.
"Because it's different for everyone. I was curious to see which one you would
pick."
Payal crossed
her arms, impressed. "That's pretty deep. So, I guess you haven't given up
then?"
Akash
shrugged. "I told you I wouldn't. Besides I like it here. It's very quiet and
peaceful, just what an aspiring artist needs."
She grinned.
"I knew you would. But for the record, I wasn't the one who was hesitating about
a career in painting for real."
"Everyone is
allowed a chance to doubt themselves once in a while, okay?"
"I know, but
I'm just saying that I never doubted
you, not even for a second."
Akash stared
at her. Did he hear right? Sometimes she talked as if they were soul mates,
meant to be together for eternity and at others, she brushed him off as a mere
acquaintance. How could one person
give so many mixed signals?!
"But I'm glad
you like this place," she continued, completely oblivious to his reaction.
He cleared
his throat. "Yeah... how did you even find it though? It's too good of a deal, if
you know what I mean."
Payal grinned
sheepishly. And it suddenly hit him.
"You were
going to move in here?!" he exclaimed, cursing himself for not putting the
pieces together earlier.
"No, don't
worry about it," she replied, quickly. "I thought I could live here. But my mom
threw a fit about me living alone without being married. It was a long drawn
out fight that, frankly speaking, was completely pointless. So I just gave up."
It was
Akash's turn to be amazed. "You really do have a big heart."
"No," she
objected. "I really love my parents. I know I will have to move out eventually,
so what does it matter if it's now or later?"
Akash nodded,
being reminded of his own conversation with Arnav about moving out. It was a
month after Anjali's accident, when he had returned to Shantivaan after completing his restoration project in Jaipur. He
had expected his brother to refuse outright, to throw a murderous fit, but to
his utter surprise, he did neither. Arnav had simply nodded, deep in thought,
and asked him if he had found a place to stay yet.
And that was
it. Within two weeks, Payal had found him a good apartment and he had signed
the lease without even a customary visit. He knew he had to move out before his
brother changed his mind or Anjali became emotional.
However, it
was during his first night in his new apartment that reality really hit. That
was when he saw, up close, his entire future lying in front of him, just
waiting for him make a decision. It wasn't easy. It had been a solid month
before he could find his way around in that part of the city and a whole other
to secure a job as an advertisement designer for a local newspaper, a less than
ideal employment, but still better than what he had expected.
"Did you talk
to Khushi?"
Akash blinked
out of his reverie to see Payal staring at him, expectant. He had a distinct
feeling she purposefully brought up the topic of his ex-girlfriend.
"Are you
still angry?" she asked, when the silence became too long.
"No," he replied,
turning away from her concerned face. Sometimes he felt as if she was more
invested in his life than he. "I just don't know what to say."
"To her? Or
about her?"
"She lost her
mother Payal and I didn't even know.
Regardless of what happened between us, I should have been there... with her, for
her. She didn't deserve to go through all that alone. On top of that, I accused
her of cheating with my brother. That's a whole other level of unforgiveable."
Payal let out
a sigh. "You don't need to say anything Akash... sometimes our presence does all
the talking for us."
He stubbornly
stared out into the darkening sky.
"But for that
to happen, you need to be in the same room as her and not miles away!"
"You don't
know that. We have both been through so much-"
"-that it's
time you make it up to each other. The least you can do is apologize for her
loss."
Akash slowly
turned back to face her. "Why do you even care about this? You and Khushi hate
each other."
Her face
darkened significantly. "We don't hate
each other."
He snorted.
"Really? Then why were you both fighting worse than cats and dogs?"
"I don't
expect you to understand," she said frankly. "But there are some things that me
and Khushi relate very well with. And I know
she would want you to be there for her, no matter what happened."
"So that's
why you are vouching for her then?"
"I'm vouching
for you Akash, whether you see it or
not! Every day you wait to talk to her, the harder it is going to be for you to
reconcile with her. And don't tell me
you don't miss her."
He pressed
his lips.
He did miss her. A lot. He missed her
endless chatter, her unreasonable demands and perhaps, the most important, her
constant reassurance. He missed Lavanya too for that matter. Her quirky fashion
sense, her unnecessary melodrama and her genuine care were all impossible to
simply forget.
His two best
friends, really, were the best part of his life.
"There,"
Payal said, victorious. "It's settled then. You will talk to Khushi."
Akash sighed
and dropped onto an old couch he bought only a few days ago. The seller had
given him such a good price that he just couldn't refuse, even though it was
completely unnecessary in his studio apartment.
"I wish it
was that simple," he said, calm. "But forget this. How come you are here?"
Payal shook
her head. She didn't like being sidetracked, a trait that was remarkably
similar to Khushi's. "I had to drop something off."
A line appeared
on his forehead. "What?"
She walked to
the doorstep in answer, where lying beside her handbag, was a big box, wrapped
in an old newspaper. She picked it up and hurried back to him. "I thought you
could use this."
Akash
curiously took the parcel and began opening it. Nothing could have prepared him
for the nostalgia that hit when he ripped away the last of the wrapping to see
a smiling photo of him and his siblings in front of their ancestral mansion in
Lucknow.
"You could
hang it up here," Payal said, briskly turning away from him to point to a wall
at the far end of room. It was her subtle way of giving him privacy.
He cleared
his throat, his heart pulling at both the memory of his family and the utmost
care she had unknowingly expressed. "Are you sure?" he said, trying to keep his
voice even.
She paused,
but didn't turn around.
Akash slowly
walked up to her, the frame in hand and stood, shoulder to shoulder, beside her.
"We could also hang it on that other wall with the rest of the frames."
Payal slowly
nodded. "Yeah, that would look nice too."
He stared at
her, wondering if she even listened to his suggestion; he had just uttered the
first thing that came to his mind, not wanting to let an awkward silence
settled in between them.
She seemed to
feel his gaze, for she looked up, meeting his eyes surprised. "What?"
"Why did you bring
this?" The question slipped out without his control.
She let out a
sincere smile. "I know you miss them. I just hoped this would make you miss
them less."
He looked
into her chocolate brown eyes, feeling as if he was seeing them for the first
time ever. Were they always so lustrous or was it because of the evening
sunlight glistening within them?
She
surprisingly met his gaze back without any shyness or hesitance, giving him the
privilege to admire her and yet, keeping him at the edge of her space. And
perhaps it was this comfort between them, or maybe even her devout attention to
him and his life, but it was enough for him to lean in and cross the line from
where there was no coming back.
He kissed
her.
And as he
did, he felt his heart race in anticipation, as she froze, surrendering to his
unexpected advances. A strange feeling was gripping him, taking over his senses
and controlling his actions. Knowing that he was pushing his luck, Akash
quietly leaned away, watching her face closely.
Payal didn't
move an inch, keeping her eyes firmly shut as her cheeks turned a deep shade of
pink. That was the first time he realized just much he affected her.
"Thank you,"
he finally murmured. "For everything."
She gingerly
opened her eyes and nodded, her voice apparently caught in her throat.
"And for the
record," he said casually, striding back to the couch he occupied only minutes
ago. "I really thought you would see the girl flying."
He glanced
back upon receiving no reply. Payal stood still, a confused expression
lingering on her soft features.
"They say
once you know the taste of flying, you will always want another. I figured the
girl who taught me that will be the one to see it first."
She gasped,
understanding what he so carefully slipped into his words. "I have to go," she
mumbled, before grabbing her purse and dashing out the door as if her life
dependent on it.
But for
Akash, that was the response he was expecting and to a small extent, even
hoping. So, shaking his head in affection, he resumed painting, much more
happier than he had been in a very long time.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Aaannddd all the pieces are falling in place 
I hope that answered all the doubts on Akash and what he is up to!
I hope that answered all the doubts on Akash and what he is up to! Please like and comment! Your wonderful comments make my day
Archi
P.S. - I have exams until the end of April 
So, I am going to apologize in advance for long delays. I will try my best to post a chapter every two weeks or so!
So, I am going to apologize in advance for long delays. I will try my best to post a chapter every two weeks or so! Your reaction
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Comments (82)
Arshi were the treat as always in this chapter. Loved their convo.
1 years ago
Payal is the voice of reason for Akash.
1 years ago
Dont like payal n akash pairing much in this ff anyways loved arshi convo as always.
1 years ago
Chapter bookmarked! I will drop my comment latee
2 years ago
[QUOTE=SharuAG]Thoughts on Chapter 39: You are filling all the gap and giving us a light on all the grey areas. The way you are building relationship with each pair is very natural and realistic. You let me take from baby steps to make sure of their feelings. What I didn;t understand until up to this chapter is, The reason for you to pair Khushi with Akash. Was it the reason to create the drama or scandal? As, from the very beginning you were very clear that Khushi is never gonna fall in love with him. and at the same time, she was such a headstrong and independent girl. She was acting as a pillar for Akash irrelevant of their girlfriend/ boyfriend relationship. You made your stand to make them as best friends. I hope you would bring bit of Lavaniya in next chapter.[/QUOTE] Thank you for your comment hun! Khushi and Akash's relationship is a symbol of Khushi's insecurity. Akashi falls in love with her because of the pillar she was/is to him. The problem was that it was a platonic relationship from the beginning and Aaksh didn't realize that until it was too late. Khushi on the other hand, says yes to him because she didn't want to lose him. From the beginning of this story she had abandonment issues - she is always in fear that people will leave her; that is only reason she hasn't yet told Arnav that she loves him. So, despite knowing that she will never see Akash the way she should, she clings to him for security. It made her feel loved. That is also the reason she gets so mad when she realizes that Akash lied to her about his family. In her mind, he betrayed her like how her parents did. Sure, this complex is irrational, but Khushi had a terrible childhood. She is scarred from the messy divorce Shashi-Garima had and the numerous suicides Garima attempted. Of course, her falling in love with Arnav started her healing process - he is making her believe in all the things she lost faith in, but it will take time. I hope that answered your question! -Archi-2015-0
9 years ago
Thoughts on Chapter 39: You are filling all the gap and giving us a light on all the grey areas. The way you are building relationship with each pair is very natural and realistic. You let me take from baby steps to make sure of their feelings. What I didn;t understand until up to this chapter is, The reason for you to pair Khushi with Akash. Was it the reason to create the drama or scandal? As, from the very beginning you were very clear that Khushi is never gonna fall in love with him. and at the same time, she was such a headstrong and independent girl. She was acting as a pillar for Akash irrelevant of their girlfriend/ boyfriend relationship. You made your stand to make them as best friends. I hope you would bring bit of Lavaniya in next chapter.SharuAG2015-05-01 09:31:53
9 years ago
Blood Brothers: I never thought you would create the same scandal in this story. I though you would create something far worse than the misunderstanding that was created in the series. Cause you give far better perspectives, touching, realistic and hear-trenching scenes. But Khushi been the culprit of all the misunderstanding bit too much to take. But, that was the most interesting thing that happened in the story. This is just my mere observation. This is your story, you know what is in store to come. You are an amazing writer. Thoughts on Chapter 37: I'm surprised and wordless. As, you been one of the fierce writer let Khushi to forgive Arnav that easily and that without giving him a bit of a challenge. I am totally surprised. Anyways, this is good, that you are letting Akash to be a confident person. But I miss Lavs. Wish you had included bit of her flavour into these chapters. Cause, she brings a Jovial atmosphere. SharuAG2015-05-01 07:33:55
9 years ago
waiting eagerly for the next update..
9 years ago
Today is Wednesday.. I hope u are coming wid an update as u promised.. Waiting for it.. N hope ur exams were great.. Poju2015-04-28 19:57:45
9 years ago
Slow The last one is on Monday, so will definitely get back to writing after that! Thank you for asking hun Hope you are doing well!
9 years ago