Arnav & Khushi FF || Serendipity #1 || Link to Thread Two: Pg 1 - Page 40

Arnav stood in the lounge, frustrated and irritable. Count on his sister to cook up such outrageously ridiculous plans and expect him to go through with them quietly. He loosened the tie of his uncomfortable three-piece suit, scowling that he would be expected to socialize, dance and drink champagne on his last night in the city. Sulking in the corner of the lobby with his hands stuffed into his pockets, he cursed his sister's active imagination, as hotel guests in summer casuals passed him with curious glances. Where was this idiotic woman? Mumbling profanities about Khushi's inconsiderate tardiness, he cringed at the thought of how dreadful she would look in a western dress. The great Arnav Singh Raizada's wife in a stupid gown stumbling over her 2 inch heels.

What a f**king joke.

He dug his cellphone out of his pocket to check his emails and texts, only to be distracted by the familiar sound of heels clicking towards his direction. Surely some beautiful female desiring a flirtatious conversation and a night of fun. He looked up to curtly break the news that he was happily married, but Arnav Singh Raizada stumbled backwards at the sight.

Because it was Khushi Kumari Gupta walking in his direction.

Arnav always knew Khushi was beautiful. It was her beauty that kindled his hatred. But tonight... he wished to forget her deceit and look at her without the baggage of their past. Just as a man would an attractive woman. As a husband would his wife.

She was dressed in red tonight, a bright fiery red that drew out the color of her eyes and the rosy tint of her cheeks. A red that ignited the most passionate fire within his aching body. He thought back to a time she was stuck in a myriad of diyas... a deep, red sari wrapped around her small frame. The same feeling reawakened as he gazed at her approaching him now. The dress was simple yet hugged her figure exquisitely, the usually concealed curves of her waist, the flare of her hips accentuated and prominent. He nearly cussed at the primal thought of how his bare hand would fit at the bend of her midriff, the warmth of her skin seeping though the material into his own.

He wished to hide his face is the crook of her neck and smell the delicate fragrance of sandalwood and cinnamon that exuded from her. He wanted to wrap his hands around the dark ringlets that fell across her face and hide her magnificent features from the prying eyes of the world. Her lips were painted a brilliant red to match her attire, and even from a distance he could see them quivering in anxiety as she shifted under his unyielding scrutiny. She was hesitating; the plain, golden bangles that adorned her wrist chimed as she uneasily shifted her hand to tuck an errant curl behind her ear.

A delicate mask covered her eyes, yet he could still examine their glimmer and shine. Arnav had never noticed the subtle green of her eyes speckled with hints of grey, and he sighed as her gaze shifted to her twiddling thumbs, her long, thick lashes brushing against her flushing red cheeks.

"Arnav ji. Hume maaf kar dijiye. Hum aapko sharminda nahiin karna chahte", she whispered as she concentrated on the small clutch within her hands

Without a word in response to her juvenile query, Arnav stepped forward and extended his elbow for her to hold. Khushi stared at him nervously, unsure of what was expected from her in return. Gently, he held her hand and wrapped it around the bend of his arm, leading her out the door to the taxi awaiting them. Khushi felt a million butterflies erupt and flutter in her stomach, her fingers quivering under his touch and the strong smell of musk sending her mind reeling.

As she walked towards the entrance, she could not help but glance into the mirror of the lobby, gasping softly as she saw the most breathtakingly exquisite woman staring back at her. Who was she? The mysterious woman looked familiar she realized, as she squinted harder to place her features.

Khushi nearly stumbled as she saw Arnav ji peering down at the woman in the reflection.

It was her.

And she looked like a princess from her fairytales.