Part 6
They were drenched to the bone but their fiery kiss burnt away the chill soaking them, their bodies were so close that the heat between them seemed to melt the cold spikes of rain.
A loud thunderclap resounded above and broke in through their senses.
Startled with the loud sound, they broke away and exchanged stunned looks.
Even in the dark evening shade, though he couldn't see her completely, Arnav could feel Khushi blushing furiously. His own heart was on a fast sprint.
Khushi was confused and shy.
How did that happen? Why was she hit with waves of heat in this chilling rain, and what did the desperate pounding of her heart mean? Clutching her hand near her heart, she turned away from Arnav, thankful that the slight darkness was hiding her deep blushing cheeks from him.
They couldn't stand in the rain like this, thought Arnav.
He took slow steps toward Khushi and laid his hand on her arm.
She jumped a bit with his touch, but calmed down once she recognized it as a warm, safe touch.
"Khushi" muttered Arnav huskily, sending Khushi's heart aflutter again...
"Khushi, hum aise baarish main khade nahin reh sakte hai... hume koi jagah dhoondni chahiye jaha hum driver ke intezaar kar sake.''
Recovering a bit from her palpitations and without meeting his eyes out of shyness, Khushi said, ''Ji Arnavji, aap sahi keh rahe hai... kuch der pehle humne ek dhabba dekha tha, hum waha ja kar ruk sakte hai.''
''Theek hai, vaha chalte hai phir'' said Arnav and they set out together, hand in hand, with the torch held by Arnav lighting their way.
Arnav could feel Khushi's rapid pulse as he held her hand and he smiled to himself. This girl was really affected by his merest touch.
Khushi wished that they weren't holding hands as she could sense that Arnav was well aware of her state. However at the same time, she liked the feeling of security that his hand offered her.
Her mind was again in confusion as she wondered whether she was going mad. "Lekin hum toh shuru se hi pagal hai" she muttered to herself.
"What?" asked Arnav, wondering what this girl was gabbling about to herself.
''Nahin, kuch nahin'', said Khushi hastily, continuing with, ''hum bas keh rahe the ki... ki... woh...'' she fumbled a bit and then triumphantly said, ''ae lo! Dhabba aa gaya!!'' as she spotted it... and the glee of seeing it echoed in her voice for being saved from stupidity.
She broke away from his hand and ran in the shelter where others too had taken refuge from the sudden downpour. Arnav followed her and stood beside her, one protective arm of his around her shoulders to protect her from people dashing into her.
This was even worse of a quandary for Khushi. With his arm around her, her nerves had begun to dance to a fast number, and her cheeks planned to don the darkest hue of red.
She fiddled with the end of her dupatta, giving an outlet to the stirring feelings within her.
Arnav, had called the driver to notify him about their location, and noticed Khushi's restless fingers as he finished the call. Seeing that she was nervous and coy, Arnav released his hold on her a bit, putting her at ease.
Sensing his pressure loosen on her, Khushi looked at him with silently grateful eyes. He smiled at her, a smile that told her not to fear, that she was safe with him, and that he would always keep her comfort in mind.
Arnav felt Khushi shiver with the cold wind that was whipping itself around. She snuggled a bit closer to him to preserve a bit of warmth from him. Arnav took off his blazer and wrapped it around her slender shoulders. Khushi pulled it tightly around her and stood by him.
"Khushi... hamara driver pandra-bees minute main aayegaa.. tum yahi ruko, main aata hoon', said Arnav.
"Lekin aap jaa kaha rahe hai?" asked Khushi a bit worriedly, not wanting to be left alone.
"Chinta mat karo, main yun gaya aur yun aaya, tum bas yaha chup-chaap khadi rehna, aur musibat se door raho" he added with a mischievious twinkle in his eye.
"Hum kaha musibat ke paas jaate hai?" countered Khushi, "musibat hamaare paas toofan ki tarah aati hai, toh hum kya kar sakte?" she pouted.
"Accha baba theek hai, bas apna dhyan rakhna, main jaldi vaapis aaoonga'" saying so, Arnav went further inside the dhabba.
As if by magic, a steaming cup of tea along with hot pakodas appeared before her eyes.
Khushi's mouth did a perfect 'O' as she stared at her wish come true!
"Ye chai pee lo", offered Arnav, "adrak ki chai hai... isse pee ke tumhe thand se thodi raahat milegi'"
Taking it from him gladly, She cupped the tea-cup in both her hands, the pleasant warmth of the cup spreading through her numb fingers.
She sipped the tea slowly, allowing the hot, ginger tea to slide down her throat, enjoying the warmth of it coursing through her almost frozen body.
Khushi looked at Arnav, and saw him smiling gently at her. He quite forgot about his own cup of tea until Khushi prodded him, and said, "Arnavji, aap ko cold tea peena hai kya?"
She picked up a pakoda and fed him. "Ye leejiye, khaaiye... aap apna dhyaan bilkul bhi nahi rakhte hai, aur humse kehte hai ki hum apna dhyaan nahin rakh te!!" busy admonishing him, she stuffed him with some more pakodas.
Arnav ate and drank quietly. He listened silently to her reprimands. She was really cute at such times. Arnav liked being with her. She gave him so much love and care, and sometimes fussed over him that he felt the emptiness that was in his heart for all these years was now being filled gently, gradually and delightfully by this innocent yet smart child-woman.
He felt loved, appreciated and genuinely valued - something he never ever felt before. He felt like he was doing something good - Khushi made him feel special, and made him feel like he was a normal man with a good heart - no one else ever made him feel this way.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts, and silencing Khushi for sometime.
"haan... accha.. theek hai... hum aa rahe hai, tum vahi rukna" said Arnav and cut the call.
"kaun tha?" asked Khushi...
"driver aa gaya... woh gate ke bahar gaadi lekar aaya hai." replied Arnav.
"shukr hai Devi Maiyya ka... chaliye Arnavji, ghar chalte hai'" said Khushi placing their empty cups and plates on the window sill and running into the moaning, lashing rain.
She soon stopped mid-way when she realized that Arnav was still in his original place. He had not moved an inch... she ran back to him, worried that the cold air had frozen him to his spot.
"Hey bhagwan! Aap theek toh hai na Arnavji?Aap ko thand toh nahi lag gayyi na?" asked Khushi worriedly her hands roaming all over his face and arms.
"Khushi!" Arnav said in a tight voice.
"Haan Arnavji! Boliye na... kya baat hai?" asked Khushi, tears of worry now outlining her eyes.
"Mujhe vaapas jaane ka mann nahin hai Khushi..." he whispered with a trace of guilt layering his tone.
"vaapas jaane ka mann nahin hai?" repeated Khushi confusedly... "lekin kyun Arnavji?" concerned about him she cupped his face and caressed it, hoping to alleviate whatever pain he was going through.
"Khushi... Di ki halat..." and he broke off... Khushi immediately hugged him, comforting him and reassuring him...
"Khushi, main Di ko kaise sambhaaloon? Main apna bhai ka farz nibhaa bhi nahi paa rahan hoon..." he cast his head slightly down.
"Arnavji, aap bahut acche hai, aur aap ek bahut acche bhai bhi hai..." said Khushi comfortingly, shifting her hand to his chin and tilting his face upward... "hume poora vishwaas hai, ki aap jaisa bhai, apne Di ke liye kuch bhi karenge, aur Di ko theek karne main aap safal honge!" exclaimed Khushi - belief, trust, faith and encouragement running through her voice.
Arnav held her hand, and she squeezed it comfortingly, "aap chinta mat keejiye Arnavji, sab theek ho jaayega."
"Main Di ko theek kar paoonga, na Khushi?" he asked, wanting one more piece of reassurance from his voice of strength.
"Nahi Arnavji'" she said, jerking him into widening his eyes in shock.
"WHAT???" he questioned her shocked with what she had just said.
"Humne kaha, nahin Arnavji... sirf aap nahin, par hum bhi aap ke saath milkar Di ko sambhal lenge aur unko theek kar denge" she smiled sweetly and trustingly at him.
Before she knew it, Arnav had crushed her in his arms. She understood his need and gave him all the comfort, warmth, company, and love. He took it all in... drawing all the goodness from her' and retaining it within him.
They broke apart, and Khushi stood on the tips of her toes to kiss him lovingly on his forehead.
"hum aapke saath hai Arnavji... aur hum hameshaa aap ke saath rahenge." She said faithfully.
Taking his hand in hers, she tugged at him a bit and then they sprinted off in the rain toward the waiting car.
Once inside the safety of the car, Arnav simply laid his head on Khushi's shoulder and she patted his head, making him drift off into a peaceful sleep.
He woke up only when the car stopped at Shaantivan.
His chocolate brown eyes met her honeyed ones that reflected the gentleness and purity of her soul.
Proud and happy that he had someone as divine as an angel like Khushi in his life, he waited for her to get out of the car, and then swept her clean off her feet and into his arms before she knew it.
"Arnavji!" came the slightly scandalized cry...
"haan Khushi?" he inquired sardonically...
"Ye aap kya kar rahe hai? Koi dekh lega toh?"
"Toh?" he countered her playfully...
"Koi dekh lega toh kya sochenge, kya kahenge?" said Khushi, swinging her legs wildly trying to get out of his arms, even though she liked being held there so close to his heart.
"Koi dekh lega Khushi, toh koi pahaad nahin tootne waala hai... hum pati-patni hai, kya ek pati apna patni ko apne bahon main nahi pakad sakta?" he returned, amused at her reactions.
"hume neeche utaariye Arnavji... abhi isi vaqt" she cried, even as he kicked the door to their room open.
He stood there for a moment, holding this beautiful fairy in his arms, a wild fairy no doubt, but a fairy all the same.
Shyness rolled all over Khushi's face as Arnav's eyes took her in. A prick of consciousness set in as his touch around her waist and legs tightened.
The beatings of her heart were rapidly rising, sending creeping shadows of blush through her lovely, radiant face.
Her hand clutched his collar tightly, as Arnav took measured, slow, deliberate steps toward their bed.
"Their bed'" the thought sent a fresh set of dhak-dhak drumming through her heart.
He laid Khushi gently down on the bed.
He stayed bent over her.
Their eyes locked.
Khushi wanted to shift her gaze, but found that she just could not. His eyes had a strange power that she couldn't resist nor look away from.
Almost as if sensing her thoughts, Arnav whispered close to her ear, "the power of love", and he swept his finger across the plane of her cheek.
The line, and his touch evoked the most beautiful smile from Khushi, and aroused Arnav's desire for her.
Not breaking contact with her shining eyes that awaited him, Arnav closed the remaining few centimetres of gap between them until their breaths merged and became one - one breath filled with powerful passion to last the night.
----------------------------------THE END--------------------------------
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SS You are Mine... Forever
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-- Iritz and Nia
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