NEW SS: Ardent Desires - Sneak Peak of Pt 9 Pg 142 (31/12) - - Page 52

Part 7

She just entered the Blue Lake Resort and looked around if she can find him anywhere. It was sharp 5:00 and she knew he was very punctual. Just then the Guard open the door again and he came In his Black three piece Suit. For some seconds their eyes scanned each other and especially it was him who was staring at her like he was seeing her for the first time. A RED SAREE? Was she mad? Doesn't she know this was his favorite color?? Or did she wear it purposely? No wonder she was always a seductress for him whatever she chose in terms of outfits but today she was looking that Cherry on a Sugar free Chocolate Cake which he would love to taste.

The Manager came in and asked them if they had a reservation which got them out of their stance.

Khushi: A table for two. I had reserved it on my name. Khushi Gupta.

The Manager checked his list and acknowledged.

Manager: This way Maam.

She looked at him who gestured her to walk so that he can follow. The table was aloof at a corner surrounded by glass walls on three of its sides and water falling from those glass walls giving a perfect romantic look. He pulled a chair for her and she sat on it. He then took his seat too.

The Manager left giving them some time to decide about the Order.

Khushi was fiddling with her Saree pallu thinking how this needs to be started. She was uncomfortable and so was he.

Arnav: So this is the first time we meet officially out.

She looked at his face and it was clear he was trying to make her comfortable. She removed the pearl necklace from her bag and then extended it to him.

Khushi: Returning it was the motto of this meet. That's all

Arnav rolled his eyes at the necklace and without even touching it looked at her again.

Arnav: I didn't come here to take this back from you. It is your birthday gift and you should keep it.

Khushi : I cant.

Arnav: Did you return it to everybody who gifted you on birthday? Then why me? Its just a damm Gift Khushi. Don't be so adamant. Doesn't suit your personality.

Khushi: What suits me and what not , you don't have to bother Mr Arnav Singh Raizada. Just take it back and free me from your possessions. I am least interested in them.

Arnav wished to walk off from this place but he knew doing this would hurt her.

The Manager came back to them.

Manager: Your Order Sir?

"BLACK COFFEE WITHOUT SUGAR" both said at the same time and looked at each other in confusion. The Manager passed a sweet smile knowing how alike their taste is.

Khushi looked down feeling nervous while he continued staring at her.

Manager: And Sir?

Arnav: Corn Sandwiches for the lady.

Khushi: No Thanks. A Black Coffee is enough .

The Manager could sense some tension in between them and just taking the order for two Black Coffee, he left.

Arnav: BLACK COFFEE WITHOUT SUGAR? Really Khushi?

Khushi: You are not the only person who likes Black Coffee Arnav.

Arnav: I never said that.!! Infact I didn't even take my name.

She was more uneasy. She kept the pearl necklace on the table expecting him to take it but he didn't.

There was a moment of silence again and there the Coffee's were placed on the table. Arnav sipped his and she was still waiting for something.

Arnav: Khushi you don't like cold coffee. So just drink it. What are you waiting for?

Khushi: Just take the gift back Arnav. I cannot accept it. Everything was so sudden that I could not even react in your room when you gave me this. There is nothing between us which will allow me to accept it. Just take it back.

There his anger took a rise and he got up from the Chair leaving his coffee half.

Arnav: That's it Khushi. I expected to have a normal conversation between us here where you could understand returning this gift back to me wont change anything. But if this seems impossible to you, then just forget it. I wasted my time coming here and now I don't wish to waste yours too in a hope that I am taking it back. So Good bye.

He walked from there and on way paid the manager with the cash and left the restaurant.

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Khushi: Arnav? Please wait. You cannot leave like that without taking this back.

She was following him at the car parking. The saree was not allowing her to run comfortably behind him to match his speed. Sometimes she wished to throw the necklace on the road before him and walk away if he is so much disinterested in taking it back. But it would be an insult which she can never think of. She kept following him.

Khushi: Arnav wait. You are hurting me now.

He stopped and angrily turning back, pulling her upper arms he pinned her to his Car roughly. Their breathes fanning each other's face and hearts beating together rapidly. His eyes watching her closely after such a long gap. He snatched the pearl set from her fingers and then broke it purposely leading to the pearls fall down one by one. Saying she was shocked at his gesture would be an understatement.

Arnav: Tell me honestly Khushi. You came to meet me in my favorite colour Saree just to give me this pearl set back?

Khushi: Haan

Arnav : Kisse bewaqoof bana rahi ho Khushi? Mujhe yeah phir apne aap ko? I don't care what's going on between you, NK and the family. All I know is you are hurting us both in the process.

Khushi's eyes were teary now. She pushed him back with force and anger.

Khushi: US? We are two different individuals Arnav. Its YOU and ME. Never US. What do you thought haan? I will ever think again of you in my life after what you did. ? Do you even realize at what moment you cancelled the wedding ? Could you imagine the state of a girl who faces this? We completed every damm pre marriage ritual and just a day before you cancel everything? Its so easy for you dammit!! Couldn't you respect my morals and maintain that distance between us for 2 more nights? Didn't you know I am not that type of girl who will ever sleep with a person before a proper commitment?

He clutched her arms back and this time pushed her gently to the car door pinning her hands above her. Their lower bodies in firm contact and he was quite disturbed with her statements

Arnav: You think sleeping with you before the marriage was so important to me for canceling the marriage? Do you even realize you were the only girl Khushi who still rule my mind and heart all the time. I broke up with you but I never ever had any second girl after you in my life. Not that I was planning to woe you back. But I just couldn't think of anyone else than you. All these 4 years, though I practically never thought about you, ignored your memories as much as I could, I can still feel only you residing inside me. For People, I MOVED ON in Life. But I don't believe in it Dammit!! There is nothing called Moved on. Its hard for every damm person on this earth to Love some girl and then stop thinking about her forever. Its just a way of convincing yourself that you are no longer thinking about her when the damm truth is that, you never forgot her even for a second.

She was thoroughly confused with his confession. He never Moved on? He always thought about her?

Khushi: Then why did you break that marriage? Why didn't you come back to me in all these 4 years and tell me you were wrong in deciding it? Why did you make me suffer so much Dammit?

Arnav: I broke the marriage because you didn't wish to get married to me. Then how the hell can you expect me to return back to you Khushi?

Khushi was shocked.

Khushi: I didn't wish to get married to you? Who told you that?

Arnav: I heard it myself. That same Mehndi night when I came to seek your Love and you asked me to leave calling me a Characterless Man. I was hurt Khushi. I was hurt seeing you judging me wrong. I was drunk and I really was missing you like hell in that Bachelor party. My Friends instigated me and I came in your house. I should have controlled, I agree but being a Man and specially a dominating one, my ego was hurt when you asked me to wait for 2 more nights. I couldn't believe my Would be wife was actually maintaining such a great distance between us that she wasn't even ready for a proper kiss. That irked me and I left the place. But reaching back to my Car I realized your point of view. I was Sorry for everything I tried doing and I came back Khushi. I came back in your room.

Khushi was waiting for him to finish. She had somewhere started realizing what must have happened after that. All this was such a big misunderstanding. Tears pooled in her eyes as he kept on clearing each and every incident of that night.

Arnav: I saw you crying, the same way like you are crying now. You were forced for that marriage by your parents, you wanted to complete your education properly but your parents seemed to be interested in getting you married and you repented saying a YES to my proposal. That's what I heard you complaining to your Devi Maiyaa .I froze right before your room door. How do you expect me to marry you then when you yourself were complaining to God that you made a wrong choice by agreeing to your parents?

Khushi's wrist was already bruised by his hold but that all didn't matter to her. What was important was that she was hearing his side of confession. Arnav cupped her face and then wiped her tears gently.

Arnav: No one would ever had continued with that marriage Khushi after knowing his would be wife was having so many problems with him. I left the place promising myself to free you from my ties forever, giving you a chance to grow in life Khushi. Even if it meant losing you. Name it my Ego, my carelessness of not confirming back the reality from you or anything else Khushi. But I never wanted to trap you in marriage if this was not complete from your heart. I was angry, frustrated on my own self but at the same time I was also angry on you for saying something like that. Why couldn't you tell me you didn't wish to get married so soon? I would have waited. Just like I waited unintentionally for these 4 long years. I was proving myself that mujhe koi faraq nahi padta Khushi but I realised it every dam second that you always mattered to me. Always.

His eyes were teary too but he was a Man and he knew well to keep a control on all his emotions. But she was no more in her self. She leaned her head on his chest crying bitterly for not clearing things on time. She clutched his shirt tight in her palms almost hugging him and cried like a baby who missed her best toy for years.

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