Dark Night Dawning Chapter 3

That evening, when Arnav came back home from work, he was extremely tired. He had another call scheduled in the next fifteen minutes. He sat on the living room sofa, laid his head back on it, closed his tired eyes and yelled at Hariprakash for a cup of coffee.

He opened his eye when the aroma of freshly brewed coffee reached his nostrils. ‘What the _____?’

He saw Khushi standing in front of him with a cup, a smile on her lips. There was something different about her. She was wearing a saree. There was nothing wrong with wearing a saree. He even liked them. The women in his house wore sarees. But he had seen nothing like this one.  It was in one of the oddest shades of pink with a bright gold border which she had pinned up on one side and then brought the pallu over her head in a ghoongat. No one except naniji did that in this house.

Then something caught his eye beyond her. He turned his head to see a bunch of kids staring at him.

‘What’s the hell is going on here, Khushi?’ asked Arnav.

‘Your coffee, Arnavji’ answered Khushi demurely.

‘I know that!’ he exclaimed rolling his eyes, ‘I am asking about them,’ he said pointing to the kids.

‘Oh, they are my students, Arnavji,’ explained Khushi, ‘When I came out to make coffee for you, they just tagged along.’

‘Tell them that this is not a circus and that they should wait for you in the room,’ said Arnav impatiently, ‘Moreover why did you come out here to make coffee. Where is Hariprakash?’

‘I told Hariprakashji that I will be taking care of all this from now on,’ she said, ‘Would you like me to take your laptop bag upstairs?’

‘What?’ asked Arnav incredulous, ‘No!’

‘Alright,’ she said, ‘If you don’t need anything else I will go back to my tuition. Please let me know if you need anything else Arnavji.’

Khushi walked back taking her students along with her, leaving Arnav totally confused. What was she up to?

Couple of hours later, Arnav on call with a client, paced about the room, deep in conversation. Suddenly, he found Khushi standing in front of him. Why had she crept up on him like that? She made a sign that it was time for dinner. He made a sign for her to go away. He resumed his meeting. In about 5 minutes she was back. After this process repeated two more times, he put the phone on mute.

‘Khushi!’ he exclaimed, ‘Can’t you see I am in a meeting? Leave me alone.’

‘It is very late Arnavji,’ she said firmly, ‘You will have to eat you dinner now, so that you can take your medication.’

‘Are you serious?’ he asked her anger rising in him.

‘Yes!’ she said coming up to him, she took his blue tooth device and threw it on the bed.

‘Do you know what this is going to cost me?’ he asked her with an incredulous stare, ‘This client is very important.’

‘So what?’ she said nonchalantly, ‘Ask them to call you tomorrow.’

‘They are overseas,’ he said with gritted teeth, ‘Do you even know what that means?’

‘Whatever!’ she said, ‘Health is more important.’

‘Go down Khushi,’ he said gritting his teeth, ’I will be there in 5 minutes.’

When he came down 10 minutes later, he saw Khushi standing by his chair. He realized that she was determined to continue with this drama. When he sat on his chair, she began to serve. After 5 minutes, Arnav began to pray for this ordeal to be over. To begin with, she was hovering about while he ate. He hated that. Then she began to talk about people he had no idea about. She told him about some funny incident about a relative from Lucknow who happened to be a theatre actor.

When he saw his Di walk up to them, he heaved a sigh of relief.

‘Khushiji, why don’t you have your dinner along with Chotey?’ she asked Khushi.

‘I wanted to serve Arnavji,’ she answered demurely’, ‘I will have my dinner after he is done.’

‘You don’t have to do that in this house Khushiji,’ explained Anjali, ‘Chotey, why don’t you tell her?

‘I don’t think there is any need for that Di,’ he said frustrated, ‘She knows _____’

‘NoDi…..I wanted to make sure he eats properly,’ she said lacing her voice with concern, ‘See how thin he is. I don’t want his sugar level to go down again.’

Half an hour later, Arnav was working on his lap top trying to send out an important e-mail when Khushi came into the room. He was thinking hard about a particular point he wanted to make when the sound of “Dinka Chika Dinka Chika” filled the room, disturbing his train of thought.

‘What the ____?’

Khushi had a small CD player next to her, while she sat arranging her clothes in the ward robe.

‘Shut the music off Khushi!’ he yelled, ‘I am working here.’

‘I like to listen to Sallu’s songs every night Arnavji,’ she said a small smile playing on her lips, ‘I am working too you know.’

‘I don’t care,’ he said harshly, ‘shut it off, now!’

When  he heard “Mausam hai suhana, kapde jodne ka hai bahana, what the, what the’, he got up from his seat, picked up his lap top and went out to the pool side, shutting the door behind him.

Khushi smiled to herself as she thought that life was so strange with her husband. Most husbands would be happy to have a wife who would wait on them day and night. But not her Laad Governor! He runs.

At breakfast he found Khushi dressed just like the previous day. She was doing it again. The hovering. No one seemed to notice how irritating it was. She ignored everyone and never left his side. He saw amused smiles from everyone at the table with the exception of Shyam who looked like he had swallowed a bitter pill.

When he got up to leave, she asked him ‘When will you be back from work, Arnavji?’

‘What!’ No one asked him what time he would be back unless it was an emergency.

‘I was asking so that I can cook hot dinner for you,’ she smiled showing her pearly white teeth.

Arnav was sure she had batted her eyelashes when she had said that. He walked away before he gave in to the urge to break something.

The disaster run continued for the next few days. The moment he opened his eyes, he would find a cup of tea in front of his face. After tea, his towel and cologne were neatly laid out on the bed. When he came out of shower, his suit was kept out along with his tie, wallet and kerchief. Even his shoes were kept out. Each day, he would discard the one laid out for him and choose another one just for the heck of it.

One night, Arnav came back from work late and in a foul mood. One of the junior executives had cost them a deal because of his incompetence and he had to step in to fire fight. In the middle of all the tension Khushi had called him number of times. Everyone at home knew that he hated taking personal calls at work. Since he hadn’t picked up her calls, she had left messages with his secretary which was becoming embarrassing forcing him to take the calls himself. She wanted to know if he had lunch and his meds, then one time she wanted to know where the spare key to the ward robe as she had misplaced the original one, then she wanted to know what time he was coming back home. As he stepped inside the house he saw Khushi waiting for him at the dinner table.

‘What are you doing here?’ he asked harshly.

‘I was waiting to serve you dinner.’

‘Stop this nonsense right away,’ he yelled, ‘I want to have my dinner in peace. So just leave me alone.’

‘But ______

‘Just get out of here. And I don’t want to see you wearing these stupid sarees anymore,’ he continued, ‘Do you understand?’

Khushi nodded her assent quietly and left.

When Arnav entered the room after his dinner, Khushi was fast asleep. He hadn’t meant to yell at her like that. But he was worked up because of the deal and she had it coming for a few days now. She had been bugging him with all her “extra” attention. Coming to think about it, Khushi had done nothing wrong. She had behaved like any dutiful wife would do. But he was allergic to that kind of stuff. Maybe Khushi would be happier with someone who would appreciate all her efforts ----- unlike him. He preferred to be left alone in his own world.He wasn’t husband material. That is exactly why he hadn’t wanted to marry in the first place. But he had to, hadn’t he? The memories came flooding back. He had decided to put it all behind him, when he had told her that theirs would be a permanent marriage. But he wondered about his decision. Though Khushi had revealed her feelings to some extent in Nainital, he couldn’t be sure because she hadn’t said anything specific. In fact, he didn’t even want to know. He didn’t deal with emotions very well. It was a long while before he could go to sleep.

Sleep eluded Khushi as well. When Arnav had come in to the room, she had been pretending to be asleep. She had sensed his restlessness and had begun to feel the same restlessness overtake her. When she heard him breathing steadily, she calmed down and fell into a deep slumber.

Anjali couldn’t sleep as well. She had watched since the past few days how Khushi had been trying to take care of Arnav and how he had resisted. She guessed she would have to be blamed for that. She was the one who had advised Khushi about giving attention to Arnav when she very well knew that he hated such things. She had hoped that Khushi would be able to get him out of his old habit eventually. Of course Khushi had taken it up a notch with the saree and ghooghat but that was no reason for Arnav to behave that way. When they had returned from Nainital, she had thought something had happened between them over there. She couldn’t be sure, but it was the way they would look at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking, their body language toward each other and most of all it was the way Khushi had positively glowed. She had finally looked like a newlywed bride. But now they were bickering again. She had to do something about it.

The next morning Arnav woke up again with the aroma of hot tea. However he was relieved to see that Khushi had abandoned those gaudy sarees for her suits which he had started to appreciate overnight. He heaved a sigh of relief. It looked like her madness was over.

When he came down, he saw the entire family was seated at the breakfast table. Payal and Akash were deciding which movie to go to in the evening and Khushi was back at his side -----hovering. He was about to say something when Anjali spoke up.

‘Khushiji, please sit down. I am sure Chotey will manage.’

When Khushi took her seat, she said in her usual chirpy voice, ‘I have heard that the new restaurant 13^th floor is pretty good.’

‘Do you want me to make reservations?’ asked Arnav buttering his toast, ‘ A table for two should not be a problem.’

‘Yes Chotey, and come home soon so you can pick up Khushiji,’ she said quickly.

‘What? I thought it was for you,’ said Arnav taken aback.

‘I thought it will be a change for Khushiji’

‘No way,’ he said firmly, ‘I have meetings scheduled at that time all week.’

‘Can’t you reschedule your meetings?’ she pouted.

‘Impossible Di, my meeting with this client didn’t go very well the last time, I have to work on damage control,’ he said looking pointedly at Khushi.

‘Why don’t you go instead Di?’ suggested Khushi looking at Anjali’s disappointed face.

‘Yes Rani Sahiba, that will be a good idea,’ interjected Shyam, ‘We could take Khushji with us.’

Arnav felt like slapping him right there.

‘No Di!’ exclaimed Khushi, ‘I mean, I don’t want to be kabab mein haddi.‘

‘No Khushiji, you won’t be,’ persuaded Shyam, ‘Don’t you think it will be good change for her Rani Sahiba?’

‘Please don’t say no Khushiji,’ pleaded Anjali, ‘Please make the reservations for us Chotey. I wish you could come as well.’

That night, Khushi was getting ready for the dinner. She really did not want to go to this dinner with Anjali and Shyam. She was worried about the way he had shamelessly insisted that she should go along. She wished for a moment that Arnav could come along. At least with him around Shyam would keep away from her. Was that the only reason? Who was she kidding? But it seemed her strategy to keep him away was working very well. But after sensing his uneasiness last night, she was wondering if she could keep up with the drama.

She was running late as Anjali had made her go back and change. She had wanted her to wear one of the new sarees that she had bought soon after the wedding. It was a wine coloured georgette, with stone, bead and glass sequins on the border and a frilly lace in steel grey attached to it made it look unique. The blouse, also in steel grey had the same work as the border of the saree. It had a square neck in the front and the back had a deep square cut with a narrow strip of material put together with a jewelled clasp. Khushi remembered that day almost a month ago when she stood in front of the mirror outside the trial room and had seen Arnav’s eyes staring back at her.

She was so lost in thought about Arnav that when she saw his refection in the mirror she thought it was her imagination!

Dark Night Dawning Chapter 2

There was loud knocking on the bathroom door. ‘Khushiji?’It was Shyam!

Shyam had wanted to talk to Khushi after the incident in the kitchen. Why did she always react like that whenever he went near her? He would have to explain to her that there was nothing to fear. He had looked around to see no one around and entered the bedroom. She didn’t seem to be there. Then, he heard an odd yelp coming from the bathroom. It had sounded like Khushi. He would have to find out. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door.

‘Khushiji?’

Arnav fisted his palms in anger and made a move toward the door. Khushi caught his arm with her free hand. He looked up at her to see her shaking her head vehemently, telling him not to go. Arnav shook off her hand and yanked open the door.

Shyam took an involuntary step back like someone had punched him in the face. What was he doing here? He was so sure he had heard Khushi. What were they doing together? His face began to twitch.

As Arnav stepped out of the bathroom he saw Shyam looking like he had seen a ghost, with one side of his face twitching badly. Arnav looked at Shyam, his eyes smouldering, his body afire with barely controlled temper. Before he could say anything, he heard another voice.

‘What are you doing here?’ Anjali had rushed into the room and was addressing Shyam, ‘Hariprakash told me that Khushiji had been calling out for me some time back. Apparently, he forgot about it when he came down. I came as soon as I found out ’.

‘Y….yes….Rani Sahiba.I…..I too heard Khushiji calling out for you’ he stammered, ‘I thought I should check it out first.’

Arnav’s anger rose up a couple of notches at his lie. He was nowhere near the room when Khushi had been calling out. His innocent Di standing a few paces behind him couldn’t see his ugly lying face, which was just as well, in her condition.

‘Relax, Di,’ said Arnav concerned for her, ‘Please don’t strain yourself for all this. Everything is under control.’

‘What are you doing here, Chotey?’ Anjali repeated looking at Arnav now, ‘Aren’t you supposed to be at work?’

‘Well, I was,’ Arnav explained how he had heard Khushi calling out just as he had come into the room to pick up an important file for which he had come back all the way from work. When he found out she had no water in the shower, he had first checked the valve outside to see it was fine. He had then realized that it might be a blockage in the shower head and had to step in as Khushi was new to all this.

‘Hmm…..’ said Anjali , ‘But I didn’t know that it takes 15 minutes to clean the shower head these days’ she added tongue in cheek.

‘What?’ he asked her with a ‘You got me’ expression on his face, ‘Isn’t a husband allowed to help his wife without being spied upon by his family members?’

‘Not at all, Chotey!’ she exclaimed,‘You are free to help your wife anywhere and anytime you want. And I am sure your jeejaji agrees with me on this one’ she added gleefully.

‘I am sure he does Di,’ Arnav turned around to stare at Shyam, his tone flippant as he said, ‘Just like him, I take my duties as a husband very seriously. And it is my duty to make sure my wife has no problems in her life.’

When Khushi stepped out in her red suit, it was difficult to decipher which was redder -----her suit or her face. She saw all pairs of eyes turned toward her and got even more flustered and began to adjust her dupatta unnecessarily.

‘Come, on,’ Anjali said pulling on Shyam’s arm, ‘I think it is time we leave the love birds alone.’

**

When Anjali and Shyam left, Khushi went to the dressing table. She couldn’t face Arnav just yet. As she sat on the stool, applying kajal to her eyes, she saw Arnav walk up to the wardrobe. As he stood in front of it contemplating what to wear, he took off his shirt. Khushi’s hand froze half way up to her eyes. His masculinity never ceased to fascinate her. As he began to rub his wet hair with a towel, she watched the play of muscles in his back, biceps and forearms. His body seemed wound up and tensed and she felt a fluttering response in her own body. She realized that she was beginning to understand every nuance of his body language now. She wanted to go up to him and wrap herself to his back until he calmed down. Where had that thought come from? She was so lost in him that she failed to see that he had turned around, to catch her staring. He began to walk toward her, holding her gaze, until he stood right behind her. He bent down and took her hair in hands. They were dripping wet. He pulled off the towel from his shoulder and wrapped her hair in it.

‘Wipe your hair Khushi,’ he said softly, ‘You might catch a cold.’  He walked back to the wardrobe leaving Khushi a little more flustered if that was possible.

**

Shyam started pacing about in the room like a caged tiger, his face was twitching badly. What had happened in the bathroom? When Anjali had questioned Arnav he had replied ambiguously and when Khushiji had come out had she looked flustered. They were both behaving strangely since they came back from Nainital. Was there something going on between them? Hadn’t he told Arnav that no one could come between him and Khushiji? He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t see that Arnav had entered the room.

‘Arnav!’ said Shyam startled, ‘What do you want?’

‘I thought I should let you know that it is bad manners to go into people’s bedrooms without their permission,’ said Arnav in a quiet but menacing voice.

‘I ….I told you ….. I came in because I heard _____’ he began.

‘And you and I both know, that is a big lie,’ Arnav cut him off firmly,‘So let’s do away with all the lame excuses. I think I told you once before and I will not repeat this again. I don’t ever want to see you anywhere near Khushi again.’

‘You can threaten me all you like Arnav, but how are you going to stop Khushiji?’ he asked his lips twisted in derision.

‘Oh you don’t have to worry about that anymore jeejaji,’ said Arnav and walked away marking the end of the conversation.

Shyam was flummoxed. What had he meant by that last comment? He would have to watch them a little more closely.

**

Khushi sat in her room thinking about the incident in the bathroom. When Shyam had knocked on the bathroom door, at first she had been embarrassed but then when she heard Arnav’s explanation she was glad. She knew Arnav was putting up a show for his sister but if it meant it would keep Shyam away from her, she was all game. But it was not Shyam she was really worried about.  It was Arnav.

Since that last night in Nainital, his behaviour toward her had changed. Did he think that he could just come up to her and kiss her anywhere and anytime he liked? Suddenly it hit her. Of course he did. He probably wanted to exercise physical rights over her as he had told her in Nainital! It was not a big deal for him. He did not believe in love or marriage. But that did not mean he did not believe in physical intimacy. After all, he had wanted to live-in with Lavanya. She knew that many people did not think that it was necessary to be in love to be physically intimate. But she was not one of them, and he couldn’t force her in this matter!

Force? Who was she kidding? He had never forced her at all, not when they were stuck in that mountainside hut, nor on that last night in Nainital. Even this morning in the bathroom, she remembered how her treacherous body had responded to him shamelessly. Hey Devi Maiyya! She could never let that happen again. She would have to avoid him at all cost.

**

That night, as Arnav prepared for bed he thought it was strange that he hadn’t seen Khushi since he got back from work. He switched off the bedside lamp and went to sleep.  When Khushi entered the bedroom some time later, Arnav was fast asleep. Khushi went up to him and looked at his face. His hair was tousled and had covered his forehead making him look boyish. He looked so calm and innocent in his sleep. His beautiful molten brown eyes that often reflecting pain, anger, determination, jealousy and most recently ---- desire, were closed. She realized he had beautiful eyebrows for a man, eyelashes a woman would die for, an arrogant nose that flared up when he was angry, perfectly chiselled cheeks speckled with stubble that had scratched her soft skin, lips expressing so many different emotions, a thin line when irritated, twisting into a smirk when arrogant, a slight pout when he said Unbelievable!,and sensuous just before they met hers.  Sensuous. She felt an odd pain in the region of her heart, like someone was squeezing it. She would have to get out of here as soon as possible. But first, there was no doubt that she would have to keep out of his way.

**

The next morning Arnav came out of the shower in his trousers. Khushi busied herself in making her bed with extra vigour, lest she be tempted to go up to him and run her fingers through his hair that always covered his forehead after a shower. She jumped when her cell phone rang suddenly. It was Shuklaji. When Arnav heard her talking on the phone, about her dabba business, he swore silently. The business as such was not a problem. But it was the operations part of it that bothered him. He didn’t want Khushi going around taking orders herself. He didn’t like the puppy dog looks his male employees gave her. He would have to do something about it.

‘I don’t think you should be coming to work for the dabba business anymore Khushi’ he said buttoning up his shirt.

‘Why not?’ she asked him, her voice low.

‘Uh…’ he was suddenly not sure what to tell her, ‘Because I don’t like you mingling with the office staff so casually. It’s not good for my image’ he decided to be honest.

‘You can’t tell me what to do,’ said Khushi anger rising in her.

‘I just did,’ he said, I don’t want to see you at office anymore and that’s final.’

She acquiesced silently, tears welling up in her eyes.

Why did she have to be so difficult he thought uneasily. Whatever it was, he will be able to work in peace, at least in the office without the sound of payals or kangans driving him crazy.

**

Arnav came back from work that evening and immediately got into a conference call. While on the call he saw Khushi in his Nani’s room with a bunch of kids. On his inquiry his Nani had informed him that Khushi had decided to continue giving tuition to kids from her old tuition class in the evenings, now that she had begun to take the dabba orders from home and had more free time. He felt colour creep up his neck when he remembered that morning’s conversation.

A little later, when Arnav came down for dinner, there was no one at the table as it was past everyone’s dinner time. When he heard the khan-khan of bangles his heart skipped a beat as he turned around. It was his Di.

‘Do you need anything Chotey?’ she asked in her usual affectionate tone.

‘No Di. I am fine. Please go and get some rest.’ he told her.

‘No way. I want to spend some time with my brother, if he doesn’t mind it too much.’ she teased him.

**

When he finished his dinner and went up to the bedroom, there was still no sign of her. Where was she? But why was that bothering him so much? He was used to being alone his entire life. Had he begun to miss her? No way! Arnav Singh Raizada did not need anyone in his life. He changed and went up to the bed and lay down on it. But sleep eluded him. In about 10 minutes he heard Khushi enter the bedroom. She seemed to be trying her best not to make any noise as she went into the rest room to change into her night suit. A few minutes later he felt some movement on the bed and he opened his eyelids a fraction to see that she had arranged a wall of pillows at the centre of the bed like they had done in Nainital. He smiled to himself in the dark as she switched off the bedside lamp and went to sleep. He opened his eyes and looked at her face illuminated by light filtering into the room through a gap in the curtains. Her mischievous almond shaped eyes were closed, her long and thick eye lashes fanned her rosy cheeks, her nose ring shone on her nose. If anyone had told him a year ago that he would even look at a woman with a nose ring, he would have laughed. But now, it was impossible to imagine her without one. It was so sexy. But it was only second best to her lips. Lips that stretched to their full limit when she acquiesced, had a mischievous twist when she was up to something, the way they stretched over her teeth when she was angry, but he liked them best when they were slightly open, showing a bit of her pearly white teeth and quivering in anticipation of his kiss. Just the way they were right now. He was so tempted to give in to his desire and touch them with his own. But he knew it was not time for that…..yet. He kept looking at her until his eyelids drooped and sleep finally claimed him.

**

The next day, as Khushi sat in Anjali’s room giving her an oil massage, she found an old picture by the bedside table. It was of a girl and a boy and she asked Anjali about it.

‘It was taken on Arnav’s 7^th birthday,’ she said affectionately, ‘As you can see, he doesn’t look very happy in that picture. I had gone up to him and kissed him on his cheek to wish him. He hates displays of affection.’

Khushi listened quietly as Anjali reminisced about their past.

‘It is not that Chotey doesn’t know how to love. It’s just that he doesn’t know how to express it.’

Khushi looked up at Anjali wondering if she was trying to tell her something when Anjali said, Khushiji, I know you love working and all that, but if you keep yourself so busy how will you manage to give him attention? Yesterday night during dinner, he looked very lonely and then again this morning at breakfast,’ she said a little sadly.

Khushi gave her an assuring smile and scurried out of the room in embarrassment.

Everything had its consequences. How could she tell Di why she was avoiding him? Hey Devi Maiyya! She would have to figure out how to give him attention and avoid him at the same time! Suddenly, she remembered something else Di has said. Her lips twisted in that mischievous smile. You are a genius Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada! she told herself……

Dark Night Dawning Chapter 1

I have decided that our marriage will no longer be temporary. I will be responsible for you and will provide you with all the comforts for the rest of your life. I will have every right over you. And remember that you belong only to me.

The words came back to haunt Arnav, as he sat in his cabin. He had come in to work immediately after returning from Nainital.

His thoughts went back to the wee hours of the morning when he had woken up, his face snuggled up in Khushi’s neck, his arms around her waist, hers on his chest. He had gotten off the bed making sure not to disturb her. She looked so innocent and trusting in her sleep. He had dressed quickly and ordered for some coffee. He needed to think. How could he let this happen, when there were so many unanswered questions between them?

Somewhere in the corner of his mind he had seen it coming, known it was inevitable.Each and every moment, from the time they had taken that walk on Thandi Sadak, the unforgettable bike ride to Binsar, to their first kiss on sun set point, to the night they spent at the remote hut on the unknown mountainside had been etched in his memory forever. When he had seen her walking toward him in the beautiful red gown looking sensuous, the only word that came to his mind was-----Mine! When he had seen her talking to another man, he had dragged her off to the dance floor to prove to the world that she was his for the taking.

When she had bared her heart out to him during her emotional tirade at the gazebo, the feelings that were reflected in her eyes had been genuine. And it was not just since Nainital. It was even before that.  All these emotions that were boiling inside had erupted the moment she had taken him in her arms after her nightmare. He wanted to remove all traces of the fear that he had seen in her face moments before they turned into exalted relief. After that, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from loving her.

Could he have been mistaken in judging her?

This was something he needed to figure out. In the meantime, he had come to a decision. He could never let her go. He tried to remember that exact moment when he had made this decision and failed. He wanted her. Forever. He would ensure she would never want to leave him.

                                                                                                  **

Later that night, Khushi lay on the bed thinking. Arnav was still at work. He had dropped them and had gone back to the office. Khushi was thankful for that. She couldn’t face him just yet after what had happened between them last night. Was it only last night? The time between then and now seemed like eons to her agitated mind. What had come over her? She knew the answer.She loved him. Had been in love with him for a while now.Had known it when she had let him almost kiss her on Diwali night.Only then, she hadn’t realized it. She had thought she had acidity. She was an idiot! He was right in telling her that she didn’t have a brain. In fact she was so brainless that she had gone ahead and blurted out her feeling to him at the gazebo. What was she thinking? It must be the altitude in Nainital. It must have muddled her brain. Khushi angrily dabbed at her way ward tears that insisted on flowing down her cheeks. Why waste tears on someone who would never love her back?

And now, he wanted to continue this farce of a marriage for ever. What had made him say that? She just didn’t have answers to anything, thanks to his cryptic ways of talking. He had first told her that it would be a six month marriage. He had even told her that it would be difficult to tolerate her during that time, that he hated her and then suddenly after last night he had changed his decision. Could it be that he had an attack of conscience after what had happened between them? Well, if that was the case, he could tell his conscience to take a hike! She didn’t need his pity. I will have every right over you. How could he talk like that? If he thought she would fall in line with everything he said, he had it coming. A permanent marriage with him? Impossible!She would ensure that he would let her go even before six months, if she could help it!

**

Much later, Arnav walked into the bedroom. He was dead tired,as he had to attend back to back meetings to catch up with pending work. He quickly changed into his pyjamas and went up to the bed and lied down on it.

‘What do you think you are doing?’ Khushi shot upright from the bed.

‘Can’t you see I am trying to sleep?’ answered Arnav yawning.

‘I can see that!’ said Khushi raising her voice in alarm, ‘Why aren’t you on the recliner?’

‘Why should I be on the recliner when I have a nice and comfortable bed here?’ he said covering himself with his comforter.

‘Because……because that is where you used to sleep……..before’ she tried reminding him.

‘Well…..I won’t be doing that anymore’ he said flatly.

‘But…..but…. we can’t _____!’ panicked Khushi.

‘You are right,’ he said simply,‘Maybe you should be the one to sleep on the recliner’

‘Me?’

‘Yes you,’ he drawled, ‘I am not the one who has a problem with self-control.’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ asked Khushi angrily.

‘As far as I remember, you were the one who made the first move last night,’ he quipped.

‘How can you say that?’ she was indignant, ‘I had a night mare and I was scared.’

‘If you say so’ he mocked.

‘Don’t flatter yourself so much,’ said Khushi ‘If I wasn’t so scared, last night would never have happened.’

‘Whatever!’ he mumbled.

‘Even if it ever were to happen again, it would be only if you forced me like you did on the day of our weddingMr Arnav Singh Raizada!’ she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Aranav sat up on the bed, grabbed Khushi by the shoulders and brought her close to his face. He molten brown eyes looked down at her lips that had begun to quiver and then back up to bore into her luminous eyes.

‘Don’t dare me KhushiKumari Gupta Singh Raizada!’ he whispered,‘If I wanted you, I wouldn’t have to use force. After last night, I think you know this very well.’

He let go of her shoulders, turned around, switched off the bed side lamp and went back to sleep.

Khushi sat very still on the bed, her face red with anger and embarrassment. How dare he!

**

                                                                                                               

The next morning when Arnav came down for breakfast, he heard excited chatter going on at the breakfast table. When he got close to the table, he realized that Khushi and Payal had distributed gifts that they bought in Nainital. There were shawls, chocolates, key chains, medicinal oils on the table that everyone could pick and choose from.

‘Oh! I love this one’ said mamiji picking up the most beautiful shawl from the pile.

‘That’s mine!’ shouted Khushi from across the table,

All eyes turned toward her in surprize. When Arnav looked at the shawl in question he realized it was the one that he had bought for her in Nainital. The one he never gave her.

‘I am sorry mamiji,’ said Khushi apologetically, ‘I think it got mixed up with the others.’

‘It’s beautiful!’ exclaimed Anjali, ‘So you kept the best one for yourself ha?’

‘No Di, I ___’

‘I was just kidding, Khushiji,’ said Anjali gleefully, ‘Looks like it might be a special gift’

Khushi darted a surreptitious glance at Arnav to see him staring right back at her with those intense brown eyes. But he said nothing. If he wanted to pretend like he didn’t know anything about it, then she would play along thought Khushi silently.

‘Looks like there is something inside,’ said maamiji, revealing an album from the folds of the shawl. She opened the album and exclaimed ‘It’s Arnav bitwa!’

Khushi froze. Hey Devi Maiyya! The Laad Governor was surely going to be angry now. She avoided looking at him, as everyone tried to take a look at the album at once.

‘Aren’t these your college friends, Chotey?’ asked Anajali, ‘This is Karan isn’t it?’

‘Yes Di,’ said Arnav, ‘He was staying at the same hotel as us. Khushi got these photos from him during dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. He was giving her company while I was busy at work,’ he added sardonically.

Khushi couldn’t believe that he was doing this. How could he say this in front of the entire family?

‘I ___’ she began in defence.

‘Thanks Khushiji!’ Anjali came up to Khushi and hugged her tight, ‘These photos are invaluable to me. Chotey never liked to be photographed. Can I keep these to make copies?’

‘You can keep them Di,’ said Khushi smiling, ‘I have another copy of these.’

‘If all this drama is over, will someone serve some breakfast here?’ asked Arnav looking at his watch,  ‘I am already quite late for work.’

As the breakfast was being served, there was one pair of intense eyes that were leering at Khushi. Arnav wished he could punch those eyes repeatedly. He turned to look at Khushi who was talking to Anjali and laughing at something she said. She had made his Di happy today with her silly photo album. He would have to look out for Khushi.

**

Shyam sat in the bedroom thinking. When he had returned from his trip a couple of days ago, he was informed that Khushi and Arnav were on their honeymoon. He had been livid. He had paced the bedroom like a caged tiger. Later, when Anjali had explained to him that the trip also included business he had relaxed. Of course! His Khushiji would never have gone on this trip if she hadn’t been forced to, he had told himself. He needed to talk to Khushiji about this.

**

Later that day, Khushi worked in the kitchen preparing food for the dabba service. The food was almost ready. She just needed a little flour to finish a few more pooris. She had reached up on her tip toes to get the box of flour from a top shelf, when suddenly another hand covered hers. When she saw Shyam standing right next to her, she dropped the box on his head, spilling its contents over her. Anjali and Payal came running when they heard the commotion.

‘What happened here?’ asked Anjali looking at Khushi’s dishevelled state.

Shyam jumped in to reply before Khushi, ‘I came here to get some water and saw Khushiji trying to get the box from the shelf. The box slipped from her hand and the flour spilled all over her,’ he explained.

‘Khushi, go and clean up,’ said Payal, ‘I’ll finish up here.’

**

Khushi went up to the room shaking with indignation. Shyam was getting creepier and creepier by the day. Sometimes she wished she could strangle him with her bare hands. If it wasn’t for Di, she might have already done it. He disgusted her. She decided to shower as the flour had completely messed up her hair, and moreover the shower would help in calming her agitation. Half way through her bath, after she had soaped herself, she realized that the shower had stopped. Hey Devi Maiyaa! What was she going on do?

‘Jiji! Di! Can anyone hear me?’ she yelled at the top of her voice. She had trouble opening her eyes as the soap had seeped into them, causing it to burn. After a few minutes, she thought about shouting out again when she heard a noise in the bedroom. There was someone in the room!

‘Jiji? Is that you?’ she asked hesitantly, ‘There is no water in the shower. Could you please check the valve at the poolside?’

She heard footsteps and after a few seconds there was a knock on the bathroom door.

‘Jiji, did you check the valve?’ she asked, ‘There is still no water here’.

She heard knocking again. Why wasn’t jiji answering her? She wrapped herself in a towel and decided to unlatch the door anyway.

She heard some noise near the shower. ‘Jiji? Is that you? Can you please give me some water to clean my eyes? They are burning.’

Suddenly cold water from the shower splashed on her face. ‘What the _____?’ Khushi shrieked. She opened her eyes to find Arnav standing in front of her, looking at her getting completely drenched in her short towel!

She took a step backward in shock as she recognized the look in his molten brown eyes. The next moment she began to fall, as her foot slipped on the soapy floor. He caught her just in time, one arm around her waist and the other around her upper back. She stumbled some more until she grabbed his shoulder with one hand, the other hand braced on his chest. The movement had brought him under the spray of shower and he began to drench along with her. As they looked at each other for countless seconds, her dhak-dhakbegan to intensify. She closed her eyes as a trembling ache started deep within her.

Arnav watched as drops of water streamed down her face, to her neck and disappeared into the valley between her breasts wrapped in the towel. She looked like a water nymph. He bent down his head and brought his lips to an inch away from hers. She felt his warm breath on her lips. When he hadn’t touched he lips even after a few seconds, she opened her eyes to see his eyes boring into hers and in that exact moment his tongue darted out to lick the droplets of water collected on her lips. She gasped, opening her lips wide enough for him to thrust his tongue in to explore the warm darkness of her mouth. She clutched at him, her nails digging into his shoulders, as a long quiver went through her body. As the kiss went on and on, he pushed her back up against the wall, his hand at her waist pulling her into his body so that she could feel his hardness right through the thin material of her towel. Her hand had crept up from his shoulders to tangle in the thick hair at the back of his head. His free hand moved to the back of her neck, sliding down to trace the edge of the towel. His touch was a sensuous agony. She felt a little moan rising in her throat, her senses clamouring for fulfilment.

He said her name against her lips, then the knot on her towel was twisted free and she clutched at the towel as it began to slip. She wasn’t sure when she first became aware of the voices.At first they seemed to be in their own world, then suddenly Arnav lifted his heard sharply, saying, ‘What the ____?’

Someone knocked on the bathroom door. ‘Khushiji?’It was Shyam!

Himalayan Magic Chapter 7 - 8

A silver ligning

His mouth possessed hers with an urgency, a wildness which tore through her very core. ‘Hmmm…..’ A moan released itself from her, as his lips left hers and instead blazed a trail of fire down her jawline and into the hollow of her throat. Her hands tangled in his hair, drawing him closer…. closer still….

‘Khushi….Khushi…….Khushi,’ he murmered, his breath hot against her neck.

‘Arnav,’ she sighed, loving the sound, the feel of his name on her lips.Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak. It was getting louder now.

Khushi’s eyes flew open. She had been dreaming!

Any lingering sleepiness that was existing in her, fell away as she saw Arnav staring back at her only inches away from her. She realized she was flush against him with one of her hands on his chest, the other entangled in his hair. She quickly snatched her hand away from his hair.

‘Ouch!’ she tried getting up but realized that part of her long hair was stuck under his arm on which her head was resting.

‘Arnavji!’she shrieked in panic, when she found his other arm wrapped around her waist.

‘Stop moving, Khushi,’ he said harshly, ‘We are entangled in the blankets.’

God! Arnav thought, she was going to kill himif she continued to move against him this way! He managed to detangle himself from the blanket and then slowly removed his arm from under her head taking care not to pull on her hair. He then leaned across to help her.

‘Ouch!’ their foreheads banged against each other, as Khushi also sat up on the bedat the same time. Khushi then held him by his neck and banged her head against him one more time. She was about to explain her action when she saw Arnav’s eyes had moved lower. She looked down in horror to see that her lacy bra was exposed and immediately grabbed the blanket up to cover herself. She lowered her eyes from his face to look at his bare chest. It was not a good idea. Her breathing increased.

Why did she have to look this way first thing in the morning? Arnav gazed upon Khushi’s quivering body bathed in the first rays of the sun that had filtered through the small window of the hut. She looked ethereal. Her face looked angelic onher long slender neck, her gentle shoulders, her collar bone jutting out, the swell of her breasts over the blanket that she had clutched against herself. He had caught a glimpse of more before she had covered herself and it was all he could do to keep himself from……

‘What?....How? …..Where?’Khushi’s confusion broke into his reverie, ‘Where are my clothes? What happened?!’

‘Relax! Don’t you remember anything?’ he asked, her shrill voice still ringing in his ears.

‘I remember coming into the hut, eating maggi and then you gave me that horrible liquid to drink. After that I don’t remember much of anything.’ she said her voice taking on an accusing tone.

‘I said relax!  Nothing happened. You were very tired and went to sleep’ he said, not quiet looking in her eyes.

‘But here?......Like this?’ she said looking at the bed, unable to form the words clearly.

‘We would have fallen sick if we had slept with our wet clothes on us,’ he explained calmly, ‘I had moved the bed close to the fire which was our only source of warmth.

Khushi looked at him with suspicion in her eyes.

‘I should have just let you sleep on the floor since you____ KNOCK!KNOCK! KNOCK! Someone was at the door!

‘I think it is the owner of this hut,’ said Arnav urgently, getting up from the bed. ‘Damn!’ his exclamation came out loud when he realized that his towel was lost and he found himself in his boxers. Forget it! he walked across to where his clothes were drying.

‘I’ll go out and explain our situation,’ he said to Khushi, pulling on his jeans. ‘I think you should get dressed as well.’ Khushi had her back to him.

‘Great! She thinks it is alright to show off her back!’ he muttered to himself as he hauled his t-shirt over his head.

Khushi got up from the bed when she heard the door. She found her clothes on a chair and dressed herself. What had happened yesterday night? Her mind was too hazy. How had she undressed? Did he ….? Why couldn’t she remember? She looked around to see the remnants of the ashes in the fireplace. Suddenly there was a flash of a memory …….Had it happened or was it a dream? She closed her eyes trying to remember. It was all still very hazy.

She looked around the place hoping her memory would come back and spotted a small mirror on the wall. She walked up to it to see her reflection. She straightened her hair and saw that her eyes looked very tired. Then she looked down at her lips. She brought her fingers up to touch them. They were swollen and felt bruised. Oh my God!she said to herself as her memory came back to her……

Khushi was lost in thought on the way back from Binsar. They had managed to hitch a ride from the hut to the resort on Binsar. There, Arnav had called Akash from thehotel’s landline and found out that Akash and Payal were safe and back at the hotel the previous night. After a visit to Binsar, Akash and Payak had decided to visit Ranikhet on their way back, the reason why they had missed each other. Arnav had then asked the resort manager to drop them off at the spot where he had left the bike last evening. Luckily, they had found it intact and in working condition.

Now sitting behind Arnav, her thoughts went back to the events of the previous night. What had come over her? Why had she behaved so wantonly? Arnav had behaved like a gentleman. He had given her the blanket to cover herself. She had practically thrown herself at him. First, by asking him such a leading question about the kiss and then later by literally falling over him! Even after that, he had given her an opportunity to back off but no, she had offered herself over to him like a shameless hussy. What would he be thinking about her? Her thoughts came to a jerking halt when she heard Arnav calling her name.

‘Khushi, will you please get off the bike?’

‘Why?’ she asked still a little disoriented.

‘Yesterday you wanted to visit this mandir so badly. And today you ask me why?’ he was being sarcastic.

Khushi realized that he had brought her to the Kasardevi temple which was very close to Almora. She looked at him in surprize.

‘Now, hurry up, will you?’ his tone was brusque, ‘I don’t have all day long’

While he waited for Khushi outside the temple, Arnav sat on the bike thinking. Thankfully he had come to his senses on time this morning. He hadn’t been able to resist kissing her delectable throat. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep his hands off her. It was his guilt that had made him bring her to the temple, wasnt it? a tiny voice inside him asked the question. Whatever it was, there was one thing certain that things could not go back to the way they were before.

The rest of the journey was uneventful and they were back to the hotel by lunch time. Arnav had showered and rushed off immediately to join Akash at work.  Khushi and Payal were at the restaurant eating lunch. After lunch, Payal had wanted to take a nap as Akash was going to come back early and take her to Nainilake. In the evening Khushi had refused their offer to take her along making an excuse. To be honest, she was feeling a little tired due to the previous day’s ordeal.

Khushi was in a wistful mood. Arnav had been so nice to her after all that she had put him through. It was childish of her to run off to watch the sun set, hence putting their lives in danger. He had practically carried her in the storm and saved her life. Even in the hut he had made sure she was alright, by taking good care of her. He had made maggi for her! And then, this morning he had taken her to the temple to fulfil her wish. I will have to make it up to him somehow!

‘What will be you be having tonight Mrs.Raizada?’ the waiter’s question sliced through her thoughts.

‘Just some roti and dal please’ she was not in the mood to eat tonight. She wished she was back at the hut eating maggi with Arnav. Akash had told her that he would be working late tonight.

‘Would you be Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada, by any chance?’ asked a deep voice next to her.

‘Y..Yes,’ Khushi looked up to see a tall, good looking man in a business suit standing next to her table.

‘Let me introduce myself. I am Karan. Karan Khurana. I am Arnav’s friend from college.’

Khushi did not realize how the time had passed. Karan had related so many incidents and anecdotes about Arnav’s past that she couldn’t tire listening to. One particular incident about a prank they had played on a teacher had her in splits. He had shown her photos of Arnav with friends that he scanned and stored in his lap top. She felt that she could have sat there all night listening to the stories, except that they could not as the restaurant was closing. They had decided to surprise Arnav together by meeting up for breakfast the next day.

Unbeknownst to them, was a pair of smouldering eyes, watching them from a distance. Arnav had come into the hotel hoping to grab something to eat before the restaurant closing time. What he saw there had killed his appetite. He had seen Khushi laughing heartily, eating dinner with a man whose face he could not see. He had walked away from there seething in rage. He entered the room wanting to break something. He saw the shawl he had clutched in his hand. He had bought it for her on the way back from work, to replace the one she had lost at sun set point. He threw the beautifully woven cloth across the room like a piece of rag.

Khushi came back to the room, to see that Arnav was back and was fast asleep on his side of the bed. She tried not to make any noise while she changed for bed. She was disappointed that she had missed his arrival. Nevertheless, she couldn’t control her delight when she remembered the surprise that was awaiting him at breakfast. She was sure he would be happy to relive his college days along with his friend Karan.

The next morning, Khushi woke with a smile on her lips. She turned around to see Arnav’s side of the bed empty. There was no sign of him or his laptop bag anywhere in the room. She rushed into the wash room to find that empty as well. Why had he left so early this morning? As she sat at the table having her morning tea she spotted the shawl on the floor. It was a beautiful shawl. Had Arnav bought this shawl? Was it for her? She smiled gleefully as she hugged the shawl to her chest.

She showered quickly and went up to Payal and Akash’s room.

‘Khushiji, our client Mr Chopra, will be signing the deal with us today,’ Akash told Khushi, ‘he wants to meet with us at dinner along with our families. ‘

Akash informed Khushi  that Arnav had gone in to work a little early today as they had to wind up everything, today being the their last day in Nainital. On Khushi’s enquiry Akash had also informed her that their client had lived in America for a long time before he came back here to start his own business. Khushi came back to the room, a little worried about the dinner. She had called Karan and rescheduled their meeting post dinner. She rummaged through her suit case to find something suitable when her eyes fell on the cover that Anjali Di had given her just before they had left for Nainital. She has said that it would help her with all the apprehensions that she had about Arnav. When she saw what was in the cover she understood.

Arnav came back to the room to dress for dinner. There was no sign of Khushi. Where was she? Their client would be here anytime. Could she be out cavorting with that useless sob he had seen her with yesterday night? If she was, then God help her! He was furiously buttoning his shirt when his cell phone rang.

‘Yes?’ he barked into the phone.

It was Akash. He had called to ask him if he could be excused from attending the dinner. He wanted to take Payal for a special candle light dinner at a lake view restaurant. He also informed him that Khushi would be joining him for dinner as she had some work to attend to before that.

Arnav came down to the restaurant seething with anger. Work! What work would she have in Nainital? He was sure she was making excuses to hide her dalliances. He looked at his watch and turned around to the entrance, looking for Khushi. He turned back, it was a woman dressed in a redgown……..looking strangely familiar……

Arnav turned back again. It was Khushi! She was wearing a AR creation. It was an evening gown in red chiffon. He could not take his eyes off her. Her hair left loose, moved in tandem to the sway in her hips. His mouth went dry as his eyes moved down to the creamy skin of her long slender neck, her gently rounded shoulders and swell of her breasts exposed by the strapless design. The gown had gatherings that hugged her rounded breasts and her tiny waist was accented by a beaded floral detail. The skirt then fell down in a pleated flow from waist to floor showing a glimpse of black strappy high heeled sandals.

She looked like a goddess! If she was trying to make a dramatic statement with that gown, she had succeeded completely. Unconscious to the number of heads that turned her way, Khushi  made her way up to Arnav. When she finally stood in front of him, he was speechless. Who was this sensuous beauty standing in front of him? Mine! A strange possessiveness took over him. He wanted to take her away and hide her from eyes of the world.

Before he could react, a waiter came up to them informing them of Mr Chopra’s arrival.

After the initial introductions were made, they were seated at a round table. Arnav caught the appreciative gleam in Mr Chopra’s eyes when he looked at Khushi. What the _____! thought Arnav, the man’s daughter was close to Khushi’s age! Arnav was livid at Khushi . What was she thinking dressing up like that? Who was she trying to impress tonight?

‘Arnav?’ Mr Chopra interrupted his thoughts,’as I mentioned to you earlier, my daughter Ria has just completed her course in fashion design from a prestigious university in the USA. She would like to come to India to work. I would like you to consider her for an apprentice position in your company’

‘Of course, Mr Chopra, that should not be a problem,’ said Arnav smoothly, ‘If she can come to the office in a few days and I will have Akash set her up.’

‘Thank you so much Mr Raizada,’ said Ria in a low throaty voice, ‘I was so looking forward to working with you. I have heard so much about AR fashions’

Khushi looked at Ria a little more closely. She was dressed in ahot pink, short spaghetti strapped, figure hugging dress. The purpose of the skimpy dress was meant to show off a lot of skin and it was successful in its intent. The girl had a lot of make up on her face to make her look sexy and she was using it to full advantage sitting right next to Arnav. Khushi did not like the way Ria was looking at Arnav.She was flirting with him!

‘You are most welcome Ria,’ said Arnav giving her his most charming smile, ‘I am looking forward to seeing all your talents as well. And please call me Arnav.’ Was he flirting right back?

All through dinner Arnav was engaged in conversation with Ria, talking to her about fashion design. Khushi was stuck between Mr and Mrs Chopra who incessantly bored her in turns talking about expensive cars and designer jewellery. Khushi looked at Arnav trying to get his attention to no avail. She realized he was pointedly ignoring her. She knew this deal was important for Arnav, but this whole dinner was beginning to get on her nerves. By the time the dinner came to an end she was positively fuming. Just when she thought she could escape from this entire farce, they were ushered to a lounge for post dinner drinks. Hey Devi Maiyya! Have you no mercy? she sent up a silent prayer.

‘Mrs Khushi? Can I steal your husband for a dance?’ Ria asked Khushi smiling at her.

No you bimbo! I don’t think you can steal my husband for anything, was what  Khushi wanted to say, but no words came out of her mouth.

‘Of course she doesn’t mind Ria,’ Arnav was covering up her blunder, ‘Let’s go’

Arnav took Ria to the dance floor and took her in his arms. She knew he was holding her decently but seeing them together like this was too much for Khushi. She made an excuse to go to the wash room and started to walk away as fast as her legs could take her. In her hurry she blindly bumped into someone who immediately steadied her. It was Karan.

‘Hey Khushi! Where are you running? Weren’t we supposed to meet after dinner tonight?’

‘Karanji! I am so glad to see you. I am sorry, Arnavji’s client is still here and I am not sure when they will leave’

‘In that case why don’t we _____’

‘I believe this dance is mine!’ Arnav’s voice interrupted Karan’s sentence.

Without so much as a glance at Karan, Arnav took Khushi’s hand and dragged her to the dance floor.

‘Arnavji! What are you doing?’ asked indignant at Arnav’s caveman tactics.

‘No Khushi. What are you doing?’ he asked her in a clipped tone,his eyes smouldering.

Suddenly the music started and Arnav stood there looking at Khushi, anger emanating from him in waves. The dance started off being similar to the previous times they had danced, except that as it progressed it was getting a little more aggressive. His hands were all over her body and there was something different about his touch and the way he was looking at her. Khushi could not understand the reason for his behavior……

TereIshqpe, Terewaqtpe

Bas haqhaiekmera

TereRuhpe, Terejismpe

Bas haqhaiekmera

 His touch moved up from the tip of her fingers up her hands, over her shoulders and then came down to skim the side of her breasts to span her tiny waist. All the while looking into her eyes, in one swift movement he lifted her high up in the air. She held on to his shoulders for support, while he slowly brought her down to the floor her body flush against him. He then turned her around in quick movement so that her back was against him. He then dipped his head and placed his lips on the side of her neck. Once again, he twirled her away from him, held her in that position and pulled her back to dance with her in a circle. He then dipped her low and showered her exposed throat with feathery kisses before he brought her back up.

It was a public display of strength and dominance and by the time the dance ended, they were both out of breath. Everyone was staring at them and Khushi felt humiliated. She ran blindly out of the restaurant, tears streaming down her eyes.

Forbidden Rapture

Arnav found Khushi in the gazebo, sitting on the parapet wall, her hands hugging her legs that were drawn up to her chest. She had laid her head on knees.

‘How many times do I have to come looking for you?’

‘Go away!’

‘Why? Were you expecting someone else?’

‘I said, leave me alone! Go back to that bimbo you were dancing with.’

‘Leave you alone? So that you can have a rendezvous with your friend’

‘What?’

‘Were you with him this afternoon?’

‘What you talking about?’

‘Oh stop it with the innocent act. In know you have a masters degree in it. I saw you having dinner with him yesterday night.

Khushi began to answer when realization dawned on her. ‘For God’s sake Arnavji! He is notmy friend. He is your friend from college, Karan Khurana’

‘He told you he was my college friend and you had dinner with him? Is that all it takes to avail your lovely company?’

‘How dare you talk to me like that?’

‘Whynot?That is exactly what you deserve!’

‘I don’t have to listen to this!’

‘Why Khushi? Does being beautiful give you the right to play with people’s lives?’

‘Stop it! Stop talking this if you are not going to explain.’

‘Why are you dressed like this?’

‘No. Tell me what you meant about me playing with people’s lives.’

‘Just answer me dammit! Why are you dressed like this?’

‘Why should I tell you anything? You had no problems when Lavanya wore dresses like this! I didn’t see you having a problem with that bimbo Ria’s clothes either!’

‘I don’t give a damn about Lavanya or Riaright now!Answer me!’

‘Because you said I don’t have class!’ she cried her words suddenly creating a chill in the atmosphere. ‘You have told me that time and again. How does a poor girl from Lucknow earn class, Mr Raizada? I requested Di to help me out when you went abroad. She gave me training in etiquette and table manners. I learnt to walk in high heels and talk correct English. And for your kind information this dress was her honeymoon gift for me. Poor Di! How was she supposed to know this is a fake honeymoon and more importantly that this is a fake marriage!’

‘Khushi!’ Arnav dragged Khuhsi off the parapet wall and held her in a tight grip crushing the soft flesh of her upper arms.

Khushi shrugged away his arms in anger. The movement caused her purse to fall on the floor spilling all the contents. As she was putting them back into her purse, Arnav picked up some photos that had scattered away. It was a photograph of him in his college days along with a few of his friends.

‘Where did you get this?’

‘Why should I tell you? You won’t believe me anyway.’ She made a move to leave.

‘Khushi stop! Answer my question.’ said Arnav blocking her way.

‘You asked me if I believed Karanji when he told me he was your college friend, right? I thought these photos were proof enough’ she said quietly.

‘Khushi I am ____’

‘I went to the studio this afternoonto get the photos printed out, to make an album. Karanji helped me out with that. We were planning to surprise you at breakfast this morning. Since you left early we planned to meet after dinner. That was what he was trying to tell me when you dragged me off like a slave.’

‘Khushi wait!’Arnav caughtKhushi’s forearm, as she once again tried to leave.

‘Don’t touch me!’

‘Khushi listen to me!’

‘No! I won’t! I am fed up of listening to your endless innuendos. I hate you Arnav Singh Raizada! I hate you from the bottom of my heart! ’ she pushed his chest with all her might, and started hitting his chest repeatedly.  He swore under his breath, and the next moment he pushed her against the pillar, both her handspinned on the pillar, on either side of her. His handswere clamped like vices round her wrists, forcing her to be still.

‘Stop it Khushi!’

‘You know what? You are right. I should stop. Stop trying to impress you! I was so stupid that I thought these stupid things would impress you. Trying to wear this stupid dress so that you will not be ashamed of me anymore, trying to make a stupid album of your college photos, saving your company from the frauds, making the stupid khada for you when you fell sick, cleaning your room -------‘

His mouth came crushing down on hers.

She shuddered weakly, closing her eyes, bracing herself against the first bruising onslaught. Only it did not come. Instead his lips closed on hers with bewildering gentleness, exploring their softness with warm sensuousness.

Khushi tried to pull away. Immediately his grasp on her wrists tightened, and with a little choked gasp of pain, she was forced to submit. She was desperately and shamingly aware that her breathing was changing, quickening as the long deliberate caress went on and on.

The pressure of his mouth against her was subtly more insistent now, his tongue stroking teasingly along the contours of her lips, silently coaxing her lips to part them, and allow him a deeper, more passionate intimacy, and she felt her whole body shiver as she fought its traitorous urging to let him have his way.

A soft sweet trembling was beginning to take control, compelling her to move towards him so that their bodies touched as well as their mouths, prompting a first bewildered response to his kisses. A little aching sigh escaped her, as her lips parted, yielding him the sensual dominance he sought.

‘I am sorry Khushi’ came his anguished apology, as he drew back slowly and let go of her arms ‘Will you forgive me ? ’

Before she could reply, they heard a group approaching the gazebo. Arnav took Khushi’s hand and quietly walked back to the hotel. They went back to the restaurant to find Mr Chopra, so that Arnav could make his apologies to them.

‘I am extremely sorry for leaving you like that Mr Chopra, my wife and I had a few issues to resolve’ said Arnav looking at Khushi in a way that made her go red with embarrassment. ‘If you don’t mind, I would like to take you leave now as I have an appointment with an old college friend of mine’

Khushi felt joy surge through her as she sat looking at Arnav talking animatedly with his old friend Karan. She saw his rare smile that he reserved only for his Di and heard the laughter that she had heard only a couple of times before. She knew this moment would be etched in her memory for ever.

As they went up the elevator, alarge group of boisterous young people entered the small enclosure. Arnav moved himself in front of her to protect her from the rowdy crowd. He put his hand on either side of her. Khushi’s heartbeat started to beat with an erratic rhythm. The looked at each other for long moments until the ring of the elevator announced the arrival of their floor.

Arnav opened the door to their room with his key, and as they took a step into the room, Khushi realized there was something different.The room was resplendent with a golden glow, created by the beautifully lit candles placed all over the room. The room looked like a scene from the movies. There was an awkward silence between them, and Arnav excused himself to go to the rest room. Khushi went up to the bed that had rose petals scattered all over it. This was exactly how it was on the first day they had arrived. So much had changed since then. He had said she was beautiful, back at the gazebo.It was not in the right context though. But her heart gave a small flutter as she lay down on the bed,waiting for Arnav to come out.

When Aranv came out of the rest room, he saw Khushi sound asleep on the bed, fully dressed in her beautiful red gown. Khushi had said a lot of things today. She didn’t sound like the kind of woman he thought she was. Could he have been mistaken in judging her? They would definitely have to talk in the morning. Right now he needed to sleep. It had been a long day.

As he prepared for bed, he took off his shirt as the temperature of the room was a little high. He was about to blow out a candle when he found a note on the night stand. It read, “How did you like my little surprise chotey?” The candles! She must have called the hotel to arrange for this. She just wouldn’t stop meddling, would she? he thought a smile stealing into his lips. He decided to humour her and leave them burning. There was no harm, was there?

Khushi dreamed that she was in the Raizada Mansion. The house was quite dark and she was all alone. Suddenly there was a menacing voice in the dark, ‘Don’t worry Khushiji, I am there for you.’ Khushi was scared. She started running but the voice kept following her, “Khushiji………Khushiji”. She was in a room and she saw a dark form coming toward her. ‘Keep away from me! Otherwise I will tell everyone.’ she screamed.

Arnav was in deep sleep when he heard a scream. He woke up with a start to see Khushi thrashing about, her head rolling from side to side. She mumbled, ‘No…..don’t touch me.’

He bent over her, grasping her shoulder. He gave her a light shake. ‘Khushi wake up. It’s just a dream. It’s okay. I am here.’

Being this close to her, he couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she looked in that gown. God! What was he thinking? She’d had a nightmare. Don’t touch me. What had she been dreaming about? Or whom?

She stared at him without recognition for a moment, and then the most beautiful smile enlightened her face. ‘Arnavji!’ she cried, snaking her arms around his neck, ‘Thank God it’s you!’

She hugged him to herself like she never wanted to let him go.Slowly, Arnav lifted himself from her embrace to look into her eyes. They stared at each other, transfixed.

He had seen her expressions change from fear and anguish, to relief, and then something he didn’t dare acknowledge. He lifted his hands to her forehead and gently moved her hair away from her face, as it removing away all her pain.

 ‘It’s alright Khushi’ he reassured her, his voice a soft whisper, ‘I won’t let anything happen to you.’

She lifted her face up to his, her eyes luminous as she looked into his searching gaze for a moment before shutting her eyes, her invitation blatant.

His mouth came crushing down on her, months of longing and yearning culminating into a one passionate kiss.  The scent of his skin, seemed to invade her senses ---- to fill her being with a harsh and undeniable longing.

One night. One night wasn’t too much to ask for a lifetime in which she would have to continue alone, was it? she asked herself desperately. She wanted his warmth, his comfort, his need of her for this night more than any night, to erase painful memories her nightmare had brought back. She knew he didn’t love her, but she loved him and that would have to do -----

She found she was kissing him in return with the same vibrant, consuming urgency, her lips parting eagerly to accept the thrust of his tongue.

Arnav’s hands shook as he traced the delicate line of her throat and the curve of her shoulder. His palms cupped the soft mounds of her breasts through the dress, his thumb brushing her nipples, piercing her with a shaft of sweet pleasure bordering on pain. His hands then moved down to span her tiny waist, to pull apart the ties at the back of her waist, then moved up slowly to bring the zipper down to the waist.

He slipped his fingers into the neck line, tugging it down until it exposed her lush fullness covered in lace. His dark head bent to her, he kissed the swell of her breasts just above the lace, his mouth like fire against her skin. She felt her body shiver with anguished delight, her hands lifting to twist in the thick, crisp hair at nape of his neck. He peeled the gown down the flat plane of her stomach, down the curve of his hips, until the creamy length of her long legs were revealed to him inch by inch.

His heart constricted at the sight of her dark hair splayed on the pillows, her face flushed with pleasure, her entire body quivering with excitement, her toes curling with pleasure. She was exquisitely beautiful.

Unable to bear the intensity of his perusal, she made a move to cover herself. He held her hands in his and kissed her at the corner of her lips, feathery light kisses that increased the intensity of her heartbeat once again.

She was hardly aware that the caressing hands had stripped away her lacy garments, until he cupped her bare breasts in his hands, lifting them so that his lips could explore their delicate roundness more fully. When his mouth found the peak of one breast, Khushi arched with pleasure. His tongue played across her nipple and shuddering sensations of response soared through her.

Her breath caught in her throat as his mouth left her breasts, feathering kisses down her ribcage, to thrust his tongue into her delectable navel.

Khushi felt she was caught in a dream again, but there was no fear, only an unknown excitement. Then, his lips returned back the way they had come, warming her stomach and once again finding the tip of her breasts.

 ‘Touch me, Khushi ,’ he whispered hoarsely, ‘I need to feel your hands on me.’

Her hands shook as she reached for him, hands framing his face, feeling the roughness of his jawline, then moved to his broad shoulders, down his biceps, over the sinews of his corded forearms, then back up the same way to rake her fingers down the strong muscles of his back.Pinned against his body, she realized he was completely undressed, she was aware of every bone, muscle and sinew in his taut, virile frame. He was magnificent. Arnav, with the glow of the candles painting his bold features, looked beautiful and strong and utterly masculine.

He knew that if she continued to touch him this way he would lose complete control. He decided to take the control back in his hands.

When he touched her at her silken, molten core, Khushi held his hands in utter shock. He gently yet firmly removed her hands from his and opened her legs to stroke her in a slow rhythmic motion.  When she continued to protest, he took her hands in one of his and pinned them over her head. His mouth came down on hers to stem her whimpering.  As the intensity of the caress heightened, she felt herself being swept up into a vortex of sensation like she had never known before. He knew when her sensations reached a peak, her body tensing, and then shuddering, she buried her face in his neck, hugging him tightly, as he let go of her hands.

As she floated down from the bewildering sensations that had encumbered her from head to toe, she felt his hard strength between her thighs, seeking her. His hands were beneath her, raising her ---- to give him a smooth access into her.

For a moment, the tautness of her inner muscles resisted him, and a small shocked sob rose in her throat. Arnav bent his head, his mouth closing on hers, stifling the tiny sound, whispering soft words of reassurance as slowly, he coaxed her body to relax again, and yield to him.

Then, he began to move within her, slowly. She didn’t know what was happening to her, as the initial pain slowly turned into a sweet pleasure and her hips rose to meet the thrust of his as she matched his rhythm. With every powerful thrust, she seemed to be carried nearer some nameless but attainable goal, driven on by instinct, seeking blindly for some relief from the fierce maelstrom of craving he’d created in her.

She clung to him, fingers digging into his sweat-slicked shoulders, letting her body pulse in time with his, the sudden harshness of her breathing, mingling with his. Every never-ending was vibrating suddenly. She was gasping for breath, her head thrashing wildly from side to side, her words framing words of need ----- of entreaty. She could hear herself moaning, her voice thick, like a stranger’s.

 Khushi felt a heat engulf her body, flaming out of control as spasms began to course through her, gasping as she felt them build into a crescendo, the fiery ache of release shaking her whole body. 

As she fought for breath, for sanity, she heard Arnav’s breathing change, quicken hoarsely. She saw him fling back his head suddenly, the muscles in his throat like whipcord, his face strained, almost anguished. Then she felt, like silken fire, the molten reality of his own climax.

They held each other as they floated down from the heights of ecstasy, their breathing slowing down, as their bodies quietened and gave them peace at last.

I LOVE you.

Khushi pressed her mouth to the damp, heated skin of Arnav’s shoulder, damming the words which rang in her head, and sang in her heart. Words she realized she could not tell him ---- ever.

They slept in each other’s arms, spent, like two perfect souls, made for each other.

Khushi woke up the next morning, her body delightfully sore. She closed her eyes as memories of the previous night came crashing back to her. In the harsh day light, the events of the previous night presented a completely different picture.

‘Khushi, we have to talk,’ Arnav sat at the coffee table holding a cup, ‘Please get dressed.’

Khushi was relieved that she had some time before she could face Arnav. His tone had sounded a little clipped earlier. She knew there were so many things left unsaid between them. This complicated matters. Khushi showered quickly and came out dressed in her pink anarkali suit. She sat on the bed quietly and braced herself.

‘You know we will be going back to Delhi today. I have decided that our marriage will no longer be temporary. I will be responsible for you and will provide you with all the comforts for the rest of your life. I will have every right over you. And remember that you belong only to me. Do you understand?’

Khushi went cold after listening to Arnav. Hey Devi Maiyaa! A permanent marriage? How was she going to survive this marriage without love!