Dark Night Dawning Chapter 5

Dark Night Dawning – Part 5

‘So Khushiji, Arnav tells me that you were suffering from a panic attack when you got stuck in the lift.’ Anjali asked unable to hide the mischievous smile that stole into her lips.

Khushi had just joined the rest of the group for dinner after freshening up in the rest room. She went red with embarrassment when she heard Anjali’s question. She looked at Arnav who seemed to be suddenly very busy with his food.

‘I ….I am a little afraid of darkness Di.’ she said, trying to swallow her food as quickly as possible.

‘A little?’ said Arnav sarcastically, ‘You were hysterical!‘

Khushi looked at Arnav shooting daggers with her eyes. He looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘Well its true!’

‘It was good that you were there to take care of Khushiji then, wasn’t it?’ said Anjali enjoying herself immensely.

Arnav looked at Khushi’s flushed face and hoped this ordeal would be over as soon as possible. Soon the conversation moved to a different topic and Arnav heaved a sigh of relief for having been spared from further embarrassment.

Finally, the dinner was done and it was time to get back home. As they entered the lift once again, Khushi felt some of the fear return. Then, she felt herself pushed to one corner of the lift and her left hand being taken into a larger warm one. It was Arnav. She felt all her fear melt away at his touch. But as his thumb started making circular motions, her dhak dhak began and warmth began to suffuse through her entire body. 

Arnav had wanted to shield Khushi from the prying eyes of Shyam, who had been in a strange stupor all through dinner. When he looked down at Khushi, it seemed like she was breathing hard and suddenly realized that he had been unconsciously caressing her hand. He felt desire surge through him at her response and he tightened his hold on her.

When the group got off the elevator, Anjali wanted to use the rest room. Khushi offered to go along with her while the rest decided to wait in the lobby. As Khushi waited for Anjali outside the ladies room, Shyam came walked up to her and said, ‘You are looking beautiful tonight, Khushiji!’

‘Don’t ever talk to me like that jeejaji!’ said Khushi in anger.

‘Don’t call me that Khushiji,’ he pleaded trying to touch her cheek, ‘Remember the good times we used to have?’

‘Stop it!’ Khushi turned and ran, tears streaming down her cheeks, not looking in which direction she was heading. She yanked open a door and kept running. After a few minutes, she found herself in a construction zone. It looked like the rooms in the hotel were being renovated. The ceiling looked like it would cave in any minute as it seemed to be supported with tall bamboo sticks. There was water everywhere on the floor. She knew that she was lost when she kept coming back to the same place she had started. She just couldn’t find the way out. She realized she had forgotten to bring her cell phone with her. Soon she began to panic. She called out for help.

When she thought that she was going to be stuck there the entire night, she heard someone calling out for her. It was Arnav. Joy surged through her. He had come looking for her!

‘What the ____?’ Arnav was angry.

‘Arnavji!’ she was relieved to see him.

When he reached her, he grabbed her hand and began to drag her. Khushi tried to keep pace with him but suddenly her pallu got stuck on a nail on one of the bamboo sticks immediately displacing it and some of the bricks it was supporting came crumbling down. Arnav quickly pushed Khushi to the floor, covering her with his own body. He then covered his own head with his arms.

“Arnavji!’ Khushi screamed in panic.

‘Let’s get out of here before the whole place comes down,’ said Arnav helping her to her feet.

They finally managed to find their way back when the hotel staff found them and lead them back to the lobby, where Anjali, Akash, Payal and Shyam were waiting for them.  Anjali’s relief on seeing them turned into worry when she saw Arnav’s injured hand.The fingers on his left hand were swollen and his face was contorted with pain.

‘What happened Chotey?’ she asked worry creasing her forehead, ‘Is Khushiji ok?’

‘He hurt his himself trying to save me Di,’ said Khushi in a small voice, eyes filled with tears, ‘He needs to see a doctor right away.’

‘Di, please go home with jeejaji. I will take bhai to the hospital. We can have Mohan pick up bhai’s car later.’ said Akash.

‘No Akash,’ said Anjali, ‘I will follow you to the hospital.’

‘Di, please do as Akash says,’ pleaded Arnav, ‘It’s just a scratch. I will be absolutely fine,’ he added to put her to ease.

Anjali agreed reluctantly while Akash drove to the hospital with Arnav, Khushi and Payal in tow.

When they reached the hospital, they went to the Emergency department where only one member was allowed along with the patient. Akash asked Khushi to go in with Arnav and told her that he and Payal would wait for them outside.

In the emergency room, a nurse had taken Arnav to the examination table and drawn the curtains. A doctor had stepped in to examine Arnav. After a few minutes when the curtain opened, Khushi saw the nurse applying a topical ointment on his back. She was shocked to see several bruises on his back that were just turning into an ugly blue colour.  The doctor told her that his bruises looked external and would heal but had recommended an x-ray just to be safe. After the x-ray reports came in the he told them that it there was no fracture but his left had suffered a tendon injury which would have to be splinted in a cast for two weeks. When the doctor saw Khushi’s upset face, he told her there was nothing to worry and that the he would heal fast as long he rested well. He wrote a prescription for pain killers, telling them to return in two weeks for a follow up.

On the way back Khushi sat next to Arnav thankful for the darkness as tears streamed down her cheeks. Arnav had laid his head back and closed his eyes sedated by the injection that the nurse had given him at the hospital.

When they returned home, Anjali came up to Arnav her face full of concern. Akash had called her from the hospital and explained everything.

‘You will have to take care not to strain yourself Chotey,’ said Anjali, ‘You are not going to office for the next two weeks.’

‘Are you kidding me?’ asked Arnav still groggy, ‘I should be fine after a night’s rest.’

‘No way!’ said Anjali and turned toward Khushi ‘Khushiji, it will be your responsibility to make sure he gets plenty of rest.’

‘Yes Di,’ said Khushi quietly, ‘I will take care of him. Please don’t worry.’

‘By the way Khushiji, how did you happen to get lost in the hotel?’ asked Anjali.

‘I … I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten my cell phone at the restaurant. In a hurry, I failed to see where I was going and got lost.’ She finished in a small voice.

She looked up to see Arnav staring at her intently. She hated lying like this.

After entering the bedroom, as Arnav headed straight for the bed and lay down on it, he winced with pain and sat upright.

‘Arnavji,’said Khushi coming up to him, ‘I will re-apply the ointment on your back so it soothes you.’

‘I think I can manage without that,’ he said his voice hoarse with pain.

‘I don’t think so,’ she said firmly. She bent over him and began to pull the tails of his shirt out of his trousers.

When he tried stopping her by holding her hand with his good hand, she firmly moved it out of her way. She began to unbutton his shirt. Arnav wasn’t sure which was more painful --- the bruises or the touch of her fingers searing his skin as each button came undone. As she peeled his shirt off his shoulders, he swore under his breath as pleasure mixed with pain at the touch of her fingers on his shoulder and arms.

When her fingers moved to the belt buckle he was shocked, ‘Khushi, what are you doing?’

‘How will you sleep with your belt on?’ she asked softly, ‘You will be more comfortable in your pyjamas.’

After she removed the belt, she gently placed her quivering hands on waistband of his trousers and undid the hook.

‘Khushi, just get my pyjamas I will manage.’ He didn’t want to feel so helpless in front of her.

‘Please Arnavji, I have seen you in less so cut the fuss and just let me help you.’

Khushi was shocked to hear the words that her come out of her mouth. So was Arnav.

‘Is that right?’ asked Arnav his voice low, making a mental note of that for future reference. He removed his trousers and put on his track pant not without some degree of difficulty.

‘P…Please lie down on your stomach, so I can apply some ointment on you.’ she stammered not knowing how long she would be able to keep up her bravado. She began to apply the ointment on his bruises, gently rubbing the ointment in a circular motion.

Her hands felt so good that Arnav fought the lethargy that was overtaking him but he had to know something first.

 ‘How did you get lost Khushi?’ he asked her, his voice low.

‘I …I told you earlier, I wanted to get my cell phone and in a hurry I lost my way.’ Khushi was shocked at his sudden question.

‘Is that right?’ he asked her enigmatically.

‘I….Yes.’ She said in a whisper as she continued her ministrations on his back.

Why won’t she tell me? He wondered. He had seen her talking to Shyam from the end of the corridor. He had also seen Shyam about to follow her when Anjali had stepped out of the ladies room. They had both returned to the lobby after that. When Khushi hadn’t returned in a few minutes he had gone searching for her in the same direction she had taken and found her in the construction area. His thoughts began to turn hazy when the pain killers kicked in numbing his body into relaxation and finally sleep claimed him.

Khushi changed into her night suit and settled on the recliner watching him sleep.  It was all her fault. If she hadn’t run away so impulsively Arnav would not be hurt. When he had asked her earlier why she had run off like that she almost tempted to spill the truth. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t exactly sure about where they stood in their relationship and whether he would understand if she made such a big accusation. Earlier she had thought that Shyam would change if she gave him a chance. But now it did not seem very likely. But, now would not be the right time because Di will not be able to bear it in her condition and it might harm the baby growing inside her. She would have to bide her time. In the mean time she would have to make amends in her own way.

The doctor had told her that the painkillers lasted only 5-6 hours and that he might require another dose after that. She came awake to hear Arnav’s moan and realized that the pain had woken him up. She checked the time to see that it was 5 hours since he had gone to sleep. She took the pain killer and some water and gently woke him up.

‘Arnavji, please get up and take this tablet.’

When Arnav accidently used his right hand to push himself to a sitting position he winced with pain.

‘Arnavji, let me help you up.’ Khushi immediately put down the glass of water and held him by his shoulders. She realized he was too heavy for her to manage just with her hands. She went closer and used the body strength to pull him up. Their eyes met and they stared at each other for countless seconds and then there was flash of pain in Arnav’s eyes. Khushi realized that she was practically lying on him and suddenly she shot upright and gave him his tablet and water. He took it and was ready to go back to sleep. She went back to her position on the recliner.

In the morning she went down to the kitchen to help in the morning breakfast. She assured everyone that he was doing okay and proceeded to make tea for Arnav.

When Khushi took up Arnav’s tea she saw that he was sitting up with his back against the head board.

‘I brought your tea Arnavji,’ she said, ‘Would you like me to help you with anything?’

‘Uhh…,’ he said slowly, ‘Could you just bring me my lap top?’

‘You are not supposed to work,’ she said immediately.

‘I am just going to check e-mails,’ said Arnav, ‘It’s very important Khushi.’

Khushi brought him the lap top and said, ‘I will go and get your breakfast while you get ready then.’

‘That won’t be necessary. I will come down for breakfast.’

‘But ____’ she protested.

‘I said I will be fine. It’s just a small injury. I am not handicapped ok?’ he said firmly.

Arnav had worked for an hour looking at e-mails and then on the phone with Aman. He craved for a bath right now but the pain in his body was too much for him manage one. Just then Khushi walked in with his breakfast.

‘I said I would be coming down for breakfast,’ he said though he was relieved for not having to walk down.

‘Well…. everyone has finished eating. You might as well eat here.’ she said bringing his tray up to him.

‘Leave it here. I will take my breakfast after I take a bath.’

Khushi went into the rest room and came back after a few minutes. She came back and stood next to him.

‘Come on,’ she said,‘Your water is ready.’

‘What?’ he asked her incredulously.

‘I have a lot of work. Please come with me without wasting more time.’

When had she become this authoritative he thought to himself. But he was too weak to argue and he really wanted a shower. Inside the bathroom he found a plastic stool and a bucket of water. Khushi then looked down at his track pant indicating him to take them off. Arnav shook his head at her absurdity, but conceded. Once he had stripped down to his boxers, she directed him to sit on the stool.

Khushi took a mug of water and poured it on him making sure no water fell on the cast. Arnav closed his eyes as the hot water soothed his bruises and hurts. She then took a wash cloth, took a blob of shower gel on it and began to rub it on his shoulders in circular motions. Sensations assailed him in spite of the pain. Her hand had moved to his chest, continuing down to his flat stomach, his waist and around to his back. She was extremely gentle making sure not to hurt his bruises. God! If she continued like this, he would need a cold shower instead of a hot one. She then moved in front of him and moved the wash cloth over his hands, first the right and then left. If he hadn’t been in intense pain she would be in big trouble right now. Then she bent down and did his legs. Did she know what that was doing to him? Her hands then moved to his face. She had discarded the wash cloth and was using her bare hands now. A memory of their previous encounter in the bathroom came back to him and as he looked at her eyes he realized that she was remembering it too. She quickly poured the remaining water on him washing away the foam from his body. She took the towel from the holder and began to dry him.

Back in the bedroom, Khushi went up to the wardrobe to pick out a t-shirt and track pant for Arnav. She closed her eyes and composed her quivering body. She hoped he would be fit soon enough. She didn’t think she would be able to endure this for long.

She quickly gave him his painkiller and escaped out of the room unable to look into the intense eyes boring into her.

After Arnav ate his breakfast Anjali, Akash and Naniji came to meet him and he assured all of them that he was doing okay. After they left, Arnav switched on his laptop, checked his meeting schedule and found that he had a meeting right away. He dialled in. Once the meeting was done he called Aman to brief him about follow up. Aman also reminded him that he was supposed to send an e-mail to a very important client. He began to type. Just then Khushi entered the room. Seeing him slowly typing on his lap top with one hand Khushi went up to him.

‘Let me do it for you.’ she said.

‘That’s ok I will manage.’ He said curtly.

‘Just dictate. I will type it for you.’ she said.

Arnav was irritated but began his dictation in usual fast paced manner.

‘You know, we have already done this before. I can record your voice and go over everything word by word. OR…..you could dictate a little slower and make this easy.’ She said looking into his eyes.

Arnav conceded and in the next one hour they had progressed a lot when Khushi had typed at least a dozen e-mails for him and sent it out on his behalf.

After lunch, Khushi had cajoled Arnav to sleep for some time and he had agreed. By evening he was feeling much better and had gone back to attending some more meetings. He had to send a few more e-mails for which he would wait for Khushi to come up after dinner. She had come up with his evening tea and then gone back ----probably to her tuition class. He was not in a big hurry.

After dinner, Khushi had gone up to Anjali’s room to give her the badam milk she liked so much.

‘Khushiji, please go up and take some rest. I know you haven’t slept yesterday night.’

‘No Di. This is the least I can do for him as it is all my fault that he is in so much pain. He was unable to go to work today. You know how much that bothers him.‘ Tears started to well up in her eyes and she quickly left the room.

Shyam stepped out the bathroom relieved that Khushi had not said anything about their encounter previous night.

‘It is so nice to be in love, isn’t it?’ Anjali asked Shyam a little wistfully.

‘What do you mean, Rani sahiba?’ he asked her surprized at her sudden comment.

‘I am talking about Khushiji. She loves Chotey so much.’

‘What?’ he exclaimed, then softened his tone and carefully asked, ‘How can you say?’

‘The way she has taken care of Chotey in the last 24 hours. And I am sure Chotey does too. He doesn’t express it but I have been seeing it in their eyes since they returned from Nainital.’

‘Is that so?’ he asked in a low voice.

‘Yes. I think my surprize for them worked out really well.’ she said happily.

‘What surprize?’ he asked her unable to stop himself.

‘I had booked them a honeymoon suite in the hotel they were staying and on the last night I had the hotel staff light candles and put flowers all over the room,’ she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

No! It cannot be! Shyam’s face began to twitch.

Back in the room, Khushi watched Arnav sleeping on his stomach again. She had applied the ointment on his bruises. She knew he would be alright tonight. She went to her side of the bed and lay on it. Sometime in the middle of the night, Khushi woke up to feeling of someone touching her. She opened her eyes to see that Arnav’s head was resting on her arm, his face snuggled in the crook of her neck, with his arm around her waist. She raised her hand to run her fingers through his hair, and closed her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips.

Dark Night Dawning Chapter 4

Synopsis: As you can see, Arnav does make it to the dinner. Read on to find out what happens when they reach the restaurant.

Dark Night Dawning – Part 4

Khushi realized it was not her imagination when the safety pin she was trying to pin her pallu with poked her, making her wince as it slipped out of her hands. What was he doing here?

Arnav was mesmerized. He had come up thinking which colour of the rainbow she would have chosen to wear tonight. But, when he saw her he was zapped. She was draped in the most beautiful wine coloured saree. But all he could see was her back. Except for the two narrow strips of cloth brought together by a jewelled clasp, he could see her entire back. There was something very sexy about her back. His body hardened just looking at that sight. One day she was driving him up the wall with her pativrata avatar. The next day she was a siren. Which one was she? Whatever it was, he’d better get her out to that restaurant fast or else he would be tempted to drag her to their bed right now and that was closer!

‘Khushi, hurry up, will you?’ he said, his voice rough, ‘We are already running late.’

Khushi quickly pinned up her pallu, surprized at his sudden change of behaviour. One moment, it looked like he was going to devour her and the in the next, he was ordering her about.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked anger rising at his tone, ‘I thought you had an important meeting.’

‘I am Arnav Singh Raizada,’ he said haughtily, ‘I don’t revolve around meetings, it’s the other way around. So if you are done with your interrogation, we should be on our way.’

Khushi sat in the car miffed with Arnav. She had disliked the tone in which he had talked earlier. Why did he have to be such a Laad Governor all the time?

‘Where is Di?’ she asked looking around for Anjali.

‘Di left early so that we don’t lose the reservation,’ he said, ‘God knows how much more time you would have taken to dress up.’

‘The reason I was running late was because Di asked me to go back and change from my suit into this saree.’ she explained irritated.

So Di had planned all this, he thought. She just won’t stop meddling, will she?He had called her in advance to let her know he was joining them for dinner.After thinking about it the entire day at work, he had finally decided that he had to go to this dinner at any cost. He would have to pull a few strings to reschedule that meeting but he’d be damned if he let Khushi go all alone anywhere in the vicinity of Shyam. He remembered how his hands had itched to punch him right in the face when he had slyly persuaded Anjali to bring Khushi along for the dinner. The slimeball!

**

When they reached the hotel building, he called Anjali to let her know that they were in the parking lot and would be up in a few minutes. They got in the elevator and pressed the button to the 13^th floor. When they went up to the 2^nd floor, a little boy got into the elevator all by himself. They were wondering if he was lost when suddenly he pressed a bunch of buttons from 3 to 9. Just when Arnav was about to ask him what he was doing he got off on the 3^rd floor and ran away.

Arnav was so irritated with the little boy when the lift started stopping at each and every floor. Finally after the 8^th floor, the lift gave a lurch, and began to creep upward.

‘What’s happening?’ asked Khushi, when the floor beneath her stuttered, swayed and stopped.The door remained closed.

‘I think the lift is stuck between two floors,’ he returned. He tried pressing the alarm button and checked the signal on his phone.  ‘The alarm button doesn’t seem to be working and there is no signal here. We will have to wait until someone comes along to fix it.’

He went to the far corner of the lift and stripped off his coat jacket. He had worn a white shirt inside. Khushi loved to see him in white. He looked very sexy. She wished she could walk up to him and run her fingers through his hair and undo couple of his buttons……. What was she thinking? She remembered what she was going to tell him.

‘What? No way! We can’t just wait until someone comes,’ she said her voice shrill, ‘Can we not try to climb out of this lift?’

‘Are you crazy?’ he asked her incredulously.

‘I have seen it a movie,’ she insisted.

‘For God’s sake Khushi, this is India. Look up. Do you see a exit door anywhere? No! They don’t make those kinds of lifts here. OK?’

‘Ok, ok there is no need to yell Laad governor,’ she muttered under her breath.

‘Is this some kind of family tradition?’ he asked her.

‘What?’ she asked surprized.

‘Giving nick names to people. This Laad Governor, and then your buaji calls you sanka devi, parmeshwari, titaliya.’ He particularly loved titaliya. It suited her. He wished she would just stop talking and fly over to him right now.

So he notices my nick names ha? He should be one to talk. She realized she had said that aloud when he said ‘Excuse me?’

‘I have heard that someone used to be called Archie in his college days.’

‘How did you know?’ he was glaring at her, the glint in those deep brown eyes like a danger signal.

Before she could say anything he realized, ‘Ah let me guess. Karan* told you, didn’t he?’

‘Yes.’ She couldn’t help the mischievous smile that stole into her lips. ‘He also told me why.’

‘I don’t know what he told you,’ he began, ‘But it was definitely not because I was like that Archie character.’

‘If you say so.’ Her expression told him that she didn’t believe him one bit.

‘Look. The real reason was that, there were these two girls who had proposed to me at the same time. They apparently had a fight with each other. So, my friends started calling them Betty and Veronica. Then the nickname Archie got stuck on me. That’s it.’

Khushi began to giggle slowly at first and then it turned into an uncontrollable laughter.

‘Shut up Khushi,’ snapped Arnav, ‘I am so glad I could be of some entertainment to you.’

‘So?’ she asked giggling, ‘Who did you choose?’

‘What? No way. I wasn’t into that!’ he snarled.

‘Why?’ she asked looking at him doubtfully.

‘Oh God!’ he rolled his eyes, exasperated, ‘I just wasn’t into those girls.’

‘Oh I see’ she said nodding her head.

‘Not that I was a saint or anything,’ he said sheepishly. That grin, the little boyish thing that pulled at one corner of his mouth was back again.

‘Don’t I know that!’ she muttered under her breath.

‘It’s just that I couldn’t afford to waste my time in such frivolities.’ He said grimly.

Khushi thought she saw a flash pain in his eyes, but it was gone so fast, masked again by the glint that she had seen earlier.

‘Arnavji, look!’ Khushi stood up, pointing to a small square junction box at one corner of the roof of the lift, ‘Maybe there is something in that, which will help us.’

Arnav decided to just sit where he was. He wasn’t sure he would be able to keep his hands off her if went close to her tonight. Moreover, her hair-brained ideas only ended up causing more trouble

‘Ok looks like I will have to do it myself then’ she said irritated. She tried reaching but realized it was way too high for her. She also realized it would be way too high for Arnav even if he tried. There was only one way.

‘Arnavji?’ she asked softly, ‘Could you please lift me up so I can reach up to that box?’

‘Damn!’ He groaned inwardly. Why couldn’t she be quiet like normal wives? Only the day before, she was in that ugly saree wearing a ghoongat on her head. And now, here she was in her sanka devi avatar.

‘Please Arnavji,’ she pleaded, ‘I hate closed spaces.’

She had batted her eyelashes again. Gosh! Did she know that was his weakness? He stood up and walked up to her staring at her intently. She briefly closed her eyes as he put both his hands on her waist and lifted her high up in the air, holding the position by pressing his elbows to her hips.

‘A little higher Arnavji’ she gasped, using her right hand to reach the box, while the other hand rested on his shoulder for support.

Arnav swore under his breath. She was unbelievable! It was hard for him already his face being in level with her breasts, and here she was asking him to lift her higher! He loosened his hands so she slid down him gently, his face brushing the valley between her breasts in the most feathery of touches. As her feet touched the ground, Khushi looked at him nervously with luminous eyes in a way only she could, her lips trembling a little, her hands on his shoulders. Then suddenly, he lifted her higher this time, holding her in place with his hands wrapped around her thighs. This way, he was at kissing distance with her midriff. Khushi found that she was able to open the door of the junction box. Inside she found a bunch of switches.

‘Arnavji,’ she called out to him, ‘There seem to be so many switches here. What should I do?’

‘Khushi, just don’t touch any of them,’ he warned her, ‘I am getting you down now, ok?’

Khushi didn’t want to let it go without trying. She pressed them all one by one. Suddenly the lift gave a lurch and was plunged into complete darkness! Arnav lost his balance and they both fell in a heap, with Arnav cushioning Khushi’s fall.

‘Arnavji!’ screamed Khushi, ‘What’s happening? Is the lift falling? Are we going to die?’

Arnav realized that Khushi was having an anxiety attack because of her fear for darkness and closed spaces. He took her in his arms and made her sit on his lap.

‘Ssh…. Khushi, it’s ok,’ he tried calming her down, ‘I am right here. I won’ t let anything happen to you.’

‘I am not able to breath,’ gasped Khushi hyperventilating, ‘Please do something Arnavji, get me out of here!’

Arnav had heard that people who had anxiety attacks could be calmed down with distraction. And he decided to do just that in the only way he knew how. He brought his lips down on hers.

His tongue ran lightly across the line of her mouth, trailing intoxicating fire from corner to corner. Against her will she felt every muscle in her body relaxing, her arms beginning to slide around his neck, one hand finding the crisp warmth of his thick hair.

Her lips parted voluntarily under the passionate, gentle insistence of his. Suddenly it was as though some unbelievably wonderful firework had exploded in her mind, showering brilliance and colour through the darkness. She found her back arching upwards, thrusting her breasts against his hard chest. Her fingers clenched in his hair ---- and then she was lost in a kiss more utterly sensual, more bone-melting, than anything she had ever dreamed of. His body was fierce and hard against hers, their mouths locked together in a sweetness that was scalding, enveloping like fire …

As he drew away from her, she clung to him with confused passion, offering her face to his kisses ----passionate, dizzying kisses that came like scalding rain on her eyelids, her cheeks, her mouth ….

As his hands unclasped the jewel at the back her blouse to claim the shuddering skin, her own fingers slipped into his shirt to dig into the firm muscles of his chest, and she met his kiss with a blazing passion that had them both gasping and dizzy.

‘God,’ he whispered fiercely, ‘I need you so much, Khushi! You are so beautiful ----‘

‘Arnavji!’ Khushi looked up at him her eyes luminous and their eyes locked for countless moments. They didn’t realize that door had opened until they heard familiar voices penetrate through the haze.

‘Bhai? Chote ! Khushi!’ All voices spoke at once. They looked up, their eyes still glazed to see two guys who looked like technicians, a manager, Payal, Akash, Anjali and Shyam staring at them their mouths open.

Arnavrealized that how it must look to them, withKhushi sitting on his lap with their arms on each other, their hair mussed up because of the tumble they took in the dark, his top two shirt buttons had popped off when Khushi had clutched at it while she fell and her lipstick was totally gone, not to mention the flushed look she had on her face. Arnav helped Khushi up and stood up in one swift movement. He picked up his jacket that he had discarded earlier and as Khushi tried to rush off, he pulled her back, and she clashed against his chest. At her gasped shock, he placed the jacket on her back, bending toward her to whisper in her ear.

‘Go to the rest room with Payal and fix your blouse first.’

She turned a deeper shade of red if that was possible, as she grabbed Payal’s hand and walked away as fast as her legs could take her.

Apologizing for the inconvenience, the hotel manager explained to everyone that the lift often got stuck if the 9^th floor button was pressed as that floor was not yet operational. He also explained that the lift boy had stepped out for an emergency. After the manager left,Anjali told Arnav how they had asked the hotel manager, when he and Khushi had not come up even after 10 minutes. The manager had figured out that they were probably stuck in the lift and brought the technicians to fix the problem. They had all waited there while the technicians worked until they could get the lift doors open.

‘This is not what it looks like,’ Arnav turned toward his sister, ‘I can explain.’

‘I am sure you have an explanation just like the one you gave us for the bathroom incident,’ she said mischievously.

‘What bathroom incident?’ asked Akash, ‘No one told me anything about it.’

‘Don’t worry Akash,’ said Anjali playfully patting Akash’s back‘Let’ go back to our table. I will explain what happened the other day. But first I want to hear from Chotey.’

‘What you doing here?’ Arnav asked Akash hoping to distract him, ‘Weren’t you supposed to take Payal to a movie tonight?’

‘We couldn’t get tickets to the movie we wanted to watch, so we decided to join Di for dinner. I am so glad we missed that movie. We got to watch a better show here.’ He added tongue in cheek.

These two were not going to let it go, thought Arnav desperately trying to prepare his explanation.

As the three siblings walked together engrossed in their own world, the loner left behind on his own watched them with simmering resentment, his face twitching. He wrung his hands in frustration thinking that things were getting out of hand.

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!