Cultural events are clubbed with weekends to provide the required rest for all the participants. So the day Saanvika was returning was a weekend. Arnav and Khushi accompanied her to the airport. Saanvika bid them good bye . A teary Khushi held her in a bear hug while Arnav was embarassed at the scene she was creating. Saanvika smiled at Khushi ,gently extricated herself and told in a calm voice "Pari, You are the best daughter and girl I had the pleasure of knowing in my entire life. I want you to remain the same."
Khushi looked lost while Arnav clearly got the message.
Once Saanvika had left,Aman,Rohan,Nishant and Lavanya met them at airport entrance. They had arrived in three bikes. They shared their plan of taking Khushi to banks of river ganges. Arnav informed them that he may not be able to join because he had plans with Shilpa. Lavanya was asking him to rearrange the plans when Khushi said "No. He shouldn't. That is unfair to her. She might be expecting him. We will go."
Lavanya pointed out that there will be shortage of transport if ASR left. Khushi thought for a moment as asked with a twinkle in her eyes "Can I get a bicycle?"
Lavanya needn't had to respond at all when Arnav said in a steely strong voice "You are not riding one"
Khushi opened her mouth to argue when she noticed his eyes and thought "You really don't want to talk to him right now" Both glared at each other , both of them not ready to back down
Lavanya tried to lighten the atmosphere suggesting the solution to Arnav. "Why don't you drop Pari and then go for your date?"
Arnav looked at Khushi nonchalantly. Khushi said "I don't want to go with him"
Aman volunteered "Let me take you. Nishant can come with ASR"
Arnav stalked towards Khushi who went one step back for every step he took until her back hit his bike. Lavanya had been trying to get ASR's attention to save Khushi. He blatantly ignored her distraction.
Standing hardly a foot away from Khushi,he bend down his head, breathing down Khushi's neck, he whispered to her "Get on my bike now or I will throw you over my shoulder and take you .Save a drama"
Khushi simply forgot to breath. She was not going to give in. "To Hell with him "
She took sure steps to Aman and turned to face Arnav. She felt like she was insulting him. No matter what, she didn't want to do that. She walked back to Arnav's bike and said "Chaliye.."
He climbed on his bike giving her a death glare .Using his left foot, he slipped out the foot rest for Khushi. She put her right foot first on foot rest and lifted herself and seated in a side saddle behind him. Lavanya said to Khushi from the passenger seat of Rohan,"Hold him Pari,I really don't want aunty sending snipers for me.."
Khushi smiled an embarassed smile and put her dainty right hand on his right shoulder. She felt so uncomfortable. She has lost the number of times she has ridden in a bike but this felt like none other.
Arnav sneeked a peek at Khushi from the rear view mirror . He saw a frown creasing her forehead and she seemed confused.
They rode in silence. Khushi was enjoying the straight road and the greenery lining the road. She didn't know when they reached. She got down from the bike, whispered a "thanks and sorry" .
He knew explanation will follow "Thanks for ride and sorry for inconvenience"
Without a glance she went towards others while he left turning the bike in a screeching turn. His friends had reached ten minutes early. They seemed surprised that Arnav rode slow, "He has an obsession of being first in everything. He was never the one to come behind", said Aman surprised. That scared Khushi. "He seemed agitated when returning. Will he drive recklessly?Devi Maiya , please be with him" she prayed silently
Arnav was informed that if he would like to join, he can meet them at the Zero hour club by 4:00 pm. That was a club frequented by elite class. Situated in the borderline to city, the club provided the right kind of accessibility and privacy. But it was not a club which they frequented. It was too proper for their liking but they didn't want to fluster Khushi on her first experience. They didn't realize how protective they became of her. Normally they would have been eloquent about the need for a girl to live her freedom but Khushi had that disposition which evoked the primal protective instinct in men and woman alike. So in a silent pact they decided to go to this club when Khushi said she hadn't visited a dance club.
As they got seated with their drinks, they saw Nadeen Mishra entering with his friends. Nadeen was 6 foot 2 inch in height, fair,broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist, sea blue eyes and wavy thick hair. In short, a look ladies would kill for and he knew it. He was wearing an orange rugby shirt rolled to his elbows neatly. He approached them in long easy sure strides . Lavanya looked at others, Nadeen was the surest heart breaker they had ever seen and they didn't get a chance to warn Khushi. He had an easy charm which borderlines being flirtatious. He never intentionally tried to be flirty, atleast by his standards,that is what he claimed. He never tried to charm the pants off any girl, they just dropped it. Those eyes took care of that.
Nadeen seemed a little taken back to find a sweet girl sitting besides Lavanya. He knew Lavanya too well to try any charms of his. She was simply too smart for that . So he had enjoyed a genuine friendship with her. Lavanya and friends tried to put off the introduction of Khushi but after the casual exchange of greetings when Nadeen looked at Khushi and extended his hand, Lavanya had no other option but to introduce Khushi. When Khushi returned the greeting with her soul touching smile, it was time for Nadeen to be surprised. He remained seated with them for another thirty minutes until finally his impatient friends he had come with dragged him to the dance floor.
Lavanya noticed that Khushi was laughing at all the jokes Nadeen was dishing out and she hoped to all Gods, Khushi didn't fall for him.She also noticed that Nadeen had extracted from Khushi her likes ,dislikes,hobbies,interest etc. Lavanya was surprised that she hadn't been able to get to know Khushi this well for the time they had been together. It astonished her to know that Khushi was taught to sing and dance by aunty which according to herself, she did very poorly. She had a flare for painting too.
After being seated there for few more minutes listening to the fast music , Lavanya joined the floor with the others. Khushi didn't feel comfortable , hence she remained looking at them dancing. She noticed the ambience of the club and its members. She noticed that club also housed recreational area with games, a roof top restaurant, kids play area etc.
The peculiarity of the club was, it catered to both sides of interest. The genre of fast music and the genre of melodies. Once all four of them came back, they took Khushi to the melodies section. Today was about her and they were going to give her a tour of the place. Nadeen noted them leaving. As she entered melodies section she heard tunes of 1960's sung on demand and while members listened in rapture. It was the haven of music lover. Khushi immediately liked the environment.
As they were making themselves comfortable, they heard a familiar voice announcing "May we have the pleasure of listening to Khushi". Khushi immediately looked up terrified to the face of smiling Nadeen. Lavanya and rest of them could have killed him for putting her in that situation. Precisely at that moment Arnav walked in. He had heard the request and his first response was "What The H***!"
Nadeen walked forward towards Khushi but Lavanya stood up. He looked at Lavanya and said "if she is not comfortable I wouldn't persist. Let me try, please" She backed down. She knew he was a man of his word. He may be a flirt by her standard but he respected women
He went forward and held out his hands.
Khushi had felt a soft breeze caressing her and had looked up to meet Arnav. The terrified feeling that captures her on Nadeen’s announcement left her immediately. By the time the hand was extended, she had composed herself. She had never sung before anyone. She sung so bad that her regular practice never seemed to end. She looked at the outstretched hand and at Arnav.Something changed in his eyes.
So Nadeen started the song "Kya Khoob lagthi ho badi sundar lagthi ho..'
That surprised everyone present there. They never thought him capable of singing this good. Well , he never had to do it before. Adulation came to him without effort so why waste effort.He looked on expectantly at Khushi.
Arnav fixed his gaze on her and she looked at him instinctively. Without taking his gaze off her, he picked the microphone placed next to the orchestra team and walked towards her. Standing infront of her, he extended his hands which she took without a blink, gently lifted her off her seat. bought her to the dais. Holding her hand ,he placed the microphone on her palm. Khushi didn't move. He held her gaze for another few seconds,left the dais and seated himself in the place she just vacated.
Khushi closed her eyes, prayed to Devi Maiya and thought of her Amma. She opened her eyes with a dazzling smile on her lips.Unknown to her ,two hearts skipped a beat. She nodded at Nadeen and gestured him to continue.
He started again with a smile in his beautiful eyes which refused to leave her "Kya khoob lagti ho, badi sundar dikhti ho..Tum Jaan se pyaari ho tum jaan hamari ho"
Khushi smiled shaking her head she joined with twinkling eyes "Phir se kaho, kehte raho acha lagta hai.."
Everybody in the room exploded into an encouraging applause. Khushi sang beautifully.Arnav just looked dumbfounded. Nadeen too didn't expect it to be that beautiful. He only wanted to make her enjoy the evening. Nadeen and Khushi together completed the song. As they quit the dais,Nadeen extended his hands to help Khushi. She smiled and ascended on her own. The act was not lost either on Nadeen or on Arnav.
Nadeen joined the group with Khushi. He greeted Arnav enthusiastically which Arnav returned with a slight smile. Arnav had a tolerant attitude to Nadeen. As per him,Nadeen was harmless.
Khushi stood up to go to the washroom and announced that they should proceed to the dance floor. She would look around the club and be back at the lounge of dance floor once done. She promised not to leave the floor without letting them know.
Though they insisted they will wait for her, she persisted saying she didn't enjoy the dance floor but will feel bad if others missed out due to her. She wasn't used to be surrounded by so many people while dancing.
So Khushi started for wash room while others went to dance floor. Arnav and Nadeen both turned around to see retreating Khushi. After a span of an hour Nadeen discreetly moved out of dance floor and went in search of Khushi.
Nadeen was wondering what is happening with him. "Is it another bout of my need to prove how invincible I am in matters of girls? Is her gentle brush off riling my manhood and is this being a challenge? Then why the racing heart beat, this need to be with her all the time.!."
Trying to subdue a confused mind, Nadeen concluded it is just his bored mind reacing up to meet a fresh innocent face.He enjoyed her smile, thought he . "Anything for that smile!"
He was looking through different rooms when he came to Kids room. The area was divided into two sections. One for toddlers and other for kids up to 4 years. Nadeen stood rooted to the spot when he found Khushi sitting on the floor with two toddlers on her either folded legs hugging them close and rocking back and forth. She was singing some silly rhymes and making noises of animals and birds.
Khushi felt a small tingling sensation and a soft breeze brushing past her neck and cheek. She turned around and asked smiling broadly "Can you please take a photo of us?"
Nadeen nodded and immediately took a photo of her. When he saw another camera flash right to his side, that is when he noticed Arnav standing next to him
She asked them "Is it time to go?"
Nadeen looked at Arnav "To take off that tinge of sadness in her voice, I would have waited here a lifetime. Alas I can't make the decision here" thought Nadeen .He heard Arnav say a no in her response.
She went back to the rocking rhyme session happily. They sat in the parents area waiting for her while Khushi played a football with kids and laughed immensely. She didn't score a goal. While Nadeen smiled indulgently at Khushi, Arnav knew better. He knew she was just letting the kids have their way with ego.
Khushi lost track of time with kids until Lavanya came and asked if she didn't want to see the game area. All the kids gave her a small kiss each and she returned the favor with equal passion. On her way out she went to each toddler and gave small hugs. "How it feels to be Khushi ?" thought Lavanya. She wasn't faking it, Lavanya knew that. Kids are so sensitive they reciprocate only genuine affection.
So they together proceeded to game area. Lavanya wondered when did Nadeen get around to the side of Khushi. She just shook her head in amusement "He never changes. Hope Khushi is not the casualty. I need to caution her"
Lavanya asked aloud "Nadeen , don't you want to join your friends. They are joined by their dates. How about yours?"
Nadeen glared at Lavanya and replied "No. I didn't get a date today"
"Now why does that surprises us!" all of them laughed aloud.
Khushi was asking to Rohan about his family and listening with rapt attention. "When she cared , she cared genuinely" thought an amused Nadeen. She was sad to hear about the demise of his father,the struggles his mother had to go through to bring him up and his sister, she was surprised to hear that his sister was also a student in college doing her MTech and she was Arnav's guide in Project.
He was fascinated by the number of emotions that flitted across those big brown eyes. They changed colors depending on the emotions but all times they were genuine. He don't know how he knew it, but he knew it.
He was not the only one who saw that.
Arnav had seen Khushi talking to all of his friends. He had never seen her talking to her friends. He didn't know she had a side which was mature enough that a person like Rohan felt comfortable to share his story. Rohan was a closed book and he didn't like the pretentious concerns thrown over his family stories. But Arnav saw Rohan liked her. So did Aman and Nishant
Lavanya was a lost cause from the beginning. They were bending all their rules so that she can have her way comfortably. They hated going to the calm music area, they wanted to drink at the roof top bar, Aman wanted to flirt with girls,Rohan went to play games and completely avoided dance. Today they set it all aside. They stick together so that she can have the pleasure of company. When she had been with kids ,others went and had a beer each. They didn't want to be caught drunk in her presence
"The girl has all his friends wound around her little finger " thought an amused Arnav. That shouldn't have surprised him for she had entire two families already wound on that same little finger of hers.
But he completely missed the besotted look on Nadeen.
Once on the game floor, Khushi rushed to the billiards board with a gleeful look. There were three other people on the board.
She had no idea how to play. So she stepped back as fast as she reached. She didn't want to look childish.
Rohan said aloud "Is anybody interested in playing the pool? "
Nishant jumped in "Yes. I will join"
That surprised everyone. Rohan never played pool in this club and Nishant was never the type for public display of talent. Nadeen also volunteered. Arnav looked on thinking "Today seems to be a day of surprises".
So while they waited for the current game to be over, a patient Aman explained the rules to Khushi, who didn't understand any of it. She looked baffled and scared to play with regulars. Rohan glared at Aman for scaring her and Lavanya suppressed a laugh.
Once the others left, they took the tables. Khushi moved back not wanting to put them in pressure of teaching her. Arnav caught a surprised Khushi by hand gently tugging her to the pool. Others blatanlty ignored the exchange not wanting to embarass. Rohan took the cue stick and initiated the game. He toned down the performance giving others the indication to do the same.
When it was Khushi's turn Arnav gave her a cue stick. As she was about to bend, Arnav noticed that Nadeen and Aman ,who were standing directly opposite to her, move to the side.
He removed the jacket and asked her to wear it. She looked at him incredulously. "I don't want" said an irate Khushi. Arnav retorted "You don't have an option." Khushi felt that killing should be made legal ,atleast where he is concerned. She knew there was no way she would be able to refute it without throwing tantrum. So she pulled up the jacket , buttoning up and a very distinct smell enveloped her. "What perfume does he use?" she wondered and chided herself for such wayward thoughts
While she tried to imitate as far as possible what Rohan was teaching her, the smell enveloping wasn't helping her much. She jumped when she felt a hard arm encircling her left hand and another sliding over her right hand positioning the cue stick. Goosebumps erupted over her body and her breath hitched. Arnav noticed but he didn't flinch. Nadeen felt a little taken back by Arnav's intimacy but he didn't show.
The first hit was smooth to say the least, after all Khushi didn't know what happened. For the second try again, Arnav helped her. She was sure by then that she is never going to get used to him. She wanted to end the game by the third round and as luck would have it , Lavanya said that it is time to leave for dinner.
While others moved out of room with Lavanya talking to Nadeen, Khushi stayed back to pull out the jacket she was wearing. She turned to give it back to Arnav when she noticed him walking to door talking to Rohan. She put it back , planning to give it later. Arnav and Rohan stopped at the door and turned around waiting for her. Khushi joined them with Rohan and Arnav on either side of her. Rohan was talking to her regarding the game while Arnav silently walked beside her. She didn't hear a word Rohan said as her head went haywire with the sensation of Arnav's hand slightly touching her's as they walked. Khushi folded her hand in defense and Arnav noticed.
They had an uneventful dinner with Nadeen refusing to leave Khushi's side. Lavanya just couldn't stop smirking. She thought amusedly "Something was definitely cooking" about the uncharacteristic behavior of Nadeen. It was time to leave. While Lavanya ,Khushi and Nishant stood along with Nadeen they heard Rohan , Aman and Arnav coming with the bikes and stopped infront of them.
Nadeen said to Lavanya "I can drop Khushi in my car"
Lavanya asked with a smirk "Why? Can't you drop me?"
Nadeen said with a sheepish grin "I didn't mean that. Of course I can drop both of you"
"Thanks for the offer Nadeen but it is ok we can manage with the bikes. You would have to unnecessarily take a deviation to drop us". Saying which Lavanya climbed on Rohan's bike while Nishant on Aman's . Khushi looked gingerly at Arnav and he looked straight forward as if she didn't exist. She climbed on the bike on side saddle and instinctively put her right hand on his shoulder.
Nadeen just wished he had been the one riding. Well,life has a weird sense of humour..
They started for their apartments while Nadeen looked on dejectedly waving his hands at Khushi. When she waved back, a sweet smile broke on his face. Life's little joys...
Arnav tried to act as nonchalantly as humanely possible. Her smell engulfing him, the dainty unsure hands on his shoulder and her face filled with childish glee as seen through rear view mirror wasn't helping much.
"What is that smell? Is that Lavender?" he thought absent minded.
Suddenly the bike screeched to halt. He had almost missed the signal turning red. She slid down the seat and her front hit is back. As in reflex, she immediately encircled her right arm on his waist while her left arm slid on to his thigh for a firm grip. She quicly regained her posture and Arnav forgot how to ride. It definetly was not his day. The delay in changing traffic signal helped Arnav to regain his senses.
Once at the building, while the guys parked the buys, others proceeded to their respective apartements and waited for them at the entrance.
Lavanya and Khushi bid good night to all . Lavanya rushed past Khushi to her room shouting emergency while others broke into laughter and retired to their rooms. As Khushi was about to turn, Arnav extended his hand.
"What?" asked a confused Khushi
He lookd at the jacket and at her. Realization dawned and she hurredly undid the zipper. Her usual clumsiness caught up with her for today, the zip got jammed midway. She muttered under her breath "Devi Maiya, not now!not now! please not now!"
Seeing her fumbling with the zip , Arnav gave her a look which seemed like asking her "Really?!"
She felt tears prickling her eyes on the humiliation and she looked up from the zip to his eyes. She noted his stance soften a bit. He came forward slowly holding her gaze. For every step he took forward, she took a step back ward still holding each others gaze. Her back hit the wall and she stopped moving. Really, you cannot walk through a wall.
Holding his gaze, he raised his hands to cover her's on the zipper . She felt an electric jolt pass through her. Her eyes became the size of saucers and she started to breath heavily. Still holding her hand, he slightly jerked it and then slid it down. Surprisingly, the zipper started its journey south and so did their hands. He gave a final jerk to release the zip . Arnav left her hand. He moved both of his hands to waist and pulled her forward. She fell forward with her lips brushing his neck and she held his waist to balance herself. She felt him stiffen. Ever so slowly he took his hands from her waist and placed it on both her shoulders inside the jacket. He slowly slid his hands over her arms displacing the jacket from her shoulder. She could hear her heart in her ear and the sensation was so overwhelming, she unconsciously closed her eyes while bending her head and placing her fore head on his shoulder breathing heavily. His hands had reached her elbow . The jacket hung loosely at her elbow since she was holding him. He gently covered her hands holding him at his waist. She came crashing down to earth and moved back still unsteady from the giddy feeling. She couldn't meet his gaze and she looked at the floor. "Wow! That is a granite flooring. But white would have been better, it would have given a fresh look" She thought trying desperately to get her mind out of this situation. She felt his gaze pierce her and felt him remove her hands from the jacket. He waited for a few seconds. But for the life of her she couldn't look up. Then she heard Lavanya call her . She ran to her room shutting the door behind her loudly
She heard Lavanya bidding him good night.
Khushi looked lost while Arnav clearly got the message.
Once Saanvika had left,Aman,Rohan,Nishant and Lavanya met them at airport entrance. They had arrived in three bikes. They shared their plan of taking Khushi to banks of river ganges. Arnav informed them that he may not be able to join because he had plans with Shilpa. Lavanya was asking him to rearrange the plans when Khushi said "No. He shouldn't. That is unfair to her. She might be expecting him. We will go."
Lavanya pointed out that there will be shortage of transport if ASR left. Khushi thought for a moment as asked with a twinkle in her eyes "Can I get a bicycle?"
Lavanya needn't had to respond at all when Arnav said in a steely strong voice "You are not riding one"
Khushi opened her mouth to argue when she noticed his eyes and thought "You really don't want to talk to him right now" Both glared at each other , both of them not ready to back down
Lavanya tried to lighten the atmosphere suggesting the solution to Arnav. "Why don't you drop Pari and then go for your date?"
Arnav looked at Khushi nonchalantly. Khushi said "I don't want to go with him"
Aman volunteered "Let me take you. Nishant can come with ASR"
Arnav stalked towards Khushi who went one step back for every step he took until her back hit his bike. Lavanya had been trying to get ASR's attention to save Khushi. He blatantly ignored her distraction.
Standing hardly a foot away from Khushi,he bend down his head, breathing down Khushi's neck, he whispered to her "Get on my bike now or I will throw you over my shoulder and take you .Save a drama"
Khushi simply forgot to breath. She was not going to give in. "To Hell with him "
She took sure steps to Aman and turned to face Arnav. She felt like she was insulting him. No matter what, she didn't want to do that. She walked back to Arnav's bike and said "Chaliye.."
He climbed on his bike giving her a death glare .Using his left foot, he slipped out the foot rest for Khushi. She put her right foot first on foot rest and lifted herself and seated in a side saddle behind him. Lavanya said to Khushi from the passenger seat of Rohan,"Hold him Pari,I really don't want aunty sending snipers for me.."
Khushi smiled an embarassed smile and put her dainty right hand on his right shoulder. She felt so uncomfortable. She has lost the number of times she has ridden in a bike but this felt like none other.
Arnav sneeked a peek at Khushi from the rear view mirror . He saw a frown creasing her forehead and she seemed confused.
They rode in silence. Khushi was enjoying the straight road and the greenery lining the road. She didn't know when they reached. She got down from the bike, whispered a "thanks and sorry" .
He knew explanation will follow "Thanks for ride and sorry for inconvenience"
Without a glance she went towards others while he left turning the bike in a screeching turn. His friends had reached ten minutes early. They seemed surprised that Arnav rode slow, "He has an obsession of being first in everything. He was never the one to come behind", said Aman surprised. That scared Khushi. "He seemed agitated when returning. Will he drive recklessly?Devi Maiya , please be with him" she prayed silently
Arnav was informed that if he would like to join, he can meet them at the Zero hour club by 4:00 pm. That was a club frequented by elite class. Situated in the borderline to city, the club provided the right kind of accessibility and privacy. But it was not a club which they frequented. It was too proper for their liking but they didn't want to fluster Khushi on her first experience. They didn't realize how protective they became of her. Normally they would have been eloquent about the need for a girl to live her freedom but Khushi had that disposition which evoked the primal protective instinct in men and woman alike. So in a silent pact they decided to go to this club when Khushi said she hadn't visited a dance club.
As they got seated with their drinks, they saw Nadeen Mishra entering with his friends. Nadeen was 6 foot 2 inch in height, fair,broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist, sea blue eyes and wavy thick hair. In short, a look ladies would kill for and he knew it. He was wearing an orange rugby shirt rolled to his elbows neatly. He approached them in long easy sure strides . Lavanya looked at others, Nadeen was the surest heart breaker they had ever seen and they didn't get a chance to warn Khushi. He had an easy charm which borderlines being flirtatious. He never intentionally tried to be flirty, atleast by his standards,that is what he claimed. He never tried to charm the pants off any girl, they just dropped it. Those eyes took care of that.
Nadeen seemed a little taken back to find a sweet girl sitting besides Lavanya. He knew Lavanya too well to try any charms of his. She was simply too smart for that . So he had enjoyed a genuine friendship with her. Lavanya and friends tried to put off the introduction of Khushi but after the casual exchange of greetings when Nadeen looked at Khushi and extended his hand, Lavanya had no other option but to introduce Khushi. When Khushi returned the greeting with her soul touching smile, it was time for Nadeen to be surprised. He remained seated with them for another thirty minutes until finally his impatient friends he had come with dragged him to the dance floor.
Lavanya noticed that Khushi was laughing at all the jokes Nadeen was dishing out and she hoped to all Gods, Khushi didn't fall for him.She also noticed that Nadeen had extracted from Khushi her likes ,dislikes,hobbies,interest etc. Lavanya was surprised that she hadn't been able to get to know Khushi this well for the time they had been together. It astonished her to know that Khushi was taught to sing and dance by aunty which according to herself, she did very poorly. She had a flare for painting too.
After being seated there for few more minutes listening to the fast music , Lavanya joined the floor with the others. Khushi didn't feel comfortable , hence she remained looking at them dancing. She noticed the ambience of the club and its members. She noticed that club also housed recreational area with games, a roof top restaurant, kids play area etc.
The peculiarity of the club was, it catered to both sides of interest. The genre of fast music and the genre of melodies. Once all four of them came back, they took Khushi to the melodies section. Today was about her and they were going to give her a tour of the place. Nadeen noted them leaving. As she entered melodies section she heard tunes of 1960's sung on demand and while members listened in rapture. It was the haven of music lover. Khushi immediately liked the environment.
As they were making themselves comfortable, they heard a familiar voice announcing "May we have the pleasure of listening to Khushi". Khushi immediately looked up terrified to the face of smiling Nadeen. Lavanya and rest of them could have killed him for putting her in that situation. Precisely at that moment Arnav walked in. He had heard the request and his first response was "What The H***!"
Nadeen walked forward towards Khushi but Lavanya stood up. He looked at Lavanya and said "if she is not comfortable I wouldn't persist. Let me try, please" She backed down. She knew he was a man of his word. He may be a flirt by her standard but he respected women
He went forward and held out his hands.
Khushi had felt a soft breeze caressing her and had looked up to meet Arnav. The terrified feeling that captures her on Nadeen’s announcement left her immediately. By the time the hand was extended, she had composed herself. She had never sung before anyone. She sung so bad that her regular practice never seemed to end. She looked at the outstretched hand and at Arnav.Something changed in his eyes.
So Nadeen started the song "Kya Khoob lagthi ho badi sundar lagthi ho..'
That surprised everyone present there. They never thought him capable of singing this good. Well , he never had to do it before. Adulation came to him without effort so why waste effort.He looked on expectantly at Khushi.
Arnav fixed his gaze on her and she looked at him instinctively. Without taking his gaze off her, he picked the microphone placed next to the orchestra team and walked towards her. Standing infront of her, he extended his hands which she took without a blink, gently lifted her off her seat. bought her to the dais. Holding her hand ,he placed the microphone on her palm. Khushi didn't move. He held her gaze for another few seconds,left the dais and seated himself in the place she just vacated.
Khushi closed her eyes, prayed to Devi Maiya and thought of her Amma. She opened her eyes with a dazzling smile on her lips.Unknown to her ,two hearts skipped a beat. She nodded at Nadeen and gestured him to continue.
He started again with a smile in his beautiful eyes which refused to leave her "Kya khoob lagti ho, badi sundar dikhti ho..Tum Jaan se pyaari ho tum jaan hamari ho"
Khushi smiled shaking her head she joined with twinkling eyes "Phir se kaho, kehte raho acha lagta hai.."
Everybody in the room exploded into an encouraging applause. Khushi sang beautifully.Arnav just looked dumbfounded. Nadeen too didn't expect it to be that beautiful. He only wanted to make her enjoy the evening. Nadeen and Khushi together completed the song. As they quit the dais,Nadeen extended his hands to help Khushi. She smiled and ascended on her own. The act was not lost either on Nadeen or on Arnav.
Nadeen joined the group with Khushi. He greeted Arnav enthusiastically which Arnav returned with a slight smile. Arnav had a tolerant attitude to Nadeen. As per him,Nadeen was harmless.
Khushi stood up to go to the washroom and announced that they should proceed to the dance floor. She would look around the club and be back at the lounge of dance floor once done. She promised not to leave the floor without letting them know.
Though they insisted they will wait for her, she persisted saying she didn't enjoy the dance floor but will feel bad if others missed out due to her. She wasn't used to be surrounded by so many people while dancing.
So Khushi started for wash room while others went to dance floor. Arnav and Nadeen both turned around to see retreating Khushi. After a span of an hour Nadeen discreetly moved out of dance floor and went in search of Khushi.
Nadeen was wondering what is happening with him. "Is it another bout of my need to prove how invincible I am in matters of girls? Is her gentle brush off riling my manhood and is this being a challenge? Then why the racing heart beat, this need to be with her all the time.!."
Trying to subdue a confused mind, Nadeen concluded it is just his bored mind reacing up to meet a fresh innocent face.He enjoyed her smile, thought he . "Anything for that smile!"
He was looking through different rooms when he came to Kids room. The area was divided into two sections. One for toddlers and other for kids up to 4 years. Nadeen stood rooted to the spot when he found Khushi sitting on the floor with two toddlers on her either folded legs hugging them close and rocking back and forth. She was singing some silly rhymes and making noises of animals and birds.
Khushi felt a small tingling sensation and a soft breeze brushing past her neck and cheek. She turned around and asked smiling broadly "Can you please take a photo of us?"
Nadeen nodded and immediately took a photo of her. When he saw another camera flash right to his side, that is when he noticed Arnav standing next to him
She asked them "Is it time to go?"
Nadeen looked at Arnav "To take off that tinge of sadness in her voice, I would have waited here a lifetime. Alas I can't make the decision here" thought Nadeen .He heard Arnav say a no in her response.
She went back to the rocking rhyme session happily. They sat in the parents area waiting for her while Khushi played a football with kids and laughed immensely. She didn't score a goal. While Nadeen smiled indulgently at Khushi, Arnav knew better. He knew she was just letting the kids have their way with ego.
Khushi lost track of time with kids until Lavanya came and asked if she didn't want to see the game area. All the kids gave her a small kiss each and she returned the favor with equal passion. On her way out she went to each toddler and gave small hugs. "How it feels to be Khushi ?" thought Lavanya. She wasn't faking it, Lavanya knew that. Kids are so sensitive they reciprocate only genuine affection.
So they together proceeded to game area. Lavanya wondered when did Nadeen get around to the side of Khushi. She just shook her head in amusement "He never changes. Hope Khushi is not the casualty. I need to caution her"
Lavanya asked aloud "Nadeen , don't you want to join your friends. They are joined by their dates. How about yours?"
Nadeen glared at Lavanya and replied "No. I didn't get a date today"
"Now why does that surprises us!" all of them laughed aloud.
Khushi was asking to Rohan about his family and listening with rapt attention. "When she cared , she cared genuinely" thought an amused Nadeen. She was sad to hear about the demise of his father,the struggles his mother had to go through to bring him up and his sister, she was surprised to hear that his sister was also a student in college doing her MTech and she was Arnav's guide in Project.
He was fascinated by the number of emotions that flitted across those big brown eyes. They changed colors depending on the emotions but all times they were genuine. He don't know how he knew it, but he knew it.
He was not the only one who saw that.
Arnav had seen Khushi talking to all of his friends. He had never seen her talking to her friends. He didn't know she had a side which was mature enough that a person like Rohan felt comfortable to share his story. Rohan was a closed book and he didn't like the pretentious concerns thrown over his family stories. But Arnav saw Rohan liked her. So did Aman and Nishant
Lavanya was a lost cause from the beginning. They were bending all their rules so that she can have her way comfortably. They hated going to the calm music area, they wanted to drink at the roof top bar, Aman wanted to flirt with girls,Rohan went to play games and completely avoided dance. Today they set it all aside. They stick together so that she can have the pleasure of company. When she had been with kids ,others went and had a beer each. They didn't want to be caught drunk in her presence
"The girl has all his friends wound around her little finger " thought an amused Arnav. That shouldn't have surprised him for she had entire two families already wound on that same little finger of hers.
But he completely missed the besotted look on Nadeen.
Once on the game floor, Khushi rushed to the billiards board with a gleeful look. There were three other people on the board.
She had no idea how to play. So she stepped back as fast as she reached. She didn't want to look childish.
Rohan said aloud "Is anybody interested in playing the pool? "
Nishant jumped in "Yes. I will join"
That surprised everyone. Rohan never played pool in this club and Nishant was never the type for public display of talent. Nadeen also volunteered. Arnav looked on thinking "Today seems to be a day of surprises".
So while they waited for the current game to be over, a patient Aman explained the rules to Khushi, who didn't understand any of it. She looked baffled and scared to play with regulars. Rohan glared at Aman for scaring her and Lavanya suppressed a laugh.
Once the others left, they took the tables. Khushi moved back not wanting to put them in pressure of teaching her. Arnav caught a surprised Khushi by hand gently tugging her to the pool. Others blatanlty ignored the exchange not wanting to embarass. Rohan took the cue stick and initiated the game. He toned down the performance giving others the indication to do the same.
When it was Khushi's turn Arnav gave her a cue stick. As she was about to bend, Arnav noticed that Nadeen and Aman ,who were standing directly opposite to her, move to the side.
He removed the jacket and asked her to wear it. She looked at him incredulously. "I don't want" said an irate Khushi. Arnav retorted "You don't have an option." Khushi felt that killing should be made legal ,atleast where he is concerned. She knew there was no way she would be able to refute it without throwing tantrum. So she pulled up the jacket , buttoning up and a very distinct smell enveloped her. "What perfume does he use?" she wondered and chided herself for such wayward thoughts
While she tried to imitate as far as possible what Rohan was teaching her, the smell enveloping wasn't helping her much. She jumped when she felt a hard arm encircling her left hand and another sliding over her right hand positioning the cue stick. Goosebumps erupted over her body and her breath hitched. Arnav noticed but he didn't flinch. Nadeen felt a little taken back by Arnav's intimacy but he didn't show.
The first hit was smooth to say the least, after all Khushi didn't know what happened. For the second try again, Arnav helped her. She was sure by then that she is never going to get used to him. She wanted to end the game by the third round and as luck would have it , Lavanya said that it is time to leave for dinner.
While others moved out of room with Lavanya talking to Nadeen, Khushi stayed back to pull out the jacket she was wearing. She turned to give it back to Arnav when she noticed him walking to door talking to Rohan. She put it back , planning to give it later. Arnav and Rohan stopped at the door and turned around waiting for her. Khushi joined them with Rohan and Arnav on either side of her. Rohan was talking to her regarding the game while Arnav silently walked beside her. She didn't hear a word Rohan said as her head went haywire with the sensation of Arnav's hand slightly touching her's as they walked. Khushi folded her hand in defense and Arnav noticed.
They had an uneventful dinner with Nadeen refusing to leave Khushi's side. Lavanya just couldn't stop smirking. She thought amusedly "Something was definitely cooking" about the uncharacteristic behavior of Nadeen. It was time to leave. While Lavanya ,Khushi and Nishant stood along with Nadeen they heard Rohan , Aman and Arnav coming with the bikes and stopped infront of them.
Nadeen said to Lavanya "I can drop Khushi in my car"
Lavanya asked with a smirk "Why? Can't you drop me?"
Nadeen said with a sheepish grin "I didn't mean that. Of course I can drop both of you"
"Thanks for the offer Nadeen but it is ok we can manage with the bikes. You would have to unnecessarily take a deviation to drop us". Saying which Lavanya climbed on Rohan's bike while Nishant on Aman's . Khushi looked gingerly at Arnav and he looked straight forward as if she didn't exist. She climbed on the bike on side saddle and instinctively put her right hand on his shoulder.
Nadeen just wished he had been the one riding. Well,life has a weird sense of humour..
They started for their apartments while Nadeen looked on dejectedly waving his hands at Khushi. When she waved back, a sweet smile broke on his face. Life's little joys...
Arnav tried to act as nonchalantly as humanely possible. Her smell engulfing him, the dainty unsure hands on his shoulder and her face filled with childish glee as seen through rear view mirror wasn't helping much.
"What is that smell? Is that Lavender?" he thought absent minded.
Suddenly the bike screeched to halt. He had almost missed the signal turning red. She slid down the seat and her front hit is back. As in reflex, she immediately encircled her right arm on his waist while her left arm slid on to his thigh for a firm grip. She quicly regained her posture and Arnav forgot how to ride. It definetly was not his day. The delay in changing traffic signal helped Arnav to regain his senses.
Once at the building, while the guys parked the buys, others proceeded to their respective apartements and waited for them at the entrance.
Lavanya and Khushi bid good night to all . Lavanya rushed past Khushi to her room shouting emergency while others broke into laughter and retired to their rooms. As Khushi was about to turn, Arnav extended his hand.
"What?" asked a confused Khushi
He lookd at the jacket and at her. Realization dawned and she hurredly undid the zipper. Her usual clumsiness caught up with her for today, the zip got jammed midway. She muttered under her breath "Devi Maiya, not now!not now! please not now!"
Seeing her fumbling with the zip , Arnav gave her a look which seemed like asking her "Really?!"
She felt tears prickling her eyes on the humiliation and she looked up from the zip to his eyes. She noted his stance soften a bit. He came forward slowly holding her gaze. For every step he took forward, she took a step back ward still holding each others gaze. Her back hit the wall and she stopped moving. Really, you cannot walk through a wall.
Holding his gaze, he raised his hands to cover her's on the zipper . She felt an electric jolt pass through her. Her eyes became the size of saucers and she started to breath heavily. Still holding her hand, he slightly jerked it and then slid it down. Surprisingly, the zipper started its journey south and so did their hands. He gave a final jerk to release the zip . Arnav left her hand. He moved both of his hands to waist and pulled her forward. She fell forward with her lips brushing his neck and she held his waist to balance herself. She felt him stiffen. Ever so slowly he took his hands from her waist and placed it on both her shoulders inside the jacket. He slowly slid his hands over her arms displacing the jacket from her shoulder. She could hear her heart in her ear and the sensation was so overwhelming, she unconsciously closed her eyes while bending her head and placing her fore head on his shoulder breathing heavily. His hands had reached her elbow . The jacket hung loosely at her elbow since she was holding him. He gently covered her hands holding him at his waist. She came crashing down to earth and moved back still unsteady from the giddy feeling. She couldn't meet his gaze and she looked at the floor. "Wow! That is a granite flooring. But white would have been better, it would have given a fresh look" She thought trying desperately to get her mind out of this situation. She felt his gaze pierce her and felt him remove her hands from the jacket. He waited for a few seconds. But for the life of her she couldn't look up. Then she heard Lavanya call her . She ran to her room shutting the door behind her loudly
She heard Lavanya bidding him good night.
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