Chapter 3 – Rekindling The Fire – Arshi FF

ARSHI FF

Arnav Singh Raizada, Khushi Kumari Gupta, Iss Pyaar ko kya naam du, IPKKND, IPKKND FF

Smiling to herself, Khushi ran out of the bedroom. Work would be his first priority, she’d long come to realise.

As she ran into the kitchen, she found her sister already there, making herself a cup of tea.

“Jiji?” She frowned.

“Khushi.”

It was way past half ten. Her sister was an early riser, which meant, she went to bed early too.

But for her to be here in the kitchen this late? That too still in the saree she had been wearing to the function earlier?

“What’s wrong?” Khushi didn’t have to guess, for she knew it. Every since Shyam’s true face had been unveiled, tensions had mounted between all family members, mainly between her sister and her husband.

“Did you fall out with Jijaji?”

Payal gave her sad smile. “He’s not talking to me.”

That clenched Khushi’s heart. While her husband was so affectionate and romantic, her sister’s husband was still angry with her.

But his anger was valid. Payal had never mentioned about Shyam and his brief engagement to Khushi to Akash.

It was a betrayal. But her sister had only been protecting her, Anjali too.

“Apologise,” she told her sister.

“I have, Khushi. I’ve been apologising since that day.”

“Then sit down and have a chat. Ask him what is the problem. And if he still doesn’t speak up, pack your bags and go home for a few days.”

Payal raised her brow, but burst into a laugh.

“Is that what you did with Arnavji?”

“Nahi, humne tho….” She stopped herself before blurting out to her sister that she and Arnav only have ten more days of this contracted marriage between them.

“Why are you in this saree,” Payal asked?

“Woh hum…” She stopped herself again, not wanting to blurt out her husband was going all romantic tonight.

“Just for fun.” She smiled.

Managing to keep a straight face, she waited for her sister to pour some tea.

“Do you want to have it with me,” Payal asked?

“Nahi…hum…” She blushed.

“He’s waiting,” she managed to whisper as she collected her cup.

Payal cupped her cheek, gazing at her with all the love in her heart.

“I’m sorry,” Khushi whispered. “I’ll stay back. Talk to me. Tell me everything that is wrong in your life.”

“Everything’s perfect in my life.” Payal opened her arms for her. “Its my marriage. I know how to manage it. You go manage yours.”

Marriage. That word made Khushi’s smile disappear.

But Payal caught her hand, as though sensing her turmoil.

“Now that things are falling into place in your life, do not resist, Khushi,” she went on. “Arnavji is a good man. Rude perhaps, but good natured. Stop letting everything he says in anger affect you. We all say silly things we regret later.”

Khushi nodded.

“He’s deeply apologetic. He’s been trying to make up to you. I’ve seen it. At least, give him a chance.”

Perhaps that was what was holding her back. He had her hurt her so many times, a part of her warned her this night too would end with severe heartache.

“Now go.” She pushed Khushi out the kitchen.

“Jiji par.” Khushi caught her sister’s hand.

“You’ve wept so much for the last few weeks, now its your turn to smile, don’t hold back.” Payal nodded at her.

With her heart soaring to the skies, Khushi gave Payal a peck on her cheek and ran upstairs.

As soon as she stormed into her bedroom, she heard Arnav hissing his goodbye to Aman.

“Don’t bother calling me again, tonight,” he hissed into the phone, “or you won’t like the consequences.”

Khushi chuckled at how he terrorised everyone.

She was desperate to see him, but she hesitated before stepping out on the terrace.

The moment she stepped outside, she found him tossing his phone on top of the chair and glancing over his shoulder at her.

Khushi stopped in her tracks at how handsome he looked.

But he always had the power to stop her heart, and send it racing too.

“Where’s your tea,” he asked.

“Huh?” She dropped her eyes to her hands and frowned.

“Woh….hum..” Hey Devi Maiyya! She blinked. Where was her tea cup? She remembered picking it up. Where had she left it?

Arnav smirked at her like the devil, and took a step into her.

“You just needed a reason to run from me, didn’t you?”

“Nahi.” Khushi stepped back.

“No?” Arnav took another step into her.

With her heart stopping and shivering, Khushi stepped back.

Arnav stopped for a moment. He lowered his eyes to her feet when she took another step back.

“I thought we agreed you’d step into me when I take a step towards you,” he reminded.

She widened her eyes, thinking of that morning when he’d told her he wanted her to match his steps and step into him.

But stepping into him meant ending up in his arms.

She flicked her eyes to his broad inviting chest. Her cheeks flushed at the memory of all the times she had been wrapped in his arms, warm and safe. She wanted to bury her head in his chest and lay down her burdens. But with him gazing at her with their heated eyes, she didn’t know if she’d be able to contain her heart if he was take her into his arms.

Arnav slowly took a step into her.

Khushi took another step back, but she met the wall behind her and gasped.

They were back in time again.

It was Diwali night all over.

She was pressed to the same wall.

Arnav too was stalking her like a predator stalking its assuming prey.

Only that the prey here was just as hungry for the predator as he was for her.

She leaned back into the wall, but her heart thudded fiercely as he took another step. The tip of his shoes touched her toes making her shudder all over.

Khushi gulped for breaths, but her gaze flicked up to his tantalising mouth.

There were so many times she’d caught herself wondering how it must feel to have his mouth pressed upon hers. But with him this close, she trembled at the thought of what she’d do if he was to kiss her.

Arnav moved closer. His chest brushed against hers, making her tingle everywhere.

But Arnav slowly held up the pearl necklace he had gifted her earlier.

Khushi smiled, but she also welled with tears.

“May I,” he asked?

She gazed at the necklace for a moment. Perhaps this was the closure to how it had all began.

Nodding, she turned slowly.

As he pushed her hair over one shoulder, Khushi trembled at the strokes of his fingertips to the exposed skin of her back.

Arnav caught her arms and drew her back into his chest.

Khushi closed her eyes and gulped her breath at the way his warm chest enveloped her back.

His hands then came over her head; the string of pearls of shimmering in the twinkling lights of the lamps.

The pearls were cold against her skin as they sat snug around her collar bones.

His fingers worked at the back, clasping them in place.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

Yet, a smile touched her. The last time she had turned her back to him, he’d been ripping off her blouse like a mad man.

But tonight there was so much heart, so much respect in this gesture, she could barely contain herself.

It felt like he was returning her the dignity he had once stripped her off.

As she touched her fingers to the necklace, Arnav turned her in his arms.

She leaned back into the wall, her earlier apprehension someone lost on her.

He rested one hand on the wall beside her face and leaned into her.

His spicy cologne wafted up to her, making her close her eyes and sigh. The fragrance was subtle tonight, unlike how it had been on the night of Diwali.

Yet, it was alluring enough for her to muffle back a moan.

His cupped her chin with his other hand, stroking her lip at leisure with his thumb.

“Khushi,” he said her name with longing.

Khushi slowly opened her eyes to him.

As his gaze moved to her mouth again, “Arnavji,” she whispered, hoping for a moment to catch her breath.

“Hmm.” He leaned closer so the tip of nose touched her cheek.

She gripped to his lapels of his suit, crumpling the fabric in her hands.

His lips touched her cheek. Khushi closed her eyes, sighing at the way his mouth moved down her jaw, all the way down her neck, till he gently kissed the pearl necklace.

A smile touched her, but she tilted her head backwards, letting him kiss into the dip at the base of her throat. As his mouth moved up to kiss her throat, she muffled a moan at how good it felt to have his stubble scrape against her skin.

“Khushi,” Arnav whispered in her ear, moving up to kiss her jaw. Kissing her all the way up cheek, he pressed his lips to the spot between her brows.

He thumb stroked her lip again, but just as he was about to cover her mouth with his, Khushi widened her eyes.

“What?” he asked.

“What if your phone would ring?”

“I’ve silenced it.” He smiled. “I have already threatened Aman.”

She blushed, lowering her head.

“May I?” he asked, cupping her face in both his hands.

Khushi lifted her eyes to him, surprised he was asking at all. He seemed like a man who took without bothering to ask. But perhaps she was wrong.

Perhaps he had always waited for her to consent.

That was so heart-warming, it brought a tear to her eyes.

“You don’t my permission,” she whispered.

Arnav smiled, leaning closer to nuzzle the tip of his nose to her mouth. A sigh escaped Khushi, never having touched him this intimately.

“Kiss me.” He turned his face to present his cheek.

She blushed, but leaned closer to press her lips to his cheek, sighing at how his stubble pricked her.

“Arnavji,” she whispered.

“Hmm.”

“That night.” She was referring to the night of Diwali, but there was no need to spell it out, for he knew which night she was referring to.

“Hmm.” Arnav rested his forehead to hers and gazed at her.

“Did you…” she bit into her lip, not knowing how to ask him if he would have kissed her,

“I wanted to.” He gaze darkened. “Would you have let me?” He asked.

“Hmm.” She blushed. “Had your phone not rung.”

“Hmm.” He nodded. “But I would have regretted it, Khushi.”

She would have too perhaps. She wanted to know why he’d have regretted. “Why?” she whispered.

“I wasn’t free to indulge you, Khushi.” He lowered his head. “I was wrong in the way I treated….”

Lavanya, she knew. He didn’t have to say it. She was wrong too. Lavanya was her friend, yet she had indulged her friend’s boyfriend.

“I’d like to apologise to her.” Khushi welled.

“Hmm.” Arnav smiled. “She might be visiting soon. But she has no hurt feelings. She’s met someone in London.” He held her eyes. “Someone worthy of her.”

That soothed her heart, but she also gazed at Arnav.

“Did you ever love her?”

“No, Khushi.” He sighed. “But I have been rude to her.”

That went without saying. Rudeness was the essence of who he was.

“Is that why you took off like the way you did?” she asked, going to back to that night when he’d stepped back from her and stormed away.

“Hmm.” He bit into his lip. “That, and also because I was terrified of how badly I wanted you.”

Her cheeks flushed again.

“This red saree….my goodness.” He blew a sigh. “You are not good for my heart. Or mind. Or my body”

Khushi laughed. She could say all that about him too.

“Why are you telling all this now?”

“I almost lost you, Khushi.” Stroking her cheek, he pushed her hair away from her face. “This is a second chance life is offering me. I don’t want my ego to mess this up.”

Her tears slid down at his heartfelt words. “Me too,” she choked. “This is a second chance for me too.”