Chapter 17

 “Tell me khushi...have we met before?” Arnav asked her in his husky voice as she tried to remain calm beneath his imploring gaze. She shifted slightly to her left to put a little distance between them but Arnav stepped forward closing the space, leaving hardly a foot distance between them.

She looked up to see him looking at her with questioning eyes as she smiled nervously at him “Wh...why would you say that Arnav? We have never met before...I would have remembered” she said with as much conviction as she could only to have arnav raise his eyebrow in question.

“Are you sure? Because you don't sound very convincing...you know Khushi, since the time i met you...the very first time actually, you seemed to have a preconceived notion about me....I know i did too, but your defiance and blatant disregard for my opinions irked me...a lot actually” he said circling her, he could see her palms clenched into fists my her side

“But then, things slowly changed between us...you became more accommodating and understanding...as if, suddenly you changed your thoughts about me...or maybe were trying to look beyond whatever you had judged me for..” he said as khushi took deep breaths..she had no idea that he had observed her and her behavior so closely.

“Don't be surprised...I read people very well...that's why I am where I am today...but you Khushi, i'll be honest....you were completely different to what i had imagined you to be...and you surprised me at every level...” he said as he sighed and stopped walking about to stand in front of her

“I always felt like there is something you are hiding from me....something i ought to know...what is it Khushi? Why did i feel like you were trying to prove something to me?...frankly it irritated the hell out of me” he said finally as Khushi's eyes widened with shock

He had known that she was trying too hard...God, she felt so humiliated...how can she ever tell him why she was acting in that way...how can she explain to him that his hurtful words that day had left a deep impact on her...the scars of which were now fading away slowly.

“Khushi?...Khushi!” Arnav said shaking her from her shoulders slightly as she took on a glazed look....she slowly looked at his face, trying to focus away from his eyes, but then quickly stepped back and started walking away “I'm not feeling well Arnav...I...I have to go” she said as Arnav quickly held her hand and made her stop. He walked towards her and tilted her chin with his forefinger, making her look directly into his caramel depths

“Enough Khushi...tell me...what is it?” He asked her in an annoyed voice, annoyed because she was giving away her uneasiness at his questioning...proving to him that there indeed was some truth to his doubts...he saw he close her eyes before taking a deep breath “yes...” she said as she opened her eyes “To answer you question...yes, we have met before...Now I really have to go” she said pulling her hand away from him when he once again held it....this time more firmly

“No...you can't just say that and leave...tell me...what are you hiding?” he asked her as she pressed her lips together and spoke in a wobbly voice “What do you want me to tell you? That we had met many years ago? In a bloody nightclub that too! Where you had saved me from a leech...and when i wanted to thank you for it, you insulted me by saying that I invited such people on purpose...” she said as arnav suddenly left her arm, shock and confusion evident in his eyes.

“Without knowing anything about me, you...you judged me to be a characterless girl, the disgust in your eyes was so searing, that till today I can feel the burn Arnav....and you say I judged you? Hell yes I did...what more can i think of someone who talks about an innocent girl in such a derogatory manner...” she said as her eyes filled up with unshed tears

“Khushi...I...” arnav started saying when Khushi help up her hand “Its ok Arnav...I don't hold any grudge against you now...you were drunk that day...plus I was a complete stranger for you...so it did not matter to you what you spoke of me...lets just forget about it ok” she said as she sniffed and wiped her eyes before packing up her stuff from the table into her bag

She could feel Arnav's eyes on her...unwavering..as if imploring her to look up...but she knew that he would probably apologize for that day and try to assure her that he did not mean anything...but she truly did not care for it anymore...she probably would have a few weeks ago, but now...now things had changed...equations had changed...she held nothing against him...but she wasn't strong enough to face him and smile...she needed to get away from him; only then she could get back to being normal.

She started walking towards her door when she heard his voice “Do you hate me Khushi?”

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“That dog...such an as****le...I hate this city!!” Shashi found his daughter muttering obscenities as she entered the guesthouse living room...he could not help but smile as she twisted her face in anger and annoyance at some poor soul “Paayu...why are you swearing so much!?” Shashi asked as he finished reading the mails sent to him by HR...he had a couple of formalities still left to complete and needed to finish them before officially joining in tomorrow

“Oh God! You have no idea what happened to me!!” She said loudly with full dramatic sweep of her hands as she plonked herself on the comfy couch opposite her father “Well i'm not going to know unless you tell me” he said with a smirk as she rolled her eyes “Please don't act funny dad...if i tell you na, you will blow a fuse!” she said as Shashi frowned.

“Ok, no jokes...tell me, what happened? Were you ragged?” he asked with slight anger at whoever had made his daughter upset...but calmed down as she shook her head “No dad...i was not ragged...actually yeah, i was...” she said as he looked on with a confused look “I hate this city!” she wailed as Shashi came and sat next to her

“Paayu...stop beating around the bush...tell me, what happened at Uni?” he asked her with seriousness as she closed her eyes and said in an irritated voice “This idiot had the gall to kiss me as I walked inside the campus...i'm sure it was a stupid bet or something...but still...he..” she started saying when she heard a loud “What!” from Shashi

“Who is that B*****d? Did you get his name? I'm going and complaining about him right away....how dare he!” he started saying when payal held his hand “Daad!...see I knew you will react this way...relax, he ran away...but I know exactly how he looks, next time i see that jerk, I will mince him with my bare hands!” she said as Shashi got up and picked up his phone

“No..you are not going to that University...however good it is...I don't want you anywhere near such sick people” he said as payal plucked the phone out of his hands “Dad!...please calm down...you have high BP, the last thing i want is to admit you!” she said with exasperation as she made him sit down

“Dad...you taught Ritwik and me to be strong and independent na? So why should we change our paths to avoid such people?...This University is best in West India dad...and i really want to study here....trust me, he seemed harmless...and a total coward for running away from there...I can handle such people...you just concentrate on your work ok” she said as shashi smiled at her softly

“When did my babu grow up so quickly?!” he asked as payal wound her arms around her fathers and leaned her head on his shoulders “Well, one of us had to...”she giggled as shashi laughed and ruffled her hair. He really was blessed with his kids...and for that, he thanks his love every single day.

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“Baal baal bach gaye yaar! (Thank God we got saved!) ” Amandeep said as they met up with Akash at their usual cafe outside campus...the entire gang was in a state of shock as the girl had started screaming her head off, scaring all of them from reacting in any way...let alone go to Akash's rescue “Oh shut up!” akash said as he pushed his coffee away

“You all are such wuss's!” he said as the others looked at him and then looked down “I should never have done it...it must have been so humiliating for her” he said as Imran piped in “Oye! Adarsh ka putla (statue of righteousness)...it was you who wanted to prove your prowess!...you could have always backed out...but no! Aaksh Singh Raizada is not a coward!” he said mimicking Akash who gave him a death glare

“Par kuch bhi bol...ladki thi bohot mast yaar! Total pataka! (But that girl was too hot! Total firecracker!) ” Amandeep said as akash bristled “Once again..shut the f**k up guys! Just leave her alone ok...I'm as it is feeling so bad for what I did!” he sighed as one of the other boys spoke up “Dude! You should be worried about her complaining about you...not how bad you are feeling right now...when did you become such a girl?!” he said as Akash looked up dreamily

“Since I looked into her gorgeous eyes man!” he said as the rest of the gang gaped at him...he laughed at their expression as he finished his coffee “Yep...I have to make up for what i did...starting tomorrow...” he said cryptically as the other looked at each other, wondering what Akash was going to do to pacify the girl he royally miffed today

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Khushi stopped in her tracks as she heard his words....the pain behind them very poignant...she slowly turned around and looked at arnav who was looking at her with regret and pain evident in his eyes... “I'm not going to justify why I said those things and what I did...because I vaguely remember that night...In fact i can't seem to place it very well” he said as khushi stood rooted.

“I wish i could remember it, but i'm also glad that i don't because knowing you now...being your friend, i would never be able to face you...for the simple fact that i hurt you so much that day"  he said with regret as he walked towards her with Khushi stepping forward too “And i know that just a simple apology won't be enough...especially not after what you just told me” he said as he closed his eyes

“But...i'm sorry Khushi...I said such horrible things to you that night....but that was how I was Khushi...I was judgmental...I was bitter and resentful about a lot of things then...my ego...my pride...these were my vices...and still are to some extent” he said as he opened his eyes...khushi felt her heart squeeze tight...she could hear the pain in his voice and it made her want to wrap her arms around him and comfort him...despite everything

“But I would like to say this Khushi...you are amazing...and whatever anyone says to you...even a first class moron like me...never forget that you are an amazing and wonderful woman...and I am so glad that you are part of GR....I don't think...” arnav was still speaking when he felt her wrap her arms around his neck and pull him closer, pressing her soft lips to his...gently

The act was so bizarre and sudden, that it took him a moment to register what had happened...and before he could react in some way, he felt her pulling away...her eyes reflecting the shock at her action...but the built up desire to kiss her, taste her, hold her was so strong...that arnav did not think of anything else as he pulled her towards him and claimed her lips again...this time with a passionate hunger that was repressed for all this time

Khushi who was too shocked to think straight, panicked as she realized what she had just done...she had meant to hug him and kiss him on his cheek...for all the wonderful things he spoke for her...to reassure him that she never hated him...never could hate him...but her mind refused to co-operate as she gazed at his lips...wondering how they would be against her...and she lost the will...she lost the restraint she had held for all this time...something which she did not even realize she had felt...not to this maddening extent

But when she had started pulling away, he had pulled her back to him...and she could not mistake the blatant desire in his eyes...something that was easily reflected in her own...and she gave in...she felt her heart thunder as his lips coaxed hers...sucking them, nipping her soft delicate ones as if the unleashed hunger could never be satiated.

Arnav felt her respond to his kiss eagerly as she splayed her fingers into his hair, holding on to him as his hand held her delicate neck while the other roamed over her back....she whimpered as he lightly bit her bottom lip, making her open her mouth to receive him...a moan escaping both as their tongues made contact, the heat and taste of each other making their blood sing..

But just as soon as it had begun in the right sense, Khushi came crashing back to earth...the reality of what was happening hit her as she pulled out of arnav's embrace and pushed herself away from him...leaving him confused for a second before he too realized what she had.

Arnav ran a hand through his tousled hair as he tried to gain composure after that soul searing kiss he had shared with khushi...hell, they had kissed...and how. He looked up to see her walking towards her table and bracing her hands on the edges of it...she too was trying to come to terms with what had happened between them.

“Khushi...” she heard him say huskily...she knew if she turned towards him and looked into his eyes, they would reflect the same unfulfilled desire that was surging through her right now...but she had to nip this and knew he too was thinking of the same thing. She turned around to see him looking at her with an unreadable expression and before he could say anything she spoke up

“Sorry Arnav...this shouldn't have happened...we both know that it was a mistake...I...I was overwhelmed by the things you said about me...and I was upset remembering that day...and also I...I mean, these things happen...we shouldn't pay too much heed to it...this will only ruin what we have built so far...” she started saying when Arnav held up his hand

“Its ok Khushi...you don't need to explain yourself...I myself can't understand what took over me...yes, this will ruin everything...we can't let it affect our professional or personal equation...you are right, these things happen...emotions were high and....lets just forget what happened ok” he said as khushi nodded...her heart hurting at the fact that he did not even refute anything...maybe she was thinking too much into this....but she knew that such raw, passionate kisses are not because of some loose emotions and scattered thoughts...but it was right to let it go.

“Great...that's settled then...lets not let this get any more weirder ok..” she said with a small smile as arnav nodded....his fists clenched in regret and something skin to hurt...her indifference to the matter got him upset, but he did not let it show...they were right to not over-think this...but why did it feel so wrong?

He looked on as khushi said a quick good buy and scampered off before giving him another look over her shoulder as she left her cabin....how much ever they pretended...he knew that things would never be the same between them...and somehow that thought made him feel lighter and happier instead of making him worry..like this was the turning point he was waiting for...but as promised, he would not pursue it further...just like she won't.