Chapter 20

Khushi’s heart stilled as her mind took time to register what was happening….and then when it did, her heart started pounding wildly as she felt her lips being drawn into a sensual assault by the man holding her tightly in his arms…this was wrong...she had to pull away…didn’t they discuss this just yesterday? And he…he had more or less forced his lips on hers…but then why did it feel so right?

She gasped as his hold on her waist tightened while his other hand crept up to hold her nape, maneuvering his lips to slant over hers, deepening the kiss…his tongue lazily stroked her bottom lip as she whimpered at the raw desire he evoked in her…she felt her treacherous body relax into his as her hands traveled over his hard chest, finally digging into his shoulders as she opened her mouth to welcome his probing tongue, giving in to what was inevitable

Arnav groaned as Khushi’s sweet taste assaulted his senses…her tongue dueled with his as both tried to quench this thirst that seemed insatiable…he pulled her closer still, undoing her hair as the gorgeous tresses flowed around her…he broke the kiss to trail his lips over her chin and delicate jaw line…he could feel Khushi’s heart beating against him as she held onto his hair while arching her back, giving him more access to her delectable neck area

“Arnav…” she moaned as his stubbled jaw abraded her soft skin…the feeling so heady that she pressed her face more into his while he nibbled at her neck…drawing her shirt collar over one shoulder, he left tiny bites over her milky skin making her purr in pleasure…. When he finally looked up in to her eyes he could clearly see the same desire he felt, reflected in her eyes… “Khushi…” he rasped as she pulled him closer to bridge the gap between them once again….when the door suddenly opened making them both look at the person who had entered

To say Lavanya was shocked was an understatement…she had an inkling about the blatant sexual chemistry between her boss and Khushi  maam, but actually finding them in such a position was beyond anything she had ever imagined… she stood there gawking for a second before realizing the extremely tricky situation she had walked in on.

She quickly apologized for entering and sped out of the cabin before anyone had a chance to say anything….she walked briskly towards the conference area when her heel twisted, nearly making her fall if not for the arm that held her steady “Slow down Lavanya…where are you going in such a hurry? And have you seen Khushi  maam? Is she still in ASR’s cabin? I need to go and get her” Aman said as Lavanya yanked his arm and pushed him inside the empty conference room before locking the door behind them

“You will do no such thing Aman Mathur!” Lavanya said as she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, her eyes stern while her high ponytail bobbed behind her “What? Why?...Lavanya…what is going on?” Aman asked her, partly bewildered and partly amused…”I told you na…bas! Don’t go there now…” she said as he looked on with confusion

“I can’t tell you” she said as Aman shrugged “Fine…in that case…I’m going there…now!” he said as he walked towards the door and unlocked it…but was once again held back by Lavanya’s firm grip on his arm “No wait….ok fine…I’ll tell you” she said as she narrated the scene she had seen in Arnav’s cabin

Aman looked on with shock as she finished telling him everything “Are you serious? You sure it was Khushi maam?” he asked her as she rolled her eyes “Yes…it was her and ASR…Oh God! I don’t know how I will ever face them again” she said biting her lips as aman smiled at her antics

“Hey…relax, you did not know…just pretend you never saw anything and act normal…I’m sure they will too” he said as she threw him an annoyed look “Easy for you to say…you weren’t the one gawking at both your bosses with their hands all over each other” she said as aman laughed

“Loosen up Lavanya…Khushi  maam is very chilled out…plus think about the good thing…” he said wriggling his eyebrows “What good thing?” she asked him as he opened the door of the conference room “How cool is it that our bosses hooked up….a bit of office romance in the air!” he said as Lavanya giggled “Aman Mathur…I never pegged you for a romantic” she said as he gave her lopsided grin before both walked towards ASR’s cabin….or rather the Lion’s den

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Khushi looked everywhere but at arnav as she quickly straightened her dress along with her open hair…she was trying to find her band when arnav’s hand reached towards the desk and handed it to her “Uh…you can use the restroom….if you like” he said as he tried to make eye contact with her…but was utterly unsuccessful

What the hell had he done! After all the stuff they spoke about yesterday, he had to go and kiss her….sometimes logic and propriety just does not work, he thought as he saw her tie up her luscious long hair into a tight knot at the back, the action suddenly irritating him…making him want to once again release her hair from the blasted confine

He watched her touch her palms to her cheeks which were flaming a blazing red right now, somehow the color highlighting her high cheekbones and perfect facial structure…he looked on as her eyes glanced around and met his for a nano second before she quickly looked away, her gaze going towards the closed cabin door

“Uh…I should go…I have a meeting in few minutes” she mumbled as arnav sighed…this was not happening again “Khushi…” he said as she had turned around to walk out…but stilled at his voice and looked over her shoulder, somehow not able to turn completely “Khushi, we need to talk…I’m not doing this anymore” he said with a sigh as she turned fully towards him

“Doing what Arnav? This was a mistake…there is nothing more to it” she said as he strode towards her and held her by her waist “This is not a mistake…stop labeling it one! We both were equally involved Khushi….I know the first time we kissed, it seemed too sudden…but this, I can’t pretend that there is nothing between us!” he said as she wiggled out of his arms

“Stop Arnav…please…we are professionally linked…don’t you understand? Today Lavanya saw us…tomorrow, God knows! We are constantly under vigilance Arnav…it will reflect very badly on GR” she said trying to convince herself more than him “So that means, we just let this Go…this unexplainable pull we feel towards each other…without giving it a chance!” he asked her incredulously as she looked down

“Tell me Khushi, was this really a mistake?” he asked her…gently now, as he waited with baited breath for her answer, but he saw it before he heard her say it “Yes…it’s a mistake…there is no place for such complications in my life right now Arnav…please understand…I don’t want to lose out on our friendship for something we don’t know will work or not…and I don’t want this to affect our work” she said as Arnav closed his eyes and stepped back

Both were silent for a few minutes till Arnav looked at her with a steely determination in his eyes…having made up his mind “Fine, if this is what you want…then so be it” he said as Khushi quickly looked up “I’m sorry this happened Khushi, but rest assured, it will never happen again…if you want to keep our relationship to strictly being friends, then I won’t urge you to rethink…I too value our friendship and would not like to jeopardize it on any cost…” he said as Khushi opened her mouth to say something when there was a knock on the door

“Come in” Arnav said in an irritated voice as both Aman and Lavanya walked inside…Aman looked at Khushi while Lavanya and Arnav pretended like nothing had happened “Uh Maam, your meeting is in five minutes….can we proceed?” he asked her as Khushi looked once at arnav before nodding at Aman…it took Arnav all his self-control not to blast both their PA’s for interrupting them again…especially Lavanya who knew what had transpired here

But all in all, it was probably for the best…it hurt him to see Khushi’s determination to not change anything between them but it also gave him a hope that maybe all was not lost…he had seen the hesitation and longing in her eyes before she answered and that was what had made him say those things to her…Ms Khushi Gupta can deny all she wants…but he knew that she too wanted him…it was only a matter of time and tactic to make her come to him…and he was the master of strategy…after all he was Arnav Singh Raizada…

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“What happened Khushi? Once again you look lost…is everything ok at work?” Shalini asked her granddaughter as she helped her with sorting some of her old files “Yes nani, I’m perfectly ok…just a mild headache” she said as her grandmother smiled and resumed her work…khushi got back to her thoughts about Arnav and all that had happened in office today

She had feelings for Arnav…of that she was sure…but she also knew that feelings led nowhere…it would only mess up things…she unfortunately was never a witness to real love, especially with the way her parent’s marriage suffered…but she was also not against it…this was all so confusing, she thought and was about to call it a night when Garima walked in…her face, paler than usual

“Mamma…whats wrong? …are you ok? Laxamma…get some water please” Khushi shouted as she and Shalini made her mother sit on the bed, while both of them sat around her “Beta, what’s the matter…why are you not saying anything?” Shalini asked her as Garima looked up into the worried eyes of both the women she loved so dearly

“Ma...Khushi…that…the detective, he had called…he said that Monica has given her statement…and…and she said that Arun used to get threatening calls from a woman…and the woman…she said it was me…that I was calling him…how can she..” Garima said as Khushi got up and took her cell phone out…how dare that pschyo woman take her mother’s name and that detective! She had clearly told him to not contact her mother directly!

She tried reaching the detective at his given number, but the call wasn’t connecting through…she looked back at her mother who was resting her head on her nani’s shoulder “Mamma…what else did he say? “ she asked her as Garima looked at her “He said that her statement makes me a suspect, one of the top ones…he asked me not to leave the city and said he will come here tomorrow to take my statement…with or without you” she said with a trembling voice as Khushi sat down next to her and hugged her

“Mamma…I promise you…nothing will happen…I told you na,  Arnav and I are suspects too…all thanks to Sheetal…but this all just procedure…just because someone says something does not mean that the law will think of it as truth…we’ll work through this ok…none of us are guilty of anything we are being accused of…so why should we worry so much?” Khushi said as Garima nodded and tightened her hold around her daughter

Khushi knew that things were not that simple…Monica was Arun Mehra’s lawfully wedded wife...while Garima his ex…if monica, who was out of the city at the time of murder is asked to think of any suspects for her husband’s death…the person she points at will be in direct line of possible murderer…though it can also be said that Monica herself had a lot to gain from Arun’s death…

She really had to think this through…and she needed someone who could help her out…the only one who at this very minute was probably hating her for all that had happened today…she closed her eyes as the sight of his steely eyes reflected back…she shivered slightly thinking how things would be in office tomorrow…will she get her friend’s advice and counsel….or did she lose that right forever?

PS: Thanks for reading guys...i know i don't answer your comments...simply because i'm too tied up with work and office. and can't do justice to them with my paltry response...but i read them religiously and love you guys for it...

Also...i'm on vacation till the 1st of June...so the next update will be when i get back...thanks..love ya! xoxo