Janet's FF: IPKKND


Note:This fan fiction starts off after the episode in which Khushi goes to Arnav's office to pick up her Devi Maiyya statue and tells Arnav that she's going back to Lucknow for good.

Also, I'm going to call this Fan Fiction IPKKND coz that's what it is - a continuation of IPKKND in a way I would like to see it :-)

~Part 1~

The calendar that AR Group is launching was being sponsored by a company owned by a guy called Arjun Malhotra. Arnav got a call from his office saying that Arjun has announced a press conference along with a bash for the launch of the calendar and he would like everyone to be present and especially the models and the photographer. He would like all of them to be on the stage with Arnav and Arjun during the release. Arnav called up Arjun tyring to negotiate, but he refused politely saying his company gives a lot of importance to press launches and he wants this to be perfect. Because they are the sponsors, Arnav has to give in. He asked Lavanya to talk to the other model and get her to agree (money, another contract, whatever she wants).

Khushi, he knew, is a different ball game altogether. He knew he has to tackle her himself. He dialed her number to ask her to meet him urgently. Then he remembered how he ruined her phone. Mentally kicking himself, he got into his car to go and meet her.

In the meanwhile, Khushi and Payal were almost ready to go. They were standing outside the door of the house and Buaji was locking. Just as they stepped out of the house, Arnav's car stopped in front of their door and he got out. Everyone was shocked.

Arnav said "Khushi, mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai."

Khushi replied "hume aapse koi baat nahi karni"

"Maine kaha bhi nahi ki tum mujhse baat karo. Maine kaha mujhe baat karni hai. Tum sirf meri baat suno."

"Dekhiye sir, hume na aapse baat karni hai aur na hi aapki koi baat sunni hai. Humne aapse kal hi kaha tha na ki hum yahaa se waapas jaa rahe hai?"

"Mujhe pata hai tumne kya kaha tha. Unfortunately, aisa hone nahi waala. I mean, tum filhaal kahi nahi jaa sakti."

Khushi put her hands on her hips and said "Phir shuru! Phir shuru hume bataana ki hume kya karna chahiye aur kya nahi!"

Arnav replied calmly "Mai tumhe ye nahi keh raha hu ki tumhe jaana chahiye ya nahi - ye bata raha hu ki tum jaa nahi sakti. Pehle puri baat sun liya karo miss khushi express. Tumne jis calendar ke liye photo shoot kiya tha uska launch kal shaam ko hai. Humaare sponsors chahte hai ki models waha present ho. Isliye woh shoot attend karke tum jaa sakti ho."

"Hume koi launch nahi attend karna. Humaari aaj shaam ke train ki ticket confirmed hai aur hum jaa rahe hai bas."

Arnav said "Khushi, train kya flight ke tickets bhi mai book karvadunga parso ke liye - ek baar event attend karlo, phir chali jaana."

Khushi shook her head "Hum nahi karenge."

Arnav too replied "Tum bilkul karogi. Kyunki tum nahi karogi toh baaki ka conversation adaalat mei ya police station mei hoga. Tum galti se bhi ye mat sochna ki mai uss toote hue contract ko bhool chuka hoon. Jo tumne mujhe farz aur haq aur zimmedari ki lecture mere ghar pe di thi, adalat mei uss lecture ki koi value nahi hai. Adalat saboot mangti hai aur saboot yahi hai ki tumne contract toda. Aur vaise bhi, mai tumhe koi safai toh nahi dena chahta, par sachai yahi hai ki mujhe uss guest house ke baare mei pata nahi tha. Agar tumhaari jaan khatre mei hi dalna hota, toh uss din tumhe waha se nikaalne mai khud uss tuti phuti guesthouse ke andar nahi aata. Aur aa bhi jaata toh waha se tumhe nikaalne ke baad tumhe uthaake tumhaare ghar tak nahi pahunchata. Anyway, ye sab chodo. Important baat ye hai ki filhaal mujhe tumpe case karne mei koi interest nahi hai. In fact, ye launch ki baat nahi hoti toh mai tumhe jaane se rokta bhi nahi. Ek baar ye attend karlo, phir chali jaana."

Khushi is about to say something, but Payal stopped her. "Dekh Khushi, ye itna bol rahe hai toh ek baar jaa ke attend karlena? Hum jaante hai ki tum gussa ho, lekin abhi aur jhagda karne ka samay nahi hai hamare paas. Vaise bhi ghar pe itna kuch chal raha hai. Dukaan girwi hone ki vaje se Bauji vaise bhi itne pareshan hai. Dukaan jhudwane tak ke paise nahi hai hamaare paas. Agar ek lakh rupaye ka karza aur uthaana pada toh hum kya karenge? Ek hi din ki toh baat hai. Tu jaake aa jaa jaldi."

Arnav was listening to all this. So, he spoke up "Dekhiye mujhe pata toh nahi aap log kis baare mei baat kar rahi hain. Lekin mere paas ek solution hai. Khushi ka contract khatam hone mei abhi ek hafta aur baaki hai. Agar woh ek hafta aur puura karle toh mai uska pura salary de dunga. Aur vaise bhi mujhe kisipe na ehsaan karna hai aur na hi kisi ka ehsaan chahiye. Toh jo photoshoot Khushi ne kiya hai, uska fees bhi de dunga. Basically mai ye keh raha hu ki abhi agar ye ek hafte ke liye ruk jaati hai aur kal ka launch aur uske baad waale ek do functions attend kar leti hai toh aap logo ka jo bhi karza ya dukaan ke paise.. whatever.. woh mai de dunga. Jitna bhi ho, not a problem."

Khushi looked shocked. Payal and Buaji looked at each other. Payal finally spoke to Khushi "Khushi, gussa chod de. Agar tujhe ye naukri waapas mil rahi hai, toh ek hafte ruk ke apne kaam khatam kar lena."

Khushi and Arnav looked at each other for a few seconds. Then, she said "theek hai sir. Hum ek hafte ke liye ruk jayenge. Kal ka function bhi attend karenge aur uske baad ek hafte ke liye kaam bhi karenge. Hume kisi pe ehsaan karne mei koi takleef nahi, lekin kuch logo se ehsaan lene mei takleef hai. Isliye ek hafte ke baad aap hume humaari puri salary aur photoshoot ka fees de dijiyega. Usse zyaada aapko kuch bhi dene ki zaroorat nahi hai. Didi aapko ek hafta nahi rukna chahiye. Bauji aur Ammaji ko humaari zaroorat hai. Kam se kam aapko toh unke paas jaana chaahiye. Lekin aapko akele bhej bhi toh nahi sakte."

Buaji said "hai re nandkissor! Akeli ladki ko kya Lucknow bhej du? Lekin tujhe akele chodke mai bhi toh iske saath nahi jaa sakti."

Khushi said "aap jaayiye Buaji. Hum bilkul theek honge yahaa pe. Bilkul chinta mat keejiye."

Payal too disagreed "Nahi Khushi, Buaji theek keh rahe hai. Tumhe.."

Arnav interrupted "OK OK OK, mai iska rehne kaa intezaam kar dunga ek hafte ke liye. Humaare kisi guest house mei reh sakti hai ye."

Buaji said exaggeratedly "Hai re nandkissor! Akeli ladki kya guesthouse mei rahegi! Kuch ho gaya toh kaun madad karega iski!"

Arnav sighed "Oh man! OK fine! Mere ghar mei reh sakti hai ye ek hafte ke liye! Fir theek hai? Anjali di se toh aap log mil hi chuki ho. Aur Khushi, tum toh Nani aur Mami se bhi mil chuki ho. Unke saath mere ghar mei rahegi toh theek hai?"

Buaji and Payal looked at each other and nodded. Khushi looked speechless. Buaji quickly re-opened the door and went in for a few mins. Arnav and Khushi were looking at each other. Buaji came out with a bag and locked the door. "Chal Payal, Khushi ka ticket toh hai na. Hum dono seedha railway station chalte hai."

Payal replied "Haan Buaji kaafi der ho gayi, train choot na jaaye."

Arnav walked towards his car saying "Chaliye mai chod deta hu aaplogo ko station tak. Raaste mei hi padta hai."

Khushi was even more shocked. Payal and Buaji went to sit at the back and Khushi was about to get in too when Arnav banged that door shut. She jumped as always and he said "mai driver hoon kya tumhaara? Chupchaap jaake saamne baithe. Waise bhi pehli baar nahi baith rahi ho meri gaadi ki front seat pe. Kaho toh pichli baar ki tarah mai hi bithau kya?"

She remembered the guesthouse night when payal had told her "woh laaya tha tumhe ghar." She looked at him now and blushed crimson. He smirked when he saw her embarrassed. She rushed and went and sat in the front seat.

They reached the railway station and Buaji and Payal rushed out. They hugged Khushi and asked her to take care of herself and keep in touch. Then they rushed into the station. Khushi got back into the car and shut the door.

~End of part 1~

~Part 2~

Khushi started fiddling with her dupatta as she was wondering why Arnav hadn't started the car.

"Seat belt lagao," he said.

"Ji? Oh. Ji." She started trying to pull the seat belt. It was, of course, stuck. She kept looking back at Arnav while trying to do this. Arnav rolled his eyes and said "aaj hoga?"

"Hum koshish toh kar hi rahe hai na"

Arnav waited for another 10 seconds and then took off his own seatbelt and leaned towards her. She didn't see him coming and turned at the same time. Their noses nudged each other and she jerked back into the seat. Her head was trapped between her seat and his head. His hand was on hers on the seat belt. They both got lost in each others eyes. The tension between them was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Her breath quickened at his proximity and his eyes turned dark. Suddenly, another vehicle honked and they are jerked out of the moment. Arnav shook his head to think straight. He quickly pulled the seat belt and latched it on. Then, he put on his own seat belt and started the car. 

Khushi was frozen in the same position. "What was that? What was I thinking? Why did I not move? Why was I looking at his eyes? Why did I feel butterflies in my stomach when he was near me? Was I just imagining it or would I actually have gone closer to him if that honk hadn't sounded?!"

Arnav was in the same situation. "What the hell is wrong with me?! Why the hell was I latched on to her for all that time? Why did I keep looking at her lips? Was I imagining it or would I have tasted them, but for that honk?!"

They kept stealing glances at each other through the rear view mirror. Suddenly, Arnav's phone rang and he turned on the bluetooth. 

"Haan di"

"Chote kaha ho tum? Aise bina kuch bole kaha chale gaye?"

"Di woh kuch kaam aa gaya tha. Kya baat hai?"

"Kuch nahi raat ho rahi hai toh chinta ho rahi thi. Khaane tak toh aa jaoge na?"

"Haan di mai waapis aa hi raha hu."

"Achcha theek hai.."

"Aur di.."

"Haan.. kya hua?"

"Woh.. er.. Khushi hai naa.."

"Haan.. kya hua unko?"

"Di.. woh .. er.. Khushi bhi hogi khaane pe.. woh mere saath abhi ghar aa rahi hai"

"Kya? Mera matlab hai ki ye achchi baat hai, lekin hua kya? Unke ghar pe toh sab theek hai na? Itni der ko woh tumhaare saath ghar kyu aa rahi hai?"

"Sab theek hai di. Ghar aake samjha dunga sab kuch. Abhi ke liye aap bas uske liye ek kamra theek karva doh ghar pe. Woh ek hafte ke liye hamaare ghar par hi rahegi."

"Ek hafte ke liye? Chote.."

"Di please. Maine kahaa na ghar aake sab samjha dunga. Abhi gaadi chala raha hu, ghar pahunch hi raha hu."

"Achcha theek hai. Jaldi aa jao."

Khushi stole a glance at him. She wondered if she should say or ask anything. 

Arnav broke the silence. "Aaj toh bahut der ho gayi hai. Ghar jaake dinner karke so jaana. Kal subah baahar jaake function ke liye kuch kapde khareed lena. Lavanya tumhaare saath aa jayegi. Wahi select karlegi kapde." Khushi is about to say something, but he goes on "..nautanki chaalu karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Kuch revealing kapde nahi honge. Saari bhi theek hai. But, it has to be a designer one. Mai in sab baato mei waqt nahi waste karta lekin humaare sponsors organize kar rahe hai and they like things to be perfect. Isliye apne bahez karne ki zarurat ko kabu karo aur chupchaap jaake kapde lelo."

"Humaari zarurat? Hume bahez karne ki zarurat hai? Bahez waha hoti hai jaha do alag rai ho. Aur aapke saath toh chaahe dus log bhi baat kare, rai toh ek hi hoti hai na - aapki rai."

"Bilkul. Aur hona bhi chaahiye. Vaise tumhe yaad hoga ki humaari pichli kuch mulaakaato mei maine bahut bahez ki thi na? Aur tum toh bilkul chup thi."

"Aap hume thaane maar rahe hai? Pichli kuch kyu? Humaari saari mulaakaate yaad kijiye aur sochiye ki aapne humse kya kya kaha hai aur humaare saath kya kya kiya hai."

Both have flashbacks of all the hurtful instances. Arnav, as usual, got worked up. But, they just drove into his house and he braked hard and the car came to a screeching halt.

"Khushi, ateet mei jeena chod do. Sabki zindagi mei aisi kayi baatei hoti hai. Unhe pakadke baithogi toh baithi hi rahogi. Filhaal hum ghar pahunch gaye. Isliye stop wading in selp pity and get the hell out of my car!"

He stepped out and banged the door. He was about to leave when he noticed that she hasn't stepped out. He went to her side and grabbed open the door saying "mai durbaan hu kya tumhaara jo tumhaare liye.." He stopped when he saw her struggling with the seat belt again. Their eyes met and they both remembered their moment with the seat belt. Khushi blushed and looks away. Arnav kept staring at her and started moving towards her. Khushi got flustered and started looking around and fiddling. 

Arnav leaned into the car towards her and held her hand on the seatbelt and said "ek minute hile bina baith sakti ho?" She stilled. He took out the seat belt and they kept looking at each other. Then, he just shook himself and straightened himself out of the car to walk away. 

He felt a tug at his blazer and stopped to look down. He saw that her dupatta had once again managed to latch itself onto him. He turned to see Khushi hurry out of the car holding on to the other part of the dupatta so it doesn't fully fall off. They stared at each other for a bit.

Arnav said "tumhe chaahe jitni nafrat ho mujhse, tumhaare dupatte ko toh mai kaafi achcha lagta hu. Jab bhi milta hu, tumse zyaada mere paas hota hai." Khushi blushed remembering the other instances and came to get the dupatta. Arnav was about to take it off when Khushi stopped him.

"Rukiye!" 

He looked up with a raised brow. "Kyu aise hi andar jaana hai kya? Aag aur pandit bhi le aau phere lene ke liye?"

"Arre wah aapko toh mazaak karna bhi aata hai." Then she muttered "karele ke andar jalebi?"

"Kya! Kya kaha tumne?"

"Kuch nahi kuch nahi. Mai bas ye keh rahi thi ki kapde phaadne ke aapke shauk ko aap apne kapdo pe hi pura kijiye. Isse pehle ki mere paas sirf phate kapde bache, mai apne dupatte ko aaram se bacha leti hu."

She went close to him and with trembling fingers tried to take out the dupatta. He stared at her head and thought of the instances when he ruined her clothes. He sighed.

"Isse pehle ki dupatte ke saath saath tum bhi mere blazer pe stuck ho jao, mai hi nikaal deta hu." He quickly removed the dupatta without ruining it. "Ab chalo andar."

She walked with him. He stopped. She stopped a bit ahead and turned to look at him.

He said "Haan haan, bhaagke andar chali jao. Tumhaara bag toh mai uthaake launga na."

She looked at him mock innocently and said "Achcha? Theek hai le aaiyea. Hum andar hi hai" and walked off.

He stared at her back in disbelief. He shook his head and went back to pick her bag and walked in after her.

~End of part 2~

~Part 3~

Arnav reaches the door and sees that Khushi is standing in front of it. She looks up to see him stand next to her.

Arnav says "ye bhi tod du, ki bell bajaogi?"

Khushi glares at him.

He says "mujhe khoorna band karo aur uss taraf ka switch dabao."

Khushi looks to her other side and presses the bell.

Mamiji opens the door and is shocked to see Khushi. Khushi says "Namaste."

Mamiji is still shocked and standing at the door, so Arnav and Khushi are unable to go in. Arnav is about to say something when Anjali speaks up from behind.

"Mami woh Khushi ek hafte ke liye yahee rahengi. Chote ne phone karke kaha tha ki woh aa rahi hai unke saath."

Mamiji looks from Arnav to Khushi and moves a bit. Anjali beckons them to come in "aao aao Khushi, bahut achcha lagta hai aapse milna - achcha hua ki aap kuch din humaare saath rahengi." Khushi smiles while Anjali tells Arnav, who is walking away with her bag, "Chote inka bag leke kaha jaa rahe ho? Inhe inka kamra dikha do na. Tumhare paas waala hi hai." 

Arnav looks and Khushi and she follows him. Mami looks at their retreating backs and says "hello hi bye bye! Ye kya Arnav bitva roz roz ek ek ladki ko live in ke liye layenge kya?!" Anjali looks at her and says "mami! Aap bhi na! Chote kuch kaam se laya hoga. Hum baad mei poochenge. Abhi hum khana laga dete hai."

Arnav and Khushi are walking together. Khushi says, "hey Devi maiyya, humaare kamre se itna chalte toh baazaar pahunch jaate!"

Arnav says "Chup chaap chalo. Shikayat karne ke alava kuch aata hai tumhe?"

Khushi mutters "Aata hai na - aapke zulm sehna!"

"Kya kaha tumne?!"

"Kuch nahi! Humaari itni jurrat ki hum aapse kuch kahe?" Saying this she slips on the stairs and grabs Arnav's sleeve and almost drags him down.

"Kya kar rahi ho tum?!"

"Phisal gaye the hum!"

"Oh haan, mai bhul gaya ki shikayat karne ki alava, har kahi se girte rehna bhi toh tumhe aata hai! Ab mera haath chodogi ya kamre tak aise he jaana hai?!"

Khushi realizes she's been holding his hand and leaves it quickly and rushes away in front of him. 

He says "Ruko. Tumhe kamra pata hai jo bhaag rahi ho? Wahi pe hai kamra."

Khushi rushes towards him, snatches her bag and rushes into the room and bangs the door shut. Then she runs to the bed, flings her bad and dupatta on to the chair nearby and plops on it headlong. Within a second, Arnav barges in opening the door. Khushi sits up on the bed, startled.

"Hume knock karne ke lambi lectures dete. Khud ke haath kya zindabad lagane ko chale gaye?"

"Apne hi kamre mei aane ke liye mujhe knock karne ki zarurat nahi hai!"

"Aapka kamra? Par ye toh.."

"Maine kahaa kamra yahi par hai. Iske saamne waala kamra hai tumhaara. Kisi ki puri baat sunne ka waqt ho toh bol paata na."

"Oh. Woh humne socha ki.. Theek hai theek hai. Kamra hi toh hai. Koi uthaake leke nahi jaane waale hum isko kahin par."

"Ab mere saath isi kamre mei hi rehna hai kya?"

"Ji?! Ji nahin!"

"Toh phir apna saaman lo aur jao saamne waale kamre mei!"

"Jaa rahi hu. Koi shauk nahi hai aapke kamre me rehne ka." She takes her bag and starts to walk out. They are looking at each other while she walks past him. Just as she passes him, he stops her.

"Ye dupatta mai hi rakh leta hu. Baar baar mujhe hi dene ki koshish karti ho."

Khushi realizes that she wasn't wearing her dupatta and rushes back to get it and turns in a hurry and bumps right into Arnav. They hold onto each other to stop the force and look at each other. Suddenly, the intercom buzzes.

Khushi is shaken out of the moment, and in her confusion she rushes to pick the phone.

"Hello?"

It's Anjali on the line.

"Er.. Hello.. Er.. Khushi?!"

"Ji.. Anjali ji?"

"Khushi.. ye toh Chote ka kamra.."

"Ji.. Ji woh hum.. hum.. hum sir ke kamre mei nahi hai.. humara matlab hai ki hain par nahin hai.. woh hum.."

Arnav takes the phone from her and says "Kya hua di?"

"Chote Khushi tumhaare kamre mei kya kar rahi hai?!"

"Kuchi nahi di. Uska kamra dikhaane se pehle hi daudke galat kamre mei ghus gayi woh. Usse mai nikaal hi raha tha ki aapne phone kiya. Pata nahi kudke isne kyu uthaaya."

Anjali laughs. Arnav says "aapne kyu phone kiya?"

"Haan woh isse pehle ki Khushi ko tum uska kamra dikha do, usko bolo ki jaldi haath muh dhoke neeche aajaye. Aur tum bhi. Nahana aur change karna sab baad mei karlena tum dono. Abhi jaldi neeche aajao. Khaana lag chuka hai aur sab intezaar kar rahe hai."

"Theek hai. Abhi aa rahe hai." He hangs up and looks at Khushi "Jaldi se jaake saaman chodo aur haath muh dhoke neeche aa jao. Khana lag gaya hai aur kisi ko wait karna achcha nahi lagta yahaa."

Khushi nods and walks towards the door. Then turns and says "aap bhi chal rahe hai na?" Arnav raises a brow and Khushi hurries to say "woh ye aapka ghar hi aisa hai ki akele neeche jaayenge toh hum shaayad bageeche mei pahunch jayenge"

"Haan mai bhi aa raha hu 5 minute mei. Jaldi karo."

She rushes into her room, drops her stuff, quickly washes her face and rushes to open the door. Both of them open their doors at the same time and face each other. They look at each other for a few seconds and then Arnav starts walk and she quickly follows.

They enter the dining area and see Nani. "Namaste Naniji" says Khushi.

"Jeeti raho bitiya. Uss din jis haalat mei aap waapas gayi thi, aapse milna ki ummeed toh nahi thi. Lekin bahut achcha laga aaj aapko yahaa dekhke."

"Ji hume bhi" Khushi smiles. "Uss din hum thode pareshan the. Isliye jaldi mei nikalne ki maafi chahte hai."

"Koi baat nahi bitiya. Accha hua ki sab theek ho gaya. Anjali bitiya bata rahi thi ki aap ek hafte tak yahi honge. Aapse baat karke hume bahut achcha lagega."

"Ji Nani. Hume bhi."

They sit down to eat and once again Khushi sits at Arnav's seat by mistake. Everyone looks a bit startled especially when Arnav just gives her one look and then goes and sits opposite her without saying anything.

Suddenly, Mamiji says "arrey Arnav bitva, woh miss Kasyap kidhar hai?"

Arnav looks up "mujhe nahi pata."

Anjali di says "nahi pata matlab? Itni der ho gay Chote, unhe phone toh karo ek baar."

Suddenly, Arnav's phone starts ringing. He picks up "haan Lavanya"

"ASR, I'm gonna be a bit late. You wanted me to meet up with Lisa, right? I did and now am gonna have dinner with her out."

"Ok, I'll see you later, bye." He cuts the call.

"Di, woh bahar khake der se aayegi." Nani looks disapproving but doesn't say anything.

Khushi has been watching this whole exchange and looks very confused and a bit concerned. Anjali sees her face and says "woh hum Lavanya ke baare mei pooch rahe the. Aap jaanti hai na unko?"

"Ji Anjali ji, hum jaante hai."

"Haan toh woh abhi tak ghar nahi aayi toh hume laga ek baar check kar lena chahiye."

"Oh achcha. Lekin aapko kaise pata chala ki woh ghar nahi pahunchi?"

Mami intervenes "Hello hi bye bye! Kaise pata matlab?! Ghar pahunchi hoti toh yahi dikhti na?!"

Khushi looks shocked "Kya! Lavanya mam yaha rehti hai?!" Involutarily, she looks at Arnav while saying this. Mami answers "aur nahi toh kya!" but neither of them really hear Mami.

Arnav looks at Khushi, but doesn't say anything. While Khushi fights with what feels like a sense of hurt, he fights with what eerily feels like guilt.

Anjali's voice break them out of their eye lock "arrey sab log khana toh shuru kijiye, thanda ho raha hai."

Arnav avoids Khushi's eye and asks "Di, Jijaji kaha hai?"

"woh zara bahar gaye hai kaam se aur bahar hi khayenge. Phone kiya tha unhone. Der se ayenge"

Khushi was quiet throughout dinner and Arnav was extra talkative to his family. Anjali was the only person who noticed this. Of course, she was also the only person who noticed the silent exchange between Arnav and Khushi when Mami announced that Lavanya was staying in the house. She decided to keep an eye on the two of them before jumping to any conclusions.

After dinner, she told Khushi "aapse baat karne ka toh bahut mann hai, par aaj aap zara dhaki hui lag rahi hai. Isliye jaldi so jayiye. Vaise bhi humaare paas ek hafta hai baat karne ke liye."

Arnav says "vaise bhi isko kal subah dukaan jaana hai shaam ke function ke liye kapde khareedne. Toh zyaada der tak nahi jagegi toh achcha hi hai."

Khushi blurts out "haan, aapne toh humesha iss baat ka khyal rakha hai ki hum der tak kaam na kare taak agle din kaam pe pahunch sake, hai na?"

Before Arnav could retort, Anjali says "bass bass aap dono fir se mat shuru ho jayiye. Jaldi jaake so jayiye."

Khushi says "Ji Anjali ji" and starts to walk off.

Arnav says "goodnight di" and rushes after, something that Anjali notices with a smile.

Arnav catches up with Khushi and says "ab bhaagke jaa rahi ho, raasta nahi bhulogi?"

Khushi doesn't say anything, just keeps walking.

"Toh pehle kya jhoot bola tha ki kho jaogi?"

She still doesn't say anything. He goes and stops in front of her and says "Khushi mai tumse baat kar raha hu."

"Kyu kar rahe hai? Humse baat kyu kar rahe hai?"

"Kya?"

She realizes that she really had no reason to suddenly change her behavior.

She covers up "Ji .. Ji woh kuch nahi sir. Iss baar humne seekh liya. Humaara matlab hai ki raasta seekh liya. Toh ab kho nahi jayenge." They were near their rooms. She says "mai subah jaldi tayyar ho jaungi. Aap bata dijiye jab bhi Lavanya mam ke saath nikalna ho toh." She walks past him and goes into her room and shuts the door. Arnav, too, slowly turns around and goes into his room.

They are both lying in their beds trying to figure out what just happened. Arnav thinks "why the hell did I feel guilty? Who is she anyway? I have the right to get Lavanya here if I want. She is my girlfriend. Why should I feel guilty when Khushi found out about it? Why was I avoiding her eye? Why was I trying to talk to her and make sure she's not mad at me?" 

Khushi, too wasn't making a lot of progress with sleep "what is wrong with me?! If Lavanya mam wants, she can stay here! Why did I feel angry? Or was it jealously? No no, it can't be. Then, why was I trying to glare at him and why was I upset when he wasn't looking at me? What made me think I have a right to be mad at him?"

Slowly, they both drift to sleep with these thoughts playing in their heads.

~End of part 3~

~Part 4~

Khushi woke up with a start. "Well, what else can I expect if I see him in my dreams" she thought. She looked around and realized that it was still very dark. She flipped on the light and looked at the bedside clock and saw that it was just 1:30 AM. She wondered what made her get up and realized that she was thirsty. She looked around the room to see if there was a jug or a glass of water. Since she couldn't find anything, she plopped back on to the bed. "Not like I can wander out and hope to find my way to the kitchen in the middle of the night," she mused. She tossed and turned until 2 AM, but couldn't control her thirst any longer. "Damn all those things I ate! Making me so thirsty!"

She got up and opened her door. It was all pitch dark outside. She stepped out and tried to look for any light anywhere, but couldn't see a thing. She decided to tiptoe anyway since she wouldn't get any sleep unless she got some water. She reached near a flight of steps and slipped. So, she squealed and grabbed the first thing she could get her hand on. She heard a dull thud. "God! I hope I didn't break anything" she prayed. She straightened herself and decided to go back to her room. "This way I'm not gonna reach anywhere. I'll just stay up and stay thirsty until there's some light and then rush out," she thought and turned to walk.

She walked right into a person's form and opened her mouth to scream when someone clamped a hand over her mouth and pinned her against a wall. Suddenly a light switch was flipped on right next to her face and the place was flooded with light. She found herself sandwiched between Arnav and the wall just outside their rooms. She could feel every inch of her body pressed against his and his breath on her face inches away from his. His hand still covered her mouth while they looked at each other. Slowly, he removed his hand from her mouth. Was it her imagination or did he let his hand trail along her lips and face and along her arm? The shiver that ran up her spine and the way she shuddered lightly certainly wasn't her imagination.

Arnav, in the meanwhile was very much aware of every part of her soft curves being pressed against him. He was sure that her innocent eyes were trying to seduce him by just looking at him. He was sure that her flying hair was trying to seduce him by touching his face. He was sure that she was trying to disarm him by wriggling against him and stirring very pleasant feelings inside him.

She shook herself to clear her brain. Since she couldn't think of anything else to say, she said "bas yahi bacha tha!" That seemed to wake Arnav up from a trance. He too looked a bit flustered for a second before gathering himself and he said "kya bacha tha?"

"Yahi! Hume jaan se maarne ki koshish!"

"Tum paagal ho? Raat ke do baje yaha waha bina light ke ghoomogi toh chor hi samjhunga na tumhe?! Kuch girne ki aawaz sunke mai dekhne aaya tha ki iss waqt aise chup chaap ghar mei kaun ghus aaya."

"Aapke iss qile mei ghus hi kaun sakta hai?! Hume pyaas lagi thi. Kitchen dhundne nikle the hum. Yaha andhere mei per fisal gaya toh socha ki waapas jaake subah ka intezaar karenge"

"Faaltu mei andhere ko kyu dosh de rahi ho? Din mei bhi kaha tum seedha chal paati ho? Aur vaise tumhaare kamre mei paani nahi hai kya?!"

"Hai na! Isiliye toh beech raat ko hum pyaase yahaa wahaa ghoom rahe hai!"

"Itni hi pyaas lagi thi toh mera kamra toh tumhaare darwaaze ke saamne hi hai na. Iss waqt yahaa wahaa todphod karke sabko jagaane ke bajaai mujhe nahi utha sakti thi?"

"Hume apni jaan pyaari nahi hai kya jo aapko do baje neend se jagayenge? Abhi aap hume daantthe hi rahenge ya kitchen dikhayenge? Hume bahut zyaada pyaas lagi hai."

"Mere kamre mei paani hai. Abhi kitchen tak jaake sabko jagaana nahi hai mujhe." Saying this he walks into his room and switches on the light. Khushi walks in after him and sees a huge glass three fourths filled with water and runs to it and starts downing it. Arnav, who was walking towards the table to take the jug to give her, turns to see her drinking fom his glass and tries to stop her.

"Arre woh mera jootha hai.." She freezes hearing this, but she has pretty much finished the water by then.

They look at each other uneasily. Khushi puts the glass down and looks back at him. He takes the jug and gives it to her.

"Ye apne kamre mei le jao, miss pyaasi aatma"

"Aapko pyaas lag gayi toh?"

"Mujhe apni jaan bilkul pyaari nahi hai, isliye aake tumhe jagaa dunga" says Arnav. Khushi almost smiles hearing this, but stops herself.

"Ji shukriya" she says and starts to walk out.

Arnav calls from behind "vaise tum chinta mat karo. Jahan tak mujhe pata hai, mujhe koi phailne waali bimaari nahi hai."

This time Khushi smirks and replies "Devi maiyya ka shukar hai ki khadoospan phailnewaali bimaari nahi hai" Then she quickly rushes out. This time Arnav catches himself from smiling.

While they both settle back into their respective beds, they think about the feelings that they evoke in each other. They are not even sure what sort of feelings they are battling with. They slowly drift into sleep.

~End of part 4~

~Part 5~

Arnav is stirred out of his sleep by the sound of the intercom buzzing. He turns over to pick it up and says sleepily, "Hello?"

It's Anjali. "Chote?"

"Kya hua di?"

"Tum so rahe the?"

"Di iss waqt call karke kya puch rahi ho? Of course so raha tha."

"Iss waqt matlab? 9 baj gaye"

Arnav sits up. "Kya?!"

"Haan wahi toh hum soch rahe the ki naa tum paudho ko paani dene aaye aur naa hi khaane ke liye. Nani ko davai deni thi toh maine sabko naashta de diya."

"Haan theek hai di. Mai abhi tayyaar hoke aa hi raha hu."

"Theek hai. Khushi bhi nahi aayi abhi tak. Shayad akele aane me hichkicha rahi hogi. Usko le aana apne saath."

"Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Usko bhook lagegi toh woh aa jayegi."

Anjali sighs melodramatically into the phone. "Theek hai, lagta hai mujhe hi abhi wahaa tak chadke aake Khushi ko le aana padega."

"Bas bas Di aur naatak mat karo. Mai le aaunga usse."

Anjali smiles "Theek hai jaldi aao tum dono"

Arnav hangs up and remains seated on his bed for a few minutes. He forgot to set an alarm although he always gets up himself around the same time that the alarm goes off. Then he remembered his adventures from the night and realized why he overslept. He remembers that she hasn't gone down yet either. He wonders if she overslept too. He shrugs and starts to go to the washroom. He stops and thinks he should check on her. He briefly considers looking up the intercom number for her room and decides against it and walks towards her door.

He knocks and waits. When he gets no response, he knocks again, more loudly. He gets annoyed and keeps knocking loudly for a bit. Then he knocks and turns the knob alongside. To his surprise, the door opens. He knocks again and calls out "Khushi?"

Since he hears nothing, he opens the door further and starts to step in carefully. Since he does not want to walk into any situation, he knocks on the open door and calls out her name again. Finally, fed up of all the attempts, he walks right into the room to see Khushi sleeping peacefully in the bed.

He stands there for a few seconds drinking her in. Her hair was open and sprawled on the pillow fanning her face. She was curled up like a baby and was hugging a pillow. He walks towards the bed and stands right next to it staring at her face. Suddenly, he realized that he was behaving like a freak staring at a sleeping girl and calls out her name. 

"yaha toh bomb bhi phat jaaye toh madam ko pata nahi chalega!" he says out aloud. He was about to tap her on the shoulder and then stops, wondering what he should do. Then he thinks that he should wake her up anyway since she needs to go out too and there is no one else here. He taps lightly on her shoulder and she still doesn't wake up.

He throws his hands up and says "what the..!"

Then he leans right next her ear, shakes her shoulder and yells "Khushi!"

Khushi jumps up with a jolt and bumps her head right into Arnav's forehead with such force that he falls back on to the bed on her legs thankfully cushioned by the thick comforter on her. 

"Aaah!" they both yell in unison.

Both get up and sit on the bed facing each other and rubbing their foreheads. 

Arnav glares at her and says "yahi tareeka mila tha badla lene ka?! Sar hai ki naariyal!"

"Humaara toh phir bhi naariyal hai, aapka toh sangemarmar hai! Aur vaise bhi aap yahaa kya kar rahe hai?"

"Yahaa? Sote huye tumhaara dhopda dekhne kaa aur usse maar khaake girne ka mujhe bahut shauk hai. Isiliye aa gaya!"

Khushi glares at him. 

He continues "aur isse pehle ki tum mujhe knock karne ke baare mei thaana do, mai tumhe bata du ki maine hazaar baar knock hiya tha. Aur karta toh darwaaze pe jhed ban jaata. Aur tumhaare liye aur darwaaze todna nahi chaahta main!"

She blushes a bit hearing this.

He says "Vaise bhi agar tum nahi chahti ki koi andar aaye toh lock toh kar leti. Darwaaza khula tha toh mai andar aa gaya. Bahar se bhi aur yaha se bhi aawaz di maine, lekin tumhaare naariyal sar ke andar aawaz pahunche tab na! Isiliye hilaake uthaana pada mujhe. Varna din bhar soti rehti aur shyaam ko inhi kapdo mei bed se hi uthaake function mei lejaana padta mujhe!"

Khushi realizes that it's a bit late. She looks at the bedside watch and says "Oh 9 baj gaye!"

"Haan baj gaye. 10 minute pehle!"

She says "achcha hum jaldi tayyar honge' and jumps out of the bed not realizing he was still sitting on her comforter and feet. In her force, one leg is still stuck under him and the other gets entangled in the comforter and she falls right onto him.

He falls back on the bed with Khushi on top of him in a tangle of hands and legs and comforters. With nothing to break her fall except him, she crashed right into him with her head nuzzled right at his neck and her hands stuck behind his back.

Khushi slowly lifts her head off his neck and because of the space constraint, grazes her nose against his throat. Arnav was praying that she wouldn't notice how his Adam's apple kept popping up and down as he tried to control his nerves - as if having Khushi thrown flush against him head to toe on top of him wasn't enough, why the hell was she nuzzling her nose agains his neck? He fought with all his might to stop himself from closing his eyes, gathering her in his arms, turning her over and showing her just how to nuzzle at necks!

Khushi just about managed to get past his chin and then again dropped onto his chest as her hands were stuck beneath him. They both lied there for a few moments savoring the feeling before they heard something crash in some other room and were jerked out of the moment. 

Khushi starts struggling and says "Uthaaiye hume!"

Arnav smirks "Dekha jaaye toh aajkal mera kaam wahi hai. Kis khushi mei tum mere upar jhapat padi thi? Mujhe toh laga tum mujhse nafrat karti ho? Yahaa toh tumne mujhe apne bed pe apne neeche phasaake rakha hai."

Khushi blushes furiously and struggles more. Arnav's hands come up to hold her and he says in a thick voice "hilna band karo Khushi."

Something in his voice stopped her. He hoped she wouldn't realize the effect all this wriggling was having on him. He slowly turns on a side and takes her hand from under him. He turns her over so that she's now lying on her back next to him with him staring down at her.

Khushi prayed he couldn't hear her heart thumping away at his proximity. She wished didn't turn into mush like this every time he came close to her. He closes his eyes for a second, sighs, and then gets up. Khushi too gets up awkwardly.

They both look at each other and then down and then at each other again.

Arnav breaks the silence. "10 baje tak hume nikalna hai. Jiss dukaan mei tumhe jaana hai woh kaafi duur hai aur traffic bhi kaafi hai. Toh jaldi se tayyar hoke bahar aao. Di nashte part wait kar rahi hai."

"Ji hum abhi tayaar hote hai."

Arnav smirks "Abhi? Mujhe bahar toh jaane do."

"Ji.. matlab.. aapke jaane ke baad hi.. humaara matlab.."

Arnav holds himself from smiling and says "whatever.. 15 minute mei neeche milunga tumhe" and walks out. He turns back and says "kum se kum nahaate waqt washroom band karlena." and closes her door.

She was glad that he didn't see her turn crimson for the umpteenth time this morning.

~End of Part 5~

6 comments:

  1. YUSS YUSS YUSSSSSSS Lezzie!!!

    <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. please continue this one also yes i used to read all your work i fell in loved with your arnav and started watching the show (DUMAS)

    ReplyDelete
  3. i loveeeee all your stories... but could you plz plzzzz translate the dialogues.. i don't understand hindi... =)

    ReplyDelete
  4. okay first of all, WE NEED TO SEND THIS TO CVs so they CAN USE THIS :) and second of all great work :) but yeah maybe make the dialogues in english, or translate them. I know the fun of it is in hindi, but for the people who dont get hindi, having translations would be AMAZING :) again thanks for the AMAZING WORK <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. No continuation??? Please continue karo na....

    ReplyDelete