BTL - Chapter 12

"Tomorrow is the Kaveri Sankraman pooja at Tala Kaveri, everyone will be going, would you like to join us?" Smitha asked khushi as she stirred the curry while Khushi cut the salad for dinner...she looked up from her chopping to see Smitha looking at her curiously as khushi's face split into a knowing smile "Did amma tell you to ask me?" Khushi asked as Smitha looked down sheepishly before nodding her head

"Seriously! My mother needs to stop worrying so much about my unmarried state" Khushi said as Smitha shut off the gas and came to stand next to khushi to help her transfer the cut salad on a plate "No no, babyji...she is a mother...its her duty to worry...and you too should think about settling down now" smitha said as khushi sighed deeply and went to wash her hands

"I'm perfectly fine this way...if I find someone along the way, i'll marry...otherwise i'm not the kind of girl who needs a man in her life to complete her" khushi said as Smitha hit her palm on her forehead "Babyji, you really should not think like that...don't you want to marry and start your own family...what will happen when there is no one and you are all alone?" Smitha asked as khushi giggled

"Then i'll adopt as many cute kittens as I can and raise them as my own...they will give me company" khushi said making smitha once again shake her head at khushi while she went about getting things ready for dinner "Your generation...I don't think any of us can get through to you..." she said as khushi followed her out of the kitchen into the living room

"Leave it na Smitha, and you aren't all that old to separate our generations..." khushi said cheekily as a sudden buzz caused them to look near the coffee table in the hallway where a phone seemed to be vibrating quite agitatedly "Whose phone is that?" khushi said as she went towards it and realized its Arnav's...she picked it up and was about to go to his room when Smitha stopped her

"Sir has gone out for a walk...said he wanted fresh air...he'll be coming in anytime now" Smitha said as the phone stopped buzzing...khushi nodded at smitha and went to look out the window to see if he was anywhere in the vicinity "Did he go out now? At this time..?" she asked Smitha who nodded while placing the hot vessels on the table

"He went an hour ago when you were resting in your room...told me that he will come back by dinnertime" she said as khushi turned around, but once again the phone buzzed on the table making Smitha nod at Khushi "Maybe you should take it? It might be important..." she said before leaving the room to get some more things from the kitchen

Khushi shrugged her shoulders as she went to pick up the call, but the name on the caller id made her stop... 'Mrs Raizada', it read...she wondered who it was before quickly answering it... "Arnav! Why are you not taking your calls baby?" a woman's voice came from the other end...but due to the static disturbance she could not make out what was being said very clearly...though she did hear 'arnav' and 'baby'

Gulping down an uneasy feeling she quickly spoke "Hi, Arnav is not here...he left his phone by mistake...he should be back in sometime..." she said as the woman once again spoke something that sounded like 'What'...'who'?...khushi winced as the static got worse...she walked around a bit to catch a signal when his phone beeped once before shutting off

"Low battery" she murmured, observing the phone once before placing it back on the table...she probably should not have picked up the phone...God knows who 'Mrs Raizada' was...but then it struck her...Raizada...Arnav's surname was 'raizada'...so Mrs Raizada...? was that his relative? Was it his wife? Wait...was he married?! She panicked as unwanted thoughts started assailing her confused mind

It can be...her cousin Arun too had stored his wife's name as 'Mrs Gupta'...he had told her it was a joke amongst them...and most couple do it...to show their possessive side towards their better half...plus the woman did call him 'baby'...and only a girlfriend or wife will call you that...Was Arnav married? But...he never...oh my god! Did she kiss a married man? Did he cheat on his wife?...she held her forehead with her palm as the front door clicked open and Arnav walked in

She looked at him with an accusing look in her eyes to find him watching her warily... "Khushi? Anything..." he started asking when she picked up his phone and thrust it in his hand "Your phone" she spat at him as he looked down bewildered before looking back at her face, her eyes spitting fire at him

"Khu..." he said before she pulled him by his hand into his room before Smitha or VK saw them and shut the door before facing him...she took a deep breath and looked directly into his eyes...there is no way she would let him get away if he was married

"You are married" she said and looked on as his confused eyes turned more confused before a sort of amused glint shone in them "You are asking me or telling me?" he asked her as she folded her arms over her chest and stared him down "I know Arnav...your wife called" she said as the amused look he had a few minutes ago turned completely bewildered

"Now I should ask you, are you on drugs?!" he said as khushi continued to glare at him "Don't lie or try and work up a story...your wife 'Mrs Raizada' called...nice name for you wife...shows how possessive you are...I picked up her call wondering if it was urgent since your phone kept ringing...Oh, and she called you 'baby'...so care to explain how you conveniently forgot to tell me that you are married and then ended up kissing me...cheating on your Mrs Raizada" she said as Arnav's amusement and confusion turned into irritation and slowly increasing anger

"Do you really think so low of me? That I would kiss you when I'm married? How the hell did you come to a conclusion that I am married, just because a woman called 'Mrs Raizada' calls me baby? Didn't you speak further to her and work out that its my mother!" he said as his voice went up a few decibels on the last word

Khushi looked on mutely as he ran a hand through his hair "Mrs Raizada is my mother...and yes, she calls me 'baby' when she suddenly remembers her firstborn...How could you think so cheap of me Khushi? That I would keep something like being married a secret? Forget about being married...I never even want to get married..." he said as he threw his head back and sighed

"Stop assuming things about me and for me Khushi...and its best you keep yourself away from my personal life...I don't need to explain anything to you" he said as he brushed past her and went out his door...khushi took a second more before she followed him out to see him once again walk out of the house to the utter confusion of Smitha and VK

...

His head hurt as he walked briskly up the uphill road while his stomach grumbled from hunger...he took a deep breath as he reached the gate and opened it walking directly to the guava tree...'Mrs Raizada'...he grimaced as he thought about what khushi had assumed about him...how could she!? He thought as he kicked a small pebble with his foot

But then, she couldn't be completely blamed...no one stores their mother's number under such a name...but his relationship with his mother was of a formal nature...one of the reasons he left for a walk before dinner was to clear his head of her message earlier in the day 'You should be present for the holidays to meet Lavanya. No excuses' it had said, irking him to an extent that had made him leave the house in a huff

He knew that he should have explained something to Khushi...but he did not want to...he was afraid that he'll end up telling her everything if he started...and so as always he had taken the easy way out...he told her to keep off his personal life...it was the safest way to make her stay away from him...her thoughts were plaguing him to a disturbing degree now...so much so, that it would soon start affecting his work too

He sighed as he opened the door with his key and walked into a dark corridor...he knew that everyone must have slept since it was well past 11pm...he thought of drinking a glass of milk from the kitchen when a sound coming from there made him stop...he saw the lights go on in the kitchen as he walked towards it

"You know it is foolish to avoid dinner...and go walking in an unknown hilly area in the dark..." khushi said as she pulled her hair up from her nape and tied it...she looked back to see arnav stare at her as she raised her eyebrows and gestured towards the small table in the kitchen "sit" she said as arnav wordlessly went and sat

She took out the bowls of food from the microwave one after the other and placed them in front of him...when he kept staring at her, she sighed and served him the food making him come out of his stupor "You didn't have to..." he started saying when she finished serving him and went to turn on the kettle "Think of it as a peace offering" she said as she took out a cup and poured the heated water into it over fresh mint leaves and lemon.

"I am sorry for assuming such a thing about you..." she said as she came and sat opposite him as he wolfed down the food, satiating his hunger...his eyes never leaving her face "But frankly speaking...I think I was only looking for a reason" she said as he gave her a curious look "After that...the...rain thing..." she said as he smiled inwardly "Kiss khushi..." he said as she blushed a deep crimson

"Yeah, that...I was just looking for a reason to justify why it was so wrong...why it should be something to regret when in reality..' she said keeping the sentence open ended which made arnav suddenly look up...right into her hazel eyes "When in reality?..." he asked as she shrugged making him gulp harder "Did you not regret it?" he asked her finally when she sighed and shook her head

"No Arnav...I didn't...maybe you did...I don't know, I got the feeling you did...so I thought there was no point stretching it...we have to be honest Arnav...we are attarcted to each other...lets just first accept that...it will make our life a hell lot easier" she said hoping to God that she wasn't making a fool of herself...but then took a breath of relief as he nodded slowly

She did not regret it...but had assumed he did...at least they were clear on the attraction part, he thought as a strange lightness settled in his chest region only for it to be scratched raw again as she spoke her next words "But I also know that nothing will come out of it...and when I think about it maturely...we will both move on from here...you to your life in Mumbai and me to Delhi.." she said as he continued to look at her

"So, its best we stop pretending and accept that there is something between us...and that something should be stopped before it complicates things for us...so I sincerely hope we can put all this behind us and start anew as we discussed..." she said as she finished her mint tea and got up to place the bowls inside the refrigerator

She turned around to see Arnav still sitting at the table "Say something.." she said as he sighed and looked into her eyes "Whats there to say when you have decided for both of us...Yes, I am attracted to you...and its not helping me that all I think about is you when I'm here to do my work...but yes, I will never give you false hope...you are right...this will never work...I am not a person who is good with relationships...and you seem like a person who is" he said getting up and keeping his plate in the sink before washing his hands

"Lets just put all this behind us...and then...you are anyways leaving in a few days...so its best we finish our work and go our way...separate ways" he said with a slight edge to his voice as Khushi nodded, her throat too constricted to say anything... "Thanks for staying up...I'll see you tomorrow...Good night" he said as she remained standing near the sink while he made his way to his room.

The door of his room shutting got her out of her thoughts...thought about what would he have said if she had suggested they take a chance? Would he have agreed so readily even then?...would they have sorted out something that could work? She closed her eyes to keep the betraying tears at bay as they threatened to overwhelm her...the decision was taken...there was nothing left to think or say now.

Note: The Kaveri Sankraman Pooja is held after the first harvest of rice...Coorg is famous for its 'Tala Kaveri' or the kaveri well where it is believed that the water from river kaveri resides...all woman, married and unmarried do their pooja here on this day to either ask for longevity for their husbands and a happy married life or good husbands for single women...it is said that the water collected form here on this day is as good as 'Amrit' and all women carry some back home to make payasam...this is a local Coog festival and is celebrated with a lot of pomp.

BTL - Chapter 11

Khushi wiped her forehead as the sweltering noon heat continued to drench her in sweat...she took the shears once again in her hands and started clipping the unwanted parts off the smaller shrubs that grew inside the front garden...today they were cleaning up the garden area and planting new flowering plants so that by next year they would have a full bloom

She looked up to find the two men she had hired for helping out pull out the unwanted weeds and throwing them in the huge plastic bin they had stationed at the entrance for easy removal later...she walked up to them and explained in the local language to mix up the manure in the mud before laying the ground for newer saplings..luckily for them, the unexpected rain last night had done wonders, making the usually dry land soft and manageable

She was just about to start on another larger shrub when Smitha called her in for lunch...she looked at the time to see that it was already half past one and considering she had not eaten anything since morning barring the cup of coffee, her stomach started rumbling at the reminder...she dropped the shears and told the helpers to clean up and eat their lunch as well before starting on the next leg of work

After quickly wiping off her her damp face and a much needed glass of cold water, khushi sat down to eat...her damp hair was stuck to her scalp, thanks to the heat while her clothes were filthy due to the mud and other stains sticking to it which Smitha reprimanded her for...but she shrugged it off knowing that she would have to continue her gardening work anyways, so there wasn't any point in changing...

The loose multicolored t-shirt and old cotton shorts were very comfortable...not that she would be found dead wearing them in front of anyone...especially someone who had been on her mind the entire time...the cutting and cleaning being therapeutic for her to clear his thoughts off her mind for a bit...almost for a bit

She wondered what he was doing out all day...he didn't even know the town that well and what if he lost his way? She wanted to call him to see what was so important that he had to leave so early...but then what would she say? Things were extremely awkward now thanks to what happened last night...she turned bright red just thinking of the way they had lost control...no...never again...or at least till things were more clear...she muttered to herself

...

And this is how Arnav found her, looking adorable in her oversized clothes and disheveled avatar muttering to herself...probably very much cursing him...but he shook his head, reminding himself of what he had decided on his long drive to the city and then an aimless hour of sipping coffee at Cafe Coorg...a total rip-off of CCD but with better coffee

He had been up since five in the morning thanks to the lack of sleep, but then had decided that he had to get out of the house to put things into perspective...how did it come to this, he wondered? A week ago, he had not even imagined that he would meet a girl who would literally turn his world upside down...he had never been so unsure of anything in his life...not even the decision to lead a double life

The things he felt in her presence was something he had never felt before...the peace and calm of just being in her company...her craziness adding that zing that his life missed...everyday sleeping with her thoughts in his mind and waking up with a smile to once again either spar with her or give her ideas for catching her guava thief...and then the attraction...it was so combustible that even now his blood roared at the sight of her...why was this so complicated!

So he had decided...he will stay away from her...things will never work out between them considering how different they were...yes, opposites attract and this was what was happening here...plus his rational mind knew that his feelings and reactions to her were probably due to the fact that they both stayed in the same house...and since he never really had any kind of female company, his body and mind were finally reacting in a very natural way

Yes, that's all it was...and when she leaves in a few days and he finishes his novel, everything would be back to normal...he would forget about her and she about him...they would go back to their routine life and move on...so with that thought in mind, he had come much earlier than he had anticipated only to find her looking absolutely fetching sitting there at the dining table in her own world

He cleared his throat softly when at the same time Smitha noticed him...she called out his name loudly "Arre sir, you came early! Come and have a seat, i'll serve lunch for you too" she said as Khushi nearly spat out the water she was gulping down...so that feeling she had of him being close was right...and here she was thinking that its her hallucinations again...

She sat up straighter as he came and sat opposite her...his fresh woody scent making her insides do an about turn while her senses stood up in attention...she kept looking down into her plate as Smitha came out with a fresh one for him...she could feel his eyes on her but she did not look up..instead she quickly got up and called out to Smitha "I'm going back to the garden Smitha..." she shouted before she went to her room for a quick freshening

She closed her eyes at her stupidity, wondering what Arnav must be thinking as she made her way into her bathroom...she released her hair out of the no nonsense bun she had atop her head and ran a hand through them...she then wore it in a loose pony at the nape of her neck and scrubbed her face clean before applying some slight kajal and lip balm

Stupid! What was she doing!...she hit her palm on her head as she glared at her reflection on the mirror and walked out of her room into the garden...she was tempted to look at him again but refrained from it and went back to work on her cutting and shearing...with much more gusto then before...

...

Arnav finished his lunch in record time as curiosity at what she was doing outside ate at him...he had seen the large bin in the courtyard, stuffed to the brim with the foliage and other weeds that the garden was apparently being cleaned off...he had glanced at the two burly men sitting a little away eating their lunch and assumed they must be the ones cleaning

But seeing Khushi in her 'filthy' state had confirmed his suspicion that she too was involved...how could she not be? Miss DIY! He drank a tall glass of tamarind sherbet that Smitha had made for him and got up to walk slowly to the porch...there he stood watching her cutting and pulling at the shrubs as if she was gunning for an award

He wondered how he should approach her to talk about last night...she obviously wasn't being very mature about it since she point blank ignored him and actually refused to even acknowledge his presence...so much for a nice talk...was she upset about him leaving in the morning so abruptly? But why should she be? Unless she...did last night affect her as much as it affected him?

Keeping that in mind he turned away from her, hoping to talk to her later when she would hopefully be in a better mood...because right now he did not want to be anywhere near her for more reasons than one, he thought looking at the 'snip' 'snip' her fast shears made across the overgrown bush

He was just about to turn back and go inside when his eyes caught one of the helpers watching khushi with a shameless glint in his eyes...he saw him ogling her long legs as they glistened under the sun as she bent down to reach the lower edges of the shrubs, her beautifully curved bottom up for free viewing for one and all! He suddenly felt his blood boil as the helper continued to gaze at khushi who was blissfully unaware of the lascivious looks she was getting

Without thinking about anything, he walked straight to the man and caught him by the lapels... "You bloody swine!..." he started saying to the throughly scared man when Khushi came running behind him "Arnav! What are you doing?" she asked him when he turned around and gave her a reproachful look "Get inside Khushi" he said as Khushi looked at him in bewilderment and irritation

"What? Who are you to tell me...?" she started saying when Arnav left the man's shirt, but not before giving him a look that probably chilled him to his bones as he grabbed khushi's hand and dragged her inside...for a second Khushi did not register what was happening as Arnav walked inside the house and then towards her room as she struggled to free her wrist of his strong grip

"Arnav! What is wrong with you? Are you on drugs or something?...leave me!" she shouted as Smitha came running outside only to see Arnav push Khushi inside her room before slamming the door shut "Do you even know what that guy was doing Khushi? Who the hell wears such clothes in front of strangers and struts around in the garden? Don't you have any sense?!" he said, still angry at the way that man was eyeing khushi

"Oh, Hello! Who are you to tell me what to wear and what not to huh? And what do you mean? What were they doing?" she asked him as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair "Khushi, that man was looking at you...at...at...you!" he said his hand gesturing towards her whole self...she looked down at her legs bare from just above her knees and her loose t-shirt that kept slipping off her shoulders

Ok, maybe he had a point...but who was he to lecture her! "I know what i'm wearing...these are comfortable work clothes alright?! And seriously why should it bother you!...I can handle myself ok! If he was doing such a thing, I would have knocked him out by now" she said, her voice full of false bravado as Arnav pursed his lips

"Fine! Sorry I was worried about your dignity...you are right, I have no place in telling you what to do and what not to...so...fine!...do whatever you want!" he said as he turned to leave while Khushi's shoulders drooped with sudden tiredness...he was trying to protect her and she was she acting like a pricey b***h...she quickly went and held the door as he he stepped out

"I'm sorry Arnav...I went too far there...thanks for looking out for me...but I've always been doing that for myself...so it was a bit odd when..." she said as Arnav's relaxed his angry stance...he sighed as he looked at her biting her lower lip...shit! Don't do that! He mentally tried to communicate to her and it seemed to work as she quickly stopped and looked up into his eyes, making his heart once again beat in anticipation and need

"I...Khushi..." he said as she nodded and said a soft "I know..." she said as he said "We need to talk" at the same time...they both gulped wondering what the other would say...but the way Arnav kept his gaze away from her spoke of only one thing...he regretted it...she knew it...and it hurt

So she did the first thing that came to her mind...she took a deep breath and blurted everything in one breath "Last night was a mistake and it will never happen again" she said as Arnav looked on shocked at her...her face deep red as her she tried to meet his gaze "Thats what you were going to say right?" she said as Arnav went speechless for a minute...he knew that the ultimate goal of his talk was to stop this thing right here...but he never in a million years felt that she regretted it...hell, it did not look like it last night...but if this is what she wanted, then fine

"Yes, you are absolutely right...I'm glad its mutual" he said in a gruff voice as she nodded slowly, not really understanding the tone of his voice as she kept wondering how easily he agreed to it...they both wanted to say so much more, but Smitha's voice called out, breaking the awkward silence between them "Babyji...the helpers went away...they said they had some other work...should I call someone else to help?" she asked as she warily looked between Arnav and Khushi

"Uh...No, that won't be necessary...most of the work is nearly done anyways" she said as Arnav looked away... "I...uh...have to go..." she said as arnav nodded "Listen...I hope this won't make things weird between us" he said as she gave him a quick smile and shook her head "No...no, it won't...what happened was very unexpected...these things happen Arnav...besides i'm leaving in a few days...so I mean..." she said as Arnav suddenly felt an ache in his chest

"You are?" he asked her as she nodded slowly "Yeah...just the exterior painting and restoration is left...we should be able to finish it in four to five days...after which...there is really no point in staying back here...I need to get back to work too" she said as Arnav frowned "But how can you paint when its raining?" he asked trying to get a reason for her to prolong her stay...why Raizada!?

"This is coorg...it rains here half the year...but the rain last night was very unexpected...it won't happen again" she said as arnav tried to find similarities in her words to their situation "I should go...see you later" she said as Arnav stepped away to let her pass...he looked on forlornly as she slowly made her way to the living room and out of the house to finish her work

It hurt that she regretted last night...it hurt that she was leaving in a few days and he probably will never see her again...it hurt that whatever it was between them...that excitement and anticipation ended so abruptly...so final. And even though he wanted exactly this to happen...the fact that it happened...hurt.

BTL - Chapter 10

Arnav could feel his heart trying to make its way out of his chest as he felt khushi's labored breaths over his finger...her closed eyes seemed serene in total contrast to her trembling lips while her body felt limp in his arms as he tightened his hold on her...he could feel the goosebumps form over a small patch of skin that was left bare at her waist due to her wet vest riding up

He knew she had her eyes open...waiting...expecting him to do something...but he did not want to give in yet...not till he knew she wanted this too...but then it happened...he felt her tiny fists curl into his wet t-shirt as she let out a throaty moan "Arnavv..." and he felt the last of his constraint break away before he wound his hand into her thick lustrous wet hair and covered her lips with his own.

Khushi stilled as she felt arnav's lips catch her's...she knew it was leading to this...she had anticipated this for the past few seconds as his hands lay possessively over her while his mind contemplated...her treacherous body reacting violently to his touch and her skin breaking out in goosebumps wherever he touched...but never in a million years she had imagined the way his lips would feel on hers...nipping, sucking...urging her to give in...and give in she did

With somewhat akin to a whimper she kissed him back...her hands went to loop tightly around his neck as his lips increased their pressure on her soft ones...she responded equally to his sudden invasion as she sucked on his bottom lips making him growl in approval...he let her continue as his hands slipped inside her vest to caress her soft skin making him marvel at the smoothness

Khushi shuddered as his fingers trailed over the heated skin of her waist...she held on tighter as he raised her against the wall behind, to press himself more into her...no words were required between them to make the other understand the scorching need and desire running wild in their blood...arnav trailed his tongue over the seams of her lips as she finally opened her mouth to welcome him twisting her fingers into his damp hair

He slid his tongue inside the sweet recess of her mouth as her tongue met with his, shyly at first and then boldly as she wrapped her now tangling legs over his hips, his hands reached her lace covered breasts as their fullness strained against the soft satin, aching for his touch...Khushi slid one hand inside his loose t-shirt to feel his strongly muscled back as Arnav left her mouth to trail kisses along her jawline..

Khushi threw her head back as he cupped her breasts in his large hands. making her aware of the warmth emanating from her lower body...as Arnav's lips dipped lower towards her soft swells, the electricity came on with full force around them, the whirring of the fan cooling their heated selves, thought not much...making them come out of the desirous haze they had been ensconced in...

Khushi opened her eyes; her hazy orbs reflecting confusion, desire and a quickly forming awareness...she looked down at the way she and Arnav were entangled, and then into his darkened eyes which seemed to be as hazy as hers...she quickly untangled herself from around him before bodily pushing him away...they looked at each other for a mere second before she sprinted out of the room...

"Khushi...wait..." Arnav said as he saw her running out of his room towards hers...he went behind her but she had already gone inside her room and banged her door shut...he ran an agitated hand through his hair as the last few minutes of complete bliss played over and over in his mind...

He had never acted like this...he was 36 years old for God sakes, not a bloody teenager! what was wrong with him! Kissing her was a big thing...but taking things so far was altogether something else...he had never lost control like this...true the attraction between them was explosive...and she had responded equally to him...and their kiss...their kiss was mind-blowing...but he had to stop at that...not get carried away!

He looked forlornly at her closed door; a sliver of light now visible from underneath it...but he decided against trying to talk to her now...she needed time to come to terms with what had just transpired between them...but will he too comes to terms with it by then? Just hours ago he had made up his mind to not get into anything complicated...not to play with Khushi...and here he was...doing the exact same thing! He had to talk to her tomorrow.

He took one last look at her door before heading back to his, shutting his door slowly...he walked to his desk and considered writing for a bit, but the thoughts his mind was occupied with left no space to think rationally...and it did not help that his body was still tingling from that kiss...he groaned as he switched off the lights in his room and fell into his bed...hoping that sleep will come eventually.

...

Khushi looked at the illuminated light of the LED clock beside her bed...3:30am it read...it had been a few hours since that incident had happened...incident...such a funny word...one can use it for all, good, bad, funny and confusing things that had happened in their life...and this one was probably a mix of all four

Good because...it simply felt good, Oh soo good!.., bad because it shouldn't have happened the way it did...where did all her control vanish off to!and when did she turn into such a wanton hussy! Funny because, it was probably very comical the way she ran out of there as arnav stood watching her...whacko! Thats her...! And confusing because frankly...it really was...confusing!

She had wanted that kiss...so badly! And when it happened, she felt like she was floating on air...literally since arnav had raised her off the ground...but all that aside...the man knew how to kiss...she smiled slightly as a blush marred her pale skin, making her remember the feel of his lips against hers...his hands and fingers caressing her skin

She had been kissed before...and fondled too by an annoying ex-boyfriend during her university time...but what she had experienced with arnav was beyond anything she had every felt before...it was difficult to explain the tumult of explosions her body had gone under as it shuddered under his touch, the intimacy of their lips together had left her mind reeling...she wanted more...a lot more...but where would all this lead to?

She had not forgotten that he was her tenant...he would be leaving from here soon...hell, she would be leaving before him...they lived in different parts of the country...how would all this add up? And at this point in her life, there was no place for flings and affairs...she wanted someone more permanent...not marriage or anything like that...not now...but she could not go for anything casual either...she was nearly 29!

She had paced her room for several minutes as she oscillated between going back to his and talking...but the embarrassment of not knowing what to say to him and the fear of her probably jumping his bones, had stopped her...she had finally gone to sleep with a nagging thought of what the morning will look like, but the damn sleep had evaded her till now...so she stayed awake...wondering what they would talk about in the morning...because talk, they had to!

...

The morning light streamed through the slits in the curtains on Khushi's bedroom window...the brightness blinding her as she opened one eye groggily...she stretched her body as she yawned before slowly getting up, her legs slinking over the duvet to find the cool teak flooring

She stifled another yawn as her eyes went to her clock, now showing a glaring 10:00 am...'Shit'!Khushi thought as she quickly got up and rushed into the bathroom...she could not believe she had overslept for that long!...but it could not be helped since she had finally gotten to sleep in the wee hours of the morning

She blushed as she stood at the sink brushing her teeth vigorously, thinking about last night...she washed her face with the cold water and dabbed it dry before pulling her hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck...slipping on her soft slippers she stepped out of her room

She stopped momentarily outside Arnav's door...only to quickly move away from there, she could hear sounds coming from the kitchen and she wondered if Arnav was in there...she steeled herself as she stepped into the inviting warmth of the cosy kitchen, but instead of finding Arnav, she found Smitha pouring freshly brewed coffee into two cups

"You are up babyji?" she asked Khushi who blinked once before giving her a warm smile "Yes...I overslept...but when did you and chikaapa get back? I thought you will come in later" Khushi said as she gratefully accepted the cup of coffee from her and sat down on the small stool that stood against one of the walls of the kitchen

"We left early since everything seemed to be ok in the morning...as it is, I had to prepare breakfast here...and the rains had stopped ages ago...we just got here an hour ago actually, but since you were sleeping, I did not wake you up" she said as khushi nodded and sipped on her brew...the pungent smell and robust taste relaxing her body and mind at once

"Also, I forgot to tell you...Sir said he will be out all day today...he said he had some work in town...I suppose we he will get back by late evening" Smitha said as khushi nodded and went back to sipping her coffee...she looked calm and composed on the outside, but she was hurt and angry on the inside...how dare he just leave without talking about last night...but then wasn't it she who had run away when he had called her?

She sighed as she got up and went back to her room...she checked her phone, just incase he had left her a message...but was disappointed further to find out that he hadn't...she switched her geyser on and proceeded to get ready for a shower...she had too many things to take care of and something told her that the day would be very long...very very long.