BTL - Chapter 9

She stared at the insistent rain that had become increasingly rough over the last one hour after they had finished up with their dinner...her thoughts kept wandering towards Arnav and his parting words at the dining table.

They had not shared a single word after that as arnav had helped her silently cleaning the table and leaving the dishes in the sink to be washed later..she had not stopped him from helping her but had kept quite and not probed him further about his statement...

That had been nearly two hours ago...she lifted her body off the wall adjoining the large verandah in the outside sitting area and came back inside the living room...she closed her eyes and smiled taking in a deep breath to inhale the heady smell of wet earth before wistfully shutting the sliding door...

How she wished she could go and play in the rain...but that wasn't possible...because even if she did want to...she wasn't foolish enough to go out in the pelting rain that occasionally shattered the night sky with thunders

She walked back inside the kitchen and kept her now empty cup of her ritualistic mint tea and went back into the living room to shut off the lights...but when she was about to put the lights off, her eyes went towards the dark corridor that showed a ray of light peeping from beneath arnav's door...she wondered if she should go and ask him if he wanted some tea or coffee..but then decided against it

The day had been weird enough, and now, she really wanted to just cozy up in her warm bed and dream about molten caramel eyes...wait...what? No...she didn't just say that! Khushi shook her head as she put her hand forward to switch off the front lights when a movement outside the window caught her eye...she saw a flash of something yellow move quickly inside their dimly lit courtyard...

She quickly ran to the window and peered outside to make out a small person...a kid to be precise who was now walking slowly towards the guava tree...her guava tree!

She threw open the main door and walked into the blitzing rain, shouting on top of her voice at the silly boy who was now climbing up the tree...her voice startled the boy, making him slip as he hung halfway from the tree...the rain making it difficult for him to grasp the large trunk...Khushi knew that if he fell, it might be fatal...so before she could think about anything else...she ran back inside the house and called loudly for Arnav

It was only a second or less when she saw arnav's door being thrown open with him striding towards her with a panic ridden face "Khushi! What happened...why are..." he started when khushi dragged him outside towards the tree... "There...we need to help him" she said as arnav nodded at once and made his way towards the now hanging boy..

The boy looked positively frightened with the double trouble he was in with him being caught and his current predicament... "Listen kid...its ok...just hang on ok...I'm going to help you climb down" Arnav's calm voice sliced through the thunderous night as the boy nodded his head and gripped the trunk with one hand tightly as Arnav made his way up the tree

"Arnav...careful!" khushi screamed as arnav's foot slipped repeatedly on the moss covered trunk...he looked back and assured her that he was ok... "Now give your other hand to me" Arnav instructed the boy as he swung his body over and lay over the huge main branch...Khushi just hoped that the old tree was strong enough to hold on to both of them over the large branch

It took a couple of tries but the boy eventually found Arnav's hand and hauled himself over the large branch as well...but as soon as both of them were safely over it, the branch started shaking...its end attached to the trunk slowly snapping away...but before it could totally give away, Arnav grabbed the boy and pulled him across another branch to reduce the weight over the earlier one

The snapping stopped and both Arnav and the boy got a better grip to slowly climb back down the tree...as soon as they got down, Khushi went around the bars and looked over at arnav once to make sure he was fine before kneeling down in front of the boy who did not look a day older than 10... "What were you doing! Don't you know that lightening strikes trees? What if it would have struck now??...do you even know what would have happened?" she asked him sternly to which hot fat tears started running down the boys face, mingling with the rain drops

"Khushi..lets take him inside first" Arnav said as khushi quickly got up and held the boys hand, pulling him into the safety of her house...but as soon as they reached the threshold of the house, he pulled his loosely held hand and ran away from there...before arnav and khushi could fathom what had happened, he ran out the gate and hopped on to his cycle before pedaling down the slippery path

"Foolish! Foolish boy...what if he slips down and hurts himself?!" khushi exclaimed as they stepped inside the house and shut the door behind them...she pulled her soaked hair over one shoulder and wrung them out...in her annoyance she did not even notice the way arnav's gaze lingered on her body that was now completely defined from her thin wet clothes sticking to her.

His eyes darkened as a hit of desire ran rampant in his blood, making it difficult for him to breath as water trickled down her form...right from the tiny droplets over the bridge of her nose to her bare long legs, glistening under the dim yellow light of the porch.

"I mean...who the hell climbs trees in thunder! Foolish, stupid boy.." she said as she looked up to finally notice arnav looking at her...her instant blush and soft gasp making him aware of his extremely dirty thoughts and blatant staring...he quickly looked away and ran a hand through his wet hair "Uh...yeah...but aren't you glad you finally found your thief?" he asked her as she recovered quickly and nodded

"Yes, I suppose so...but I never imagined him to be a child...he looked so innocent" she said as her eyes took in the water clinging to his hair, running a path down his face to his throat where his adams apple bobbed up and down...before finally ending somewhere inside his white t-shirt...white...that was now plastered to his well defined body...ok...stop, now she was being really shameless...she looked up to find Arnav staring at her once again

"Lets get out of these clothes" Arnav said suddenly, just because something needed to be said...the tension was too much to take otherwise...he saw khushi's eyes widen at his suggestion which struck him at the way it sounded "No...I mean...not together...I...in our room...separately" he said as her lips twitched "I know what you mean arnav...Good night" she said as she quickly walked towards her room without giving him another look

Yes, he was disappointed...but he knew that if they stayed in the same room for a second longer, looking the way they did...the consequences would have been...well justified but totally wrong! He switched off the lights and walked into his room...but as soon as he shut his door...his well lit room suddenly got cloaked in darkness... "Shit!" he exclaimed as he realized that the damn lights had gone out

He strode towards his desk and saved his work once again before shutting down his laptop...he kept his laptop on perpetual charge and that had weakened its internal battery which did not last for long if left off DC power...he tried to search around for some sort of candle or similar when he heard a knock on his door

"Arnav?" he heard khushi's hesitant voice as he groaned and walked towards the door...the last thing he wanted in this co-incidental bollywood movie type situation was to find her in front of him with a candle, dressed in a wet white flowing sari...

Well...there definitely was a candle...but not a white sari...she was still dressed in the same sinfully thin clothes that were still stuck onto her like glue...and had increased her sensuousness a thousand fold as the faint flicker of the flame cast a bewitching look to her countenance...

"Did you find the candles? I'll show you where they are kept otherwise...the power cut is probably from the bad weather only and might last all night" she said as she walked past him...her elbow brushing against his arm, making him stiffen at once.

"They are some over here.." she said softly as she held the candle in front of the small cabinet near his balcony...but yelped as the melted wax fell on her hand...arnav was next to her in a second, taking the now flickering candle away from her and dropping it into an empty glass on top of the cabinet... "let me see" he said as he took her hand and scraped away the hardened wax which had fallen near her wrist...the now flaming candle illuminating the area around them

"Its...ok...I..." Khushi said as arnav kept holding her hand with one of his while his other hand swept over her forehead to tuck damp strands of hair behind her ear...the sudden touch making khushi close her eyes...

She knew she had to pull away...but his proximity created sudden difficulty in her breathing...she went closer to him as if in a trance while he left her wrist and wound a hesitant hand around her slim waist, as if giving her a chance to pull back...to resist...but she shamefully went closer still, her body slightly brushing against his

She felt a moan erupt in her throat as he trailed a finger over her jaw, before lightly brushing her moist pink lips with his thumb...making her lips tremble in barely controlled desire...she slowly opened her eyes to find him staring intently at her lips while his hand tightened around her waist

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.

BTL - Chapter 8

"Arnav?...hey...are you in there?" Khushi asked knocking on his door...she definitely did not want to barge inside his room unannounced...the earlier incident still making her blush throughly...she knocked a few more times before slowly turning the antique knob of the large wooden door...she peeped inside from the small slit to find the room in total darkness

She wondered if maybe Arnav had stepped out when a small rustling sound startled her making her look in the direction of the bed which was now visible from the light streaming inside from the hallway...she could make out arnav's form sleeping peacefully with the covers over his head...she wondered if he wasn't well, but then thought that he must have been tired and will wake up in his own time

She slowly closed the door and went back to the kitchen to heat up the food Smitha had made and kept ready; she had received a call from VK earlier, that they would be staying back in town at his sister's house owing to the bad weather...khushi sighed as she looked out of the large window in the kitchen...the constant pitter patter of the rain was soothing but the occasional thunder shook her to the core...like it always had

She kept the curry and rice to heat inside the microwave and checked the oil she had kept for heating on the stove...she opened the overhead cupboard and fished out some yummy rice papaddams to fry...she smiled in delight at the way the small pappadam s instantly grew double in size as she slid them into the hot oil...the sight making her remember how she used to stand by her mothers side and watch her fry them the same way...the thought also making her sad at the fact that she hardly got to spend time with her family now

"Hey! Be careful!" Arnav said brining khushi out of her thoughts...the pappadams were burnt to a dark brown, making the whole kitchen smell with its burnt stench as she had kept them in for a very long time...she quickly took them out and took the oil off the flame as it had started smoking from the overheating.

She wiped her hands and turned around to face arnav who stood watching her with an odd look "What were you thinking about so deeply? The damn burning smell woke me up from a deep slumber!" he said as he went and poured himself a glass of water

Khushi rolled her eyes as she kept the kitchen cloth away and stood with her hands on her hips "Oh please! Even with the rain pouring down and more than occasional blasts of thunder, you were sleeping like a baby...don't tell me this smell from all the way up here woke you up!" she said as Arnav raised his eyebrows

"How did you know I was sleeping? That too like a baby?" he asked her as he leaned against the refrigerator making her squirm...she had to go and blurt that out didn't she! "I had come to call you for dinner...when you didn't open the door, I peeped in to..." she said as he smirked "To see if I was dressed?" he asked as her cheeks turned crimson

"Haha..very funny...anyways, i'll get the dinner for us...its only fish curry and rice...hope that's ok?" she asked him as he nodded enthusiastically "I love fish curry...let me help you with setting the table..." he said as khushi pointed towards the crockery cupboard...she took the hot bowls out from the microwave and walked outside behind arnav to the dining area

After a few minuets of arnav setting the plates and glasses for them, they sat down and served themselves... "Why were you frying papaddams anyway?" he asked her suddenly as she put the first morsel in her mouth...she was anyways finding it difficult doing such a daily chore with him by her side and she had hoped that they could quickly eat and part ways...but she knew that he would probably be curious about her frying escapade

"I always liked to eat rice pappadamns with my fish curry..." she said as he looked at her suddenly "You are weird!" he said as she made a face at him "Hey! My amma used to eat it that way...she still does...there is nothing wrong with it! Don't tell me you don't have some odd food habit" she said as he thought about her question and shook his head "Nope..none...i'm pretty normal and average when it comes to food" he said relishing the fresh fish on his plate

"Yeah right!" she said as she rolled her eyes when he looked up and regarded her "So...where were you lost really?" he asked her as she suddenly smiled... "Oh that! I was just thinking about my mom...we used to fry them together when I was small...I just miss her...and my dad" she said as she sighed not notcing the yearning she saw in arnav's eyes for something similar he always wanted to feel for his parents...missing them.

"Hey! Where are you lost now?" Khushi asked snapping a finger in front of his face making arnav look at her blankly "Huh? Oh nothing...so where are they? Don't you live with them?" he asked curiously to which she shook her head "No..not anymore" she said as he waited for a further explanation "My father is a navy man...Admiral Shashikant Gupta actually" she said as arnav nearly choked on his rice

"Seriously? Wow! That must be exciting" he said as she smiled sadly and took a sip of her water "Yeah, it was I guess...but then his position and work always kept him away from us...He loved us for sure, but his country and duty came first..." she said as Arnav listened to her "I grew up with my mother and my aunt...who was a young widow" she said as she leaned back in her chair

"We would wait impatiently for papa's call every evening...as if it was our favorite soap and we could not miss a single episode!" she said as she laughed remembering her memories... "Holidays were the best...Papa would come for an entire month with a sack load of gifts and toys that he had bought along from all the countries and places he had visited over the year" she said as she pushed her plate away and reached for an apple on the table

"He spent his entire time with me throughout the holidays and the joy and happiness that our house always held went up many notches when he was present...it really was a blessed time...especially for my mother who waited for him for an entire year" she said as her eyes got moist...she cut the apple expertly and sliced it into smooth crescents "When I turned twenty one, papa had finally finished his seafaring years and was then posted permanently in Chandigrah" she said offering the apple pieces to arnav who took a few without moving his eyes from her face

"I insisted that mom should go and stay with him since it wasn't fair on them to stay apart, especially when I was old enough and plus my aunt was with me...so around seven years ago, mom shifted to Chandigarh...I still meet them for Diwali and summer time, or when they visit Delhi, but its not the same as living with them..." she said as arnav held her hand that was lying on the table, making an instant current pass through her arm as her eyes met his and held

"You know Arnav? Papa nearly had a heart attack when I told him about my decision to work for an event management company and that too who specialize in weddings...after all I do hold an MBA...but those boring corporate jobs were not for me...and thankfully my parents understood that...it was a defining moment when they gifted me my very own i10 so that I don't have to take the notorious Delhi public transport to and from work..." she giggled as she looked up to find a very tensed looking arnav...she raised her eyebrow at him to inquire if everything was ok when he abruptly pulled away his hand that was resting a few seconds ago on hers...making everything around her go cold

"You are very lucky to have parents who love you Khushi...consider it a blessing...even if you don't meet them often, you are blessed to have their love...some people don't ever get that" he said as he quickly got up and pushed his chair away leaving Khushi gaping at him "Arnav?" she called out to which he looked back before stepping into the kitchen "Don't ask...long story!...lets just say not all are lucky to have parents who love them" he sighed as he walked away leaving Khushi staring at his back

...

Arnav turned on his laptop and waited for it to boot up as he flipped through some of the notes he had made...he tried to focus and read the pages but his thoughts kept going towards the conversation he just had with Khushi...he knew it was absurd, but he felt jealous of her...jealous of the fact that she had parents who loved her...of the fact that they accepted her career choice and did not force their opinions on her...

He seldom wondered what his parents would say when they come to know that their son was a successful writer? More famous then Akash could ever dream of being...how would they react when they come to know that his fame was due to something they abhorred and always denied him having any part of it...There were times when he had found himself too close to revealing the truth to them...but something always stopped him

Perhaps it was a kind of mental satisfaction he got when he thought about the times they disregarded him...when they belittled him in front of his little brother...he found a perverse pleasure in not allowing them any place in his other life...not letting them be a part of the real life he lived...something which was more real than the fake one he orchestrated in front of others..he wanted it that way...this part of him was too pure and fragile for them to be a part of...and he wanted to keep it that way

But maybe one day...one day he will let them in...when he thinks he has punished them enough by keeping them in an illusionary world...when it would stop mattering to him what anyone thinks of him, least of all his parents...that would be the day Arnav Raizada would make himself be seen...he chuckled as he clicked on his manuscript and went back to gazing aimlessly at his notes...now blurry and blotched as he realized that his tears had once again betrayed him.

BTL - Chapter 7

Kiss her...yes, he was going to bloody kiss her!...Arnav ran an agitated hand through his hair as he thought about what had transpired a few minutes ago...he paced along the length of his room as the tantalizing visual of Khushi's soft, dewy parted lips kept playing in a loop inside his head...the way she had licked her lips had really been the last straw...he knew that it really would have been a point of no return if he had not gained his control in time.

Dammit! Why was this happening now...yes he was attracted to her...like a bloody moth to the fire, but at least here he knew that he would burn if he got any closer...these kind of feelings had no place in his life...he always expected too much out of life and all he ever got were lemons...and no! He will not make bloody lemonade...damn those optimists!

He would live his life, the way it was...on his own...he does not need anyone else in it...least of all Khushi! He had always stayed away from any kind of relationships...be it short term or long...he preferred being a loner cause that's what he knew best...and he could not play with Khushi in this way...it wasn't fair on her.

He stripped off his sweaty clothes before stepping into the bathroom for a shower and adjusted the water to a comfortably cool temperature...the water calmed his heated body and his extra heated thoughts as he relaxed under the soft stream...the best thing for him to do right now was to finish his novel and get the hell out of here...he knew at the pace he was going, he might just finish the novel sooner then he had anticipated...but the thought of leaving this place was making him uneasy...why?

He turned off the shower as he took a towel off the shelf and dried himself with it...he rubbed his hair to get rid of the extra moisture and wrapped the towel around his hips...he was still in his disturbing thoughts when he stepped out of the bathroom to come face to face with the last person he wanted to see...Khushi

Khushi gaped at him as he stood there shocked...probably shocked to see her standing there with a cup of coffee in her hand...trembling hand to be exact...and why wouldn't she be trembling...when a man as perfect as Arnav stood in front of you in nothing but a towel, it was inevitable...and right now the trembling in her hand went all the way to her knees...turn around Khushi...turn around dammit!

Finally her addled brain registered what was being commanded and she turned around at once, but the coffee cup being filled to the brim with the fragrant coorg coffee, splashed some of the dark rich liquid on the floor...making her quickly place the mug on the nearby table before she looked around for something to wipe it off... "Uh...I think there is a rag here somewhere" she said as she started looking around the room...anywhere but at him

"Its ok Khushi...i'm sure VK will get it cleaned...did you need anything?" he asked coming out of his shocked state to observe the energizer bunny in front of him...he was holding back a laugh as he saw her scuttle around his room trying to find a damn rag...she finally stopped at his words as she stood stiffly and pointed towards the coffee on the table

"I..uh, got you some coffee...actually today is Smitha and Chikappa's off...I mean, they are going into town to visit some family...so...i thought i'll get you your coffee...anyways, I gotta go" she said as she started walking towards the door "Wait...why are you facing away from me?" he asked her amused by her reactions to his nearly naked form.. "I hope your'e not embarrassed?" he said as she quickly turned around

"Embarrassed? Me? Pfftt..its not like i have not seen naked bodies before...I mean, naked men...ha..half naked men...I have never seen those...fully naked ones that is" she shut her mouth and her eyes as her verbal diarrhea continued "I gotta so...see you at dinner..." she said quickly before rushing out of his room and dashing towards her own...Arnav finally laughed as he picked up the now tepid coffee muttering 'pagal'...how the hell was he going to stay away from this madness!

...

Khushi sat filing her nails as she waited for her email to boot up...the connection was really slow today and it was irritating her to sit at the desk while her email loaded...finally when the familiar 'ting' of the new mails came up on her screen, she kept the emery board aside and started going through her mails...as she deleted some of the unwanted mail that littered her mailbox, one caught her attention...the subject line having the word 'Naked' in it

She groaned as she deleted it along with the rest of the junk mails and closed her eyes trying to forget what had happened a few hours ago...apart from being mortified for blabbering rubbish in front of Arnav, she had gone ahead and started at him like a lunatic...so what if he had a greek God's body...she did not have to act like such a fool! How was she going to face him now! Plus that man really did not emote...except for irritation and shock, she had not really seen any other emotions crossing his face.

She clicked on her mails absentmindedly as she recalled the conversation she had with VK earlier

"Arnav saab had soo many reasons not to like the other houses...in fact one house on the neighboring Kadamba valley was more perfect than this one...you know the one that Capt'n Nair owns? And he was getting it at a better cost than ours...but he said it was too beautiful...what kind of stupid reason is that?! I think he never really wanted to look only for other houses...such a waste of time!" he had grumbled as a delighted Khushi had run into the kitchen to make coffee...obviously for him...

But then, she never had thought that the next few minutes will go as it had...she had knocked on his room before opening the door...her plan was to keep the steaming mug of coffee on the table and rush out, but as luck would have it, the damn shower door had opened at the same time she had walked in...and the fool that she was, she had stood like a mannequin and started at him...his oh so...shut up khushi!

...

Arnav looked at his freshly typed chapter, pleased with the kind of progress he had made in just one day. He saved his work and closed the laptop before walking to the balcony to light up a cigarette...he dialed his researchers number and told him a few other things he needed worked out for the new character and the new twist he was planning for his story.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and leaned his forearms against the creaky grate as he looked down into the valley...the calm early evening breeze ruffled his hair as he snuffed his cigarette and breathed in a huge lungful of air...so pure!...he kept looking to spot the last point of the endless valley as his thoughts once again shifted towards the one person he was trying to avoid...both mentally and physically

He had seen her reaction to him earlier...he knew that she too was affected by him...even his stunt earlier in the day had left her breathless...but what was he thinking...he needed to get his thoughts sorted, there was no place for all this...suddenly the beautiful scenery looked like a deeply stretching death valley in front of him...one which would swallow him whole if he did not step back right now.

He tightened his fists as he willed himself to think about something else...about the characters in his books...but nothing was working...the calm and peace he had felt a minute ago was now replaced by restlessness and unease...he was just about to go back into his room when his phone rang making him walk inside, towards the coffee table he had placed it on.

He saw the name flashing and grimaced before picking up the call "Hey dad.." he said as a deep voice at the other end commanded his attention "Arnav...what is this? Why have you taken such a long leave from work? And why did you not tell us? Where are you anyways?" he said as Arnav held the phone away from his ears till his tirade stopped

"Hello dad, thanks for asking about me...I am fine, how have you been?" he said in a sarcastic tone as his fathers angry reply vibrated though the phone "Seriously Arnav...stop being juvenile...what is the meaning of taking a month off from work and going to do, God only knows what!" he said as Arnav's jaw stiffened under the usual disdain his father showed for his elder son

"I'm not being juvenile dad..I needed some time off, so I took a few days off...I've been working non-stop since the past few years...I am sure I deserve this break...as for where I am, you need not worry...I am at an amazing place and thoroughly enjoying myself, thank you!" he said as he heard his father sigh from the other end "Arnav...I know you deserve a vacation, but you are visiting us in a few weeks right? So taking such a huge leave.." he said as Arnav let out a deep breath

"I am not coming home for the holidays...whats the point anyways! All you guys keep doing is comparing me with my baby brother...who according to you is more successful than me...and I'm happy for him...and I'm happy for you too...at least one of your son's has made it big!" he said with a sneer as his father's calm tone turned angry again

"Why do you always have to bring Akash in between...the poor boy has worked hard and is running a successful empire now...and yes, we are proud of him...but that does not mean we are not happy with what you are doing Arnav, your job pays really well too" the father said, his voice again an octave lower

"Dad...you are happy, not proud...and as far as Akash's success is concerned, the empire he is running is his father in laws! If Payal's father had not taken him on and given him the reins of his so called empire, Akash would still be in university struggling to finish his damn degree!" Arnav said in an irritated tone as his patience wore thin "Anyways dad...I really don't need this right now...thanks for inquiring about me, but I am fine and I am alive..." he said as his father interrupted him

"Enough Arnav...I too don't see any point talking to you...but you should have told me about this change of plans you had...I had invited the Kashyaps over this time...you know how they have been asking about you for Lavanaya" he said as Arnav closed his eyes and pursed his lips in exasperation "For the millionth time! I do not want to marry Lavanya Kashyap...Period!" he said as he held the bridge of his nose between two fingers

"And please don't pretend that I don't know why you want this marriage to happen...maybe your dreams of finally seeing your elder son managing an 'empire' would come true, but no thank you..I am not interested!" he said as he walked inside his room "And now id you don't mind, I have work to do...say hello to my mother...does she even remember me by the way?" he asked before he cut the call and threw his phone on the bed.

His father had definitely succeeded in doing something Arnav had been struggling with for the entire day...drive someone's thoughts away from his mind and make him more miserable than he already was and felt!

BTL - Chapter 6

Arnav had hardly slept a wink; he had been up all night creating a new character to replace his earlier protagonist in the story...he had been so excited by Khushi's suggestion that he had not wasted a second to dive right into it..working alongside his trusted researcher from 11 in the night till the wee hours of the morning to perfect the new character.

Once he was satisfied with the woman's profile and characterization, things just seemed to have fallen into place for him...as Khushi had suggested, the woman's instinct and sixth sense had opened up a lot of avenues for him, giving the story a supernatural edge which would definitely make this story very different from his earlier ones.

He had promptly fallen asleep on his laptop at roughly around 5:45 in the morning...and was now up at 9am, thanks to the loud chirping of a local bird that has made its way from the open balcony to perch itself somewhere above the wardrobe...its continuos chirping easing the sleep out of him.

"Damn..." he said as he stretched his arms above his head and let out a huge yawn to combat the cricks in his back and neck; he really could not remember the last time he had typed so crazily all through the night and fallen asleep in such a way. He closed his laptop screen making sure all the work had been saved and got up to stretch some more before shooing off the bird out of the room

He walked to the balcony and took in the early morning breeze as it ruffled his hair, the cool air taking away the last traces of sleep from his body. He smiled as he thought of the breakthrough he had had last night...at this pace, he could probably finish the novel in a week!

...

"So! What time did you finally sleep last night?" Khushi asked arnav sauntering into the dining area as Arnav was finishing gobbling up his hot upma...VK had said that Khushi had had an early breakfast as she had some work in town and had left around the time arnav had woken up

"Good morning to you too...why do you ask? I slept after I went to my room" he said as she sat opposite him and grabbed a banana from the fruit basket "Yeah right! I saw your room light on when I had gotten up in the middle of the night...it was around 3am then" she said as she peeled away the banana and took a tiny bite out of it

"Uh...yes, I got up again...remembered something that I needed to type up" he said eyeing her as she bit into the soft flesh of the fruit, her lips closing on it, a small bit left lingering on her bottom lip which she quickly flicked with her tongue...what was happening to him...even something as innocent as eating a fruit was making him uncomfortable around her...and it obviously did not help that the damn fruit was a banana

"Hey! Earth to Arnav!" she said grinning as she clicked her fingers in front of his eyes making him look up suddenly into her mirthful eyes "Where are you lost? Remembered something to type up again?..." she asked him as she flipped her long hair over one shoulder while finishing off her fruit "Something like that" he said looking away from her and into his plate

"Oh, did Chikappa inform you?" she asked him as he looked back at her inquisitively "Inform me? About what?" he asked her as she slapped her forehead "Arre...he is taking you to look at the other houses today...and don't worry, I'll give you a full refund today itself if you like" she said as arnav felt his stomach fall to his knees...'Shit! He was moving out today!'

"Oh yeah...ummm...I was thinking, these other houses...are they in the vicinity? Because I would prefer this kind of an atmosphere only...gives me more inspiration" he said as Khushi looked at him with amusement "Oh, I'm not sure...but as far as i know, there is only one house on this hill...which is this one...the other's would probably be on the neighboring one or lower yet" she said as arnav nodded

"Ok...fine, can you let him know that i'm ready to leave now? I have a lot of work to complete and it would be best if we have an early start" he said as he got up "Yep, i'll let him know right away...he'll meet you outside" she said as she collected the banana peel and plopped it on his used plate...the gesture so domesticated that it made him stare at her

"What? Your'e done with it right?" she said as she gave him a sweet smile and went in search of VK...a faint tinkling noise following her...which arnav noticed on closer inspection, came from a tiny payal dangling from her left ankle...'How could he leave this place now?

More than the place giving him inspiration it was its mistress who was responsible for it...suddenly realizing that he had more or less based his new character on her...right down to the single enchanting payal on her left foot...something he had noticed the day he had seen her under the sink...dammit!

...

"Make anything you want for lunch smitha, its his last meal here anyways" khushi said as she sat in the kitchen opening up old boxes of glassware that were stored lovingly in the attic by her grandmother...the beautiful pieces were rare and the handmade italian design made them worth a fortune in today's rate.

She quickly glanced up to find Smitha cleaning up a bitter gourd and made a face "When I said make anything, I did not make something like karela...lets give him one last decent meal" she said as smitha laughed "No khushi babyji, Arnav sir told me that karela is his favorite vegetable...so i thought of making it" she said as khushi's mouth opened in an 'o'

Figures! The man really was as bitter as a karela...no amount of sweetness could make his countenance slip, she could bet he was diabetic! It irked her to no end how he had readily agreed to leave with VK to look for another house...idiot!...she had made sure that he would have no complaints here...no noise, no unnecessary chats...nothing!...but still...

Fine! If he disliked staying here that much, she would not bother thinking about it...he can go a live in the freezing valley for all she cared! "Did you say something babyji?" Smitha asked her as khushi shook her head 'God! She was going mad thinking about him...her mind would not stop her from imagining him in another light...something which was impossible...

Yes she was attracted to him...stupid that she was...why was she attracted to mangly dogs, snotty kids and utterly boring men like Arnav!...Ok...he wasn't really boring...but serious...why did she not like men who were like her? Chatty and fun!! No...she had to go and  feel butterflies in her stomach for someone like Arnav!Hmph..

But she knew that nothing could come out of it...she sighed as she recalled their conversation from the morning...he was leaving today...that was the end of it...whatever it was finished before it even started! Even she would finish up her work here and go back to planning weddings...other's weddings! She thought as the door bell broke her thoughts

"I'll get it" she said to Smitha who was busy putting masala's in the karela sabji...Khushi straightened her white dress as she quickly went and opened the door to find VK standing alone on the front porch "What happened Chikappa? He already shifted there? He did not even come back?" she asked in a distressed voice as VK looked on confused while arnav walked towards them from the side

"Nope! I'm right here...had gone to check up on your beloved guava tree" he said as she blushed and stepped aside to let both of them pass...she looked on as VK muttered something under his breath and made his way into the back of the house while arnav lingered near the door "Why do you look so worried? Did you really think I was that callous that I won't even come back for my stuff?" he asked as she blushed again and looked at him

"I wasn't concerned...I just thought it would be more work for me to send for your stuff...plus your laptop and all other things were here only..'" she said as he walked more towards her, the distance closing in on his every step "Exactly...so how could I not come back? Besides I did not find any other place as beautiful as this house" he said as khushi looked up to find him staring at her

"Oh..." she said as he took a few more steps towards her, leaving hardly a foot of a distance between them "Yes...oh...so, i decided that I will stay here only...I really did not have any complain or how do I put it...uh...distractions" he said remembering his conversation with manav last night "Hope that's ok with you" he said as he leaned towards her, his eyes on her parted lips

Khushi stood paralyzed as her body reacted in various different ways to his proximity...her heart beat raced, her lips quivered, her palms felt sweaty and her knees felt like jelly...he was staying back...here, in this house...she will see him everyday...the thought making her happy and nervous at the same time...she slowly licked her lips to moisten them from the sudden dryness that she had felt only to see him looking straight at them, his eyes darkening slightly

But before she could process her thought and answer him, he stepped back suddenly and ran a hand through his hair and looked away "Ok, so great...you are ok with it...I'll uh...i'll go and work now...see you at lunch" he said as he swiftly turned around on his heels and practically ran to his room...leaving a throughly bewildered Khushi behind, not sure what he was about to do a few seconds earlier...kiss her? Maybe?