Chapter 13 - Ignited Fire

Chapter 13   Day 3- Ignited Fire

Yuvi: So I was saying.. Great News! I finally got us a meeting with a famous designer in India. The great Manav Kapoor!

ASR: Hey that’s great news, I’ve seen his work.

Khushi: Yeah he’s the no.1 in India.. when is the meeting?

Yuvraj: In 2 days!

Anshu: Ok guys enough.. we’ve work too much for 1 day.. let’s get back to the room..

As everyone obeyed to Angry Anshu, they headed towards their room. It had been a hectic day and all needed a good night of sleep. They fell into bed as they reached room except two lost souls, Arnav and Khushi. Moving into bed for half of the night, sleep couldn’t get to them. Laid into bed Khushi has been thinking about the events of the last few days, about the incident with Arnav in the lift, Karan, the words of Anshu,.. the memories in India, the face of some vendors which she remembered from her childhood and who are still working at the same place. Luckily they didn’t recognize her. After all she was no more the happy kid, she’s a lady now, the diva of her own society in New York. She will never compromise her life to these old memories, the worst part of her life, never! She’ll fight till the end but never shows her face to the people who once was called her family. In the room next door, at the middle of the night, Arnav got off bed and went to the terrace. After seeing Khushi’s face in the market place, his mind lost his peace. He was restless and he has been trying to join the puzzles but in vain. The whole night passed and he was still in his thoughts. Time flew by and at 6 in the morning, he got into his tracksuits and walked to the gym. He pushed open the door of the gym and to his surprise, a sexy figure was running on the treadmill. He smirked..

ASR thinks: Hot! Seems it’s my lucky day!

He walked to the treadmill next to the girl and as she turned towards him, he was startled to find Khushi. Immediately he recovered from his shock state and smiled to Khushi mischievously.

ASR: Hi Khush? What’s up? You should have knock at my door I would have come early to keep you company.

Khushi was more irritated than shock. Purposely Arnav kept on irritating her while Khushi stayed silent behaving uninterested.

ASR: Poor girl! Getting bored alone..

Khushi thinks: God.. for once I was at peace!

She got down of the treadmill and went to the exercise bike. Her eyes went wide open as few seconds later, Arnav left his treadmill and got started on the exercise bike next to her. Her expressions didn’t go unnoticed from Arnav and he held his laugh. Irritated, she finally got off the bike and looked at Arnav angrily.

Khushi: Fine, you win!

He stayed idle, blank of any emotions and as she made her way out of the gym, he finally broke and laughed out loud.

ASR: Seriously, this girl is something, if she was not my best friend, I bet I would have fallen in love! Thank you god that she’s just my best friend.

And he continued laughing like crazy. But the naughty Arnav had not enough, he also got off the bike and followed Khushi who was unaware of his presence. She passed through the pool entrance and Arnav stopped on the spot. He thought about it but then..

ASR thinks: Hell yaa! The swimming pool is not reserved, I’m also staying here.

He finally stepped forward and reached the door. He stood by the door and saw her taking off her clothes. He closed his eyes and nodded..

ASR thinks: I can’t do this!

He stepped back and opened his eyes. As he was about to turn away his eyes fell on her in a red bikini. Unconsciously he moved forward and he couldn’t stop himself as he approached the door and entered the swimming pool area. Khushi was swimming and didn’t notice the pair of eyes admiring her.

ASR thinks: I guess there’s nothing wrong.. In fact she always laughed when I used to flirt with her. Why not today?

He took off his clothes and Khushi got startled when she heard someone dived into the water. Looking around her, she couldn’t find anyone. She got over her fear as she thought she misheard. Suddenly a pair of arms embraced her from the back and she got panicked. For a second, she thought it was Karan and she struggled into his grip.

ASR: Sssshhhh... It’s me Khush!

His voice calmed her and she closed her eyes, breathing heavily. Suddenly her eyes went wide open and she realized where she was. Arnav’s hands holding her, his touch on her belly, they both were wet and their body stuck to each other. But shockingly she found it hard to repulse him. She felt better in his arms. Her life was going upside down, but here, at the moment, she was breathing safely. The voice of Arnav brought her to his attention.

ASR: Khushi, are you tired?

Khushi: Hmm..

ASR: Just relax, You are safe, I promise!

Breathing heavily, confused, not knowing what to do, she finally closed her eyes and leaned her head back on his chest. For minutes they didn’t move. After some time, this was getting tough, she might be his best friend but he was still a guy. To get over this torturous feeling, as his playful evilness came back, he decided to have some fun, and hopefully Khushi might also laugh with him.

ASR: Khushi!

Khushi: What?

ASR: I’m scared..

She opened her eyes and turned as he loosened his grip. Khushi looked at him questioningly with concern.

Khushi: Scared? Is there any problem?

ASR: I’m just.. I’m.. it’s terrifying.. when.. when I think that if by any chance we fall for each other!

Rooted on the spot, Khushi stared into his eyes. His words stuck into her mind, she went lost into these intense eyes. As they look at each other, the sudden burst out of Arnav shocked her when he laughed loudly.

ASR(laughing loudly): look at your face, you are so funny Khush! I was just kidding.

And he kept on laughing at her face, while she looked the other way, very irritated. She closed her eyes trying to get back her calm and then she turned to him with uninterested look but her eyes fell on the standing figure next to the entrance door. Fear captivated her, and her body got frozen as Karan devoured her wet figure with lustful eyes. When Arnav finally got over his laughter dose, he noticed Khushi idled to one spot, he turned to the door and saw Karan staring at Khushi. Anger fuming into his eyes, Arnav moved infront of Khushi breaking the focus of Karan. Karan got panicked as he got caught.

ASR: Any problem Mr. Karan?

Karan stammered while approaching as he tried to push away his nervousness.

Karan: Sir.. I.. was.. I was searching for you, actually you left your mobile at the restaurant yesterday night, so... I thought of returning it back.. I mean..

Arnav interrupted his conversation. After all he knew that he must have been standing here for long staring at half naked Khushi. And this thought was leading him to murders intentions. He looked at Karan and in a furious tone...

ASR: Fine, put it on the sunbed and go!

Immediately, Karan placed the phone on the sunbed next to the scattered clothes and it didn’t go unnoticed to Khushi when his hands brushed her clothes purposely. Unwillingly he went back on his steps without sparing another glance at Khushi. As he disappeared, ASR took a breath of relief and nodded, irritated. He turned to Khushi, and the second their eyes met, he was shocked. Confused, he panicked on seeing her falling tears. In an instant he approached Khushi and laid his hands on her shoulders.

ASR: Khushi!

Khushi stayed frozen while he cupped her face forcing her to look into his tensed eyes.

ASR: Khushi what happen? You are shivering!

And he hugged her without thinking. Khushi was idled, she didn’t move and was blank of expression. Few seconds later, she backed off abruptly from Arnav, leaving him startled. Not a care of her reaction, worriedly he didn’t hesitate to approach her again but suddenly Khushi turned and swam to the edge of the pool. Arnav looked at her getting off the pool and wearing the gown on the shelves in the corner, she got hold of her clothes and rushed outside the pool area leaving a bewildered Arnav alone in the pool. She walked into the corridors and started running as she tried hard to gulp in her tears. She reached her room, she entered and closed the door hardly. Leaning her body to the door, she closed her eyes as the tears started falling continuously. Her cries become louder and she slid herself to the floor. Holding tightly her knees to herself she sat to the door crying loudly as her mind got to Arnav’s words.

Khushi (crying): What if... what if we fall for each other?.. what if we fell for each other years before?.. what if I fell for you years before?..You broke everything Arnav, you broke everything.. That night, it was the best night of my life and the next day... I hate you Arnav.. I hate you.. No no, I hate myself.. I JUST HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU!

(Day 3 continues in next chapter)