Tables Turned! This too shall pass (Part 8)

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Prologue - Set after the Sangeet, Arnav and Khushi both bicker over who has won the bet, finally they settle that it's a tie and both won. Arnav wants retribution and wants Khushi to follow up on her words. 

This SS slowly unravels the passionate side of Arnav & Khushi which is inevitable considering their personalities. As the story moves ahead, new facets of their relationship comes forth, but the underlying theme remains the same - Passion!

Hope you enjoy! 

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Part 8  - This too shall pass 

(Hehe..could not resist the title. The title is my lame attempt at sarcastic humor, in the hope that Mr. LM’s storm will pass equally soon ;-D)

Arnav’s eyes stirred open after a peaceful night of sleep. He wished she was here, sleeping next to him, her body curving with his, her legs tangled with his, his hands cupping her breast…Damn! He was aroused! If she were here, he would have a go one more time and quite possibly once more, before he would even consider stopping. His lips curved into a slow smile, what a delicious way to start the morning!! He needed to talk to her about having a serious relationship with him. He knew what he felt for her was special, rare in his opinion, but she came from a very conservative background, and his views about marriage had not changed…or had they? 

**

Garima was bawling, crying her eyes over and Buaji’s abuse had not stopped. Buaji and Garima were very very angry and disappointed with Khushi. They had a very good proposal for Khushi from Mr. Khanna’s family. Mr. Khanna’s family was very well reputed, and their son had seen Khushi dancing during the sangeet and fallen in love with her at first sight. They were so ecstatic at receiving the proposal but their balloon had been quickly burst when Khushi said she was not ready for marriage as yet. No matter the how much they had cajoled her, she was not ready to budge. Buaji had threatened her to let them know by today and then had gone on about how ungrateful she was, and this was the way she was paying her family for them adopting her and taking her in…Finally unable to take the verbal abuse anymore, Khushi had ran to the mandir knowing fully well that the matter would continue the moment she returned home. They had also asked her why she didn’t want to marry Mr. Khanna's son and she had not been able to give a satisfactory answer.


Sitting in the temple, she thought about all the things that had happened between her and Arnav, how she craved for his touch, how her heart became tender when she thought about him, how his pain became hers, she was sure this was love and that she loved him. But did he feel the same? Did he return her feelings? She didn’t know but she needed to find out. With nervous determination, Khushi dialed Arnav's number. Arnav's cell phone rang and he was surprised to see Khushi call him. “Hello” he barked into the phone. Khushi was taken aback at the cold reception but she gathered courage and said if she could meet him today, it was urgent. He said fine and asked her to come to his office in an hour around 6.00 PM.

Khushi hesitantly started towards his office, a little nervous to approach him. What would she tell him? What reason did she even have to confide in him? What relationship did they share? For all purposes they just had some intimate moments..he had not promised her anything more or for that matter even talked anything remotely serious. Under what assumptions was she going to talk to him? She felt very unsure and foolish but she knew in her heart she had to talk to him. She prayed DM for courage as she reached his office.

**

Arnav was little curious and puzzled by Khushi’s phone. Hope it was nothing serious as she never called him or requested to meet him at work. Hope she was OK! Thinking of her softened his face a little. He closed his eyes and remembered last night, the feel of her soft warm body against his, the expression on her face when he had explained her about the satisfaction she had given him and his face broke into a smile. How he would love to repeat the experience again, but maybe this time, same things but without any clothes between them! Sweet lord , he was starting to feel hot just thinking about it. But thinking about her was also like a soothing balm on this very tiresome day. Well she was coming here and  it would be good to see her, hold her. It was already evening and most of his staff had gone home, he wickedly thought.


Khushi opened his office door after timidly knocking it to find him majestically sitting in his chair, both hands resting behind his head. He just watched her as she came in and continued staring at her, without uttering a single word. Khushi nervously waited, for him to show some signs of acknowledging her, some encouragement so that she could broach the topic, but he continued to look at her with his hot eyes. She coughed apprehensively and took in a deep breath and spoke. “Woh..Arnavji, I needed to talk to you.” He slowly got up from his chair and walked towards her with a glass of water in his hand. He took a sip of water and took some water from the glass and sprinkled on her face mischievously “Haan bolo Khushi, I am listening” “Woh Woh…” unable to continue seeing his present mood. “Haan Bolo Khushi” he asked again. She gazed downwards and said in a very small voice…”buaji and ammji has fixed my engagement with Mr. Khanna’s son and I..I don’t…” The glass he was holding slipped from his hand and dropped to the floor and shattered in to many pieces. He just looked at her with a stupid expression on his face for a moment, unable to react and then roughly grabbed her shoulders and pushed her into the wall and ask in a dangerously low voice, “What did you say Khushi? care to repeat” She could not reply and continued looking at her feet. “KHUSHI !! What did you say? SAY AGAIN!! ” his voice boomed harshly, his grip tightening. Khushi flinched but met his eyes  squarely,“buaji and ammji has fixed my engagement with Mr. Khanna’s son...” Arnav’s grip on Khushi tightened even further and rage coursed through him. He bent down his head and pushed his lips against her in a kiss that meant to be cruel and punishing. Khushi tried pushing him away trying to beat against his chest, but her attempts against his powerful body were at best feeble. Khushi whimpered in pain at his merciless kissing, his hard body painfully pressed to hers and tears started flowing from her eyes. Arnav could taste her salty tears and finally lifted his head to look at her with hate filled eyes. “Arnavji, you are hurting me”…Khushi sobbed.. “Hurting you..hurting you…what about what you are doing to me!” he thundered.


“Arnavji I have not said yes to them…I..I could not..But they want me to marry. They told me it was the least I could do for my Bauji”  Khushi whispered in between sobs..”that’s why I wanted to speak to you”.


Arav’s mind was filled with sheer rage and jealousy at the mere thought of Khushi’s engagement with that other guy. Insecurity and pain of loosing her was making him blind to every other emotion, to everything else. He wanted to lash out and hurt her as much as he was hurting at the moment. “Wow! Thanks for the small mercy!” But what do you want me to do about it!! Oh now I get it, you actually thought I would hear this and ask you to marry me..did you?" he asked with a scornful laugh. “Some action between us, and looks like things have gone to your head. Khushi, you and I are good…but not that good and to be honest, I have had better, way better” he said derisively.


Khushi could not believe what she was hearing..How could you be so cruel? Do I mean nothing to you? Am I so cheap in your mind? Her eyes screamed at him… her wounded heart reflecting in her eyes, communicating to him things she could not speak aloud. She gasped on a sob, but lifted her chin a fraction. “In that case please forgive me Mr Raizada. I have wasted your precious time. I will show myself out” and left his office with her head held high.

Arnav watched her as she left his office, left his life. He felt his heart break in to million tiny pieces. He threw things around his office, smashing some of them to pieces but nothing soothed the pain burning in his heart.

Part 7 The calm before the storm

Part 6 To the other side

Part 5 Student becomes the teacher

Part 4 The initiation

Part 3 The promise

Part 2 Role Reversal

Part 1 The bet