II CHARACTER SKETCH II
~*~
PROLOGUE
II Incomplete II
He
Eyes blurred as tears threatened to overpower his vision. It had been years since he had led those tears drop. When everything was fine.
When his baba was alive.
When he had a happy family.
When she was there.
Betrayal and anger bit into him which resulted to another broken glass lying on the floor. His sixth sense told him, perhaps he was wrong, or else why… why…
He left the question incomplete.
Arnav Singh Raizada never felt so restless.
She
She bit her lips and stifled a cry. It had been years since that event, but her best friend was perhaps the only source of light for her. No matter what her love for either wouldn’t ever reduce.
No matter what she would choose him, over the man she had loved once.
He was…
She left the thoughts incomplete.
She took out an old photo and smiled, of her and her best friend… perhaps the only person who truly loved her.
She shift the tear away from her eyes as a messed up Arjun tightly hugged Khushi Kumari Gupta in the photo.
Khushi Kumari Gupta never felt so lonely yet happy.
He
His heart flinched on seeing her cry, what he had for her… was perhaps something that was undefinable. He could fight against anyone to protect her and save her, even if it was him.
Flirts and teases were his surname as he pecked her on her cheek, wiping away the little moisture from her eyes.
But somewhere deep in his heart, he perhaps felt a void… a void of…
He left the statement incomplete.
Arjun Suryakant Rawte never felt so empty in his life.
She
The waves of the city of dreams barely did anything to fill the void in her heart. Constantly exposed to society’s bickering taunts on her marriage, her life… who were they for her? They had almost managed to kill the spirited woman in her.
Her life was almost bare, till the best friend of her life, a feisty naive and talkative Khushi Kumari Gupta, gatecrashed her life.
Sometimes she just wished for an escape. She just wished for someone to be there. She just wished for…
She left her wishes incomplete.
Sakshi Anand never felt so alone.
~*~
CHAPTER 1
II Fantasies Do Come True II
picture credit : niko studio
Sakshi chewed her bottom lip relentlessly as her dainty fingers toyed with the copper wire. “Fifteen years of my relation with science aur har baar mujhe dhoka dete rehta hai!” She pouted as the connection fizzed out.
The best thing was that she would barely take the help of her boss, loving called as Udhaarwaala* (creditor) for he would poke his nose every half a minute, now there, in a beautiful workhouse of electrics if a girl was making a bomb, not many would exactly turn samaritan and help her out.
However today was one of her rare days as Mr. Udhaarwaala left her for peace. Picking out her special invention - her necklace, she decided to chip off the edges of the smooth pearl and insert a chip inside. “Ek din Sakshi… one day you would be out from this mess of a life and end up doing something great!” she smiled wistfully at the sky to get a sharp tap on her head.
“Meena Kumari? Aur koi kaam nahi kya!” Udhaarwaala’s assistant barked “Khasmanu khaniya!” Sakshi grumbled and went back to her job.
Thus meet Sakshi Anand, a true dreamer who had little idea about the intelligence she was gifted with. While people feared current and shocks, she ended up making circuits and tiny bombs from the young age of thirteen. A true devil in her heart, at times she used to send mini bombs to scare of the bullies.
Once someone screamed “Abbey bomb! Get out man!” “Dude, waise bhi in this stampede mera the end ho jayega! Jitna gyaan maine seekha hai, let me use that na… warna what was the use of the taklu teacher?” This was the statement of her life!
Even though her colleagues grimaced about their job, strangely enough Sakshi Anand lived a life of satisfaction with her pseudonym - Shocking Sakshi.
However the smile that she plastered on her face withered as she rested her forearms on the railing of her balcony. She smiled wistfully at the sky above as she felt the need of a better half.
Someone who would protect her from the taunts of the society, from the rudeness of her relatives, someone… someone who would love her as his own.
She was twenty eight and pretty much single. Never had a boyfriend, heck she hasn’t even been on a date! As the wave of loneliness set in she gently settled on the wicker chair and slurped the contents of cutting chai.
A crash of vessels reached her ears and the aroma of burnt food reached her nostrils, oh Klutz Gupta was working on the kitchen, again.
“Woh… Sakshi man… I…” “I will make dinner dear! Just don’t end up burning the little bit of vegetables left in my house!” Sakshi chuckled and looked at the city of Mumbai laid before. Khushi Kumari Gupta, her roomie, bestfriend, sister, everything.
Christened as Klutz Kumari Gupta thanks to her beautiful methods of ruining the sweet little dorm that Sakshi had found with great difficulty. But then she was the only one to bring in a dose of what her name meant - happiness!
Tapping her finger pads on the plastic screen of her Samsung Galaxy she saw the wedding pictures of her friend - Mihika Nair.
Damn It! Every person on this planet seemed to get hitched apart from Sakshi Anand!
She remembered the last conversation with her parents
“Papa, haan maanti hoon shadi ke saal ja rahe hai par iska matlab nahi ki are ghere ke saath shadi kar loon!” Sakshi banged the table frustratedly.
“Aur kitna din tujhe yaha pe rakhe! Boj toh…” Her father quietened, he didn’t mean what he said.
A pang seeped in Sakshi’s heart and she took a deep breath, stopping her mother who was on her way to rectify the situation.
Kise poochu..
Hai aisa kyu?
Bejubaan saa ye jahaan hai
The next day at the crack of dawn Sakshi had left her house, for good. Being the sole breadwinner she decided the better for herself and her family. She would pay for whatever expenses required and live with bare needs. Burden… why the hell was a girl burden?
Khushi ke pal
Kahaan dhoondu?
Benishaan sa waqt bhi yahaan hai
She didn’t pay heed to the apology calls and deleted the messages which begged her to come back home. More than her family it was about her self respect.
Jaane kitne labon pe gile hain
Zindagi se kayi faasle hain
Thus that’s how Sakshi Anand landed in the city of Mumbai, creating a little niche for herself, to only find herself drowning in the city of dreams.
Paseejte hai sapne kyun aankhon mein
Lakeere jab chhoote inn haathon se yun bewajah
Sakshi half smiled and looked at the cold chai remaining at the side of the table, she picked it up gently and sipped, her mind lost in fantasies as to how would love feel like.
Jo bheji thi dua
Woh jaake aasmaan se yun takra gayi
Ki aa gayi hai laut ke sadaa
Ki aa gayi hai laut ke sadaa
Would he have hugged her? Or would he be shy? Would he have stepped before the society and tie his life to hers? Or would he have been one amongst them? Or… would he have whisked her away to a world of their own.
Saanson ne kahaan rukh mod liya
Koi raah nazar mein naa aaye
Dhadkan ne kahaan dil chhod diya
Kahaan chhode in jismon ne saaye
Sakshi hugged her knees to her chest and thought, how beautiful it must be, for a man to come and whisk his lady to love and security. “All these happen in films!” Her mother would scrunch her nose. Sakshi chuckled, she barely touched any of Spark’s novels but for now… she wished if her life would be like one.
Yehi baar baar sochta hoon tanha main yahaan
Mere saath-saath chal raha hai yaadon ka dhuaan
She took a deep breath and dabbed her eyes of the moisture that threatened to spill off and leak her vulnerabilities. She still thanked God, if he existed that is, perhaps loneliness was better than a companionship of terror?
Jo bheji thi duaa
Woh jaake aasmaan se yun takra gayi
Ki aa gayi hai laut ke sadaa
“Oh my Meena Kumari! Hai re Devi Maiyya, don’t tell me you are sleeping with your eyes open!” A dash of orange appeared in front as Khushi Kumari … oops, Klutz Kumari Gupta stared into Sakshi’s eyes.
“Sanka Devi the great, the last thing I remember was that I was enjoying my solitude until you appeared in front and frightened my soul out of my body!” Sakshi grimaced at the little spill of the chai over her cotton kurti.
“Yeah, enjoying so much that tears filled your eyes eh?” Khushi bit off sarcastically as she munched on an apple. Sakshi half smiled “Are you a detective or what? You barely miss anything!”
“Arre jaani, jo cheez expression miss karsake woh Khushi Kumari Gupta hai kaha!” Khushi stood on the wicker chair and whistled for herself.
“Definitely this performance will give you a rotten tomato award!” Sakshi chuckled. Khushi settled back onto the chair, sipping on Horlicks then placed her hand over Sakshi’s “Missing something eh?”
“Hmm…” Sakshi sighed.
Suddenly Khushi clicked her fingers and stared at Sakshi “I got it! Now I understood what’s missing in your life man!” Khushi shrieked, her eyes glinting with wickedness.
“Khushi you shut up! I am sure what you are going to say next, I will electrocute you! IT’S NOT THAT!” Sakshi flustered to a deep shade of crimson.
“Excuse me Miss Hormonal Anand, I didn’t speak about the process of copulation!” Khushi hit her head.
“What the hell! I didn’t even think about this! And I certainly don’t need it!” Sakshi’s eyes widened in affirmation.
“Wait, hey you do need okay! You see after a certain age the human body is considered matured and ripe and it needs to be fertilized from a person of the other sex and DEVI MAIIYYYAAA!” Khushi screamt as Sakshi threw her cup of tea on her to silence her yapping mouth.
“Hmm… there’s a lack of sugar…” Khushi licked her lips. Sakshi bursted into peals of laughter and almost fell off her wicker chair “You are impossible! By the way, you can literally go to any extent to set my mood eh?” Sakshi smiled.
“I know I am great! Okay, now seriously, I think you mustn’t lose hope, you need to get a life partner.” Khushi smiled “Oh yeah and pray tell me how will I get him? Half are… ugh and the other half are rejected material!” Sakshi pouted.
“Arrey why fear when Khushi here!” Khushi dusted her sleeves. “Oh yeah, you will take a banner and offer money - Anyone who marries Sakshi will get five crore rupees!” Sakshi raised an eyebrow.
“I admit my lord that I like the idea!” Khushi winked. “Kusiiiiiiii…” Sakshi growled. “Chillax, trust be told, I will be happy if things happen otherwise… just like fantasy films! Just imagine, you enter your shower to find a hot man in there!” Khushi giggled like a sixteen year old teen.
“EWWWWWW” Sakshi shut her eyes.
“Dude, I promise he will be hot!” Khushi gave an earnest smile to be swatted on her right arm. “You are certainly gone bonkers! What’s wrong with you? Feasting on Mills and Boons?” Sakshi held her hands up in exasperation.
“Sweetheart what’s wrong in imagining! Just shut up and listen! You are about to scream and then he puts his palm on your mouth and says Amore, you are beautiful! And then he kisses you… hayeee… haye re mera dilllll… chura ke le gaya… churane waalaaaa sabka kaatil!” Khushi shook her hips left and right while Sakshi held her stomach to control her laughter.
“I am sure your horlicks is adulterated with drugs or alcohol!” Sakshi stood up. “Miss Drunk Gupta, please retire for the day, I bet in the whole world you are the sole person who gets drunk without a touch of alcohol! Understanding you will take my entire life!” Sakshi chuckled.
“Aye Sakshi, mere baare main zyaada mat sochna, main dil main aati hoon, samaj main nahi… Kickaa kickaa!” Khushi squealed while Sakshi rolled her eyes. “And by the way, the so called hero is a rapist or murderer?”
“Why are you trying to infuse logic in fantasy!” Khushi whined.
“And listen Sak, as long as I am alive, I wouldn’t let any harm touch you sis…” Khushi turned sombre and hugged Sakshi tightly.
Sakshi half smiled and patted her head. “I know re… I know… now good night sweetheart!” Sakshi smiled and Khushi shimmied her waist in response.
“Sanka Devi!” Sakshi chuckled and walked in her shower to take bath “All I need is Hawaii and coconut water!” Sakshi thought and skid a little on the wet floor which served as a reminder that she was still stuck in a dorm in Andheri East, Mumbai, India.
And then the scene in front confirmed the reality - what the heck was a man doing in her shower!
Rewrite - to find a gorgeously Greek God ressemblent man bathing to all glory and letting the water glide down his muscular form like Poseidon “Sakshi shut the hell up…” her mind screamed and at that moment.
“Aaahhh…” her mouth was covered by a rough palm and her eyes clashed against dark orbs “Just shut up and close your eyes before you decide to call the NSG okay!” his husky voice filtered into melody in her ears.
That’s it, the long state of being alone was resulting in a serious messy combination of crush and shock for a particular Sakshi Anand.
Her eyes were instead wide open “Mfmfmfmfmfmfmf!” she muffled through his palm and the breath was sucked out of her lungs as she noted him staring at her.
“What?” he asked, his voice still on the hoarse edge. “Oh yeah, sorry you can’t speak at the moment, but miss red face, why are your eyes like saucepans?” he raised an eyebrow in an impish manner.
She gulped and felt her ribcage shattered by the thudding of her heart as she took in the broad shoulders, the wide expanse of the bronzed chest, the ripped muscles, the ripped muscles, the slight smattering of hair that tapered into his perfectly carved abdomen…
OMG.
Sakshi shut her innocent poor eyes and managed to whisper “Y...y..you...nn..nangu…” she croaked.
“Oh… yep am a bit underdressed at the moment. Let me help myself.” His husky laughter sent chills up her spine as he took away her dupatta and converted it into a dhoti.
“Woman! Am decent at the moment and I would like you to open your eyes unless you want me to comment on your beautiful red face!” he smirked and she gaped at him. “WTFH!” Sakshi swore.
“Nice profanities miss…” he chuckled “WTFFFFFFFFFF” Sakshi breathed out “Calm down! Jeez woman! Now listen, where’s the file that Kay has given you?” he asked.
For a strange reason Sakshi did calm down “Www… what? Point one! I am NOT beautiful! Point two you are bloo*y half naked man rapist murderer in my house and point three who in the beautiful hell is Kay and what file are you talking about!” Sakshi tried to scream but everything escaped as parched words.
“Ugh! Listen, point one you are as beautiful as the reflection of the full moon on the Pacific, point two I am half naked and I know I am looking seksy in it which your red face agrees to and point three, don’t lie… iska anjaam acha nahi hoga, yeh baat samjhi ya samjhaaun?” The corners of his stubbled mouth tipped slightly at her shivers.
She was supposed to be an informant but this poor thing was certainly dazed!
“I...ii.. i ...bbb… beautiful?” Sakshi whispered to herself in disbelief.
“Yes Miss Red Face, I hope it's miss... else your husband would be highly scandalised at our position at the moment” His eyes twinkled in mischief as she realised the she was pinned on the wall with one of his arms resting against the cool tiled wall.
Her teeth started chattering and she tried to shake her petite head as this is nothing but a serious hot dream
period.
Nothing more
However more thoughts flow into her mind and she was astounded by them... "control sakhi… just a hot strange dream… khu told you na, thus it’s just a dream... control..."
The man stared at woman in front and chuckled “ Aha, nice thoughts by the way”
She gawked at him while he laughed his heart out. He poked the red cheeks and grinned "Yeah sweety this kind of tells me what you are thinking as of now"
Sakshi screamed aloud in shock fear and mortification as the man cursed vehemently. And the very next minute he was kicked down on the floor. Sakshi gulped to look at her mental and physical saviour when the words died on her lips.
Did the lanky Klutz Kumari Gupta just punch a guy whose weight and mass might be thrice the size of her!
Sakshi clutched her head in shock as Khushi removed a gun from her patiala and placed it on the hot guy’s head. “Kkk… kk… yy… ggun?” Sakshi stammered. “Told ya na sis, won’t let anything happen to you as long as I am alive, and you, who the fudge are you!” Her tone was sharp and cold, something Sakshi swore she never heard before.
“Yy… y…” Sakshi tried her level best to form sentences.
“So Mister… abbey kaminey tu!” Khushi exclaimed and stared at the man on the floor beneath her. “Uff Kay you so need to control yourself! I know am seksy but that doesn’t mean you pounce on me and get ready to create our unborn children and ruin my moment of a potential kiss with miss red face!” He grumbled.
“Ah you and your fantasies! For pete’s sake do shut up Arjun! And kiss dear Sakshi! Poor thing would faint at that thought!” Khushi came in defence and helped her shocked friend stand.
“Haha… so… Miss… Sakshi? What if I told you about my other thoughts… like you know… something which involved the bed and us and something something!” Arjun winked at the flustered girl in an impish manner.
But to their shock they found Sakshi swooning and falling straight on the floor with a soft thud.
Arjun scratched his head guiltily and looked at a furious Khushi “Umm… hehe… I guess I spoke a wee bit too much?” he cringed.
And he received the answer by a much deserved slap!
~*~
CHAPTER 2
II Of Strawberries & Poseidon II
picture credit : colourbox.com
Sakshi
My eyes widened to find out the sole cause of my mini stroke - The Poseidon (mentally noted the fact that he was wearing many more clothes - Thank the Holy Lords!) and my Klutz urff now Khali Kumari Gupta staring at me.
And the first words that tumble out of my mouth “Yeh kya hua? Kaise hua? Kab hua? Kyun hua? And sorry, actually not so sorry but who are you!” I put on my angriest expression ever.
The Poseidon sighed slightly and bent a little towards me “See my dear love…” to be cut off by Khushi “Don’t flirt with her - period!”
I sniffed in the care and concern by Khali Gupta while Mr. Poseidon raised an eyebrow and alternated his looks between Khali Gupta and I “Woah, you guys in a relationship or something? Don’t worry I support LGBT rights!” Mr. Poseidon grinned while I smacked my face and Khali Kumari Gupta grabbed the collar of his shirt.
“I exactly know how to prove my feminine-ness!” Khali Kumari Gupta glared and The Poseidon stretched in all glory “Finally! Sabr karne ka phal meetha hota hai! So idhar or another room, you know where you will prove it to me!” The Poseidon winked to get a sharp tap on his head.
“Ugh I so want to kill you Arjun with my bare hands! Now shut up and let me talk to my bestie and if you dare to flirt with her without any disclaimer, I will KEEEEEEEL you!” Khali Kumari Gupta glared at The Poseidon.
“Alright Kay! Am zipped up!” The Poseidon ran a finger over his lips signalling it to be shut.
Khushi
I chuckled at my best friend and then turned towards my other poor bestie who was lost and flustered by the recent happenings. I noticed Sakshi eyeing Arjun and then squinting her eyes towards the sweet Kamina - urff Arjun.
“Finally you got some clothes!” Sakshi glared at Sweet Kamina.
“Heard that!” Sweet Kamina smiled at me and then turned towards Sakshi “Why ma cherie? You liked me in lesser?” he winked at my red bestie who was about to open her mouth in protest.
“ARJUN!” I barked at him and he pinched his throat “She started it! I swear on my unborn kids from my future wife that I didn’t start it!”
“You two seriously shut up and tell me what the hell is going on! Khush! Why was he damn showering in my room! What’s happening! Why are you into a Khali Gupta now! What the friggin hell is going on!” Sakshi blasted and silenced us instantly.
“First of all I am damn sorry Sakshi!” I sighed and saw from the corner of his eye that Arjun - The SK was going to speak up and Sakshi frowning at him “And just don’t worry about Arjun cause now if he speaks out of his turn I will take a bazooka and target it as his most prized possession - yeah that will keep him quiet!” I mentally danced as he gulped and sat at the edge of the bed.
Turning towards Sakshi I held her hand in mine and sighed “I have been your best friend and trust me you mean a lot to me sister! Now what I am going to tell you is going to be little hard to digest but yeah, I need to tell you think. You see I am not the usual Klutz Kumari Gupta at home, I am… yeah like every Hollywood movie it is true that your best friend is a member of a secret association and over there my name is Kay.” Sakshi’s face gave away no expression as she was staring at me.
“So I needed a perfect hideout and what could be better than an electrical engineer? For me situations turned better when I realised that you created mini bombs, I know they ended up being Diwali phatakas but often these little connections made you farther intelligent and I have been conducting tiny experiments at home using the gas which caused the food burns over half of the time. Trust me I loved you as a friend and sister for no other reasons, you aren’t a suspect or anything! In fact you are just awesome and I love you loads sis!” I stared at Sakshi’s face while she nodded a little.
“And then this hyperly hormonal idiot secret agent next to me” “Oi!” He glared at me “Is Rawte, Arjun Rawte. So Sakshi, this idiot is Arjun, Arjun this is Sakshi.” I took a deep breathe as I finished my long speech. I could sense an anger Sakshi had towards me but I couldn’t blame her much.
Sakshi
“Hey Red Face!” Poseidon urf Arjun Rawte winks at me “Am not Red Face you P.. Arjun!” I glared and bit my cheek on the slip of tongue. “Oh right, you should watched your face Red Face! It was as red as ripe fresh strawberries and you know I love strawberries!” Poseidon sighed and I glared at him.
“Yeah right! Enter any woman’s bathroom with nothing at all and pin her to the wall with the hundred percent chance of making her feel that she is just going to get raped by an increasingly handsome man and leave her eyes open to watched all glory of your ripped muscles would leave even Bandit Queen red!” I blasted at Poseidon/Arjun and in fact directed a bit of anger towards Khali Gupta.
I am sure she knew it! How else would that fantasy come true!!!
“Sak! I didn’t know anything! Maine just kaha tha ki ghar aake nahale, mujhe nahi pata tha that he would end up doing this!” Khali Gupta pinched her throat and I turned aside in anger. “So basically am what, a messenger, used stuff… not a friend na!” My eyes blurred slightly while Khu hugged me tightly “I swear Sakshi this was not the case… I swear!” She looked at me and I bit my lips in confusion.
I nodded slightly and muttered an alright when Poseidon/Arjun looked at me “Am sorry for my intro to be like that! But wait a sec… if that’s the case, sh*t Kay, you aren’t a woman!!! I knew it! I mean many a times I have been in her bathroom, with of course nothing, but she just closes my eyes and throws a towel on my face and says GROW UP.” Mr. PA stated so.
“Jun, bro just shut up for now and get into your cop mode and explain everything to her, in the mean time I need to get changed.” Khu relaxed her shoulders while PA rested his elbows on my bed and propped himself up “Do you need any help?” he smiled impishly and I was mortified by his nature!
“Kaminey, main abhi tak shock main hoon ki tujhe goli se uda kyun nahi di!” Khu glared but laughed and left.
Ajeeb dosti! Par gehri bhi… I half smiled.
PA laughs heartily, his carefree laughter sending slight shivers down my spine.
Arjun
“So umm Miss Sakshi, it’s a Miss if I assume it right!” I chuckled slightly and looked at her annoyed face. Somehow it entertained me to a great deal. Even I had to admit I wasn’t this shameless all the time but then this was the first woman to react so vehemently and be so darn innocent.
I liked her.
“Hmm.” She answered and turned aside.
I felt a tad bit guilty and cleared my throat “Being the perfect gentleman that I truly am” her eyebrows shot at that statement “I truly apologise for the incident that happened.”
“Hmm.” She turned aside. She reminded me of the wives who were upset if their husbands were late.
Okay… wives & husbands? Tu satak gaya hai Rawte, but I couldn’t help it. She was the soft types that I would want to take home to my family. Sigh. Such dreams were just a wistful luxury for us.
“You’re angry right?” I prodded her gently when her head swivelled towards me and glared at me “Listen you might be really handsome and breath taking and stuff but trust me this was not a behaviour I admire! There should be respect okay! I mean… this was truly incorrigible of you Mr. Rawte! Flirting is nice but I am not the ones who flirt neither the one who enjoys such shameless acts!”
“ Secondly let me tell you that I am not your fangirl who will die for you and thirdly give me proper respect while talking to me and don’t EVER call me Red Face!” She blasted at me and I flinched back at her anger.
Her words never ceased to stop and at one point it became slightly painful as she hurled words at me,
“I have never… urgh! All this seems great in a novel but not in real life mister and…” her words died on her lips as I placed a finger on her lips.
Sakshi
Somehow I knew I had crossed my limits too when his eyes hardened into steel and he firmly pressed a finger against my lips.
God knows why that touch was so scorching. He pulled it back immediately and stared at me “Listen, don’t judge me without knowing me… Strawberry. I never meant to kiss you or do anything on the bed, you were just so annoyed so I irritated you further. You are absolutely safe with me and your Khu can guarantee this.” He turned aside and pursed his lips hard.
Thoughts and words died on my lips as he suddenly seemed very cold and icy. In that second I knew that I had understood the man in a completely wrong manner. “Sorry…” he startled at that and looked at me in surprise.
“For what?” he asked, genuinely clueless.
“I shouldn’t have spoke that much without actually knowing you… I mean…” I fumbled for words when warmth seeped back in his eyes and he crouched before me.
“I know you have strong morals and ethics and trust me I totally respect you for this!” He pinched my cheek slightly as if I were to be a little child.
Suddenly the playful glint was back in his eyes and I was mentally overjoyed to see it back. “Now please Strawberry smile! Else I will feel real bad! And do you know what do I do when I feel real bad?” He said solemnly.
“Kya?” I asked.
“I will pout and won’t eat any of my favourite ice creams even if they are in front of me! I swear on my”
“Hahaha, I know I know on your unborn kids from your future wife!” I burst into laughter and swatted his arm.
“Exactly!” He chuckled back.
Arjun
Her laughter was infectious and I loved the way her eyes twinkled and crinkled in joy “You know you are crazy Mr. Rawte!” She chuckled. “I do know that very well Strawberry!” I laughed back.
“Strawberry? Really!” Her mahogany eyes rounded in surprise and then squinted for half a second. “Yeah Really!” I smiled back.
“By the way, heard from Kay that you designed a real sweet pendant.” I enquired while Kay stood in front with me with the pendent in her hand “Here it is, it’s damn pretty Sak.” She smiled and passed the pendent to Strawberry who stared at her in shock.
“So what’s the situation right now? What’s wrong Sak?” Kay asked while Strawberry muttered “Khushi this is you?”
“It’s Kay in front of you, I know it’s a far call from the patialas and kurtis but Sak… that was the real me.” Kay said softly.
“This isn’t showy though… but why is it always black and tight?” Strawberry asked innocently “You see Sak, only in Hollywood films do we look more like Victoria Secret models instead of agents. Black so as to it helps as camouflage at night and tight because it doesn’t get stuck anywhere while running, if I run with kurti the edge can get stuck and over that this material is half latex so not much chances of any thread getting caught up anywhere. And it also depends on what type of a mission are you going to.” Kay explained and Strawberry nodded.
“So I hope Arjun has told you what’s our mission and everything?” Kay looked at us and I grinned back.
“So I hope Arjun has told you what’s our mission and everything?” Kay looked at us and I grinned back.
“Yep Kay! We are hum saath saath hai! Hai na Strawberry?” I winked at her while she half smiled.
“Not Strawberry! And yeah, we sorted our differences - as of now ” Strawberry glared back.
“As of now! I mean come on we are made for each other and inseparable! Janmo ke saathi, hum saath saath hai!” I purposely sang off tune and waited for Kay’s half drooly expression on her all time favourite Salman movie.
“Don’t think you are going to get easy by stating Salman’s movie! I mean you spent this five minutes in pacifying her! I mean by looking at her face am sure she listened to you solely because you are my friend! You still need to pacify her way more!” Kay raised and eyebrow.
Khushi
I definitely knew that my sweet kamina liked Sak from the first go. I turned to find Sakshi grinning at me. “Kya?” I asked.
“Waise Khu, not bad choice of clothes you know…” Sak smiled at my tight black suit. “Of course, no wonder our boss and her assistant is fida over her…” I scrunched my nose at their mention and rolled my eyes.
“I am interested in neither!” I glared, he chuckled slightly and then looked straight in my eyes “Of course, it will always be the letter A…” he smirked and I felt the ground shake beneath me.
I knew Arjun wasn’t smiling anymore. I gulped slightly and said “That’s not funny.” “It wasn’t intended to be.” his voice held a familiar pain and I turned aside, not meeting his eyes anymore.
Suddenly Sakshi quipped “Ab yeh A kaha se tapak gaya?”
I saw how comfortably Arjun put on his mask again “Arrey, A, boss and assistant - her loverboys” Arjun chuckled while Sakshi too joined him in the laughter.
“Shut up you two! And please there is nothing between A and I, get that straight!!” I snarled back when Arjun plonked himself on the bed.
“Haan haan, na na karke pyaar hai main kar gayi kar gayi kar gayi… don’t go in front of him in this suit okay, trust me his pants would get tight right away!” Arjun winked at me and my eyes rounded in shock.
“Ewww! You both are terrible! Hamesha dirty talks! Eww!” Sakshi covered her ears.
“I swear I hate it too! Now come on, look Sakshi… you don’t know me and I don’t know you, Khushi has gone back to Lucknow for an urgent job and you are happy go lucky! And if anyone speaks to you, is slightly gentle, kind or asking about me or even about you - just smile without tension and run away or press this button and we would help you okay and … devi maiyya what was that?” I squinted my eyes and checked the slight flickering of lights.
“According to me there are a few reasons why this is flickering, the last I remembered the circuit of my house was absolutely perfect and neither is there an issue with the fuse else the lights would be off in one switch, oh wait, I know this is the most random thought in my mind… someone is tampering with the connections and iska matlab, Arjun, Khushi… we need to GET OUT NOW!” Sakshi paled.
Arjun and I were shocked and gulped “Oh sh*t.”
“Tu Sakshi ko leke bhaag, main dusra route dhundungi.” I was about to leave when Sakshi tugged my hand.
“Oh God no way girl, we’ll get out together, Khu no over-smartness this time!” She glared at me and I nodded.
Sakshi
I watched how Arjun broke open the window while Khu locked my bedroom door. She quickly took a satchel and stuffed a few clothes in it.
Without a word I watched how the duo slipped into perfect agents as Arjun piled furnitures against the door as if they were to be a sack of potatoes while Khu bound a saree against the railing.
My eyes went round in amazement as Khu clambered off the building like a cat without using the rope and then Arjun follows too. But instead of going out he wounded an arm tightly around my waist.
“Trust me?” he breathed out, his warm breath fanning my face “Dunno.” I answered. “Abhi pata lag jayega.” stating that he gripped me tighter and jumped down using the rope while I clung on to him for my dear life.
“You’re safe.” He whispered while I still held on to the lapels of his jacket. “Jun, Sak… I need to rush, of course these are behind me. Take care of the pendent and run as far as you can - KP of course. Jun I trust you with Sak, she’s damn precious. If I don’t return then look after her okay.” With that I ran and hug Khu tightly “Shut up Khu, nothing will happen… come with us please.” I said softly but Khu kissed my forehead.
“No Sak, I gotto go right now. Jun no way are you coming behind me. Sakshi is your amanat okay? Love you both.” Khu hugs Arjun tightly as he kisses her cheeks “I hate this.” he grumbled “Shut up and help me on the bike and hug me once more.” Khu said softly as Arjun set her bike straight. He kissed her forehead and then tugged my hand along with his and drove off with the jeep.
KP - Kalsubai Parvat
~*~
CHAPTER 3
II This Was Just The Beginning II
picture credit : giphy.com
En Route To KP
Arjun
I hated to leave my Khu alone. But I knew she was right and there was probably more responsibility on me now. I sent a message to my trusted few to help Khu get to Europe for a task. I know Boss would be angry on me but at times I didn’t give much of a damn to it.
Hours rolled by but not a word was exchanged amidst me and my new companion. I turned aside to find her teary. “Kya hua?” I asked while Strawberry bit her lips softly.
“Khu, my gut instincts are saying that she’s not safe. I swear I will never be able to forgive myself if something happens to her!” tears pooled down Strawberry’s cheeks and I felt compelled to wipe them.
“She will be safe, A & Boss wouldn’t let anything happen to Kay. Secondly she’s one of the best in our field! Mujhe bas yeh samaj nahi aa raha hai ki yeh log tumhare peeche kaise lag gaye
” I hit my palm on the steering wheel.
“What do you mean by mere peeche?” Strawberry looked confused. “They were behind Kay and you.” I sighed. Of course, had it been only Kay they would have resorted to other methods.
“Heard you were famous last week?” I asked “Oh! That… arrey there was this simple bomb near this government officer’s house so I deactivated it - it’s my second love after electrical engineering.” Strawberry waved her hand in air in modesty.
“Anything else happened?” I asked “Yeah Mr. Rawte! You know the bomb defuser was adamant on cutting the wrong bomb, usually we were asked to get out but then I saw he was cutting the wrong wire so I started screaming that the person is cutting the wrong wire so out of public pressure I was allowed to get in.” Strawberry half smiled.
“Then?” I asked “Then kya? I grabbed the pliers out of his hands and cut off the right wire… but tab se sab ajeeb ho raha hai…” Strawberry grew quiet.
I stopped my car and turned to her "Tell me what all's been happening..." “You see, waise toh kuch nahi hua... but” I interrupted her “Listen, did you face near accidents or shit or something like that” She looked at me in surprise “ How do you know?”
“Haan ki na?” I asked, my impatience and doubts increasing per minute.
“ Yeah, ever since last week, while I was crossing the road - if Khu hadn't pulled me then... I would have been killed in a road accident. Then in my house there was a snake which Khu said she would handle Then achanak se I remembered Shree throwing a bottle out of our house and telling me that it was nothing, even after the little explosion below she said it was a phataka... but I knew she was lying…” Sakshi murmured.
“That was a petrol filled bottle.” I muttered gravely. She was quiet for a few minutes “It means that Khu has been saving me each and every time par Rawte, the bomb squad was sent by the government which means that… Oh Lord… there is an involvement…”
“Of the Government, I know. Not all are to be blamed… of course. You actually stopped a deadly assassination.” I muttered again. “Assassination! But then why such a simple bomb!” Sakshi asked.
“Simple taaki forensic analyst ke hisaab se it could have been a chit gang sent to kill the person and the bomb squad ran out of time, samjhe ya samjhaaun?” I looked at her while she nodded gently and then dozed off.
Sakshi
I got up the next morning to find myself amidst dry fields. The jeep had several amenities and thus I could brush and grab a nut bar. I was quiet pondering over my thoughts while Arjun explained that the “villains” thought that I was involved with one of the agencies to protect the people hence they were behind me with that they summarised that I was a part of the agency and then they traced Khu accidentally.
“Thus ek teer se do nishaan keh sakte ho!” Arjun sighed and I frowned harder. “Will Khu be safe?” I asked again while he nodded.
“Don’t you worry about yourself?” He asked me when I quietly confessed, “After having travelled roughly two days with you, I know I can trust you with my life.”
His gaze softened but his jaws clenched “Don’t, I flirt and joke around - that’s all I am good at. Trust your Khu or anyone else. I am famous for having let down people.” The words got bitter at the end.
“It’s not at all like that Rawte! I know I am in good hands and don’t blame yourself for whatever happened in the past.” I held his palm while he stared at me “You know?”
“Your words were more than enough to state something happened, I don’t know what happened. No matter what it is... you are never to be blamed - remember that.”
“Really, what if you fail to protect the only family you had?” he asked sarcastically.
“ Well they certainly didn't die wishing you would be in a living hell because of the people you had loved the most.” I said and he grew serious and drove on.
“By the way, where are we going?” I asked and he replied “HQ - headquarters.”
“Oh… why?” “Got to report to Boss about Kay, and even A that his lovergirl is in trouble. Truth be told, I am scared for Khushi… I know our friendship seems weird but then, you never require any logic in relations, do you?” he opened up and I half smiled at him.
“Nope you don’t.” And then he smiled back at me, the rare true smile.
“Hmm... woh toh hai... par mujhe nahi pata tha Khu kisise mohabbat karti ha... main toh uske baare main shayad kuch janti bhi nahi” I said softly, a sort of betrayal seeping up my heart.
He stopped the car again and held my hand “Na na, you know her the best - apart from me. Tumhe pata hai... billion times she has told me about you... how she feels she is close to home because of you.. kitne baar tumne usse ek bare didi ka sahara diya. In fact many a times you have made her thankful of the friend she has... woh toh kayi baar kehti hai... that she's happy you didn't get married off anywhere” He chuckled at my reaction as I said “What!”
“Yep, otherwise she didn't know ki kaise woh jhelti sab kuch akele…” His words made me emotional and I sniffed back my tears “ She will be fine na.”
He kept his palm over mine “She will be.”
Our eyes locked and I felt my heart race up as his eyes searched mine thoroughly. I felt highly exposed and thus looked aside. God knows why I felt my cheeks to be burning.
Hours later he suddenly spoke up,
“By the way it’s a good thing that you aren’t even engaged! My career would have got a black spot if I were to travel such a long path with a semi married female! Chee chee, Arjun… tera yehi haalat hona tha!” I glared back at him as he slipped into Poseidon mode!
“I guess you are pretty famous for chee things!” I said sarcastically at which he laughed back “OH yeah! This is nothing, the female agents are *gulp* but then in my field I am considered the best in killing female agents! What not I have to do to get them off hand! Kisses are just a child’s play!” He winked at me.
Poseidon kahika!
“You are…” I grumbled “What?” he chuckled “Too much!” I glared.
“By the way Rawte…” “Hmm I like the way you call me Rawte, rolling the R in your tongue.” Charm oozed in his voice and I forced myself to glare at him.
“I am not any female agent that you start off with all this!” I snapped at him, to my horror Mr. Poseidon Rawte leaned towards me and smirked “All what?”
“Yeh flirting shirting!” I pushed him aside and looked in annoyance as he bursted into peals of laughter.
“Oh my Strawberry!” he pulled my cheeks to my sheer annoyance “Then in that case you don’t even know what’s flirting!”
“Of course I know!” I protested back, he raised an eyebrow “According to Kay you are an innocent sweet angel! You can’t be a flirt any day!”
“Yeah right! You have no idea how much I tease Khu! I even call her a tamatar - she turns red just the minute I start teasing her! You know what sort of a situation I gave?” I smiled in my defence as a highly amused Arjun/Poseidon looked at me “What?”
Arjun
I chuckled in my head as she vehemently protested to show that she knows what flirting is, I tried to think what poor little Strawberry said to Kay while Strawberry started to animatedly describe the situation.
“Ok, so there was this mystery lover of hers... who came into her room every night and stared at her and then one night her hair strands get stuck on her lips... he feels serene by seeing her face... he thinks of trailing away the hair but then he gets a wicked idea!” She chuckled excitedly while I was thoroughly entertained by her innocent wicked idea.
“Aha so what does Romeo do?” I asked while she continued to speak, her hands waved and the little bangles chimed in air.
“He leans onto her, with hands on either sides of her face, and yeah not touching her - you dirty mind” She accused me.
“Haw! am not dirty mind... so what, he leans like this?” I leaned towards her suddenly…
Sakshi
My breathe got stuck as he suddenly leaned on me, my heart starts off with erratic heartbeats. His voice turns husky then and there as he whispers “Then?” And right then the radio had to break off into a romantic song.
Jadu hai nasha hai...
Madhoshiya..
It sounded like the most sensual voice in the planet, added to that was the pale moonlight and the headlights of the car which were the only sources of light. I got terribly conscious. “Ttt... tthen he stares at her lips for quite some time” my voice cracked.
Tujhko bhulake ab jaaun kaha?
I shivered as Poseidon Arjun lowered his eyes to rest on my suddenly dry lips and whispered “Then?”
Jadu Hai Nasha Hai...
Madhoshiya..
“Ttt... tt...then he comes closer till he's a breath away....” for a strange reason my vocal cords refuse to listen to the little sane part of my brain and answer his questions.
Tujhko Bhulake Ab Jaun Kaha?
Arjun lowered himself further till he's a breath away, he cupped my cheek gently and whispered “Then?”
Shama Tujhko
Khinchti Hai
And I knew my brain had lost it’s little remaining senses as I replied “Ttt... tt... then he blows air on her lips and controls himself from kissing her.”
Apne Aur...
Arjun's lips broke into a smile and he gently parts his lips to blow air on mine. My eyelashes flutter and shut while I clench at the side of my seat.
Aja..
His moist warm minty breath makes my heart dance on a tune from the heavens “Then” his utterly husky voice melted in my ears and I found myself too lost to reply.
Parwane Mere Baho Main Aa..
I sent a quick prayer up to the Lord as he cupped my second cheek.
Jadu Hai Nasha Hai..
Mashoshiyaa...
Tujhko Bhulake Ab Jaun Kaha?
And this was just the beginning.
~*~
I half smile as her eyelashes flutter in sheer innocence and she parts her lips for me, I gulp as what started as a mere tease ended up in being something completely different.
For a minute I forget everything I have and cup her cheeks when Khu’s face whips me like a thunderbolt.
How could I?
Loathe fills in me and I sit back of my seat, controlling the shameless urges of a man that craved for a second… had I forgotten my vows to Khu in that one second? Was that fleeting moment more than the trust Khu and I shared?
I cursed myself mentally and turned aside to find Strawberry in a dazed state. Damn… I would be her first kiss if I…
Her grip on my jacket and clenched eyes… I would have been her first… if I…
Damn!
I frowned as he almost punched the radio shut and looked aside as if nothing happened. I looked at him expectantly when Poseidon spoke up “You are a certain devil! Kay must have been truly red! And you are no less than a strawberry now!” He threw a little chuckled and something snapped in my heart.
My eyes snap open as I find the warmth missing. I sit up and clear my throat, fumbling as I put the seatbelt back. I could feel my cheeks warming up and damn it, I was not being able to look at the man next to me.
This was a usual thing for him? To play with feelings? A sharp pang hit my heart and I took a few controlled breaths to come in sync with the situation.
He is a Greek God.
“Something.” her stoic face replied.
I got a hang as to what could be the issue hence I said “I will check.” “I…” she shut me off before I started to speak. “I have a year’s course in automobile engineering, so if you can please!” she jumped out of the car and ignored my footsteps behind her.
I tried to ignore the jab of her tone and chuckled “Hah, very funny. I just died in laughter... why are you so silent man!” I asked while she sighed.
How the hell does he even think of getting stuffs back to “normal”. “F**k” he swore as our car came to a sudden halt. I frowned as he tried to rev up the engine back to life but the car too seemed to be defying Rawte.
Rawte leans on the front of his car as I opened the hood and coughed out the smoke. “You fine.” he asked and I glared at him.
“I am perfect!” I snapped back and that did the job of keeping him shut. As suspected a bit of foliage and stuff had come into the engine hence it died out. Hopefully after clearing the trash the jeep should come back to life.
It hit me to see her suddenly cold and distant and I know that I am at fault. I sighed and decided to give a new start.
Just then the Gods too decided to play with me as a drizzle started and Sakshi hid her head beneath her dupatta. I paused and looked at Sakshi. Taking a deep breath I spoke "Sakshi, I am sorry..."
Yeah I was ready for anger and at the most a slap but the disgust etched on her face against me snapped a thread in my heart. "Yeah right!" her voice came through and then she shoved me on my chest.
"DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME BEFORE KNOWING ME SAKSHI!" I growled and pinned her to the car, I agree I had a weak moment but this doesn't mean that she could belittle me to this extent! Disgust?
I leaned forward as she held me by the collar and shook me "God knows why Khu left me entrusted with YOU, I don't need you to protect me.. you can very well leave mister!" She punched my chest and ran away crying while for a few moments I was still dazed at the words she threw at me.
"You aren't worth anyone's love or trust."
It's only when a hyena's laugh echoed amidst the rustling branches that my feet felt cold and this was the perfect time that my deserted common sense came back to me.
I realised a few things
- This was a dense jungle.
I cursed myself and began walking back. Certainly mind mind was running crazy and that recalled of a really funny incident when Khu stated that "Oh now I exactly know what's missing in your life" with that impish smile of hers.
I half smiled at that... could it be that because I was at the proximity of something... of something strange that's why I bursted out? Was it the rage on myself, that I was angry on the fact that the kiss should have happened? That I wanted a reaction from him?
Anyways, he was worth of the trust and I did believe in him, I know it's pretty opposite from what I confided in him. If he truly wanted to do something he could have easily kissed me and a terrifyingly strange thing in your mind told you that for the most horrific reason, you wouldn't have stopped that kiss at all.
Shit.
And this is the precise moment in which I realise that I had no clue as to which part of the world I was in.
OH SHIT
Panic ceased in me and I tried to put my sense together but amidst the forests of Maharashtra what am I supposed to expect? Oh yeah being a luncheon for the animals!
No no no no... Damn I still need to get married before I died! I hit myself on my head and cursed... marriage! Seriously Anand!
I took in a deep breath and started my own pep talk "Come on... this was not the time to be damsel in distress but rather to use your brains Shocker Sash!" my voice though gave way about me being in distress.
Will Arjun come searching for me? What if I am caught, no Sakshi sweetie you need to use the darkness to your advantage. With the help of darkness as my ally, I tried to walk out of their vision when I felt my left feet to be intensely heavy. Damn what was that?
By using ancient methods I tried to locate the north star. "Yeah baby found you!" I muttered in joy when another important question arose.
I didn't know where I was thus I had no clue know whether going to North would take me inside the forest or outside the forest. So much for finding the North star.
Shit happens, twice.
This is the ultimate moment of mental crucification when my alter stands before me like a grim reaper and decided to have a tête-à-tête with me! "Sakshi sweetheart... can't you control your temper... no no... you had to give the moral science lecture to Poseidon! You never realised that you were an active participant in the kiss? Over that you to hurt him as well! Bravo!"
Suddenly a flash of light distracted me and I ran towards the source when I realised that that light is certainly not the the headlight of my car!
Oh hell no!
Who could it be out there? I noticed a few men in sheer black suits walk out "Sir, most probably the two would be here" one of them said.
Oh crap.. crap crap crap.
I gulped and look down to find something that made me faint at that moment.
A python slithering around my feet
WORST.
DAY.
EVER.
I closed my eyes and prayed to God to help me out when I remembered that if I stood still the python will slither off feeling it's another non living thing. Tears streamed out of my eyes thinking this is my last day of my life. I felt bad for not having considered what more good life had given to me.
That's precisely when someone came and wrenched the python out of the grip and stared at me. "Arjun... oh thank god..." I cried out and held his arm.
He wiped away my tears with a tenderness that shook my soul. Before I could say anything he grabbed my arm and shouted at me "What the hell was wrong with you, I know I am useless and pervert and whatever else you have to add but it doesn't mean that you run off... you know you cld have..."
Before I could say anything more she kept her palm on my mouth and signalled a no."There are a few people here... we must run!" She whispered and my senses widened to be receptive to the most mere sound. We gently step aside when a twig cracked underneath our foot and someone yells "Oi! I found them!"
Holding her palm in an iron vice grip we ran all the way to our jeep and I accelerated it, zooming it away from their sight. I knew this road so well that I could travel with my eyes closed.
The next few moments were a blur as I guided her towards our vehicle, the rain washed off our tracks when suddenly we heard noise of a few bullets. Throwing caution to the winds we ran faster when a sharp sting hit my bicep, I winced and let that be - we had to reach to safety.
"I stuck a piece of chip on you to track you from the beginning itself, so as to if you are not in my sight, I at least have you in my vision." I replied. She hummed in response then took a quick breath, I guess she had something more to state.
I grew tired of everything, the run, the facade of everything that I gently closed my eyelids.
I gulped a bit and then spoke "Arjun I am really sorry for what I said, truth be told I never ever had any sort of relation and stuff and for me it means a pious thing and moreover... I don't know why I reacted but yeah... my heart just does this random beat when you are near me and I ... Arjun... ARJUN..." I almost screamed in shock as he was wincing in pain. My eyes shifted to his muscled biceps as blood oozed from them.
He was SHOT! It took every inch of my panic control to not scream and bring the planet earth down. I closed my eyes and recalled my days when I bunked and sat in a medical class for time pass. Guess that would come to work today.
I found a first aid kit under my seat and looked at him as he ripped off his sleeve to look at his wound. "Just wait... please" I asked Arjun to politely shut up as he refused every advance of help. I winced at his pain and felt guilty too as I was the reason for this. Arjun was quiet and chuckled "You won't be able to do this, I will do this on my own." He said while anger came into me, again.
"Okay I know that you are pissed off with me and you can slap me for that later, but for now let me help you and you keep quiet like a good boy" Saying so I took the help of a tweezer in removing the bullet. My hands were shaking but then I took deep breaths. "You have lighter?" you asked him and he nodded and passed, I heated the tweezer (so as to no septic causes) and then look at his contorted face.
"There's chloroform in the first aid kit?" I asked as he nodded at the bronze coloured bottle. Before he knew it I had placed my chloroform dipped dupatta on his nose and he passed out. "Okay am sorry for doing this but I don't want you to get hurt... take care..."
Now removing the bullet was an easy task and I removed his shirt and twisted it around his arm to apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding. My cheeks flushed as my eyes took their own shameless route of noticing him shirtless. The carved pecs, abdominal muscles and now I felt a little bit of sadness as I noticed on closer inspection that there was another mark of injury.
Sigh.
I noticed him getting goosebumps due to the cool breeze and wrapped my dupatta like a shawl around him. It had been in total four days with a stranger, yet now I felt something strange and loveable for him.
Loveable? I am crazy, period.
As he roused to consciousness I made him swallow a pain killer and he groggily opened one eyelid to see the person. I felt a little bit of joy as he relaxed seeing me and I patted him back to sleep. After carefully shifting him to the passenger seat I took charge of the jeep. The GPS on the dashboard made it a child's play to reach safety.
"I think I like you Rawte." I mumbled to his sleeping form when his wallet on the floor of the jeep took my notice. Being in the perfect samaritan mood I picked up his wallet when a sweet picture came into my notice.
To my surprise it was a wedding photo. Two strange people were standing there, a fair handsome man with trimmed moustache wearing a sherwani and next to him a married woman - probably his wife; a dusky woman with long tresses and a huge smile.
But what shocked me out of my wits was that... the bride in centre. Decked up in a blood red lehenga and a huge grin plastered on her face and those familiar pair of deep hazel amber eyes "Khushi..." my voice barely sounded like mine.
Khushi was married!?
As I saw the man hugging her; my throat parched and I felt my breath knocked out of my lungs.
Suddenly it made sense, their hugs, teases, words... relation... sense of knowing each other. The photo slipped out of my hand as a smiling Arjun was pecking Khushi on the cheek.
They are husband and wife!
Nothing could reduce the pain at the moment.
Nothing.
I fidgeted with the edge of the photograph and slipped it back in his wallet. My feet grew heavy and my arms were in a protest against movement. I collapsed on the black leather seat and clutched the sides as I tried to comprehend the situation before me.
Suddenly everything started to make sense.
Of course that’s what husbands and wives do! My head started reeling as I processed everything, oh how could I forget when Arjun stated that he had been several times in her shower without a thing on?
I turned my head aside to clear all the thoughts that steered into my mind within a matter of a few torturous minutes.
Being flirtatious had been Arjun’s charm and nature, I should have seen through it, perhaps he himself never expected to get carried away. I steeled my heart and broke every dream and drew in a deep breath.
Khu was my best friend, my soul sister - the family I had never had… I would never look at Arjun in that light again and I would only pray for their happiness.
A weight was lifted off me as I decided that, I wouldn’t be able to forget Arjun but then I knew… no matter what I would keep their relation intact in my tiny little ways.
A quivering smile formed on my lips as Arjun shifted a little in his sleep and turned aside, a whisper “Khu” formed on his lips and I smiled wider.
I had fallen for a man for his undying devotion to his wife, hence I decided to step back.
He’s my best friend’s husband, he shall always remain so.
I turned towards Sakshi and truth be told that I was impressed that she had been able to drive us all the way here.
I stretched a little, wincing as the sharp jolt of pain on my arm got the better of me. Running a hand through my hair and draping an end of her stole on me I walked towards Sakshi.
I was amused as she was busy with a fibre of wheat and dusting it around the field. “Sakshi?” My voice seemed to shock her as she stepped back and almost screamed. “Hey.. it’s me… how did I reach here?” I asked and she looked aside.
“I drove… with the help of the navigator stuff out there.” Sakshi answered and then turned aside, back to dusting that negligible wheat fibre.
Even though I knew her answer, it was impressive to know that she didn’t add a little bit of details to put herself on a good image. Nice. I took in gulps of pure sweet air of untapped nature and focused my gaze on the canvas of the lords - the sky.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as the sky changed from pitch black to amber to liquid gold. "Thank you for saving me." I murmured and a soft sigh from her meant that she acknowledged that. I had noticed that the otherwise hyperactive Strawberry had been dull and quiet.
"Anything wrong Sakshi?" I asked and she took in another deep breath "Khu means a lot to you right?" She smiled and warmth filled my heart with the mention of Khu. "I love her from the bottom of my heart Sakshi, there's no one in the world who understands me other than my Khu, she means my life Sakshi." I smiled wider and stared at the rising sun.
"You know am really going to strangle Khu!" Sakshi's voice chocked as she put on a forced smile. I asked as she wiped her tears "Arrey! Why will strangle my Khu?"
"Arrey! Kutti! Kamini! She didn't even say that she's married! Not fair!" Sakshi blinked back her tears and a bitterness filled my heart. Marriage... that had been a sphere neither I nor Khu ever spoke about ever since the wedding day.
"I told her not to tell anyone... after that... it was better if she didn't tell anyone..." He replied, his voice oddly stiff and aloof.
My heart broke a little at every word but then yeah... I was happy at the devotion he had for Khu.
"Oh... but then... I mean even after you love her so much, meeting her after eons. This might be difficult for you guys." I asked. He turned around and frowned "How does that affect the marriage? And about us meeting after ages, our relation is such that no matter what the affection, admiration and love for each other will never ebb away." he smiled and played with a random thread of my stole.
"Hmm... very beautiful... Khu is very lucky to get you..." I smiled and looked aside when I saw him shake his head.
"No Sakshi... in fact if I had been at her place... I wouldn't have ever forgiven Arjun...."
"What did you do Arjun?" Curiosity getting the better of me "The marriage never really took place you know..." Arjun sighed and and bit his lower lip in annoyance.
"Oh." I exclaimed in a vague emotion. "But then Arjun, if you are married by heart then nothing changes the fact that she is your wife and you - her husband, that's all that matters." I replied to find Arjun staring at me as if I had grown two heads.
"WHAT!" I stared at Sakshi who was taken aback, her last few words felt like a slap on my face.
"Khu is your wife!" Sakshi threw her hands animatedly while I gawked at her. "And from where did you receive this idiotic information! God damn it! Khu was going to be my brother - Arnav aka ASR's bride!" I stared at the petite woman in front whose mouth was hanging open.
Her petite form ran all the way to the jeep and came trotting back "In..." she panted slightly and then pushed back a strand "In this picture..." She pointed at us and I slapped my head.
"I thought you were intelligent! Khu and I have been best friends since we were born! It was her demand that during her and bhai's wedding I must wear the second most exclusive sherwani! I mean the best friend always looks as good as the bride or groom! I was kissing her cheek due to happiness and you think I was the groom and she my bride! God throw your brain somewhere!" I was exasperated by her jumping to conclusions.
Sakshi turned bright red with embarrassment and fumbled. Just as I took a step she took two steps back, I cocked an eyebrow and took a step towards her. This little intimidation game went on till her back hit the dusty metal body of the jeep.
I placed my index finger under her round chin and made her look into my eyes "Miss Sakshi Anand whose common sense has taken a vacation to Hawaii, if I was a married man - that too with a wonderful woman like Khu... why would I flirt and kiss with you? Do you think that low of me?" I glared into her chocolate eyes as they widened and a violent blush spread all the way till her ears.
I watched her bite her lower lip and then confusion cloud in her eyes, she peeped at me and spoke "But Arjun, why didn't Khu get married? And why didn't she tell me about all this?"
I smiled as I saw the concern for her best friend way more than the love for me - it made me fall for this petite woman harder.
"Three years back, Khu and Arnav bhai were going to get married. They were one of the weirdest couples - they used to fight, hug, kiss, tease... they used to eat my brains. In fact one white hair grew on my head yet getting them to be romantic would be the last thing possible!" I flicked out a stray tear which appeared as I recollected the past.
"We knew that getting the two married would be the best option for our parents agreed that they are the best for each other but Arnav bhai was way too egoistic and insecure to go down on his knee. Even though at the beginning Khu and I were touted as made for each other as we were inseparable, I had to play Cupid and show that the fights they had were different." I chuckled to myself on Khu's insistence when she stated she was indifferent to Arnav bhai.
This brought along a faint sweet memory.
"Uff! Arjun baccha! You have no idea what I am made off! Till date not even a single man has been born who can intimidate me!" Khu blew her bangs while I laughed and then paused for a second watching Arnav bhai flip at the magazine and clench his jaw.
I pushed back my unkept hair and scratched my stubble "But Khu! Arnav bhai has been on this planet earth for the past twenty four years!" I winked at a red Khu who was ready to pound me.
"Mr. Not So Intelligent Sweet Kamina Dog Arjun!" Khu glared and I rolled my eyes "Some ASR does not intimidate me the least!" Khu chuckled and shot a winning look to a disinterested Arnav bhai. But I am his brother! I saw the way his eyes had squinted and almost burnt the paper with his gaze.
"Khu darling! I am off for a real important work, Mahira is calling!" I winked and ran off, hiding behind the mesh of leaves behind the garden and saw Arnav bhai sprint up that very second. I chewed on a gum and put on my recorder as bhai called "Miss. Gupta?"
I laughed mentally as Khu froze and turned behind "Hai Devi Maiyya! How dare you scare me? You were busy reading.. oh wait.. staring at the nangu pungu models in the Shogue magazine! So why are you calling me, first of all tell me this that why are you disturbing me! Arrey! Look at your audacity! You don't even bother to reply! Huh! Speechless right! And Miss. Gupta? Itni izzat? Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, to what occasion am I receiving such respect? Bolo bolo, what's going on in your wicked mind! Laad Governor! Annnnn...." Khu's voice was silence as she noticed Arnav bhai just staring at her.
He took a step in front while Khu took a step behind.
The dance continued till Khushi was backed against the wall and Arnav had placed his arms side by side of her face. "Scared are we Miss. Gupta?" he clicked his tongue in annoyance as Khushi turned red.
"Aa..aa.." "Arnav, I guess that's the name I have." He cocked his head to the side "Arrey, someone's All India Radio voice is shut! I didn't know my presence makes you scared." He leaned his lips near her ears and smiled as Khushi clenched her eyes shut.
Moving a step behind he crossed his arms across his chest "And why does it make a difference if I see bikini clad women in a magazine?" He chuckled while an angry Khushi grumbled something like "Demon" under her breath.
"Secondly I like calling you Miss Gupta, thirdly you didn't even allow me to breathe a word as you kept your constant chatter on..." He said and I grinned, loving bhai's move on Khu.
"Hmm... something is on fire..." I thought to myself as bhai took a few steps till they were touching noses on the wall.
"Eesh Arjun close your eyes, but wait... you are twenty... you are allowed to have 'that' and this is just a trailer!" I convinced myself and removed my palms from my eyes as bhai went closer and closer to Khu.
Khushi had her eyes shut the minute she felt Arnav's warm breath moistening her cheeks "Khushi..." Arnav whispered while Khushi turned her head aside "Look at me Khushi..." he said softly and Arnav knew it might have cost her everything to flutter her eyelashes and look at the handsome man before her.
"Khushi... to frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants. I made you do what I wanted - look at me, hence I can, do and will intimidate you, hamesha." He winked at a mortified Khu who questioned a negative emotion of intimidation.
"And Khushi, the only thing I would want you to do is just remain the way you are. If intimidating you means going to kiss you while you blush like tomatoes, I don't mind doing that!" He smiled as a red Khu blushed harder while I fell off the mesh, laughing my life out at their "romance" and getting beaten up by Khu.
I smiled a little as I saw his gaze focused on the clouds and the handsome features of his face relax and the corners of his perfect mouth tip a little. Having heard that they weren't married was like a bucket of ice water amidst sweltering heat!
I hesitated to touch his bare arm, Lord save me from the occasional bursts of shyness! "Arjun..." I had to call him for the fifth time as he smiled and looked at me. "Were you thinking something about Khu and Arnav bhai?" I asked as he nodded and smiled.
"You know Sakshi, since childhood we were inseparable... and then when she was in her twelfth, bhai returned from USA completing his bachelors, he literally ran back home to show us his degree while" Arjun said "And I saw the spark then and there... when she slipped and literally fell on his arms, his degree going off in the wind and he just staring at my Khu! Thus from there started their fights... he used to love to rile her up while she used to bite at his ego whenever it came." Arjun smiled and I couldn't help but laugh too.
"But they say that where there is intense hatred over there there's untameable passion? I remembered my bro staring at us while she used to come and hug me... and bas... I realised that he had something for her..." Arjun commenced while I smiled back and heard of my Khu's romance!
"And their marriage was the talk of the town because neither would bow down before the other's ego, it had been one night when she had caught my brother crying... and that one weak moment turned into a moment of love... I witnessed how my bro kissed her cheek and they decided to marry each other since being pressurised to marry... cause my bro was already old enough... and Khu was crazy enough... but then...." Arjun paused and his face turned grim.
"For Khu, her family was what mattered the most, she had a hunch that there's a threat lurking out. She didn't confide in him for reasons best known to us. All hell broke lose when on the day of their marriage Sikandar's men attacked. Khu protected Bhai while I was in the outhouse, unaware of what's happening. I was so busy dancing in the outhouse that my phone's vibration was not heard. If only... if only I had checked my phone that I would have come to know she needs back up. By the time I reached the venue I saw that a shattered Arnav was yelling at Khu for not being efficient enough and accused her while Khu was taken aback..." Arjun sighed.
"WHAT THE HELL! I LOST MY FAMILY AND NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS!" Arnav grabbed a broken Khushi's shoulders and yanked at her.
Khushi was shocked, she had told Arjun to get the security ready and had sent the alarm to him... why hadn't the guards arrive?
Arjun staggered back in guilt as he realised one mistake of his led to... destruction.
"Arnav... I was not sure... I had security, I needed to protect..." "THE FU** WITH MY PROTECTION! YOU ARE NOT WORTH MY FAMILY'S DEATH! DON'T SHOW ME YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN KHUSHI!" Arnav blasted at Khushi.
"ARNAV! Please... please list..." "Agent Kay, I would like if you would go back to your work and nail down these people." Arnav's icy words cut into Khushi who was still clutching on to her blood red lehenga.
"Arnav, please... I am your Khushi... give me a chance to explain! Please Arnav!" Khushi cried and held on to his palm, Arnav yanked his hand aside and wiped his hot tears. "I hate you Khushi Kumari Gupta, everything is because of you! The Khushi I had felt for is dead! Dead with my parents and yours! I will never forgive you... never show me your face and get out of my life! I HATE YOU KHUSHI!" He screamed as Khushi stepped back in shock and anger.
"I swear Arnav Singh Raizada, I won't show you my face till I have them. If only you could trust me!" Khushi ran away while Arnav drove off with his car and I stood shocked at the mass murder.
I was the one at fault, but the two most important people in my life bore the pain. It was my inefficiency but Khushi kept quiet about that and true to her word, neither have met the other.
I felt a burning sensation on my cheeks when I realised that I had been crying all along.
"For my bhai who just learnt to love, he believed that she didn't trust him enough and vowed to never speak to her again and Khu broke down further... for she only needed his support. Thus they both parted ways, yet on field, like idiots, the two keep on looking out for each other but on their face they never speak to each other, as if they don't know if the other exists." Arjun sighed and closed his eyes, his wary face making him age all of a sudden.
I placed my palm against his wet, stubbled cheek and half smiled "It wasn't your fault Arjun... to think that an emergency alarm should work even if your phone was on vibration... someone made sure that help never reached Khushi." I said and he froze.
"There were only two people who could have access to my phone." Arjun said and shook his head, a glint in his eyes told me he had begun to find something... something which could have turned the events of that day.
He turned towards me and wiped my tears gently, his fingers left a scorching trail across my cheeks "Hush... don't cry..." He mumbled and pulled me into a hug.
She willingly came into my embrace and I tucked her head under my chin, swaying gently as we prayed for their happiness. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be kissed with happiness and love and her arms clasped around my bare torso.
I sighed in bliss as I felt her, was the air smelling sweeter or was it due to her floral fragrance?
"Khu...ww.. went through so much... I remember teasing her about her love life so many times! I must have hurt her so much! Every time I talked about my parents... it must have hurt her so much!" She broke down "I don't know why, but her pain hurts me so much.... I am so bad..." She wept while I held her tightly.
"Oh no strawberry, you have been a reason to her happiness too... " I spoke softly while rubbing away the moisture from the corner of her eyes, I can't help but smile as her lips part and eyes close when the pad of my thumb brushes against her cheekbones "And a true friend is one who cries in the other's pains as well...there couldn't have been a better human than you as a friend for her" I hoped she believed me.
"I wish I could just hug her and say it's all right..." she muttered and then placed her head on my chest, why did my heart start beating at such an odd moment? I found myself playing with a few strands of her hair and spoke;
"You will, very soon... and one more thing Sakshi... whatever I did with you... was because I truly like you... and you are someone I would like to take home.... but..." I sighed and looked aside as she stepped back and tucked a strand behind her ear.
"But?" She asked. "But I don't know if you feel the same for me. I seriously don't want to force you into this. It might be new for you and you may think that I am going really fast but in the life that I go by, Sakshi... every second is a new life for me. I... I... you have come to mean a lot to me ann...." my speech was zapped as she placed her soft shy lips against mine.
Every second thought which berated me for my brazenness dissipated into thin air the minute I place my lips on his moving ones. I became stiff and just held on to his arm, my heart jumped out of my ribs and just as I thought that I had done the stupidest thing on this planet that I felt his lips curl into a smile beneath mine.
I had thought I couldn't blush anymore.
But when he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer that I felt every blood in my system rush to my cheeks. I closed my eyes and subconsciously threaded my fingers into his thick hair and his lips teased mine.
They brushed against mine and I squealed when his teeth nipped and nibbled on my bottom lip, prying my mouth open. I really didn't understand what was he trying to get till he coaxed my for a deeper kiss,
And when the warm and minty recess of his mouth welcomed mine, when his bold warm sweet tongue touched my little one, I think I stopped thinking altogether.
...
...
...
Perhaps that's what love feels like. Love makes you believe that you are a living entity, your lungs breathe in the sweet air, your skin glows in excitement, your heart thuds in life, your brain expands in horizon, your senses get heightened to emotions.
Love makes you realise, life is more than breathing, love makes one live the body he's in.
It's only when her heaving chest brushed mine as she struggled to take in gasps of air that I gently pulled away, peppering kisses on her thoroughly kissed red mouth when she exhaled and and locked her fingers against my nape.
God knows why she suddenly found her sandals pretty interesting for her gaze was stuck right there. Suddenly I realised she was murmuring something. "If I felt nothing Arjun, why do you think I would be shattered on thinking that you were married to my bestie?" She bit her bottom lip a little while I chinned her up.
I didn't realise every sensation had become heightened at the moment, the sky seemed more blue... wait.. that didn't make sense! Heck love made me see the world through an entire new dimension, did I just hear the birds chirp? I closed my eyes to feel the blood and heart pump against my chest.
I was alive...
Alive.
I cupped her cheeks as I caught a drift of what she meant "Even you..."
He smiled and placed my palm on his bare chest, my fingers tingled as I felt his warm tanned skin beneath my palm. I had had my limit of being shy and just closed my eyes when he whispered "Feel my heartbeat love..."
His husky voice sent chills up my spine and I nodded, flattening my palm against his chest when my eyes shot open, his heart ran at a heart attacking pace!
I could bet on all the strawberries in this world that even the bullet train might not go so fast!
"Even you?" his words tumbled out of my mouth. He laughed and rest his forehead against mine, a warmth filled my heart as I marked his midnight orbs, the angled nose, the sculpted cheekbones. My palms itched to run over the stubble that had formed, lately.
My eyes rested on his masculine lips which weaved my dreams and left me senseless when they met mine. "I love you Sakshi, for who you are..." He said and I was numb. Tears formed which I blinked away and hummed in response.
He looked at me questioningly, expecting a reply. He parted and waited for a response and that was a bad thing, for his naked upper half came into my notice and I turned aside, trying to brush of the image of the sun's rays kissing his lightly bronzed chest, the pectorals were sculpted to perfection and a torso which spoke of fitness than show. His collarbones stood out as he laughed again. He turned aside and I closed my eyes as I got to see the carved shoulders and the perfect 'V' waist and the muscular back.
I muttered something while he back hugged me "If you are done checking me out my petite one, give me a reply. Let me remind you, you need not be shy... you have seen me without a scrap of cloth!" He chuckled and I blushed till my toes and curled them in my sandals as his chest reverberated with laughter against my back.
I pushed him slightly and walked away "Shameless! You don't mind that I saw you in the form as the day you were born!" I tried to control the blush forming when he kept his healthy arm against me and gently pinned me to the jeep "You are the only person who can see me, touch me, feel me and love me irrespective of any state... do you know what I am hinting at?" He asked and my mouth dried.
He wanted me - forever.
"Will you marry me Sakshi?" the sincerity in his eyes blew me. Tears formed but the words that formed were "No..."
I frowned and tried to think what went wrong... was I too fast? My thoughts came to a stop as she rested her palm against my cheek "Arjun, till the time we get Arnav bhai and Khushi settled, we can't be selfish in rejoicing our wedding." She said and I felt my heart swell up for the most precious woman in front.
She was one of the most honest and sincere woman I had ever met in my life, apart from Khu.
We walked back to our jeep while Sakshi demanded to drive, we stopped a few minutes from the headquarters and I raised an eyebrow when she crawled towards me. I smiled as she raised her lips to mine "I love you too, and yes I will marry you the minute Khu and Arnav bhai are off problems..." She smiled and I took the lead.
The journey to the headquarters consisted with gazes, comfortable silences and mating of our mouths.
I swore I would do anything to get back the very same happiness in Khu and Bhai's life.
"Come in Agent A..." Khushi spoke as she saw his lean form rest against the door. "There are quite a few things to discuss Agent Kay..." his husky voice filled the room.
"Hmm... by the way where's my assistant?" Khushi frowned as she searched for him.
"Here Agent. Wait... Agent A.. what are you doing here? Kay told me it's going to be us for the..." Agent SH frowned at the presence of Agent A.
A breathed out a sigh and looked at Khushi, the woman for whom he harboured a lot of feelings... "Nothing SH... it's just that I decided to grace this meet..." his words sent the word of finality as Kay and SH nodded.
Agent A placed his palm on K's as a friendly gesture "How are you now?" He asked gently while Kay smiled back.
He completely missed the hardened expression on SH's face on their banter. "She mustn't talk to anyone else but me..." a voice barked in his head.
Kay had not informed anyone about the pendant on Sakshi's neck, she had a hint who was the mole amidst them, especially with the hardened look on SH's face.
Putting on the face that everything is fine, Khushi (Kay), Shyam Manohar Jha (SH) and Aman Mathur (A) sat down for an intense discussion on their current positions on tackling the mafia.
"Strawberry, just stay behind me okay... am going to meet the boss - he will place a safe accommodation for you. Even though am pretty sure Khu is safe, I will personally go out to find her..." Arjun told me
"But Arjun..." "No Sakshi, you need to be safe and secured and don't say a word in front of boss - he shouldn't know we have a relation... not till we find Khu" Arjun said and I nodded. "Anyways it is out of protocol to have a relation with anyone dealing with the case, he has screwed up quite a few lives already, let's keep silent." Arjun stated and I knew my wisdom lay in following Arjun's instructions.
I gawked at the interior of the headquarters, it was nothing I imagined... instead of a high tech, ultra modern interior I found myself walking inside a damp and musty surroundings. I scrunched my nose in disgust as dirty water dripped on the mud of the floor and there were some algae and moss growth. The stench made me want to puke already.
I looked in horror as Arjun put his hands on the slimy wheel and turned it around to reveal a rickety elevator. His face was stoic and his hands dripped of the slime as he pressed an old button on the elevator.
I had noticed that he had gripped the wheel really hard in the beginning and was staring at the door before we got into the elevator. I put my hands over my nose as we reached a level.
The slime had dried on his hands and he walked into a clearing where there was sink. He calmly washed his hands and pat them dry with a nearby tissue.
He just nodded his head at my expression and touched a moss covered wall, he grabbed my palm and placed it on the wall while I closed my eyes, cursing the yuck wall while all I felt was a cool concrete wall.
WHAT THE...
The moss looked so real but I still couldn't believe that it wasn't real. I stepped into a cooler hall to find myself in a white metallic room with plasmas attached. There was no one in the room and I mused over the black leather seats and the glass walls.
"What you saw before was a disguise for what we have inside. The slime on the wheel is actually good for skin and wounds and also there's a finger printing scan beneath it. There's a retina eye scan, heartbeat scan as well as body scan. There's also a mental stability scan which basically measures if you are stressed or not. And suppose I am blackmailed and brought here, all I need to do is give two taps on the wheel and they will never open - even if there is a blast. The minute you have stepped inside this, everything of you has been recorded... in fact by now inside out details of yours must be ready on my file." He smirked while I gaped at him.
Science took the lead.
"This is just for a few people, R5, boss and I. Not even Khu is allowed here." He said and I nodded.
It was a hell of a lot information to digest. "It's better we use the shower before we meet boss because we are pretty much stinking thanks to the sewer path that I used." He laughed and I smiled back.
"Umm.. the bathroom is not..." I gulped while he said "It is..." I looked at him terrified "Don't worry, only I shall deal with the record..." I wanted to punch the smirk on his face while he smiled back "Joking, will deactivate it... trust me!" He pinched his throat and I guess I took the fastest shower in the world possible!
I did feel a little sting on the water, but I guess that's because I did cut myself somewhere. I walked out to find a man looking so much like my Arjun in a crisp lavender shirt, jeans, a holster across his shoulders. I was surprised to find him clean shaved and the translucent patch on his shirt and the shine of his hair told that he took a shower too.
I was surprised to have found a pair of clothes waiting for me, nice but strange.
"Come now." Arjun leaded the way while my eyes were stuck to him. He looked wonderfully different. In fact his eyes were the only thing that shone warmth and softened as they met mine. Apart from that he looked like he wouldn't think twice before using the Colt.45 on anyone's head.
"Sir, this is Miss. Sakshi Anand - she was the roommate of Agent Kay during Kay's undercover stint." Arjun's voice was cold and flat.
I peered to find the boss absorbed in deep thought.
"Now where's Kay... and why isn't she here to tell me this personally." He stated.
"Sir, she left for trac.." My words were cut as he flung the lamp aside "How dare she disobey my order? How dare you allow Khushi to go all alone damn it! She's dealing with mafia! What if anything happens to her you idiot!" Boss barked at me and I winced back a little at his fire.
He grabbed my shoulder and barked again "If anything happens to her then you are responsible! GET THAT!" "Sir... control..." I tried my patience but he yelled back louder."I can't fu****g control! She is outside, alone! What if... no... nothing can happen to her!" he shouted and I saw Sakshi hold cross her fingers and pale at boss's anger.
"Sir CONTROL!" I shouted back, boss and his dramatics!
"I FU****G WON'T" he barked back.
"Just shut up... Khushi will be back and I assure you!" I calmed him down but the boss shook his head.
A bittersweet feeling rose in my chest, as now I didn't see my boss, but rather my raging, concerned brother :
Arnav Singh Raizada.
Khushi's Arnav.
"Arnav?" the name involuntarily left my mouth and his intense gaze sent chills up my spine as he turned towards me and stiffened.
"How come you told this stranger about my life?" "He didn't say anything, Khu told me!" I lied to save him from Arnav's wrath and he swore.
"What the! I had told her not to ever speak to anyone that we are tog... we had... whatever!" Arnav shook his head when Arjun spoke up "No, Khu couldn't have ever said anything."
"I see, so Miss Sakshi Anand, how did you come to know about me and moreover about K... Gupta and I?" I gulped as he cornered me when Arjun came in between "Bhai, talk to me... okay..."
"I want to talk to talk to Miss. Anand alone..." I pushed his patience buttons and as expected his eyes grew cold as his eyes flicked to Sakshi's worried form.
"I will be here, Sir. It's not in our protocol to leave a woman alone with a stranger." Who was my younger brother kidding?
I folded my arms across my chest as my brother flustered on my next question "Oh and it's fine for a woman to travel three four days with a stranger!"
I shook my head over my brother's infatuation with this woman and looked at her, she could be a threat as well. "So Miss Anand, how much do you know about me and Khus... Gupta."
The fair woman paled a little and fumbled "I.. kk.. know that you love her" "NEVER! That's rubbish... Khushi and I have nothing for each other, and Arjun please teach your lover to stammer less!" I looked at my brother who was gaping at me as if I had grown a few horns on my head.
I knew why he turned sombre..
He must be recalling the time when I had told him the same thing.
Khushi was busy tending the delicate rose saplings while Arjun, in a not so gentlemanly manner, flopped beside him "Khushi not so Kumari Gupta TENDING flowers like a certain ARNAV Singh Raizada?" he winked to find Khushi all lost.
"Where are you lost Mrs. Raizada?" He tickled Khushi to get her off her "zone out" "Mrs. Raizada... wait what! Jun, you are out of your mind for your not so kind information! There's nothing like this... instead of plucking rose it's about the essence of harvesting them..." Arjun was shocked by her sudden soft nature.
Khushi didn't bother to justify her behaviour, at the moment she was preoccupied with what had happened the night before. Her cheeks flared to scarlet when she recalled how Arnav had angled her chin and placed his lips on her cheek for a long exquisite moment.
She came back to reality when Arjun back hugged her and whispered "Thinking about Bhai's kiss my cutie-pie?"
"Haww! What the! Nothing as such happened!" Khushi pushed Arjun behind and began heaping soil into the mud.
"Ya ya, why would you remember your friend after your lover boy! Aha, using 'what the' like bhai! Gardening like him... am I a joker or what?" Arjun winked at a fuming Khushi.
"Me! And having feelings for that good for nothing egoistic, arrogant, stubborn, idiotic, stone faced Arnav Singh Raizada! Am I a fool huh? Now get lost! Wait, why have you got an anaemic face?" Khushi nudged a pale Arjun aside who was glued to his phone in shock.
"Khushi, Bhai's friend... Nihal... he said that bhai's met with an accident! He's admitted in..." "WHAT!" The pots fell from her hand and she rushed out of the garden.
"Baba Arjunanand, it's time that you baptised as a Love Guru!" Arjun laughed to himself as he saw Khushi run away.
To only bump into Arnav. "What the f... can't you watch where you'reeee... Khushi... Khushi..." Arnav held on to his little woman who was hugging on to him tightly. He gently wiped aside the tears across her mud streaked face.
"You What the! Where did you go? Do you have an inkling as to what was going through me! I even got a message that you met with an accident! Do you know I couldn't even breathe after that! Do you..." "Hush Khushi Kumari Gupta!" Arnav smirked at seeing his troubled mess.
"I just went for a shower Khushi..." Arnav raised an eyebrow while Khushi turned red noticing him in his translucent white vest and trousers. "I..I... I need to go..."
Khushi bit her tongue and almost ran away when she heard his voice "So, you were worried for me?" "NO way!" her voice a pitch higher than necessary when he stepped at a distance too close for comfort. "I... mm... mean everyone's disturbed... even.. Arjun..."
"And what about the fact that you couldn't breath..." his nose brushed against her cheek as she clutched her shirt tighter. "There's too much... dd.. dust in air, hence.. cc.. couldn't breath."
"Oh yeah yeah... and why did you hug me? Was it because..." he let his words drawl as Khushi gasped. The devilish glint was back... the same glint when he had kissed her cheek.
"No no..." "You don't love me?" Arnav pouted while Khushi fumbled for words. He loved the naive little brunette who was struggling for words, he thought of stopping this teasing session when she shoved him angrily "Fine Mr. Egoistic! I don't 'What the what the' like you! Fine, I .. ll. love you! You don't even bother to confess... gah!"
To only find a tug on her dress as she left "Oh Lord! How dare you! Shameless! I hate you! I don't love you!" "But I love you too." Arnav appeared in front of her and removed the stuck thread from the hinge of a door.
He smiled and pulled the young blushing lady towards him, he brushed his lips against hers, she let lose of her defences but before either could deepen the mere brushing of lips that another devil took the centre stage.
"Woohoo! What a kiss brother! Khushi! You are younger than me yet you kiss with the older brother, not bad my love!"
"What the fu.. Arjun!" "Awww... my Arnie bro's getting all shy!"
"Shut up Arjun! Why would he blush? And you! He's in some ICU eh?" Khushi growled.
"Sorry folks! But see Khushi... or bhabi... you and bhai must continue whatever's left in the bedroom, arrey don't worry... I have put protection in the second drawer!" Arjun laughed and then screamed as Khushi throttled him.
"It's nothing like thisssss!" Khushi yelled "Aha! You take me to be an idiot! One answering for the other and my bro blushing like a newly wedded bride!"
"Uff... you are in louvvveee... you are in louvveee... you are in looouuvvveeee..." Arjun released his glass shattering voice much to the annoyance of the recently formed love birds!
"Bhai!" I called ASR for the fifth time as he jerked back into reality. "Thinking about Khushi?" I asked as he sighed "This is the nth time she's going without informing me... Khushi..." ASR coughed a little "Nope, not thinking about her and I do not care about her locations. Just make sure she's safe, for such an agent is always a catalyst for us. You have the rest of your life to romance Sakshi, right now... stay away from distractions." Arnav growled.
Seeing his seething temper to have ebbed away I couldn't help but add "Don't worry about my romance bhai, I assure you after the mission's over I shall fill your hands with bucket loads of nieces and nephews!" I nudged his arm and winked at Strawberry who mouthed "I will kill you."
And I mouthed "I love you too".
"As far as Khu is concerned, we have our tracking devices set on her, for now she's on the expected path - leading to Europe and ASR, do you realise it's three years since you referred Kay as Khushi? Do you..." but before I could complete Bhai left, placing his mask of indifference again.
"Everything will be fine Arjun." Sakshi sighed "Hmm... I hope so."
The fear that dwelled in my heart, the fear of losing him, was too much to handle. It was easy and thrilling to have an adventurous life but the parting caused an immense heartache.
I was oblivious to his little coaxes assuring me of his safe return. I was put up in a safe guest house, a few miles from the headquarters.
"Shush my love, not a single more tear! I will be back! I promise... for you and the little one that might be forming in you." He pressed a kiss on my forehead and I stood in shock.
Little one in me?
"What? Our baby? From where did that come?" I wiped away my tears as Arjun sported a confused look "Strawberry! Last night after you retired to your chamber, I came to sleep beside you and then we started kissing... aa.. .and... we... we consummated baby! Don't tell me you remember nothing!" He covered his mouth in shock.
We consummated?
Tears pooled in my eyes as the gravity of the situation set in me "Oh Shit! Strawberry am damn sorry, I was just kidding jaan! You were crying so... and sweetheart if we consummated do you think it would have skipped your memory" Arjun chuckled while I pounded my fists on his shoulder.
"Gah! Arjunnnn!" I hugged him tight before leaving. It was strange to find that the man who had such a childlike streak would turn all sombre and serious once he stepped into the confines of his world.
"Just be alert and don't trust anyone who states that they know me. We three will be back! Love you dear." He walked away and for a strange reason, his optimism was replaced by my fear.
It had been a hell of a three day chase against the mafia. Apart from Aman and Shyam there was none whom I could trust now.
If my sources were right, then Sikandar had kept his gaze fixed on Arnav, well the good news from this situation was that Arjun could've done the needful and not only secure Arnav but also crack the location of Sikandar.
I looked at the man who had attacked me by banging a glass bottle near my occipital lobe, thank the lords that it had missed the target by a few centimetres.
However swaying was the best option for me instead of an immediate fight. What made me hold him hostage was the fact that he didn't want to kill me, he wanted me alive.
I didn't need another guess as to who was behind this - Sikandar.
"Locations and next plan... now" I barked as I placed his finger against a burning matchstick. The man groaned in pain and then widened his eyes in fear.
To my surprise I found a sense of happiness in his eyes "What the..." I muttered.
And before I realised the situation, I turned behind to only see a masked man swung an iron rod against my head.
The only sound which resonated in the room were my horrified screams.
CHAPTER 4
II The Picture II
Amidst a jungle en route KP
Arjun
I half smile as her eyelashes flutter in sheer innocence and she parts her lips for me, I gulp as what started as a mere tease ended up in being something completely different.
For a minute I forget everything I have and cup her cheeks when Khu’s face whips me like a thunderbolt.
How could I?
Loathe fills in me and I sit back of my seat, controlling the shameless urges of a man that craved for a second… had I forgotten my vows to Khu in that one second? Was that fleeting moment more than the trust Khu and I shared?
I cursed myself mentally and turned aside to find Strawberry in a dazed state. Damn… I would be her first kiss if I…
Her grip on my jacket and clenched eyes… I would have been her first… if I…
Damn!
Sakshi
I frowned as he almost punched the radio shut and looked aside as if nothing happened. I looked at him expectantly when Poseidon spoke up “You are a certain devil! Kay must have been truly red! And you are no less than a strawberry now!” He threw a little chuckled and something snapped in my heart.
My eyes snap open as I find the warmth missing. I sit up and clear my throat, fumbling as I put the seatbelt back. I could feel my cheeks warming up and damn it, I was not being able to look at the man next to me.
This was a usual thing for him? To play with feelings? A sharp pang hit my heart and I took a few controlled breaths to come in sync with the situation.
He is a Greek God.
Weren’t they famous for their philanders and mistakes?
He tried to get my attention by tapping jis fingers on the dashboard while I turned to him “Say something na Strawberry?” he asked.
Arjun
Guilt ate me up as I noticed that I had destroyed the beautiful relation of friendship in two seconds. I tried to make our situation light but she had switched to mute mode. I know that once I get back home I would be answerable to Khu, what would I tell her?
“Something.” her stoic face replied.
I got a hang as to what could be the issue hence I said “I will check.” “I…” she shut me off before I started to speak. “I have a year’s course in automobile engineering, so if you can please!” she jumped out of the car and ignored my footsteps behind her.
I tried to ignore the jab of her tone and chuckled “Hah, very funny. I just died in laughter... why are you so silent man!” I asked while she sighed.
Sakshi
How the hell does he even think of getting stuffs back to “normal”. “F**k” he swore as our car came to a sudden halt. I frowned as he tried to rev up the engine back to life but the car too seemed to be defying Rawte.
Rawte leans on the front of his car as I opened the hood and coughed out the smoke. “You fine.” he asked and I glared at him.
Blo**y concerned.
“I am perfect!” I snapped back and that did the job of keeping him shut. As suspected a bit of foliage and stuff had come into the engine hence it died out. Hopefully after clearing the trash the jeep should come back to life.
Arjun
It hit me to see her suddenly cold and distant and I know that I am at fault. I sighed and decided to give a new start.
Just then the Gods too decided to play with me as a drizzle started and Sakshi hid her head beneath her dupatta. I paused and looked at Sakshi. Taking a deep breath I spoke "Sakshi, I am sorry..."
Yeah I was ready for anger and at the most a slap but the disgust etched on her face against me snapped a thread in my heart. "Yeah right!" her voice came through and then she shoved me on my chest.
Her reply came immediately "You don't have to be." I stepped back at the impact of her words. "Sa..." before I could complete she started her tirade "You really don't have to apologise; it must be a usual thing for you to play with girls and do all such activities, kissing, flirting..."
"DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME BEFORE KNOWING ME SAKSHI!" I growled and pinned her to the car, I agree I had a weak moment but this doesn't mean that she could belittle me to this extent! Disgust?
"What was that then! My feelings, my erratic heartbeat... I am not a toy that you can use for time pass! I am not those type of girls who can forget what's a kiss for pete's sake! You aren't worth anyone's love and trust damn it! I would have been better off myself than being with you!" Her words felt like metal whips thrashed on my back.
I leaned forward as she held me by the collar and shook me "God knows why Khu left me entrusted with YOU, I don't need you to protect me.. you can very well leave mister!" She punched my chest and ran away crying while for a few moments I was still dazed at the words she threw at me.
"You aren't worth anyone's love or trust."
Sakshi
I ran away with my bag and cried into the dense foliage, aching for a shoulder and hug. I was scared, I never felt such emotions of passion and being at a loss. I like him, but this was more of a stupid game for him!
Amidst the solitude I recall all the venom that I had spat at him. A twinge of guilt hits me as the sentence about trust makes way in my mind. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that... hadn't he confined in me about his family's death?
It's only when a hyena's laugh echoed amidst the rustling branches that my feet felt cold and this was the perfect time that my deserted common sense came back to me.
I realised a few things
- This was a dense jungle.
- There were wild animals.
- I had nothing to protect myself.
- And by the tone in which I had spoken to Arjun, the last thing he was going to do was to save me.
I cursed myself and began walking back. Certainly mind mind was running crazy and that recalled of a really funny incident when Khu stated that "Oh now I exactly know what's missing in your life" with that impish smile of hers.
I half smiled at that... could it be that because I was at the proximity of something... of something strange that's why I bursted out? Was it the rage on myself, that I was angry on the fact that the kiss should have happened? That I wanted a reaction from him?
Anyways, he was worth of the trust and I did believe in him, I know it's pretty opposite from what I confided in him. If he truly wanted to do something he could have easily kissed me and a terrifyingly strange thing in your mind told you that for the most horrific reason, you wouldn't have stopped that kiss at all.
Shit.
And this is the precise moment in which I realise that I had no clue as to which part of the world I was in.
OH SHIT
Panic ceased in me and I tried to put my sense together but amidst the forests of Maharashtra what am I supposed to expect? Oh yeah being a luncheon for the animals!
No no no no... Damn I still need to get married before I died! I hit myself on my head and cursed... marriage! Seriously Anand!
I took in a deep breath and started my own pep talk "Come on... this was not the time to be damsel in distress but rather to use your brains Shocker Sash!" my voice though gave way about me being in distress.
Will Arjun come searching for me? What if I am caught, no Sakshi sweetie you need to use the darkness to your advantage. With the help of darkness as my ally, I tried to walk out of their vision when I felt my left feet to be intensely heavy. Damn what was that?
By using ancient methods I tried to locate the north star. "Yeah baby found you!" I muttered in joy when another important question arose.
I didn't know where I was thus I had no clue know whether going to North would take me inside the forest or outside the forest. So much for finding the North star.
Shit happens, twice.
This is the ultimate moment of mental crucification when my alter stands before me like a grim reaper and decided to have a tête-à-tête with me! "Sakshi sweetheart... can't you control your temper... no no... you had to give the moral science lecture to Poseidon! You never realised that you were an active participant in the kiss? Over that you to hurt him as well! Bravo!"
Suddenly a flash of light distracted me and I ran towards the source when I realised that that light is certainly not the the headlight of my car!
Oh hell no!
Who could it be out there? I noticed a few men in sheer black suits walk out "Sir, most probably the two would be here" one of them said.
Oh crap.. crap crap crap.
I gulped and look down to find something that made me faint at that moment.
A python slithering around my feet
WORST.
DAY.
EVER.
I closed my eyes and prayed to God to help me out when I remembered that if I stood still the python will slither off feeling it's another non living thing. Tears streamed out of my eyes thinking this is my last day of my life. I felt bad for not having considered what more good life had given to me.
That's precisely when someone came and wrenched the python out of the grip and stared at me. "Arjun... oh thank god..." I cried out and held his arm.
He wiped away my tears with a tenderness that shook my soul. Before I could say anything he grabbed my arm and shouted at me "What the hell was wrong with you, I know I am useless and pervert and whatever else you have to add but it doesn't mean that you run off... you know you cld have..."
Arjun
Before I could say anything more she kept her palm on my mouth and signalled a no."There are a few people here... we must run!" She whispered and my senses widened to be receptive to the most mere sound. We gently step aside when a twig cracked underneath our foot and someone yells "Oi! I found them!"
Holding her palm in an iron vice grip we ran all the way to our jeep and I accelerated it, zooming it away from their sight. I knew this road so well that I could travel with my eyes closed.
The next few moments were a blur as I guided her towards our vehicle, the rain washed off our tracks when suddenly we heard noise of a few bullets. Throwing caution to the winds we ran faster when a sharp sting hit my bicep, I winced and let that be - we had to reach to safety.
We drove away to safety while my device showed that there were no more presence near us. Sakshi turned towards me, setting her wet locks behind her ear. "How did you find me?" she asked.
"I stuck a piece of chip on you to track you from the beginning itself, so as to if you are not in my sight, I at least have you in my vision." I replied. She hummed in response then took a quick breath, I guess she had something more to state.
I grew tired of everything, the run, the facade of everything that I gently closed my eyelids.
Sakshi
I gulped a bit and then spoke "Arjun I am really sorry for what I said, truth be told I never ever had any sort of relation and stuff and for me it means a pious thing and moreover... I don't know why I reacted but yeah... my heart just does this random beat when you are near me and I ... Arjun... ARJUN..." I almost screamed in shock as he was wincing in pain. My eyes shifted to his muscled biceps as blood oozed from them.
He was SHOT! It took every inch of my panic control to not scream and bring the planet earth down. I closed my eyes and recalled my days when I bunked and sat in a medical class for time pass. Guess that would come to work today.
I found a first aid kit under my seat and looked at him as he ripped off his sleeve to look at his wound. "Just wait... please" I asked Arjun to politely shut up as he refused every advance of help. I winced at his pain and felt guilty too as I was the reason for this. Arjun was quiet and chuckled "You won't be able to do this, I will do this on my own." He said while anger came into me, again.
"Okay I know that you are pissed off with me and you can slap me for that later, but for now let me help you and you keep quiet like a good boy" Saying so I took the help of a tweezer in removing the bullet. My hands were shaking but then I took deep breaths. "You have lighter?" you asked him and he nodded and passed, I heated the tweezer (so as to no septic causes) and then look at his contorted face.
"There's chloroform in the first aid kit?" I asked as he nodded at the bronze coloured bottle. Before he knew it I had placed my chloroform dipped dupatta on his nose and he passed out. "Okay am sorry for doing this but I don't want you to get hurt... take care..."
Now removing the bullet was an easy task and I removed his shirt and twisted it around his arm to apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding. My cheeks flushed as my eyes took their own shameless route of noticing him shirtless. The carved pecs, abdominal muscles and now I felt a little bit of sadness as I noticed on closer inspection that there was another mark of injury.
Sigh.
I noticed him getting goosebumps due to the cool breeze and wrapped my dupatta like a shawl around him. It had been in total four days with a stranger, yet now I felt something strange and loveable for him.
Loveable? I am crazy, period.
As he roused to consciousness I made him swallow a pain killer and he groggily opened one eyelid to see the person. I felt a little bit of joy as he relaxed seeing me and I patted him back to sleep. After carefully shifting him to the passenger seat I took charge of the jeep. The GPS on the dashboard made it a child's play to reach safety.
"I think I like you Rawte." I mumbled to his sleeping form when his wallet on the floor of the jeep took my notice. Being in the perfect samaritan mood I picked up his wallet when a sweet picture came into my notice.
To my surprise it was a wedding photo. Two strange people were standing there, a fair handsome man with trimmed moustache wearing a sherwani and next to him a married woman - probably his wife; a dusky woman with long tresses and a huge smile.
But what shocked me out of my wits was that... the bride in centre. Decked up in a blood red lehenga and a huge grin plastered on her face and those familiar pair of deep hazel amber eyes "Khushi..." my voice barely sounded like mine.
Khushi was married!?
As I saw the man hugging her; my throat parched and I felt my breath knocked out of my lungs.
Suddenly it made sense, their hugs, teases, words... relation... sense of knowing each other. The photo slipped out of my hand as a smiling Arjun was pecking Khushi on the cheek.
Khushi was married to... Arjun!
They are husband and wife!
~*~
CHAPTER 5
Sakshi
I stared at the picture before me and felt like as if I had just ingested acid. Tears blurred my vision as I bite my lips blue to stop myself from howling in pain. I closed my eyes shut and tried to blink away the hot tears.
Nothing could reduce the pain at the moment.
Nothing.
I fidgeted with the edge of the photograph and slipped it back in his wallet. My feet grew heavy and my arms were in a protest against movement. I collapsed on the black leather seat and clutched the sides as I tried to comprehend the situation before me.
Suddenly everything started to make sense.
Khu’s avoidance with questions regarding marriage. Arjun’s cocky smile as he mentioned “A” being head over heels in love with her. A was for Arjun too. I remembered how Khu hugged Arjun tight and he kissed her forehead and cheeks.
Of course that’s what husbands and wives do! My head started reeling as I processed everything, oh how could I forget when Arjun stated that he had been several times in her shower without a thing on?
I turned my head aside to clear all the thoughts that steered into my mind within a matter of a few torturous minutes.
Being flirtatious had been Arjun’s charm and nature, I should have seen through it, perhaps he himself never expected to get carried away. I steeled my heart and broke every dream and drew in a deep breath.
Khu was my best friend, my soul sister - the family I had never had… I would never look at Arjun in that light again and I would only pray for their happiness.
A weight was lifted off me as I decided that, I wouldn’t be able to forget Arjun but then I knew… no matter what I would keep their relation intact in my tiny little ways.
A quivering smile formed on my lips as Arjun shifted a little in his sleep and turned aside, a whisper “Khu” formed on his lips and I smiled wider.
I had fallen for a man for his undying devotion to his wife, hence I decided to step back.
He’s my best friend’s husband, he shall always remain so.
Arjun
I have a convoluted vision throughout my sleep, a throbbing pain on my bicep and a fragrance of wheat greeted me as I woke up. I blinked my eyes a little harder and stared in disbelief to have found us a little near our headquarters.
I turned towards Sakshi and truth be told that I was impressed that she had been able to drive us all the way here.
I stretched a little, wincing as the sharp jolt of pain on my arm got the better of me. Running a hand through my hair and draping an end of her stole on me I walked towards Sakshi.
I was amused as she was busy with a fibre of wheat and dusting it around the field. “Sakshi?” My voice seemed to shock her as she stepped back and almost screamed. “Hey.. it’s me… how did I reach here?” I asked and she looked aside.
“I drove… with the help of the navigator stuff out there.” Sakshi answered and then turned aside, back to dusting that negligible wheat fibre.
Even though I knew her answer, it was impressive to know that she didn’t add a little bit of details to put herself on a good image. Nice. I took in gulps of pure sweet air of untapped nature and focused my gaze on the canvas of the lords - the sky.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as the sky changed from pitch black to amber to liquid gold. "Thank you for saving me." I murmured and a soft sigh from her meant that she acknowledged that. I had noticed that the otherwise hyperactive Strawberry had been dull and quiet.
"Anything wrong Sakshi?" I asked and she took in another deep breath "Khu means a lot to you right?" She smiled and warmth filled my heart with the mention of Khu. "I love her from the bottom of my heart Sakshi, there's no one in the world who understands me other than my Khu, she means my life Sakshi." I smiled wider and stared at the rising sun.
"You know am really going to strangle Khu!" Sakshi's voice chocked as she put on a forced smile. I asked as she wiped her tears "Arrey! Why will strangle my Khu?"
"Arrey! Kutti! Kamini! She didn't even say that she's married! Not fair!" Sakshi blinked back her tears and a bitterness filled my heart. Marriage... that had been a sphere neither I nor Khu ever spoke about ever since the wedding day.
Sakshi
"I told her not to tell anyone... after that... it was better if she didn't tell anyone..." He replied, his voice oddly stiff and aloof.
My heart broke a little at every word but then yeah... I was happy at the devotion he had for Khu.
"Oh... but then... I mean even after you love her so much, meeting her after eons. This might be difficult for you guys." I asked. He turned around and frowned "How does that affect the marriage? And about us meeting after ages, our relation is such that no matter what the affection, admiration and love for each other will never ebb away." he smiled and played with a random thread of my stole.
"Hmm... very beautiful... Khu is very lucky to get you..." I smiled and looked aside when I saw him shake his head.
"No Sakshi... in fact if I had been at her place... I wouldn't have ever forgiven Arjun...."
he replied softly.
"What did you do Arjun?" Curiosity getting the better of me "The marriage never really took place you know..." Arjun sighed and and bit his lower lip in annoyance.
"Oh." I exclaimed in a vague emotion. "But then Arjun, if you are married by heart then nothing changes the fact that she is your wife and you - her husband, that's all that matters." I replied to find Arjun staring at me as if I had grown two heads.
Arjun
"WHAT!" I stared at Sakshi who was taken aback, her last few words felt like a slap on my face.
"Khu is your wife!" Sakshi threw her hands animatedly while I gawked at her. "And from where did you receive this idiotic information! God damn it! Khu was going to be my brother - Arnav aka ASR's bride!" I stared at the petite woman in front whose mouth was hanging open.
Her petite form ran all the way to the jeep and came trotting back "In..." she panted slightly and then pushed back a strand "In this picture..." She pointed at us and I slapped my head.
"I thought you were intelligent! Khu and I have been best friends since we were born! It was her demand that during her and bhai's wedding I must wear the second most exclusive sherwani! I mean the best friend always looks as good as the bride or groom! I was kissing her cheek due to happiness and you think I was the groom and she my bride! God throw your brain somewhere!" I was exasperated by her jumping to conclusions.
Sakshi turned bright red with embarrassment and fumbled. Just as I took a step she took two steps back, I cocked an eyebrow and took a step towards her. This little intimidation game went on till her back hit the dusty metal body of the jeep.
I placed my index finger under her round chin and made her look into my eyes "Miss Sakshi Anand whose common sense has taken a vacation to Hawaii, if I was a married man - that too with a wonderful woman like Khu... why would I flirt and kiss with you? Do you think that low of me?" I glared into her chocolate eyes as they widened and a violent blush spread all the way till her ears.
I watched her bite her lower lip and then confusion cloud in her eyes, she peeped at me and spoke "But Arjun, why didn't Khu get married? And why didn't she tell me about all this?"
I smiled as I saw the concern for her best friend way more than the love for me - it made me fall for this petite woman harder.
"Three years back, Khu and Arnav bhai were going to get married. They were one of the weirdest couples - they used to fight, hug, kiss, tease... they used to eat my brains. In fact one white hair grew on my head yet getting them to be romantic would be the last thing possible!" I flicked out a stray tear which appeared as I recollected the past.
"We knew that getting the two married would be the best option for our parents agreed that they are the best for each other but Arnav bhai was way too egoistic and insecure to go down on his knee. Even though at the beginning Khu and I were touted as made for each other as we were inseparable, I had to play Cupid and show that the fights they had were different." I chuckled to myself on Khu's insistence when she stated she was indifferent to Arnav bhai.
This brought along a faint sweet memory.
"Uff! Arjun baccha! You have no idea what I am made off! Till date not even a single man has been born who can intimidate me!" Khu blew her bangs while I laughed and then paused for a second watching Arnav bhai flip at the magazine and clench his jaw.
I pushed back my unkept hair and scratched my stubble "But Khu! Arnav bhai has been on this planet earth for the past twenty four years!" I winked at a red Khu who was ready to pound me.
"Mr. Not So Intelligent Sweet Kamina Dog Arjun!" Khu glared and I rolled my eyes "Some ASR does not intimidate me the least!" Khu chuckled and shot a winning look to a disinterested Arnav bhai. But I am his brother! I saw the way his eyes had squinted and almost burnt the paper with his gaze.
"Khu darling! I am off for a real important work, Mahira is calling!" I winked and ran off, hiding behind the mesh of leaves behind the garden and saw Arnav bhai sprint up that very second. I chewed on a gum and put on my recorder as bhai called "Miss. Gupta?"
I laughed mentally as Khu froze and turned behind "Hai Devi Maiyya! How dare you scare me? You were busy reading.. oh wait.. staring at the nangu pungu models in the Shogue magazine! So why are you calling me, first of all tell me this that why are you disturbing me! Arrey! Look at your audacity! You don't even bother to reply! Huh! Speechless right! And Miss. Gupta? Itni izzat? Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, to what occasion am I receiving such respect? Bolo bolo, what's going on in your wicked mind! Laad Governor! Annnnn...." Khu's voice was silence as she noticed Arnav bhai just staring at her.
He took a step in front while Khu took a step behind.
The dance continued till Khushi was backed against the wall and Arnav had placed his arms side by side of her face. "Scared are we Miss. Gupta?" he clicked his tongue in annoyance as Khushi turned red.
"Aa..aa.." "Arnav, I guess that's the name I have." He cocked his head to the side "Arrey, someone's All India Radio voice is shut! I didn't know my presence makes you scared." He leaned his lips near her ears and smiled as Khushi clenched her eyes shut.
Moving a step behind he crossed his arms across his chest "And why does it make a difference if I see bikini clad women in a magazine?" He chuckled while an angry Khushi grumbled something like "Demon" under her breath.
"Secondly I like calling you Miss Gupta, thirdly you didn't even allow me to breathe a word as you kept your constant chatter on..." He said and I grinned, loving bhai's move on Khu.
"Hmm... something is on fire..." I thought to myself as bhai took a few steps till they were touching noses on the wall.
"Eesh Arjun close your eyes, but wait... you are twenty... you are allowed to have 'that' and this is just a trailer!" I convinced myself and removed my palms from my eyes as bhai went closer and closer to Khu.
Khushi had her eyes shut the minute she felt Arnav's warm breath moistening her cheeks "Khushi..." Arnav whispered while Khushi turned her head aside "Look at me Khushi..." he said softly and Arnav knew it might have cost her everything to flutter her eyelashes and look at the handsome man before her.
"Khushi... to frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants. I made you do what I wanted - look at me, hence I can, do and will intimidate you, hamesha." He winked at a mortified Khu who questioned a negative emotion of intimidation.
"And Khushi, the only thing I would want you to do is just remain the way you are. If intimidating you means going to kiss you while you blush like tomatoes, I don't mind doing that!" He smiled as a red Khu blushed harder while I fell off the mesh, laughing my life out at their "romance" and getting beaten up by Khu.
Sakshi
I smiled a little as I saw his gaze focused on the clouds and the handsome features of his face relax and the corners of his perfect mouth tip a little. Having heard that they weren't married was like a bucket of ice water amidst sweltering heat!
I hesitated to touch his bare arm, Lord save me from the occasional bursts of shyness! "Arjun..." I had to call him for the fifth time as he smiled and looked at me. "Were you thinking something about Khu and Arnav bhai?" I asked as he nodded and smiled.
"You know Sakshi, since childhood we were inseparable... and then when she was in her twelfth, bhai returned from USA completing his bachelors, he literally ran back home to show us his degree while" Arjun said "And I saw the spark then and there... when she slipped and literally fell on his arms, his degree going off in the wind and he just staring at my Khu! Thus from there started their fights... he used to love to rile her up while she used to bite at his ego whenever it came." Arjun smiled and I couldn't help but laugh too.
"But they say that where there is intense hatred over there there's untameable passion? I remembered my bro staring at us while she used to come and hug me... and bas... I realised that he had something for her..." Arjun commenced while I smiled back and heard of my Khu's romance!
"And their marriage was the talk of the town because neither would bow down before the other's ego, it had been one night when she had caught my brother crying... and that one weak moment turned into a moment of love... I witnessed how my bro kissed her cheek and they decided to marry each other since being pressurised to marry... cause my bro was already old enough... and Khu was crazy enough... but then...." Arjun paused and his face turned grim.
"For Khu, her family was what mattered the most, she had a hunch that there's a threat lurking out. She didn't confide in him for reasons best known to us. All hell broke lose when on the day of their marriage Sikandar's men attacked. Khu protected Bhai while I was in the outhouse, unaware of what's happening. I was so busy dancing in the outhouse that my phone's vibration was not heard. If only... if only I had checked my phone that I would have come to know she needs back up. By the time I reached the venue I saw that a shattered Arnav was yelling at Khu for not being efficient enough and accused her while Khu was taken aback..." Arjun sighed.
"WHAT THE HELL! I LOST MY FAMILY AND NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS!" Arnav grabbed a broken Khushi's shoulders and yanked at her.
Khushi was shocked, she had told Arjun to get the security ready and had sent the alarm to him... why hadn't the guards arrive?
Arjun staggered back in guilt as he realised one mistake of his led to... destruction.
"Arnav... I was not sure... I had security, I needed to protect..." "THE FU** WITH MY PROTECTION! YOU ARE NOT WORTH MY FAMILY'S DEATH! DON'T SHOW ME YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN KHUSHI!" Arnav blasted at Khushi.
"ARNAV! Please... please list..." "Agent Kay, I would like if you would go back to your work and nail down these people." Arnav's icy words cut into Khushi who was still clutching on to her blood red lehenga.
"Arnav, please... I am your Khushi... give me a chance to explain! Please Arnav!" Khushi cried and held on to his palm, Arnav yanked his hand aside and wiped his hot tears. "I hate you Khushi Kumari Gupta, everything is because of you! The Khushi I had felt for is dead! Dead with my parents and yours! I will never forgive you... never show me your face and get out of my life! I HATE YOU KHUSHI!" He screamed as Khushi stepped back in shock and anger.
"I swear Arnav Singh Raizada, I won't show you my face till I have them. If only you could trust me!" Khushi ran away while Arnav drove off with his car and I stood shocked at the mass murder.
I was the one at fault, but the two most important people in my life bore the pain. It was my inefficiency but Khushi kept quiet about that and true to her word, neither have met the other.
I felt a burning sensation on my cheeks when I realised that I had been crying all along.
"For my bhai who just learnt to love, he believed that she didn't trust him enough and vowed to never speak to her again and Khu broke down further... for she only needed his support. Thus they both parted ways, yet on field, like idiots, the two keep on looking out for each other but on their face they never speak to each other, as if they don't know if the other exists." Arjun sighed and closed his eyes, his wary face making him age all of a sudden.
I placed my palm against his wet, stubbled cheek and half smiled "It wasn't your fault Arjun... to think that an emergency alarm should work even if your phone was on vibration... someone made sure that help never reached Khushi." I said and he froze.
"There were only two people who could have access to my phone." Arjun said and shook his head, a glint in his eyes told me he had begun to find something... something which could have turned the events of that day.
He turned towards me and wiped my tears gently, his fingers left a scorching trail across my cheeks "Hush... don't cry..." He mumbled and pulled me into a hug.
Arjun
She willingly came into my embrace and I tucked her head under my chin, swaying gently as we prayed for their happiness. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be kissed with happiness and love and her arms clasped around my bare torso.
I sighed in bliss as I felt her, was the air smelling sweeter or was it due to her floral fragrance?
"Khu...ww.. went through so much... I remember teasing her about her love life so many times! I must have hurt her so much! Every time I talked about my parents... it must have hurt her so much!" She broke down "I don't know why, but her pain hurts me so much.... I am so bad..." She wept while I held her tightly.
"Oh no strawberry, you have been a reason to her happiness too... " I spoke softly while rubbing away the moisture from the corner of her eyes, I can't help but smile as her lips part and eyes close when the pad of my thumb brushes against her cheekbones "And a true friend is one who cries in the other's pains as well...there couldn't have been a better human than you as a friend for her" I hoped she believed me.
"I wish I could just hug her and say it's all right..." she muttered and then placed her head on my chest, why did my heart start beating at such an odd moment? I found myself playing with a few strands of her hair and spoke;
"You will, very soon... and one more thing Sakshi... whatever I did with you... was because I truly like you... and you are someone I would like to take home.... but..." I sighed and looked aside as she stepped back and tucked a strand behind her ear.
"But?" She asked. "But I don't know if you feel the same for me. I seriously don't want to force you into this. It might be new for you and you may think that I am going really fast but in the life that I go by, Sakshi... every second is a new life for me. I... I... you have come to mean a lot to me ann...." my speech was zapped as she placed her soft shy lips against mine.
Sakshi
Every second thought which berated me for my brazenness dissipated into thin air the minute I place my lips on his moving ones. I became stiff and just held on to his arm, my heart jumped out of my ribs and just as I thought that I had done the stupidest thing on this planet that I felt his lips curl into a smile beneath mine.
I had thought I couldn't blush anymore.
But when he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer that I felt every blood in my system rush to my cheeks. I closed my eyes and subconsciously threaded my fingers into his thick hair and his lips teased mine.
They brushed against mine and I squealed when his teeth nipped and nibbled on my bottom lip, prying my mouth open. I really didn't understand what was he trying to get till he coaxed my for a deeper kiss,
And when the warm and minty recess of his mouth welcomed mine, when his bold warm sweet tongue touched my little one, I think I stopped thinking altogether.
...
...
...
Arjun
What does ambrosia feel like? What does elixir feel like? What does heaven feel like?
Perhaps that's what love feels like. Love makes you believe that you are a living entity, your lungs breathe in the sweet air, your skin glows in excitement, your heart thuds in life, your brain expands in horizon, your senses get heightened to emotions.
Love makes you realise, life is more than breathing, love makes one live the body he's in.
It's only when her heaving chest brushed mine as she struggled to take in gasps of air that I gently pulled away, peppering kisses on her thoroughly kissed red mouth when she exhaled and and locked her fingers against my nape.
God knows why she suddenly found her sandals pretty interesting for her gaze was stuck right there. Suddenly I realised she was murmuring something. "If I felt nothing Arjun, why do you think I would be shattered on thinking that you were married to my bestie?" She bit her bottom lip a little while I chinned her up.
I didn't realise every sensation had become heightened at the moment, the sky seemed more blue... wait.. that didn't make sense! Heck love made me see the world through an entire new dimension, did I just hear the birds chirp? I closed my eyes to feel the blood and heart pump against my chest.
I was alive...
Alive.
I cupped her cheeks as I caught a drift of what she meant "Even you..."
Sakshi
I still found my sandals interesting as he felt my pulse at the base of my neck and smiled "Even you?" I turned embarrassed as he understood at the rate of which my heart was beating at.
He smiled and placed my palm on his bare chest, my fingers tingled as I felt his warm tanned skin beneath my palm. I had had my limit of being shy and just closed my eyes when he whispered "Feel my heartbeat love..."
His husky voice sent chills up my spine and I nodded, flattening my palm against his chest when my eyes shot open, his heart ran at a heart attacking pace!
I could bet on all the strawberries in this world that even the bullet train might not go so fast!
"Even you?" his words tumbled out of my mouth. He laughed and rest his forehead against mine, a warmth filled my heart as I marked his midnight orbs, the angled nose, the sculpted cheekbones. My palms itched to run over the stubble that had formed, lately.
My eyes rested on his masculine lips which weaved my dreams and left me senseless when they met mine. "I love you Sakshi, for who you are..." He said and I was numb. Tears formed which I blinked away and hummed in response.
He looked at me questioningly, expecting a reply. He parted and waited for a response and that was a bad thing, for his naked upper half came into my notice and I turned aside, trying to brush of the image of the sun's rays kissing his lightly bronzed chest, the pectorals were sculpted to perfection and a torso which spoke of fitness than show. His collarbones stood out as he laughed again. He turned aside and I closed my eyes as I got to see the carved shoulders and the perfect 'V' waist and the muscular back.
I muttered something while he back hugged me "If you are done checking me out my petite one, give me a reply. Let me remind you, you need not be shy... you have seen me without a scrap of cloth!" He chuckled and I blushed till my toes and curled them in my sandals as his chest reverberated with laughter against my back.
I pushed him slightly and walked away "Shameless! You don't mind that I saw you in the form as the day you were born!" I tried to control the blush forming when he kept his healthy arm against me and gently pinned me to the jeep "You are the only person who can see me, touch me, feel me and love me irrespective of any state... do you know what I am hinting at?" He asked and my mouth dried.
He wanted me - forever.
"Will you marry me Sakshi?" the sincerity in his eyes blew me. Tears formed but the words that formed were "No..."
Arjun
I frowned and tried to think what went wrong... was I too fast? My thoughts came to a stop as she rested her palm against my cheek "Arjun, till the time we get Arnav bhai and Khushi settled, we can't be selfish in rejoicing our wedding." She said and I felt my heart swell up for the most precious woman in front.
She was one of the most honest and sincere woman I had ever met in my life, apart from Khu.
We walked back to our jeep while Sakshi demanded to drive, we stopped a few minutes from the headquarters and I raised an eyebrow when she crawled towards me. I smiled as she raised her lips to mine "I love you too, and yes I will marry you the minute Khu and Arnav bhai are off problems..." She smiled and I took the lead.
The journey to the headquarters consisted with gazes, comfortable silences and mating of our mouths.
I swore I would do anything to get back the very same happiness in Khu and Bhai's life.
~*~
"Come in Agent A..." Khushi spoke as she saw his lean form rest against the door. "There are quite a few things to discuss Agent Kay..." his husky voice filled the room.
"Hmm... by the way where's my assistant?" Khushi frowned as she searched for him.
"Here Agent. Wait... Agent A.. what are you doing here? Kay told me it's going to be us for the..." Agent SH frowned at the presence of Agent A.
A breathed out a sigh and looked at Khushi, the woman for whom he harboured a lot of feelings... "Nothing SH... it's just that I decided to grace this meet..." his words sent the word of finality as Kay and SH nodded.
Agent A placed his palm on K's as a friendly gesture "How are you now?" He asked gently while Kay smiled back.
He completely missed the hardened expression on SH's face on their banter. "She mustn't talk to anyone else but me..." a voice barked in his head.
Kay had not informed anyone about the pendant on Sakshi's neck, she had a hint who was the mole amidst them, especially with the hardened look on SH's face.
Putting on the face that everything is fine, Khushi (Kay), Shyam Manohar Jha (SH) and Aman Mathur (A) sat down for an intense discussion on their current positions on tackling the mafia.
~*~
Sakshi
"Strawberry, just stay behind me okay... am going to meet the boss - he will place a safe accommodation for you. Even though am pretty sure Khu is safe, I will personally go out to find her..." Arjun told me
"But Arjun..." "No Sakshi, you need to be safe and secured and don't say a word in front of boss - he shouldn't know we have a relation... not till we find Khu" Arjun said and I nodded. "Anyways it is out of protocol to have a relation with anyone dealing with the case, he has screwed up quite a few lives already, let's keep silent." Arjun stated and I knew my wisdom lay in following Arjun's instructions.
I gawked at the interior of the headquarters, it was nothing I imagined... instead of a high tech, ultra modern interior I found myself walking inside a damp and musty surroundings. I scrunched my nose in disgust as dirty water dripped on the mud of the floor and there were some algae and moss growth. The stench made me want to puke already.
I looked in horror as Arjun put his hands on the slimy wheel and turned it around to reveal a rickety elevator. His face was stoic and his hands dripped of the slime as he pressed an old button on the elevator.
I had noticed that he had gripped the wheel really hard in the beginning and was staring at the door before we got into the elevator. I put my hands over my nose as we reached a level.
The slime had dried on his hands and he walked into a clearing where there was sink. He calmly washed his hands and pat them dry with a nearby tissue.
He just nodded his head at my expression and touched a moss covered wall, he grabbed my palm and placed it on the wall while I closed my eyes, cursing the yuck wall while all I felt was a cool concrete wall.
WHAT THE...
The moss looked so real but I still couldn't believe that it wasn't real. I stepped into a cooler hall to find myself in a white metallic room with plasmas attached. There was no one in the room and I mused over the black leather seats and the glass walls.
"What you saw before was a disguise for what we have inside. The slime on the wheel is actually good for skin and wounds and also there's a finger printing scan beneath it. There's a retina eye scan, heartbeat scan as well as body scan. There's also a mental stability scan which basically measures if you are stressed or not. And suppose I am blackmailed and brought here, all I need to do is give two taps on the wheel and they will never open - even if there is a blast. The minute you have stepped inside this, everything of you has been recorded... in fact by now inside out details of yours must be ready on my file." He smirked while I gaped at him.
Science took the lead.
"This is just for a few people, R5, boss and I. Not even Khu is allowed here." He said and I nodded.
It was a hell of a lot information to digest. "It's better we use the shower before we meet boss because we are pretty much stinking thanks to the sewer path that I used." He laughed and I smiled back.
"Umm.. the bathroom is not..." I gulped while he said "It is..." I looked at him terrified "Don't worry, only I shall deal with the record..." I wanted to punch the smirk on his face while he smiled back "Joking, will deactivate it... trust me!" He pinched his throat and I guess I took the fastest shower in the world possible!
I did feel a little sting on the water, but I guess that's because I did cut myself somewhere. I walked out to find a man looking so much like my Arjun in a crisp lavender shirt, jeans, a holster across his shoulders. I was surprised to find him clean shaved and the translucent patch on his shirt and the shine of his hair told that he took a shower too.
I was surprised to have found a pair of clothes waiting for me, nice but strange.
"Come now." Arjun leaded the way while my eyes were stuck to him. He looked wonderfully different. In fact his eyes were the only thing that shone warmth and softened as they met mine. Apart from that he looked like he wouldn't think twice before using the Colt.45 on anyone's head.
"Sir, this is Miss. Sakshi Anand - she was the roommate of Agent Kay during Kay's undercover stint." Arjun's voice was cold and flat.
I peered to find the boss absorbed in deep thought.
Arjun
I coughed again while the boss nodded "Did Agent Kay give anything to Miss Anand" his gruff voice stated. "Locket." Without a word boss checked the locket and nodded.
"Now where's Kay... and why isn't she here to tell me this personally." He stated.
"Sir, she left for trac.." My words were cut as he flung the lamp aside "How dare she disobey my order? How dare you allow Khushi to go all alone damn it! She's dealing with mafia! What if anything happens to her you idiot!" Boss barked at me and I winced back a little at his fire.
He grabbed my shoulder and barked again "If anything happens to her then you are responsible! GET THAT!" "Sir... control..." I tried my patience but he yelled back louder."I can't fu****g control! She is outside, alone! What if... no... nothing can happen to her!" he shouted and I saw Sakshi hold cross her fingers and pale at boss's anger.
"Sir CONTROL!" I shouted back, boss and his dramatics!
"I FU****G WON'T" he barked back.
"Just shut up... Khushi will be back and I assure you!" I calmed him down but the boss shook his head.
A bittersweet feeling rose in my chest, as now I didn't see my boss, but rather my raging, concerned brother :
Arnav Singh Raizada.
CHAPTER 6
Denial
Denial
Sakshi
The heightened concern and affectionate fear in his voice could have belonged to solely one person.
Arnav Singh Raizada.
Khushi's Arnav.
"Arnav?" the name involuntarily left my mouth and his intense gaze sent chills up my spine as he turned towards me and stiffened.
"How do you know my first name?" he barked and I cowered back, gulping. Damn, Arjun would be screwed if he came to know that Arjun had told me about his past. "Ww.." I stammered as Arnav growled in beastly anger and snapped towards his brother.
"How come you told this stranger about my life?" "He didn't say anything, Khu told me!" I lied to save him from Arnav's wrath and he swore.
"What the! I had told her not to ever speak to anyone that we are tog... we had... whatever!" Arnav shook his head when Arjun spoke up "No, Khu couldn't have ever said anything."
"I see, so Miss Sakshi Anand, how did you come to know about me and moreover about K... Gupta and I?" I gulped as he cornered me when Arjun came in between "Bhai, talk to me... okay..."
Arnav
I couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at my younger brother's sudden eagerness on speaking on behalf of this Sakshi. Surely something was cooking?
"I want to talk to talk to Miss. Anand alone..." I pushed his patience buttons and as expected his eyes grew cold as his eyes flicked to Sakshi's worried form.
"I will be here, Sir. It's not in our protocol to leave a woman alone with a stranger." Who was my younger brother kidding?
I folded my arms across my chest as my brother flustered on my next question "Oh and it's fine for a woman to travel three four days with a stranger!"
I shook my head over my brother's infatuation with this woman and looked at her, she could be a threat as well. "So Miss Anand, how much do you know about me and Khus... Gupta."
The fair woman paled a little and fumbled "I.. kk.. know that you love her" "NEVER! That's rubbish... Khushi and I have nothing for each other, and Arjun please teach your lover to stammer less!" I looked at my brother who was gaping at me as if I had grown a few horns on my head.
Arjun
"What the bhai! We.. aa.. aren't tog... we... w.. we don't!" "I am older than you, and woah even you started stammering? Firstly one of you is always answering for the other.. and then look at her face! She's turning into a bunch of strawberries the minute your both eyes meet. And that girl blush on your cheeks? The last time I remembered I was not an idiot, such things happen solely when one is in love..." I half smiled as a soft look settled over his caramel eyes.
I knew why he turned sombre..
He must be recalling the time when I had told him the same thing.
Khushi was busy tending the delicate rose saplings while Arjun, in a not so gentlemanly manner, flopped beside him "Khushi not so Kumari Gupta TENDING flowers like a certain ARNAV Singh Raizada?" he winked to find Khushi all lost.
"Where are you lost Mrs. Raizada?" He tickled Khushi to get her off her "zone out" "Mrs. Raizada... wait what! Jun, you are out of your mind for your not so kind information! There's nothing like this... instead of plucking rose it's about the essence of harvesting them..." Arjun was shocked by her sudden soft nature.
Khushi didn't bother to justify her behaviour, at the moment she was preoccupied with what had happened the night before. Her cheeks flared to scarlet when she recalled how Arnav had angled her chin and placed his lips on her cheek for a long exquisite moment.
She came back to reality when Arjun back hugged her and whispered "Thinking about Bhai's kiss my cutie-pie?"
"Haww! What the! Nothing as such happened!" Khushi pushed Arjun behind and began heaping soil into the mud.
"Ya ya, why would you remember your friend after your lover boy! Aha, using 'what the' like bhai! Gardening like him... am I a joker or what?" Arjun winked at a fuming Khushi.
"Me! And having feelings for that good for nothing egoistic, arrogant, stubborn, idiotic, stone faced Arnav Singh Raizada! Am I a fool huh? Now get lost! Wait, why have you got an anaemic face?" Khushi nudged a pale Arjun aside who was glued to his phone in shock.
"Khushi, Bhai's friend... Nihal... he said that bhai's met with an accident! He's admitted in..." "WHAT!" The pots fell from her hand and she rushed out of the garden.
"Baba Arjunanand, it's time that you baptised as a Love Guru!" Arjun laughed to himself as he saw Khushi run away.
To only bump into Arnav. "What the f... can't you watch where you'reeee... Khushi... Khushi..." Arnav held on to his little woman who was hugging on to him tightly. He gently wiped aside the tears across her mud streaked face.
"You What the! Where did you go? Do you have an inkling as to what was going through me! I even got a message that you met with an accident! Do you know I couldn't even breathe after that! Do you..." "Hush Khushi Kumari Gupta!" Arnav smirked at seeing his troubled mess.
"I just went for a shower Khushi..." Arnav raised an eyebrow while Khushi turned red noticing him in his translucent white vest and trousers. "I..I... I need to go..."
Khushi bit her tongue and almost ran away when she heard his voice "So, you were worried for me?" "NO way!" her voice a pitch higher than necessary when he stepped at a distance too close for comfort. "I... mm... mean everyone's disturbed... even.. Arjun..."
"And what about the fact that you couldn't breath..." his nose brushed against her cheek as she clutched her shirt tighter. "There's too much... dd.. dust in air, hence.. cc.. couldn't breath."
"Oh yeah yeah... and why did you hug me? Was it because..." he let his words drawl as Khushi gasped. The devilish glint was back... the same glint when he had kissed her cheek.
"No no..." "You don't love me?" Arnav pouted while Khushi fumbled for words. He loved the naive little brunette who was struggling for words, he thought of stopping this teasing session when she shoved him angrily "Fine Mr. Egoistic! I don't 'What the what the' like you! Fine, I .. ll. love you! You don't even bother to confess... gah!"
To only find a tug on her dress as she left "Oh Lord! How dare you! Shameless! I hate you! I don't love you!" "But I love you too." Arnav appeared in front of her and removed the stuck thread from the hinge of a door.
He smiled and pulled the young blushing lady towards him, he brushed his lips against hers, she let lose of her defences but before either could deepen the mere brushing of lips that another devil took the centre stage.
"Woohoo! What a kiss brother! Khushi! You are younger than me yet you kiss with the older brother, not bad my love!"
"What the fu.. Arjun!" "Awww... my Arnie bro's getting all shy!"
"Shut up Arjun! Why would he blush? And you! He's in some ICU eh?" Khushi growled.
"Sorry folks! But see Khushi... or bhabi... you and bhai must continue whatever's left in the bedroom, arrey don't worry... I have put protection in the second drawer!" Arjun laughed and then screamed as Khushi throttled him.
"It's nothing like thisssss!" Khushi yelled "Aha! You take me to be an idiot! One answering for the other and my bro blushing like a newly wedded bride!"
"Uff... you are in louvvveee... you are in louvveee... you are in looouuvvveeee..." Arjun released his glass shattering voice much to the annoyance of the recently formed love birds!
"Bhai!" I called ASR for the fifth time as he jerked back into reality. "Thinking about Khushi?" I asked as he sighed "This is the nth time she's going without informing me... Khushi..." ASR coughed a little "Nope, not thinking about her and I do not care about her locations. Just make sure she's safe, for such an agent is always a catalyst for us. You have the rest of your life to romance Sakshi, right now... stay away from distractions." Arnav growled.
Seeing his seething temper to have ebbed away I couldn't help but add "Don't worry about my romance bhai, I assure you after the mission's over I shall fill your hands with bucket loads of nieces and nephews!" I nudged his arm and winked at Strawberry who mouthed "I will kill you."
And I mouthed "I love you too".
"As far as Khu is concerned, we have our tracking devices set on her, for now she's on the expected path - leading to Europe and ASR, do you realise it's three years since you referred Kay as Khushi? Do you..." but before I could complete Bhai left, placing his mask of indifference again.
"Everything will be fine Arjun." Sakshi sighed "Hmm... I hope so."
Sakshi
Next Morning
I really didn't understand that what it meant to have an agent as your lover till now, till now when he was strapping the guns onto himself and hugging me with a force that knocked my breath away.
The fear that dwelled in my heart, the fear of losing him, was too much to handle. It was easy and thrilling to have an adventurous life but the parting caused an immense heartache.
I was oblivious to his little coaxes assuring me of his safe return. I was put up in a safe guest house, a few miles from the headquarters.
"Shush my love, not a single more tear! I will be back! I promise... for you and the little one that might be forming in you." He pressed a kiss on my forehead and I stood in shock.
Little one in me?
"What? Our baby? From where did that come?" I wiped away my tears as Arjun sported a confused look "Strawberry! Last night after you retired to your chamber, I came to sleep beside you and then we started kissing... aa.. .and... we... we consummated baby! Don't tell me you remember nothing!" He covered his mouth in shock.
We consummated?
Tears pooled in my eyes as the gravity of the situation set in me "Oh Shit! Strawberry am damn sorry, I was just kidding jaan! You were crying so... and sweetheart if we consummated do you think it would have skipped your memory" Arjun chuckled while I pounded my fists on his shoulder.
"Gah! Arjunnnn!" I hugged him tight before leaving. It was strange to find that the man who had such a childlike streak would turn all sombre and serious once he stepped into the confines of his world.
"Just be alert and don't trust anyone who states that they know me. We three will be back! Love you dear." He walked away and for a strange reason, his optimism was replaced by my fear.
Other side
Khushi
"A, SH, latitude 38 N and longitude 23 W. Coordinate immediately." I spoke into my bluetooth and walked towards my captive.
It had been a hell of a three day chase against the mafia. Apart from Aman and Shyam there was none whom I could trust now.
If my sources were right, then Sikandar had kept his gaze fixed on Arnav, well the good news from this situation was that Arjun could've done the needful and not only secure Arnav but also crack the location of Sikandar.
I looked at the man who had attacked me by banging a glass bottle near my occipital lobe, thank the lords that it had missed the target by a few centimetres.
However swaying was the best option for me instead of an immediate fight. What made me hold him hostage was the fact that he didn't want to kill me, he wanted me alive.
I didn't need another guess as to who was behind this - Sikandar.
"Locations and next plan... now" I barked as I placed his finger against a burning matchstick. The man groaned in pain and then widened his eyes in fear.
To my surprise I found a sense of happiness in his eyes "What the..." I muttered.
And before I realised the situation, I turned behind to only see a masked man swung an iron rod against my head.
The only sound which resonated in the room were my horrified screams.
~*~
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