#fanaa

She stared at the man before her. His entire being illuminated by the rays of the evening sun. Has it been minutes or hours? She didn’t know.

Khushi was only sure of the exhaustion creeping into her bones. Hesitantly, and with a restraint that was so characteristically him, Arnav had narrated the events to her. Sitting in his office, he had begun speaking without much preamble.

He wouldn’t look at her. He spoke of months of having known her, desired her and yet not allowing himself to unleash his desires. And now, his secret wasn’t his anymore.

Khushi could see the strain on him. In his clenched fists, the frown on his forehead and the tense posture he was in.

And yet, she didn’t know what to say. What did she really feel? Was it pain, at him hiding the truth or was it anger at him keeping her in the dark? She really didn’t know…The initial disturbance had been Lavanya and those tabloids. But now they seemed like an after thought in a far away land.

“You must be wondering why I kept it from you-“

Khushi stood up,wringing her hands together.

“I don’t think- “, her whisper sounded loud in the room.

Before she could come to terms with her feelings, the smooth swish of the door echoed in the room.

“Arnav, Khushi. The meeting has been shifted to Mumbai. “

Aman looked between the two occupants.

“We will be staying there for a couple of days. NK will join us”

She nodded tersely, unsure of the sudden change in plans. She had known of the meeting and had started preparing days ago. But this switch from Lucknow to Mumbai was unexpected .

“Can you call and get the jet ready?”He stood up. Nothing in his stance or his face betrayed him.

How were they going back to normal? Was it ever normal?

“Khushi?”

She looked up to see an unspoken plea in his eyes. Nodding, she picked up her phone and headed out the door.

He caught up with her in front of the elevator.

“We will stop at home, before going to the airport. Aman,NK and a few other executives will be waiting. You have prepared Rhapsody’s review?”

She nodded again, looking anywhere but him. She could feel his stare burn into her skin, but what could she do? They were in such a hurry and the conversations awaiting them was going to turn her into an emotional mess.

She had to hold herself together. For his sake.

———

The private jet was another reminder of how everything had his stamp on it. If his office embodied his soul, this overwhelming plane screamed Arnav Singh Raizada.

When she boarded the jet, she was horrified that an entire section was reserved just for her and him. Catching Aman’s eye, she signalled for him to join them but he simply shrugged and smiled, before whispering into her ear,

“Don’t be a baby, Khushi . You can fight Arnav “

She had given him a dirty look, before settling down in her plush, black seat. She glanced at Arnav to see him engrossed in a file.

The pilot’s voice murmured across the speakers, as she drew in a sharp breath. 2 hours and 30 minutes to go.

She picked a blanket which lay beside her and wrapped it around herself. The silence between them ,his presence and the weight behind his words all lulled her to sleep.

———

It was dark by the time they landed. But true to the city that never sleeps, the skyline was a beautiful twinkling chaos.

In her sleep-addled state, she hadn’t minded when Arnav had clasped her hand, guiding her through the long way till the exit. She didn’t resist when he seated her in one of the several cars waiting for them.

She couldn’t help looking at him. He looked deep in thought, his brow creasing like they always did when he wasn’t aware. Was it her? The cause of his worry? No, it was the meeting. Yes, it had to be.

Khushi didn’t know if she was annoyed or seduced by his mysterious ways of working.

Giving up, she looked beyond to see the string of cars racing past each other. She wanted to rest. It seemed to be a busy few days ahead. Should she put off talking to him then? She wanted to talk about her article…but then she would put him under pressure to talk about his mother. No, no,no. She couldn’t do that!

She had seen the hollow look in his eyes when he had spoken about her. He was in pain. How could he not be?

They slowed to a stop, and Khushi looked at the hotel. Its white lobby looked imposing with the gold furniture.

She stepped out on shaky legs and noticed the bell boys already loading their luggage onto the carrier.

“This way please, Mr and Mrs Raizada”, a man with a genial smile and a heavy mustache greeted them.

———-

She was tired, and wanted nothing more than to take a shower. But when he offered for her to go first with a polite tilt of his head,she had refused.

“I have to call Di. You can go first”

Now it had been fifteen minutes with her clutching her cell, but no intention of dialling Payal’s number. With a sigh ,she stood up and threw her suitcase open. The staff had offered, but she had refused. And now faced with her messy pile, she wondered why.

Soon she was done with stacking everything and leaving a generous amount of space for him. In the blink of an eye,she was assaulted with the rush of his intoxicating fragrance.

“You can go now”

She made the wise decision to not look at him after that husky murmur. Gathering her lounge wear quietly, she headed to the shower. Gasping for breath behind that closed door, Khushi bit her lip.

She didn’t have to look at him to know he looked like a delicious ,wet Adonis.

The heavens help her!

——

The shower had done nothing to ease the knots in her belly or the ache in her heart. She stepped out, leaving her damp hair open to dry.

Not finding him asleep as she had expected him to, Khushi turned towards the balcony. Hesitantly stepping towards him, her breath caught as the curtains danced with the breeze and gave her a glimpse of him.

He stood there in all his audacity, a white towel draped precariously across his waist and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. She watched mesmerised, as the smoke travelled up into the night sky.

Hypnotised , she reached him. Ignoring the stiffening of his shoulders, she came closer to him. He looked at her, searching her eyes.

Whatever he saw, eased the tight lines around his lips. Lips, which looked ever so sinful to her.

She saw the exact moment determination entered his gaze, before he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her across his torso with barely concealed strength.

She swallowed, looking up at him.

“C-can I smoke?”

He broke into a slight smile and his eyes lost all its weariness, to laugh at her.

“Not tonight”

She shrugged, settling more comfortably. Leaning her neck back against his sturdy shoulders. Her eyes traced the movement of his arms as he brought the half burnt cigarette back up against his lips.

Was it him or was it the cigarettes? She didn’t know what dazed her more.