SS: Of Lemons & Limes #2 (Link to #3 Given) (Page 104)

I got my first 300+ comments in the last chapter and I am utterely honored. So here is a long update for all of you! Hope it does not put you to sleep.

Thanks to Gandhari (GanBarunFan) for the wonderful banner she made for this SS. G!! You really are a sweetheart!

Part 11

Arnav has been accompanying her both on her way to office and home everyday. He assigned her to the event team and under the direct supervision of Aman. He gave specific instructions to Aman regarding where to involve her, including keeping her away from the male population and anything that can lead to anything even close to dangerous. Aman and his team were rather surprised and also happy with the CEO's sudden increasing concern regarding their work. The frequency of his visit to their area increased evidently and he was taking more interest in the operational details more than ever. Aman was quite happy to have her in the team since she was really hardworking and a fast learner. Arnav was very happy with his feedback and they discussed about the possibility of having her in the Event & Promotion team permanently. The prospect of having her always in a team working in his floor elated him and he had decided to talk about it once Lavanya was back.  

Arnav: Mm .. does it still hurt?

Khushi: What?

Arnav: Ah .. you know that ..

Khushi: Oh! No, Arnavji. I told you yesterday. It is alright.

Arnav: But it still shows ..

Khushi: Scars take time. Pain goes away but scars can be stubborn.

Arnav flinched slightly. He knew she did not mean anything else but the talk of pain & scars took him back to the darkest corner of his life. He shook the thought off vehemently and instead, focused on the strange woman sitting beside him who made him do strange things too.

That scar. That little scar on that beautiful, spotless face. Why was it all he could give her? His hands tightened on the steering.

After reaching AR, they took the elevator together as per their new routine. Arnav was still planning on getting a new, smaller lift installed. This was too big for two. However, Khushi no longer thought the elevator was small. And instead of standing in a corner, she was comfortable standing in the middle only a few inches away from him. The ventilation system was definitely still malfunctioning and deteriorating more everyday as it only got warmer inside with every day passed.

As they were to head for their respective office, Arnav stopped her, when they reached the Executive floor.

Arnav: Khushi.

Khushi: Ji?

Arnav: Everything ready for tonight?

Khushi: Ji, Arnavji. You don't worry. We are working very hard. We will not let you down.

Arnav: I know. Ok. See you.

Arnav turned around and started walking towards his office but he was stopped by a shrill "Hai Devi Maiya" only after a few strides. He turned to see a horrified Khushi staring at her jhola on her side with both her palms covering her mouth.

Arnav: What happened?

Khushi: My jhola!!!

Arnav: What??

Khushi pointed her finger towards something in the floor and then Arnav noticed. Sequins were all over the place near her feet and there was a thread coming out from the side of the bag. Arnav followed the white thread and halted on his left hand where the other end of the thread was stuck to his Philip Patek. Shit!!

Was he really standing that close to her?? Why then it never seemed close enough??

Arnav quickly looked at Khushi and saw her still staring at the mess wide-eyed.

Arnav: Khushi, I am not sure how that happened.

Khushi sighed. She ripped off the end of the thread from the jhola.

Khushi: It is ok, Arnavji. You have hardly done it intentionally. Don't worry. I will sew it back.

Arnav was not sure what to do as he watched her bend down and gather the sequins. He loosened the thread from his watch and walked up to her. Khushi looked up and saw him extending his hand towards her. She held on to his hand and stood up without any discomfort and took the torn off thread from his hand.

Arnav: Khushi .. I .. I ..

Khushi: It is ok Arnavji. Really.

Arnav wondered how she managed to smile always like that. Her smile .. it always lighted up everything around. Her smile always let sunshine in through the mass of concrete of the AR world. He never knew sunshine could make him feel so good. In his next buildings, he was determined now to ask the architect to let sunshine in as much as possible. May be more windows & skylights.

"Thik hain," Khushi smiled little before turning around, "I am going then."

Arnav watched her walking away down the corridor and disappear through a door after glancing at him once.

Arnav sighed. He just caused her another loss.

Before he could turn and start again, his eyes fell on the sequins on the floor. Khushi gathered those but perhaps forgot to take them along. Without thinking twice, Arnav bent down and put the sequins inside his pocket. May be he could give those back to her.. later.

The day passed very busily for everyone in the office. Arnav was busy with Akash on the details of a new proposal and following up Aman once in a while. He enquired and came to know Khushi had left with the team for the venue after lunch. The thought of her lemony smell being breathed by others bothered him. And then he could not control chuckling at his own madness. He had lost it for sure.

Akash too felt the same as he saw his cousin brother suddenly chuckling out of nothing. Akash was a gentle, young man who always wanted to be a doctor but ended up studying business because his mother wanted him to be a successful businessman. He did not have much complaints but he really did not aspire to be like his bhai who was successful but had hardly any life beyond that.

Akash: Bhai, are you alright?

Arnav: Yes. Why Akash?

Akash: You just smiled for no reason.

Arnav was in fact still smiling and hearing Akash, instantly changed his expression. He stared at his bespectacled cousin who seemed genuinely concerned and got frustrated. He accepted the weirdness that this particular strange woman caused in him in his own world; but it was risky that he has started showcasing that in front of the real world too. He needed to focus and restrain. This indulgence was getting dangerous. For the first time in many years, he was not sure what he was doing and why. He was not sure what he was looking forward to. He was not sure why he was even tolerating her around him, let alone, giving her importance. He needed to reason with himself. He decided to sit and think about it once the fashion show was over. There was no way he could afford such distraction & indecisiveness in his life. He needed to come to a resolution – this or that.

Arnav: I just remembered something. Can we continue with the discussion?

Akash: Of course, Bhai.

Though Akash instantly got busy explaining the figures in the projected statements, he took a mental note to talk to Anajali Di about it. He has been noticing for a few days that Bhai was not being his usual self. He was even sometimes losing attention in a discussion which was so not like Arnav Singh Raizada.  Akash once caught him googling "lemon fragrance" and Mohan confirmed that Bhai suddenly got very particular about the car perfume. God knows what he was up to now! Was he planning some new venture?

Arnav & Akash left together for home at 5.

Sharp at 7, Arnav reached the venue in a Black tuxedo and immaculately white shirt. The black neck tie was knotted in a perfect half-windsor. Patent leather shoes in black & black leather strap wrist watch – Arnav did not need anything else to look the man of the evening even when handsome models, taller than him were roaming around the venue in fancy clothing. One glance at him – and every woman sighed in admiration – be single or married. He was perfect.

The man's eyes however were looking for a familiar face instinctively. Where was she? Somehow the fairylights adorning the venue reminded him of her more. Somehow he knew those were hers. He could feel her touch on those but she was nowhere to be seen.

The object of his interest was intently looking at her reflection in the mirror in the dressing room a floor above.

Khushi thought twice before she finally set aside her every day snap clips. She brushed her hair straight once more. Before turning away from the mirror, her eyes fell on the little scar on her left cheek. She tried to cover it as much as possible but it would not hide. She sighed. She hoped he would understand. She hoped he would ignore.

The scar did not remind her of the pain that accompanied it. Rather, the moments that flashed in front of her eyes made her smile again – for the umpteenth time in 3 days.

It was the day after the fiasco in the Design floor. Khushi was very nervous, still affected by her last night moments with Arnav. She felt like a fool blushing over the incident over and over again. He just took out the pen and gave it to her. It could not be anything else. Why would he want to do anything else with her? But the way he touched her, the way he tucker her hair .. the way his voice got huskier, the way he smirked … Khushi could not but keep thinking that there were more to it. There had to be ..

However, her jitteriness vanished as soon as she noticed Arnav was pretty much reflecting herself. The great Arnav Singh Raizada seemed nervous! He was glancing at her every minute and the moment their eyes met he would instantly turn away. During the whole ride, Khushi felt like he tried to say her something quite a few times but then held himself back. Khushi deployed her brains to understand what was going on with him and soon forgot what transpired between them last night.

Arnav was still silent when he unbuckled her in the parking. He glanced at her multiple times but did not utter a single word. Khushi kept wondering what suddenly happened to Laad Governor. They both walked into the elevator silently and as soon as the door shut, she heard Arnav murmur.

Khushi: Aap ne kuch kaha, Arnavji?

Arnav again murmured inaudibly.

Khushi: I could not hear you.

Arnav again murmured inaudibly.

Khushi: Speak a little louder, naa!

Arnav suddenly slammed his hand on the elevator panel and Khushi felt the lift stop with a jerk.

Khushi: What happened? What did you just do? Hai Devi Maiya .. have you damaged the lift? Are we stuck? What is wrong with you? Why are you beh..

Khushi could not speak any longer as Arnav roughly shut her mouth with his strong palm. Khushi could see her blazing eyes .. but it was not all anger there.

Arnav: Shut up, Khushi!

Khushi stared at him wide-eyed.

Arnav: You have to shut your mouth first to listen to what I say!

Khushi gulped.

Arnav: I am .. I am just .. I am just trying to say .. I am .. Iam .. Dammit!

Arnav slammed his free hand on the wall behind her in frustration. Why was it so difficult? Why was he even trying to say it to her? He could do it. He was Arnav Singh Raizada and nothing was impossible in his dictionary. He stared at the blank wall behind her before he opened his mouth in determination.

Arnav: I am just trying to say .. I – I am sorry!

He expectantly looked at her to see some sort of acceptance in her eyes but her eyes were blank.

Arnav: Did you hear what I just said? I said I am sorry, dammit!

Khushi almost jumped as he shouted and then quickly nodded her head in affirmation. She signaled him to remove his palm over her mouth. Arnav abided by instantly. He seemed embarrassed. It must have been really difficult for him .. Khushi understood and her heart suddenly was filled with a kind of warmth that made the world seem only beautiful.

"It is ok, Arnavji," she smiled slightly.

Arnav looked at her and slowly touched the scar with his index finger. Khushi flinched. Arnav mistook it for pain.

Arnav: Does it hurt very much?

Khushi: Nehi, Arnavji. It is ok.

Arnav came closer to her cheek making her heart suddenly stop. Only from a very, very few inches away from her face, Arnav blew air on her scar. Khushi could not track how many times he did that but she suddenly felt him caressing the scar with his thumb as he kept blowing.

Khushi feared she would faint.

Khushi: Arr.. navjiii ..

Arnav: Hmmm ..

Khushi: Woh .. woh .. please restart the lilft ..

Khushi felt his thumb stopped moving over her cheek. And also the hot air stopped caressing her face. She regretted it instantly but she could not turn back the time.

Arnav quickly moved away from her and punched some button in the panel. He did not look at her until the lift halted at their floor. The air was already hotter than ever inside the lift. He turned to her before he stepped out of the lift.

"Sorry," his voice never heard so soft as he uttered it again and walked away.

Khushi touched the scar looking at herself in the mirror. She smiled. Not every scar gave bad memories.

"Sorry," she could hear him say it again. A precious two-syllable word.

Khushi took a deep breath before she stepped out of the dressing room. She clutched her purse tightly. She never felt so nervous ever in her life. As she went closer to the hall, she felt warmer. She could not control her trembling legs. Her heart raced so fast that she felt she would collapse. She knew why. She could not deny. She wanted him to look at her.

Arnav was talking to a client when a familiar smell tickled her senses. "Excuse me," was all he managed to say abruptly before he turned away to find the source of the smell. He could not wait anymore. He was feeling like he would snap any moment if he did not see her any sooner.

Time froze as he finally found her.

There she was .. standing in front of a wall of fairylights . A red sari .. a small bindi .. a simple jhumka .. .. her free, open hair slightly swaying in the air. She smiled at her. A picture perfect.

Arnav forgot everything else. Only the vision in red occupied all his senses .. even the ones beyond the fifth. He walked towards her in a trance in slow steps. He did not realize when he put down his glass of wine .. when he brushed aside all the greetings & compliments. Nothing existed except for that celestial vision in that small corner of the hall where she stood inviting him with her half-sprightly, half-shy smile.

Khushi gulped down the myriad of emotions that froze her on spot as his eyes landed on her. He was the most handsome man she has ever seen. But this was beyond any definition. She smiled at him but she felt her trembling only intensified as he started walking towards her. His eyes were different. The way he was looking at her, made her shiver all through.

Arnav reached her and soon become a part of the frame.

A gorgeous woman in red. A gorgeous man in black. A backdrop of twinkling lights.

Picture perfect indeed.

"I am ready, Arnaviji," Khushi quickly said with a slight, nervous smile not wanting to collapse in front of him.

Devi Maiya held her breath as she heard Arnav's thought.

She was ready .. she said.

Arnav held his breath too.

Was he ready?

 

 

Precap: Jadu hain nasha hain ...

Res...:-(
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ok...that :( was bcoz I read the update late...You have posted it when I was super bzy...
and it continued..as I read the update from phone in hurry and I was all confused and the essence didnt hit me at all..I finally read the update couple of days back and this time I didnt fail...lovely update once again dear...

I am not able to give a lengthy reply this time...but I cant wait as I dont want these three days to be wasted..so here I am..chleepy..chleepy reply...

He must be some bald-headed middle aged arrogant jerk...LOL..

My fav line...I am sure yours too...

I am still waiting for him to vent out his biggest frustration..this line and jadu hain nasha hai tells me something bigger is awaiting...