Chapter 29 Frozen hearts...will the melt by Deepti

Chapter 29

He didn’t notice earlier but she was looking  gorgeous in her black anarkali suit which was in total contrast to her skin tone. She pinned her hair on the left side and left everything else loose, giving a new dimension to her oval shaped face. But it was something else that caught his attention. He kept staring at  her sparkling lips which were painted with a light pink lip gloss.

Kushi was all set to give him a lecture for being late. And finding him wasting the precious time by standing like a statue by staring at her, she was more annoyed.

She snapped her fingers in front of his face and said, “Do you see any monkeys dancing here? Why are you staring at my face like that?”, pointing her right hand towards her face.

Her actions forced him to come out of his trance and he retorted saying, ” Do we need any other monkeys when we have one standing right in front of me?”.

Though she wanted to crash something on his head for that answer, Kushi controlled her temper and said, ” Hi hi.. It’s not even funny! Do you have any idea what the time is?”

“Hmm… it’s 4.55”, said Arnav checking his wrist watch.

“Arrrgh!!Even I’m aware that it’s 4.55.I’m not talking about that. Do you even remember that we are supposed to meet that Abhay at 5? How can you expect us to make it on time if you are this late?”, asked an annoyed Kushi.

“Excuse me! I wasn’t told that we were appearing for an exam for which we have to be there on time”, replied Arnav sarcastically.

As Kushi opened her mouth to answer, he stopped her from doing so by showing his hand to her ans said, ” Relax! He can wait. You don’t have to worry so much about it. I was in a meeting which lasted for a while. Hence the delay.Now if you are done with this discussion, can we make a move?”

“Are you going to come like this?”, asked Kushi who was placated with his explanation, looking at his attire which was composed of a black three piece suit with a light blue shirt beneath.

Arnav looked at himself and asked, ” Ya!Any problem?”

“We aren’t attending any business meeting. Why are you so formally attired? Can’t you put on some casuals?”, asked Kushi pointing her hand towards his attire.

“I’m in no mood to change. Moreover, this meeting is kind of business deal to me. I hope you didn’t forget our DEAL”, said Arnav with a smirk.

The word DEAL from his mouth made her shudder for a second and Kushi looked here and there to avoid his stare.

“Don’t worry! Even if you forget, I’m always there to remind you. Now, shall we start?”, asked Arnav with the smirk still lingering on his face.

Kushi instantly composed herself and said, “You can make a move. Wait for me at the  end of our road. I will join you shortly”.

“WHAT??? Aren’t  we going together??”, asked Arnav who was clueless about her plan.

“Of course we are. But how can we step out of the house together? Questions will be raised”, said Kushi enlightening him.

Arnav gave it a thought and said, ” Okay! So here is the plan. You tell them that you are going to Rajiv chowk to meet some friend of yours and I will offer you a ride in front of them saying that I’m going the same way.Simple!!”

“That’s a great idea!”, said an excited Kushi who was glad to know that she can escape from taking that long walk to reach the end of their road.

“I know!!”, replied Arnav with least interest seeing which Kushi rolled her eyes.

“You first”, he said, pointing his hand towards the stairs, asking her to take the lead.

As Kushi followed his instruction and descended down the stairs, Arnav followed her after a 20 seconds time lapse.

“Maa… I’m going to Rajiv chowk with Preethi and Nisha…will be back in an hour or two “, said Kushi addressing her mother, as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Even I’m going that way.I can drop you if you want”, said Arnav who came behind her.

Kushi turned around and opened her mouth to say yes but was interrupted hearing her mother’s statement.

“Let her take the car, Arnav. If not it will be a problem while returning home”, said Sakshi.

“Oh God! Now why is my mother ruining the whole plan”, thought Kushi.

“No Maa. I’m not planning to take the car. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. I don’t want to annoy our driver by making him wait for that long time”, said Kushi.

“You don’t have to worry about our driver. He is being paid for that. Just take the car and come home early”, declared Sakshi.

As Kushi and Arnav looked at each other not understanding what to do, Aarthi came to their rescue saying, “But there is no car available right now. One is at the servicing center while I sent Shyamlal to the market in the other one. It will take him at least an hour to return”.

“Is it!! Then how will this Kushi go?”, said a worried Sakshi.

“Don’t worry Maa. I can drop her”, suggested Arnav, instantly.

“I’m not worried about that Arnav. You will drop her.That’s fine. But how will she return home? After hearing the latest happenings in the city, I don’t want her to take any public transport”, said Sakshi.

“You don’t have to worry about that too. Once my work is done, I will pick her up on my way home”, said Arnav.

Sakshi instantly liked the idea and said, ” This sounds perfect! Kushi, you go with Arnav. Wrap up whatever you are doing the moment he gives you a call and come home with him.Don’t keep him waiting.Understand!!”

“Yes Maa”, replied Kushi obediently.

“Let’s go..Bye all”, said Arnav  as he walked towards the door. Kushi also bid a farewell to everyone and followed him silently.

The two silent spectators of the whole scene couldn’t believe what they just saw.

“Dhadhi, just pinch me!! Is this a dream? Arnav offering to drop Kushi and Kushi readily accepting it without creating a drama? Did this really happen???”, whispered Anjali in her grandmother’s ears, looking at the disappearing figures of Arnav and Kushi.

“That is what is bothering me!!How come the cat and mouse are on the same word today.He offered to help and she accepted. Not a word of argument, taunt or bickering!! Something is  fishy!”, said Devyani  looking in the same direction as Anjali.

“Ya Dhadhi, something is really fishy”,accepted Anjali.

“Whatever it is, these two look great together.Did you notice how they were complimenting each other in those black attires”, said Devyani expressing her joy.

“Dhadhi,these two.. and together?? That’s never going to happen. They can’t remain sane without fighting even for a minute. So stop dreaming about them being together”, said Anjali who understood her grandmother’s thoughts.

“We can never predict what destiny has in store for them.  Let’s just wait and watch!”, replied Devyani with a positive attitude.

As Arnav got into the car and ignited the engine, Kushi opened the rear door and sat in the back seat, adjusting herself in the seat.

“WHAT THE!!”, screamed Arnav looking at her in the rear view mirror.

“What happened now?”, asked Kushi, not understanding  the reason behind that scream.

“AM I YOUR DRIVER?? Come and sit in the front”, barked Arnav.

Kushi bit her tongue realizing the blunder she made and got down from the car.She hopped onto the seat right next to him saying, “I usually sit at the back. Forgot that you were driving. But why do you always shout? Can’t you speak like a normal hu…”. Kushi preferred not to complete the sentence seeing the deadly stare which he was giving her.

To protect herself from his wrath,she swallowed the words in her mouth and busied herself  in buckling up the seat belt.”You have to spend the rest of the evening with him, Kushi. Think twice before you speak. If not he will eat you raw. And believe me.. not you but only your bones will return home.BEWARE!!”, muttered Kushi as she turned her face towards the left.

As Arnav raced the car on the roads of Delhi, Kushi received a call from Abhay.

“It’s from Abhay”, she said, looking at the phone in her hand.

“So!! What should I do?”, came the careless reply from him.

Kushi pursed her lips giving a hopeless look to Arnav and took the call from Abhay.

“Hi Kushi! It’s Abhay. Where are you guys?”, inquired Abhay from the other side of the line.

“We are on our way. Actually he got caught up in some work. So we had to start late”, said Kushi giving her explanation.

“Will be there in 15 minutes”, she added ignoring the look which Arnav gave her.

Kushi was done with the call when her eyes fell on his hand which was moving towards the gear rod. She quickly moved away her right knee which was almost leaning on the gear rod to avoid any contact with his hand. Albeit, he noticed it, Arnav preferred not to acknowledge it.

As they reached the hotel, Kushi gave a call to Abhay to inform him about their arrival. Abhay told her that he was waiting for them at The Atrium and asked them to join him there. As the duo moved towards the Lounge they found Abhay seated at a table with his back facing towards them.

And as they approached him, “Hi!”, said Kushi who went and stood  in front of Abhay.

“Oh Hi! Where is he?”, asked Abhay who didn’t find anyone next to Kushi.

“Right behind you”, said Kushi moving her eyes towards Arnav.

As Abhay turned his head around and lifted his gaze to look at the man who stood behind him, he got the biggest shock of his life.

“HE!!!”, screamed Abhay standing up on his feet.

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-Deepti© Myriad of my dreams.