Chapter- 63 Frozen hearts...will they melt by Deepti

CHAPTER 63

“It’s 3.30 in the night. What would anyone do at this late hour?”, he asked checking the time in his watch.

Rolling her eyes on hearing his reply, ” I didn’t ask  what you are doing at this hour. I asked what  you are doing here. To me more precise ,in London and that too in my room”, she asked trying to enlighten him.

“Your room?”, he asked knotting his brows for which, ” Yes, my room”, stressed Kushi.

As he looked at the surroundings and asked, ” Are you sure?”, she too looked around and her jaw dropped in horror on seeing the set up of that room which was in total contrast to the one which was hers.  Looking at the interiors she realized that she was in the room next to hers and said, ” This isn’t my room”.

Hearing her answer as he sighed, “If this isn’t my room, how did I end up here?”, she asked all confused.

“How would I know that?”, he responded with a shrug and after a pause said, “You must walked in your sleep”. Trying to recollect how she ended up there as she got lost in a thought and said ,”Hmmm”, thinking that she was in agreement with his interpretation, ” I never knew that you sleep walk”, uttered Arnav. As his statement brought her out of her thoughts, ” I don’t sleep walk and I have no sleep disorders”, retorted Kushi.

“Ya! I can see that”, he mumbled scratching his brow and said, “Okay! So what brought you here?”.

“I don’t know”, she replied biting her finger nails and the next moment as if she remembered something, ” Forget about me. You still haven’t told me what you are doing here. Weren’t you supposed to be in New York?”, she inquired coming back to her initial query.

“I was… until this morning. Took the noon flight to stop by in London as I need to take care of some work in our office here. I will be here till Sunday”, he replied giving her the details about his sudden visit.

Though she was elated to hear the last part she was bit depressed to learn the reason behind his visit. ” Couldn’t he  say  he came to see me”, she thought for a second and the next moment she was surprised to get such a thought.

“Why do I end up getting such weird thoughts”, she wondered not knowing that her weird thought was the actual reason behind his visit.

“Why in the world would he come all the way to London just to see me? Thank God, I haven’t said anything aloud. If not he would have laughed at me”, she thought getting carried away while he watched her all amused.

He had seen a spark in her eyes when he said that he was going to stay there till Sunday but the next moment he saw surprise in them which was soon followed by disappointment.” What is she disappointed about and how does she manage to do that? Switch various emotions in a matter of seconds”, he wondered looking at her.

In an attempt to get her attention as he said, “Now if you got your answers can I get back to my sleep?”, she simply nodded her head in response though lost in a thought she paid no attention to his question.

Amused with her response as he said, ” Looks like you don’t want to leave this room. Planning to sleep here?”, she jerked and came out of her thoughts saying, “What did you say”, just to make sure that she heard him right.

As a smirk appeared on his face he leaned further and said, ” I said, it looks like you are planning to share the bed with me”. Hearing this as she flushed, ” Not that I mind”, he whispered in a husky voice which made her heart beat take a hike. Trying to control her racing heart which was doing somersaults as she remained still, ” You didn’t answer me, Kushi. Is that what  you want?”, he whispered in her ear which made her ear lobe turn hot.

Jumping off the bed as she gaped at him and said, ” What rubbish”, he tried had not to chuckle. She wanted to run away from there to hide her flushed face from him and giving a life to her thoughts, ” I’m going”, she announced and dashed out of his room. He chuckled seeing her escape and was extremely glad to see her red hot face and felt that the purpose of his visit has been accomplished. He got to see her after ten long days and that too with his favorite blush on her face. Can he ask for more?May be… in near future. But for now, he was content. With both his mind and heart  at peace while he closed his eyes and slept peacefully dreaming about her, Kushi had a hard time in sleeping.

She managed to get out of his room but not out of the thoughts which were driving her crazy. “Planning to share the bed with me? Not that I mind!”. As his words and voice echoed in her ears she kept strolling in her room. Never did she think that his presence in an odd place and at an odd hour would give her such a happiness but as she recollected  the naughtiness which peeped in his tone she blushed. The reason which he gave for his sudden visit now didn’t seem to bother her  much as she was glad to have someone from her family with her.

“It feels so good to have a dear one near you”, she uttered lying on the bed but the very next moment she sprung back and sat upright wondering, ” From when did he become my dear one”. Though she had no answer for it, thinking him as her dear one felt so right and this brought a smile on her face.

Looking at the clock, she slapped on her head for getting carried away and saying, “Enough of thoughts for the day, to be more precise night. It’s my first day of college tomorrow and if I don’t sleep now, for sure I will fall asleep in the class”, she went back to her sleeping position. And shutting the doors and windows of her brain she forced herself to sleep.

The next morning, it had been twenty minutes since she stepped out of the shower yet she was still wrapped in her towel. Not able to decide on what to wear on her first day to college as she kept checking all her outfits she realized that she was running late. Picking up a pair of light blue jeans and a white shirt as she started her struggle to get into them in a rush, someone in the dining hall was looking at the clock for umpteenth time. He had been waiting to see her for the past thirty minutes and kept wondering what was taking her so long. Having his breakfast which was served by Stella, while he kept waiting for her, Kushi brushed her hair and leaving it open, she quickly defined her eyes with kohl. Picking up her handbag, phone and few files as she dashed out of her room, she found him at the dining table. Pleased to see her while he looked at her, Kushi was no more sure about her choice of clothes. “Had I been at home I would have taken someone’s opinion”, she muttered as she walked towards the dining table and wondered is she should take his opinion. As if he read her mind, he scanned her from head to toe and impressed with her white half sleeve shirt which she paired with a skinny blue jeans, “Not bad!!”, he said giving his opinion, as she took seat at the table. As he watched her keenly he felt something was missing and when his gaze shifted to her kitten heel pumps and to the handbag she was carrying, both looked fine to him.

Sipping his coffee while he wondered what was that missing piece, Kushi got more confused hearing his remark. “Not bad??Now what does he mean by that? Couldn’t he just say it’s good or bad. What should I make out of his comment?”, she thought as she fished for her watch in the handbag and on finding it as she slipped her bracelet model GUESS watch on her left wrist. “Much better!”, she heard him say.

Shaking her head as she got ready to attack the breakfast in her plate, “Give me your phone”, said Arnav.

“Why?”, she asked with suspicion picking up a toast from her plate.

As he arched his brows and gave her a look she understood that he wouldn’t give her an answer and since she was not in a mood to pick up a fight with him, rolling her eyes she passed on her phone to him. Curious to know why he needed her phone as she watched him munching on her toast, he have a call to his phone from hers and ended the call as soon as his phone buzzed.

“That’s my number. Save it”, he ordered passing her phone back to her, hearing which her jaw dropped. ” And don’t you have the habit of locking your phone. Set a password”, he gave the additional free advise.

“Wow! Did we just exchange numbers? Couldn’t he ask for my number just like normal beings do! He and his attitude!”, she  thought and sighed. And annoyed with his attitude slipping her phone  into her handbag, “I won’t”, she replied.

Though he didn’t understand if that reluctance was for saving his number or for setting a password on her phone, “Your wish!”, he replied with a shrug as if it doesn’t matter to him. For the next five minutes they sat there in silence and after making sure that she was almost done with her breakfast, ” Now if you are done, we need to make a move”, he said out of the blue, getting up from his chair.

“Where?”, she asked, trying to swallow the last bite of the toast in her mouth.

“Where else, to your college”, came his cool reply which made her choke on her food. As she started coughing he rushed to her side and passing a glass of water to her, he started rubbing her back with his right hand. The moment she felt his touch, her cough was shut down and as she sat still like a statue, ” Drink!”, came his order. Though she lifted the glass and started gulping down the water, all her senses were focused on the area where he was stroking her and she felt butterflies flutter in her tummy. Seeing her calm down as he took off his hand, she instantly felt the loss and looked at him.

“Are you okay?”, he asked with concern evident on his face for which she nodded her head in response though her heart wanted to scream that she wasn’t.

“Then, shall we go?”, he asked quietly and waited for  her to gather her belongings. As she followed him silently they both exited the flat and neither in the lift nor in the corridor she tried to break the silence though she kept stealing glances at him every now and then. Once they reached the parking area, he walked towards a white Audi A3 and she wondered if it was a rental car or his own.

“I bought this when I was here for a year”, he said clearing her doubt and she couldn’t help but wonder how he knew what she was thinking. As he opened the passenger side door for her, she got into the car and while she got busy in latching the seat belt he closed the door and walked around to get into the driver’s seat. As he was buckling up he found her applying lip gloss and seeing her glide the tip of her lip gloss on her soft pink lips, he got carried away  for a moment. As she glided the gloss back and forth on her lips, he so much wanted his finger to be in the place of that gloss and as he felt a heat taking root within him, ” Will you stop doing that”, he barked to make her stop what she was doing.

“Now what did I do?”, asked Kushi all surprised taking the lip gloss away from her lips.

“If you are done with it I need to adjust the rear view mirror”, he gave the best excuse he could give for his sudden outburst as he couldn’t tell her that her simple gesture like applying gloss was  provocative enough to turn him on.

“It’s all yours!”, she replied with a shrug and capping the lip gloss looked at the man as if he were a ghost. “Is some screw in his head lose? Does he have to shout for that. And at times he is utterly quiet, all concerned and what not. Understanding this being is so complicated”, she thought as she settled in her seat and got ready for the ride and as he drove the car, she sat there silently looking out of the window.

Soon they entered King’s cross and on noticing the tall brown building which looked like the one she had seen on the school’s website, Kushi realized that they were approaching her destination.  She expected him to stop the car near the main gate but to her surprise, he drove the car right into the campus and parked the car in the parking area.

As she stared at him without unlatching the seat belt, “What?”, he asked.

“Are you going to come in too??”, she asked expressing her doubt for which he said, ” Of course. Why? Don’t you want me to come?”

“No. Nothing like that. It’s just that I can manage on my own”, she replied though she really liked the idea of him accompanying her.

“I know. I wanted to have a look at the campus too”, he said getting off the car and she too did the same.

As they crossed the walkway and entered the Granary building, Kushi was filled with excitement. Forgetting the surroundings as she twirled around and gave a big clap with a cheerful smile on her face, he just stared at her and left her alone to enjoy the moment. “Isn’t it cool”, she asked him looking around and he agreed while his eyes were glued to her face. She looked like a little girl who was extremely happy on getting what she wished for and he was glad to witness her happiness. On checking the time on his watch, realizing that she might get late for the introduction class,  he rushed her towards the reception and she followed him silently observing everything around her.

At the reception, they were greeted well and  after the initial formalities were done the receptionist handed a map to Kushi. Showing Kushi’s classroom on that map she gave quick directions on how to reach that room and then went to attend the next candidate in line. As Kushi looked at the map which looked no less than a maze and tried to understand it, ” All set?”, she heard him ask.

“Hope so”, she replied without taking  her eyes off  the map.

“New place, new people and everything from here on is going to be a pretty new experience.  Will I be able to cope up?”, as nervousness crept into her system, too many doubts filled her head.

“Nervous?”, he asked, bringing her out of her thoughts and she couldn’t lie to him.

“Kind of”, she replied looking back at him.

“Don’t worry too much. You will do just fine”, he told her extending his hand for a handshake while his eyes conveyed the numerous unsaid words. And as she extended her hand wondering how could he transform into such a warm, supportive being at times, “Good luck!”, he said squeezing her hand gently. The warmth of his touch provided the support which she needed at that moment and nodding her head, ” Thanks”, she replied, looking straight into his eyes.

He gave her a blink and let go of her hand while she just wished if only he could  hold it further.

“Now go before you get late for your first class”, he rushed her and coming back to her senses, she gave him a nod and leaving him at the reception she moved forward. On reaching the end of the corridor where she was supposed to take a right turn, she turned around to check if he was still there. And on finding him talking to the receptionist, ” Now what is he talking to her”, she muttered and took the turn without looking forward and ‘BANG!!’ came a sound as she went and collided with someone

“Sorry!!”, said Kushi rubbing her forehead looking at the girl who looked more like an European.

“I’m sorry too. I was in a rush and didn’t see you coming”, said the girl who went on her way after apologizing to Kushi.

Using the map as her guide Kushi finally managed to find her room but just before she set her foot inside the room, she saw the girl she bumped into earlier, coming towards the same room from a different direction.

“MA Fashion??”, asked the girl  pointing her finger at Kushi and then at the classroom. And when Kushi replied, ‘Yes’, “Me too! Hi, I’m Olivia”, said the girl.After Kushi introduced herself, both the girls entered the classroom and took the adjacent seats in the first row. As Kushi looked around the huge room she was super excited to find herself among all new faces and that was when their Professor Louise Wilson entered the hall and started her nonstop lecture and her expectation from her students.

“Out of the 500 people who competed this year, only you 46 made it to this classroom. I agree that it’s kind of huge achievement to you all. But that’s not all. What you are going to achieve here on is what that counts.You need to come up with new ideas at all times and the time starts right now. Put your minds to work and let your works do all the talking. Prove it to me that you all are worthy to be seated here, in one of the prestigious school of fashion. Surprise me with your work and show me something which your previous batches haven’t shown”, said the lady taking a pause.

“We don’t give specific lectures in anything as you all are here to create. And creativity can’t be taught. It is something which is within you. You have to come up with something new and unique at all times. And as you have chosen a creative field, if you have no ideas bubbling in your tiny brains,  consider that you have no place in this field of fashion”, she continued and went on with her lecture and by the time she was done with her lecture while half of the class gave her the name of Lady Hitler, Kushi found a mentor in that lady.

With a huge smile on her face as she watched her Professor addressing the doubts of some students, “What is that smile for?”, asked Olivia.

“Didn’t you hear her lecture. Isn’t it inspiring !And what do you think about our professor? Isn’t she super encouraging”, said Kushi giving her opinion about their Professor.

“Is that what you felt about the lady? To me, she looks no less than a dictator. All bossy and arrogant. I don’t like her attitude”, replied Olivia rolling her eyes at their Professor who soon left the room.

“What! You think she is bossy and arrogant. You should meet that one person who is an epitome of both those qualities and I bet you will change your opinion about Ms.Wilson.

“And who is that person?”,Olivia asked with interest for which Kushi said,” Mr. Arrogant “, and vacated her seat.  While Olivia gave a confused look to her, Kushi gestured her to come along and both the girls exited the classroom and wandered around the campus talking about a different subject.

Friendship between them became an instant hit as both shared similar interests and neither of them felt that they just met an hour ago. Over lunch Kushi learned that Olivia was from France and that she lived with three other girls in an apartment and she instantly liked the tall, thin girl who was quite independent. And on the other hand Olivia too got attracted to Kushi’s bubbly and friendly nature. By the time they were done with their lunch Olivia knew everyone who were dear to Kushi except that one person whose name Kushi never took. Post lunch they exchanged their contact numbers and that was when Kushi noticed the last number that was dialed from her phone.

“SAVE IT!!’, as his voice buzzed in her head, showing her grudge on the phone she pressed few keys and finally saved his number with a wicked grin on her face.

The girls then went to attend  other  lectures which were mostly intros and by the time they were done for the day,Kushi didn’t feel like she has no friends in London. She was glad that she found Olivia and talking to her as she got ready to leave the room, her phone buzzed. Seeing ‘Mr. Arrogant’ flash on the screen, she took the call with a grin on her face.

“Where are you?”, she heard him ask as soon as she placed the phone to her ear.

“College. Where else?”, she replied calmly.

“I know that. Aren’t you done with your classes?”, came the next inquiry.

“When you know that, why did you ask?”, she thought, though she said, “Yup. About to leave from here”.

“Okay!”, he said and ended the call which made Kushi drop her jaw.

“Did he just cut it?”, she said staring at her phone which made Olivia question, ” What happened?”

“Nothing. Let’s go”, replied Kushi shaking off her head as she took the lead.

“What’s the need to call when you don’t have the time to talk. Who asked you to call in the first place”, she kept muttering as she walked but stood rooted to her spot when she heard Olivia ask, ” So what are you going to take. Train or bus?”

Why didn’t it occur to her. She got ready to leave but did she ever think how? As she stood there with a blank expression on her face and uttered, ” I don’t know”, Olivia figured out the situation and said, ” Okay! Tell me your address and I can suggest which one is a better commute”.

And when Kushi took out a card and read out the address which she had scribbled on it,     ” Hey, this is just a few  blocks away from where I stay”, said Olivia.

“Is it! Awesome! Then we both can go together”, reacted an excited Kushi glad to find  company but that excitement didn’t last even for a second as Olivia said, “True. But not today. I have an interview for a part-time job at 5.30 p.m and I will have to walk to that place while you need to take the train to go home. Unfortunately we will have to go in different directions and since it’s already 5, I can’t even accompany you till the train station. I will get late for the interview”.

Seeing her friend’s fallen face, “But don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. I will text you all the details like which road to take and which train to board and you just follow them. You will safely reach home. And by any change if you feel lost, you always have google maps”, added the girl who soon started texting those details to Kushi’s phone.

Going through the texts which Olivia sent while Kushi walked out of the building following her friend, ” Wow! Now who is this hunk!”, she heard Olivia say as they were crossing the parking area.  And as Kushi lifted her head and looked in the direction in which Olivia was staring, she was flabbergasted to find Arnav there. Dressed in a denim blue jeans and white polo shirt, she found him standing against his white Audi with his arms crossed against his chest. And with those dark brown aviators on his handsome face there was no doubt that he was looking extremely hot.

As if stealing the words from her mouth, ” Isn’t he super hot”, commented Olivia which brought Kushi out of her thoughts and as she looked uncomfortably at Olivia, the other girl didn’t understand what to make out of that look.

Once certain that Kushi was aware of his presence there, pulling out his phone from the jeans pocket he got into the car and got busy in checking something. And on noticing this, ” Got to go”, said Kushi pointing her thumb at the Audi.

“Don’t tell me he is here for you”, said a surprised Olivia who didn’t try to hide the shock which was evident on her face.

“He is!!”, replied Kushi with a shrug.

“Is he your boy friend?”, came the next question for which Kushi shook her head.

“Brother?”, asked Olivia which made Kushi jump on her feet  as she literally shouted, “Nooo”.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to get into personal stuff. Was just curious”, said Olivia, apologizing.

“He is like my family. My father’s best friend’s son. Now if you are done with your questions, I need to  make a move. See you tomorrow”, said Kushi who soon took a step ahead after waving her hand.

“Kushi”, called out Olivia which made Kushi pause and turn around. As she raised her brows at her friend, ” If he isn’t your bf you better make him one. Look around and you will know why”, uttered Olivia which made Kushi check around. And on finding multiple pairs of eyes gazing the man and his car, Kushi understood  what her friend was suggesting.

“And don’t say that I never warned you”, shouted Olivia who took the walkway to exit the school while Kushi shook her head and walked towards the Audi.

“Done with your meetings. What do you girls talk about”, he asked pretty casually the moment she got in to the car and ” You”, she blurted out without any second thought. But the moment she saw the expression on his face, she realized what she just said and to cover that, ” I mean, what are YOU doing here?”, she asked him instantly.

And as he gave her a glance and started the car, Kushi bit her tongue realizing what a dumb question she had asked. Of course he was there to pick her up. Controlling the urge to slap herself for her stupidity, ” I mean, it’s obvious that you came to pick me up but what I meant to ask was, how did you know that my classes will be done by his time?”, she asked framing her words with utter care.

As he dashed a look in her direction and shifted his gaze towards the road, ” One look of his and people can dig thousand conclusions from it”, she muttered wondering what that look meant.

“I checked at the reception this morning”, he said coolly  switching lanes and it made sense to her.

As she sat more comfortably in her seat and looked out of the window, he continued to drive stealing glances at her every now and then. And after few minutes as they crossed the street which would lead them to their apartment, Kushi jumped in her seat and asked,        ” Isn’t that the way to our flat”,pointing her hand at the street which they just passed.

“It is”, he replied coolly as he kept driving.

“Then why didn’t you take that street?”, she demanded him to answer.

“Because we are not going home”, came his calm reply as he turned the car in to a different street.

“Not going home? Then where are we heading to?”, she asked all confused.

“Is it necessary to know everything?”, he asked looking at her and she said firmly,” YES”.

” I want to show you something. Just wait and watch”, he said and looked back at the road ahead of them as their Audi raced on that road.

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- Deepti © Myriad of my dreams -Never stop dreaming

I'm so sorry, I know I'm posting this chapter very late.Right now am not feeling well..Sick :( But by reading your comments I push my self to type this chapter...Thank you so much guys for your support so far . So greatful 💙