Dark Night Dawning

Chapter 25

Palak's wedding day had finally arrived. It was about 4 o'clock in the evening, and Khushi stood in her room getting dressed early so that she could go over to help Palak with her makeup. The last couple of days were a whirlwind of thoughts for Khushi. Arnav's past had given her a new insight about his behaviour. Di had told her he had started believing in love. But she knew better. Though he had started to care for her, he would never love her. Her love would have to be enough to take them through the rest of their life. Rest of their life? She remembered the emphatic declarations she made in front of Di -----He better be ready with the answers......

Well, he was the one who wanted her to come to Delhi one month ago, hadn't he? He would have to put up with her, she thought as she finally draped her saree over her left shoulder. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Surajji was early!

She hurried up to the door and opened the latch on the door and turned back without looking, 'You are early Surajaji, I need 10 more minutes,' she said walking back.

'I missed you too.....' said a husky voice.

Arnav!

The first glimpse he had of her had stumped him totally. She was wearing the beautiful red chikan saree he had bought for her. She had her back turned toward him. With her lovely long hair in a clip and her dori undone, her back was completely bare, with only a small strip of cloth separating her upper back and her tiny waist , exposing the creamy smooth skin slick with sweat. His breath hitched at the way her hips swayed with her urgency to get back.

'Arr....navji?' Khushi's dhak dhak began slowly, and she whirled around, her eyes going wide with surprize. 'what are you doing here?' she asked him as her dhak-dhak increased in tempo.

She looked even more breath taking from the front, with her kajal emphasizing the beauty of her eyes. Her pallu was roughly gathered together on her shoulder, giving him a glimpse of her curvy waist and her delectable navel.

But then she had said Surajji....... Damn!

''What do you mean, what I am doing here?' he asked her irritated that she seemed so indifferent, 'I am here to attend Palak's wedding of course,' he said smoothly though his heart had started to beat in an erratic pattern.

'Oh ....' Did she sound a wee bit disappointed?

'Arnavji!?' Suraj was at the door, 'Namaste......its good you were able to make it......Palak will be so happy!'

'I am glad to hear that at least some one will be happy,' he replied sarcastically, looking at Khushi.

'Uh.....Khushiji...... do you still need a ride to the hall?' asked Suraj doubtfully.

'Yes Surajji, I promised Palak I would do her make up' she said looking at Arnav defiantly. If he didn't like Suraj, that was his problem. What did he think of himself? Did he think he could leave whenever he liked and come back when he liked? If he thought that she would just drop everything for him he better think again. 'I will back in just a few minutes Surajji.'

'One minute Khushi,' Arnav's voice stopped Khushi. He walked up to her and lifting his hands he took her dori in his hands, all the time looking into her eyes, a barely controlled temper simmering in them. Her eyes flashed at him as she stared right back. As he roughly pulled the strings together in a tight knot, Khushi's breath hitched, and she let out a gasp. He then moved his hand up in her hair and undid the clasp on her clip. Ab theek hai.......

Khushi quietly turned around and went back into her room, her whole body quivering. Laad Governor was incorrigible!

As Suraj watched this entire scene, he sensed tension emanating from them in waves. He felt sorry for Khushi.