Orphic : An IPKKND SS

Chapter Four

Khushi fumed silently , as Akash introduced Arnav to her friends. Her eyes darted around and her fist clenched to curb her urge to punch Mr. Raizada and leave.

"Preetika! I was hoping we could dance?" Noah held out his hand, with a charming smile.

"Whatever you say handsome!" Preeto winked.

Akash shot Khushi an apologetic glance, before guiding Payal to the dance floor.

Exhaling the breath which was caught up in her chest, she bent towards the chair, and caught hold of her purse.
She sidestepped Arnav, and started to walk towards the elevator in brisk steps.

"Khushi! Wait!" His hand caught her wrist.

He looked like a puppy in distress. But she was too furious to let that melt her.

He dropped her wrist gently, when her glare persisted.
" Look, I beg you Khushi , please let me apologise. I don't want to ruin your evening but I don't want you to be upset either. Please just hear me out"
He looked at her expectantly, pleading with his eyes.

She found her heart wavering. Wavering, just for a moment.
Who else would hire the nineteen year old decorator?
She relived the humiliation as she recalled his words. Blinking the despair away, she looked at him again. His body tense in a way she had never seen before.

"I don't know you at all, and neither do you know me. And I agreed to go on a date with you that night because I liked you, but after today...I realised that there's no point in me going out with a man who fails to respect me."

"But I do! You don't know what came over me, I-I...was jealous!"

"What?" Khushi was confused. What did she have that Mr Richie Rich was jealous of?

"Of NK!"

"So you decided to take it out on me?" She scoffed.

"No! I was jealous of him. Because you were smiling at him. Laughing with him. I don't know what came over me Khushi...I-"

She looked at him, her mouth opening and closing like a spluttering fish.

Her breath hitched as Arnav tugged her waist towards him, his warmth pervading her skin.
A flurry of young boys rushed past them, as he pulled her further against him.

Letting her go just as swiftly, he said
"I am sorry, you were in their way. And they seemed to be drunk."

She nodded.

"Khushi" he held out a hand "Dance with me? We can talk this out. And then I'll leave you alone if you want me to."

She slid her hand into his, before her ego got hold of her mind, and she found herself amidst the crowd of dancers.

A Japanese pop song played along, and she glanced at her friends who seemed too engrossed in their dates to pay her any attention.

Arnav held her waist lightly, as he guided her through the music. She found her heart beating a mile a minute as his lips touched her ear, as he bent his head down.

" I was late for brunch. Then I saw NK sitting beside you. And you were laughing and smiling. You didn't even see me before I announced myself. And that made me lose my mind Khushi. It drove me crazy."

She wanted to tell him to stop. She wanted to tell him his hot breath and the husky whispers made her want to grab his shirt collar and place her lips against his sinfully beautiful ones.

But he didn't want to stop.
" And I said anything that came to mind. Anything that could provoke you. I wanted your eyes to be on me Khushi. But I didn't realise this was not a boardroom, and that you weren't an opponent to be won over but the woman who I-"

She looked up. His eyes held a gleam, seducing her heart.
He was jealous!
Her hands crept up from his shoulders and entwined themselves behind his neck, still swaying to the music.

"It's fine, Arnav. You didn't lie though. At 19, fresh out of my course I would simply be an intern. My aunt did help me get some opportunities. But I am not unworthy of them-"

"Of course not!" He interrupted vigorously.
"I am an idiot. Khushi, please just forget what I said. "

She gave him a sad smile.
Maybe her achievements meant nothing. It will be a long path for her before she can prove her own ability.

His fingers were rough on her skin, as he tipped back her head.
"Listen to me Khushi Gupta. You are an amazing interior designer. And you cannot let any class-A jerk tell you otherwise!"

She let out a chuckle, remembering her lashing out back at him.
He smiled at her, he bent down whispering once again, " I am really sorry Khushi"

Tired of fighting herself, she let out a deep sigh,
"It's okay Arnav. I understand."

She stood on her toes, leaning forward, pressing onto him as she brought her mouth to his ear,
"I just want to dance "
It was testament to how close they stood, when she felt a tremble through his body, as he clutched her tighter.

Leaning away, her eyes met his, and took the fight in his eyes.
As if hypnotised, she stood in his arms, staring, waiting....waiting for what?

His lips met her cheeks the next moment.
Her hands tightened on the lapels of his suit.

"Arnav" she breathed out.

"God" he grit out, "If only, half of Lucknow wasn't here"

Khushi didn't have the time to ask him what he meant by that as she felt his lips on her neck.
He kissed her skin there, making her aware of sensations she didn't know her body was capable of feeling.

He drew back, still holding her close. He smiled and spun her around.

What a time to be alive! She thought in sync with the lyrics flooding the club.

Author's desk: Hope you are enjoying the story so far~ please vote and let me know what you think in the comments!