A Hundred Flukes

Cupid Fabric

Chapter 16

Arnav's thoughts a while back...

I enter my office tower, leaving her behind. I know what's going in Akash's mind and I know that he will never go against me. I ask him to take Dutta to the conference hall and tell my guard to go away. I need some time alone. It's strange apart from being creepy that I somehow feel the need to go and check on her if she's doing fine, yeah she was pretty much a disaster out there. I walk down the corridor towards the right end, I take the elevator and press minus 1. I hate doing this but when my mind decides to nag me, it does and there I am walking towards the parking lot, the downpour is heavy, I still have shade above my head but a few drops manage to hit me. I stand in a place from where she can't see me, but I very well can.

I can see her looking up at the sky and then staring at the ground. Her clothes are soaked in water and her skin is a ghastly white. She looks so vulnerable yet headstrong. Nay, not headstrong, she is crazy or who else would stand there putting a fight with me. A fight which there's no way she's going to win. She knows well that I won't let her or does she? Man, I could not have imagined that Khushi Kumari Gupta could come this far. I clench my fists, fine if she isn't giving up then I have several ways to make her do so. I feel anger building inside me, why am I standing here? She can take care of herself, I turn to walk away but throw her a last glance, she's still staring at the ground, a speeding car approaches her, it honks, what the hell is this idiot doing, why ain't she moving? On an impulse, I lunge forward, bolting in her direction, the headlights of the car illuminate her golden, the driver applies brake but that can't save her from being hit. I take her into my arms, she's swept off her feet as I pull her away from in front of the vehicle.       

She's crying and cold, shivering against me. She clutches at the collars of my suit and I can't understand why I feel the urgency to keep her in my hold like that. I still am to recover from the shock, it beats me, why didn't she move away, couldn't she see the car coming?

^^^

It took her time to come at terms with reality, she had been saved but by whom? She opened her eyes, slowly lifting her head up from his chest, her eyes widening in shock when she saw him. He loosened his grip on her and stared down at her five foot something. Rain water dripping from his long nose and chin. Her eyes sparkled with water falling in them as she stared at him, he couldn't deny, they were the most beautiful pair of eyes he had seen.

She glanced at her shoulder which was still in his hold, and looked back at him, he frowned and let her go off with a jerk taking a long stride backwards at the same time as she pulled away from him, almost pushing his hands. Both of them not ready to accept what just happened. She turned to look away, so did he but couldn't help casting a sidelong glance at her. She brought her hands close to her chest again, still shivering. He couldn't decide whether he was mad at her or his own reaction, he was just mad, "What do you want to prove by standing here like that," he said finally, "that you are a poor helpless girl who needs sympathy or you see it as another opportunity to seek attention." She glared at him and returned her gaze back to the ground, she wouldn't answer him. "At least you could have found a shade to stand under instead of hanging your stupid face here for everyone to see." he said scathingly. Khushi didn't look up. "Look at your attire...", disgusted, he took off his coat and threw it at her, it fell on her hands. "Wear this coat and stop shivering." he rebuked. She held it back for him in an outstretched hand, she wouldn't accept however badly she needed its warmth. "I don't need this. Take it back." she said quietly. His fury mounted, he tightened his jaw, glaring at this mulish girl who had dared to refuse his favor. She had refused Arnav Singh Raizada. He snatched back his coat and stormed away.           

****

"Rain, rain, Nandkissore" Madhumati yelled angrily at the clouds, the pink cloth tied around her head as her migraine kicked again. Payal dialed Khushi's number for the twentieth time, worried sick. It was ten and she hadn't come home yet. "The number you have dialed is currently out of reach." said the voice on the phone. Payal slammed the phone down. "Arre Payaliya, did Sanakadevi pick her phone?" asked Madhumati. Payal hung her head. "Haye re Nandkissore...." Madhumati slapped her forehead continuously. "Do you have the office phone?"