One Step Closer (IPKKND FF | Complete)

Chapter Eight

Laughter filled the air at the Gupta household. Payal sat, radiant in a yellow silk sari, surrounded by her family and Lakshmi Nagar friends and neighbours who were teasing the new bride upon her first visit back home.

Khushi was a whirlwind of activity, she had spent the whole previous day preparing sweets and food, and now was rushing about, handing out cups of chai and refilling plates of jalebis and gulab jamuns. It was good to keep busy, to have something to do instead of sitting around, worrying.

Over the past four days she had spent countless waking hours thinking about Arnav-ji, about everything she had revealed.

She wanted to call him, to find out what he was thinking, to.... hear his voice. But every time she dialled his number, she just couldn't complete the call. She knew Anjali-ji had gotten sick, so Arnav-ji couldn't reveal Shyam's truth to her...

All things considered, this last of the post-wedding rituals was a most welcome distraction. And it was great to see Jiji so happy!

"Hey Sanka Devi, just look at yourself! You've spilt chai all over your dupatta, you clumsy girl," Bua-ji bellowed at Khushi, interrupting her train of thought.

"Rinse it out before you get stains all over it, come on, go!"

To get away from all the reprimanding, Khushi did as she was told. She was hanging her orange dupatta out over the porch rails when the familiar Raizada car pulled up.

Ah, of course, they had been expecting Akash-ji any minute now! Jiji would be glad to see him, and the family had already prepared presents, and the blessings were ready. Everything was going so wonderfully!

But just as Khushi was mentally congratulating herself on a well-organised event, a familiar feeling washed over her.

It was almost like a faint breath of wind, caressing her skin.

Her heart started beating faster. Could it really be? No, of course he was not here. Khushi, don't be stupid, why would he come here today?

"N-namaste, Khushi-ji," Akash had come up on the porch, looking somewhat impatient.

"Namaste, jiija-ji! Please, please, come in," Khushi said with a big smile on her face, conscpicuously winking at Akash as she used the fresh brother-in-law address for the first time. She cast a quick glance around before turning on her heel to follow Akash inside.

And there he was.

Khushi gasped. Arnav stood on the porch steps, just like that. The laad governer she had basically been obsessing over, materialised. Charcoal three-piece suit and all!

Before she fully realised what she was doing, Khushi ran up to him, closing the distance between them in a few short steps.

"You! Here!"

"I needed to see you," Arnav said, simply.

"You... did?" Khushi switched to full-on stammering mode. She gazed at his face, and could almost physically feel the intensity as Arnav's eyes met hers.

Encouraged by that spark, Khushi smiled, just a little bit, still unsure if she could indeed simply smile at this man.

Then it hit her and the smile slipped from her face.

"Is it... Shyam-ji? Is Anjali-ji...?" Khushi lowered her voice to a whisper, even though nobody was on the street.

Arnav's expression darkened. He had been so keen on just seeing Khushi, for a brief, blissful moment all thought of Shyam's treachery had slipped his mind. He shook his head.

"No Khushi, not yet. Di is still really sick with the flu, and I just... I have a detective on the case. I need concrete proof, or... Di will never believe me," his voice broke on that last sentence.

Khushi bit her lip, seeing Arnav's obvious distress and not sure how to help. Somewhere along the way, despite all his yelling, despite his mixed messages and his confusing temper, she had unwittingly developed a deep concern for this man's wellbeing.

And somewhere along the way, this man had developed a weakness for her. Or had it always been there, since the moment she fell into his arms?

Seeing Khushi finally in front of him, flesh and blood, biting that cute lip of hers and looking so worried and adorable at the same time... This, this was the balm Arnav's soul had so badly needed. Despite all his efforts to stay away.

He exhaled deeply, and smiled the slightly crooked, boyish smile that startled Khushi every time. Oh, nothing transformed Arnav-ji's face as much as that smile.

"I just needed to see you," he repeated, and came a step closer.

Khushi automatically took a step back and unconsciously adjusted her replacement dupatta, its pink colour not quite matching her golden-orange salwar or the golden bangles that graced her wrists.

Arnav's gaze travelled to her bangles. His smile widened.

"Those bangles really suit you," he said, taking another step forward.

Khushi stared at him with a doe-in-the-headlights look. She even forgot to take a step back this time. Bangles? What? Now she was starting to feel lightheaded, Arnav-ji was standing so close, the very air between them felt electrified... and to be honest, she didn't actually mind him being that close... Embarrassed by her thoughts, she hardly dared to look up at him now.

And then Arnav caught her hand in his grasp, gently, slowly pulling Khushi towards him, closing the small distance between them as if to admire the bangles up close. The very bangles he had bought her just last week. Since then, every time he saw Khushi, she'd been wearing at least a part of this set, trying to match them to her outfits.

Oh yes, of course he had noticed.

"You seem to really like these, since you don't wear others any more?" Arnav asked with a teasing smirk.

He slowly ran his fingers across Khushi's palm and then her wrist, grazing the bangles and sending a shudder down her spine. She didn't withdraw her hand. She didn't really want to.

Khushi felt her knees weaken in front of that 'come hither' gaze. Hai Devi Maiyaa, is this really happening!? She studied Arnav's face, trying to read his expression.

He was teasing, yes, but there was also a question. What was the question?

Just then a bustle on the porch startled them both.

Khushi quickly drew her hand away and blushed up to her ears as Akash and Payal appeared, followed by her parents and a dramatically sobbing Bua-ji. It was time for their daughter to go back to her new home, and at least Akash looked pretty happy about it.

Arnav greeted the Gupta family, explaining that he'd just come as a driver for his brother and no, he did not need a cup of chai and yes, they would indeed be going now, and yes, Anjali-ji was still quite ill with the flu but he had the best medical care organised for her and she would be better soon.

Then there was a short commotion over some bags of presents, everyone said their goodbyes, and soon the white SUV pulled away.

Khushi stood in the road dust watching the car drive off, her heart still racing like mad.

She clutched at her neckline to no avail. Oh, this certainly wasn't acidity and Khushi knew it.

------------------

Thank you so much for reading!

Update schedule: one new chapter every Thursday.

Please, please vote & comment if you like the story! It really means the world to me to know you're enjoying Arshi's journey.