HOW CAN I LET YOU GO?

CHAPTER 5

Khushi woke up in the middle of the night feeling utterly restless. And for the love of all she couldn’t figure out why? Or maybe she could! A pair of dark smoldering eyes

Came to haunt her as she closed her eyes for a nanosecond , before snapping them open! Hai Devi Maiyya , she implored! She looked to her side to find Anjali sleeping peacefully beside her . She slowly got up, careful not to wake her and made her way to the jug on the bedside. It was empty. Picking it up she tiptoed her way down to the kitchen, not wanting to wake anyone up, especially that Laad Governor! But she was in for a surprise! She had barely made it to the landing, when she felt herself being pulled by rough hands into the darkness of a room… His Room , she realized!

The Oh-so –familiar branding touch, unconsciously soothed her, even though her heart ran at miles per second!

“Kaha ja rahi ho?....” (Where are you going?) his husky whisper ran down her spine.

“Wohh….pani…water!”,she mumbled , feeling rather than seeing his gaze on her. Oh the burn!

He didn't seem to want to leave her, as his grip tightened on her arm, surprisingly not painful.He brought his face close to her, inhaling her scent, revelling in her sharp intake of air! 

She felt him smile...or smirk rather. Raakshas!

"Leave me....", she managed.

"Why.....?", he drawled, his thumb drawing lazy patterns on her sensitised skin.

Oh the audacity of this man! But secretly she flushed! 

"Let me go!", she probed.

"I don't want to..", came the prompt reply, innocently said, it sent tingles down her spine. Her body stood at attention. He doesn't want to let me go! She did a mental dance.

But one had to keep up pretenses.

"Arnavji....."

"Hmmm....?"

"Humme pyaas lagi hai!" (I am thirsty)

".....Me too....."

Oh Lord!! She flushed.

"Kya.....What?", she stuttered.

  "What?....I am thirsty too... Lets go get some water.", he said matter-of -factly .

He pulled her along, smirking at having imagined her reaction correctly. 

She gasped, and gulped hard, before following him! Hai Devi Maiyya... what was I thinking?

Arnav stood leaning against the kitchen counter as he watched Khushi fill the jug. 

Khushi was all nervous and clammy. The Laad Governor and his stares! Couldn't he look somewhere else for a while? She had forgotten to ask him how he knew it was her who had walked down the corridor? It could be all but di!

If she had heard his answer though.... 

Arnav had tried sleeping, with lot of effort on his part. But with Khushi in the same house as his....and not next to him..it was impossible! Fact that he was an insomniac...didn't do him any good.

So he had walked over to the guest room and stood at the door, watching her sleep. He didn't know how long he stood there, but he felt at peace.

It was a while later, that he felt her fidget. She was dreaming! Was it about him? He wished... Had he known though........

He watched her, as he remembered how she had woken up with a start, all sweaty...as though.....she had had a nightmare....or else....?