HOW CAN I LET YOU GO?

CHAPTER 7

"Khushiji .....", yelled N.K. for the umpteenth time. 

Women , he thought. God knows why they take sooo long!

Little did he know that his Khushiji , was kept locked in her own room by none other than mighty Laad Governor! 

While Khushi tried frantically to get the doors open, Arnav strolled casually towards where N.K. stood and proclaimed," N.K. KHushi asked you to go ahead, said she would join you at the mall later."

He had found out this tidbit of information from Khushi's ever famous muttering , which for a change he had been able to catch, while trying to close her door stealthily !

N.K. scratched his head perplexedly. Why would Khushiji wanna come alone? The whole point behind shopping together was that he would drive her, to and fro, something he took great pleasure in! 

"But.." , he countered, to be cut off by Arnav.

"I will drop her to the mall when she is ready."

"You Nannav? I mean...don't you have to go to office or something?"

"No.... ummm... I mean I have nothing important to do there in the morning ...so...", he trailed off.

N.K. wasn't convinced, so he tried again, only to meet Arnav's stony gaze! He decided it was better listen to Nannav , than be fried alive by his infamous temper! And vaise bhi... Khushi would call if she wanted to contact him. 

"Fine ", said N.K. "Ask Khushiji to call me when you get to the mall."

She wouldn't be needing to do that! But all Arnav did was nod.

Arnav strode towards Khushi's room only to hear her frantically shouting for help," Anjaliji....Naniji....jiji....jijaji... Nanheji.... koi hai?"

Arnav waited a moment to see if she would call out to him but...

"HPji....OPji.... ....arre lakshmiji...."

" What the....", swore an irrate and outraged Arnav. She calls even the goat for help...but not me? Neither Shyam, said a small voice at the back of his head, which he decided not to dwell upon....for now.

Arnav quietly undid the latch only to have a fluttering Khushi run straight into his arms.

"Thank you, thank you , thank you sooo much nanheji! I knew you would come!", said Khushi in one breath , hugging Arnav to herself. 

But she immediately realised her mistake. Even before two hands wrapped around her shoulders to steady her.

Eyes widening she pulled away from him hastily and looked everywhere but at him! Hai Devi Maiyya ,what was I thinking?, she chided. 

He stood there unmoving, his hands still securely on Khushi's shoulders. On one hand he had been reveling in the feel of her hug, while on the other hand he was outraged that she would hug NK , if he had been in place of him!! Jelousy didn't sit well with Arnav, so he did what he was best at. He yelled,

"What the hell Khushi...!!"

Khushi flinched and moved back and out of his grip, frightened.

Arnav immediately felt the loss and his hands fell towards his side.

"Hum...woh...hum..." (I...that ...I), she stuttered. 

Arnav reigned in his temper, with effort and looked down squarely at her.

"NK had to leave,...for some work. He said he would meet you at the mall."

"Kya? (what?) He left? How could he leave me like that? Now how will I go?"

" Well you were taking too long! And..."

"What??? Me and too long? Woh toh hum is kamre ke andar phas gaye the nahi tho...( I was stuck in this room else..)", rambled Khushi in self defence.

" Listen I don't know about that", countered Arnav, earning a suspicious look from Khushi. So he continued quickly," NK asked me to drop you to the mall.

" Aap? No thank you. There will be no need for that! I will go by myself! ", countered Khushi.

" No you will not. I will drop you and that is final! ", yelled Arnav.

But Khushi would have none of it! 

"Nahi , nahi... aap kyun takleef karenge... ( why would you bother), humne kahan na...hum khud chale jayenge ( i will go by myself)"

" Khushi...", hissed Arnav, his voice dangerously low...and husky, as he stepped menacingly towards her.

Khushi gulped and stepped back, unaware of the fact that her nanheji had succumbed to similar treatments a while ago! 

After visibly caging her between the wall and himself, Arnav leaned in to huskily whisper in her ear," 10 minutes.... I want you down in 10 minutes... I will be waiting!"

He sucked on her earlobe lightly, out of impulse before stepping back,smirk intact , and heading downstairs, leaving a flushed and breathless Khushi in his wake!