HOW CAN I LET YOU GO?

CHAPTER 8

Arnav honked over again, only in time to see a nervous and flustered Khushi making her way towards him. She was twiddling with the ends of her dupatta in an attempt to calm her nerves.

Hai Devi Maiyya! Car ride with the Raakshas?Especially after what just happened? 

No ,no calm down Khushi....Its just a ride. Sit faar away from him... Nothing can go wrong. Right?

But she couldn't contemplate anymore since she was standing right in front of her nemesis by then!

Arnav gracefully opened the passenger door for her, and smirked.

Hai Devi Maiyya!

Khushi entered nervously, trying to maintain maximum distance between herself and him.

Arnav shut her door and took his place in the driver's seat.

"Seatbelt.", he ordered.

"K..Kya?(What)", she implored.

Arnav turned to face her before repeating, " Seatbelt!"

Khushi stiffened and turned to do her bidding. But unfortunately her belt was stuck and wouldn't budge. She tugged and pulled to no avail.

An impatient Arnav leaned over her as he pulled her belt free, ineffect causing Khushi to stiffen even more! 

It was as he pulled the belt across her, that he realised the extent of their proximity! Her ragged breath fanned over his cheek as he moved towards his seat. 

Arnav hid a smile at his obvious effect on her and pulled the belt at an even more leisurely pace.

He made sure to brush his fingers along her collar bone , the valley between her breasts , her midriff as he pulled the belt down, earning a sharp gasp from her each time! 

Hai Devi Maiyya! She called out for the umpteenth time! This man and his besharmi! 

But inspite of his blatant moves , Khushi found herself liking...no loving his touch....and truth be told..., craving more!! 

Please forgive me god! This is sooo wrong...and yet it feels so right!

Arnav, after completing his , arousing act, sat back ...trying to calm his own nerves before starting the ignition. They rode in silence for a while.

A while,.... that is about fifteen minutes later Khushi who had began noticing her surroundings shrieked," Arnavji! Aap galat ja rahe hai! ( You are going the wrong way) Rasta waha hai!(Its that way)"

To which Arnav replied by a Shut up Khushi.

"Haaww!! Hum kyun shut up? Aap Shut up! Rasta udhar hai!! ( Why should I shut up? You shut up! Its that way!!)"

" Khushi...!", Arnav gritted his teeth in frustration....or rather trying to intimidate her!

But Khushi was not one to backdown! 

"Mall ka rasta udhar hai Arnavji... Iss taraf nahi hai!( The way to the mall is over there. Not here)"

" We are not going to the mall!", Arnav bit out.

"Kyaaaa??? (What?) Kyun??? (Why?)"

When Arnav chose to remain silent Khushi went on," Where are we going then? Tell me ? Where are you taking me? Batayien hamein (tell me)!!"

Arnav just kept mum.

" Look if you don't tell me then....then..."

"Then what?", asked Arnav, amused.

"Dekhiye...hum khud jayenge! (look...I will jump out)"

Arnav turned to her and quirked an eyebrow. At Khushi's no nonsense look Arnav smirked and turned away and said," Toh khud jaao (Then jump)"

Khushi's eyes widened to the size of soccer balls as she stuttered an inaudible What?

Arnav looked at her and shrugged matter -of-factly. 

Enraged, and losing her capability to think beyond her anger, at the audacity of the man, she turned to open the door....only to find that she couldn't unlock it (courtesy child lock!).

"Open this door!!", she yelled.

When Arav chose to ignore her statement, she leaned over him to try and unlock the door from his side, ineffect making Arnav lose his control over the wheel and swivel dangerously!

"WHAT THE......!!!", he stormed as he pulled over with a jerk.

Khushi immediately sat back in her seat, ramrod straight!

Arnav turned to her, fury burning in his eyes," What's wrong with you? Paagal ho kya? Dimaag kharab hai tumhara?( Are you mad?) Kuch ho jaatha toh? (If something happened?)"

Khushi bit her lip guiltily , and nervously twiddled her thumbs. 

"ANSWER ME DAMMIT!!!", he yelled, making her jump.

"I...I wanna get out! "

Arnav's eyes turned red with uncontrolled fury. He leaned over her and removed her seatbelt. But the next instant caught hold of her shoulders as he pulled her to himself and shook her.

"Why?...Why the heck do you want to leave? So that you can go meet your boyfriend at the mall? So that you can spend time with him? Huh? Answer me! Answer me dammit!", yelled Arnav, fury clouding all his senses.

Khushi looked at him shocked, unable to process what he was saying?

"Arnavji...yeh aap kya...? (what are you....)"

"Oh! don't lie to me Khushi! I know everything! I heard you and ......", he stopped short not wanting to say anything more.

"Heard what?", probed Khushi...confused.

Arnav turned away and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

" Heard what Arnavji?", she prompted.

Arnav turned to look at her , but didn't answer. His look was pained as he regarded her, though his face as usual was a mask. He silently unlocked the car and said," Go...Go wherever you want to...with whomever you want to. Your boyfriend will be waiting for you!", he added sarcastically.

Khushi looked even more perplexed. " Boy...boyfriend?"

" Oh! Stop the drama Khushi Kumari Gupta! If you love NK why don't you just admit it?"

"WHAAAT????", shouted a shocked Khushi, shocking Arnav as well in the process!

And then she burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that tears pooled at the corners of her eyes , and her belly hurt! 

Watching her laugh calmed Arnav's senses to some extent. But it also irritated him to see her laughing and not giving an explanation! 

When finally she controlled her laughter, she saw Arnav regarding her with a partially amused and partially skeptical look.

Khushi chuckled again," Arnavji... you have a very wild imagination !", she said, shocking Arnav even more! 

Oh you don't know the least of it Khushi Kumari Gupta!

But Arnav shook him out of that thought , and quirked an eyebrow at her.

" Where did you get such an idea?"

When Arnav didn't reply again Khushi looked down and twiddled with her thumbs again.

"Aur waise bhi....isse apko kya faraq padtha hai? (How does it matter to you?)"