He Loves Me Not - Part 48

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Chapter 48


London


“Why should I pack bags for? I… wait” Khushi pauses for a second. “Aren’t we coming back the same night?” she nervously asks Arnav who is in her apartment, waiting for her to load the bags.

“We will be too tired to return back the same day”

“Which place?” she questions

“Let it be a surprise sweetheart” he tucks her hair strand away.

“Arnav.. what will I tell dad? I don’t want to lie to him?”

“Then don’t lie”

Why is he giving her such one phrase replies?

“He won’t let me do stay over with you, forget visiting another country”

“Hmm” he goes back in a thoughtful mode. “Then let me explain him”

He picks her mobile phone and before he could unlock it, she snatches the phone away.

“Are you kidding me? If you even talk about this, he will take the next flight and come here” she snaps.
Arnav rolls his eyes.

“You are not helping me baby. We either tell him this and he doesn’t let you go with me. Or we don’t tell him anything and we go and come back before he arrives. Choice is yours”

Khushi bites her lip. She is confused. Arnav pulls her closer and cups her face.

“Do you trust me?”

She nods instantly.

“Then trust my instinct. We love each other and I would nothing to you that can put his head down before the society. And on that promise, I want you to come along with me for a couple of hours. I will get you back with the same dignity and pride”

Khushi is overwhelmed by his explanation.

“But there is still one problem” she pouts.

Arnav is speechless. He thought he has covered it all.

“I cannot assure you would be safe with me there and come back with the same dignity and pride. I am very wild types on my prey” she holds her laugh but when Arnav grins, she lets it out too.

Before she could run away from his grip, Arnav grabs her again.

“I don’t mind losing all my dignity for the things you would like to do to me” he whispers in her ears. Her cheeks turn red instantly with embarrassment.

Thankfully his mobile rings, dragging his attention on it and she gets the time to relax. Wherever he is taking her, she is prepared for it. There would be looking back now.


****************

Private Jet

When they get down at the airport, Khushi is shocked to see the Private Jet with their initials over it, in bold italics, almost covering 50 percent of the plane’s body.

‘AK Jet’

Arnav has really taken his new venture seriously. She meets his gaze admiring the beauty of the Jet.

“This is incredible”

“That’s because its Ours” he pecks her gently on the forehead and sliding his arm on her lower back leads her inside the Jet. She takes a seat opposite to him, waiting with baited breath to know what lies ahead. As they take off, Arnav entwines their fingers, both looking outside the window, admiring the beautiful landscape of the London city beneath. This is their first travel together and she knows there are hell many more to come.

“I would go for a soft drink” she informs the cabin crew girl who flashes a bright smile at her and offers her the drink she asked for. After she leaves, Khushi turns back to Arnav.

“How did you source all this, Arnav?

“Part of my savings, investments. AK Software was sourced from all that”

Khushi is thrilled.

“It doesn’t need to have my name in it, Arnav. I did nothing. It is you who worked for it. I … I don’t think I can even handle something so huge and..”

Arnav gripped her hand over the table between their seats.

“This is our baby, I wouldn’t have done something so big without keeping you in mind. Don’t you see this? You were my inspiration Khushi. After what happened back there in Shantivan, I would have succumbed myself into grief, doing nothing but the only thought I had in my mind that time was you. I wanted to win you back. And all this… whatever you see now.. is a result of it. How can you say you don’t deserve it?”

Khushi passes a weak smile.

“And AR Group? What about that?”

Arnav goes quiet.

“Your father needs you there, Arnav. You cannot push your past away to live a future with me”

He nods. He had been thinking about this from quite a while now. Ever since he forgave his father. He had also been secretly sorting AR issues, talking to their Clients, investors and prospective Customers of not losing hopes from the company as they still had the potential to deliver the best. His father might not know this but he had never left the chains of AR practically. He put the resignation but his heart was still beating there and nothing could change that.

“We will find a middle way to handle both of them” he answers.

Khushi grins.

“I would kiss you for that, you know. I like it when you make such typical matured decisions”

Arnav left her hand and stretched it apart for her to come and do the honors. She unbuckled her seat and settled on his lap instead.

“I had been missing this side of yours” he admits.

“Wild Side?”

“Wild side” he repeats, stroking her lips.

The turbulence makes her jerk but he holds on to her and holding him close enough she kisses him as if she owned him. Which she did. Without a doubt.

******************

Paris

The moment they land Paris, Khushi’s joy is out of her containment. This was her dream destination. She always wanted to come here and see the Eiffel tower, one of the seven wonders of the world. She didn’t know Arnav would fulfill that dream of hers so soon.

“I want to see the Eiffel Tower.. like right now” she jumps in joy.

“Evening” he replies. “I promise”

The wait is going to kill her. He reads that on her face, she is just so confused, happy, thrilled and what not. He had never seen her so delighted in the past few months. It’s like someone has promised Khushi her favorite toy and she cannot wait to get it.

Another posh car escorts them to the Hotel. The city of Paris had always charmed Khushi in infinite ways and today when she is present here, she cannot help but feel awestruck with the elegance, architecture and the energy around this place. Paris was grey and foggy but the weather was very similar to what it was in London. The Boulevards, the clean pavements almost refreshed her soul.

Arnav was intrigued at her fascination for the city, by the way she was constantly looking outside the window of their car, admiring the undefinable beauty of this place.

“I am kind of jealous now” he whispers, moving her attention back on him.

“Only because my eyes are not on you?” she giggles.

She shifts to his side and sliding her arm around his, she leans over his shoulder.

“Paris gets the romance out of me” she replies. “I have read so many novels centering Paris as the romantic theme. It’s an ideal place for greatest love stories to unfold”

He rubs his nose on her scalp. Her hair smells fresh like lilies.

“Would I get to experience some romance then?” he teases.

“Some?” she looks back at him. “You will get a chunk of it” she winks and cuddles his arm once again.

If that’s so, he cannot wait to get her alone and cornered. He kisses her hair and continues listening to her stories and fantasies about this place. He is glad to choose the right city for making this happen… to propose her in the righteous gentleman way. She deserves that.

******************

The hotel was luxury and cozy. While Arnav completed their check-in formalities, she took a tour of the lobby, admiring the paintings and art. She already had a feeling this was going to be the best romantic getaway for the two, a much needed one after all the complexities in relationship that they had faced.

“This way, baby” Arnav grabs her back again and leads them to the elevator. The expensive suite once again blows her mind. And just like a gentleman, he has booked a Two-bedroom suite for them, as promised. It’s not that she needed this assurance from him, but she is glad he considered it.

“So? Rest comes first, then shower, lunch and evening your favorite Eiffel tower. How about that?” he asks taking off his coat.

She jumps in joy loving the plan. He sees that old bubbly Khushi back and nothing can charm him more. She is so excited and in their own little world.

“Come here” his husky tone drags her out of the excitement. Everything was energetic so far and now suddenly being here in a closed room with the man she loves made her legs feel jelly. She walks to him, slowly and stops. Their toes almost touching each other’s. He has really gone too far this time to make her feel loved and she couldn’t have asked for more. He circles her quietly and touches the collar of her puffer jacket. She shuts her eyes anticipating his next action. He gently takes off her jacket and turns her around again. When she raises her gaze and meet his, she finds him holding a red rose for her. He kisses the rose before she takes it from him.

“Je t'aime” he mumbles.

She is surprised at that little French word he uttered which means “I love You”

“French and all, huh?” she asks.

A ghost of a smile touched his sexy mouth as she kisses the rose back.

“Je t'aime beaucoup” she replies (I love you very much)

He takes her in his embrace.

“Tell me this is not a dream” she says.

“Even if it is… its going to last forever”

His romantic reply warms her up followed by a rough kiss and a shuddering groan as he pulls her off her feet to kiss evenly.

The Welcome Wine is served in the suite with some chocolates and candies. Whilst she enjoys eating them, Arnav decides to make a quick call to Aman and check if his father boarded the flight back to India.

“Hello my friend” Aman answers the call. “How’s Paris? Saw Eiffel tower?”

Arnav rolls his eyes.

“We have just settled down. What about Dad? Did he leave?”

Aman looks at Ayush Singh Raizada whom he accompanied for Lunch in a nearby restaurant. The two seemed to have an agenda already which didn’t include Ayush’s return to India so soon.

“Uhh… Nope.”

“No?” Arnav frowns. “What do you mean by No Aman? You took the responsibility to dropping him to the airport and making sure he leaves”

“Arnav, listen” Aman interrupts. “He is your father man. I cant just drag him there if he doesn’t want to leave. But don’t worry, I will look after him until you both come back. I need a company too. And he is good at that”

Arnav bit his tongue. He cannot believe Ayush stayed back.

“Don’t worry about him. I am there, okay. And you two please enjoy the time there. Don’t think anything else apart from each other. And that’s an order from me and Uncle”

Arnav calmed down.

“He is with you now?”

“Yes” Aman eats another morsel. “We are having lunch. I will feed him, if that’s what you are worried about. He looks good to me ever since you both have talked”

“Don’t let him smoke” Arnav warns.

“Of course. Not even Beer?”

“Forget it, Aman. Or else I am going to pack you both to India at your respective homes” he growls.

Both Aman and Ayush laugh at his strict reply. Ayush takes the phone from Aman and speaks for himself.

“Son..”

Arnav stiffens. Though he has spoke to Ayush, it might take time for things to settle down like before.

“I am no longer interested in dying anymore. I want to live.. to see you and Khushi happy together, giving me grandkids so that I can play with them all day”

Arnav’s breathing eases.

“Good to hear that, Dad” he mutters. “I can’t see you dying either. Not even when I am old enough of your age”

Ayush’s eyes fill with tears again. He knows.. he knows Arnav loves him too much to let him go. What else does he want now?

“Enjoy your time there. Send us pictures and I am not going anywhere until I met Shashi and fix your marriage”

Arnav sighs. He couldn’t expect any less from his father. He is very adamant and that’s a Raizada trait.

He hangs up only to be welcomed by Khushi’s arms circled around his waist from behind.

“Talked to Dad?”

“Hmm” he nods. “He is not leaving”

“I knew that. He is a fixer.”

Arnav turns around with his brows raised high.

“Fixer? And what am I?”

“Heartbreaker” she giggles and tries to escape but he catches hold of her and pins Khushi to the wall.

“Don’t kiss me now, I had candies and you are diabetic” she teases.

Yea. She had a sweet tooth. She could miss anything but never stop herself from relishing sweets and candies. Paris had that in abundance. Probably that’s why she loved this place so much.

“Khushi Gupta” he palms her cheek. “You are my personalized sugar free candy and I can have you anywhere.. anytime..”

The room filled with her giggles afterward. The effect of Paris and the romance around was showing up.


To be Continued.


NEXT PART

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