THE WAIT - Chapter 6

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CHAPTER 6

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

Flashback – London

I wanted Khushi. Ever since the first time I saw her, I’d wanted her. Though Khushi’s family and mine had known each other since decades, we never met in the childhood. When she came to India, I was abroad, when she flew back, I came home. I’d seen her pictures though in the family photo albums and it had created a deep impact in every nerve of my body. The woman was no less than an angel herself. I knew the instant I saw her picture, that if I ever planned to marry in future, it had to be with her. But then I thought practically. I might be single, not Khushi. She could have a boyfriend and might also be in love with him and I’d no rights to ever cross her path if that was true.

Then came the day when Dhruv suddenly told me about him dating Khushi, when I was in London for work and my world collapsed. I had secretly wished I was the one she had met first. I would have been in Dhruv’s place. I would have won her heart or maybe not. Maybe the kind of partner Khushi wanted was like Dhruv, happy-go-lucky types and not a stern, calculative and a man like me who was full of dominance like people termed him to be. Spending sleepless nights thinking Dhruv had the one I desired wasn’t easy. But I’d to make peace with the fact that when you love someone, you would always want that person to be happy and if Khushi was happy with Dhruv, I was happy for them.

The first time I personally saw Khushi was the day when I decided to give a surprise visit to Dhruv in London. He was dining with his friends and there she was.. with him.. sitting next to him and laughing over some talks. I couldn’t take my eyes off her the moment I stepped inside that restaurant and jealousy hit my nerves as I saw her leaning over Dhruv’s shoulders while laughing hard. Dhruv was sharing some incident to all his friends at the table and Khushi was constantly laughing with others as he kept narrating. It was the first time I realized she was never meant to be mine. Humor wasn’t my trait. I could definitely keep a conference room engaged with my knowledge and command over the business, but not a group of friends like this during a casual dinner. I was an introvert unlike Dhruv who loved sharing every bit of his life with all his friends. Seeing Khushi so happy with him, made me feel sick and I left back without intervening them.

Then I met her again after a month in the masquerade party where I’d no clue she would be there. Dhruv and I had a common friend who had hosted this party. I was looking for Dhruv when I spotted her. She was holding the golden eye mask in her hand, looking around, trying to gel in the party, but still waiting for someone. Was she here with Dhruv? If yes, then I wouldn’t want to be a part of the party anymore. I decided to immediately retreat and turned around only to hear her voice.

“Dhruv…”

Shit! I realized she saw me and took me as Dhruv. Unwilling to let her reach me, I tried walking to the exit but within a few seconds, Khushi reached me and grabbed my arm.

“Dhruv, where the hell are you going?” she shouted annoyed at me and turned me around.

My heart skipped a beat coming face to face with the woman I liked.. loved too.. and could never have.

“Instead of being surprised seeing me here you are leaving me alone? You idiot.” She punched my chest gently.

Thankfully I was wearing the eye mask to hide the intensity of my feelings for her. Di always said my eyes gave it away. They expressed all my feelings way before I could frame words to narrate them.

“Hold on..” she stepped behind giving me a quick once over. “I’ve never seen you in such suits before. You look Hot..”

I swallowed nervously. Women had complimented me before but never did it tingle my skin like that. Never did it make me feel so proud. Khushi found me Hot? Yes. She did. Dhruv never wore suits, I did every f*cking time. But where was Dhruv?

“Dance?” she clutched my arm and as if she sensed something, Khushi retracted. “Why are you so stiff tonight?”

My heart beat frantically. She could sense the difference between Dhruv and me, didn’t she? But I didn’t want her to know.

“I got it..” she sighed. “You are angry on me because of the declaration I did last night, aren’t you?”

Declaration? I didn’t get it. But I kept looking at her as Khushi neared me and started playing with the lapels of my suit, unable to meet my eyes. The way she pouted while continuing to enlighten me made me fall for her all the more. It was so wrong to not tell her my real identity but I wanted this time with her.. this little moment where she talks to me.. Of course, I would have to tell Dhruv later that I met her and she took me as him, maybe I would even apologize to her in the coming days for not telling her beforehand but I didn’t want to ruin this moment at the present.

“Dhruv, I might be all bold and beautiful like you know I am to the world, but in the inside, I am all old school.” She added and then met my eyes again. “I don’t want to submit myself to a man only because I am dating him. I need to feel those feelings from both the sides. I want us to connect emotionally in every way before being physically involved.”

She cupped my face, her dove-shaped eyes gazing deeply into mine as she continued.

“I would want to give every right on my body to my man only after I marry him. I know marriage is too soon for us to even think about but if we ever do, that’s the only way you can have me however you wish. Not before that. Is it too much to ask for?”

I froze at her words. Never thought she had those plans. I nodded back in determination before finally speaking my heart out. I wasn’t responding to her as Dhruv, but Arnav Singh Raizada.

“You have every right to decide when you want to take the next step Khushi..” I murmured.

She smiled slowly at my approval. I didn’t know what was Dhruv’s take on her idea of submitting herself physically only after taking the marriage vows, but I approved of it. A woman had every right to make that decision for herself.

“Thank you..” her lips quivered in anticipation and mine with the need to touch them. But I refrained. I’d already made enough blunders by promising Khushi over such a sensitive topic on behalf of Dhruv. I wouldn’t do any more mistakes. But it wasn’t my fault that my eyes never left hers. I could admire her throughout my life.. holding her so possessively in my arms.

“Even your voice is different today.” She added with a smile. “You sound very poised and gentleman types..”

I swallowed. My cover was going to be busted soon if I kept talking to her in my intense voice.

“I like this version of you. This half smirk, intense look, husky voice and passionate gaze.. If you keep being like this, I think I’ll break my resolve of submitting to you only after the marriage.”

Damn! I wanted to kiss her right at that moment. My control my slipping every second but thankfully, a notification on my phone helped me compose. Khushi stepped back letting me take out my phone from the suit pocket and the moment I saw Dhruv’s message beeping on my phone, my senses were back. He had messaged me stating he wouldn’t be attending this party as he had been busy with his friends. Which friends? He should have been here. At this party with Khushi. Or maybe he didn’t know she was coming here in this party. That’s when I remembered Khushi talking about some surprise when she saw me. Means coming to this party was her surprise to Dhruv which obviously he missed. I put the phone back in the pocket before returning my attention on Khushi.

“What are you doing here in this party?” I asked.

“Your friend who has thrown this party happens to be my dad’s friend’s son too. So, I too had got the invite. That’s why I am here. And thank god you came here and didn’t take up the offer of late night racing with your stupid friends. I am telling you Dhruv, you worry me when you enroll yourself in unnecessary thrills. You are 27 for God’s sake, look at your brother, he is slogging his a*s in running an empire and instead of supporting him, you are wasting time risking your life?”

I was speechless. Of course I knew about Dhruv’s passion for thrills and participating in dangerous sports and activities which endangered his life. Khushi curled her arm around mine again, rubbing her nose gently over my arm with love..

“If you don’t change your lifestyle, I might just pick the other Raizada brother and settle down with him in future.”

Instead of finding it strange, I liked what she just said. Though I would never do that to Dhruv, ie., snatch his girlfriend, I was happy with just the fact that she at least thought on those lines, even if I knew she didn’t mean it.

“So, Mr. Raizada,” Khushi shook me a bit to break my daze. “Can I have the honor to dance with you?”

I couldn’t deny!! Even if she would have asked my life, I would have given it to her without wasting a second. We danced for more than an hour, until her legs ached. But Khushi still had the best time in the world giggling and laughing around me and it was at that moment when I thought for a second that maybe if given a chance, and if Dhruv and she weren’t in a relationship, I could have won her heart too. If only…

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

It had been five days since Dhruv told me about his break up with Khushi and it kind of hurt me still. I knew it was their mutual decision and no matter how much I wanted Khushi for myself and not my twin brother, I still couldn’t get over the fact that she was in pain. Because of my idiot brother.

Finishing my unofficial meeting with a client, at a pub, when I was about to leave, I heard her voice. Turning to my left, I saw Khushi seated alone at the barstool and ordering for a drink. She looked tipsy already and a lot disturbed too. How could I leave her alone? This was the chance when I could meet her as Arnav Singh Raizada and apologize for her breakup with my twin brother Dhruv. I knew they had stopped being in talking terms ever since they broke up and whilst Dhruv looked cool with it, Khushi wasn’t. She was sulking and it broke me to see her in this state.

I didn’t know when my feet walked towards her and I reached the bar stool where she was palely sitting, waiting for her next drink to be served.

“Khushi…” I murmured.

The moment she turned around and saw me, her pupils dilated. She was sobbing so far as I saw tears in her eyes and my fingers automatically stretched to her face and rubbed them off. The moment my fingers came in contact with her skin, she leaned her cheek onto my palm, holding my hand and smiled at me.

“You are here..” she whispered.

I didn’t know what to say except that I’d to apologize to her for a lot more than just for her breakup with Dhruv. Though I’d told Dhruv about she thinking me as him in the masquerade party, and that we danced together too, he was absolutely okay with it. In fact that day, Dhruv thanked me that I replaced him in that party unknowingly, because otherwise Khushi would have known that he had been to race with his friends despite her warning not to risk his life. When I’d told him about Khushi even sharing her idea of not submitting to any man until the wedding, he laughed it out calling her ideas of old school types and was too sure of convincing her how much intimacy was necessary to maintain a relationship. Though I’d argued, he playfully warned me not to get into this as it was on them to decide what to do next about it even though I’d already given my word to Khushi that she was right to make that decision, on Dhruv’s behalf.

“Why are you here?” she asked, reaching closer enough to break my chain of thoughts and focus on her. She was in pain, it was visible in her eyes.

“Khushi I… I am sorry..”

She swallowed painfully looking into my eyes, and no matter how much she blinked, she couldn’t stop her tears from overflowing again.

My sorry didn’t confuse her but made her smile instead. She kissed the inside of my palm which I realized was still caressing her cheek before clutching the lapels of my suit.

“Why is it that whenever you wear a suit, you talk sensibly and never at other times?” she teased with a soft smile.

I didn’t get what she said.

“You are sorry for breaking up with me?” she queried. “Does that mean we are together again, Dhruv?”

Dhruv!! Damn! How did I forget she took me as Dhruv and not Arnav? I didn’t even introduce myself before apologizing to her. She was looking at me with so much love, thinking I was Dhruv, that I hated myself to tell her I wasn’t him.

“I am not Dhruv..” I replied. “I am Arnav Singh Raizada..”

For a second, I felt her withdrawing from me but then she gasped and hit my chest again.

“Stop it, Dhruv. Just stop playing this game now. You think I won’t recognize you? The intensity with which you are looking at me right now, the pain in your eyes knowing I am in pain, the way your fingers are stroking my arms to stop me from shivering.. all these actions can only come from the man who loves me… and that’s you… not him.”

I immediately stopped touching her and clenched my jaw.

“You don’t understand,” I yelled. “You are mistaken, Khushi..”

“Yes I was mistaken…” she snapped back. “I was mistaken that we are actually over when you broke up with me. But look at me..” she cried. “This is so not me, Dhruv.. And look at you.. You look as dejected, as guilty and as miserable as I am, Dhruv because we can’t stay away from each other.”

I didn’t know if it was the drink which wasn’t letting her realize that she was actually having that conversation with me and not her Ex Dhruv, or had my actions, gestures and most importantly my overflowing love for her in my eyes confusing her?

“We will talk tomorrow. Tonight you are not in the senses to know who I am..” I blurted and turned around to leave when Khushi held my arm.

“Don’t leave.. please don’t leave me alone again.. I am sorry.. I am sorry..”

Though holding my hand, she literally slid down inch by inch, losing her strength to have this conversation with me, whilst sobbing. I couldn’t see her like that ever!

“Ssshhh..” I leaned down and pulled Khushi on her feet again.

“Don’t go.. please..” she cried.

“I wont.. I wont go.. Come here..” I encircled my arm around her waist and pulled her to my body, to support her and not let her collapse on the floor.

Khushi held my shoulders finally and looked into my eyes.

“You really don’t love me anymore?” she murmured, her breaths coming out quick and short as she cupped my face. “You don’t want me in your life anymore?”

My mind lost every ability to think as she asked me that.

“Tell me..” she shook me. “I promise if you don’t want me, I’ll never ….”

“I want you..” Words slipped from my mouth. That was the truth. I wanted her because I loved her.. At that moment, I didn’t realize she was asking this to Dhruv, not me. “I want you Khushi.. more than you would ever know.. more than I could ever show you the depth of my need for you…”

The moment I said this, she locked her grip to the back of my neck, holding me in place and her lips found mine. For a second, I couldn’t fathom what she did, and what my response should be. First her tears, and then her kiss, everything was enough to zone out my senses and I took over her lips, her tongue, her kiss the very next second.

To be Continued..

NEXT PART

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Rohan Oberoi

'Our Friendship was strong, but our Love?'

Adventurous, fun-loving and obsessed with my luxury cars, I knew exactly what I wanted from life until I met my college ex-bestie, Ishika Bhatia as the new lead designer of my jewelry brand, after a decade. Her reckless decisions in the past broke my heart and trust, ruining me for every other woman. Whilst I tried to shield my heart again from her, Ishika’s sassiness kept overpowering my tantrums. And then it happened. One unforeseen kiss and I knew this time she was in for more. A lot more!! But was I ready to reignite that love?

Ishika Bhatia

'I navigated the engine of our friendship, while he throttled the gears of his love.'

They say life is a race, and racing had been my only passion. So, when destiny played its card and brought me face to face with my best friend Rohan Oberoi, I didn't want to miss out on our only chance to rekindle our friendship. I knew I'd ruined what we had once. But don’t I deserve a second chance? No matter how much Rohan remained cold, distant and indifferent to my feelings for him, I was determined to turn his enduring grumpiness in my favour and fix our relationship, even if it meant snatching him against his will. And then it happened. One unplanned kiss and I knew this was just the beginning. But was I willing to cross the boundaries of friendship and ignite the flames of love?

Unrequited love is hard to live. But what if you get a second chance? Get ready for this super cute standalone romance of #Roshika (Rohan & Ishika) to race your hearts with their happily ever after.

Though this book can be read as a Standalone, to read Rohan and Ishika's Cameo roles, you can read the following books:

Mr and Mrs Kapoor (Vansh Kapoor and Vidhi Gupta’s Hidden Marriage Romance)

Love By Chance (Sameer Khanna and Tanisha Gupta’s Slow Burn Arranged Marriage Romance)