Arhi FF, Chamkili. Part- 15A. 'Chamkili on Honeymoon'

AN: Okay guys, first of all a little confession, well, I kind of suck at writing intimate scenes, so please be a little kind. However, whatever I have written, I did enjoy writing though I do hope to het as good as some other writers on the forum, some day... Anyway do give it a read and let me know what you thought of it. This one is all Arhi :)

Chamkili on Honeymoon…

Part 15A.

Some Light was seeping inside the room through very narrow slits in the carefully drawn curtains. It was as if she had decided that it won’t adhere to the arrogant wishes of self-assuming humans who thought that could deny her entry at mere whim. Well, she did have to thank Curtains though, her partner in crime. She wondered why humans were so foolish; flaunting what was worthless and even ugly and hiding the eternally beautiful. They fought wars, massacred lives and spilled blood, gloriously unabashed and yet concealed the glory of love in the pits of darkness. No, she was having none of it. If they were arrogant fools then she was an adamant bitch. How dare they deny her the pleasure of watching love at its rawest, crudest… best? How could she ever miss this sight of her small feminine frame encased within his larger masculine one? This was what helped her endure the forever, she was cursed with. She saw his possessive hold around her pliant waist and the look of contentment on her face as she laid there with her face buried in his chest. Her pale skin, tinged with saffron wrapped around his slightly tanned and work roughened form. Light beamed happily and brightly… well a little too brightly perhaps…

Khushi opened her eyes as the bright rays pierced through her shut lashes and she felt the warmth. This warmth, had nothing to do with the sun; no it’s the warmth one feels when they are surrounded by love, and the man whose love was surrounding her, seemed hell bent on suffocating her as well, if his tight hold around her was anything to go by. She smiled indulgently at the blatant possessiveness of her husband and took in the musky scent that was him. His scent mixed with hers, a reminder too potent of their amour, their love and its expression. The saffron tinge increased just a little around her face and neck as she thought back to their expression of love, not too long ago. She smiled and shifted a little so that she could take a closer look at his face. His hold was unyielding, reluctant to let go even a little bit. The child-like innocence on his face seemed so deceptive, almost incongruent to the man who had not too long ago made her whimper and groan and moan and even scream. Her shaitaan Raj-kumar. She smiled at the thought and with as little movement as possible; she maneuvered her body such that with her chin lying on his chest, very near the cleft between his shoulder-blades, she got a very clear and uninterrupted view of his face; every feature, every mole, every pore and every freckle was there in clear sight of her vision.

She wondered how long it had been since she had been engrossed in studying his face. He frowned a little and she found herself wondering at what must be bothering him, for that bothered her as well. The reason turned out to be the same playful beam of light that had not too long ago beamed brightly at her. She wondered what she could do about it. No one and nothing had the right to bother her Laad Governor, well besides her of course. Wriggling out of his hold was impossible without waking him up, she tried shading his face by her hand but that shameless intruder found her way around the wife’s dainty hands, also the position was a little uncomfortable and tiring, and then it struck her…  

Arnav Singh Raizada was in for a pleasant surprise once he opened his eyes. His beautiful and absolutely naked wife was lying half atop him, her hair falling as a curtain, separating them from the rest of the world and into a cocoon that they… nah, that she had managed to create for them. And her eyes, those hazel flavored pools of chocolate were staring right into his own with such love that he couldn’t help but thank that deity he didn’t believe in for bringing this angle in his life. If left to his own devices, he would have done a brilliant job at pushing her away, not that he had let any stone un-turned anyway. If not for her Devi... nah, if not for Khushi’s own love, goodness and faith, he would have pushed away his only chance at happiness, without even realizing what he was losing. These thoughts of woulds and coulds made his chest constrict in pain. She must have seen the pain flit across his eyes, for the next moment he found her lips taking his in a deep, soulful kiss, coveying in her own unique way that they were meant to be… anyways and always. He smiled at the thought and that made Khushi break the kiss and look up at him, searchingly. He just shook his head and then once again took her lips in for another delicious kiss, taking charge this time.

Holding her by the nape of her neck and encircling her waist with his free hand, he pushed her on her back without breaking the kiss for even a second. Her fingers were lost in the lushness of his hair, pulling him closer still, as if the space to even breathe was needed less than his nearness. He broke the kiss and she moaned her displeasure. Trying to pull him back to her, she opened her eyes when she felt slight resistance on his part. What she saw, made her breath hitch, his eyes were fixed on her form and looking down at herself, she discovered that the thin barrier shielding her form from her husband’s hungry gaze had come undone long back. Suddenly feeling conscious of her scandalous posture, she slowly brought her hands to her chest, protecting her modesty the best she could by crossing her hands across her chest, she turned away from her husband… unwittingly offering him her gloriously naked back.    

This nymph of a woman never ceased to surprise him and he loved every moment it. Just a moment ago she was kissing him with such enthusiasm that only lovers can boast of and pulling him to her with such desperation that only lovers suffer from. And in mere seconds she had transformed herself into an elusive, coy virgin.  His Khushi was a magician. His hand moved her hair further to the side and then the tips of his fingers touched her at the base of her spine. His touch was welcomed by a hiss of unbearable pleasure. His fingers traced the expanse of her back, gently… very gently moving towards her shoulders, playing her body like a flute and her body responded to his touch, dancing to his tune… like always. 

His gentle touches were the toughest to endure. She squirmed in want and restlessness, the feeling of being there and yet not quite... Upon finally reaching her shoulder, Arnav paused to pepper random kisses around her nape and back. He lightly bit the juncture between her neck and shoulders and she hissed in pleasurable pain. Gently licking the spot, he soothed the pain while keeping the pleasure alive. What he was unaware of, however, was that at that moment it was pleasure that was unbearably torturous for his currently high-strung wife. And yet when he tried pulling her back to him, he felt slight resistance from her. Of course he knew that it was more out of a sense of societal propriety than any genuine unwillingness on her part. He bit her right ear-lobe and she hissed again clutching the bed-sheet more firmly, trying and failing miserably at reigning in her natural wantonness. Middle-class inhibitions invading the privacy of bed-rooms was not really an unheard of scenario. And yet, Arnav Singh Raizada had just as much respect for the norms of societal propriety as sun had for man made digital watches.

“Oh come-on Khushi, it’s not like I haven’t seen all this before. In fact sex is a part of our everyday routine now.” She heard his frustrated complaint but couldn’t see the teasing glint in his eyes and of course as Arnav had mentally  predicted, she turned to him in a flash. Her naked glory facing him, all thoughts of proper and improper lost.

“Kya! To yeh sab aapke liye sirf routine hai?” she asked hurt. “Waise it is all my fault. Despite knowing you so well I still fell in love with the Laad Governor, so how can I complain now. Of course having se… I mean loving me is just like watching that blasted business channel for you. Laad Governor kahin ke! Why Devi Maiya, why me. Did you not like all the jalebis I served you as prasad for the last nineteen years of my life, that now my husband thinks that se… I.. I mean love is just a part of his routine...” Khushi continued with her rambling and Arnav sat there both amused and painfully aroused. Khushi, angry and naked, all at the same time was too good an opportunity to let go of. And so without alerting her, he moved his face closer to her breast. She felt his hot breath around her nipples and they pebbled almost instantaneously, her inhibitions back. But Arnav wasn’t going to give her another chance to back off and so firmly grasping her hands with his, he pushed those back into the sheet and then looking into her eyes said,

“loving you is as much a part of my routine as breathing is.” And without waiting for another moment, he had taken a round, alluring, juicy, nipple into the hot cavern of his mouth…He would never get enough of it and he was pretty sure that she had no complaints. 

AN: Hey Guys! I hope you liked the update and if you did, please do make it a point to go back on the IF thread and press the like tab under the update, it would really mean a lot to me. Secondly, there are two more pure Arhi honeymoon updates left, so keep watching this space for that. And finally, there is a poll on the top right hand corner of this, please participate there for which ever story wins the poll  shall be updated next and too within 5 days. :) Do drop in your comments on the update, I always wait for it. Oh, and in the fist section of the update, I have used the literary technique of personification and it is the voice of Light that you hear in the first section. :)

Lots of love,

Srija :)

Arhi FF, Chamkili. Ch- 14, 'Heralding the quest'.

                                                                                Chamkili

                                                 

                                                    Ch- 14

                                                      Heralding the quest…

Celina entered Khushi’s cabin to find her walking from one end of her smaller cabin to another. Her fingers twisting the end of her dupatta and her lower lip trapped between her teeth in a grip that seemed quite painful to Celina. She knocked the door once again and Khushi came back from… from wherever her mind was wandering.  Still standing at the door, Celina offered a polite formal greeting and then informed her about the meeting that should have started by now but for her.  Khushi looked at her watch and then gasped.

“Oh! I am sorry Celinaji. Lavanyaji had told me about the meeting a while ago, I should have kept that in mind. Give me a minute please.” and saying that Khushi started gathering her things.

Celina looked at her and not as trained in schooling her expressions as her formidable husband, she could clearly see the confused and stressed woman lurking from behind the façade of composure that Khushi had forcefully imposed on her body language.

“Umm Khushi, is something on your mind? I don’t mean to pry, but you seem much stressed.” Celina asked, keeping her tone formal still.

“Oh nothing Celinaji, I am fine. Just a little personal hitch, nothing I can’t take care of though.” Khushi didn’t think it was a good idea to share something so personal with a colleague.

“Oh, okay! Shall we leave then, everyone is waiting for us.” Celina knew better than to intrude on someone’s personal space. And so with her files finally in place, Khushi left with Celina for the meeting.

Throughout the meeting Celina’s attention was trained on Khushi. No one saw anything out of the ordinary and the meeting continued. Celina too wouldn’t have seen it had she not been looking for it. But she had been looking and so she could see that Khushi was attentive, a little too attentive and the force and effort of it didn’t go unnoticed by her. Celina didn't harbor any friendly feelings for her and was always conscious of all her moves. Well, she had to be, afterall wasn't she Arnav SIngh Raizada'a wife? And yet, despite all she couldn't deny the feeling of good-will that she did have for this very odd and quirky girl.  Celina observed as Khushi jotted down points in a note-pad, frowned at figures she couldn't understand, strained to hear what others had to say and yet amidst all this she remained errily quiet. She was there and yet not quite.

The meeting ended with the facts in place, both that needed to be showcased and those that needed to be safeguarded; Figures, with their inflated and deflated versions ready; People, with their parts and positions rehearsed. The presentation was ready to be performed... while another performance was being performed already.  Samay had just said something and everyone laughed at that, and seeing them laugh Khushi stretched her lips too. Lavanya said something about Khushi's spicy secret and Khushi acknowledged it with a polite smile on a pale face, the ever-ready blush on the bare mention of her husband's name suspiciously missing from her face.

Celina prided herself on her observational skills. That was what she required to survive and that was what gave her, the right to.  She could sense Khushi’s discomfort, her fear, something was on her mind and Celina could bet her life on it. Her first thought was that all her worst fears had come true and that Khushi was going to betray all of KaLa’a secrets to her husband’s firm. But her feminine instinct told her it was different, that Khushi could cheat and yet, she would not; that Khushi was more than their rival’s wife and so her problems could be her own, hers and hers only. And so with the kind of interest and care that one human being has for another, she approached her once everyone else had left.

“Hey Khushi! Do you have a minute?”

“Ji Celinaji.”

“Okay, I don’t have the ability to beat around the bush and so I’ll get right to the point. Well, I cannot shake this feeling that you are very upset about something…” she saw Khushi trying to explain something but continued before she could say anything. “See, I know the kind of relationship we share and that you are not obliged to tell me anything. And believe me I won’t really mind if you decide not to.  It’s just that today you weren’t yourself  and with the presentation so close I am a little worried. Losing focus at this moment could be really detrimental to the whole thing. And beside all that, if I can, I would like to help you.”

Khushi was baffled. Why was Celinaji taking so much interest in her life all of a sudden? Was she okay? Did she do some grave mistake in the meeting? But no one else said anything about anything? Khushi was still struggling with all these questions when Celina once again called her attention.

“Khushi, see you really don’t have to, I understand.” and saying that she turned away from her and to the door, but was stopped by the subject of her interest.

“No Celinaji, I… I… wo actually…” Celina saw her nervousness and  regretted her enquiry. The inquisitive side of her really crossed the line sometimes.

“Khushi, it’s really fine, it was my mistake, I shouldn't have tried to delve into your private space. I apologize.” But Khushi had already made up her mind and so she started again.

“No Celinaji, you were just concerned and I am grateful for that. Actually, I was a little worried today. Wo, since the presentation was due for today, me and my husband made plans for a week long vacation and now that the presentation has been postponed I… I don’t know what to do.” She had been the verge of a break-down the entire day and now that Celina had poked the bricks once again, the damn holding her feelings inside seemed ready to burst.

“Oh!” Celina wasn’t sure how she felt about this. Compared to the things that she had been imagining, this seemed like a relief and yet, Khushi’s waxen face, now red with her attempt of holding back her tears, told her that it wasn’t supposed to be a relief.

“Khushi, if you really want to go, just talk to La or Mr. Kapoor, I am sure they’ll understand and don’t worry we’ll handle everything.” Celina said in a comforting tone.

“But… but I want to attend the meeting. But then Arnavji planned this whole trip and now if I say we can’t go, I don’t know how he’ll react. And I want to go as well. Devi Maiya please help.” Celina found herself wondering for the first time about how old was this woman or girl… or child?

“Khushi you have to make a choice and believe me whatever choice you make, no one would blame you, everyone will understand.” She looked at Khushi and she still seemed undecided, so Celina added after a little pause,

“Khushi making compromises in a relationship is not a woman’s duty, it’s a choice, and if you ask me, a generous one at that.” Celina smiled at Khushi and then started collecting her things. She knew Khushi needed to make her own choices and saying anything more would have been forcing her into the direction that she thought was right and Celina actually practised what she preached. And so she moved out, leaving Khushi alone, letting her share her space with one that rarely ever staked any claim on her… her space.  
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“Thank god, you are here. I thought you ran off scared of the honey-moon. Remember the time I had proposed backward rituals and how freaked out you were.” Arnav smiled brightly, he was in one of his very unusual ecstatic moods and that made things all the more difficult for Khushi. She was forced to take a guilt trip once again.

‘No, I have to talk to him, he’ll surely understand.’ Khushi steeled herself. But before she could say anything, Arnav started once again,

“Khushi, all my stuff has been packed and I took the liberty of packing some of my favorite things for you too. I’ll suggest, you pack everything up soon after dinner because we have an early flight and so you’ll have to get-up early. But no need to worry, I’ll wake you up with a kiss on your lips… or maybe somewhere else…” he winked at her. It wasn't a sight everyone was lucky enough to see, Arnav Singh Raizada talking with the excitement of a four year old, going for his first train-ride. And the steel melted once again.

“Ji.” She said in a quiet whisper. And in his excitement, her husband took that quite little, whispery “Ji” as a shy acceptance rather than what it was, a sigh of resignation.
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“Aakashji, is it so important? Do you have to leave tonight? When tomorrow…” Payal didn’t need to finish it as she knew that he would understand what she was trying to convey. Some things you didn’t need to say.

“Payal, I have already told you how important this deal is, please don’t do this right now.” Aakash said with his back to her. He didn’t want to face her… to face her fears… to face his fears…

“Aakashji, please just one day. Please, I promise I won’t stop you then. Please Aakashji.” Payal was on the verge of breaking.

“Payal please don’t do this, not right now.” He paused and then turned towards her. Then moving to where she was sitting, he cradled her face in his palms and then looking into her eyes he said in a very gentle tone.

“Payal, please understand! Now, with Bhai going away for a whole week, the entire responsibility falls on me. Please Payal try to understand, I wouldn’t be doing this if I had any choice. You are such a lovely person and very good wife, I know you understand.” He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then moved towards the cup-board once again, expecting his wife would follow, like always… packing his stuff for him, like always… understanding, nah, obeying him, like always.

“Aacha Payal, I was thinking…” he turned back, expecting to find his wife just a step behind him like always, but she was not there. Some always’ are not meant to be.
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Khushi had packed everything right after the dinner, as he had told her, but he had noticed that she had gone through the dinner very ceremoniously, just like he sometimes sat through those never-ending havans and pujas  that his family threw every once in a while. He had read her hesitance and slight withdrawal as her nervous excitement, but he was beginning to see better now. The hesitance was there, the nervousness was also present, the excitement, however, was absent, not hidden, absent. And that troubled him. Her pain, her withdrawal, her distance, always did. He had planned a romantic night for them, the chocolate syrup finally in place and ready to use. But her quiet withdrawal had dampened his spirit well, and the chocolate syrup still lay unused. His line of thought was broken as she stirred in his arms. He knew she was faking sleep, because he was doing the same.

Sometime during the night, he felt her disentangling herself from him. He let her. With a narrow slit of his eyes, while still pretending to sleep, he saw her look at him once and then convinced that he was asleep, she got her dupatta and  left the room, very conscious of making the least amount of noise possible. He had a fair enough idea of where exactly she might have gone. He closed his eyes and laid there. She needed her space and he would give it to her.

His resolution, however, didn’t last for long and barely ten minutes later he was found climbing down the stairs and heading towards the kitchen. And of course there she was and on the counter next to her was a small pile of jalebis, small but consistently rising.  And Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada making jalebis was a firmer proof of her grief and confusion than a man with a bloodied weapon standing near a murdered man, of his guilt.

“Khushi, what happened? Did someone say anything to you or did something happen at your work? And please don’t insult my love for you by saying you are fine.” He asked her while gently cupping her face.

“Arnavji, please I can’t.” she said looking down.

“Khushi, if it was anything else, believe me I wouldn’t have asked you a second time, but if something makes you sad then I do need to know it and no, here I won’t take no for an answer.” His tone held a finality and the dam that his wife had been building the whole day finally gave way to tears of tiredness and guilt that were now dampening his t-shirt as he quietly caressed her hair.

“Arnavji, wo after you called about the bookings in the afternoon, Lavanyaji… she… she told me that the meeting… the final presentation for our new project has been postponed to Monday... this Monday. And I didn’t know what to do. Believe me I really really want to go with you and I was… no, I am very excited about this trip and I know that you are really excited too. And I don’t know what to do. But this is my first presentation and it’s really important that I be here and I don’t want to let down Lavanyaji and Kapoorji. But I can’t let you down too. And I am feeling so guilty because either way I am letting down someone and I don’t want to. I don’t know what to do Arnavji. Please tell what I should do and I’ll do that.” Sobs at indefinite intervals still rocked her slight frame but her husband by her side, still holding her in his arms was giving her all the strength she needed. 

“Khushi, when you clearly don’t want to go then there is no point talking about it.” She disentangled her form from his and looked at him, her shock evident in her eyes, the sobbing stopped though. And they stood there silently looking at each other. He couldn’t hold it for long though and a small playful smile lifted a corner of his lips.

“This is what you expected, right?” he once again took her in his arms and continued. His smile intact and so was her shock.

“Khushi we are husband and wife, equal partners in this merger, I mean marriage and no one party, I mean person is obligated to make all the compromises. Why would you even think that this would hurt me? Khushi, I am there for you and I know that you are there for me and these little bumps we’ll find all the time, but believe me these little hitches would only strengthen our contract, I mean connection.” He paused and then kissed the top her head before continuing once again.

“Khushi, never forget that we are equals. There are very few people I actually respect in this world and you are one of them, so never change. Besides, I love that spunk you have, the spirit of individuality, it’s precious Khushi and I will never let you lose it. And we have a long life ahead of us, hoping you won’t give me heart-attacks like today…” she hit his chest at that,

“Or hit me so much, so these trips will be many. Khushi, I am greatful to Lavanya that she gave you the chance you needed and I would never let you crush your dreams for anything or anyone, not even me, okay?” He smiled at her and hugged her once again. She hugged him back and thanked her guardian goddess for the nth time for the gift that was her Arnavji.

“Khushi, is everything ready for the presentation?”

“Hmmm.”

“So, you have this week-end free?”

“Hmmm.”

“So, it’s okay if we plan something for the weekend, right?” Her eyes lit-up as she looked at him in awe. He really was her rajkumar, her prince charming. She hugged him again and he got his answer. Smiling at her and then caressing her hair, he asked,

“So, where do you want to go?”

“Nainitaal.” And that one word brought all the hazy memories back; memories of her sanak and his gussa; her fear and his regret; of him fighting for her and her getting the first glimpses of her lover… her very possessive lover; glimpse of his love and of her love…

“Nainitaal it is then, my love. Just remind me to check the car tank before we leave tomorrow, I really don’t want a repeat telecast of our last trip once again.” She hit him lightly at that and he laughed a little before continuing.

“Anyway, talking of unfinished things… I have a bottle of chocolate syrup in our cupboard that has been lying there for quite a while and I have plans that include it ON you and these have been in my head for a much longer period than I would care to admit, for the fear of scandalizing you. So, what do you say Mrs. Raizada, considering our trip has been cut short by almost five days, don’t you think we need to start early… and of course, don’t expect many breaks now.” He winked at her wickedly and then drove his tongue inside her mouth that had opened in an O at his last comment.
_________________________________________________________________

She retreated back in the darkness. It was their personal moment, something that no one else was supposed to see, to share and the truth was that she really didn’t want to. Yes, she was supposed to be happy for them… for their love and she was… she was… it was just that the pain that she harbored within her, carried with her, that lived with her, embittered every other feeling inside her, every other feeling, except the already bitter ones.

Where did she go wrong? What did she do to deserve this fate? Why did Khushi get everything she had ever wanted for herself? Why was she bereft of all that mattered? Why did it hurt so much? Why was she left alone to hurt… to cry soundlessly? Why was he leaving her when she needed him the most? Why could he not understand her fear of what she might see in those reports tomorrow? Why was he running away? Why was he allowed to run but not her? What if she really wasn’t good enough to be a mother? Why was she jealous of her sister’s happiness? Why is she changing? What is silently tearing inside her? What is soundlessly breaking inside her? Where was the Payal she had always known, loved and hated all at once gone?

The answers were not found that night. But the process had started already… For finding the questions was the first step towards finding the answer… wasn’t it?
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“Naniji, humen aapki bahut yaat aayegi.” Khushi sobbed a little as she hugged the older woman. This vidayi ceremony had been going on for quite a while now and two people were quickly loosing their cool, and so while Mamiji made a face, Arnav rolled his eyes.

“Khushi, we are coming back in two days okay. Just stop this and come with me.” He made a move to pull her but she once again looked at everyone and bid a moist farewell to everyone there.

“Jiji, please tell Anjaliji that I said bye to her too, okay?” Arnav rolled his eyes once again, this girl was the limit.

Once in his SUV, he took his mobile and hers and switched them both off. When Khushi protested, he silenced her with a kiss and then said to his slightly drugged wife,

“Khushi for these two days, I am not willing to share you with anyone and so I am confiscating this. Our phones will remain off for the duration.”

“But…”

“And don’t worry, Aman knows how to reach me in case of an emergency, and he not foolish enough to risk his head for anything silly, so we have the weekend all to ourselves dear.” And kissing her shock off her face, he finally turned the car and drove out of the Shantivann premises.
________________________________________________________________

“Did you know, her husband left her.” The woman in red whispered in a voice loud enough for everyone around her to hear.

“What? I thought she left him?” the woman in blue was genuinely confused.

Guruji had taken a short interval while narrating the Ram Katha and the men and women were now busy telling their own ram-kahanis.

“What! Are you mad! What woman in her senses would leave her husband, and that too a handicapped woman? He left her and then her brother, using his power manipulated the system and got him behind the bars.”

“Is that true, behenji?”

“Of course, I have my sources inside the house, so it’s one hundred percent true. I feel so sad for that man, such a beautiful man and a lawyer too. How many good lawyers do you find these days? He could have done so much better had he married my Nisha, but no, Ramji knows what magic that witch had done on him and look what she did to him. He deserved better, poor man!”

Everything else had receded to a humm as she moved down the stairs, but that voice rang clear in hers ears. ‘such a beautiful man and a lawyer too… and look what she did to him. He deserved better, poor man!’

She found herself sitting on a bench in some park, having no idea of how she got there. She had tried calling Chote, but his phone was switched off. She knew she was being selfish, but it hurt so much. The hurt felt like water, water that flowed above her now and she was choking, drowning. The suffocation got too much and she got up, her mind made. Anjali Singh Raizada knew that she was headed for her doom, but where else could she go? Where else did she belong? More importantly, no where else did she want to go but to her ruin. She would start now and then when she had reached there, she would just sit, relax and wait… wait for quamat, for the Judgement Day to come and for the devils to claim her.

 PS: I love reading your reactions, so please be generous with those. My comments section, like my blog is open to all :)

PPS: The banner has also been edited by me, so your comments are welcome on that too :)

Love,

Srija 

Arhi FF: Chamkili. Part 13- 'A Plan and Another Plan'

                                Chamkili

                                                Part-13       

  A Plan and Another Plan...

Sheetal looked around her new apartment. It was an apartment with two bedrooms, a drawing room and a spacious kitchen. The apartment was more than just decent, lying some where between decently spacious and well furnished to luxurious but subtly so, not the blatant grandness of Shantivann. She liked it in fact. The only problem was it lacked something or rather someone crucial. There would be time to dwell over her miseries soon, but at the moment she needed to be focused on the little boy who was slumped on the couch, uninterested in his surroundings… lost in fact. That’s not how an eight year old responds to a new house.

Sheetal had struggled her way through motherhood. There was no lover to hold her hand in the delivery room as she screamed and cried. There were no mothers or mother-in-laws to guide her through it… to tell her that she needs to support her baby’s head while holding him. There were no sisters and sister-in-laws to tell her that when an infant cried it didn’t always mean he was hungry… no one to whisper soothing words in her ears when her baby got his first anti-viral shot… or to accompany her to his school for his first PTA meeting. No, she had to learn everything on her own. She was just thankful that Aarav was not a very difficult child. Even as an infant, he would only cry and seek her attention when in utter discomfort. And as he grew, he learnt to live by himself as well. He wouldn’t fight with the other kids in the park and then run over to her for protection. He wouldn’t cry in front of her when other kids would hit him or whine to make her read him a bed-time-story. He wouldn’t ask his mother to take an off on his birthday and bake him a chocolate cake or to take him to Disney-land. No, he understood her situation, their situation and adapted to it. He had grown to be as independent a kid as he could be. And sometimes, like right now, Sheetal would look at her son, lost in his own world and wonder that if she disappeared right this moment would he even notice that she was gone? She still couldn’t find an answer and that unsettled her. Finally unable to take it anymore she headed to her room, a little physical distance was easier to handle than immeasurable emotional distance.
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“Whatever you say Khushi, I am fine with any destination you choose.” Arnav said as he opened a cabinet drawer in his office, searching for a file while speaking to his wife over the phone.

“Arnavji, please help me here, I don’t know anything about these things and on their online tourism pages every single destination promised to be heaven on earth.” Khushi said, A little irritation evident in her voice as her husband’s nonchalance had irked her a bit.

“Khushi, seriously just pick any place you like and I’ll arrange everything. Believe me it’s all the same, crowded beaches or swarming mountains; packed churches or crammed museums. Just pick any place and make it fast, I’ll have to give Aman instructions for arrangements.” He said, finally finding the file and then coming back to his desk.

“Arnavji, why are you being like this? I am taking so much pains for our holiday, scrolling through the internet pages and looking for authentic sources and asking people’s opinion and… Well, you know what, let’s just forget about. And anyway I have just started with my job and you are clearly too busy…” She couldn’t continue further as she felt a lump growing in her throat and she was pretty sure that those treacherous tears would soon betray her. She was about to disconnect the call when she heard his pleading voice.

“Khushi, Khushi listen to me, I didn’t mean it that way. The thing is just that these holiday destinations have always seemed quite tedious to me and believe me I really don’t have any specific preferences as such…” But he was cut short as his wife regaining her composure a little bit had cut in.

“It’s really okay Arnavji. I know you are a very busy man and I wouldn’t want to be a distraction of any sort. And I understand that what you said last night was probably just pillow talk and I took it too seriously (and made a fool of myself, she though to herself.). Don’t worry I won’t hold your words against you. It’s really fine.” Though hurt, she wanted to make the situation light.

“Khushi, you are getting me all wrong. Of course I want us to spend some time together alone and afar from the official or domestic environment. It’s just that all I really need is…” he paused for a bit and then his eyes held a teasing glint and the next he spoke his voice was husky and his tone teasing.

“… a comfortable room, a sturdy bed and YOU, sweetheart. These are the prerequisites, all else is manageable. Oh, and ground rules we won’t be spending much of our time outside the room so it really doesn’t matter where we go.” Arnav knew his magic was working as he could hear her heartbeats constantly accelerating, in complete sync with his… Hamesha.

“Arnavji… aap… hum… wo hum… wo.” Her cheeks were stained as was her nose, and if they didn’t give her away, the glazed look in her eyes would surely do the trick.

“Any questions Khushi?” He asked, his voice still husky and his tone dripping with mirth. “Well, let me elaborate, an AC because well, I am used to it. The bed has to be sturdy, because when we were barely warming up and testing the fields, we broke a bed, so now that things are really in action and the cricket match is on, we should be more careful. And finally, my dear wife, I need you… to ravish again and again and again, testing the sturdiness of the bed and challenging it. What do you say to that?” he smirked imagining the three Os on the face of his blushing bride.

“Arnavji please stop. We can’t talk about all this over the phone.” He heard her breathless plea.

“Baby, I haven’t even started yet. And believe me we can do a lot more over the phone.” He paused but as he had expected, he didn’t hear anything but her errant breathing. And the next moment she had disconnected the call. Arnav had a cocky smile on his face, proud of the fact that he could fluster her, arouse her so much even on the phone. Arnav made a mental note to call her more often; he enjoyed a flustered Khushi way too much to resist. He wondered what her response would be to dirty talking. He couldn’t wait to give her lessons on that.
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It had been more than a minute that Lavanya had entered Khushi’s cabin and she was still to notice that 5”6 figure standing right in front of her desk. The blush stained cheeks and glazed eyes told Lavanya more than she wanted to know and couldn’t help but smile a little at her Chamkili’s condition.

Well, Khushi had been working at Kala for over a week now, and though the initial response of everyone was very friendly, but since her husband had pulled that stunt in her office, things had gone pretty much down-hill from there. Lavanya was more than glad that she was there for Chamkili for except her everyone in the office was barely formal with her. Every single person openly distrusted her and was secretly jealous of her. Her team-mates were in fact worse than others, most of them barely speaking to her, and some even hostile to her. Khushi hadn’t said anything to anyone but Lavanya had taken things in her hand and given everyone except Celina James and Samay an earful. The external hostility had ceased then, but of course the impact was limited to external hostility only and that was an open secret. Celina and James though conscious of her were at least cordial and Samay, being the absolute delight that he was, was the only one who was genuinely friendly with her, helping her through all the obstacles of this professional world, when she wasn’t there. Despite all, she was happy for her friend because naivety, charming as it may seem, wasn’t really a thing to cherish for life. And the inhospitable circumstances at the office were in fact just what Khushi needed, to get a taste of the real world. She needed to know it for she would have to face it, if not today then tomorrow, so why delay the inevitable. And here at least Lavanya was there to guide her through all this. Their friendship had shone brighter than ever in these last few days. A girl-friend was definitely a must for every girl.

Deciding that she had waaited long enough and that it was time to snap Khushi out of it, she cleared her throat a little loudly and her Chamkili was back with her.

“Umm, Lavanyaji when did you come? I…I was just thinking about something… I mean some new designs. How about we design something in a combination of red and pink?” Khushi blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

“That’s a great idea Khushi…” Lavanya paused for a bit and saw Khushi in the process of exhaling a breath of relief and so quipped suddenly,

“Only, we already have two designs in the red and pink combination and to top it all it was already your idea.” Lavaya had a knowing smile on her face.

“Wo, Lavanya ji I… I was just thinking about… I wo…” Khushi was struggling to frame a coherent sentence and so Lavanya finally came to her rescue.

“Khushi, believe me I really don’t want to know what you a thinking about. Of course I do have a fair enough idea of what it might be, but I’d rather not scandalize my innocent mind with details, especially during the office hours.” Lavanya finished with a sly smile on her face and Khushi all but burned with embarrassment. Now, Lavaya would have loved to take thid=s forward but right now she was way too busy to continue. She hadn’t even had a mani-pedi this entire week so…

“Okay okay, now stop blushing, I have to tell you something important. Actually, the client meeting with that Spanish firm that was to happen today, it has been postponed to Monday and Mr. Kapoor said that the client has demanded that the entire designing team be present in the meeting. So, yeah that’s it. Okay then I’ll see your in the team meeting later. Bye” And saying that she turned and left.

Had she stayed even a second longer, she would have seen the blush disappear from Khushi’s face as it paled in shock. For, just about a minute ago Arnavji had called her to inform that their tickets to Paris were done and they would be leaving the next day for their week long holiday. Now, with the meeting on Monday, Khushi didn’t know what to do and worst of all she felt terrified imagining the ways Arnav might react to this new piece of information.
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Arnav felt like he was at the top of the world. Just the thought of spending an entire week with his wife in a far away country had him giddy with excitement. Not too long ago he had informed Khushi about their final bookings and had also like a thorough gentleman made her aware of all the plans that he had for their honeymoon and of course every single one involved her and a sturdy bed. Well, sturdy tables, chairs, shower stalls, walls and doors would also do, after all these were variables, she was the only constant in his life as well as his fantasies.

Someone knocked at the cabin door and he all but grumbled a very reluctant come-in. Sheetal walked in with a small smile on her face and after they had exchanged pleasantries, Sheetal then gave him some papers for his signatures. He was flipping through these papers, conscious to go through every single one of them, while having a light conversation with Sheetal about her new flat and Aarav. The last sheet remained now and Arnav frowned slightly as he wasn’t aware of what the paper said.

“Sheetal, what is this.”

“Oh sorry, I had thought that I would talk to you about it befor giving out the papers but I guess it just slipped my ming. Actually Arnav, I remember you saying that you wanted AR to focus extensively on its developing over-seas market and so when a friend of mine told me about this, I thought I might as well just ask you.”

Arnav was busy going through the paper. It was fairly simple Arnav decided as he picked up the pen. Well, of course he’d have to run a background check on this company before taking any final decisions and since the papers only required him to give his official permission for a formal presentation. He would go through the designs later, he decided. Well, he was absolutely sure of Sheetals capability as far as designing was concerned.

Sheetal collected the papers and then walked out of the room, now an evil smile on her face.

To be continued...
Love,
Srija :)

Arhi ff: Chamkili. Ch-12, 'Things Come Around'

                                       Chamkili
                                                                                           Ch- 12
              
                                                   Things come around...

"Anjali? Is that you?" the voice called her once again and she had no other option but to turn around.

"Hello Mayank...I I meant Professor Sharma... Umm H..hello." she hated herself for being that stammering mumbling fool after all these years... she was shocked to see the kind of effect that he could still have on her.

"I never thought I'd see you here after all these years. I must say it's a very pleasant surprise." She blushed a bit at that and then hated herself some more. She hated him too, for being the calm composed collected man that he always was. Why could he still affect her when she...

"Why don't you come inside, we could chat for a while, if you are not busy that is." Prof. Sharma asked.

"I... Umm... I actually I have to see someone in the office. Yes, I have some work with the college administration, that is why I had to come here." The temptation to spend a few more moments with him was strong, but stronger was the urge to escape.

"Oh, okay! So you must not be delayed on my account. But Anjali, why did to come over to the left wing, the administrative office is in the right wing?" he asked out of genuine curiosity and maybe a little bit of hope...

"Wo actually, someone from the office sent me here to find one of the staff members, so I had to come."

"Oh! Well, I saw you in front of my office, so I thought maybe... Anyways, who are you looking for?" as if on reflex, her face turned towards the door on her left and there it was, a shiny black board with golden engravings that said, Dr. Mayank Sharma. Her cheeks stained red with humiliation and she was glad that she wasn't facing him at the moment. She took a second to compose herself and then faced him.

"Umm! I... I... Wo I was looking for someone from the administration but he is not here, apparently he has left already." She felt her breath catching a bit. Why was lying to him so difficult for her, wasn't she supposed to be the mistress of deception?

"Well, okay then, you must not delay yourself on my account. Bye Anjali." He smiled at her and she all but grimaced in an attempt to return his smile.

As she moved towards the administrative block she willed herself to not turn back and she would have been successful, had she not heard the sound of the door opening. She turned back. What did she expect, that he would be standing there, looking at her retreating back or maybe following her... But no, all she saw was his retreating back as he entered his office. She didn't know what to think as she limped towards the exit, tears that she had managed to keep in check until then had free reign now. What had gotten into her, why had she come here? What pleasure did one find in ripping the old wounds open?

He tried to resist for a while but then gave up, just one glimpse, one last glimpse. He turned towards her and saw her limp on her way. He wished that she'd have accepted his invitation... that he had had the courage to call her back... that he could rush to her side and walk beside her... match his step to hers... that he could claim what he had always wanted, desired... needed... that he could claim what was his and be claimed as hers. But you don't always get what you want or even need, so many wouldn't really die of starvation otherwise. Well, life indeed was a bitch! And with a final sigh of resignation he closed the door of his cabin as her limping form faded from his sight.

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Her eyes seemed a bit puffy, was it from her incessant crying last night or the longish sleep, she wasn't sure. She spared another glance at the wall clock which showed that it was way past the puja time or even the breakfast time for that matter. She didn't feel like hurrying today, after all even Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada deserved a half-day once in a while, didn't she? She didn't want to think about last night, she held her pride very dear to her and the moment it was shredded into pieces wasn't a very appealing memory for her. But very soon she realized the irony of it, for in not wanting to think about last night, she was forced to do just that. She stretched for the millionth time and cajoled her body to comply with her mind and leave the bed, but the tiredness still weighed her down and giving up she slumped on the pillow once again, promising herself that she would lie down for just ten more minutes. 

Today it felt different; the tiredness, the weighing down, it was all different today and good different. It was the kind of tiredness one feels after getting rid of a heavy weight that they have been carrying for quite some time... the kind of tiredness that comes after resting for a while, resting after giving up your arms. She felt like... like one feels after displaying all their cards on the table. But the slight agitation or nervousness or vulnerability that one feels in such a position was missing, for there was one factor that was always constant, the fact that her husband, a blind fool that he was, loved his wife more than anything in this world and even if on nothing else, Khushi could bet her life on that one truth.  That was her last thought before succumbing to sleep once again, a smile on her face. She was glad it was Sunday. 

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Devyani Raizada was sitting in the living room, her favorite Lakshmi was in her arms and though her hands smoothed her fur, it was more out of habit than love at the moment for her thoughts were far far away. Things seemed unnaturally calm around Shantivann and she felt slight shivers thinking about what might follow. Their home seemed to have lost its soul. The ever happy Khushi bitiya seemed to have lost her zeal for life and the warmth that always exuded from Payal had been missing lately. And to add to her miseries, last night when she was returning to her room she had heard some muffled sobs coming from Anjali's room. She had wanted to rush to her, to envelope her in her arms and tell her that everything was going to be alright. But she doubted how persuasive she would have been when she didn't believe it herself.  And so crushing her protective impulse she had come back to her room, a helpless, defeated mother.  Now days she often found herself wondering, if she would be able to face her daughter when that inevitable time came.  She wasn't really sure anymore.

With a resigned sigh she moved towards the table. Khushi bitiya hadn't come out her room today and though Devyani preferred to maintain her distance giving the kids their space, she was beginning to get quite worried now. But just as she was about to send someone to check on her, she saw her darling Bahu descend the staircase and come to stand next to her.

"Maaf kijeaga Naniji, I know I am very late today." Khushi said; her head bowed down, she wondered why she felt so much guilt for waking up late once in so many months? Would Aakash Jiju or Arnavji feel the same, she wondered, or was it an unstated rule for just the female kind? 

"Aree Bitiya, koi baat nahi, I was just worried about your health. Are you okay?" Nani asked while caressing her hair. Khushi smiled at her and thanked her guardian goddess for giving her the best sasural ever.

"Accha Naniji, I'll just go and check if the lunch is ready." Khushi had just turned when she saw Payal bringing out the various dishes with HP in tow.

"Aree Jiji, I am so sorry, you had to do everything by yourself today. I am so lazy and stupid. Sorry Jiji." She said, now following her Jiji to the table and then helping her in setting it up.

"Koi baat nahi Khushi, you anyways have a tendency to overwork yourself, it's good to relax a bit every now and then." said the wise elder sister and younger daughter-in-law, who herself didn't have a single memory of waking up late, ever in her entire life.

Khushi made sure that lunch had been sent to the office for Arnav and Aakash and Sheetal; she enquired about NK and was told that he had gone to meet some of his friends and would be dining out today; and that Aarav had basket-ball practice after his classes today and so would be late. And so, finally the women of the Raizada house-hold settled down themselves.

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As the clock struck eight, the door bell rang and Khushi was reduced to a nervous mess in a jiffy.  She hadn't had talked to Arnav after last night and now she wasn't sure about how she was going to face him. In retrospect, being caught with the DNA test reports and then bursting at him about his past relationships, didn't sound like the things done by a mature wife.

Arnav came inside and moved straight to his room, his eyes searching for his wife, who was at the moment hiding behind the main door. He had expected to find her in the bed-room and was quite confused when he didn't see her there.  Arnav went down to the living room after changing into his casuals and saw Khushi helping Payal in setting up the table. He walked towards her, but the moment she caught his eyes, he saw her shuffle back to the kitchen, all the while avoiding his gaze. He frowned a bit at her weird reaction, wondering shouldn't he be the one avoiding her after last night. Anyways, she'd have to come to him during bed-time and he'd take care of things then.

Everyone had settled around the table and Khushi and Payal were busy serving the family members.

"Di, have this khatti dal, I am sure you'll like it, its Jiji's specialty." Khushi smiled at Anjali. She was worried for her, Anjali seemed lost these day, only surfacing when in company of others. Otherwise, she just seemed to be lost in another universe. Just a few days ago, she had seen Anjali trying, trying to be her normal self, and not just for others. But now as she looked in her far off eyes, she seemed to be slipping away...

When everyone had started eating Khushi looked around and frowned at not finding either Aarav or Sheetal.

"Aren't Sheetalji and Aarav coming for dinner today?" she asked to no one in particular.

"They must be busy packing. They are leaving tomorrow." Came her husband's curt reply.

"Leaving?" many voices questioned all at once, all eyes fixed on the man sitting to the right of the Raizada matriarch.

"Well yes, she came as a guest so why are all of you so surprised to hear that she is leaving." His eyes fixed on Khushi as he said this.

"No chote, it's nothing like that. We were just a bit surprised at Sheetalji's sudden decision to leave." Anjali explained. She had become so used to having Aarav around that for a moment it really hurt to think that things would be changing very soon. She hoped her brothers were planning a family soonish... she wished she had a family of her own...

"She found a place, the agent called her today. And she doesn't want to take any risks by delaying it, so they are shifting tomorrow." Arnav explained his voice free of any emotions.

Everyone then once again settled for their dinner... all but one...

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Khushi had been pacing the room for quite some time now, guilt eating at her conscience. Of course she was the reason. She drove them out. Arnavji would do anything for her that much she knew, but that he would be willing to throw a helpless mother and her son out of the house the very next day hadn't occurred to her.  How would Devi Maiya ever forgive her? She'll have to talk to Arnavji, she decided.

Arnav entered the room to find his enchanting and ever elusive wife chewing at her lower lip, thinking something and murmuring every now and then. She looked as irresistible as ever, but Arnav knew better, he was prepared to keep his urges under check, for a little while at least. They needed to talk.

"Khushi?" she didn't respond, still lost in her guilt trip.

"Khushi?" He went to her and shook her, rudely bringing her out of her reverie.

"Arnavji, why did you do this? I didn't mean this when I said that last night. I was just a little angry and so I shouted at you but I never wanted you to throw them out of the house. Please Arnavji, what will they do? Where will they go? I... I" and she couldn't speak further as her eyes teared up. Trust Khushi to go all mellow-dramatic over the silliest of things. But then this was the same woman who had given Shyam a second chance for Di and given him, her biggest tormenter, place in her heart.

"Khushi." He paused and gathered her in his arms. "No one is going to rot on the streets. As I told you downstairs, Sheetal's agent found a house for them and so she is shifting. It has nothing to do with me or you. And do you think I am cruel enough to throw a woman out on the streets on some weird impulse." At that she raised her eyebrow at him and he understood. "Aacha aacha I know I can do that, in fact I have done that... but those special treatments have always been reserved for you sweetheart." He chuckled lightly as her mouth made a big O. He had been longing to kiss her for a while now and he decided to do just that.

"I cannot get enough of you and if we don't have some alone time soon, and I mean day and night alone time, not these bits and pieces, I am pretty sure I am going to lose my mind baby." Arnav said in a breathless husky voice, as he languidly caressed her left nipple. Their entangled bodies were still a little moist from their passionate love making and their breath was still a bit shaky. It hadn't been even five minutes yet, and her beast of a husband was already clamoring for "alone time" again, Khushi mused and blushed pink at the thought of their 'alone time' activities.

"Khushi, I was thinking it's time we went on our honey-moon, it's a long overdue, don't you think?" Khushi blushed at that. These few hours at night brought her to near exhaustion and even then she was sure, that her husband let her sleep for those few hours out of mercy only. If he were to have things his way, she was pretty sure, she'd die of the pleasure he brought her again and again and again... Her Arnavji was insatiable and the thought of spending days and nights alone with him, at some place where no one knew them, brought her to a state of nervous anticipation, his fingers massaging her breasts and pinching her nipples didn't help either... what would he do to her then? It was beyond her thought.

Arnav saw his wife blushing profusely at the mere mention of the word honeymoon, and this same woman was not five minutes ago, writhing underneath him in pure pleasure, complete abandon, chanting his name again and again even in her state of near breathlessness...  The memory aroused him once again. But he wasn't sure if Khushi would be ready again, so soon. Should I give her a little more time to recover?' Arnav mused. But all his doubts were cleared the moment her felt her nipples pebbling under his fingers. With an evil grin he moved atop her body.

"A honeymoon is coming your way sweetheart, so be ready and I don't plan on leaving you this easy then..." Arnav drawled as his lips trailed along her collar-bone. "How about I give you a trailer... tonight?" And with that his teeth sank in the upper curve of her right breast as his hand squeezed the left one. She gasped and held on to his arms with all her life... ready for the ride she knew he would take her on.

AN: First of all thanks a lot to all my readers for bringing Chamkili this far, believe I would have stopped writing long back if it wasn't for such wonderful and adamantly nagging readers. So thanks a lot for helping this story reach a hundred pages... Hoping it reaches another thread pretty soon too

I am not very happy with the way this chapter shaped up, I've been writing this during my free office hours but I do hope to see your comments and likes for this update, for that is what keeps me going.

Love,

Srija