What's Cooking?

What's Cooking?

Monday, 20 April 2015

Chapter 9




Khushi stood mortified as her supposed' favorite song played loudly around them; Damn that NK! She only said that she likes this song, thanks to her sister playing it on repeat at home. It certainly wasn't her Favorite' song.

You and I go hard at each other like we're going to war
You and I go rough, we keep throwing things and slamming the door
You and I get so damn dysfunctional, we stopped keeping score
You and I get sick, and I know that we can't do this no more

She quickly glanced at ASR, who stood staring. He probably wanted to run back to his girlfriend instead of being stuck here with her "Um...should we head back to the lounge area?" Khushi asked as Arnav visibly stiffened and shifted his gaze away from her towards the lounge


She knew the song was very suggestive and at present there was only awkwardness between the two of them; best to start walking ahead and get them out of this situation. She took a step away from him, intending to go back, when she felt a sudden pull on her wrist, as her boss's arms arms went around her waist and bare back, making her hands involuntarily land on his chest


The sizzling jolt she felt at his touch had her shivering as his eyes found hers, dark and mysterious and slightly angry "NK is not in the lounge right now...I'm sure you can have one dance with me...unless, you have reserved all your dances for NK tonight" he said with a bite, as she widened her eyes at him...their bodies settling into the fast paced rhythm as their eyes spoke the unspoken words

Yeah, but baby there you go again, there you go again, making me love you.
Yeah, I stopped using my head, using my head, let it all go.
Got you stuck on my body, on my body, like a tattoo.
And now I'm feeling stupid, feeling stupid, crawling back to you.


"N..no, it's nothing like that" she said, as words refused to form on her lips. As the music took a fast turn, all further conversation stopped between them as they surrendered to the music and the feel of each other.

So I cross my heart and I hope to die
That I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night

When Arnav had pulled her into his arms, his senses had probably left him at that point. What was he doing? Why was he doing this? Where was his control! This girl was driving him insane and it really did not help that she seemed to be so much bothered about NK, refusing to even dance with him...her boss!


But all his anger and frustration took a back seat, when his hands landed on her bare skin. He could feel her soft gasp as the silk of her skin made blood roar in his ears, she fit perfectly against him as she splayed her hands on his chest, their bodies barely an inch away, teasing and testing them.

Try to tell you no, but my body keeps on telling you yes
Try to tell you stop, but your lipstick got me so out of breath
I'll be waking up in the morning, probably hating myself
And I'll be waking up feeling satisfied, but guilty as hell

They looked into each other's eyes as the song took on a sensual turn, making them change their steps unconsciously to a similar rhythm where their bodies were perfectly aligned to sway to the music; Khushi's arms entwined around Arnav neck, while his were holding her securely against himself. Their bodies pulsated and hearts thundered, as the song demanded them to come much closer than they could have imagined

So I cross my heart and I hope to die
That I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night

When the music finally came to an end and the last strings of the songs fluttered onto the dance floor, Arnav and Khushi were still very much spellbound to the sensuality of the music that got their pulse racing. It was only when a another couple collided with them, that they came back to their senses and sprung apart as if burnt


"There you are...thanks ASR, I thought you will leave the lady on her own here on the dance floor" NK said as he came and laid his arm across Khushi's tiny waist, making Arnav stare at it for a few more minutes before he stepped back "If you thought that, then you should have never left her alone. She is your date NK and you are responsible for her" he said in a rough voice, before quickly turning and walking away, leaving them both staring at his back


"What happened to him?!..." NK asked as he looked on bewildered at ASR's strange mood while Khushi stood confused and breathing deeply "Anyways, you wanna get something to drink?" NK asked Khushi as she suddenly felt parched, like her entire system was on fire and she was dying for a drop of water "Yes, lets..." she said with a quick smile as they made their way towards the bar...unaware of a pair of eyes trained on them


***


As the night drew to an end, Khushi understood that there was definitely something going on between Payal and Akash. She could make out from their body language that there was something fishy and was excited to find out more about her new friends.


But her excitement once again dimmed, as her thoughts wandered to that dance with ASR. What was wrong with her? How did she dance like that with him! She closed her eyes in embarrassment as she remembered the way her treacherous body refused to obey her, getting lost in the song and ASR's arm's, while her stomach kept doing flip-flops throughout. 


But then he rushed away as soon as NK came back, obviously to his girlfriend whom he had left alone while he danced with her!...Was that taunt really meant for NK? Or was he berating himself for leaving Sheetal Kapoor alone while he danced with Khushi? Luckily they did not see both of them after that, which relieved her, but also irked her to a new level!


As they made a move to leave, Akash told them that ASR had already left; leaving him to hitch a ride with Khushi and NK in Payal's car, but NK too declared that he was going with a friend who lived very close to his house, making it more convenient all around.


Khushi looked at Akash and Payal who stood giving longing gazes towards each other. She knew that they were looking for some alone time and thought of going with Madhu and her husband. She convinced Payal of the same, saying she hardly got to catch up with them and left the two love birds alone.


As she waved goodbye to Akash and Payal who seemed visibly more jovial, she looked around the club to find Madhu, but after calling her and not getting through her phone, she realized that she too must have left while Khushi was busy convincing Payal.


Sighing she tried calling the local taxi number to book a cab and walked out to stand by the cloakroom "Hi...I need a taxi from Colaba..." she started saying, when she felt someone tap her shoulder startling her. Her phone fell down from her hands but was caught by familiar ones as he handed it back to her


"Why are you calling a Taxi?" he asked her as she looked on in bewilderment "ASR...I mean, Sir you? Here? We thought you left" she said as Arnav shook his head "No, I was in the office upstairs...has everyone left? What are you doing here alone?" he asked her as she told him that she was supposed to ask Madhu to drop her but had missed them by a few minutes. When he asked about Payal, she told him that she had asked them to leave so that she could travel with Madhu instead.


"And what about NK? Isn't he your date? He should drop you home!"Arnav said in irritation, as he picked up his jacket from the cloakroom "Let's go now...I'll drop you" he said roughly as Khushi's eyes widened in horror "No...I mean, its fine sir...I'm calling for a taxi anyways" she said as he looked at her in exasperation


"Its 2am in the morning Ms Gupta and you are my employee...I can't let you travel all alone. Come on, I'll leave you...where do you stay?" he asked her as she reluctantly agreed and told him her address. He nodded once before ushering her inside his Audi A8 making Khushi sigh in satisfaction at its plush interior and comfortable seating "Uh, won't Miss Kapoor be joining us?" she asked as he ignored her question and started the car


They rode in silence as Khushi looked out at Mumbai's forever blinking night lights while Arnav kept giving her sidelong looks "Sheetal has her own car and driver...and she and I..." he said as she suddenly looked at him with her wide hazel eyes, making him catch his breath...her beautiful eyes were so mesmerizing "Never mind" he mumbled getting back to concentrating on the road


As they neared her locality, Arnav glanced at her once more before clearing his throat "Uh...I just wanted to make something clear to you Ms Gupta" he said as she looked at him with full attention "I don't allow relationships between my staff...it spoils everything if things don't work out between them" he said as Khushi nodded and waited for him to say something more, but when he didn't she assumed he was talking about Payal and Akash.


"So that means something is going on between them?" she asked, as Arnav looked at her in confusion "Who?" he asked her as she blurted out "Payal and Akash...you are talking about them right? You want me to speak to Payal about it?" she asked with genuine curiosity as he once again looked totally bewildered and a bit shocked


"How do you know about them?" he asked her as he pulled into her lane "It was a bit obvious today...but if you weren't speaking of them, then who?" she asked him as he took a deep breath to calm himself down "Payal and Akash are a different story. They are very professional" he said as Khushi nodded and waited for him to continue


"I am talking about you and NK..." he said as it finally dawned on her, shocking her and annoying her at the same time "Sir, if a boy and girl dance together, they are not in a relationship! I mean, we danced today...does that mean we are dating?" she asked him making his heart suddenly leap at the picture she created...dating Ms Gupta?


"I'm sorry if I spoke out of line, but NK is a good friend...there is nothing like that between us..." she said as Arnav finally pulled up in front of the building she had pointed to "It didn't look like that Ms Gupta. He seemed too much into you tonight" he said as she unbuckled her belt and turned towards him


"I'm not sure why, but I think you are just looking for an excuse to remove me from your restaurant. If that is so, please tell me and I will leave, but don't keep trampling all over my self-respect and dignity. If it weren't for Akash and Payal threatening to quit their jobs, I would never have joined back. I have a spine ASR and I have never stood for any injustice!" she said as her traitorous eyes filled up in anger and irritation


"If you want to remove me, tell me so and I will gladly leave...but don't keep finding reasons which are completely preposterous" she said as Arnav felt a smidgen of guilt raise its, but he also felt a much larger emotion of relief as he realized there really was nothing going on between NK and Khushi.


"Thank you for dropping me sir...and I know you are not as bad as you make yourself look in front of me, but I'm also not sure why you target me so much. If you are still bitter about the earlier misunderstanding we had, I have apologized for it many times"  she said, reminding him of their first encounter. 


She sighed before opening the door and facing him "Please text me if you don't want me to come to work from tomorrow...you'll never see my face again. But if you don't, I'll assume that you'll let me work in peace; even if it's a job of a dish washer" she said before making her way out of his car, leaving him looking at her retreating form with something akin to a small smile...she still had that spunk!...He waited in his car till she got into the elevator and then left for his own home which was all the way to the other side of town.

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