Chapter 10: Khushi
Khushi nodded, the sight of him in her bed still confusing her. She knew she'd forced him there. She'd expected his frustration at the dramatics and his annoyance that she hadn't allowed him to leave when he wanted to. But she hadn't anticipated the electricity between them, the magnetic pull of him as they lay inches apart.
The hunger in his eyes as he'd leaned over her, a hand poised to touch her and trace fire into her skin.
She knew that the memory of the heat of him would never leave her. She suspected that they'd laugh about this in the future.
But right now, it was too much, too soon, especially on the heels of this unexpectedly emotional night. She needed to be alone.
Khushi couldn't stop an involuntary flinch when Arnav-ji reached towards her again, and they both stared at each other in silence as guilt rushed through her. He flung the blanket aside and started to slide out of the bed but froze as Khushi felt a tug on her kameez.
They looked down. His watch was caught on her dress. Arnav-ji met her eyes, the shock she felt reflected on his features, and he whispered an apology as he tried to free himself. A shrill sound pierced the silence.
His phone, ringing at full volume.
"Arnav-ji!"
"I know!"
He tried to reach inside his pocket but his right hand couldn't bend enough to reach inside and his left hand was stuck to her dress.
"Bua-ji will wake up! Arnav-ji pick up the phone!"
Khushi thought, briefly, of reaching into his pocket to get the phone, but rejected the idea almost immediately. She would rather be caught by Bua-ji, Amma, and half the neighbourhood.
"Khushi, are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. Hurry!"
"Last chance. Think about it."
"Yes, yes! Hurry up!"
Arnav-ji tugged sharply, ripping the material of her kameez and freeing himself. She stilled, frozen in shock, and looked up at him in disbelief. His arm hung in mid air, a scrap of fabric dangling from his watch, but he recovered as his phone continued ringing.
"Sorry, I'm really sorry, Khushi," he whispered, before answering his phone, "Aakash! Um no, I'm still here, uhh, in the car. No, I was working … working in the car. Yes … Yes … I'll see you soon."
Arnav-ji ended the call and sighed in relief.
"Aakash and Payal will be here soon. I should go."