Chapter 25

    The flight landed at 9.30 pm UAE time. They did not talk much throughout the flight. When he asked about calling a taxi from the airport she told him one of her office drivers will be outside with her car. 

    After reaching her building, Arnav with the help of the driver brought the luggage inside the flat. She thanked the driver and gave him taxi fare to his camp and took her car key from him before Arnav took out his wallet.  

    Muskaan was asleep in the car and she put her to the bed. Arnav walked around the flat and he got quite impressed by the way Khushi made a home for her and Muskaan here. It was a two bedroom apartment with a maid's room, hall, Kitchen, balcony and 2 bathrooms. 

"I have ordered food, will be reaching in 20 minutes. you can freshen up in the meanwhile.. Come I will show your room."

He was little disappointed hearing he was staying in another room, but he expected this.

He followed Khushi to the other bedroom taking his bags.

She switched on the lights and he noticed the bed was already made.

"The house doesn't look like it was closed for 2 months. " He asked her finding the flat clean and neat,

 

"Some of my colleagues are staying in this same building. They are sharing a flat. They came and cleaned the house today, I gave her the spare key before leaving for India."

"Oh..ok.."

She left from there after switching on the AC.

After about 20 minutes Arnav came out of the room heard some sound from the kitchen . He saw Khushi was arranging the items brought from India inside the cupboard. 

He left from the kitchen silently and went to Khushi's bedroom where Muskaan was sleeping. He laid beside her resting head on his elbow. He gently caressed her soft face with his finger and she smiled in sleep. He smiled along with her and placed a kiss on her forehead. 

He was very excited about living with his wife and kid. He told Nani today morning that he is accompanying them to Dubai. She gave him blessing happily. Others were aware he was processing his visit visa from last week, except Khushi and Dadi. Veena purposely asked Sabita to stay back in India to give them privacy.

"Food is here, come let's eat" She called him from the front room.

She served the Dal roti in both plates and sat opposite to him. 

"Food  won't be that good.  only this restaurant was open." She said apologetically. 

"It's ok.. you have to go to office tomorrow?" 

"No.. Here Friday is a holiday. And there are more 4 days for my leave to finish. "

"fine.. It's a lovely home.. Since when you are staying here?"

"From last one year. Before that I used to stay near my office. But it was a studio flat. When I got my driving license I shifted here. This is the Sharjah side of Dubai-Sharjah border. Here rent is much less compared to Dubai. So I took a bigger house so that Veena Aunty and Uncle can stay with us whenever they visit us.  "

"How long it will take to reach your office?."

"Half an hour "

They finished their food silently and she took his plate along with her and raised on her feet.

"You did not tell anything?"  Arnav asked her with small hesitation.

"About what?"

"About the things I wrote in that letter .."

She kept the plate back on the table and asked.  "Why are you doing this? Don't you have a company to run?" Her tone was gentle.

"Khushi we are a family. Nothing is more important than you both, not even AR."

Khushi was seriously moved by his words. As far as she knows , AR was his baby. He loved his company as much as Anjali Di. The letter already made her weak to some extend.

"I don't know.. It is not that easy for me to forget everything I went through and move on in a single day.."

"I am not asking you to do that in a single day.. We can take it slowly.. "

She intended to walk away but found herself stuck, gazing up at him. Arnav got up from his seat and stood before her without breaking the eye contact.

After few seconds he suddenly grasped her waist and pulled her to himself. He smiled as her eyes became wide.  "You can start with calling me Arnavji again like before. I really miss that.." He said in mere whisper.

He slowly brought his face close to hers, making their hearts beat faster. She closed her eyes in anticipation. He leaned forward again, softly brushing her lips with his. He felt the velvety softness, the electrifying and refreshing sense. He need to take it slow, he reminded himself and pulled back after whispering a good night against her lips.

.......................................................

    It was one week since Khushi and Arnav left for Dubai. Veena, Sreekanth and Vivek returned to Kerala before 2 days. Vijay and Anjali were busy catching up with their office work. They hardly got time for themselves in the last one month. It was a Wednesday evening and Anjali just had to wind up a few things before leaving for the dinner planned at Vijay's place. He already left the office before one hour and waiting for her at home. 

She pressed the door bell and waited for him to open it. He opened the door with a wide smile.

"Welcome " and extended a bouquet of red roses to her after kissing her cheek.

 

Anjali came inside taking the roses from him and was pleasantly surprised seeing the apartment filled with scented candles.

"Areey .. I thought it is just a dinner.. "

"It has been a while since we went out for a date, so I thought of making it bit romantic. You like it?"

"Of course... I love it.  In the last month, we were busy with so much things. Nani's illness, Chote, Dadi's return, Khushi's departure, office.. Finally we got some time for ourselves.. This is just what I wanted. Thank you..." 

After keeping the bouquet in the side table, Vijay pulled a chair for her. The dinner table was kept ready and they served each other and started eating.

Anjali looked at the gorgeous man in front of her. Her heart swelled with love. 

"I love you" 

Vijay stopped eating the food and looked at Anjali's radiant face.

"What? Why are you giving me that look? Didn't you know that I love you?" Anjali asked in confusion.

"Of course I knew, but It just blew my mind after hearing it for the first time from you.." 

She smiled at his earnest reply and they continued their dinner with small talks. 

"So.. How is your Hitler Dadi doing?"

"She is first class, others are having problem because of her. I hope she is not here with some new plans. It was good chote left with Khushi. They can be away from her eyes. I really don't trust her."

They finished the dinner and seated on the sofa with a bawl of ice-cream. 

"Why are you so patient today?" She asked him with slight disappointment.

"Huhhh?"

"Nahi.. I thought you will jump on me and will take me then and there. But you are acting so patient and cool. Now I am feeling doubtful that I am no more appealing to you."

He grabbed her arms and brought her close to his body with a sudden pull. The sudden movement made them loss the balance and they fell over the carpet on the floor.

"Anjali.. you have no idea what state I am in."

He pressed himself to her and she understood what he meant.

"I wanted you to have the dinner properly before I jump on you. you were not having food properly last few days."

She smiled at him and brought his face close. 

"I missed you.." She whispered against his lips.

"I missed you too.."

He got up from the floor and picked her up in his arms and walked towards the bedroom to show how much they missed each other.

After two hours she picked up the saree thrown at the floor to get dressed to leave. Like every time he came and helped her.

    She loved it when he helped her to dress after their lovemaking. It was more intimate than undressing. Shyam never bothered to look back at her after his release. He just used her to satisfy his lust. It was never lovemaking with Shyam. He never bothered to kiss or touch her once he got what he wanted. And she let him do that all those years. She surrendered her body also to that creep in gratitude for giving her a life. 

    With Vijay everything was new. At first she thought it was just lust but it was love, from the very first time. He was never okay with surrendering herself to him. He wanted her to take part of their lovemaking as much as him and he was very much vocal about his views. The way he looked at her, the way he rested his head on her bosom in exhaustion, the way he undressed and dressed her, the way he hide his face behind her hair and smelling it saying it makes him turned on like anything- all these took her into a whole new world of love.

    He helped her to do the things she wants rather than arranging someone to do it for her. He respected her wishes and decisions how ever small or trivial the matter was. He was always there as a mentor whenever she needed support. As the days passed she fell more and more love with this wonderful man who changed her life forever.

He dropped her at Shantivan and waited there until Hariprakash let her inside. He left from there as she waved her hands at him before closing the door. 

Anjali walked towards her room relaxed and smiling and stopped infront of her room hearing Dadi's voice.

"Kahan thi itni der tak Anjali bitiya?" 

"woh Office ke kuch kaam mein busy hogayi" She replied casually.

"Busy with office work or busy with your boss? Do you think I am a fool to believe your lie? "

"I don't think you are a fool Dadi but I think you should be intelligent enough to understand that you are not in a position to question me."

She did not want to talk more and spoil her otherwise good day so she closed the door ignoring Dadi who was ready to retort.

Love,

ST