"I love you."
Everything seemed to seize for the moment except for the slow music still playing in the background perfectly syncing in the atmosphere. They both seemed to take a while for what had just been said to melt in their understanding fully.
She said it. Yes, she loved him and there was no more reason to deny that. She took the decision right at that moment. She wanted him, wanted a future with him. The past was past and it's better to keep it like that, past. Today, she was here, with him, in his arms. That's what matters. She was lucky to get one more chance with the most wonderful man she had ever met. She's not just going to let that go by spilling old dust.
Arjun kept staring at her without blinking. His silence made her embarrassed a little.
"Well if I had known before that all you are going to give me is your super irritating silence I would have been more careful about my confession."
A smile broke out on his lips. It seemed so charming, so magical on his handsome face that she almost fainted with dizziness. "You are crazy, you know that", he said while chuckling.
"Of course I am, otherwise I wouldn't still be here after you gave that awesome reaction when I finally told you that...that.."
"That?" He asked with a mischievous tone. She realized he is playing her.
"You know what I will just leave", she said with annoyance and turned to leave. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her in.
"Or maybe you can let me kiss you like there is no tomorrow", he whispered in her ear suggestively while his lips almost touching her earlobe sent waves of shiver throughout her body. He curled a lock of her hair in his finger relishing in its smoothness. His eyes locked with hers daring her to say no and she knew don't have any power remaining with her to do that either so she just closed her eyes in anticipation. He upholds her face sideways and touched her lips with his own.
They both felt the magic that the first touch created. Just lips touching lips slowly, carefully. His fingers moved from behind her head towards her neck and turned her towards him fully without leaving her lips fully. She clutched the front of his shirt with a desperate hold. They seemed to be lost in the warmth of each other while their lips molted together.
They stopped as they got out of breath. The excitement, the feelings everything causing both of their hearts to drum like they would get out of their body. Arjun touched his forwards with hers.
"That was...", Ananya felt lost for words. "Crazy", Arjun replied with a smirk.
"And mad and special and superb. It's like I am finally starting to get everything I want in my life", he completed in a whisper.
"I felt the same", Ananya said while snaking her arms around his neck with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Arjun tightened his hold around her waist not wanting to stay apart and kissed her forehead with such gentleness making her heart fluttering.
"Well, you know if I'm being honest your reaction to my proposal was not the most satisfying one. But I'll forgive you after that breathtaking kiss you gifted me" he said teasingly.
Ananya's felt a lump forming in her throat at the reminiscence of the first time Arjun confessed to her and her lie. She hugged him tightly and hid her face in his chest in an attempt to hide the sudden panic she felt within its source itself. That was a past, a past that was supposed to remain like that, a 'Past'. But this little fear was crawling under. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything" she muttered while sobbing lightly against his shirt, her hand grabbed his shirt so tight as if the more she hold onto him all those mistakes, and lies will just get pissed off behind their closeness. As if they will just melt away by the warmth of their love, their togetherness.
Arjun returned the hug with the same enthusiasm while resting his chin on her head. "Sshh my love I was joking, really there is nothing to be sorry for," he said soothingly while rubbing his palm on her back lazily. Ananya finally loosened her fist and looked up to meet his intense stare. "I would rather say it's worth the wait. You are worth the wait. You are the best thing that happened in my life and someone said good things take time" he stated with a smile playing on his lips.
The rain outside had stopped, only the cold breeze breathing through the soft curtains as the aftermath. The couple relished in the cold but pleasant wind caressing their body while staying in each other's embrace.
"I think I should leave now or else Dadi will blow up her brain with worries" Ananya announced coming out of his arms with much difficulty.
"I will drive you."
"Ok, but I need to change first," she said while turning to leave.
"Don't, that saree looks great on you. Besides I don't think your dress has been dried enough for you to worry."
"No, I can't. What will Dadi think seeing me like this?" she said exasperated.
"What will she think? She will probably think that her sweet innocent, naive granddaughter has been doing things behind her back and will start concentrating her whole attention on finding that."
"Shut up" Ananya hit his chest getting annoyed. "Seriously, I'll just go and won't even think about changing so that you can stop your nonsense talks."
"As you wish, my lady," he said bowing her head slightly. Both of them started laughing at his antics and the hall echoed with their laughter.
Life had almost started to become content for the young couple. They never seemed happier, their heart swelling slowly with contentment and ever purest joy.
Just some months back the man she thought to be the worst news bearer in the form of a high standard suited typical gentle 'man-ish' jerk, has now turned out to be the man to make her life seem like a way full of rose petals.
She felt the said person's both pair of hands going around her from behind while a bearded chin started rubbing against her bare neck, the flow of shivers running down her body.
"Arj"
"Sshhh" Arjun's husky whisper interrupted her, "Can we not talk for 5 minutes and stay like this."
"Why? You don't like my voice or you already got tired of my blabbering?" Ananya whispered back in a teasing tone.
"As much as your blabbering does annoy me" he chuckled seeing her accusing eye roll, "I'll never get tired of 'YOU', it's just not possible", he ended in a soothing comforting voice.
"It's just I want to hold you, hold you until I breathe. I still can't believe sometimes that you really are with me, that you are mine, truly mine," he murmured against her hair enjoying the flowery smell of it.
Ananya turned and touched their foreheads together while caressing the scruff of his cheeks, she had come to know he loves her, "You don't need to fear anything, just know one thing I'm yours and you are mine."
"Did you feel the same with Rahul?" Arjun asked in a stiff voice which cause Anu to frown. She looked up into his eyes. For Arjun Sighania, as much confidence and dignity he owned in his professional life, in his personal life, or in particular in their relationship there still lived an insecure troubled boy who feared losing, being threatened by a past trailing behind. Ananya was someone he dreaded being parted from. He might love his friend but can't imagine sharing this girl with anyone. And the thought that at some point in life Ananya loved his best friend so much, creates a hollowness in his heart. He can't help but be anxious.
"Where is this coming from?" Ananya asked, feeling muddled by the unexpected question coming her way.
Arjun took her right palm in his and put it over his cheek. "I know there is nothing between you two anymore but what is in your heart, my love? Tell me he doesn't exist there." He almost sounded pleading blended with impatience.
Ananya stared at his intense eyes. Until this time since her confession, she hadn't really thought about Rahul, rather haven't had the chance to. Rahul has somehow moved at the back of her mind. But not dissipating totally, is that even possible? Ananya noticed the frown slowly forming on Arjun's face.
"Arjun, Rahul is my past and he stays past. I can't really change that but my future, it consists of you and that's the ultimate truth," Ananya replied but noticed that the frown was still there rather it was giving a dark look.
"I asked a simple question Ananya. Do you still have any feelings for him? What's taking you so long to answer? Ananya could feel the anger in him but can't help but be annoyed with him.
"You know, your tone almost sounded accusing. Do you not trust me? You know you are just ruining the moment. Why would you even ask me this when I clearly confessed to you that I love you." Ananya snapped while taking back her palm with a jerk.
"And why can't you answer with a simple 'yes or no'?" Arjun snapped back.
"No, there I said it. Are you happy now? Now I would really like to go home." She started walking towards the entrance.
Arjun took a deep breath and started following her. While Ananya surpassed his car Arjun caught her hand.
"My car is there if you have missed it," Arjun said tauntingly.
"Not missed, ignored." She said rolling her eyes.
"Get in the car, Ananya. I'll take you home", he ordered.
"And what makes you think I'll do as you say? Are you my boss?"
"Well, technically I am", he said smirking.
"Not now." Ananya spat out grumpily.
"Why is, me asking you about him, making you so angry? If you don't have anything for him why does it irritate you this much? I asked you because I just wanted reassurance. One thing for sure is his presence in our life. Is it too much for you to say a 'NO', that it doesn't matter how much he stays in the picture he just doesn't matter for you? You shouldn't just react this way hearing his name."
"And you shouldn't ask me like this? It almost seemed like you believe there is a possibility I can do two-timing." She cried out frustratingly. "I was engaged to him, was about to get married to him, and always had a lo-soft corner or whatever you say since our childhood" Ananya stopped for a second to take a breath and finally continued.
"It was not at all easy for me to get out of that whole thing. And then you entered my life and it's like finally there is a ray of hope I can live with, trust with, I can dream with, again." She ended in a whisper while boring her eyes into his.
"I don't know how to put it in more words to you. Now I would really like to go home," Ananya started walking again.
"I'm sorry but it's you who brought him between us again and again. I just wanted a clarification" Arjun said timidly.
"Me?" Ananya swirled back to face him. "It's you who just brought him, not me."
"Got it. Now get in the car. I will drive you." Arjun motioned towards his car finally realizing the raging air around them.
"Thanks but I think I would prefer a cab tonight." She started walking again at full speed.
"You are too stubborn", Arjun said out of frustration.
"Thanks for the compliment but you should have thought that before falling in love with me." Ananya retorted continuing her walking while Arjun followed her.
"Right, but what's done is done. So my love, the least you can do is get in the car."
Ananya hailed a car and got in ignoring him totally, leaving a defeated Arjun watching with an annoyed expression.
"Goodbye," Ananya waved away.
After a while, the driver noticed a car following them.
"Ma'am someone seemed to follow us."
Ananya noticed Arjun's car follow them.
"Oh no, a harmless one, don't worry."
Ananya replied in a light tone.
...
The next morning, as Ananya entered her cabin the smell of fresh white roses beautified the room with its elegance. No arguments on who it's must be from. She couldn't help but smile in appreciation.
He just made the start of her day perfect. Moving forward she picked up a flower and her fingers slowly and carefully started stroking along the white petals enjoying its softness in her skin to her heart.
"So, am I forgiven?" Arjun asked in a whisper against her ears.
"I can't be bribed with these pretty flowers." She said in a fake seriousness.
"Really? Though I heard somewhere flowers work in quite a good way, especially when it's one's favorite ones to impress your angry girlfriend." Arjun replied in an equally fake sad voice.
"Hmm, maybe it does sometimes when it's from the heart." She kept her one palm on Arjun's chest just above where his heart beating."
"If that's the case, then let me tell you I can't think with anything but my heart when it's you who concerns, and as much as it scares it also gives me great joy that it's you I have given its ownership to." His voice slowly turned sensual as he touched his forward with hers, his hands sliding up her arms slowly, he continued, "day by day it's getting hard for me to stay away from you. Tell me what should I do?" He asked in a pleading tone. He sounded desperate, hurt.
Ananya looked up into his deep brown eyes which are gazing at her with such intensity that almost made her overwhelmed. No one has ever looked at her that way, she did not know it was possible for someone to look with such cravings, longing, so loving like it would consume her whole being and she can't help but get lost.
"You just said I am in your heart, find me there." She uttered placing her palm above his heart. Before she could continue his phone went off breaking their dazed condition.
"The client is about to reach within two hours." He informed her after receiving the call. His forehead crunched with a little worry. She sensed it.
"I know these clients are really important for our company."
"Yes, it is."
"Everything will be fine" Ananya assured.
"It has to be." His voice was determined, firm.
Following hours, they got prepared for the meeting. And as expected their hard work paid off resulting in the clients being impressed with the presentation.
"We are looking forward to working with you, Sighania."
"The feeling is mutual Mr. Bardhan," Arjun confessed in a delighted tone while shaking hands with Mr. Bardhan. His eyes met with Ananya's. Ananya beamed at him conveying her happiness at the success. He winked back at her, everyone oblivious to their connection.
The whole remaining time in the office just passed away in a blow. It's been very busy and stressful work for all of them, with new plans, and new strategies for their company's development. The only relief for Arjun is these stolen times he spent with Ananya after their work.
"So what are you thinking about?" Ananya asked glancing at Arjun who was silent throughout the time while driving the car.
"You really wanna know?" Arjun asked in his husky tone, his one brow raised. Ananya shrugged in response.
"Don't worry. You will know soon enough."