11. Love Bites


Khushi raced out of her house to give the jalebis to her neighbour. Her phone rang, and Payal picked it up to listen to Arnav calmly telling her that Akash wanted to see her at midnight. He wanted her to leave the house by the back door where Akash would be waiting.

Payal said, "But Arnavji, Buaji has the habit of checking on Khushi & me a couple of times at night. If she finds the bed empty..."

"I will see to all that. Just take care not to mention this to Khushi. Let her sleep. The less people know about it, the better."



Arnav slid into Payal's side of the bed, and looked at Khushi sleeping. Her open hair, the suit without a dupatta, and the innocent & calm expression on her face could be seen in the dim light streaming in through the windows. "What am I doing here? Arnav Singh Raizada sneaking into the bed of Khushi Kumari Gupta...If he was caught...But it was all for Akash. He deserved to get his heart's desire. And Payal obviously cared a great deal for him. The risk is worth taking." He studied her face again. It reminded him of how he had put her to bed after the GH accident. He had also taken care of her after condemning her to a night in the darkness & cold. His eyes warmed, and he stared fascinated at the doll-like face in repose.

Khushi dreamt her usual dream of Arnavji taunting her with his presence. When she had twirled and landed in his arms, she hadn't wanted to let go. The warmth of his body, the fragrance of his skin, the strength of his arms holding her by the shoulders, the dhak dhak of his heart...She had wanted to stay right there for ever. She had been caressing his wrist, her fingers involuntarily touching him, calming him down while her heart raced. But Anjaliji had called out, and the short, much-awaited moment had been lost. Her body moved restlessly, her arms eager for Arnavji's nightly visit in her dreams.

She moved closer to his warm body, and soon Arnav found himself pinned down by Khushi. The memory of how they had fallen in the rangoli flashed through his mind, and he clenched his jaw as he felt her hands running eagerly all over him. Was she awake? Was she torturing him, testing the limits of his self-control, not that he had much to begin with in her presence.

"You are always late. And then you leave early. And u make me wait and wait for darkness to fall...", she pouted, still asleep.

Arnav's heart stilled. Was she talking about NK?

"Laad Governor Kahin Ka..." He had never been so relieved to hear her call him by that ridiculous name.

Khushi relived the time when Arnavji had helped her out of the fairylights by the poolside. She had felt his eyes on her, on her rapid breath, her thudding heart, her clammy skin, her trembling legs, and her naked eyes. Eyes that had revealed how enthralled she was. She had wanted to throw herself into his arms and hide her face, lean on him for strength. She had wanted to shower kisses on his face and neck, and run her fingers through his hair... "My Laad Governor...", she said, touching her Arnavji with the freedom that being in a dream gave her.

So she dreamt of him, Arnav thought. Just as he dreamt of her every single night. She wanted him. As he wanted her. She needed him. As he needed her. She loved him. He swallowed. Why had he hurt her? Pushed her away? Thrown away his only chance at Khushi? He ran his fingers through the rich, silky fall of her hair.

"You always let go of me too soon. Couldn't you have held me for a bit longer during the dance?", she complained in her sleep. "Letting Nanheji touch me,...uff...Kab Akal Ayegaa..." Arnav's fingers tingled to make up for that ghastly mistake.

But tomorrow, when she comes to dance with NK, she will pretend to hate me as I have been pretending to hate her, Arnav thought. He could not let that happen. He had to leave now, but could gift her with some tangible proof of his presence. He slowly gave her a love bite on her neck, deliberately choosing a spot that was usually left uncovered by her dupatta. She jerked partially awake. The clock struck 12 as Arnav & Khushi looked into each others' eyes. A faint sound of pebbles being thrown at her window remained unnoticed by both.

"Hamein Chod Ke Mat Jaayiye...", she whimpered. Arnav trembled with pleasure & relief, weakened by the extent of her need for him.

She had covered her arms to hide the bruise I had given her in anger. How will she cover the bite I have given in love, he wondered. She had fallen asleep. He needed to leave now. As he tried to get up from the bed, he found that she had her fingers clenched tight around the neck of his jacket. He gently disengaged himself, kissing each finger in farewell.


Khushi listened to Payal going on & on about how Akashji had come to meet her. And how Arnavji had hidden in Payal's blanket. Khushi shuddered. Did I plaster myself to him? Did I tell him...? Kiss his face? Run my fingers through his hair? Try to crawl into his shirt? The dream hadn't been a dream? The mark on my neck... My cheeks are stinging from his stubble...He Devi Maiyya... What have I done? Why do such things happen only to me? How will I look at Arnavji's face today? The furious rants of Buaji went unheard by Khushi & Payal, both lost in their dreams.

Arnav waited by the front door to catch a glimpse of Khushi. It had taken a long time for the sun to rise. He had spent the rest of the night standing in front of his mirror looking at his hair that she had run her fingers through, the chin she had kissed, the stubble that had tickled her, the shoulders she had caressed...

He opened the door to see her standing near it, with eyes closed, praying frantically, "He Devi Maiyya, please don't let him be here. I can't look into his eyes. Please...As it is, he takes away the little hosh I have. After last night, I will..."

She opened her eyes to see him looking into her eyes with laughing, knowing eyes. "What happened to your neck, Khushi? Why have u covered it all up with your dupatta?"

Khushi squirmed. Arnav unwound the dupatta partially from her neck in a fast motion to locate the small love bite. "A love bite, Khushi? What did your lover do to you?" Khushi blushed & hid her eyes.

"By the way, you will be dancing with me from today onwards. NK bhai...finds himself unable to do his duty.", Arnav smiled inwardly. NK had tried to throw pebbles at Khushi's window. Buaji had opened the front door and confronted him, standing like the Statue of Liberty, but with a belan held aloft in her hand. Call-me-NK was down with fever.

Khushi stood still, looking at an Arnav who seemed Khush to experience the bites of love.