48. Blindfolded



 
Arnav closed the door, and turned towards Khushi.
"Arnavji, what are you doing?", she asked, breathless.
"I won. Now you have to do whatever I ask you to do.", he said in his husky voice as he walked towards her.

Trailing his fingers over her arm in passing, he circled her to stand behind her.
He could see her breath quickening, her chest rising & falling rapidly... He swallowed, his heart beating in tandem with hers.



(Vidya_luv_SaRun, thanx a million!)


He leaned forward, and whispered in her ear, "Let's play a game."

"No!" She threw herself out of his hold. "I won't do it!"

More than the game he planned, she was scared of the effect his voice had on her nerves, his breath on the sensitive skin around her ear, his fingers on her arms...

He reeled her in, his hold on her arm sure and firm.



(Mariam_Sultan, thanx!)


"You have to do it.", he whispered, his husky voice sending tingles down her spine.
She looked warily into his wicked eyes.
"Don't you trust me?", asked the devil.

How could she trust him when he could weaken her knees with a look? When she knew how hungry he was for her? When she had felt his eyes burning their way over her face & form while playing the passing-the-parcel game? She felt as though her heart would stop, as though air was in short supply. She panted.

"Relax!", he murmured.



He let go of her arm, & swiped a piece of black cloth from his wardrobe. He walked towards her, the scarf hanging from his fingers. She looked into his molten eyes that were devouring her. She could feel beads of sweat rise on her face.

He circled her, and standing behind her, said softly, "Let's play blind man's buff."
Khushi panted.

He slid the silky cloth across her eyes, tying it behind her head, blinding her. She shook her head in panic, unable to see him.

"Is it too tight, Khushi?", came his voice from behind her.
Was it too tight? "No.", she whispered.



(Vidya_luv_SaRun, thanx!)


"Now I am going to make you sit on the bed." He led her to the bed, his hand on her arm. Holding both arms, he lowered her on to the bed. She sat, apprehensive about his future plans.

"Khushi?"
"J...i..i?"

"If I move away from you, will you be able to find me in this room without removing your blindfold?"
"No...o.", she whispered.

"Let's see, shall we?", he challenged her, softly. He moved away. She could feel him go away from her.
"Arnavji!", she called, her hand outstretched.
There was no reply.


She jumped up from the bed, and took an unsure step forward, trying to touch him with her fingers. But there was only empty space ahead of her.
She took a few more steps forward, and felt his hot breath against the tender skin of her neck. She turned in that direction, her arms open to clasp him to her, but he stepped away.

"Arnavji!", she called unsure.

She felt him ahead of her, and took a few rushed steps towards him. He moved away to her left.
She turned around to locate him. 

Standing to her left, he flicked a coin to her right. It fell on the floor, and she turned her head to the spot of the clatter. She stood still for a moment, and then, instead of turning towards the right where the coin had fallen, turned to the left where he was standing.

He smiled, his eyes tender & loving.

She came towards him, one step after the other. He withdrew as she advanced. She backed him against the wall. As her fingers were about to touch him, he ducked, and slipped away.

"Arnavji!", she whimpered. He swallowed.


He teased her for a while longer, moving very close to her at times, and then far away. Each & every time, she identified his presence in her vicinity without fail. Every single time, her fingers would try to touch him and end up clutching air. 

As he watched, a tear leaked from behind the blindfold, and trailed down her cheek. "Arnavji!", she whispered. His throat felt choked, as though some one were trying to strangle him to death.

This time he didn't slip away. He stood in his place. Khushi slowly reached him, and her fingers touched his chest, right where his heart was thudding away.

"Arnavji!"
She threw herself at him, her arms around him, tears falling in a stream, wetting the black strip of cloth. He untied the knot with one hand, his other hand holding her close. The cloth fell to the floor.

She looked up at him, her eyes furious and red. She took hold of his shoulders and shook him.
"How could you! Don't you dare do it again! Suna aapne! Never, never again."
He smiled at her.
His smile made her more angry and upset.
"You are smiling! How dare you smile after making me cry!"
He wiped a tear away from her cheek.
There was a knock on the door.
"Nannav, Khushiji, have you finished the game? Woh kya he, Buaji is talking of going home."
"Nanheji, please give us ten more minutes. I have an account to settle with your Nannav."
"Oooh! Khushiji sounds real angry, Nannav. Chipak (chup) jao, chipak jao!"
"I will.", Arnav said. "Give us 10 more minutes, NK."
"OK. Will do." NK left them alone.


Before Khushi could vent her fury at him, Arnav asked mildly, "Why are you crying, Khushi?"
She looked at him, speechless.
"Because I was away from your sight for a few moments, right?"
She looked away.
"Because you couldn't see me with your eyes..." His fingers brushed against the silk of her cheeks. She turned her head to dislodge his fingers.
"You couldn't see me. But you sensed me."
She looked at him.
"Every time. You knew where I was all the time even though you couldn't see me with your eyes."
She looked into his serious eyes.
"The phiki mehendi does not matter. You will always have me with you, find me if I am lost...Never be unsure about our love. Your heart knows where I am, what I am, how much I love you... When in doubt, ask your heart."
She stood looking at him for a moment longer, and then threw herself in to his arms, her arms around his waist, her ear against his heart. Arnav hugged her to him. They stood in silence for long, both unaware of the passing time.

There was a knock on the door.
"Nannav, Khushiji! I can't hold off Buaji any longer. If you don't come down now, she is going to march in and carry Khushiji off. Sorry!"

"We will be down in a minute, NK.", said Arnav.
"OK." NK left.

Arnav cupped Khushi's face in his hands. "Tum theek ho?"
Khushi nodded, smiling slightly at him.
Then she slowly leaned forward, and pressed her soft, pink lips against the stubble on his right cheek. Arnav closed his eyes in pleasure. She moved on to his left cheek. Then to his chin. His nose...

The minute passed too soon.