FF: OP and JP's Matchmaking Agency - Part 3

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Part 3

'If he's been thinking about her maybe he would have told her himself and we wouldn't even need to get involved.' Jai Prakash lifted his head out of his hands. It was kind of like a car crash, he knew the results would most likely be disastrous and life threatening but he couldn't tear his eyes away.

'Are you crazy? If we didn't help him all he would have done is shout at Khushiji some more and one day she might get angry and leave forever and not come back. Can you imagine how difficult he would be to work for if she left him?' Om Prakash leaned forward slightly to see if he could hear any better now that they weren't shouting.

***

Khushi picked up another jalebi and began to eat it. Why did he have to be confusing? She never knew what to expect from him. 'But then why did you say you did?' she muttered sulkily to herself although it was loud enough for Arnav to hear.

Arnav couldn't believe what he had just figured out. What the hell were Om Prakash and Jai Prakash up to? Didn't they even think about what the consequences could be before being so stupid?

'If you just called me to shout at me then I'm going.'

Arnav grabbed her arm before she could leave, 'I called you? Who told you that? Let me guess Om  Prakash. Or maybe Jai Prakash right? And these jalebis, did you even make them?'

Khushi's heart was thudding again at his touch and she wondered if his was too. Without realising what she was doing she lifted her free hand to his chest exactly where she had put it last night but when she couldn't feel anything through his jumper she removed her hand slowly raising her eyes to meet Arnav's.

Arnav forgot all about Om Prakash and Jai Prakash and held onto the hand Khushi had just withdrawn from his chest. His voice was soft and barely above a whisper, 'what are you doing Khushi?'

Khushi was silent for a while as she simply stared into Arnav's questioning eyes. 'What are you doing to me? Why are you being so nice? Why did you give me those coins?'

Arnav snapped out of the daze he had been and let go of Khushi immediately and turned around to face the French doors. 'I already told you yesterday and that's it. I don't want to talk about it anymore.'

Khushi took a couple of steps backwards towards the door before she changed her mind. She couldn't take all this shifting between Arnav being angry at her and being nice to her. If he would just stick to one thing she could deal with that. She walked towards Arnav purposefully and stood by his side although he refused to look at her. 'Okay...  But why didn't you shout at me about the vase? Why did you pay Babuji's hospital bill? Why did you beat up that man who pushed me?'

'Khushi!' Arnav grabbed her by the shoulders. Why did she have to keep bringing that up? Every time he thought about that man even touching Khushi his blood boiled. He wished he had killed him, he wished Khushi had never stopped him. 'What do you want me to say? Why do I have to say it at all Khushi? Why can't you just understand?' Arnav spoke through gritted teeth shaking her shoulders slightly.

'I don't... I can't...'

He pressed his lips to hers firmly and dropped his hands down from her shoulders to her waist. Only when he felt Khushi move her lips against his did he allow himself to open his lips and nudge hers open with his tongue. Khushi's hands went up to his chest and Arnav shifted the angle of his head to allow himself deeper access to her mouth.

Khushi sighed into his mouth and linked her hands around his neck and Arnav pulled her closer to him. After a couple of minutes he pulled back reluctantly and out of breath and leant his forehead against Khushi's. Once his breathing had calmed down slightly he moved his face closer to Khushi's and nudged her nose to make her open her still closed eyes. 'Do you understand now?'

Khushi opened her eyes reluctantly. What if it was a dream, what if she'd imagined it? But how could she imagine something so amazing? How could she imagine how his hair would feel against her hands, how warm his breath was, how he tasted so sweet even though he wasn't allowed sugar. She opened her eyes to look at him, 'how can you taste so sweet? The jalebis didn't even have sugar in them.'

Arnav smiled at her before he leaned down to kiss her again but Khushi jerked her head back from him and pushed at his chest to move herself away from him. 'Khushi? What are you doing? What's wrong?'

Khushi went over to the table and bit into the final jalebi on the plate. Arnav walked over to join her and tried to put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it away. He held onto both of her shoulders firmly and made her face him. 'Khushi, what's wrong? Is this all too fast for you?'

'Fast? Don't you mean wrong? This is all wrong! We shouldn't be doing this!' Khushi tried to pull herself away from Arnav but he held on tighter.

Arnav knew this must all be new to her but he still couldn't believe what she was saying. 'Wrong? You think this is wrong Khushi? No you're wrong. This is right, this is...perfect! You're just scared that's all Khushi. I can understand how you must be feeling.'

Khushi finally managed to push Arnav away. The jalebi had done nothing to assuage her guilt, she needed more. She needed to get away from Arnav but she didn't want to leave him. 'And what about Lavanyaji? Can you understand how she'll feel? What if she had walked in?'

'Oh shit.' Arnav had completely forgotten Lavanya even existed let alone that she was currently living in his house. He reached forward once again to hold Khushi's shoulders, gently this time. 'I'll explain it to her, I promise. You don't have to worry. Everything will be okay.' He lifted her chin to make her look at him, 'trust me. Please?'

Khushi nodded apprehensively still not completely sure that what she was doing was right but she put her arms around Arnav's waist to hug him. It still felt wrong to be with Arnav like this before he'd explained to Lavanya but she needed the comfort his arms would provide.

Arnav smiled as he lifted his head to allow Khushi's to rest on his chest. He didn't think about how he would make Lavanya understand but he would. This was right, being with Khushi was right and he wasn't about to let Lavanya or anyone else tell him otherwise.

Khushi's heart was no longer beating as hard as it usually did when he was around; it had steadied to a normal pace. This was what her heart had been trying to tell her and finally she understood. This was where she belonged.

***

Om Prakash looked away from the window from his precarious position on top of the poolside stairs. He turned to congratulate Jai Prakash who was standing beside him, 'Jai Prakash, are you crying?!'

Jai Prakash hastily wiped away his tears, 'No, no, I've got something in my eye... I mean... they just look so happy... Oh I'm sorry Om, I should have trusted you in the first place.'

Om Prakash smiled widely and patted Jai Prakash's arm, 'no problem. When Chote Sahib gives us bonuses on his wedding day you can give your share to me!'