OS: Whatever Arnav Wants... Part 2

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You can read Part 1 over HERE




Part 2

'Sanka Devi? What are you doing?'

Arnav stepped back but only slightly as Khushi quickly turned around and moved to the side away from him.

Buaji came in as Arnav tried to think of a reason for his prolonged stay in the kitchen. There was no need for an excuse as Buaji just walked past him to Khushi.

'What are you still doing? Just standing here talking when there's work to be done? Where's the dessert?'

'S...sorry Buaji, I'll just make it now. 10 minutes, Buaji I promise.'

Arnav grit his teeth and smiled as Buaji walked past him patting him on the arm and smiling warmly.

'Khushi.' She was half facing him and he saw her swallow heavily as he began advancing towards her again.

'J...Ji?' She moved over towards the fridge as she spoke getting a bowl of something out.

'Well?'

'Wh... what?'

He watched her lip trembling as she spoke, her earlier spark gone again. Arnav wondered how much of that could be attributed to her Aunt's intrusion and how much to her realisation of what she'd done. He shook his head lightly and stepped back turning around to leave the kitchen.

He'd almost reached the doorway when he heard her call him. He turned his head slightly to look at her, 'hmm?'

'Erm...' she was looking down at the bowl in her hands but he couldn't detect any more fear in her posture. 'I... I proved I can do anything you can do right? So now it's your turn.'

Arnav raised an eyebrow and turned back fully to face her crossing his arms. 'Go on then.'

She grinned then, making his heart flutter and tilted her head to indicate that he should go back around the counter. He walked back, his own smile returning to his face. He watched, his eyes furrowed in confusion as she picked up a small cloth and filled it with the mixture in the bowl.

As she moved her experienced hands over the oil and made patterns he finally realised what was happening. 'Are you serious? You want me to make jalebis?'

She looked up and nodded barely controlling her glee. Clearly she thought he'd never be able to do it. Arnav rolled his eyes and rolled his sleeves up further before he held his hand out for the cloth.

His first attempt was abysmal; there was nothing even resembling a jalebi in the oil and she gave a peal of delightful laughter. He put the cloth pouch down and folded his arms about to tell her how ridiculous this even was when he heard the familiar footsteps of his Di approaching.

'Chote? What are you doing?'

Arnav picked the pouch up again and made another attempt, only slightly better than the last. 'Nothing Di, Khushi's just teaching me how to make jalebis. You go back and sit down.' He didn't look up again concentrating on the shapes he was making. Although he did sneak a look to his side to see Khushi similarly avoiding Di's gaze putting the jalebis he'd made into the syrup and taking them out again.

'Okay, I'll make sure nobody disturbs you,' there was a hint of amusement in her voice but Arnav ignored the urge to reply with a scathing retort.

Suddenly Khushi's hand covered his and Arnav looked down at her as she moved so she was in front of him. He watched her smiling face as she moved his hand under her own making more controlled and tight circles than the ones he had made previously. There was a tightness in his chest that he found scary and yet oddly comforting at the same time.

She let go making him feel abandoned and picked a jalebi up, one of the first ones he had made and held it out to him. 'Here, try one.'

'I ca...'

'They're made with sweetener not actual sugar,' she said holding one out to him.

Arnav smirked at her unfailing concern, first with the food where there had been two versions of each, one spicy and one not. Instead of taking it from her hand, he opened his mouth and waited expectantly. She hesitated slightly before lifting her hand to his mouth. He took a bite and nodded in appreciation. 'Wow, I'm good.'

'But... I made the mixture!'

'Just admit it Khushi,' he took the remaining jalebi out and held it out to her. She didn't even seem to notice in her irritation at him claiming praise for her work that she opened her mouth automatically, holding her hand under his in case of any fallout. She finished the entire jalebi and turned around to make some more.

Arnav sighed in contentment before he took the pouch out of her hand and moved his hands more steadily over the oil this time while moving his left hand to rest on the counter next to her, effectively trapping Khushi in between him and the stove.

She took the jalebis out of the oil and put them into the syrup. 'There you go! Perfect!' She looked up excitedly turning slightly and Arnav watched as she realised the position they were in and tried to step back before she remembered the pan of oil and moved forward again colliding with his body.

His hand moved from the counter instinctively to hold onto her arm and steady her. He looked down at his hand on her arm and stroked her softly before he spoke huskily, 'Perfect, right? So I can do it. Does this mean it's my turn again?'

'Huh? N...no, I helped you, you didn't do it on your own.' Her voice faded to almost nothing by the end of her sentence as he put down the cloth and raised his hand to her lips where there was a small crumb jalebi clinging to her lips.

Arnav rubbed the pad of his thumb across her lower lip, although he didn't remove the crumb. Her lips parted in a soft sigh under his thumb and his head moved of its own accord closer to hers. She closed her eyes and he fought the urge in his stomach to fulfil the unspoken request her lips were making out to him. Arnav swallowed and briefly closed his eyes before he shook his head and moved his hand from her lips to her cheek. He stroked the cheek he had kissed yesterday with the back of his fingers, 'no more games Khushi.'

She opened her eyes and their gazes met. 'Khushi,' he said again for lack of anything else to say. The moment seemed to stretch and Arnav could find no words to fill the silence. Ever since he had stepped onto the stage the other night he knew there would eventually come a time for explanation but the look in her eyes told him she needed none.

'No more games,' she said softly as she moved her hands and placed them ever so lightly onto his chest.

He leaned closer to her causing her eyes to flutter closed again and he darted his tongue out to the corner of her lips, picking up the crumb and taking it into his own mouth.

He moved his head back and watched as she kept her eyes closed and her own tongue came out and licked her bottom lip lingering over the spot where his own had been only seconds ago. Arnav shuddered and breathed in trying to control the desire overwhelming him at the sight before him. 'Khushi?'

She only looked at him for what seemed like hours, her eyes piercing into his as if she was looking for a hint of deceit or fallacy. Arnav looked back at her trying to project all his honesty and sincerity into his eyes.

He watched as she tiptoed up, and slowly moved closer to him. He closed his eyes, almost shivering in anticipation when he felt her tongue, so light and unbearably soft graze his bottom lip. That was the end of Arnav's control and he cupped her chin and tilted it so their lips met properly and he finally tasted heaven. Heaven tasted strongly of jalebis, Arnav thought as he deepened the kiss and she wound her arms around his neck.

'Arre Sanka Devi, are you eating all of the jalebis yourself? Aren't you going to bring some out for us?'

They broke apart grinning and Khushi rested her head against his chest and Arnav put his arms around her pressing her body closer to his before he released her and picked up the plate of jalebis they'd already made and put it in her hand. 'You take these, while I finish the rest.' He kissed her again softly and pushed her gently towards the door.