CHAPTER 8

                                         

“Agar is duniya mein ek unromantic dumbvit is there then it is my Kushi”!!!

Arnav was remembering the words of his sister right now. Anjali had told that long ago when they were in college and Arnav was a kid. But right now he couldn’t agree more with his sister. For the past few weeks he has been trying to woo Kushi who was nowhere close to even realising his feelings.

Initially I began with slow hints. Some eye locks in between our usual friendly banters or when we spend the weekends together. When all are busy around us I give my full attention to her. I often play hide and seek with my eyes around her. She noticed it too. When someone cracks a joke, I look into her eyes and laugh. When someone asks me something, I answer looking at her. Even after noticing my intense eyes, she often brushed it off, I wonder why. She sometimes avoids it or responds with a smile and move forward. So I decided I had to take the next step.

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I tried appreciating her now and then. Every day when I see her, I appreciated her beauty.

Arnav: Hey Good morning doctor, you look awesome today.

Arnav: You are one of the most amazing women I have come across.

Arnav: You are beautiful Kushi

She turned behind every time I commented thinking that those praises were for someone else; actually she couldn’t believe it. I wonder what she couldn’t believe, that she is beautiful or I’m appreciating her!!! Later on it became as a joke or flattering for her, something which she again brushed off!!!!

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Next I tried openly flirting with her, which she never really understood. Taking it in mind that she is too innocent for these stuffs I began with light touching here and there – a peck on cheek, holding hands while spending weekends together, hugging at times in the name of wishing good morning or goodnight. People around us might have even noticed these changes, but not Kushi. She never realized what I was trying to put forth. Sometimes I wonder if she is playing with my feelings; that maybe even after realising my intentions, still she is not responding purposefully. But then her words and actions showed that she had no clue, nothing whatsoever.

How can a girl be soo clueless when a guy is pursuing her?

He remembered asking her out on a date. bechari ko yeh bhi pata nahi chala that I’m asking her out on a ‘date’.

Arnav: Ey Doctor, will you join me for dinner tonight?

Kushi: Tonight? No Arnav. I have back to back appointments today. I will be tired. Let’s meet up on weekend.

Arnav: Ok. Then Saturday 8pm at Love Cross Restaurant is fine?

Kushi: Yeah.

Arnav mentally did a jig realising that he is going to take her on a date. But Saturday when he waited for her with a bouquet of red roses at the door step of her apartment she was not at home. When he called on her number, she told that she is already reaching the restaurant. Cursing he sped up to the restaurant. But what awaited him there was another blow. His sister and Viren sat chatting with Kushi on the table he had reserved.

 The foolish girl thought it was a simple ‘catch –up’ between friends like always and not a ‘date’ with ‘only two of them’.

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So the next time I made sure to not inform her beforehand. I invited her at the last moment and told some lies about Di being busy. I thought finally I’m going to get a chance to reveal my feelings. I didn’t know what I was going to tell her or if I’m actually going to tell her but I wanted that day to be of some lead in our life. She came, we placed orders. There was music in the background, beautiful lawn in view. Everything was perfect until she opened her mouth.

Kushi(with a crooked smile): Am I guessing it right that you are trying to bribe me for not revealing to Anjali about Lavanya and your closeness?

Arnav felt his elated heart blowing off like a blown off balloon. Soon she was going on and on about romance, lover, Lavanya etc etc.

Arnav: I’m not in love with Lavanya, Kushi.

Kushi(smirking wide): Oh yeah yeah.

 I felt that it is not the right time to talk about ‘my’ feelings since she already ‘knew’ a lot about my feelings!!! So much for a ‘date’!!!!

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Kushi (moaning in pleasure): Mmmm Arnavvv!!! This is soooo good. I can’t believe you are so good in this.

Hey, don’t misunderstand reading this line. Such a statement to come from Kushi in the right context is going to take a loooong time. Right now the scene is like this!!!

The next weekend I invited her home. I’m a pro in kitchen. I made her favourite dishes and even baked her favourite double chocolate muffins. Kushi came and soon we sat down to eat. I was waiting for a proper chance to open up. But I never got an opportunity. Kushi was so busy eating and that was all she did throughout the dinner. Then she began talking about an emergency case that came in our hospital. And if you know Kushi, you will know that once she starts talking about her work, then nothing can stop her, not even a yawn from the opposite person. So again that day ended too with nothing productive.

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I was wrong! I thought for a man like me wooing Kushi would be like a cakewalk! Unfortunately I’m realizing its not going to be so. This girl talked about love, lover, and romantic dreams all the time. But the truth is she knew nothing about what real love is. If she did, she would understand when a man approaches her sincerely. She is a total unromantic woman though she herself claims to be the most romantic Virgo on earth.

Just then Di came to me with hot cutlets. For a change I took a break from wooing Kushi, and was spending my evening with my Di. I took the plate from her and started eating. She settled down beside me.

Arnav: Di, years back once you had told me that Kushi is the most unromantic dumbwit on earth. Why did you say so?

Anjali (laughing): Because she is. You see she has all these rosy dreams about love, the man she is going to marry, her wedding etc. But the girl actually doesn’t know the colour, smell or taste of real love. Back then in college, there were one or two guys who were mad over her. But she neither understood their feelings nor reciprocated. When I tried to connect her with one guy, she went berserk. If she ever comes face to face with real love, then mark my words she will run in the opposite direction.

Arnav: Why?

Anjali: My Kush is like that. I know she has high hopes about falling in love; but she is a coward in love. First of all she won’t realise when a man pursues her and if she do get some doubts, she herself will justify their actions and consider them as anything but love. By the time she gets a wind of it, the guy would have given up.

Arnav gulped. His sister could not have been more right.

Anjali: But all my Kush really needs is love, true love. And she should get it from a man who loves her truly; a man who will wait for her to catch up in love. Because my pagal doesn’t know what love is; she won’t know what hit her when a true love walks up her way.

You are right Di. She won’t know what hit her. It is time I make Kushi Singh Malik realise it.

And so on Di’s wedding anniversary it happened.

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On Di’s wedding anniversary, she came early. I was doing the final touches on Di’s anniversary cake when she walked in.

Kushi: Arnav, where is Anjali?

Arnav: Kushiii!!They are getting ready; guests can arrive any moment. Come here, light this cake.

Kushi: Me? ...Okay.

She kept her gift aside and got the match sticks and lighted the candles on the cake.

Kushi: Wow Arnav, it smells yummy. Anjali will love it.

He didn’t know if it is the correct moment, but he decided to let caution go to the winds and said what was in his mind.

Arnav: I Love You.

Kushi thought Arnav was fooling her like always. She turned her face sideways to face Arnav, smiling. He was looking at her with a smile.

Kushi(chuckling): What?

Arnav sighed; she has been ignoring for long the obvious hints he dropped every now and then. Either she is naive or simply ignoring his feelings. Whatever it is, he could not let it continue. He clarified her doubts in such a way that she won't doubt his intentions ever. He lightly brushed his lips with hers.

Arnav: I Love You Kushi.

And that did it. Ms. Kushi Singh Malik got the message clear, finally!!!!

NOTE: I know this is short and crap. I forced myself to write something to give you guys an update. Sorry. I will try to make it up with next update.