From Smile Mates To Soulmates

Chapter Ten

Arnav was half lying on the couch in Khushi's apartment while she sat next to him, leaning slightly against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Arnav ran his fingers through her hair, quiet and calm. There are times when silence does what words fail to do. There are times, when wordlessly, someone understands you much better than words ever could. They breathed perfectly in unison with each other. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"

Arnav straightened up, causing Khushi to groan in protest. She frowned at him, pouting cutely. Arnav held his ear, mouthing a sorry to her and pulled her back on himself. "To answer your question, Yes, I'd love to stay here." Arnav mumbled quietly

Khushi smiled, cuddling to him, her eyes shone in happiness while she looked at him.

"It's a good look on you." Arnav complimented her, taking her face between his huge hands. Khushi smiled wider, her eyes shining brighter. "What look?"

Arnav pulled her closer, kissing her nose. Khushi giggled, "The 'happy you' look. It's my favorite look on you." He told her, sincerely.

Khushi blushed, "You know what's my favourite look on you?" She asked him, raising her eyebrow at him in question.

Arnav shook his head, "Well, you tell me."

"It's the look that you give me when you're- you know-- trying to be stern with me. You look at me all angry but there's a tiny bit of fondness somewhere in there and it makes me.." Khushi stopped abruptly, looking at him innocently. "It.. makes me.."

"It makes you..?" Arnav looked like a little child in that moment, bursting with excited curiosity. Khushi blinked, "-makes me want to tell you how beautiful you are. It makes me want to make all the anger go away so that only the fondness, the love stays. It.." Khushi sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Oh.. god. I didn't.. I didn't just say that."

When Khushi opened her eyes, she saw Arnav watching her intently. His eyes stared into hers, unblinking. His lips were turned ever so slightly upward. She tried to avert her eyes, to look away, but failed. They were both silent, unblinking, caught up in a spell. Arnav reached for her hand, still not breaking eye contact.

Their hands brushed, sending the sparks flying everywhere. The room dissolved into nothing around them, their hands fitting together like missing pieces of a puzzle. Arnav moved closer, in perfect synchronization with her and they both leaned in.

Arnav tightened his hold on one of her hands, with one of his, while the other reached for her hair, Khushi closed her eyes, as he pulled her in, and their lips touched.

Khushi gulped, a tear escaped her eyes as Arnav caught her lower lip between his teeth and gently nibbled on it. His touch was so sure, yet so gentle that it made her tear up as she grabbed onto his shoulders. She kissed him back, slowly, mimicking his actions. Their lips moved in perfect synchronization with each other. Khushi's left hand was still locked with Arnav's left one. His other hand was now cupping her cheek. A few seconds later, he broke the kiss, looking at her like she was the one thing he needed more than life itself

And was it not true?

Khushi was still not completely out of the spell that he had somehow casted around them. She stared at him, still dazed, still unblinking and with a smile on her face. She reached for his face and touched it, as if making sure that she was not dreaming. Arnav smiled at her, but before he could do anything more, she hesitantly brushed her lips with his, unsure of how to proceed, she looked at Arnav who immediately took the hint and led the kiss. It was still slow, it was still dream-like but it was what she had asked for, what she had wanted. It was the kiss that he would remember for the rest of his life.