Chapter Thirty Three

When Khushi discovered that the Étoile was a french restaurant, she had immediately grilled Arnav down, to which Arnav could only laugh. He promised her that she wouldn't be eating any snails tonight - nor ever - and only then did Khushi stop grilling him. They enjoyed their dinner, the restaurant elegant and intimate.

With dinner complete, the couple walked the hotel grounds, admiring the gardens and the sea view. When the breeze picked up and the air got cooler, the two decided to head back up to their room...

And both were, in the words of Avantika, nervous as fuck!

As they headed towards the elevator, Khushi kept glancing at Arnav and away, feeling her heart get ready to catapult itself out of her.

Now that we're going back up to the room, will we... will it... oh gosh, my nerves are on end!

Entering the elevator, Khushi made her way to the back, holding onto the rod for support. Arnav pressed the button for their floor, and the elevator went up, once again revealing the grounds below. Seeing it from high above, Khushi was mesmerized by the view once more, especially taken by the moonlight that shined down on it. But Arnav paid no attention to it. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Khushi, mesmerized by the way the moonlight shined down on Khushi. He was so mesmerized, that he didn't even realize when he went towards her and turned her to him. All he knew was that she looked beautiful, and that she was his, that's it. As soon as she faced him, his lips landed on hers, surprising Khushi.

Khushi felt her insides beginning to spark and bubble, her heart racing. She lost herself in the kiss, and all she could think of was Arnav. She wrapped her arms around him as Arnav brought his hands to her waist, moving her back until her back was against the glass. Khushi let out a gasp at the feeling of the cool glass and Arnav let go of her lips, moving to her neck. He kissed and teethed her flesh, Khushi feeling her heart race even faster than before.

Oh my gosh, it's going to happen! It's really going to happen!

The elevator dinged, notifying them that they had arrived to their floor. Unfortunately, the sound of the ding brought Arnav out of his haze, snapping him out of it. He pulled back and looked at Khushi, who was breathing heavily, looking down. Arnav was a little embarrassed due to his behavior but he didn't want to make Khushi feel weird or awkward, so he simply led her into the suite.

"Um, why don't you go ahead and get changed first and get ready for bed," Aranv said.

Khushi nodded, her lips pursed as she looked down. As she made her way to the bedroom, she glanced back at Arnav. He had gone over to the fridge and pulled out a water bottle, chugging it down.

Can't say that I blame him.

Khushi entered the bedroom and shut the door behind her. She leaned back against it and let out a sigh, shutting her eyes.

Well that was the most intense elevator ride I have ever been on.

She opened her eyes and moved over to the vanity to get a look of her reflection. Her face was still rather heated, and seeing the redness covering her face was only proof of it.

Oh gosh, that kiss was... wow. Things got pretty intense but.... Arnav told me to get changed and ready for bed so does that mean... does that mean it's not gonna happen then? ...maybe its better that way?

Khushi reached for shoulder to remove the safety pin that kept her sari in place, as well as the other safety pins.

I mean what was Di thinking, you can't force these kind of things to happen, I mean....When the time is right, then it will happen... yeah....

Khushi turned to grab her clothes when she caught sight of Arnav out on the patio. She walked over to the door to see Arnav simply stand there while looking out at the evening sky.

Is he okay?

Curious, Khushi walked out and went over to him. It was evident to her as she moved closer to him that Arnav was lost in thought; he hadn't even noticed her walk towards him. Reaching out, Khushi placed her hand on Arnav's shoulder, causing Arnav to snap out of his thoughts. When he turned around to face Khushi, he saw that she was looking at him in confusion.

"It's nothing, just lost in thought."

But Khushi continued to look at him in confusion, not convinced.

"Honest, it's nothing," and he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Khushi tilted her head. She knew him all to well, so even though he was saying that it was nothing, she knew that it was something. And given the expression on her face, Arnav knew that he wouldn't be able to escape this.

"Okay, fine, I was thinking about something."

That I know, but what about is what I wanna know.

Arnav let out a sigh, looking down at the ground before looking back up at Khushi. "It's just that... I mean things were getting a little heated in the elevator."

Khushi looked away to the side, feeling her cheeks heat.

"For a moment, I wanted to take things further but..."

Khushi looked back up at Arnav, her eyebrow scrunched.

"It's just that... I... I don't want to mess this up."

Mess this up? What do you mean?

Arnav could tell Khushi was still rather confused. He caressed her cheek and brought his lips to her forehead, placing a kiss before he rested her head against his shoulder. Khushi let him move her as he wanted, holding onto him as she waited for him to speak further.

"I... I'm afraid," he sighed.

Afraid?

Arnav let out a sigh. "What happened to you when I was away...."

Khushi noticed Arnav's other fist clenching. She understood what he was talking about, but she didn't want Arnav to be upset, so she pulled back slightly and caressed his cheek, having him look at her. When his eyes met hers, she shook her head, before placing her forehead against his.

"What he tried to do to you... its affected you so much and I... I don't want to make things worse."

Khushi looked up at him.

"I don't want to end up doing something that'll just end up triggering those memories. I've accidentally done it before, I just- I don't-"

Arnav looked down and Khushi couldn't help but to look at him in awe. He cared about her so much, he refused to let her be in any more pain than she had already experienced.

He's such a sweetheart.

Khushi tilted his face up and when Arnav met her eyes, she kissed him. Arnav was a little shocked at first, but the shock quickly subsided, and he kissed her back. Khushi pulled back first and nuzzled her nose against his.

I love you.

Arnav let out a small sigh and smiled softly. "I love you, too."

Khushi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. How did he know what I was thinking?

"You always do that whenever I tell you that I love you," he said as he ran his thumb along her cheek. "At first I didn't understand but eventually I caught on."

Khushi couldn't help her smile and nuzzled his nose again before kissing him. Arnav held her to him, his arms securely around her waist. At the rate things were going, it was becoming clear that things were getting rather heated. And when their eyes met once more, they knew there was no controlling it, not when they were with the one they trust - the one they love.

Chapter Thirty Two

Fuck... meeeeeee!!!!!!!

Avantika couldn't stand any of it anymore! Being stuck in a room with all of these girls - all of them kissing ass to Sana - was driving the girl insane and the harshness of her whiskey wasn't helping at all. All of the other girls were currently dressing up in all of the designer clothes Sana had brought along to the trip to give away to everyone, so naturally, all of the girls were all over it, as well as Sana. But Avantika couldn't stand it! It was clear to her how fake Sana was, and the fact that they were going to be here for the whole weekend was only digging at her more.

Currently, Sana was modeling an outfit, to which all the girls were gushing over. Meanwhile, Avantika sat at the bar, making her drink, rolling her eyes.

I have to get out of here before I barf all over this couture.

Given that no one was paying attention to her, Avantika was easily able to slip out of the room. She walked over to the balcony to enjoy the evening breeze, but was interrupted by the sound of boys hollering. Looking down over, Avantika saw all of the boys playing on the new basketball court the Kapoor's had installed on their property. Her eyes immediately landed on Virat, who was drenched in sweat, dribbling across the court and effortlessly dunking the ball.

"Hot dayum," Avantika muttered to herself as she took a sip of her drink.

She heard the boys holler and mutter below, some of the guys done playing and ready to head to the shower - Vikram being the first to say it and all of the others following, except for Virat. Avantika watched as the other guys followed Vikram inside, while Virat remained outside and played on his own.

"Looks like we both refuse to follow the Kapoor's," she muttered to herself.

Taking another sip of her drink, Avantika watched as Virat ran along the court, shooting the ball at the hoop and getting the ball in each and every time.

What am I doing up here? I should just go down there! Wait no... um... well.... Shit, if Sana really is planning on making a move on him while we're here, I gotta make sure to plant some shit in his head so that he doesn't agree to going out with her. Dammit Avi, what are you doing up here, go!

Having being pepped up by her pep talk, Avantika made her way downstairs. She walked over to the basketball court, finding Virat hanging from the hoop.

"Show off," she called out.

Virat looked back at her and Avantika immediately felt sparks shooting up her spine. She didn't know why that exactly happened, but something about him all hot and sweaty and having alcohol in her system was really affecting her, and quickly. Virat let go of the hoop and walked over to her.

"Shouldn't you be in the middle of a pillow fight with the other girls," he teased.

"Ha, ha, what's next? Doing each other's hair and nails?"

"You tell me," Virat chuckled.

Avantika rolled her eyes and shook her head as Virat continued to grin at her. Avantika took a swig of her drink, Virat only realizing then that she was drinking.

"Chatterbox, how much have you had to drink?"

"Hey! Don't call me that," she squinted, pointing her finger at him, drink in hand. "And this is just my first," she frowned.

"Good, let's just keep it at that."

Avantika scowled at him and took another sip of her drink.

"You know you're lucky your brother isn't here."

"More like he's lucky because he's not here. Even Khushi," she scowled.

"Why do you say that?"

"Um, because I don't wanna be here," she continued to scowl.

Virat crossed his arms. "Well someone's in a mood. Why don't you wanna be here?"

Avantika looked up at him, saying nothing for a moment. "Because I hate your lover," she finally said.

Virat's eyebrows shot up in shock. "My lover?"

"Oh please," Avantika groaned as she rolled her eyes. "Don't pretend like you don't see Sana basically eye-fucking you every time she sees you!"

"Avantika-"

"I mean seriously, ever since we got here, the bitch has been staring you down like it's gonna help get rid of your clothes or something! It's disgusting and repulsive! But I bet you like that, huh? I bet you really like that attention, having a girl be all over you. I mean why wouldn't you, you're a guy, you're hot, you got a girl practically ready to fuck you, what's it to you, I bet you love it! I bet you love all of the attention she gives you, I mean you always have, just go down memory lane, that's proof right there. Let's face it, it's not just her that likes you, but you like her as well, heck, I bet you love her-"

"I don't love her-"

"Oh puhleez! You don't even see the bad in her, I mean why would you? How could you? Not past all of the plastic and fillers the bitch has got loaded in her-"

"Avi-"

"I get it, it would be impossible to see the core but like come on! How do you not see the bullshit? But then again, you love her, so why would you-"

"For the last time, Avantika, I don't love her."

"Liar!"

"I'm not lying-"

"Yes you are! You love her! You love her, you wanna be with her, why else would you be here? You see the way she looks at you, its not like you're clueless as to how she feels for you, why else would you come on this trip? I'm sure you heard all of the rumors about her plans to make a move on you while on this trip, so I'm sure that's the reason why you came, because you love-"

Avantika was immediately cut off from repeating her words, as Virat had pulled her into him and kissed her. Poor Avantika went into shock, the small tumbler dropping to the ground as her hands shot out to her sides, her eyes wide as she stared at Virat kissing her. He finally let go of her, pulling back and looking down at her. However, poor Avantika was still in shock, unable to move.

"Avi, are you okay?"

Her wide eyes looked up at his, her hands still floating in the air. Virat looked at them and then looked at her in confusion.

"Avantika-"

Avantika's hands came smacking over her lips, surprising Virat from her sudden actions. Her eyes remained wide as she continued to stare at him.

"Avi-"

She held one hand up, silencing him, but further confusing him. For a moment, she stayed that way, looking down to the side. The gears of her brain were malfunctioning, unable to process that fact that Virat had actually kissed her. She placed her hand back on her lips and looked down at them, cross-eyed. Virat continued to look at her in confusion, watching her as she now and then moved her hands away from her lips and then back to them, then placing them in her hair, before placing them back on her lips, looking cross-eyes.

"Oh for the love of," Virat muttered before pulling Avantika back to him, kissing her once more as he held her wrists.

Once again, Avantika was in shock, but this time, she quickly overcame it and her eyes drifted shut. She began to kiss him back, and when Virat's hold on her wrists loosened, she wrapped her arms around Virat's neck, pulling him closer to her. Virat placed his hands at her waist and Avantika let out a small moan, feeling tingles rush up her spine.

Avantika pulled back, tugging on the air between them as Virat rested his forehead against her.

"Did I break you Chatterbox?"

Avantika immediately scowled at him and Virat chuckled.

"Good, I didn't."

Avantika rolled her eyes before she began to fidget with his t-shirt. "Don't call me that," she muttered.

Virat couldn't help his grin and tilted her face up, but Avantika refused to meet his eyes, her cheeks heated.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're blushing," he teased.

Avantika's cheeks heated up even more. "Stop," she whined, and she buried her face in his chest.

"Well you are," Virat chuckled.

"Well don't point it out!"

Virat chuckled again and hugged her, holding her to him. Neither said anything for a moment, Avantika just fidgeting with his shirt.

"So.. you don't love her," Avantika finally said.

"Would I have kissed you if I did?" Virat pulled back so that he could look at her. "She's not the girl that I love."

Avantika glanced down at the ground. "Then who is?"

"I think we both know the answer to that."

Once again, Avantika felt her cheeks heat up. "Then why didn't you say anything after I sent you that embarrassing voice memo."

Virat noticed her hurt expression, and he immediately felt bad. "It's not that I didn't want to Avi, but...."

Avanitka looked up at him. "But what?"

Virat let out a sigh. "It was just a little bit difficult I mean... you're Arnav's little sister, I didn't want for things to get weird."

"Why does it have to get weird for? Virat, I've know you for years, we're also friends too-"

"I know but... I just didn't want for anything to get fucked up."

"Virat-"

"I know it sounds stupid but... it's what I thought the first time you told me you loved me and-"

"Wait, what? The first time? What do you mean the first time, the first time I told you that I loved you was in the voice memo."

"No Avi, its not, and this is one of the reasons why I don't like you drinking."

"What?"

"You once said it when you got drunk a few years ago."

Avantika's eyes widened. "What?"

Virat let out a sigh. "It was back when I was still in college and you were still in high school. You refused to listen and went to the party with Khushi even though Arnav and I told you repeatedly that you couldn't go."

"I can do what I want," she said stubbornly.

"Clearly," he scowled. "That's why you drank what you wanted and when you were drunk, Khushi had no choice but to tell me the truth that you both were there and you were drunk off your ass!"

"I was not-!"

"You sure? Then why can't you remember how I had to sneak away from Arnav so I could get you and Khushi home and get you two up in your room before anyone else saw? Why can't you remember when you drunkenly admitted to me that you loved me when Khushi left us alone so that she could get you cold water and some bread? Hmm? Tell me?"

Avantika tried - she really tried to remember that, but she couldn't. She did remember that evening though, well, what had happened earlier, and she knew exactly which night Virat was talking about.

"Okay fine, I don't remember, but you do! Why didn't you say anything?"

"You were drunk, what did you want me to do? Just go up to you the next day and just be like hey, you said you loved me last night, is that true? I'm sure that would've gone just well," he frowned.

Avantika pulled away, throwing her hands up in the air "Well, isn't this just great," she frowned. "I tell you years ago that I love you, and you just let years roll by without saying anything or doing anything."

"It's like I told you, I was going to jeopardize things with your brother-"

"Fuck that, fuck all of that! My brother's feelings wasn't the important thing here, mine were, okay, mine. And you just...."

Avantika turned away, crossing her arms as she looked down at the ground.

"I'm sorry Avi," Virat said softly, moving over to her.

He placed her hand on her shoulder, turning her so that she would face him, but she refused to look at him.

"I didn't do it to hurt you. In fact, I though that by doing what I did, I wasn't hurting you. I thought keeping it safe would keep things okay. You didn't remember what you had said, so I just let it stay like that. But then when you told me again... I'm sorry Avantika, I really didn't want to hurt you."

Avantika looked up at him. She glanced him up and down before returning her gaze on his eyes. "How long?"

Virat's eyebrows met in the middle. "How long what?"

"How long have you been in love with me?"

He let out a sigh, a small smile on his lips. "I don't know... one minute you were Arnav's annoying little sister, the next.... When I found myself getting really angry when guys would try to make a move on you, I really knew then."

"It made you angry seeing me with other guys?"

"They were all ass hats trying to get the best of you, and you always flirted with them, so yeah."

A Cheshire grin spread across Avantika's face. "So making you jealous really did work!"

Virat scowled at her but Avantika hopped with a clap.

"Hey, it did!"

Virat rolled his eyes. "Sure, I'm sure you would've felt better knowing how badly I wanted to fuck them up."

"Very."

"Avi...."

"Oh stop it you! I just found out that the guy I've been in love with for years has been in love with me all this time, ready to fuck up any guy that looked at me in the wrong way."

Virat scowled at her, and then without a word, he picked her up and placed her over his shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Remember when I used to do this to you when you were younger whenever you were annoying? Well I'll continue to do this."

"Oh yeah? What if I do something in return?"

"Like what?"

Instead of responding, Avantika smacked Virat's butt.

"It won't do you any good," Virat said casually.

"You sure about that?"

Avnatika went to smack him again, but she was immediately pulled back over. In a whirl of movement, Avantika was facing Virat, her legs wrapped around Virat's waist as he had her backed up against a tree.

"Tread cautiously," Virat smirked.

"O-or else what," the poor girl stuttered.

"Or I'll make you my girlfriend."

Avantika's eyes widened as her eyebrows shot up. "I-I-I... I-I-I..."

Virat couldn't help his smirk. "What's this? Did I break you chatterbox?"

Avantika immediately scowled and Virat chuckled. "Don't call me that?"

"Or else what?"

"Or else... or else...."

Virat arched his eyebrow.

"Or else I'll kiss you."

"Is that so... chatterbox."

Avantika's face screwed up. "You're so annoying," she exclaimed, and then she covered his lips with hers.

It was safe to say that even though Avantika was annoyed with the nickname, she was still very happy that she finally had the man that she loved, who loved her in return.