Taking deep breaths, she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes to see "who" the chest belonged to that she had been so cosily snuggling up to.

Then she heard the words "hello sunshine" and her eyes flew open. There on the chaise lying infront of her with just his shorts on and a cocky smile was Arjun Singhania!

Arohi stared at Arjun with shock and horror written all over her face. This, whatever this was did not happen, could not have happened. She was starting to feel light headed and the bloody pounding in her head was only getting worse. And then her eyes widened as events from the previous night started coming back to her. Drinking, dancing, being in Arjun's arms, flirting with him, oh my god the pool...THE POOL, asking to be kissed, the make out session Arohi felt her face going red. She wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. She couldn't look directly at Arjun. She stole a look in his direction and saw him staring up at her with a big knowing grin on his face. Still lying on the chaise with his hands behind his head acting as if waking up in the middle of a beach was a normal morning occurrence for him.

Arohi couldn't talk to him right now. She grabbed her shirt and didn't say a word as she raced away from him back to the villa. If there was a god then this would all just be a bad bad dream and she's be waking up soon. But if the nauseating pounding in her head was any indication this was no bad dream...this unfortunately was her freakin life!

Arjun stared after Arohi as she raced away from him. Shaking his head he couldn't help but smile. Life sure was never dull when Arohi was around. He had come to some realizations last night, he was very attracted to Arohi and he knew she felt the same attraction drunk or not. He had developed feelings for her and he wanted to see where those feelings would take them. But seeing Ms. Stubborn Ahluwalia race away from him he had a feeling that she wasn't going to be making this easy for either one of them. Arjun threw on his shirt and headed back to the Villa.

Arohi raced inside and barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up. Why did she drink so much, why? She washed her face and took 2 advils and then stumbled into her bedroom. This is what death feels like she thought to herself. Her stupidity had not only been the cause of the worst hangover in the history of hangovers but also the reason for the most embarrassing event of her life. She needed to find a way to never see Arjun Singhania again, but since they would be working together for 6 months not seeing him wasn't a possibility. She had thrown herself at him, hell she had made out with him. He was never going to let her live this down. She knew that if Arjun hasn't stopped she wouldn't have stopped him, as she remembered the feel of his hands on her she felts goosebumps. Arohi rolled over and closed her eyes willing herself not to think and feel and just to go to sleep.

Arjun and the cousins sat at the patio table on the deck having a late brunch. It had been a late start to the day for everyone. No one had heard a sound out of Arohi's room and assumed she'd be sleeping till late. Arjun was pretty sure Arohi had one hell of a hangover. The days activities were being planned out when Arohi walked out on to the deck. She heard the loud chatter and cringed. The drums beating in her head had not calmed down. First person she made eye contact was none other then Arjun, she quickly looked away and walked to the chair furthest from him at the table.

"Di, I love your romper" Riya squealed. Arohi winced, "thanks "she said looking down at her magenta sleeveless cotton romper. Arohi poured herself some coffee and grabbed a piece of toast. Slowly taking a bite. The chatter around her continued grating on her nerves. "Di. where were you last night?" Priya asked. "I met a cute boy I wanted you to meet him." "Priya please don't yell into my ear" Arohi said through clenched teeth. Priya frowned, "sorry di, but I wasn't screaming though." Arohi heard a muffled laugh and then a cough. She didn't need to look to know who that was coming from. "No Priya, I'm sorry it's just that i have a blinding headache so if we could just tone it down a tiny bit that would be great." "Okay" Priya said whispering. "I'm not surprised di you have a headache" Sanchit said as he stuffed food into his mouth. "You drank like a fish last night." Arohi glared at him and heard yet another muffled laugh coming from the other end of the table. I hate my life Arohi thought to herself miserably.

Arohi had come up with a plan. She had decided to avoid Arjun while they were in Goa which would be easy if she never left her group of cousins. Then her and Arjun wouldn't see eachother for 4 days because Arjun was going straight to Mumbai and Arohi was stopping in Chandigarh first for a few days. In those few days apart both Arjun and Arohi could forget that last night even happened. Yes, that would be for the best. Once in Mumbai she would keep the relationship strictly professional. The more she thought about it the more convinced she was that she wouldn't have to face with had happened last night.

Arjun watched Arohi as she took a bite of her toast, by her actions so far he could tell that she was avoiding him and most likely would pretend that last night didn't happen. Arjun looked at Arohi and smiled smugly to himself. I don't think so Arohi he thought to himself. I will not let you forget about last night and if I have my way there will be a repeat of last night very very soon.

As Arohi got up to leave she heard Arjun call her name. She should have know he wouldn't let her off so easily. "Yes?' she said turning around to face him. "Are you ready to go?" he asked. Arohi stared at him with a blank expression. "Go where?" she asked. "We have an appointment with Issac Silva in 30 mins. Remember we scheduled it last night. I'm surprised that you don't remember since it was scheduled before, what was it Sanchit had said. Oh yes you started drinking like a fish." "I guess the other events of last night took precedence over everything else" he said softly so only she could hear. Arohi felt her face burning up. She glared at Arjun, "I remember the meeting" she heard herself say, even though she had not remembered. "I'll be ready in 10 minutes. I'll meet you by your car." Then she stormed off.

Arohi saw the Arjun was already in his car so she quickly got into the passenger side and took out her ipod and headphones and put them on pretending to turn them on. Arjun looked at Arohi and chuckled. "I thought when a person has a blinding headache the last thing they want is blaring music in their ears" he said out loud. "But hey, what do I know." Arohi felt like screaming...Arjun had an answer for everything. She pretended she didn't hear him and closed her eyes. Arjun smiled happily, teasing Arohi had become one of his favourite pastimes. She just made it so easy.

They had just gotten to Issac's place when Arjun's phone rang he excused himself to go take the call. He came back a few minutes later and the 3 of them went over the contract details and looked at some more of a Issac's work. At the end of the meeting Arjun told Issac that he would have his assistant send him a finalized contract for him to sign. As the three stepped outside Issac asked them if they had a good time at the party and if they left early because he hadn't seen the two of them again last night. Arjun and Arohi both looked at each other and Arohi thought she saw a flicker of something in Arjun's eyes. She mumbled something about a great party and quickly left.

They got into the car and drove in silence for a few minutes before Arjun finally broke the silence. "How long are you going to pretend last night didn't happen?" Arohi closed her eyes and then opened them slowly and said "I was drunk, very drunk I didn't know what I was doing or saying." Actually Arohi I disagree, last night I think you finally knew what you were doing and saying." "So fine last night you were drunk. What about all the other times" he asked as he pulled the car up to a vacant beach. "Why are we stopping Arjun?" Arohi asked in a panic. "I want to go home." "Arohi you didn't answer me" Arjun said looking as her. "What about the other times?" "Are you seriously telling me that you don't think there's anything between us, because if you believe that then you kidding yourself." "I don't want to hear anymore" Arohi said as she got out of the car and slammed the car door shut. Arjun got out and walked around to stand infront of her. "There's something happening here, I know it and if you let yourself you would know it too. I don't know what it is and if anything will come of it but I do know we have this amazing chemistry and I want to give this a chance." Arohi looked up at Arjun. "I think you're reading too much into this" she pleaded. "We are so different from eachother and we fight like cats and dogs. How can we even contemplate getting into a relationship?" Arjun stared at her for a moment and then roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. "What are you scared of Arohi? Seriously ask yourself that...are you scared that I'm actually right and there is something between us? Something that you've been denying yourself." "Do you ever wonder why you melt into my arms the second I kiss you. I don't think you're the type of girl that goes around just kissing any random guy then why would you keep letting me do it?" "Arjun, let go" Arohi said feeling tears forming in her eyes. Arjun seeing the tears released Arohi's arm and pushed his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry Arohi" he said gruffly and then took his thumb and wiped her tears and then taking both hands he cupped her face and leaned his forehead against hers. " I'm going back to Mumbai on the next flight out today." Arohi pushed away from him surprised. "There's a problem with an important project and I'm needed back to take care of it. I had wanted to wait to talk to you about all this, let you figure things out but now that I'm leaving so I can't wait." "There's something happening between us and I want us to see where it will go. I'm not saying let's get married. I'm just saying that I don't want to have any regrets or what ifs and I think we owe it to ourselves to see if this leads anywhere. " "But the ball is in your court now. You know how I feel now it's up to you to decide if you want this too. When you come to Mumbai in 5 days I want an answer." "If you haven't decided by then then I will take your answer to be a no and I will never discuss it again." "Arjun please you don't mean this, you're mistaking lust for something else.' Arohi looked into Arjun's eyes and took a step back, they were burning up with rage and something else, was that pain she saw in his eyes. " Arohi I'm not an idiot and neither am I some teenager that doesn't know the difference between lust and something more!" Arjun took a deep breath and looked back at Arohi. "I've decided what I want so now you have 5 days to decide what you want." With that he opened the passenger side of his car door. Arohi stared at him shocked by everything he had said. She opened her mouth to say something but then shut it and got into the car. They drove in silence.

No one was home when they got back and Arjun ran up to his room to pack up his stuff. Arohi made her way back to the deck and stared out aimlessly at the beach infront of her. What was she going to do. She felt him behind her before she saw him. "I'm going" he said softly. Arohi felt her eyes fill up with tears. Why was she crying she asked herself angrily. She quickly wiped her tears and looked back at him giving him an overly bright smile. "Have a safe trip home" she said in a cheerful voice.

Arjun looked at her, his beautiful brown eyes staring at her intently, questioning eyes, eyes that seemed to look right into her soul. Arohi looked away.

Arjun walked over to her and turned her to face him lifting her face up he gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "Bye Arohi" he said softly. And then he was gone.

After Arjun left, Arohi tried not to think about what he had said. She knew her answer already it was going to be a NO. Fine they had chemistry, fine there were sparks, fine she melted at his touch, fine she got a lump in her throat everytime she thought about him walking away from her. But these were not reasons to start a relationship. They were too different from eachother. Plus they were going to be working closely together it would just be too awkward especially if it didn't work out. She knew her father was pretty open minded but the second he found out her and Arjun were even thinking about pursuing a relationship and living in the same house he would be pushing them to a mandip with Rudra uncle right behind them. Even if the living arrangements had been their idea to begin with. And Arohi knew she was not ready for marriage yet. "But you might be ready for love" said the little voice in her head. Arohi pushed that voice aside. She threw herself into having a good times with her cousins, laughing, teasing but sometimes she would feel the laughter turning into tears. She just wanted this numbness that had taken over her heart since Arjun left to be gone. She wanted things back to normal, where they fought but atleast they saw eachother, atleast that way she didn't have "this" whatever "this" was hanging over her. Arjun hadn't even called when he got to Mumbai she had to have Sanchit send him a text making sure he was okay. Not that she cared she told herself over and over again. By this time Arohi had left Goa and was back in Chandigarh. Her cousins had started noticing the change in her. "Is everything okay di?" they would ask. "You don't seem like yourself." "Everything is fine" she would answer with an overly bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

By the 3rd day in Chandigarh her melancholy had turned to anger. How dare thoughts of him occupy so much of her time. How dare he give her me an ultimatum. What does he think he is. Just because he thinks there's something between us doesn't mean I need to think there is. Everything was fine until he started reading too much into things. But the anger soon passed when she watching Shefali's wedding video had seen him in it. She found herself rewinding to shots of him over and over again until she finally couldn't torture herself anymore.

Her last day in Chandigarh she decided to call the person who knew her best, the one that always told her the truth even if she didn't want to always hear it. Her best friend Aria. They'd been friends since grade 1 through thick and thin. She picked up the phone and dialed knowing it was 3 am and Aria was probably sleeping. "Hello?" a groggy voice answered on the other end and strong as nails, never say die Arohi Ahluwalia burst into tears. "Hello, hello?" came a more awake Aria's voice. More tears and then Arohi whispered Aria's name. "Rohi?" Alia said into the phone. Rohi "what's wrong?' she asked in a panic. "Are you hurt, please tell me what's wrong." When she didn't get an answer Aria said "I'm coming right now on the next flight out." Arohi paused and tried to stop crying. "Ari you can't come here, it would take too long and by the time you get here my 5 days will already be up and I would have had to have given him an answer already." Sniff, Sniff Aria heard. What?! Ari asked in a confused voice. "Sweetie I don't understand what you're saying. Give who an answer about what in 5 days?" And Arohi promptly burst into tears again. Aria was now very confused and worried. This was not like her Arohi. She waited patiently and finally Arohi started talking, telling her everything.

Once Arohi stopped talking there was silence."Aria..?" she said hesitantly. "You are so stupid" Aria practically yelled into the phone. "I can't believe you were about to ruin your chance with a great guy all because of your stubbornness" she yelled into the phone. "Great guy you haven't even met him" Arohi yelled back. "Oh I know he's a great guy. Arohi if he wanted he could have taken full advantage of you that night in the pool but he didn't." "Besides any guy that puts up with your attitude and tells you like it is has to be a good guy. He's not like your usual spineless interests. "Spineless...excuse me Aria but"...Aria cut her off. "Arohi Ahluwalia if you screw this up I'm going to kill you. You obviously like him. I can tell just by the way you're acting. Everything you've told me shows you two are definitely attracted to eachother so now go and find out if this attraction is going to lead somewhere." Arohi listened to Aria in silence. "Tell me without thinking about it or analizing it, do you miss him?" "Don't think just tell me what you feel. " Yes Arohi said finally...a lot she said more softly. "Do you think about him"..."yes again, day and night." "Do you imagine yourself in his arms again?" "Silence...Arohi???! Do you?" Yes damnit, why are you asking such difficult questions?" Arohi yelled. "Arohi these aren't hard questions the hard questions are the ones you need to ask yourself like if you don't pursue this, will you wonder always what could have been, will you regret your decision?". Arohi listened in silence.

"Okay enough adivce from Dr. Aria Gupta I must get back to my beauty sleep. That is if I actually can because as of now I'm going to be dreaming about a double wedding." "Double wedding?" Arohi asked. "Yeah me and you." Aria answered. "Oh Shut Up! There is going to be no wedding" Arohi answered quickly. "Fine, Fine call me when you get to Mumbai so I can talk to this boyfriend of yours." "Arohi Gupta he is not my boyfriend!" But Aria had already hung up by then.

That night Arohi didn't sleep, as she thought more and more about seeing Arjun her stomach knotted tighter and tighter. She knew what her answer was going to be. As soon as she stopped thinking with her head and started feeling with her heart she knew what her answer to Arjun would be. But now she needed to get through the night because the sooner the night ended the sooner she could be with Arjun again.