Chapter 6 :Variously Varied Concerns
The same night, as Khushi lay awake in her bed her thoughts comprised of no one but her Arnav Sir.
Her cheek burned every time she thought about the fleeting kiss. Not even a kiss, just a peck.
After all the turning and tossing of her brain she couldn't arrive to a conclusion of why did he kiss her. Was he attracted to her? Is that even possible? If so, she should be happy, shouldn't she?
She recalled how he had literally kicked Aman out of the car for he was interfering. And what did he say? His Di and Nani weren't at home? So when Buaji asked him to stay for a tea, he had his Di waiting for him?
What was this supposed to mean? He lied to Aman or he was lying to her Buaji?
He wasn't lying to her Buaji; she could make it out from his tone. So he kicked Aman out to get some time with her?
All of this pointed to one single direction, that he liked her. But did she like him too?
Closing her eyes she thought of his playful smile, his glinting eyes and her heart panged for him. This was so wrong.
He shouldn't love her. If he did, all he would get is hurt and she didn't want him to get hurt. She couldn't afford to see pain in those gentle eyes, not because of her. He was too honest and genuine for her.
It was her helplessness to work in his office, she couldn't avoid being around him but she could certainly avoid being with him and she would do the same. She would do everything possible to maintain distances with him. All for his own good.
Reaching upon a decision, she turned to Payal who was sleeping peacefully beside her.
Everything would have been so beautiful if only that man wouldn't have ruined it. Now she was tied with responsibilities.
Responsibilities which were against her morals but she had to fulfill them anyway.
All for her family's good.
~~***~~
If sleep was a far-fetched thing for Khushi, it was so for Arnav Singh Raizada. Lying awake on his bed with his one hand resting below his head, he too was deeply engrossed in thoughts of his personal assistant.
It was her face he saw every time he closed his eyes and every time his eyes would open they'll be searching her.
Such was the magic of love. Love which was blooming in his heart yet he was unaware of it.
As he recalled the kiss, the softness of her cheek against his lip, he yearned for more. It seemed as though he could never have enough of her. She was like a drug to him, evaporating his senses every time she was around.
For now, all he knew was that he wanted her before his eyes, wanted to see her, wanted to know her, wanted to laugh with her, wanted to share with her, and wanted to be with her. He wanted all of her.
And he was in no hurry to name this want.
There were so many unanswered questions in his mind and he was in no hurry to get the answers.
What if the pursuit of answers makes him distant from her? That was the least thing he would want.
What he wanted for now was to relish this beautiful feeling.
He didn't want to name it.
For his own selfish reasons!
~~***~~
The next morning as Arnav joined his family for breakfast, everyone seemed extra cheerful.
"What's the matter? Do I get to know?" He asked to no one in particular, taking a chair and helping himself with the servings.
"Sure you get. After all it's you whom the matter concerns" Anjali answered, winking at Nani.
"Oh, then what are you waiting for? Enlighten me" Arnav asked, all curious.
"Here, see for yourself" Anjali replied and handed him an envelope.
"Oh, not again Di" Arnav said dejectedly, knowing well what it contained.
"This time nothing is going to help you, Chote. You HAVE to select a girl from these and get married to her. That's it. Nani and I aren't going to buy any of your excuses this time" Anjali said in an intimidating voice and Arnav knew there would be no escape possible.
He looked expectantly at Akash who was silently having his breakfast, as if not even existing around. His jaw was set hard and his mood seemed disturbed.
But as of now, Arnav had this big issue to resolve than going after Akash.
"Di and Nani, I.."
"don't want to get married as of now" Nani and Anjali chimed in together and Arnav sighed.
These ladies were way too smart for him.
Rummaging his brain for a good enough excuse, he finally found one.
"Okay" he said in a retired voice.
"What? Are you ready to get married?" Both the women squealed together.
"Yes, I am. But I'll decide the girl I want to marry and that too after returning from my Nainital trip" He answered.
"Sure sure" The women replied in unison, too elated that their Chote has finally agreed to get married and settle down.
Seeing them relaxing down, Arnav heaved a sigh of relief. He was sure he would come up with a better excuse in these two days to further postpone the topic.
~~***~~
Khushi reached her cabin on time. Arnav hadn't arrived yet and she was determined to stick to her plan of maintaining distances.
'Be professional, be professional' She continuously chanted the mantra.
She rearranged her desk, lifting things from one place and keeping them at other and then shuffling them back to their place. She was hell nervous.
As she kept herself occupied with mundane chores, Arnav entered in the cabin, dressed like always, a black three-piece under the white shirt, hair gelled and carefully done, he was an open challenge of 'try-resisting-me'.
Quickly settling in her chair and drawing the blinds, she started with making official calls, confirming his appointments and listing new ones.
On the other side, Arnav was busy instructing people about various projects and deals, all through his Bluetooth.
As he ended the calls and took his chair his gaze unknowingly travelled towards the cubicle, wanting to have a glimpse of his newly appointed PA.
He frowned at the drawn blinds and went back to the files which begged his attention.
The day passed in a jiffy and Arnav didn't get to see Khushi. Twice he had talked to her through the intercom and asked her to bring some files to his cabin but it seemed as though she already knew what he was going to need for the day. All files were already on his desk and he had a busy time going through them.
Finishing the last file of the stack, he checked the time. 1:26 p.m. it said.
In the next four minutes, lunch break will start and he'll finally manage to see her.
Not seeing her for a few hours made him restless yet he was so unaware of it.
~~***~~
"Khushi, get me my coffee" He ordered in the intercom, putting her in a dilemma.
There was no escape possible now. She'll have to face him.
As she was busy thinking about ways to say a no, her cell phone beeped. As she read the message, her fists tightened.
~~***~~
"Hmm okay Di, I won't forget. You don't have to remind me every second hour" Arnav said in an exasperated tone as Anjali reminded him of the envelope.
"I know it. When is Jeeja ji returning from his trip? Any time soon? Hmm. Okay" Arnav continued nodding and replying to Anjali's questions as Khushi brought in his coffee and placed it on the table before him.
"I'll be leaving straightaway from the office; I have a meeting to attend before I leave. Yeah, Aman would get my bag. No, he won't be accompanying. He's a manager Di, not my bodyguard. Hmm... Shall I disconnect? My coffee is waiting" He said and looked at Khushi who was still standing in the cabin, looking thoughtful.
"Take a seat, Khushi" He said smiling amiably.
"Thank you, Sir" She responded, not in her cheerful voice which Arnav noted well.
"Is it about the Nainital trip? Did Buaji or?" He asked.
"No sir, it's not about the trip. No, yes I mean, it's about the trip" She fought for words but his friendly attitude wasn't helping.
Why did he have to be so good? Why isn't he bossy? She wondered. If only he could be a little rude and ill-tempered, things would be easier for her.
"It's okay, Khushi. Take a deep breath and talk. No hurries" He said, taking the first sip of his nearly-cold coffee.
"I need to go home early" She said, not meeting his gaze.
"Is everything okay? Your Babuji? He was not well, I think? Shall I come with you?" He offered, growing concerned. Anyhow he wanted that gloomy look off her face.
She looked so angelic when smiling.
He already felt a sense of protectiveness for her. She wasn't allowed to be sad in his presence, doesn't suit her. He thought.
"No No, you don't have to, Sir. Everything is okay. Babuji is also fine. I's just that I haven't packed my things yet. So I'll need to go home early and pack them" she replied.
"Oh okay. You can go. I'll pick you from your house at 4. We'll be going by road. It's around seven hour long journey and we can check in our hotel by 11:30" He informed her and she merely nodded.
"See you soon" He replied, his eyes glinting. The prospect of a car journey with her seemed too exciting to him.
Once again he decided to not probe the reasons behind this excitement.
As she left, he travelled back in time, recalling back the little kiss and chuckled as he recalled her astonished face.
Around her, he felt like a teenager. His heart was on flight and he had allowed it to soar high.
He also felt relieved that she didn't bring upon the topic of the kiss. It would have been quite challenging on his behalf to explain her something which he himself didn't understand.
The feelings were too new for him to decipher.
~~***~~
"Take care okay? I am already so worried about you, Khushi. Are you sure of this?" asked a concerned Payal, as Khushi waited for Arnav to pick her up.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she was fidgeting with the end of her dupatta, thinking of everything which lay ahead for her.
"I am sure, Jiji. I have to do this. But you know what? Arnav Sir is a really caring person, I feel very comfortable around him but last night.." Khushi thought if she should tell Payal about the kiss or not and decided against it.
"Last night? What happened last night?" Payal asked, searching her face for any expression she could read out.
"Nothing much Jiji. Last night I dreamt about all of us. You, me and Babuji. Babuji was sitting with us, praising my jalebis"
"Really? Just your Jalebis?" Payal asked, frowning.
"And your fritters too" Khushi said smiling and that helped the tension evaporate from the room.
"Come Babua, Khushi is already waiting for you" They heard Buaji's voice from the hall indicating Arnav was here.
"Time to leave" Khushi said, getting up from the bed and lifting her small travel bag.
Together, she and Payal walked out, and Arnav noticed her. She was dressed in a baby pink suit looking as pretty as ever.
"Hello, Arnav Sir" She wished him and Arnav had to avert his gaze from her face.
"So ready?" He asked and she nodded a yes.
"Okay then we should leave. The early we start, the quicker we'll get there" He said.
"Okay" She replied and walked out, waving at Payal.
"Babua..I" Buaji started in a slow voice but Arnav didn't let her finish.
"I understand, Buaji. I'll take good care of her. You need not worry" He assured an overwhelmed Buaji and she blessed him in return.
Wishing Garima and Payal, he too walked out, joining Khushi in his SUV.
~~***~~
Arnav got in the driver's seat and started the engine. For the next few minutes, neither of them spoke as Khushi was continuously staring out of the window and Arnav thought he should not disturb.
But as minutes passed by, he was having a hard time controlling himself. Khushi was sitting next to him and not talking to her seemed a torture, yet he didn't want to initiate a conversation. He didn't want to appear desperate, not after that kiss.
He still didn't know what she thought of it, of him.
With those thoughts, few other moments were spent in silence.
"Nervous?" He finally asked, keeping aside all his musings and making a move.
"Why would I be?" She answered promptly, in her usual cheering voice which caught Arnav off guard.
That was strange. Minutes back she looked all somber and now she was back to being herself. This was indeed crazy, making him crazy along.
~~***~~
As Khushi took a seat in the car, she waited for Arnav to come. She could see him talking to her Buaji.
How easily he has bonded with her Buaji.
She wondered yet felt at peace. He was a good man. That was indeed a fact.
She noticed him coming out and quickly tore her gaze away. As he got in and started the car, all she thought of was him.
She also thought of the kiss and that made her heart flutter. He liked her of that there was no confusion. And he was a good man. No, she already said that.
The prospect of Nainital trip, him and her, all alone was making her nervous.
"Nervous?" He asked all of a sudden, making her jump in surprise.
Did he just hear her thoughts? How could he? And then she realised he was referring the conference and she replied promptly.
"Why would I be?"
Wanting to change the course of the conversation, she asked him the question which he was least expecting.
"I hope your Di wasn't too worried."
"Pardon?" He asked, not getting the line of her question.
"Last night? You said to Buaji that your Di must be waiting. Was she already back from the party? Or was she waiting for you in the party? Or the party was at your place?" She asked, not leaving him any option to resort to.
"That was smart" He admitted, laughing at her changing the topic.
"Actually Di was at home, but I wanted Aman out of the car. He's a pain at times" Arnav continued further.
Oh, she very well knew why was Aman being a pain and so she laughed.
The journey got merrier as the conversation flowed smoothly and Khushi realized she indeed enjoyed Arnav's company.
*****
Pearl_Oyster2018-04-24 04:30:18
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