Chapter 25
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[MEMBERSONLY]
[NOCOPY]
I know I told everyone this would be the last chapter but
looks like Arnav and Khushi has some more things to say. So folks this got
extended into another chapter.
Thanks for all your wonderful comments. Special thanks to
all those who have taken time to write detailed comments.
Desert Rose ' Chapter 24
THE day of the fashion event had finally arrived
and Khushistood in the green room looking on as the models tried on their
clothes for the fashion event. She had been working non-stop since morning
making sure everything was in place from AR's side. She knew AR's competitors
were also going to be part of this fashion event and that there could be no
mistakes. She wondered how she had let Akash coerce into doing this fashion
event with him.
Two days after she had moved back into her house
in Delhi, Akash had landed on her doorstep, Payal in tow. She had just managed
to bring the house to a decent state after two whole days of cleaning and
scrubbing.
She had succinctly explained to them that things
hadn't worked out between Arnav and herself and that she was looking forward to
an independent life in Delhi.Thankfully, they had not pushed her further with
questions. Soon after Akash had left for work, Payal had come up to her.
'Khushi, what happened?'
'You know the circumstances under which our
marriage took place jiji. There was no way it could have continued.' Khushi had
explained to her that she had come to Raisar only to make sure she settled down
with Akash. And that was what mattered at the end of the day.
'But you and Arnavji seemed to have sorted out
your differences,' Payal said holding Khushi's hand. 'The way he rushed up to
the attic that day you were stuck there, I could have sworn he-----'
'Enough about me jiji,' said Khushi changing the
subject. 'I am very proud of you'' she said, ''..your unwavering faith in
Akashji and love helped you achieve all you wanted in life.'
Khushi thought back to that day three months ago
when she had stood with Payal in the same kitchen talking about their uncertain
future.
I am going to marry Akash. It may not be the
life I had planned, but it's the life I want ---the only one, now and forever
'No Khushi,' said Payal holding Khushi's cheek,
'I know that all this would not have been possible if it wasn't for you.
'I know it was you who convinced Arnavji to help
Akash ' be it with his mother, or with giving him responsibility at work.
'Thank you Khushi -- for always supporting me
even since amma and babujileft us.'
'Don't ever say that jiji,' said Khushi taking
her in her arms, 'What would I have done without you? We supported each other.'
Thinking about the uncertainty they had faced,
not knowing how their lives would turn out, Khushi thought things had gone
pretty good --- at least for Payal. She had been re-united with her true love.
Unlike her.
Contrary to what she had believed at the time, she
had been destinedto find true love -- just like her parents. Unfortunately, she
thought sadly it had turned out to be of the unrequited variety.
Though she was craving for news about Arnav she
didn't want to ask about him. The next day, she found out when Akash had come
home asking her for a favour.
'Khushi, you will have to come and help me with
the fashion event,' he said. 'Bhaihas left for the States, giving me the
responsibility for the entire event.'
'But what can I do Jeeju?' Khushi said in a low
voice. So Arnav had decided to go America after all. And why not? That was
where his heart lay ' with Jenny.
'You are the one who designed the entire
collection.' Akash said. 'If you can come to the office and make sure the
clothes have turned out right, then that will be one less work for me.'
When she had started the job, one thing had led
to another and she had ended up co-ordinating the AR event with Akash. And she
was enjoying every minute. But she knew that this was a temporary set up. Once
the event was over, she would start looking for a job. She wondered if she
would be able to get her old job back with Mrs Malhotra.
'Khushi, we have a problem,' said Akash coming
up to her with a worried expression on his face. 'The show stopper __'
'I was going to just ask you about her Akash,'
said Khushi urgently, before he could finish, 'she was supposed to be here like
half an hour ago.'
'She just called,' said Akash hesitating a
little, 'she said she won't be able to make it. She is a little '..indisposed
at the moment.'
'What the?' Khushi blurted out unable to
complete Arnav's favourite profanity. 'Did you call the agency? Will they be
able to arrange another model for us?'
'Do you remember the problem we had with the
agency some time back?' Khushi remembered Arnav had to come to Delhi to take
care of that problem. Akash went on, 'Looks like he hadn't been successful.
They didn't even want to talk to me when I called just now.'
She couldn't believe Arnav had been unsuccessful
at something. 'What are we going to do?' she wailed in dismay.
'You will have to do it.' Akash said tersely.
'No way!' Khushi exclaimed. 'I cannot walk the
ramp. I am not used to high heels!'
'There is always a first time for everything
Khushi,' said Anjali coming up behind Akash.
'Di!' Khushi said emphatically seeing her
sister-in-law in the pink of health. 'When did you come?'
'I just came in,' she said smiling in her usual
exuberant manner. 'Manav is sitting outside with Payal.'
'Khushi, please,' said Akash looking at her
expectantly, 'we are running out of time and we don't really have a choice
here.'
'Come on Khushi,' said Anjali in an encouraging
voice, 'I will help you get ready.'
An hour later, Khushi stood in front of the
mirror. She had her makeup and jewellery on and her clothes fit her perfectly. A
small nagging doubt entered her mind wondering how that was possible.
She had not realized how beautiful thelehenga
would look when she had designed this on paper. It had been a dream come true
for her to be able to see all her creations come to life this past week. And
this bridal lehenga was the cherry on top of the cake.
It was a breathtakingly beautiful kali lehenga--
sheer elegance in pure red silk. The work on the lehenga was an antique hand
embroidery 'zardosi work -- done in floral and creeper design and patch work
paisley motifs embellished with kundan and sequins at the bottom of the
lehenga.Similar work was repeated all over the choli, with a completely open
back tied together by just one dori. The chunri had work on all four sides,
decorated with scattered buttis, embellished with sequins and kundan work.
'Khushi,' Anjali said her eyes filled tears of
joy, 'you look beautiful!'
'But it is a little revealing'.don't you think?'
Khushi asked her doubtfully. She had designed this keeping a model in mind.
Little had she known that she would be the one wearing it!
'No,' said Anjali dabbing a small dot of kajal
behind her ear, 'it is perfect. You look like a bride.'
Khushi looked up at Anjali's smiling face and realized
that she couldn't postpone this any longer. She would have to talk about the
events that had transpired in Raisar a week ago. She walked up to her and took
her in her arms. 'Di, I am so sorry for what happened,' she began, 'Payal told
me about the poisoning. I wish I had told you earlier. Maybe ---'
'I don't know why everyone keeps apologizing to
me.' Anjali said sadly, 'I am the one who is to blame here. If I hadn't been
stupid all this would never have happened.'
'You can't hold yourself responsible Di,' Khushi
said urgently, 'you are the victim here. Shyamji was a vile insane man.'
'This is exactly what Chotte told me when I had
this discussion with him.' she said holding Khushi's arm. 'I will be okay
Khushi. Time heals everything.'
'Di, I am also sorry for leaving the way I did,'
she said a little hesitantly, 'I should have at least ---'
'You had every right to leave, Khushi,' Anjali
interposed, 'Chotte told me everything after he read your letter. He showed me
the video which caused all the problem. The police handed over the un-tampered
version from Shyam's phone.
'I can understand how difficult it must be to live
with a person like my brother. Right after you got married I told you that I
couldn't have found a better girl for my brother. And I stand by it. But I
never thought if he will turn out to be a good man for you or not. Life had
made him harsh, but I thought that he would change one day --- when he found
the right girl. I guess I was wrong.'
'Di,' said Khushi, 'That is not the reason I
left. Arnavji is a good man. Everything that has happened in the past was a
misunderstanding. The death of your parents and Lavanyaji's betrayal made him
the way he was. He has even apologized for all those things.
'I am partially responsible for the
misunderstanding with Dr Manav. I shouldn't have kept things from him '.or you.
But the main culprit for that is Shyamji.
'Having said that,' said Khushi pausing.'Marriage
should be about mutual understanding and not an obligation. You know the
circumstances under which he was forced to marry me. It was not fair to him. He
had his own dreams and aspirations and marriage was not one of them.'
'Dreams?' Anjali said her eyebrows creased in
confusion.
'Di, you know he has always wanted to settle down
in America. I have to let him go.' Khushi said simply. 'His sense of responsibility
will never let him do it on his own. Don't you understand?'
'But ----'
'Wait!' Khushi said emphatically as something
Anjali said flashed in her mind. 'You said Arnavji showed you the video of me
talking to Dr Manav?'
'Yes.'
'All of it?' asked Khushi her eyes wide open.
When Anjali nodded, Khushi exclaimed, 'So you know about Dr Manav having
feelings for you?'
'Yes Khushi.'
'What are you going to do, Di?
'I don't know Khushi,' Anjali said with
trepidation. 'He is my best friend. I don't want to lose what we have. I am not
sure I am worthy of him.'
'Di,' Khushi said holding her hand, 'Believe me.
The video doesn't do justice to what Dr Manav feels about you. He has been in
love with since college. But maybe it was not meant to be then. But please
don't throw away this chance at happiness. No one deserves it more than you do.'
'Thanks Khushi'.. I '
Just then Akash came into tell Khushi that she
was expected backstage for her entry cutting off Anjali.
'Don't worry Di,' Khushi said as she gave a
quick hug to Anjali. 'Everything will be alright.'
As Anjali watched Khushi retreating back, she
thought to herself that there was indeed no better girl for her brother other
than Khushi.
Ten minutes later, as Khushiwalked the ramp and
stood in front the hundreds of people who had gathered there, memories of the
days she would sit down with her pencil and paper and doodled designs, dreaming
about making it big one day, flashed in front of her.
But right now all she could think of was Arnav.
Her dreams meant nothing to her without him. She had a constant pain in her
heart that she carried since the time Arnav had walked out on her. It would
just not go away. She was afraid she was stuck with it for the rest of her
life.
With a sigh she turned away and walked to the
rear of ramp where she waited for Akash to join her so she could walk back with
him. When she saw a dark profile of a man, her heart began its erratic
dhak-dhak and suddenly she was wary. When he stepped out of the shadow Khushi
felt like her heart had dropped to her feet. It was Arnav!
His eyes swept her from top of her head covered
by the beautiful chunri, moving down to the maangteeka adorning her forehead,
down to her beautiful almond shaped eyes to her lush rosy lips, quivering with
trepidation. His eyes then skimmed her swan like neck was adorned by her
mangalsutra interspersed into the ornate necklace stopping at the gentle swell
of her breasts just above the neckline of her miniscule choli. Moving down, his
eyes darkened as he saw her midriff completely exposed, emphasising the curve
of her tiny waist, from the point her blouse ended to the waistband of her
lehenga, just below her navel.
If Khushi didn't know how beautiful she looked
when she looked in the mirror earlier, she knew now. She could see it in his
eyes.
'Arnav'.ji?' she whispered. 'What '.what are you
doing here?' she stuttered.
'I believe it is customary for the owner to be
present as his own fashion event.' He said, smoothly hiding the turmoil he felt
inside.
'But ---' Khushi said in confusion.
'Later Khushi,' He said holding out his hand. 'I
think everyone is waiting for us to make an appearance.'
Khushi took his hand nonplussed at the sudden
turn of events, walking back with him to the front of the ramp in a daze. As
the camera began flashing in frenzy, Arnav addressed the audience with the mike
that had been handed over to him.
'Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am here to
present to you, my wife, Mrs Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada ' the designer
of AR's bridal collection you saw today.'
Khushi looked up at Arnav surprized at his
announcement.He went on. 'I would also like to take this opportunity to
announce that she will be starting a new ethnic clothing line called ---Khushi --- I hope we will receive the
same patronage we have been receiving from you so far.'
As Khushi stood rooted at the spot unable to
react to the happenings, Arnav concluded, 'Thank you for listening ladies and
gentlemen. I will let you enjoy the rest of the evening.'
Arnav walked Khushi back amidst raging applause and
as they stepped back stage Khushi saw Anjali, Manav, Payal and Akash waiting
for them.
'Congratulations Khushi!' exclaimed Anjali as
she took her in a warm hug. Khushi still couldn't believe what had just
transpired. Why was Arnav doing all this? They had to talk.
As the three couples sat down to dinner, Arnav
was constantly hounded by the press for an interview. As he was busy answering
their questions, there was an announcement.
'This is a song request dedicated to a beautiful
lady in remembrance of her favourite brown eyed hero.' The man with the mike
said. 'I would like to request all couples to grace the dance floor with their
presence.'
'Shall we?' said Arnav holding out his hand to
her as he stood up.
As the music began wafting out into the room, Khushi
placed her hand on his and shesuddenly realized that it was Arnav who had
requested for the song. It was the song Saans
from the new movie Jab TakHainJaan.He took her out onto the dance floor, whirling
her into the mass of couples. His hand slid, fingers splayed, around her waist,
intimately, possessively, on the small of her back.
Saans mein teri
Saans mili toh
Mujhe saans aayi
Mujhe saans aayi
Mujhe saans aayi
Khushi looked up at him as their bodies came
together, touched briefly, and parted. She looked up and he stole her breath.
His black hair spilled on his forehead in a free fall of silky strands. His
chocolate eyes glittered with specks of gold. His body glided next to hers,
barely touching, skin sliding against skin, their bodies brushing intimately.
Rooh ne
chooli
Jism ki khushboo
Tujo paas aayi
Tujo paas aayi
Tujo paas aayi
Arnav's eyes held hers captive. She couldn't
look away from him. Didn't want to look away from him. She wanted to be lost
there for all time, in the heat of his caramel orbs. The music move through
them, over them, surrounded them with passion. As he whirled her close, holding
her against him for several heartbeats, his hand caressed her waist, finding creamy
skin along the edges of the material of her lehenga.
Fire race through her, flames licking over skin
like tiny fiery tongues. He drew her close again, into the shelter of his arms,
their bodies swaying in perfect accord to the music. Khushi was grateful to the
pulsing light that helped in hiding the couples on the large dance floor. Her
body moulded itself to Arnav's every step they rubbed against one another, her
breasts aching against the heavy muscles of his chest, as his hands skimmed
around and began to caress the side of her waist.
She turned her head from his shoulder, making a
move to detach herself from Arnav.
'Relax Khushi,' he whispered in her ear as his
mouth brushed against her neck. They moved apart, swayed together, and then he
pulled her into his hardness. Her entire body clenched in reaction. Her breath
rushed out of her lungs.
Arnav held her there while his body moved to the
lilting beat of the music. Each movement sent lightning arcing through his
bloodstream as he came in contact with her soft, yielding body.
He knew he had a lot to sort out between them.
Tell her everything she needed to hear. He wanted to treat her the way she
deserved. But his body went up in flames the moment he was with her. Not just
flames but a firestorm burning out of control. Hot and bright and dangerous.
The moment he had heard her breath catching in
her throat, saw her eyes go sultry he knew he would lose every restraint, his
every control around her. She was so damned sexy, so hot it was going to get
dangerous'..
The music was ending, the last notes dying away,
as Arnav bent his head to capture her lips. The next
number was loud and noisy bringing them back to reality. Khushi stepped back,
turned around and ran through the mass of bodies away from Arnav.
I feel motivated to
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