Chapter 7

I gasped at Mr. Kapoor shocked, "uncle? Are you serious? Tomorrow! But I just found out today and I need to rehearse, how am I going…" I stopped and frowned; this was going to be hard, I hadn't even gotten the song or the lyrics, than how suddenly? I glance back at Uncle and open my mouth to speak only to find it speechless. "Yes my dear, I know you have not gotten the lyrics, but that's how the newcomer wanted it, he wanted to see how well you can do this without glancing at the lyrics beforehand, although he loves your voice, and the emotions expressed through your singing he wants to see how professional you are! That is why he has called you to sing with him around 11 a.m. in the morning, so don't be late, and now I think you should better get going otherwise Aaliyah will run in here, grab you by the arm and run off!" he chuckled slightly under his breath at the thought of that. I glare at him and excuse myself, placing a soft kiss on his cheek, "bye uncle!"

"So what was that all about?" Aaliyah questioned as we walked towards the cafeteria. I sigh, "its nothing crazy, just that I got selected for singing a song with a singer; and I start tomorrow, of course without any early knowledge of the lyrics, the rhythm or anything else so I'm pretty much, happy and yet disappointed with how this is shaping up," my voice rang casually. Aaliyah throws me a glance and than startles me with her random "yay yous!" I laugh heartedly and smile at her, "congratulations Kripa, but I have a request" I nod slightly as my eyes narrow, "can I come with you?" I hit her head playfully as I reply to her childlike questions, "of course, is that anything you need to ask?" She scrutinizes her nose, and nods negatively.

"And this of course is the lounge, hmm I know you will have a lovely time here, especially with my company, of course, after all I am the one and only Armaan Smexci Mallik!" I glare at Armaan and walk away slowly, hoping that the conceited fellow lost in his own thoughts would not notice my sudden disappearance. Chuckling silently under my breath, I turn around only; once again turning around to find him gone, I frown. He was just there, and in seconds he disappeared; at times he made me feel like he was the love of my life Edward Cullen. I turn around again, thinking I lost him but frown. There he stood in front of me, yet just centimeters away from my face; "and where do you think your going beautiful?" I stutter as his cold breath his my face, knocking my thoughts out of place, "n…no wh..where!" the words forced themselves out.

His face lifts into a wide smile, "of course you were looking for me, were you not? Hmm, thinking I left, well sweetie, I don't leave pretty woman like you so early! Especially without a glance at those daggers you call eyes!" I throw him a look; and turn around swiftly to walk away, but then that was something I shouldn't have expected from him. He took a hold of my wrist, and pulled me back so I hit his warm and hard chest. "going somewhere again beautiful?" I frown and elbow him as hard as I could. Instead of hurting I hurt myself, somehow he dodged and my arm hit the wall.

I winced in pain, while the conceited fellow watched in horror, "are you okay riddz?" I grab my elbow in pain, and squeal a few times; "do I look like I am okay, you pagal, idiot donkey, ghende?" I scream yet once again, until I feel the slightest touch on my elbow, I glance up and find him concentrating on how to make the pain vanish. Just one look at his now worried face, took my breath away, my heart beat accelerated rapidly; I could feel it thump against my chest much louder and was positive he must have heard it. Five minutes later I feel myself lost in his powerful gaze; "do you feel better, riddz?" I nod slightly, let loose and run away. My my did he have a powerful control on me, I was bound to loose it sometime soon; if only he didn't realize that with my running away; that had to be the stupidest make I had made so far.

"Hiya bhaiyya! Are you busy?" I ask questioning bhai on the phone. "Hello Kripa, no, actually I'm just pulling towards the academy, will be there in about two minutes; sorry for the wait baby." his voice coming through tensed. "No problem bhaiyya and thank you!" I speak calmly and full of happiness; hoping that maybe it will make him feel better. I hear happiness lift through the sudden tension in his voice and smile as he says, "I'm here!" Shutting my phone I walk towards his car and set myself down slowly. The drive back home I continuously glanced at his face every now and then hoping to hear him express what was wrong all of the sudden; but he didn't speak a word. Sighing, I request him to pull over near the park; he reluctantly does. "let's go for a walk dada-bhai!" he glances at me and steps out.

"So bhaiyya, how much do you love me?" I ask casually. He stops and frowns, "Kripa you know I love you more than anything, you mean a lot to me. The day I found out I had a baby sister 9 years younger than me I was so happy to know I was going to have a little sister; over the years I treated you as my daughter; always younger and innocent. Everything about you dear makes me smile, except for your tears. You know you mean a lot to me; I am not trying to be biased but I love you more than my own kids because you tend to sacrifice your happiness for others, you always want to see them smile and I love you for who you are; do I have to explain more how much I love you, or in simple terms let me put it for you; I love you so much I am willing to sacrifice my life for you!"

I nod slightly hoping to make the lump in the back of my throat disappear; and blink my eyes furiously to stop the tears forcing to trickle down my cheeks. Karan bhai turns towards me and realizes what he just did; "I think I made you cry when I wanted to see you happy, I'm sorry baby!" he pulls me into a soft hug, and places a kiss on my forehead, as my hold on him gets tighter; through my muffled voice I speak, "bhai than what is it that your tensed about; I can tell when my dada-bhai is worried, wont you tell your daughter the truth?" I lift my head to watch the shock cross his eyes, he nods slightly and begins.

"Kripa, the problem is, I have a meeting tomorrow at 11 o'clock here with Fashion Rox company however, I am leaving tonight to Delhi for another meeting; I tried to get dad to go but he can't as he isn't feeling so well and you know that too sweetie; I tried rescheduling the meeting but they refuse to wait any longer. I have no clue what to do and how to do it; I am lost. One way or the other, our company is going to suffer from one loss" his voice came out in broken frustration.

"Bhai, don't be silly we can get this done; I know the basics of this company and I'll go through the file tonight, you head off to Delhi and I'll take care of this meeting; you know we both can handle it, and such a little thing; you were tensed about; bhai you are going to give me a heart attack some day!" my voice full of happiness; I had helped somehow even though it meant loosing the one chance I had to sing a hit; I kicked myself mentally for thinking about myself before my family and flash dada-bhai another smile.

"No Kripa, you are not going and that is final!" his voice came out sharp and stern; "but why bhai, it's simple, I can handle it!" he smiles but then his mouth drops; "I don't want you to because tomorrow you are singing, so that's final you go sing and I'll try to find a solution!" I nod negatively, "bhai wont you let me do this one thing! And I can reschedule; even if I miss out on this chance there are more chances!"

After a lot of persuasion bhai finally let me go although he wasn't very happy about how this was working it out…

"hmmm, so what is this new girls name again? I glance towards my manager; and frown, there she was that ugly chimpanzee clingy Simran bending over. Ughh was it that hard to understand, I seriously didn't find any interest in her or that I don't like her! I groan and turn away from her hideous face glancing towards the time, 10:50 a.m., and the new girl still wasn't here. This was going to get complicated, I expect all newcomers to come early at least twenty minutes early; they loved sucking up but this one looked like she would be tough to crack. Thirty minutes passed and she didn't show up; one thing Angad Khanna could not stand were ditchers and late commers....frustrated by her late arrival rather no arrival at all; i barge out of the office and head home.

To be continued on Monday! thanx everyone for the comments glad you like this ff - sukhi