~2~

~2~

2 March 2012

The dull hum of his phone vibrating on the bedside table of Suite 110 woke him up from his dreamless slumber. He stretched out his hand and answered the phone without looking at the caller ID.

"Chotte..."

As his mom's voice came through the phone, Arnav opened his eyes wide and looked at the clock. Of course, it was 7 as usual.

"Maa."

She gave a sigh.

"So you are alive."

"Maa... please not again"

"How long chotte? How long should I wait?"

"Maa... It's not your fault..."

"Then why am I paying for it?"

He groaned a little as he heard her pained voice.

"You know you can come to me."

"You know I won't..."

"Maa..."

"He is sorry, Chotte... sorry for everything... he just wants you back..."

"You know I won't..."

She swallowed in a sob with great difficulty as he repeated her words. Hearing her muffled sob, he felt his throat choke too. He loved her, if only things weren't so complicated.

"You know it's not only him..."

"You are not wrong."

"I am. Nothing can change that. I went against my instincts. How is Di?"

"Like always... she is busy with the NGO work. You would have read about it in the papers yesterday."

"I did, Maa... But the papers don't say how she is really..."

"You could talk to her. She would like that."

"I can't... I really can't..."

"Chotte, have you ever considered the possibility that talking might help."

"She... I can't face her..."

"Chotte, people say a lot of things when hurt..."

"Maa... please..."

"Alright, I'll stop..."

"Ratna..."

Arnav clenched his fists in anger at the sound if that voice.

"Chotte, I need to go now."

"Is she still bullying you?"

"Chotte..."

"I have built a big house, I am offering that to you... Nani is there, Mamaji is there... Your family who loves you is there... and yet you don't want to come... why Maa, why?"

"You know I can't leave your father... he is very weak... the doctor says he hasn't got long to live... I can't just..."

"Ratnaaa... where are you lazing at this time of the day?"

"Coming SaasuMaa... Chotte, I..."

"Yea yea... you have to leave to serve your master..."

He cut her rather harshly. She sighed.

"I love you..."

She said in a soft voice and cut the call. He punched the pillow on his bed irritated with the way things were as an unshed tear glistened in his eye. He wondered immediately how his clients would react if they were to see this side of him. He needed to get his guise on. The world should never know this side of him. To the world he was strong, he was invincible, he was ruthless, he was powerful.... He was Arnav Singh Raizada.

***

Two hours later, he was sitting in his cabin going through his files waiting for his manager to come and give him his briefing. Anyone who looked at him would have found nothing out of ordinary. Anyone except his cousin who was dearer than any friend had ever been to him... Aakash. 

"Bhai..."

"Aakash... is Aman not in yet? Isn't it time for him to show up?"

"He came in half an hour before you did. I sent him to check the status on the legal side of the Singhania deal. He will be back soon."

"Good."

"How are you, Bhai?"

Arnav looked up at his concerned face.

"Great. So, what about the Mishra merger?"

"Mishra has scheduled a meeting to discuss. I can handle it. I know you are not really great. You haven't yet come home. Dadi wanted to talk to you. Here..."

He whisked out his phone and dialed her number and placed the phone on his ear before Arnav could protest. He just glared at him.

"Chotte..."

The voice so much like his mother yet so different reached his ear.

"Nani..."

"How are you?"

"I am fine, Nani. How are you?"

"Perfectly lonely in this huge palace you have built for me."

"Nani... I..."

"Yea yea, you won't come until my stupid daughter gets some sense. Did you talk to her?"

"Yes."

"Same story again?"

"Yes"

"She won't ever change. Wish I had taught her to have some spine in addition to that large heart or whatever she has."

"Nani... Maa..."

"Don't you dare defend her. I know my daughter and her stubbornness. I am going to meet Anjali today. Will you come?"

"I can't..."

"Stubborn just like your mother. Did you eat?"

"Yes."

"Lying... yet again. Manorama has cooked breakfast for you. Eat it."

"Okay... Mami?"

"Manoramaaa... your bitwa wants to talk..."

In 2 minutes, he heard her voice.

"Hello Hi, Bitwa..."

"Thanks."

"Don't say that and make me a stranger..."

"Ok"

There was an awkward silence before she said

"I'll send you lunch with Aakash's. You need to eat, Hello Hi Bye Bye."

"Ok"

"Bye Bye"

"Bye"

He gave the phone back to Aakash who giggled seeing his face.

"What's the deal between you and Maa? You always have this weird look on your face when you talk to her."

"Shut up. Where is this... Ah here he comes. Come in."

In entered Aman, Arnav's personal manager, the one he trusted with his life.

"Good morning, ASR"

"Where were you?"

Aakash rolled his eyes at his tone. Aman looked back at him calmly and answered 

"At King and Co. There seems to be some complications in the Singhania deal. Mr. Sharma said he will send his junior today afternoon to explain the legalities."

"Junior? Why can't he come himself?"

"Because his wife is in the hospital."

"He could have sent a senior lawyer then. Any meetings now?"

"You have a meeting with Iro regarding the designs you sent in about 15 mins. They had mentioned in their email that they would like to collaborate with us for their fashion show next month."

Arnav stood up and buttoned his coat.

"Right, let's move to the conference room. Give me up to date stock details of them on the way..."

"Bhai, your breakfast."

He stopped, took the tiffin Aakash handed him without a word and left the room.

***

Three hours later, Arnav walked towards his cabin satisfied with the deal he had just sealed. As he entered, his eyes fell on the big lunch bag right at the center of his table and his eyes lit up. He locked his door and drew down the blinds. Marching quickly to the table, he eagerly undid the zipper of the bag and took out the tiffin box and just as he had expected, there was a little yellow paper beneath it. With trembling hands he opened it to see two sketches. On his left there was a sketch of a little boy handing a heart shaped balloon to a girl decked up as a bride and to his left was a middle aged woman giving the same balloon to a young man. He felt his throat tighten. Of course he remembered the little boy in the sketch very well. It was him and the sketch happened on the day of his Mamaji and Mami's wedding. After everyone had left, he had caught her alone in a corner crying. Being only four, he hadn't been able to understand why she was crying when just a few hours back she was beaming with happiness. Seeing none of the adults nearby, he had gone to her and given the balloon he was carrying hoping she would stop crying. Her tears hadn't stopped but her lips had lifted up a little. From then on, he had been her most favorite person at home. She had never learnt to read or write but had often slipped these little sketches whenever his Nani or Mamaji sent him letters. Ever since they had shifted to Shantivan, the house he had built, her yellow notes had become an everyday thing. He had never told her how much those notes meant to him but he knew in his heart that they were the ones that kept him standing when his entire world tumbled apart. He looked at the sketch and carressed it with his thumb, his heart lifting up reading her message of love in her little sketch. Carefully he opened his locker and placed it in along with the ones he had collected over the years. He would never be able to thank her enough, he reckoned as he sat down to have the meal she had prepared for him.

***

Lunch done, he sat down to check details regarding the fashion event they were attending in 2 days when the intercom rang. He picked it up

"Yes Aman"

"She is here..."

"She, who? Be clear, Aman... How many times..."

"The girl from King and Co. Shall I bring her up?"

Arnav huffed as he interrupted.

"Ok. Bring her in."

He heard their footsteps soon enough and he looked up to see his manager at the door. He motioned him to enter in. He stood up and cleared his desk as they entered in.

"ASR, this is Ms. Gupta, the legal representative from King and Co."

"Hello, Ms..."

He looked up and the words dried in his throat for in front of him stood what he could only describe as a beautiful nymph. Being in the fashion industry, he had had the opportunity to interact with various beautiful women and because of his success, many women were eager to interact with him but no one that he could remember could ever match the beauty standing in front of him. Her attire though simple fit her perfectly. Her beautiful doe eyes seemed to call to his soul. The man who was known for his utmost self control was losing himself willingly and he couldn't scratch that didn't really want to control it. There was a mysterious charm about her that was so alluring and so enchanting that all he could do was stand like a fool with his mouth open. Seeing the state of his boss, Aman coughed a bit.

"Uh... ASR... this..."

Arnav broke out his reverie to see both the girl and his manager looking at him. Trying not to make a complete fool of himself, he said

"Sorry guys, I was lost in a deal. Welcome to AR designs, Ms... uh... Ms..."

"Gupta... Khushi Kumari Gupta..."

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Khushi..."

He extended his hand. She folded her hands together.

"I prefer being called by my surname, thank you."

He looked taken aback but withdrew his hand and nodded curtly.

"Yes, Ms. Gupta. As you wish. Please have a seat. What would you like to have? Tea or coffee?"

"Nothing. I am here to explain the legalities of the deal. Let's get it done with as soon as we can. I need to leave early."

"Ok... You can leave now, Aman..."

"WHY?"

Both Aman and Arnav looked confused at her startled expression. 

"Sorry, Ms. Gupta... I didn't get you"

"Why must he leave?"

"Well, we can discuss the legal details together. He isn't really needed here."

"I prefer not to be alone with you... I mean any man... or woman... yeah... uh... for the sake of... uh... you know... uh... witness in case of something..."

She babbled. 

"We don't need any witness... We can record this meeting if you like..."

"No... I was supposed to come with my colleague but she couldn't make it. Mr. Sharma also advices us not to do things alone. I insist him or anyone from your office staying in the room."

Arnav clicked his tongue in frustration. Here he was happily dreaming of a few happy hours alone with the beauty and now he had to share. Plenty of girls would give anything to be alone with him for 5 minutes and here this girl was insisting that she needed someone else in the room. Well, he reckoned, better his manager than anyone else considering he could atleast ogle peacefully in his presence.

"Alright, Aman stay and take notes..."

Aman nodded his lips twitching as he saw the mighty ASR giving in. They sat down and Khushi took out the papers from her bag and started explaining in detail about the deal mentioning the loopholes and mistakes in each point. Arnav, sitting in front of her pretended hard to listen while in reality, his mind was in a faraway land in the midst of an enchanted forest with her in his arms. He hardly heard what she was saying. His manager had to clear his throat often to get him respond to her questions. It was around 7.30 pm when Khushi stood up and closed her pen.

"So that's it. I'll inform Mr. Sharma on the changes and incorporate them. Thanks for the time Mr. Malhotra."

"Huh?"

Arnav looked at her confused why she was thanking Aman.

"Well, he was the one who actually listened and gave valid points. You were dreaming about something."

He grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry..."

His eyes met hers and time suddenly stood still for both of them. She had been dreading meeting him ever since Mr. Sharma had given her the task. She had never truly gotten over him though it had been more than a year. She had tried to completely forget him but his rise to fame had made it impossible. He was in the news every other day and when King and Co had decided to become AR designs legal partner, she had had to sit and listen to every single detail of his dealings. She had heard all about his transition from Arnav Malik to the great Arnav Singh Raizada and had wondered if he would remember her, the girl he had rejected when they meet. Apparently he did not and if her instincts were to be believed, he was attracted to her. She felt her heart flutter as the passionate fire in his eyes glowed burning every bit of her. Seeing them lost in each other and not wanting to be a hurdle to them, Aman silently moved out of the room. The soft click of the door locking brought Khushi out of her reverie. She shook her head to clear her mind, gathered her things and said

"It's time I left..."

"When will I see you again?"

"NEVER."

She answered too quickly. Looking at his startled look, she said

"I mean... you will be hearing from Mr. Sharma regarding the deal."

"Oh... not the deal... uh... maybe... uh... I can see you for coffee or ice creams sometime..."

She felt her stomach do a somersault. He was asking her out. She bit her lip. She had to be strong.

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I am no match to you."

"Pardon?"

"I am sorry, Mr. Raizada. I have to leave."

She turned to leave. He couldn't understand what was wrong, if his instincts were right as they always were, she looked equally smitten by him.

"But Khushi..."

She looked back at him.

"It's Ms. Gupta for you Mr. Raizada. Have a great day. Thank you."

With that she left. He watched her go his heart longing to follow her yet he knew the right thing to do was to let her go. So he stood still doing the right thing as his heart broke with every step she took away from him.

***

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