Chapter 1

I have started a new OS. It has 2 parts. This is sort of a sequel to my last SS: A New Life

There was so much to do. She had a meeting with Carlton's in a week regarding the collaboration. This was her first international collaboration and Khushi had a lot of things to prepare. However, today was a much better day, Khushi thought. She had to meet with Sapna( her secretary) later in the afternoon to finalise some things. But the whole morning was hers to spend with her family. "Family minus Arnav", She thought sadly.

Khushi walked up the stairs with some fruit and juice. As she entered her room, the sight she saw puzzled her.

"Tara, Come on. Have some fruit. You haven't had much for breakfast either.'' Khushi started.

''Shhh...'' replied a very annoyed Tara.

"What the!"

"Ek minute, Aman." Tara whispered and turned around to address her mother. " Mom, Not now. I am busy."

"What do you mean you are busy? asked Khushi. " What are you doing anyways?" unable to contain her curiosity. "How can a 3^1/2 yr old girl be busy?'' wondered Khushi, with her hands on her hips .

"Can't you see? I am in middle of meeting. talk to you later." Tara replied and turned back to address her teleconference on the laptop.

" Jhin winke plause detors" Tara said to her imaginary delegates.

''Foreign delegates honge. Bilkul apne baap pe gayi hai'' (Talking to foreign delegates, Is she? So like her dad!) Khushi mumbled. It was true. She was such a mirror image of him, Khushi admired as Tara continued talking to her imaginary delegates on the laptop.

"Kya hua, Khushi bitiya?''(What happened, Khushi bitiya?) asked Nani seeing a smiling Khushi walking down the stairs. ''Tara beti ne nahi khaya?'' (Didn't she eat?)

"Oh Naniji, Aapki Tara beti teleconference kar rahi hai'' (Oh Nani! Your grand daughter is busy on a Teleconference.) Khushi explained to the ladies of the house.

All of them burst out laughing. Half hour later Tara joined the ladies downstairs for her mid day snack.

"Meeting kaisa hua Tara beti?" ( How was your meeting, Tara Beti?) enquired Mamiji with a naughty grin.

"Good, Nani " replied Tara happily indulging in her favourite fruits. They had no trouble feeding her as she was very much a foodie, just like her mom.

Arnav had no time to freshen up before the party. He got delayed as the meeting with the Malhotra's dragged on longer than it should have. He honked as he reached RM.

Khushi was nowhere to be seen. He got down his car and entered RM to get her.

"Why can't she be ready on time? Why do women take so long to get ready for a party?" Arnav mumbled to himself. HP greeted him warmly not knowing how annoyed his master was today.

Arnav was stunned at the beautiful lady in front of him. All of his anger evaporated into thin air as he saw her. That was not very unusual either. She had that effect on him always.

"Where are you going, young lady?" he asked her, unable to curb the smile on his face.

"Dad, badi nani's party" she replied earnestly.

"badi nani's party???"

"Arnav bitwa, aap aagaye? Khushi bitiya, kab se aapka intezaar kar rahi hai.'' (Arnav, you have come? Khushi bitiya has been waiting for you.) said Nani spotting Arnav in the living room.

"Nani, Aap Tara ko kahin leke jaarahi hain kya?" ( Nani, Are you taking Tara somewhere?) enquired Arnav. Where could she go dressed up like this?, he wondered.

"Haan bitwa", Nani winked at Arnav. " Hum log ki private party hai. Hain na, Tara beti?"(Yes, dear. We are going to our private party, Aren't we, Tara Beti?) Nani said.

"Haan, Dad! Bina invite, kois nahi allowed."(Yes, Dad! No invite, No party!) informed Tara clearly telling him that he wasn't invited. He smiled at her. Khushi joined him as he stood there speechless. His daughter often did that to him, he realised especially since she started talking.

"Kya hua? Kitni pyaari lag rahi hain na?" ( What happened? Isn't she looking so lovely?) asked Khushi taking turn to admire her daughter.

"Khushi kumari gupta part 2 lag rahi hai! yeh kya kiya tumne??" ( She looks like Khushi Kumari Gupta part 2. What have you done?)

"Maine? Mere saath khadi hogayi aur itna pareshan kar rahi thi. kehne lagike bikul meri tarha taiyyar hona hai apne party ki liye. Paas wale kamre me party kar rahi hai naniji, Mamiji aur jiji ke saath aur 2 ghante leke taiyyar hui hai." ( Me? Your daughter wouldn't let go as she wanted to dress up just like me for her party. Just to party with Naniji, Mamiji and Jiji in the room downstairs, she took 2 hrs to dress up) explained Khushi.

Arnav smiled with pride. Who was he kidding? She looked adorable. And he was glad his daughter was as sanki as his crazy wife.

"Mr and Mrs Raizada! Nice to see you. Come on in", assured the Joshis. The Joshis had lot of dealings with Arnav and had become their friends. Khushi was not fond of business parties but now that she was in the business herself, she knew how important they were for networking.

It didn't take a long time for them to gather attention at the party. They soon were surrounded by many guests; some whom they knew and some others who wanted to know them. Khushi recognised a group of women chatting at the corner and walked to them leaving Arnav on his own. They were mostly wives of Arnav's business partners. They were highly active in the social circles and Khushi usually had nothing in common with them.

"Wow, Khushi. That's a lovely Saree? Is it from AR?" asked Mrs Pooja kapoor. Pooja was quite fond of shopping and regularly boasted about her shopping sprees when they met.

"Thanks Mrs Kapoor. I am not sure. I don't think this is from AR." Khushi replied sincerely.

"What do you mean, you don't know, Khushi? Surely, you must have bought it from an expensive designer if not from AR" asked Pooja in disbelief.

These things had never been important to Khushi. But she knew it would be impossible to explain it to someone like Mrs Kapoor. Yes, she loved the Saree as it was beautiful and was gifted to her by Arnav on their anniversary last year. That is all that mattered. She dodged the topic as she knew she would get nowhere.

Khushi pretended to enjoy their company...the ladies were discussing cosmetics next. "Mamiji should have been here, " thought Khushi.

His eyes scanned through the room for her. How he longed to see her! It had been almost an hour and he had not seen her. Mr Joshi and his other business associates got talking and Arnav was unable to steal a moment with Khushi. He finally spotted her standing with a few women, pretending to enjoy their company. He knew she had nothing in common with Swapna, kira or Rani. They were all socialites and attended at least 3-4 parties every week. Arnav felt sorry for her but he too was at the mercy of his business associates.

"Khushiji, Long time! How are you?" he greeted her.

Arnav frowned at the sight. Here he was standing a few metres away from her and yet unable to steal a few moments with her. "Who was this man?" he tried hard to see.

Arnav could make out she was truly happy to meet this man, whoever he was. She even hugged him. How could she! Arnav watched from the distance as Khushi happily chatted with the man.

"Arnav, why don't you try this wine? This one is a classic", suggested Rohit.

"Sure!" He took a glass in his hand and turned to look at her again. He needed the glass considering the situation, he thought.

He noticed Khushi smiling to herself lost in her thoughts. That man was nowhere to be seen. He was sure she was not smiling at the jokes being shared by the ladies around her. He knew it had something to do with the man she had just met. Arnav no longer felt good. Was he envious, he wondered. He knew he perhaps was being silly. He had no issues with Khushi befriending men at work but today she seemed delighted after meeting this man. This made him uncomfortable.

Part 2