Chapter 4

Arnav was late for the first time today. It was the first day of the fashion week, and not just AR Designs but many other big and small design houses were participating. The week had been planned in such a way that, during the afternoons until early evening, there would be exhibition-ry stalls from each company, where buyers and media could view the collections up close. In the evenings, the actual fashion shows would take place, with models walking the ramp in some of the most exclusive and signature pieces from every designer.

Although this was not something Arnav was unfamiliar with, he was used to hosting solo events under his own brand, where he had full control. Events where nothing began until he arrived.

But today was different.

The first segment had already started half an hour ago, but his design team had delayed sending the prints of the new collection. He shouldn’t have been surprised, though. In the past five years, they had not managed to do a single thing right. Only Dhruv could handle them…

He shook his head sharply, as if that single name had the power to ruin his focus. He would not think about him. Not now.

With his file open in his hands, scanning the designs, Arnav walked hurriedly on the short path that led from the parking area to the main hall. His eyes were still scanning through the pages as he turned a corner and collided with something soft. Or rather, someone.

A faint scent of jasmine filled the air, sharp enough to pull his attention away from everything else.

“Oof. Aap dekh kar nahi chal sakte kya (Can’t you see where you’re walking)?”

That Familiar voice. His heartbeat quickened, skipping one beat in between.

He looked up.

And time stood still.

The noise of the crowd at the far end of the corridor faded, replaced by a single heartbeat that seemed to echo in his ears. The file slipped slightly from his hand as he looked at the woman standing in front of him. Staring at him in a mirrored shocked expression.

It was Khushi.

And those were the same words. The exact same words she had said that day.

When they first met.

.

Flashback 5 years ago:

He had been edgy that morning, a nervous anticipation keeping him restless. Because after years of refusal, his Nani had finally given him his mother’s diary. The one his mother had written in her final months, the only piece of her he still craved to understand.

He had wanted to read it in peace, in his office, away from the world.

So, clutching the diary close, he climbed the short flight of steps to AR Designs when someone rushed around the corner and crashed into him.

The diary flew out of his grasp, as well as a file that person was holding, and papers scattered across the floor.

A folded white envelope that had slipped from the diary was amongst that. That envelope carried a letter he had no idea was there, and it was addressed to him. It had gotten mixed with that person’s papers.

His eyes were fixed on the person in front of him. A girl to be precise.

“Aap dekh kar nahi chal sakte kya (Can’t you see where you are going)?” she had asked in an irritated voice.

He felt his own temper rise. How dare she ask him this when it was her fault? But even in that angry-state, he had noticed her eyes… large and hazel, looking up at him through a curtain of disheveled hair.

“Don’t know how you got a job in this big company. Ek toh hamara aaj interview hai aur aap (It’s my interview today and)-“ she continued her tirade, her voice slightly trembling. His eyes followed her movements, her feeble attempts to hold her dupatta in place as she gathered all the papers around.

Her innocence had unsettled him in a way he could not explain.

But soon, he got up and had turned away, walking through the glass doors without another glance.

“Arre! Sorry toh bol do!” she had said after his back, but he had ignored it.

It was another story that when she actually came for the interview and saw him along with Dhruv on the panel, she had looked like a scared deer. Especially when he had sat there looking all grumpy and deadpan. And when he pointed out that she had applied for a designer’s job without even having a formal degree yet, her eyes had almost filled with tears.

It was Dhruv who had taken over from there. Speaking softly. Managing to make her smile. He was anyway good with all that.

And she had been hired.

He never got a chance to tell her that after meeting her that day, he had forgotten all about reading his mother’s diary until much later.

End of flashback

.

Arnav watched as the same pair of hazel eyes displayed plethora of emotions. Shock, disbelief, fear and then a masked indifference!

“Sorry.” “Sorry.” They both said at the same time. And then for a moment no one moved.

Arnav took his fill to look at her face. Time had done her good. He let his gaze linger, unwilling to look away just yet. The innocence he once remembered was still there, but now there was maturity as well. Her face had sharpened slightly. The soft curves of her cheeks had given way to the fine grace of a woman who had learned to hold her own. A strand of hair had escaped her bun, brushing against her face as she tucked it back behind her ear. She wore a pale green saree, simple yet elegant, with no attempt to impress anyone. She didn’t need to.

And then she stepped aside, her eyes no longer meeting his. Without another glance, she walked away.

Just like he had that day.

.

When he entered the main hall, the lights hit his face, pulling him back into the present. There was some opening speech by a minister while a couple of other government officials were on the stage. His seat was reserved in the first row, along with CEOs and CFOs from the other big design houses. The second and third rows were filled with representatives from smaller companies, followed by the media section, and finally, the general audience seated at the back.

Anjali waved him over from the front row, where she sat beside Shyam. Arnav walked towards them, adjusting his blazer, pretending to be as composed as ever.

“You’re late. All ok?” Anjali whispered as he sat down.

“Hmm.” he said flatly, eyes already scanning the audience, pretending to focus on the designs displayed on the sides of the hall. But his mind was elsewhere. Looking for a face, he had pretended to hate for past 5 years, and it had taken only one accidental collision to remind him that he still needed her like air.

He was still lost in those thoughts when a familiar voice came from behind. “Looking for me, ASR?”

Lavanya.

He turned, catching sight of her standing just a step away, poised and radiant in a sleek ivory gown.

He didn’t say anything. She didn’t seem to mind it, like always.

“Are you nervous?” she teased, seating beside him.

“No.” he replied.

“Of course, you never are.” she said softly, turning her gaze back to the stage.

.

Soon, there was a break announced for refreshments, and everyone began getting up from their seats. The crowd broke out in chatter and people started finding known faces to mingle with.

Arnav too stood up as someone from the dias came to greet him. With half paid attention, he gave a nod to that person and once again, scanned the crowd.

And then he found her.

At the far corner of the second row, looking at something on the side of the stage.

But then his eyes caught the figure beside her, and he froze.

Dhruv. The person who always took every happiness away from him!

He was standing just next to her, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, guiding her away from the chaos. To anyone else, it might have looked harmless, like a husband leading his wife away from the crowd. But to Arnav, it was a mockery, like Dhruv staking a claim on her! Again.

His fists clenched.

The old ache rose up again… the betrayal, the humiliation. Those endless questions that had never found answers.

Why had she betrayed him? Why had she found solace in Dhruv’s arms while pretending to make promises of a lifetime with him? Why hadn’t she taken even a day to stop, to explain, to fight for what they had? She had simply held Dhruv’s hand and walked away. From his house and his life.

.

.

Khushi had stepped out of the hall to answer a call. The signal inside had been weak, and she needed a few moments of quiet away from the lights and noise. She could hear the faint sound of the music mixed with people’s chitchat from inside the hall as she picked up the call. It was her amma. As always, she was reminding Khushi to eat on time, rest well, take care of herself and of Dhruv…as if she needed a daily reminder of the life she had chosen.

She had just ended the call when she turned and froze.

There stood a man she was not ready to face, a few steps away, with his eyes fixed on her. The suddenness of it made her breath hitch and her face went pale, her fingers tightening around the phone.

“I want to talk to you.” he said.

She felt a tremor run through her. She was not prepared herself for this, not today, not ever. Her eyes darted instinctively towards the hall, searching for Dhruv. He was somewhere inside, surrounded by people and she was alone there.

Trying to steady herself, she took a small breath and said, “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

He noticed how her eyes had searched for Dhruv before answering and it stung more than he wanted to admit.

“I just want answers, Khushi. Tell me, why did you do it?”

Her eyes displayed disbelief, aghast at his audacity and timing. “Answers? Really, Mr. Raizada? Isn’t it too early to ask for them? Or should I say a little too late? Aap 5 saal late ho gaye hain, Mr. Raizada.” She said and made to move, “It is very important day for me and my husband, excuse me.”

“Khushi, stop it.” His voice cracked slightly as he commanded her to stop. “Tell me, how can you be so calm when I’ve been drowning in misery for years. How can you be so happy when I -I feel like- why Khushi?”

For a moment she just stared at him. There was incredulity in her eyes first, then something like pain, then anger, and finally a kind of stillness that frightened him more than any words could.

And just when he thought she was going to say something, she again changed her mind and turned to leave.

He quickly stepped forward and caught her hand. “Khushi! You can’t leave without answering me.”

Her eyes flashed as she pulled her hand free with sudden force. “You have no right to touch me, Mr. Raizada. Stay in your limit.”

The warning made him stumble a little, if suddenly made to bear a merciless blow! He took a step back, accepting defeat.

But she was not done crushing him, “Kyun dein hum aapko koi jawab (Why should I tell you anything)? Ab kyun? Tab toh aapne faisla suna diya tha, hum par ungli uthayi thi bina hum par vishwas kiye (you gave the decision then, raised a finger towards me, without trusting me).” Her voice trembled, but her eyes did not waver.

He didn’t know what to say when she reminded; recounted his own sins like that.

The way he had been mad in rage, the way he had questioned her in front of everyone, the way she stood silently had made him even more angry. And the final blow when he asked her to tell in front of all what she and Dhruv were doing or leave. And she left. With Dhruv!

Her voice reached through his foggy mind, “You saw what you wanted to see, Arnavji. You believed what you wanted to believe. So better stay with that as your truth now. Because as you can see, my life has moved on in five years.” She said quietly, almost gently, and this time she left without giving him a chance to make her stay.

Like that night.

Arnav stood there, watching her go, his hand still half raised as if trying to hold onto something that had long slipped away.

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A/N - Eager to hear what you think, what are your theories on the past and any feedback on the story so far. Thanks for reading!