Chapter 10
Khushi had ignored yet another call from Arnav Singh Raizada. She did not want to talk to him and if there was any work; she would deal with it on Monday in office. Sunday was one day she was not going to allow Arnav or this phone call to disturb her peace.
Ha! What peace. Every waking hour seemed to be filled with his thoughts, the way his lips felt, the way his skin felt, the way he smelt and the way he had held her. And when she was alseep it was even worse. She seemed hounded; with no reprieve. She was going to stay away from him going forward. She was not going to allow him to deviate from her goal. Her goal was to complete the order as per the timeline in accordance with the contract and then move on. She was not going to work with Arnav Singh Raizada or his company but for now she had to honor the contract for her father's instalments depended on it.
She dreaded going to the office on Monday but she had to finish the catalogue for the client who had liked the designs she had given Arnav. Friday at the office had been one cat and mouse game. Arnav trying to corner her for a minute alone and she doing everything in her power to avoid talking to him directly.
At one point she had even heard Lavanya asking Arnav to leave her alone and that he should be careful of hurting women the way he did for one day he would find himself in a situation he had put her into.
She had fled from there without hearing Arnav's reply. But she knew Lavanya looked at her with pity in her eyes. But still she could not say a word to her about what had happened between them. She felt too raw and torn inside to verbalise her dilemma of having fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada. Best thing for her would be to stay away from him and kept to her business.
Saturday evening she had started getting calls from Arnav and had resolutely avoided picking any of them. Today, was no different. There was nothing she wanted to hear from Arnav and taking his phone call was out of question; for she could not trust her heart to not melt with just one word from him.
Monday, found her warily looking around to see if Arnav was still around when one of the staff told her, "Boss toh chale gaye Delhi."
Sighing heavily, she got around to finishing up the catalogue and started working on the samples for the Diwali collection.
Busy in her work, she never heard the door open and close till she felt someone staring at her. She looked up smilingly thinking it to be one of the staff and it faded the minute her eyes clashed with Arnav.
"What are you doing here? Khushi asked.
"Correct me if I am wrong; this is my Boutique and I am free to come and go as I please." Arnav replied coldly; with hands folded and his feet in a stance that showed at ease, but the nerve working at the jaw was the give away that told of his contained rage.
"Sorry Sir, I meant is there anything I can help you with?" Khushi retracted immediately.
"Yes! By answering your phone." Arnav swooped at the opportunity to put her in a corner.
"I was busy. And I dont think after office hours, I need to take your calls Sir." Khushi supplied as an explanation.
Arnav's eyes narrowed and he moved towards her work desk. Frightened of what he might do, Khushi stood behind her car as if seeking protection.
Arnav stood on the other side of desk, placed is hands flat on the desk and looked at her straight in the eye and said, "Dammit! don't be scared, I am not going to hurt you."
"What do you know about hurt Arnav Singh Raizada and it would best if you leave unless you have come here to talk about work."
"I am telling you one last time Khushi, I want to speak with you and you will listen if not here, then somewhere, anywhere, but listen you will dammit." Arnav gritted through clenched teeth.
"Show your macho power to someone else Arnav Singh Raizada, I dont scare easy." Khushi announced her bravado.
Arnav finally losing his cool, went around the desk, took the handle of the chair and turned so that it rotated and Khushi had to let it go. He then took hold of her wrist and pulled it around her back and pulled her against him as he looked into her eyes and said, "Now, are you feeling scared, Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta?"
Unable to say anything Khushi simply shook her head and Arnav gave a wring to her wrist as he pulled her even closer. Wincing, Khushi bit her lip to stop from yelping and screwed her eyes shut and still shook her head.
"Not yet huh! Should I show you?" Arnav asked and ran a finger down her face and brought it to the corner of her lips which were trembling. "You are scared aren't you Khushi, scared of what I do to you, scared of what you feel, scared of what we feel."
Khushi unable to take contrast of a tight grip and soft touch and whispered words, had tears rolling down her cheeks from tightly closed eyes.
Arnav immediately let her wrist go and rubbed the sore spot saying, "Did I hurt you' You stubborn fool, why do you fight this Khushi, why are you fighting us?"
Khushi finding a slack in his grip, tried to escape but he caught hold of her and pinned her to the wall.
Khushi then murmured, "Please let me go, koi dekh lega toh kya kahega?"
"Maine sabko chutti de di Khushi, tum mera ek phone nahi uttha rahi thi, tum office mein mujhse bhagti phir rahi thi, phir mein karta toh bhi kya?" Arnav asked innocently.
Khushi looked at him blushing at the prospect of being alone with him in the boutique and everyone knowing about her and Arnav. She wished she could die from embarrassment.
"Khushi, please give us a chance, I don't make any promises but I want to get to know you. I want us to explore what we have and see where it takes us. Will you give me that chance? Will you?' Arnav asked earnestly.
Nodding her head for she did not know if her voice would cooperate, Khushi felt helpless as her heart seemed to be singing for joy at Arnav wanting to date her.
"Mein tumhein aaj shaam ko pick up karne aaonga, bahar jaayenge, khana khane aur tum mujhe Lucknow dikhana, apne andaaz mein. Manzoor?" Arnav asked her tilting her chin so that he could look into her eyes.
Smiling through her tears, Khushi nodded.
"Toh mein shaam ko saat baje lene aa jaaonga. Address file mein hai." once he got her consent, Arnav did not waste time and left her to finish her work.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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