OS - Dupatta, Part XIV, posted on 1/11 - Page 3

Just leave it as it is…A voice spoke from behind….Khushi looked up to see him standing….

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No no Sir, I will not do anything on her, she will not wear it on the ramp anyway I think…The tailor quickly replied, it was just an observation……

Arnav stood watching Khushi, who was frozen on the spot, from her feet to head, his eyes climbed studying her, resting briefly on her on her bosom, her lips and finally bore into her eyes, Khushi's eyes fluttered under the intense glance, she remembered the incident, her cheeks became red, with another smoldering glance, Arnav Singh Raizada turned and walked out of the room….

Bapre I thought he would strangle me any moment, Lavanya slumped down on the first available stool as he walked out….

And I thought he was going to devour your Chamkili on this very spot only we came in his way…Jazz observed to which most models nodded in agreement….

ASR aur Chamkili, what rub….Lavanya turned to look at Khushi, Khushi gave an embarrassed look and raised her hands, I told you Lavanyaji, aaj toh mai bach gayi , mujhe zindahi gar dete idharhi as he does not like me modeling his dresses, trying to hide her face from others reading Khushi turned ran towards the changing room….

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Arnav went back to his office, taking out the folder he opened the specific page and stared at his sketch, he smiled to himself, no he has not got it wrong, almost perfect measurements, he could have made the neck a bit more defined as the tailor was wanting but then it is Khushi, her modesty was something she guarded with her life, he recalled how a little while ago she was trying to cover her bosom with her dupatta when she saw him hovering over her….in age and time when girls were….

ASR, Akash entered with a brief knock, Arnav quickly closed the master folder and looked up…..

The rest of the rooms of Sheesh Mahal are now painted and remodeled as per latest needs, here is the latest photographs, Arnav handed over a CD alongwith a folder containing the photographs for you to design the linen and the upholstery….

Hmmm, what about the ones I had done already….

They are gone to the factory once ready we will place them in the rooms and take fresh photographs incase you will not be visiting Lucknow..

Ok since these rooms will be typical Indian design and not the Victorian ones we made earlier, get me some samples of cotton and linen fabrics too…a bit coarse ones for me to feel them before I design….

Sure Bhai, anything else? Akash asked in crisp voice….he knew ASR hated people loitering around himself, being a creative person he loved his solitude, once he has given his decision, he would not entertain anyone anymore….

That's it I think for now Akash, he replied picking up the folder to see the photographs….Akash turned the knob to go out of the room when he heard….

Errr Akash, can you get me a Dupatta please?

Dupatta? Akash was stunned to hear such a peculiar request…..

Hmmm a dupatta…….ASR was looking lost thinking something…..Akash knew no use of telling his cousin that he was in the hotel business of ASR Group of Companies and not in the dress designing department…..

What colour Dupatta do you need Bhai? Akash asked carefully….just incase ASR had made a mistake….

I don't need those designer stuff, you know the ones you get at the cheap road side hawkers….

You mean the ones like…like Khushiji wears…..Akash asked …..

ASR darted a glance towards the reception area which he could see from his office, as if he was searching for someone….yes he nodded….

Akash smiled and went out…..his brother acted weird at times but then creative people are weird….

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As Akash walked out of the chamber he stood sometime pondering over the funny request Arnav made, Arnav was aware that unlike him, Arnav had no clue about women clothing….he had done his hotel management and due to him, Arnav had decided to buy heritage properties and run them as hotels, he came down the stairs to go to his section in the office when he found Khushi hurrying past him, bye Akashji she wished as him darting a glance to see if ASR was in his chamber looking this side…..he was standing with his hands in his pockets and watching the reception…..Khushi did not waste anymore time, virtually ran out….

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Anjali stood in front of the mirror, she was wearing Arnav's latest design for her, inspite of her handicap she was her brother's favourite muse…some dresses are for show and some for wear, all my clients are not models so I have to cater to everybody's physic….Anjali smiled at the perfect fit, the cut had a touch of 70's fashion, trousers with a slight flair, the top too a bit longer than usual as Anjali did not like short tops, picking up her handbag she went towards her brother's studio to show it to him…

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Payal watched Khushi roaming about in the house a bit aimlessly, what is wrong with her, why is she not leaving for work for a couple of days now she has been not within herself. What is wrong and it is so unlike Khushi to keep quiet about something…..was she again in some sort of trouble, Payal watched the clock…she herself had to go out, Akash had a funny request, wanted her help. Somehow Payal was not ready to talk about it with Khushi yet, she knew Khushi had reservations about the Raizada family, she went to work there out of compulsion…..more Akash just needed her help, he did not say about anything else….

Kyre Khushi kya baath hai? Payal asked…..

Errr kuch nehi kuch nehi….

Kya kuch nehi, phir koi problem….

Ji..nehi nehi waisa kuch nehi, I think I will go now, picking up her bag she ran out….Payal shook her head…

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Anjali walked into his studio to see Arnav walking up and down the room speaking through his blue tooth to some buyer overseas…watching the hall below as he spoke….

Derek your country is under recession, do you think people will like to spend so much on my clothes for I have told you yesterday I will not reduce any prices, I cannot even, things are costly here and labour rates have gone up….

Anjali sat down waiting for him to finish….this room was specially designed by him, it had the best view of the outside and inside, though he loved to work in solitude, he also loved to observe people, colours, the effects of light etc, from this glass room, which was sound proof otherwise ,he stood hours and hours gazing out at times…..Anjali observed even while speaking on the phone, Arnav was noting the time, is he expecting another call, Anjali looked at her watch, she too had to go out lunch with friends, who were also clients of her brother just then she saw Jaiprakash darting across the hall and Khushi entering, Arnav went still watching her…

Ok Derek,that's it then, I think you are getting late by your time and I have said all I had to say, you take your decision and let me know, I will carry my best I promise but then I want my price….he disconnected the line and stood observing Khushi forgetting that his sister was waiting to speak to him, as Khushi went towards Lavanya's room away from his view, he turned….

Oh di? When did you come….

A little while ago, Anjali observed her brother, Arnav lowered his eyes quickly, she reads his eyes like the back of her hand, see I wore the dress she said standing up…Arnav went upto her to a better scrutiny….

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Khushi found La sitting on the bed looking lost….Kya baath hai Lavanya ji, you are not up yet….

Chamkili I am tired…..

Hmmm with the show coming up, you are running after millions of things so I guess you should be tired….

Nehi Chamkili woh baath nehi hai….Lavanya looked sad…..

Khushi went around picking her things, tidying her room, somehow after that incident she could not meet Lavanya eye to eye…..

Are you not well?

Chamkili idhar a na , baith have tea with me…..

Khushi came over…..

You know Chamkili, Lavanya started with a bit of hesitation…..I don't know if shifting into this house was a good idea…..

Well I never supported it but then why are you saying this now?

Kaise batao tujhe Chamkili you are such a kid….Lavanya sounded frustrated….

Utna bhi nehi hu Lavanya ji, Khushi turned red remembering Arnav's kiss…

You know Chamkili before coming into this house, ASR and I, I mean he and I….tu samaj le…we were normal boy and girl, of course he had his moods lekin …tu samaj rahi hai na…..what I am trying to say…

Hmmm

Lekin idhar, I mean ek to Nani's dictums and secondly, lately mujhe lag rahi hai I have lost him, matlab he is not interested in me anymore ….

Khushi gave a nervous laughter, you are worrying too much Lavanya ji, it is just that you are too busy with work and so is he….

Nehi re Chamkili, I know it is very difficult to understand ASR's heart, uske dil me kya hai, nobody knows but then he is a normal man with his needs…somehow …I don't know…..

Khushi stood up, looking flustered she tried to gather her wits…Lavanyaji enough of feeling self pity, now get up and lets get going for the day, just because you are so busy you are feeling like this, you have a show coming up and you are tensed a bit too much…chaliye chaliye uthiye….

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Anjali returned after her lunch, her dress was very well appreciated by her friends, it was a fund raising lunch wherein she met top notch people, many wanted to know about her brother, she had a happy time distributing his business card….Jaiprakash informed her he was in the house, working in the studio….

Anjali went towards the studio to give the happy news…as she entered it her eyes fell on some discarded drawings, Anjali picked up, it looked like some bed sheets and pillow covers but it also seemed Arnav was not happy with it…..Anjali frowned, he was an organized man and seldom he threw things around, Kya baath hai Chhote she asked to see him standing and watching, Anjali looked down, Khushi was teaching Lavanya how to make' jilebis' her stress buster ….Anjali observed her brother silently till the door opened Akash entered….

Bhai sorry for the delay, here is the du…hi di you are here too….Akash greeted…..

Hi Di when did you return? How was your lunch…yes Akash what is it…

Bhai at last I could procure it with some expert advice of course, he scratched his head….

Hmmm keep it on the table, Arnav's eyes darted past to watch the scene below, Khushi was agitated moving her hands vigorously obviously Lavanya was not doing it correctly….

Bhai I got it in two three colours since you did not specify any….

Thanks ….he answered a bit absentmindedly…..as Akash left Anjali frowned at the packet on the table…'Dhak Dhak Dupatta house for all types of Dupattas etc etc……she walked upto stand next to her brother, Khushi looked nervous, she was darting a glance or two at this direction for last two days Khushi looked stressed out and now Anjali knew the reason why….

Chhote, I will not allow this…..yeh tum jaan lo, whatever you did with Lavanya, we accept it as it was fine with her too but Khushi is different so, no we will not allow you or let's say cannot allow you…..

What are you saying Di? Arnav looked at his sister

No wonder Khushi is looking so flustered for last couple of days, she must be feeling it too, girls always do but then you do not believe in marriage so we cannot let you play with her virtue!!!

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