"What??!! And why can't you do that yourself?!" He asked.
"You think I wouldn't have done that, if I had wanted to?!" She asked in irritation.
"I don't understand... What do you mean if you wanted to??? Its your life. You obviously have a say in it!!" He mumbled to himself, trying to at least start understanding this girl.
"Do me a favor, and please don't concern yourself with my life and the way I lead it. Just reject this proposal. Please!!" she said and ran away.
'Was she for real??!! She doesn't want to get married to me?! I thought girls waited to catch me, hook, line, and sinker! What's with HER then??!!'
She didn't look at him, when he went down.
But Anjali noticed that her Chotey was interested in nothing else, other than Khushi!
She and Shyaam exchanged a look and knowing smile.
The whole day passed like that. Khushi not looking at him, and Arnav, only looking at her!
When they left, Arnav was asked the opinion. He knew he had made up his mind, even before looking at her, that he'd refuse. But now, that he HAD looked at her, he found himself having second thoughts.
If there was one thing Arnav Singh Raizada had always prided himself on, it was his confidence in everything that he did. This chit of a girl had left him confused. That too, within the only encounter that they had shared. He didn't answer anything, as he left for his room.
The next day, at work, he was going through an important file, when there was a knock at the door. He told the person to come in, without even looking up.
After doing the necessary changes, he looked up to see Khushi sitting in a chair opposite to him, and inspecting his office.
He waited for her to look at him. She gave one of her fake smiles to him and he grimaced. Her smile faltered at his expression. She bent her head as she rummaged through her bag and came up with a pack of CDs. "Here.. I've retrieved data as much as possible. I'm really sorry about your laptop."
He stared her with narrowed eyes for a minute before asking, "You came here to give me this?!"
"Of course!!" She said immediately, and later added in a small voice, "And also to ask if you had said no to this marriage..."
"I haven't said anything yet. And I won't tell no until and unless I know the reason behind your... bizarre request" He replied, smirking as he remembered the favor she had asked of him.
"I'm sorry... But is my mysery amusing to you??!!" she asked, glowering at him.
"Hey first of all, I didn't know that all this was a MYSERY to you. And secondly, I still haven't understood why you want ME to reject you, when you can reject this proposal yourself." Arnav replied, thinking of his ego, which would get hurt if she decided to reject him.
She looked at her entwined hands as she asked this, "I'm asking you so desperately. Isn't that a reason enough??" she asked. The same sadness had crept into her. He got up from his seat and went to sit next to her.
He was about to say something, when he got a call from his Di. He told Khushi that Di probably would ask regarding his decision, and Khushi crossed her fingers, underneath the table.
He stood up and went near his chair as he answered the call. "Yes Di... Hmm... I've not made up my mind yet! I need some more time. Yes. Ok.." He said and cut the call.
"Devi Maiyya be merciful" said a flabbergasted Khushi. "Are you INSANE???!!!"
She got up from her seat, and was about to hit him, when he held both of her wrists and forced her to sit on his chair. And held her both her wrists along with the arm rest using both of his hands.
"Leave me.." she said through gritted teeth.
"Listen to me. This is for your own good." he said calmly, surprising himself when he realized he hadn't lost his temper!
She looked up into his eyes, in disbelief, and asked "My good!! And how exactly is it in my best interest???"
He smiled at the ancient English she used. This was something she did when she was angry. 'I bet even she doesn't know it about herself!' He thought in amusement. He bent forward, and came eye-to-eye with her, as he made up a reason which would seem advantageous to her.
"If I had said no, your parents would go in search of another guy for you. Just how many times do you plan to beg each of the guys to reject you? And I have bought you time with this. In fact, I've bought time for both of us, by doing this. You go ahead with your dreams, whatever they are, and after sometime, I'll give a NO to my family."
She didn't understand it in the first go. What with him being so close to her. And he smelled absolutely delicious!!
She frowned as she bent her head and wondered why she felt so weak in front of him. She replayed what he had said in her mind. "What do YOU get out of this??" she asked suspiciously. She had a point and he didn't know why exactly he had done that. But being the honed businessman that he was, winning someone with just words came easily to him.
"I will be spared from the torture my Nani will subject me to, by showing more prospective brides."
She seemed thoughtful for a few seconds and replied,"Fair enough", and smiled.
Not that fake smile which she gave to everybody. The kind of smile which reached your eyes and made others smile too. He was left dumbstruck, as she left his office.
He looked at the bunch of cds she had given him. 'Dekha? She is sensible too. She knew the importance of my laptop.' he thought, and later muttered, "Of course she does! She's an engineer!!" as he shook his head and got back to work.
Lavanya, his secretary, bustled in after a minute and asked, "Sir, do you know the girl who left a minute ago?"
"Tumse matlab?" he asked in the stern voice meant for everybody except his Di. And he agreed very grudgingly, except for Khushi too!! Though he still didn't understand why..
"I've seen her in the coffee place that I usually go to. She's the nerd who doesn't take her nose out of fat books." Lavanya said. He just raised his eyebrows and stared at her, making her realize that she was talking unnecessarily. She mumbled an apology and rushed out of the room.
Later that day, on his way home, he saw the coffee shop that was nearby his company. Most of his employees went there. He knew Lavanya had spoke of this coffee shop, when she had enquired about Khushi. He parked the car and went in. His eyes scanned the cafe, and sure enough, Khushi sat in one of the corner tables, big books scattered on her table, along with 4 empty mugs. She had her laptop, precariously balanced on her lap, as she typed something, looking at the book on the table.
"Is it your habit to break gadgets?" he asked as he stood in front of her. She looked up in surprise, and her laptop was about to fall, when both of them rushed to hold it. Their fingers brushed, and Khushi withdrew her hand, gasping.
He looked at her with such intensity, that she felt her face heating up. But she still couldn't take her eyes off his.
Arnav had felt the electricity when their fingers had touched. And he decided that he wouldn't let go of this easily. He put the laptop on her laps, and managed to brush his hands across her thighs. He knew it was completely unnecessary. But he did it to see her reaction, smirking to himself when he felt her muscles under his hands stiffen.
She took a minute, but asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Last time I checked, it was a free country." he replied.
"Look.. My exams are nearing. PLEASE don't disturb me!!" She said, raising her eyebrows and getting back to her book.
"Okay.. I clearly distract you! I understand.. I'll leave now." he said as he turned to leave. She looked at his retreating back in shock, thinking, 'DISTRACT??!! Yeah!! Right!!' . He turned on his tracks, and said with a grin, "All the best for your exams... Honey!!"
Her mouth fell open at the endearment he had used.
"Oh.. Don't look so shocked! After all, you're my alleged fiance!!" he said and came out, smiling smugly to himself.
Khushi stared at her laptop screen, trying to make sense of the words glaring at her. After a few minutes, she realized she was failing miserably in doing so. So she shut it in a snap, pulled her things together, and rushed home!!
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PS: Just my usual chanting. "Please hit 'LIKE' if you liked my update, and leave me a comment if possible. " 😃
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