Grey(Arhi) Note: PAGE 3: IMPORTANT

Grey

Index:

Chapter 1: Page 1.

Chapter 2: Page 1

CHAPTER 1

2^nd January 2012. He read the date again, and smiled wryly. It was a rather pleasant day, he could see the Sun shining brightly from the big window in his new office that overlooked the entire city. The sky was somewhere between blue and grey, owing to the city's extra ordinary capability of emitting smoke, and the road in front of his office was so full of expensive cars and beggars, that hardly much of the concrete could be seen. From what seemed, the world was happy. They were busy cursing the government for the mis-management and jammed roads, more out of habit than actual frustration.

A lot of people would be late today, thought Arnav Singh Raizada, and in normal circumstances, he would have been rather happy about it, to be able to snap at more than half of his staff. But today was not the day, this day belonged to his mother, and only her. A lot of memories were bound to this day, and he was bound to all those memories, Arnav was a man with a past. Anjali had requested him to take an off today, she probably knew he was hurting, and Arnav knew his sister enough to know that she knew, though she had told him that it was because of the marriage preparations. But Arnav had excused himself, saying that he had a lot of work to do, which wasn't entirely a lie, but what he really was looking for was some solitude, some time with himself and his memories.

His phone rang, it was Lavanya, "ASR, you've gotta be here at the Sheraton in half an hour if you want to strike the deal with the French delegates. Mr Lavigne is leaving today in the evening, his mother has fallen ill, this morning is all he can give us" she said hurriedly.

"What the-! How can he just desert the deal and go back to France, how unprofessional! The meeting was scheduled for tomorrow night, thousands of things have to be done, I don't even have the file damn it! What am I supposed to do at the meeting, dance?" he said arrogantly.

"Oh chuck it ASR, his mom is not well. He has to go back, the poor guy is still giving us time, I expect you of all people to understand that!" said Lavanya angrily. Ever since their marriage had been called off, she had started taking her liberties as they had become very close friends, the invisible barrier between them broken. Lavanya no longer felt afraid of pouring her heart out to Arnav, and he had changed in many ways himself. She secretly thought it was because of Khushi, but was intelligent, and experienced enough to keep that a secret, as Arnav was still a hot air balloon.

Arnav felt her words cut deep into his chest, and instantly felt ashamed. How could he say such an insensitive thing? That too on this day, his mother's birthday? Though ofcourse, Lavanya did not know that.

"Okay I'll be there," said Arnav, more out of shame than actual concern for the deal , "But you'll have to go home and get the file."

"Yeah sure, and my ghost will attend Mr. Lavigne here right? How brilliant!" said Lavanya sarcastically, "Besides, we don't have half of that much time ASR, we have to act in hurry if we want this deal to be successful."

"If its such a hassle Lavanya, let it be, I'm honestly not in a mood-"

"Its important for Mr.Lavigne's company ASR, let your mood not affect the man's life" said she quietly.

"Fine! I'll be there" said Arnav, and cut the phone. Lavanya had started lecturing him a lot lately, in fact, everyone seemed to have started taking things lightly with him ever since Khushi had supposedly started "standing up for herself" which basically involved a lot of mimicking and ridiculing him. The name was accompanied by a lot of emotions together; confusion, anger, care, concern, contempt, a fleeting moment of happiness. Arnav controlled himself, he was not going to think about her today, because once he started, he couldn't really stop. He looked at his watch, it read ten thirty two, he did not have the time to go back to the house and get the file, he'll probably ask OP to give it to the driver.

He dialed Anjali's number, she did not pick up the call, he tried again, and this time, after a couple of rings, she did pick up the call, "Haan, sorry Chhotey, couldn't pick up earlier. Actually NK and Khushi are playing this stupid childish game of not giving us our phones and purses, until we finish on box of jalebis to earn them back. They are well, training us for finishing the food, because NK thinks that a lot of food goes waste in Indian marriages. These two together, I tell you, are an unstoppable force of nature" laughed Anjali.

Arnav felt a pang of jealousy, along with a round of exasperation, "What else did you expect di? Two brainless wonders working together have to do something as mature as that. NK has to clean the vessels or what that he is so concerned about the food getting finished. Given his communication skills vaise, he as well might end up doing just that!" breathed Arnav angrily.

"Chill Chhotey, they are just trying to have some fun-" Anjali broke of abruptly and started giggling.

"Awww!!! NK bhai leave me! Leave me now! No, no, don't do it please!!" Anjali pleaded in between her giggles.

"No! No! No! Main aapko kaise mod sakta hoon, aap mere didi ho na?" said NK frivolously.

Arnav heard an angelic laugh in the background, and he knew exactly who was laughing, for hers was a melody hard to miss, "Mod nahi nanheji, chod!"

"Oh haan, vahi" he heard NK say, and suddenly Anjali stopped laughing and it was Khushi's laughter he heard next. So NK was tickling her now? With his hands all over her body.. The thought made his blood reach a good hot temperature of 1000*c. How dare he touch Khushi that way? How dare she allow it?

"Haan sorry Chhotey-"

"Ya, ya I know, NK is dancing around with his hyper active fingers he cannot keep in check, but I honestly have enough of a life to not have time to listen to NK's BS" said Arnav furiously.

"Chhotey, learn to take things lightly" scolded Anjali scolded.

"Yeah, and I can think about standing for the general elections this year" piped Khushi.

"Ask her not to do it, her restless soul wont allow her to stand for long, she will end up feeding everyone jalebis" came Arnav's sarcastic reply.

Khushi heard that, "I will be careful not to offer him any! Old, diabetic people are not allowed to have sweets, and I understand that!"

Arnav opened his mouth to reply, when he heard NK say, "aapke liye main kuchh bhi ga sakta hoon khushiji!"

"Ga nahi nanheji, kha!" laughed Khushi.

"Why don't NK and Khushi write a book about how to crack PJs?" said Arnav, every word of his spelling sarcasm.

"Ya sure,we'll be careful to dedicate the book to you, maybe by the end of it you will have realized what a joke is!" retorted Khushi.

Arnav kept his mouth shut, though he very much wanted to argue, but he was running short of time, and he had to reach the Sheraton, "Di, I called to speak with you, I can wrestle Khushi's lame sense of humour, which has become ever so lamer since she started talking to Nk, later. I called to ask you to take out a black file from my cupboard, its under my clothes, and give it to OP" he paused as he heard a round of giggles, and changed his plan on the last moment, though what really made him do that was something he did not like to think about, "to give it to Khushi. She has to reach the Sheraton hotel in half an hour, ask the driver to drop Khushi."

"Arrey Chhotey, how can I just send Khushiji, its her sister's marriage, she is required here for the preparations-"

"Preparations yeah right, preparing what exactly? People for finishing their food?" asked Arnav, "Besides I don't have time to discuss it, she knows the office matters di. I cant trust something as important as the file to OP."

And then he cut the phone, angrier than ever. It was like he no longer was the great tycoon ASR, everyone was arguing with him. Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in" said he. It was a peone, he had come with water, water he had asked for around half an hour back.

"What took you so long??" He thundered, choosing the poor guy as the victim of his anger, though it was directed to someone else, someone who was not present.

"Sir who baat yeh hai ki-"

"Get out, aur yeh paani ka glass apne saath leke jaao, is mahine aane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai!" he shouted. And when the old man did not move, he roared again, "If you cant understand that, you should understand that you will not be working in AR if you don't get out now. So GET OUT!"

The man got out of the office immediately, thinking of Arnav to be mad.

Arnav smiled, satisfied, he was still the same guy, and he was going show exactly that to someone else.

Chapter 2

Arnav looked out of the car window furiously, as he watched the audi approach the hotel. What precisely had taken Khushi so long was something he intended to find out, and she was going to have to pay for the argument before as well. He got out as the car parked itself in front of the gate, where he had been waiting. He looked at Khushi; she was wearing a yellow suit, and was looking nothing short of angelic in it. Her eyes outlined with kohl and her lips red as cherries, and of course, the pompoms hanging from her shoulders. He looked at her for a second, lost in her beauty, and was finally jolted back to reality as she shot him a nervous glance. He watched her struggle with the seat belt. Irritated, he opened the door, and unfastened her belt his skin coming in slight contact with hers. That was the moment his eyes chose to meet hers and then there was not much he could do, except take in her fragrance, and try to decipher what those big black eyes felt. She was breathing heavily, and he knew she was nervous. Even a little proximity made her anxious. He closed the gap between them, and she shut her eyes in anticipation as he came nearer, and nearer, until he finally whispered in her ears, "If you ever get this late again, especially when delegates from other countries are waiting, things might not entirely be as you would like them" and then he drew back, smiling, satisfied at the effect he had on her.

Khushi, as usual, chose to ignore the little moment they had shared, and answered him back crisply, "Arnavji, you often tend to forget that I no longer work for you. I am here only because you requested Anjaliji, and I did not have the heart to turn down a sweet person like Anjaliji. In fact, now that I come to think about it, are you sure you were born into the right family? It's like the God squeezed all the arrogance from your siblings and put it into you! Why don't you learn something from Anjaliji, Akashji, or even, Nanheji? Yes, Nanheji, he is such a sweet-"

"Enough" said Arnav quietly, his eyes brewing with anger. So Khushi preferred NK to him? "Nobody talks to me like that, especially not you."

Khushi lowered her eyes, afraid of the intensity of Arnav's gaze " Okay, I have to go back. Nanheji is waiting for me. We have to speak to the caterers-"

"You are not going anywhere Khushi, you will stay with me until the presentation is over." Arnav cut in.

"Why?" Khushi, asked in indignance.

"Because I said so" replied Arnav simply.

"If you think I am obliged to listen to you Arnavji, you are mistaken" said Khushi, and sat back into the car.

"Okay, whatever you wish", said Arnav as he turned to walk away, "the car keys by the way, are with me."

Khushi opened her mouth in disbelief, "How dare he?" He is Arnav Singh Raizada , a small voice whispered in her head. "Laad Governor" she muttered and got out of the car, with no other option but to follow him inside.

***

Khushi sat quietly in one corner, although the meeting. She had originally planned to talk to Lavanyaji about the wedding, to pass her time, but Lavanya seemed as engrossed in the meeting as Arnavji. What happened earlier in the car, made her ed, partly of embarrassment but mostly of anger; anger directed towards herself, anger directed towards Arnav. How could a person, whom she disliked so much, have such an effect on her? If she were at home, she would probably have made a Kg of jalebis by now. She watched the delegates get up. One of them shook hands with Arnav, and Arnav motioned her to join them. At first, Khushi did not realize he was referring to her, but when he gave her one of his deadliest glares, reserved exclusively for Khushi Kumari Gupta, she walked upto him, without any delay. Khushi was one of the few unfortunate people who had been on the receiving end of THE Arnav Singh Raizada's anger, quite a few times, and had no intention of being subjected, to it again. Little did she know, that criminal or not, Arnav was more concerned about giving her a piece of his mind, than actually striking the deal, though his need for was genuine at the moment. "You can continue you morning walk later Khushi, right now I have to give Mr. Lavigne an idea of the kind of traditional clothes we plan to sell through his brand in France, so damn well, hurry up." He barked at her, from across the hall.

Khushi felt blood rush to her cheeks and a surge of anger. She knew he would make her pay for the little argument they had had on the phone, but she had not expected him to throw something she had nothing to do with right on her face, in front of fifty people, . Lavanya, who stood next to Arnav, shot her an apologetic look, but could do little to defend Khushi in front of foreign delegates.

Mr.Lavigne smiled broadly in delight as he saw her clothes, "Charment!" he exclaimed.

Arnav looked at him as if he had spoken French, which by the way, he had. He raised his eye-brows, waiting for him to translate.

"Oh I mean beautiful, its sensational" Mr Lavigne spoke in excitement, "Its just so different, with bright colours! And its so Indian!" he paused for a second, "Who will be designing it?" he asked in heavy French accent.

Arnav, who was pleased to hear that Mr Lavigne liked the idea of the clothes AR planned to sell, though he failed to understand even remotely, what the guy saw in Khushi's clothes, opened his mouth to explain, "Sir, we'll have a panel of India's topmost designers design the clothes-

But Mr.Lavigne who was still mesmerized with the design brushed him off and asked him, "Will this lady be there?"

Both Khushi and Arnav looked at him equally horrified, and simultaneously said, "No!"

The former was horrified because she had finally started enjoying the liberty of being the bride's sister and answering Arnav back, and had no intentions of throwing away her new found freedom.

Arnav, on the other hand, could not even process the idea of Khushi being in his carefully selected team of fashion designers, mostly because he had scoffed at her clothes ever since he had set his eyes on her. Moreover, he could not think of his sophisticated fashion designing branch being converted into a Jalebi Ki Dukaan.

Mr Lavigne looked down, disappointed, when Lavanya decided to take the situation into her own hands, and said smoothly, "Yes sir, of course. As you wish, you know better than anyone else what the French will like."

"Just to remind you Lavanya, all these clothes are meant to target the Indians living in France and not the French" seethed Arnav angrily.

"Yes, but if Mr. Lavigne being French himself, liked her clothes so much, don't you think they have potential in france?" asked Lavanya.

"No! I don't care care about this man and his peculiar tastes, all I care about is the reputation of my office not being thrown into the dustbin packed in a Jalebi Ka Dabba" he said angrily, and looked at Khushi briefly.

Mr. Lavigne, rather offended by his reference, cleared his throat, "Sir, with all due respect, if Miss..?" he looked at Khushi questioningly.

"Khushi."

"If Miss. Khushi will not be there in the team of designers, this deal is not taking place. How much ever it may effect my company. I don't want to face a loss in France, the country is bored of peach and white, it finds India synonymous to colours, not sophistication, and I want colour, I want Khushi," and then asked her, "What exactly is the meaning of Khushi?"

A flattered Khushi replied, "Its happiness."

As soon as she said that, Mr.Lavigne declared, "So its decided! Khushi will be there in the team. She is going to bring happiness to the Lavigne textiles, and colour to its clothes!"

Before Arnav was given an opportunity to say something, Lavanya was shaking hands with the delegates and taking them away towards the gate, leaving Arnav and Khushi behind.

As expected, he looked at her angrily, and roughly pulled her towards himself, "Don't, even for a second, that you are gong to be working with the top fashion designers of the country, or in AR for that matter. And even if you do, you will sit quietly in one corner, and do everything I say, without a word" he said, emphasizing the last three words.

Khushi, who was not exactly in a jolly mood, replied, "You seemed to have forgotten Arnavji that I don't work for you any longer, and it will be nothing short of a favour if I do decide to help you with the designs, which by the way, I wont, because right now, I have to go back home and help Nanheji prepare for the marriage."

Arnav, who was angry enough to kill someone pulled her closer, and his grip on her arms tightened, "What home are you talking about?" he asked "My home? Because that's not your home Khushi Kumari Gupta, your home is a small cottage in a crowded market, and that's where you belong, and keep that in mind when you are talking to me."

"If that's the case Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada, why don't you leave me and let me go, huh? I would be more than glad to go back to my small cottage as long as I don't have to see you there!"

"You don't get to tell me what I should do and what I shouldn't, and if you think you will et out of this so easily, you are damn well wrong! You are going to design every piece of cloth I ask you to, whether you like it or not" he whispered.

Khushi and Arnav kept looking into each other's eyes in fury, his grip firm on her arm.

Lavanya, who had been silently observing the two for quite some time now, cleared her throat, breaking into their argument, "Do you two even realize that there are other people in the room when you are talking to each other?" she said. Embarrassed, both looked away. Lavanya however continued, "We gotta rush back home guys, and from there, straight to the airport. I just got a call from Anjali, the wedding is in Mussoorie."

Originally posted by: --Nannalicious-

Hey dear. It was very beautifully written. I like how La has become so smart and confident, and more importantly she dares to talk back to Arnav 😆 Loved her sarcasm when she said, her ghosts would be attending the delegates.

I can so imgine Khushi and NK playing that childish game of theirs and NK making stupid hindhi mistakes, and Khushi correcting them 😊 Arnav's bp must have reached the skies when he heard all the noises on the phone.

Gosh, last few lines were scary. Arnav going back to his ASR mode. Things are not looking that good. Please do PM me for further updates 😊

Originally posted by: dumas

awesome start love the nok jok between arnav and khushi he is ss jealous