NEW FF- CHAHAT(Part 3, pg 12) May 5 - Page 8

Part 3

3 weeks later

"Um, Arnav." Aman began uncomfortably. "Spit it out Aman!" Arnav snapped already sensing why Aman was hesitating. "What did she do now?" "And how much is it going to cost me." he asked. Aman gave him another uncomfortable look and then softly said "She took your Corvette from the garage last night and crashed it." Arnav bounded up from his chair. A deep scowl across his face. "Tell me it's okay!" he said quietly. "I can't, it's a complete right off." Aman replied grimacing. Arnav's fist came down hard onto the table. He was going to kill that girl! The last 3 weeks he'd worked hard to keep his cool, he wasn't going to let her get under his skin. He thought if he ignored her antics long enough she'd simply give up, but nope she was hell bent on getting a response from him. "Did she hurt herself or anyone else?" Arnav asked. "No, she's completely fine." "I had Dr. Sinha check her out just in case but it seems like your car was the only causality." Arnav closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Where is she?" he asked. "Downstairs." Aman said softly. She was in his club again?! Walking to the large windows Arnav peered down into the crowd. With so many people you would think she wouldn't be so easily visible, but not Khushi. There she was bang on in the middle of the stage on the dance floor. Wearing a tight fitting black dress, her hair falling straight down her back. She was dancing without a care in the world. He couldn't take his eyes off her even if he wanted too. But moments later hearing a knock at his office door he forced himself to look away from her. "Yes." he said to one of his bar managers. "Sir, I just wanted to talk to you about Miss. Gupta's bar tab." he said. Arnav narrowed his eyes and said "What about it?" "Well, it's quite high." he began passing a file of papers to Arnav. "What the?!" Arnav bit out as he saw the exorbitant figure listed at the bottom of the sheet. "Is she buying drinks for the whole club?!" he snapped. The bar manager exchanged an awkward look with Aman. Arnav's eyes widened. "She's buying drinks for the whole club!" he roared. He was going to murder her. He didn't care that in the scheme of things the actual amount was peanuts for him. It was the example that it was setting. Liquor sales brought in the bulk of revenue for a night club. If it's being offered free then there were no sales being made. "Stop her tab right now!" Arnav snapped. Moving back to the large floor to ceiling windows he found her again on the dance floor. It was time to have a little chat with Khushi Kumari Gupta.

Khushi sensed his presence before she actually felt his hand settle on her hip. Before she felt his stubble graze lightly against her cheek as he said close to her ear. "Come with me." Her heart beat frantically and even though she reminded herself this man does not effect you any more she still couldn't control the tremor that passed through her as his hand moved down her hip and grabbed her hand firmly in his. She let herself be pulled off the dance floor and through a crowd of people to a back hallway and then into a secluded elevator. As Arnav let go of Khushi's hand, she backed up into the corner. "Don't ever manhandle me again!" she snapped. Arnav lifted a brow and smirked. "Manhandle you?" "Khushi I haven't even begun to manhandle you." he said, folding his arms across his chest and staring at her. Khushi glared back. "What's the meaning of dragging me over here?!" she snapped. But she didn't get an answer because the next moment her whole body lurched and suddenly she was slamming against Arnav. The elevator lights flipped on and off, and the elevator gave one last lurch and then there was silence. Khushi gripped Arnav's shirt, her head pressed against his chest as Arnav's arms held her securely in place. "It's okay." he said softly against her hair as Khushi fought to control her breathing. She hated the dark. And right now the elevator was as dark as night. "What..what happened?" she managed to get out. Arnav never let her go but instead moved her and him closer to the panel. "Looks like the elevator stalled." "Let me call for help." he said softly. Minutes later having notified someone of the problem he was assured that help would be on it's way. Khushi meanwhile was still pressed tightly against him. His hand coming to the small of her back, he rubbed gently. "Khushi Kumari Gupta known for getting herself into all sorts of trouble, isn't afraid to take on anyone, including me the big bad wolf." "You've changed in every way, made yourself as hard as stone but you're still scared of the dark." Arnav said softly. His lips settling against her temple and pressing softly...unconsciously. "I, I am not scared." Khushi said from against his chest. "I don't want you to be scared." she mumbled making Arnav chuckle. "So you're protecting me my lioness." he said with another chuckle. The elevator gave another lurch and Khushi squeezed her eyes closed and pressed even closer, and then suddenly the lights were flashing back on. It took a moment for Khushi to realize she wasn't in darkness anymore, but the moment she did she quickly moved away from Arnav and back into her corner. Her breathing was still ragged but she seemed to be getting a control of herself again. Arnav stayed where he was, his signature smirk still on his lips as he gave her a knowing look. Khushi inhaled slowly and then ran a shaking hand through her hair. "Get over yourself." she snapped. "I used you for my purpose and now I don't need you anymore." 'You should know all about that, you're the king of using people for your own purposes and then discarding them." she said with a look of a disgust. Arnav's eyes narrowed. "What purpose did I use you for?" he asked coldly. "What did I gain from having you...wait a minute I never did have you." he said with steel in his voice. Khushi felt her face grow red and she turned to the one emotion she took refuge in when it came to Arnav. "I would never have let you have me!" she snapped. A taunting grin spread across his face as he moved closer. Khushi forced herself to stand her ground, she would not cower infront of this hateful man. Slowly Arnav's finger traced along Khushi's jaw and then up the side of her face. She closed her eyes against the onslaught of feeling and the pool of desire that was gathering in the pit of her stomach. His lips were so close she could feel the warmth of his breath. "What bothers you more Khushi, the fact that I've used people for my own purposes or the fact that I DIDN'T use you for my purposes." There was no missing the sexual innuendo in his soft and husky voice. She was so lost in the sound of it that the words took a few moments to register. Opening her eyes she pushed at him with all her might but when she didn't succeed in even budging him, he chuckled and took a step back himself. "You're a bast**d you know that!" she said glaring at him. "God knows how many girls you used and discarded." she added, her voice dripping with contempt. "My father was tricked into believing you were a good decent person or else there is no way in hell he would have left you as my guardian." she snapped. "At the mention of her father Arnav's face turned fierce. "You wanna run your mouth about me, go right ahead, but you mention one more word about my relationship with your father and Khushi you will regret it!" he said viciously.

Khushi stared stubbornly back at him. Fine, maybe she shouldn't have mentioned her father, but seriously what else could she do. She'd been doing her very best to drive this man crazy for the last 3 weeks and nothing seemed to effect him. Huge late night parties, destroyed vehicles...NADA. Buying drinks for the whole club...nothing. Racing sports cars on busy Mumbai roads, kissing a famous Cricketer in the middle of the dance floor as Arnav passed by, no reaction...nothing was effecting the great ASR! Fine her tactics might be a little immature but she couldn't help herself. She should have known that he wouldn't crack so easily. She'd known him long enough to know that that it would take something major for him to react. But what could that major thing be she wondered to herself? Arnav stared at her from the other side of the elevator. She was up to no good he could tell just from the look on her face. She was planning her next move. Probably planning to burn down one of his clubs, Arnav thought with a scowl. "I hear you're adjusting back to life in Mumbai quite easily." Arnav suddenly said breaking the silence. "I was born and raised here, it doesn't take much to adjust to what you've known most of your life!" she snapped in answer. "It's a different thing that last time I was here I walked around with rose colored glasses but I've grown up, I see the world is not always what you first perceive it to be." she added looking away as old memories rushed back to her. "You've grown up huh?" he asked mockingly. Advancing towards her again. But before he could take more then one step the elevator lurched and the lights flashed once again and suddenly they were moving. Khushi had given a little shriek when the lights had flashed, which had Arnav reaching for her. His hand finding hers and giving it a squeeze reminding her that he was there with her. The whole incident took a few seconds and for those few seconds Khushi let herself be comforted by him. But as the elevator stopped and the opened, Khushi instantly let go of his hand and pushed past him to get out. As Khushi headed towards the stairs Arnav quickened his step and grabbed her hand to pull her towards his office. "Let go!" she snapped but he chose to ignore her and instead pull her into his office. "What part of let me go, did you not understand?!" Khushi asked as she was finally released by him. "We need to talk." he said motioning for her to sit down. Instead she folded her arms across her chest and continued to glare at him. "Alright then." Arnav said with a roll of his eyes as he shrugged out of his coat and rounded his desk. Khushi couldn't help the shiver of desire that ran down her spine. Damn him for being so bloody good looking. The shirt fit him perfectly showing off his lean torso and wide chest. The sleeves hugging and accentuating his biceps. Why couldn't he just gain some weight, maybe have a little bit of a pot belly. Instead he looked even more fit then he was 4 years ago which she didn't think was even possible. "Khushi!" Arnav snapped apparently for the 3rd time. "Sh*t!" she muttered forcing herself to look away from him. She'd been caught ogling him, hell it wasn't the first time but that was a different time, a different place. Now feeling anything for him other then hatred and disgust would go against every fibre of her being. "What?!" she snapped angrily. Arnav raised a brow and shook his head. "You mentioned in the elevator you're all grown up right?" "Well is this what grown women do?" he asked handing her the bill she'd just racked up that evening. Looking at it, Arohi grimaced but then shrugged. "So." she said. "I own 20% of these club, if I want to give my customers free drinks I will." she said. Arnav frowned and then pulled out a few more bills throwing them on the table infront of him. "That's from the night before, and this one if from last week and this one..." he went on. Khushi swallowed uncomfortably. Okay maybe she'd gone a little over board with the free drinks. "And then there's the small detail of the car you totaled last night." he continued. "What was that about your maturity?" he asked sarcastically. "And you think you should have access to your own money." "It's a miracle to me that you can dress yourself in the morning forget about handling your own finances!" he said in disgust. Khushi gasped. "You a*s!" 'You self righteous a*s!" she began. "You jerk, you bast**d...blah blah blah.." Arnav interrupted, mimicking her. "I haven't brought you up here for all the pleasantries you usually spew at me, instead I am doing what you've wanted me to do these last 3 weeks, I am acknowledging your stunts." "And I'm also telling you they are stopping right now." "Starting today you're on an allowance." "You spend over that allowance, you will go without for the rest of the month." Khushi's mouth dropped open. "You can't do that!" she snapped. A big smile spread across Arnav's face. "Watch me." he replied. Secondly this all night partying, drinking, destruction of property, all of it is stopping right now, orelse I'm going to be putting you on a curfew as well. "CURFEW!" Khushi screamed! "I'm almost 24 years old, you can't give me a curfew!" she snapped boiling with anger. Another smile lit up his face and the irritating and obnoxious man actually had the gall to chuckle. "Khushi by now you should know I can do anything...I am Arnav Singh Raizada!" "Control yourself, take charge of your life and your actions and the effects they have... basically grow up, finish your schooling, meet a man who can handle you and you can trick into marrying you." "Then I'll be happy to hand over your inheritance and wash my hands of you." Arnav said calmly. Khushi was across the room and launching herself at him in seconds. "I hate you so much Arnav!" she screeched as she clawed at him. It took him a moment but he was able to grab her wrists before she did any more damage. His thumb went up to his cheek where she'd scratched and drawn blood. "As she struggled against him and called him names he forced her back into the corner until she was pressed against the wall and him. Her eyes widened as she felt herself truly trapped. His mouth so close again, his eyes dark and intense. "I...let me go Arnav." she said quietly, her struggling stopped, her breathing suddenly ragged. She hated his effect on her. "I've asked you not to touch me!" she snapped miserably. But Arnav didn't seem to be paying attention to what she was saying. His eyes were moving over her face as if he was memorizing it. His gaze lingering on her lips which suddenly felt dry. Her tongue swept over them and then she heard is sharp intake of breath. His hand came up to cup one side of her face and she stood transfixed. Her breathing now seemed to have stopped altogether as she waited. His thumb grazed over her lower lip and Khushi's eyes closed involuntarily. Her heart seemed to be beating out of her chest. She hated him, she hated him...she wanted him...she hated herself for wanting him. She wanted him. And suddenly she was let go, her eyes quickly snapping open. Arnav stepped back and took a steadying breath and then another. The two of them staring at each other and then quickly looking away as Aman gave a quick knock and then entered the office. "Oh sorry ASR I didn't know you and Khushi were in here." he said hesitantly looking between the two. Khushi recovered first. "I was just leaving, your caveman friend here was laying down the law once again." "It's what he's best at, manipulating people into doing what he wants." she continued as she walked towards the door. Turning around she saw Arnav's eyes still on her. "I meant what I said." he said softly. A smirk made it's way to Khushi's lips. "As you say master." And as she walked out and shut the door behind her she smiled. Arnav Singh Raizada if you think that Khushi Kumari Gupta is one to lay down and play dead for you, then you have another thing coming. He wanted her to grow up did he, he wanted her to meet a man that could "handle her", did he? "ASR, be careful what you wish for." Khushi said out loud, a big smile spreading across her face as she made her way to the coat check. It was time to go home and get a good night's sleep because starting tomorrow morning Khushi Kumari Gupta was "growing up" and about to take charge of her life.

I know this is so late! Please let me know what you thought and if you're still interested in reading this FF. Take care.