Part 1 (The First Meeting): Page 4
Part 2: The Proposal
In the few weeks that followed the first meeting with the Raizada's, Akash sent Khushi to ASR's office at one pretense or another. Almost every time she went there, she would bump into Arnav. If Khushi had doubts about Akash's intentions before, they were cleared now.
And Now, Akash had just finished telling Khushi that the photo shoot for their new winter collection was happening at the main office and that she would have to work there this week to overlook the preparations for it. She stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"What?" He asked, trying to play innocent.
"What's going on Akash?" Khushi said coming straight to the point.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh you know exactly what I'm talking about." Khushi crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do you keep sending me there?"
"What?! That is so not true!"
"Akash!" Khushi flung her hands in the air. "I'm not stupid! I know what you're doing. What I don't understand is...why? Why do you keep creating situations in which I have a greater chance of running into ASR?"
"Crap. You figured it out eh?" Akash scratched his head.
Khushi raised her eyebrows at him. "Yeah...I'm not stupid." She rolled her eyes. "So? Why are you doing it?"
"How about this...come over today. Nani and Payal will explain."
"No. No. Absolutely not. Tell me first."
Akash got up and put his hands on her shoulders. "Just come over tonight for dinner. You'll get all your answers. I promise."
And with that, Akash left leaving a confused Khushi behind.
That night, when Khushi entered the Raizada Mansion, everyone was waiting for her. Arnav was quieter this time than he had been in the past few "random" meetings'which were planned by Akash in reality. He seemed like he was thinking about something constantly and every time he looked at her, it felt like he was trying to see into her mind or figure her out. Every time, his look made her squirm in her seat.
After talking for a little bit post dinner, Nani got serious, deciding that there was no use delaying the conversation.
"So Akash told me that you figured out what he was trying to do." Nani said.
Khushi's cheeks went pink but she nodded anyway. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Arnav squirm in his seat but she didn't turn to look at him. Did he know what was going on? Was she the only one who was out of the loop here?
"Well then, in that case, let's get down to the point." Nani said.
In the silence that followed, Arnav shifted in his seat again. Anxious? Nervous? Excited? Khushi couldn't tell.
"Normally we would have this conversation with your family but since your parents..." Nani sighed. "We would like to ask for your hand in marriage...for Arnav."
Khushi's eyes widened and by some imaginary force, her head turned in his direction. His eyes were watching her intently, scrutinizing every action of hers, and analyzing every expression on her face.
So he knew that this was going on. Interesting. Khushi's throat had suddenly gone dry. She picked up the glass of water with a trembling hand. A part of her mind was aware that Nani was still speaking but her voice wasn't getting past the ringing in Khushi's ears. She took a sip of water from the glass, her hand still trembling.
"Arnav has already agreed."
Khushi choked on the water and coughed to clear her airway, her face went red.
He what?!?! Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, the 'Lad Governor', had agreed to marry Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta? But why?!
Once Khushi recovered from the shock, she looked at Nani, unsure of what to say, she opened her mouth and then closed it again. She could feel Arnav watching her continuously but she didn't dare look at him. Akash rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Khushi? Are you alright?"
Khushi turned to him. "Can...Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"
Akash quickly exchanged looks with Arnav and nodded at Khushi. The two left the living room and ended up by the poolside. She whipped around to face Akash.
"What is going on?!" She blurted.
"let me explain...after we became friends and I got to know you...I wondered what would happen if you and Bhai became friends...and the more I thought about it, the more clear it became that you and Bhai are perfect for each other. Then the thought of you two being married and getting through life together popped into my head and I talked to Nani and she wanted to meet you. Then you came here the other day and everyone loved you...they all agreed with me on the fact that you two make an amazing couple." He saw Khushi open her mouth to argue but he went on quickly, not giving her a chance to speak. "Even Bhai looked interested. Just yesterday, Nani asked him what he thought about marrying you and he said he's ready for it...and you know the rest..."
"And you didn't think it was necessary to ask me before you went ahead with this marriage proposal?" Khushi retorted.
"I thought about it but then I knew you would never approve because of the perception you had of Bhai. I had to let you see him outside of his ASR mode...besides...Bhai hasn't so much as looked at any other girls' pictures but he saw your picture...he agreed to meet you...and that entire night he seemed to grow more and more interested and you seemed to understand him...you seemed like you saw him for what he really is and not many people have been able to do that!"
"Regardless! I thought you said he doesn't believe in marriage!" Khushi had found another argument to cling on to.
"He doesn't...in love marriages...because he doesn't believe in love but he has no issues with arranged marriages."
"And you know that I believe in love...strongly believe in it." Khushi said matter of factly.
"Yes...and that's my point. You two complete each other, Khushi. You have what he lacks, and he has what you lack...it's the perfect balance. As individuals you two are incomplete but together...you complete each other."
Khushi thought silently for a bit. This felt so weird. Talking about your marriage proposal with the guy's family. What the hell was she supposed to do?
"And just between you and me...and Payal...I think that even though he denies it, he has started feeling something for you...and you for him."
Khushi looked at him surprised. She hadn't even admitted to herself that she had a crush on the mighty ASR. How the heck did Akash know? Akash put a hand on her shoulder.
"you're a good friend of mine Khushi...I can see it on your face when he's around...for example...back in that living room fifteen minutes ago."
After thinking to herself for a while, she sighed. "Can I have some time to think about it?" she asked because she honestly had no idea what to do.
Akash smiled at her. "Of course. And while you're at it...consider what your parents would have said to this proposal. And you can come and talk to me or any of the family members about this if you want. He is my brother, yes, but I won't give you biased opinions on him. Trust me."
Khushi didn't know what to say so she just nodded. Khushi stared at the still water in the three feet deep pool and tried to get her thoughts in order. She had just gotten to the part where she was going to start interpreting every expression on Arnav Singh Raizada's face from tonight when she heard the glass door behind her slide open.
Seeing Akash smiling at whoever was standing behind her, she turned to look and she saw a surprised Arnav standing there. Clearly, he hadn't expected to see her there.
"Oh...I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd be here." Arnav said. That was the first time Khushi had ever heard him stutter.
"It's okay Bhai...Khushi was just a little taken aback at the surprise back there..." Akash explained while Khushi tried to avoid eye contact with Arnav.
"Yeah...you're good at surprises...they're not as surprising as shocking, I must say." Arnav rolled his eyes at Akash.
Akash shrugged. "If you need the poolside...we'll leave...we were done talking anyway...Khushi just '"
Khushi put up her hand to interrupt Akash. She took a deep breath and steadied herself before looking into those deep chocolate brown eyes of the Lad Governor.
"I just told him that I need more time to think about it...I hope you don't mind...all this is just happening too suddenly for me..."
After a few seconds of blinking he realized what she was talking about. He couldn't help but give a small smile. He appreciated the honesty. So she was the kind of person who said what was on her mind. No confusing hints for him to figure out. Down to earth and to the point. Like him.
He took a couple of steps towards her. "Take all the time you need. No pressure. And I can assure you that none of us will see you differently...no matter what you decide. Right Akash?"
Khushi gave him a small smile in return. Maybe, just maybe, there was a huge chunk of this guy's personality she had no idea about. Khushi looked on as he politely excused himself and gently smiled at her before he left. Khushi turned around to face Akash who looked at her with a slightly smug expression.
"Oh He's so in love..." Akash teased.
Khushi gave a mocking smile before punching his arm lightly.
Two weeks after the proposal, Khushi sat in her cabin, doodling on a piece of paper. She had been constantly thinking about Arnav. She had, with a grain of salt, admitted that she did have a crush on Arnav Singh Raizada. Then again...which girl working in his office didn't?
A part of her mind knew that she wanted to say 'yes' to this proposal simply because no matter what, Arnav came from a respectable family and he, himself, was respectful. Angry, but respectful. In the few meetings with him lately, she had figured that he was also very caring and loving towards his family. She was afraid though. She was afraid of being reputed a gold-digger for marrying him. Especially an orphaned girl like herself.
Then she got an idea. She picked up a fresh sheet of paper and drew a line down the middle, splitting it in two. She titled the right column: Pros. And the left column: Cons.
Being the optimist she was, she started with the pros first and wrote:
1. Good family background
2. Cares for his family
3. Educated
4. Has a decent career
5. Good looking (very)
6. Secretly a gentleman
7. Doesn't smoke
She thought for more pros but couldn't find any so she moved to the cons, basically the reasons why she shouldn't marry him:
1. Doesn't believe in love
2. He is a 'Lad Governor'
3. Anger problems (big time!)
4. Unromantic (from what his ex-girlfriends say)
5. Isn't exactly fun loving...
6. Spends too much time in the office.
7. Drinks occasionally.
And that was that. She sat that looking at the sheet of paper and frowned deeper. Seven each. Damn it.
She put the sheet of paper down when the phone rang. After talking to the receptionist, she went down to the studio to look over the photo shoot. Even there, she couldn't help her thoughts from drifting to Arnav. She imaged him bursting into the studio any minute, ready to blast at someone. Each time, she told herself to get a grip and stop thinking about him.
After doing her job dutifully, she returned to her cabin and remembered her pros and cons list. She picked up the sheet of paper and was surprised to see that modifications were made to her list.
Cons:
1. Doesn't believe in love But you do...and he may start believing in it...
2. He is a 'Lad Governor' yeah well...I'm with you here...can't do much about this, really.
3. Anger problems (big time!) An act in front of employees
4. Unromantic (from what his ex-girlfriends say) easy to change I think...
5. Isn't exactly fun loving...of course he is!! As long as your definition of fun involves dangerous sports, and laptops, and files.
6. Spends too much time in the office. Because he doesn't really have a reason (aka a wife) to go home to.
7. Drinks occasionally. <- Only at business parties!! And so do you!! Easy to change. Why is this on here anyway??!
Pros:
1. Good family background
2. Cares for his family and loves them to death too!
3. Educated Yeah, that nerd!
4. Has a decent career It's a fully fledged business sweetheart.
5. Good looking (very) <- I'll have to tell him you said that.
6. Secretly a gentleman add to that the fact that he'll keep you happy
7. Doesn't smoke o...k...
8. The family loves you
9. You will have someone in your life who is just yours. Someone you can trust, someone you can confide in, someone who will remove that loneliness you hide so well
10. Your friend always has your back.
;) Akash.
Khushi couldn't help but smile. Akash!
Hey guys! That was part two! Thank you all for your wonderful comments and PMs! This part was continued flashback from Khushi's POV. I think I'll have one more part with flashback from her POV before either switching to Arnav's POV or switching to the present (I am still undecided)
While we're at it, I'd like to ask you guys how you'd prefer to read this:
Finish the flashback completely and then get back to the present?
or
Have chunks of flashback incorporated in between the present?
You can include your choice in your comment or PM me with it if you wish!
Enjoy!
Love,
Katie <3
Edited by love_iqbal_khan - 13 years ago
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