FF:Chains of Silver BLOG REOPENED (Link pg 51) - Page 8

"Stop sulking, Khushi." Payal Gupta paused from applying a coat of dark coral nail polish to her sister's toenail, and tapped her foot with the back of her hand. "I thought you said you liked the guy's parents." Payal said, gazing at her sister's annoyed expression. "They're alright." Khushi mumbled, shifting slightly on the bed, and resting back against the pillows. "So, that's good right? You were hoping that the family you marry into would be good people, and now you know that they are." Payal continued with her chore, quite relieved herself that her sister's future in-laws seemed to be decent enough people. They were also exceptionally rich from what Payal had noted, yet they retained much of the traditional charm in their mannerisms and lifestyle, and the meeting between the two families had much to Payal's surprise been very desi in flavor, but she guessed it was because the parents from both sides had been acquainted many years previously in Lucknow thanks to their own parents, who had been neighbors and family friends more than four decades ago.

"They're fine, I wasn't thinking about them though. I was thinking about the thief." Khushi muttered, her eyes sparking with fury. "Oh goodness, can you please stop that now?" Payal twisted the bottle of nail polish shut, and stood up, frowning down at her sister. "So you lost your bracelet, why are you so convinced it was stolen? And, really Khushi, it's been a week, get over it." But, Khushi only scowled harder, then swinging her feet off the bed, she stood up and glared at her sister. "The guy was a thief, and he stole my bracelet." She said for what seemed to Payal like the millionth time that week. "Why would some random guy, who you said looked quite rich, steal a bracelet which is not really very expensive?" Payal asked, nearly cursing herself for being drawn into yet another needless argument over her sister's lost property. "He's probably one of those rich freaks who can afford everything, so he gets a cheap thrill by being a pickpocket." Khushi announced, hands on her hips while this new idea took form in her brain, and began to convince her that she'd solved the mystery. "Khushi, please!" Payal rolled her eyes, and sat down on the bed, feeling extremely sorry for the poor stranger who for the last week had been called everything from an insane lunatic who had escaped an institution, to a street urchin posing as a playboy so he could steal from the rich, and sell his spoils in a local market. "It's a common problem Jiji, do you remember Susan who used to steal your perfumes whenever she'd come for a sleepover?" Khushi asked, warming up to her idea. "You're being ridiculous." Payal snapped. "I'm sure you just dropped it somewhere, and now you're accusing some poor rich guy, who shared his table with you of stealing your twenty five dollar bracelet." Payal said disgustedly.

"Klepto!"

Khushi's voice resounded around the hotel room, her eyes narrowing to slits. "No wonder he jumped up so quickly to help me with my bags, that's when he probably flicked the bracelet from my pocket." She told her sister, who just shook her head in wonder. Once Khushi got an idea in her head, however ridiculous, it became difficult for her to let it go. "So, you're saying this thief avoided taking your iPod, your iPad, your iPhone and your wallet, but instead took a bracelet that's hardly worth anything?" She demanded, then nearly screamed in despair when Khushi nodded her head, her eyes narrowing further. "It's what they do." She said wisely, starting to pace. "I read about it somewhere, that these kleptos don't bother with expensive stuff when they want to steal, they just go for something that would not draw too much attention to them. Just for the rush you know." She said to Payal, who groaned and stood up. "We have to go shopping for your engagement outfit, so hurry up and get out of those skimpy clothes Sherlock, because we have just a week left." She said teasingly, but Khushi was too lost in thought to hear, her mind spinning with loss for her precious bracelet, and fury for the person who'd stolen it.

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"I like her." Anumati Raizada's voice was soft as she addressed her husband while he finished dressing for the evening. "She's sweet, and very genuine." She smiled, recalling the pretty and vivacious girl she and her husband had met twice in just that week. Khushi Gupta was a lovely girl from what Anumati had seen so far, and she liked her a lot. Then, the merest hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes as her mind drifted towards her son, but she lowered them quickly to avoid her husband noticing. "She's educated, modern and cultured, and that's all that matters." Ajit Raizada responded, buttoning up his coat, then smoothed down the lapels, frowning at his reflection in the mirror, while behind his back his wife took a deep breath and sat up straighter.

"I was wondering'" She began as her husband turned away from the mirror. "When you would want them to meet." She said quietly. "They can meet next week at the engagement." Came the instant reply, much to Anumati's disappointment. "But'" She tried once again, but her husband cut her off. "But nothing Anu." He said firmly. "The marriage has been approved by both families, the Saghai is next week, and once that is done, the couple can spend some time getting to know each other in a respectable manner. The girl will be brought into this family as per the traditions of both families, and they can both adjust to each other over time once they're married, and that is final." He said, picking up his wallet and then suddenly sat down next to her on the bed.

"Try not to worry too much." He said gently, taking her hand, and she nodded slowly, but the frown wrinkling her forehead only deepened. "Like you said, she's modern... And, I want her to feel comfortable, not just immerse her in all these traditions'" Anumati hesitated, her voice still soft, and worried, which her husband noticed. "And, I also told you not to worry." He said patting her hand soothingly. "Once Arnav comes back, he'll take care of all the post engagement details for the young ones, and the rest who are expecting more than just traditional events." He said confidently. "He's not upset then?" She asked suddenly, turning to look at her husband, her eyes searching his. "He's not upset Anu, you spoke to him just last night didn't you? He told you he was fine didn't he?" Her husband smiled at her, and she nodded, recalling her son's phone call in which he had sounded perfectly relaxed and at ease, and even a little excited. "OK, I guess that's all settled then, I'll finish the preparations for the engagement." She smiled brightly, but was still not quite able to shake the feeling of unease, which had stayed with her since her son's departure for New York the previous week.

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Arnav rolled over on his massive sized bed in his New York penthouse, and made a grab for the long legged blond beside him, pinning her down with his exceptionally fit, and very naked body. "Don't you every get tired?" She grumbled half jokingly, her body already warming up as strong hands spread her thighs, and sharp teeth sank into her breast. "Have some pity, I've been starved for affection because of constant traveling." He smirked, then plunged into her, before he moved upright and maneuvered her into position, till her legs were sticking straight up over his chest, her ankles resting on his shoulders. "Oh God!" She gasped after ten minutes of relentless pounding, barely able to move under the powerful thrusts, the sounds of blaring hard rock music streaming in from the living room where the party raged on, fading into oblivion. "Yes, He's the one responsible for my starving body." He told her, thrusting harder, his fingers digging into her calves which he held steady as her body began to spasm. "I thought you said your father was the one to blame." She moaned, almost at the edge. "Gods, fathers, pains in the ass, all one and the same... But let's not discuss that right now, we have a party to get back to." He said calmly. "And we also need to wake up sleepyhead over there." He pointed to the naked figure, sprawled a few feet away on the edge of the bed. Then he drove into the moaning blond faster, till they both went spiraling into ecstasy, and her screams roused the sleeping redhead.

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"So what do you think will happen first after the engagement, bar hopping, or a rave?" Twenty one year old Anjali asked, nearly jumping up and down in giddy excitement while she pierced flowers with a needle, stringing them together, the boredom of the previous week fading fast. "I'm thinking undisclosed location, with surprises galore." NK replied, darting a look at the closed door from where he was lying on the floor, his legs propped up on a large couch. "Whatever it is, it's going to be f**king amazing... I mean, it's Arnav after all." He said in a voice filled with reverence. "Ohhh I can't wait!" Anjali squealed, dropping the flowers and falling flat on the floor next to her cousin. "One more week." She sighed, closing her eyes. "Yeah, one more week of traditional flavor, mind numbing boredom, constant parenting, and then..." NK lurched to his feet, his boyishly handsome face alive with joy. "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys, girls and snobs." He announced, grabbing Anjali's hand and yanking her up, while shooting a look at a silent Akaash sitting across from them at a small table, reading financial reports. "It's gonna be... time to parrrtay!" He yelled, dancing a gleeful Anjali around the room.

"And, not just any party." Anjali shouted, completely forgetting herself as she grabbed both of NK's hands while they began to spin around in a circle. "No, not just any party." NK agreed. "There'll be an open bar." NK sang. "There'll be crazy music." Anjali chanted. "There'll be crazier women." NK sighed. "There'll be men." Anjali added. "There'll be fun." NK spun faster. "So much fun." Anjali gasped. "And, there will be..." NK yanked her closer till their noses were almost touching. "The one." She chanted. "The only." He chanted louder.

"Arnav f**king Raizada!" They both yelled together, before collapsing against each other, completely out of breath and laughing with unrestrained excitement for what they knew was about to hit Delhi.