Part 24
'Khushi, you need understand that I'm not like you. I harbour anger, I'm pretty egocentric, I do whatever it takes to succeed, I have pretty much no patience. I am your opposite in every way possible...what do you say...Rakshas Raizada... that's me,' he said looking directly into her eyes.
Khushi gasped, she felt like she couldn't breathe or speak as the shock slammed into her. How did he know? 'Arnav-ji...how..I mean...I..didn't realise that you knew..knew that I called you that...' her voice trailed off as sheer mortification took over and she became as red as the tomatoes that sat in the salad in front of her. Arnav was watching her intently to see if she had understood what he was alluding to; she clearly hadn't as she was too embarrassed by the fact that he knew what her...pet name...was for him.
Arnav winced internally. He was trying really hard to match her integrity but bloody hell, this was hard. All the times she had been honest with him flashed through his mind; how did she do it so fearlessly he wondered?
Arnav sat up and rotated himself until he was face to face with her, his torso was only inches from her, their knees were touching. Khushi looked down at her trembling hands and gulped nervously as stole a glance at him encountering his eyes staring at her intimately. She instantly looked down again. Arnav craved direct eyes contact, but realized she was too scared to look at him.
'Khushi, listen to me...Rakshas Raizada...that's what you call me right...Shorten it...'
Khushi looked at Aranv as if he had lost his marbles... 'Arnav-ji, I dont understand what you mean... I mean, I know you're probably really angry... but...I..,' her gaze sank to the floor as she tried to find a suitable justification. Devi Maiya help, I really didn't expect this to be happening on our first date, she thought in a panic.
Arnav looked at Khushi in exasperation and then took a deep breath. He was going to have to just say it because there was no way she'd even guess that it was him.
'Khushi look at me. '
It was a command and was dispatched like one.
Her nervous, fearful eyes clashed with his.
In a low voice he said, 'Khushi, you've been honest with me and I need to reciprocate that...'
'Arnavji...' she began... Arnav laid his index finger on her lips and silenced her.
'Khushi, Rakshas Raizada...RR for short... is me. Khushi, I am RR...your mentor,' he said in a very quiet voice.
Her very audible gasp and stunned expression gave him a clear visual picture into her state of mind. Arnav swallowed. This was harder than he had anticipated.
Khushi moved back letting his finger slide away as she began to rise to her feet. She stood up and walked out of the marquee to the edge of the terrace. Her hands clutched the edge of the balcony as she tried desperately to assemble her very shocked thoughts into some semblance of order. Devi Maiya, that means that he already KNEW about Jaleebi Junction! Her mind raced back through time trying desperately to recall what else she might have said to him and more importantly how in heaven's name she didnt work it out herself; she was his personal assistant after all. Khushi groaned. How had this become so complicated?
Arnav watched Khushi as she stood up; he let her walk away as she clearly needed some space to process her thoughts. He waited.
Khushi shivered as the cool evening breeze enveloped her. Devi Maiya, what was she supposed to do now? Who was Arnav-ji...her boss...or...her mentor...or...a man who was interested in her? Devi Maiya, this was complicated enough; why have you made it worse, questioned Khushi.
Arnav watched her tremble unsure if it was his revelation or the cold air that caused it. What he did know was that they needed to work out a way forward from here. He NEEDED to work out a way forward WITH her. Arnav stood up and walked to Khushi. Khushi felt a warmth encasing her and for a second she thought it was his arms as his very distinctive scent surrounded her. It was his jacket which he had placed around her shoulders. She opened her eyes just as Arnav came to a standstill by her side. He was facing inwards to the terrace while she faced outwards towards the skyline, essentially making them stand face to face. Khushi kept her gaze focused on the distant buildings around them. She heard him whisper her name...
'Khushi, about ten days ago I was contacted by a representative from the Business Development Association, whose board I sit on to ask if could anonymously mentor a young business person. I wouldn't know who they were and they wouldn't know me. It was to be a one off, 2 hour session only. I started this conversation and I had no clue that my mentee was you until you said 'I will have you know that I am the daughter of a master mithai maker and Personal Assistant to the biggest business tycoon in Delhi. It was at that point that I asked you who your boss was... do you remember that Khushi?' he asked.
Khushi nodded, 'and I said Arnav Singh Raizada...'
Arnav smiled, 'Yes you did... and that's when I worked out you were my mentee. I remember I was quite surprised when I realised it was you and remember thinking to myself that the great Khushi Kumari Gupta who was always meandering around me like a meek mouse or preparing to attack like an enraged tigress, depending on the situation, was actually praising my business acumen and had noticed my magnetism with the ladies,' he said with a chuckle.
Khushi glared at him, 'Ladies..what ladies..you mean those Chamak Challos?!...and by the way I never meander like a meek mouse... I was just being a respectful employee...wouldn't want to shock you now would I!'
Arnav smiled again. 'Khushi, truth be told, you've shocked me many many times..' Khushi opened her mouth to interject and Arnav silenced her with his finger on her lips again. She trembled as he slowly let it slide down her chin. And it wasn't because of the cold.
'To be honest Khushi, initially I kept the mentoring going because it amused me and I just wanted to test you...it was a bit of a game, kind of how a lion watches a mouse trying to escape but gets a kick out of holding its tail so the mouse thinks its escaping but really not going anywhere. But Khushi it was me who was kept getting shocked because you withstood every challenge I put in your path.' Arnav drew a big breath and turned his head to look at Khushi directly, 'If I hadn't gotten this chance to mentor you, I don't think that I would have realised just how intelligent, resourceful, innovative, honest, brave and honourable you are Khushi Kumari Gupta... I wouldn't have realised how similar we are... sometimes scared of the dark, hurt indescribably because we've lost our parents..yearning to belong...make a success out of ourselves despite the circumstances..' he said his voice trailing off.
Khushi was amazed; his honesty shocked and unnerved her at the same time; she didn't quite know what to do, or where to look.
'Khushi do you remember when we were in the office when I asked you to prepare the report whilst we were supposed to be having our mentoring session? 'You said to me that you needed to make Jaleebi Junction a success for your Babuji because he couldn't work so you had to...do you remember that?'
She nodded.
'Khushi it was that day that I realised that despite being your boss, I knew virtually nothing about you. You had taken me completely off guard by completing that report almost perfectly that I began to question your background and wanted to know more about your credentials. So I asked Aman to bring me your personnel file. When that didn't tell me much, I hired a private investigator. That's how I learnt about your parents, the reason why you live with your uncle and aunt, why you are petrified of small, dark places...'
Khushi looked into his eyes, 'Arnav-ji, all you had to do was ask and I would have told you,' she said quietly.
Arnav knew she was right.
'Khushi, you might have come to me as my mentee, but there's a lot that I can learn from you. The question is...will you teach me or now that you know everything, do you want to walk away and end this right here, right now?' he asked almost in a whisper.
Hello my darlings
well the truth is out there now...lets see what Ms Gupta decides now. I'll try and post the next part before the end of the week but please dont be mad if I don't manage to; as I said, lots going on this week. In the meantime...I'm dying to hear your thoughts about this part...its your comments, love and suggestions that keep driving me to write more.😳
naina
Hindi TV Shows
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