Like I Have Never Seen The Sky Before - Page 7

Interesting start. Wonder what he wants with her.

Originally posted by: tinsel

Fantastic start,continue soon

Thank you! Posting in a bit 😃

Originally posted by: Soloperson

I have seen your VMs , you write too, wow...interesting start!

LOL looks like I do 😃 Thanks!

Author's note: Hey all, here's chapter 2. Enjoy and leave comment of you like it!

Chapter 2

If he recognized her, there was no indication of it.

"Mrs. Braganza, thank you, I can take it from here." He began to stand up.

"No Mr. Raizada, have a seat. I would like to talk to her first. Khushi please come in and have a seat."

Khushi was half confused, half genuinely curious. She gave him a side glance before claiming a seat beside him.

"What is going on Ma'am... should I be concerned?"

"No no, nothing to be concerned about. This here is Mr. Raizada, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. He is a family friend of yours. You may not know him very well, but he and your brother are good friends, and your families were acquainted as well I believe, right?" She looked at the man for confirmation.

"Yes." Arnav took a pause as he looked at her. Then he said, "I received a letter from your brother recently... we hadn't been in touch for a while... uhh... well anyway, I'm here to take you to my home. You'll be living there from now on."

Khushi looked down and said nothing. This is what she was afraid of. What she was anticipating. But she didn't think it was going to happen so soon. She wrote a detailed letter to her brother explaining that she had things under control, that she could take care of herself. But the stupid head went ahead and begged for help anway. From a stranger.That smartass. Khushi stopped the rage that was climbing up her spinal cord to reach her brain. Stop! Don't be rude. It's not this guy's fault. He is just being nice.

"Mr. Raizada, it's nice to meet you." She finally looked up.

He nodded.

"I want to thank you for taking the time to come meet me here, and I truly am grateful, but I'm going to have to respectfully decline. I realize that my brother may have described our situation, and you may be concerned, but I want to assure you that I can take care of it."

Arnav stared at her and said nothing. There was an awkward silence in the room.

"Now hold on a moment Khushi", Mrs. Braganza broke the silence. "This does not seem like half a bad idea to me, considering your situation. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You are a student, you need some support at the moment. It's only temporary until your brother comes back."

Khushi felt trapped. She knew what the super was saying was entirely correct from a logical perspective. But she could not make herself accept it. Also, she really didn't need to explain it so bluntly in front of this man who was a stranger to both of them. Yes, her brother is having a hard time supporting the both of them and whatever money their parents left them had run out some time ago. But she could support herself. She was not a little girl anymore. She had begged the super to get her a teaching position from one of her contacts. But apparently she was neither qualified enough and nor was it a good idea for her at this time. She had not been able to pay her rent for a couple months now and they have been kind enough to let her stay anyway. At least that was true, she had to admit. She did not want to be a burden to them but this was not a decent way out. This is just transferring herself into becoming another person's responsibility. This being poor thing was so entirely frustrating.

"But ma'am," she stood up and blurted out before thinking any further, "I only need a little bit of time, I have been applying everywhere, I will get a job... and and..." Khushi turned to face him, "no offence to you but I have never even heard of you, I can't just go live with you, it's fair to neither you nor me."

Arnav rolled his eyes inwardly. What a piece of work. He really did not need this right now. When he decided to help Shaan out, he did not think convincing the sister would even be a problem. Now it seems like he has an overly smart, wanna-be-independent moral compass in his hands. Great. His jaws tightened in annoyance.

Khushi clearly saw what went through his mind. She was generally more perceptive than your average 20 year old girl. And what she saw ignited her already inflamed blood.

"Listen I..." He began before she cut him off.

"Nope, thank you. I'm done conversing for today. I get the picture very well. Please don't be concerned. It was nice meeting you." She stopped abruptly and rushed outside. She needed some air.

Arnav was completely taken aback. The audacity of this girl! When all he had tried to do so far was be incredibly helpful. He got up forcefully. "Mr. Raizada!" The super beckoned from behind but he did not care to pay attention.

He swiftly caught up to her in the corridor and blocked her way.

"I was not done speaking," He took a pause to regain his composure. "What you choose to do with your life is obviously your decision, but I've got a responsibility that your brother has specifically asked me to fulfil, and I owe him at least that much to be serious about this. I need you not to be a child about this. That will make both of our lives much easier. Can you do that for me?"

Khushi was amazed by this man's ability to simultaneously be concerned and insulting. She should be grateful to him but she did not feel a drop of gratitude. At the same time however, she did not feel like fighting anymore. She just wanted him gone. Suddenly, she missed her laptop badly. She needed to go on the internet. This had gone on for longer than it should have. Before she could do anything however, Mrs. Braganza came out of her office. She was visibly irritated. She did not like trouble or tough decision making. This situation combined both of those.

"I've had enough of this. Khushi you are going to go with Mr. Raizada, at least temporarily. Go pack your bags."

"Ma'am I would like to point out that you know nothing about this man other than what he has volunteered to tell you. And you have no confirmation of the details. Are you really sending me away with him?" Khushi interjected.

"That will be enough of your smartness for today, Khushi. I can see that you have completely forgotten your manners. You will be apologizing to Mr. Raizada. And for your information, I have checked his credentials before you came in. This is not the first time we have spoken to each other. You don't have to teach me how to do my job properly. Now go and pack your stuff." She added sternly.

Khushi summoned up her dirtiest look and threw it toward Arnav.

"I will need half an hour."

"I'll wait." Arnav nodded.

***

Her roommate Meenakshi was lying down on the bed filling up a balance sheet. Her glasses were almost slipping from the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were squinted in concentration. Meenakshi had a love and hate relationship with accounting. She hated the tediousness of filling up journals and ledgers, but loved the ultimate products. She also loved the prospect of finally becoming a CA. She did not even realize when Khushi walked in. Khushi grabbed her luggage bag and started filling it up. She did not have a clear idea about what things she was going to pack. She did not really want to uproot herself, she meant to come back.

"Hey, when did you get here? And what's with all this packing? Are you going on a trip? Without me? Oh my god what is going on? Are we even friends anymore?" Meenakshi was her usual exaggerated self.

"Don't ask. I have this benefactor waiting for me. A friend of my brother. Never met him in my life. I'm leaving Meenu. He has offered me to stay at their place until I can get this stuff sorted out." Khushi sat down and explained.

Meenakshi's eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. "You are joking right? Tell me you are joking. You are leaving me? How am I going to live by myself? You know I can't function without your coffee! And who is this random guy? How can you just go live with a stranger? This does not sound safe to me. No, let's go talk to the super, this can't be happening."

"I have already talked to her. As a matter of fact she is the one banishing me. She wants me to try it out. Apparently it's the best option I have at the moment." Khushi added sarcastically. "You know all I needed was a little more time. I told her a million times but ke shone kar kotha."

"Okay, I'm paying your fees then. I don't want to hear a word. I didn't force you all this time because you told me you'll figure something out. And I wanted to give you your space. But this has gone too far. Let's go to the bank now, I'll get my card." Meenakshi began to get up.

Khushi shook her head as she stared at her. She knew Meenakshi meant every word she said. And it probably would not affect her too much. Meenakshi came from a prosperous family. She would happily cover her rent and expenses and never bring it up again. But Khushi could not let her do that.

"Meenu, you know I can't let you do that. We have talked about it a million times. Please don't ask me to do something I can't."

Meenakshi was uncharacteristically silent. Still shocked. Then she slowly added, "But I need you man. You know I hate adjusting with new people."

This made Khushi laugh. "I'll miss you too. But don't worry, I fully intend to come back as soon as I can figure out a plan. This is temporary. Now help me pack some things. Mr. VIP won't wait for me forever."

"Fiinee," Meenakshi got up. She grabbed the stuffed tree frog from the top of the dresser and threw it at Khushi. "Here, take Mr. Frog. You're gonna need him in the new house. Who else is going to talk to you?" She was all teeth.

Khushi ducked and the next moment threw her pillow at Meenu. It hit her square in the face and she collapsed on her bed. The sight was so hilarious that Khushi's stomach hurt from laughing too hard. Meenakshi got up and was ready to attack when Geeta came into the room saving her.

"Didi, is this true what I heard? Are you really leaving?" She was not too happy.

***

Arnav was impatient. He had a meeting to get to after he dropped her off. He looked around impatiently.

Mrs. Braganza looked up from the file she was reading and peered through her horn-rimmed bi-focals."Mr. Raizada, would you like to have that cup of coffee I mentioned earlier?"

"No thank you. Is she going to take long? Would it be more convenient if I came back in the afternoon?"

"Half an hour has not passed yet. A girl needs time to say good bye to the people she has been living with for so long. You can leave if you want but it would not exactly assure me of you being a responsible guardian. I can trust you with her, right?" She glared at him angrily.

"Right, of course." Arnav shifted uncomfortably in his chair. What was wrong with this place. Everyone seemed to be in need to see a therapist. Whatever. Not his problem. He would be out of here soon. Except he would not, Arnav remembered. He would be taking part of the problem with him. Arnav was suddenly unsure of his decision. Shaan was a close friend in high school, and one the few friends his grandfather openly approved of. As a matter of fact he was here partially due to his grandfather's insistence. Arnav's family were not in contact with them when Shaan and Khushi's parents passed away in a car accident. The retired professor of law regretted that they were not there for them at the time when they needed them the most. He insisted that they take this opportunity to make up for lost times. He knew Shaan's parents socially and had a high opinion of them. According to him, Shaan's father was one of the few remaining honest men still living in the country. But that was a long time ago. They moved back to Kolkata after Arnav and Shaan finished high school. Arnav had vaguely heard rumours about Shaan moving to UK a few years back from friends but was not aware of anything else that happened to their family. Until he received the email from Shaan a week ago, where he explained their situation and asked him for a favour... Arnav remembered. Letting Khushi stay was not a problem. It's the responsibility that he shied from. He had enough on his plate right now to add new responsibilities. But since the professor agreed to look after her, he agreed to go along with this plan. And that is how he was here today. Now he doubted his own decision. He just hoped that he did not regret it afterwards. This girl seemed like a handful.

***

With the help of Meenakshi and Geeta, Khushi was done packing pretty quickly. The atmosphere of the room was quite elevated now. These girls could not stay upset about anything for too long. They were already joking about how Khushi should take control over Arnav's family with sheer manipulation.

"Hey I'm a nice person guys!" Khushi screamed. "They are going to love me! It's a different story that I am not going to love them."

"Yeah, aaand you are a nice person you said?" Meenakshi pointed out laughingly.

Khushi's jaw dropped. "You know, maybe this is what you need precisely. My absence. This oughta teach you to appreciate me more."

"Oh please! You'll be back before I finish my breath of relief," Meenakshi rolled her eyes.

"Alright then." Khushi hugged the girls and said her goodbyes. Then she rolled her luggage outside.

As she approached Mrs. Braganza's office, she spotted Arnav waiting outside the door.

"Ready to go?"

Khushi nodded noncommittally.

"I'll get the car."

Mrs. Braganza had also come out. She surprised Khushi by hugging her. Although Khushi knew she was a big softy indside, she knew that the super was not big on display of affection.

"Don't actively try to sabotage this."

Khushi laughed at how well she knew her.

"Be good. I can't have people misjudging this college based on your behaviour."

"Do you really think I'm that badly behaved?"

"We'll talk about that. You are getting late. Time to go"

Khushi rolled her luggage to the car. Arnav was waiting outside. He tried to get the luggage for her but Khushi stopped him. "I got it." That got her another look from him. Khushi was not afraid. She looked back at him squarely, but calmly.

"Get in the car." He left to get to the driving seat.

Khushi observed him from behind. This was the first time she was actually looking at him, trying to gauge him. He was very well dressed, in an immaculate suit. Athletically built, he would obviously be considered good looking by any definition. Expensive car indicated money. But there was something off about him. She could not put her finger on it but the nagging feeling was there. She pushed the thoughts to back of her mind. She would have plenty of time to deal with them. She got into the car and cast the residence one last look. This place had been good to her. God knows what awaited her in the future. But for now she just wanted to relax. She put on her music as Arnav started the car.

Oh.
What an update.
What a update.
They hate each other already :P
Oh god.
You know you better update this thing ASAP, don't you?

So the journey finally begins!
Cant wait to read the situations where Arnav and Khushi would have to face in each others company!!
Great update !

Oye hoye. khushi bangali??wow...it's getting interesting. But aktu taratari update korle bhalo hoy ...take care

Interesting! now she's gonna live with someone whome she doesn't know or like.

lovely!!
everything that brings arshi together is gting me sooo emotional!
it distracted me a l'il bit for sme time bt nw i'm again back to my duty!