|ArHi|Shoreline Ch10 pg. 24 |DISCONTD| NOTE p.26 - Page 8

Lovely update!! <3

And sorry for unres-ing late... Didn't get time to come online 😳

@SmileyStar: Its alright...what matters is that you unresed lol

Originally posted by: -Grace-

@SmileyStar: Its alright...what matters is that you unresed lol

Ohhh yesss! I know how annoying it is when someone reserves and then forgets to come back 🤣

Originally posted by: SmileyStar

Ohhh yesss! I know how annoying it is when someone reserves and then forgets to come back 🤣

Grace,

Chapter 5| Breathtaking

Khushi paced back and forth in her room, kneading her right fist in her left palm, brainstorming ideas to sneak out on the Sunday night without getting caught.

Arnav's business card lay quietly on her side table by her clutch, tempting her even more, creating waves of excitement.

She smiled looking at his card that contained his contact information, now she could contact him, talk to him, without even going to the caf.

Before her mind roamed in other directions she took a control of herself and stopped her heart for misinterpreting anything.

This was a friendly date. That's all. Yes, a friendly date.

She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. Her eyes shot open as the image flashed in front of them.

Why was she seeing him after closing her eyes when she had no such intentions?

What was this supposed to mean?

Without paying much heed to her disastrous thoughts she got herself busy with her pending work.

______________

"Aman I will be there, now stop harassing me!" Arnav almost yelled into the phone out of frustration.

This was the 36th time Aman had called him this week to remind him of the party Sunday night.

Its okay to be excited, but this excited? That too over a party

Baby Aman probably had an overdose of candy.

Arnav disconnected the phone and closed his eyes exhaling frustratingly.

If one more time he calls, he would not show up on purpose.

He started going through the pile of files that lay there abandoned for the past fifteen minutes, desperate to get his attention.

He opened the top two buttons of his shirt, and loosened his tie a bit. Talking to Aman was definitely one heck of a tiring task.

Wonder how Naina bares with him.

He smiled, sympathizing with Naina.

He checked one file after the other, and it had felt like hours, he couldn't remember the time when he wasn't doing this. He thought he had been done with half of them but the pile seemed to just stay the way it was when he had started.

What the hell.

He closed the file, suddenly not wanting to do any work at all.

Whenever, Arnav had to do work, even that white plain wall seemed more interesting.

Except…

Now that piece of napkin, with a 14 digit number on it had his attention.

He took the napkin in his hands and caressed the corners.

Should I or should I not.

He wanted to call, but he couldn't decide. Would it be a long jump from his side?

Well he would see her this Sunday anyway.

If she could sneak out and if Aman didn't call once more.

Hopefully.

________

"Khushi, we have to attend Mr Verma's party this Sunday, you haven't forgotten have you?"

Mr Gupta looked up from his ipad, his hands with a fork and knife stopped mid way as he made eye contact with his daughter.

Khushi was lost in her thoughts, as she continued to chew on the piece of macaroni in slow motion, staring at the half filled wine glass in front of her.

"Khushi…are you listening to me?"

Her dad repeated, this time with a more serious expression.

"Huh..yeah..yes dad?"

"You remember about Mr Verma's party right?" he repeated with a stern expression and a tone that refused to hear any objections.

"yes dad I remember" she replied, digging her macaroni filled plate with a sterling silver fork, as her eyes were down cast.

"Good, because you are coming with us and no excuses…ok beta"

"yes dad"

Was there an option to say anything else? Then why was he even bothered.

She couldn't care less about Mr Verma's party, she would rather spend her evenings at a certain caf.

The dinner was a silent affair at the Gupta Residence, except for the reminders of the social gatherings and the business parties that her parents exchanged.

She sulked in her chair just thinking of Mr Verma's party, which was more like showcasing his wife's latest diamonds and her branded saris, which she was so not interested in.

Mr Verma was a nice man, with slightly grey hair, and a few wrinkles, who was nothing but a money making machine to his wife. Oh she was a cunning little fox.

Khushi rolled her eyes just at the thought of it.

She had to get herself out of this, especially when there were better things to do, like going out with Arnav.

______________

Before she could ponder about Mr Verma's party it was Sunday already. Khushi held her phone in her hand as she stared at the screen wide eyed, right after waking up.

Sunday?

Sunday was already here and she hadn't even made any fool proof plans to escape.

Now what.

She began to bite her nails in nervousness.

The entire day she had been digging deep to come up with a plan but she had failed again and again. She had never felt this dumb before, all she needed was a simple plan, but when did the brain ever work in such situations?

It was 4 pm and they had to leave by 5 pm maximum, after all the Guptas were known for their punctuality, the reputation couldn't be damaged today.

Khushi starting biting her nails again, this time faster, shredding away the lifeless pieces.

Kya karoon, kya karoon kya karoon.

When suddenly something popped.

She called Amber and began to explain her the master plan.

"Amber? Can you do me a favor?"

For the outsiders and Mr and Mrs Gupta Amber was only a maid but for Khushi she was her closest friend, the only friend that she found worthy in her high class society.

Amber's mother had been hired by Khushi's parents as a maid, more like a house keeper as both parents were too busy to give the huge house any attention. They had the money to get a custom made castle but no time to spend in it.

Khushi and Amber had been friends ever since they were four. They had shared a very strong bond and Khushi never considered her any less than a sister.

She had told Amber the plan and giving each other a high five Khushi's excitement had taken a whole new level.

_____________

Arnav was flipping through channels on his flat screen TV, lying lazily on his bed, in his casuals. He switched channel after channel but he found nothing worthy to watch.

HBO kept plying all the movies he had already seen, Bollywood romance wasn't his pick and soap operas and reality shows made him nauseous.

His phone rang and before he picked up, it stopped ringing. Aman had given a missed call this time, instead of a threatening phone call.

Shit.

He had forgotten about the party, even after Aman had reminded him 36 times. Wow.

He quickly ran inside the washroom, took a shower and was hurriedly dressed in a black collar shirt and dark blue jeans. He left his hair messy which were dark, trimmed and wet.

After he was satisfied he looked at his reflection in the mirror and gave himself an approving grin.

Before he could ramble his self praising he remembered that he hadn't talked to Khushi, thereby he wasn't sure if she was coming or not.

He picked his phone and dialed her number with an initial hesitation.

In the Gupta residence Khushi was checking all angles of her body to see if she was looking perfect, asking Amber once in a while to give her opinion.

Once Amber had convinced her that she looked like Ms Universe, Khushi had stopped looking in the full length mirror, and sat quietly on the bed, slightly blushing.

Just when Amber and Khushi were talking and laughing, her phone rang bringing her attention instantly. She received the call and was more than glad to find Arnav on the other line.

She bid Amber good bye and silently walked out of the house in the dark evening towards the end of the driveway where his car had been parked.

As she reached his car she took a sigh of relief and quickly sat in the passenger seat.

"Phew"

He smiled seeing her state of mind, as she closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled.

She quickly fastened the seat belt and placing her head on the head rest she turned to him and said, almost in a desperate tone.

"Chalo"

"no hi, how are you… directly, bas chalo?"

He said as he changed the gear and turning the car he started to drive on the main street.

"sorry.. I was in a hurry"

"yeah I figured"

He pressed the accelerator..

"waise you look quite dashing today"

There was an unusual spark in her eyes and a naughty pout adorned her lips as she waited for his reaction.

Arnav was slightly surprised at this new side of hers, but he masked it well.

"I know…you too don't look half bad"

He flashed a mischievous grin.

She gasped.

'not half bad? Is that the way to compliment a girl?"

She raised an eye brow as she turned to him, her hair lying on one shoulder.

"okay you look breathtaking"

He said dramatically.

And sexy.

He added mentally.

She was wearing a black and blue cocktail dress that ended just above her knees and was wrapped tightly around her chest, strapless. She had no makeup on, except for a peachy luscious lip gloss, and wore simple black flats.

Sexy without the inched stilettos?

He instantly compared her with the fashion freaks he had met.

Oddly enough he was glad she was his date tonight.

Just a friendly date. That's all. Yes.

He controlled his wild imaginations that knew no boundaries.

__________________________

This update is dedicated to Sarah (aa_mnhs) for always leaving such encouraging comments😳

Awesome update.
Khushi sees arnav after closing her eyes, wow. Nice improvement.
What was that khushi planned with amber? Looking forward for arhi's 'friendly' date.
Thanks 4 pm