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Chapter Four
The moment she entered her father's restaurant, the familiar environment, the soothing music, the known faces and the view to the enchanting waters of Puget Sound, everything had eased the anxiousness of her heart, and she left a sigh of breath, she didn't know she was holding for so long.
"Buena seora tarde" (Good afternoon Madam) she heard someone speak from behind and turned only to come across a slender lady in white off shoulder dress, which fitted her curves to perfection. The woman in white was a sight to behold, with her angular face, her grey eyes and a beautiful face with striking features.
"Good afternoon to you too Lavanya" she said with a smile only to have the woman frown.
"Good afternoon my ass, I tell you I can never have a good time—regardless of whether it's morning, afternoon, or evening if I am in the company of that dog" she said thumbing over her shoulder.
When Khushi followed her gesture, she saw Saran waving at her with a huge grin on his face. She smiled and waved him back before turning to whisper to Lavanya.
"Are you here on a date?"
"Precisely"
"He finally asked you out?" Khushi asked, her face breaking into a grin.
"Yeah, he asked me out to your father's restaurant because he craves Indian food at the moment and he thinks I am in dire need of some calories"
Khushi laughed at her cribbing friend. She, Saran and Lavanya were best friends since Pre School. While Lavanya's affection towards Saran was visible in her eyes and her gestures whenever she's with him, Saran on the other hand was clueless…as clueless as he can get.
"Lavanya, you know him"
"You think? That man sends out mixed signals all the time, and people say women are complicated. Let me find the person who started saying "Women are complicated creatures", I will kill him. Slowly and painfully at that"
"What did he do now?"
"Nothing really, saying what sort of girl he wishes to have, and the list not surprisingly have not even one common trait with my personality" Lavanya said her eyes downcast, which pinched Khushi.
Khushi took her hand in hers and squeezed it, not knowing what to say but telling her that she would be there beside her no matter what. Many a time she thought to talk to Saran about Lavanya but then she knew Lavanya wouldn't want that. And hence she stayed back wishing them to have their happy ending but as days passed, Saran made Lavanya more restless making Khushi wonder if she's doing the right thing staying back and watching. Should she do something?
"Anyway" Lavanya's cheerful voice bought her out of her reverie as she faced her best friend who was back to her cheerful self "Right now that dog sent me over to invite you to have your lunch with us. His mind works sometimes after all" she said solemnly "Come" she said tugging at her wrist.
"No, Lavanya I already had my lunch, and I'm in middle of something. Have to talk with Papa"
"Wait you had your lunch? At lunch hour? I mean Geeks since when are you having your meals at the right time?" Lavanya said with her usual drama queen mode on, making Khushi smile.
"He said he was famished so I let him order—"
"He, who? Wait you had your lunch with someone? Why am I not told? I want details. All. Of. Them. Right. Now"
"Lavanya listen—"
"Wait you're supposed to meet Suraj uncle's son right? Oh shit I didn't know it was today. Else I would've dropped in to get you ready, speaking of which what are you wearing? Planning to cover your body head to toe eh? All you need is a mask and your look would be ready, without showing an inch of your body"
"Lavanya—"
"So tell me how this guy was. Creepy, nice or owlish? Now why are you silent? Speak something will you?"
"I would if you let me"
"Oops sorry," Lavanya said pulling an invisible zip over her mouth and pretending to throw the key away.
Khushi smiled at her friend before speaking "I'm supposed to meet him and started to Canlis for the same but there I—uh—came across my boss"
"Good heavens, that hunk is hot did I ever tell you that?"
"Lavanya!"
"Okay I won't disturb you, carry on" she said her finger on her lips.
"He was there for a client meeting, which I am supposed to attend with him and he thought I was there for it and—"
"—And you didn't correct him and worked despite of the fact that you're out on a date! Tell me I am wrong. Please?"
The guilty look on Khushi's face told Lavanya the answer she was dreading "Good lord, you actually worked haven't you? So what am I supposed to say now? How was the client meeting Geeks and have you signed the deal? You know this has become my favorite line ever since you started working. When will I get a chance to ask you how was the guy Geeks, did you like him instead? High hopes, I think"
"The meeting was postponed by the client" Khushi said with a small voice, making Lavanya heave a sigh.
"God bless him. So you said excuse me Sir and walked out of there right?"
"Well no, I forgot about the date thing altogether and had lunch with my boss"
As she said the words, she felt warm on her cheeks and knew her cheeks turned pink.
For a moment Lavanya seemed pole axed before she broke into a huge grin.
"Am I dreaming, or you actually are blushing? Geeks now all the more reasons for you to tell me details"
Khushi bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. However her smile froze as she remembered the task at hand. "Lavanya look I had ditched the guy I am supposed to meet and I don't know how Papa would take it. See Suraj uncle is a good friend of Papa and the last thing I want to do is to affect their friendship"
"Geeks, chill. Why don't you call the guy and tell him you'd an emergency so couldn't come?"
"I would if I could" Khushi mumbled "I don't have his number. Besides" she paused opening her purse to reveal her broken mobile pieces to Lavanya "This happened"
For a moment Lavanya stared at the dismantled mobile pieces and back at her before whispering "Do you believe in signs Geeks?"
"Er what signs?"
"The cosmos are conspiring against you meeting this guy and instead made you dine with your boss. What does that tell you?"
"They tell me that I am in trouble. What if he came there and saw me dining with my boss? The last thing I want is him to misunderstand"
"He would've misunderstood had you been all smiles with your boss and considering how the hunk never as much stretched his lips you need not worry"
Upon the look on Khushi's face Lavanya looked at her startled "You were all smiles with him weren't you? You actually enjoyed the time with him"
"He's a nice guy Lavanya" Khushi said wishing the color in her cheeks to fade away.
"Hot I agree, nice I doubt. Men like him are usually filled with arrogance and dominance"
"Not him Lavanya. He's compassionate, funny, intriguing and affectionate. He's a perfect gentleman all the time I was with him. He's an amazing person and—"
Khushi stopped the moment she saw Lavanya looking at her with arms crossed across her chest, her head tilted to a side looking at her curiously, making her realize that she'd given away too much than she could've liked.
"And?" Lavanya egged on, making her heave a sigh.
"And, I will fill you with the details later, for now let me meet my Papa. Also I think Saran is getting bored so join him. Go!" she said pushing Lavanya.
"Alright, sleepover tonight at my place then"
Khushi closed her eyes knowing there's no way out. Sleepover always meant secrets, movies and ice-creams. While the latter two are harmless, the first one bothered her.
"Deal" she said before walking towards the kitchen leaving Lavanya grinning ear to ear.
- - -
The aroma of Indian spices welcomed her as she entered the kitchen. She'd smiled and waved to every employee who'd looked at her and smiled. She had spotted her father talking to someone in his phone smiling, and she approached him gingerly.
When he caught her eye, she'd seen him smile and ask her to come over. While she went there, giving him a side hug, and rested her head on his shoulder, he continued talking to the person in Hindi, making her wonder who the caller was.
"Yes, yes she's here" her father said stroking her hair fondly. "You want to talk to her?" he said and before she could ask him who the caller was, the phone was already pushed towards her, and she saw her father mouth "Suraj uncle's son"
That startled her out of her reverie as she smiled at her father awkwardly before excusing herself to one of the balconies that provided view to the enormous waters of Puget Sound.
When she was sure, her father was not around she spoke a ginger "Hello"
"Hi" she heard a rich velvety voice from the other end. "How're you Khushi?"
"Fine thank you," she mumbled suddenly nervous "How're you doing?"
"Great" she heard him speak before adding "Though I am sure you would want to say something more than that right now"
She held her breath and closed her eyes as she blurted out "Iamsorry"
"Excuse me?"
"I am sorry" her voice was clear and gentle now.
"For?"
"For not being able to attend the lunch with you"
"I see"
"Something came up and I couldn't inform you because my phone was broken"
"Oh"
"And I didn't have your number"
She heard his rich laughter which suddenly stopped her frantic heartbeats.
"Khushi, Khushi calm down. You make me sound as a Principal. Look I tried calling your number but I couldn't reach you. I hence called your father up. Thing is I couldn't make it to the place today. My car broke down in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to inform you the same"
It was her turn to be surprised then. "Oh" was all she said.
"And since your father was keen to know if we—uh—had a nice time, I couldn't help but not to disclose the truth from him. I said we did"
"Oh?"
"It isn't entirely a lie either" she heard his voice which was filled with mirth, making her scrunch her brows. "I do have a nice time chatting with you now" she heard him say and she smiled.
She heard a knock behind her and turned to find her father mouthing her something, and when she nodded her head in understanding, he smiled and went back to the kitchen.
"Papa wants you and your family to come over to our place for Diwali" she said softly.
"Only your Papa?" she heard his voice and she lowered her gaze, as she fuddled with her scarf.
"Of course not. I want you to come too" she said as she touched the cool metal railing.
This time when he spoke, she could hear the smile in his voice.
"I would love to"
"Thanks" she murmured before something stuck her "Can I ask you something?" she muttered dubiously.
"Of course"
"What's your name?"
There was a beat of silence before a rich laughter that filled her ears.
"You didn't know my name or number or have never seen me, yet you were ready to meet me Khushi. Interesting. Now I look forward to meet you, all the more curious than I was"
She bit her lip nervously, waiting for his reply.
"And as for your question goes," he said pausing "Amar. Amar is my name" he said in that rich voice of his.
- - -
Edited by AthenaA - 12 years ago
Marathi TV
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