Chapter 11:
Khushi blushed at the thoughts of her first date sitting in her office. It had been three days but still she couldn't get over those special moments she had with Arnav plus that pink tinge on her cheek just refused to go which gave all the details away. Her first ever kiss, Khushi thought with a sigh and went back into thinking what happened after that.
Flahback
After their kiss, they had silently exited the hotel and got into the car driving to Khushi's house. All through the ride Arnav had held her hand and calmed her drawing soothing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. If Khushi had thought it would be awkward after their little moment, then she was completely wrong. It felt so right. She had looked outside the window and saw that it was an entirely different route to her house and ofcourse the long one and shyly smiled at his thoughfulness. When they reached her house, both couldn't help but feel disappointed. He turned towards her and pecked her lips ever so gently and when he moved back, she felt something in her lap. She confusedly looked at Arnav and he, through his eyes, urged her to go ahead and open it. She picked up the box and opened it only to gasp in surprise and form an O with her lips, opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish. There in the box lay a stunning bracelet studded with small diamonds. Only after Arnav's warning to kiss her senseless outside her house where her family might see them had made her come back to reality and gulping she had started to refuse him.
"Arnav I can't take such an expensive gift. How can I? I mean its really beautiful but I can't keep it."
He had taken out the bracelet and made her wear it and holding her hand said: "I didn't buy this to keep it with me. Its for you and I want you to have it."
She was about to argue but seeing him glare, decided against it and quickly giving him a peck on his cheek. Before Arnav could accumulate what had happened, she ran out of the car muttering a quick bye and thank you on her way. He smiled shaking her head and started for his house.
Flashback over
On the other hand, whole of the Arnav's family was quite suprised seeing him humming and smiling. They knew the reason, but didn't dare to tease him unless they wanted this new Arnav to change into ASR. As for AR employees, they had their jaws hitting the floors when they saw their ever so arrogant boss smiling and not shouting at everyone. He had meant to call her after their but his meetings didn't allow him to do so and now sitting relaxed in his cabin, he dialled Khushi's number knowing that she would be free due to her lunch break. After ending the call, he smiled to himself. No other girl except Khushi had affected him this much. They had made lunch plans and now that she was coming to his office for lunch, he couldn't help but feel excited.
Khushi entered the building of AR office and asked the girl sitting at reception for Arnav. At first, she seemed to be confused with the name and finally when realization dawned on her that this girl was here to meet ASR, she looked at her surprised. ASR never had lunch appointments with anyone and was about to ask this girl when her intercom rang and ASR told her to send this girl in and not to disturb them until he says so. Shocked, she had shown Khushi the way and had started wondering whether she was the reason behind their boss's smile and proceeded to gossip about it with others.
Khushi knocked at the cabin she was directed to and after hearing a husky come in entered with a thumping heart. Arnav warmly smiled at her and got up from the black leather chair to take her into a side hug. He led her to the red couch and gestured to sit while he came back on his chair to close his laptop. He looked at her and spoke with guiltily:
"Sorry I couldn't call you because of the busy schedule I had."
"It's okay. I get it."
"And even that night you seemed to be in a hurry." Arnav asked in a teasing voice. Khushi looked into his eyes and noticed the playfulness in them with that smirk on his face which made her stammer and come up with a lame "umm I..I..."
"I what khushi?" He asked while his smirk turned into a full grin.
"Whatever." Khushi muttered pouting making Arnav chuckle but spoke nonetheless "Arnav the date was perfect. Everything a girl would want her first date to be. Thank you so much for making it so special for me." He smiled at her and said: "I am glad you enjoyed." and saw that she was sitting in an uneasy posture:
"You know you can sit comfortably, any way you want."
"You don't mind?" She asked in a childlike voice biting her lip resulting in his heart skipping a beat. He hook his head in negative and spoke: "Not at all."
Khushi took off her heels and sat cross legged on the couch and said: "Thanks. It has been such a tiring day at office." and the rest they say was a history because when Khushi Kumari Gupta started talking then there was no stopping her. Arnav, not the one to talk much, was only glad that the always shy Khushi was gradually opening up herself. He was half listening her and half admiring her talking animatedly while moving her hands when he caught a name, correction, a guy's name and he moved to the couch where Khushi was sitting to hear closely. "And then NK is coming back. Can you believe it? I mean I missed him so much. Oh I didn't tell you about him. Nandkishore Sharma aka NK is my best friend since high school and we share everything." Arnav wasn't one of the possessive psychopaths who didn't want Khushi to not have guy friends. Of course Khushi was a mature girl who had the right to choose her own friends but knowing that there was someone else who knew Khushi more than him unsettled him. He already started disliking this whatever Sharma he was when heard Khushi saying: "Pata hai he was the one who told me to go with the flow with you and say yes". Suddenly all those previous thoughts that occupied Arnav flew out of the window and he started liking NK. He loosened his tie and took Khushi in a side hug by pulling her from her waist making her shriek. She looked up at Arnav and immediately lowered her lashes feeling shy. "Continue." he whispered in her ears and inhaling her soft floral fragrance. On the other hand, Khushi started breathing rapidly and she couldn't even utter a single word. Composing herself by taking a deep breadth she continued telling him about her other friends when a hesitant knock interrupted them. Arnav straightened himself and keeping a distance asked whoever it was to come in. A young man in his mid twenties came in balancing plates in one hand and shopper bags in the other while scrunching his nose to keep his glasses on its place that kept falling. For a moment, he looked shocked at the girl sitting in his boss's cabin so casually but he knew better to not show it. Wasn't she the one whom I gathered the information about? Aman thought. He turned to his boss keeping the things on table and was about to faint due to the man sitting in front of him. He looked so calm and at peace. If not traumatized, he would have gone shouting that ASR had been kidnapped and replaced by a monster but when he heard a snapping "AMAN!" his doubts were cleared.
"G..good afternoon ASR." Damn, he could never stop stuttering in front of an angry ASR, Aman thought.
Seeing him nod, he was about to go but stopped when he heard ASR's voice: "Khushi this is Aman Mathur, my manager and Aman this is Khushi, my fiance." Khushi felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach at this declaration because this was the first time Arnav was introducing her to someone.
Aman gulped for a moment unable to digest this piece of information but the girl smiled brightly at him making him return her smile and he greeted her: "Hello mam. Nice to meet you."
"Hello Aman. Same here. So you are the one Anjali di was talking about? The right hand man of ASR, huh?"
"Well its my job mam."
She again smiled softly at him and he exited the room thinking that ASR had gotten the perfect life partner. The total opposite of him but a really nice and down to earth girl, he thought with a wide smile.
When Aman closed the door, Arnav turned towards Khushi and asked: "So someone has been talking about me, huh?"
"I thought why not run a background check on you first?" Khushi paused to laugh and continued "Anjali di told me when we came at your house for dinner that how much you love to work and make Aman work." She giggled and Arnav shook his head and was about to open the boxes but Khushi stopped him and took the task herself. She served him in a plate and made one for herself. Taking the first bite of paste with white sauce, she looked at Arnav and asked: "Its yumm. Where did you order this from?"
"Purple orchids. I love their italian cuisine."
"Well you should. Its delicious."
He smile at her and they ate the rest of the food in a comfortable silence. When they were done, Arnav opened one more box of chocolate brownies and gave it to her. Khushi squealed in delight and started eating them happily. When she was finished, she looked at Arnav who was staring at her making her concious. She averted her eyes and closed them when she felt him holding her chin and turning her face upwards towards him. He slowly brushed off the brownie crumbs and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and move back to maintain some distance. Khushi opened her eyes the minute she felt the loss of warmth and looked at Arnav and felt nothing but joy at the moment. She knew he wanted to kiss her, she wanted that too secretly, but he was giving her space, making her comfortable. She got up and he repeated her actions looking confused for a minute before seeing her motioning towards the time indicating that it was time to go. He held her hand it was then he noticed that she was wearing his gift. He broke into full blown grin and said: "Come. I'll drop you out."
She was about to refuse when he started walking with her. She huffed and followed him and in no time they were outside AR office. She stood on her tiptoes holding his shoulders, gave him soft kiss on his cheek and whispered a "Thank you." in his ears and pulled back only to laugh at his surprised face. His trance was broken by the melodious laughter and holding her waist, he kissed her cheek and winked at her. Helping her settle down in the car, and seeing her car drive off till it was out of his view, he sighed. Khushi will never cease to suprise him and he liked just that. Everyday he got to know a different side of Khushi. He smiled and also noted that he was smiling way too much these days while the employees had their jaws dropping, eyes popping expressions who were plastered to the windows eager to catch the glimpse of the mystery girl and the guard literally fainted seeing the exchange.
Edited by zahra2709 - 11 years ago
Anupamaa
14