Several days passed without much happening. They all settled into a routine. Arnav and Lavanya got very busy with setting up the new business. Lavanya being in administration, helped Arnav with the finer details. He was involved in the brand creation, collaborating with top designers inside and outside India, recruiting in-house designers and so many more activities.
At the very fast pace they were going, AR designs would be up and running in a month's time. The office was getting ready. It was situated in the heart of the city in a huge building. Arnav wanted to do the interiors tastefully with part of the space being converted as a full time boutique to show case their products.
Arnav was talking to few of his friends for recruiting good managers and other staff. Lavanya was also involved in most of the steps. She put her management degree to good use. Between the two of them they did a quick and fine job. No doubt AR designs was going to be something to look forward to.
Khushi herself was not sitting idle. She looked up other training and internship opportunities apart from applying for her masters in hotel and hospitality management. She decided if she got in to a reputed hotel, she would put her masters on hold and go ahead and join. Khushi was open to opportunities. She had not told Arnav she was also applying outside Delhi. Depending on where she got she decided to tell him later.
One morning Khushi heard loud voices coming from the next room. Arnav and Lavanya were involved in a fight in his room. Khushi tried to block out their conversation thinking it was just a lover's tiff. But then she heard her name, she tried to listen in earnest. Didn't they always say eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves? That was true in this case too.
"But why ASR? I understand you wanted to set up the business here. Just employ an off shore manager and get back. You have one of your friends joining and he is trust worthy. You knew that was the plan all along."
"It was Lavanya. But you must understand. Nani is everything to me. I can't leave her and Khushi just like that. Already I have been away for too long."
"What about me then?" Lavanya's voice was full of hurt and anger.
"I am asking you to stay here for me La. Please. Why can't you consider that?" He was reasoning her despite her furious tone.
"What the hell ASR! Do you expect me to just move out of my home, my country and come and live here? And do what? Sit and eat breakfast and lunch with Nani and Khushi?" Her tone was scathing. Arnav's face started turning red in anger but Lavanya continued, oblivious to the change.
"And Khushi? Don't get me started. Every time you just run to her. She prepares your meals, takes care of you. And she can come in anytime into your room. That what am I here for? Just what do you think is happening here?"
"Shut up! Just shut up Lavanya. This is the limit and you better stick to it."
"This is my limit? And you dare say that? I can't believe your nerve."
Things were quickly getting out of control and Nani called Arnav from downstairs. "Chote is everything alright? What is all this noise?"
Arnav stopped shouting at that very moment. He went to Lavanya and took her hands in his. "Please La. Consider staying with me. First try it out and if you don't like it here then we will work it out." Seeing his sincere expression, Lavanya agreed for the time being. But she was not at all happy with Arnav's decision.
Lavanya decided to give him sometime to cool down and then rationally talk to him about going back to the States. She wanted to make the relationship work.
But their fight had damaged Khushi's confidence as a friend. She now took exaggerated pains to avoid both of them. Khushi didn't want to be a sore point between the lovers. Khushi would prepare everything and leave it at the table for everyone. She would have her meals before or after the others. She would then go to the library, or her college mate's place. She was also frantically applying everywhere for a job and further studies.
Khushi got through the internship letter from a hotel in Delhi. At the same time she also got through for masters in Baroda. Khushi was torn into two, not knowing which option to choose. She still had two weeks to decide. For the time being she kept both the letters on the table in her room and left it as is.
Arnav was getting impatient with Khushi's behavior. On one side Lavanya put subtle pressure for him to get back and on the other side Khushi was ditching him when he needed her the most. He wanted to talk it out with her but Khushi never seemed to be at home. Or she slept early, not even bothering to have the meals with them.
Nani understood and respected Khushi's decision. She did her part in shielding Khushi from the two of them. Arnav barged in to the house one early evening, exactly a week after her hide and seek. "Nani, I want to see Khushi right now. Where is she? Don't tell me she's already asleep. Even she can't sleep this early. It is barely evening. And even if she is asleep I don't care. I still need to speak to her."
Nani knew when she saw a lost battle. "She is in her room Chote. She needs to go for a friend's wedding and she will leave any minute." Arnav didn't stop to reply. He ran up the stairs and barged into her room not bothering with courtesy. He was too angry for all that.
As soon as he got in, his nostrils were hit by the sweet, fruity scent that was uniquely hers. His anger came down by several notches seeing her. But when he registered her state of dress, or rather undress, the remaining anger was completely replaced with desire. Khushi was wearing a lehenga and choli. She was obviously getting dressed for her friend's wedding.
She was turned away from him and didn't know he had come in. Her hands were trying to do the single clasp of her choli. She was frowning at the difficulty of the task. No wonder she hadn't heard him. Her thoughts were singularly focused on the non co-operative clasp.
Khushi was looking beautiful in a pink and red lehenga. Her hair was as usual left loose and long. But now it was swept to one side, baring her beautiful back to his eyes. Her tiny waist was emphasized by her lehenga. God, how breathtakingly beautiful she looked!
Arnav roused himself from his admiration and quickly went to put on the clasp for her. She turned around with a gasp. Her dupatta was still on the bed. She crossed her arms and asked him to get it. He rolled his eyes and got it. Khushi quickly turned around and draped the silk cloth around her.
"What are you doing here? And why can't you ever knock?" Her voice sounded terse and she was unable to look into Arnav's eyes as she spoke. Khushi was seeing him after a week of peeking and sneaking about. Their proximity and the situation was akward as well as telling on her pulse rate. She wanted to difuse this situation and get going before he started his interrogation.
Khushi very well knew why he had come in search of her. She had been expecting this any day. And she wanted to escape fast. "I need to leave Arnav. I have to go to Reshma's wedding. What do you want?" She still looked at his shirt button and her color was high.
Arnav noticed all this with some thought. He stepped forward while she immediately took a step back. He again went forward and she again went back. This happened until her back hit the wall. Arnav tipped her chin and looked into her eyes. "What has happened to you Khushi? Why are you moving away from me?"
"Arnav...I..you..it is.." she was incoherent.
He gently caressed her red cheeks. "And why are you blushing? It is me Khushi. Why do you move away? Cross your arms? Behave as if you don't know me? As if I am a stranger? And for one whole week you haven't spoken to me. Is this really you? Can you even be like this?" His voice was full of pain and it was evident he missed her.
Khushi felt very bad hearing the longing in his voice. She wanted to hug him and tell him everything was okay. But everything was not okay. The sooner she realized that and moved out, the better. "Arnie you know you're not a stranger but you are my best friend."
"So why are you still trying to go away from me?" He was confused and frustrated. Khushi thought about his question. She feared he will hit the roof when he found out about her moving out. Khushi instead held his arm and told him she is getting late. "Now enough of your questions. Can I leave?"
"I will drop you."
"But..."
"Just come. Are you ready?"
"One moment. And she put her maang and applied her gloss."
Arnav saw her as she was checking her appearance. This was his Khushi in some ways but she was also very different in other ways. His Khushi didn't even know the spelling of shyness. She right royally barged into his territory and said or did whatever she felt like. But somewhere that Khushi grew up to this beautiful girl who shied and blushed even at his simple touch. Life was so uncomplicated when they were just children he thought.
His relationship with Lavanya was also not improving. They were still at loggerheads about the location. This time Arnav was adamant he wanted to stay in India with his family. No matter what he wasn't ready to compromise on this issue. Maybe he was destined to have strained relationships with the women in his life he thought with a wry smile.
Khushi got done and they went down together. Nani was happy to see them back to being friends. She asked Khushi to be safe and return back on time. Both of them went to the car. The venue was a little far from their residence and the area was a little deserted. Arnav asked her to call him while returning. "Don't come alone. This place doesn't look to be safe and you are in no shape to run with all these jewellery and the dress."
Khushi just rolled her eyes at him and bade him goodbye. She was already expecting a good time with her friends. But she didn't know she was going to face a difficult situation ahead.
Part 9
Indian Idol 15
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