ARSHI -SS- The Rise of the Phoenix update page 14 - Page 3

Story is so much intriguing that I feel restless to read more and more and very quickly...but I agree with you this story need a slow build up...I can imagine her father's role but what arnav has done as 19 years old man to khushi that he didn't even knows about his daughter ..your stories are beautiful

Interesting update
thanks for the pm

read 2 chaps...loving this FF...interesting.❤️
waiting to read more:)

Poor khusshi.

The Rise of Phoenix

Chapter 3

Bright Star came out, his Jockey sporting phoenix colours of fiery red and burnt orange.

Khushi and her team all wearing stunning outfits, all variations on the Phoenix s colours.

All three designs were striking.

The team turned heads when they walked in, emanating an air of sophistication, class and breeding, ingrained in every one of their movements. Something only years of training and experience in the very best of finishing schools could provide.

They would be voted the best dressed, wearing the most sought after designs. Phoenix's designs would soon be being produced on every sweat shop floor in the industry renowned for manufacturing fakes.

Phoenix watched her horse win and smiled when Bright Star was paraded in the winner's circle.

As he and his rider circled the paddock, she knew her father would be taking someone to task.

Second time in a matter of weeks she had snatched victory from him. Once she had surprised him , he could forgive himself, twice in a row he would find unforgivable. Shashi Gupta loved the taste of victory, he was never happy coming second. Recently he had been losing out to AR Designs and now to Phoenix. He didn't like losing, for him it was irrelevant who the opponent was. He hadn't heard from his daughter for years. It had irked him that his plan hadn't come to fruition. In fact the opposite instead of two design houses joining forces they had become bitter rivals and in the recent past AR Designs seemed to be winning more than losing .

Shashi Gupta had felt a twinge of guilt for his daughter all those years ago-but he remembered in his world girls added no value to his business-they couldn't make it grow or take it forward. He hadn't had a son to carry his name forward. That really annoyed him. He had had other children with other women but they were all girls. He had only ever married Khushi's mother. In his world girls were a commodity to be used and bartered. Khushi s only worth had been in what she could guarantee in a business deal by joining another family and creating a new bloodline. She had failed at that. Failure in his eyes was unacceptable.

Shashi Gupta had loved the races especially horse racing, he had a stud farm. Khushi spent her summers growing up around them, talking to the trainers and grooms. She had learnt about horses from a very young age. She recognised a good runner when she saw one. She had watched Bright Star train and won the occasional race. But Khushi noticed his form, he was just a baby, he had a long way to go. She had met the struggling owner and come to a deal. She would provide the funds to train him properly and get advice from a very well known sought after trainer who was semi retired but would return to the racing world for her. They would not reveal to the world who the real owners were, up until Khushi said.

In the winner's circle on the podium the Jockey and the owners were up to take the prize money and the cup , next to them Bright Star .

Repoters asked for comments .

Phoenix's comment "The Phoenix has risen -don't try catching her , her fire may scorch those who try and keep up with her."

Khushi left as unobtrusively as she had arrived. She was not at the winners party. Had anyone looked carefully they would have found a girl simply dresses Andy cap on her head faded t -shirt and jeans her hair in a loose bun ,her face smeared in dirt marks in jodhpurs and riding boots as she groomed and cooled Bright Star down and gave him water.

She happily spent the next two hours with Bright Star and his regular groom talking and humming to Bright Star. Khushi was one of three people who regularly road Bright Star.

When she needed to think or relax, often you could find her with the horses mucking out the stables, cooking or even designing.

These came naturally to her. You never know had she been a boy she may even have been a horse trainer or a jockey. Her father never gave her credence for that she was a girls, they learnt to cook and draw and at best be pretty and grace someone's table. Be knowledgeable in world news and events to listen politely but only ever comment in agreement, never have an opinion.

Well his opinion was going to be forcibly changed. Phoenix was out for blood she was going to drag her father into the 21^st century, if he didn't recognise her talents or worth he would be destroyed in the process.

Khushi had long ago set the wheels in motion to take everything that mattered to her father away from him. Leave him a shell, a mere shadow of the man that he thought he was. Evil like his had two paths either be destroyed, so they could no longer hurt anyone else or repent and change. The latter was never going to happen.

Arnav had seen her again, he sensed her the minute she entered. Strange he thought to himself -still? He had always been able to sense her entry into his room, was it her scent? Or her footsteps? Even now her presence made his heart race in anticipation. Anticipation of what? Gone was her tinkling laughter. The laughter and smile on her face as charming as it was did not reflect the sadness, in her eyes. She would never come up to him now kiss him or hug him from behind covering his eyes. He had had a glimpse of heaven with her. He had known what it was to be truly happy if only for fleeting moment. He wanted it back. But how was he going to win her over. The sequence of events all those years ago scarred him and he was a strong individual but her ? She had been an innocent -there was no way neither his father nor hers could ever be forgiven for what they did to her. He had been away, but he knew he looked equally guilty in her eye. He had not found out for a long time what really happened and even then he was not sure if that had been the whole truth or was there more to discover?

There were bridges to be built but how did one begin and where had she hidden for all those interim years. She was back and from what he had found out and could see, there was a game plan in play. He just didn't know what it was. All he had found out using his private detectives is what everyone had known. They had not discovered anything that Phoenix didn't want revealed.

No -one knew where she had been till Phoenix appeared on the fashion scene launching her design in all the major shows. At each event she either won the prize or came runner up.

Prior to that no one had heard about her there was no paper trail. No bills, her tax returns were those filed by her father as part of the business. She had vanished when she was sixteen and resurface now as Phoenix eight years later.

The detectives had not been able to gain any information from her employees or household staff. A lot of money had been offered but no information was forthcoming.

She lived and worked with a very loyal group of people. They would not be bought with money . It made his job harder, but he was glad finally she had found a group of people she could trust, who would not sell her out.

She looked stunning once again in her designs -they would be a hit -he knew that -she carried herself with poise and grace. Khushi had developed over the years a style that made her stand out in a crowd. Although she was very much in the public eye she still managed to maintain a very private persona. Only releasing the briefest of information about herself but still managing to give herself the biggest articles in all the newspapers and plenty of free publicity. She was currently the hottest thing since sliced bread.

Arnav saw her at the winners circle, receiving the prize. What was her game ? She seemed to be targeting very specific markets one that he and his father in law reigned supreme. Was she out to prove herself against them? Or was she here because she loved horses and was naturally talented at designing. After the award ceremony he expected to find her and her team at the dinner but they were not there. He wondered, he guessed she always loved horses ,would she ? He ambled of to the stable area and noticed a slight figure - a girl grooming a horse. Ordinarily the person would go unnoticed, someone of little consequence ,but he recognised her Khushi was grooming her horse. He watched her from the shadows discretely hidden, serene and relaxed thats how she appeared.

"Whats your game plan Khushi ? What arena will I find you in next ? You seem to be challenging us in every arena ? Have you laid down a gauntlet ? Have we not noticed it ? I will come to you Khushi, I will win you , once you have had a taste of heaven you can never let it go. Bring on the game there are three main players in this arena, I hope you win whatever you are playing for . I hope I am not a casualty of your war and that we can stand side by side in time to come, friends, lovers companions. I hope you will be able to forgive me at the very least "

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok so how do you like the developing story line -don't worry Arnav will appear - but before he does you have to understand whare Khushi is coming from - As always suggestions are always welcome !

Awesome update

awesome...so arnav playing waiting game

amazing update

Thanks for the pm
Awesome update