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Chapter 8 (A) : Towards the demons
"Please Amma, this is already too much" Khushi tried to refuse Garima without sounding too insolent but it looked like no one was in the mood to hear her, at least for the day.
Today was the engagement day and Khushi had been dressed in a mauve coloured immaculate lehanga which fitted snugly to her slender yet voluptuous body and gave her an enviably impeccable look.
"Stop fretting Khushi and let me do it" Garima chided her and fixed the intricate matching wreath on the side of her hair a little under the shade of the bun, completing the look with just what was needed.
The curled, loose, silky tendrils falling down and kissing the sides of her face were an added beauty.
Khushi remained silent and watched the happiness which exuded in amounts from her mother's face indicating that she was genuinely happy for her.
The salon girls had already done their part and exited and the function had already started off.
The venue was an open air lawn of mediocre standard and had been arranged by Shashi Gupta who was out entertaining the guests.
It had hardly been a month since Khushi had shifted in Delhi along with her parents and was working at AR as a tyro designer.
After what you call some substantial amount of convincing from Khushi, Shashi and Garima had agreed to shift in the city to support their daughter's dream and had they had rented their Lucknow house to some family to further support the financial needs.
Being their Lucknowi self, Garima and Shashi had been a favourite of locales and had readily made several acquaintances in Delhi.
Now as the venue was spilling with people, some from the neighbourhood, some from Khushi's office and a few close relatives from Lucknow the place looked like what you could a could a high on party.
"Uncle, when is Khushi making her appearance? Bhai already seems too impatient to wait anymore" Komal, Abhay's sister walked up and pulled Abhay's leg who was standing next to Shashi and having some conversation which made Abhay give reprimanding glare to his sister.
"She must be here anytime Komal beta. Why don't you go in and check for yourself?" Shashi Gupta replied affectionately.
"Yes of course. I will" Komal said with a childlike glee and lifting her dress a little above the ground made a run.
"Slow Komal" Abhay said but she was already gone.
"It's okay Abhay beta. She's a kid and excited" Shashi smiled gently and something at the entrance caught his gaze.
"Arnav Babua is here" Shashi said, and Abhay looked over his shoulder to find Arnav walking in with Anjali beside him.
Together, they headed towards the entrance to welcome them.
"Namaste Uncle" Arnav greeted Shashi just as he got in hearing distance and bowed to touch his feet once close enough.
The gesture wouldn't have surprised Anjali if she didn't know her brother well enough and eyed Arnav as he touched the feet of Khushi's father.
"Khush raho babua" Shashi blessed him with a warming smile and Arnav introduced Anjali to him as his elder sister and Anjali too greeted the old man.
"I am very happy you could attend the function babua. I had pressed Khushi to invite you while she was silly enough to say you won't be attending as you are too busy" Shashi got into a conversation as he led them inside towards the seating.
"I had to attend this Uncle. After all Khushi has been such a dedicated employee" Arnav replied, keeping all the emotions out of his voice.
"We're grateful you could come" Shashi answered back and excused himself as he found more guests streaming in.
It was now when Arnav gave a proper look to Abhay who was dressed smartly in a black tuxedo and looked ruggedly handsome.
"Congratulations Abhay" Arnav extended a hand at him and Abhay took it with a nod.
"Wishes and congratulations aside, why wasn't I informed about this engagement Abhay?" Anjali threw a direct shot at Abhay who surprised them with a chuckle.
"I am sorry Di. I was completely occupied with my to-be-fiance and her thoughts that it slipped my mind. I and Khushi had decided this in such a hurry that there was no time" Abhay replied with a you-know smile.
"And what excuse you'll furnish us with to explain why you didn't deliver the invitation personally?" Anjali continued while Arnav simply made himself at ease in the comfortable chair placed in circular fashion around several tables which occupied a larger part of the lawn.
"I was out for shopping" Abhay replied and Anjali gave up the efforts because she knew there was no truth going to come out, at least not the type of she was expecting.
As Anjali also placed herself on a seat next to Arnav, Abhay followed the ritual and took a seat opposite to Arnav's.
"I wasn't expecting you here" Abhay addressed Arnav, reading into his face which was unyielding.
"And why did you expect so Abhay?" Arnav asked.
"Because I thought you were busy with your new line of outfits" Abhay replied, his eyes as masked as Arnav's and Anjali could feel the tension in the air.
Neither Arnav nor Abhay were behaving their usual self.
"I made accommodations because attending this was important. After all, my great friend is getting engaged to my employee" Arnav replied with such calm that one could bet over its genuinity.
"I am glad you could come to share my happiness" Abhay replied with a sudden brightening smile.
"And here comes my lady" The words made Arnav turn his neck in direction same as Abhay's and he found her there, looking too beautiful to be of earthly origin.
"Enjoy the party Di and please be around" Abhay asked Anjali and earning a nod, headed in Khushi's direction well aware of the eyes which were boring holes in his back.
Khushi was being led by Garima and Komal in the lawn and as Abhay reached them, he bent forward to touch Garima's feet who blessed him generously.
"Aunty please allow me the honour of escorting my to-be-wife" Abhay requested Garima who looked too happy to relent and Komal just awwed' at the romantic proposition.
As Garima nodded in affirmation, Abhay looked in Khushi's confused eyes and took her hand in his, leading her towards a slightly elevated rostrum which had been erected in the central portion of the lawn.
From the other side of the lawn, Arnav's gaze slid down from Khushi's face to her hand linked with Abhay as she walked with him.
The well-known pang of jealousy shimmered in his veins but damned he will be if he let that reflect on his face.
This is how it was supposed to be and he knew better than everyone this was his choice.
It was his actions which had led to this day and he was still obstinate enough to think he's right in his place and to prove it, he was ready to go beyond all measures.
Arnav Singh Raizada can never be wrong and certainly not today.
"This is entirely your mistake Khushi. You ruined what we had" Arnav repeated the words in his head just to soothe his fraying nerves and the dull ache in his heart.
~~***~~
Right from the second Khushi had walked in the lawn, she could feel him.
He was certainly around. After all her expectations that he would not come, he had come.
But where was he?
As Abhay escorted her to the rostrum and she stood beside her family, her eyes finally found him.
His caramel coloured eyes were fixed upon hers and she could literally feel the mesmerism hanging thick in the air, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She felt his eyes running down the length of her body and coming back to rest on her face.
She felt exposed, vulnerable by the intensity of those eyes.
"Khushi it's our engagement today. Don't you think you should appear exultant than look morose? Aren't you happy?" She heard Abhay leaning towards her and whispering in her ear.
"Of course I am happy" her instinctive reply came and she forced her gaze at Abhay who was smiling down at her.
"Time to exchange the rings" Komal's voice came and Khushi smiled again.
"I hope you'll like the ring Khushi" Abhay's mom said in a sweet voice as she opened the box and offered the ring to Abhay while Khushi felt Garima nudging her making her realise she too had to take the ring from Garima.
"Khushi where is your mind?" Garima whispered to her and handed her the ring.
"Amma this is too early" Khushi said her voice shaky as she held the ring in her hands and looked around to find herself the centre of attention of all the guests.
Her eyes once again found Arnav who was now standing with Anjali beside him and his face was tight, his eyes frosted and his hands fisted on his sides.
"Khushi Bitiya? Tum theek to ho?" She heard his father's concerned voice but was unable to respond.
It felt like her body was giving up.
"Khushi extend your hand" Her mother's voice told her and she did while her eyes still rested upon Arnav's deadpan face.
Even from the distance she could see his whitening knuckles as he tightened his fists.
"Khushi I love you" She heard Abhay telling her and then sliding the cool material of the ring up her finger.
The crowd applauded and the sound was deafening to her ears.
"Now its Khushi's turn" Komal exclaimed in excitement, still clapping.
"Khushi?" someone called her and she finally tore her gaze from Arnav and looked up at Abhay.
There was something knowing in his eyes.
"Put the ring on his finger Khushi" her mother told her again and Khushi nodded, gulping a large volume of air to push down the painful lump which hung in her throat and constricted it.
She held the ring between her forefinger and thumb and tried to steady her shaking hand.
She motioned the ring forward towards Abhay's finger and before it could reach him, she blinked once, twice, thrice and the world blackened.
The last voice which clung to her was Arnav shouting her name and the sound of him rushing to her.
(Flashback Continues)
"Are sure Mr. Raizada that you don't want me to forget all of this?" She asked, laughter tinkling in her voice.
"No Ms Gupta. I would rather reckon you never forget this night. We need to make this night special and memorable"
"How do you intend to do that?" She asked; her breath hitched as she read the desire in his eyes.
"I would rather show you" He replied, nibbling at her earlobe.
"This is too quick Arnav" She moaned back.
"Tell me you want me to stop" He hushed back, his hands pulling down the dress off her shoulder and she shivered.
"I doubt all of this was the part of some plan you had designed to get me laid. You coming to the party, intimidating RK, driving me back home, confessing and asking me to be with you" Khushi replied back, her eyes fluttering as Arnav's lips nibbled at her shoulder blade.
"What?" she heard him ask as he let go of her, his face now grim.
"Is this what you think of me Khushi?" he asked, his face unsmiling and Khushi realised she had overstepped the line of doubt.
"I didn't mean to..."
"I get it Khushi. I have given you that impression of me, I have earned it. I don't know what I was thinking" Arnav replied, stepping back.
"You're right to not believe my feelings"
"I should go now"
"I should leave you alone" Arnav said, his voice suddenly too hollow and he grabbed the keys from table.
"Stop it Arnav..! I didn't mean it that way" Khushi replied, catching him by the arm.
"I am just too...bemused with all these speedy changes around me" Khushi replied and as Arnav exhaled and she hugged him.
"I trust your feelings" She whispered to him and felt him relaxing.
Together, as they stood hugging each other Khushi realised their relation was too new and fragile.
"So, how do we make this work Arnav?" Khushi asked as she pulled back.
"Tomorrow I am heading back to Lucknow with Geeta ma'am. Our company branch at Lucknow is launching a new design of chikan kurtis and I am modelling them" Khushi informed.
"Do you still want to work in that bas**rd's company Khushi?" Arnav asked.
"I can't quit this job Arnav. This is all I have for now. Besides RK won't be in Lucknow. Geeta ma'am is the branch manager" Khushi replied.
"What about your dream of being a designer?" Arnav further asked and Khushi narrowed her eyes.
"How do you know about that? I don't remember telling you" Khushi replied and noticed the smirk forming on Arnav's lips.
"Mutual friends are a great deal of information Khushi" He replied.
"Abhay told you?"
"How does it matter? You want to be a designer and AR can offer you the best place" Arnav replied, crossing his hands across his chest and giving her a smug look.
"I saw that coming Mr. Raizada but I am sorry" Khushi replied, replicating Arnav's look.
"And why so?" Arnav asked.
"Because I want to earn my place Arnav. I don't qualify the place at AR just because we have agreed to be together" Khushi argued.
"That sounds awesome. We being together" Arnav replied, pulling up Khushi's dress and adjusting it.
"But I can't work at AR. I already have a job and I will continue it unless I earn myself another position"
"Khushi.."
"And I hope you'll support me in that. At least give me some chance to decide that my decisions matter to you"
"You matter Khushi and so does your decisions" Arnav replied.
"Thank you then. Tomorrow I'll be in Lucknow and you'll be here. You'll be busy with your work and I'll be busy with mine. I will miss you" Khushi said.
"You will?" asked Arnav, the thought of her missing him bringing a smile on his face.
"I will Arnav. I missed you when you had returned back to Delhi. I was so angry. I wanted to talk to you. Talk about what you have told me in that library of yours but you simply disappeared and then I made myself believe that it doesn't matter. I told myself that you didn't matter but somewhere in my heart, I knew I was wrong. Being around you makes me feel good but that doesn't overrides the factor that you make me go crazy" Khushi replied, walking to the single four poster bed of the room and pulling out her valise from under it.
"I do have that effect on women. I do make them go crazy" Arnav replied in an impish tone, winking at her.
"You better don't provide me the list of girls you have made crazy" Khushi warned as she now walked to the cupboard and pulling out the limited stuff, starting packing them in the valise.
"I don't intend to" Arnav replied and walked to her side, observing her.
"What? Turn back" Khushi asked him.
"Why?" Arnav asked, amused.
"Just like that. I am packing some stuff which I won't like you to see" Khushi replied and laughing Arnav turned his back at her.
Craning her neck to see if Arnav wasn't looking at her she quickly pulled out her undies from the cupboard and stuffed them in the valise.
"That was a beautiful pink brassiere" Arnav commented, his tongue in cheek and groaning, Khushi threw a pillow at him.
"Aren't you getting late Arnav?" she asked him.
"No, I am not. You're leaving tomorrow morning and I am still figuring out how will I manage here?" Arnav replied, now turning at her and taking a seat on the bed.
"You will manage fairly well. You already did when you left me in Lucknow" Khushi replied, making to attempt at hiding her disappointment.
"You think I managed well? I didn't sleep Khushi. Every night I tried sleeping you were there in my dreams and at days I could feel you around as if you were beside. You have no idea what had become of me. I hated you for doing this to me but now when I have welcomed the fact that I need as much as I need my next breath, things are getting better" Arnav replied and Khushi simply stared at him, unable to form words.
It felt awesome to know that her feelings weren't unrequited.
"We'll talk daily and you'll visit me as soon as you can" Khushi replied after a minute's silence and zipped her packed bag.
"That isn't an option. I had already planned on doing that" Arnav replied.
"So what now?" Khushi asked.
"Sleep" Arnav answered, flicking her nose and swiftly leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"You have to travel tomorrow. Sleep well" Arnav said and giving her a craved look, left.
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