Khushi noticed the clock and started panicking. Fifteen minutes to 1.00 P.M. "Oh good Lord! Lunch with Arnav Raizada!" Her palms started sweating and her feet went cold. Butterflies started flying in her tummy and she thought that she may have to revisit her breakfast. She got up and ran to the washroom. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at herself. "You are a confident woman!" she said pointing at the reflection. "You don't need to get scared or have a nervous breakdown! You can even turn down the lunch. Remember, you did not say Yes to him! And why should you be at his beck and call? You will go out and tell him on his face that you do not want to have lunch with him" And what reason are you going to give him? Her mind asked. The heart was too busy, overdoing its work of beating harder with every passing minute. She looked up at the reflection again. "You will not give him any specific reason, Khushi. You are going to tell him that you have other plans. And if he asks more, just tell him that it is personal and is none of his business" Her mind was pretty convinced, but the heart had a mind of its own, which did not care what Khushi's brain thought. A co-worker walked into the washroom and stared at Khushi who looked like she was having a conversation with herself. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Minding my own business" Khushi replied in a dry voice, to which the other female turned her heels and walked away. She heaved a sigh and went back to her seat and glanced at the clock, which showed five minutes to 1.00 P.M.
Punctual as ever, Arnav got out of his cabin and walked straight to her desk. Khushi noticed him, but did not dare to look up at him. "Time for our lunch date. Let's go" he said in a cheerful voice, knocking a knuckle at her glass desk. She remained glued to her seat, refusing to acknowledge his presence, and Arnav furrowed his brows. "Are you deaf or what?" he said in a tone bit louder, and Khushi shivered with his voice echoing in the passage. Lucky for them, the passage was empty - courtesy, lunch time. "I can hear you. But I do not want to have lunch with you, Sir" she said in a firm voice, but failing to keep away a slightly high-pitch due to the combined feelings of nervousness, irritation and anxiety. "Arnav" he corrected her, to which she tilted her head in question. "I told you. It's Arnav for you. Not Sir" he said, smirking at her. "The guts of this man. He thinks he can come to you waltzing and sweep you off your feet with a lunch date?" her mind scoffed, whereas her heart sighed at the wonderful scene that her brain just suggested. "Yeah... Arnav... I never said yes to lunch." She said, standing up to meet his challenging eyes and crossing her arms at her chest. "Is that so? But you did not say No either" he challenged. "I'm saying No, now" Khushi frowned at his amused smirk. This man seemed like he wouldn't take No for an answer. "That doesn't count, sweetheart!" he said, tracing his finger on her cheek. And slowly brushing against her jaw, he said "You and I both know that you want to come on a lunch date with me. Or else, you wouldn't have smiled when I asked you out. On a lunch date, in your own words" Damn! He saw you smiling like an idiot through that cabin door! Her mind was ready to slap her, but her heart felt like it would explode out of happiness. Leave it to her to step willingly on the axe with a smile! Arnav took a step towards her and she involuntarily took a step back. "You're wasting time, honey" She thought she would faint with all the endearments he was using.
She suddenly remembered all of his rude behaviour with her over the past weeks. The way he had humiliated her; the hurt feeling was still fresh in her mind. "No" she looked into his eyes, and stepped up to him. "I will not come anywhere with you. Do whatever you want, but I will not come with you" It was his turn to cross his arms at his chest. "So you have made up your mind, is it?" "Yes" she answered in a confident tone. "So you mean to say that you do not wish to come willingly, and that I am free to use any persuasion I wish, to make you come with me" he cocked his eyebrow, the smirk still at his lips. "Yes" she said, with the confidence slowly fading away. He banged his palms on the glass desk with force, and Khushi shivered. "You do know that I do not take a No for an answer, Khushi" he whispered huskily in her ear, his body barely inches away from her. She did not utter a word, for her mouth went dry with him standing so close to her that she could feel his minty breath on her face. "I will not come" she said in a croaky meek tone that she herself did not recognise. "Very well then!" he said, suddenly moving away from her, and oddly, Khushi missed his warmth and proximity. "You leave me no choice, Khushi" The evil smirk and his dark eyes were back, giving him a deliciously devilish look that he always wore. "I'll give you thirty seconds to get your arse moving with me, or I will carry you over my shoulder and take you with me." Her jaw dropped. "You're joking, right?" she asked in a shocked breath. "I never joke. Twenty seconds, darling" he responded, looking at his wrist watch ticking away. She stood firmly rooted to the ground. Arnav Raizada would not do such a thing. He was only kidding. "Ten seconds" he reminded. She looked at him and looked away, hoping that he did not mean what he said. She looked left and right, no one was in the passage. She fidgeted with her nails and looked to the ground.
"That's it. Time's up!" he said and swiftly bent to carry her. To say that she was shocked would be such a poor way to express her reaction. She was petrified! He was no gentle in carrying her. He simply flung her over his shoulder like a caveman, and walked to the elevator, pressing the button and waiting, with her wiggling in his arms. "Be still, or else I'm not going to hesitate spanking you" She immediately froze. This man was capable of doing anything. The lift arrived and Arnav pressed the button to go down to the parking area. "Okay Okay! Please put me down! You win! Please Arnav!" she pleaded. But he was too distracted to listen to her. Her body felt amazing in his hold. Her breasts were pressed across his shoulder blades and his palm that was supporting her weight in his firm grasp was across her bottom. And every time she tried to wiggle out of his hold, she only caused more blood to rush between his legs, as her body brushed against him. She felt softer than the finest cushions of the most posh upholstery. He mentally slapped himself for having such erotic thoughts. He felt like a lusty teenager, whose mind worked only on one track. Never had he felt so lustful towards any woman. But with Khushi, it was different. She was like a drug to his system. Given a chance, he would love to bury himself inside of her, then and there. Of course, she, on the other hand, was too naive to understand the impact of her wriggling on him. All that she had on mind was fear that anyone would see her in his arms. Arnav's senses were suddenly brought back to her pleads and he put her down. She tried hard not to blush as his hand brushed slightly across her bottom. All they did was look at each other. The confined space in the elevator seemed to be charged with something electric and both of them sensed the heated sexual tension between them. In that moment, Khushi wanted him to run his hands all over her body and kiss her senselessly. She knew that being close to him was similar to falling off a precipice. But she knew that she could never be so attracted to another man, ever. Arnav had captured her heart, mind and soul, and she was willingly ready to allow him to have her body as well. She knew the consequence. He would break her heart and walk away, stepping over the broken pieces after he shattered her. But oddly, she was willing to have her heart broken, only to have a few moments of love with him. She clearly knew that it was only lust he believed in. But it was and would always be love for her, even if he did not believe in it. The doors of the elevator opened up and they were in the parking lot. He held out the door for her, and then got in to the driver's seat, driving to the lunch venue himself.
"But, Oyster Pearl's that way. Why are we taking this road?" She asked confused as he took the other road, which lead away from the restaurant. "We are first going shopping" he said casually. "Shopping? For what? For whom?" she asked him impatiently and he only asked her to wait as she would know when they got there. She sunk back in her seat. So much for being excited about a lunch date, while he wants to do his shopping first. Twenty minutes later, Arnav pulled up in front of an expensive looking boutique and Khushi looked out the window. "Come on Khushi", he said reaching for the door. Khushi nodded, gazing at Arnav and got out of the vehicle. "I brought you here so that we can get you into something more beautiful than your formal wear" Khushi was stunned. "But I'm fine in these clothes" she retorted, uncomfortable that Arnav was buying her a clothes. Perhaps this was how he treated all his women. And now she was just like one of those hundreds of women he slept around with? She was furious and her eyes burned with rage. Arnav knew what was on her mind, but chose to remain silent. He did not want any scene to be created, that too in public. "Now go get a gown." His eyes went down her front, "Make it Cream, just like your skin." He said, trying to flatter her. When she refused to budge, he bent and whispered in her ear, "Now don't make me carry you inside and strip you off, forcing a dress on you. And you know very well, I do what I say." She looked at him with her eyes open wide, and scurried off before he could work on his actions.
Arnav watched her go into the shop and studied the features of her backside, as she climbed the stairs of the boutique. He wished she would buy something fitting so that her curves were enhanced. He smiled crookedly as she turned to look at him before entering the shop. Arnav idly walked around to the front to lean against the side panel and wait. Ladies shops weren't his style and he didn't mind waiting. It was a nice sunny day.
Just then an expensive white sedan drew up in front of his vehicle and a nice looking man about his age got out, but that was not what drew his attention. It was the woman he helped out of the passenger side. Arnav stood straight and watched the dark haired woman. She hadn't changed much. If anything she seemed to have filled out a little more and it suited her. Arnav always thought she was a little on the slender side. It seemed like yesterday when she was nearly a part of their family. No one talked about it, not once, since that fateful day. None of them knew what had really happened, and out of respect for privacy, no one asked. She stilled when she saw him, "Hello Arnav". She said politely overcoming her momentary shock. "Hello" He answered with a nod. Only for a second he saw some flash of deep sorrow flash in her dark brown eyes.
"How are you?" she asked to which he replied curtly, saying "Fine, and hope you're good too." She nodded genuinely before turning to the man with her, "This is Karan Goenka. He's my ... errr... well.." "I'm her fianc." Karan said pleasantly while putting his arm around her waist protectively. Arnav glanced at the expensive car and nodded. Obviously the woman found money after all. "I heard about your father. My condolences."Arnav said to her. He was a lawyer, and died of a heart attack three days ago. As far as lawyers went, he wasn't very wealthy. Maybe she had been back in town for her Dad's funeral. Just then the door opened and a little girl around five or six, climbed out, "Mommy, can you get me an ice cream." Arnav's eyes riveted on the little girl, who had his identical features, specially the smile. The girl had long black hair and was quite pretty. Then he gave the woman a questioning look. Karan cleared his throat, "Come on honey, I'll take you." He answered the girl, seeming to understand that the two needed to talk. He cast a glance at the two of them before he went to the little girl and took her hand.
"Thanks." the woman said. "No problem. Are you going to be okay?" Karan asked her back, looking at Arnav. "I will." She said truthfully. Karan nodded seeming satisfied with her response, and gave Arnav another look before he walked off down the sidewalk. Arnav saw the concern in the man's eyes and he felt his anger rise. He wouldn't ever lay a hand on her, or any woman until she wanted so. Until her true colours had come to light, Arnav had really liked her. He thought that she was genuine. The lady shifted uncomfortably, "Please don't say anything. It... It is not worth thinking about the past." She stopped to try and control the tears that threatened to fall. Her watery brown eyes guided past him for a moment at nothing in particular. She took a deep breath when she knew she could continue and looked at him again.
Arnav could not longer hold his curiosity and asked her, "The little girl? Is she...?" "Yeah, she is..." She cut him off. Arnav was shocked, while she continued talking. "I can't lose her, Arnav. She's everything to me. She's the only one I have as my own." She reached up and wiped the tears away with the heel of her hand. He looked away, unable to watch her cry. He dug in his inside pocket and pulled out a pen and one of his business cards scribbling on the back of it, "That's my personal mobile number. If you need anything, just call me, I'll come and maybe we can keep things sorted. There are some things that need to be worked out." "Yes, there is." She agreed taking the card with a trembling hand and turning away. Then she paused and looked at him, "It was never about the money, Arnav." She then walked away with her head held high fighting the tears. Arnav watched her, thinking emotions don't run that deep unless there was something genuine there. The lady was young and nave. He thought that she wasn't much different from Khushi. She was working at the college library when he came across her. She was from a middle class family and was one of the few people that could make him laugh. Something definitely wasn't right about this. Damn, he wished he had a drink right now!
He calmed himself and glanced toward the shop wondering if Khushi has seen the woman. The last thing that he wanted was for her to see him talking to this woman, and to raise questions. After all, he wasn't going to share everything with Khushi, at least not so early. What he did not know was that Khushi had already seen and heard the conversation, while she stood behind the curtain.
Moments later, she came out of the store wearing a cream coloured velvet gown she wore that clung to every elegant curve she owned. Strapless and smooth, leaving her delicate shoulders bare, it was definitely created for her body and practically made those large emerald eyes of hers glow. If she was stunning before, she was deliciously exquisite now. "I love the way the dress highlights your curves" he said in her ear as she walked by him causing her to inhale audibly, but she never said anything. She didn't even look at him as she got in the vehicle. He shut the door and walked around the front of the vehicle getting behind the wheel. Throughout the way, Arnav kept looking at her from the corner of the eye, while she was busy in her own thoughts. Who was that woman? Why did Arnav exactly give her his private number and ask her to call? What was to be sorted? And who was that little girl who looked exactly like Arnav? Was she his daughter?
Khushi's eyes grew moist. Her dreams were shattered even before she could visualise them. Arnav had a daughter out of wedlock with this woman! She swallowed her tears and reached the venue, that looked nothing like Oyster Pearl. The car was parked in an open shady space, and a few steps further, there stood a white boat. She looked at Arnav in confusion. "That's our lunch date. I cancelled at Oyster Pearl. Thought of surprising you" he smiled as he helped her out of the vehicle.
They entered the boat and were escorted to a private place, where lunch awaited the two. The champagne was ready in the ice bucket, and rose petals decorated their path to the table. True! Arnav Raizada always did things on a large scale. Soon, the two of them were left to themselves. He walked up to where she was seated and asked her for a dance. She placed her soft hands in his large ones, and rose. She swayed as he twirled her around in rhythm with the soft music. With no one around them in sight, Arnav put his hand in his pocket to take out the velvet box. "I saw you with her at the boutique" Khushi said firmly, and Arnav's grip on the box in his pockets loosened. "Who was she, Arnav? And who was the child?" Arnav heaved a sigh and took a step away from Khushi. "Tell me Arnav. Who was she?" Khushi demanded an answer, her tears threatening to fall off her eyes. "I guess it's time you know who she is" he said and paused. He looked back at her, and his heart pained to see her cry. Wiping away her tears, he said, "The woman whom I was talking to was Payal - Akaash's ex-fianc. And the girl whom you saw their daughter"
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