Shopaholic V/S Workaholic - Thread 2 (Reposting)

"Hi."

She managed a tiny smile but her mind was already playing different scenarios of her best friend's reaction. Her eyes unfocused from the present to the ideas in her mind, as the thought of the amount of scolding she would be receiving from her. Her hand unconsciously went to her mouth and she bit on her index fingernail. Anji would kill her for sure.

"Khushi? Are you alright?"

"Huh? No... I mean... yes... I mean no... Yes... No... Oh shit! I'm dead!"

***

Arnav watched in amusement as she stammered, as her eyes danced with fear. This girl was really a wonder and he doubted he would ever understand her. Could even her family do that? He didn't quite think so. She turned around abruptly for them stairs, her hair whipping his face and she ran away in panic.

No, seriously! She was mad! What the hell was wrong with her?

Had he scared her? No. Then what?

"Unbelievable!" he muttered before walking back to his room.

***

"Listen to me, na, Anji!"

"No Khushi! You listen to me! Just come back here and you'll see what I'll do to you! You know what? First I'll strangle you, then I'll drown you, phir tere chhote chhote tukre kaantungi, chat pe sukhaaoungi, tera achaar banaaoungi aur tujhe khaaloungi! Samjhi?" ( ...then I'll cut you into small pieces, dry you on the roof, make your pickle and eat you up! Understand?)

"Sorry, Anji! I forgot, yaar!"

"Shut. The. Hell. Up!"

"I'm sorry. Really very sorry!"

***

What the-? He stopped to look at the eighth wonder of the world who was busy begging for apologies on the phone.

"Hello? Hello? Anji? Hello?"

She looked at the cordless with a miserable scowl and eyes full of tears. He smiled. Maybe that's what he freaked her out. Her eyes fell on him and widened with shock.

"Tum theek ho?" he fired before she could say anything. (Are you alright?)

What the hell? Arnav Singh Raizada was starting a conversation? Something was definitely wrong with him. Maybe he should consult a doctor or something when he returned to London? He did not know what to expect of her. She was so confusing. But her expression softened.

"Haan... shaayad..." (Yeah... maybe...)

He found himself smiling gently at this little creature, supposed to be a woman, but her actions made her nothing more than a child.

"Wanna talk?"

She sighed.

"Come here."

He led her to the balcony where he knew there was a wide wooden swing. He used to love sitting there as a child. It was far from the noise and problems of his house- he couldn't say home, he had never had one really...

To his surprise, she followed him obediently and sat down beside him, her ankles crossed and her hands on each side of her knees. She afternoon sun shone on her beautifully and arose a question in his mind.

A question he would never have an answer for.

Why did she have to be so beautiful?

***

Why had she followed him?

Oh, yeah, right. She needed to talk. Fighting with Anji was not new, but she considered her more as a sister than as a friend. And every time they fought, Khushi's heart broke.

"So?"

She jumped at his voice, then she shook her head. "It's my friend. I promised her I'd call when I'd reach here... but I forgot and now..."

He chuckled. "Oh... don't worry. It'll be fine."

She smiled slightly. Maybe he was right. But Anji took time. She could buy her something. A gift perhaps? Anji loved gifts. And besides, Anjali Jha could never stay angry with her friends for too long.

***

Why did he feel better when she smiled?

Maybe he was truly going mad? She looked back at him as he looked at her.

"So... what had happened earlier?"

Curiosity killed the cat. It was true. But at that precise moment, curiosity was pricking him and he wanted to know why she had run away so brutally. Thinking of that, he could still feel her soft hair on his face.

What the hell?

Confusion clouded her face, but then suddenly, she remembered.

***

"Oh! Earlier! I was looking at y-" Shut up, Khushi! You can't tell him you were looking at him! "Actually, it clicked in my mind that I had to call her..."

"Khushi!"

They both turned at the voice. It was Payal.

"My sister must be looking for me. Bye." She skipped off.

"See you later."

He was smirking. Khushi smiled back. As she walked to her room, from where Payal's voice had come, she thought about him. 'See you later' he had said. That meant he wanted to see her? Did she want to? Well, he wasn't as bad as she had thought earlier, was he?

"Khushi! Where were you? Amma has been looking for you since a while! Come downstairs for dinner now and go to sleep early. You know that we have to go shopping tomorrow morning, right?"

Khushi nodded enthusiastically. Shopping! Here was one thing Khushi Kumaari Gupta enjoyed to the fullest!

***

"Aaj mausam hai suhana, shopping karne ka hai bahana! Lala lala lala!" she sang under her breath as she pranced down the stairs the following morning. She was excited. Finally, some shopping! She had spent the whole night dreaming about the types of clothes she could buy for the wedding. Hopefully, she would find what she wanted...

A group of children was playing on the stairs. She smiled. Kids! Suddenly, she stepped on a ball they had dropped there carelessly. Khushi gasped and tried to grab the banister, but it was too late. She was already falling. Her eyes scrunched shut as she awaited the crash on the floor, expecting to roll down the remaining steps. But all that never came.

Instead she felt herself fall in a pair of arms, holding her, protecting her from the fall.

"Khushi? Be careful."

She was still a bit shocked but she nodded. Tanishq smacked the top of her forehead.

"Paagal!" (Mad girl!)

"Kaun hum?" (Who? Me?)

He laughed and continued on his way upstairs. "I'll just come in a few minutes! I forgot my mobile."

Khushi was just going her way too when she bumped into another person.

"Ouch... Sorry, I..."

The words disappeared from the tip of her tongue as she looked up in pools of coffee brown. She blinked, surprised, her heart beating erratically.

"I wasn't watching either," he replied rather huskily. Or was her mind playing games with her?

She looked down shyly. Since when was Khushi Kumaari Gupta shy?

"So you're going-"

"Aye, Khoosiii!"

***

Damn her family! They always were there to interrupt, and he could not even speak to her properly for even five seconds without one of them calling her.

"Aayi Buaji!" (Coming Buaji!)

She scurried away past him, downstairs, where they were waiting for her. She gave him a nervous smile, though, before leaving. So she was going with the group for shopping...

And he regretted for refusing to accompany the rest of them now. Ulka had just been near to begging to him to come along, even if he hated shopping. It would be fun to go out, everybody together and all. But he had cleanly declined under the pretext that he had a lot of work pending. And now, seeing Khushi going, he wanted to change his decision. Was this feeling justified?

Arnav Singh Raizada had never changed his decision. Not a single one. For absolutely nobody. Then why this urge to do this for a girl he barely knew? He hesitated on the steps. Which path to take? Would he go to his room and bore himself out in there until everyone had left so that he could later go in the garden and busy himself with a few plants? Or would he go downstairs and tell Ulka that he had changed his mind so that he could follow and watch the eighth wonder of the world?

The second idea was appealing. More that the first one. Who cares about plants when you had a beautiful rose, changing colour every second by changing her mood? At times a child herself among children, at others an epitome of purity and wisdom; at times as naughty and mischievous as a cunning prankster, at others even more innocent than a hardly opened rosebud. Arnav grinned. Truly, she was a wonder. And she would be his eighth wonder.

What would he do now? He desperately wanted to go with them. With her. But what about him? What would they think of him? His cousin? His parents? His sisters? They knew him so well that they would understand there was something wrong with him. They would try to find it out. And if, by any chance, they learnt his 'problem' was linked to Miss Khushi Kumaari Gupta, he would be finished. Arnav knew his family too, as well as they knew him. They would rush things up, get overexcited, overreact, and start arranging a wedding.

But Arnav did not want to get in a relationship, did he? Especially a marriage. He was not ready for that. In fact he had enough of them. Better play it safe. Even if that meant staying away from the object if his attention. His hand fisted itself and it hit it on the banister.

"Dammit!" he said in a loud whisper, before he stormed in his room and locked himself inside.

***

Khushi smiled as she dragged her heavy shopping bags to her room. It had been a marvellous day for her; she had spent them shopping, her favourite activity. She had tried on several outfits and had actually wanted to buy almost everything. She would have if Payal had not been there. Payal was a sterner version of Anji. She had learnt about Khushi's shopaholism a few years back when she had met Khushi's best friend on a trip to London and she took charge of Khushi whenever they were out together, just as Anjali did. Except Payal was more strict.

Anji would have been easily bent in her resolution once she had realised how lovely Khushi's choice was. But not Payal. She had only allowed her cousin the strict minimum possible. Nevertheless, Khushi had been able of finding nice things to wear for the wedding. The following night was the Sangeet, she remembered suddenly. She needed to practise!

Of course she had to perform, it was her brother's wedding after all! He Devi Maiyya! She dropped the bags in the middle of the room and took off. She had to find a number as quick as possible and get ready before tomorrow evening. Crap! How could she forget such a thing?

***

Arnav wiped his brow with his fore arm. He badly needed a shower. It had been hours since he had been working on a plot of land planted with roses. He had not even realised how much time had really passed but the sun was setting already and he guessed the others had returned from their shopping trip. He smiled at his soiled hands. He always felt better after gardening and it kept his mind off disturbing matters.

But it had not stopped him from thinking of Miss Gupta, though. He smirked. He was only walking back to the main building when he stopped in his track. What was that? Music? Arnav scanned the grounds, a slight frown settling on his face. Who the hell was playing music? At this time? He followed the sound to a small one-room building found near the eastern walls of the hotel grounds. It had not been used since a quite long time but when he was a child, this had been his 'playhouse', where he had kept all of his toys, spent his rainy days, spent the days when the storms had raged inside his own home and he could not bear it.

"What the-?" he muttered as he neared the building.

To tell the truth, he knew nothing about songs, let alone Indian ones because he never had time to watch movies or even listen to music, but he did recognise that it was an Indian song playing. But who would play that here? He peered inside through the window and what he saw shocked him.

His eighth wonder was dancing. Right there, in the room where he had spent a majority of his childhood. She twirled about, moving her hands gracefully, her black dupatta tied in the same way as he had seen her that blue churidaar. This time, she wore a Anarkali; the top section and borders of a velvety burnt orange cloth, the skirts of a silky charcoal black. Her brow was knitted in concentration, her lips adorably pursed as she rehearsed.

A smiled started to form on his lips but it evaporated soon as she suddenly stopped dead in front of the window, facing him. Her eyes widened in surprise and she blushed deeply. Then she put on a flustered expression before shutting the windows with a little frown. Arnav opened his mouth to say something harsh but it closed without any output. It was useless. And anyways he was too tired for and argument. Maybe he'd deal with Miss Gupta later.

He huffed and walked away.

"Unbelievable!"

***

As soon as she had closed the carved wooden windows, she regretted. She pressed her back against the cool varnished surface, breathing heavily; from her dancing or from the nervosity which had pricked her on seeing him? Her heart was also galloping. Why? She brushed away all the bizarre thoughts and questions running in her mind.

"Stop, Khushi, and concentrate now. You need to practise for tomorrow night!"

She danced the evening away, nearly skipping dinner. He was there too, and he appeared quite irritated. She knew somewhere it was because of her. Why did she close that window on his nose? It was so rude of her; what would he be thinking of her?

"Just avoid him, Khushi!" she said to herself.

Mr Arnav Singh Raizada was such a Laad Governor! And such a nosy person too! Why did he have to spy on her? It was not as if she was disturbing him or doing something blasphemous, was it? Khushi grimaced at him while he turned away and no one looked, sticking her small tongue out at his back.

Whatever! What was he to her? Nothing but a perfect stranger. She did not need to care about what he thought.

Nostrils flared, she got up and left for her room to continue with her practice.

***

The same music he had heard in the gardens greeted him as he walked to his suite. He stopped listening to it, seeing her dance in his mind. So, her room was in the same block as his, on the same floor too. He smirked momentarily before remembering she had closed the window right on his face.

He frowned at the door to her room. How dare she? Did she realised who she was messing with? Did she realised this place belonged to his family, and that gave him the right to go wherever he wished to, without anybody stooping him? How could she just shut him out? And that too, from his own playhouse?

Just wait, Khushi Kumaari Gupta. Just wait, and you'll pay for it. Very soon. This is Arnav Singh Raizada's promise...

"Coming, Jiji!"

She checked herself one last time in the mirror. Finally, she had been able to complete her dance and practise it thoroughly. Yet, she still felt a bit nervous. Kind of jumpy. And the stupid person who had organised the evening had put her number first? Why the hell would they do that to her only? It was apparently a last minute change. He Devi Maiyya! She just hoped she would not mess up.

"Khushi!"

"Aayii Jiji!" (Coming Jiji!)

Come on, Khushi Kumaari Gupta. It's showtime...

***

He smirked with an evil glint as they announced her number was coming up. There you go, Miss Gupta. That was for yesterday.

Arnav chuckled. This morning itself he had just finished dealing with a client on the phone when he had heard her talking to a relative. She had been complaining about how stressed she was because she had not had enough time to practise, but the event manager had been really nice to put her among the last items on her list. That statement had made his day.

So finally, he had found his way to avenge himself. Well, it was a really trivial matter, closing a window on one's face, but she had indeed hurt his pride. He had gone straight to Mrs Chhadda, the best event manager who his cousin had hired from Delhi and forced her to change her mind. It had not been a difficult task for him, he was Arnav Singh Raizada.

He knew it was a too petty punishment for having played with his male ego he possessed but he did expect her to make a mistake. The poor girl was so stressed. He had himself witnessed her reaction when Mrs Chhadda had announced her of the 'small' change, though from afar. The shock, mingled with anxiety, on her face had been enough to please him, but Arnav Singh Raizada was incorrigibly greedy for more.

He was sure she would mess up. The girl could not even lie properly, she could hardly walk straight, she could not even manage talking without stammering, although this applied to when he was there only. But dancing? Nah! She would not be able to. She would certainly mess up.

His nose flared as she appeared onstage, apprehension clear on her face.

That's it, Khushi Kumaari Gupta. It's payback time!

***

She faced the applauding crowd panting slightly. She had pulled it off perfectly! And she had been fearing a black out. A wide smile spread on her face as she curtseyed to her audience.

"Khusi! Idhar aa, teri nazar utaarni hai!" (Khushi! Come here, I have to remove the evil eyes from you!)

"Kya, Amma?" (What, Amma?)

"Chup! Hamaari titaliya itne ache se naachi, kissi ki to nazar lag gayi hogi!" (Shush! My butterfly danced so well, someone might have put an evil eye on her!)

"Amma! Aapko pata hai na, humein yeh pasand nahin hai. Aap apna haath aise humaare aage ghoomaati hain, to humein chakkar aata hai." (Amma! You know I hate this. When you move your hand round and roound, I get dizzy!)

"Chup-chaap khari reh, paagal ladki! Chakkar aaye, to aankh band karlena!" (Shut up and stand straight, foolish girl! If you get dizzy, close your eyes!)

Khushi pouted her lips in mock irritation, standing there. This little ceremony did not make her dizzy. In fact, she liked it. But she also loved to tease her Amma.

"Hogaya?" she demanded once Garima had finished whispering what the Payal-Tanishq-Khushi trio used to call 'Choomantar' when they were children. (Done?)

"Haan, baba! Ab jaake kapde badal aur jaldi vaapas aana." (Yes! Now go change and come back quickly!)

Khushi nodded obediently as a child would and skipped back to her room.

***

Arnav was dumbstruck. Not a single fault. She had not tripped. She had not forgotten a single step. She had not failed to smile at the audience. All sign of worry had dissipated from her face once the music had started.

Unbelievable! How the hell had she done that? Wasn't Khushi Kumaari Gupta clumsy around him? Then how had she managed to dance so gracefully right in front of a hall in Sheesh Mahal, a hall brimming with people, all the eyes fixed on her?

And why was it that despite having lost, there was this triumphant smile on his face?

Arnav paused on front of a mirror. What the hell?

Whatever! He erased his smile and brushed all thoughts concerning her at the far back of his mind.

But one thing was undeniable. The girl did have substance...

***

"Jiji? Kya hua? Humaara Laddoo itna ro kyun raha hain?" (Jiji? What happened? Why is my Laddoo crying so much?)

"Pata nahin kya hua hain isse..." (I don't know what happened to him...)

"Dijye, hum inhein shaant karaate hain. Aap jaaiye, Sangeet dekhiye." (Give him here, I'll make him calm down. You go, attend the Sangeet.)

"Tujhe nahin dekhna?" (And you?)

"Hum baad mein aayenge." (I'll come later.)

She took the toddler in her arms and cajoled him lovingly. "To Rajkumaar? Aap itne upset kyun hain? Maasi aayi hain na? Ab to chup ho jaiye!" (So, little prince? Why are you so upset? Maasi has come now, right? Stop crying!)

She walked off to the garden cooing gently at her nephew who had finally quietened when they had left the crowded area of the hotel. He was now preoccupied with the blood red crystals adorning her deep teal designer saree. She had actually fallen in love with this piece right when she had seen it. It was made of a flowing silk, of a dark teal colour, but when light fell on it, it also gave the illusion of a reddish purple. The border was embroidered with a coppery thread, encrusting the jewels of different sizes on the cloth; the anchal was full of the designs from the border.

Khushi wore no necklace, though she had opted for large copper jhumkas, with vine-like designs on them and deep turquoise beads hanging from them. A mixture of gold, dark red, copper and teal coloured bangles filled her hands and she had worn a little red bindi on her forehead. Her hair was loose, streaming lusciously down her back, which would be mostly exposed if not for her tresses as her choli was held simply by a knot. She wore simple make-up, knowing she looked good even without it.

She kissed the baby in her arms, without even realising she was being admired from afar...

***

He had always found parties boring. And this one was all music, songs and dance, which also held no importance for him. Well, the first presentation had captivated his attention, but he found the rest uninteresting.

He headed for the exit gradually, hoping not to catch anyone's attention. Arnav Singh Raizada preferred tranquillity. He would get that in the yards of his father's splendid hotel. He turned once to look back at the magnificence of the building with a dry smile. How many people every day come here and find this palace a beauty they could not have even dreamt of? And how many of them knew the truth behind it, the truth he had seen?

He sighed and walked away, far from this wretched place. He should not even have come here, in the first place...

Then, he saw her.

She was standing at a distance from him, her nephew in her arms, looking as beautiful as ever. Would this girl ever cease to amaze him? She was dazzling with beauty. She brought a tiny smile to his lips. She made him forget his miseries.

Khushi Kumaari Gupta was one person who could challenge him. An equal, he realised. Though she was a bit mad. Though she was a bit clumsy. Though she was a little liar. He chuckled as he remembered their previous encounters on London.

It would certainly be fun knowing Miss Gupta...

"Badmaash! It's late now, beta. You should sleep now." (Naughty!...)

The baby grinned and gurgled again.

"Kya hua? Maasi gaana gaake sulaayein?" (What happened? You want Aunty to sing you to sleep?)

As if on cue, Akshay clapped his small hands together in delight, squealing. Khushi laughed.

***

Arnav smiled as he watched the aunt-nephew affection. It was cute. It warmed his heart in a pleasant way. He was just turning to leave, to give them privacy, when her soft melodious voice stopped him. He thought he had been dreaming when he had first heard her hum. He turned back to her, this angel who had fallen on earth by some miracle.

Thode badmash ho tum, Thode naadan ho tum

Thode badmash ho tum, Thode naadan ho tum

Haan magar yeh saach hai, hamari jaan ho tum

[You are a bit naughty, a bit innocent

You are a bit naughty, a bit innocent

But it is true that you are my life]

The toddler had his hand wrapped around one of her fingers, his eyes fixed on the hypnotic crystals of her saree. She was smiling down at him, motherly affection etched on her face.

Thode badmash ho tum, Thode naadan ho tum

Haan magar yeh saach hai, hamari jaan ho tum

[You are a bit naughty, a bit innocent

But it is true that you are my life]

Arnav felt as though he was bewitched. He could neither take his eyes off the pair, nor walk away. Khushi walked further in the garden, towards the fountain as she sung. His heart was racing; his feet moved without his accord, following her. What was he doing? Or should he better say, what was she doing to him?

Meri saanso ki jhankar ho tum, mera sola singar ho tum

Meri aankho ka intezar ho tum

Mera imaan meri shaan mera maan ho tum

[You are the sound my breaths make, you are my adornment

You are what my eyes await

You are my faith, my pride, my self-esteem]

He noticed the baby's eyes were already drooping with sleep. He shifted his gaze to the woman, who had not yet seen him. The baby's head was resting on her shoulder and she had placed her cheek lovingly on the top of it, her eyes shining with bliss. She sat on the edge of the fountain.

Thode beyimaan ho tum, thode shaitaan ho tum

Thode beyimaan ho tum, thode shaitaan ho tum

Haan magar yeh sach hai, mere bhagwaan ho tum

Thode hummm, hummm naadan ho tum

[You are a bit dishonest, you are a bit of a devil

You are a bit dishonest, you are a bit of a devil

But it is true that you are my God]

When she had finished singing, Arnav broke out of his trance. He found himself smiling foolishly. How could a person's voice only contain so much magic was beyond his power of understanding. He had been spell bound himself, he, Arnav Singh Raizada, who held no interest for music. He suddenly realized his legs were moving of their own accord, taking him to her.

"Stop, Arnav," he ordered himself. But they would not heed.

***

"Akshay?" Khushi tipped her head to look at the child, who, she noticed, was fast asleep on her shoulder. She giggled, gently unclasping his hand from her hair. "Badmaash."

"You've left the Sangeet already, Miss Gupta?"

She inhaled sharply as she recognized the voice, her eyes widening. She saw him before her when she looked up. How long had he been there? Had he heard her sing? A blush crept up her neck and cheeks. She felt uncomfortable, almost embarrassed. She hated it when people who hear her singing, they would generally tease her about it. And he was Arnav Singh Raizada. He half-smiled at her and took a seat on the edge too.

"I should say, you dance well."

Khushi blushed deeper. "Thank you."

He eyed Akshay curiously. "He's your sister's son, right?"

She nodded. "Akshay."

He nodded back. "So you left the ceremony early?"

"Yes, actually, Akshay was not liking the crowd and Jiji wanted to watch the Sangeet, so I came out with him. And you? You also left early."

He shrugged smugly. "I hate these ceremonies, music, weddings and all."

She raised her brows and open her mouth to comment on his statement but right then, her mobile gave a shrill ring. She answered the call.

"Haan Jiji?" (Yes, Jiji?)

"Kahaan hai tu, Khushi? Akshay tere saath hai na?" (Where are you, Khushi? Akshay is with you, right?)

"Haan, so raha hai." (Yeah, he's sleeping.)

"Achha, use vaapas le aa." (Okay, take him back.)

"Theek hai," she turned back to Arnav. "Sorry, I have to go. My sister is looking for her son."(Fine...)

He nodded in disappointment. "Yeah, it's okay. Good night Miss Gupta."

"Good night, Mr Raizada," she replied with a smile, emphasizing on his name.

Arnav winced. "I told you to call me Arnav, didn't I?"

Khushi raised her chin defiantly. "And didn't I tell you to call me Khushi?"

***

This time he felt his own eyes widen. She smiled and turned towards the hotel, leaving him alone in the dark grounds. His lips curved into a smile. Khushi Kumaari Gupta. A girl who would perhaps never cease to amaze him. Less than a couple of weeks since he had met her, and she had already surprised him in hundreds of ways.

Her lies. Her hidden secrets. Her ability to hide her emotions. Her affinity with kids. Her dance. Her singing. There was too much. Now, he observed her as she walked to the entrance of the Sheesh Mahal, her long dark hair, the slight sway of her hips, her slim frame draped in a saree. She was undeniably beautiful.

Right before she stepped inside a sudden breeze blew over her, moving her hair and he caught sight of her back. Arnav's breath caught at the sight of the expanse of exposed whit skin. A unfamiliar feeling stirred inside him as his imagination blinded him.

Surely it was just desire?

"This one, and you?"

"I-"

"Khushi, do this one."

"This? Oh, yeah, it's so pretty, do this one, Khushi."

She smiled at Ulka and Payal who were both insisting on a design.

"Okay, fine, I have this one done."

The three of them had grown close indeed, making Garima and Madhumati, as well as Ulka's mother very happy. It was the afternoon and they were holding the Mehendi ceremony. Meanwhile as the boys were not allowed there, they were holding a bachelor party at some pub, though it had made Ulka quite upset. Just as Khushi's mehendi was halfway done, and the girls and women were all chattering among themselves, the phone rang.

A maid rushed in with it, informing the future bride it was for her and held it to her ear. Her smile fell at once.

"What? You cannot do this to me! But why? No! No! Promise? Okay, fine! Just be back in time!"

Everyone watched her, confused. Ulka explained that it was Arnav. He had to leave for Jaipur immediately as an urgent meeting had come up, but he had promised to be back the next day for the wedding.

Khushi felt a little prick where her heart should be. But why?

***

Twenty four hours. He sighed as he ran to the entrance, gesturing the porter to take his bags to his room. Twenty four hours since he had been away. More than that since he had not seen her.

And now he was going to be late for the wedding and his cousin would bury him alive. He was only entering the building when he saw something like a flash of white come out of it and even before he could react, he had bumped into it.

***

Khushi closed her eyes as soon as she saw the impact coming. She crashed into what seemed like a wall in the middle of the door way and felt her body rebound towards the floor. She scrunched her eyes tighter, readying herself for the bruises she was sure to receive but instead she felt something holding her back at her waist. Something warm.

Her eyes snapped open to collide with a coffee brown gaze. Familiar eyes. She blinked nervously as realisation crept into her. Arnav Singh Raizada.

The one and only.

Her breathing stopped, literally, but her heartbeat picked up pace. He was frowning down at her, his body, encastrated in a form fitting charcoal three-piece suit, was emanating heat against hers, while his eyes set her on fire.

Khushi looked down at her hands which rested flat against his broad chest. What was happening to her? She had never felt this way before...

***

Could be possible to get what you wish for seconds after thinking about it? He was lucky enough for this to happen to him. His eyes were fixed on the nymph in his arms.

She wore a white saree this time with an emerald Crepe de Chine choli. The glass tissue cloth hugged her curves beautifully, its borders sewn with old-gold-coloured beads. She wore jhumkas again, but this time, they were smaller and golden. A matching pendant with dark green motifs hung from a thin thread of gold around her neck, her wrists were filled with dozens of white, gold and deep emerald bangles.

Her wide eyes focused on him, only him. Her warm, inviting scent enveloped him, making him light headed. Why? What the hell was happening to him? He released her, suddenly fuming at himself for the way he was reacting to her.

***

"I'm s-s-sorry..."

He looked at her silently. She notice his jaws had clenched all of a sudden and he had roughly removed his arm from around her slim bare waist, almost pushing her away. He held his gaze for another fraction of a second and stormed inside the hotel. Her eyes followed him, confused. What was wrong with this guy?

Then she shrugged. It hardly concerned her, did it? That was his problem. She went her way to do what she had come out for. Within ten minutes, she was back inside the immense hall where the ceremony was being held. She went to stand by the mandap, near Payal and Akshay. Buaji was also there, crying bitterly because her 'baby' was getting married. Khushi and her cousin could not help but laugh at her.

Khushi leaned against one of the corner pillars, watching the ceremony well. She sensed as though she was being watched. When she looked up, she found him staring at her.

***

He gave her a tiny smile but she looked away immediately. He felt guilty. He shouldn't have reacted that way earlier. It was his mind which had been at fault, not her. Certainly not her.

He could not take his eyes off her. Especially when she was wearing that thin, almost transparent, saree which fitted her form so well. He clenched his jaws together, decidedly, she was not very healthy for his mind. He needed a lot of sharpness in the field he worked in but ever since he had known her, that sharpness he had was slowly eroding away. She had been infiltrating his mind ever since he had seen her at a conference, two months ago. She had not seen him, she had been daydreaming like the day he had caught her in his office. He smirked at her memory of the incidents of that day.

When he raised his eyes from his shoes again, she was glaring at him, her lips moving fast. His smirk widened, causing her eyes to do the same. She went on mumbling under her breath, more vigorously than before. Arnav found himself concentrating more on her than on the ceremony, his eyes narrowing a bit, straining to understand what she was saying.

***

Khushi tried hard not to laugh. It looked like Mr Arnav Singh Raizada had no idea of how funny he looked, his head tilted slightly to one side, his eyes narrowed to slits nearly and a comical smile on his face. His head was bent forward and he appeared to be trying to know what she was rambling about.

It was better if he did not hear, or he would surely be horrified. He stood directly opposite to her, on Ulka's side. She had to admit, he looked staggeringly handsome. Minutes later, he was called upon to complete the ceremonies a brother should, and as the bride did not have one, it was Arnav who had to. Khushi noticed he was startled, having been abruptly snatched from his preoccupation in which he had invested a great deal of attention.

She giggled at his embarrassment but thankfully for her, the trumpets were being played too loud for him to hear.

***

His eyes searched her amidst the crowd thronging the part of Sheesh Mahal where the wedding was being held. Now that the ceremony was over, everyone was either having dinner or strolling around, but the person he was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

She was not at the dinner tables, she was not in the hall, she was not with the guests, she was not in the gardens. Where the hell was she gone?

But the real question was why he was so bothered about it?

He frowned to himself. She was nothing to him. Then why? He was stuck in a maelstrom of feelings and emotions he was unable to understand. He sighed, fists clenched. He had to get her out of his mind. Else she would make his living difficult...

He made up his mind and stalked stiffly to the hotel, his mood suddenly off and a strong urge to go to his room pushing him. A familiar laughter stopped him. He swivelled on his heels to see her, his eighth wonder of the world, running about in a secluded area with group of kids. Of course! He should have known!

He had searched high and low for this girl and here she was, playing. She had changed already, for a maroon and beige chiffon churidaar. As he watched her, a smile drew itself on his mouth unconsciously. She was the first person he had met who took her name to seriously. Khushi...

She walked nervously up the steps to Henry Grey's, one of London's best head-hunters. The wedding in Lucknow seemed to have happened ages ago.

After the wedding, she had stayed back with the family at their house for another couple of days. She had been able to patch up with Anji, but that had cost her a lunch with Shyaam, as well as a long sermon about her expenses. When she had been away, Anji had suddenly decided to clean up her friend's room, only to find the gigantic pile of bills and reminders Khushi had hidden under her bed.

Khushi Kumaari Gupta was chin deep in debt. So, they had figured out she needed a new job, which paid more, then she could repay all of it. The two had started their search immediately and Shyaam had joined in, suggesting to fix an appointment with Henry Grey's. That was three days ago.

Now, Khushi stood in front of the large black-tinted glass doors of the building, breathing hard. She took a few steps forward and checked her reflection. She had worn her best black Prada suit, the pencil trousers stopping slightly above her ankles and the jacket's sleeves at her mid-forearms. Underneath was a brand new pearl grey silk shirt, along with plain grey velvety Dior pumps, and her copper-framed Serengeti Medium Aviator sunglasses sat on her dark hair, today curled into large soft waves.

Could she looked any better for such an occasion? Nah! Anji had advised her to wear the sunglasses. They gave her a sophisticated-meets-intellectual look. She smiled at herself confidently. She would definitely bag the best job here. The only odd-one-out here was the black leather briefcase she was carrying. It had been a gift from her Amma years ago but Khushi had never quite used it. partly because it was too heavy, and partly because she had forgotten the combination, so she could not really open it.

"Hello!" she said confidently to the blonde receptionist. "I'm here to meet Annabelle Legrenier. My name's Khushi Gupta."

"Fine. Have a seat. I'll call you."

Khushi sat in the waiting area. Her eyes settled on the low table before her, hoping to find something interesting to read but there were only finance magazine there. She looked at the foyer instead, sighing. It was a great place, impressive. There was this marble fountain in the middle, this expanse of cream-coloured floor... it was huge. Blimey!

"Khushi?" A tall red-headed girl stood before her in a powder blue suit. Nice outfit, Khushi thought.

"Annabelle? Hi!"

The girl smiled. "No, I'm Anastasia, Annabelle's assistant. Are you ready?"

"Of course," Khushi followed Anastasia as the girl strode across the glossy floor to the varnished wooden staircase. This was really cool, sending your assistant to fetch your appointment because you are too important to do it. Her eyes casually fell on the label on Anastasia's suit and they widened in astonishment. Giorgio Armani! Theassistant wore Giorgio Armani! He devi Maiyya! She was loving this place already!

***

"Good morning, Khushi. Please be seated," Annabelle gestured, speaking with a French accent. "I should say, your CV impressed me. Would you like tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, please."

"Anastasia, un cafe pour la demoiselle," the woman nodded once at her assistant who skittered off at once. "Oh, did I tell you I was extremely impressed by you CV, Khushi?"

"Yes, thank you," Khushi blushed. Extremely impressed. That was a good start.

"Especially, by your languages. You seem to be an all-rounder. You do English, French and Hindi very well."

"Oh, my French is not that good but it comes in handy in conversations," Khushi said modestly, beaming as Annabelle gave her an appreciative chuckle.

"German, surprised me, though."

Khushi kept smiling but her heart was beating fast enough. Honestly, the 'fluent in German' bit was a fib she had added just to get the additional points. She did not know a single German word. Annabelle asked her a few more questions about her career in financial journalism and her future projects. Anastasia came to give Khushi and Annabelle their coffee in between.

"Khushi, there's a position in banking that we have. I was think you might be suitable for it. If you agree, we could negotiate this vacancy for you. It is a very attractive offer, trust me."

Khushi suddenly felt as if she could not breath. Annabelle was talking of negotiating a post for her? God, was this her lucky day or what? "Absolutely," she replied, nearly choking.

"So, shall we move to meet your new employer?"

Wait, what? Khushi looked stunned while Annabelle got up from her chair.

"Did I not tell you, dear? The recruitment manager of the Bank of Berlin is here for a meeting with our CEO. I'm sure he'll love you!"

A large smile spread on Khushi's face and she followed Annabelle. She was going to be a banker! It was only halfway down the corridor that it hit her. Bank of Berlin. Berlin. That could not mean... Annabelle did not think...

"I'm so eager to hear you converse in German, you know! I don't know that language myself!"

He Devi Maiyya! No! This cannot be happening!

***

"Fynn Kaufmann, I would like you to meet Khushi Gupta."

"Guten Morgen, Khushi. Wie gehts?"

Khushi stood in front of the room with Annabelle and this bearded guy, Fayn-something. She stared at the man wordlessly, a large but fake smile pasted on her face as if she was brimming with happiness. Other people in the room had their eyes fixed on her waiting for her response. She had to say something, but what? He Devi Maiyya!

"Ermm... Hi..." she lifted her hand and waves at every one, but there was not a single smile back. "Ermm... I've just got to..." she started backing away to the door, not daring to look at Annabelle. "I... I..."

All of a sudden, Khushi turned. And ran for her life.

***

She reached the foyer, panting heavily. It was like she had just run a marathon. Her heart was pounding and she felt slightly dizzy. Quickly she straightened skirt, transferred her briefcase from one clammy hand to the other and checked her surroundings. Thankfully, the receptionist had gone off.

Khushi started walking again, all she could think of was getting out of this place. Her career? It was in shambles even before she had come here. Maybe since she had sent Annabelle that stupid CV full of lies.

Walk straight to the door, Khushi. Stop thinking about all this and walk out of here. Get out of this mess. Just-

"Khushi?"

Crap! They've got you! She froze right where she was standing. She turned around, her mouth open but her brain empty of excuses, just to find Arnav Singh Raizada walk towards her...

***

Was this set of somersaults his heart was performing justified? He frowned, doing his best to ignore it.

"This is not a place where I had expected to find you," he said when he reached her.

She looked deliciously flushed, a bit out of breath, her hair beautifully messed. He hid his smile. This girl was getting herself in trouble again? Silly thing! He had been right to nickname her his eighth wonder of the world. Her mouth hung open and her eyes were wide. She was shocked?

Arnav had lost count of the number of days since he had last seen her. His last night at Sheesh Mahal was when he had caught sight of her playing with the kids outside. He was going to talk to her before he left early the next morning but his phone had rung. It had been his assistant who had informed him that one of their Canadian clients was urging for an immediate video-conference and he had had to drop the idea of a conversation with her.

"What are you doing here, Khushi?"

"Looking for a new job?" he asked, eyebrows raised but she could not guess even remotely what he could be thinking.

She finally found her voice. "Yeah... maybe in banking... or I could be a broker..."

"Well that's a shame!" he whispered loud enough for her to catch it. Laad Governor! she mentally screamed at him. He seemed to be following her everywhere, damn him. And trapping her in those silly questions which made him seem like he was all-too-clever. The nerve of him! She shoul not not care about what he thought. But why did he think it was a shame? What did that mean?

"What are you doing here?" Khushi fired back.

A teeny-tiny smile appeared on his face as he stared at her. "I often recruit from here. There're efficient. Have they found you something yet?"

God! Would he ever stop shooting questions like that at her? He should have been a lawyer. Because he always managed to freak her out. And he always managed to ask her questions she could not answer for. Damn him, the Laad Governor! "Errr... actually... I... I've got a lot of options open... I'm just considering what step I could take next..." Which, seriously, would be definitely getting out of here before Annabelle or anyone else came by.

"You took the day off to come here, right?"

Khushi fought the urge to roll her eyes and nodded. "Of course." What did he think? She'd pretended her dog had been sick and had to stay with it?

"So, what will you do now? Any plans?"

Here, she had to leave as soon as possible and he was curious about what she would do during the rest of the day. Unbelievable, man! Anyway, she should not say 'nothing', never ever. Even if she really had nothing to do but loiter in the streets till evening or bore the crap out of her at the apartment till Anji returned from her classes.

"Uhh... I... I've got a few important calls to make, maybe..."

Got your answer? Then, go now, Mr Raizada! Leave me alone!

"Ah! Well, I'll leave you then. Good luck."

She gave him a business-like smile as he turned to leave. She should have been happy. Laad Governor was leaving finally. Then why was her heart sinking into disappointment while his back was slowly retreating, disappearing behind the doors?

She let the pasted fake smile drop out of her face when he was gone and sighed deeply. She dragged her feet to the exit, regret washing over her. She should have been nicer to him, right? She should not have thought all those evil things about him. Maybe he was just curious? Or lonely? Or was it something else?

The conversation she had had with Anji came back to her. It was when she had returned and told her she had met Arnav Singh Raizada at Tanishq's wedding. Anji had been really excited. She had even suggested Arnav might like her, but Khushi had just scoffed. Now she thought about it, could Anjali be right? He was always interested to know about her. He was always polite to her. He had always been hovering about her during the days they had spent at Lucknow. He, who never ever smiled, had even grinned, smirked, smiled, and whatnot numerous times, dammit! And just with her!

Could it mean-? No! Hell, no! She was just imagining things. And it was all because of Anji and her stupid words. Forget it, Khushi!

***

"Khushi! So good to see you again! But Mark told me you had taken the day off."

Lavanya beamed at her friend and Khushi smiled back. "Yeah, but I had to return and assignment, so..."

In fact, she had gone back to the apartment, lonely and miserable as ever to find this latest pending paperwork her boss had given her a couple of days ago when she had returned. How it had happened, Khushi could not explain but she had sat in from of the computer immediately and in less than three hours, the job was done. She had decided to hand it over at once. She had just come out of Jeff's cabin. He had been utterly shocked. And now she could see similar signs on La's face.

"Kya hua, Khushi? Tu theek to hai?" (What happened, Khushi? Are you alright?)

"I'm fine, La!"

They talked for some more minutes before Khushi decided she had to leave. She had only reached the door when La called out her name.

"Khushi!" she swivelled on her toes to see Lavanya hurried towards her. "You know Arnav Singh Raizada? On a personal level, I mean?" she asked in a hushed voice.

Khushi's eyes widened. "Why?" she whimpered. How did La know? What did La know?

"You know, there was this press conference last night, yeah? Well I kinda bumped into him, and he started talking to me. He was great, really nice. Then... he asked me about you..."

Khushi's heart was thumping wildly in her chest. "What... did he... ask?"

"Well," La paused with a naughty voice. "He asked me if... if you had boyfriend."

Her mind went light, too light. She felt like she was going to faint. But thankfully enough she did not, it would have given La a piece of gossip. La could be her friend but everyone knew she could not keep a single thing to herself.

"La... I think... I need to go home..."

Khushi got out of there quickly. She did not even want to know what Lavanya had answered him. Or how he had reacted to it. Why the hell had he even asked that? Was Anji right? No way! He was such a great businessman, a tycoon more precisely, all self-made and flying so high. He wouldn't even notice a girl like her. There was already a throng of girls and women, single or not, drooling and dying at his feet at he did not even care to look at them, then why her? Why Khushi Kumaari Gupta, a small town girl, with big dreams and nothing else, not even the supermodel looks like the others had?

She walked blindly, not even seeing where she went. Somewhere in the back of her mind, alarm bells were going off, telling her someone was calling her name, but she continued walking in the breezy streets, eyes wide and her brain crammed with questions and possibilities, until she felt a large strong hand curl around her arm and tug her around.

"I've been calling you for so long? What's wrong? You did not even hear me."

She looked up into black coffee depths fringed with long, black lashes.

"Hello? Earth to Khushi! Are you there?"

The devil! "M-M-Mr R-Raizada?"

He rolled his eyes. "How many times should I tell you to call me Arnav?"

Khushi blinked in confusion. Was it her foggy mind playing tricks on her? Or was he really there? He smiled at her, looking at her short taupe summer dress by Magnolia.

"Aren't you cold?" It was then Khushi realised she had forgotten her coat at the office. She lifted her chin defiantly.

"No." He smirked at her.

"I guess... you're done with your 'few important calls', then?"

Say no, Khushi! "Yes," she like her bottom lip nervously. Amazing how her emotions were changing so quickly. He Devi Maiyya! Damn this man for everything he does to me!

"Good. Listen, I know you are a busy woman and all, but if you had this half hour spare, would you mind a little shopping?"