ARHI FF: MY PRINCE CHARMING II TH 4 (CH9: PG32)

Chapter 8: His Girlfriend, Her Boyfriend & What Not...

"Famous Supermodel Lavanya Kashyap is in town. She was seen last night at Rocky Singh's Party which was thrown for the inauguration of his new restaurant. As usual Lavanya was her ravishing self, she was seen in a pleasant mood and guess who was the source of that mood. It was none other than India's most eligible bachelor Arnav Singh Raizada.

The duo seemed to have singled out each other and were seen in an intimate conversation most of the evening. As reported by our sources, no doubt they looked quite a dazzling pair. However the question remains whether these two are "just good friends" or is there a new celebrity couple in the making.

Keep an eye on this column for more information. Until then..."

"That will do... I don't want to hear anymore of this nonsense." Rhea screamed.

Khushi fell off the bed laughing. "But this is so much fun. Arnavji has a secret new girlfriend." She giggled uncontrollably clutching her tummy.

"Rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish!" Rhea groaned punching the pillow on her lap. "This is just cheap gossip."

"You never know. Sometimes these columns tell the truth too." Khushi reasoned catching her breath. "Just look at her picture, she is so beautiful."

"W-H-A-T-E-V-E-RRR! I don't believe a word of it. Arnavji doesn't have a girlfriend." Rhea said stubbornly and punched the pillow again for good measure.

Khushi rolled over on the floor laughing. *Gasp* "Arnavji!" Khushi suddenly sat straight on the floor where she was lying, staring wide-eyed towards the door of her room.

Rhea let out a squeak and turned around in shock only to realise that there was no one there and the door was locked from inside. "Ugh! Very mature Khushi..." She glared and threw a pillow at Khushi who was once again laughing uncontrollably.

Looking at the sour expression on Rhea's face, Khushi controlled her laughter and got back up on the bed. "Just look at you Rhea, you are blushing. I think I should throw a few good words about you to him." She winked.

"Gosh! No, are you crazy?" Rhea covered her face with her palms.

"Why not?" Khushi shrugged. "You seem to like him a lot."

"Oh please! I like Tom Cruise as well. That doesn't mean I love him. But yeah I do feel jealous when I see him with those silly actresses."

"Ooohhh! So you mean you just have a celebrity crush on him." Khushi teased.

"Yes." Rhea shrugged. "I mean, he's always seemed so larger than life to me."

"Uh-huh? So who's not larger than life to you?" Khushi raised her eyebrows. "Ashu Bhaiya?"

Rhea pulled in a deep breath and grabbed the project sheets that were lying forgotten across the bed. "We need to finish this project today. Let's get to work."

"But you haven't answered my question." Khushi complained.

"I don't have to." Rhea said not looking at her and got straight to work.

~~~~~~

"Sir, by tomorrow we will have the quotes for the new venture. I have scheduled a meeting for later in the day." Aman said placing a few papers on Arnav's desk.

"Hmmm. Just add it to my planner." He replied.

"And Sir..." Aman hesitated. "Friday can I get a few hours off?"

Arnav looked at him quizzically.

Aman stared at the file in front of him. "I need to do some research on Rajveer Khurana."

Arnav's eyes narrowed with interest. "Have you got any leads?"

"No." Aman's jaw clenched and he opened the file, glaring at RK's family picture that was stuck on the first page. "But there has to be something. How can his whole family have no past. I WILL find the mystery of this family." He said with determination.

Arnav was about to reply when there was a knock and Kishoreji came in. Kishoreji was one of AR's oldest employees. He had worked with Arnav's father and had stuck with the family even when the Business had suffered heavy losses. He was the oldest and most loyal of the employees. Arnav respected him highly and had allowed him to keep his post as chief accountant even though he was 2 years past his retirement age.

Arnav's expression softened at once. "Kishoreji, how many times have I told you that you don't have to knock."

"Old habits die hard Arnav." Kishoreji smiled and placed a file in front of him. "You have to go through this."

Arnav nodded and pulled the file towards him. He knew that if Kishoreji had himself come to him then it it was definitely important.

Kishoreji was about to leave when the picture on Aman's file caught his eye and he stopped in his tracks. "Govind? What is this scoundrel's picture doing here?"

"Govind who?" Aman stood up suddenly.

"Him..." Kishoreji pointed towards the man in the picture next to RK, his father.

"He is not Govind, his name is Girish Khurana" Aman argued.

"Arnav, I can never forget this man's face." Kishoreji said firmly. "How do you know him?"

Arnav looked at Aman, who looked inclined to argue further & shook his head. "We are just gathering background information about his son. Possible new recruit you know. Routine procedure." He lied smoothly. "But how do you know this Govind."

Kishoreji sighed, "I know him from when he used to work for Guptaji."

"Khushi's father?" Arnav asked shocked. Aman looked equally stunned.

"Yes, Khushi bitiya's father. Never trusted him personally..." Kishoreji frowned. "Too sweet spoken for my taste. But it wasn't my place to say anything. He seemed to have a hold on Guptaji who trusted him a lot. But truth came out in the end."

"What do you mean?" Aman asked eagerly.

"He was Guptaji's Manager you see, it turned out he had been doing many illegal transactions; stolen a lot of money from Guptaji's accounts." Kishoreji told them.

"What happened then?" Arnav asked.

"Not sure really." Kishoreji shrugged. "Didn't hear any of him after he got fired."

"Fired?" Aman asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes fired Aman." Kishoreji nodded. "Once Guptaji found out about his doings, he immediately fired him. That was the last we heard of this Govind."

"Gosh! Who could have imagined..." Aman trailed off.

"If you are planning to recruit his son, Arnav." Kishoreji said pointedly. "I would suggest be very careful. I mean, every one knows that the Gupta's & Raizada's have merged their businesses. What are the chances that this job application is a coincidence."

Arnav nodded not saying anything.

Kishoreji began to leave but stopped again at the door. "Oh yes, just in case it is of any importance to the two of you... Guptaji fired Govind just 2 days before he and his wife met with that fatal accident." With that he left Arnav's cabin with a grave expression.

For the next few minutes, Arnav & Aman just stared at the open picture on the file.

It was Aman who managed to speak first. "So... that explains a lot of things. Obviously this Govind changed his identity."

Arnav just nodded.

"So that's why there is no other information of his family for more than 2 years." Aman spoke more to himself.

Arnav nodded again.

"And this RK... he is not as innocent as he seems then." Aman continued.

"Stop stating the obvious Aman!" Arnav slammed his fist on the desk losing his patience, making Aman shrink back in his chair. "All this time... All this time, I have allowed Khushi to meet him long enough. And all this time... Anything could have happened."

Aman shuddered internally at the thought. "At least I know what direction to look into now. I'll just look into the old Gupta Accounts now. That makes my job much easier."

"And my job is going to be lot more tougher. I don't know how I can stop Khushi from meeting RK now." Arnav sighed.

~~~~~~

"You are getting on my nerves now Khushi. Will you tell me what is it that is so amusing." Arnav growled in annoyance, putting down his spoon back into the plate. He and Khushi were having dinner together later in the evening.

Khushi had been continuously stealing glances at him and smiling secretly ever since he had set foot in the house.

"Your girlfriend is very beautiful Arnavji. Can I meet her?" Khushi asked expectantly.

"My who?" Arnav asked choking on his food.

"Your girlfriend of course." Khushi shrugged. "I know you have a girlfriend. There is nothing to be shocked about it."

"I don't have a girlfriend." Arnav said through gritted teeth.

"Oh come on Arnavji." Khushi insisted. "You can tell me you know."

"Khushi..." Arnav warned.

"But Arnavji I want to know." Khushi whined. "You have to tell me everything. Where did you meet her? How long have you known her? Does Di know? How did you propose her? Does Di approve?"

"Look here now..." He began.

"OMG! I know what it is." Khushi cut him off. "Di doesn't know?"

"Stop!!!" Arnav said slamming his fist on the table.

"But Arnavji..." Khushi complained.

"Enough! Another word and you'll be sorry you ever spoke." He glared at her.

Khushi clamped her mouth shut and nodded.

"Now listen," he said slowly and clearly. "I don't have a girlfriend. Is that clear?"

She nodded again not daring to speak.

"Who told you that I have a girlfriend?" He raised his eyebrows. Khushi just stayed silent. "Speak." He said exasperated.

"I-I read it in today's newspaper." She replied slowly.

Arnav stared at her for a whole minute. Of all the replies he wasn't expecting this one. "Khushi... Page-3 gossip? Seriously?" And suddenly the situation was so funny that he actually started laughing, making Khushi stare at him as she had never before seen him laughing. But soon she got over it when she realised that he was actually laughing at her expense.

"So it's not true? Hawww... Then why did they print it?" Khushi asked in surprise.

"Because that's their job. But that's not important Khushi." Arnav said catching his breath. "You are an owner of a fashion house, aspiring to be a designer. You of all people should know better than believing such stuff. My PR had already informed me this morning about the news involving Lavanya Kashyap. Such stuff keeps appearing now and then and my PR takes care of it."

"So you don't have a girlfriend?" Khushi verified.

"No." Arnav replied firmly. "But there is something that you should know. All this will soon be a part of your life too."

"My life? How?" Khushi asked surprised.

"You can say it's a professional hazard. Something we have to get used to." He answered.

"So that will effect me too?" Khushi asked gulping.

"Of course. The moment you officially join AR, you will be in focus." Arnav stated matter of factly. He paused for a while hesitating slightly but then decided that he had to say it. "Khushi in fact you can be a target even now."

"Now?" Khushi jumped getting worried. "How?"

"Just think about it. I just talked to Lavanya in the passing in that party & the media cooked up such juicy gossip. How will the media react if they come to know that I have a young girl, 18 year old, living with me? The news will be in circulation for weeks without a break. Not to mention, once they get to know your identity..."

Khushi was beyond words now she just gaped at him open mouthed.

"Don't worry." He said getting up. "I've already taken care of it. My PR team is quite efficient at taking care of these matters." With that he left the dining table leaving Khushi wondering how would it feel to have her name involved in false gossip. She shuddered at the thought and hoped that Arnavji's PR team is up to the mark in their jobs.