Originally posted by: khushiforever
Part 18
Khushi barged into Arnav's office "How dare you!"
Arnav shot up in his chair "Wrong number!"
Khushi narrowed her eyes "Sleeping while working huh?"
Arnav shook his head "No no"
The truth was last night Arnav just couldn't fall asleep.That woman kept calling him but when he picked up,she wouldn't say anything.He was more than sure it was her calling.Who the heck was she in the first place? He hadn't had any girlfriends or any one night stands.Arnav would have turned off his phone if he had the chance but he couldn't afford to miss a call from Aman who still hadn't scheduled a meeting with some Japanese client.
Khushi plopped into a chair "I don't care what you think of me" she said "I am not working under these conditions"
Arnav narrowed his shadowed eyes "What are you talking about?"
"I will not have you hauling me around whenever you want"
Arnav couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with women nowadays. Why couldn't they do as they were told but then again Khushi wouldn't be who she was right now.
Arnav sighed "What do you want?"
"I want the kind of job that I am actually qualified for! I didn't go to some fashion designing college in California for nothing!"
"Florida" Arnav muttered.
Khushi straightened in her chair "How do you know?"
"Huh?" Arnav looked at her confused.
"How did you know I studied in Florida?"
"Oh..well um" Arnav couldn't think straight but then his eyes fell on some files on his table "Your file!" He said.
"What?" This time Khushi was the one who looked at him confused.
"I have your file,remember? I've had some time to study it" he replied.
Damn, Khushi thought to herself. He had an answer to everything even if he was half asleep.
Khushi picked up his round paperweight and played with it, relaxing in her chair "I want to be posted in the job that I should be in"
"Meaning?"
"I applied here to be a fashion designer, not a secretary"
"Personal assistant" Arnav muttered.
Khushi rolled her eyes "Close enough.I want to be given the job that I deserve"
"We have no available spots" Arnav replied randomly opening up a file.
"Then I quit" Khushi got up.
"If you quit then I'll force Di to divorce your brother"
Khushi narrowed her eyes at him "Di would never do such thing!"
Arnav smiled and got up "Even though Di is older than me, it was because of me nobody ever looked down at her. It was because of me she got her proper education. It was because of me that she didn't have to even say what she wanted before she received it" Arnav picked up a picture of his sister and smiled "She will do whatever I say" Arnav looked at Khushi "Call her right now and you'll find out she's getting ready to leave"
Khushi stood up and rummaged through her purse for her phone.Once she had it she called Anjali.
"Hello?" Came Anjali's voice.
"Di? What are you doing right now?"
Anjali sighed "Chote wants me home. Even though I don't want to, I must go"
Khushi looked at Arnav in shock.He only shrugged.He grabbed her phone and put his hand over it "Let's pretend we never had this conversation about you quitting and I'll let Di stay with you"
Khushi pressed her lips together "But-"
"Now you don't want your brother to be sad do you?"
Khushi scowled at him "Fine" she said.
Arnav smiled "Great" he gave her the phone.
Khushi said bye to Anjali.
The minute Khushi finished her talk with Anjali, Arnav called her "Hello? Di? Yeah I've changed my mind.You should stay with your friend.She needs you.Yeah...of course.Alright bye Di"
Arnav cut the call and smirked at Khushi "You're welcome"
"Argh!" Khushi groaned "I'll show up tomorrow!"
"I'm perfectly alright with that" Arnav said.
The minute Khushi left, Arnav dropped into his seat,his head lying on the table and fell asleep.
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Khushi sat down on her bed,twirling her phone in her hand.She smirked, looking at the device. It was quite interesting how the great ASR was getting irritated by an unknown lady, that was obviously her. Khushi thought it was quite stupid of him to not turn off his phone. 'What an idiot' she thought to herself.
However, she did feel bad when she saw the dark shadows under his eyes, but then she recalled what he did with her. The guilt disappeared in a second. How dare he play with her feelings? He had no right! And to top it off, he pretends to be oblivious.
Hmph. She could play the same game.
Khushi dialed Arnav's number using an unknown ID.
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Arnav jumped from his seat when his phone began shrilling loudly. He groaned, hoping it was Aman. He picked it up and lazily leaned it against his ear "What happened with the Japan..." The rest of Arnav's words sounded incorrigible as his eyes began drooping.
"Hmm honeymoon in Japan? That sounds nice" came that same sugary voice that Arnav couldn't possibly forget.
Arnav's eyes shot open as if a bucket of ice cold water splashed on to his face "YOU" he roared.
Khushi, on the other side, tried to control her giggles "I'm glad you didn't forget me...because I certainly didn't forget you"
"Who the hell are you? Look lady, I've had enough of you and-"
"You want to meet me? Okay" Khushi smiled "I'll see you at the SM party tonight"
"Wait! How do you know-"
The sound of a beep confirmed that the lady had ended the call.
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"I really want to tell Chote" Anjali said "I mean I've never kept a secret from him and it's been years since we..."
Samar gently held Anjali's hand "It's okay. I understand. Take your time"
Anjali shook her head "I feel like I'm delaying it. I mean Chote will find out and it's best I tell him before anybody else does.I'm going to tell him tomorrow"
Samar leaned forward in his seat and looked at her "Are you sure?"
Anjali nodded "It's best to get it off my chest"
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Garima looked up as Khushi walked by "Where are you going Khushi"
Khushi bit her tongue. In her hurry, she had nearly forgotten to tell her mother about the party "Amma, there's a party at work. I've been invited"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Garima asked.
Shashi chuckled and flipped to the next page of his newspaper "Our daughter is all grown up Garima. Let her go" he looked at Khushi "But be back on time"
Khushi grinned "Okay thanks Papa!" She ran out.
Garima shook her head "You're spoiling her"
Shashi smiled "I only have one daughter who will soon one day be married off.Let me spoil her"
Garima smiled "Have you found anybody for her yet?"
"Nobody's good enough for my princess" Shashi put away his newspaper and looked at Garima "Do you think we should start looking for someone for Khushi now or wait for her to settle down with her career?
"Khushi is of age now" Garima said "Besides it doesn't take long to settle with a career anyways.For marriage, you have to find the right man and then the arrangements.It takes months.We should start looking now"
Shashi hmmed as he pondered over it "Maybe you're right" he said.
He looked up when he heard footsteps.
It was Anjali.She smiled at him and sat next to him "What's wrong Papa? You seem to be in deep thought"
"He's thinking about the idea of marrying Khushi off" Garima answered as she sat across from them.
Shashi looked at Anjali as an idea plopped into his head "Anjali betiya, your brother, Arnav, is still a bachelor right?"
Garima looked at Shashi horrified "What are you saying Shashi? Haven't you heard about him? He's what society calls an angry young man. What if he yells at Khushi? What if he keeps her in a negative environment? What if-"
Anjali cleared her throat "Maa, actually Chotte is only like that for the world. On the inside he has a really soft heart that only needs to be unlocked"
Garima softened her features "Please don't take offence Anjali betiya.I'm only worried for Khushi. She can be an emotional girl and you know that"
Anjali gave a small smile "It's okay anyways because I don't think Chotte is ready for marriage yet"
Shashi sighed and leaned back "Alright then. I'll think of something"
*********************************************
Every female was wearing a mask.At least that was the theme for the SM party.Arnav looked around nervously.That woman on the phone was going to be here.He just knew it but the thing as he didn't even know what she looked like! And even if he did, how the heck would he recognize her through a mask.
Arnav faked a smile and shook hands with Siddarth Manohar "It'll be a pleasure working with you" he said professionally.
Siddarth smiled back "Likewise" he said.
Arnav gestured to the crowd "May I ask why the females were asked to wear masks for this party?"
Siddarth chuckled "Well usually it's the men that wear a mask, sweep a girl off her feet, disappear and then leave her confused. This time it's going to be the other way around. The female wears a mask, sweeps a man off his feet, disappear, and then leave the man confused" He laughed.
Arnav let out a fake laugh.For a minute he wondered if Siddarth knew of him and his own mask story.
A woman in a lovely green dress and a matching mask walked up to him.She put her hand forward "A dance?"
Siddarth nudged Arnav "Looks like it's your turn"
Arnav hesitated before accepting the lady's request.He didn't want to make a bad impression in front of his new client by saying no. Arnav took her to the dance floor. He looked around as if looking for an escape.
The lady chuckled and put his hands on her hips.She put her arms around his neck "I can't believe you didn't recognize me"
That sugary voice! Arnav's neck snapped towards her "You!"
His hands itched to rip that mask off her face.
The lady smirked "You look handsome all ruffled up"
"You don't know who you're messing with"
"The Arnav Singh Raizada who rebuild his father's empire from scratch and made it more powerful that it ever was. There are branches of your company all over the company and blah blah.I did some research"
Arnav narrowed his eyes "What do you want?"
The lady poked his nose "You silly"
He pushed her away "Stay away from me or else I'm pressing charges"
"On who? A lady who's face you've never seen?"
Arnav gritted his teeth.He swung his hand for the mask but she ducked, turned, and ran. Arnav ran after her and past Siddarth.
Sidddarth chuckled "Guess I was right" he said grabbing a drink from a waiter passing by "Wearing a mask will always affect the opposite gender. I knew I should have invited the media"
*********************************************
Arnav swore.Where the hell is she,he thought to himself.Damned woman was fast, even in a dress.He looked around but saw no sign of green.He pursed his lips and decided to go home.
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Khushi took off the mask and shoved it in her purse.It was fun teasing Arnav.He deserved it anyways.
She looked around hoping for a taxi to show up.A pair of headlights suddenly shone towards her.Khushi put her hands up to block her eyes.The car stopped in front of her.The window rolled down.It was him.The man who had claimed to be her Masked Man.Angad.
"You!" Khushi accused.
Angad had the grace to look ashamed "I'm really sorry for lying about that whole being your Masked Man thing.I really am"
Khushi looked away "Whatever" she said and walked away.
She heard the door open and close behind her.She stiffened.Why was he getting out of his car? What were his intentions?
"Khushi" Angad said "Please.I really am sorry"
Khushi looked at him over her shoulder "I don't even know you"
"But I do" he said softly "I've been in love with you ever since college"
Khushi's attention was grabbed.She turned around and looked at him shocked "What?" she exclaimed.
Angad nodded "I wanted to tell you but I heard you were dating a Masked Man so I stayed away.I also heard you two broke up and I just..."
Khushi looked away confused. She didn't know how she was supposed to react or if she was even supposed to react at all.
Angad took a step towards her "Can we be friends Khushi?"
"I..I don't know"
"Will you at least give me the privilege to drop you home?" Angad asked.
Should she trust him? Khushi wondered.She looked at her watch.It was getting really late.Her parents would start worrying.Khushi looked around. There were no other headlights or vehicles in sight.
"Um" she hesitated "Okay"
Angad smiled.He opened his car door for her.She sat inside a bit uncomfortable.He sat in the driver's seat.
The drive was quiet,not that Khushi minded.She got out almost immediately when they reached her house "Thanks" she mumbled before departing.
Angad watched her and waited until she disappeared in her house.His phone suddenly rang.He answered it "Hello? What is it now? No I'm leaving that plan now. I've got a better idea and this would be even more interesting because Arnav won't even know what I'm doing.He'll be expecting me to attack or kidnap when I'm actually going to start out with something soft.Friendship.Let's see if Arnav catches up" Angad chuckled and cut the call,
He gave one last look to Khushi's house before turning the car around and leaving.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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