Arnav Singh Raizada! Like the name, his persona was mighty. There was something about the man that made him stand out in the crowd. He brought an aura with himself when he walked into a gathering. His charming looks only added to his already strong character. He had everything a woman wished for. From good looks to a wealthy business, yet he was different. He was an enigma, as described by his best friend, Aman.
A successful owner of India's top Fashion House was what he was known as. Arrogance and ruthlessness came naturally with the success and the life struggles. After all, becoming a sole owner of India's top fashion at the mere age of 24 years old was not a piece of cake. He had every right to be the way he was. Life was hard on him until he decided to backfire it. He had his share of struggles and hardship and it continued. Only if looked closely at Arnav and not Arnav Singh Raizada!
The lost 15 years old boy was still there behind the mask of mighty Arnav Singh Raizada. Rejection hurt and it made him what he was today. A successful businessman with all the luxuries of the world at his feet, yet there was something he craved for. It wasn't that he couldn't gain what he wanted; it was the same fear of rejection which made a house in his heart for the part 9 years that was stopping him.
9 years! He exclaimed silently as he sat in his lavish, extravagant office. Long time, indeed. It took him 9 years to take the initiative of gaining what he intended since last 9 years. It took him 9 years to become the Raizada from Malik. It took him 9 years to finally pick up the phone to the person who could be means in achieving his goal. Thinking back in times, it was not hard. It was complicated. His life had been what Aman liked to call it, a complicated one.
Before he could dwell himself further in thoughts, someone knocked at the door. He swung around in his chair from where he was looking at the view through the glass window, and looked straight ahead at the arrival in his office.
"Sir, Miss Kashyap is here to see you." A young lady dressed in black formal skirt with a white top informed Arnav. He nodded slightly and gestured her to let the guest in. His secretary, Sofia smiled before sending the guest inside.
"Mr. Raizada?" A light, soft yet powerful voice filled in the atmosphere while Arnav could only stare at the woman who just entered his office. Dressed in shiny blue top with a formal black trouser, she looked professional. Her hairs tied in a ponytail while a couple of strands of her hair were left loose, falling on her forehead. She walked elegantly towards the huge desk that covered the middle space of the office.
"What do you want?" Her direct question threw him off guard but he should have been prepared for it. This was dealing with Lavanya Kashyap, an up-coming fashion designer and an... well... an old friend.
Lavanya Kashyap! An up-coming fashion designer and an owner of a small fashion house which was located in an Old Delhi. Lavanya had somewhat weird personality as said by many people. She was little too honest in her approach that made her look bad. She wasn't the one to beat around the bushes before making a point. She was, in fact, one of the most straight forward people Arnav had met in his life. She took no pleasure in building up a story when she could get to the main point straight away. All in all, Lavanya Kashyap was little too honest for her own good.
"I see! You haven't changed in the past years." Over the years of practise, Arnav had reached a point where sarcasm came naturally to him. He didn't make an effort to sound ironic. It was just there. Maybe life had taught him that way.
"Take a seat, Lavanya. I'm sure we have a long way to go with the discussion." Lavanya would have loved to give him a piece of her mind but she knew better. It was for her. She told herself silently before taking a seat on the brown leather chair, opposite Arnav.
"It's lovely to see you, Lavanya." Lavanya simply nodded at the genuine compliment.
A few seconds of silence prevailed in the overly large office before Arnav decided to break it.
"How is she?" It wasn't unexpected but it did take couple of seconds for Lavanya to comprehend his words. Arnav Singh Raizada, undoubtedly, was the most unexpected person. Lavanya momentarily thought with a slight smile that ached to break through her lips but she wouldn't be Lavanya if she allowed that smile. Before he could even notice the hint of a smile, she once again wore the mask of indifference and ignorance.
"Like you don't know how she is." She shot back. Arnav silently nodded and knew the discussion was not going to be an easy one as he earlier predicted it to be. She continued. "It's not difficult for The Arnav Singh Raizada to gain information on what he wants to know. Is it?"
If Lavanya wasn't observing his expressions so keenly, she would have most definitely missed the hint of melancholy that appeared in his eyes for a fraction of seconds. But she didn't miss it. And it was this precious moment when a realisation struck her. This was why she went out of her way and accepted his invitation for a discussion.
At times like this she realised the gravity of the situation about what happened and what should have happened. She was never a believer and knew for a certainty that there was no bigger power than that of a man, of a human. But at times like this, she prayed and prayed for the two most important people in her life. If there was any bigger power!
A distant look in his eyes wasn't something she was a foreign to for she had seen the similar look in another pair of eyes. The desperation and melancholy present in those hazel brown eyes mirrored his eyes.
Let it all be okay, were the last words she whispered before walking out of Arnav Singh Raizada's lavish office, an hour later.
--
The beginning of summer had marked its imprint with the sunshine glaring right back at her through the glass window of her favourite coffee store, The Costa. Summer was never her season and if it were to her, she would have wished for winter all throughout the year. She was a winter lover. Darkness and cold of winter gave her a mysterious feel to which she could easily relate herself to. Summer and brightness were something she was far off from. It was too colourful, was her reason for her disliking towards the beautiful summer season.
She sipped her strong, black sugarless coffee as she stared at her best friend, Lavanya.
"He is doing fine. Well! You know that, I'm sure." Lavanya chose her words carefully lest she hurt her already fragile best friend, Khushi. "Though people say he has changed, I don't think he has. He is still the dashing, sexy soccer player to me." Khushi had to laugh at that. Trust Lavanya to bring something as random as that amongst a serious discussion.
"Was he... um... asking about me?" Lavanya hadn't expected that; hence she stared at Khushi for what seemed like few minutes before averting her gaze towards the cafe entrance. She had a strong feeling that he would turn up.
Khushi was nervously glancing at Lavanya, as if indicating that she was waiting for a reply but her best friend seemed to be in an another world all together. She was stealing glances at the entrance and it didn't go unnoticed by Khushi. Lavanya returned her gaze to the table when Khushi gasped out loudly. "No." She whispered loudly. Lavanya shot up the very instant and found Arnav casually walking towards their table. She looked at Khushi and realised she must have caught her looking at the entrance.
Khushi looked at Lavanya for couple of seconds before looking away outside the glass window.
"Mind if I join, ladies?"
--
Apologies for not having any ArHi scenes but this was an important chapter for the FF. Next chapter shall have few ArHi scenes :D
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