Arnav and Khushi- a cinderella story

HER

The chief gently pulled his daughter aside," What happened, honey? Did you have an argument?" he asked, visibly worried.

"No, Papa. Nothing of the sort." She reassured her father, still wondering what had caused Arnav's concerned outburst.

"I won't force you, Khushi. I can see that you don't like him. But I work for him and I don't wish to offend him. He's a good man."

Khushi opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her and took her hands in his.

"You don't have to explain anything, my precious angel. It's not your fault. Your old man just wants a small favor, just for today?"

For the first time Khushi realized how old and worn out her father looked. To hell with the Lord Governor. She would do everything in her capacity to help her father.

"I'll do my best, Papa. You have nothing to worry. You should carry on with your inspection."

"Your mother and sisters insist on going with us. We'll be back in four hours. You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I'll stay here and arrange for lunch"

"Make it a feast!" quirked the chief, relieved.

"You bet!" she chirped. The chief kissed her hands and raised his hand in mock salute to her before leaving, making her laugh.

She started to unfasten the belt holding her bag which was tied to the saddle but the buckle was stuck.

"May I help you, Miss?" she half-turned and found the same stable boy standing next to her with a genial smile on his cute, boyish face.

She smiled back." Yes, please."

He unbuckled the bag and offered to carry it for her. They walked up to the picnic tables where lunch was to be served later. They had been laid out in a circle on the east side of the farm.

As he placed the bag on a table, he asked politely, "Will that be all, Miss?"

"Yes'umm'I didn't catch your name, sorry."

"Enkay"

"Thank you, Enkay. Have you been working with Lord Arnav for long?"

"Yes. Actually, my aunt is the head chef at his manor. She got me the job when I turned 18. That makes it over 5 years."

"So has he always been like this?"

"Like what, Miss?"

"Oh, you know, arrogant, rude, bad-tempered, condescending, angry?" she asked, cocking up her eyebrows.

"Well' I shouldn't say." he said, hesitating.

"Don't worry, Enkay. I won't get you into trouble. We're friends, okay?"

"Okay," he said, smiling.

"So?"

"Well, yeah' he's always like that," he said," and sometimes, smoke comes out of ears too." He added sincerely.

"No doubt!" said Khushi and giggled looking at Arnav, who had been talking to Lavanya in the distance. When she did, she saw he had been looking towards her too. Uh-oh!

HIM

When he had walked off after his outburst, Lavanya had cornered him near the picnic tables and for quite a few minutes now she had been hammering him with her incessant and irrelevant chatter.

Arnav was trying hard to pay attention to what she was saying.

"You ride so well, Lord Arnav. You must have learnt it as a child, isn't it?" asked Lavanya coyly.

"Yes," he replied, shortly.

"You must teach me, someday. I'm so clumsy."

He was racking his brains trying to come up with a polite yet non-committal response, when he noticed Khushi talking with Enkay. Just then he heard her giggle looking at him and saw Enkay smile.

Anger boiled inside him. Was she really laughing at him? The audacity! And gossiping with servants? Some Lady! He thought sarcastically. He started to walk up to her. he saw Enkay leave as soon as he saw him approach.

"What do you think you are doing?" he asked, fuming

"I'm sorry. Did I offend you in anyway?" she asked meekly, trying hard to salvage the situation before it went out of hand.

"Why were you talking to Enkay?"

"Is that wrong?" Khushi asked, beginning to lose her temper too. Calm down, she told herself.

"Yes. Its not fit for a lady to fraternize with the help."

"Oh, is it? I'm sorry, Lord Arnav, but I don't think so. Anyway, what is it to you?"

"Nothing!" he replied, his jaw set.

"Doesn't seem like it." She said, defiant. Watch it, Khushi. You promised.

"You think I care? You think it matters to me what you do? Your existence is of no consequence to me, Miss Khushi Kumari Gupta! So don't ever presume that I give a damn about you."

"Don't worry, I won't." she replied, in a heart-wrenching whisper.

He turned and started to walk away. He knew he had hurt her. He turned to look at her and found a pained expression on her face. There was nothing he could do now. Nothing to retrieve the hurtful words he had thrown at her, hurting her pride. This is for the better. It is better for us to hate each other than to...Brushing away her thoughts, he moved in with the departing party.

(like it? I hope so... you can read my blog for updates too.

www.alldromance.wordpress.com or www.timeless-fairytales.blogspot.in)