Arshi FF: Zindagi Ke Mausam: Part 25b UPDATED! - p.86 - Page 16

Arriving at the campus about 20 minutes earlier, she took in the liveliness. The campus full of colors and people were chatting, bustling around. She felt the excitement build up in her, giving the nervousness she had a backseat. Now that she thought about it, this was going to be such a good experience, she was in her element, something she enjoyed to do and on top of that she was taking a class on something she wanted to focus her designing on. The class was Advance Designing for Trosseau Wear and she was accepted because of her beautiful sketches as well as a personal recommendation letter from Rehana Rai Prakash. She thought to herself to send Rehana another thank you text later -- thanks to her letter she was waived the two year experience requirement with just the one year.

---

1 New Message.

NK picked up his phone to read the message when Lavanya stepped out in a barely there lavender nightie. Forgetting his phone, he went to scoop his wife in to his arms and in to their bed.

A while later, Lavanya was resting her head on NK's chest as he ran his fingers through her hair. She looked up the man she took so long to love and understand. Her own apprehensions were thrown out the window since she had arrived with him in Moo'rea, Tahiti.

She was thankful that he continued to pursue her even with the lack of her effort in their courtship. What if he hadn't? What if he had given up and -- she tried to push the thoughts that made way in to her head. He loved her and he made her feel wanted, he had eyes only for her. She hadn't realized how much she craved this, with her parents focusing only on how to make money with her modeling. Forgetting that they were her parents, not just her managers.

Lavanya: I love you.

NK looked down at her and kissed her forehead sleepily.

NK: I know.

NK's phone beeped again reminding him of the text he was checking on earlier.

Lavanya: Can you check your phone later? I want to sleep.

NK: Sleep? I was thinking of keeping you up all night sweetheart.

NK took her lips in a soft kiss and she snuggled in to him, silently agreeing to his plans.

NK: It's Khushi's message!

Lavanya watched as her husband's face lit up with happiness from no one other but Happiness herself. She wondered if he lit up like that when it was her call or message. Internally scolding herself for having such errant thoughts, she paid attention to her husband who was sending a text back.

Lavanya: Tell her I said hi. What she say?
NK: It's her first day of class and she always messages me before starting anything new with a Good Luck message.
Lavanya: Good luck message? To you? Shouldn't you send her a good luck message?
NK: No actually because if her day went either super well or super bad, I'd be the one whose ear would be talked off over the phone so -- rehne dho, tum nahin samjogi.

(No actually because if her day went either super well of super bad, I'd be the one whos ear would be talked over the phone so -- forget it, you won't understand.)

Lavanya thought about that quietly, she wouldn't understand and she still didn't understand the importance of Khushi to her husband. She adored the girl herself, how could she not? She was genuine, beautiful in both her personality and physical appearance and always considerate. However, as much she tried she couldn't put her head on to what linked them so closely. Trying not to let the thought bother her, she began distracting her husband by tracing patterns on his chest, succeeding as he entangled his limbs with hers.

---
The rest of the week passed by uneventfully bringing Khushi to the weekend. Her class was every morning from Mon- Fri. Being free the rest of the day until her internship started she had a chance to catch up on her list of groceries and other necessities. Her apartment finally started looking like a home away from home.

She spent all of Saturday at the Jha's as promised.

Lounging in her bed Sunday Night, she had just gotten off the phone with Payal. Scrolling through her messages she realized she had never texted Aarav back.

Text Messages:

KKG: I'm so sorry Aarav ji! I got so busy I completely forgot to text you back!
KAS: You should be.
KAS: I thought we had decided on KAS? Now to forgive you for your grave mistake for calling me what you did, you owe me another date!
KKG: You scared me there! How are you?
KAS: I'm well. How was your week? And more importantly, how much did you miss me?
KKG: My week was great, my class is great and internship starts tomorrow!
KAS: So you're totally going to ignore the last question?
KAS: So when are we meeting then?
KKG: I will text you tomorrow after my orientation, I will only know what my schedule is like after.
KAS: Will you remember this time??
KKG: I promise. Goodnight.
KAS: Sweet dreams, be khush, Khushi!

Khushi couldn't concentrate in class. She was so nervous for her orientation, Not even food-- okay no food could calm her down. I need jalebis! But where would she get them when she needed them?!

Dressed in a sleeveless pale pink long kameez and churidaar she entered AR holding her breath.

She was directed by the receptionist to the conference room where others like her waiting for the orientation to begin. She twisted and untwisted the end of her dupatta on her finger, hoping today would go well. Just then a woman in her mid 40's dressed walked in.

"I am Gayatri Gill, you will hear everyone in the office to refer me as GG. But none of you shall address me as such unless I instruct otherwise. It will be ma'm or Mrs. Gill for all of you. Every year I start this program, I like to remind you that it isn't luck that got you here. Your hard work got you here and to stay here you will have to work harder. Do not ever take this opportunity lightly, be it arrogance or anything else -- leave it at home. "

"You will directly report to me at the end of every two week mark, with a completed project. There's papers in front of you that give you an oversight of what you should expect for the next 12 weeks."

"Now, let's begin."

The small group of 6 interns were shown around the office, explained the first project and informed of their policies and regulations at AR. All the interns were taking in the glory that was AR. It was immaculately designed and what caught their attention was a glass enclosed cube like structure that was led up by a singular set of stairs.

"Ma'm -- what's that?"

"That's ASR's cabin. You must be either very lucky or doomed to be summoned in there." "Now let's head back to the conference room.

As the interns sat in their chairs, they noticed the head chair had someone in it, he turned the chair and they realized it was no one else but ASR himself.

Quiet gasps were heard in the conference room and if someone strained their ears, they might have also heard the fluttering of a rapidly increasing heartbeat.

Khushi thought that the strange emotions she had been feeling would've disappeared -- not having seen him for a while but here they were, making an appearance again. She saw him scan the room and lock his eyes on hers for a second longer than anyone else.

"I'm Arnav Singh Raizada. Mrs. Gill has surely explained to you the way we operate here at AR. I expect all of you to work as if you were any other employee at AR. There will be no leniency because you are interns. If any of you impress Mrs. Gill with your performance, expect to have an interview set up with me for a position at AR. That'll be all."

Arnav got up, buttoned his suit jacket and walked out leaving the group of 5 speak about him in tones of admiration, fear, respect and awe.

The group decided it was best to introduce themselves to each other: it consisted of 4 male and 2 female employees.

"I'm Vikrant." "I'm Jay." "Nishant here." "Yusuf."
"My name is Noor." "Khushi."

Going through the papers Gayatri had handed to them, they realized while they'd be given individual projects, they also had to work on a group project. They decided they would set up a date to discuss ideas and then start working on their individual parts when they had a chance.

Khushi walked out the door with relief that her fellow interns were nice and she wouldn't have to interact with HIM at all. She almost bumped to someone entering, looking up she was about to take him in a hug but remembered where she was.

Akash: Khushi.
Khushi: Sorry sir, I didn't mean to bump in to you.

Akash cocked his eyebrow and Khushi's formality but then remembered she was an intern here.

Akash: Not a problem. Wait for me in my car outside, I'll be back in half hour. Okay?

Khushi nodded and walked out of AR.

---
Jay: Khushi, we're going to grab something to eat. Will you be joining us?
Khushi: Thank you but I have to meet someone.
Jay: Next time then! See you!

Khushi waited till they were out of sight so she could sit in Akash's car.

Not knowing how to bide her time, Khushi closed her eyes to get a few minutes of sleep that she needed. She hadn't slept from the mixture of apprehension and excitement she felt from starting the internship.

The sound of a blaring horn woke Khushi up to the too familiar brown eyes staring at her from the rear view mirror. Confused by her surroundings, she realized she was sitting in the car still.

Khushi: Aap? Mein --- Jeeju kahan hain?

Khushi felt the panic in her voice rise.

Khushi: I -- woh-- mein---

Arnav: He's coming.

Khushi nodded and started twisting and untwisting the end of her dupatta as she did when she was nervous.

Why is he here? In Jeeju's car? How long was I asleep for? Why is he staring at me? God.

Khushi looked outside and realized they were still outside of AR. Not wanting to have an employee see her she slumped further down in to the seat.

Unable to stop his curiosity, he asked "What are you doing?" He didn't want to talk to her, not after what he heard during NK and Lavanya's wedding but something or another tempted him not, that he would acknowledge that.

Khushi: Koyi dekh lega, iss liye.

Arnav: What? What rubbish are you --

Khushi: I don't want anyone to know Jeeju is my Jeeju or see you in the car with me. They'll treat me differently. They'll think I didn't earn my spot in the internship and I don't want anyone questioning my integrity, again.

The word again wasn't said but definitely was implied as Arnav and Khushi's eyes dueled a silent battle.

Their duel was interrupted by Akash getting in to the car.

Akash: Hey sleepyhead. Sorry for the wait, I had some work to take care of. Have you had lunch yet?

Khushi: It's okay Jeeju. No I haven't but I'm fine. I uh, did you need anything that you asked me to wait?

Akash: No, I figured we'd have lunch together.

Khushi: Jeeju is it okay if we do dinner instead? Like last time? I just needed to do some work for class tomorrow and work on a schedule.
Akash: As you'd like saali sahiba. What are you in the mood for?
Khushi: Anything Jeeju. Could you drop me off here? I need to buy some stationery supplies. I'll be fine to go home myself. And I'll see you at night. Okay?
Akash: Are you sure?
Khushi; Yes. Bye.

Arnav watched her figure hailing a cab as soon as she thought they were out of sight, going in a direction opposite to the Jha household.