3 weeks after Khushi had met Payal, she got a surprise call from her cousin. Payal was in Delhi and wanted to meet her. On Saturday morning of that week, over a phone call, the sisters made a plan to meet.
"2 visits in 3 weeks? I can sense something major," Khushi put her phone on speaker as she applied butter on a toast. "Does this have to do with your mystery guy whom you won't tell me about?"
"Yes," she knew Payal was blushing. "We have... erm... decided something and..."
Khushi's ears perked up, "What?"
"We'll tell you everything. Over dinner," something in Payal's voice hinted at a good news.
"We!? Wait a minute. Am I going to meet this mystery guy?"
"Yes," Payal answered, "I have made reservations at that La Ambriose Restaurant. Meet us there tonight, at 8."
"Jiji!" Khushi was part stunned and part ecstatic, "I am so happy for you and even more excited to know your news. What's his name? Tell me something!"
"Nope," Payal teased her, "See for yourself tonight."
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Khushi always thought she wasn't one of those girls who would have a wardrobe stuffed with clothes yet have "nothing to wear." Tonight, she found herself in that boat. Since she earlier assumed, she had many choices for tonight, she spent her Saturday going through some work files. When the clock struck 6, she gathered it was time to get ready and opened her closet.
Most of her clothes were office suits, skirts and shirts and the remaining were pyjamas and comfortable shirts to sleep in. She rummaged through her closet and half an hour later, found a dress suitable for the evening. It was a white off-shoulder gown.
She put it on, tied her hair in a messy bun and paired it up with diamond earrings. She went for a minimal makeup look tonight. She looked at her wrist watch- 6:47pm. Payal had made dinner reservations at 8. It would take her some 10 minutes to reach the restaurant. She was all ready, much before time.
She decided to have a glass or two of wine to kill some time. Uncorking a bottle of red wine, she poured herself half a glass. Her phone pinged indicating a new message.
She smiled to herself well aware of who the sender was. It was her mysterious stranger. She hadn't spoken to him since a few days. The last time was when he was asking her help to woo over some colleague.
She had been in contact with him for 2 weeks now and yet had a long text conversation only a handful of times. Other times they'd have a quick chat. It wasn't like she didn't want to. But she couldn't make time out. For so many years, work had been her only focus, so much so that she, unknowingly had made work her life. This stranger and his texts were a welcome change but like any change, she was having a hard time figuring out how to make this addition to her schedule.
She unlocked her phone to read the text.
(May 20, Saturday)
-Unknown- 6:59pm || No text this weekend. Did you forget poor old me?
She chuckled at his words and took a sip from the glass. The past two weekends, she was the one who had initiated the conversation. This weekend she was so bogged down with work and Payal's mysterious meeting that she couldn't find the time to sms.
-Khushi- 7:00pm || Are you missing me?
She bit her lip as she pressed on sent.' When had she come out of her comfort zone and started flirting with strangers?
-Unknown- 7:00pm || I've told you before.
Khushi scrunched her eyebrows and scrolled to the past texts. Yes, he was right. Last weekend she had kind of asked the same question and he had replied in affirmative. She stifled a laugh.
-Khushi- 7:03pm || Am I to assume you always think of me?
-Unknown- 7:04pm || You do occupy a lot of my waking moments.
Her breath caught in her throat at his reply. She was flirting with him and he was flirting right back. Maybe it was the wine... Taking a deep breath to calm down her increased heartbeat, she composed a reply.
-Khushi- 7:04pm || You really know how to make a girl blush.
-Unknown- 7:05pm || It's the truth...
-Khushi- 7:05pm || So... what plans for tonight?
Blushing, she tried to divert the topic and it worked.
-Unknown- 7:06pm || Just this family thing
-Khushi- 7:06pm || Me too!
-Unknown- 7:07pm || I thought you only left your house only for work. :P
-Khushi- 7:08pm || Haha. That's sadly true. :D
-Khushi- 7:09 pm || I have no life outside of work. But this is family and I need to go.
Khushi was about to take another sip of her wine when she realized her glass was empty. She poured herself another glass and took a big swig. She felt her cheeks growing warm and promised herself she wouldn't drink anymore. Payal was going to introduce Khushi to her someone special and she couldn't turn up drunk.
Though, chatting with her stranger while sipping on wine felt so comfortable. A sudden idea struck her. She kept aside the wine glass and stood up, straightening her gown and walked over to the mirror. She turned on her phone camera and angled it in such a way that captured her from below her neck till her sandals. Her entire body fit in the frame except her face.
With shaky fingers, she clicked the picture. Khushi double-checked to make sure her face was not in the photo. She didn't think over what she was going to do next because if she did, she would lose her nerves. Taking one deep breath, she sent the picture to the stranger.
Her fingers were shaking even more when she typed a message below the picture.
-Khushi- 7:14pm || As someone who never goes out much, do I look okay?
She studied the photo she had just sent him. The white gown she was wearing was off shoulder and had a bit of low cut, which slightly showed a little cleavage. The gown hugged her body and accentuated her curves.
She bit her lip thinking if sending this pic was a bit too much. Was it inappropriate?
Khushi saw 3 dots appearing on the chat window, indicating that he was typing. The dots appeared and then disappeared. This happened for a few times- he was typing and deleting. This delay of his reply increased the doubts in her head.
She had never done something like this in her life. Ever. Maybe it was the wine... maybe it was her newfound courage... Maybe it was how he made her feel...
-Unknown- 7:17pm || F*ck! Are you trying to kill me?
-Unknown- 7:17pm || Wow! You... are... gorgeous
Relief washed over her at the string of messages. A fluttery feeling took hold in the pit of her stomach.
-Khushi- 7:18pm || I look okay?
She was teasing him on purpose. She knew she looked more than okay,' judging from his response.
-Unknown- 7:18pm || You little minx
She gulped at reading the text. This chat was going in a different direction- one that she was enjoying, if she were being honest.
-Khushi- 7:19pm || What have I done? I just sent you an innocent pic.
-Unknown- 7:19pm || Innocent? That photo is anything but.
Khushi stifled a smile. There was nothing "innocent"" about the pic or why she had sent it. The feeling in the pit of her stomach grew.
-Khushi- 7:20pm || What do you think? Be honest.
-Unknown- 7:20pm || Trust me, you wouldn't want to know.
His words combined with the warmth from the wine, emboldened her.
-Khushi- 7:21pm || Try me.
She took a swig of wine, to calm herself; though nothing- not even alcohol would've prepared her for the next message.
-Unknown- 7:22pm || I can't stop thinking of what I want to do with you... to you...
Her breath stitched in her throat when she read his words- what I want to do with you... to you... A growing heat replaced the fluttery feeling in her stomach. If his mere words could have such an affect on her, what would happen when-
The thought was cut short when her phone rang suddenly, startling her. She almost jumped and in the process spilled the red wine on her white gown.
"Sh*t!" she cried and set the empty glass aside, running her hand over the red stain on the gown. Her phone rang continuously, annoying her.
She received it without looking at the number, "What!" she almost shouted.
"Is everything fine?" Payal's voice answered.
Khushi took a deep breath, "Yeah... I just... stained my white dress."
She was somewhat annoyed at Payal's timing. Just when the texting with her stranger was going to unexplored yet exciting territory, Payal's call had interrupted the moment. And now her dress was ruined too.
"I was just calling to reconfirm. 8pm at La Ambriose," Payal reminded her, "I am so excited for tonight."
The feeling of annoyance subsided as Khushi responded sincerely, "I can't wait to meet your mystery guy. I'll be there on time."
After hanging up the call, Khushi checked the time- 7:27pm. She had to book a cab and leave for the restaurant in 15 minutes. On top of it, she'd have to raid her wardrobe again for a new dress since it was impossible to get off the red stain from the white gown in a short notice.
She put her phone in her purse and hurried over to the closet. After few minutes of rummaging around, she settled on a dark blue gown. Quickly changing into it, she rechecked her make up and booked the cab, which took her to the restaurant.
The matre d guided Khushi to a table for 4 where Payal sat alone. After greeting her elder sister, Khushi inquired about Payal's mystery man. Payal informed her that he was running a bit late. The girls ordered cocktails while waiting.
"I thought you were wearing white," Payal commented on Khushi's blue gown, taking a sip of a strawberry-flavored margarita.
Khushi twirled the straw of her drink, "I had to change last minute. I had spilled wine on it."
In the midst of small talk, Khushi, out of habit, took out her iPhone from her purse and scrolled through the notifications when she saw it- a string of unread texts from her stranger.
---------12 unread messages---------
-Unknown- 7:28pm || Are you there?
-Unknown- 7:29pm || Did my text offend you?
-Unknown- 7:31pm || I am sorry if you didn't like it.
-Unknown- 7:31pm || I was just... stunned at your pic. I am really sorry if I offended you.
-Unknown- 7:34pm || Please say something
-Unknown- 7:49pm || I shouldn't have said that, regardless of what I felt. It was not right.
-Unknown- 7:49pm || I get it if you don't want to continue our conversation.
-Unknown- 7:51pm || I really had a good time chatting with you. I don't usually do that yet texting you, talking with you felt... nice.
-Unknown- 7:53pm || I wish I could take it back. Simply talking to you means so much more than anything else.
-Unknown- 7:56pm || But I understand. I am truly sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It wasn't my intention.
-Unknown- 7:57pm || I cherish our conversations. I won't bother you again.
-Unknown- 7:58pm || Goodbye.
Khushi read and re-read the texts. Sh*t! She had forgotten to text him back and he had assumed that she was offended, that she didn't want to continue their conversations. He was so wrong. She immediately typed a reply.
-Khushi- 8:12pm || No! I am not offended. At all. I was just busy and forgot to reply to you. Sorry!
3 dots immediately appeared on the text window indicating that he was typing.
-Unknown- 8:12pm || Thank God! I was waiting by my phone incase you replied.
-Unknown- 8:13pm || I thought you didn't want to talk any more because of that text.
-Khushi- 8:13pm || Trust me. That text didn't offend me at all.
-Unknown- 8:14pm || That's a relief. I am glad.
-Khushi- 8:14pm || I am out. I won't be able to chat now.
-Unknown- 8:15pm || I was almost going to cancel my plans for tonight. I think now I can breath properly.
-Khushi- 8:16pm || Talking to me means so much to you?
-Unknown- 8:16pm || I can't tell you how much it means to me.
Khushi stifled a smile. He was in the same boat as she. She never thought that texting a random stranger would become something she'd look forward to. Yet here they were, 2 people, connected by a wrong number situation who were now starting to feel this new, inexplicable feeling for a person they hadn't even met.
-Unknown- 8:17pm || I have to go now. We'll talk later. :)
Khushi smiled and locked her phone. Her happy face hadn't escaped Payal's observant eyes.
"Ah that smile!" she teased Khushi, "Who was on the phone?"
Khushi jovially elbowed her elder cousin, "Where is your mystery guy?"
Payal scoffed, "He is always so punctual. Yet today of all days he decides to be late. I called him sometime back and he said he was sorting out something, some family issue. It was very vague."
At about 8:40pm, an excited Payal shook Khushi's arm and gestured toward the entrance, "That's him! Akash!" she then waved from the table.
Khushi's gaze shifted to the door where 2 men had just entered. The guy called Akash, waved back at Payal and walked towards them, gesturing his companion to follow. But it was the other person, the companion with Akash who had Khushi's attention.
Dressed in a black suit, with his signature smirk plastered on his face, was Arnav Singh Raizada.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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