Arshi FF: Fighting Fate (TVK 2) Thread 4 - COMPLETED - Page 15

Fighting Fate

CHAPTER 14

Show me more than what you chose to show me...Something real, Something YOU...

Boss is here, Guys! Lets move it...Khushi screamed out the warnings as the unusually silent streets outside welcomed the rumbling roar of his bike and she knew it would be matter of mins before he could park and bark... She couldnt help much to stifle the naughty grin at that thought as she assiduously worked her hands as fast as she could.

Eyes on your stations, stay focused on your tasks! She screamed one last instruction before wiping her hands carelessly on her apron. Grabbing the steaming coffee, filling all the way up to the rim with froth, Khushi rushed into his office room before he could enter. Using the stirrer in precision, she drew a heart in the brown & white creamy froth and smiled content with the outcome. Quickly licking the edge of the stirrer, she took a moment to relish the refreshing drops and mentally patted herself uttering PERFECT, before she sprinted back to the kitchen.

Arnav walking inside his room, his eyes instantly fell on the steamy vapors. Placing his keys and wallet on his desk, he walked closer to the cup and took a moment reading the patterns. Heart. His fingers in their own volition retraced the handle of the cup before he moved away abruptly demurring the heart and her service.

Giving it a royal ignore, he stepped out of his room to check on the front of the restaurant yet to be opened for public while Khushi on the other end deeply engrossed herself in the role she assumed, putting everything else into deep slumber, everything that was related to her heart...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not a single drop of sauce or any item out of its zone on plate...Clean the drippings before it goes out...take time and run through the items plated...Delays can be accepted but quality cannot be compromised...

Arnav observed her as she shouted at her staff walking around to check the completed orders. Stretching the feet on his desk, he leaned back to his chair, watching her in the camera footage. Half-time to close the restaurant, he listened to her every instruction that she spelled crystal and clear. He was amazed with her confidence that is totally admirable and sounded highly motivating and he found no hesitation, stutter, or nervous quiver in her voice. It was plain, soft yet firm, the kind of tone a well experienced leader uses to empower others and doesnt show their superiority over others.

Stan, thats not going to work..Start all over, that sauce is too runny...

Dressed in black slacks and peach knitted blouse, She looked more paler than radiant. Her hair secured into a bun, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, she moved to a corner and bent on her knees, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

She barely would have stretched her spine, one of the assistants instantly called out for her. She looked down at her feet and contemplated for a brief moment. Arnav found her removing her shoes, and closing her eyes in relief as the concrete floor massaged her sore heels. The floor was dirty but she didnt seem to care, either that or the sharp pain in her heels. And before he could blink, she was back on field with the humble smile on her lips as if nothing is wrong in her world.

His heart sank the very moment witnessing how expertly she masked the aching twitch on her face into a dazzling smile. He turned emotionally disturbed watching her fly on her feet from one corner to the other. He noticed something others may not have noticed; everywhere she stopped for a moment, he found her lifting one of her feet and resting it against the other knee; sort of standing on one feet, giving ample rest to the other.

An unknown heavy anguish started to envelope him, and he lowered his head towards the ground resting his elbows on his knees, unable to watch her indifference to her own discomfort. He looked lost, baffled, as the strange queasiness started to cut his heart asunder.

The desperate need to get a glimpse of her to assure himself that she is alright, forced his feet to kick and stride to the kitchen without a second hesitation. Swinging the kitchen doors to open, he looked around but she was no where to be found.

Where is Khushi? He questioned with his raspy tone cutting through the steam in the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hate to stand before you with excuses, Sir, but everyone in my kitchen is trying their best to put forward best food you could possibly have.

Well lady, I highly doubt that. Dont you see how unappetizing this looks? There is not enough sauce to cover the entire brisket. The meat is cold, and I ordered it to be medium rare, and you guys put medium before me...Is this what you guys serve for the money we pay...

If you are not happy with the dish, I will be glad to plate another one. Khushi offered politely.

I want my entire order to be redone. He pointed to the dishes laid on the table while the wife lowered her head in shame as they ate more than half of it. There is absolutely no reason for another round of food if not the man before Khushi is not greedy.

...otherwise I am not paying a penny for the food. He said with finality. The fussy guest went on and on while Khushi didnt know how to handle minding that this business is Arnav's and she is not permitted to take any drastic decision. The arrogant man in front is nowhere seemed to stop to listen to her.

Giving up, not willing to ruin the experience for other guests nor the reputation, she clasped her hands together to apologize...I am extremely sor...

Her words trailed away in the heated air, as she found herself being swiftly shoved behind a muscular frame. Stumbling over her feet, she distanced herself from the man before her and she finally looked up to see him, her husband boring his eyes on her.

A flicker of concern washed over his face as he wandered his gaze all over her to make sure she is alright. Before she could utter a word, Arnav gave a reckless turn facing the guest and spoke in harsh grating voice, If you needed to eat for free, all you had to do was to ask for my charity.

The overbearing customer was about to retort when Arnav cut him off rudely, Before I strip you off to shame, Get the F out of here!

Thats very rude to tre...

MARTIN! Arnav screamed on top of his voice and instantly the hefty bouncer rushed in for his boss orders. Show him his place!

Turning around to the rest of the guests apologizing for the inconvenience, he watched Khushi walking towards the kitchen, a bit detached, distressed and unreasonably guilty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unaware that ASR is used to and had dealt with such fussers all the times, Khushi succumbed herself into the overwhelming power of guilt. Over the weeks she had come to know how much life he had put in this restaurant and thus at once she got terrified to fight back the stranger lest she again be the reason for another loss in his life. And so she yielded herself to apologize to the arrogant customer not to make the issue into any louder or bigger than it already was.

But then out of nowhere, when she least expected him, he showed up standing by her side without raising a question or seeking an explanation from her, and stopped her from bowing down to another man. He may not have said a word of the intentions behind his actions but the way he hid her..Correction...the way he hid her from the potential monstrous world that moment, proved yet another time to her that this man had never changed when it is about her and he would mash up any number of hells for her if need be.

She knocked at his door consumed by an overpowering need to apologize and plead him to appoint someone else for the head chef position.

Come In...

Cautiously, she opened the door at his brusque order, and found him standing by the window, with his back turned towards her.

Her eyes found the coffee mug lying on his desk, untouched and untasted. She stared at him in despair but the heart that remained in its form gave her yet another new hope. She sighed understanding his stubborn heart.

Fidgeting with her fingers, her eyes locked to the ground, I dont know where it went wrong, everything looked OK on the pl...

I dont remember asking for an explanation! His voice cold and domineering and he didnt make any effort to turn and face her. That sent even more shivers down her spine.

Right, you didnt. And I realized you wont ever!

Arnav with his hands in his pockets, turned around and a moment a acknowledgement exchanged between them in pin drop silence.

...I am sorry! I should have handled it better. Khushi stuttered.

He walked closer and stood before her shooting daggers at her, as she nervously fiddled with the bracelet on her hand.

I think its better to find an experienced chef for the position.

Plonking the paper and pen on the table lying next to her, You are most welcome to resign if you think you are unfit!

Khushi snapped her eyes and looked at the man seething anger. Yieldingly, she stretched her hand to grab the pen.

..Mind you, the moment you sign will be the last moment you will be in this country.

I cant do that. She stared at him with tremendous hope filled in her eyes.

Decide wisely Khushi. I dont have the time of the world to ponder over your options. Grabbing a random file, he flumped onto the chair pretending to be disinterested.

Pulling the chair next to him, She sat down apprehensively and questioned, her voice fragile threatening to break down any moment, Its not easy for anyone to build this all up to this level. My inexperience is costing everything you built in these years...You may not admit it but I am afraid of your partiality for me and cant let you take decisions with biased mind.

If you think my life, my decisions, my thoughts and everything else are revolving around you and only you, then GET THE HELL OUT OF THE FANTASY WORLD. Lashing the file in hand angrily, he yelled in outrageous ire, unable to admit and give into the reality she is speaking of his thoughts.

Heartbroken with overwhelming disappointment, she gathered the scattered papers from the floor and placed it on the desk before him. She was about to turn and leave silently when he grasped her wrist and in a stride stood closer to her, What happened to your hand? He enquired worriedly examining her burnt palm.

In the swift moment, she jerked herself away from him, grabbing her wrist to her chest, and she moved back trembling...An envelope of fear wrapped her instantly while he stared at her puzzled unsure if he needs to be angry for the distance she repeatedly creates in between them or be worried for the fright he is seeing in her eyes.

Before he could use his better judgement, a well practiced facade wore in and she used her ultimate weapon to rebuke to not to let him know of her insecurities.

Decide Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, Do I need to be IN or OUT of my fantasy world?

She didnt mean to question him that but that was the only way she could divert him off her torment. Slamming the door shut, she stormed away, buying time for herself, hoping that she would soon stop feeling repulsive to a touch, to his touch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Didi, Why is so much delay in adoption. Didi Kuch kariye na...I dont want the baby...Just give her away to someone, I dont care who...

I dont want the baby, Didi...I dont want...

The same words that Khushi uttered around the same month 3 years ago. The earlier call she had with Sapna threw her off balance reminding her the most painful moments of her life and the pain in certain someone's eyes seeing her all broken.

When the treacherous night was unveiled three years ago, Khushi witnessed the whole different Arnav Singh Raizada she had known. He gulped down every tear the sorrow brought in their life. He bit back the cries to control her own sobs. He numbed his body making it as shield to protect her withered frame.

To sum it up, he assumed thick icy layers of somber expression unrevealing his own emotional breakdown.

But back then, he didnt know that he failed utterly to hide it from her. Everytime, she sobbed, his body raked with more intensity. Thus giving her all reasons to hate her son.

And today, history repeated in the name of Sapna, yet again an unknown stranger reminding her the wishes she made, the curses she swore years ago. Sitting by the corner of the room, Khushi had nothing else to think but how mercilessly she had been cursed.

Leaning onto the floor, curling her legs to her chest, she felt unmotivated, defeated and every thought that crossed her mind became painful ordeal yet she was too lost to understand the trail of thoughts her mind is playing speedily. Her sullen mood intensified with each passing second escalating to incapacitating bouts of depression and she lied on the floor frozen not caring the cold floor that slowly started biting to numb her entirely.

She pulled the duvet lying on her side and pulled it over her tucking it securely under her chin, her eyes staring out into the darkness through the window, if only she knew she was indeed staring at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unsettled, disturbed Arnav restlessly tossed on his bed unable to sleep and quiet vexed of the attempts he had been making for last few hours to peace his mind. But these days, dealing a stubborn mind of its own he couldnt tame it to obey him. His thoughts increasingly became disquieted and fearful for unknown reasons as his mind repeatedly played her terrified eyes and burnt hand.

Squinting his eyes, he tried to grasp the time of the hour but he was surprised that he didnt had to put much effort to check the time as 3AM, as his room brightly glowed in yellow light. Scrunching his nose in confusion, he looked around to find that none of the lights in his room were turned ON.

But then, the moment his eyes caught the beam of light sneaking into his room, he shot up at once hurried to the window, already knowing the source of the light.

Her windows were left opened, the drapes singing along the distant ocean breeze. But she was no where in the immediate vicinity. Not finding her on the bed at such ungodly hours, only increased his anger to no limits, as by now he realized she is accustomed to absurd sleeptimes. Just as he was about to ignore and step away, he found her walking with a book in her hand. An unknown troubled waves of pain shot through him as she appeared a bit lost and clueless, if he had rightly put her state of mind into words.

Arnav waited for another glimpse of her to assure himself and to calm these unsettling vibes. But its been long and she hadnt made another appearance. His palms turned cold and feet almost numbed and he knew something is wrong and he could feel his life slipping away but he wasnt sure, nothing to be known and nothing to be seen. He hurried to the terrace to get a better view of her bedroom.

His eyes searched around as his feet wandered in grim determination and then after painful seconds, he found her, in the loneliest corner of the her room, probably in the entire building. Sitting with her head rolled back, knees drawn to her chest, her hands holding pen and book, her eyes aimlessly staring at the ceiling.

He narrowed his eyes in confusion as this mystery mist of Smiling-Khushi is drastically wiped off and replaced with Grieving-Khushi. Her mind numbing icy unshed tears whipped his face as his own pooled behind his lids.

He stood there nonplussed watching her, sadness seeped in sending his heart spirals into unreachable abyss. And probably for the first time of many times to come, he didnt know who the lady is, sitting there all to herself. He thought he knew her all, he was bloody sure he knew her well.

Before he could process these shattered seconds, he found her slowly flumping onto the floor, curling her knees to her chest. He had no idea what had happened to her, but the split-second action scared the life out of him.

She pulled the duvet lying on her side and pulled it over her tucking it securely under her chin, her eyes staring out into the darkness through the window.

Why is she sleeping on the floor?

He wanted to run to her to check on her but remembering how terrified she got hearing his voice in the darkness, he didnt think it is a good idea to startle her once again with knocks on her door at this hour, not without informing her ahead. And thus he found himself opting the alternate way and so he rushed down to his room to grab his cellphone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Khushi shot up straight hearing the shrill ringtone of her phone. Seeing his name on the display, she panicked to receive his call at this time.

Ji, aa

It's Me! Open the door! He cut her off abruptly.

Khushi sprang her feet up and rushed downstairs and was about to open the door when she found herself in the mirror in dishevelled state.

Khushi, You there? He sounded distressed and worried over the phone.

She paused for a brief moment, trying to comprehend his words. A disturbing realization struck her mind and suggested that he must have seen her through the window, which must be why he is panicking.

Ji...

His suffering at the other end overcame her and she felt drained for a brief moment. But then sympathy is the last reason that she would allow to kick start their relation. No, never, She needs to get out of this one, this moment, he is just too close to read her.

Whats taking you long? Open the freaking door!

Fixing her hair, clothes, she replied, Ji, Aaayi..Ek min!

She took a deep determined breath and hurriedly giving herself a final look in the mirror, she threw a dazzling smile opening the door for him.

Aaap, yahaan? Iss waqt?

Khushi, tum tee...He stopped short and realized something amiss as he was about to haul her up in his arms...She is different. She is fresh, she is smiling. She was not the woman he saw mins ago.

Arey wah, I didnt know my husband misses me so much and that too in the wee hours...Kya baat hai jeee? She fluttered her eyebrows while he stared at her perplexed.

Was he dreaming? Was it a nightmare? Had he gone insane? he let out frustrated groan. What were you doing on the floor? He asked noticing her closely as she looked wan and bleary-eyed.

Floor?

Yes, on the floor!

Woh, I was just dusting away. She quickly averted his gaze in pretense to clean up something from the floor.

Twisting his wrist to check time, Dusting at 3AM? He asked scowling at her.

Woh...woh..She turned away squeezing her eyes shut wondering how to manage..Quickly regrouping herself...Excuse Me? Are you stalking me by any chance? She counter questioned bossily with her hands on her hips.

He didnt need to dig deeper into that question, as he realized she will probably reply some excuse. But her each lie, each turn she made averting his gaze only irked him more.

Why aren't you sleeping yet? He asked observing her drawn and frail face.

I did, its just aankh khuli toh...

Lie, another blatant lie. Doesnt she know that her tired eyes spoke truth better than her lips. Taming the needling pain in his heart, his eyes fell on the bruise on her hand. Silently he walked inside and took out the ointment from the medicine cabinet. Opening the cap, he tried to grab her hand when she stepped far away in reflux action.

He watched her feet, precisely the number of steps she had taken to distance herself from him. His hands balled into fists and then stared at her unblinking his eyes. Bloody attitude! He frowned at her.

I applied it already...I feel alright now. She stuttered with excuses as he fumed at her with intention to burn her lies.

Lashing the ointment on the floor, he was about to leave when she stopped him, You didnt tell me an..I mean, Do you need something? Her voice hesitant and scared sensing his anger.

Show me more than what you chose to show me...Something real, Something YOU...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~