Chapter 20
All the time she had been at the bar counter she waslooking at how much female attention Arnav was getting and that really left her feeling...she didn't know how to word it...maybe angry.Like, didn't they know he was married. God. She sighed, some of the women here were so...urghh...she emptied her glass all this while oblivious to how many heads she had turned around.
Khushi swirled her chair around once and landed to the awful sight of Arnav gracefully dancing with a tall, beautiful woman. It wasn't a close dance, looked just like a freindly dance but their close proximity which was no surprise due to a slow song evoked a few emotions in Khushi's heart which she'd rather not name.
Just then a voice brought Khushi out of her chain of thoughts and she was glad for that.
"Heyy...Khushi!" Khushi turned her head to see Nikhil Sharma walking towards her with a bright smile.
"Hi" Khushi replied with a polite smile.
"Sooo...what are you doing sitting here?" Nikhil asked taking a seat beside Khushi and ordering himself a cocktail.
"Nothing, I was just kinda tired of aoll the walking..." Khushi replied to which Nikhil just chuckled sipping his drink.
"I know right. Even I get tired and bored after a while at these parties. I mean how long can you walk around smiling and shaking hands" Nikhil stilled fro a moment observing Khushi's eyes darting back and forth at something. He looked in that direction and saw Arnav Singh Raizada dancing with a pretty looking woman. Was it what he thought it was.
"Well, I was woondering if maybe you'd like to dance with me?" Nikhil proposed out of the blue making Khushi look diretly at him with unsurity.
Khushi's eyes darted towards Arnav once again before she made up her mind. She wasn't at this party to get tortured by boredom and that. She can also have fun, that is if dancing with someone for the sake of making it seem normal was considered fun. She'll show him.
"Sure" Khushi replied with a smile and slid her hand in Nikhil's and he lead her to the dance floor.
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Arnav twirled Lavanya around once as she laughed at his awkward dance skills. Lavanya, AR's head designer but first and foremost one of his great friends. They had been in college together after which he had left for Harvard and 3 years ago she had joined AR as the head designer. The Raizada family loved her too like their own family. She had been out of the country for a project and had just returned yesterday night and so he had met her after a month tonight and after she had persuaded him straight for 20 minutes only then he had agreed to a dance.
Arnav was also enjoying this pathetic excuse of a dance, when his eyes caught something pink moving up on the dance floor. As he concentrated, he realised who that saree belonged to. Even though the face was turned the other way he could straight away tell it was her. Khushi.
Then who the hell was him? The guy who right now was flashing all his 32 teeth at her as if he had known her for years. Arnav's jaws clenched as he saw that guy put both his hands on either sides of Khushi and laughingly talking to her, probably cracking a joke. Well, he felt like cracking his skull. Arnav had no idea where all these violent thoughts were coming from but he just didn't like...forget that, he hated this guy immediately. And why was she letting him dance with her, hell she had never even mentioned this guy...not to him off course but on the dinner table or anything because Di made sure she always asked Khushi about her day routine and all.
And to make things worse a slow song was put on. Thats it!
"Okay, ASR! I am sorry I asked you but I can't take this torture anymore" Lavanya laughed while pressing her wrist which had started to ache due to the twists and turns she had tried to put into the dance but had failed since Arnav had no idea what she was trying to do.
But as if Arnav's unsaid prayers were heard, Nikhil let Khushi out and twirled her, leaving her hand and as she twirled around Khushi felt her foot get stuck in her saree and and just like that she lost her balance and was about to fall face first when she felt a warm hand firmly hold her from the side and the other hand grab her by the shoulder.
"I got you" Arnav whispered in her ear as he held on to her tightly. He had seen that good-for-nothing-guy spin her around in a rush and since he was standing right behind them, he rushed forward to get her.
Khushi was thankful for Arnav's fast actions which saved her from the embarrasment. Forget dancing, she was better sitting next to the counter. As Khushi made an attempt to move, she was stopped by those two strong hands which held her in place.
"I think being your husband, I get a dance" Arnav said before pushing her out and pulling her in with a glint in his eyes. Khushi gasped at the sudden reaction but suddenly felt very peaceful and satisfied as she recieved dirty looks from a couple of women standing in the other corner.
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Nikhil twirled Khushi at a distance and let her hand go...it was supposed to be the step but as he saw her trip over her saree and fall, he quickly moved forward but was a few nano seconds late as he saw another figure catch hold of her and it was none other than Arnav Singh Raizada. Her husband.
He needed to come in terms with that. He didn't want to but that's how it was.
"I'm gonna need a drink, a strong one" mumbled Nikhil as he disappointedly walked away.
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Arnav smirked as he saw that guy turn around disappointedly and walk away towards the bar counter. But that was not all, he saw a few other men looking towards Khushi again and again lustily. That was it. No one did that. He wouldn't allow it. Even though he wanted to go and personally beat each one of them up, he controlled. Not the time. Not worth it.
The song changed to a slow, romantic number and the lights were dimmed.
Arnav wrapped an arm around her bare waist and pulled her closer, almost in him, to show everyone who she belonged to. Simultaneously, Khushi's one hand wrapped itself around his nape and the other was delicately put on his shoulder. She rested her head on his other shoulder and closed her eyes peacefully. This was for all those women out there. And just like that both of them got lost in each others embrace and the song's magic.
They just swayed slowly. No turns. No swirls. No dips. Just swayed to the beat of the music.
Only when the lights were put back on and the song changed to a fast one did they realise what they were doing. Khushi was the first one to move back. Almost suddenly. The spell was broken by the hoards of singles rushing on the dance floor for a fast number. Arnav also immediately dropped his hands which had restricted her from moving too far.
However, none of them regretted what had happened. It was magical. A moment to be kept aside from every other monment.
Arnav darted a look at his rolex.
10:30 PM
"We'll leave now" Arnav suggested to Khushi as she nodded. It was getting late.
Arnav made his way through the crowd towards Mr Dutt and Khushi followed him. After congratulating Mr Dutt on his success and the completion of his comany's 25 years, Arnav started to make his way back. Even though a few people were starting to leave, the crowd was still thick. And so, Arnav gently held Khushi's hand and guided her through the crowd.
It really was a night to remember.
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