Chapter One
"I don't understand the need to hide this. Heck, why can't we announce it publicly?" She stated, her fist balled on the wooden table as she looked at him, their eyes arrested each other as none of them tried to look away or break the cold ice that seemed to linger between them. Her voice rasp with anger and disappointment, something he hated to hear from anyone, lest from his girlfriend.
Arnav Singh Raizada sighed as his eyes fell on the magazine that lay carelessly on the table, his own reflection mocking at his situation. He had been busy in the past month regarding investing capital on one of the sports team and the interview was to benefit that, his assistant had stated when Arnav refused to take part of any of the interviews for time being. When his assistant had succeeded in making him agree for it, it came out to this at the end. A father who stated his wish of him getting married openly. And a girlfriend who was hurt with his own statement regarding the woman in his life.
"I'm not hiding our relation, Sheetal." He replied calmly as he leaned back on the couch, not bothering to raise his voice above audible against the loud music that played on the bar counter of one of their star hotels. "I'm merely saying that it's not right time to make it public. I'm not ready for it."
He swirled the glass of red wine, watching the ice cube melting in the liquid rather at the woman. He had been clear and if that was not accepted by her, there was nothing he could do. So he made himself comfortable for the long conversation that would break at any moment now, allowing his mind to go back to the time when he had met her.
Sheetal Kapoor was one of the fine models he had known and it was one of such fashion shows that RE planned, that he wanted to have new faces to showcase their designs. Sheetal was, at that moment, on a trail to make a debutant entry into the world of glamour after working in a firm for few years. He was impressed the way she held herself confident and so ease that he hadn't noticed in many newcomers. He liked her and ruled out that she would be his showstopper. By the end of two more such events, Arnav found himself spending time with her and soon enough, started dating her. And it had been a good year ago. Now that he looked back, he couldn't feel but satisfied the way life was. She was a confident, strong headed woman with enough courage to stand for herself.
"Is this about the childhood friend Mr. Raizada stated to the press?" Sheetal asked after a brief silence, her eyes boring in his even as he rolled his eyes.
"You know what, Sheetal, I'm tired of this." He hissed under his breath as he leaned in. "I told you this is not about any childhood friend. He plainly stated his opinion when asked. That is all. The decision of not wanting to make our relationship a public affair is I don't think I'm ready to handle it. We're fine with the way we are, Sheetal. I don't see any reason to change that equation. If making it public helps us in any way, then I'll think about it. As far as there is no benefit for either of us, why add headache with press following us everywhere?"
She groaned, shaking her head as she shit her eyes painfully. "Don't speak about our relationship in terms of your business, ASR. Equation, benefit... stop using these terms."
"Then stop being such an insecure woman." He countered. "You'll be the first one to know if ever I decide to marry this childhood friend, or anyone in that matter. As long as I'm seeing you, I'll be loyal. I said this on the first day and I'm saying this again. I don't date two at a time, okay."
"But," she tried to continue but shook her head when she noticed him looking away, indicating that the conversation was over.
"It's time for you to leave." He informed plainly after glancing at his wrist watch. "I've another appointment in about five minutes. See you later."
Nodding in silence, Sheetal left the place without a glance at him as he continued with his drink. The day had been long and tiresome, thanks to the projects. All he wanted was to have some time for himself where he could be alone and be himself, without work or family to interrupt. He gathered his calmness as he made his way to the pent house suit in the hotel that was usually reserved to the family, knowing he would find his father waiting for him.
Ten minutes later after travelling to the top level in a private elevator, Arnav found his father exactly the way he knew he would. "If it is about my wedding," he said as soon as he shut the door behind, "I'm in no mood to discuss right now, Arjun. May we postpone it for tomorrow? We can as well have a great topic to discuss over breakfast, as you insisted us having one."
Arjun laughed heartily, irritating his son a little more. "You're funny, son. Stop reading all those books in your mother's library." He replied, smiling all the while, "and no. It's not about Lavanya we're here to discuss. In fact, it's about the woman in your life at present."
"Sheetal?" Arnav asked as he sat on the couch opposite to his father. "I'm unaware of your interest on Sheetal and me. Or, do I need to be worried that my father is going to be the villain in my love life?"
"I can do much better than a villain." He replied but sighed. "Love life? I don't know you're serious about Sheetal." He looked at his son for a long second, his eyes narrowed. "Now, I'm genuinely worried about your wedding, Arnav."
Arnav groaned as he leaned back, throwing his head back, tilting it upwards. "That's too much of information to handle, Arjun. First, I'm not in love with her but yeah, I'm pretty serious about her. She's compatible and that's all matters for a happy matrimonial relationship. Not that I'm thinking about settling down for another five years."
Arjun nodded but said nothing as the father-son duo sat in silence - the elder one pressing his fingers on the bridge of his nose while the younger one busied himself with the emails in his iphone. It was not until the room service attending them with their dinner did his father looked at him. He waited for the attender to leave the suit and then voiced his concerns. "I'm sure Sheetal is a good woman, Arnav. However, I feel like she isn't the right person for our family. You know how Ma feels for the woman."
"How Dadi feels for the woman in my life," Arnav interrupted with equal seriousness, "is not my concern, Arjun. I'm sure she will find faults in any woman who isn't Lavanya. I don't understand why she is so... persistent. This is my life we are talking about."
"I can point out few reasons with ease." Arjun replied almost immediately. "For one, Sheetal is a strong headed woman, while Lavanya is soft-spoken. Both are equally independent but their views regarding life and relationship in particular, varies and that's where our opinion conflicts arise. Sheetal puts herself above all and give a damn about others while Lavanya respects and cares other's emotions."
Arnav threw his hands in air. "That is the very reasons I don't want to get married to both of them, Dad." He replied tiredly. "Lavanya is not the one with whom I can share my life. I don't like the way she puts others above herself. And though I'm serious about Sheetal, I can't get myself accept her as the one as she keeps herself above others, me included. Dad, I want someone... such a woman who lies in between these two... who knew her priorities and capable of acting according to the changes in her priorities without actually hurting anyone. Such a woman who is strong headed but values relations."
"So basically, you want a woman who keeps you above self and who doesn't care what others, family and friends alike, says." Arjun summed up disapprovingly.
Arnav sighed. "I don't mean that." He stated but shook his head. "You don't understand, Arjun. I'm not sure of myself as what kind woman I want in my life. I'll let you know if ever I think about wedding. Till then, please stop your open statements."
_______
"How's everything going on?"
Khushi chewed on her lower lip as she heard the concern in his voice, looking at the screen. It was past eight by the time she reached home and after a quick dinner, she locked herself in her room. She spent more than an hour to go through the company clauses and finally decided it was for the best. So she did what she was supposed she would do, and was now in the video call with her fiance.
"I'm thinking about accepting the offer, Rohan." She confessed with a wry smile. "The company is best and the offer is tempting. They pay decently and the work is something I'd love to do. I need to sign on the contract, though. I can't walk out for the next three years, or until the project is completed, whichever may comes first, with notifying two months prior."
"Three years?" Rohan asked calmly, "are you sure you want to sign it, Khushi?"
Sighing, she shrugged, wishing for the warmth from the hot chocolate that she was sipping. "I don't want to decide without discussing it with you. I know three years is a long time and it affects you as much it affects me."
"Did you talk about it with your Dad?" Rohan enquired with same calmness.
"I don't see a point in talking with him." Khushi replied with equal calmness, yet delivering the seriousness she wanted to. "Rohan, I'm sure he will be affected with me staying in India but it isn't similar. This is about us, not our families. I want your opinion."
"Don't you want to have a long distance relationship?" He asked finally. "Are you not sure about it?"
Khushi glared at him with barely controlled anger as she snapped back. "Don't you dare break up with me, Rohan Nanda! Or I'll board the next available flight and kill you."
Rohan laughed at the threat as he replied. "I should have broken up with you when we were fifteen, baby. Now, I've no option of breaking without ending killing myself with my own broken heart."
She laughed along with him. True, they were no in a position to think about parting ways without hurting themselves. They had known all their life. She had met him a year after her family shifted from India and ever since, they were inseparable. Now, in love and engaged for about four months, they were as happy as they could ever wish for. "So," she asked again, propping the same as he stopped laughing. "What do you think?"
Rohan smiled with a small nod. "I think you should sign it, baby. It's just the matter of three years. Not that I'll be okay without you. But given the circumstances, we have no other option. I did some research on this RE and I must say, it is best in what it does and you should take the offer."
"And what about us?" She asked quietly to which he just smiled.
"I don't think our love is so weak that three years of staying far from each other can create cracks in 19 years of togetherness, Khushi." He replied softly. "I love you, and I'm sure we'll be fine."
Khushi couldn't help but smile back. "I love you too," she whispered, making herself comfortable on the bed on her stomach, only to hear him groan.
"Can you put on a shirt or something?" He demanded. "A tank top is something I can't handle, baby. Or is it your way of killing me? Or do you wish to have me flying across half the world to make love to you? Not that I mind, actually."
"I'll never complain if you actually did fly to me." Khushi promised genuinely and the couple spent the rest of the night, talking about nothing in particular.
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