#1 Arhi FF : Limerence [ Completed ] - Page 55

Limerence : Part 6

"Well Khushi, just to return all the favors I have done for you, will you do the honors of coming out for a coffee with me?" he asked, his heart hammering in his chest in anticipation of her reply. Khushi stood stunned for a moment, thinking about an excuse to give her boss, who seemed to be waiting eagerly for her reply. She remembered the numerous times he had wanted to take her for a coffee or an official lunch. He had asked and she had refused. That had been the tradition.

Why had she been refusing his friendly advances? She knew he was a good man, with no hidden agenda. He was her best friend at the moment, helping her through the most turbulent days of her life, helping her shape it in a better way. Yet, she had been hesitant to go out with him. Refused his lifts to be dropped home. She asked herself the reason and the answer came clearly to her head. She did not want to be seen with any man, dropping her home. She knew her neighbourhood enough to realize the kind of stories they would come up with or the taunts that would be bombarded targeting her mother.

That was mainly the reason to refuse his lifts. However, the reason to not go out for coffee or lunches had been even more complicated that what was visible on the periphery. She feared getting close to any man... any man at all. She knew she could not trust anyone with her heart, and the first rule of true friendship began with trust. She felt she did not deserve NK's friendship and tried to maintain as much distance from him as possible. She knew his affection towards her and also realized that she meant something to him. She wouldn't dare to break the heart of a man who had done so much for her and hence it made more sense to stay as far away as possible, rather than tainting a relationship she cherished.

"Ok Nanheji, just one coffee," Khushi said, surprising herself yet knowing that this was bound to happen some day. She owed him a lot and to see his dejected face, day after day was impossible. Now that she was going to be working with Payal, she knew that she would meet NK less often and that would eventually help keep her distance. So one coffee for this friendship did not seem like a bad idea and seeing the huge smile on his face, she felt even happier to have put aside her insecurities for a while.

"Great KKG! As much as I am shocked with your answer, I am thrilled. I was totally prepared to be turned down once again. Lekin lagta hai aaj ka din bahut khaas hai. Lets celebrate your unofficial promotion in the evening with a coffee... and let me remind you, it is my treat. Think of it as a farewell party for you, from this floor," he said cheerfully making Khushi feel the satisfaction of bringing a smile on his face. Forgetting her apprehensions for today, she decided to live her life freely, wanting to enjoy these beautiful changes that were going to fill her life with infinite happiness.

Khushi had been busy in handing over her list of jobs to her juniors and subordinates. Many of them were happy for her and some were definitely jealous. The gossip wine was abuzz with this news and there were a few murmurs for Khushi's sudden rise to fame, due to her being NK's favourite girl. NK had put everyone in their place by saying, "If you guys would have focused as much on your work, then you'll would have been selected to work with the designers as well. But alas all talk and no work, does not work in ARD." This quip had silenced the lot as they resumed their daily jobs.

Khushi had been oblivious to all gossip and flippant talks. Her head had been buzzing with happiness and ideas for the future. Finally around seven, she had wrapped up for the day and was ready to go out with NK for a coffee, like she had promised. NK was at her table on time, asking cheerfully, "Chalein KKG?" She nodded and picked up her small bag of necessities. As the duo took the lift towards the parking, Khushi felt a little nervous and anxious. It was the first time she was going out with a man for anything other than work.

From her past experiences she had kept herself strictly away from such situations. Even during college she had created an aura around her, to be inaccessible. Some called her an introvert and some merely arrogant. However, she did not care what the world had to say about her because all they ever did was judge... without knowing the truth, they merely demeaned the innocent and gullible. She had wanted to avoid landing in a situation that gave anyone, any more opportunities to humiliate her.

As NK unlocked his car, Khushi felt intimidated seeing the luxurious Porsche, a car she had seen NK often drive, yet had stayed miles away from it. Now the idea of her sitting alongside NK into this cozy car, made her feel nervous all over again. She fidgeted with her dupatta and somehow that action brought NK's notice to her nervousness. "Khushi..." he said with a smile on his face. It was rare of him to call her Khushi as she looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"Don't look so worried Khushi. If you aren't comfortable to go out with me, it is fine. I can drop you home directly," he said softly, making sure to mask his hurt. She shook her head and replied, "No Nanheji... Its just that I haven't ever sat in such an expensive car and this all feels so alien." Saying that she made a move to get into the car, letting NK know about following through her decision. And just like that NK's mood brightened as he fastened his seatbelt, zooming out of the car park, onto the wide streets of Delhi.

The next one hour flew by with NK's constant chatter and Khushi's blabber about how she could make better tea than what was served in one of Delhi's finest coffee shops. The initial uneasiness to find herself in such lavish settings and seated amidst the Delhi's creme-de-la-creme people... had settled down by the end of an hour. She was surprised to see how NK could make her easily comfortable in any situations, with his wisecracks and funny quips. He was her true friend and she hoped she could still get to work with him at ARD, whenever possible.

"Nanheji, its 8.30 already and amma would start getting worried. Can we get going now?" Khushi asked, knowing well that the answer would definitely be in positive. NK quickly put some wads of cash onto the table, ushering the waiter to take a note of the same. Even though NK had never wanted this evening to end... wanting the coffee to move onto dinner and then maybe much more, he knew that Khushi was far from ready to even comprehend what he felt for her.

It was going to be tough to not get to work with her on daily basis and be in constant touch with her regarding work. Yet, he knew that this was one step forward for Khushi to achieve her dreams or to even begin dreaming of things she had never imagined for herself. All he wanted was to see her happy and if he had to wait for his turn to become her priority... then he was ready to wait for a lifetime. Unknowingly she had seeped into his heart so deep, that he could feel her within himself, even though she was miles away from him.

"I shall take an auto Nanheji," Khushi said worriedly. He knew something was off once again, since the time they had reached his parked car. "Khushi, it is extremely late and I cannot trust anyone to drop you home. Why have you been so hesitant with lifts? Will your mother not like you to be dropped home by a boy? Is that what you are worried about?" he asked, trying to know the exact reason behind her behavior. She shook her head and got into the car silently, sitting there with a frown on her face.

What was she going to tell him? What did she even fear? Laxminagar was anyways abuzz with gossip about the Gupta women. What more could go worse? She had made up her mind to shift her locality anyways, and soon they would be out of this god-forsaken place! After her stunt with Shyam, he seemed to have vanished from the locality and she wondered if he would take his insult lying down. All this chaos made it more difficult to keep smiling, while NK continued to crack his stupid jokes to brighten up her mood.

As she directed NK through the narrow streets leading to Laxminagar, she silently kept praying to her Devi Maiyya for her alley to be deserted, unlike how it usually was... buzzing with jobless boys loitering around. But when had luck ever favored her? As the car came to a smooth halt in a narrow lane, from where NK could not drive further, Khushi turned towards NK and mumbled a quick thank you, before sprinting out of the car. She saw that the car had caught the attention of those boys and they had already begun their discussions.

As she scampered towards her house without looking back, she heard NK call out to her. "Khushi... Wait up!" She turned around agitatedly to see him walking towards her with her bag. Offcourse! In all her nervousness, she had left her bag in the car. "How can you forget your favourite bag Khushi..." Nk teased with a grin, completely missing out on the surroundings and the lecherous audience.

"Looks like someone has finally managed to catch a rich bakra!!" a boy sniggered loudly, diverting NK's attention to the side, where a group of boys seemed to be hooting loudly at the retort. Khushi panicked as she saw an angry gleam in NK's eyes... the one she had never seen in the last six months, she had known him. "Seems like he is an angry young man and also possessive... kyon Khushiji... I mean bhabhiji!" scoffed another boy... the same one Shyam had admonished a few days ago.

NK was about to charge, when she held onto his hand with all her might. She did not want him to get into an ugly brawl with these losers, who did not deserve a thing. "Nanheji please... jaane dijiye!! I am used to this. Just go from here... please Nanheji... for me" she pleaded. NK turned towards her and gritted, "What do you mean you are used to this Khushi? How can you live like that? Their faces need to be punched to pulp!!" Khushi shivered at the anger she saw in his eyes and pleaded again.

"Please... please. I will speak with you about this tomorrow. For now just go from here. Don't get into a fight." NK nodded tightly and said, "OK. Go to your house. Once you are inside, I will leave from here... I promise Khushi." He added as he saw her look at him suspiciously. She turned around and sprinted towards her home, ignoring the snide remarks. Once she was inside, she turned around to see NK walk back to his car, staring angrily at the group. She thanked hey Devi Maiyya a million times that NK did not lose his temper like she feared. Closing the door behind her, Khushi slumped onto the sofa, tired of the upheaval of the entire day... from being thrilled in the morning; the evening had ended on a fearful note.

--------------------------------------------

Arnav was seated at the dining table in Shantivan. His maasi had urged him to come for an overnight stay and like always he could not refuse her anything. "Akash beta, where is NK today? I am sure he is not at work. What has kept him so late?" Manohar asked his son, who was busy digging into his biryani. Akash peered up through his glasses and replied coolly, "Must be out with his friends dad or better still on a date with some girl. I am not even sure if he will be home for dinner."

"I am here big brother!" NK's loud voice had garnered everyone's attention. Arnav always found Akash and NK's bickering extremely entertaining. It livened the atmosphere in Shantivan, making him realize how much of a family he had missed all his life. Not that this wasn't his family. Maasi and mausaji had always treated him like one of their sons. He was more of a Mittal than a Raizada and he could not be more thankful than he was to these small mercies in life.

"Where were you Nandu? I tried to call you but your phone was unreachable. I was wondering if we mere mortals would be graced by your presence during dinner," Manorama admonished him in her mock-strict tone, that was mostly directed towards her notorious child, NK. He went and hugged his mother, trying to appease her and said, "Mom, I was a little busy. Had taken my favourite employee out for a coffee. What with your favourite Arnav trying to steal her from me!"

Arnav choked on his food at the mention of stealing Khushi from NK. What was his brother hinting at? And had she really gone out for coffee with him? Why was it even bothering him to such extent? Arnav felt frustrated as he said a bit irately, "I am not stealing anyone NK. You can keep her with you if you want to!" NK settled himself into his seat and tried to calm his angry brother, "Arrey Arnav, just relax. I was only kidding. I am more than happy that you found her work good enough to give her this opportunity. I would never want to stand in the way of her success."

Manorama looked confusedly at her two sons and asked, "Who is this girl you are talking about?" Akash was the one who answered with his mouth full of food, "Maa... its Khushi, our employee in ARD. The one who designed the beautiful work on Payal's saree and the one who will now be assisting Payal." Manorama's sharp eyes noticed the glow on NK's face at the mention of Khushi. She wondered if there was something brewing up between this girl and her son.

She was happy that Akash was getting married. NK had always had his share of girlfriends. It was only Arnav she was worried for. The boy truly deserved some happiness in his life and a life partner to share his sorrows. She sighed and wished for a Khushi to enter Arnav's life as well, bringing in the much-needed happiness in her son's life, who never asked for anything, while generously working hard for the happiness of this family.

The rest of the dinner passed by in a blur, as Arnav's thoughts lingered on a pair of hazel eyes that seemed to be peeking every now and then into his fuzzy mind. He felt unnerved with this feeling that was bubbling within him. NK's chatter, maasi's wedding planning, Akash's inputs... all seemed to be falling onto deaf ears. He quickly cited the reason of work and escaped to his room in Shantivan. It was a room that held bittersweet memories for him.

At the age of fourteen, when Arnav's father, Ajay Raizada passed away suddenly, Manorama and Manohar had taken him in. They did not leave any stone unturned, to make the boy feel at home. Manorama's love and affection brought him out of his gloom, as he changed his focus to realizing his father's dreams. It was in this room, that he studied hard to become and MBA. It was this room that had been audience to his dreams and plans in the field of fashion. It was this room that had witnessed his frustrations and anger. It was this room, which had seen his tears and felt his sorrow.

Only three years ago, when he, for the first time had gone against his maasi's wishes and bought a lavish penthouse for himself, had he moved out of this house. There had been sheer emotional blackmail, lots of pleading, painful taunting and badgering for his decision. Even though, knowing well that his decision had hurt his maasi and mausaji, he had moved out of the house, wanting to build his own home... to cherish the memories of his father in his own house.

After a few months of angry silence from his maasi, she had relented and understood his need for independence. They had worked out a ritual, of Arnav having dinner atleast twice a week in Shantivan, which Manorama made him follow religiously. She then forced him to stay back and enjoy the next day's breakfast with the family as well. Today was one of those days, when Arnav had readily agreed to her invitation and joined his family for dinner.

However, now he wasn't so sure if it was a great idea. His mood had suddenly turned fidgety. NK's coffee date with Khushi was making him feel restless. Her stunning smile and her innocent face kept flashing in front of his eyes, making him want to pull out his hair. Neither immersing himself in work had worked, nor had soothing music calmed his edgy nerves. Why were these new emotions tormenting him so much? Why was she affecting him so much? Was he feeling jealous of NK?

No! He had to get away for a while. If NK and Khushi wanted to be together, he did not want to get in their way. The frustration bubbling within him, made him take some rash decisions, as he dialed Aman's number. "Aman, I am flying off to London tomorrow. Make all the arrangements and send me the flight details a.s.a.p. I would prefer to stay at the usual hotel. Inform Mark about my arrival. I would like to see through the progress of our new collection and will be away for a week. Is that clear?" he barked into the phone.

Aman must have noted down everything quickly, like he was used to. Arnav pressed the end button and flung his mobile onto the bed. Raking a hand through his hair, he let out a frustrated sigh. Picking up his car keys, he rushed out of the door, needing a long drive to cool himself. It was not often that Arnav was used to losing his control. Over the years he had learned to mask his feelings and tame his worries. However, today he seemed to be slipping through the infinite web of emotions, which threatened to drain him. And ASR for one did not lose control... ever.

--------------------------------------------

Part 7