ARSHI FF: DEEPLY CONNECTED (Chap 9 - Pg 49)(02/08) - Page 6

Originally posted by: Junglebee

sounds good

Originally posted by: gowtu

Nice concept
Loved d start

Originally posted by: swpna

loved it..
waiting for more..

Hey Guys, I am back again but this time with the update. Just saw the number of likes in the first chapter and seems prologue is better . Well tried my hands on chapter 2 and hope it gets a better response. It's a long chapter so please surprise me with more comments and likes. Also about moving, I have requested the mods to move this thread to IPKKND forum since I haven't heard from any of you . Hope my decision is right. Here goes the next chapter

CHAPTER 2

He read the contents of the last letter by his dad and his index finger kept rubbing his temples trying to assess what had to be done next. Just then someone barged in to his cabin. He summoned him inside knowing no one else had the guts to enter that way except for his manager.

"Spit it out Aman" he spoke still reading the letter.

"ASR, the clients are here and everything is set. You need to address them and sign the tender" stuttered Aman.

"Another time you stutter you are getting your ass off my office. While I deal with them look for Shashi Gupta and set a meeting with him within the next couple of days. This should be your priority" ordered Arnav and walked out of his cabin wearing his jacket.

It was close to lunch time when khushi walked out of her room with red swollen eyes. She was dressed in a pale grey color kurti like her gloomy mood and walked out of the house informing her parents about a lunch get together with her friend. She couldn't say much about him. Tears once again welled her eyes. Enough she said to herself and got in to a rickshaw and entered her favorite dhaba.

There was nothing that was so great about the eatery. It was a homely place and the low rise benches with its chikankari table runner and the dim lit lights made it more than subtle for any kind of occasion. She saw him entering in a simple khaki shirt and faded jeans. He carried himself really well in spite of being a budding psychologist. One look on her face and he knew nothing was well with her. They have never shared anything special but the simple gestures from either sides made them feel they were in love. She asked him to take the seat near her which was very unusual of her.

"Karan, nothing seems right. We don't work anymore together. I really tried Karan, I did. Trust me" spoke a sobbing khushi and rested her head on his shoulders.

He cupped her face and flashed his calm smile "we had nothing between us khushi. We loved one another's company right from childhood and we knew about one another inside out. It was all very easy for us to conclude. Otherwise we would have celebrated at least one special day. You have always been my closest friend and will always be"

She batted her eyelids and wondered loudly if he even said the truth.

"Don't even think khushi. I am good at my profession. I have my license you see" clarified Karan and received a slap on his shoulder. She then shared everything about her life. He could only feel for her and asked her to go ahead with her parents.

"Trust that letter for once. A caliber of that kind can never go wrong. It's time that someone swept you off your feat. And believe me that day is not far" cheered Karan.

Her cheeks blazed red without her knowledge which he did notice and smirked at her. He wasn't sure whether he loved her but was happy that her future was going to be joyful than what she could imagine. But soon he saw her eyes spewing anger. He ordered a plate of jalebis to cool her down and cracked jokes with his good friend whom he knew will be gone soon. His heart yearned for a company. Things were changing drastically between them. Both hugged each other tight before they could leave the dhaba.

Back home his uncle managed to reach the contact left behind in the letter. At Delhi, when Aman attended the call he couldn't thank his stars enough. His boss wouldn't fire him at least for now. He was one employee close to Arnav but the fear of getting fired always lingered around. He also knew he would get his reappointment in a day but he never wanted that. Once the scheduled meetings were done for the day Aman walked in to his boss's cabin.

"ASR, Mr. Shashi Gupta himself called. And he wanted to meet you know who. But I explained him things. I have fixed an appointment with him for day after tomorrow evening post lunch" spoke a breathless Aman.

"Well done. Anyways he doesn't have any choice. Get the meeting fixed at my mansion and see if you can get him join for lunch. Di will prefer that" replied Arnav.

Khushi woke up to a cheerful morning. For the first time in three days khushi felt her heart lighter. She couldn't thank Karan enough. At least she did not cheat him for some whatever guy who has cropped up in her life cos of some late couple thought khushi and stretched her arms like a cat welcoming her day. Her parents were more than happy to see her little cheerful. She had shared everything about Karan the previous night afraid her parents would hate her if they knew about the truth all of a sudden. She will not lose them for anyone. She will always remain their only daughter.

Her father and mother were fidgety about the gift they would carry for the lunch meeting. Both were worried at the fact that they were freaking rich and nothing would match their standards. They also knew if khushi came to know about their worry she wouldn't hesitate to pick up a fight. Late after breakfast, they informed about the lunch meeting to which she replied with a dull yes and got in to her shell wondering why life had to be so cruel with her.

Shashi and Garima Gupta stepped once again in Delhi after years. The fast paced life of the chai walas to the rickshaw walas to the teenagers everything amused them. They managed to get hold of a rickshaw and reached one of the lodges near the bus station. Both had nothing much to do for the day except to wait for the lunch meeting which intimidated them. They spoke with their daughter for a couple of minutes which did relax their mind and heart and felt at peace when they heard her cheerful tone who on the other side was masking her emotions. Soon the parents were bogged down with their own thoughts. The wedding, was it the right decision or the wrong one but they had to trust their sibling's last wish. After all it was them who had given them khushi.

The rickshaw wala glanced at them from top to bottom when they asked him to drop them at the Raizada mansion. After a drive close to almost an hour they reached their destination. They got dropped in front of a huge iron gate and the side wall which boasted the name Raizada Mansion with Shantivan written beneath it. Both let out a huge sigh taking in the grandeur and walked through the car park reaching the main door. Indeed richest of the richest wondered Shahi and looked at Garima who returned a very dicey expression. The servant asked them to take their seat in the living room while he took their permission to go call the people of the house. A lady in her late twenties clad in a violet silk netted Anarkali with a viscose dupptta clinging to her neck that had beautiful zari work in the edges with peacock motifs walked down the stairs with a serene smile on her face and welcomed the two guests and ordered the servant to serve them juice and asked him to inform Chote about their arrival.

Both Shashi and Garima's face brightened when the young lady touched their feet seeking for blessings. They blessed her whole heartedly and introduced themselves to her. The young girl wiped her eyes turning her face to one side and smiled at them. They expressed their regret when they heard about their parent's demise that's when Arnav Singh Raizada walked down the stairs in his three piece suit adorning a stern expression on his face.

"Di, there is no need to explain so much" spoke Arnav sitting down on the huge sofa near his sister and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She brushed his cheeks with her hands and looked at him lovingly.

"Mr. Shashi Gupta, right? Glad you could make it within this week. As the letter stated both my parents Prem Uncle and Radika Aunty wanted the two of us to get married. I suppose the letter was clear enough and requires no more explanation. Well, the pandit has already given a few days. Honestly I am not inclined to these but my sister prefers looking in to these details and hence I had it ready for her. Did not want to give her the trouble. Also you wouldn't need to bother about any arrangements as my manager along with the wedding planners and my sister of course will get everything ready" spoke Arnav and smiled at them sternly.

"Beta, of course but we haven't spoken anything. It would be great if you and my daughter Khushi could speak. Get to know the other and go about it. Don't you think it's all going a bit too fast" spoke a worried Shashi.

"Uncle you will not worry about Khushi. After all she is also family though we have never met before. But I do agree Chote and Khushi should meet maybe and have a go about things. What say Chote" replied Anjali and winked at him.

"Hmmm Uncle Aunty I am not a man of too many words. My actions speak better. You need not be worried about khushi. She will be treated like a princess after all she is going to be Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada" spoke a bossy Arnav.

"Oh so possessive" slapped Anjali on his shoulders.

"The dates are fixed for the next month from now. That would give you people to move from Lucknow to Delhi. Also this is something regarding the Raizadas and Guptas so the media will be informed. I can leave it to you to decide on the engagement date" finished Arnav.

"I understand. Well moving here this one month should be fine so that Khushi and you can get to know one another better. And we will move back to Lucknow after the wedding" spoke a worried Garima who was in little tears already.

"Aunty as I said you people are moving to Delhi is a permanent fixture. I wouldn't want you both to stay away from your daughter" spoke a calm Arnav for the first time.

"That's really nice of you beta" both Shashi and Garima spoke in unison that earned a giggle from Anjali and Arnav gently shook his head.

Anjali managed to fill in them with rest of the details. After a little bit of socializing, Anjali ushered them to the dining table. Once again the Gupta couple were stumped by the elaborate spread on the dining table. After a hearty lunch, the Guptas took their leave when Arnav ordered one of the drivers to stay with them till they moved back to Delhi completely surprising them. They were indeed happy with his generosity and warmth. Upon Anjali's insistence he touched their feet and they blessed them a happy life. Both silently offered their prayers to the god above for happy life of Arnav and Khushi.

After returning to the lodge, they were more than worried. They never expected him to be this stern. Only thing that assured them was Khushi was in safe hands. They at least did not bother much about their class and also assured them a couple of times about Khushi being a part of Raizada clan. Garima asked Shashi to keep quiet and not share any of this with their daughter. She was worried but her motherly instincts trusted Arnav Singh Raizada. She was able to see through his facade that he projected. In a way she was happy for khushi and also thanked gods that her daughter can now live comfortably. She had noticed Khushi controlling her desires understanding their status. All her memories gave her a positive vibe about the proposal and thus fixed Arnav Singh Raizada with Khushi Kumari Gupta.