ARSHI FF: DEEPLY CONNECTED (Chap 9 - Pg 49)(02/08) - Page 11

It was just another morning for Khushi. She was almost getting married in a few days none of it felt for real according to her. She was still getting used to the place and even her room. For some reason she couldn't digest the photo adorning her room wall but she had let it go thinking she had just a week left here and it wasn't going to create an impact. Her foster parents were also distancing themselves from her for reasons unknown. She tried cracking it every way but she was left with nothing at the end of her every crazy action. Her eyes fell on her engagement ring. She kept looking at the way the ring adorned her finger. She couldn't disagree more. The ring did have a special charm of its own when suddenly her thoughts ran hours behind

For the first time he held her hand so tenderly and his dark caramel brown orbs oozed emotions hypnotizing every cell of her body. For a minute or two she did not know why she was enjoying their proximity and also she noticed the glint of possessiveness in his eyes when he slid the ring on her finger screaming she belonged to him from this second sending shivers down her spine.

She took in a deep breath leaving behind her thoughts and opened her wardrobe. She was visiting his office for the first time. Her sister in law had asked her to join to visit his studio for selecting some designs and measurements for her wedding lehenga. Just another visit she calmed herself and selected a pretty plum colored sleeveless tunic. She shared a friendly hug with Anjali and she had to agree that they had gotten off well from the very beginning. Rest of the journey wasn't a silent one. The two woman chatted and laughed their hearts content after days.

AR office cum studio building was spectacularly huge and her eyes almost popped out of her sockets staring at the magnificent architecture that had perfection written all over it. All the employees looked at her in awe making her feel conscious. She almost wanted to hide behind Anjali who was laughing looking at her reactions of course. Khushi slapped anjali across her shoulders and looked at her grumpily. He was informed about their presence the minute one of his cars entered the building premises. But what he saw through his cabin almost got him choking on the coffee he was sipping. It had almost been 2 years since he saw his sister laughing her heart out. She was chirpy outside but had lost her real laugh after that fateful night. For the first time he really did make an attempt to look at his fiance's face. Her hazel eyes and she had let her hair fall freely which looked divine with the tunic she had paired with. He always thought she was a small town but definitely proved him wrong today at least by her dressing. Not wanting to be noticed he released the blinds and tried going through the stack piled up on his table. Both barged in to his cabin after a couple of minutes

"What the" he yelled and looked up and saw the both of them staring at him.

Damn his eyes fell below the tunic Khushi was wearing. She wasn't wearing any loose trousers but chose to complement her top with a black legging ending at her ankle. He felt his lips tightening out of dryness and composed himself quickly and asked them to settle. His sister had forced him to take the two of them on a tour cos it was Khushi's first time. For the first time ASR was not in his element. He did not stutter but sure his voice lacked the authority. They entered his studio last. Her eyes fell on a room that was locked and saw his name plate on it and was a little curious to know about the room but stopped herself from not getting in to the details. She saw many young men and women interning and in another some models were trying their shots with different outfits designed. They entered one of the trial rooms which had various outfits lined up in a moving wardrobe. Soon a tall lady who was sure size zero walked out of the changing rooms attached. The lady was clearly excited to have Arnav in the room. Not caring for the other two woman who had accompanied she approached him and gave him a hug and he returned the same shocking Khushi. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times which Arnav noticed. He was more than happy to have her gaping like a fish and smirked.

"See you tomorrow ASR" the model spoke and waved his hand and walked out of the room.

A couple of fitting experts and the lead designer helped them with different bridal outfits. Every single one looked special she thought. The material was even softer than a velvet to feel. The intricate work on every skirt and no design was the same. Being the bride Anjali wanted Khushi to choose something in red sure keeping other thoughts in mind and a wicked smile danced on her face. Arnav selected something for his sister in deep green. It wasn't any less than a bridal wear. She hugged him happily and accepted his choice. The fitting expert had taken her measurements and now it was for the bride. Her heart fluttered seeing the siblings bond. She felt butterflies in her stomach when Arnav was selecting for her. His face was nothing but straight and expressionless. For a second she frowned and wondered why she was feeling bad. On the other hand he felt everything looking too simple for his gorgeous bride. Wow where did that come from he questioned himself. Not having satisfied with any he asked the fitting expert to take her measurements while he would look at other collection in a day and call them again for their approval he decided.

For some reason, Khushi felt very uneasy with the guy who was taking her measurements. She felt his hands over her more than what was needed. That was when Arnav's eyes met Khushi's and he saw her discomfort. He forcefully withdrew himself when he saw the guy's hands on her shoulders when he was discussing with the lead about the measurements.

"Pass on the measuring tape and get yourself back to your seat this second" Arnav bellowed scaring the guy.

The couple of others around him looked at their boss in surprise. They have not even seen him discussing nor even drop hints. Now he was actually standing before a female with measuring tape in his hands.

"Pass me the notepad and off you all go" he barked once again.

It was only the three of them in the room. Anjali wanted to give them space and she moved out of the room with some excuse leaving the two of them in the room. The air conditioner felt useless. The temperature in the room was soaring. He took meek steps and for the first time he felt his hands shiver. She never felt her heart thud so loud ever. He placed the tape across her shoulders inhaling her floral aroma that perfumed her hair. For the first time he was working on something so tough that required a lot of self control. He was afraid that his lips would deceive him. He couldn't help but run his hands along her slender arms measuring the sleeve length. "Damn" he let out a curse. He inched the tape round her chest and she felt herself heaving across his manly hands. She felt her rib cage tightening up and tried taking in a deep breath through her mouth when his eyes landed on her succulent lips. His restless hormones were overpowering his sane thoughts. Not being able to coherently process anything he parted from her feeling embarrassed. He saw the red hue on her cheeks and understood it wasn't going easy for her either and mumbled a sorry not being able to face her. She stuttered back the same and tucked her hair behind waiting for Anjali.

"Chotte, It will be ready right?" Anjali asked him worriedly.

"On time" he replied confidently and walked out of the room bidding them a bye.

Khushi walked out of his office flustered. What transpired between was something that was going to haunt her she knew. She couldn't respond to her sister in law anymore. She even gave up talking with her and sat silently in the car trying not to play the scene in her head.

For the first time in two years he opened the locked cabin. He ran his hands over his nameplate and felt himself tearing up. Too many memories too many emotions flooded him all at once. Swallowing the lump in his throat he walked in and closed his eyes for a few minutes and tried feeling those lovely years back. Taking a deep breath in he set up the drawing space. It had been years since he sat down for designing. Why was he designing for her when he had selected someone's design for his sister who mattered everything to him. Not being able to place the right reason he started sketching imagining her before her. It took nearly 4 hours or more when he looked up next. He dropped his head behind feeling his neck stiff and checked his phone which was overflowing with notifications. The fitting lead met him close to almost 10 at night. She was busy for an upcoming event and now an additional responsibility she thought and her shoulders slumped tired.

"Sir, this is too intricate to be completed in 3 days" she spoke troubled.

"Ms. Reena, I presume this design is for Arnav Singh Raizada's fiance's trousseau and it better be dealt the way it should be. Either yes or your resignation papers on my desk tomorrow morning" he replied not bothered and walked out with her locking up the room.