His intentions to apologize got buried because of her senseless and boorish attitude. In fact her attitude was getting on his nerves.
He watched her leave...Fuming... he went to the table and checked what she had made for breakfast. It was pan cakes with maple syrup. No matter how irritated he was with her ... he was not stupid to miss this delicious break fast.
Kushi shut the door behind her... What a day... It was her first morning in his home...It looked like a long time since she moved to this house.
CHAPTER 6
A fresh day... new start... with an attitude to fix her problems ...after all she is Kushi Kumari Gupta... 29 more days to go ... to get accommodation or who knows she will be under the sky in this cold city for the second time.
Kushi rushed out of the apartment as she was frustrated in his presence. Kushi never forgets an insult...She should start ticking the rentals along the day. She entered the elevator and ...on the 18 th floor ... three floors from pent house...one more person got in.
" Hi! I am Ryan! So you moved in with Arnav?"
Kushi was little weary with his sudden and blunt conversation. She just moved in yesterday morning and this dude seems to know where I live.
She clarified, "Actually I am caretaker of his house. But that was quick.. so where and how did you get this information ?"
Ryan dodged the question and replied, "Myself and Arnav go a long way. But he is the guy on the fast lane... Booze ... girls and all that...He is lucky that he is successful in the tennis circuit.
Whoa! This guy bad mouthing about that guy. Another myth broken... people say that women gossip... Apparently men do it tooo!
Kushi pondered... So what is brewing between these two fellas...Hmmm . She could have issues with the arrogant pig... but she was not going to bad mouth him. Kushi scowled...
Seeing her expression Ryan prompted, " Are you upset about something. I just thought I should warn you. His Lothario act chased his previous caretaker away."
Kushi, " I think we should terminate these talks. By the way, I am Kushi. Its nice to know you."
Ryan, " My pleasure. Would you like to go out with me for a drink."
Kushi, " Sure ... May be coffee some time."
Ryan, " Why don't you drop in to my home . Flat No. 2887."
No!... She was not that reckless... This guy was a stranger... And it has been drilled into her head for years now to take caution with strangers. She stopped in her tracks ... then how did she stay the night with the Ace. She shrugged herself ... because of Brad. They had issues last night but he did not hurt her.
She stopped... and to herself " Kushi, you idiot... He did hurt you... He banged your head!"
Ryan, " Kushi ?"
Jostled out of her reverie, " I work at Mrystle street... When you are downtown catch me up for a coffee."
Ryan, " Your phone number."
Dammit things are going fast... To do or not to do...
Kushi, " Have to rush... Since we live in the same building ...will give you some other time. She dashed to the parking lot."
Kushi's retrospection
Was she a prude? Was she the safe player. Her behaviour has been a culmination of her upbringing.. Her plans for the future was clear... She will graduate and move back to her family. Her Babuji will decide her future... be it her career or her marriage. These are her beliefs and fundamentals... Others consider her a prude... coward... spineless. It doesn't matter... Her life ...and her Babuji will have the privilege of taking unilateral decisions for her.
All her friends think that she is crazy... they believe that this pledge would take a turn around once she meets the love of her life. She doesn't know... She is definitely not on the look out for a love story. She doesn't foresee a time when she would choose someone for herself. ... She is content with all that she has in her life... her beautiful family... her set of crazily adorable friends...
Kushi parked her car and entered her office. A leisure day at work... The task for the day is to meet Brad for the next episodic. That's work with pleasure... she owes Braddy an apology ... Last night, he was unfortunately caught in the argument between her and the guy. ... Brad is too special to let any kind of misunderstandings to creep in.
In this Big Apple, Brad was her god sent... She met him 3 months earlier when she started the episodic story , " the hands that shape the Champs" . Cant believe that a beautiful friendship developed between them ... She cherishes their friendship. He was her coffee mate... He loves coffee as much as she does. The formed the basis of their friendship... He was definitely her 3am friend.
She left office at 12.30 and drove to his academy near Flushing meadows... At the security she called Brad and rushed to meet him.
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Arnav finished his break fast and drove to Flushing meadows.
Arnav, " Hi Man , I am on my way."
He started his exercises and warm up before Brad joined him. After 3 hours work out, they started practising service and volleys. The first day of the training program was the most difficult as the intensity of training almost triples compared to the normal routine. Especially this year after the Wimbeldon he went slow on his training as he started a new start up which needed his full attention.
Brad called out to him , " Hey Buddy... I need to take a break . Kushi will be here any time. I have to complete my interview."
Exhaustion hitting his head Arnav simply nodded his head, " Best luck man.
Brad came out and took Kushi to the cafeteria, they took seating in a secluded area so that they would not be disturbed. Their interview moved smooth and they decided for a coffee break.
Kushi, " Coffee."
Brad, " You know my choice."
Kushi, "Clover brewed Coffee and cafe Misto for me."
She went to the counter and came back with cups and resumed her chat. She took a swag when her phone started ringing...
She moved closer to the window while Arnav joined Brad saw the inviting coffee cup and took a gulp from it and spit it out...
Arnav, " What shit is this?"
Brad rumbled with laughter , " That shit is Kushi's coffee."
Kushi who witnessed the entire scene was mad with anger. She glared at Arnav and squatted next to Brad and addressed.
" What's wrong with it. "
Brad, " Nothing ... perfect for a sweet tooth... But not for macho guyz like us."
Kushi bristled, " Sorry... Come again. There is nothing shit about my coffee. I like the extra calories. Braddy you are being influenced."
Here comes Miss Snooty ... if he had known he would have stayed back on the tennis court with his rebelling limbs .
Arnav, " Hey ... Back off... Sorry did not know it was yours... I wouldn't have touched it if I had known it."
Kushi muttered to herself, " Arrogant pig."
She turned to Brad "I am getting another fresh cup of coffee ... do you want one."
Arnav, "Hot!"
Kushi, " What the hell!"
Arnav flustered ... Seems like he can never put his right foot , " I mean ... Hot coffee!"
Kushi, " Take it yourself... I am not your care taker here."
Arnav was perplexed...He looked at Brad, " Didn't she ask me?"
Brad, " No kiddo... It was me... She asked me."
Brad was shaking with laughter... their conversation... If any one walks into would get scandalized. Kushi did not look any less than a dragon... She was fuming.
Brad, " Take long breathes ... apparently oxygen supply for your brain in reduced."
"So Arnav, tell me what happened last night. She is mightily pissed off with you."
Arnav, " Nothing man...She caught me at a wrong moment... but this is way too much attitude for that one incident. Let me get my coffee."
Arnav walked to the counter and joined Kushi. She picked her fresh cup of Caf Mistro. Arnav's eyes popped out on seeing Kushi add two spoon fuls of sugar..
" That's unhealthy..."
Kushi, "What!"
She ignored him and continued, " Get me two choco cookies"
" That's unhealthy too."
Kushi was now ready to burst a vein.
Arnav, " Hey Sam... One black coffee without sugar. The bill is on her."
Kushi, " Really! She paid the bill for herself and Brad and huffed out with their coffee and cookies with Arnav following her."
Kushi handed the plate to Brad , "Your coffee and cookie."
Brad, " Thank you , darling. Hey Kushi , what's this bruise?"
"This idiot hit me."
Now... did he hear her right.
Arnav, "You are kidding me. When did I do that ...I never even came near you."
Kushi was at the limits of her patience with tears of anger and frustration flooding her eyes and spewed venom "The box that you threw injured me."
Arnav was appalled , Oh my God ! How could he do that. He opened his mouth to apologize but she interrupted , " I will take leave."
Arnav could see her eyes glistening with tears. She is truly a very emotional person... Drama Queen.
She hugged Brad "I think I will move ... See you later."
Brad , "But we were supposed to lunch together...
Kushi, "You probably want to lunch with your friend."
Brad, " Kushi, I can do lunch with more than one friend."
Kushi, " Not hungry ... may be some other time." She rushed out in anger.
Brad, " Is she upset?"
Arnav, " It appears so... but I think she will be back."
Brad, " How do you know that man?"
Arnav pointed his finger towards the cookies.
Arnav, "Not for you... Definitely not for me... but for this... she will be back."
They both shared the joke and were startled when from above a hand appeared and grabbed the cookies.
Kushi, " Since you are having lunch together... I thought I will take the cookies."
She turned to leave when she heard peels of laughter from both.
Kushi was truly offended and red hot mad ... She scowled at them and when she reached the parking lot saw a Cayenne parked next to her car and in a fit of anger towards the guy and disappointment towards Braddy... she fisted her hand and banged the bonnet.
To be continued...
Anupamaa
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