Payal woke up early that morning. She stretched in bed as a smile played on her lips. The new courage in her was doing wonders. Not only was she ready to take on the entire world for her sister, but she was also ready to make things right! Yes she was nervous last night, she had tried to fall asleep but she couldn't because she was worried. The decision was made that she would set things straight for Khushi, but she wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. So she did the one thing she always did when she was in doubt. She prayed to devi maiya and then had a long talk with her father. She had sneaked into her fathers room at night, making sure not to wake up her amma and buaji in the room next door and wasn't surprised to see him awake. She knew her bauji had been worried, though earlier she thought it was due to Khushi and Shyam. Well it was due to Khushi and Shyam but now she had a doubt that it wasn't because he wanted them married, it was because he didn't want Shyam with Khushi. And to make sure her doubt was not false, she decided she would finally talk to him and confide in him about what she was about to do.
After telling him everything she had on her mind, she had looked at her father and she knew she was right. So what if her father couldn't talk? She saw the twinkle in his eyes that said that he was proud of her. She saw the tears in his eyes that showed that he wasn't worried for Khushi anymore. And finally she saw the small smile on his face that proved that she was doing the right thing. And now that she had her fathers blessing, she knew nothing could stop her'.well except for one person, who could easily screw things up for her'but she was too far into this now to back out! She promised she would set him straight if he didn't listen to her. And with a renowned hope she had bid goodbye to her bauji and had gone to bed.
Now as she looked out the window she saw it was still a bit dark. It was only 5:30am and it was still early but she had a long day ahead of her and she wanted to start off bright and early. She took a deep breath and turned towards Khushi who was sleeping next to her soundly. A tear fell from her eye as she saw the small smile on Khushi's place. Payal could tell she was dreaming about something happy. The only place where she could be herself, away from her troubles. Payal wiped her tear and patted Khushi's head before slowly taking out her bauji's phone from under Khushi's pillow. Going through the phonebook, she found the number she was looking for and sent out a text.
"I know this is odd and I am the last person who you would hear from but I really need to talk to you. I need your help. I know this is early and you are probably sleeping, but once you get this give a missed call on this cell by blocking your number. Don't text back. - Payal"
She went to put the phone back as she wondered if sending that text was a good idea. She had just put her hand in the mouth of a lion. But before she could put the phone back she felt it vibrate and saw a message pop up.
"You are weird. Don't tell me what to do. Ok meet me at my office at 9"
She rolled her eyes as she replied back "You don't know how to follow directions. Fine." Once sent, she deleted all the texts and put the phone back. She turned to get up and go shower, but the ring on Khushi's finger caught her eye. Payal frowned as she saw that burden on her sister's finger. However, her frown turned into a smirk and she gently took Khushi's hand and took the ring off her finger and went to take a shower. But before that she walked over to the window, put her hand out and threw the ring as far as she could with a sarcastic "Oops."
Payal sat in his office as she looked at the time. It was 8:55...and he was going to be late she could already tell. She sighed as she thought of what had happened at home. Like every morning she had prepared breakfast for everyone and made sure everyone ate properly. Once everyone had settled down, she exploded the bomb on everyone as this was the only excuse she thought of to get out of the house for a few hours. "Amma, I want to start working." Looking around she saw the shocked faces of her amma and buaji and the excited faces of her bauji and khushi. "I knew something was going on in your head jiji," Khushi yelled excitedly as she got up to give her sister a hug. Payal looked shocked at first and then nervously smiled and mentally told herself to be careful around Khushi. "God what if she would have figured out what I really was planning." she chided herself quietly.
"Payaliya'tum pagla gai ho ka? Aisan kaise kaam karogi? Nahi, bilkul nahi!" (payal have you gone crazy? How can you work like that? No not at all!) Buaji reprimanded Payal as Khushi rolled her eyes. "Why not Buaji? I work don't I? Then why can't jiji? She has been educated so well, then when she can finally do something let her! You stopped her before too by saying she wouldn't get a good job and then had forced her into marriage." Khushi supported her sister as she talked back to buaji angrily. She had had enough of buaji. Her sister had studied hard and had got a degree in Economics just like how she had gotten one in Fashion Designing. Yeah it wasn't the best for her since they were in Lucknow where scope was little but due to buaji's insistence she had quit everything and had decided to get married. Not only that, buaji had dissuaded her saying economics wasn't a good subject for her as she was a girl. Buaji had went on to convince her Amma against this too, and once amma said no'it meant no. Even bauji couldn't do anything about it even though he knew how good his girls were in their field. But being a father, the fear for his daughters had stopped him from letting his daughter go and instead insisted she took care of the sweet shop where she took care of the accounts with Khushi. And jiji being the good daughter had stopped and not looked back at her studies and after a few years had forgotten about it all. But now, enough was enough. They were in Delhi for god sakes'she would have so many opportunities here! If her jiji wanted to work, she would work!
After a few more arguments, her mother had finally decided that Payal could work if she wanted to. If Khushi being the younger one could work, then Payal definitely could. Her mother knew that both her daughters were very smart and capable but it was just that luck wasn't by their side. However, now she felt things were changing and she knew her daughters were ready to take on the world. Giving her blessings she told Payal to go out. Khushi had insisted she would come along but she told her no and to go to RM since they needed her there. After all she was only going to be there for a few days. Payal had noticed the sad look on her face when she had said that, but she knew she had to say it so that her stupid sister would realize that this stupid engagement was just that'.stupid! And now here she was waiting for him and he still wasn't here.
It was 9:10, she had been waiting for the past 25 minutes. She was terrified earlier and had tried to herself out of this but knew it had to be done. Now she was just angry she decided she would give him a piece of her mind when he came. But then decided against it as she needed his help. She needed to help her sister and somewhere she knew that no matter how he was, he would help. As she looked around the cabin, she had to admit the man definitely had taste. Everything looked so classy and elegant. Remembering how the staff was efficient when she had walked in earlier, she realized he knew how to control everything well. The only thing she didn't like was the clothes some of the girls who worked here were wearing. Could they possibly get any smaller?! She would have been mortified if she had to wear something like that. She told her self how she would have told Khushi to design their clothes if she could have. She felt a small tug in her heart as she realized she could have been working in an office like this if she had decided to pursue her dreams and had a backbone to stand up for herself. But now this new hope in her due to her sister, had made her decide she would stand up for herself. She decided that she would for real go out and look for a job once she was done talking to the man and deciding how to help her sister. That is if the man ever got here!
As if on cue, the door behind her opened and she jumped up as it slammed behind her. Glancing at the clock she saw it was 9:30. She heard him mutter a few profanities. Probably someone got in his way, she thought. Though who would want to do that, she did not know. She laughed at her little joke but then stopped when she saw him give her a glare and then realized she was the stupid one who would do that. Clearing her throat, she was about to say hello when he interrupted her.
"Say what you want quickly, I don't have all day. And the next time you text me, mind yourself!" He looked at her to make sure she understood what he said. All pleasantries out the door, she stood up and decided to leave but not before telling him what exactly what was on her mind. "You are the one who was late, so don't tell me you don't have all day cause you clearly do! I have been waiting here for the past 40 minutes the least you can do is say sorry! But of course why would you do such a thing?! The mighty ASR would never say sorry! Forget it, I am done talking to you, I am leaving. Goodbye!"
To say Arnav was surprised would be an understatement. This mere girl was telling him off, in his office. But somehow, he found it amusing rather then being angry. "Just like her sister," he thought and then slapped himself mentally for thinking that. He stared at her mentally ticking off similarities between Khushi and her as she went on and on. Somewhere he felt a respect rising for Payal as he realized that he had always thought of her as one of those girls who didn't have a backbone. Someone who would just do anything that someone told her to do. Now he definitely approved her for his little brother. He smiled inwardly as he realized Akash definitely had picked the right girl for himself.
Waking up in the morning, Arnav thought the day would be a long one. He had tried to sleep but the worry in his mind didn't seem to stop as he kept on thinking about Khushi and had ended up waking early. He had been shocked in the morning when he had got a text from Payal, and was annoyed with her tone. After all, no one had the guts to say anything to him. He was Arnav Singh Raizada after all. But this girl had definitely had guts to be texting him and to be demanding at the same time. At first he wasn't going to go, but then he realized if he wanted to stop Khushi's wedding then he would definitely need Payal's help. You know, someone on the inside to let him know what was going on in the house. He knew it would be a lot of work from his side to convince Payal to help him solve the wedding issue but he knew he had to do it. He also decided to take Akash's help if she would be difficult. So with that he decided he would go see what she wanted.
Wanting to leave early, he had showered and got ready quickly. But of course, his house had somehow become an attraction for drama as something or the other always happened every day ever since Khushi had come to his house. Today morning was no less. As he went down for breakfast, he saw that Nani and Mami were once again arguing. Not wanting to be a part of it, he told di he would have breakfast at work but di being di had refused and made him sit through the torture. Checking his watch he realized he was going to be late if he didn't leave now. But of course luck was not on his side, because as soon as he got up he saw that Laxmi was eating something which from far away looked like his work papers. He cursed under his breath as he went towards her and kneeled to take the papers out of her mouth only to be stopped by the familiar noise of anklets. She was here. He looked up and saw her look around and then finally see him. He noticed that the worry from her face from yesterday wasn't as bad today. In fact she looked happy. She mouthed a small "thank you" as a smile broke out on her face. Realizing she was thanking him for yesterday, he nodded his head and surprising himself he smiled back at her. A satisfaction filled him with pride as he realized she was happy because of him. Unknown to the two, someone had seen their little interaction and they were surprisingly happy about it.
"Are you serious?! I am talking to you Arnav Singh Raizada!" Arnav snapped out of his thoughts as he saw Payal huffing and puffing in front of him. He sighed and sat up. "Oh stop being a drama queen and sit down. I know I am late, I apologize." He froze as he realized what he just said. Mirroring his own expression he saw the shocked look on her face. Did he just apologize? To Payal'who was just yelling at him? He closed his eyes and cursed at what Khushi was doing to him. Composing himself he opened his eyes and saw that Payal was sitting, with her mouth open. Astonished she asked, "Did you really just'." but before she could go on her cut her off. "YOU needed to tell me something? What kind of help do you need?" She stared at him for a minute longer and then finally gulped as she told him exactly why she was here. "I know you are going to say you want to have nothing to do with this. But I know you would be lying because you clearly do. I saw Khushi last night, the way she acted after she came back from your house. She didn't tell me what it was that changed her so much. Something happened yesterday that gave her a new hope. I know for a fact it wasn't your sister or Lavanyaji. And Khushi isn't one to talk to Naniji about her problems." She saw a bit of shock in his eyes which he hid as quickly when he saw her staring so she went on. "I also know Akashji's mom would never tell her anything that would help her, and as for Akash ji, well I am sure he didn't say anything to her. So I know it was you. Clearly I don't understand why she would say anything to you. But she did. And now I want to know what exactly she told you and what you said to help her." She took in a deep breath as she finished rambling. She gave herself a mental pat on the back for actually telling him off and then taking him by surprise. "You go Payal, you are on a roll! This courage stuff is so much fun!" Looking at him, she saw that he was surprised but then she saw a smirk on his face. "How do you know Akash didn't help her? Oh right of course, who else would know except you."
Arnav smiled as he saw her look down and her cheeks turned red. "So this definitely isn't one sided," he confirmed to himself. The Gupta women were definitely blessed in the looks department he decided. It had taken him a long time to accept it but it was true that Khushi definitely had the looks. He already knew how pretty Khushi looked, but now he saw that Payal was no less. While Khushi was more of the fiery and loud one, Payal was the sweet and quiet one. Both unique in their own way yet so similar. At first he was shocked that she figured out it was him who Khushi had talked to but then told himself he did have to give her more credit. Payal was definitely not what he had thought of her. Then he had heard her say Akash's name and he decided to play along a little. And seeing her reaction, he knew that things were definitely working for the better for his brother.
Deciding to spare her, he cleared his throat to get her attention while she looked everywhere but at him. Turning to pick up the glass of water on the table his hand stilled as he saw his reflection in the glass window. There was a smile on his face. A twinkle in his eye. The smile left his face as he realized he had just teased this girl who he had only talked to once in his whole life before. Who the hell was this man? Cursing at himself and giving himself a lecture to pull himself together he turned to her to see that she was staring at him. Doing the only thing he knew when out of words, he got ready to tell her off but stopped when he saw the understanding in her eyes that said she saw the smile, the change. A promise, that she wouldn't say anything to anyone. Not one to trust anyone easily, he surprised himself as he gave a slight nod to her. A slight nod for a possible friendship? Both looked away and then finally she looked him straight in the eye once again and told him something that made his heart leap.
"I want you to help me stop her wedding."
THAT WAS THE PART!!! I hope you all liked it! Ok so i was a bit disappointed with the way i portrayed Arnav in here. Is it just me or did all the ASR-ness just wasn't there this time?! I dunno =/ let me know if you didn't like it!! I shall make it better next time!!
Also if you haven't already read it. I wrote an OS on them...its called Letting Go Do check it out!!
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