Previous Part: Page 26
Recap: Flashback from Khushi's POV: Arnav tells her that she will be working from the main branch of AR group industries. her cabin is right next to his, merely separated by a glass wall. he chooses a simple ring for her that not only fits her finger perfectly but also fits her personality: plain and simple. She choses a ring for him and states that she doesnt know whether it will fit or not but it fits him just fine. The two get engaged and he drops her home after the engagement.
Part 6: The Green Eyed Monster Came To the Party
The week after the engagement had passed just like Khushi had expected. She spent a lot of her time day dreaming about her married life. Arnav was gone, like he said he would be, but he still found ways to contact her. A lot of the times he called on the pretense of finding out the progress of the fashion show. A couple times he said that Akash's phone was unreachable for some reason and if Khushi could give him a message.
Khushi knew what he was doing but she found it cute that he wasn't being obvious about why he was calling. That's what he thought anyway. Why would he call Khushi instead of Akash's PA to give him a message? Khushi had spent more time with her new family lately as well. She had learned a few things about Arnav.
The main thing she learned, which was important to her, was that he wasn't a man of words. He had difficulty putting into words how he felt. The fact that he called her every day that he was away but found an office related excuse to cover up his actual reason for calling only supported the fact.
Now, Khushi worked around in the dressing area backstage, getting the models ready for the show. She had just finished explaining how the sari was to be put on to the last model when Annie, Arnav's secretary, held up a long dress cover in front of her face.
"ASR has sent this. You are to wear this tonight." Annie smiled.
"Me? But why?" Khushi asked confused out of her mind.
Annie raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "Oh dear...you better talk to ASR...or Akash sir."
Khushi pulled out her phone from the pockets of her Capris. Her eyes rounded as she looked at the screen. Fourteen missed calls from Akash. Nine from Payal. Three from Arnav. Just as she was about to dial Akash's number, she had an incoming call from him.
"Hello? What's going on? Is everything okay?" Khushi said, panicking.
"Uh...might not be for you. Why weren't you picking up your phone? We've been trying to reach you forever! Bro asked me to remind you that your engagement's official announcement is happening today...at the end of the show!" Akash said quickly.
Khushi's eyes rounded once again. She didn't realize that Annie was tugging her away.
"I completely forgot about that! I'm not ready! Can this be postponed??" Khushi was freaking out.
"It's Bro's decision...talk to him...listen, I gotta hang up...I'm driving!" Akash said quickly and hung up.
Annie shoved the dress cover into Khushi's hands along with a bag. She snatched Khushi's phone out of her hands. "Fifteen minutes. To change and finish whatever make up you want. They'll need you back stage before the show starts."
The bubbly nineteen year old skipped out, leaving Khushi alone with her nervousness. She mechanically put the red knee length dress on, pulled out the matching satin ribbon heels from the bag and put them on, her vision starting to blur. She applied her usual minimal make up and brushed her hair.
Annie burst into the room again with an abrupt knock and gasped. "That's it??" She exclaimed. "Girl, you are not going to leave your hair just like that. Nuh-uh."
And with that Annie started to put Khushi's hair in a classy ponytail. Within five minutes, Annie was leading Khushi out of the dressing room towards the backstage area. Work! There was work! Khushi felt like she had found a mountain of Jalebis.
Khushi happily returned to her work so that she didn't have to think about what would happen later tonight. She was just arranging the order of the models when he showed up. In a very professional manner, she explained to him the preparations and the agenda of tonight. He nodded in response, thoroughly satisfied with Khushi's efficiency as an employee.
She was sure that she noticed how fidgety she was. She was sure that he noticed every time she jumped or flinched because they touched accidentally.
"Khushi?" He called out to her softly.
Khushi gulped and turned to face him, realizing that this was the first time she'd be seeing him since the engagement! She readied herself for what he was going to say when their show stopper came running to Khushi.
"The straps of this blouse were supposed to be held together by a fancy pin! We can't find the pin! Now what? Without the pin, the straps would just fall off!" The model panicked.
"What the hell!" Arnav said.
The team members who came with the model immediately got to work, hearing his angry bark. Khushi stood there thinking.
"I saw the pin myself! I checked it! Did you check your room?" Khushi questioned, on the verge of panic herself.
"I did...I can't find it anywhere!" The model avoided Arnav's eyes.
Khushi touched her forehead with the heel of her hand in frustration. That's when her eyes fell on her wrist.
"Turn around!" Khushi commanded the model and the model followed like a pet.
Khushi pinched the straps together. "Perfect" she mumbled and took off her pearls bracelet. She wound the bracelet twice around the junction of the straps and clamped it shut. She fixed the straps and adjusted the bracelet several times before she was satisfied that it didn't look off.
Just in time too. A few seconds after Khushi had finished, the cue was given to the show stopper and she confidently strode onto the stage. Khushi let out a breath of relief.
"I never would have thought of that." Arnav admitted to Khushi, referring to the bracelet.
"It's a woman thing; I guess...we're good at improvising..." Khushi shrugged it off.
Nani, Mamaji, Mami, Payal, and Akash joined them backstage.
"You ready Khushi?" Akash held her shoulders and shook her a little.
"Stop that!" Khushi put a hand to her chest. "I'm going to puke!"
Arnav looked at her horrified. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
"She's nervous bro...Don't worry. She's not running off." Akash rolled his eyes.
The crowd applauded as the designer for the particular collection went onto the stage with the show stopper.
"Oh god..." Khushi's hand moved from her chest to her stomach.
"Don't you wish you had your jalebi making items with you right about now?" Akash teased, earning a glare from Nani and Arnav and a slap across the arm from Khushi.
The stage coordinator came to tell Arnav and Khushi that they'd be up in exactly a minute. After being prompted by Nani and Payal, Arnav and Khushi walked around the curtain and waited at the edge of the stage where the crowd couldn't see them.
"What?" Khushi said when she felt Arnav staring at her.
"Your hair looks better when it's down." He said with a smirk.
With the smirk still plastered across his face, he reached around and slipped the elastic band off. Her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Khushi saw her surroundings spin a little.
"You look good in this dress by the way." He said casually as if it wasn't a big deal.
Khushi's vision spun again. He was going to have to stop being so flirty all of a sudden or else she was going to faint. She was nervous enough as it was, did he really have to add to it by making flirty actions and doing flirty things? Stupid lad governor!
"And now, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada's special announcement that everyone's been waiting for!" said the announcer.
A spotlight came on and it stopped a step away from Khushi and Arnav. Arnav squared his arm and waited for her to weave hers through his. When she did, he put a hand over hers to calm her down. Her hands were trembling!
"Just breathe" he said as he started walking onto the stage. Khushi's feet followed automatically, her hands gripping his arm for support. She could feel the pressure of hundreds of pairs of eyes and she didn't dare count how many cameras there were. Should have added this to the cons list! She hated being a part of the media.
Arnav stopped at the end of the ramp and very neatly removed his arm from hers to grab the microphone.
"Good evening everyone. I'd like to thank you all for coming out tonight to the show. I hope that you enjoyed the new collection!" He paused as the crowd cheered. "As you all know I have a special announcement to make. During my last show, a reporter had asked me if there was anything about my love life that I'd like to share and I'd said that I didn't want to comment on it at the time. Now, I have an answer to that question."
There was pin drop silence in the auditorium. Khushi's knees felt wobbly. She desperately wished that he hadn't taken his arm away.
"I am now engaged to this beautiful lady standing right here." Arnav wrapped an arm around her waist. Khushi was so grateful for that that she smiled, because she was pretty certain that she would have fallen over. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you my fiance, Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta."
The crowd applauded once again and Khushi was blinded by all the flashes of the cameras. Naturally, the media reporters had questions and Khushi was glad Arnav had stopped them short with his Lad Governor tone. The only details he had let out were that they had been engaged for a week and they were due to be married in two weeks time.
Then, he had led her back to the backstage area just as gracefully as they had entered. She was ever thankful for his arm around her waist that supported her as they walked. Only, he let go of her too soon as soon as they reached the family that she lost her balance and nearly fell. Akash caught her and gave her a side hug.
"You did it!" He cheered her.
"I...I actually did it..." Khushi said as if she didn't believe it, taking deep breaths to calm her heartbeat and breathing.
"Way to be formal and businessman-like with the announcement Arnav." Payal teased him.
Khushi heard the media trying to get backstage and she felt dizzy all over again. Her skin became clammy and she could feel the nauseating feeling in the pit of her stomach.
*
(Present)
She woke up with a start and wiped a hand across her forehead. She also wiped her cheeks. Thinking of their happy days always made her cry. She had tried very hard in the past few years to forget him. But she couldn't.
She tried to stop crying but she couldn't. His face kept appearing in front of her eyes. The moment when she had seen him again at the Dargah haunted her. The look on his face. He had looked so defeated. She had seen that pain in his eyes before.
'No. I won't. I can't. I have to stop thinking about him.' Khushi crawled out of her bed and stubbornly walked to her dresser. 'He had done that to himself. He was the reason they were separated today.' She walked out into the living room and opened the windows wide, letting fresh air rush in and clear her head a little. But she knew that even with a clearer head, sleep was far away.
*
(Present)
On the other hand, Arnav also tried to sleep but he couldn't. So he had gone back to the photo album. He finished reading the newspaper article about his announcement of their engagement. She had cut it out and saved it. He had found it after they'd gotten married. The two had started this photo album cum scrapbook together. It consisted of numerous photographs. A few articles regarding him and her and their engagement and their wedding. Khushi's list of pros and cons was also in here.
He put the delicate piece of the newspaper article back in its protective sheet and flipped to the next page. The pictures of the cocktail party. Angad couldn't help but chuckle to himself. ASR had done something very stupid that night. Thinking about it even now, in time of such grief and separation, it made him laugh at himself.
*
(past)
After a few minutes of teasing and joking, Akash, Payal, Arnav, and Khushi left for the cocktail party. Khushi didn't seem nervous walking into the party and Arnav was glad about that. She looked pale and on the verge of passing out backstage after he had made the announcement. After they were welcomed by the crowd, Arnav led her to a quieter area near the bar.
"I thoroughly made a fool of myself, didn't I?" Khushi asked looking at the menu.
"Huh?" Arnav was confused out of his mind.
"oh please...stop pretending like you don't know what I'm talking about...I honestly don't know what that was though...normally I don't get stage fright..."
"It's okay Khushi. Stop worrying about that." Arnav looked at her. "And if you're worrying about the pictures...let me assure you...I'm pretty sure that they've turned out great."
The indirect compliment had made Khushi smile. She took a sip of her virgin pina colada and then sighed.
"If you're worried about the pictures being published...I can put a stop to that right now. All you have to do is tell me." Arnav said seriously.
Khushi turned to face him now. "You'd do that? Go through all that work to ensure the pictures don't get published if I tell you I'm not comfortable with it?"
"Yes." He said without any hesitation. "If it's going to make you uncomfortable, if it's going to upset you...if it's something you don't want...I'll make sure that your wishes are fulfilled. You'll understand that about me in the days to come..."
"Oh I already know...you're possessive about your family...you'll go to the end of the world to make sure they're happy. Payal and Akash have told me all about that..." Khushi chuckled.
Arnav frowned. "They've been talking behind my back?"
Khushi grimaced. "No...More like...they're trying to warn me...of your habits and whims...your likes and dislikes...your personality. It's to prepare me...they're not bad mouthing you..."
"KHUSHI!!" An overly excited man hugged Khushi from behind. Arnav looked at the man and then at Khushi with wide eyes.
"Oh my God! Kevin!" Khushi exclaimed before turning and throwing her arms around the man's neck. He practically lifted her of the floor as the two hugged!
Arnav frowned. Khushi pulled apart and immediately got engaged into a conversation with Kevin, momentarily forgetting that Arnav was standing right next to her. Arnav hadn't even met the guy, but he already didn't like him.
"Oh...Kevin...Meet Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada." she gestured to Arnav and then gestured to Kevin, finally realizing that Arnav was there too. "And this is Mr. Kevin Adams. He's a good friend of mine from university days."
Arnav said a flat and abrupt 'hello'. Kevin greeted Arnav too and just as Arnav was about to ask something, a spotlight fell on Khushi, blinding her momentarily. Akash and Payal joined them. Akash was tapping his glass to get everyone's attention.
"Hey everyone! Thank you all for coming out to celebrate my brother's engagement! I'm sure he has surprised you with the announcement earlier tonight and now, his finace is here with a surprise for us."
Arnav was intrigued and confused at the same time. She hadn't mentioned anything to him. When he looked at her, he knew why. She looked equally surprised. So clearly, she didn't know what Akash was talking about.
"She has kept a secret from all of us...but now that secret is out thanks to her friend, Kevin." Akash continued. Kevin waved proudly at the crowd.
Khushi glared at him. Arnav glared at Kevin too. He hated the man.
"I won't tell you what it is...You'll see for yourself." Akash ended the announcement and the lights came back on again.
"It's not going to happen Akash. Forget it. And you." Khushi turned to Kevin. "You're dead."
"Oh come on Khushi!" Kevin draped an arm around her waist. "It will be fun. I'm sure Arnav is dying to see this side of you!"
Arnav's anger level raised a little bit seeing Kevin's arm around her waist as if she were his girlfriend. 'How dare he hold my fianc like that?' was all Arnav could think about. Arnav's mind was shooting constant cusses at this Kevin.
Akash and Kevin started convincing Khushi to agree. After a few minutes, Payal decided to intervene. She went to Khushi and whispered something in Khushi's ear. In response, Khushi's eyes went wide and then she frowned at Payal. Payal batted her eye lashes innocently. Khushi turned to look at Arnav once before turning to Kevin.
"Fine." She said dejectedly.
Arnav just looked on as Kevin took her hand in his and walked to the center of the dance floor. Someone brought them a chair and Kevin sat down. Khushi put a hand to her forehead and shook her head before she placed herself sideways in his lap.
"What the—" Arnav couldn't help but clench his fists.
The lights dimmed around the room but the ones focused on the dance floor stayed bright. The music started and the two started dancing. Khushi Kumari Gupta was dancing. With another man. Arnav's brows knit together in an angry frown.
Khushi and Kevin's dance: (Or you can imagine another one if you want...do share if you choose to imagine a different routine)
By the time they had finished, blood boiled in Arnav's veins. He glared at the two while they took a bow, as if he were trying to shoot daggers at Kevin. After taking the bow, Khushi walked back to the bar, leaving Kevin with his new fan following. Akash and Payal hugged Khushi, praising her skills at dancing.
Then Khushi shyly looked at Arnav. She looked expectant but he glared at her. He saw confusion fleet across her face before she reached for her drink. As she took a sip, Akash and Payal headed to the dance floor. Finding the perfect moment, Arnav decided to talk to her.
"You and Kevin looked quite comfortable with each other..." Arnav said flatly.
She shrugged, missing the hint of anger in his voice. "He's been my dance partner since I met him...we actually met at a dance class in university."
"So you two must be close." Arnav's voice had an edge to it now that she must've missed again.
"Oh of course...I absolutely love Kevin." Khushi said reaching for her drink.
Arnav grabbed her wrist before she could reach her drink and he pulled her into a corner, taking her completely by surprise.
"What the hell, Khushi Kumari Gupta." Arnav pressed her against the wall. "If you love him, why are you marrying me?" he said through clenched teeth.
"W—what?" Khushi stuttered, taken aback by the sudden change in him.
"You heard me. If you love him...then why marry me? Why don't you marry him?" He hissed.
Khushi registered his question and she pressed her lips together in a futile attempt at controlling her laughter. Arnav was shocked. The audacity of the woman to laugh at such a serious question! He could practically feel her shaking as she tried to control her laughter.
"Stop laughing. Answer the question." He snapped.
She guarded another laugh and looked at him. "Because I can't marry him...I'm engaged to you, remember?" Khushi teased further.
He pressed her against the wall a little bit more. "It's not funny Khushi. Answer the ******* question."
Khushi flinched at the profanity and looked at Kevin over Arnav's shoulders, realizing dawning upon her. Her jaw dropped a little in surprise. "I can't believe this. Do I see a green eyed monster here?"
"What the--!" Arnav exclaimed.
"Oh please. It's so obvious. The great Arnav Singh Raizada is jealous of Kevin Adams. Breaking news."
Arnav looked away. She had him spot on. That's why he had hated Kevin instantaneously. Jealousy had gotten to ASR. An emotion he had never felt since childhood. He used to be jealous when Akash was pampered by his mother. Not that his mother played favourites but Arnav always craved her love.
Khushi Kumari Gupta stirred emotions within Arnav's heart that he'd thought he'd buried forever.
She put her hand on his arm lightly, bringing him out of his thoughts. "I don't love him in that sense. I love him as a friend...he's like a brother to me...like Akash. And the biggest fact of them all...if anything...I should be more insecure regarding you and Kevin..." she paused to gauge Arnav's reaction. When she saw him frown in confusion, Khushi smiled. "He's gay."
Arnav's eyes went round and he turned swiftly to look at Kevin. When he looked back at Khushi, she was in the middle of controlling waves of laughter. Arnav could feel his cheeks getting hot because of the embarrassment. Khushi continued trying to control her laughter but he could see that she won't be able to for too long.
He, himself, knew the hilarity of the situation and he couldn't help but chuckle at himself at his impulsive reaction. Khushi couldn't control her giggles any longer either. Just when the two were starting to calm down, Akash came to them and dragged them away much like when he had tugged them out of the office the other day. He pushed them onto the dance floor. Arnav, feeling just as nervous as Khushi had before the announcement, wrapped his arms around her waist lightly after her arms snaked around his neck.
*
"How're your toes?" Arnav asked. They were parked at Khushi's apartment again and they were stalling the wretched goodbye.
Khushi looked at her toes thoughtfully. "A band-aid for each one and they'll be fine..."
Arnav made a face. "I'm so sorry!" Throughout their small dance session at the party, Arnav had managed to step on her toes several times. Much to his surprise, she had just smiled at him and continued dancing as if nothing had happened. If it were him, he would have stopped after the first few times his toes were stepped on. He wasn't very patient.
"It's okay! In all fairness, you did warn me that dancing isn't exactly a strength on Mr. Raizada's resume." Khushi smiled at him.
"But you dance very well...I guess we balance that out then...and speaking of dance, were you going to mention it to us at all about your expertise in dancing?"
"No...If Akash and Payal hadn't forced me into it...I wouldn't have..." Khushi said, looking at her hands.
Arnav recalled that Payal had said something in Khushi's ear. Arnav was pretty certain that that was the reason why Khushi had agreed. He turned in his seat to face her better.
"What did Payal say to you to make you agree?" He said at last, curiosity getting the better of him.
Khushi looked at him anxiously and then looked back at her hands. "It's quite late...I'll get going...Thanks for the ride."
Arnav was disappointed that she didn't answer the question but it was okay. He would ask Payal when he got home. She moved a couple of strands of hair away from her face and that's when Arnav's eyes noticed the ring on her finger. The engagement ring. He smiled and glanced at his own engagement ring. Two weeks. In two weeks, he would be married to the woman sitting next to him right now.
"What's wrong?" Khushi asked, bringing him back from his world of thoughts.
He just shook his head, stepped out of the car this time and walked around to Khushi's door. He opened it for her and gave her his hand as she stepped out of the car.
He quietly walked next to her as they walked towards the entrance. Khushi opened the door to the lobby and turned to bid him a good night. He replied with a 'good night' as well. He turned to leave and he had only taken two steps when she called out to him. He turned to look at her.
"Payal Jiji said 'Arnav ki Kasam'". And with that, Khushi ran into the elevator. Arnav stood there, staring at where she'd been standing. As he registered her words, he walked back to the car and started driving home. So Payal had used him to make Khushi agree to go on with the dance performance. And it worked.
He recalled the events of the night and remembered his stupidity. He couldn't believe he lost his composed self over that Kevin! He chuckled out loud and the sound of his own small laugh, made him laugh even more until his eyes had tears from laughing so hard. His laughter faded and serious thoughts rushed back into his mind.
He remembered Khushi's smiling face after she'd told him that Kevin was gay. He had made an utter fool out of himself in front of her. Yet, here he was, laughing at himself. Laughing. It was a big thing considering he hadn't laughed so openly since his parents had died. He slammed the brakes on after he pulled to the edge of the road. He leaned his forehead against the steering wheel.
This woman was bringing out the old Arnav in him. The Arnav that went into hiding after the wretched fire incidence that had consumed both his parents. The Arnav who didn't want to expose himself to the world. He was slowly coming out of his shell. Her voice, her smile, her laughter made him helpless and curious. So curious that he had started sneaking out of his shell, wanting to smile without being judged, wanting to laugh his heart out, wanting to cry his eyes dry, wanting to tell his family how much he loved them, wanting to tell the world how much he missed his parents. And now there was a new need in his heart that he felt for the first time.
The need to have Khushi in his life. She made him feel better. She made him feel happy. The fact that she had gone through something similar, with less support than he had, yet she was always so happy and cheerful, left him baffled. He wanted to be like her. He wanted to live life normally, just like any other person and somewhere deep down; he knew that Khushi would teach him that. She already had a spirit that was so full of life and so contagious that it was impossible to be unhappy around her. His mother's words came floating to him at that moment.
When you get married, Chotte, I'll be the happiest woman alive. I'll have a beautiful daughter-in-law who will love you, cherish you, share happiness and sorrow with you. She'll keep your gorgeous smile on your face. Then I'll be able to kick back and relax, without having to worry about my Chotte. For now, I'll just wait until she's here.
He looked up at the sky out of his window and tears rushed into his eyes as he whispered, "Kick back and relax, Ma. She's here."
and Viola! That was today's update guys! I was going to split this update into two as this one became too long (and I'm sure you guys dont mind the long update😉), but when I split them in two at a reasonable place, each part became barely five pages on word, so I decided to give you guys a treat and post it as a big update. I hope you all liked it! Once again a reminder that the gray writing is the past and the black is in the present...I'm trying my best to keep consistent with that. Thank you for wonderful comments and Messages and encouragement through them. Its always very heart-warming and inspiring! We are one part closer to the big revelation of the reason of their separation! stay tuned guys! love you all!
Katie <3
Edited by love_iqbal_khan - 13 years ago
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