Chapter 5
It was Monday and Khushi was feeling restless. She's spent the entire weekend with Arnav's family, and each minute she spent with them; the more she felt horrible. She was ashamed of herself for agreeing to partake in this ridiculous scam.
'What had she been thinking? Why had she agreed to this?'
It was unfair that these wonderful people believed that she was in a relationship with their Beta. She could see the hope and happiness shine in their eyes as they welcomed her into their family as one of their own.
In fact, what probably hit Khushi worse was the fact that this close knit family was one that she'd dreamt of having her whole life. To be given a glimpse of what her life could be like and to have it taken away with a month's notice was harsh.
She couldn't comprehend why Arnav was defying what they wanted most for him - a happy family life.
He had the one thing that she could only dream of, and yet here he was tricking and misusing their trust for him.
She so badly wanted to walk out of their agreement; but she had made a deal and Khushi Kumari Gupta always kept her word. She rubbed her forehead as she felt a headache coming along.
"I'm taking my break," she informed the receptionist as she hung up her overalls and left the private hospital. Yes, she, Khushi Kumari Gupta, was a medical intern. She remembered how impressed Arnav's family had been when they'd found out.
She sighed heavily with a heavy heart.
'It's ok, your strong Khushi. You can do this.' She reassured herself.
She needed a coffee bad.
Her eyes settled on the small coffee shop on the corner of the block. She smirked as she remembered the story she had fed Arnav's family.
"Why did you not tell them Arnav? I think how we met is a cute story," She started.
Arnav glared at her, but it had no effect on her, instead she continued.
"Arnav and I actually met in a small cafe that's around the corner form where I work. I always take my lunch breaks there because they serve the best coffee and cupcakes; you have to go there one day Anjali Di! But anyway, I was in a rush so as I was making my way out and I bumped into him in my haste. My coffee spilled everywhere! At first he started to tell me off to watch where I was going,"
She added trying to keep the story as realistic as possible, and she knew that she'd said the right thing as she took in the knowing smiles around.
'Right it's time to ramp up the romance Khushi.' She thought.
"But then he stopped in his sentence and just stared at me and for a moment I thought that I'd managed to spill some coffee on my face. Then out of the blue, he offered to buy me another drink."
Arnav was now glaring at her completely, not bothering to hold back in front of his family.
It didn't matter, however, because his family were completely entranced in Khushi's story that they'd all stopped eating and waited with bated breath for her every word.
"Then a couple weeks later, I was at the coffee house again. Arnav stood behind me in the queue. I hadn't noticed him of course, but then when the waitress asked me for my order and he spoke up from behind me ordering the same coffee he'd bought for me the last time.
I was shocked to see him, and even more shocked that he knew exactly what my order was right down to how many sugars I take as well! We talked for a while and then it became a regular thing to meet up at the coffee shop during lunch where he'd buy me my coffee and we'd just chat. Then, after a month, Arnav finally gathered the courage to ask me out on a date in that exact cafe with a bouquet of red roses."
Khushi had beamed as she finished; her facial expressions and hand gestured made it seem like a Bollywood love story that had Anjali, Mami and Nani swooning over whilst Shyam and Akash snickered at his expense.
'Might as well stick to the story,' she thought as she walked in and grabbed two coffees, two sandwiches and a cupcake for her.
Grabbing her purchases, Khushi continued to make her way to Arnav's office.
Unknowingly going towards the very thing she wanted to spend her lunch break forgetting about.
**
'Hmm, now this was something that I was not expecting,' Khushi thought irritated as she glared ferociously at the receptionist. "Look, I am pressed for time and I am here to see Arnav, so if you'd kindly tell me where he is I'll be on my way." Khushi bit out.
"ASR does not have time for petty simple girls like you. So, why don't you do yourself a favour and end these five minutes of fame that you're seeking for with ASR before you embarrass yourself?" The receptionist suggested.
"How d-," Khushi opened her mouth to argue, when out of the corner of her eyes she spotted Arnav inside a massive open-view-glass-walled room that looked over the entire office. "Never mind."
Khushi smirked sarcastically at the scantily clad girl as she walked towards the stairs that led to Arnav's office.
Her thin long white jumper swayed sassily as she strode with purpose towards Arnav's cabin; her heeled platform wedge-pumps clacking on the marbled floor as she did so.
She could feel the eyes of Arnav's employees, men and women alike; as she walked with confidence.
The men were staring at her shaped jean-clad ass that was pronounced in her strut whereas the women envied her flawless body and skin - though they would never admit it. But, one thing that both of these genders agreed on was the fact that this girl was going to face the supreme level of humiliation that came in the face of ASR.
As Khushi reached the last flight of stairs; the facade of confidence she'd put on started to fade.
But as she looked back at the smirking faces below; sheer determination shone through as she knocked on the glass door before walking inside.
Arnav turned around angrily ready to shout at the individual who was disturbing him - but he stopped short.
He hadn't seen Khushi since they had dinner with the family on Friday evening. After that, he had been working late on Saturday, when he returned he'd found out that Khushi had already ate and had gone to bed.
Sunday morning, he had gone for his early morning jog and had missed her on her way out to the public library to study for her medical-intern exams coming up soon and in the evening she'd been so busy helping his family with preparations for Diwali that was on Friday that by the time dinner came around; she'd retired to bed early that night too as she was exhausted.
His family had not realised what little time the so-called couple were spending as they were elated to be getting along so well with Khushi. She was perfect; it was evident that she had a cultural upbringing but she was also modern. She was educated, but respectful. Khushi was true to her namesake and was the final missing ingredient that had been missing from the Raizada family all these years.
His Nani felt as if she was a blessing to the family as the Raizada house was now always full of laughter and happiness; that replaced the once underlying sadness that had never been called out on. She'd told him so as he had been leaving for office this morning.
'Arnav Bitwa, you have no idea how happy I am today. I'm overjoyed that you have been able to find this bundle of joy to bring love and happiness into your life.'
He hadn't known what to say to his Nani; so he'd just left with a sharp nod.
Taking in the sight of the woman in front of him wearing a red shirt, white jumper, dark denim jeans and heeled shoes - he could not help but appreciate how simply beautiful she was. She did not need designer labels, heaps of makeup and accessories that other girls put hours into perfecting to look stunning - she was naturally so.
He took in her smiling face and the two cups of coffee in a paper tray in her hand and decided to relieve her of it.
Taking a sip of the American Espresso; he let out a sigh of satisfaction. It was perfect - just what he needed on a stressful day.
"What brings you here?" He asked her as he leant back against his desk, placing the coffee to his right.
He watched with astonishment as she came to stand in the gap between his legs also placing her coffee next to his and her large white handbag on his office chair.
"Well, I realised that we both have a story to keep to. After all, what would Akash think if you suddenly stopped going to the coffee shop to meet up with me for lunch?" She asked him quietly with a smirk as she brushed a strand of hair, which had come out of its perfectly gelled state, away from his face.
"Hmm, you did a terrific job at that," he replied sarcastically, holding back a smirk as she giggled quietly.
It was then when Arnav noticed his gaping receptionist at the door. Realisation sunk in and Arnav glared at his receptionist, whilst placing a hand on Khushi's waist as she too had turned around with a smirk.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Arnav asked his employee harshly.
The dumbstruck woman shook her head vehemently, "No - I - Sir - I mean ..."
"GET OUT!" He shouted at the poor soul and she ran, as if she had caught on fire, back to her desk.
Arnav then noticed the rest of his staff who were all staring at his office in awe.
"I don't pay you all to stand around doing nothing! Get to work NOW!" He breathed fierily before he closed the large window again.
"You know Arnav; it's bad to get angry so quickly. It raises your blood pressure. Heaven forbid if something happens to you!" Khushi faked a gasp of horror.
Arnav smirked, shaking his head at her antics.
"Is there a specific reason why you are here, or did you just come to cause a ruckus at my office?" He questioned.
"Why now, that is not the way to treat your doting girlfriend. I just came over with your favourite lunch from our favourite coffee shop. It really is a terrible shame that you could not join me, so I thought that I could bring it to you," she milked out as she pulled out the sandwiches and an iced red-velvet cupcake; completely oblivious to Arnav's small amused smile.
"I told you that I am diabetic." He stated as he stared at the cupcake wearily.
"Who said it was for you?" Khushi scoffed as she sat down on his chair to eat her lunch. "Well, are you going to join me?" She spoke up when he remained rooted on that spot.
Shaking his head he sat opposite her.
**
Akash walked out of the boardroom, shaking hands with his associates, thanking them for attending and showing them the way out.
Happy with the deal he had just made with them, he walked back into the building with a slight bounce in his step but then paused to take a calculative look at his employees. [A.N. Akash does not work under Arnav, he is an equal partner - therefore Arnav's employees are his employees.]
He looked with searching eyes and noticed a routine in all of them. Every so often, they'd look up to try to get a peek into his brother's office before looking away conspicuously. Akash followed Aman's gaze but could only see his brother's back.
'Why is Bhai sitting on the other side of the desk?' he asked himself confusedly but hadn't realised that he had spoke his question out loud.
His employees looked at him.
"ASR has a girl in his office," Aman spoke in a conspiring voice.
"Errr, when does Bhai not have a girl in his office?" Akash asked, smirking at the blushes as he reminded everyone that the female population in this office took every chance they could get to have a minute of Arnav's attention.
"No sir, she is not from this office nor is she an associate," Another man spoke up.
"She's bloody hot too," said another anonymous voice.
"He was smiling earlier," someone added sounding scandalised.
'Bhai smiling?' Akash thought for a second and then slapped his hand against his forehead - hard.
"Oh! I didn't know that Khushiji was here!" Akash said with a huge smile on his face; as he proceeded to rub his now stinging forehead.
"Khushiji?" the receptionist asked.
"Ha, Khushiji." Akash repeated, he could tell form the agitated looks on his staff's faces that they all were dying to know who she was.
Taking pity on them, he decided to put them out of their misery with a smirk. "Ha, Khushiji; ASR's girlfriend."
He had, however, not been prepared for the thunderous roaring response, "KYA??"
The murderous looks in his female staff's eyes wiped that smirk right off his face.
A.N.
Apologies for the late update! I had been originally planning to post updates daily but I hit a brick wall with this chapter. I re-wrote it several times - quite a few actually included the entire dinner episode but I hated it so I restarted the chapter all over again. I still have that scene saved, so maybe once this story is finished (I have yet to decided when and where - as I am planning this story chapter by chapter) I will post a deleted scenes, updates!
On another note, I am overwhelmed with the response this story has received. I was not expecting almost 10 pages of comments since the last update, so thank you sooo much!! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this chapter as well :) x
Edited by -kitti- - 12 years ago
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