Chapter 8B
Lavanya watched Khushi as she descended the flight of stairs with regal grace and poise that all the women in the room could only ever dream to achieve.
The intense crimson saree contrasted against her porcelain skin tone -making her seem even more doll like than ever before. Her recently trimmed dark tresses cascaded past her shoulders, her ebony eyes looking apprehensive as they flicked amongst large number of attending guests.
Lavanya wasn't surprised when Khushi bit her lip as the worry in her eyes changed to nerves.
'Trust ASR to find a woman of Khushi's calibre and make her his fake girlfriend for the family! Honestly that man won't ever comprehend; even if it hit him like a bullet straight between the eyes.' She thought with frustration as she walked towards the girl who looked almost ready to run straight back up the staircase.
Lavanya sincerely had no words to elucidate her enragement for Arnav.
This week had all just been one massive series of unfortunate events - well, depending on whose perspective you take it upon.
** Flashbacks **
"So you're coming to the ASR's party on Friday right?" Kabir, a designer at AR, asked as he lent against a locker as he smirked flirtatiously at the girls opposite him. Khushi and Lavanya turned around to face him and immediately, his eyes zoned in on Khushi curiously.
Khushi's eyes widened in recognition and she quickly turned away from him, awkwardly walking towards Arnav who had just walked in.
"If you've forgotten Kabir, let me remind you that I have a boyfriend who is ASR's cousin and that was Khushi Gupta - ASR's girlfriend; it's in your best bet to NOT flirt with her. So, the logical answer to your question in yes, both of us will be attending the party," Lavanya responded condescendingly.
Her eyes narrowed as she followed Kabir's gaze to Khushi; being friends with Arnav for many years taught her to be aware of each and every single small emotion someone portrays for even the smallest fraction of a second - and she had definitely not missed whatever had passed between Khushi and Kabir.
"She's ASR's girlfriend?" Kabir asked confused, he had not been there that day when it had been revealed to the entire staff.
Of course, as soon as he was back, he was immediately filled in on the gossip and as hard as he'd found it to believe at first - judging from the unanimous response - he'd eventually gathered that they weren't playing a trick on him.
"Why do you say it like that?" Lavanya asked sharply, feeling protective of Khushi.
"Well - I - It's just that I could have sworn that she was with someone else..." Kabir trailed off his line of thought - not quite understanding what was going on.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, a friend of mine, Arun; he went abroad to study in London and he met this amazing girl. I could have sworn that he said that her name was Khushi Gupta ... and they started dating. They were still together when they got back to India a few months ago; I never got to meet her in person only on Skype ... I just; never mind maybe I have the wrong girl ... It's probably just a coincidence - same name ..." Kabir trailed off- however, still pondering on the possibility.
But even he was not brave enough to question out loud of whether ASR's girlfriend was cheating on him.
Lavanya walked away from the dazed designer; setting her calculative gaze on Khushi who was chatting amicably with Akash as Arnav stood to the side on his handset, no doubt with Aman who was on the other line.
"Hey guys," Lavanya greeted them smiling as if nothing was brewing in her mind.
Lavanya ground in her suspicion and anger towards Khushi as Arnav walked over to them at that minute. She watched as Khushi slipped her hand into Arnav with ease and Arnav looked extremely comfortable; in that instant, Lavanya knew that she had to do something before her best friend was hurt.
"Actually ASR, can I take a company car?" She questioned him.
"Sure, why may I ask?" Arnav asked as he handed over a set of spare keys.
"Well actually can I also borrow Khushi? I would love to have a dinner with her in private; we haven't had the chance to get to know each other properly yet." Lavanya requested sweetly.
Arnav looked like he was about to disagree but Khushi jumped straight into the wagon that Lavanya had parked and agreed enthusiastically to Lavanya's proposal.
"Great!" Lavanya cheered as she linked arms with Khushi and dragged her away from the men.
**
Shana Hotel Restaurant
Khushi and Lavanya ordered their respective meals and they shared small talk as they waited for their food.
Lavanya tried to decipher Khushi's character throughout the meal; but she could not even find a hint of any malicious intent from the seemingly innocent girl. 'But Lavanya, this is what all those conniving types are like; they fool you into believing that they are innocent.' She told herself as she watched Khushi nibble on the chocolate fudge cake, topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce, in delight.
"So when do you plan on telling ASR that you are deceiving him?" Lavanya asked her straight out; unable to hold it back anymore.
"What?" Khushi replied looking extremely confused.
"I said when are you planning on telling Arnav about your other boyfriend Arun?"
Khushi's face dropped - and Lavanya knew.
"I can't believe that I thought that you were different from the other girls. You're all the same; wanting to use Arnav for his money and fame. Tell me, how much do you want? I'll give you whatever amount you request on the contract that you leave the Raizada Mansion immediately." Lavanya laughed coldly as she pulled out her cheque book.
"Is that what you think of me?" Khushi looked at her with tear-filled eyes.
"Oh, cut the crap." Lavanya cut in harshly.
"I'm not with Arnav for his money," Khushi tried to explain.
"So you're not denying that you're in another relationship as well?"
"NO!" She shouted, but quickly toned down her voice when people at nearby tables turned to stare at them.
"I mean no," Khushi repeated what she should have said before she mentioned Arnav, "I'm only dating Arnav. Arun is my ex-boyfriend."
"Right of course and exactly how many days was it before you transacted from Arun to Arnav?" Lavanya asked, not holding back.
Khushi was speechless, she could tell why Arnav valued her and exactly why she was Arnav's right hand woman at the firm - her mind was as sharp as a knife.
"Well?"
"You don't understand;" Khushi tried to reason.
"Then make me understand," Lavanya demanded, putting her pen down.
Khushi sighed. She hesitated.
"I'm pretending to be Arnav's girlfriend. So in theory - I'm actually single; I'm not in a relationship with neither Arnav nor Arun."
"KYA?" Lavanya questioned; eerily reminded of how the AR staff reacted to ASR having a girlfriend.
Her mouth hung open in the most un-ladylike fashion ever as she held her spoon of ice-cream and cake limply in mid-air; it dripped slowly back into the bowl at the same speed that Lavanya's brain was currently processing at.
Had Lavanya looked back on how she looked in that moment; she would have been disgusted at her poor code of conduct.
Khushi shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not actually his girlfriend," Khushi repeated confirming what she had just disclosed to Lavanya seconds ago.
"What do you mean you're not his girlfriend?" Lavanya asked; her voice rising above normal speaking tones causing several heads to turn their way.
"Shh!" Khushi berated the girl.
Khushi hated lying to people and for someone as genuine as Lavanya - who she could tell was a loyal friend as she was willing to go to such lengths for Arnav - Khushi didn't want to start their friendship with lies and deceit; but now, she wondered if it had been a good idea after all.
Looking at the stern look on Lavanya's disgruntled and perplexed face; Khushi immediately launched into an explanation.
"Wait; you're telling me that ASR, I mean Arnav Singh Raizada ... picked you up from the streets and made you, live with him, as his pretend girlfriend?" Lavanya gave her an expression that clearly read 'what the hell?!?' - and Khushi could not have agreed more.
Even Khushi did not have a full explanation for why she was in this situation - how she had somehow let a stranger talk her into living with him and his family. It all had just happened at once and she really couldn't justify the logic behind her decision.
"Khushi, let me tell you one thing and that it that Arnav does not simply just pick up random strangers from the streets, and then proceed to bring said stranger into his family house as his pretend girlfriend;" Lavanya told the naive girl with exasperation.
It was no secret that Arnav Singh Raizada was an enigma whom not even his family understood completely - but Lavanya could vouch for the sheer fact that Arnav was not a fool.
Of all the possible answers Lavanya had been expecting from Khushi; this one threw her of completely. Lavanya lost her bearings. She did not know what was going on around her anymore. Since when does Arnav have fake girlfriends?
"Well believe it or not, that's exactly what happened," Khushi replied, playing with her desert - her appetite lost.
Lavanya had one phrase to sum up how she was feeling at that moment and that was: 'Mind = Blown.'
"Tell me Khushi have you ever heard of love at first sight?" Lavanya asked her; a short while later still not having quite recovered.
"N-No - I don't know?" Khushi answered with a question; unsure of how their conversation had taken this route.
Lavanya had not missed the change in Khushi's answer.
"OK, clearly you, Arnav and I have things to talk about and we need to get our facts straight. I don't know what is going on anymore. I wouldn't have even found out if it hadn't been for Kabir! What if more people from your past start churning up these stories? What will happen to Arnav's, yours and AR's reputation? The media will slam dunk everything. Stories like these are like gold for journalists and considering that one of yours and Arnav's scale doesn't pop up that often - they'll have a field day with it all! Did you guys even think this through properly?"
Upon Khushi's flabbergasted expression; "We're leaving - cheque please!" Lavanya ordered the waiter.
And Khushi argued no further.
**
"Lavanya I'm not sure about this," Khushi frowned as they walked into AR, where the few employees who stayed overtime were starting to trickle out as it was nearing the end of the late working hours. "I shouldn't have even told you. This was meant to be kept between us. This was a mistake, let's go home."
"Actually, it's a damn good thing that you did tell me because quite frankly you two have no idea what you are doing; we need to get the situation in our grasps before we end up having to do major damage control." Lavanya pushed Khushi through the doors.
"Pam where's ASR?" Lavanya asked one of her assistants; who was grabbing her items from her locker.
"He's in the back room Miss," Pam replied.
"Maybe it's best if I tell him first before you come in?" Khushi asked hesitantly.
Lavanya pondered on it and agreed; Khushi pulled on a brave face and left to face the lion in its den.
Once Khushi was out of sight Lavanya frowned.
"Wait Pam; what's ASR doing in the back room?" Lavanya asked confused, stopping the girl who was just on her way out. 'That's where the model's headquarters are.'
"Oh, did you forget ma'am? Natasha returned today; I'm guessing ASR's welcoming her back;" Pam said nonchalantly.
'Natasha? Natasha? Natasha!' Lavanya wracked her brains to put a face to the name. Her eyes widened as realisation sunk in. 'The international model? But why didn't Pam seem - ? Well as far as she knows La, ASR has a girlfriend,' Lavanya thought as she dismissed the clueless girl.
'Oh god ASR, please don't be doing what I think you're doing,' Lavanya thought as she sped in the same direction that Khushi had.
In her haste she did not notice Khushi who appeared frozen at the door and she collided into Khushi. With an 'umph' the girls toppled forwards but somehow, astonishingly, had not garnered the attention of both parties inside the dressing room who seemed to be getting mighty cosy.
Both girls grimaced as they watched Natasha step closer to Arnav, adjusting his tie for him.
"Khushi?" Lavanya asked the girl as she helped her up; however, one look at her crestfallen face stopped her train of words.
"It's nothing but a fake relationship, there is no need to do any damage control. I think it's pretty clear what's going to happen at the end of the month." Khushi whispered to Lavanya, walking away towards the car.
With one last scathing look at Arnav; who was still oblivious, she walked after Khushi.
**
"Will you do me one favour La?" Khushi asked as they pulled up at the mansion.
"Sure, what?" Lavanya queried without hesitation.
"Just don't tell anyone else about this. The fewer people who know, the better - after all this is meant to be a relationship to fool the family;" Khushi requested, looking away.
"Of course Khushi," Lavanya agreed.
Because Khushi had been looking away; she had missed the insincere expression on Lavanya's face and the crossing of her index and middle fingers.
**
"KYA?" Shouted many voices and Lavanya felt a sense of deja vu for the second time that day.
"Yup. I found it hard to believe myself until I was sure that Khushi was telling the truth," Lavanya confirmed again.
She looked around the table taking in everyone's expressions.
Anjali Di was disappointed and angry; and also appeared to be on the verge of tears.
Shyam Jijaji looked slightly unmoved. Upon further inspection; Lavanya came to realise that he had already been having doubts about them. Lavanya couldn't really blame him, after all; he was one of the best lawyers in Delhi, he was bound to notice even the littlest of things that others would not pick up on.
Akash looked shocked; as if it hasn't sunk in for him yet.
NK, her boyfriend, who'd just arrived early a couple of hours ago as a surprise; looked speechless. He'd only met Khushi several minutes ago; and anyone could vouch for the fact that upon first impressions - Khushi would not ever seem the type to agree to a fake relationship.
"But Lala, she doesn't seem like the type of girl who ... I mean ..." NK trailed off ... he had voiced what everyone else was thinking.
"You're right. She's not. We all know ASR ... and when he wants something to go his way; he will make sure that it's seen to. Khushi is not staying here for money or anything else; she made a bet with Arnav and she doesn't want to back out; of course as always when it comes to ASR, ego and pride is always involved. It seems that Khushi is just as stubborn as ASR and she doesn't take losing as an option. This is all a big game to them both however, I don't think she expected to grow any feelings for him along the way - you should have seen her face after we saw ASR with Natasha." Lavanya explained to the siblings in front of her.
"What do you mean feelings?" Di asked her; her eyes suddenly alight with hope.
"I don't think that she realises it herself but it wasn't disappointment I saw on her face, it was heart break."
"I can't believe Arnav," Di said looking extremely upset; it was only on the occasions when she was extremely angry or annoyed with Arnav did Anjali revert to calling him Arnav instead of his affectionate name, 'Chotte'.
"Rani Sahiba, you have to understand that from his point of view; there are no strings attached to Khushiji. He isn't committing adultery or deceiving Khushiji in any form;" Jijaji explained to his wife placing his hand on her shoulder to placate her.
"But that's just it Jijaji! We all have seen how Arnav behaves around Khushi. It's not fake - there are genuine feelings there. He's just doing what he always does when something affects him emotionally - run away from it."
"So what do you propose we do Lala?" NK asked her.
"Do what we do best. Meddle in their affairs. We, my dear family, are going to play cupid." Lavanya said with a bright smirk on her face.
An onlooker would have been petrified at the sight of the five young adults who were smiling evilly like Cheshire Cats - as if they had cracked the code to taking over the world.
"Ah I missed this!" NK exclaimed, looking at his family almost proudly. "Nanav is so lucky that he has a family like us. Look at us, taking on the fact that he has a fake girlfriend living in our house so lightly and to the point where we are playing cupid for them. Had this been any other family; Nanav would have been disowned by now."
"Well, you know what they say; you make your bed and you have to lie in it. Saleh Sahib brought home a girl who has inevitably been loved by the family. Now he has to face the consequences as no one else is going to replace Khushiji am I right?" Shyam Jijaji asked the rest.
Everyone nodded.
"Rightly said," Di agreed. "I will make sure that no matter what; Khushiji will become my Bhabi."
"Trust Bhai to pick up a random girl from the streets who turns out to be perfect for him," Akash thought out loud.
That was something the entire family agreed on - to have been given a girl like Khushi was a blessing indeed. They shuddered at the thought of any other girl who Arnav could have possibly brought home to fool the family.
"OK, let's get back on track. How are we going to make them fall in love? Ideas?" Lavanya ordered.
"Jealousy!" NK said at once. "What? It always works." He added upon the 'are you serious?' looks.
"You're right." Lavanya said, "But how are we going to pull that off?"
"The Diwali party," Jijaji replied; "there will be many bachelors attending. There's no denying that Khushiji is a pretty young woman; there will be no problems for her to gain attention. We won't even have to interfere."
"Oh but we do. No matter how much Khushi dislikes Arnav right now; she is going to keep her word; she will be Arnav Singh Raizada's girlfriend at that party." Lavanya replied.
"Then we'll just have to make sure that Khushiji is properly introduced to many family friends and colleagues as possible." Di said with a sneaky smile.
"Right! And it will be Akash, Jijaji's and my job to make sure that Nanav is aware of Khushiji meeting said many bachelors." NK said, rubbing his hands in glee.
Once again, scary smirks were shared.
"Idea!" Lavanya said jumping up; making everyone else jump in their seats along with her; 'Why hadn't she thought of it before?'
"Khushi doesn't know how to wear a saree!" she said.
They all looked at her with an 'and?' face.
"Well, we pull the classic move - guy helping girl wear a saree. ASR knows how to drape a saree on a woman; we make him to that to Khushi." They all looked at her in awe as realisation sunk in.
"We, of course, just have to make sure that we're busy; because no doubt will Arnav try to get someone else to do it. But then, once he's helped her, the attraction towards her will be there for the night and so he will be affected by the presence of other men around Khushi tenfold!" She snapped her fingers.
They all nodded with her.
"I can't figure out if you're a genius or just plain evil." Akash said in awe; almost feeling sorry for his brother.
"Don't they go hand in hand?" Lavanya smirked as she sat back down.
"Didi! Do want your chai now with your medicine?" Hari Prakash's voice ran out through the mansion.
"That's the cue; Arnav's home!" Lavanya said in panic quickly pulling out a few sheets and passing them around.
"And remember no matter what; the elders cannot find out about anything! Or we can flush our plans down the drain - especially if Nani finds out." Lavanya instructed.
"If Nani finds out what?" Came a voice from the door, all of them snapped their heads to the door, which Arnav was leaning against, with Hari Prakash coming in with tea for all of them and Di's medicines.
"Arre Chotte? When did you get here?" Di asked him, smiling sweetly -ignoring his question.
"Just now Di; and what shouldn't Nani find out about?" He asked them; Anjali's attempt at changing the topic failing.
"Oh, we're just going through the plans for Diwali," NK greeted his second cousin with a hug.
"Didn't you finalise the plans last month?" Arnav asked, not buying their story.
"Ha, but we just want to make sure that everything will run smoothly on Friday Saleh Sahib. There can't be any mess-ups; you know that." Jijaji said.
"But what has that got to do with Nani? I thought that she agreed to the plans."
"Ok fine! We were planning on throwing a surprise fashion show at the party; but you know how Nani is about bringing work home!" Akash caved; rather convincingly for someone who sucked at lying. "But we thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to showcase this year's designs, and since our ladies are wearing the designs," he looked pointedly at his Di and Lavanya, who started nodding eagerly, "we thought that they could model too, I mean-" Akash winced in pain as Shyam kicked him in the shin to make him stop talking before he got too carried away and revealed everything.
Arnav scrutinised them and eventually nodded; he turned away - missing the quiet looks and sighs of relief behind his back.
Their poker faces were back on once more when Arnav turned around again.
"What now?" Lavanya asked him annoyed.
"Weren't you supposed to be out with Khushi for dinner?" Arnav asked her, eyeing her curiously.
"Oh, we came back a while ago, she went to bed though, she was too tired and she has to go to work early tomorrow since she's taking a day off on Thursday to help us out with the preparations." Lavanya replied smoothly, the only truth that had come out of anyone's mouth since Arnav appeared.
Arnav nodded and left.
As soon as Arnav was out of their sight, Lavanya reached over and wacked Akash around the head with force.
"OW! What was that for?" Akash moaned, holding the back of his head in pain.
"Now I have a whole fashion show to arrange you moron! What were you thinking?" Lavanya catechized as she plopped back into her seat.
A.N. Well, I bet that you didn't see that one coming! So now you know why Khushi is angry and how Arnav ended up with the responsibility of taking care of Khushi ... silly meddling family (whom we all secretly love for setting up Arnav and Khushi!)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed and loved writing it!
Apologies for the delay, but I do have a personal life outside of IF so please don't get angry for late updates!
Will be back soon with Part C ;)
Edited by -kitti- - 12 years ago
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