Chapter 8C
Something was amiss.
Arnav knew that he was being kept out of a massive loop that his siblings and Khushi seemed to be well integrated in. He had a sixth sense when it came to his family.
Their conspiratorial gazes and smirks unnerved him.
For a split second, the idea that Khushi had told them all of the true nature of their relationship crossed his mind, before he immediately dismissed that preposterous thought. There was no way that she would have told them. It would have painted both her and him in a bad light. She would not be here right now, in fact, his family would have made a scene.
But it didn't explain the way his family were behaving, bar, Nani, Mami and Mamaji who seemed oblivious to all the schemes that were occurring around them.
His hot angry breaths steamed up the glass walls that surrounded the poolside - one that gave him a perfect view into the ballroom. The best thing about that room was that it was so dark that no one downstairs could see him watching over them, whereas he had the perfect bird's eye view of everything that was going on.
His gaze hardened as he watched Lavanya handed Khushi a flute of champagne and continued to meander Khushi around the guests, introducing her to them. His hot gaze swept up her toned body, admiring the hip chain that glistened against her warm skin that he had not so long ago touched. His eyes landed on several other men in the room who were giving her the same sweeping glance that he had just completed. His fists clenched as he watched her return their smiles, oblivious to their bedroom eyes and wayward thoughts.
Feeling his throat close, he sent them all his most vicious glare, knowing very well that they couldn't even see him. No one was allowed to stare at her like that. She was his.
He didn't understand her.
Ever since she'd been out to dinner with Lavanya; she'd been avoiding him.
He recalled the incidence on Wednesday morning as she plainly ran away from him down the street as he called after her - he had been about to offer her a ride to work. Of course, he didn't chase after her - he was Arnav Singh Raizada after all. He had an image to keep up, and it wouldn't bode well to have paparazzi pictures of him chasing a girl in the media.
He had tried to intercept her later that evening but she had been unavailable.
He attempted to question Lavanya about the reason why Khushi was acting weirdly but Lavanya kept mum - refusing to speak about it.
Khushi and Lavanya had become increasingly close over the week. He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that particular fact.
He presumed that they bonded even more on Thursday as they decorated the house with the rest of the family and finalised the fashion show for tonight together as well.
It infuriated him that the fact that she was clearly evading him affected him - the feelings were so foreign that he simply did not know how to behave. And it certainly did not help that she thwarted every attempt he made in talking to her.
Furthermore, he was incensed that she consumed each and every second of his thoughts.
"Sir?"
"Yes Aman?" Arnav questioned, looking up from his laptop.
"I thought that I should let you know that Natasha is back from the Europe fashion week. She's in her office ... she was asking for you," he added hesitantly.
"I'll go see her later." Arnav dismissed, going back to his work.
Aman gaped at Arnav and then scampered away when Arnav lifted his head up and sent him a look that exclaimed 'why are you still standing there?'
'ASR and Natasha usually spend the evening together when she returns from her trips. Is he really changing?' Aman questioned as he walked down the stairs stupefied.
**
"Sir?" Aman interrupted him again. It was late into the evening and Arnav was still working after Lavanya and Khushi had left together for dinner.
Arnav was almost jealous of his best friend for being able to spend time with Khushi - he wished that he was there in La's place having dinner with her.
"Natasha wants to see you before she goes home. You know how she can get when she throws her tantrums."
"Mmm. Indeed." Arnav agreed, standing up and adjusting his jacket and vest. "I'll go see her now shall I?" Arnav smirked at Aman as he walked out.
Aman's previous confusion faded away; what had he been thinking? Of course ASR would never change, lest for a girl he recently started dating.
Arnav knocked on Natasha's door with a casual smirk.
His smirk widened further as Natasha practically squealed and pulled him into her office.
"Oh Arnie! I missed you when I was in Europe!" She threw her arms around his neck.
Irked, Arnav pried her clingy fingers away from his pristine suit; grimacing at the creases she had left behind.
"It definitely is a pleasure to have you back," Arnav lied through gritted teeth.
There was no doubt that Natasha was a good model - there was a reason why she was an international sensation - but that didn't accredit for the fact that she was quite possible one of the most annoying people who Arnav knew. She really was something to handle and so far he had been able to pacify her tantrums with passionate nights together - not that he was complaining about that either since she was a very good lover in bed - but right now, it didn't seem as appealing as it used to be.
"What do you say that we head over to a more private room in the hotel next door?" Natasha giggled sickly-sweetly as she stepped closer to him; reaching up to adjust his tie. That was another thing about Natasha that Arnav had always appreciated - she never gave him any crap. She always cut to the chase.
Arnav hesitated for a moment.
He smiled down at the woman in front of him, whom other men would cut and sell their arms off for, but for him, not anymore.
He wondered how he could let Natasha down gently without insulting her.
"Natasha," he started, slowly prying her hands away from his outfit once again; holding them tightly in his own hands so that they didn't wonder off to other parts of his body that would make this ordeal a whole lot more difficult that it already was.
"I have a girlfriend."
"What?" Natasha questioned, stepping away from him.
"I have a girlfriend." Arnav repeated more strongly.
Natasha hesitated for a moment before her resolve returned.
"It doesn't matter, what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Besides, your relationships don't ever last that long." She stepped closer to Arnav once more.
'Well, that's one thing right - Khushi is only mine for a month. No. Not anymore. She will be mine. She'll be difficult but I've always loved a challenge.' A fleeting thought passed Arnav's mind as he smirked wickedly.
Natasha mistook Arnav's smirk as acceptance and stepped closer, bringing her head towards his -only to find herself unceremoniously shoved away. She looked up at him, perturbed.
"No Natasha. I think it's time you realise that I am your employer and you are my employee." Natasha opened her mouth to retort.
"Ah-Ah." Arnav stopped her. "It won't work on me anymore. I know as well as you do that you need this job- without being AR's representative - your name, your career - it all means nothing. Don't forget that it was I who introduced you to the modelling world."
With that, he walked away with a satisfied smirk lingering on his face.
He clasped his champagne flute tightly in his hand to a point where had he applied further force; the glass would have crumbled like dust in his hands.
He would have let her continue her games of avoiding him - he didn't want her to know how much she was affecting him; but that was before strangers started to mentally undress her in their minds, he told himself.
He resolved to his fate that he had to be the one to break the ice between them.
He was going to find out what the hell was going on.
He was going to make her turn into jelly in his arms - and he didn't need a lot of time to achieve that. He knew the effects he had on women and he was going to use it to his advantage.
"Arey, Nanav? You're here? Di has been looking everywhere for you," NK's voice broke through the condensed stormy atmosphere that polluted the air around him.
Arnav turned around to look at his second-cousin.
"Di? Where?" Arnav asked with a clipped voice, unfairly taking out his anger on his seemingly unsuspecting cousin.
"Downstairs by the pooja room, she wants to finish the rituals at the auspicious time so that we can continue to the more exciting events of the night; like the fashion show that Lala arranged!" NK replied.
Arnav left with a short nod at NK, missing the smirk that was shot at his retreating back.
NK pulled out his Blackberry and opened the group BBM (Blackberry Messenger) conversation.
"The lion has left his den. ... And he's ready to explode." He sent before he put his phone away; following Arnav with a skip in his step.
Knowing fully well from Arnav's clenched fists and tightened jaw, that Arnav Singh Raizada was undeniably jealous.
**
"I can't believe that you invited Natasha," Khushi hissed at Lavanya as they walked past guests, smiling politely whilst simultaneously glaring at the new entrant in the room.
"Sorry, I had to. She is our head model. It would raise questions in the media, which would be bad for PR," Lavanya apologised.
"Ugh. But still. Don't expect me to be polite to her." Khushi informed.
"That's fine by me," Lavanya agreed, glad that there was finally another woman who had the guts to hate Natasha as much as she did.
"So, tell me, why exactly am I being introduced to every single male in this room who isn't in a relationship?" Khushi swiftly interrogated.
Lavanya momentarily gaped at Khushi for catching on extremely quickly, "Well, I just thought ... I mean, if ASR is going to go around having fun ... shouldn't you too?"
"I'm not into that kind of stuff La," Khushi replied agitatedly.
"Not even to make him jealous? After all if Natasha is here ..." Lavanya need not say more.
Khushi turned to face Lavanya with a full on smirk which Lavanya gladly returned - for entirely different reasons.
In that moment, Lavanya was reminded of why her gut instinct had told her that she and Khushi would get along great and this was her evidence.
Khushi was just as diabolical as she was; behind that angelic face resided a mischievous, sinful devil, who was finally going to put Arnav Singh Raizada back in his rightful place - and finally, finally heave his head that had been stuck in his ass for far too long now.
Giggling, the two girls linked arms and continued their tirade with the rest of the male population.
**
"Plan A: Part One complete, let's instigate Part Two," Anjali whispered to her husband after receiving the confirming wink from Lavanya from across the room - the signal had been given.
"Instigate? What are we in the navy?" Shyam asked looking at his wife, he retracted in his steps upon her deadly glare - reminding him that though she was now a Jha, she was born a Raizada; "Shall we?" he offered his arm to her with a gulp.
"We shall," Anjali giggled at her husband as she linked arms and walked towards her younger brother who had forgotten about her having been too entranced with Khushi's whereabouts.
Shyam and Anjali bit back grins as NK punched the air victoriously behind Arnav as they all followed his scorching gaze to Khushi and the new man who she was chatting with.
"Chotte? What are you still doing here?" Anjali asked him, reaching out to cup his cheek.
Arnav jumped slightly at the contact and looked at his sister, who had only moments ago told him that she was far too busy to help him with whatever he needed - right now, she looked anything but busy.
Arnav narrowed his eyes, but then quickly reminded himself that this was his Di -she would never manipulate him - right?
"Nothing Di, I was just about to come find you," he replied sweetly as he turned back to look at NK, who had composed himself by then.
"Let's go then, the rest of the family is waiting do complete the arti. NK Bhai, why don't you go get Khushiji and Lavanya - they're amongst the crowd somewhere."
"No Di, it's ok, I'll go get them." Arnav offered; however it seemed more like a command as he thundered towards the unsuspecting females.
**
Khushi laughed prettily at a joke that one of Lavanya's friends had made - she was enjoying the night far more than she had expected herself to. Her smile faltered as she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck; the hair at her nape stood erect. She craned her neck around to witness a storming Arnav Singh Raizada heading in her direction.
Her eyes widened and before she could make her escape, he stood in front of her.
And right there, in front of everybody, he swooped down and planted chaste kiss on her cheek, branding her his, and that rendered her speechless.
She gaped at him with doe like eyes; drinking in the storm behind his wild honey coloured eyes as they glowered menacingly at all and any male in that room who dared gaze upon her with any expression other than one of platonic friendship. Her eyes travelled down the hard panes of his features until they rested on the soft pillows of his lips that were sinfully delicious - such a contrast to the rest of his hard exterior and attitude.
She felt ashamed that she yearned to kiss the man who held no other label to her life other than her pretend boyfriend; the very same man who she had caught in a compromising position with another woman a couple nights ago.
She felt her anger rise, but she had to remind herself of her unfortunate position.
"Di is waiting to do the arti," was all the explanation he gave before he slipped one firm electrifying arm around her waist and led her away from the astonished crowd.
"Part 2 - Accomplished." Lavanya texted, as she calmly followed couple.
**
Arnav languidly stood back and watched with searching eyes as Khushi took the plate from his Di and carried out her own arti.
He could not explain what had possessed him when he had taken her into his arms and smacked a kiss on her cheek in front of everyone, but what he did know was that Khushi and he were in for a long due conversation.
Still keeping his scalding gaze on her, he took the plate from her and quickly finished his duties to please his Di and Nani.
He repeatedly checked his watch, desperate for the pooja to end so that he could steal Khushi away from everyone.
As his Di started to hand out the presaad, he sighed with relief; quickly taking the sugar-free laddu from his Di and heading straight for Khushi.
"We need to talk, mind joining me?" he questioned quietly in her ear, keeping eye contact with her so that she could not say no to him in front of the family.
Hesitantly she nodded, and that was all her needed before he grabbed her hand in his in a protective manner and led her away from prying eyes.
She turned back to look at Lavanya who urged her on with thumbs up - and the rest of the family who seemed a bit too jovial.
**
"What do you think you are playing at?" He thrust her upon a wall as soon as they reached the poolside.
Khushi struggled under the hard form of his body, unable to move an inch from his tight grip against her waist.
"Let me go," she pushed against his chest. He swiftly caught both her wrists and locked them behind her back with one hand, pulling her even closer to him so that her entire body was pressed tightly against him. The only distance between them now was their articles of clothing.
"Not until I get some answers." He ground, his face dangerously close to hers.
She could feel his hot breaths fanning against her cheeks and lips, making her never endings tingle with anticipation and hidden delight.
'Stop it Khushi,' She berated herself for her errant thoughts, forcing herself to focus on the situation.
"What is there to explain?" She questioned him.
He almost let out a laugh of disbelief.
"What's to explain?" He asked her incredulously. "Well, fine. Let's start with the reason why you are ignoring me."
"I'm not ignoring you."
"Don't play smart with me Khushi Kumari Gupta, because we both know that you will lose miserably."
"How absolutely arrogant of you!" She cried, thrusting against his body with force that made him stagger backwards slightly, however, it wasn't enough for him to relinquish his hold on her.
"Sweetheart, I'm Arnav Singh Raizada. Arrogance is my middle name. Now stop avoiding the question; why have you been avoiding me this week?"
"Why do I need to answer your questions Arnav Arrogance Raizada?" Arnav bit the inside of his cheek to stop the smile that pained to form on his lips. "That was never in our agreement. My duty is to be your pretend girlfriend for a month. Never once did you state that I had to explain myself to you."
"Fine. I will change the terms of the contract. You are to be my girlfriend for the rest of the month." He smirked.
"Did you not hear what I just said? I am pretending to be your girlfriend." She scrunched her nose in confusion.
Arnav leant down and kissed her cute button nose, unable to believe how adorable she was.
Khushi recoiled back in shock; however with the hold that Arnav had on her, it resulted with her thrusting her breasts harder against his chest; her back arching perfectly.
Arnav clenched his jaw at the feel of her soft curved pressed so intimately against his own body. How he craved to take her then and there.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" He questioned though gritted teeth. "You will be my real girlfriend, strings attached - emotionally and physically." His voice whispered against her ears.
With that he let go of her hands, his own hands cupped her soft face and brought her plump lips against his.
Khushi froze with shock as his lips traced her own. She was right, his lips were sinful. They were so soft, so luscious, moulding against hers in an inviting passion that she couldn't help but to respond.
Her fingers grasped the lapels of his suit as she thrust herself upon him and trailed her hands to hook onto the nape of his neck and his hair. Her fingers threaded through his soft locks, breaking the strands form the tough hold his gel had on it, whereas her other hand stroked the small hairs on the back of his neck.
He shivered at the sensation.
He brought her closer, his hand slipping over the curve of her breast, past the thin net that did nothing to veil her skin and rested against her stomach that was corded with tension. He languidly traced around the hip chain that he had placed there as he tilted her head for better access.
His hot tongue slipped out, taking a good taste of her lips that tasted so sweet and slightly tangy due to her lip-gloss. His tongue pressed against her teeth requesting for permission and after some hesitance, she opened her mouth for him. He slipped into her crevice, tasting her properly for the first time.
She tasted of a strange combination of yoghurt, cucumber and champagne with a hint of sweetness that could only be defined as Khushi. Their tongues danced together, tangling and stroking with tenderness.
Placing one last lingering kiss on her lips, he pulled back, taking in heaved breaths.
Khushi remained still with closed eyes, revelling in the moment. Her long lashes rested against her cheek that he tenderly stroked with affection.
Her eyes fluttered open, they were glazed with passion.
She blushed prettily under his soft gaze.
Then it all crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
With a gasped sob, she pushed him away.
The heavens opened up and started throbbing down with stinging rain drops which matched the agonizing tears that dripped down her cheeks; followed by thunder that harmonized with her mounting anger.
Arnav stood stunned.
What the hell had just happened?
A.N.
Ok, Ok, I know! This chapter is way overdue! Which is why I wrote an exceptionally long chapter! I hope you liked it and I do apologise for the late update - but I was struggling to find the inspiration to complete this chapter and today it returned to me! Let me know what you think and I will be back soon with Chapter 9!
Edited by -kitti- - 12 years ago
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