ArHi FF: If I were you-link to Ch20 pg 145 - Page 59

Chapter 9: Dandelion Dhamaka!

Arnav scratched under the collar of his starched baby blue shirt. His dark blue silk tie felt like a noose around his neck. He hadn't even loosened the knot like he usually did. The team from Singapore had arrived and he had checked them into their rooms. Whereupon they had thanked him for his help and declined the offer of drinks that night. They were too tired. "What now?" he mused. Kalika Devi would be here any minute and he didn't know what to tell her.

Khushi stepped out of her car. She was wearing a beige-colored Badgley Mischka kaftan dress that left one shoulder bare and hit several above her knee. The boring in beige was rescued by the sequined patterning on the dress and the fact that Khushi Gupta was wearing it. She could make a sack of potatoes look good. She wore strappy gold sandals with 3 inch heels on her feet. She wore her hair in a French knot from which a few long tendrils had been excluded on purpose. They curled against her cheek on one side. She wore brown eyeshadow and nude lipstick, leaving her face looking very bare. She wore no jewelry, except for a watch. She carried a clutch in one hand. Arnav felt his heart begin to race as he saw her. She looked quite lovely. And he was quite petrified.

"Good evening Mr.Raizada! Is everyone ready to leave?" she asked politely.

"Err. No."

"They need more time? No problem, I can wait."

"Actually, they don't need more time."

"I don't understand."

"They don't want to come."

"Sorry?"

"They don't want to go out for drinks tonight. They're too tired."

"You're kidding!"

"Nope!"

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I tried to call, your phone kept going to voicemail."

"Damn! What nincompoops. Such party poopers." she pouted charmingly.

"Err. Sorry. Well, I'll be going now. I have homework to do."

"What? Oh no you don't. I got dressed up and I want a drink tonight. As a matter of fact, I need a drink tonight," she said firmly. "And you're coming with me."

"Hain?" he asked, looking bewildered.

"I have reservations. I am dressed up. I want a drink. I don't want to drink alone. Ergo, you go with me. Capische?"

"Yes Ma'am!" he saluted, never one to look a gift horse, or free booze in the mouth.

"That's better. Now get in the car," she commanded. Her trusted Raju Chacha drove them to The Yellow Dandelion. He offered his arm, and she slid hers into it as they walked into the classy lounge bar. They settled into a nice corner with plush leather sofas and a low glass table. The lighting was dim, and the sound of muted conversation and clinking glasses made for a very comfortable atmosphere. Arnav shrugged out of his blazer and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Damn that feels good!" he said, flinging it aside. He loosened his tie a little and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Khushi grinned at him. "Why are you dressed like a trussed chicken tonight?" she asked.

"Well, you said Yellow Dandelion. It's a high-class place. I've never been before. I didn't want to embarrass myself, or err'you," he finished uncomfortably.

She said nothing, but beckoned to the waitress. A feeling of warmth was stealing up her heart and she didn't like it. What did you say to a man who confessed with boyish charm that he did something he disliked because he didn't want to embarrass the girl he was with? Most girls would kiss him. And then marry him. Khushi Gupta didn't want to head into those treacherous waters. The safer option was to drink. She was here to relax and unwind anyway. The day had been rough, and the evening at home, painful to say the least.

"Johnnie Walker Blue Label please," she said to the smiling girl who waited to take their order. Arnav's eyes widened. She drank Scotch? He was expecting her to order a Margarita or a pineapple mojito. Basically, a girly drink. Full of surprises was Khushi Gupta.

"The same for me please," he said.

"I bet you thought I was going to order a Strawberry Daiquiri?" she drawled.

"What?"

"Or a Apple-tini or something equally retarded, right?"

"What? No! Of course not!"

"Liar! Of course you did. All men do!"

"Err'look Ms.Gupta, what you drink is none of my business. How does it matter anyway?"

"It doesn't. Only, you men make it matter. Male chauvinists! Men are pigs, do you know that? Men are pigs!" she finished huffily.

"You haven't had anything to drink yet , have you Ma'am?" he asked hastily.

"Are you saying I'm drunk?" she asked huffily.

"Not at all Ma'am! Oh look, our drinks are here," he said thankfully.

"Cheers to the Somnolent Singaporeans?" asked Khushi, raising her glass to his.

"Cheers!" said Arnav, taking a sip and letting the smooth as silk whisky glide down his throat. He'd never had Blue Label before. It was expensive and he was poor. But since this was on the company tab and the CEO seemed to favor JW Blue, he'd decided to make hay while the sun shone.

3 drinks and half an hour later, Khushi Gupta was buzzed. Her head had that nice, unfocused feel to it. She'd forgotten about her impending surgery, about the drama at home, about her work related tension. All then stress seemed to have melted and flowed out of her limp body. She sprawled across the couch, both legs stretched out in front of her, one heeled shoe slipping off. A glass was held precariously in one hand, while the other was perched on the head of the sofa. A few more strands of hair had escaped the French knot and had fallen across her face. She looked, well, untidy. Arnav grinned and wondered if he should take a picture to tease her later. He decided to be a gentleman and not do it. He rescued the whisky glass that was hanging alarmingly loose from her hand.

"I think you've had enough, Ma'am!" he said firmly.

"No. I am fine. Not drunk, just buzzed," said Khushi smiling beatifically at him. She sounded fine, he thought. He gave the glass back to her with an admonition to hold it properly.

"And while you're at it, would you pull your dress down a little. It's pretty much Open House for anyone walking by," he said quietly. She flushed and sat back down properly. They hadn't talked much in the last half hour. She hadn't wanted to talk and he hadn't known what to say. She was his Boss, he knew something was troubling her. He wasn't a particularly sensitive man, but even he knew when someone just needed a quiet evening and a drink. And he didn't think he was on such terms with her as to force confidences. He didn't think he wanted to force confidences, even. He was still, truthfully, a little scared of her. She was everything he wasn't. Powerful, rich, successful, organized, controlled. It was intimidating. He was wondering for the hundredth time why she'd been crying that afternoon when a loud crash interrupted his thoughts.

"You bas***d!" Payal Gupta screamed. She had overturned their table and glass shards were everywhere. "You're breaking up with me? I'll show you!" she threw the glass of wine she still held in her hand on his face. Akash stood there, looking shell-shocked. He'd bought Payal here with the hope that he could explain to her why they couldn't date. He liked her, he liked her a lot, but his brother was interning for her sister, and his family didn't like the idea of him dating her. That was the official story. The truth of the matter was that he liked Payal. But not enough. He found her annoying and childish and demanding. And this was a convenient out. She had reacted badly to say the least.

Arnav and Khushi stood up to see what was happening, like the rest of the patrons at The Yellow Dandelion.

"Ohmigod, that's my sister!" she gasped.

"And she's with my brother!" Arnav grimaced.

"What?"

"That's my cousin she just dumped wine all over," said Arnav, shrugging his shoulders. Khushi gave him a look that would curdle milk and then headed over to where her sister was screaming like a Banshee.

"Payal, stop it. What's going on here?" asked Khushi.

"Jeeji! What are you doing here?" asked Payal, shocked. "And why are you dressed like this?" she looked Khushi up and down as if she were a prize heifer. She spotted Arnav behind Khushi. "Are you here on a date Jeeji? With Arnav Singh Raizada?" asked Payal dangerously.

"What? Me? No! Of course not," said Khushi hastily.

"Akash, you OK?" asked Arnav.

"I'm fine Bhai," said Akash shortly. He threw Payal a dirty look that she returned in full measure.

"So, wait a minute here. My sister can date your brother, who is interning with her. But you can't date me? What the f**k!" yelled Payal.

"I am not dating him Payal. We came here for a drink. It was supposed to be official but the others chickened out," said Khushi.

"So you came here just with him, for a drink. Dressed like this. And it's not a date?" asked Payal.

"No, it's not a date Payal. Now stop creating a scene and lets go home," said Khushi reaching for Payal's arm. Payal shrugged it off. "You pretend to be such a goody-two-shoes at home and at work. And this evening it was all, Oh I'm so sorry I have to put you all through this surgery at home. And at night you're living it up at a bar! You're so two-faced Jeeji!" screeched Payal.

Khushi fell back, turning pale. "Do what you like. I'm going home. Make a fool of yourself for all I care," she said to Payal.

"I hate you Jeeji! I hate you. And I hate you too Akash. And you, you..Arnav Singh Raizada. I don't even know you, but I hate you!"

"Listen you spoilt brat, hate whom you like. I'm taking your sister home. See you later Akash," said Arnav sternly.

He put an arm around Khushi's waist. "Come on, let's go."

She sank back into the seat, eyes closed and he sat next to her, feeling very uncomfortable. She was apparently ill, and in possession of the worst sister in history. His Di was a tad overprotective. But he preferred that to the uncaring bitch of a sister she had.

"Don't ask me anything," she said, when she felt him rustling uncomfortably in his seat.

"What surgery?" he asked.

"What part of don't ask me anything did you not understand?"

"OK. Why is your sister such a bitch?"

"Don't talk like that about my sister."

What surgery?"

"None of your business."

"Why did your brother break up with her?" she asked him.

"That's none of my business either, I'm afraid."

They pulled up outside her home. She got out of the car and so did he.

"Are you going to be OK?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. And I'll expect that report at my desk at 9am tomorrow Mr.Raizada."

"Back to Chamundeshwari avatar" he muttered under his breath.

"What was that again?"

"Nothing. I'll have the report ready for you Ma'am!"

"Goodnight Mr.Raizada. It's already late. Raju Chacha needs his sleep. I'm sure you can find an autorickshaw to take you home," she said, eyes narrowing.

"I'm sure I can," he said drily. "Thanks for the nice evening. I enjoyed our 'date' until your sister showed up."

"It wasn't a date."

"Then why'd you dress like a bomb? Surely not for Mr.Chien and Mr.Zhu. Definitely not for Ms.Kong. I think it must've been for my benefit," he winked at her.

"Actually, it was for my benefit!" said Khushi defiantly.

"Liar! See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams Khushi." He walked away whistling.

The night ended with no sleep for any of the parties concerned. Khushi was confused about her feelings for Arnav, worried about her surgery and even more worried about her sister. Arnav had a report to write and was curiouser than ever about Khushi's illness. His Di found him sprawled over his desk, asleep, the next morning. Payal was angry. Angry with her sister. Angry with Akash. And even more angry with fate that always threatened to take away the things she loved most. Her sister, and her lover. Akash was upset. Upset with the scene Payal had created. Upset that she seemed to love him so much when he had loved her not at all. And also, slightly upset that he had to pay up a huge sum of money for the destruction Payal had wreaked in The Yellow Dandelion. He was sure he was never going there again.

Devi Maiyya smiled gently. Tomorrow is another day my children, she whispered.