Master Class Thread 1:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3109738
Master Class Thread 2:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3158974
Thread 3 index:
Chapter 33: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/65286041
Chapter 34: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3196303?pn=29
Chapter 35: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/65499153
Chapter 36: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/65661657
Chapter 37: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/65800162
Chapter 38: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/65942726
Chapter 39: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3196303?pn=93
Chapter 40: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66195637
Chapter 41:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66264667
Chapter 42: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66386999
Thread 4 Index:
Chapter 43: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66452040
Chapter 44: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66525127
Chapter 45: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66679089
Chapter 46: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66756723
Chapter 47: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66818905
Chapter 48: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/66895649
Chapter 49: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67187013
Chapter 50: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67293631
Chapter 51: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67505762
Chapter 52: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67505762
Chapter 53: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67704702
chapter 54: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/67844862
Chapter 51
As Arnav strode into his office and sat down, Mrs J appeared with a cup of coffee and set it down in front of her young boss. He looked slightly tense she decided as she waited for her instructions. Arnav didn't waste any time and began firing directives; his aim was to be out of the office by 6:00pm and he was ruthless with his speed; Mrs J thanked her lucky stars and her years of experience that she was able to keep up with him.
Arnav took a deep breath as he watched Mrs J leave the office after she bid him a good night. Leaning back, he paused as he considered the arrangements in place for AR over the next few days. While he might only be away for three days in business terms anything could happen within AR's national and international operations and he had to ensure that systems were in place to deal with any type of event in his absence. Satisfied with arrangements, Arnav turned his attention to the trip. This is where the nervousness appeared. Arnav closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Even though the trip was planned and he was quite happy with what he had arranged at such short notice, he was well aware of the fact that this whole exercise would be pointless if Khushi didn't oblige. He glanced at his phone; 2 missed calls and a voice mail waited for him from her. He picked up his phone to call her and then decided against it; he would be seeing her in the next sixty minutes.
===========================
Khushi was exhausted; Aman-ji had given her a data report to complete at the last minute and all her plans of racing to AR to talk to Arnav had vanished into thin air. As her fingers raced across her keyboard, irritation joined exhaustion; why hadn't he called her back?? She had clearly said in her voice message that she needed to talk to him and that it was important...urrrghhh.
Arnav stood in the doorway of her office as he watched the woman who was currently the focus of his universe staring her computer screen, completely oblivious to his presence.
'Hi...'
Khushi's head swung up. He was here in the flesh. Momentarily delighted, then infuriated, her eyes narrowed at his disregard for her calls. Having said that, Khushi couldn't help it as her eyes betrayed her and she greedily drank him in. He looked every inch like a successful executive'a very handsome and powerful Chief Executive Officer. He wore a tailored black suit and blinding white shirt which was usual, yet everything about him seemed different, his eyes intense as he assessed her.
Khushi stood up and walked to the front of her desk and leaned against it as she looked at him. Under normal circumstances, Khushi was accommodating of his schedule and understood the conflicting demands on his time, but today she decided to forgo pleasantries. 'I called you... and I left a message and you didn't call back...'
Oh oh, was about the only thing that came to Arnav's mind at the moment; clearly the battle was about to begin sooner than expected and he could kiss the thought of a warm welcome goodbye.
Shamelessly Arnav decided now was the time to turn on the charm and hopefully weaken her anger as he walked towards Khushi and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. Khushi groaned inwardly, he was warm and hard and she missed the feel of him so close... urrghhh Devi Maiya, I'm supposed to be angry!
'Khushi', his voice was low, his dark eyes unreadable 'I got caught up in ... well something really important came up' he murmured.
She glared at him, 'Arnav you know that I don't call you and leave messages just for the fun of it... this was... is...important too!' she snapped 'I really did need to talk to you...and you ignored me...' her voice ended in a whisper.
Arnav frowned and leaned back as he cupped her face, he could see the stress in her eyes and realised that for her to be this aggravated, it must be something quite critical. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck began rising as a sense of apprehension raced through him; was this going to wreck his plans he wondered. 'Khushi...I'm sorry... I wasn't ignoring you; I was in a meeting with Aman and...but that's beside the point...what's wrong, are you ok?' As Khushi looked into his eyes, she could see that Arnav was genuinely worried now, she took a deep breath, 'Arnav, I got...' her voice interrupted as the cleaner knocked on the door. Arnav and Khushi both simultaneously groaned as they pulled out of their hug. Arnav turned as he glared at the cleaner in annoyance who was greatly embarrassed herself and raced away.
Arnav turned back to Khushi, who had averted her eyes and was staring at something on the carpet. He frowned as his eyes as his burned with a curious mix of frustration, anxiety and irritation. The soft and gentle approach wasn't working and he was running out of time. He walked to her and placed his hand on her shoulder spinning her around to face him, 'Khushi, look at me' he ordered and she slowly raised her face. Dark, wide eyes, similar to his own, stared into his face, 'Khushi, I need you to trust me...can you do that?' There was something in his voice and the intensity with which he was looking at her, anger or no anger, Khushi knew that her implicit trust in him was something that was immovable. She nodded. He exhaled. 'Ok Khushi, you need to remember that... I'm going to take you with me but I need you to remember what you just said... that you trust me...can you do that?' Khushi's heart began pounding hard and fast in her chest, she began to feel slightly afraid. What was going here Devi Maiya?
It was time to activate the plan Arnav thought as he drew in a deep breath, 'Khushi get your bag,' he said quietly. Khushi broke her gaze from him as she moved in autopilot, gathering her things and then following him to the car. Neither spoke as Arnav drove them to an unidentified destination. After about twenty minutes Khushi's heart began racing as the airport appeared in sight. She spun her head around but Arnav was staring straight ahead at the road as he circled the main terminals, heading for the hangars that housed the private aircraft. He brought the car to a slow stop, turned off the engine and got out from the vehicle, re-emerging on her side as he opened the passenger door.
Khushi's knuckles turned white as she clutched her seat while she stared at Arnav. She watched as he slowly extended his hand to her, his gaze so powerful that it was impossible for Khushi to avert her eyes, 'trust me...' he said softly. Like a moth to a flame, Khushi couldn't help but be drawn into his spell as she placed her hand in his and stepped out of the SUV and began walking around the building with him. A uniformed man approached them and greeted Arnav and took the car keys from his hand. Khushi craned her neck as she watched the man open the boot of the vehicle and pull something out.
'Khushi...'
She turned back to face Arnav, gasping as she looked ahead. A sleek Gulfstream G550 private jet waited majestically on the runaway. Khushi stopped. Arnav turned to her, his eyes voicing the earlier message...trust me... Khushi's heart was racing; her palm encased in his was beginning to sweat as she gulped. Arnav took a deep breath as he squeezed her hand in encouragement. It was crunch time; she would either walk with him in which case there was hope. Or she would stop him and that would be the end.
To say that a million questions were racing through Khushi's mind would be the biggest understatement of the decade. Khushi's footsteps drew to a stop and Arnav's heartbeat almost did the same as he closed his eyes. Shit.
Khushi looked at their entwined hands as she swallowed in a desperate attempt to dampen her dry throat. She didn't know if she could follow him blindly. No, she had to ask him she decided. Her hand trembled in his as she sent up a prayer for strength and turned to Arnav, her big brown eyes filled with anxiety and questions. She stopped as she looked into his eyes and suddenly the word which to this date was only a collection of letters in a dictionary began to take real meaning... Trust : Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing. Khushi knew in that instant that she could substitute Arnav and trust; one for the other... each meant the same for her. She took as deep breath and began walking.
Arnav felt slightly light headed as Khushi stepped forward towards him; he couldn't remember the last time he had been so nervous about anything. He inhaled deeply as he led her to the short set of stairs leading into the aircraft.
The cabin aboard the G550 was designed to impress on embarkation, but more importantly it was planned to combine productivity with exceptional luxury and comfort. The main cabin featured up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, and a choice of configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers. However today, only Arnav and Khushi and one flight attendant boarded the aircraft, along with the female pilot and male first officer, all of whom greeted Arnav with a degree of reverence.
Arnav led Khushi to two adjoining seats and helped her with her seatbelt before he fastened his own belt. He turned to face Khushi as an overwhelming sense of love for her overcame him, she had came through for him and his heart was ecstatic yet humbled at that thought as he smiled almost shyly. Khushi's heart all but melted as she reclaimed his big hand in her tiny one, surprised at his slight tremble, she couldn't help but ask 'are you ok Arnav?' she murmured. Arnav nodded as he closed his eyes for a split second in an aim to convince himself that this was really happening.
The luxurious jet raced down the runway and Khushi leaned back in the leather seat and closed her eyes. Faster and faster until that moment just before the wheels lifted off, she clutched his hand even tighter as the aircraft left the ground and the momentum pushed her further back into her seat. After a few minutes the plane began to level as it reached cruising altitude and the flight attendant appeared to ask them if he could offer any refreshments. Given his somewhat frayed nerves, Arnav decided to depart from his normal convention and asked for a scotch on the rocks as Khushi requested water which appeared at lightning speed. Khushi drank deeply as she watched the flight attendant disappear into the galley and then turned to Arnav.
'Any chance you might want to tell me where you are taking me and why...' she said point-blank.
Arnav's lopsided smile was slightly hidden as he took a sip of his drink and then set it down.
'Where am I taking you... you'll know the answer in about 30 minutes...and why...' he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear, '...I'm kidnapping you' he whispered dramatically. Khushi moved back from him as she stared at him, 'Kidnapping me?' she parroted back as she tried desperately not to lose herself; they were close enough for her to inhale the now very familiar crisp, clean, masculine scent of him. She could just about make out the flecks of gold in his dark eyes and couldn't stop staring at the shape of his mouth which was, by the way, a very nice mouth. Arnav smiled as he watched her look at his lips, 'well I guess it's not really kidnapping you, because everyone knows that I have you...' he murmured.
Well... a wise soul had once said explosions are by their nature not meant to be comfortable, thought Arnav as he looked at Khushi... looks like a detonation was imminent he decided as he prepared himself for impact.
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