FF:Fate by Chance Destiny by Choice Ch16p144 12/21 - Page 55

Khushi draped her dupatta over her shoulder and brought it up front under her arm. These things were always heard to manage. Keeping a fixed smile on her face she made her way from one group of people to another. There were new introductions made, new faces scene, the usual like the last one.

She subtly looked around the large hall hoping to get a glimpse of Arnav. Thinking about it now, maybe she was a little rude to him. The poor guy just did what came to his mind. Was he really poor? She doubted, she had seen with a girl at that restaurant and then the girls here always seem to be gushing about. Lord, they didn't even have the decency to shut up when around her. What was up with the young generation, gosh!

"Heyyy there bhabhi number 2" Dhruv jokingly skid in front of her.

"You can call me Khushi" she smiled at him cheerfully.

"Cant do that, dadaji will kill me with his eyes" he narrowed his eyes in mock anger.

Khushi laughed in spite of it not being that funny.

"How about bhabz?" he asked.

"No! I do not like that word" she pouted.

"Oh whats wrong with it. Cause of the z? jeez bhabz you know its cool" he put his arm around her shoulder.

"Just call me Khushi bha'"

"Khushi! There you are I have been looking for you. Come here, I would like you to meet one of my really good friends and'." Abhay strode to her and pulled her away into the crowd.

"Khushi bha'.not bad, a bit weird'but will do" Dhruv spoke to himself in a deep voice, stroking his chin as if thinking about something really important.

Khushi hopped a little to keep up with the long strides of the man next to her. He was so like Arnav'or Arnav was so like him. Why couldn't these men walk normally? Who was going to look at their proper, strong, confident stride in a party?

Shutting her thoughts she made a small conversation with dadaji, hoping that would make him slow down a little.

She was standing in a group of old men, talking and smiling when needed, how did she manage to get into situations like this?

Out of nowhere, a girl in, again similar dressing, pencil skirt and a really pretty deep neck grey blouse appeared next to her.

"khushi right?" she shook Khushi's hand.

"Yes" Khushi smiled kindly.

"I am Lavanya Kashyap. We met at your party sometime back'" Lavanya reminded her.

Khushi didn't need to be reminded, how she could not remember. She had pushed the girl to a corner in the back of her head but could not kick her out. Something something caught up with Arnav'..my foot!

"Yeah I remember you" she smiled again. She had no interest whatsoever to converse with the woman.

"May I borrow the lady for a while?" Lavanya asked the men.

"Of course you can. Khushi this is Mr. Kashyap's daughter. We just signed on a new project together, hence the party tonight. Also Arnav and her are really good friends. You two should get to know each other too" dadaji put his hand on Khushi's back and gave her a slight push to leave.

"Ji dadaji. I'll see you around" she smiled and walked off with the girl clicking her high heels beside her.

Lavanya grabbed a flute glass of champagne from the passing waiter and they settled to hang out near the appetizers.

"So Khushi Gupta, tell me about yourself" asked Lavanya as she popped a cheese cube in her mouth.

"Hmm, there isn't really much to tell. I work as a counselor at an Institute and the rest of the time I am just a plain girl, family, friends, chores'" Khushi casually shrugged her shoulders.

"What about you?"

"I am basically my dad's business partner. I handle nearly everything, the shows, costumes, meetings, presentations, decision making, you know it works" she smiled haughtily.

"Umm no not really...I don't know how it works" Khushi replied uncertainly.

"That's fine. It is difficult to grasp. So how did Arnav and you meet?" she switched topics.

"It was arranged. My brother in law works with dadaji, that's how it all happened" Khushi explained.

"Ah I c" Lavanya nodded her head taking a sip of her drink.

"You weren't there at the engagement'?" Khushi asked.

"Yeah was out of country for a meeting. I was not informed about it until I got back, it was quite a surprise."

"Oh okay"

"Honestly I was a bit hurt as well. I mean Arnav and I are really close, or shall I say were really close. He didn't tell me anything you know, didn't even drop a hint" she confessed.

"I am sorry. Did you guys go to school together?"

"Yeah did our bachelors and masters together. There was a lot to our relationship'but oh well its in the past" she smiled.

"Yeah it was in the past" Khushi whispered, annoyance kind of creeping up her veins.

"If you ever want to know anything about Arnav just ask me. I will tell you everything you need to know about him" suggested Lavanya.

"Thanks but I prefer finding out myself. I am gonna go find bhabhi" Khushi finished off their conversation and turned to leave, bumping in to a hard body.

"I couldn't have agreed more" Arnav replied in a deep voice holding her upper arms.

"Arnav! Where were you all this time?" Lavanya chimed from behind.

"Nowhere, the usual talking to people" he replied back without even glancing at her.

"I have to go'" Khushi tried to move.

"Sure, lets go" Arnav trailed his one hand down the arm length and took her hand in his, clasping around firmly.

"I have to go'" Khushi tried to move.

"Sure, lets go" Arnav trailed his one hand down the arm length and took her hand in his, clasping around firmly.

Just by that simple touch, every spark of doubt, annoyance, impatience left Khushi's body, leaving her peaceful'like at home. Weird.

"You have made it a habit I think to drag me around at a party" Khushi spoke tilting her head up, their footsteps in sync.

"Have I?" he asked again with a confused look.

"Yes. Where are we going?" she asked.

"Just outside the ballroom for some fresh air" he pulled on to her hand and increased his speed.

They sat down on the sofas arranged in front of the reception desk. It indeed felt good to get out of the stuffy hall and get some air.

"Friday night dinner?" he asked his head leaned back on the sofa and eyes closed.

"Will you pick me up?" her voice cracked.

She was not nervous. Was she?

"Of course. At seven?"

"Sure that should work."

~~~

Friday night did not take a second long to come. Khushi was sane enough to know she was not in la la land but by the look of how her days went by, she was definitely in a pre la la land. How did that happen, she had no idea. Just, alone the idea of having Arnav in her life, made her all warm and serene.

Secretly she was excited for tonight. Actually she was dying to see him, but hell no was she going to officially accept that.

Still in her thoughts, she slowly held the two braids together and pinned them behind with the rest of the hair. She didn't even realize the extra efforts she was putting in dressing up.

Absent mindedly she smoothed away the nonexistent wrinkled from her peach grey, floral, wide flat neck dress.

"Are you guys going on a picnic?" Shyam asked from behind, leaning on the door frame.

"What? No we are not" Khushi frowned.

"Oh then why are you dressed like youre going on a picnic in the park?" he asked genuinely confused.

"What?! I am not dressed like that!" Khushi nearly yelled.

"Yes you are. There are flowers on your dress and the colors are light and warm'so for a sunny day..out in the park'" he drawled.

"Oh be quiet!" she snapped and checked herself out in the mirror.

"I don't know where we are going. Shall I quickly change?" she asked urgently.

Right then the door bell rang.

Shyam grinned wickedly, "too late sis" and moved to go down the stairs to get the door.

"No! Shyam wait!" Khushi called out to him.

"What?"

"Tell me honestly how do I look?" she asked panicked.

"Fine'"

"Shyam!"

"Gosh very beautifulll" he stretched the word.

~~~

Again, Khushi didn't understand how it slipped her mind that obviously they would dine at a very rich elegant restaurant. Hell she didn't know Delhi actually had such places. She underestimated her own city, oh so silly of her.

But not once did Arnav show any negative expression in any way. In fact he seemed rather blown away, maybe?

Not wanting to imagine expressions, Khushi shook her head and sipped on her coke.

All they had talked about so far was work, work and work.

Across from her, Arnav just wanted to sit back in his chair and stare at her for the rest of the evening.

Her long, creamy, toned arms, the wide exposed expanse of her neck, her bangs on her forehead, her delicate figure, drew him to her like a magnet. If only he could reach out and touch her'take her in arms'then what?

He had to push this phase forward if he wanted to get anywhere near her.

"Khushi'we are here to know each other. Let's not talk about work. I think I know enough about what you do and so do you" he spoke carefully.

"That's exactly what I was thinking" she replied waking up from her boredom and thoughts.

"Great!" he sounded excited.

"Why don't we start with exchanging our numbers?" Khushi suggested.

"What? You don't have my number?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

"I don't. Do you have mine?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

"I don't. But ' "

"No buts. If you don't have mine, then you can't narrow your eyes at me for not having your number"

"I did not narrow my eyes"

"You just did!"

"We are arguing again"

"Ugh note it down'" she calmed herself down and gave him her number.

"Do want to get out of here?" he asked after clearing the contact info argument.

"Yes please" she got up immediately.

They walked around the parking lot, their hands awkwardly brushing against each other and finally bonded.

All that heavy food definitely must have digested by the time they reached their car.

Without any warning, Arnav in a flash took her arm and had her lean against the car door, with his tall hard form blocking her front.

"Seriously, did you have a good time?" he asked her huskily.

"Y-yes" she barely whispered, still in shock by his sudden move.

He took a step closer, "did I make you uncomfortable?"

"N-no not until now" she shook her head.

"Oh sorry!" he stepped back.

"You're fine" she nervously tucked her bangs behind her ear.

"So if it was good, we can meet again, tomorrow" he planned without thinking.

"Right, sure, but.."

"But what?" he asked worried.

"I uh I umm" she hesitated.

"Just say it Khushi" he snapped.

"Okay! You don't need to snap. I um really appreciate the flowers and the fancy dinner but I umm would prefer if we did things normally'I mean I am used to simple, regular things, this was great don't get me wrong, but I don't think I can do this on a regular basis'" she fumbled with her words but successfully got her point across.

She waited, looking at him expectantly while he processed her words.

A small smile crept on the corners of his mouth, "I understand"

"Phew!" she released the breath she was holding.

"I am glad you told me" he smiled.

"Me too" she returned him the smile.

"So why don't you take me out tomorrow instead?" he smirked.

"Huh?" her eyes widened slightly.

"Yeah, I am not challenging you. I just want to see how your day for spending time together is like'" he elaborated.

"I uhh take you out'where?" she asked nervously.

"Wherever you would like to go Khushi" he teased her fingers with his.

"Okay" she nodded her head.

Awesome.

Arnav's face brightened as he gave her a half smile and slowly brought her hand up to place a soft kiss over her knuckles.

Her body sizzled and melted like butter in a hot pan.

Exactly what will happen when things get more serious?

"It's late, shall we leave?" he spoke against her hand.

The feel of his lips moving over skin, erased every sensibility from her.