Arhi SS : Who Knew? COMPLETED *Awarded* - Page 7

Waiting for the next part. 😃

Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, but i'm here with chapter 2 finally. I'm so happy with the response I got for this, thank to everyone who took the time to comment and hit the like button. Now...enjoy!

Chapter 2

"La, he said that I'm not marriage material! Is that true?!" Khushi asked her best friend Lavanya.

"Of course not Khushi! NK doesn't understand anything, I'm glad you guys broke up! You'll be a great wife, I know it" she reassured her friend.

"But that's just it...I don't want to be a wife! I don't want to get married anyways. But...it still bothers me!"

"Just forget about it, okay? Look, my boss is having a party to celebrate the success of a new fashion line launching. All employees are invited, and we're allowed to bring a date! Wanna be mine?" Khushi could picture Lavanya waggling her eyebrows at her.

"Your boss...as in Akaash?" Khushi asked.

"Yes, the hot one!" she squealed in excitement.

"He's married, have some shame!" Khushi chuckled.

"But his brother isn't'" she said. "Arnav is way hotter anyways".

"Okay, whatever. I'll be there" she smiled.

"Great, I'll pick you up at 8!" said Lavanya happily.

---

"Bhai pleasseee! You're their boss too; everyone will be expecting you there!" Akaash pleaded.

"I don't want to go! I'll be around a lot of people, and I hate having to make conversation! No way" Arnav replied.

"I promise it won't be long! You know I wont be able to stay, especially now that Payal is pregnant. I have to be around her all the time!" Akaash attempted to convince him.

"Chotey!" Anjali walked in with her thali. "Nani and I need to talk to you about something important" she said smiling.

Oh no, it's probably about marriage he thought. "Di, I can't because I'm busy right now"

"Doing what...? You're not busy at all, come with me!" she said tugging on his arm.

"I am busy! I'm...getting ready"

"For what, may I ask?" she asked suspiciously, hands on her hips.

"Akaash is throwing a party for all the employees, and being their boss...I have to attend as well" he blurted out.

Anjali turned to Akaash questioningly. "Erm, yeah Di, it's true. Bhai is coming with me" mumbled a confused Akaash.

This caused Anjali to narrow her eyes at her little brothers. "Fine! But after your party, we need to talk. Got it?"

"Fine Di, if it's really that important" he said rolling his eyes.

Anjali clapped her hands together in excitement and left the room.

"I thought you said you weren't coming!" Akaash exclaimed.

"And now I've changed my mind. Let's go" he muttered, clearly annoyed with his own situation.

2 hours later

Arnav stood with a drink in his hands, looking around at the large mass of people, talking, drinking, and mingling with one another.

A tap on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. A beautiful young lady stood smiling at him, flashing her pearly whites.

"Hi, I'm Lavanya" she said holding out a hand.

"Arnav" he shook her hand.

"So what's a man like you doing here all alone? Why aren't you talking to everyone else like your brother?"

"I'm not much of a social person...if you haven't already noticed" he smirked at her.

"Lavanya!!! Do you think they have jalebis-" Khushi rushed towards Lavanya, and instead collided into a muscular figure.

"What the!" Arnav glanced at his expensive black suit that was now tinged with an inky stain that came from a glass of...kala khatta?

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bump -"

He looked up to meet a pair of beautiful eyes. Green-grey, doe-like eyes. Creamy complexion, long brown waves of hair. Very pretty, he noticed. But the remark was short lived, as he remembered his suit.

"Do you even know how expensive this suit is?"

"Look, I'm sorry! I'll pay for dry cleaning if you'd like" she insisted, while stuffing a pastry in her mouth.

"Can't you watch where you're going??" asked an irritated Arnav, still astonished as she stood there casually, eating. Most people, or most women to be in fact, would never have the audacity to stand in front of Arnav Singh Raizada after committing such a grave mistake. "Why are people like you even allowed to come to parties?" whispered Arnav to himself.

Khushi gasped. "Excuse me?! Fine, I take all that back, I'm not sorry! You and your arrogant stature were in my way! And I can go to whatever party I want to, who are you to decide?" Khushi shot back.

"Khushi, shut up" muttered Lavanya as a warning under her breath.

"Why should I? I was just trying to be nice, and instead this guy decides to be so impolite!" she exclaimed.

"Look Arnav, I apologize on her behalf. She'll pay for dry-cleaning if that helps?" Lavanya offered.

Khushi grumbled something under her breath and pouted. He noted how adorable she looked when she was angry, and decided to keep at it.

"If I wait that long, the stain will seep through. I need to clean it right now. And she will help me" he said nudging his head in her direction.

"What?!? Are you crazy? I'm not helping you with anything" she held her head up high.

Lavanya elbowed her and whispered "Please Khushi, just go help him! He's Arnav; remember I was telling you about how he's my boss's brother? What if he fires me? Please, you have to help" she pleaded. Khushi narrowed her eyes and sighed.

"Urgh! Fine, I'll help you clean your stupid stain" she started walking towards the restroom with a smirking Arnav following.

Upon reaching the ladies washroom, she mumbled "Take it off".

"Why are we in the ladies washroom? And'what?" he asked confusedly.

"Because I am a lady, in case you haven't noticed. And I said, take it off. Your suit'"

"Oh, right..." he handed her his suit, trying not to think about how wrong it had sounded in his confusing little mind.

Khushi grabbed a handful of soap and started rubbing at the stain with water. Arnav took the time to look at Khushi thoroughly. A stunning figure, she was dressed in a red sweater dress, and black high heel boots that reached her knees. She had fashion sense too, impressive he thought.

Khushi looked over at him and noticed how the red stain had affected not only his suit, but the dress shirt underneath.

"Aw shit, it's on that shirt too'" she muttered guiltily. "Here, hand it over, I'll clean both" she muttered, hoping that he would refuse, dismiss the idea and let her leave so she could go indulge in some more food.

"Are you crazy? What if someone walks in here and sees, what will people think?"

"Oh big deal! A girl and a guy...the guy has no shirt on'they can connect the dots!" she winked.

Arnav's eyebrows knitted together in confusion and disbelief. So she wanted to be funny? Well two could play at that game.

"Okay. But why only my shirt? If we want people to connect the dots, maybe you should take something off as well?"

Her mouth formed a perfect "O" as she gasped at his mocking words. This made Arnav chuckle, which was very very rare. Nevertheless he took off his shirt, ignoring her suddenly apprehensive gaze, and handed it to her.

Khushi concentrated on the task at hand, which was not easy at all considering the fact that there was a ridiculously attractive man who was half naked, standing right beside her.

'Khushi, do not fall for it. Concentrate!' she reminded herself. 'Wash the shirt...wash the shirt...wash the shirt...watch his abs...watch his abs?' Khushi huffed in annoyance at her ludicrous thoughts. She finally gave up.

"Look Arnav, this is the best I can do. The stain is practically gone, just give it to the dry cleaners, and it will be as good as new, okay?" she shoved both pieces of clothing at his chest, and turned to leave.

"Wait!" he felt weird letting her go, as if he was losing something important. "I'm sorry I was so rude with you before. Will you at least tell me your name? It's only fair; you seem to have figured mine out already"

She smiled warmly, not noticing the effect it had on him. "Well there are some things in life that are not fair Mr. Raizada, and then there are a lot of things in life which you must earn. My name being one of them" she said and walked away.

********

Arnav Singh Raizada entered Shantivan with a muddled mind, Akaash accompanying him. Familiar green eyes kept invading his thoughts...

"Okay Bhai, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, and thanks for coming tonight" he smiled and walked up the stairs.

As if on cue, Anjali and Nani walked into the family room quite nervously.

"Chotey, it's time to talk. Sit with us" Anjali led him to sit on the sofa.

"I already know what this is about. Marriage, right? But how many times am I going to tell you that I'm just not interested! I don't want to get married, and I never will" he said.

"Chotey, why are you being so stubborn? Do you plan on staying alone for the rest of your life?" Anjali tried reasoning with him.

Nani thought it would be the right time to step in. "Chotey, we have already decided that you are getting married. And I'm sorry for not consulting with you beforehand, but we have accepted a proposal as well"

"You...WHAT? How could you do that Nani? And Di! You knew about it and you let it happen? Marriage is no joke, and you expect me to marry someone without even getting to know them?" he exclaimed.

"Chote, you can take all the time that you want to get to know her. But we have accepted the proposal and you are getting married, that's final" she said.

"No, I'm sorry but I am not getting married. Especially not to some random girl you guys have picked out, no way" Arnav stood up to leave; rage was written all over his face.

Nani got up after him, took a deep breath and decided that it was her time to shine.

"Nani!!!" Anjali screamed, as Nani started to faint in her arms. Arnav turned around, all anger forgotten and rushed to his grandmother.

"Oh my goodness Chotey, do you see the effect your decisions are having on her? Look at her, she's falling sick!" she chided him.

"But Di..." he muttered, suddenly scared for his grandmother's condition.

"I'm okay Anjali bitiya, forget about it. Chotey will never listen. Why would he? It's not like he cares about his Nani, and it's not like he realizes that I'm only doing this for her own good. I just...can't bear the thought of him not getting married. I feel so..." she wiped a fake tear away.

"Ugh, Nani!" he complained nervously.

"You're right Nani, he'll never understand" Anjali played along.

"FINE. Ok, I agree to the proposal! Just don't fall sick Nani, please" he begged.

"You will?" Anjali could not hide her excitement much longer.

"Yes, but I'm not promising anything! Do you guys get that? I'm only considering it! If I don't like the girl, we're calling it off. Is that understood?" he asked.

"Thank you Chotey, for listening. One month, just try it out for one month and if it doesn't work out you can break it off. I'm proud of your decision" Nani said happily.

Arnav rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just go get some rest Nani, we'll discuss the rest later" and with that, he walked away, not noticing the grins exchanged between his sister and grandmother.

*********

Khushi slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out of Lavanya's car.

"Bye La, see you later!" she said.

"Thanks for coming with me! Although you almost got me fired" Lavanya laughed.

"Yeah but you didn't get fired, did you? Because I agreed to help that Laad Governor Arnav" she grumbled, more annoyed at the fact that she was still thinking about him. "Plus, where there is Khushi, there's bound to be some drama as well" Khushi flashed a grin.

Minutes later, Khushi entered her house. "Hay re Nandkishore! Sanka Devi, where are you coming home from?" Buaji questioned.

"A party! I was at a bar! Drinking and dancing with boys'" she said casually.

Buaji gasped loudly. "Hein??? Sharab? Ladke?!"

Khushi giggled and hugged Buaji tightly. "I'm just kidding!"

"Get off me Pagli!" she squealed as Khushi hugged her tighter.

Garima and Shashi noticed the disquietude, and concluded that only Khushi would be able to cause so much ruckus in the house.

"Khushi bitiya, we need to speak with you" Shashi muttered nervously.

"Of course Babuji! Let's talk" she settled them down on the sofa and waited for them to continue.

"Uh, Khushi'it's about your marriage" Garima said.

"Oof! Not again! I don't want to get married guys. I'm not ready" she declared.

"Khushi bitiya, listen to me. We know that you think that you're not ready, but you are. And we got an excellent proposal for you...so we accepted it" Shashi closed his eyes, knowing what was going to come next, while Garima's hands twitched to cover her ears.

"WHAT? You accepted?? How could you guys do this without my permission?!" she yelled. "Do I have no right to choose my own husband? Or even have a say in it?" she exclaimed dramatically.

"We're sorry Khushi, but you would have never agreed if we asked you in advance. We're only trying to do what's best for you" Garima said softly.

"Doing what's best for me? By getting me married to some random guy!?"

"Now Khushi, he's no random guy. He's a very well known business man. He has a wonderful family, and he's quite rich as well" Shashi said.

"And his name is Ar - " Garima was about o say, but she was cut off by Khushi.

"I really couldn't care less! You guys suck" she said.

"Please bitiya, if you love your father, you will at least give this a chance" Shashi said placing a hand on her shoulder.

Khushi had lost both her parents at the mere age of 4, not remembering much about them. It was Shashi Gupta who had brought her in and showed Khushi a new meaning to life. She would do anything for this loving family, especially her father.

Khushi sighed. "I hate when you use that line on me. Fine, I'll try it out. But if it doesn't work, I'm allowed to break it off!" she said.

"Yes, yes of course. Thank you for agreeing Khushi. It's very mature of you" Garima said.

Mature? She suddenly recalled NK's words about being she was immature. So if this decision of hers made her mature, maybe it would prove to NK that she was in fact capable of being someone's wife. Maybe this plan wouldn't be so bad after all...

"So when do I get to meet him?" she asked excitedly.

"Erm...tomorrow we'll be going to their place" muttered Shashi, terribly confused about his daughter's mood swings.

"Great! Anyways, I'm going to bed. Goodnight everyone!" she said chirpily and smiled heading upstairs to her room.

Garima frowned and looked at her husband. "I swear she was upset about it a couple of minutes ago. What happened to her?"

Shashi got more comfortable in his seat and smiled. "Beats me".

Except Shashi knew his daughter better than anyone else. She was scheming in that clever little mind of hers, and her father knew it very well.

***********

Tomorrow. Tomorrow she had a big day ahead of her.

She slipped into her pajamas and looked out into the night sky, praying to Devi Maiya in her head.

Please, I need to prove this to myself. You know me Devi Maiya; I just can't back away from a challenge. And NK said I'm not marriage material! But I am, aren't I? Anyways'I need this to work. Whoever this man is, please let him be nice enough to understand my plight and my terms. I need to make a deal with him Devi Maiya, how else will I know the answer to my question? How else will I rub it in NK's face that I'm capable of being someone's wife? Please Devi Maiya, let tomorrow be a good day.

She got into bed and dreamed of pouring a glass of juice on a man with beautiful caramel coloured eyes and a husky voice, so that he would take his shirt off...again.

**************

Arnav on the other hand, could not sleep.

Why?

Because he was worried about this so called wedding of his that was taking place.

He was worried about meeting this random girl who he was supposed to marry.

And most importantly, he was worried about the fact that he couldn't get a certain girl off of his wretched mind.

________________________________

So how was the chapter guys? Let me know what you think, I love reading your comments! Hit the like button if you enjoyed it! And buddy me for PMs😊

'A certain girl off of his wretched mind.' I loved that line for some odd reason. Maybe because I personally love the word 'wretched' I am weird I know. :P Anyways, I love Khushi's sparky attitude. The girl gets angry very easily doesn't she. Totally reminds me of myself when I deal with the species called men. Lol. Arnav is going to be on for a ride, which I think he needs, and Khushi is gonna get more sparky thanks Arnav. Oh the joys of love.

cute...waiting for the two to meet

loved it..was cute and the rest room scene was so cute

wonderful story...loved it...plz update soon...

Great update...

interesting, please pm me when u update

superb !!! loved it.. do update soon would like to see their meeting happening and their reactions.. thanks for pm 😊