'STAR STRUCK'--AN ARHI FF (CHAP 10 UPDTD) - Page 12

"Good evening Mr. Raizada. Welcome to the office of Star Struck. I'm Kathrine Winslet, the producer of the show."

Arnav shook the hand that she'd offered….

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Vinslet…."

"Please call me Kate, Mr.Raizada…..so shall we go to my office??"

Arnav nodded and followed her. Midway through, she stopped and turned to face him….

"Mr. Raizada….can I ask you for a favor…??"

Arnav looked at her…"What is it?"

Kate shuffled her feet," Well actually Mr.Raizada, it so happens that the creative director of our show is a big fan of your team. I haven't told her you'd be coming….I wanted to surprise her…she's been pretty down lately you see…..so…um…I was wondering if you'd help….?"

Arnav shrugged and smile…."I'm at your service….tell me what to do…??"

Kate looked at him, surprised….he saw the look…"What??"

Kate cleared her throat…" I hope you don't mind my saying, it's just that I'd heard that you were quite an angry man and were very impatient….you don't seem like that….some people even called you an…." She stopped, feeling embarrassed….

"An arrogant bas***d…." Arnav completed the statement for her with a smile..."I know Kate…don't worry, I get that all the time. And about a year ago those sentiments would have been bang on correct…but then some things happened in my life and I realized how useless my ego and attitude were. Let's just say I'm a changed man now, and hopefully a better man too…" he smirked raising his eyebrow at her…..

Kate smiled…" Definitely Mr. Raizada…..shall we…."

She began walking and he fell in step behind her. Soon they reached the creative directors office. The secretary stood up on seeing Kate…."Good evening Mam…"

"Good evening Stephie….is she in??"

Stephie nodded and Kate made her way into the office….she turned and looked at him…."You come in when I signal OK…." Arnav nodded and Kate stepped into the office, shutting the door behind her…..

Khushi looked up at her friend and stood up to hug her…..

"Hey Kate….what brings you here at this time….??"

""The celeb for the next segment is here Khushi…."

"OK….so who's it?? And why was I not informed about this before…??"

"The answer to both your questions is that it is a surprise….so close your eyes and I'll call him in…."

Khushi shook her head at her friends antics but closed her eyes nevertheless…..Kate motioned for ASR to come in….

As Arnav opened the door, three things happened at once…..Arnav stepped in…Kate shouted " Surprise…" and Khushi's eyes flew open to look right into those pair of emerald green eyes that she'd come to know so well…..

Khushi felt like the ground had sunk below her feet and all the air had been knocked out of her lungs….she stumbled…taking a step back…clutching her desk for support because her knees felt like they'd given up…..he was here….here, after all her efforts to make herself invisible…he'd found her….Khushi felt her vision blur…she wasn't ready for this….she couldn't face him now…..her wounds were still too open….the scars on her heart far too raw….She tried to hold on….she closed her eyes trying to regain her composure…..

She'd changed so much….so different from the Khushi he remembered….she'd lost a lot of weight…her once radiant face was dull, blemished by Dark circles and bags under her eyes which spoke of sleepless nights….her eyes that used to shine with happiness were darkened by despair….what had happened to her….where was the girl he knew….had he done this to her….he closed his eyes, trying to fight the tears that threatened to fall……

Khushi opened her eyes and looked at him….even if he was here, it didn't mean anything….she wouldn't let him win this time…..she had worked really hard to build this new life for herself and she wasn't going to just let him walk in and destroy it….she looked at Kate who looked confused at their reactions….Khushi hadn't let anyone here know of her past and she was going to make sure that it stayed that way….

"Wow!! What a surprise Kate!! I was speechless for a moment!!" she spoke feigning excitement.

Arnav's eyes flew open as he heard her words….what was going on….

Khushi held out her hand to him…."It's such a pleasure to meet you Mr. Raizada…..I'm a huge fan…."

Arnav shook her hand….the contact with her skin….the frail hand within his….it burned him in a pyre of guilt….he looked into her eyes searching for a flicker of recognition, but he only met a wall of indifference….she narrowed her eyes , warning him to play along….well if this was what Khushi wanted….he played along….

"The pleasure is all mine Miss…..?""He looked at her questioningly, not letting go of her hand….

"Khushi…Khushi Gupta…." She supplied, annoyed at him for playing her game better than her and took her hand out of his grip….frustrated that his close contact still affected her so much….that it still got butterflies belly dancing in her stomach….

Kate laughed…." Gosh Khushi! You scared me for a moment….you looked like you'd seen a ghost…"

Khushi smiled….how was she to let Kate know how right she was….she'd seen a ghost….a ghost from her past….one that haunted her every day and was now here in person…but she had to keep her faade….

"Sorry Kate….it was just so unexpected…."

Kate nodded…"I can understand"

She turned to Arnav…"You know Mr.Raizada…she's crazy about your team….doesn't miss a single match….even if it airs at 2 am here….says she'd promised someone she'd watch them all…"

He looked at Khushi instantly and saw her shuffle and look at him with a mixture of embarrassment and anger….his own eyes stung with tears at the memory of that day so long ago….when she'd made the promise to him…..

FLASHBACK

Arnav was seated in Khushi's office…..things had gotten far better between them….they weren't constantly at logger heads with each other about every topic…..instead they tried to agree with each other as much as possible….but right now they were in the middle of an argument…..

"What do you mean you're not coming to Sri Lanka…..?"

"I'm really sorry Arnav….but I've other clients and I can't just leave everything to go with the team to Sri Lanka to handle the media business there….."

"But the Payal is going …."

"She worked out her commitments that way….unfortunately I can't….I've some important meetings with clients and I can't leave….."

"But I wanted you to watch my match Khushi…."

"I know Arnav….Believe me…if there was any way I could come, I would….and anyway….I'll be watching you from here…..I'll let you know how you look on TV…." She said smiling at him…..

"Not funny Khushi….."

Khushi walked to his seat…."Come on Arnav….I'll definitely watch all the matches ball by ball….."

"Promise???"

Khushi laughed at him acting like a kid asking his father for a promise of chocolate…."Yes….I promise….I'll always watch every match of yours…..happy??"

Arnav smiled at her…."Very……"

Arnav looked at her again and his eyes met hers….Kate's phone rang and she excused herself out of the office citing some emergency and left them alone….they stood in silence for a long time and it was Arnav who spoke first….

"Khushi….I…I'm really so…"

Khushi held her hand up and silenced him.

"Don't say you're sorry…I don't want it…you're here for the interview Arnav…let's just keep it professional…."

Arnav looked taken aback but stood his ground…."Khushi….I never mea…"

"Don't say you didn't mean it because we both know what happened…I've worked really hard to move on….what happened between us is all in my past and I don't want to discuss it….I've moved on Arnav and I'm over you….you mean nothing to me now…"

Her words stung him….he looked into her eyes…." Is that why you still watch all my matches….because I mean nothing to you…."

Khushi turned her back to him trying to hide her emotions…..she couldn't show him how vulnerable she was….she forced herself to be strong and turned to him calmly…." I do it because I promised and I don't believe in breaking my promises…"

Arnav walked to her….

"Khushi… what happened that night…I didn't mean it…"

"I don't wanna talk about it Arnav…"

"Please her me out Khushi…"

Khushi raised her voice…"I said I don't wanna hear…." She tried to move away from him….

Arnav grabbed her shoulders…her calmness and indifference was frustrating him…. " I said listen to me Damnit…." He said in a high tone….

Khushi pushed him away….and glared…"Currently you are in my office Mr.Raizada. No one has the right to raise their voice at me. It would be better if you left from here before I called the guards to throw you out…."

Arnav stepped back feeling very hurt…." Please don't do this to me Khushi….I'm really sorry for what I did….at least give me a chance to explain…."

His pleading tone made Khushi's heart twist but she maintained her show of courage….

"There is nothing left to be said Mr. Raizada and I don't need any explanations….you did what you wanted and I'm doing what I want….please stop this pretence of caring about me and lets spare both of us the drama….I hadn't expected to see you ever again but I guess it's better this way….you can see that I've moved on and so have you….lets be professional during the term of your time here and then forget about one another…."

Arnav remained rooted at his spot….her words were like whip slash….every statement hit him like an arrow piercing his heart….he closed his eyes trying to think of what to do…what to say…he thought over and opened his eyes and started to speak but saw that she was gone….he hurried out of her office to see her back retreating toward the exit….

She couldn't take it….this show of courage….this act of nonchalance was too much to handle….this was why she'd left before she broke down in front of him…she rushed to the car park and got into the car and finally let go….tears fell on her face and she didn't do anything to stop them…her entire being was shaken up right now….why…why was this happening…why couldn't he have just left her alone….why was he back…did he think she would forget so easily….that he would just walk in, utter an apology and she'd rush into his arms, all the mistakes forgiven…..how could she forget…the pain…the shame…the hurt…how could she just put it past her….no…if he was looking for forgiveness, he was asking for too much!!!!

Song- Forgiveness….(Sarah Mclaren)

And the moonlight kiss,

The evening lullabies I still truly miss….

Through the times, we had it all,

Midnight whispers, the midday calls

This house of cards, it had to fall…..

And you ask for forgiveness

You're asking for too much….

I've sheltered my heart, in a place you can't touch….!!