Welcome one and all!
This is the prequel to Skyfall called Covert Affairs (Named after the TV show). The prologue is a direct continuation from the end of chapter four of Skyfall. I know said I was going to do another chapter but I decided that had I wrote it, the impact of Covert Affairs would be diminished. Thank you to everyone for answering my questions'you are all so amazing. Apparently there was more interest for Skyfall than I thought. I had thought of this concept from the very beginning of Skyfall but never intended to act on it. But now I have fully nutted it out I am going to write it whether anyone reads or not!
Also the new FF I was going to write about Khushi and Arnav being godparents'I have decided to scrap that idea for now. People have pointed out to me that is had been done before. Even though my characters would have been different I have decided I have enough on my plate. I need to finish up YLME'which still has quite a bit of juice left in it. Not to mention HAM and now this. So three is enough for now. Plus you readers are all so greedy! J
Now this is a warning! This Khushi and Arnav are not like the show at all! Well lit bits of them but not much. The storyline is also very different. It is a love story but not a typical one. If you expect them to get together by chapter 10 then that isn't going to happen. But if you stick with it I promise you won't regret it. In my other fics, Arnav and Khushi get together quickly but this one will build on the sexual tension.
So that's enough rambling from me. You know just how much I love you all even if I can't get back to all of you. Actually I am a little unwell this week plus its been hectic. Excuses I know'but still. Never forget I know EVERY reader that comments! I LOVE ALL of you!
OMG'.I totally forgot to say. I found out that Krani reads my stories. WOAH! I have to PM her and tell her just how excited I am! Lol! Also Anony_mous read Heart's A Mess. Faint wa! It is unbelievable that such writers are reading my stuff. So Cool!
Enjoy!
P.S I am yet to create a blog for this but here is the link to my index of work
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3461237/sasaks-index-of-work-updated
COVERT AFFAIRS
PROLOGUE
4.50 am, February 20th, 2013
Khushi stood near the wall to wall windows, looking out at the new day, the bed sheet wrapped around her bare body. The sky was a murky shade of blue-gray as the celestial heavens faded with the light of day. She looked up at the dwindling light of her mother and father.
I'm sorry.
With those two words she set herself free. Closing her eyes she let the tears fall, washing away the guilt, the pain and the betrayal. Arnav walked up behind her, running his palms down the length of her arms and pulling her back against his chest. He kissed away her tears with out saying a word.
Turning around in the embrace of his arms, she looked up at him. They had been baptized by the inferno of hell. Bruised, battered and scarred but still together. And Khushi realized that was all that mattered.
12.00 pm, August 25th, 2009
The bells at the top of the astronomy tower chimed loudly, both hands of the large clock now pointing due north. Khushi cursed under her breath, half jogging and half skipping her way to class. As usual she was late.
"Miss Gupta?"
A deep voice called out from behind her. Skidding to a halt she barely managed to hold on to her books as they slipped from her hand. Turning around she fumbled with her belongings, trying to appear more organized than she was; her jute bag slipping from her shoulder.
"Yes?" she managed to gasp, a little out of breath.
Now somewhat more in control of herself, she looked up at the person who had called her name.
"I need you to come with me." he demanded rather abruptly. The man offered no explanation but waved his hand toward a dark sedan. Khushi took in his appearance. Expensive suit, polished shoes and dark aviators'he was a well turned out individual of that there was no question. But no matter how well dressed he was she was going nowhere with him.
Khushi raised her eyebrows. "I'm sorry but who are you?"
The man glanced at his watch, irritated by her reluctance. "You may not know me but I know you. Khushi Kumari Gupta. Age 23. Student of modern languages at the University of Delhi. Since the time you began your course you have topped every unit, outshining your peers and sometimes even your own faculty staff. You have received glowing references from all the academic professors, one of which happens to work for our agency. His job specifications include head hunting new recruits and you, an individual who has an arsenal of eight languages at her disposal are quite the perfect match for us."
Khushi felt the wind knocked out of her. It was a little difficult to breathe at this point. Who the hell was he? Unconsciously she began to walk backwards increasing the distance between them as much as possible. He sighed.
"Look there are two ways to go about this, the easy way and the hard way. The easy way is you get in the car with me and we go to the agency. Or I can persuade you to get into the car and trust me'you don't want that to happen."
The silence weighed upon them heavily, his threat remaining. Not for a second did she doubt the conviction of his assertion. Perhaps it was the way he held himself, standing tall and square with in his frame or perhaps it was the undercurrent of authority in his tone. Whatever it was'she believed him. Weighing up her options, she did the smartest thing she could do in the situation. She got in the car. The vehicle jerked forward, stopping and starting in the busy Delhi traffic. Khushi sat stiff in the backseat, the mystery man facing the window on the opposite side. Gritting her teeth she plucked up the courage and asked'
"I think its only fair since you know so much about me that I ask your name."
He turned to her, his aviators still obscuring his eyes despite sitting in the car. Khushi came to the conclusion that there was something quite disconcerting about not being able to look someone in the eye when having a conversation. Something quite disconcerting indeed. He continued to look in her direction without so much as a word; his demeanour intimidating.
She cleared her throat and pressed on' "Your name?"
Opening his mouth, she noticed the fractional hesitation before he curtly replied' "Arnav Singh Raizada'" and turned back to the window. Khushi stared at the back of his head for what seemed like an age, her hands fisting the cotton kurta she wore.
"Why did you hesitate?"
This time he turned himself toward her fully, giving her is complete attention.
"Sorry?"
"Before you said your name, you hesitated slightly." She clarified.
Khushi watched as he took off his aviators and scrutinized her. It was difficult to garner much from his expression, his movements deliberate and purposefully executed. Whatever this man did, he did with clear intent'every word chosen with careful consideration, every action with clarity of conviction. There was no room for whim in his life. This much she could deduce.
But his eyes were something else entirely.
The light caramel depths were as revealing as motion picture, every frame a different story. Amusement flickered through the glassy orbs, gone as quickly as it had appeared. An odd sense of dj vu trickled over her. A memory of something that wasn't wholly with in her reach.
She had seen him somewhere before.
"I was considering whether or not it was appropriate to afford a civilian the privilege of knowing my name."
Khushi sniggered. "Oh and pray tell, what have I done to deserve this privilege?"
His lips twitched at the corners. "Nothing. I just accounted for the fact that in a few hours you will no longer be a civilian."
Thin, well shaped eyebrows shot up. "What makes you say that?"
"At exactly thirteen hundred hours you will be offered a job that you will accept."
She snorted rather ungracefully. "I might not accept it. I might refuse. How can you be so sure?"
"Because, you, Miss Gupta are extraordinary. It is not a compliment merely a statement of fact."
He regarded her expression fastidiously, noting equal measures of shock and confusion. The silence was protracted as she tried to respond appropriately to his claim. He decided to spare her the trouble.
"When a person is extraordinary, they will often find themselves wanting more than what mundane civilian life can offer them. Tell me'what will you do with your eight languages when you graduate? Teach? Even if all your options pan out the most exciting job prospect for you would be the United Nations and even then that would mostly involve translating. Something a software program could do. What the agency will offer you is the freedom to explore your talents. It will probably also appeal to your misguided love of country."
Khushi remained quiet, contemplating the wealth of information he had thrown her way. He let remain so, welcoming the comfort of silence.
"You make an interesting point." She offered, speaking slowly. "Yet the funny thing is I don't even know who you work for."
The car screech to a halt. Without answering her question he got out of the car, buttoning his jacket. Before she registered what had happened, her door clicked open.
"Welcome to the Research and Analysis Wing, New Delhi."
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Anupamaa
Udne Ki Aasha
10