ARHI... Destinado A Amarte Ch 7 (48) - Page 3

Chapter 1

Las Vegas

08:15 am

Khushi parked her car in the lot and dashed to their usual meeting spot; under a huge tree in the middle of the lot. She was early to come and now, she had to wait for her friends to reach. She could see the school main block – a tall building with huge columns and glass panels with heavily oriented steel beams. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander throughout her life. Her father had shifted his base here 20 years ago. He was a well settled business person and her mother helped him in developing it. Her sister, Payal, was a jewelry designer. She was married to AakashShegal for six months and they settled in Mumbai. Aakash had been handling his father's business since he graduated, and were in top five business persons in India.

Having busy parents, Khushi had always been left with her sister in her home and Payal took care of her with their age gap of 6 years. She was close to her and her marriage disturbed Khushi. She had decided to move her base along with her sister but was unable to do so due to her school. Now, as she completed her high school, she was free to leave the city – the city where she lived her whole life.

Deciding to use the time, she walked leisurely towards the locker room to empty her locker. It was the same locker she had been using throughout her years in the school.She had her first fight in this very locker room. She had sneaked with her friends, bunking their classes, and stayed here to pass time. She remembered every memory attached to the room and to the school.

"Hey, K…!We have been searching for you in the lot."

She smiled at Kate and the gang that followed. "Just emptying my locker... So, what are the plans for the day?" she asked them, filling her stuff in her backpack.

"There's a baseball game in an hour. K, why don't we cheer our boys for one last time?"

Everyone accepted Kate's plan and they all made their way towards the school grounds. Khushi never liked sports in particular, but she was the captain for cheer leading group. She loved dancing and always participates in all the competitions. She had formed a group and would make sure they all practiced for at least two hours after school.

Mumbai

08:45 pm

Her eyes shinned brightly against cream light that lit their small home. She watched the place with a smile. Though she lived there, it always amazed her how she fell in love with her home all over again, every time she unlocked the door. The home was painted with hues of yellow. A small open kitchen on her left, with utensils barely sufficient for three people, extra set of plates sufficient for the whole gang. Beside kitchen was a small room – her bedroom – and a balcony at the back of the living room, with a common bathroom. On her right, opposite to the kitchen, was their study area. Racks were placed by the wall with books; three matchless chairs placed at the middle of the portion, with a wooden table between them, a pile of papers over it. Behind the study area was double mattress at a corner, for her brother, and a wooden shelf as his wardrobe. Everything was open except for her room. When their elder brother was home, they would spread the mattress for them. In her room, a small cot was laid in the middle, a dresser at a corner. Her brothers had constructed walls to make that portion in their home as her room on her 13^th birthday. It took them two whole days to lay bricks correctly. On her 16^th birthday, they had painted the room after plastering the exposed bricks. She was lucky to have such wonderful brothers.

Her mother had died in their childhood, at her 6 and it had been her elder brother who took care of Arnav and her. Her father cared less about them, and more about money.He would work for the day, drink during nights. She never saw her father without drinking, and she could count on her fingers as how many times he had met them. For her, she had no parents, and her elder brother was her father.

"Why don't you shower, Arnav?" she asked her brother, who looked dead tired,"while we prepare dinner?"

He nodded while NK and Aman pulled out two blankets and spread them on the floor. She made her way towards the kitchen, pulled out potatoes from a shelf. Sophia followed her, complaining,"I don't understand why can't Arnav just rest?He just reached after his trip and went straight to garage to work. Ana, you have to convince him to rest."

She never understood what Arnav saw in Sophia to date her.She was a great girl, but she didn't deserve Arnav. But Ana never pointed it out. If her brother liked the girl, then she would be civil with her, if not friendly. "I tried my best to make him rest, Sophia, but he doesn't listen to me."

"You aren't trying hard then," Sophia said with irritation, "come on, Ana, he has been working his ass and he never used his money for himself. Don't get me wrong, but he has his own life, Ana. Whenever I asked him to spend some time with me, all he says is having work or you needing him, or simply saying no. I want to spend time with him, Ana. Is it too much for me to hope and expect?"

Ana bit her lips at her words. She knew Arnav had his own life, and she had tried hard to make her brothers realize about that but they never worried about them. Both would give up their lives for her and her safety. She had talked to NK regarding this and he simply said to leave them, give them time to understand the fact. He had said that they would realize the importance of their lives when they met a girl of their dreams, and she had taken the advice. Before she could tell that she tried really hard, she saw NK coming to their side and shut her mouth, not wanting to create any scene.

"Potatoes..? Don't we have any other thing?"

Ana laughed at the complaint, "NK Bhai, Arnav loves potatoes. Why do you hate that so much?"

"Ana… where's my backpack? In room…?"

Before Ana could say, she saw Arnav moving to her room and sighed. Aman winked at her while NK and Sophia busied themselves in helping for preparing dinner, more of fighting as what and how and who had to do. Giving up to their fights, Ana walked back and about to sit on the sheets, beside Aman, and sure enough, she heard her brother shout for her.

"Here you go… Why does your twin brother always asks you for his things, Ana?"Aman asked, his eyes boring hers and she shifted her weight, uncomfortably. He was a friend and she never felt more for him. Though he never expressed his feelings through words, his eyes shouted at her how he felt for her.

"Anahita…"

She looked at the room over her shoulder and then at Aman. She had to make sure and talk to Aman before it was too late. She ran into the room, and watched her frustrated brother pacing the length of the room. "How many times do I need to tell you not to touch my work, Ana?" he demanded her, showing a pile of printed papers to her, "I can manage, dear. You just focus on your studies, okay."

"I was free this evening," she shrugged her shoulders, "and I know you are tired with the tour and then heavy work in garage. I did nothing, Arnav, just finalized your thing and got printed, that is all."

"Are you questioning your elder brother?" He asked, his eyebrow rose at her, while she shook her head with a pout.

"Elder by 20 minutes, Mr. Mechanic…"

"That still counts, sissy," he said and shoved the pile in his backpack. He looked at her, all the naughty lines replaced with concern, "If Shyam called you again, tell him to call me, Ana. I need to talk to him."

She nodded. "Bhai said he will call you this weekend. Arnav, don't you think Bhai needs a woman in his life? He is 28, and how long will he stay single for us?"

"That's what I needed to talk, Ana. Just relax; I am sure there is a woman in his life. Trust me, I can feel him changing for good, started thinking about himself."

Las Vegas

06:27 pm

Home seemed strange from past days. Throwing her keys on the table in the front room, she ran to her room to find most of the things she had packed already. Her books and few clothes sufficient for a week and some of her favorite dresses were all she needed. She would shop and have a makeover wardrobe so didn't bother much.

"Sir and Ma'am will be late tonight, Khushi," the head house-maid said, walking into the room with a tray after knocking the door, "they said they will meet you in the airport."

"Thanks, Maria, and make sure driver load my luggage without fail," Khushi informed and sipped into her drink only to spill. Her eyes moistened and Maria patted her head, fear ran down her spine. "Oh Jezz, this is really hot, Maria," Khushi complained with a pout.

"Why the hell that happened, Maria?" Raj shouted from behind, pushing her hand and patting Khushi himself while seated beside her, "get out of here you bitch, you made my Khushi suffer." He turned to her, "K, darling, are you okay?"

Khushi nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I am fine, Raj, milk is just too hot for me. It is not Maria's fault. Last night, I said her to increase few degrees. You shouldn't have to shout at her in that way."

"Don't be ridiculous, K. they work for us and it's their duty to take care of everything." He faced Maria, who stood with head lowered, "you will be fired, Maria. Now, get lost from my sight."

"No, don't," Khushi warned Raj and Maria simultaneously, "I said Maria isn't at fault, and don't you dare to fire her for my mistake, Raj. Just leave it, help me in packing last pile of books." She asked him with a smile and nodded at Maria to leave the room whispering a small sorry.

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