Thank you so much for the warm response. It was overwhelming to have such encouraging words. I would have loved to reply to each of you personally but the newbie rules wouldn't allow me. I replied in scraps nevertheless as advised by a dear friend. Once again thank you for the love and support :)
Chapter Two
She dressed the dishes and put them in containers on the dining table, finally finishing with them. When she went towards the cupboard to get a dress for change, she had noticed her reflection in the mirror.
She touched her reflection on the mirror as her eyes widened. Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders in neat waves, her sky blue shirt with pin stripes and the dark grey pencil skirt fitted her to perfection, however that wasn't what caught her attention. It was the glow that radiated from her, was what surprised her. She was positively glowing, and the pink hue on her cheeks had deepened.
She felt herself smile at her reflection as she opened the cupboard to select a dress for herself. She wanted to plan this evening just for them, and she wanted to surprise him, when she would break the news to him.
Her lips stretched into a shy smile when she ruffled her clothes for something special, and that's when something fell on her feet.
She bent down and picked up the full sleeved black kurti with maroon embroidery work at the neck. Her hands caressed the now old cotton material in her hand as memories flooded back.
Seven years ago…
She sat in her cabin, working on a file when she heard the phone ring. Picking up the call with her eyes still on the contents of the file, she cradled her mobile between her ear and her shoulder as she spoke turning a page, her attention fully on the file.
"Khushi Gupta speaking"
"Khushi, what are you doing in your office? You should have been at Canlis by now"
The booming voice of her father jerked her out of her reverie as she looked at her wrist watch. It was 10 already. She cussed in her head, as she mumbled an apology to her father, making up an excuse of an emergency at the office.
"I asked you to take leave today have I not?" she heard her dad's disappointed tone that instantly made her guilty. She closed her files, picked the ones that needed her attention the most and walked out of her cabin, nodding to everyone who greeted her.
"I am sorry Papa. It really was an emergency. We have a client meeting today, and you know right I am assisting my boss for the first time in this project and it is really important for me" she said opening her car door and plugged her Bluetooth device.
"But you're on leave today" his voice was defiant and she smiled at her father, who sounded like a child at the moment. How would she say it didn't work like that? She worked in a construction company and the first priority for them was client's satisfaction. She needed to wake up in the middle of the night and prepare a presentation if that was needed. She knew she was bargaining her personal life for it, but she had no complains because she loved her job, and loved doing her work, loved being busy.
"I am sorry Papa. I have submitted my leave already and sent a copy of the required documents to my boss through his PA. And right now I am driving to Canlis, and will be there in no time"
She heard him sigh and knew he was mollified "Khushi—"
"I will be nice with him and no office talks. I would mention I liked the Gulab Jamuns his mother sent us over. Alright?" she said parking the car finally reaching Canlis.
"Okay, uh fine" he said somewhat awkward. Khushi smiled too understanding his awkwardness. It would be awkward for both of them after all it was the first time she had been going on a blind date as arranged by her father, if she had to speak in literal sense. If she had to be diplomatic it was a casual meeting of one of her father's friend's son. She had met Suraj uncle and he was a nice man. She never had met his wife and children though. This was the first time that she's going to meet his elder son and that had made her nervous. She knew it was a casual meeting, she told that to herself to ease her nerves many times but she couldn't calm down her anxiety.
For some reason this entire thing seemed alien to her. Though she was born and bought up in Seattle, she had never seriously dated someone. Being a nerd, she never really needed it, and being shouldered with responsibilities at a younger age, she never was interested. Now, when the time had come she thought of her mother. Had she been alive, the situation would have been different. May be she would've had a talk with her mother about how queasy she was feeling, may be her mother would have told her about how and what to speak. She smiled wryly, as thoughts of her mother always bought her equal amounts of tears and joy. Her mother was a terrific woman whom she worshipped and Khushi knew she wanted to become like her someday. Though her mother wasn't with her today, Khushi knew she would be looking out for her. She smiled at the sky mouthing a "Love you mom" before she heard her father's voice again.
"Khushi, you there?"
"Yes papa, but since I reached Canlis, for the time being, bye papa love you" she said cheerfully as she disconnected the call.
She entered Canlis and her eyes scanned to find any Indian guy, and she slapped her forehead for forgetting to ask her dad the guy's name or number. She remembered her father saying his details over dinner but she being she, had her head occupied with the presentation she had been working on.
"How stupid can you get Khushi?" she mumbled wondering if she should call back her father, and decided against it. It would certainly drive him mad. Maybe she should just see if there was any Asian over here, and if there was any she could just try her luck, if not then well, she could blame her luck and call her Papa.
Crossing her fingers, and praying, she walked towards the entrance, taking in the beautiful architecture. Once she was in, she forgot that it was a restaurant, instead there was a magical palace before her with old stone made walls in the interior and a fire place with cracking fire, spreading warmth. The place was dimly lit with golden colored lights flooding in, and as her eyes scanned, she noticed a lone figure sitting at a table which was at the window.
She crossed the place and recognizing the well-built brown man to be an Asian, she thought to clear her throat to gather attention, meanwhile gauging if there were any traces of Suraj uncle's features in him.
She slapped her forehead since she couldn't gauge his features yet since his back was towards her.
"Excuse me" she said in the softest of her tones, and she found him turn to look her way, only to have her breath knocked out of her chest.
There was Arnav Singh Raizada, her boss sitting in all his glory, looking at her uninterested.
- - -
For those who are interested to have a look at canlis, here you go:
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