Thanks for all the likes and comments. It means a lot. I loved reading each of them. And for those who were wondering about Lavanya & NK I never forgot them. It was meant to be in this update. So read on.
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Chapter-19
He stood there gazing at the moon shining bright in the night sky. Image of her from the party flashed across his eyes widening his smile. He has certainly wished but was not sure that Lavanya would don his gifted saree. But she had surprised him when he saw her standing at the entrance welcoming everyone looking sultry yet graceful draped in deep pink saree. He was completely mesmerized by the vision she made in his favorite shade pulling him to her like a magnet. He walked up to the recliner and laid down on it thinking dreamily about the woman who made her way in his dreams every night. Her smile that beautiful smile that hooked him to her always. Why was she so? It would have been easy for him if he could think of one reason to not love her. To love her came naturally to him just like breathing. Was love supposed to be like this ' Beautiful yet disarming? Are these feelings the one famous writers talk about? How was he supposed to tell her what he exactly feels for her? How would she react on learning the truth he wondered not for the first time. He sighed dreamily thinking about the next day.
"You look more beautiful than I had imagined" His words from the party echoed in her ears as she was lying down on her bed aimlessly facing the ceiling above. She remembered the dazed look in his eyes when NK had told her those words.
Was it..?? No.. no this can't be happening. I am uselessly thinking about it. There is nothing more to it.
Flashbacks from last few days and several other occasions played in her mind. She wondered not for the first time if she was overlooking the obvious. Hadn't he complimented her before too? So what was so different today, she thought, toying with the hem of her night-suit shirt. What if I am right? And what if you are wrong? Another voice chirped in.
This night was going to be long and she knew it well. Lavanya decided to put her thoughts at the back seat and enjoy a good sleep before the tight work schedule grips her. A good sleep was what she was deprived of most at the moment and she needed it more for her own sanity. Moreover she was going to see NK tomorrow and rest could be decided after meeting him.
"Aman get me the Singhania file quickly" Arnav told him crossing Khushi's seat and looked around to find no trace of her. He mentally took a note of dropping her message. He would have loved to see her personally but this sudden meeting has foiled his plans for the day. Now he would have to go and settle the deal before Mr. Singhania flies out of the country on a vacation for a fortnight.
"Good morning Sunshine" he typed in and tapped the send icon flashing a satisfactorily smile awaiting her reply as the car zoomed across heavy Delhi traffic.
He waited for his phone to beep but none came. He checked his phone to see if it has died off due to low battery but that was not the case. He narrowed his eyes looking at the instrument in his hand as if that would make it display her message immediately. He knew Khushi has a habit of keeping her phone and forgetting it when busy. He concluded that her message would be there once he is through this meeting.
"Good morning Lavanya" NK greeted entering her cabin giving her a rose extracting it from the insides of his jacket.
"Good morning. What's with you and roses these days?" she asked eyeing him curiously.
"I thought you would like them and they would also get a beautiful company" he smiled making her eyes narrowed down at him. He gulped visibly muttering "nothing". How should he talk to her?, he wondered. She was not new to him, they were friends but he felt nervous.
"Lavanya the engagement party was great" he initiated the conversation from the safe ground.
"Yes NK. Thankfully everything went smoothly. I was so worried. And special thanks to you."
"You know you are always welcome. Thank you for accepting that saree. You looked stunning."
"Oh that! I was actually going to wear the anarkali but Mom saw it and she was hell bent that I wear it. I complied with her wishes at the end." Lavanya said exasperatingly.
NK's face dropped hearing that. Here he was thinking that maybe he has some chance but her words felt like a bucket of cold water on his wish.
"Even if you wore it on her insistence it made me happy. Moreover you have enough sarees I know but still you chose mine that says something itself." he said deciding not to give up.
"That because.."
"Uh-oh..no.. Sshh" he placed his fingers on her lips.
"I don't want to hear any of your explanations for this." He said before moving away heading for his own cabin.
Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she recalled what has just transpired there. She wondered once again about the changing scenario between her and NK or was she beginning to day dream now.
The moment Arnav shook hands with Mr. Singhania after their meeting finished he took out his phone from his pocket removing it from silent but saw no messages or missed calls. He called Khushi but there was no reply. He kept trying her number in between his drive back to AR.
He swiftly entered AR and asked Sim to send Khushi in his cabin. He was about to climb the stairs leading to his cabin when he found Sim coming and informing that Khushi has not come yet for the day. He stopped at the spot thinking of reasons of her not coming and taking his calls.
He stood in his cabin after few minutes thinking about her. If she was unwell Payal must know about it. He thought to call her but then decided against it. May be she is late for the day but he was annoyed over her callous behavior of not informing him when they have decided for it. He was in his thoughts when his phone rang breaking the stony silence. He found it to be Akash's.
"Where were you busy unable to join the meeting?" he asked suspiciously.
"Bhai it was scheduled all of a sudden. I was already at Payal's place then. I won't have reached there on time that's why I asked you." He told him calmly.
Arnav saw the opportunity and grabbed it. "You must have met Khushi too"
"No. She had already left when I reached there."
Akash was rewarded with cold silence from the other end.
"What happened Bhai? Anything the matter?" he asked.
"Nothing. I will call you back" Arnav hung up before Akash could say anything more. He barely moved as his mind processed the details. Khushi had left on time before he has reached AR and yet here he was back at office after completing the meeting and she was not to be seen anywhere. To worry him more she was not even picking up his call. He panicked wondering if something happened to her redialing her number again and again in failed attempts.
I won't spare you Khushi Kumari Gupta if this is one of your stupid games. He thought not too mildly.
"Time to go out for Lunch. Let's go" NK tugged Lavanya.
"Where are you taking me? Canteen is on the other side" Lavanya said confusedly.
NK stopped and eyed her curiously "You are forgetting you promised me lunch for all that I helped you for the engagement party. Lavanya realized her mistake and made a quick apology before heading out with him to the nearest restaurant they frequented.
They were chatting eating their lunch with NK trying to flirt in between although unsuccessfully.
"I love this place. The food is delicious and the hosting is quite good too." NK told La.
"The food is undoubtedly great. By the way I hope you liked my hosting yesterday." Lavanya said smiling oh so sweetly.
"You seem very busy" NK said pulling her in a corner by her elbow.
"What are you doing?"
"Here I thought you would treat me in some special way but you are busy with others" he complained.
"Would you like to have some cold drink or juice?" She turned to take juice from the passing by waiter.
"I was thinking about something else." He said holding her free hand.
"Owww.. Ouch.." he whined as Lavanya stomped her feet on his not so lightly.
"There you go with the special hosting from me." She said before turning away winking at him.
"I would love to host some more parties for you" she said in the same sweet tone.
"NOOO" NK almost yelled. They both knew looking at each other's face that they were thinking about the same incident.
Arnav was still relentlessly dialing her number again and again without any luck. He swore under his breath being unable to get to her in the last fifteen minutes, since morning to be more prcised.
The moment he was about to throw his phone away in a fit of rage it rang he looked at the caller id to find it was Khushi.
"Where the hell are you? Why are you not picking up your phone? You didn't even bother to answer my message or my calls." He spoke without a break.
"Arnavji sshhh.. calm down. I was about to answer your message but couldn't due to an accident. I was.."
"Accident? Are you all right? Why didn't you inform me?" he panicked.
"I am fine Arnav ji. It was just.."
He interrupted her again before she could complete.
"Where are you?"
"I am at City Hospital. But I am leaving it in few minutes."
"No. You stay there. I would reach there in some time."
"But Arnavji'"
"I said stay there. Don't you dare move." He told her with finality in his voice and ended the call sprinting downwards in jet speed without giving a damn to the curious glances of his employees.
The waiter brought dessert after they were over with their lunch. Lavanya lifted her vanilla cup from the table and found NK missing from his seat. She looked around and found him kneeling in front of her with a rose in his trembling hand.
"I just want to share a little secret of mine today. I am irrevocably in love with you from the day I met you. These three years I have tried hard to fall out of this love but failed miserably. So here I am down on my knees asking you if you would give us a chance. I know it's all too sudden for your liking but I couldn't hold myself any longer. I have realized that my life is incomplete without you. I love you with all my heart. Would you give me a chance to prove my love daily?" he said forwarding the rose with bated breath.
Her ice cream lay unattended on the floor as she stood up surprised mouthing nothing more than his name. He saw her standing cold like a statue not uttering a single coherent word. He stood up cupping her cheeks "I really love you. Please.."
She stomped on his feet once again making him wince in pain.
"Why did you take so much of time, you idiot?" she said hugging life out of him.
NK smiled realizing her words.
"Usually people say I love you too when they accept the proposal" he chuckled to which she lightly hit him on his chest.
"By the way when I called you Love it's not L-A-V it's L-O-V-E" he said as he held her hand.
She beamed happily at him once again embracing him. "I love you so much NK"
They broke their hug hearing the loud whistles and claps around them realizing the whole restaurant has witnessed the proposal and confession. The teenagers were looking them with complete awe and the aged couples looking at them with a knowing smile as if reminiscing their old days.
A/N: I hope that Lavanya-NK scenes came out good. Let me know what you guys think about this chapter.
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