IN THE LIFT ~ Collab ArShi TS ~ [Part 2 Pg 13] {Completed} - Page 13

Flashback in Bold Italics

Arnav's POV

I sat in my cabin thinking about thinking about yesterday's lift encounter. Everything seemed to changed after yesterday. My life seemed bright, my mind was relaxed compared to other days and s smile adorned my face at all times.

"Hey Bhai!", came my cousin Akash as usual without knocking the door.

"Yeah Akash!", I replied.

"You're smiling? That's new!", he exclaimed.

"Oh please! It's not like I never smile!", I chided.

"Oh yes you DON'T SMILE!", he replied with special emphasis on the word don't. I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever! Tell me why you're here?", I asked diverting his thought from my smile.

"A girl is here for an Interview for the trainee designer! She is a fresher!", informed Akash.

Immediately my thoughts went back to the memorable encounter with the cutest and most adorable girl I have ever met.

"Bhai????", called Askash getting me out of my thought.

"Uh! Yeah.. Send her in!", I replied breaking out of my thoughts.

He nodded and walked out of my cabin. I sat there remembering each and every detail of the conversation I have within that half hour in the lift. That half an hour would be the most unforgettable time of my life.

I heard a knock and steadied myself. I sat on my chair not facing the door.

"Come in!", I called out.

"Hello Sir!", I heard her say as she walked in.

Her heels tapped on the marble flooring of my office as she neared my desk.

"Good Morning Sir! I'm Khushi Gupta!", she introduced.

The only thought that ran in my mind was what her reaction would be if she comes to know, I'm ASR! I wanted to be her friend. I wanted to be casual in front of her. But she had to know it some day. I hope I don't get a negative reaction.

I twirled my seat to face her a gave a wide smile.

"Hey!", I wished casually.

She stood in front of me with her eyes popped out. Probably in a state of shock.

"Ar-ar-nav!", she said with a slight stammer.

"Kh-khu-shi!", I imitated her with a grin.

"What are you doing her?", she asked me nervously.

"Arnav Singh Raizada! CEO of AR Fashions!", I said with a gentle smile. She looked at me in shock.

"I'm sorry I spoke to you like a crazy teenager yesterday! I know I'm 23 but I still am a crazy teenager by heart! I'm sorry Arn.. Oh shit! uhhh.. Mr. Raizada!", she said in a breath closing her mouth when she said Arnav and called me Mr. Raizada.

Something broke inside me as she called me Mr. Raizada. I just didn't feel right. I quickly got up.

"Khushi! We are friends! You can call me Arnav!", I said.

Khushi's POV

"Arnav was ASR! OMFG! I'm mad! How could I not recollect this by his name! Oh no! What would he be thinking of me!", I thought to myself feeling like a fool.

"Khushi! We are friends! You can call me Arnav!", he said.

"But-", I started to be cut off by him.

"I told you something yesterday when we got out of the lift if you remember!", he said with a raised eyebrow.

I drifted off to the conversation when we got out of the lift.

Arnav smiled.. "Oh yeah! All the best Khushi! And don't worry, You'll surely get the job!", he said.

"I hope the AR guys say the same thing!", I replied.

"What???", Arnav almost chocked his breath. He asked again, "Which people?"

"The AR people! You've heard of them? AR designs, the multinational company!", I informed.

A smirk spread across his face.

"Well then Khushi, you are already in!", he replied.

"What??", I asked confused by his statement.

"Uhh.. Lleave it !! You'll understand it later on.. Bye!", he said.

"Okay then.. Bye!", I replied and walked away.

A gentle smile played on my lips as I understood the meaning of his statement yesterday.

"So you can start today and you'll be training under me!", he said bringing me out of my thoughts.

"But Mr. Raiza-", I started again to be cut off by him.

"ARNAV!", he said as though he were warning me.

"Huh?", I looked up at him confused.

"We are friends remember?", he asked with a smile.

"Thank you Arnav!", I replied.

"Hey! I want the crazy teenager to work under me! You're getting so formal with me now!", he complained.

I giggled as he smiled back at me.

Arnav's POV

It's been 3 months since Khushi is working under me. We are still friends. Unfortunately, I'm in love with her and don't have the guts to confess my love to her. The only person who knew about my love was my brother Akash. Akash had started dating Payal, Khushi's friend due to Payal's frequent visits to the office to meet Khushi.

It was 6 pm and Khushi and I are to go to the shopping mall to select some cloth materials for trial designing.

"Hey Arnav!", she wished as she walked into my cabin.

"Hey!", I replied.

"What's wrong?", she asked.

"Well.. Nothing! Let's go to the mall!", I said and got up from the chair shutting down my laptop.

She walked closer to me and touched my forehead.

"You have fever? You didn't even bother to tell me!", she shrieked as though I had committed some kinda crime.

"Why are you shouting?", I asked.

"Your forehead it so hot!", she exclaimed.

"Only my forehead? Am I not hot?", I asked with a slight chuckle.

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"What? That means I'm not hot?", I complained.

"Arnav! I think you should rest!", she said.

"Khushi! Let's go! We're getting late!", I said and guided her out of my cabin when Akash came.

"Hey Bhai!", he greeted with a grin.

"Hey!", I said not interested still holding onto Khushi by her shoulder.

"Bhai! Did you speak to the client you wanted to? That deal? Umm.. what did she say?", he asked with a smirk wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"Akash! I'm trying to finalize that deal now, only if you don't disturb me!", I replied.

"Which deal Akash?", asked Khushi.

"You'll get to know!", Akash replied winking at Khushi.

We drove to the nearest shopping mall and got into the lift as the lift started from the underground parking, it passed ground floor and suddenly stopped. Khushi's eyes popped out.

I looked over at her and chuckled.

"Our friendship started in this very lift!", I said as she looked at me. Her lips curved into a smile.

"I remember that day very well!", she replied sweetly.

"It's now or never Arnav! Just go and tell her!", I thought to myself.

"And I want this day to be memorable too!", I said.

"What do you mean?", she asked with a smile.

"Ummm.. Woh actually I-", I started when suddenly the lights in the lift went off. This happened the other day too. Khushi flinched as she was tremendously scared of the darkness.

I slowly shifted towards her knowing her phobia of darkness. I wrapped my hand around her shoulder and she flung her arms around my neck, clinging onto me.

"Ar-nav.. Don't go anywhere! Don't leave me here!", she whispered shivering in my embrace.

"I'm not going anywhere! Relax!", I whispered back hugging her closer.

After a few minutes the lights came back.

"The lights are back Khushi! Calm down!", I said.

She pulled away from my embrace gently.

"I will never ever go in a lift again!", she announced.

"Why?", I asked curiously.

"What if this happens again?", she whined.

"So? I'll be there with you na!", I replied waiting for her reply.

"You can't be there with me always na?", she asked.

"What if I am there in your life always?", I questioned back.

"How?", she asked looking into my eyes with her innocent doe shaped ones.

"Marry me! I will never let you alone in the lift! Why only the lift, I'll be there with you everywhere you go!", I said finally proposing her in the most unromantic and unique way ever.

"WHAT?", she asked me in shock.

"Oh no!!! What the hell did I do! Nooo! This is not what should be happening.", I thought to myself.

"Forget what I said!", I said nervously.

"Arnav! What did you say? Repeat it!", she ordered.

"Ma-rry-me!", he stammered nervously.

"The great ASR is scared of proposing a girl? Not any girl.. His best friend? That's news!", she said out with a chuckle.

"Huh?", I looked at her confused.

"Just kiss me already idiot!", she said and pulled me to her.

She gently placed her lips on mine and sucked them. Her pink lips felt so soft against my hard ones. I have wanted to feel them for a month now. I used to get dreams of this very scene that I would confess to her in the lift.

I sucked on her rose petal like lips. They tasted sweet, of her strawberry lip gloss. We kissed for a couple of minutes and broke away at loss of breathe. I rested my forehead on hers as both of us smiled, breathing heavy.

"I found my love, In the Lift!", she whispered.

"I planned all this! Just to confess my love to you in the place we first met,In the Lift!", I whispered.

She looked at me with disbelief as I smirked at her and bridged the gap between our lips and went in for our second kiss when suddenly the lift moved. She broke apart and giggled.

"No worried Khushi! We can continue this after our shopping, on our way down to the parking, In the Lift!", I said with a wink.

She smiled as a pink hue adorned her cheeks. The doors of the lift opened and we walked out hand in hand.

"I love you Khushi!", I whispered.

"I love you too Arnav!", she replied as we entered the shop for buying some material.

~o~

After a month.

Unfortunately, on our way back down to the parking that day, we had other people in the lift with us. But now I can do anything with her, anywhere I want. Khushi and I are now married and I plan to take her to the mall tomorrow for some shopping, hoping the lift would play it's game again!

Phew! Finally theLast Partof this TS is here! I'm DONE with this story! 😳

How was it? Drop in your feedback.

P.S.: Thank you Nikita for approaching me write this TS! 🤗 Love you! ❤️

xoxo

Mrina