Chapter Eighteen
*** The Raizada's were at Gupta Mansion for dinner and everyone except Khushi were sitting in main hall. Khushi was yet to come back from office. The ladies had formed their own group in one corner of the sitting area -
Dadi: Does Khushi bitiya always come back late from work?
Garima: No Maaji ... In fact Khushi hates to work till late. But sometimes when there are events she has to work late and on top of it Jay is not here so the whole work load is on her now.
Dadi: She is a very hard working girl ... I have seen that in Nanhe's (NK) wedding!
Garima smiled back at that.
On the other side the men had formed their own group -
Shashi: Arnav bituwa ... I heard you had a meeting with Khushi today at the office!
Arnav: Ji Uncle ... I had been there to discuss about AR's next fashion event.
Shashi: Hmmm... Khushi had told me this morning that she is having meeting with you today. I hope it went well!
Arnav: It did!
Shashi: So what is the even for?
But before Arnav could answers back his mobile started ringing. Arnav was a bit hesitant to take the call since he was talking with Sashi and sensing his resentment Shashi spoke -
Shashi: Go ahead beta take it!
Arnav: Um... Thanks uncle!
Arnav moved a bit away from there and answered the call.
Arnav (on call): Hello ASR speaking ... Hello ... Hello... Can you hear me?... Hello...
Arnav was not able to hear anything and kept shouting "Hello". This did not go unnoticed by the others and Shashi went near him and whispered -
Shashi: Bituwa why don't you go up to the terrace? Sometimes the reception down here is bad ... I am sure you would be able to hear clearly if you go to the terrace. Just go up the stairs and the door on the right leads to the terrace.
Arnav nodded gratefully and started moving up to the terrace while others continued to chat to each other.
After a while the doorbell rang and Anjali went to open the door and big smile beamed on her face when she saw the person standing on the other side of the door.
Anjali: Chutki you are here!
Khushi: Haan di! Sorry I am late ... Got stuck in a meeting!
Anjali: It's ok ... Now come inside, everyone is waiting for you.
Khushi entered inside and along with Anjali they both moved towards the hall.
Khushi: Hello Everyone!
Everyone turned their head towards Khushi and smiled brightly when they saw her.
Garima: You are back bitiya!
Khushi: Yes Maa! Sorry I am late ... Got caught up with work.
Chandini: Its ok bitiya ... We understand!
Garima: Why don't you go freshen up and come back ... By then we will set up the dinner.
Khushi: Ok Maa!
***
Khushi came out of the bathroom after freshening up, wearing a light pink Anarkali. She moved towards the dressing table and started wearing her jewellery. When she was done; she started moving towards her door to go downstairs when she heard a noise. She turned around to check where the noise was coming from and realised that it was coming from her private terrace. She opened the French doors and stepped into the terrace. Her eyes immediately caught hold of a shadow; she moved closer to it and saw man standing near the railings talking over the phone while facing his back towards her. She was surprised to see someone there; since everyone was sitting downstairs. The structure looked familiar to her; she took a few more steps forward so she could hear the voice clearly and when she heard the smooth rich voice; it did not take her long to recognise its owner ... "Arnav". That is when she realised that she had not seen him downstairs along with the rest of his family. She started moving towards him and but still kept a significant distance so that she doesn't disturb him.
Arnav could sense someone was standing behind him; so he ended the call and turned back to check who was there. He was taken back when he saw Khushi standing there looking at him. Even though he was at her house; he was not expecting to meet her in the terrace.
Arnav: Hi!
Khushi: Hey!
Arnav: You here???
Khushi: Did you forget this is my house?
Arnav: That's not what I meant! What I meant is; you here in the terrace... I was not expecting to see you here!
Khushi: Well ... this is my private terrace ... so...
Arnav: Oh! I thought this was the main terrace ... Actually ... Shashi Uncle told me to come up to the terrace to get a better phone reception since I was not getting it downstairs. Ummm ... Sorry I dint know it was a private terrace.
Khushi was shocked to hear the word "Sorry" from the great Arnav Singh Raizada. She kept looking at him with disbelief written all over her face.
On the other hand; Arnav was himself very shocked. He had not realised that he had said Sorry until it had slipped out of his mouth. He waiting for a response from Khushi but instead she was looking at him curiously.
Arnav: Khushi ... You ok???
Khushi: Huh? ... Me ... Ya I am fine! Hmmm ... Actually this area is connected to the main terrace!
Arnav: Oh...
Arnav looked around the terrace and he realised that the main terrace was indeed connected to the private terrace ... But still keeping the privacy of Khushi's private terrace intact. The whole terrace is in an L - shape; the longer side being the main terrace while the shorter side being the private terrace. Both the sides were just divided by a climbing rose wall with an arbour in between connecting both the terraces. The arbour was also decorated with climbing roses. In fact the whole private terrace was decorated with rose plants.
After looking around ... Arnav spoke the first thing that came in his mind.
Arnav: You love roses!
It was more of statement than a question.
Khushi was surprised hear that ... Out of all the other aspects of the terrace; Khushi was not expecting him to comment on the roses.
Khushi: Yes I do!
Arnav: There is a lot of variety; some of them are unique too!
He moved towards one of the rose plants and bent down to see it clearly.
Arnav: Isn't this the Star of Nile'?
Khushi was really shocked to hear him talk about roses. The Arnav Singh Raizada she knew ... actually to be more precise; the Arnav Singh Raizada she thought she knew, was not someone who would know different types of roses ... Forget about knowing their names she dint even think he would have interest in plants. She realised one thing; there was a lot more in this man than she knew. She remembered what Lavanya once said to her ... There is another side of Arnav Singh Raizada ... the one we see is just a mask.' And now Khushi feels like Lavanya was right ... This man is indeed different from what he seems to be. In fact, she can see herself in him.
She was once again brought out of her thoughts by Arnav voice.
Arnav: Khushi did you hear me? I asked you if this was the Star of Nile?
Arnav looked at her curiously for a reply.
Khushi: Yes it is!
Arnav: Hmmm ... Even though it looks like an English style rose, it has one of the most extraordinary fragrances. It's very hard to find this species here ... I have been trying very hard to find it!
Khushi: Ya ... Bhai gave this to me as a present. He had to order this from the US.
Arnav: I see!
Khushi was still surprised with amount of information Arnav knew about plants. She kept looking at him curiously and this did not go unnoticed by Arnav.
Arnav: Why are you looking at me so curiously?
Khushi: Ummm ... Nothing!
Arnav: Are you sure it's nothing' coz your face states something completely different to it!
Khushi: No ... ummm...
Arnav: Since when did Khushi Gupta start to stutter?
He asked that with his one eye cocked up and small smirk playing on his lips.
Khushi was surprised to hear that. She so wished she could just wipe that smirk off Arnav's face which she could see slowly forming.
Khushi: I am NOT stuttering!
Arnav: Ya right!
Khushi: Look Mr. Riazada...
Arnav: I think we have gone past the phase of formally addressing each other. I prefer us addressing each other by our first names; especially when our families have become close!
Khushi: You are really strange!
Arnav: See who is saying that!
Arnav slightly chucked at Khushi's riled up form. He remembered what NK once told him about him and Khushi fighting like kids; in fact NK had even given them nick names ... Tom and Jerry; offcourse him being the Tom and Jerry being Khushi. He chuckled even more at thought.
Khushi was getting one shock after the other; over the last weeks she had seen Arnav, he had not even smiled once and now he is openly chuckling in front of her. He would be the death of her.
Khushi: Mind to share the joke?
Arnav looked at Khushi immediately and tried to compose himself.
Arnav: Do you know NK call us Tom and Jerry?
Khushi: WHAT?
Arnav: To him we fight like kids!
Khushi processed what she just heard in her head and then started chuckling along with Arnav.
Khushi: I guess ... He is right!
Arnav: Hmmm... Sooo what were you thinking?
Khushi looked up at him surprisingly ... He still stuck with that thought.
Khushi: You look like you are really interested in knowing that!
Arnav: Well... I am sure it's about me coz you were staring at me while you were lost in your thoughts ... So it's natural for me to be curious on what was going on in your head.
Khushi slightly chuckled hearing that.
Khushi: I never thought that a man like Arnav Sight Raizada would be interested in plants ... That is the thought that ran in my mind!
Arnav was surprised to hear that but the then he just smirked and replied, not not replied in fact retaliated back -
Arnav: Neither did I think that The Khushi Gupta can be scared of darkness!
Khushi's breath caught in her mouth when she heard that ... She was very shocked to hear that from him. Initially she was confused on how he knew about this fatal truth of hers but eventually she remembered the incident that took place in Pune. She turned her face away from him and tried to compose herself.
Arnav had noticed her shocked expression and then how realisation struck her slowly. But amid of those expressions he had seen another expression too; Fear'. And for some reason he did not like seeing that, not even a slightest bit of it. His tracks of thoughts were broken by Khushi's voice.
Khushi: Well I guess; we don't know a lot of things about each other.
Arnav: But we could ... if we became friends!
Khushi was surprised to hear that; in fact not only her even Arnav was equally surprised at himself. He hardly had any friends all his life; in fact he was not interested in having friends either ... The only true friend he has ever had and still has in NK. So, now he was very surprised at himself on why he was interested in being friends with Khushi and for some unknown reason he was not regretting on what he said.
Khushi: Wh... What? Did I hear that right!
Arnav: Yes you did!
Khushi: Arnav Sigh Raizada is asking me to be his friend! Unbelievable! You are really going be the death of me.
Arnav smirked at that.
Arnav: So what do you think?
Khushi: I guess there is no harm in it!
Arnav: So friends?
He asked with a hope while bringing his hand forward. Khushi brought her hands to his and they both shook their hands while Khushi replied back - "Friends".
End of Chapter Eighteen
*****
Imagine something like this is dividing the main terrace and Khushi's private terrace. I couldn't find the exact pic of what I wanted so I had to play around and edit a few pics.
Star of Nile
*****
Sorry I haven't proof read it ... So if there were any mistakes please ignore them!
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Edited by -.Pari.- - 11 years ago
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