Arshi ss The Runaway Bride

The Runaway Bride

Another boring affair. Endless streams of girls would be paraded in front of him; the attributes of each one singled out turn by turn. Why this particular girl would be the ideal candidate. Arnav have managed to avoid most weddings. He had successfully altered his business meetings to clash with the wedding dates ,on his checklist he had avoided the pooja ,the mehndhi and sangeet. Now all that was left was the actual wedding, and that too he had almost managed to miss the most important part the wedding ceremony.
He pulled up in the drive expecting the valet to open the driver's side door and offer to park the car.
Instead the passenger Side door was wrenched open and a red tinsel covered bundle tumbled into the seat opposite him screaming

"Drive"

"Excuse me?"
"for the love of God Drive"
"Pardon"
"just try this friggin car in that direction-fast-very fast!"
Arnav paced the car in gear and shot out the drive leaving an increasing Group of spectators behind. What the hell had he just got into?
"first right, Second left straight across roundabout keep driving"
"exactly where are we going?"
"don't know, don't care just away from there"
"if I'm not mistaken, aren't you the bride ?" Add
"yes-correction-was Capital W A S was the bride !"
"shouldn't you be going round the fire with a man back there"
"I should be but I'm not , I'm in your car driving to god knows where ? Do you had any money"
"excuse me?"
"do you have any money ?"
What exactly had he got him self into? By the looks of it he had the bride in his car ! Wasn't this one of Di's friends weddings? And right now she was in his car! A collection of people had seen HER get into his car making HIM the culprit. Making him the enemy. Making him the villain .Making him the hunted and all he had come to do was pick his sister up and be paraded.Even by his standards this was a strange turn of events for him to be involved in.
Money ? Why was she asking for money ? Was this a blackmailing strategy ? Oh don't be so paranoid Arnav told himself. By any stretch of the imagination this kind of elaborate hoax was a step to far!
"how much?"
"just enough to buy some food from the next food stall that we see- I am starving! I haven't eaten since this morning. My stomach feels as though it has been punished enough. STOP !"
"what now?" As Arnav slammed on the brakes bringing the big white monster to a standstill.
"over there- please go and get some food"
"do you even know how they cook their food, how many different types of bugs they have ? where there water comes from"
"right now I don't care if it comes from Timbuktu I need some food. Please"

So readers just to get you up to speed and a full understanding of what our hero and heroine are going through Khushi has finally taken her courage in both hands and run away from her wedding mandip , straight into the arms, of Mr Raizada.
Normally A very astute and clever individual finds himself aiding and abetting a runaway bride. It was not often that he found himself in in preposterous situations and this was one of them.
He sat in his Suv watching the lovely as yet unnamed creature with her doleful eyes ,wolfing the food down -there was no doubting that she was hungry - starving would be a more apt description.
On her part our bride was starving and exhausted and didn't have a plan ;only one had been, grab what she could get her hands on and run as if there was no tomorrow . If she had stayed -there would be no tomorrow - our heroine of the piece liked the dramatic.

"where to now my lovely , your steed awaits ?"
"I don't know ?"
" you ran away from your wedding surely you must have a plan ?"
He only saw her shake her head and then her large doeful eyes filled with tears and cascaded down her face like the Niagre falls.
"Stop ! Enough ! Here use this, I'll think of something"

Our heroine coming from the latest swiss finishing school-NOT! declined the use of the handkerchief offered her and used the edge of her heavily ornate dupatta.
For his part our hero of the moment drove around aimlessly then finding himself back at his own office.What better place than this to regroup and replan a strategy worthy of our of our hero Arnav Singh Raizad
"my offices -do you have anything to wear other than that monstrosity"
Her outfit was an insult to him, head of a fashion house ;crystals , silver thread ,gold thread ,seqence ,gold tassel whoever designed that definitely knew nothing about colour ,cut or fabric -there was too much of everything -it was all plastered on layer by layer.
Khushi looked down at her outfit and then back at her knight in shining armour.
"I've got a change in my duffle"
"Follow me up to the penthouse you can change in there in peace"
Arnav brewed himself a strong coffee -what next Mr Raizada ? Thought your life wasn't busy enough you decided to add extra spice to it by helping this girl -whose wedding had he been attending -he couldn't even remember -he was sure everyone would remember him . Good grief what was he thinking -she was somehow connected to Di.
OMG Di all hell would break loose when she realised that the bride had run away with him! Wait in all reality why had he done what he had done ? Ordinarily no one could make him do anything.
"Chai hey ?"
"What ?"
"Do you know -you seem to say what a lot or excuse me ? Do you have any tea ? Tienes algn t?Avez-vous du th? "
Arnav was brought back to the present with the question he had been asked in three different languages. He didn't know what surprised him more her current appearance or the language.
"This way " leading the way to the kitchen in the pent house.
They sat opposite each other one drinking tea and the other staring at perfection. He hadn't realised how stunning she was under all that make up and jewellery. What she wore was another matter, but she was perfection from her hazel coloured almond shaped eyes to her rose coloured lips. Her skin was flawless and ivory coloured , her breasts were pert just as her arse was tight and round. He would love to ... Arnav shook his head and slapped himself mentally what the hell -he had a run away on his hands and here he was thinking how she would feel in his arms , what those lips would taste like?
Khushi had seen him staring at her taking in what she was wearing -even she didn't recognise herself when they had finished with her. No one had listened , they had gone on and on he outfit had arrived -it was hideous , the jewellery was worse and the makeup -she had no words -no one except Payal had listened. If they paid no attention to her before marriage what would it be like after ?
She had already said no , and been ignored. Buaji had said -you will get to like him , the family are wonderful, it is your new home , it takes time -slow slow slowly you will adjust. On your wedding night don't worry -its a little bit of pain, do what ever he wants , keep him happy ,do exactly as he asks when he asks and you will grow used to it . Soon as you have children everything will be ok.
That was it ! That talk was the straw that broke the camels back! Her feelings didn't count, she was a nobody , everyone ignored what she had been saying -she didn't like the boy, she didn't like his overbearing family -they had nothing in common ,they were suffocating her. When they came to get her, for her final journey ,she felt the jail door being slammed shut! There would be no escape! It was now or never ! She needed to buy herself time -the rest would fall into place later - yes yes yes her family would be livid -honour and all that rubbish -but she would have bought herself some time. Time is what was running away with her -time is what she needed. She said she would be ready in 15 minutes, she needed to say goodbye to Payal. The fifteen minutes that she had bought herself was sufficient,she picked her bags and ran. Payal had bought the fifteen minutes that she needed. Payal was awesome -she would take a lot of flack for the events today.
" I grabbed what i could - not exactly haute couture but sufficient"
"Agreed not haute couture but more than sufficient but whats with the shoes?"
Khushi looked down at her mismatching sneakers -same design but different colours -in her rush she had just thrown what she she thought she needed as emergency wear -the rest she would work out in time -Payal would help her.
Face the situation with Aplomb Khushi told herself -
"You re some top dog in this fashion house otherwise you wouldn't have access to the penthouse or gain access to these offices -I noted the name on the door MR A.S. Raizada and you know nothing of emerging fashion trends! Its the rage to wear contrasting block colours hence the shoes!"

Readers if the reality be known Arnav was not the least bit interested in her fashion sense or colour scheme-his heart had just received the biggest almighty electric shock. He was head over heels in love with this girl! He just hadn't quite got there yet ! His brains cells were working fast -doing the various computations but every answer was incorrect -syntax error! The damsel in distress herself was in a state of confusion -both needed time to work out the next move. She had nowhere to go or turn to. He didn't want her to leave until he had figured out what was going on with his brain, heart and libido which all seem to be working as enemies. And lets not forget the wedding party. Pandemonium had broken out there -as only Khushi could cause but would have happened anywhere where a bride had run away from a mandip. Rumours were circulating that she had run of with the arrogant ASR. The words had reached his Nani's ears and his Sisiters ! Time for the piper to pay the price readers!.

Arnav looked at his phone , how many missed calls in five minutes. Yup the S*** had hit the fan. He scrolled down Nani ,Di, Mama, Akash and Aman. Lets start with Di. Cool Arnav , Play it cool or your sister will kill you, Nani will hang draw and quarter you the rest they would just shake their heads and say nothing. Aman wouldn't dare say anything except find the right spin to place on the turn of events.
"Di you called ?"
"Chote ! Where are you and when are you coming to pick me up ?"

Now readers we all know Anjali well , mistress of her brothers heart -well versed in the handling of the great ASR -an expert in the ability to know what her brothers heart really wanted before he himself really knew it. Is she had hollered down the phone how she really felt -nothing would be achieved. Her brother if he were really involved in the events that were unfolding before her eyes would clam up shut tighter that a shell. No information would be gained. Eggshells that how she would handle her brother -after all that's how she always handled him. He thought that he had the upper hand -his dream after all whose sister was she, the master of manipulation and illusion.

Now that was a surprise , Di was speaking as though nothing had happened.
"Di is the wedding over -you need picking up , I'll be there in 15 minutes -I'll shut down my system and be over- Sab tho trek hey ?"
"Hai Chotte -yeh kya hey - there's been bit of an incident at the wedding and I think it is better if Nani and me left as soon as possible"
Arnav's big brother , lord and protector brain came into play -
"Di are you Ok ? has anyone -anyone said anything to hurt or upset you or out of line, I ll be there in ten minutes DI!"
Her brother -how could she even have doubted him, how could she think he was involved in the events of the evening -he ran from marriage and that institution and what it represented. She would have known if there had been a girl involved -the last few photographs that Nani had seen, which had rubbed her up the wrong way -was one of his latest models Lavanya.
If he had any involvement with the Gupta's daughter running away he wouldn't have been able to come and pick her up he would be otherwise occupied.

"Hello sir"
"You called Aman ?"
"Err sir , Anjali called she wanted to know where you were , something about a wedding and you possibly being involved in the elopement of the bride sir, this was followed by a call from Akash sir and your uncle ...and Sir your Nani phoned me ! Sir may I advise that if you are to return to the scene of the crime please don't take your white SUV as that seems to be the car involved use one of the other vehicles. Err sir the best way to diffuse the situation from what I have gathered is for you to attend the venue and show yourself and take your time while you are -go to Shantivan first calm everything down -I will wait with the young lady if need be till your return"
"Aman?"
"Err I was working when I saw you enter with a lady dressed in a bridal outfit- initially I thought it was a model -but then you went up to your penthouse sir."
"I'll take your advice Aman and what's with the Sir ?"
"Am I on speaker ? or can I speak freely sir about the events?"
"freely -no one can hear "
"Arnav , you A****** , what the hell have you got yourself into- that's the Gupta girl you got yourself involved with! Are you just plain F****** crazy or have you a death wish ? I didn't know it was her when I saw her come up in all that getup I thought it was a model -and then you went to your flat -and I thought oh up but her -the Gupta girl -you took her from her wedding mandip , if he doesn't kill you , Nani and Di will second in line -not to mention the Singhania's. Could you have put your hand into a bigger hornets nest if you tried -now take the car and go pick your sister and Nani up and be prepared -for the onslaught -this is not going away any time soon. When everything is settled at home return to the penthouse, with Akash ,I will wait with your bride till then and try and sort out the best way of this mess- there all the PR that will have to be handled! I sure hope she is worth your neck friend -you just might have put the noose round your neck. really you couldn't find any other girl to mess with ?"
" Right ! that's more of the Aman I am used to - I'll go pick Di and Nani up you wait here and then we will regroup and replay -err Aman -who exactly is this Gupta girl?"
"Unbelievable Arnav - do you really pay no attention to the papers or anything that I have to say!"

So that's how things lay - Arnav really had no idea who he had helped -still didn't know her name other than the Gupta girl -so at least he had a surname. The Singhania's were involved -and that was never good. They never did business on the straight and narrow -they never played by the rules. At the moment out hero of the piece looked as though he was sinking -and sinking fast - but then we would have nothing to discuss and look forward to -where would our story go -to the end. A bit more drama and emotions are required before we get to the happy ever after, and there will be a happy ever after!

Arnav arrived in a black mercedes to pick up his Di, He felt heads turn towards him to gawk and stare. A corridor of whispers followed him. He was used to them. He pulled his phone "Di , I'm here you ready to go ?"
Di was by his side in an instant -unity thats what they always presented to the world -everytime the chips were down him and her and they always made it through -this was neither the time or place for explanations and recriminations -this was a time for family.
"chote you here so quickly" -her voice seemed louder as an expectant hush fell around them.
"Hah Di, I just finished late worked carried o sorry i missed the wedding, but I'm here now!"
He heard several people gasp , short intake of breath. He didn't know -then who was the mystery man that the bride had run away with.
Word had spread fast and reached the ears of the head of the Singhania household ASR was here. The man that his prospective daughter in law had run away with.
"ASR "
"Mr Singhania"
"Where is she ?"
"Who ?"
"My daughter -in -law"
"Sorry , i fail to comprehend why I would know the whereabouts of your daughter -in law , I myself have to find my Nani ?"
"ASR don't be facetious"
Someone whispered in Mr Singhania's ear -if he was the one that the bride had run away with what would he be doing here again surely he would be with the bride.
It was as Aman had suggested -show your face , kill the gossip ,buy us time and that's exactly what ASR presence did at the wedding.
"Chote !"
"Nani -shall we go ,are you ready"

Arnav drove away from the scene knowing -it was not over -infact it had only just begin the game would be played in earnest -he heard Nani's tone and intonation- he was in for an earful, Di body language said more than her words - her eyes revealed what she really felt. There was a storm brewing and it was going to break over his head.
The car had barely pulled into Shantivan's drive and the gates shut when Di erupted and the great Arnav Singh Raizada -knew he was in trouble-worse than he had ever been in and Nani had not even begun.
"Arnav -you had better come clean with me now and no fancy language or pussy footing around did you run away with the bride tonight ?"
"Di if I had runaway with the bride would i not be with her now ?"
"Arnav Singh Raizada - don't use your fancy language around me -this is no legal court this is me and I can read your emotions like a book "
She got hold of his ear and started to twist "Arnav did you have anything to do with Khushi running away tonight ,and by that i mean if you even laid eyes on her -I want to know - forewarned is forearmed!I will ask you again swear on my life that you had no contact direct or indirect with that girl who ran away from that wedding tonight ?"
There readers, Anjali knew exactly how to get the truth out of her brother when she wanted -emotional blackmail-it worked every time. Our hero -well he never stood a chance really not when it came to the inner workings of the female brain. This was a special territory that he would never understand no matter how old he got -the workings of the female minds in his family were beyond understanding. There was no logic in their minds, their beliefs stemmed from religion, faith and superstition -there was no hard evidence , there was no scientific logic to follow , no mathematical equation to solve. He was doomed. He relayed the turn of events as they had unfolded to his Grandmother and Di. Truthfully he hadn't even known her full name till Di had mentioned it. Now what was our hero to do he was caught between the Singhania's ,his Family and now the Gupta's. The part of him that was left that was caught up with culture and tradition - he was a tiger well and truly caught in a net -the more he struggled the worse it got! Surely it was time for the little mouse to appear and start helping gnaw away at the tangled net to let our hero escape and live for another day. Help for our hero arrived in the form of Aman.
A little history is required here to explain Aman's relationship with Arnav. Aman was elder to Arnav at Harvard and had helped him through the early days , there friendship was strong and had become stronger when he had married his Di. Although at the company he was his junior not the CEO at home he was his elder.
Anjali received a phone call asking Arnav to return to AR designs and she was to accompany him with an overnight bag.
On arrival at the penthouse Anjali and Arnav were confronted with a scene that could only be described as ludicrous, considering the events that had unfolded earlier that evening.
Two individuals , one female and one male sat there playing the latest game game on the PS 4 Child of light ,drinks on the table a bowl of popcorn .
Anjali noticed that the girl her hair up in a messy bum held up by a set of chopsticks obviously from the kitchen. Her plain kurti and torn boyfriend cut jeans and mismatched trainers. She had never seen Khushi before but she was adorable -she had not looked like this in the past few days - her eyes were noticeably filled with laughter.
"Die you mongrel !Mourez, vous btards"
"English or hind hi Khushi! But I agree Die you Ba******"
"Amaan"
Both individuals looked up guiltily at the new trespassers and then at each other.
"Khushi -let me introduce you Arnav you already know and Anjali -his sister and by the looks that are being sent my way ,I had better tell you she is also my adored wife who can do no wrong in my eyes and I need to remind her that I can do no worn in hers and everyone makes mistakes- some larger than others but mistakes all the same. To err is human to forgive is divine. And if he didn't forgive everyone here what is the point of all those Pooja's she attends -""Amaan ! Why have you asked me to come ?-obviously you are enjoying yourself with your new playmate who seems to have the same appalling taste as you"
Anjali meant the game , Arnav thought that she meant the mismatching shoes, Khushi didn't know what she meant -except the comment was aimed at her ,and Amaan understood her perfectly !
"look the games off ! Shall we sit and let me explain the strategy for the next two days after that we will re asse"
"Khushi stays here -so does Anjali -so none can point any fingers; Arnav will fly to Goa office or Mumbai -take your choice and be very visible to all and sundry ;Akash and I will manage the Dehli office and then lets see what comes out in the wash. Khushi is quite prepared to stay locked up in the penthouse -games and food provided hidden away from all the peering eyes until the dust settles and we can see the hand of the opposition. Arnav when she jumped in your car she had no idea who you were or the ramifications that her running away would cause so she is quite prepared to help rectify the situation -once we actually know what the situation is with Mr Singhania and his protege Sham who Khushi was supposed to be marrying.Now all mandatory explanations are done lets go to our bedroom and let Arnav and Khushi have a word.

"thankyou and sorry! I mean thank you for rescuing me and sorry for dobbing you in this mess.!"
"You're welcome and don't worry about it -i have been in far worse situations than the current one and survived"
"Wanna play ?"
"Really ?"
"It gets my mind off things and I can blow up things and characters thinking they are Sham"
"I gather you don't like him!"
"I rather marry a snakapus"
"Pardon "
"A snakapus" more loudly
"I heard you the first time whats a snakapus ?"
"I couldn't work out if he had more hands than an octopus or was slimier than a snake -how could I marry him when he made me feel like that."
"I see you're problem"
"why couldn't anyone else?"
"Did you ever describe him in those terms ?"
"No"
"There lies your problem -I'm sure such a term used in front of your father would have had an instantaneous effect"
Ahh my lovelies -no Sham, no villain , no baddies ,how is our hero to declare himself and save his love. So yes! the slimy slithering creature worse than than fouler things found in middle earth in the third age orcs or even worse the dark lord himself -Sauron has to make an appearance to allow our damsel to be rescued.
Now all the main ingredients of a love story have been introduced -now we have to allow to cook and simmer till just right before it can be fully appreciated .