Chapter 1

arshina223

@arshina223

PART 1

It was a strange sight. Really! If there would have been a third person present in this room witnessing the silent conversation between the two men sitting at the either sides of the wooden table, he would surely make the mistake about who the owner really is. It was a very rare sight. Well rare was not the correct word. It was a the first time anyone would see the old man, who sat on the black leather chair, looking completely opposite of what he had been ever since he sat on this very chair, and the power that comes with this position was lost, like it has never been there.

This time it was opposite of the natural occurrence in this room. While it always has been the one who sat on the other side of the table scared for himself and intimidated by the old man, it's not same now. Mr. Arun Malhotra, Principle of Holy Christ School, from the past 30 years, resembles a completely defeated and helpless man, with no power to defend himself as he sat opposite of the very young man.

Arnav Singh Raizada. The name itself speaks of money and power. As the said successful business man of india, in his typical black three piece suite, but looking very much handsome as declared by the various magazines, looked at the aged man, who have, no doubt, gave all his years to this school making it what it is, not ready to hand it over to AR company, gain, for the first time reluctant respect from the young man.

That doesn't change anything. ASR will take what he wants. It's always the ultimate result.

God! Please, let him be there! Let him be there! Please! Please! It's my last chance! God please!Praying earnestly to god, khushi ran fast tripping on her own feet at every two feet of distance that she covers. At last she reached her destination, heaving a breath of relief at the sight of huge building. But the relief was short lived, as she saw the vacant, too silent ground of the school. Her breathing stopped. She was late. The school was over. That means...that means he was gone. Her last chance...was gone.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She failed. Feeling tears gathering in her eyes, Khushi slowly made her way inside the gates of the school that has been always opened for her. She walked in a daze, the fact that nothing could be done now, came crashing down on her. Her last chance to save this school, slipped from her hands. Each and every effort she had made to save this institution from past seven months again and again after she got nothing but snide remarks from the workers of that pathetic company she has to step inside just to save the one thing she love, led to the meeting held in the principal's office. Khushi had been sure that she could convince that owner of the company who is hell bent on buying this school, obviously to make huge profit from this, to not buy this school as it was the only means for many poor children to get good education. But her last chance was gone.

As she passed by one of the room on the ground floor still in daze, she heard a husky voice. Not wanting to get her hopes high, she slowly tuned around only to witness that infuriating man that had declined to meet anyone from the school to talk. That anyone has always been her. Her face became red looking at him that had made her to actually run to his office ever morning. Her gaze burned on his back that was going away every second as he marched towards the gate of the school to exit. She felt cold water dowsing her anger, looking at his retreating back. Her last chance was not gone. She could save this school. And then she RAN. Once again!

It was not a surprise for Arnav. He knew that the principal had no chance to make agree to not buy this school. Arnav had his eyes on this school, so it has to be his. Meeting ended as Arnav knew. Principal agreed to the deal that has been already with the trusties of this school. It was just to
remove the media that could have been made if the principal and some teachers of this continued to visit his office so frequently.

With the sense of power that has always been with him, Arnav was ready to leave this goddamned building, when a loud feminine voice stopped his moving feet. Even before he turned around, he felt something inside of him at the sound of this voice that ran all over inside his body. He turned to look at the source of the voice only to collide with a soft body. His hands automatically moved around her body to stop her falling backwards. Bad move! The sensation he felt with that petite and soft body in his arms is far more electrifying than what he felt when he her heard her voice.What.The.Hell!

He felt her immediately jump back from his arms as soon as she regained her balance. Feeling of odd emptiness and disappointment ran through him immediately, feeling the loss of her body warmth on his body.What the f**k is happening with me?!? How could this strange girl make me feel these unknown sensations by her voice only? Hell! He had not even looked at her face! Arnav Singh Raizada never reacts like this! It's always been the women who got all flustered and hot at a single glance of his, power and confidence emitting body with the all too handsome looks! Get a grip Raizada!

And only the next minute, he was a goner. Her eyes met his. He was only aware of her. She was beautiful, no doubt. But it was her eyes that caught his attention, made him want to drown himself into them. Her eyes, they...they were the windows to her soul. He can read her easily and what he saw sucked the breath out him. She is pure, innocent, fiery, compassionate, and strong willed and right now slightly...frustrated. Arnav was aware that what he was experiencing is way too weird. How could he read someone like this? It was a foolish line that has been used in over- romantic novels"two lovers can read each other just by looking in their eyes. But that was not the thing that made him breathless. It was the innocence and the pure heart that she wears on her sleeves got to him. How can be anyone be so her in this cruel world? Who better than Arnav know how people in this world are, how they have snatch innocence of people, making them as cruel and hard hearted like them. Arnav knew this. He is one of their victims.

Arnav notice that she was speaking something. It took some time for her voice to reach his ears. And he heard her say.Sorry!

Khushi started chanting her sorry's as soon she put some distance between them. She kept saying sorry until she noticed him looking, no, staring at her strangely. Her eyes brows pulled together at his blunt staring.Perv! Effectively that made her put him high on a ladder as to why she hates him...more. Already. Not meeting even once!

She scowled at him, noticed as he stopped his staring session, his face displayed confusion...lots of it. He was dressed all in black. Agreed he was handsome, he could for a change wear something that is not black! Whatever! Why should I care? His attire is perfect for his arrogant ass self!

Ok! Let's get to the point!She smiled her faked smile. "Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, can I please talk to you?" She asked politely.

Arnav's lips curved slightly upward at her unsuccessful attempt of being polite with him. Clearly she is not very much fond of him. Well there is no one that likes him. He's always been the cold hearted bas***d as the media have very sweetly named him. She cannot fake a simple thing as a smile. Child! He thought fondly. Lifting one eyebrow in a very arrogant manner he replied. "Why do you think that I would be willing to talk to you? I must tell you, it's very difficult to take an appointed to meet Arnav Singh Raizada and here you are asking me to talk to you. Come to AR take an appointment, if you get that is, then come and talk to me." Ah! He is enjoying riling her up already. She's about to blast. It's there in her eyes.

The nerve of this man! Khushi felt her blood boil. "OH, I know very well how much difficult to take an appointment is! I've been trying to meet you from past seven months every single day!" Her
fingers clenched thinking about the comments that were thrown at her in his office. "But you, the mighty God, was never available, not even for a second in these past seven months."

The small smile slid off his face. She's the teacher who has tried every day to meet him, because of whom he came here today to clear his path in getting this school. Very quickly, he thought about the outcome of the meeting with the principle. Clearly, she is not aware of the outcome. And that is surely going to upset her. Suddenly the thought of her upset, made him uncomfortable. Not thinking about what he is about to do, he quickly spoke. "You can talk to me, but not here. You have to come to my office now with me. 

Shocked, khushi could only utter. "What?" Well this was not she expected to come out of his mouth after she practically shouted at him.

'Your choice. You come with me to my office and get to say what you want or we go on our own paths. Make it quick. I don't have the time." Arnav said.

She took only few seconds to answer. "Yes. Yes I am coming with you."

****

Khushi looked at Arnav from the corner of her eyes. He was standing at the corner of the lift. They reached AR in half an hour. During the whole drive khushi looked out of the window. She have also felt his gaze on her for a few times, otherwise he was non-stop ordering someone on the phone. Devil, She'd thought. He had not spoken a single word to her during the drive. Now they are waiting for the floor to arrive. In what floor did have his office? It felt they are inside this lift from an hour! Not knowing what to do, khushi roamed her eyes on around the lift, as if it was made of gold.

 Arnav was trying to hide his amusement. She was something. One moment she can attack you like a pissed off cat but the next second can be a child, who does not know what to do in a strange place. Arnav decided to have some mercy on her. "So, what do you want to talk about?" He started the conversation; she has now started fidgeting with her purse. She appeared nervous and uncomfortable with the constant silence between them after their little chat on the school grounds. They both know what she wanted to talk about, but she welcomed the interaction.

Looking at him she spoke, her voice having a slight edge of determination. "To convince you to not to buy the school." She turned so that she could face him from the other side of the lift. He followed her move.

"I think you don't know me...miss?" He raised his eyebrows. "Khushi" She told him. His lips curved up. Khushi .What an apt name!"Khushi..i think you've never read anything about me in the newspaper, because if you had, you won't be here to do what you came here for, that is trying to convince me to drop the perfect chance of making loads of profit." He took a step towards her. "Allow me to enlighten you." He smirked. "I get what I want and this time I want that school and I will have it."

Arrogant jerk! Khushi clenched her teeth. It took all her power she have to not to slap him in the face. She took a deep breath. Anger won't do anything. She has to make him understand. "Mr. Raizada, you've to understand why I came here to try to make this impossible thing possible, that is convincing you. And yes I know that you don't do pity. But one should never back down without a fight and I happen to be one of those people." She stepped closer to him. "For me, for those thousands of students that study there, that school not only a School! It's a much more than that. For me it's more like home. For those poor children, it's the only solace in their otherwise black life; it's their hope that they could become something in their future." She blinked back the tears that came in her eyes. She can't cry in front of him. "If you buy the school, you will practically make them homeless."Including me.

He searched her eyes to see if what she was saying is the truth. He has seen many people using these tricks to gain sympathy from him. But one thing he was sure of in this little time they have spent with each other is that her eyes can't lie. And he found what he was looking for. She tried to hide her tears, that showed how much this school means to her, but failed. She was not aware, but he was capturing each and every emotion that flashed through her face, the way her voice broke slightly as she told the school was home for her. There was something about her that has captured his attention. For the first time in his life, Arnav Singh Raizada is about to do what his heart wanted. For once he's going to listen to his heart.

"I can give you a proposal Khushi. Go on a date with me and I promise you to think about what you have said." He asked with a straight face.

Her reaction was priceless. Arnav have to resist hard to not to burst out laughing at her wide shocked eyes and the way her mouth opened and closed like a fish. At last she found her voice. "What!!! What do you think yourself! You are disgusting!" She seethed her face red at his audacity.God, I hate this man thousand times more!

Oh shit! Big blunder! "Hey...hey...relax ok? It's not what you think. I asked you on a proper date, not to sleep with me." He found khushi flinching at his words. "Just have a dinner with me at a restaurant around many people. Then you go to your home and me to mine. Understood?"

Now also she was furious but, her face was back to normal colour. She did not believe him. "Why?" She asked the one question he was not ready answer.

Shrugging slightly he spoke. "You intrigued me."

If this will make him to think about what she said then..."Just a dinner?" She asked.

"Just a dinner." He confirmed, nodding.

"Okay." She said defeated. "So I should go then." But lift was still going up.

"Yeah!" He covered the small distance between them. "But before that, I have to say goodbye to my date." He spoke, his voice low and husky. Khushi stood still, staring at his eyes.

Not waiting for a second, he snaked an arm around her, bringing her flush against him. She could do nothing as he dipped his head and captured her lips. Arnav never felt something like this. His body came alive with just one touch of her lips, proof that he had done the right thing by asking her out on a date. She had done nothing too shocked to think what was happening and let him kiss her. He broke the kiss after one peck on her lips, and whispered goodbye before stepping back as the *ding* sound announced the arrival of the floor. He continued to step back, staring at her shocked and red face, pressed the 1^st floor button, until he was out of the list. He stood looking at her until the doors of the lift started closing in. "See you tomorrow." He said before the door fully closed.

A/N Will post the second part of this and 'Depth of my love' Together.

PART 2 : Page 9
LAST PART :page 16