Chapter 2

Aman stared at his boss. Hard. Have I gone mad? Or better blind? Because I am sure as hell, that my boss can never, and I damn serious about it, can never smile! Never have! Aman blinked his eyes rapidly, to remove whatever thing has gone in his eyes that is conjuring this image in front him. Didn't work. I should probably see an eye specialist. Today. He made a mental note of that. Ignoring the small smile that has been there on his boss's face since morning, Aman at last spoke. "Sir, you called me?" That got his boss' attention from whatever he was thinking as he has not even realized that his manager has been in his cabin from 5 minutes.

 

Arnav blinked. Wh...what? Well this is not a good sign. I've been thinking about her so much I didn't even know aman is in my cabin. Not good Raizada. CON.CEN.TRATE! "Yeah Aman!I need you get me someone's mobile number. Her name is Khushi. She's a teacher in Holy Christ school and..."

 

"A number! Teacher's number! From the school that we are buying?" Now it's confirmed. I've lost my sanity! I've officially gone mad! There is no explanation for the things I am hearing now! ASR is asking him to get a girls' number! Of course I know that she is girl and not a married woman in 40's. She's been coming here from months. He was also one the people who tried to make her understand; ok not everyone spoke to her respectfully, that ASR will never meet her. But she never failed to come here and try. And now, his boss wants her number. What the hell happened to his mind or what happened in school yesterday?

 

Arnav scowled. "Yes Aman. A number. You know that ten digit sequence that you type on your mobile to talk to anyone. And yes a teacher's, from the school that we are buying. Do I need to repeat myself again to get it inside in your thick brain? " Stupid Aman! Why was he looking like I had said something alien? It's just a number, ok not just a number but a girls' number, but he doesn't know why I want it in the first place for him to look at me like this. I could be asking her number to talk something about the school, and not about date!

 

"I..I am sorry sir. I will get the number. Anything else sir?" Aman asked, for once keeping his mouth from speaking too much, even there is many questions swimming in his head. Well, I dan't want to get fired today because of a PHONE NUMBER!

Arnav relaxed into his chair. "No you can go now." Aman turned to leave when he heared his boss again. "I need the number within an hour Aman and If you failed then I need your resignation letter on my desk."

"I get it sir." Aman spoke without turning around. He rolled his eyes. It's not the first he heard this threat. It's the common sentence used by his boss at the end of their conversations.

***

 

Khushi was eating her lunch in the staff room when her mobile rang. Unknown number? She picked the buzzing device with her left (clean) hand, still chewing. "Hello?" She spoke clear considering the food inside her mouth. "Hi." Came the reply in a very husky voice sending tinges down her spine. Her eyes widened, she swallowed hard. How did he get her number? She closed her eyes tightly. Of course he can get her number. After all he is Arnav Singh Raizada! "One second." Her voice came out chocked. She grabbed the glass of water drinking the glass empty. "Yeah...hi." She said breathlessly. "Already getting breathless are we? I am not even front of you to make you breathless. Well I guess, I was unaware of own capabilities." God he is so infuriating. "Urrggghh...You are so full of yourself. Sorry to burst your happy bubble but I am breathless as I have been eating when you called me leading me to quickly swallow the food inside my mouth which caused me to chock up and drank water to ease it up." She said in a one breath. Her breath was coming out in spurts. "Khushi, Are you ok? I am sorry. I...I...are okay now?" He was worried for her.  "I am okay Mr. Raizada." I don't know what else to say! She heard as he released a breath of relief. "Khushi I just called to ask you if you would be comfortable if pick you up for the date." Pause. "It's ok if you don't want me to." He said hurriedly after a minute of silence. "Well...uh...just tell me the restaurant and the time I will meet you there?" She asked. "Yeah. Fine by me." He told her, but he was far away from being fine. He really wanted to pick her up. He hung up telling her place and time.  

***

 

Tapping his fingers impatiently on the table, Arnav waited for her to come. He's been waiting for her from half an hour. It's not that she's late. He came here early. He could not her waiting for him in this restaurant alone. She should be here anytime now.  He checked the time again. 5 minutes to 8. Considering that she's a teacher, he assumes that she will correct on time. True to his assumptions, he saw her entering the through the doors exactly five minutes later. He shot up to his feet sauntering towards her. His eyes took in her appearance. She was in black anarkali salwar suit, with silver border. Her skin was glowing in this black colour, a perfect contrast to her white skin. Her hair was unbound, falling up to her waist. She's gorgeous!

Their eyes met. She gave him a shaky smile. She's nervous. "Hi." He forwarded his hand which she took hesitatingly.

Khushi's eyes looked at their joined hands, noticing the firmness with which he had held it within his. She felt possessiveness emanating from his hold.  "You're looking beautiful Khushi." Her eyes snapped up to his at his compliment. "Thanks." She managed to say with her heart thundering in her chest. Am I having a heart attack?

Khushi looked at him carefully. He was dressed in black Armani suit. Again Black! But she had to admit he looks handsome and dare I say sexy in this black suit and White shirt. He has definitely dressed to kill.

At last they reached at their table. It's the corner one having all the privacy. She raised an eyebrow at him. "I like privacy." He simply said.

He pulled up the chair for her like a gentleman. He sat opposite of her. The waiter arrived with the menus. She opened hers. Her eyes nearly popped out looking at the prices. How could anyone pay this much for food?!? This is Ridiculous!

Arnav nearly laughed seeing her face. She was beyond shocked. But he can't help it. He likes to show off his money. Why shouldn't he if he had?

Khushi heard the waiter asking them to order. Well I agreed to come with him on a date, I shouldn't have expected any less from him. She ordered few things of minimum prices.

When arnav gave his order she stared at him open mouthed. "You will eat this much?" She aked shocked with the number of dishes he ordered.

He just merely chuckled. "No khushi. It's not only for me. I ordered for you also as you've planned to just drink water tonight."

"But..."

"Relax. It's a date. I would never want my date, who is looking so gorgeous, to starve." He noticed as her face turned slightly pink at his compliment. "So, Khushi tell me something about yourself. "

"Let's start with you?" She said.

He laughed slightly. "What about me? You know me from the news. I practically don't know anything about you."

"I don't know anything about you also." His face turned serious. "I mean, it's media showing you, I don't know the real you."

Arnav stared at her curious face. Not even a single person has ever tried to know him other than what the media have shown of him. She's different. "What do you want to know about me Khushi? Ask me." He relaxed onto his chair for her questions. I am having many first times with her. For once I am going to open myself to someone.

"I...um...why are you so cold?" She asked hesitatingly.

Well that was not he expected her to ask. Much better than the information about his bank balance. "Hmm why am I so cold? Khushi, just answer my one question, will you?" At her nod he continued. "If you come across to the most cruel, cunning, diplomatic, opportunistic people at every step of your life...and wait I forgot to mention the most important fact...if the first betrayal that you came across was from your own chacha, who you happen to admire, and yeah at the age of fourteen...what you would have felt like...what you would have thought of the world? There is no way you would think all people to be angels fallen from the heaven."

What? It's not his story, is it? But he...he looks like he had experienced it all. "Is that...is this happened to you?" It shouldn't be true! Say no, say no.

"Yeah." He admitted, shrugging casually. He heard her sharp intake of breath.

"But why...why did your chacha betray you...a kid of fourteen years?" For the life of her she couldn't comprehend this.

"Long story short khushi.  My parents committed suicide, leaving their only son as the sole owner of all their properties. I was only a small thorn to my chacha from having all of my fathers' properties. So he threw me out immediately after I burned the bodies of my parents."

Khushi felt blinding rage for that unknown person. She never felt this kind of urge to kill someone. But if his chacha stand in front of her now, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him then and there. "What you did to him?" She asked knowing he would have shown him his pathetic place on this earth.

A smirk bloomed on his face. "He rotting on the roads like a pathetic rat."

"Good." She felt better now. "And did you get all property?"

He nodded. "Yeah. All of it. Ok now enough about me. Can I know something about you other than your name and your qualification?"

"Shoot."  

"Tell me about your likes, dislikes, apart from me of course, and about you family that is all about yourself you can think of."

"Well I particularly don't dislike anything." He smiled at her at that. "Oh don't look so happy. And likes...um like sweet thing...and in that I love jalebeis the most... I can eat 5 kgs of jalebies at one go and I love helping people, I love kids and what not. I have a long lists of likes...it would take a whole day to finish off my list."

Arnav looked at her tiny form. She must be kidding, looking at her it is impossible to believe that she can eat so much and jalebi. I am diabetic! "And your favorite person?"

"I don't have anyone!"

"I am so sorry khushi. I shoudn't have asked that. I didn't know..."

"Its ok. Its not like I have seen them?"

"What do you mean?"

"That I am an orphan genius! And before you ask me how I was able to survive , its because of that school you so hell bent on buying."  She shot him an accusing look.

This is so bad! "Oh don't look at me like that. Its not final is it? I am sitting here with you is the proof that I am considering your request." She immediately cooled down.

At the end of their date one thought lingered in arnav's mind. This school thing needs a serious thinking now that he knew why it is that important for a teacher that teaches there.

***

They stood awkwardly in front of the restaurant near Arnav's car. Arnav offered to drop her at her house but as expected she refused, and he didn't press more. Now they are having the most awkward goodbye. "So bye." Khushi said abruptly turning to leave and soon found herself in his arms, then pressed up against his car with his body caging hers. He didn't waste any time to capture her lips. Again she just stood still, not responding to him. But this time he left her lips only to leave trail of small kisses down her throat then back up to her cheek to her ear. "Be unresponsive as much as you want Khushi, but you know as well as me that this thing will lead to only one thing. It may take time but it will happen and I want another date with you. No is not an option. I'll tell about our next date. Bye sweetheart. Text me when you reach home for my peace of mind."

His arms loosened and khushi bolted from there never glancing back.

 A/N: Its now a three shot. The length was so big i couldn't have written it at once. This also have been written in parts. Next part will be concluding part.