Chapter 5

Pearl_Oyster

@Pearl_Oyster

Part 5

The flat was dipped in darkness.

Khushi walked in and locked the door behind her. Her eyes turned saucer sized as soon as she switched on the lights of the hall.

"ABHAY" She screamed as she saw the view in front of her.

Abhay was half lying and half falling from the couch. There were 4 cups of coffee, a kettle and the table mat was all messy.

"You back..? What's the time?" He woke up and said, yawning.

"What the hell is up with the place and what has happened to you?" Khushi rushed towards her, helping him to sit.

"I was waiting for you. And maybe drifted to sleep."

"You were WAITING for me?" Khushi said, surprised.

"Yeah, why? Shouldn't I be?" He asked feeling offended.

"No..I mean Why? I had said I'll be late. And You nearly killed me."

"Why'.How?"

"I thought....You must have looked the way you were sleeping. You looked no better than a corpse. You silly man. Now get up and off to your bed. You need rest. And me too. And do clean this mess you have made before sleeping."

"Hitler...!" He said and started arranging the things stealing glances at her face.

"Are you alright?" Abhay asked, when she turned to leave the room.

"Yeah. Why?" said Khushi.

"Well. You don't look okay. Normally you get so bossy when you are tensed over something. I can see something is troubling you."

"uh..umm..Abhay, I'm really tired.. Really really tired. Nothing else. You are thinking too much." She shrugged.

"Are you sure?"

"YES BOSS" Khushi said, cheerfully, to hide her emotions.

"Ok then, Good Night"

"Good Night"

**~~~~**

Khushi remained awake for God knows how many hours. Every thing was replaying in her mind. Why all the pain of the world has been allotted to her? Why can't she live her life like a normal girl? Why her scarred past keeps shadowing her present? All such questions danced in her mind. And today, the reappearance of Arnav had stirred something into her. It was the feeling of being a use and throw material. That's how Arnav had treated her few years back.

And now all of a sudden, he appears from nowhere and thinks that he can use her again. No..

This time she won't fall for it. Time has made her tough and hard. Now she was prepared to face everything.

The shock of seeing him all of a sudden had made her vulnerable for few moments. But now she had recovered from it.

'This world is not for the people who can't face their situations. One has to be strong to survive here.' Her Buaji had once told her. And she will follow her words.

"I'll fight against all odds, Devi Maiya. Nothing can deter me from getting over my past. Not even Arnav Singh Raizada." She swore to herself.

~~****~~

The next day she woke up, Khushi was more silent than usual. She got dressed up and walked towards the dining area.

"Morning" Said Abhay, as he fried eggs.

"Good Morning." Khushi said.

"Khushi? You sound disoriented. What's up'?" He demanded.

"Nothing's up."

"Don't lie. Last night you said you were tired'.What now? I am not idiot enough to not notice your dull mood."

"I...I didn't get to sleep last night..Actually' umm."

"Did you meet him again?"

"Shall I tell him.." She thought..

"Ahh..yes."

"Last night?"

"Yes."

"Are you ok.?"

"Yes..NO" Khushi sighed.

"How can I be, Abhay? That man always disturbs me. I hate him for everything he did to me." She continued.

"I know. I still can't believe how could anyone do that to YOU. And over that you don't ever tell me his name. It just keeps eating me up. And if I ever come across him, I swear I'll shatter his world. I'll..."

"Okay Okay.. Relax. That's why I don't ever talk to you about this. You get so fiery." Khushi said.

"Whatever. To lighten you spirits, Tonight a dinner by me and you don't dare refuse it." Abhay changed his mood.

"Ok baba" Khushi said, smiling at her best friend.

**~~~~**

"GET HIM OUT OF YOUR MIND KHUSHI!! He ruined your past and now don't let him ruin your present and your future. Concentrate on your work." Khushi mentally slapped herself.

After trying loads, she wasn't able to not think about him. She wanted to give him a piece of her mind and wash him out of her system. And then she threw down the designs she was trying to ponder for like 15 times..

"I hate thinking about him. Help me, Devi Maiya." She shouted and again picked the file.

Just then her boss entered in her cabin.

"Good Morning Khushi." She was startled by the at once intrusion.

"Good Morning, Sir" she tried to keep her tone balanced and not show her mental state via it.

"Khushi, I wanted to tell you something really important."

"Yes Sir?"

"You remember, last night I made you meet Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada.." Said MR Roy.

'As if it's possible for me to forget that' she said to herself but nodded in response to Mr. Roy's question.

"And it seemed like you both know each other." She cursed herself. Where was this heading to?

"So yesterday, we agreed on a new deal. Today by 6:00 pm, we have a meeting with ARs to finalize the terms and conditions."

Now she knew the convo was leading to her doom.

"Ummm Sir, So what can I do?" She asked politely.

"It's you who have to do everything, Khushi." Her boss liked speaking in puzzles. She concluded.

"I didn't get you, Sir."

"The Raizada Company. They were impressed by our latest collection we had released into the market, the one which was designed by you. And so they have offered us to work with them. It will benefit our company. And now it all depends on you, Khushi. According to the deal, our designer will be designing their upcoming collection, and that is you. So for a few weeks or maybe a month, you'll be designing for AR Fashion House. It's a very striking opportunity for your career." Mr. Roy said, smiling.

Khushi was stunned. Her fate had once again played with her. It was pushing her towards the man she wanted to stay away from.

"Khushi?" Mr. Roy said, when she didn't respond.

"Yes Sir. I am listening."

"So are you ready for this? And since you personally know Mr. Raizada, I am sure you'll enjoy the work. All the best." Mr. Roy finished and left the cabin without waiting for her to respond.

She fell back into her chair.

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Pearl_Oyster2018-05-23 03:53:36