Chapter 3

rulama

@rulama

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]

MARRYING KHUSHI

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(Thanks a million for the gorgeous banner, Akorshi)

(Thanx a million, Nishu_Shorna, for the fab banner!)

Part 3

"Di, I want you to help me out with this." He turned away to hide his eyes from her perceptive ones. "I want a new crop of models, not the same old ones. I want them to look like real women, not stick insects. Otherwise the Indian clothes won't look good on them..."

Anjali gaped at him.

"Liaise with our usual modelling agency. Ask them to..." he looked around for inspiration. "...run a contest or something... advertise zealously... and get good girls, pretty girls out of their middle class homes in Lucknow on to the ramp."

"Chotey!" Anjali couldn't comprehend the many-headed dragon-like form that her simple suggestion had taken.

"Di, get in touch with Aman and the agency and devise ways to get the girls. Send the photos to me for approval. Train them to walk and dress. We will hold the fashion show in Sheesh Mahal. In a month's time." Arnav decided.

"Yes, Sir." Anjali teased him. "Anything else, Sir?"

"I want the prettiest girls in Lucknow..." He looked away out of the window "...on the ramp, modelling my clothes." He picked up a file and moved towards the door. "I am sure you won't disappoint me, Di."

Anjali collapsed in her chair, holding her head in her hands.

Arnav lay in bed, looking at the curtains of his room dancing in the cool breeze. Soon she would come to him. In the dark cloak of the night, she would appear by him, hold his hand, touch his lined face, soothe the furrows on his temple... he shut his eyes desperately seeking the oblivion of sleep so that he could be one with her.

She came to him, clothed in a white saree, the pure white of clouds, of milk, of dreams. Her hair, left unbound, was flying all around her face, looking like a halo in the dim light.

She took tiny steps towards him, hesitating to approach him.

He held out his hand.

She placed her hand in his. He could feel the warm silk of her dainty fingers enclosed in his callused hand. He pulled her to lie on him, against him, savouring the soft warmth of her lush body against his.

"Why were you late tonight?" he asked.

She smiled, looking into his intent eyes with playful ones.

"Why do you make me wait every night?" he asked, his husky drawl seductive and wicked.

She laughed silently. He could feel her body rocking against his with laughter.

Her hair fell over her shoulders and across his chest. A few strands lingered against her cheek.

"What is your name?" He smoothed them back with tender fingers, loving the feel of her skin against his rough digits.

She smiled at him, silent.

He looked deep in to her eyes that were dark pools of secrets. "I will find out one day. I will find you one day. And that day, mark my words, you will not escape me." he promised her softly, his voice dangerously serious.

She tried to move away from him, but he resisted. He locked his strong arms around her willowy body and pulled her more firmly against him.

"I won't let you go tonight." he whispered in her ear, his hands running down her back. She trembled in his hold, her eyes lowered in shyness.

He rolled over, trapping her under his limbs, his weight pressing her down in to the mattress.

Her eyes flew to his determined ones. She blushed, seeing his passion for her turning them in to molten pools of chocolate brown.

His lips swooped down on hers, tasting the nectar hidden within.

ASR looked through the photos, his sharp eyes scanning the features of each candidate eagerly. No... not this one, no, not her, no, no... he discarded photo after photo to the utter bafflement of Anjali & Aman.

"Hopeless. They are hopeless." he muttered, fury and disappointment eating in to his heart.

"Sir, they are the best we could find." Aman protested.

"Not good enough." ASR muttered. "Are you sure there aren't any more photos?"

"The agency could get only ten candidates, Sir." Aman said apologetically.

Arnav turned to walk away to the window. It was night. Stars twinkled against the backdrop of a dark sky. Where was she? Why was she hiding from him?

"Chotey, what are you looking for?" Anjali asked, finally, fed up of Chotey's finicky taste and the unnatural interest he was showing in selecting models.

"A girl..." he said softly. "I mean, girls... with long silky hair and clear complexions. Girls who look Indian, well-bred, khandaani..."

"Bahu-beti types?" asked Aman, his eyes round in shock. "On the ramp?" He looked at Anjali, slack-jawed.

She too was staring at her brother as though she had never seen him before.

Finally, she asked, her sharp eyes on him, "And this girl... I mean, these girls have to be from Lucknow?"

"Yes." ASR stated, his tone firm.

Anjali looked at him with suspicion in her eyes.

"And does this girl... I mean, girls have a name?" she asked, her arms crossed, her chin raised in the air.

Aman looked from ASR to his sister and back again.

Arnav stiffened.

Slowly, he turned to look at Anjali, a frown on his face. "I am going to Lucknow tomorrow to oversee the selection of models." He changed the topic adroitly. "We will have to postpone the show."

Part 2: 94305059 Part 4: 94450563

rulama2013-10-21 22:18:27