Arshi FF: Castle Of Glass l Ch 19 Pg 46 Note Pg 51 - Page 5

Chapter Eight

Arnav came out of the RH corporate office around 9. In the dimly lit underground parking lot, he made his way towards his SUV. His feet took him to his car though his mind was elsewhere.

Hailing from a family of business, Arnav Singh Raizada was never a person who got easily swayed by emotions.

It was first their mother who succumbed to her kidney failure and then his father who died when his heart deceived him after three years. Anjali had just passed her graduation at that time. Arnav was 11 and Akash was 9 then. Both the brothers had been brought up by their elder sister since then of course with the help of their old loyal aides.

Anjali had emerged strongly after the initial grief of losing last of their parents for her brothers and RH. Alongside taking responsibilities of her brothers' upbringing she had also held the reign of Raizada Hospitalities.

After few initial hick-ups, she had managed to grasp all aspect of the business as good as she could in such tender age with the guidance of their father's old faithful employees and partners.

She was a strong-willed, confident woman and she had instilled the same qualities in her brothers as well. But it was Arnav who took after her more than Akash.

He was young, energetic, and light-hearted yet he was serious when it came to assisting Anjali and learning business. Soon he had turned into a shrewd businessman. But one thing he had maintained since he had taken the responsibility of the business that his mind and heart worked in parallel. He never let any one of them rule over his choices. He was nor ruthless neither easy to tame. His character was of a man who worked by his own set of rules but didn't mind to bend them a little sometimes when required. Mostly to help.

In social life, he was a player yet nobody could blame him for indecency. Rather men or women, irrespective, vouched that gentleman like him was hard to find. He was the example that women gave, who were fortunate enough to come in his contact, for the saying chivalry is not dead.

He was polite in his conduct but fiery in his retorts when required. Fierce as a defender yet he never crossed the line where his audience could say he was rough. All in all his appearance was majestic in all regards.

Hence, when one Khushi Aleen Grover, belonging from the opposite gender, did not swoon over him as expected generally, he discovered that rejection did not sit well with him. Maybe because he never faced one before. Though he himself could not find the logic behind why he felt rejected.

It made her a challenge for him. It made him attracted to her even though he had seen beauties better than her. It made him possessive of her. It made him want her in ways he never thought of getting a woman before; exclusively for him.

It was an interesting and memorable chase. But it was later that he realized he had fallen prey while he thought he was the hunter.

But he didn't mind rather had loved the thought that he loves her.

It was beautiful until everything went topsy-turvy. And he was still searching how and why?

**

He kept his head on the steering wheel. A strange kind of numbness taking over him. A numbness that followed when all your emotions got jumbled up and you grew tired of feeling the agony inside.

Pulling himself up, he accelerated the car not in a mood to go home.

He drove and drove. Unable to bear the silence inside the car that only made the memories scream in the recess of his mind he tapped a button to activate the radio in the car in full blast. Some mindless song blared through the speaker making the numbness take over all of his head.

Sometime later when he thought he could use some rest and turned the car to go back home a song played on the radio making him almost hit the approaching car from the opposite side. He swerved the car with all his strength before he applied the break hard. The car jerked to a halt. Arnav was saved from hitting the window shield by mere an inch.

He fell back on the seat breathing hard and stared ahead as the song penetrated through the hard gained numbness and triggered something yet unforgettable memory from the past...

His grip tightened over the glass tumbler as he saw Khushi smiling as Nik whispered something in her ear. Nik was a new recruit in the IT department. Strongly recommended by Lavanya. And what he had been trying from weeks this fellow achieved within days. A bond more than professional acquaintance. They were almost friendly and talked more than office work when with him she was strictly in limit and an out and out professional.

His only solace being thealmost' which meant they were not friends in a real sense. Because one thing he had noticed about Miss Grover that other than La she always kept a polite distance with everyone from office. A very reserved person indeed.

He narrowed his eyes as he saw Lavanya join them too.

Was she a little free with this Nik guy because he belonged from La's friend circle? But then he was too.

Unable to come to a conclusion the scotch he had been nursing quite a while in his hand gulped in one long swig. For a moment, the burn from his throat to stomach made him grimace. He righted his facial expression as he saw the client representatives approaching him smiling ear to ear.

This was a party to celebrate the new partnership with an internationally known brand in the hospitality business, one of the biggest sharks, which meant RH was on its way to expand internationally as well.

It was a success that Arnav had dreamt of and worked for but had been achieved because of his able PA, who had been tirelessly keeping an eye on the company's interest and when she found out that the owners son with his newly wedded bride coming to India for a tour she had informed Arnav along with an idea to invite them in their best resort to experience what RH had to offer their guest.

The couple was humbled as they got the invitation from ASR personally and was truly impressed by the service that RH provided across the country in their every hotel, resort and restaurant. This was the start and soon the company representatives made random visits in few of RH's hotel and resorts and reported to the CEO about their genuine warm service that favored the guest in more ways than one. Customer satisfaction was what RH thrived for and that attracted the foreign client most.

This time CEO from foreign hospitality business approached Arnav himself with the proposal of a new partnership where they would invest in RH and jointly they would expand their business in India and other major cities in foreign countries.

Today morning they had signed their long term partnership and Arnav had thrown this party to celebrate this event in the evening.

All RH's big heads, the board of members and few key people who were responsible for this event were presents in the party along with the partners.

Arnav was talking in general with the partners and few board members in other corners of the party hall when the music started to play and the DJ encouraged everyone to join the dance floor.

His eyes only searched for the woman who looked like a bewitching illusion in her off shoulder black chiffon evening gown.Her open middle length mahogany hair, dark smoky eyes, and nude lips only added to her allure. The skirt of her dress flared down her hip and the long slit on the right gave a tantalizing view of her toned leg encased in black pupms.

She wore nothing too costly or branded, not a single accessory yet she managed to look breathtaking as she carried herself with poise and elegance.

As he saw Akash asking La for a dance and she moved away leaving Khushi alone with Nik he decided enough was enough and took purposeful strides towards her.

A few steps away Arnav watched with his fingers curling into fists in acute rage and frustration Abhiraj Goyal aka Aby their new publicist, appointed by none other than Khushi of course with his approval from a renowned PR company, approach her with a smirk plastered on his face that quite said his intention. Soon he took her on the dance floor as his partner.

Rooted to his spot Arnav watched them dance and talk smiling at each other and seethed while cursing Aby to hell and back.

**

Khushi's eyes brows rose high as Aby asked her for a dance, though she obliged without questioning.

Aby's smirk widened as he saw Khushi staring him with a mild curiosity trying to understand why Aby, who hated to dance, was suddenly interested in shaking a leg with her. He let his eyes roam around casually before he saw the unhappy and grumpy face of a certain Raizada.

"Well ASR was about to do the honor of asking you so I intervened. I thought you might not have liked the limelight that you would have garnered with the boss's individual attention even though a lot of interested women trying their luck parading before him." Aby remarked.

"Thank you" was all he got in response from his partner.

After a few second Aby commented suddenly "Don't play so hard. You know men kind of get attracted to women who show no interest to them. Especially a man like Arnav Singh Raizada, who may not have met a woman before who is completely immune to his charm or so he thought."

"So what do you suggest?" Khushi asked sarcastically her polite smile fading not liking Aby's interference in this matter.

Aby stared hard in her eyes before he asked "why can't you loosen up a bit with the Raizada, and I wonder why haven't you till now? You are no naive. If you haven't been such a hard nut then maybe he wouldn't have been so into you."

"Arnav Singh Raizada is no ordinary man that I would play a little affair with him and then walk out unscathed after bringing the sky down on his head," Khushi replied little irritated.

"I never knew you as a coward" Aby said snidely.

"You don't know me at all in the first place" Khushi eyes flashed dangerously "and it's against our policy to get involved in work. The boss will not like it you know." Khushi was fast in her reasoning though it sounded lame coming from her.

Aby continued their volley of words, "Do you care?"

"I don't but I do care if my small act cost a person unnecessarily." She whispered looking over his shoulder to not meet his eyes.

Aby looked again deep in her eyes and noticed for the umpteenth time that she had a unique pair of caramel eyes which changed a shed darker when angered.

As few moments passed Aby murmured only for her ear, "I have seen him looking at you and believe me I know that look. He is already in a deep shit. So you care or not, it is not going to make a difference. But why do I get the feeling that you are about to fall in the same shit with him."

And as Khushi opened her mouth to protest Aby shushed her not letting her speak and continued "Once I have heard Lavanya warn Brij when he had misbehaved with you and you had pointed a gun at his head before boss sent you away, that if you got down to killing then even boss cannot stop you. So it was his luck that you left him whole. If her that statement was anything to go by then I know you give a damn about what boss think. And about breaking the sky thingy then let us leave that on time. Now be ready he is here to claim." And as soon Aby finished someone tapped on her shoulder.

Khushi turned to find Arnav standing behind her and as soon their eyes met he asked, "would you mind if I borrow my gorgeous PA for a dance?" Though his question was directed to Aby his eyes never left hers.

With Aby's absolutely not' Arnav took her hand in his and dragged her in the middle of the dance floor.

Aby only smiled broadly and found La mirroring his expression.

**

Arnav had been seething when he saw Akash and La leave the dance floor. Akash went to get drinks for both of them when he approached La and asked for a dance. She had happily agreed and soon both were dancing on the floor.

La had noticed Arnav's stiffness while dancing. He was though dancing with her but his eyes were elsewhere and as she had followed his gaze she had found his point of concentration. Taken aback she had turned only to find him lost. Unable to believe what she was seeing she had turned again to confirm and found Aby too was looking at them. His one blink had confirmed her doubt.

Shock gave way to fear and then elation. No matter what but what she was seeing came true then her happiness would have no bound. Khushi deserved a man like Arnav to cherish her and no one would know her worth better than Arnav because the man knew how to make a woman happy. Rest could be damned.

She excused herself for a minute and called Nik instructing him something before she joined Arnav again.

Soon the DJ announced that in the next song every couple will change their partners which Khushi didn't give ear to as she was busy in her short conversation with Aby.

As soon the announcement was made Arnav didn't wait before claiming his desired partner and now as they swayed in each other's arm both had the time to evaluate their feelings and talk it out with the other.

**

"You look stunning," Arnav complemented honestly.

"You look dashing as always" Khushi praised him without missing a beat.

"You think so" Arnav was amazed. It was first that she expressed that she noticed.

"Well, you know yourself that you are quite a looker so it should not come as a surprise to you that I think so," Khushi smiled coyly.

Stunned by her words Arnav said the first thing he thought "you surprise me, Miss Grover."

"I should feel honored then" Khushi was in a mood today.

Arnav chuckled feeling quite light after bouts of fury and jealousy. It was like bonus over the free reign of touching Khushi's warm body and sharing a dance with her.

But he turned little serious as he asked next, "Why do you keep running away Khushi?" and felt Khushi's grip loosened over his shoulder but he held her firm by her waist.

"I do not run away Sir. We share an employer-employee relationship and that binds me to my limit where I should not cross the line disregarding professional ethics." Khushi reasoned logically.

"It's Arnav"

"Huh," Khushi was confused.

"I said my name is Arnav and I would like you to call me by my name. And is that all?"

Not quite comprehending Khushi only looked on so Arnav elaborated, "what you said is that the reason that you keep away from me? What should I conclude from your words that you are also interested in me but you stay away because your conscious doesn't support you to get attracted to your boss or that you are genuinely not interested in me and just giving me excuses to make me feel better?"

Khushi for the life of her couldn't answer because whatever she agreed with she would be in trouble.

Looking at her dilemma Arnav shook his head smiling.

"You know I heard you now listen what I think, you interest me from the day one and you know that too." Arnav smirked as Khushi looked away "I cannot tell you what exactly about you that attracts me but I would love to find out. So while keeping the professional equation between us strictly in limit in the office hours why don't we explore our feelings for each other in our personal time. Maybe that would help us deciding the future of our attraction and who knows we may start planning our future together as well" he finished with a wink.

Khushi heard him patiently before she smiled mysteriously. "You do get your way with your words Arnav."

"Am I succeeding here Khushi?" he asked eagerly.

She chuckled silently shaking her head and just then DJ played a song that had Khushi looking at him enigmatically before the minx in her asked, "So Raizada do you only sway with the music in the name of dance or do you actually know how to dance?"

"Try me," all Arnav replied before both of them together unleashed something that gave new definition to passion and chemistry among two people that no one present there ever had witnessed before.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY0O3n-3q3w[/YOUTUBE]

Hope all of you love this chapter as I loved all your comments... Thank you,sweethearts.

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