Part 20
"Aakash, I have some important work to do so you're in charge. You know what to do, right?"
"Yes Bhai, but what if I need your advice with anything?" Arnav patted him on the shoulder.
"You're a partner in this business, Aakash. You know I trust you to make decisions for the benefit of the company, and you have permission to take any urgent decision without my input. It's going to be a long evening, as some international clients have arranged meetings so we need to be accommodating of their time zones. You'll be fine." With a reassuring smile, Arnav left the office.
Aakash was mulling over Arnav's words as the office phone rang.
"Mr Raizada, your accountant is here."
"My accountant? There's no appointment in the diary."
"Mr Sharma has some important business to discuss; perhaps ASR forgot to tell you about this emergency appointment?"
"Send him up, I'll discuss it with him."
"Mr Sharma, I don't believe we've met before." Aakash said a few minutes later, after shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the stranger before him.
"No, but you have met my boss, Mr Sinha. Arjun Sinha."
"Oh right, of course."
"He thought it best I dealt with the company's accounts now, as I believe there was a bit of a run-in last time." Aakash nodded. "Anyway, Mr Raizada, I'm here to make you an offer you'd be a fool to refuse."
"What sort of offer?"
---
"Morning Buaji!" Khushi chirped as she half-skipped into the living room the following morning.
"Hai re Nandkishore, what's happened to you Sanka Devi?" Madhumati's face was indeed a picture; the woman who hadn't seen her niece smile genuinely in months honestly could've had a heart attack in that moment, shocked that her niece still knew how to smile, that too so broadly.
"Something. And nothing. Or maybe everything." Khushi teased.
"Stop speaking in riddles!" She playfully hit Khushi on the head to shut her up, but no one could dampen Khushi's mood that day.
"You'll find out Buaji, in due time. For now, my lips are sealed." She made a show of zipping her lips and spun out of the room again, excited at the prospect of seeing Arnav that night.
Khushi and Arnav's respective afternoons consisted of them consulting their wardrobes, trying to find the perfect outfits; Arnav made no secret of being a metrosexual man, and wanted to make a good impression. Khushi settled for an elegant black anarkali with silver embroidery & Arnav chose a crisp black suit from his bursting collection, along with a blue shirt and black tie.
Aakash was left in charge again, not even getting the opportunity to let Arnav know of last night's events.
As evening approached Khushi met Arnav in his car at the end of her street so as not to alert Buaji, who believed she had gone to meet a friend, and they happily set off for their destination.
Aakash had just decided to check the stock markets before dinner. His appetite vanished completely as he realised how much trouble AR Group was in.
They had been driving for over an hour & were showing no sign of stopping. Khushi fidgeted with her anarkali, becoming restless in the car. Outside it was dark so there wasn't even a view for Khushi to admire, and Arnav seemed too lost in thought for conversation.
"Arnavji, where are you taking me?"
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"
Arnav finally pulled up the car at a hilltop, and Khushi was awestruck, looking over at him in wonder.
Khushi took in her surroundings; the hilltop overlooking the entire city, the bright light from the lanterns lit around them, the candlelit table ahead of her. Although Khushi was one who much preferred traditional methods rather than the use of a fork and knife, she could see the effort Arnav had gone to to make the evening special for her, so having a meal like this would be the least she could do for him. Arnav put his phone on silent and left it on the driver's seat, not wanting any untimely interruptions from Aman, and caught up with Khushi.
"Like it?" Khushi just nodded, speechless. As Arnav pulled up a chair for her at the table and she stepped closer, she was pleasantly surprised to find no forks and knives in sight; instead, there lay a spread of all of her favourite foods. Gol gappe with an assortment of fillings, halwa puri, kachoris, a range of various vegetable curries, rice and most importantly, jalebis. Khushi almost squealed in delight.
"Arnavji this is perfect!"
"Good, cos I'm starving!" Arnav made to walk to his side of the table when a delicate arm stopped him.
"Seriously Arnavji... thank you. You didn't need to do all this." Arnav just squeezed her hand, smiled and took his seat.
"This is Arnav Singh Raizada, and I am currently unavailable. If the matter is urgent please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible".
Aakash dialled Arnav's number with urgency, growing frustrated as it would repeatedly go to voicemail after ringing multiple times.
"Bhai, where are you?! I need to speak to you urgently. Please... call me as soon as you get this!"
Throughout the entire meal, Arnav found more enjoyment in Khushi's expressions and enthusiasm than the food. He cleared his throat as Khushi finished the last morsel of her halwa puri.
"Now, time for dessert." Arnav laughed as he observed how wide Khushi's eyes went.
"Arnavji, do you want to kill me or something? Didn't you see how many puris I ate just then? I can't eat any more - I'd explode!" Just as he thought Khushi was about to become hysterical he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Khushi, relax. Who said anything about food?" He motioned towards a projector and screen that had been placed on the opposite side of the hilltop. Khushi followed suit as he look a seat on the soft mat placed on the floor, leaning his head back on the tree behind him.
"Arnavji... what is this?" Intrigue lined every word Khushi spoke, and Arnav whispered in her ear with his husky voice, causing goosebumps to emerge on her arms.
"Wait and see."
Khushi was soon lost in the world of Salman Khan and Arnav watched in wonder as he saw his Khushi transform into a little kid who had just been exposed to an everlasting supply of sweets. She sang, she danced, cried at times and laughed at times as she watched Dabanng 2 on the big screen with utmost interest despite having seen it many times before.
Saanson ne bandhi hai dor piya,
tohrey liye hamra dhadke jiya
Khushi's eyes wandered towards Arnav as her favourite song from the movie played, only to find Arnav observing her with amazement etched on his face.
"What?" Arnav was shaken out of his daydream and just smiled.
"You are such a character, Khushi Kumari Gupta." She smiled back as she leaned her head on his shoulder, finally giving him the opportunity to put his arms around her.
"That's why you love me." She replied, as she looked up at him once again.
Both were caught in the beauty of the moment, the relentless ringing of Arnav's phone lost on the oblivious lovers.
Edited by .Ghausia. - 12 years ago
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