UE part 23

* picture of khushi giving a 1000 watt smile to Arnav*

the charming lady! Guess who we spot at the Glitz hotel the night before? The new buzz of the town, business tycoon Arnav Singh Raizada shared an enchanting evening with his rumored lady love and Delhi's sweetheart Khushi Kumari Gupta at a five star hotel.The couple seemed to be having a blast together and even saved a breaking relationship with Ms Gupta apprising a troubled duo about the vices of the act..just how sweet is that? In any case, considering the lady's views we can be sure of at least one couple not breaking up any time soon.

"Jiji, for heaven's sake please believe me, I am honestly sick of the man!"

"oh yes Khushi that's absolutely visible in your picture here"

Paayal thrust the morning newspaper page with a picture of Khushi giving a 1000 watt smile to Arnav on her face..

Khushi frowned "but it was NOT that way!!" she protested..

"WHATEVER way it was Khushi!! you shouldn't expect maa to be very cool about it!! she says it has to be either engagement or marriage now.."

"i was just giving him a high five under the table!!"

"oh really? What a pity they didn't put that here. THAT would after all be REALLY useful"

Khushi buried her face in her hands..

"mam what is your relation to Mr Raizada?"

"are you married?"

"are you engaged?"

"when did you first meet?"

"was it a 'first sight' thing?"

"Is he-"

"PLEASE!!!" Khushi shouted "one.by. One...and please let me answer the already asked questions first"

"no I am not married. No we are not engaged. Yes we are seeing each other. We met in an interview and it was DEFINITELY not first sight" she spoke in a breath and stressed particularly on 'definitely' as memories of her first meet with Arnav floated in her mind..

"more than that, I don't think I would be of much help"

"mam ! Mam! what is the sweetest thing he has done for you?"

"well..-"

"oh of course it must be the blast incident right?"

"if you would call that sweet..yes, perhaps.."

"so do we hear wedding bells soon?''

"no not anytime soon I am afraid.."

"mam and-"

"please excuse me"

"but mam-"

Khushi entered her car and shut the door with a bang starting the car...

Arnav switched the television off and sipped the tea he had been holding throughout the interview...she was certainly wise with words..why not, herself a journalist after all..

cement pile calling..

"hello?"

"be ready at 7:00.. there's a business party. I'll pick you up"

"business party? So what am I supposed to do about it?"

"you are supposed to come with me"

"and may I know WHY?"

"because you have made it official in the media that we are seeing each other. So you are expected to accompany me in parties and-"

"THIS was never discussed between us!"

"that is because it was quite obvious"

"but I HATE the idea of such pish posh parties!"

silence..

"And what did you think about our breakup?"

silence..

"AND WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT OUR BREAKUP??" she screamed into the phone..

Arnav tore the mobile away from his ears

"I AM NOT DEAF!"

"then why aren't you answering?"

"i am not answering means that I have not decided as yet!"

"then when are-"

"be ready at 7:00 sharp"

call disconnected..

Khushi threw several more darts on the '100' mark at the dart board still hanging in her bedroom...

"Khushi that is honestly VERY pretty and you look fabulous in it..so can you please STOP playing 'mirror mirror on the wall?'"

Payal let out an exasperated sigh as Khushi checked herself out for the umpteenth time in the mirror..

Her royal blue gown draped elegantly on her body, the pearl earrings and necklace adding all the more to its beauty and her own hair falling luxuriously over her back..Khushi looked nothing short of a starlet..

"is my hair looking too oily?"

"do you think this dress is too bright?"

"i think I should just remove these shoes..they look TOO showy"

"and these-"

"Khushi SHUT UP!! you look PERFECT! Stop fidgeting"

"we better break up soon jiji..this is really getting on my nerves...he has to think of something today..he better- are you listening to me?"

"hm..."

"don't you think it's high time?"

"hm..."

Khushi turned to look at her..

"rose is green and grass is red"

"hm.." Payal nodded..

Khushi fumed and snatched the book from her hands..

"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME? What is this book by the way? I never-"

"Khushi give it back"

"one second 'Far From the Madding Crowd' ? Where did you-"

"KHUSHI GIVE IT BACK!"

"OH MY GOSH!! IT'S FROM FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!"

"Khu-"

"To payal ji, from Aakash Singh Raizada oh. my. God "

"shut up khushi"

"OH.MY.GOD"

"will you shut up??"

"is it official?"

"KHUSHI SHUT UP AND GIVE IT BACK!!"

The jet black limousine finally stood to a halt outside her house..

Arnav moved out of the car and extended his hands towards Khushi..

Flashes blinded her as she slowly slipped her palm into his and moved out...

Arnav lent his arm to her..

"what?" she whispered..

"nothing,i am showing my muscles" he replied..

"what?" she widened her eyes at him and then realizing her own foolishess slipped her own arm through his..

in his impeccable black tuxedo and gelled hair with a breath takingly beautiful Khushi by his side they looked a perfect couple and no wonder got several envious looks thrown at them..

"you just stepped on me" Khushi whispered in Arnav's ears then smiled enchantingly at the guests around

"whatever" he murmured..

"apologize" she whispered back..

he looked elsewhere..

she tugged at his arm... "apologize Mr Raizada"

"Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't apologize" he replied..

Khushi fumed..

"i am wearing heels you know.."

Arnav nodded with a smirk at a guest far away..

Khushi very tactfully edged closer to him and before Arnav knew sharp heels had been dug into his shoe..

"What the!" he exclaimed..

"oh..did that hurt? Must be my heels" Khushi smiled innocently and winked at him..

Arnav narrowed his eyes at her..and suddenly gave a sharp tug at her arms sliding against his..she staggered towards him and then quickly looked around to confirm whether no one had seen..

"what are you doing?" she widened he eyes at him..

"Khushi Kumari Gupta" he muttered "don't act smart with me"

her response was checked by another couple's arrival..

"Mr Raizada" the man stretched his hand towards Arnav and they had a robotic handshake, Arnav gave a slight greeting nod to the former's companion which she responded to with a smile..

"Khushi" Arnav looked at her and then motioned to Mr Singhania "this is Mr Singhania and his lovely fiance Ahaanya. And this is Khushi"

"what a pleasure darling!! I was so glad to know" Ahaanya embraced khushi in the sophisticated fashion and did the 'in the air on either side' kissing.. Khushi felt ABSOLUTELY weird..

if the air it was what she wished to kiss, what was she? A pole??

Mr Singhania moved forward but before he could repeat the embrace two things happened..

one,Arnav's grip on her arm tightened in the most unbearable fashion..

second, Khushi immediately extended her hand for a handshake to be on the safe side..

which for some reason , made a rush of happy satisfaction course through Arnav

Mr Singhania ,on the other hand bent and kissed her hand and Khushi widened her eyes in shock..

Arnav seethed in anger from head to toe...he could very well kick the guy into oblivion then and there...

it was not a very unusual thing to chance at such parties, what had just taken place but it Arnav seemed to take it like a regency England woman had suddenly been suggested to switch to jeans and halter tops..

Mr Singhania as a consequence got monosyllabilic answers to his two questions which followed , not in very convivial tones till the twosome took their leave..

Khushi wiped the back of her hands on her dress as if trying to undo Mr Singhania's act and it was certainly very pleasing to a certain Arnav Singh Raizada, who took a break from his mental visualization of Mr Singhania's lips on fire and led her to be introduced with certain 'less idiotic' guests...

Khushi glanced at Arnav as he stood in conversation with one of the businessmen..

he had introduced her to about a dozen people as yet and not even once looked embarrassed, hesitant or confused about it..she had blushed each time as scanning eyes had rested on her but soon she felt herself getting a little more comfortable in the atmosphere..Arnav kept glancing at her time and again and by now she was quite aware of that fact...

it was indeed, a herculean task NOT to look at her..when she dressed simply ,she looked gorgeous, this time , she had intentionally dressed herself up for the occasion and the dictionary was at crisis..

"you're not dancing?" a certain someone raised his eyebrows at Arnav...

"i don't" he replied..

the someone turned to Khushi but before he could say a word, Arnav interrupted

"neither does she"

"i see.." the man withdrew..

"who told you that?" Khushi asked him..

"i know better whether I dance or not"

"i am talking about myself!"

he flared his nostrils at her..

"isn't one rumour enough?"

"i am not saying I WANTED to" she protested..

"whatever.."

"what is the need to get so angry?"

"i said whatever!"

Sitting back inside the limousine Khushi had gone serious now...

they were not engaged , they were not married, they were officially committed , her mother was TOTALLY mad at her, if she broke up it would look as if he was sick of her considering her own fame as an 'anti breakup crusader' , if she didn't what was she supposed to do?? and why wasn't she really enthusiastic about the breakup..hell, why was HE not enthusiastic about the breakup?? where on earth was all this leading to???

Arnav sensed her mood and kept mum inside the car..

"i knew getting down your bed from the left was a bad omen..." she whispered to herself..

"what?" Arnav turned to her..

"no..nothing, what have you thought about it?"

"about what?"

"about global warming! What will I ask you about??'

Arnav bent and clicked a button on his side . A curtain immediately drew up,hiding the view to the driver's seat.

Khushi sprang open her eyes in bewilderment..

he turned to her..

"WHAT is your problem!"

"THIS is my problem!! this getting stuck in this maze of a mess is my problem! This non existing relationship is my problem! My still not being troubled about-"

she immediately checked herself at the correct instant but Arnav had already picked those last words..

"excuse me?"

"being..being troubled about..about.about my shoes!!"

"your shoes?" he raised an eyebrow..

"haha..yes..shoes..my shoes..um..you stepped on them right..problem..i am not worried about it! It's cool! Not worried!"

"have you completely lost it?" he furrowed his brows at her...

"lost what?' she flustered..

Arnav shook his head in disbelief..unbelievable..

"never mind" he spoke "to lose, first you need to possess.."

"are you going to tell me if you have planned something or not??"

he turned to her " WHAT do you expect me to do? Break up? Fine! Break up! And make a damn fool out of yourself in front of the whole world after that idiotic sermon of yours on relationships! Just because you-"

he stopped..he could spot a lone tear dangling at the edge of her eyelashes showing full chances of spilling any moment..

he let out an exasperated sigh and looked out of the window..

silence..

Khushi fumbled for a handkerchief..hell..no handkerchief..

she looked out of the window deeply fearing he would catch hold of her current state..no way Khushi! You CANNOT cry in front of him..

she felt something fall into her lap..

a men's handkerchief..

no! don't pick it up

you won't pick it up..

damn this stupid gravity!! if only the tear would go back inside..

don't pick it up..don't pick it up..don't pick it up...

Arnav glanced at the still untouched handkerchief on her lap...then at her face..

he bent and spoke in her ears..

"it's not anesthetic. You will not faint" his amusement was not hidden in his voice..

Khushi became more determined..don't pick it up..khushi, don't pick it up...the tear will go back..you will not pi-

STUPID GRAVITY!!

battle lost..

handkerchief picked up..

handkerchief in full use..

Arnav glanced to his left and slightly smirked at the figure enthusiastically sneezing away in his handkerchief..

this girl was...

unbelievable!!!

the driver and the chauffeur exchanged several smiles on the other side of that drawn curtain...and quickly tried to hide it as the curtain slowly slid open once again after a while...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------