Chapter 14

“Why don't you keep any single malt?” Arun asked sheetal as he rummaged around the liquor cabinet in her living room “Or is it that you keep the better hooch for you rich boyfriends?” he mocked as he saw her come towards him from the corner of his eyes and shut the cabinet with a bang

“I don't think you should drink more! How much did you have anyways?” she said as she made a disgusted face and went back to her phone...Arun looked at her as he once again opened the cabinet and picked out a bottle of Jack Daniel's from it...pouring a generous amount in a crystal glass, he took a deep sip “Who are you trying to call? You've been at it since a while now” he said as she ended the call in frustration and threw it on the couch.

“Arnav...been trying his phone since that day at that stupid event...the day your stupid wife had to open her big ass mouth!” she said with ire as Arun chuckled “Oh yes...how can i forget that day! All of my dreams too got shattered! I'll never get Garima back again” he said sipping on the amber liquid.

“God only knows how many times i've tried to call and meet her since then...especially with that Dragon lady waiting to throw me out of this country...my own country! Bloody bitch! Who does she think she is!” he said with a growl as he downed the rest of the whiskey before banging the glass on a nearby table in anger.

“This is shite! Didn't you scrape enough from Raizada to buy some good stuff? Your house looks like shit! And so do you....Miss pretend rich miss!” he said with a demeaning grin as Sheetal gritted her teeth “How dare you come to my house and insult me!” she said as she pushed him away with her hands

“Yes, I pretend to be rich...yes, I trap rich guys...but you? Who are manipulative bastard who does not even think twice before conning your own daughter and ex-wife for your benefit...your'e such a sick man!” she said as she once again tried to push him when her phone started ringing.

She ran to pick up the phone and was overjoyed when she saw the name flashing on the screen...she pressed talk and was about to say something on the phone when she heard a different voice...a female voice...she listened to what was being said before cutting the call and throwing it on the opposite, shattering it to pieces.

“Woah!!...what did lover boy say huh? Did he tell you to go into exile as well!” Arun laughed as sheetal came towards him and held him by his lapels “That was your Goddamn daughter on my boyfriend's phone...” she said baring her teeth

“How dare she tell me to leave Arnav alone! Who the hell is she? Oh I know...like father...like daughter...she's probably warming his bed right at this...” she started saying when a sudden slap from Arun made her fall down....the shock of the slap registering few minutes before the door bell rang

“Stay there you bitch!” Arun said to her in a menacing voice as he walked to the door...he yanked it open before even checking out who it was from the security camera phone...it might have been good if he had....because the last thing Arun Mehra saw before the gun shot reverberated around Sheetal's home...was a pair of black as coal eyes.

......................................

“When are you going to thank me for it?” Khushi asked happily as she eyed arnav's phone and sipped on her glass of rich red bordeaux...she looked up from the rim of her glass as arnav gave her an amused look “What? She hasn't called since then has she?” she giggled as arnav smiled at her sheepishly while shaking his head

They had come out for a dinner at Khushi's favorite restaurant to celebrate their first win in G&R...they had successfully bid and won a contract for a leading organization that provided clothing lines for many leading brands in Australia...this was their first step towards success..so here they were...enjoying a quite meal and good wine

“Ok fine..thank you!..she's been annoying the hell outta me for quite some time now....I hope I won't get any calls for a few days alteast!” Arnav said as he cut into the beautifully cooked steak...he was actually glad that Khushi had told Sheetal off before they left for the dinner...he had had enough of her calls all week.

“Hmm....she did just cut the call...was probably royally pissed off that I spoke on your phone...hey! We might be in the news tomorrow...Mumbai's latest celebrity couple...I won't put it past Sheetal to leak this little info to the gossip columns of Mumbai's dailies...Khushi Gupta called from ASR's phone...somethings cooking!!” khushi said with a smile as arnav stopped eating midway

“And will that be a bad thing” he asked her not really realizing that he said it aloud...he saw as khushi stopped twirling her spaghetti as she looked up at him “I'm sorry....did you say something? Why are you whispering?” she asked him as he breathed a sigh of relief...for a minute he thought she had heard him “Nothing...more wine?” he asked her as khushi nodded and picked up her glass

She looked at arnav as he concentrated on pouring the wine in her glass...she had started doing this quite a lot now a days...observing him...ever since that day in the penthouse, a week ago...there had been some kind of an unknown energy between them...something she could not explain.

It was as if...as if...Arnav had become an integral part of her life...she could not deny the attraction she felt for him, it was always there...his looks, charm and also his high-handed behavior, though mostly in the past had always attracted her to him...but she knew it would never be fruitful...its always better to stay away from such distractions..especially in a work environment

Besides, Arnav would probably laugh it off if he ever comes to know about her thoughts...how she looked forward to seeing him everyday....not in a pschyo stalker kind of way...but as someone with whom she enjoyed spending time with....it had come as a shock to her when she started dressing extra careful, wondering what he might think of her...even today, she had really thought about her outfit before deciding on the lace white dress with shocking orange heels. (see below)

She blinked as he clicked his fingers in front of her eyes “Khushi? What happened? You just zoned out there...i nearly poured the whole bottle in your glass wondering why you weren't asking me to stop” he said as khushi pulled back her glass a took a huge swig

“Hey! Easy...are you ok? You seem kind of dazed!” he said as he took the glass from her hand, his fingers brushing against her hand...sending shivers down her spine. She quickly composed herself and gave him an extra bright smile “I'm fine...seriously...I was just thinking about stuff...you know, family...work” she said as arnav nodded

“Hmm...Yeah i understand...So, hows this new guy? Shashi Dinkaran? I've heard a lot about him...your Nani must have done some big time head hunting to get him on board...he'll be the new MD right?” he asked as Khushi nodded, her flushed cheeks now returning back to normalcy

“Yes, but he's not joined yet...he's gotta tie up all the loose ends in Bangalore before joining Gupta Mills here, he's only met Nani once in Mumbai for the official interview, but she was mighty impressed!...it did not take her long to take her decision...” she said as arnav looked on keenly...he had heard a lot of good things about the guy and was curious about him

“Nani tells me, he's really good...He single handedly turned Sulaja textiles around from being a small time cottage industry to the multinational it is today....” she said as arnav nodded “Yeah...i heard, but funny how he was keen to join Gupta Mills if he was so attached to the old company...I mean, i'm sure its not just monetary...then...” arnav said as khushi smiled

“I know, I too thought so at the start...but nani told me that the next generation of Sulaja textiles is well groomed to take over, giving Shashi the break that he always wanted...I heard from nani that his wife passed away some years ago and that was very hard on him and his two children...so I guess they just want a fresh break..” she said as she took the last bite of her spaghetti

“Yeah, makes sense...it's never easy to let go of someone you loved so much” arnav said quietly as khushi covered her palm with his and squeezed...arnav felt a sudden calm as her fingers stroked his hand...giving him a kind of peace he craved for...thinking about his parents always got him emotional and he never wanted to display this side in front of anyone..but he found himself opening to her under her soft gaze

“You know Khushi...at least I have some recollections of my parents..before they...uh....but Aakash...he was really young then...he hardly remembered them...” he said as he held onto her hand “Sometimes i don't know which one of us is worse, someone who has memories to live with or someone who never got a chance to make those memories” he said as he took a deep breath, trying not to get too emotional.

Khushi felt her heart go heavy hearing arnav's words...she did not know how it was to feel a loss of close ones...her parents both being alive and well...but she could relate to him with the memories part...she had some beautiful ones with her father

“Arnav...I think both have their own woes...even though my father is with us, I only remember him by the memories i had before everything fell apart” she said as arnav opened his eyes, surprised to see khushi talk about her father

“He used to take me to this small park near our house...it had swings and slides and those monkey bars to climb up on...we used to go there every tuesdays and fridays, and I used to wait when my papa would come and take to there to play...” she said, her eyes taking on a faraway look

“I have this picture of us in that park, where i'm sitting on his shoulders while he's grinning proudly into the camera...I kept it pinned to my study board at my boarding school..remembering that day...waiting for the day when someone would come and tell me that all this was a bad dream....that soon a friday or tuesday will come and papa will come to take me to that park..” she said as a lone tear made its way down her creamy cheek

“Excuse me...I need to use the restroom” she said abruptly as she got up before arnav could say anything and walked briskly towards the ladies room...she ran into the room and opened one of the cubicles before letting it all out.

She cried for all the days she had wasted waiting for her father to come to her...for the days she had foolishly hoped that he would tell her that everything was a lie and that he would be back with her and her mother...she cried for all that lost hope.

After a few minutes as she washed her face and took many deep breaths...she finally felt better...she walked out of the bathroom to go towards their table when she came across a very worried looking arnav pacing in front of glass doors “Arnav? Did you need the gents...its that way..” she started saying when he came towards her and grabbed her hand...he pulled her towards the open terrace and made her stand in front of her

“Arnav...what?” she asked him as he placed a gentle finger on her chin and tilted her face up “You've been crying...” he said as he took in her slightly puffed eyes and smudged kohl...she looked up into his eyes and was caught unawares as his bore into hers....the molten depth calling out to her...making her feel oddly secure.

“Its ok Khushi...you don't have to be strong always...you can show your weakness...let it all out if it will make you feel better...” he said softly as khushi's eyes once again brimmed with hot tears...she could feel them trail over her cheeks...she could taste them on her lips as arnav brushed his thumb over her heated skin, sending goosebumps over her body as he cupped her face with one hand...his thumb now tracing over her lips...removing the remnants of her salty liquid now pooling copiously in her eyes.

Arnav breathed in a shuddering breath as his hands trembled...he tucked a wayward lock of her silky hair behind her ears as his other hand continued to hold onto her face...he saw her eyes question him...implore him about why he was with her...but the pain and hurt he saw there was for her destructive past....something that she had to let go..

She looked ethereal in her lace dress, the moonlight highlighting the pure white color on her pale skin..he looked on as her bottom lip trembled with unmasked pain and his first thought was to swoop down and take them into his, making her forget everything...but instinct and her vulnerable state made him stop his wayward thoughts, instead he shook his head and gathered her in his arms and hugged her.

Khushi had no idea why she felt so safe and at peace as arnav wiped her tears..she could not understand the uncharacteristic beating of her heart as he looked at her lips...and then back into her eyes, the caramel depths now turning darker...she felt herself give in to that feeling of helplessness she always felt when she confronted her past...she looked on as he shook his head and pulled her into a tight hug.

They felt the noise around the restaurant fade away...the cold wind caressing their bodies had suddenly turned warm and inviting...the stars twinkled brighter...but all good things must come to an end...before either of them could enjoy this feeling and question themselves about why they were feeling so, the shrill sound of a cell phone interrupted their embrace

Khushi pulled back quickly as arnav took a few steps away to make some distance between them...he saw her looking at him questioningly as he realized it was her phone that was ringing in his pocket “Oh...uh, you left your phone on the table when you came...so...I brought it with me” he said as he pulled out her phone from his pocket and handed it to her

Khushi smiled shyly before wiping away the remaining tears lingering on her lashes...she said a soft thank you to arnav as she glanced at the person calling “Its my mother...i'll just be a second” she said as arnav turned to leave while khushi picked up the call

“Mamma...what..” she started saying calmly before her voice took a more panicked tone “mamma...why are you crying? What happened?” she asked her as arnav turned back and walked swiftly towards her

“Slow down mamma...please...tell me...whats the matter...i'm coming home right now” she said as she turned around to walk back into the restaurant with Arnav right behind her when something made her stop...her eyes went wide and her breath came out with difficulty as she heard her mother sobbing voice at the other end.

She did not know when the phone slipped from her hand or when she fainted..she did not remember when arnav held her right before she fell...she did not remember arnav frantically picking her phone and trying to call her mother to know what she had told her...the only thing she remembered before she fainted was her mother's broken voice... “Arun has been shot...he's no more...your father is dead khushi”

Khushi's Dress