Chapter 22

“Payal right?” a soft voice spoke as payal looked up to see a short plump girl sitting down besides her on the bench at the university leisure center “Hi..i'm zee” she said offering her hand to payal who gave her an awkward smile while shaking her hand “Umm..hi...how do you know my name?” she asked her as the girl removed a huge book from her bag and settled it on her lap

“Oh, i was there in the life sciences class today when you were getting introduced, I'm doing marine biology, so we share a few classes” she said adjusting her specs on her nose as payal smiled, liking the girl immediately “Oh..thats cool” she said as zee looked quickly towards her left as if she was trying to look for someone

“Is everything ok? You seem a bit preoccupied”' Payal said as zee looked at her with startled eyes “Oh...nothing...i'm just waiting for my bestie...he's the best! You know...he's so caring and such a terrific guy...i mean, this one time...he put his life in jeopardy trying to save a cute little kitten” she said with a lot of enthusiasm to which payal could only nod

“Oh and this one time, he totally helped out nearly all the students in our class to pass their math exam...he tutored all of them, for free! Oh and did i tell you how he teaches at the local orphanage and donates half his pocket money to the homeless...” she said in one breath as payal tried to process her words...who the hell did all this? Surely even a saint wasn't...so ideal!

“So yeah, what was I saying...oh yeah...you know poor chap, my friend...my bestie...the other day he got tricked into ragging this poor innocent girl...this total ass of a guy told him to kiss some girl at the school gates otherwise that jerk would have shown his sister's compromising photo to everyone...” she said with a sad glint in her eyes while payal looked on shocked.

“Yeah, that jerk used to date his sister...so to keep his sister's pride intact, my dear friend had to agree...but now he feels so bad about that day...he regrets doing what he did...” zee said with a sigh as payal looked on in astonishment...should she believe all this? This guys seemed like the same one who had kissed her....after all how many boys go around kissing random girls!

“Uh...zee, i think i know who your'e talking about....in fact, i'm the girl who he kissed” payal said as zee's eyes widened “What? Really? It was you! Oh my God...you have to meet him...he really wants to apologize to you...poor guy has hardly slept a wink since that day...gosh, he'll be so happy to finally meet you and say sorry” zee said as she got up and went running towards the entrance of the pool

Payal looked on with confusion as few minutes later she saw zee walk in with the same guy from that day in tow...she was dragging him in, while he protested saying things like 'I feel ashamed...all my fault'....payal waited till they both came towards her with the guy looking down at his feet

“Payal, this is my friend Akash....Akash this is payal, the girl you...uh....” zee said being at a loss of words, she looked with expectant eyes at payal who was in a moral dilemma what to do....on one hand she wanted to wring his neck and take him to the authorities...but then on the other hand, she could understand the protective brother in him acting that day...

“Payal...Akash wants to say something” zee said as she nudged Akash on his ribs “Ouch...zee...” Akash said with a grimace as he looked up and saw payal stare at him with an unreadable expression “Uh...i'm sorry...really sorry for that day...I...I did not know what else to do” he said as payal seemed to relax a bit after that

“I won't say its ok...because to save your sister, you ridiculed someone else's....but having a sibling myself i can understand why you did what you did...so just forget about it....don't expect me to forgive you, but i will not take this further....my initial thoughts were to get you suspended” payal said with a straight face as akash looked visibly pale

“Thanks payal....uh, I'm Akash by the way....Akash Raizada...” he said as payal nodded “Payal Dinkaran...wasn't nice to meet you that day...anyways I gotta rush, its getting pretty late...bye zee...i'll see you in class tomorrow..” payal said as she picked up her stuff and walked out of the pool area...if she had turned back before she left, she would have seen both zee and akash 'hi-fi' each other while doing a jig

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“And here i thought my baccha would be haggard from all that partying hard!” Arnav heard a very familiar voice boom across the living room as he stepped in after dropping Drita off at her hotel...he literally ran the rest of the steps and came face to face with his first love...“Paddu Bua!!! when did you come?” arnav said with a huge smile as he hugged her tightly

“Arre baba...leave me first...you'll stop my oxygen supply!” she whined as arnav stepped back, only for his bua to hold his face and kiss him on his forehead “My baccha has really grown up huh?” padmini said as she swiped some kajal from her eyes and applied it behind arnav's left ear

“God, bua! You say that every single time! Off course i'll grow every year! But you...you look young and beautiful as ever!” he said with a smirk as they heard another voice speak from the doorway “And sexy as hell!” both turned to see akash grinning from ear to ear as he came to them and picked up padmini in a bear hug

“I swear Paddu bua, if we were not related, i would have swept you off your feet and married you ” he said as padmini hit him on his shoulder as he put her down “Chup..badmash! You will never change! And why are you both so late! I have been waiting for both of you since evening!” she said with an annoyed face as both brothers looked on fondly at their loving bua...their mother after they were orphaned

“Ek minute...koi ladki ka chakkar toh nahi hai na? [One minute...this is not because of girls is it?]” she asked them as both brothers looked uncomfortably at the floor before shaking their heads “Not again bua...nothing like that, i had a business dinner and akash...well, he was being akash...probably loitering around college 'trying' to pick up girls!” arnav said as akash glared at him “Bhai!” he said as padmini placed her hands on their shoulders

“Enough kids...I only asked cause i really want to see you both settled...not you right now Akash, though you seem more eager than Arnav...i can only wish i get to see his kids before I..” she said as arnav placed his hand on her mouth “Don't say anything more bua...and don't worry as soon as i find the right girl, I'll get married” he said sincerely as akash sniggered, earning another glare from his bua

“Thats like my kiddos...ok now you both go to bed...we'll talk tomorrow morning!” she said as both the men gave her a quick hug before kissing her on her cheek....Padmini looked on as they walked upstairs to their respective rooms...she did not think much of it, but she knew something was troubling Arnav....and being the ever meddling bua, she doesn't find out soon.

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“Lavanya, can you ask Khushi to join in for this meeting?...i want to introduce her to our delegates” he said as Lavanya looked up from her ipad “Oh, sir...Khushi mam did not come in today....Aman told me she's not keeping well...if she's better later, she might come for the gala in the evening” Lavanya said as arnav felt concern and a bit of guilt after hearing about khushi

Once Lavanya left he sat back in his hair and thought about last night...he knew it was odd of Khushi to just leave like that for the restroom making him wonder if she was upset about him going to the gala with Drita...but he had genuinely thought that she did not mind...especially since she had made it clear about how she felt about them...he knew it was rude of him to cancel going with her but at that point he wanted to see how much his indifference affected her

Once they had sat down for dinner, he had seen Khushi walk quietly after a few minutes to her table and resume her dinner with Shashi and Mr Chaturvedi, both of whom he had gone and said hello to earlier...their eyes met briefly as she gave him a small smile and went back to talking to the other two, but arnav had notice something about her...her eyes seemed vacant and red...did she cry?

He wondered if he was thinking too much into this...he admitted that it was satisfying seeing her all worked up about his spending time with Drita...but it was strictly professional for him....he could never think of Drita in that way, especially when Drita had admitted liking his head designer Aalim...their growing closeness was witness to it....plus his every second was weighed down by khushi's thoughts only.

But after yesterday's event, he felt he should talk to her today and see if maybe they could go back to the earlier arrangement of going with each other....he knew that Drita had wanted to go with Aalim but had kept quiet after his announcement to Khushi...and now, Khushi might not even come.

He sighed as he picked up his phone and texted her 'Hey! Heard you weren't well...how you feeling now?'...he kept the phone back on his table and stared at the screen as if commanding it to light up with a return text, but he knew she wouldn't reply right away....and he deserved it...he had been mean to her, but what could he do!

He felt too much for her to let her go...and she, she had let it go before it had even started...this was the only way to make her understand what she felt for him...but had he gone too far?

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“Stop it you moron!” Khushi reprimanded herself as she slipped on her evening gown...her eyes kept darting to her phone that was resting comfortably amongst the pillows on her bed. He had texted...and she had still not replied...why? She had no idea...lats night had been terrible...she had hardly slept a wink after she had come back from dinner.

Yes, it hurt her....it hurt her to see him with someone else, but what could she do!...she wasn't an immature child to go and pull him away from Drita just because of her jealousy or the fact that she had finally accepted that her feelings for him ran deeper than she had thought.

When did it happen? She had no clue...she had always been a headstrong girl, never getting swayed by emotions...but where Arnav was concerned, they ran amok....at first she had thought it was purely physical attraction, but now...she was sure it might be a little bit more than that...maybe even a lot more if she gave it a chance

So, she had finally reasoned with herself that it was best to let things go on its own...she was a master at keeping her emotions in check and she will do just that. There is no way she was going to cry over something which was probably never in the cards.

She adjusted her dress and walked purposefully towards her bed and picked up her phone, it had been a few hours now but what the hell 'I'm better now, thanks...see you at the gala' she texted as she took a deep breath and let it out...along with all the frustration she felt...this was a very important night and she would be damned if she wasted her night cooped up in her room instead of being there.

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The lights were dim and the music loud as people mingled with each other; There were business moguls, fashion designers, super models, film-stars and even politicians gracing the mega event which saw the commencement of the much awaited fashion week in Mumbai...conversation flowed, eyes flirted and promises were made as the champagne freely flowed amongst the beautiful crowd

But one man had his eyes wandering towards the entrance throughout the last half an hour that he was there...he was keeping himself busy talking to people and avoiding the female advances which were plenty that evening as it always is wherever he went...but tonight, he was dressed to kill...his all black Armani distinguishing him from the other men [see below for Arnav's outfit]

'Where was she!?' he kept thinking as Drita and his head designer Aalim came towards him, their hands linked as they sipped on their drinks “Arnav...why are you standing all alone? Waiting for someone?” Drita asked him with a wink as Aalim excused himself to take a call

“Yes actually...i'm waiting for Khushi...don't know why she's taking so long and i can't get through her phone as well” he said as Drita gave him a knowing smile “You know arnav, you try to keep it hidden...but you can't” she said as arnav gave her a confused look

“Oh come on! There is so much electricity between the two of you....i could literally feel the burn yesterday” she said with a smirk as Arnav stared at her with a dumb expression “Don't give me that look Arnav, I was scared she would eat my head off yesterday after you offered to take me to the gala...i knew something was up when you suddenly threw that at her” she said raising her eyebrows as arnav shrugged

“I don't know what your'e talking about Drita...I thought you'll feel awkward coming here without me, so I...” he started saying as Drita put her hand up “Oh please, you knew that I wanted to come with Aalim...in fact had already decided it...but then i thought i should keep quiet about it...i felt i could maybe help you out” she said with a grin as arnav gave her a small smile

“Fine, so you figured it out...but that little stunt of mine may have put me in a tighter spot....I think i overdid it and she may have really felt bad...” he said as Drita placed her hand on his shoulder.... “Hey! If things are meant to be Arnav, they fall in place...whatever you did or she felt has nothing to do with how things will shape up...just have faith ok and if you guys are meant to be, it will all work out!” she said with wink as arnav smiled at her gratefully

He bent down to hug her for her lovely words when a sudden hush fell amongst the people as many turned to look at the entrance....arnav quickly stepped back from the hug as he felt the breath knocked out of him...even if he tried he could not take his eyes off the woman who had just entered...the same woman he had been pining to spot all evening

Dull gold lace overlaying soft satin fabric, clung to her every curves, making every red blooded male gape at her perfect figure; the upper bodice moulded her breasts as if it was second skin while one shoulder was left bare, highlighting the milky skin just begging to be kissed....Christian Dior never looked better on anyone else till now.

The daring split going all the way up to her silky thigh accentuated her long beautiful legs encased in stunning swarovski crystal studded heels while her hairdo enticed one towards her swan like neck, left bare....the only accessories she wore were Bvlgari chandelier earrings and a matching bracelet. [see below for Khushi's outfit]

Khushi Gupta was dressed to kill...and Arnav was sure that she would be the death of him tonight.