Valley of Flowers Chapter 7

NEXT morning, the Raizada family set out for the Shiv-Gowrimandir for the pooja. Sitting in the backseat of Anjali’s car, Arnav furiously typed into his lap top, completely irked with Nanifor roping him into going to the temple. She had given him an emotionally charged speech about the pooja being done for the well-being of Akash and would be successful only if all the family members were present. The older she got, the better she was getting at emotional blackmail, he thought to himself.

He was also uncomfortable that he was not driving but had decided against arguing about it. Shyam was at the wheel of the car while Anjali sat in the passenger seat and as the car chauffeured by Mohan left the driveway, he began to wonder what was keeping them when the door on the other side opened.

‘Sorry Di, Ashu was being a brat at breakfast.’ Khushi entered the car and looked as surprised as him. His heartbeat quickened at the sight -- She looked like sunshine in a saree.

The saree, a dark shade of yellow with red buttas all over it, had an unusual combination of bronze, red and pink in the border and a matching red blouse lined with a thin bronze border. She had braided her long and lustrous dark hair, but a few wayward strands had managed to escape from their confines, curving delicately on her smooth ivory cheeks. She wore red jhumkas and red bangles, but wore only a simple gold chain on her neck, exposing the long column of her creamy throat.

Damn! He had to stop thinking about her like this. But he seemed to be having a hard time since their tryst in the enchanted garden the previous night, where they had snatched a few moments of heart stopping rapture.

She begannervously pulling on her pallu in an oddly unconscious gesture, drawing an onlooker’s attention to the very part of her delectable anatomy she was trying to hide.Delectable?

He probably had a masochistic streak in him that made him accept his Nani’s speech, knowing that the moron she was going to marry would be standing next to her, taking blessings for their impending nuptials.F@#$!

When they reached the temple, Anjali turned around to Khushi. ‘Khushi, why don’t you and Arnav get off here and get the thaal ready for the pooja? We will park the car and join you soon.’

Khushi and Arnav went toward the stall and Khushi handed over the plate to the man and asked him to prepare it.

‘So all preparations are being done to get you hitched to NK.’ He observed sardonically.

‘Today we are here for jeejaji, Arnav.’ Khushi said quietly, ignoring his sarcasm.

‘You do this so well Khushi.’

‘What?’

‘This switching from Arnav to Arnavji. Is it so easy for you to pretend?’

Her eyes blurred at the insult and she snatched the plate from the man and began to walk angrily toward the temple and in her hurry tripped over a stone protruding from the ground, injuring her toe badly. She sat on the steps of the temple clutching her foot.

‘Khushi,’ Arnav kneeled down to look at her toe. F@#$! It was all his fault for irking her. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I will be, in just a minute.’ Khushi began to collect everything that had fallen to floor and put them on the plate. ‘Oh! The man forgot to give the sindoor!’

Arnav stood up. ‘I will go get it. Stay right there.’

When he came back, he saw Khushi sitting with her head on her knee. He knelt down and put his hand on her head.‘Does it hurt a lot?’ He asked her his eyebrows creased with concern.‘Do you want to go back home?’

‘I can’t go back after coming till here,’ she said as she stood up, ‘I will walk up slowly. Did you get the sindoor?’

‘Here it is.’

‘Arnav, your palm!’ she exclaimed. ‘You have sindoor all over it.’

Now was probably not a good time to tell her it was all over her head too. ‘The first box he gave me opened up.That’s alright. I will get it cleaned later. Now, hold on to your plate real tight.’

‘Why?’ She queried.

He swept her in his arms and took the steps one at a time. When they reached pooja hall, the panditji beckoned to them to come to him. He took the plate from them and began to chant and before Khushi could say anything he adored their foreheads with vermillion and gave them prasad.

‘No panditji!’ Mamiji ran up to them.‘Why are you giving them the prasad?’

‘They are husband and wife aren’t they?’ he retorted back in surprise.‘She hassindoor on her forehead and he carried her up the steps.’

‘What the ---!’ Arnav muttered under his breath as Khushi looked at him sharply, her hands clutching her pallu nervously. ‘I carried her because she hurt her toe. What’s that got to do with anything?’

When he saw Khushi sigh of relief he realized she was afraid he was going to spill the beans on the sindoor fiasco.

‘There is a legend of this temple that when a woman is carried up the steps by a man, he is destined to be her husband if he is not already one.’ Mamiji said in horror.

‘That is just an old wives tale Mamiji,’ Anjali tried to console the agitated woman.

‘How did you get sindoor on your fore head Khushi?’ Mamiji demanded shrilly.

‘Manorama,’ Naniji stepped forward afraid that her daughter-in-law was about to create a big scene, ‘I must have happened when she fell.Now, let us proceed with the pooja for Akash. It’s getting late. Anjali bitiya please get another thaal made.’

‘What has happened is just not right!’ Manoram hissed to her husband as they sat in front of the havan.

As the pooja commenced,Khushihobbled to the area of the temple where some drinking water was kept. She took some water and rubbed it on her forehead.

‘You have made it worse by adding water,’ Arnav came up to her. ‘The colour has become fast now.’

When Khushi glared at him he said, ‘You aren’t really worried about what happened back there, are you? Didn’t you hear what Di said? It is just bull.’

‘I know,’ Khushi said, ‘if it was true we would be married by now. You carried up me these very steps five years ago.’

‘F@#$! Arnav swore.‘Is this the same temple?’ He looked around to see that it was not as remote as it used to be.

Arnav paced in his office. He didn’t know why he was extremely restless today.Khushi.Every day he rushed home so that he could drink coffee she made especially for him before she left for the day. He was addicted to the coffee and --- her.

He got home, but he couldn’t find her anywhere. His restlessness rose. When the phone rang he picked it up and barked into it. The phone call was from Payal asking him if Khushi was still there as she hadn’t reached home. He had answered in the negative assuring her he would call her back if he knew something.Then his mother had asked if Lavanya had returned from the Shiv-Gowrimandir as she had sent her there for a special pooja. So both the girls were missing.He called Lavanya.

‘Where are you right now?’ he asked her without preamble.

‘Um…at the Body Craft spa.’

‘Is Khushi with you?’

‘Oh no!’ she said in a shrill voice, ‘I was supposed to go pick her up from the mandir! I completely forgot!’

‘Calm down and tell me clearly dammit!’ he snapped.

Lavanya explained to him that she had asked Khushi to go the mandir as she had an appointment at the spa which she couldn’t miss. She had also asked to wait there until she could go and pick her up. Arnav cut the phone and rushed outside. He understood the reason for his restlessness.

He took out his bike from the garage, knowing it would be faster than his car. He rode toward the Shiv-Gowrimandir.

He reached the premises of the temple to find it deserted. His heart began to race as he looked toward the woods behind the temple. He began to walk toward the woods. Suddenly a piercing scream rent the air and Arnav’s heart skipped a beat. Khushi!

‘Khushi!’ he shouted and ran toward the direction of the scream.

Four men stood over Khushi who lay on the ground, dazed and disoriented. Had they hit her?

‘Lay one finger on her and I swear I will kill you!’ Arnav said in menacing voice.

One of the men, lunged at him but Arnav ducked out of his way, turned around and smashed his fist under the man’s ear with such force that the man fell to the ground unconscious. Seeing that, two men approached him, trying to apprehend him from two sides. Arnav punched one man at the side of his abdomen while kicking the other man under the jaw. While the two men doubled over in pain, he managed to lay a few more quick punches and kicks until they joined their friend on the floor.

Arnav looked at the man holding Khushi and advanced. The man suddenly pulled out a knife and held it at Khushi’s throat. ‘Stay away or I will kill her.’ He growled.

Suddenly, Khushi bit on his hand hard and the man dropped his knife. He pushed Khushi to the ground and bent down to pick up the knife. Arnav was on him and they struggled together on the ground each man trying to gain victory over the other. The man slashed his knife at Arnav’s face but hit his hand while Arnav ducked. Finally, in one swift move, Arnav straddled the man and managed to smash the man’s wrist on the ground until he released the knife. He then, smashed his fist into the man’s face again and again until the man stopped struggling.

‘Arnavji stop!’ Khushi was trying to drag him off the man, ‘You will kill him!’ Finally her voice penetrated the haze and he stopped. He got off the man and called the police.

He turned toward Khushi, his eyes simmering like hot coals. He grabbed her hands, his fingers holding her in a tight grip. ‘Are you f@#$ing crazy? Why did you stay back here till so late? Didn’t you know this place is frigging dangerous?’

‘I am so…sorry,’ Khushi stuttered. ‘But Lavanyaji told me she would come and get me.’

‘Didn’t I tell you to stop covering for her?’ Arnav said in an exasperated tone.

‘She is my friend.’ Her eyes flashed defiantly.

‘Friend?’ he spat out. ‘Don’t be so gullible. What if something had happened to you?’

‘Nothing happened.’ Khushi didn’t want to tell him that it was him she had called out for and he had come for her. He wouldn’t believe her. ‘Why are you here?’

‘Don’t ask me silly questions like that! Do you know how scared I was when Lavanya told me you were here -- all alone? Why didn’t you call me?’

Khushi shrugged off his hands and going on her tip toes she wrapped her arms around him and began crying, tears streaming down her cheeks. ‘My phone was dead.’

 ‘Sshh…Khushi, it’s okay.’  His arms snaked around her willowy form. As Khushi tightened her arms around him he winced in pain.

‘Hey Devi Maiyya!’ she said emphatically taking her hands off his arm. ‘You are bleeding.’

She tore off a piece of the lining material from her kurti and tied it around his arm.

‘Let’s go.’ He told her tersely. ‘We will have to go to the police station to file a FIR.

‘Arnavji,’ Khushi stopped him. ‘I will have to go up to the mandir. I dropped the prasadthere when the men took me.’

Arnav saw her limping toward the mandir. Before she could get onto the first step he swept her up in his arms and climbed up the stairs, shaking his head in exasperation. In spite of everything that had happened she still wanted to take back the prasad to give to Lavanya! This girl was plain crazy!

Back at the Raizada House, Arnav picked Khushi up in his arms and carried her into the house in spite of her protests that she could manage. He had already carried her down the steps of the mandir and put her in the car much to the consternation of Mamiji and she didn’t want further cold-eyed stares from the older woman.

‘I think you should put Khushi down Arnav,’ Mamijisaid in disdain. ‘She has work in the kitchen.’

‘I don’t think so mami.’ Arnav’s voice was firm. ‘She needs to take a pain killer and rest for some time. I am sure Haripraskash will do the needful.’ He began to walk up the stairs.

‘Arnav, you have got to stop doing this.’ Khushiwhispered to him in embarrassment.

‘Shut up.’

Mamiji walked angrily into her room followed by her husband.

‘That was a little rude of Arnav, don’t you think?’ Shyam turned toward Naniji and Anajli.

‘Well, it is high time someone did something for that girl,’ Naniji said firmly before going into her room.

‘They seem pretty close,’ Shyam said, looking up at the stairs.

‘Khushi has been a part of this house since she was thirteen Shyamji.’  Anjali said evasively. ‘I think I will go up and get some rest.’

‘Rani Sahiba,’ Shyam stopped her, ‘I think you should have the talk with Arnav. It is high time.’

‘Don’t you think I should do it later?’ Anjali evaded. ‘He is probably a little busy right now.’

‘This issue had been procrastinated for a long time,’ Shyam persisted, ‘In any case you said Khushiji is part of this house. It shouldn’t be a problem if we spoke in front of her, should it?’

‘Of course not.’

Just as Arnav gave Khushi some pain killer, Anjali came into the room, followed by Shyam. ‘Arnav, I have to talk to you.’

Arnav looked as his sister and brother-in-law’s serious faces. ‘What is it?’

‘Arnav,’ Anjali paused. ‘It’s about dad.’

He should have known that his sister was going to bring up this topic some time or the other.

‘I am not interested Di.’ He said tersely.

‘Saale saab just hear what she has to say.’ Shyam interjected.

‘Dad is in a medical care facility from the past one year,’ Anjali informed him.‘He isn’t doing too good.’

‘After the torture he put mom through, he deserves it.’ He said his mouth curling with contempt.

‘Arnav, he is not well!’ Anjali said emphatically.‘He has been suffering from Manic Depressive Psychosis from the past twenty years.’

‘You want me to believe he was mentally ill?’ Arnav lashed out.‘No way Di.’ He shook his head in denial.

‘You know his mood swings started after the injury to head during the Jeep accident Arnav.’Anjali tried to reason with him.

‘And whose fault was that?’ he said his anger rising. ‘He wasn’t supposed to use the office Jeep to learn driving in the first place! Mom had warned him about it.’

‘Let’s not get into all those details now.’

‘Why not?’ he asked her emphatically. ‘That man never listened to mom. You know there were problems right from the beginning of the marriage.’

‘I know, but they sorted it all out,’ Anjali said desperately.‘We both were born and everything was fine until the accident.You don’t remember because you were too small.

‘I understand that it was very difficult for mom and after a while she couldn’t handle it anymore.’

‘Don’t say that! Mom took care of him during the accident and also after that. But he completely gave up on us.’

‘He was in a deep depression Arnav,’ she said her eyes welled up with tears.‘He needed treatment.’

‘Di, I know you are a psychologist and you understand people with mental problems. But mom was the victim here. She has always wished that you would show some understanding for her as well.’

‘Is that what she told you?’ Anjali said in a chocked voice. ‘That I didn’t understand her?’

‘Rani Sahiba….’ Shyam put a hand on her shoulder.

‘Why? If I understood dad, did that mean I didn’t love her?’ Anjali looked at Arnav, tears running down her face. ‘Why did she have this relentless need to make us choose between them?

‘After the divorce it was always about her.What about me? Did she ever think that I had had been separated from my father as well?’

‘Di ---’ Arnav was surprised at his sister’s tirade.

‘And now she is gone before I could ask her about all this!’ She cried in despair.’ I wish I could ask her why she never gave me half the love she gave you!’ She turned around and walked out of the room. Shyam hurried after her.

‘Arnav!’ Khushi called out in vain as Arnav walked out of the room, his face thunderous.

Later that night Khushiwalked towardArnav’s room with a tray of food. After his argument with Anjali, he had left the house in his car and come back home late.She had taken a plate up for Anjali and handed it over to Shyam as Anjali had not come down for dinner either. It hurt her to see both sister and brother anguished over past events that had marred their innocent lives, growing up.

She knocked on his door once, but there was no response. She was about to knock again when he opened the door suddenly startling her.

‘What do you want?’ he asked her rudely.

Khushi was dumbstruck to see his dark hair dishevelled, his chocolate brown shirt unbuttoned to the waist.

‘Have you been drinking?’ She noticed his blood shot eyes.

‘Go away.’ He stared down at her.

‘I brought you dinner.’Khushi shouldered her way inside and put the tray on the dinner table.

‘I don’t want it!’ He said tenaciously, hands in the pocket of his denim walking away from her to stand next to the pool.

‘You know you have to eat food so you can take your medicines.’ She said following him to the pool side.

‘My my,’ Arnav turned around to face her. ‘Getting really bossy, are we?’

When she saw the despair on his face she stood on her tip toes and wrapped her hands around his shoulders, trying to absorb all his pain into herself.

He stood for a few seconds quietly, then lifted her hands off his shoulder and pushed her back against the wall and pinned her hands hard against it.

Arnav looked at Khushi, her face illuminated by the reflection of the light from the pool.Her khol lined eyes were wide and twinkling like the stars above, her pink luscious lips quivered invitinglyas a cool breeze blew in covering one of her cheeks with strands of her midnight hair.His eyes moved downwardto peruse the long column of her throat and her full breasts heaving up and down.

His heart beat began its erratic rhythm, and he couldn’t have stopped his reaction any more than he could have stopped the sun from rising. He bent his head down, until his lips were inches apart from hers.

‘Arnav….no,’ she murmured, turning her face away.

He placed tiny kisses across her jaw continuing down her throat, moving to the nape of her neck to take the delicate skin between his lips.

As Khushi let out an audible gasp, he let go of one of her hand, creating a trail of fire down her arm, to the side of her breast, finally resting on the cool skin of her bare waist.

 ‘Arnav, don’t!’ Khushi used her free hand to push at him, her hands burning as she came in contact with the sprinkling of hair on the hard muscles of his chest.

He moved his hand to slide under her pallu, creating havoc across the flat planes of her bare midriff.Khushi’s breath hitched in her throat and she dug her fingernails into his skin, sending a sizzling jolt down his entire body, instantly hardening him.

Arnav let go of her other hand to grab her the small of her back and pull her into his arousal, even as he moved his hand up her rib cage and captured one soft swell of her breast, moving his thumbacross her nipple until it hardened under his attention.

A sound akin to shuffling of feet brought Khushi to her senses.‘Arnav stop!’ She pushed at him with both her hands, looking up at the dark balcony above them.

Arnav lifted his mouth from her neck and pushed her against the wall, pinning her once again with his entire body. ‘Why did you come here Khushi?’ he rasped, his forehead resting on hers as his body quivered with need.

‘I ….I wanted to ---’

‘Comfort me?’ He finished for her. ‘You are not thirteen anymore that you can just comfort me with a cup of tea.’ His brown caramel eyes darkened letting her know what it was he needed right now.

‘Arnav I just ---’

‘Get the hell out of here!’ He released so suddenly she almost fell, her breath whooshing out of her lungs as her injured foot acted up under the impact.

‘Oh for God’s sake!’ Arnav swore as he picked her up in his arms,remorse, reflected in his caramel orbs, piercing through the haze of inebriation. He carried her in his arms and laid her on her bedand walked away from her, his whole body seething with rage.

Much later that night, Shyam ManoharJha, walked on the terrace, pacing about like a restless tiger. He hadn’t been able to sleep. Each time he saw her, he was only reminded about his colossal mistake.

Five years ago, he had come down to Delhi from Lucknow working as an apprentice for a renowned lawyer. He had visited the Guptas, his dad’s old acquaintances on his dad’s insistence. The moment he saw their daughter Payal, he had drawn his own conclusions that his dad was hinting at a marriage proposal. One look at their sparsely furnished tiny house in Lakshminagar had convinced him of the fact that Guptas would not add value to his life. He had told his dad not to pursue the proposal.

And then Payal Gupta had married Akash Raizada and he had subsequently married Anjali Raizada and everything seemed neatly tied up --- until six months ago when he and Anjali had visited the Raizada House to see Payal and Akash’s new born baby.

His world had turned upside down when he saw Khushi Gupta --- Payal’s sister who had been away in Mumbai for the past few years.She was beauty personified.

Not a day had passed since then, that he didn’t spend in regret ---for, it was Khushi’s marriage proposal he had rejected. As fate would have it their younger daughter was not present at home that day and his dad had later told him that the proposal was for their younger daughter Khushi, and not the older one Payal who he had seen at their house. But he had rejected it even without seeing her and at the time he had every reason to believe that it was the right decision.

Now five years later, he found himself pining for her like a lovelorn sick puppy. The fact that Khushi could have been his for the taking just wouldn’t leave him in peace.

To him Khushi was the epitome of beauty, grace and purity.He had been extremely disturbed when NK’s proposal had come along a month ago. But what he had seen tonight was even more disturbing and disgusting beyond words – Arnav Singh Raizadahad touched his Khushi. 

Valley of Flowers Chapter 6

NEXT morning, Arnav sat working on his laptop, his thoughts going back to previous night. Lavanya had left early due to a headache. NK has also been called away on an office emergency and Ria had left along with him. Khushi had seemed subdued and silent on the way back home. He came back to the present when he heard a knock on the door. Hariprakash had brought in his breakfast.

Arnav felt a weird sensation like something was missing when he saw Hariprakash putting the tray down on his table. Was it the absence of the subtle tinkle of anklets, or was it the clinking of bangles, the sweet smell of roses? The word coffee hadn’t sounded sweeter from any other lips.Damn!

‘Where is Khushi?’ he asked, his voice a little harsh.

‘She has gone out, Arnavji. But I don’t know where.’

She did mention yesterday she was going to be busy but that small piece was information didn’t seem to be putting him in any ease.

An hour later, he closed his lap top with a bang. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to know where she was. But he didn’t want to call her. He went downstairs and into Nani’s room.

‘Nani, do you know where Khushi is?’ he asked her. ‘I have to ask her something about work.’

‘She is visiting her parents today Chotte,’ Nani replied. ‘She goes there after she receives her salary so she can buy the monthly provision and her father’s medicines. She will probably be back after lunch. Why don’t you give her a call?’

‘Oh, that’s ok I will call her later. There is no hurry.’ He went back upstairs to his room.

So she wasn’t with NK. He didn’t know why that information gave him weird sense of satisfaction.

But that satisfaction didn’t last long. Lunch time had come and gone but there was no sign of her. By evening when Khushi hadn’t returned he had gone back into his Nani’s room.

‘Chotte, good you came by,’ Nani said. ‘I have a favour to ask.’

‘Sure Nani, what is it?’

‘Mohan, our driver just called. He has an emergency at home. He was supposed to pick up Khushi from Nrityadham but he can’t go. Will you be able to pick her up?’

‘Nrityadham?’ He raised his eyebrow in query.

‘She teaches dance there in the weekends.’

An hour later, Arnav stood just inside the Nrityadham class room, watching Khushi. She wore a cream anarkali, suit, with sequined self-embroidered yolkand thin silver border at the hem. One end of her dupatta came down the front like a pallu and the other end was tied up like a sash around her tiny waist. She wore pearl drop earrings and her long dark braid swayed down her back, in tandem with her lissome body, as she twirled round and round.

 A young girl of about thirteen stood looking at her and then repeated the step. Once, the girl had finished Khushi smiled at her and the girl jumped with joy raising her hand up in the air.

In a few minutes the class dispersed and he saw her talk to a man who seemed to be the girl’s father. She seemed to appealing to him about something and failing because the man was repeatedly shaking his head. Finally, the man left, taking his daughter with him as Khushi stood with a disappointed look on her face. He walked up to her.

‘Is everything okay?’ he said.

‘Arnav!’Khushi exclaimed, clutching a hand to her heart. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I am here to pick you up,’ he said, ‘Mohan got called away for an emergency at home.’ He added when he felt she was expecting more.

‘Oh, I will just get my bag then.’

As they stepped out into the courtyard, they found the path that lead to the school from the parking lot, blocked for repairs.

‘There is another way through here.’ Khushi said taking a turn into another path that seemed to lead into a garden.

With the lights fading fast, the garden looked like a paradise of earthly delights, the air rife with fragrance of plumaria and jasmine. Still, nothing could compare to the woman walking beside him. Even in fatigue, her hair loose from all the rigorous dancing, she was absolutely ravishing.

‘You didn’t have to take the trouble of coming here,’ she said softly, ‘I could have taken a rickshaw.’

‘From this remote location?’He looked at her as though she was out of her mind. ‘If you ever get stranded like this you will call me, do you understand?’

When she looked at him like he was out of his mind he decided it was time to change the subject. ‘Who was the man you were talking to back there?’

‘Oh he was the father of one of best students, Piyali. She has the potential to become a great dancer.’ She paused.

‘But?’

‘Her father doesn’t want to send her for further classes. He says he cannot afford it as he has another child – a son who needs his attention more.’

‘What the ---?’

‘Exactly. But I can’t say that to him. I told him I was willing to teach her for free, at least until her exam which she will need to clear to go to the next level. After that she is sure to find a sponsor.’

‘Now you have reached a stage where you can return the favour that someone did for you a long time ago.’ He said quietly.

‘No. I am not doing this as a favour. She has the potential to win. I want to help her win.’

‘So it’s all about winning.’ He said sardonically.

‘The girl deserves a break Arnav!’Khushi’s eyes flashed in defiance.

Once, they had come together in love because the feeling had overwhelmed them into a state of helplessness. It seemed like an eternity. Now their every word rubbed against raw wounds.

‘Mom was killed in a car accident, did you know?’ he said in a voice so clipped it cut her profoundly.

‘I am sorry, Arnav,’ she said her voice clearly exhausted. ‘Payal told me. It must have been terrible for you.’

‘Lavanya was there to share my grief.’

‘Mrs Malhotra just told me about Lavanya’s mom at the party. I didn’t know.’

Arnav continued as if he hadn’t heard her. ‘Both our mother’s had wanted us to marry.’

Khushi’s heart was breaking into a million pieces. She couldn’t imagine Arnav and Lavanya together as man and wife, the way it had been planned from the start. Yet, she and Arnav had been fated to meet, a curse maybe on both of them for daring to love so extravagantly.

‘At least she loved me even when I acted as if she never existed. It wasn’t her fault.’

‘You think it is mine.’

‘Considering you told me you loved me over and over again that night, I suppose I did believe you utterly. Stupid, wasn’t it when stupidity isn’t my style. I don’t know what your plan was, or were under some kind of dark spell?’

‘You hate me now.’ Khushi lifted her head to the glittering sky.

‘I simply want you to feel the unhappiness you caused. I was so angry when I got your awful letter.’

She felt a shock go through her body. ‘I didn’t write any letter!’

‘You are good.’ Arnav said his tone laced with sarcasm.

‘It’s the truth Arnav. How can you be so sure it was mine?’ It was the part of the promise she had made to Mrs Raizada that she would never attempt to communicate with Arnav again. In any case she couldn’t risk it. Her family would have been too vulnerable. Images of her aunt with her eyes swollen from all the crying and her uncle, looking prematurely old, flashed before her eyes.

‘It was in pure, lucknow  style hindi.’

It was too late now to try and vindicate herself with Sharada Raizada gone. Too much tragedy had entered his life, cruel and agonizing. She had somehow concocted that letter, cruel to be kind to her beloved son. Disillusioned about her own past, she had wanted to control her son’s future. She had plainly seen Khushi as a poor adventuress who had no right to fall in love with the prince.

They walked for long moments without talking. It wasn’t going to do any good in any case. Great banks of bougainvillaealined the walk, their brilliant colour muted by the dim lighting. As they walked further the path began to get darker.

‘This path seems too deserted,’ Khushi said quietly.

Arnav glanced down her glimmering profile. ‘I have no intention of taking advantage of you.’

‘You didn’t think that way five years ago.’ It was far from the truth but she said it anyway.

Apparently, he thought so too, because he laughed mirthlessly. ‘No, sweetheart, you were only too willing.’

‘You hold on to your memories too long,’ she said dryly.

‘Don’t you?’

‘No.’

‘If that was true you shouldn’t faint or start shivering whenever I am near you.’ He said in a voice that indeed sent a shiver up her spine. ‘Your eyes are a clear indication of your feelings.

‘You squint your right eye the tiniest bit when you are speak in anger, they grow as big as saucers when you are surprised, they become slits when you are planning something mischievous. But if you close them it only means one thing –’

A little breeze sprangup that lifted the lifted her dupatta, draping it across his chest, spraying spent pink Tabebuia blossoms, on them like confetti.

‘Oh,’ she squealed with joy, shaking her flower-starred head. ‘Where did that come from?’

Arnav put out his hand and lifted away a pink blossom that was nestling in her braid. ‘How much do you want to marry NK?’

‘Very much.’ She stood there, very still, trembling, longing to cry out that it was not only up to her.I want to see you married before anything happens to me.

‘Why should you be happy when I am desolate?’

‘I have been unhappy too, Arnav,’ she reminded him.

‘How is that?’ His face was hard as stone.

She said quietly, ‘I loved you.’

‘Shut up!’ The steely hands came up and pressed down on her shoulders. ‘It was only a game for you.’

‘No.’ she protested.

‘You wanted money. You had to have it to follow a brilliant career.’

‘Of course I needed money,’ she admitted. ‘I had nothing, you know that. It was your family that started it all, anyway. I would never have been anything but for them. Naniji encouraged me.’

‘And how you repaid her!’ Arnav said scathingly.

‘I just left, that’s all.’

‘Not before you collected a whole lot of money – something you wanted most of all. I didn’t matter to you at all, did I?’

‘I could ask you the same thing.’ She said sadly. The day she had left, he had gone out with Lavanya.

‘If you think you can be happy after all this ----’ He spat out in anger.

‘Don’t say that!’ His voice frightened her so much she grasped his arm. ‘I never meant to hurt you. I am not responsible for all your troublesin life.’

‘I know that.’ Arnav glanced down at the hand she had placed on his arm. It had a pearl like lustre against the black cloth of his sleeve.

It took them a few moments to register that footsteps were coming along the path, as Ria’s loud voice rang through the night air.

‘Where is she NK?’

‘Ria, have some patience. There is a possibility that Arnav already picked her up.’

‘Then, what the hell are we doing here?’ Ria said her voice depicting a complete lack of patience.

As Khushi went to side step him, Arnav caught her body to him and half lifted, half dragged her behind the shrubs of bougainvillaea,her heart thudding against her rib cage, his left arm was around her like a steel bar. NK and Ria were coming closer.

‘I didn’t know that Ria. Earlier in the evening, maasiji called me as the driver wasn’t available.’

‘The way everyone is running to pick her up, people would think she was Queen Sheeba!’

‘Ria, I am grateful to you for lending your car while mine is at the service shop,’ NK seemed to be irritated, ‘But you didn’t really have to come.’

They were quite hidden in the deep shadows of the trees, shielded from sight by the height of the shrubs, but Khushi sank back against him feeling guilty and lost. Suddenly, Arnav’s hand came up to wrap his fingers around her thick braid, the back of his fingers caressing the bare skin of her upper back as his fingers trailed down.

‘Don’t. Arnav, don’t!’ Khushi whispered even as she flexed her back, desire leaping out of the welling confusion.

He didn’t listen, his fingers moving back up to trace the ties of her dori. The night was alive, intimate enveloping them, the tumults of a past confronting them again. Khushi found it difficult to breathe, and a lightning jolt went down all the way to the pit of her core as Arnav slid his left hand from her waist to her stomach.

She wanted to cry like a child, but she was helpless as her own treacherous body refused to obey, desperate for his touch. He gathered her hard against him, placing light kisses on collar bone, neck, all the way up to her jaw. ‘What is it that you want Khushi?’ His voice so low it was no more than a warm breath on her cheek, his lips just inches away from hers. Then Ria’s cold voice fell on their ears.

‘If I didn’t come with you who would have told you that you are just wasting your time with her.’

‘Ria, please. Not again. I love her.’

They were almost beside them, hidden by the towering shrubs.

‘I don’t think she loves you.’ Ria’s voice sounded upset and angry. ‘In fact I don’t think she is right for you at all. I mean where is she? Why hasn’t she picked up your calls? I am sure she has gone off with that Arnav Singh Raizada. There is something a bit strange about those two.’

‘In what way?’ NK asked.

‘I am not sure,’ Ria said with a hint of uncertainty. ‘It’s just that, they seem restless around each other.’

‘Oh that’s because Khushi doesn’t really like him.’

‘NK,’ Ria groaned with exasperation, ‘you don’t understand women at all.’

‘I understand you Ria.’ NK said in a patronizing voice.

‘No, you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t be standing here looking for her. You are an idiot.’

NK walked away in anger and Ria followed her high heels clattering on the tiled path.‘Wait NK, I am sorry.’

Gradually their voices faded, and Khushi struggled for release.

‘Well, that was quiet a revelation.’ Arnav said mockingly.

‘So?’

When he saw her reaction, he said, ‘You knew about that? And you are not even a least bit jealous? Interesting.’

She stood shaking in body and mind, suspended between the present and the past. Her whole body burned with tormented desire. It was cruel to be enmeshed with Arnav again, when once she had been the willing captive. She used all her might and stepped away from him, but couldn’t. Her dori was caught with the buttons of his shirt.

‘Khushi,’ he taunted behind her. ‘Let me tie this up for you. You don’t want to run into NK looking like this.’

‘Nanheji trusts me,’ she said defiantly.

‘He is a fool.’ Arnav took the strings of her dori and tied them, his knuckles brushing the smooth skin of her back tantalizingly, sending her into a tizzy.

An hour later, as Khushi and Arnav entered the house they were surprised to see a full house assembled in the dining room. Apart from the entire Raizada family, they saw NK, Ria, Anjali and Shyam.

‘Khushi,I came to Nrityadham to pick you up.’ NK said urgently. ‘I have been trying to call you all evening.’

‘I am sorry Nanheji,’ Khushi apologized. ‘I put my phone on silent and forgot about it. I came with Arnavji.’

 ‘You seem to have got delayed in spite of having left before NK.’ Shyam remarked looking at Arnav. ‘Traffic?’ He queried.

‘We went to Bengali Market to eat golgappas.’ Arnav equivocated smoothly. They had indeed stopped for golgappas on the way. If they assume that the delay was because of that it would be their prerogative.

‘Golgappa?’ NK grimaced.

‘That is one sure shot way to get dysentery.’ Ria let out a snide remark.

‘BTW Arnav,’ NK said,‘I heard you almost broke a man’s hand yesterday at the nightclub. His friend works at VM and he told us that man is thinking of filing charges against you. What happened?’

‘He misbehaved with Khushi,’ Arnav said, his eyes on Khushi.

‘Don’t worry saale saab,’ Shyam piped in. ‘I can take care of that for you.’

‘I am not worried,’ Arnav returned calmly. ‘I am sorry to know I didn’t break his hand.’

Knowing all glances would be on her, Khushi rushed into the kitchen and began to assist Hariprakash, bring the food out to the table.She began to serve everyone.

‘Khushi, you didn’t serve Arnav brinjal curry,’ Ria remarked.

‘That’s because he doesn’t like brinjal,’ Anjali supplied and then looked at Khushi.  ‘Khushi, why don’t you sit down and eat with us?I am sure Hariprakash will serve the elders. We can manage on our own.’

‘Anjali,’ Mamiji’s voice cut in sternly, ‘Khushi is acting in place of Payal who is supposed to be doing this. It is the duty of the bahu to serve the elders of the house. It is okay for you as you are a guest in this house.’

As an awkward silence filled the room Naniji said, ‘If that was the case, Manorama, you should be up serving alongside Khushi. Anjali is right. You should sit down Khushi bitiya.’

‘I am not hungry Naniji,’ she said staring pointedly at Arnav. ‘I will eat with jiji, later.’

Naniji continued, ‘And Anjali is not a guest Manorama. She is the daughter of this house and she is here on my invitation to attend tomorrow’s pooja at Shiv-Gowri mandir. I hope you remember it is being performed for the well-being of your son?’

Mamiji shot an angry look at her husband, but he indicated her to calm down.‘NK, you should also be there,’ she said loudly, ‘We can finalize a date for the engagement.’

Khushi looked away as she sensed Arnav’s caramel eyes boring into hers intensely.

‘I don’t think so,’ Naniji interjected her daughter-in-law. ‘You know we can’t have the engagement until Akash recovers completely.’

‘My sister is insisting,’ Manorama argued.

‘That’s ok maasiji,’ NK intervened, ‘I will talk to mom.’

‘You should come anyway. You and Khushi can take panditji’s blessings. Why don’t you stay back tonight?’ Manorama suggested.

‘I have to drop Ria home maasi. We came in her car as my car is in the service centre. I will get going now. I will see you all at the temple tomorrow.’

Later that night, Arnav spent restless night thinking about his exchange with Khushi in the garden. Why had things gotten so complicated between them when things had started out so beautifully?

Since the incident with the misplaced papers, Khushi had totally avoided talking to him. It had been ingenious of her to have gone to the paper shop to try and retrieve the lost papers, something he should have thought of in the first place. His anger rose up a notch when he thought of her going to this shop all by herself. But he hadn’t asked her to go there, had he? Why should he have to feel bad for her impulsive behaviour? Most people would just let this go. But obviously not Khushi.

 He hit his hand against the wall when he remembered the way he had yelled at her. She had come up to his room to apologize but he had been too stressed about the presentation. His uncle hadn’t made it easy for him at the office. He had just taken it out on her. She always managed to bring out the worst in him. And he was beginning to understand why. He was attracted to her. Immensely. And that was not a good sign. And anger was a best way to curb that feeling.

One thing that had changed after the incident was that Lavanya and Khushi seemed to be hanging out more. One evening,he had just got back from work and had come down for a cup of coffee when he heard them talking in the kitchen.

‘Thanks for teaching me how to make sooji halwa Khushi,’ Lavanaya said. ‘My mom has begun pestering me to learn cooking from you since the day she tasted your snacks.’

‘You are welcome Lavanyaji.’

‘Khushi,’ Lavanaya paused, a hint of hesitation in her voice, ‘I owe you a big one for not ratting me out in front of everyone the other day. I should have listened to you. I have learnt my lesson. I am never cleaning Arnav’s room again.’

‘That’s okay Lavanyaji, you were only trying to help. You didn’t do it on purpose. It happens.’

‘Khushi, there is a sale at the mall. I need a dress for tonight’s dinner. I am taking Arnav to meet some of my friends. Do you think you can manage the pakoras on your own? I will be back in about an hour.’

‘Sure Lavanyaji.’

The moment Lavanya left he had entered the kitchen, intending to talk to her,but the sight he beheld made his mouth go dry. Her dori was open with her braid in the front, giving him a clear view of her delectable back.

‘Lavanyaji, thank God you are still here,’ she said without turning back, ‘do you mind tying me up? My dori seems to have come loose.’

F@#$!  As he moved up behind her,his heart had begun to race, and his had moved of its own volition to pick up one string of her dori, his fingers brushing against the smooth skin. Khushi’s shoulder blade jutted as she flexed suddenly aware of his touch. Then,shecried out in pain and he saw her finger bleeding profusely. She had cut her hand.

Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and put her finger into his mouth to stem the flow of blood.Khushi had scrunched up her eyes as she clutched his arm in a death’s grip, her tremulous lips twisted in pain. She seemed visibly agitated, and his eyes moved down to see her breasts heaving up and down.

‘Arnavji, let go!’ She had opened her big doe eyes.

‘I am sorry.’ He took her finger out of his mouth, but didn’t let go of her hand.

‘Excuse me?’ Khushi said in confusion.

‘I am sorry I hurt you.’

‘Tha…. That’s alright.’ Her eyes softened but were still wary as she looked at the way he had grasped her hand.

‘No, it’s not alright,’ he paused.

When she looked at him, her eyes still reflecting her confusion, he said, ‘Can you make some coffee? I will be back in a minute.’

‘Sure.’ She turned back quickly to make coffee.

When he got back, she was waiting for the decoction to drip in the kettle. She had figured out how to use the coffee maker to prepare the Columbian coffee the way he liked it.

He stood behind her and took her left hand in his. ‘Relax Khushi.’ He said when she jumped up. ‘I just want to put this band-aid on your finger so it doesn’t hurt while you work.’

‘Th…Thanks.’ She stuttered when he was done and began to pour the decoction into a cup.

‘Khushi,’ Sharada Raizadacalled out from the living room, ‘wasn’t Lavanya supposed to be with you making snacks for the evening tea?’

 ‘She just stepped on an important job auntyji,’ Khushi replied back, ‘she will be here soon.’

After his mother went back into the bedroom, he began to tie up her dori even as he bent his head and whispered into her ear, ‘This is what I was talking about. Stop covering for her.’

Seeing Khushi’s agitation rise again, he picked up his coffee cup and left the kitchen as fast as his legs could take him, not wanting test his self-control any further.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 5

KHUSHI paused outside Arnav’s office, looking at him through the open blinds of the glass partition. It had been a few days since their last encounter, but he gave no signs he remembered anything.  She had expected some form of awareness, mockery, even patent vulnerability she had revealed at his almost kiss, but he had chosen to ignore her and swamped her with a mountain load of work.His hard face set in business mode, he was the cold, commanding, high-flying tycoon in full regalia. Then, he looked up.

Aware that her colour was high, she regained her composure before entering the room. It was the way he had suddenly raised his head that had done it, sent her body into an abrupt awareness of him as she had met the piercing caramel gaze so suddenly.

‘Coffee.’ She placed the cup on the table.

‘I have a business meeting at a client’s place in an hour. I will be back by four.’ The husky voice was brisk.

‘I hope your meeting goes well,’ she said politely as her senses registered  the dark hair slicked back and gleaming with health, the sleek planes of his face, with a day old stubble that were far more attractive than any pretty-boy good looks.

‘So do I.’ He grimaced as he shut his lap top settling back in his chair, coffee mug in hand, in a way that indicated his ease with himself and the world about him. ‘But it won’t be pleasant, not initially.

‘I have the impression that these people have browbeaten Akash, and are now trying to back me into a corner and I don’t like that at all, so it will have to be the tough-guy approach, with all the guns firing. They think they have the upper hand, but I won’t allow myself to be manipulated by anyone, and they might as well realise that straight off.’

The way he looked today, she couldn’t imagine how anyone would have the nerve to take such liberties. He wore a black business suit, grey shirt and a tie with wide diagonal stripes in black and grey. She nodded a response.

As he left the room, she felt the odd sensation of being bereft. She rebuked herself sharply for such a dangerous weakness. She was helping him out for a few days. That was all. That was all.

At four, she sat at her desk munching on biscuits dipped in tea when she saw Lavanya walk into the office and  up to her desk.

‘Khushi!’ she exclaimed, ‘I wasn’t expecting you here. Is Arnav in?’

‘He is out attending a meeting across town. He should be back any minute.Would you like to wait for him in his office?’ She stood up and led her up to his office.

‘Bring me a cup of coffee will you?’ Lavanya said as she seated herself on one of the chairs.

‘That is not Khushi’s job,’ Arnav had come up behind her. ‘I will have Raju, our office boy bring you a cup.’ He said taking his seat. ‘Hold on Khushi,’ he stopped her as she made a move to leave. ‘Lavanya will be joining us to help with marketing and PR,’ He waved her into a chair. ‘I have fixed a meeting tomorrow so we can brief her up on what we need.’

‘I don’t think you will need me for that one Arnavji.’ She had no intention of being a dog in the manger, especially when she could see Lavanya shooting daggers with her eyes.

Arnav’s eyes hardened at her reply. ‘I would appreciate it if you could let me decide that.’

‘I don’t work on Saturdays.’

‘You have got to be kidding me!’ He exclaimed. ‘We have loads of work here.’

‘Oh leave her be Arnav,’ Lavanya interjected leaning on the table, in a slightly provocative gesture. ‘I am not free tomorrow either. Let’s reschedule for Monday. And now tell me, if you have decided about tonight?’

‘Tonight?’Arnav said distracted, looking at Khushi typing a message into her phone.

‘I sent you a text earlier ……about the night club – Rockman’s in Gurgaon.’

‘I am not sure Lavanya,’ he said typing furiously into his lap top. ‘There is this proposal ----’

Khushi’s phone rang. ‘Nanheji, I am in a meeting. Can I call you back?’ She disconnected the call.

In a few seconds, Arnav’s phone rang. He picked up the phone and listened to the caller for a few minutes. ‘Alright then, I will bring Khushi and Lavanya and meet you there at nine. Thanks for making reservations.’

‘Guess what?’ he said looking at them both, ‘NK was planning to going with Khushi to the same nightclub.’ He turned toward Lavanya. ‘Since you wanted to go, I told him we would join him.’

‘But I can’t. I have to ask Naniji …..Mamiji…jiji’ Khushi stuttered like a parrot.

‘Leave that to me. I’ll talk to Nani who will talk to Mami who will talk to Payal. Problem solved.’

‘I will have to go home and change,’ Lavanya stood up, slinging her handbag on her shoulder.

‘Do you want me to pick you up later Lavanya?’

‘My apartment is out of the way.’ Her voice was curt.

‘That’s not going to be a problem.’

‘It’s okay. Since you have so much work, you will probably come there directly. I will see you there at nine.’

When Lavanya left the office, Khushi turned toward Arnav. ‘You did that on purpose.’

‘She didn’t want a ride.’ He shrugged nonchalantly.

‘I am not talking about that.’ Khushi stood up. ‘I am talking about us going to the night club!’

‘What’s the problem?’ he asked looking up at her as he leaned back in his seat, his eyes rife with insolence. ‘You want NK all to yourself, is that it?’

Khushi left the room, closing the door with a bang.

An hour later, Khushi sat at her desk typing furiously at the key board of her desk top. What did he think he was doing? Did he think he could fluster her by flaunting Lavanya in her face? Well, she would show him! Tears welled up in her eyes. Why did he have to come now when she was trying to pick up the pieces of her life? Didn’t she deserve any respite from all the drama that had taken place in her life since her parents had been so rudely taken away from her?

Khushi closed the document she had been working on and began to pack her bag. The Laad Governor had ordered that she be ready to leave in a few minutes.

As she sat in the car, adjusting the buckle to her seat belt Arnav said, ‘I can take you home if you want to change.’

‘You think this is a joke don’t you?’ she said still struggling with the clip. ‘I don’t know what Naniji and Mamiji are thinking about me right now.’

Arnav stilled her hand and fastened the buckle in one single click. ‘They are probably thinking that four adults who are well-acquainted with each other are going to have dinner together.’

‘But you are one I am going with.’

‘That’s just a matter of logistics.’ He said calmly. ‘NK lives in Gurgaon. He can hardly come here to pick you up to take you back again so far. Especially, when he has tons of work.’

‘And whose fault is that?’ she shot back. ‘You haven’t made a decision about going to work for VM and poor Nanheji is stressed out.’

‘I don’t understand why people get stressed out about work,’ he said as he turned the key into the ignition.‘I find it extremely therapeutic.’

As they passed the late evening traffic, Khushi looked into the night lights of the Delhi streets thinking about what Arnav had said. In the past week, she had seen him work like a zealot, achieving things that Akash couldn’t manage in one whole month. Having assisted her brother-in-law in the past few months, she had come to the realization that he was a pushover at times, which wasn’t a good trait for any kind of job, let alone running your own business.

They stepped into the elevator that would take them to the night club on the thirteenth floor, and before the door could close, a group of boys entered the elevator Khushi found herself plastered to Arnav.He immediatelyturned her into the corner, his body acting as a shield against the rowdy crowd.She looked up at him sharply.

‘Don’t tell me this is my fault,’ she heard him whisper throatily into her ear. ‘Or would you rather be groped by one of these guys?’

‘I’d rather not be groped by anyone.’ She whispered back.

Khushi felt the hardness of his muscles as her palm lay against his chest and realized he had discarded his coat and tie. The top two buttons of his grey shirt was undone revealing the light sprinkling of hair on chest. As the musky smell of his cologne reached her nostrils, her heart began its erratic dhak-dhak, echoing the beat of his own under her palm. She looked up to catch him staring at her with his caramel depths causing her breath to catch in her throat.

‘Sir, we have reached the thirteenth floor.’ It was the lift attendant.

Khushi jumped up in fright, but Arnav slid his hand around her waist to steady her. ‘Relax, Khushi.’

When they reached the reception, the manager took them to the table reserved for them and Khushi was a little surprised to see Ria sitting there with NK.

‘Hey, you made it on time,’ NK stood up, his eyes reaching beyond themashe pulled a chair for Khushi. ‘Where is Lavanya?’

‘She said she would meet us here.’ Khushi informed him.

‘Hi Ria, how are you?’ Arnav drawled in his lazy husky voice.

‘I am fine, thank you.’ Ria gushed her eyes a little bright.

Khushi recognized the behaviour. Arnav generally had that impact on the female population. With NK on one side and Arnav across from her, Khushi was sure she was totally invisible to Ria at this point of time.

Just as they had ordered their drinks, Lavanya joined them, looking sexy in a cream off-shoulder dress, to contrast her dusky complexion. The mid-thigh costume showcased her long legs to perfection, complete with pencil heel stilettoes. She walked with the confidence of a woman who knew she had turned a few heads on her way here.

Khushi glanced at Arnav, for some reason wanting to see his reaction. His eyes gave away nothing, even though there was a pleasant smile on his lips. He politely stood up and pulled out a chair next to him.

‘We just ordered drinks Lavanya, what would you like?’

‘A cosmo, please.’

Just then a young man came up to their table. He extended a paper napkin to Khushi. ‘If you don’t mind, could you give me an autograph?’ When he sensed Khushi’s hesitation he added, ‘My sister watched your show and is a big fan. It would make her happy.’

Khushi smiled and obliged immediately.

‘So Arnav, how’s AR doing?’ NK asked nonchalantly as the man sauntered away from the table. ‘Is it salvageable?’

‘It’s just been one week, NK,’ Arnav took a sip of his drink. ‘It’s too early to say anything.’

‘That’s true,’ NK nodded in agreement. ‘That company is in pretty bad shape. I once told maasaji to just sell and cut his losses. It’s a lost cause.’

‘I said it is too early to say anything,’ Khushi saw the way his jaw clenched indicating his ire. ‘I did not say it was not salvageable. I am working on it.’

‘So, what do you plan to do about VM?’ NK asked the question that was foremost in his mind. ‘You are obviously going to be tied up with AR.’

‘I do this for a living NK,’ Arnav countered smoothly. ‘Heard about multi-tasking?’

Before NK could say anything, Khushi said in a rush, ‘Would you like to dance Nanheji?”

After they stepped on the dance floor, Khushi observed that people were dancing erratically with no sense of rhythm to a popular Bollywood number, Hookah Bar. Khushi followed the other youngsters and picked up the rhythm in no time.

‘Khushiji,’ NK shouted over the blaring music, ‘you should have changed into something appropriate.’

‘Why Nanheji? Do I look funny dancing in a suit?’ she enquired.

‘No, but you would look so good in a …..skirt.’

Khushi sensed the hesitation before he said “skirt”. He probably meant a hot pink, short, tight spaghetti sleeved dress that Ria was wearing. ‘There was no time to go home and change.’ She answered evasively. She didn’t want to tell him that people in the Raizada household might not look at her too kindly about wearing a skirt and prancing off into night with her not-yet-fiance. She still had no idea about what they thought about her prancing off with Arnav. After a coule of songsRiacame up to them.

‘May I dance here?’ she asked. ‘Lavanya is no fun and Arnav doesn’t want to.’

‘Of course, Ria,’ Khushi said affably, ‘In fact, I am a little thirsty. I will take a sip of my coke and be right back.’

Just as Khushi made her way through the crowd, the man who had asked her autograph approached her. ‘Dance with me?’He put his hand on her shoulder, sweeping her lasciviously.

‘Sorry, she already promised me this dance.’ Arnav interposed himself taking Khushi’s hand in his. He caught the man’s hand and moved it away from her staring at him menacingly. Khushi saw the man wince with pain as he backed away from them.

‘Who asked you to do that?’ she said. ‘I can take care of myself!’

‘Oh really, I didn’t know you were enjoying that.’

As she made a move to shrug off his hand, Arnav dragged her to another part of the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. As the music wafted into the air, Khushi realized it was a slow number TeAmo.

Kisi KoSapnaLageyTu, Kisi KoBehtiHawaa

Kisi KoBaatoon Mein, Kare Pal Mein YahaanWahaan

Pulling her flush against himself, he slid his left hand around her waist and took her hand in his right.

‘So this is what you were after.’

‘What?’ Khushi raised her eyebrows in enquiry.

‘Fame.’ Arnav said laconically. ‘So, men will come after you, seeking your attention.’

‘Do you think I would have go to such great lengths, when I could just wear skimpy clothes like Lavanya?’ she shot back.

‘It wouldn’t suit you.’ A barely controlled temper simmered in his brown eyes.

‘That’s not what Nanheji thinks.’ Her own eyes flashed with anger.

‘Is that why you admire him?’ Arnav’s tone was mocking.

On the crowded dance floor, with dim lights she had enough cover to grit her teeth as she placed her right hand on his shoulder and put some distance between them. ‘No. He’s a very clever man.’

‘That’s true. He was clever enough to choose to work for VM instead of AR.’ Their bodies came together, never quite touching.

‘He wasn’t very keen on working in a family enterprise.’ She said as she twirled away from him.

‘That, or he wasn’t keen on working in a sinking family enterprise.’ He pulled her back.

‘Stop judging him Arnav,’ she admonished. ‘He has really worked hard for this position.’

‘The reason I asked you that question is, though NK is good man to have around – capable, loyal, diplomatic and honest, he doesn’t have the aggression that is needed for the position that Vishal uncle is looking for.’

‘Are you trying to tell me something?’ she said shivering as she felt the heat of his palm, scorching the small of her back, through the think material of her anarkali suit.

‘Yes.’ His brown eyes scrutinized her flushed face. ‘Vishal uncle wants me to accept his offer.’

‘That doesn’t mean you have to take it,’ she said hotly feeling bad for NK.

‘You know I cannot resist a challenge.’ He bent her, arching her back, one hand onthebare skin of her upper back and the other at her waist, his lips just inches away from hers.

‘I hate you,’ she whispered, as her hand wrapped around his shoulder, fighting a hopeless yearning. Being together was so intense, so intimate,she was frightened it might be showing on her face.

‘Your body tells me differently Khushi. Your eyes. It’s something beyond us, that’s all. I can’t put a name to it.’ He pulled back to a standing position and put his hands on her waist.

‘Why is Mr Malhotra being so cruel to Nanheji?’ she lifted her head, her heavy lashes spiky with blinked back tears.

‘He is a business man, that’s all. If I was in NK’s place I would never have allowed myself to build castles in the air. That goes for…..everything.’ His caramel eyes looking into hers, he lifted her up high in the air.

TeAmo….Me TeAmo

TuChaaonhai….TuDhoopHai

TeAmo….Me TeAmo

TereHazaaronRoopHai

As he slid her slowly back, Khushi had the strong feeling that everything meant her.

‘I have to use the restroom,’ she said walking away from him as fast as her legs could take her.

In the bathroom, as she stood in front of mirror washing her face with hands that shook.She heard the door open and looked up as Lavanya stepped in.

‘The dinner has been set Khushi.’ She informed her.

‘Oh, thanks Lavanyaji, I will be right there.’ She smiled at the older woman.

‘Stop this pretence Khushi!’ she lashed out, her mouth twisted in anger. ‘When will you stop coming between Arnav and me?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Shut up!’ she yelled. ‘I saw the way you danced with him just now. I know you TV actress types. You are trying to make your slutty move on him aren’t you?’

‘Lavanyaji!’Is that how it had looked to others? ‘I am engaged …almost engaged.’

‘Well, that didn’t stop you five years ago, did it?’ She left the ladies room, closing the door with a bang.

‘Khushi, make some tea will you?’ Sharada Singh Raizda came into the room when she was in the middle of practice. ‘My friend and her daughter are visiting and Hariprakash is out running some errands.’

‘Sure auntyji.’ Khushi stopped her practice and bent down to unwind her ghungroo.

‘Do you think you could make some pakoras, as well? And some sweets too?’

‘Why don’t you get them from outside Sharada?’ Naniji enquired.

‘Amma, it’s not every day that I ask for some favour,’ Sharada said a little irritated with her mother, ‘I don’t think you mind, do you Khushi?’

‘Not at all auntyji.’ Khushi said in a rush leaving the room.

That was the first time she met the suave, sophisticated and ultra-modern Lavanya Kashyap. As she served tea and snacks, Arnav came down the stairs, his eyes staring at her warily. After the incident in the garden they had been avoiding each other meticulously.

Lavanya, having completed her bachelor’s degree in arts was planning on doing MBA and wanted to know what the prerequisites were. Khushi left the room so she could resume her practice as there was nothing more for her do.

Soon Lavanya had become a frequent visitor and in one such visit, neither Arnav nor his mother was home, but Lavanya had decided to wait for them anyway.

‘Khushi, could you come in here for a minute?’ Lavanya called Khushi. She had been up to the terrace to water some of the plants there before winding up to go home. Just as she stepped inside she realized it was Arnav’s room.

His room had a masculine feel to it. Probably, because the bedspread, rug and curtains were a combination of cream and dark brown. The room was large with a king size mahagony bed in the middle of the room, flanked by matching nightstands. There was a green couch on one side accompanied by a coffee table. A beautifully carved wooden artefact, hung on the accent wall behind the headboard. There was nothing appealing to her in the room, except for the black and white photographs that hung on the adjacent wall.

‘Yes?’ she said studying the pictures in fascination.

‘I just cleaned up Arnav’s room,’ she announced proudly. ‘Could you take these old newspapers and magazines and dispose them off?’

‘I don’t think that this is a good idea Lavanyaji,’ she warned her.’ Shouldn’t you ask Arnavji, first?’

‘He will not mind,’ Lavanya said with a wave of her hand, an air of confidence about her demeanour. ‘Just do it, will you?’

‘If yousay so.’ She brought the pile and put in the utility room near the kitchen. Then she went into Naniji’s room to wish her goodnight.As she sat chatting with Naniji for a little while, they heard a commotion and went out to the living room to see what had happened.

Khushi realized that Arnav was yelling at the quaking Hariprakash for having touched his things without permission. He seemed to be asking him about a sheaf of papers that he had kept on his coffee tabl as Mamiji, Sharada Raizada and Lavanya looked on.

The poor man had no idea what had happened and was trying his best to explain that he had not stepped into his room. On seeing Khushi, he turned toward her.

‘Khushiji,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Didn’t you come out of Arnavji’s room with a stack of newspapers?The harried man looked at her beseechingly.

Arnav turned toward her, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘Khushi, did you go into my room?’ he asked her.

‘It was only because ----‘ Before she could continue, she caught Lavanya imploring her not to rat her out in front of everybody. ‘because the room was messy. I …..I took the old newspapers and magazines and put them in the utility room. That’s all.’

‘Who the hell asked you to do that?’ Arnav was livid. ‘Hariprakash, go get the newspapers! I had better find my papers in that pile.’

‘But, Arnavji the newspapers just went in for recycling.’ Hariprakash said meekly.

‘Unbelievable!’ Arnav rasped,his eyes blazing with anger as he strode up the stairs and went into his room.

‘Khushi, why did you have to go and do that?’ Sharada admonished her. ‘You know Arnav doesn’t like anyone touching his things.’

‘I am sorry.’ Khushi said her eyes brimming with tears.

‘This is what happens when you take pity on people and allow them into your home.’ Mamiji said scornfully. ‘You come here to learn dance, not to snoop around in people’s rooms.’

 ‘That is enough Manorama!’ Naniji raised her voiceas she gave everyone a stern look ‘Come with me Khushi.’

Once inside her room, Nani had smiled at her kindly. ‘There is no mistake that cannot be forgiven with a sorry.’ She wiped her tears. ‘Just go up to Chotte’s room and apologize, bitiya. Everything will be fine.’

Naniji couldn’t be more wrong.

‘There is a limit to carelessness Khushi,’ he had yelled.‘Those were designs done by AR designer to present to a client tomorrow morning. This was the first opportunity mamaji gave me and it is all f@#$^% up thanks to you!

Just then he picked up his cell phone. ‘Yeah Aman, did you happen to make copies of the designs?’

‘F@#$!’ She understood from that the copies hadn’t been made. That meant bad news.

‘I am frigging tired of this blasted place and blasted incompetent people!’ He threw his cell phone, which luckily landed on the soft carpet. He strode up to her and caught her arms in a crushing grip.‘You know, if those designs got into the wrong hands they could make a fortune out of it?’ He bodily walked her out of the room. ‘Now just get out of my face! I have an entire night to think about what excuse I can give mamaji for botching up this presentation.’ He had shut the door on her face.

She walked out of the house tears streaming down her face unconsciously aware that the security guard at the gate had bid her good night. Suddenly she had a brainwave.

Early next morning she knocked on Arnav’s door. He opened the door ready to blast when he saw the papers she shoved under his nose.

‘What the ---?’ He saw the two sets of designs, one damaged and torn and other a replica. ‘How?

‘I found out the paper shop’s address from the security who sits at your gate. I went over there to find that the papers had been dumped in a pile ready to be recycled. I managed to get them out but they were damaged. I took them home and copied them neatly onto fresh sheets.

‘I hope you have what you need?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good luck on the presentation.’ She left him staring after her in disbelief.

Just as she left Arnav’s room she heard her phone ring. It was Lavanya. She had been trying to call her since yesterday night. But Khushi had been too mad at her to pick up her call. But she couldn’t avoid her forever, could she?

‘Yes Lavanyaji.’

‘Khushi, I am so sorry for what happened yesterday.’ Lavanya said desperately. ‘Thank you so much for not ratting me out. ‘It’s not that I was afraid of Arnav’s anger. It’s just that I didn’t want to disappoint Sharada aunty. You see, she is going to be my future mother-in-law.’