My New Boss - Season 3 - Part 13

  

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Chapter 13


Khushi’s POV


Lavanya stares at me and her expressions haven’t changed since past one hour I started narrating what all happened during my trip to Abu Dhabi and Oman. She’s having that sweet grin on her face which only comes when she is in teasing mood.


“What?” I ask, serving her some pasta that I cooked tonight. After landing to India this morning, Lavanya had insisted we have dinner together as she had something to tell me. Since I was too tired to dine out, I called her home. “Stop staring at me like that..” I add.

“Like what?” she mocks.

“Shut up La. Tell me the reason behind that grin of yours. I am sure its something stupid.”


Lavanya giggles putting a forkful of pasta in her mouth. She eats and then leans back on the couch. Yes, we eating on the couch.

“When did you start liking Arnav Singh Raizada so much?” she asks.

Her question almost stuns me.

“What?”

“You heard it right, baby. Do you know how many times you have used that name in the last one hour? Whichever incident you are narrating me has him in the frame. Including the one which involves your fiancee, Shyam. I have never seen you talking about any man as much as you told me about him.”


I swallow. Is that true?

“You are highly mistaken. I have no special liking for ASR. It’s just that all these days he was always around me which is why he’s clouding my mind. Wont happen again.”


I mean it. I don’t want to give any other impression about my feelings for ASR to anyone. It’s not that I have any feelings for him which is wrong and I should hide but he’s really better away from my personal life at the moment considering how much he has a suspicion I don’t like Shyam and being engaged to him.


“Come on Khushi” Lavanya presses my arm. “I won’t advice you to stay away from ASR because I clearly see he is protecting you in good sense. In fact, I didn’t like the way Shyam treated you there. How can he leave you at that party alone when he was the one forcing you to join him there?”


I sigh recalling that torturous moment when Shyam insisted I should attend that wedding with him. Had it not been for Arnav’s mother, I would be bored like hell.


“ASR’s father already loves and trust you and now that you told me his mother is fond of you as well, there isn’t a problem at all. ASR and you will make one hot pair Khushi. Think about it.”


My cheeks flame at Lavanya’s remark. Me and Arnav Singh Raizada? As a pair? Impossible. I have never seen him in those regards and nevertheless he is also not very desperate for marriage. Plus, his mother handling me the responsibility of finding him a life partner only warns me enough to stay away from him personally.


“Shut up, La. I am engaged..” I retort.

“To a man you don’t love. In fact the way he treated you in Abu Dhabi, I would say think again before you take one step ahead with him. You two are like on and off couple. Last time you didn’t even see each other for like 6 months. That too with minimal phone contact. Which couple is like this? I don’t think he is right for you Khushi.”

“So is Arnav.” I snap. “Only because his parents are good to me and he is protective for me, doesn’t make him the right choice,” I argue.

“Fine” she shrugs. “But then he is still better than Shyam Jha. Think about it.”


I can never think about it. It’s gross!! Without probing deeper in this subject, I decide to divert it.


“You had something to tell me, what is it?” I ask her and she grins.

“I am in love..” she admits and my jaw drops.

“What? Love? Stop kidding.”


She giggles hard at my comment.

“I am serious. I am in love. In fact, I have been dying to tell you about him from quite some time but then not until I knew my exact feelings. This time when I was all alone, without you, I gave my heart a push and that’s how I realized I am in love.”

“God, La..” I smile. I really am happy for her. “Who is he? Does he know? Or are you dating him already and I don’t know yet..”


Now she frowns.

“He doesn’t know yet. I couldn’t tell him. I don’t even know if he loves me or not..” she pouts.

“Wait what? He doesn’t know? It’s a one-sided love?”

“Unfortunately, Yes.”


I sigh having no idea how that would be. I have never been in love before but have heard its most painful when its one-sided.

“What’s his name?”

“Akash Malik.” A weak smile spreads on her lips. “I model for his company..”


My jaw drops. Akash Malik? Like seriously?

“Oh my God, Lavanya. He’s a big name..”


She frowns.

“I know.. That’s the problem. Everyone loves him and I am just one of them. He has met me a few times. We have been together in some parties too but that’s it. I don’t think he can ever think of me beyond his Company model.”


I feel bad for her.

“What if he is already committed? Maybe that’s why he isn’t interested in you..”

“He is single. He is shy types Khushi and a man like him is dating, people would know.”


I agree!! Suddenly something flashes in my head. Something which can help Lavanya pursue him.


“I need tips..” Lavanya adds. “Anything that you feel I should try to know him better and help him see my love for him.”


I am still lost but not for long.

“I think I can help you with that..”


Her eyes lit with joy. She gives me a tight hug whereas I make some quick plans for tomorrow.


*********************


Arnav’s POV


Whilst I am back to India and at work too, my mind is still hanging with the memories of my trip with Khushi Gupta. I never thought I would miss being with her only in a matter of 3 -4 days of staying together and being around each other for hours. God! This is insane!! After coming back home, Dad asked me what all happened and all I could tell him was praises of Khushi Gupta and the way she interacted and befriended with Mom. Dad was surprised but happy too. I hope he didn’t my over anxiety of sharing these little incidents about me and Khushi very seriously or else he too would have the same suspicion as Mom.


Though I know Khushi Gupta is forbidden fruit for me, but my mind is still pinning about the time we spent together. Why? Damn hell!! What’s wrong with me? I was never like this?


There’s a knock at the door.

“Come in” I shout, glancing back at my laptop screen which I have no idea why is displaying some report I have no clue about.


When I raise my head and look at the person entering the door, I am startled. It’s her!! Khushi Gupta! In a pastel pink top tucked inside a black knee-length pencil skirt, with her hair tied into a high pony tail, she looks dapper.

“I need your help” she says before I can ask her the reason of coming to see me.


Is she missing me too? Like I missed her? Help! What help?


“What help?” I ask, clearing my throat.

“Akash Malik..” she says.. “He is your relative right?”


I am confused.

“Yes, my maternal side cousin. I mean my mother’s sister’s son. Why?”

“Good” she smiles and then stands before my table.

“I need you to tell me all about him.. On personal level. As in what all a woman needs to know to woo him..”

“What the F***” I push myself on feet glaring at her. “What the hell does that mean Khushi Gupta? How dare you think of Akash like this?”


She gives me a weird glare and then rolls her eyes as if she had expected me to say this.

“Calm down, Mr. Angry Raizada. I need these details for someone else.. I am engaged enough to need another man to ruin my life..”


A part of my aching heart soothes as she mentions that the information she needs is for someone else but then more queries on the last part of her statement haunts me.


“That means Shyam Jha is ruining your life already?” I ask. “What exactly is that jerk doing to you Miss Gupta?”


She goes quiet for a minute then sighs again.

“I am here to talk about my friend’s personal matters, not mine. Can we fix to that?”


I know she would never tell me what’s wrong between SHyam and her and why is she still engaged to him so for now I decide to let it go and help her.


“Say please.. Maybe I will think about it.” I tease.


She glares at me and then her fists press on my table, as she leans on it, towards me.

“I am giving you one last chance to tell me what I need or else I can ask the same thing to your Dad and get the details I want. Choice is yours.”


Damn!! She can do that. And somehow I hate passing to my father for help.


“Fine.. I will tell you about Akash but not until I Know what this is for?”

“Sure. All I can tell you now is that my friend Lavanya is in love with him. She wants to pursue him and he is her Boss. She’s a model in his company.”


I hear it patiently.

“Akash will never support Office romances. He’s not like me..” I wink at her and for the first time I see Khushi Gupta blushing but that blush doesn’t last for more than a second. This woman has the best controlling power on this earth.

But for How long?

“Office romance?” Khushi repeats. “You wouldn’t mind dating someone from this office then? If I find one for you like your mother demands?”


I knew it!! She will take my mother’s demand seriously.


“Are you here to ask about me or Akash?” I question.

Khushi nods acknowledging her mistake.

“Tell me about Akash. But before you tell me about him, I want you to know my friend Lavanya is good at heart. She hasn’t fallen in love for a long long time. And if she thinks she is in love with your cousin, I can assure you she will prove her love and ability to hold on to him until her lifetime.”


That brings a smile on my face. Though I am not very acquainted with this feeling called “LOVE”, I still believe Khushi’s words.


“In that case, Akash is the right choice for her. He too has never been in love before though he believes in it too much.”

“Totally contrasting characters you two are..” Khushi taunts.

“Kind of.. Just like you and your friend Lavanya then.. She believes to share her life with a man she loves whereas you want to waste yours by living with a man whom you have no feelings at all.”


She looks stunned again by my comment but soon her control is back.


“One more time you try to dig about me and Shyam, I won’t need your help anymore..” She warns.


Taking a cue to hold on my suspicions, I finally decide to reveal some details of my cousin Akash Malik, hoping it would benefit her friend. So what if me and Khushi are not in the right track of relationships? These two definitely deserved a chance if they had one.



To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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Standalone Enemies to Lovers Romance Novel

Jhanvi Sikand
I was supposed to marry my childhood friend, Mohit Raichand. Call it fate or destiny, I tied the knot with the Forbidden Heir of the Raichand family – Aarav Raichand, instead. I knew nothing about him except that he used me as a pawn to start a war to snatch from the Raichands what was legally his.

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