THE WAIT - Part 2

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CHAPTER 2



KHUSHI GUPTA


I can’t believe Dad proposed my marriage alliance for Arnav Singh Raizada. I keep running as far as I can, wiping my tears. He couldn’t even ask me once before throwing this bomb on both the families. Dad has never been this reckless. Why now? I reach the far end of the garden area of Shantivan, where fortunately there are no guests. They are all on the other side of the mansion. Just when I stop, I feel someone grabbing my arm and turning me around. It’s my brother Shyam. The moment I see him, I embrace him tight and cry.

“How could Dad do this?” I whimper. “He didn’t even ask me once.”

“Ssshh. Stop crying, Khushi. I know he didn’t do good. Stop crying.” Shyam keeps stroking my back. “I promise I’ll speak to him about it.”

Tears keep rolling down my cheeks as I replay the entire conversation that happened back there in the living room and finally, my first meet with Arnav Singh Raizada. Though he sounded so sensible towards me and this entire alliance thing, what I saw in his eyes tonight was the complete opposite. For a moment when we had that eyelock, I felt as if he was willing to marry me but he rejected the proposal only because he knew I wasn’t aware of it or probably because he knew that I was going to decline the alliance if he hadn’t.

“Khushi,” Shyam pulls me away. “You know Dad. He loves you so much. I’m surprised he took such a big decision without even talking to anyone of us. But I promise you, he will take it back. No one is going to force you to marry anyone.”

I feel relieved to hear this from my brother. Shyam and I have only two years age difference and though I call him by his name from our childhood, he is over protective for me in every sense. He knows I was in love once and that relationship didn’t last. I somehow couldn’t muster up the courage to tell him though that the man I loved was Dhruv Singh Raizada, Anjali’s younger brother. It was Dhruv’s idea to hide our relationship until we two were sure of involving our families into it, considering our families were so close to each other. That was the only thing I didn’t approve of him because for me I was in love with Dhruv no matter if he had plans of marrying me or not anytime sooner. Dhruv was like a free bird. He did things only that pleased him and when he was ready to do it. I didn’t want to pressurize him for marriage. Marriage was that feeling which had to be from both sides to last forever and I hoped that Dhruv would realize that too someday. But that day never came and he left from our lives like a free bird again.

“But Khushi..” Shyam cups my face after wiping my tears. “Since Arnav has already rejected the proposal, there is one thing less for us to worry. He is not someone who would change his decision that easily. We all know him very well.”


It gives me some hope again. After Dhruv, there was no point in telling my family or the Raizadas that I had an affair with him. So, I kept all these memories only to myself and never shared a word about our affair with anyone. But I knew that would make me more susceptible in the future considering my family would want me to marry off to someone in the future. But it never crossed my mind that the groom my father would choose will be Dhruv’s twin. Even if I choose to marry in future, I can never give my approval to marry the man who had Dhruv’s face. It would make things complicated and hurtful for me, to see the face of the man I love, in the face of my husband whom I would marry only for the sake of social norms and my family.


“If you are still upset about this, then I’ll talk to dad and Arnav right now.” Shyam insists.

“No.” I stop him. “It’s such a big day for you and Anjali Bhabhi. I don’t want to ruin your happiness. We will speak to Dad after we reach home finishing the engagement.”


Shyam sighs.

“Whatever you say, Khushi. But remember, no matter what happens, I am always on your side. I know you had a break up few months ago. Thinking of marriage so soon might not be on your cards right now but that doesn’t mean you’ll keep rejecting every good proposal. Life doesn’t have to stop because it failed you once, Khushi. We have to keep moving on. Happiness is around you, all you have to do is stretch your arm and let it touch you. Do you understand what I mean?”


I nod. As a brother, he has rightly tried to show me the path towards a happy future. Only if it was that simple to walk on it. We head back into the house where my parents look worried while the Raizadas a bit disappointed. Thankfully, Arnav Singh Raizada is nowhere around and it gives me some relief. Shyam explains to everyone that whatever happened wasn’t the right moment to discuss and he convinced both the families that if Arnav and I were reluctant for this alliance, we shouldn’t be forced. They all agree to this, except Dad who looks dejected but still pretends to fake a smile and then apologizes for what he did. I give him a hug too.


An hour later, Shyam and Anjali Bhabhi exchange the rings. As I shower the rose petals on them, like the rest of us does, I feel that heat again radiating from my body for someone else. Because Arnav Singh Raizada is around. He is standing quite close to me with his family, showering the petals on Shyam and Anjali. I try not to even look at him but the lover in me, who loved that similar face once, glance at him again and there it happens again. The moment I see him, he turns to his left and meets my gaze. Our eyes lock, for no idea how long. The intensity in his stare tells me something I was not prepared for. He was lying when he said he didn’t want to marry me because I knew what that kind of stare from a man to a woman meant. It meant he desired her. But how? Arnav Singh Raizada and I had never met in the recent years, then how could he have those kind of desires which only a man in love can have for a woman? I can read that so well because these are the exact same desires which I’d seen in Dhruv’s eyes too at times. Is it all my imagination? Only because Dhruv and Arnav had the same face, was I imagining the kind of love Dhruv had for me, Arnav too had it now? Shit!! I would go mad if this doesn’t stop. Before I get more vulnerable, and have to walk out of this place again, I lower my gaze and focus back on the newly engaged couple. I cannot wait for this ceremony to come to an end and for me to put enough distance between me and Arnav Singh Raizada. Hopefully forever this time!!


ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


I stand before the poolside of my bedroom, looking at the calm water, and remembering the moment when Khushi and I had been gazing at each other during the engagement. Did she read my feelings for her?


“Chotte?” Di’s voice breaks my trance. I quickly turn around only to see Di reaching me. “Why did you walk out of the engagement party so soon? You hardly were seen after we exchanged the rings. Even when the Guptas were leaving, you weren’t there to see them off.”


Yes. I did that on purpose. I couldn’t let Khushi Gupta know what she doesn’t have to know.

“I had work to do, Di.” I lie.

“Work?” she glares at me. “It was your sister’s engagement. Which brother focusses on work that day?”

“A workaholic brother,” I smirk, trying to lighten her mood.

She rolls her eyes.

“Stop playing these word games with me and tell me honestly one thing.”

I nod.

“Did you walk out because Shashi Uncle proposed you for Khushi?”


My heart skips a beat but I keep my façade on.

“No.” I look away.

“Liar,” she pulls my chin and forces me to meet her eyes. “I saw you admiring Khushi, Arnav. Throughout the time she was around you, your eyes were on her.”


F*ck! She saw that? Di blushes.

“If you liked her that much, why did you reject the proposal? Nani and everyone else like Khushi a lot. And what better than getting her in this family as your wife? After my marriage, you are next.”

“Di please..” I snap. “I don’t want to talk about this. And yes, I was keeping an eye on her because I just wanted to know if she was doing okay. Uncle proposed such a big decision without seeking her permission. So I wanted to ensure she was okay and not hurt. That’s it.”


Di doesn’t believe me and keeps blushing.

“Chotte, do you know your eyes never lie?” she chuckles.

Don’t they? I swallow! I hope that’s not true. Because if my eyes didn’t lie, today it would be evident for Khushi Gupta to know I desired her.. a lot more than she would ever know!! No effing way I am repeating that mistake again.


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

A week Later

Work has always been my priority after my family and today when Shyam told me he was coming here to discuss some presentation, I stretched my schedule to fit in this meet which was at evening by 6:00 pm. As soon as my secretary Aman Mathur tells me Shyam is here, I ask him to send him inside my cabin. I stand up to greet him, because now he was also my brother-in-law, at least going to be, in the next three weeks when the door opens and I see him. But he is not alone. He is here with Khushi. The moment I see her, I freeze on my spot, and even forget to wish Shyam who keeps the door open for Khushi and leads her inside.


“Hey Arnav,” he says reaching my desk.

“Hi,” I swallow glancing between the two of them. Khushi keeps her eyes low and I think that’s because she is too uncomfortable whenever she has to face me. Because.. the problem is.. she doesn’t hate this face.. she f*cking loves it.. and seeing it LIVE before her, is making her vulnerable.

“Sorry to get Khushi too here. Actually, we were out for the marriage shopping and then suddenly I decided to meet you as the office was on way and I couldn’t push the presentation for tomorrow. So, she is here with me and I promise I won’t take much of your time.”


Oh! I wish he takes my entire lifetime if it means Khushi will be around me. My thoughts around her.. and when she is not around are so contradictory.

“Sure, I don’t mind. Please sit.” I say to both of them but Khushi chooses to speak only to her brother.

“Should I wait out.”

“No..” shyam shrugs. “We ae discussing nothing confidential. You can stay here.”

“Okay,” she hesitantly agrees and makes her way to the glass window.


Damn hell! If she stands this close to me, how am I supposed to even focus on work?


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

It’s been 15 minutes since we are in the same room, a few meters away from each other but she’s never looked at me once. It bruises my ego like hell. I keep rolling the paperweight over my desk, letting Shyam finish his presentation on the Hong Kong client with me. It’s just three of us in my office cabin. AR Fashion is a worldwide brand of apparels, accessories and beauty products. Gupta Industries have partnered with us since a decade and Shyam is not just the best CEO of that company, but a gentleman of a kind who even once didn’t bring our personal problems into our professional life. At least, so far, ever since I denied marrying his sister Khushi, which was a week ago.

“So? What do you think?” Shyam asks, bringing my attention back on his laptop screen. “Looks like a great deal to me,” he adds.

I’m clueless if I should agree on it, because in his fifteen minutes long speech, I couldn’t focus for even 15 seconds. All of my attention was on Khushi who is still glued to the huge floor to ceiling glass window of my cabin, looking outside. In a soft pink Anarkali dress, with her hair cascading over her shoulders, and her arms crossed at front, as if she is lost in some deep thoughts, how could I resist not trying to read her inner turmoil? She’s here for a reason otherwise knowing her brother Shyam had to meet me on their way back home from shopping, she wouldn’t join him here otherwise.

“Can I have a look at it again? Maybe tonight and then I’ll let you know my feedback. I do think it’s a great deal though.” I reply.

Shyam shrugs, “Okay, as you wish. I’ll wait for your call and inform the same to my Dad.”

We both get up from our seats and shake hands.

“Khushi?” he calls her out. “We are done. Let’s go.”

She finally turns around, facing us and her gaze flickers on my face once before she smiles at Shyam.

“Uh..” she hesitates at first, the way she’s fiddling with the ends of her dupatta proves it. A confused Khushi Gupta is even more gorgeous. “I need to have a word with him,” she finally says it shocking both me and Shyam. She is here to speak to me? What?

I feel my heart beating frantically inside my chest and I won’t be surprised if it suddenly even stops beating forever.

“Umm.. okay..” Shyam replies, a bit confused too.

“Alone..” Khushi adds. “I … I want to speak to him alone, Shyam. If you please don’t mind.”

Alone!! No.. Before Shyam can reply or act, I intervene.

“There is nothing I want to speak to you in private, Miss Gupta.” I snap. “At least not after what your father proposed to us the other day. So, if you want to still want to talk to me, it will have to be in presence of your brother. Otherwise, I am not interested in listening to you.”

I slide my hands in my pocket, observing her expressions keenly. She is annoyed. The way she clenches her jaw while looking into my eyes, proves that had it been Dhruv here instead of me, she would have kicked my balls!!


To be Continued.

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