Lucknow Railway Station.. 5.00 am..
She got in the train bidding bye to her paa.. She had hopes in her eyes and dreams too! She was just waiting for the train to start, but there was still time.. it was 5.30 in the morning and the cold was good.. She had draped a shawl round her and had settled near the closed window seat with her luggage kept safely below her seat..
'Khushi'.. she heard her name and her face glowed.. She knew this voice. She saw up and recognized her friend..
Khushi-Pritika?! OMG..you here!
She got up from her seat and rushed in her friend's arms for a tight hug..
Pritika-I had to come, would I let you leave without wishing good-luck?
Khushi-Oh priti,am glad u came..
Breaking the hug.. holding hands..
Pritika-I had to.. well,the train leaves in some 2 mins, here, I got this for u.. open it once you get the job.. all the best and my prayers are with u.. hope u will make it up to my wedding..
Khushi-u bet! I will try my best, first let me see if I get this job or not.. u know maa and papa are so sure I will get it, jaise ki unke daamaad ki company ho.. hah..
she chucked and Pritika nodded her head with a smile..
Pritika-I guess you will find your prince-charming there.. he he he.. anyways, convey my good wishes to your friend payal.. and you keep in touch.. I better get down.. bye..
Khushi-am glad u got up just to wish me, well, keep up this habit once your married.. LOL. Bye..
Pritika got down and khushi was contented..She smiled and prayed her DM as the journey started..
*POOO..* (train ki ghanti..
)
)
The train left.. khushi bid bye to her friend as her papa had already left, probably he knew khushi's friend was here she thought.. she smiled..
.
.
Khushi reached Delhi in next 5.30 hours instead of 7 hours, the train was super-duper fast.. Payal was there to pick her up as khushi had texted her.. they met each other after much time and hug toh banta hai boss.. they started some gossip on the station itself and after some 2 mins one of them realized that they needed to get home.. they rushed out with her belongings..
***
AR Fashion House..
Arnav reached office and met Aman with a formal hello.. He started his work in his small yet comfortable cabin ignoring the hot stares he got from his lady colleges everyday, it was so normal for him now, infact if some lady gets that courage to ignore him, it would be a big deal in AR.. No girl was left alive as his perfect charm and arrogant denials had killed many hearts..
Peppy entered Arnav's cabin in a sexy short dress, again..
Peppy-hey ASR..
Arnav-Din't you knock?
his eye-brows frowned..
Peppy-oopsie, am sorry..
Said peppy in a seducing manner.. neither her voice, nor her expressions went high in attracting ASR.. forget that short dress she wore..
Arnav-peppy, your not my neighbor here, plz stay official, you had some work?
Peppy-(to herself-kash neighbour hoti, i can still imagine you in those boxers..) umm'what?
Arnav-(sigh) did you have any work?(looking outside) excuse me ladies, we are paid to work, not to stare me.. plz disperse..
The ladies throwing their eyes on him went aside getting dis-appointed..
'lucky peepy,atleast she has a reason to go in his cabin..'
Said one of the staff girl..
'but what is the profit? He never looks at any girl.. peppy too is like us only na, her revealing clothes also play no effect on him, then how is she lucky?
'arey, atleast she has one fake reason to enter his den with any lame reason.. kash, wo mujhe ek baar dekh le yaar..'
Girls were his fan, but to him, it was just normal, even when he studied back in Haward, girls used to throw themselves on him.. the only difference which none knew, was he would give response to the pleads he received back there, but here, he was a good boy.. Ah! Only he knew how he wished to rome around like a play-boy, but nope.. he won't.. he was bound!
Arnav-peppy, you had some work? If not then plz move..
Peppy-oh ya! I came to give this file.. you said you wanted this last night remember? So I completed it, just for you!
Oh gosh, how she blushed.. if it was in his hands,she would have given her some flirting then and there, but no..
Arnav-thanks peppy.. you may go now..
Peppy-Oh! The pleasure is,all---mine--.
she blushed biting her lower lip,as Arnav gave a smirking look and she thought for the first time he did respond!
Arnav-close the door when you go out..
He smirked again and she went out dis-appointed,yet again!
He dialed his intercom and called lavanya in..
***
It was raining and khushi and payal were in an auto.. waiting to reach home after which khushi could make preparations for hr tomorrow's interview..
Payal-but I thought your interview was today..
Khushi-oh! Actually mamma and papa had marked today's date in the calendar.. today I had to come here na,so... but my interview is tomorrow..
Payal-oh! So you have one more day then.. we can surely have some fun once your done with your interview preparations.. I will take to to the disc tonight if possible, what say?
Khushi-payal, actually, I am not used to all this, neither am I interested.. I just have to concentrate on my interview, am sorry, will see to it after and if I fail to get the job, ok?
Payal knew her discomfort to open up too soon, she smiled and nodded not forcing her.. they both entered in their gadget worlds.. payal was texting someone and khushi was waiting for her pappa's call..
***
Arnav's phone ranged and he attended..
Arnav-ya babe, I know.. I did tell you that I will get it for you.. (PAUSE) ok.. I would get a saare for you bas, (he smirked) but I guess you should try western.. (PAUSE).. ok meri maa.. as you say.. bye..
He cut the call and left the office taking the keys of his bike..
***
Khushi's phone rang and she received.. her parents inquired if she had reached safely..
The auto was standing at the RED traffic signal.. the driver was waiting for the traffic signal to turn GREEN so they can start again.. Suddenly a screech sound hit khushi's ears after her phone call took place..
Rain stopped..
She turned her face to her right in a slow motion to see a young man driving a sports bike.. he too saw her.. she was wearing a white plane netted chudidaar and, her loose hair and self was a bit wet due to the drizzle which was un-avoidable in that open auto..
Their eyes met..only eyes..
She could see some dark chocolate eyes staring her from top to bottom checking her out.. She could just see his eyes.. His face was covered as the helmet he wore was a hurdle for her to see his face, his body had a tight leather jacket of dark brown-almost black colour.. she looked down to see his sports bike.. 'woah' she said to herself.. 'spoilt-sport' she said to herself..
The air around him had some different aroma today.. it had a different fragrance..
His eyes met hers.. He saw her talking on the phone and her jhumka(ear-rings) moving in her ears as as she nodded yes and no on her phone.. Her wet hair sticking to her face now and then on her face, which was so milky.. so smoothe was her skin, he could make out.. he just wanted to move and pull those cheeks, he was not in office too! to whom should he show his 'good boy' image? He smirked as her fingers kept on moving her hair from her face and it repeatedly fell on her.. should he get down and do that for her himself?
His eyes locked with hers and yes, he did check her out.. she was thin, white, innocent at looks, childish at talking on phone.. looked naive, had an Indian touch.. 'maa hoti toh abbhi isse apni bahu bana deti. Total marriage material.' he smirked..but would he accecpt her? he looked at her again..
She gave him a 'look' as she noticed how shamelessly he was staring her.. Adjusting her dupatta, she moved a bit back on her seat to avoid looking at this known stranger.. The traffic signal went GREEN and the bike man was the first to rush.. As his bike changed the gear and took speed, her eyes closed at the sudden noise of speed.. He looked at her expressions from the rear-view mirror before taking a turn.. 'different beauty' he said to himself and pushed one more gear up as the auto took a left turn and their ways parted behind..
.
.
Khushi reached home and met all.. Payal's parents were warm and affectionate.. Khushi kept her luggage in the room next to Payal's.. The day went good and they all had their dinner.. khushi was not much nervous as Payal and family expected.. She was quite cool.. It was as if this interview din't matter much to her..
***
Luchnow..(night time..)
Khushi's parents got a call at night after their dinner..
Gupta's-yes, khushi had reached Delhi and she will be at AR for her interview tomorrow, will he be there too?
Caller-ya, my son will be there too i guess.. Khushi too does not know the actual reason, does she?
Gupta's-no Mrs.Raizada, she does not know, does he know?
Mrs.Raizada-no, Arnav runs away when I start talking about marriages and all, I just hope after khushi gets the job in AR, Arnav and she become friends and Arnav sees the difference in her and chooses her, somewhere I know my son, he is very modern and logical, but I know he will like khushi, I hope all tunes as per our plan..
Gupta's-ya, I hope khushi too finds her prince in arnav.. we hope for the best..
Mrs.Raizada-good luck to us, I am glad I met you both that day in temple when I came to Lucknow, all credit goes to the panditji.. and now I know, that my son will also choose khushi only..
Gupta's-ya, we are thankful k you like our daughter for your son..
Mrs.Raizada-oh no, the pleasre is all mine k you all accepted my proposal..
***
Delhi..(same time..)
Payal-khushi, lets go to eat some gol-gappe na..
Khushi-but payal we just had our dinner, plus, its so cold out!
Payal- it will be fun, you come..
Khushi denied again but with her mom's permit payal and khushi sneeked out.. it was 9.30 pm, but the area around was crowded and safe.. they moved to the street corner and ordered a plate of gol-gappe..
Some similar screech sound diverted her mind from laughs.. She looked around to see the same bike standing at some distance.. She looked here and there searching for the person to whom that bike belonged.. There he was, yes, it was the same person.. He was standing near the small shop which had the paan and cigarettes.. it was a soda shop.. He was standing facing his back to her.. She could make out that it was the same person who was staring her from the auto in the morning, by his body.. How could she forget that shape?! It was so Greek! That tight leather jacket ripped his muscles out.. He was still wearing that helmet.. he turned around to see her..
***
Delhi..same time..
Mrs.Raizada and the Gupta's, they talked for a while and wished that their plan works well.. no one except Arnav and Khushi's parents knew what they had planned.. Both the parties kept the call and remembered how it all started when-
Mrs.Raizada had come to lucknow with some official work.. She visited the Lucknow temple and had spread her mouth looking for a daughter-in-law with the panditji to keep searching a prospective girl for his son.. That same day panditji introduced the Gupta's to her and they talked, all seemed great and they looked forward to tie a knot between their kids in a way that both agree with their own wish, and not under parent's pressure..
Mrs.Raizada put forward a plan that no one could suspect or come to know and all could be played by destiny from then.. and the same happened..
As per the plan, Khushi got an indirect way towards Arnav, by getting an appointment letter from AR out of nowhere.. no one paid a heed to think from where out of blue, opportunity knocked khushi's door.. well, all is known next.. Khushi reached Delhi and will go for the interview tomorrow.. They hoped that Mr.Dave will will have any problem to let her be his assistant, she was capable in all ways..
***
Delhi.. same time..
He zoomed his bike hiking its speed and reached chandni chawk's street corner to have a glass of soda.. He parked his bike and went near the small soda shop.. Arnav had come out of his flat to avoid repeated encounters with peppy or and lady in the flat..Gosh, was there no other gentlemen except him in that flat!
He had come out to breathe some fresh air.. again the air around had a different smell in it, a fragrance of a particular girl, a one in a million girl.. it was so unknowingly familiar oxygen molecules..
He ordered one soda for him and turned around starting to remove his helmet when he encountered the same girl whom he saw in the afternoon..
'meri maa ki bahu? Phirse?' he din't knew why he said that, oops, it just slipped out of his mouth.. he smirked.. his lips curved into a shy smile.. wait, was hehallucinating? Was she really here? Was he seeing the same girl whom he saw in the morning? Was she just across the street some few steps away from him?? Was she real or was he hallucinating?
His hand stopped removing the helmet and he stared at her as she looked in his eyes from across the street.. He liked when girls gave him importance, he never took time to give some from his side then why today? He was taking time in admiring an Indian beauty? She was not his 'type'.. Still,
Rabba Ve
he stared her as her friend besides her handed her a plate of gol-gappa..
he stared her as she broke her eye-lock with him and eat gol-gappa's one by one and how some juice came out from the corner of her lips..
he stared at her as her finger curled and moved to wipe that juice off her lips.. and as her tongue licked her quivering lips making him fall for her..
he stared her as she stole some glances with him just to check if those chocolate eyes where still glued on her?!
He stared as she gave him a disgusting look from her side showing her dis-comfort by his constant stares on her..
That's when he realized.. He was staring at some girl..ARNAV was staring at some girl.. Gosh, what was wrong with him.. The shop-keeper called out his attention as his order was placed and broke his link of thoughts..
Payal who was all time inside her mobile screen while eating the gol-gappa's turned to khushi with a smiling face..
Payal-so, done? Lets go..
Khuhsi managed to fake asmile and nod her head in approval avoiding the chill running down her spine due to the stares she got from the opposite side from the known stranger..
Payal paid the amount and they left..
He turned and took his soda glass and turned around to see the opposite side of the road empty where she was standing some seconds ago.. he scanned the surroundings but it was too crowded to differentiate a single soul.. he lost her in the crowd and removed his helmet finally to take a sip from the glass he was holding since last two minutes..
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