Posted on April 06th, 2017 | Edited on September 4th, 2018
| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.5.1 : B R E A K I N G - P O I N T . . . |
After dinner, Anjali insisted on showing us the house. I had no interest as I just wanted to go back to our penthouse, but I had no choice except to follow when Armaan and Riddhima followed her.
We turned a corner and walked down some stairs to reveal a pool area. My mood uplifted at once as I gazed upon the reflection of the open sky in the water. I glanced up at the starry gaze in the vast night sky and exhaled peacefully - for the second, forgetting where I was and just admiring the view. "This has got to be the best place in this house."
"Really?" Anjali said, "Then I think you'll love your new room."
She might have meant it innocently, but my smile faltered just a bit. If she noticed, she chose to ignore it. "Come, let me show you."
Eagerly, she walked off towards the sliding doors that opened to the pool area on the other side. Riddhima placed her hand on my back to give me a slight nudge. Again, without a choice of my own, I followed the group inside the room.
I don't know what I was expecting, but this was certainly not it. I was taken aback at the personal touch. It was nothing like I recalled his dorm room to be from the few times I had been there. That dorm room had no personal items on the walls. No pictures. Nothing. But this room... there were photo frames hanging on the wall, paintings as well. The walls were painted in a light blue color. There was a soft rug over the marbled floor. Furniture consisted of a four-poster bed, dresser, a sitting area with a coffee table in between, a lounge chair, and two mahogany cupboards next to each other acting as a closet where his clothes must be stored. Despite it all, the room was spacious with more than enough room to walk about.
I had been so lost looking around this room that was Arnav's that I didn't realize when the others had walked out to continue touring rest of the house and it was just me and Arnav.
He cleared his throat to get my attention, "Listen, about Aarav..."
I cut him off, "I don't care." There was surprise on his face, but I continued, "Sorry, I know it's rude, but he is yours and Lavanya's son. Nothing to do with me."
"Khushi..."
I was adamant on not talking about this and I added, "We may not even be getting married anyway."
His lips pressed shut together and I started to walk towards the exit of the room. Just as I reached the doorway, he stopped me. "Wait." I turned to face him. He was walking towards his closet. After some ruffling, he pulled out a file and walking towards me, held it out.
"What's this?" I asked as I accepted it. Since he remained silent, waiting for me to see to it myself, I opened the file and turned it around seeing it was upside down.
I skimmed the official legal documents, focusing on names mostly. My dad's business. Arnav's name. My name. Transfer of power.
"I've already signed them."
I blinked up at him when he informed and I flipped the page to the second page where on the line, his sign was there. "What's this supposed to mean?"
"I told you. It was never about his business," he repeated the words he had back at the beach.
What was it in his eyes that he was trying to conceal? Hurt, perhaps? But what does he have to be hurt about? I am the one hurt finding out Aarav is his son and that everything he has ever told is a lie. That he never trusted me to tell me such a big part of his life.
He added, "I have no need of it. It's all yours. Whatever you decide."
I stared at him a second longer having no idea what to take of this. I felt a bit skeptical, "Just like that?"
He sighed as if tired of having to repeat this. "I know you won't ever forgive me, Khushi, but please... please. Stop believing the worst about me."
I felt that burden over my heart as I often did whenever around him. Something about the way he said 'please' was not pretty. Even though I had every right to be mad at him, I did not like this pleading tone of this. It did not settle well. It seemed to somewhere take away something crucial to his being. It seemed to bring out some vulnerable side of him and though it is something I would have welcomed in another situation, I wouldn't be able to say for sure why I did not like it in the moment.
I was used to seeing him standing tall. Strong. Brave. And the word 'please' seemed to defy everything that made him, him. It wasn't right.
Maybe because a part of me felt guilty for pushing him to this brink of desperation. When did I become that person? The one who pushes others to their breaking point. I was never that person.
And yet, here you are. My subconscious nagged.
He swallowed before nodding towards the file, "After learning about Aarav, I'm sure you don't want anything to do with me. So, sign them. Submit them in court. If they need me to sign anything else, I'll do it. After tonight, you don't have to see me ever again."
What was he saying? Never see him again? Does that mean it is the end of our arranged engagement? Will he call it off? But... is that what I want?
He didn't wait for a reaction from me as he walked out towards the pool area and slid the door shut towards the room. My fingers tightened around the file as I blinked down at it again to stare at the first page.
The date at the very top caught my attention. It was roughly a week after our engagement. Two years... two years that he's kept this business under my name?
It was never about his business.
Those were his words. Is this what it meant? My heart continued thudding at a maddening pace even as I tried to get a hold over myself because even if my mind wanted to deny it, I think it knew all along just what his words meant when he had first said them.
This was not just business.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
Monday morning, I rushed to work. First day and I was late. Some impression I was going to make. Three people trying to get ready in the morning to leave at the same time did not work in our favor.
The entire weekend, I had spent coming to terms with learning about Aarav. Replaying Arnav's words on a loop. Trying to figure out again and again what I actually wanted out of this. He had been adamant a few days back about not calling off the wedding. He even went on to suggest I should agree to the compromise for the sake of my parents. And now, he was giving me a way out.
Did I want to take it?
Lost in such thoughts, I hadn't gone to bed on time and hence hadn't woken up early enough to not feel rushed.
After asking multiple people, I finally entered the cabin where I had been directed to. Others who must have been starting today as well were already inside. The man who looked to be in his late 20s questioned, "Ah, you must be the last intern. Khushi Gupta?"
I nodded catching my breath, "Yes, sir."
He dropped the file in his hand on the table. "Alright everyone, I only have two rules. Do not ever call me 'sir'. I have a name. Aman. I happen to like that name."
Well. Did I just offend him on top of my tardiness? Way to go, Khushi. Some unforgettable first impression.
"And second, whenever a deadline is given, I expect work to be completed by then. Not a minute later. There should be no delays. I don't care what your reasons are. I don't care if you're on your death bed. Harsh? Yes. But, that's my rule. If you have a problem, the door is that way. And if the work is not done by that deadline, then type yourself a resignation and save me the trouble, would you?"
All five of us nodded, spooked out equally by his no-nonsense attitude. He didn't look scary off his face but looks can be deceiving.
He continued, "Good, now don't look so gloomy. It's not all that bad working here. There's five files here." He placed his hand atop the pile. "One for each of you. Show me what you've got."
So this is the test. They didn't accept us here without an interview after all. Everyone grabbed a file in orderly fashion.
He informed pulling his chair closer to his desk. "The conference room is reserved whole day for you all to work there. If anyone manages to survive the day and impress me, there will be a desk waiting for you tomorrow. Else, you're stuck as an intern even if you've already completed your internship elsewhere. Ciao now."
One guy opened his mouth to ask a question. Though Aman wasn't looking at us, he interrupted as if he knew a question would be coming. "And, if you have any questions, don't ask me. Should have learnt enough in college to figure out your way in unfamiliar situations."
With that, we were dismissed. It wasn't just me who let out a sigh of relief once we were out of his cabin. We all did and shared a look. The same thought running through all our heads. We better learn to buck up fast or we were so screwed.
While walking out of the room to make way towards the conference room, my eyes traveled up towards the secluded cabin on top where a person was walking down the stairs. They widened seeing him.
A girl asked seeing I froze there instead of continuing with the group - some of its members who had started to introduce themselves to each other. "Coming?"
I blinked away from him to reply to her. "Uh... yeah." I walked faster to reach them and she held the door open for me. I placed the file in front of a chair along with my side bag before I slipped out again making it seem I was going to use the restroom.
A figure blocked my path before I could have made it to the stairs. "Did you need something?"
I remembered her to be the same one who had been nice to me yesterday. Today she was dressed in same style of top and skirt, just different colors.
Before I could have answered, Aman walked up to us from behind, "Lavanya, is ASR in yet?"
Lavanya. My eyes slightly widened. Now I knew why she had seemed familiar yesterday. We might have barely met for a minute my freshman year in college. And yet, that apparently left a lasting impression - no doubt because of her connection to Arnav.
Speaking of... ASR. Arnav Singh Raizada? He had been the one I had spotted just few minutes ago. I was not imagining it.
She blinked away from me and informed Aman, "Yes, but you don't want to bother him right now."
"Bad mood?" Aman asked with a wince on his face. She answered with a nod. He sighed and gave her a file. "Okay, well, just make sure he gets these? He'll need them for a meeting later in the day and neither of us want him yelling at the staff for not getting it to him on time else we'll never hear the end of it from Anjali for making her chote upset."
She accepted them with a laugh as if she was familiar with his ramble, "Sure."
For me, however, I watched the interaction with keen interest. This was the composed person I had met no less than five minutes ago. it just goes to say that there is always more to people than what meets the surface. From the looks of it, he seems pretty knowledgeable about the Raizada siblings the way he talks about them - as if he knows them on a personal level and not just two people who are his bosses.
Aman then turned his attention to me and returned to his poised self, "Ms. Gupta, what are you doing here? Do you not want to secure your job?"
"I was just leaving." I answered meekly and turned on my heel to leave.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
| . . . C H A P T E R - 2.5.2 : S I C K - J O K E . . . |
Before I could have walked into the conference room, I heard a throat clearing from behind me. Diagonally, around the corner, he stood and slightly nodded his head for me to walk over.
Looks like he too saw me earlier.
We must have had the same thought since we questioned over each other the second I walked over to him, away from the eyes of everyone by hiding in this tiny blind spot around the corner. "What are you doing here?"
I added, "I should be asking that. I work here."
He chuckled without humor. "No, you don't. I would know."
I crossed my arms over my chest in a challenging manner, "So now you will tell me where I work and don't work?"
His demeanor changed as he started to piece together something. "You're one of the interns joining today?"
"Yeah?" I answered uncertainly even though it was a fact.
His jaw clenched as he muttered under his breath. "Kripa."
I started to catch on as well once he said her name. She was the one who applied for me to work here. I didn't even know until the very end. "AR Designs... Arnav Raizada."
This all seemed too real to be bad dream. What had I done in life that I kept getting this in return? It was just cruel - very cruel - making me work with him... no, work for him.
He bobbed his head to the side in correction, "Well, the A stands for Anjali Raizada but yeah."
Taking in the fact, I repeated what he had muttered earlier. "Kripa."
This was all that girl's doing as if making us work under one roof would have cleared all our issues. Not just that, but everything started to come together. How she could get her hands on expensive, one-piece designs. Why she held indispensable knowledge about AR Fashion House - the in's and out's. Arnav's closet full of this brand. Why she once thought the shirt I had belonged to Arnav.
Deciding to get back at her later, I asked. "Did you really not know?"
"Why do you think I would?"
I offered an argument for the sake of it, "She is your cousin."
"She is your best friend," he countered. "And if I knew, I wouldn't have said the other night you'd never see me again."
I bite back my comment. Point for Arnav.
He composed himself and his shoulders seemed to relax as if realizing we were having a petty argument. A calmness returned to his voice. "Well. Welcome to AR Fashion House."
I squinted at him.
He rolled his eyes and chided, "I'm not saying it as a mocking, Khushi. If you want to work here, it's your choice."
A bit annoyed, I just had to ask. "Why do you keep saying things as if I have a choice?"
He was confused as he said, "Because you do?"
"And you didn't seem to remember that back when you told my dad?"
He hushed me taking a step towards me and I stepped back, my back meeting the wall behind me. "Shh. This is not the place for that."
Okay, he was right. He owned this place. I bit back my anger and told myself to keep my voice low.
"I've already explained. Do you realize, I have never apologized to anyone in my life the number of times I have to you? Never explained myself to anyone the way I...?" He stepped back while figuratively also pulling away from me, "But you know what? It's enough now. I am done apologizing. I am done trying to get you to listen. I am done. Obviously, you've made up your mind to not forgive me. So, nothing I do matters anyway, right?"
My mouth opened but no words came out. His sudden anger had a hold over me. I hadn't seen it in a long time. He was right... Since we met again, that's all he's done and I've ignored it each time. I've replied with anger and hostility each time or straight up brushed it off.
"Arnav."
"What!" He snapped his head to the left at the warning voice coming from a third person. I swallowed the uneasiness down my throat before turning to her as well.
Lavanya grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the tiny hideout, scolding him in a quiet voice. "This is not your house that you lose your temper like this on anyone..." her eyes flickered to me as she finished, "No matter who they are."
It made me wonder, did she know who I was? Had Arnav told her? Maybe she knew we were engaged... but did she know we have a history?
"Go," she instructed, and I slipped away at once. I didn't need to be told twice. I don't know what I think of her yet, but, for now, I was grateful for her timely interruption and stopping this interaction from turning into an altercation that undoubtedly, we both would have regretted later.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
I opened the file to see my task. It was to design a line for a calendar. The theme: wedding and flowers. I scoffed. Was this a sick joke? This topic of wedding seemed to not want to leave me alone.
For a second, I wondered if Arnav was playing some game. But then, I dismissed it. We had just established he hadn't known I was joining today as one of the interns. Besides, never in years of knowing him have I known him to stoop down to pettiness. Neither does he seem to be the kind of person to gamble with his work simply to nag someone over something.
I don't think he is the type of person who sought revenge by pulling such moves.
Letting out a sigh, I took out my sketch pencils to begin. I could have not tried, chosen to not work here... But, work was work - no matter who the owner of the place was. This was my career and that is one thing I won't let be ruined because of him.
Hours later, I sprang in my seat, startled when my phone went off. It was almost lunch time and it was Riddhima. I glanced around to realize the other four had left for lunch break and I was the only one left in the conference room. "Hey, Ridzzi." I answered the call holding it with my shoulder to my ear while I continued to give the design a color scheme.
"You sound drained out. What's up?"
"Nothing, boss seems to have given us the work of a month in a day."
"Ouch. That sucks for day one. Are they all nice atleast?"
"Uh... sure." I answered for I hadn't talked to other interns. Actually, no one had talked to each other once everyone had taken a seat. Everyone wanted to get the job done so they wouldn't be stuck as an intern. "Actually, did you know who owns this place?"
"No. Does it matter?"
"It should." I informed stopping my coloring for the time being, "Arnav."
She gasped, "You're kidding?"
"My idea of a joke does not involve that, Riddhima." I answered in all seriousness.
She was silent for a second as if using it to grasp the information. "Well, damn. I don't know what to say."
I sighed picking up my sketch pad and turning a page to draw another design. Since it was for the calendar, we had to sketch 12 designs, one for each month. "Ditto. Anyway, how's college for you?"
"Different."
"Yeah, I bet."
"Hmm. Anyway, I'll let you get back to work. I only called to remind you to eat."
I had to smile at that. "I will, thanks."
"Bye now. Love you."
"Love you too."
Till date, someone had to be constantly behind me to make sure I'd have eaten - especially when I would be in the middle of something and lose track of time.
Someone's got to take care of you.
I recalled Arnav's words despite not wanting to. He's the one who got me habituated to always being reminded through his timely text messages ensuring I ate. Riddhima didn't know of them but eventually, she would remind me time and again.
I closed my pad and walked out of the conference room towards the canteen. Receiving a text message, I scowled. Riddhima must have already told Armaan or he must have already been around her when she had called. So, I speed dialed him and complained, "You cannot do this to me!"
"Sorry, doll." Armaan said, "I didn't realize there would be so many things to catch up on after two months break. I have no idea when I'll be done at the studio. You know if it was in my control, I wouldn't ask you to."
"Fine, what about...?"
Knowing what I would ask, he answered. "Rahul will drop Riddhima back on his way. Please?"
I let out an unhappy grunt, "Fine. Bye."
He wanted me to ask Arnav to drop me back tonight since he couldn't pick me up. I didn't tell Arnav though. Armaan doesn't need to know of my alternative plan to catch a cab.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |
Poor Arnav? Yes, I know Khushi is a bit annoying when she keeps giving him the cold shoulder when he tries so much. I promise it will change soon (if you read the old version, you already know it happens eventually, lol).
Anyway, I gotta bolt. Too many assignments to complete and it's day 1 only? Remembered to take a lunch break (I need me Arnav or Riddhima who'd remind me to eat >.< ) and hence the time to update... a day late. Sorry!
Hope your week goes much better though!