Posted: July 2017 | Edited: December 11th, 2019
| . . . C H A P T E R . . . . 3 . 4 - H I S - A C T I O N S . . . |
Anjali rushed me off to get ready for the launch party when I had been lazing around in the living room watching TV and eating junk food, also known as sour cream and onion chips.
To get to my room, I had to pass by Arnav's. As I did, I caught him struggling with his tie once again. I shook my head at him, stopping to lean against the door frame. Every morning, di continued to keep it tied for him while he'd take a shower. I had even attempted to teach him twice. Still, he hadn't learnt to do it on his own.
I let my presence known. "You're making me question your intelligence. How did you graduate college? Maybe I should tell di that you aren't fit to run her business."
He glared, turning to face me, "I can do this, thank you very much." He went back to the tie, and I stifled a laughter as I watched him give it one more attempt. I walked in to sit on his bed and watched him struggle a bit more before I offered my help. His response was, "How about you go get ready yourself? And perhaps learn a few make-up tips."
My jaw dropped, even though I knew he was only riling me up. He wasn't actually saying I looked horrible, or needed makeup. Even if he did, I was quite content without it. "Now that's just mean!" Maybe I won't help him anymore with his tie.
"This is me being nice, honey." He cooed, looking away from the mirror. "Now, be a darling and do this for me?" He unknotted the knot he had ended up making on the tie instead of how it was supposed to be.
I glared at him, flabbergasted, for having committed multiple offenses at once. One, calling me sweet names. I let him get by with sweet pea, but honey and darling? Nope, not going to happen. Two, being mean to me. Three, telling me what to do just after he had done the above.
Hmm... Arnav was right that day right before the calendar shoot. I do always point out three things. I got up, starting to walk towards the exit, "You're crazy if you think I will help you after that."
He pouted, as he followed me to my room. "Please?"
Hmm. I should be savoring this moment. One doesn't hear Arnav Singh Raizada say the word 'please' as often.
"Nope." I continued to give him a hard time as I opened up my closet to look for accessories to match the dress di had finished for me. I'm still hung on the fact that instead of returning that sketch to me, Kripa had kept it and then sent it to Anjali as a part of my job application upon graduation. I had thought she must have wanted Arnav and me to reconcile and sort our differences by putting us in the same environment, but it looks as if she was killing two birds with the same stone.
She nearly didn't get enough credit for how vital she was to mine and Arnav's story... but the next time I see her, I'll have to be sure to let her know.
"Looking for something?" he voiced out, making me realize he was still in the room.
I briefly turned my head to look at him pointedly, "You haven't left?"
Like a true businessman, he started to negotiate, "If I help, you have to help me with this."
I let out a mock laughter, "Never." I haven't reached desperate stage yet. If I can't pick something myself, I still had the option of calling Anjali di.
I returned my attention back to task at hand. On hearing footsteps, I briefly acknowledged Arnav leaving the room. Good. He'd finally figured out that I wasn't going to help him. Now... sure, it's not a big deal, but why keep enabling him? Di already spoiled him by always fixing his tie for him. He never learned. And it's silly because it's such an easy task.
As for my current problem, I was about to call it quits and yell for Anjali di to come help. I bet she had something in her collection. Just then, Arnav cleared his throat. I followed the sound to where he was leaning against the door frame holding out a box - this one much smaller in comparison and sleeker too. The kind of box one would use to hold a piece if jewelry.
He opened it so I could see the item inside, "Problem solved?"
I started walking towards it to have a better look at the bracelet. "Is it di's?"
He chuckled handing it over, "Only you, Khushi."
I glanced up in confusion. What did I say now that was funny?
He elaborated, "Yes, the engagement ring was my mother's and yes, the dress was finished by di, but I don't make a habit of only giving you things that were passed to me by others."
Translation: this was all him.
Though I received the message, I still teased, "Well, you have been just the... let's say, messenger."
He started walked towards me closing the distance between us with a mischief in his eyes, "Oh, really now? I'm just the messenger, huh?"
Biting my bottom lip to keep from smiling, I quickly traced my steps backwards and disappeared into the washroom before he could catch up. Just as I locked the door, I heard his palm hitting the door. Turning my back to the door, I let out the grin I had been holding back to appear on my lips.
It was so easy to tease him.
This fluttering in my heart was an amazing feeling to hold.
I had no idea what his intentions were walking towards me, but I didn't mind. I think. Maybe because, somewhere, I knew he wouldn't do anything that would be past my comfort.
That smile played on my face the whole time as I got dressed and combed up my hair before adding a buckle to hold it up.
I thought he would have left to get Anjali's help, but when I returned, he was sitting on my bed. Without looking his way, I walked to the dresser, but I could feel it. "Quit staring." My tone might have come off sharper than I intended. It should have been nice to know that I had captured his attention, but it unnerved me, and I just had to snap at him. I was already nervous. He wasn't helping.
He sighed and asked, standing up. "Alright, I'll leave once you tie this for me, please?"
This man was incorrigible. He just refused to give up! I turned away from the mirror and walked the two steps to him. I held my palm out with the instruction, "Give it to me."
"Can't you tie it like this? Saves time."
I looked up into his eyes when he made that request to see it was no trick. Riddhima words reminded me. Stop overthinking. I took a last step closer to him to stand right in front of him.
My hand reached up to his collar button. As I buttoned it, I struggled to keep my focus on the task and not the proximity between us and stop my eyes from travelling up to his face. My heart pulsed in my chest, feeling his body heat radiating to mine as I worked on the tie. I closed my eyes for a second and reopened them after convincing my body that it was just Arnav. I then tightened it till it was perfect around his neck before fixing the collar and resting my hand on his chest.
His heart was beating just as erratically. I looked up to see him. "You really need to learn this."
"Why? You can't do it for me?"
"I can, but that doesn't mean I should." I repeated what I had told him a few times before as well. Before he could object, I moved back, my hands dropping from his chest. But as I did, he took a step towards me, making my heart flip. "Arnav." I said his name in a warning. I just had spent the last few minutes standing right in front of him. I didn't know how much more I could handle and now was not the time to experiment it either.
He only smiled and moving his hand around my head, he unbuckled my hair. They settled over the low cut of my back as he gently asked, "Will you be comfortable wearing this there?"
I knew what he meant. He had learned long ago that I used to not be comfortable wearing clothes that were either revealing or clung to my skin. I was just surprised that he made it a point to ask. That, and the fact that that's all he was doing, and not trying to get close to me as I had instantly thought when he had stepped in. I needed to stop letting my brain jump to that one automatic thought.
He only smiled at my silence. "Sweet pea, really, you need to give me more credit than you do. Now, I know I said I would leave after you fixed my tie, but... one more thing." He reached for my hand with a light touch. With his other, he leaned over to the dresser and lifted the bracelet he had laid out for me to wear, but ofcourse I was going to need some help latching it on. It was not a task meant to be completed with one hand.
My lips parted as he unclipped the end of it and placed it over my bare wrist. The design from up close was just so intricate. Delicate. I was afraid I would either lose it or snap it in two. And for perhaps the first gift he had gotten for me, I didn't want to risk that. But, I also loved the feel of it on my skin.
It was special. It was him.
How could any guy be so thoughtful?
My hand stayed mid-way in air as he let it go to clip the ends back together. I turned my wrist around to gaze at the design. It seemed to go perfectly with the dress. It dawned all over again just how much he knew my preferences. How much he observed things about me. He must have chosen this bracelet accordingly.
I could almost feel the tears brewing in my eyes but I pushed them back. That is how touched I was. I never expected any gift from him and he may have not told me his feelings, but in a way, he still does let them be known. It's true what they say. He knew to express better with his actions than his words.
He started to speak in a low voice as if afraid I wouldn't like it, "I know you don't wear accessories, but..."
I put him out of his concern at once by my honest expression, "I love it."
His eyes locked onto mines with a sparkle in them as if those simple words made him the happiest guy alive. No matter how the rest of the evening went, I had a feeling that just having this moment with him was enough for me.
This was the moment that mattered the most.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
"Anytime you want to leave, just let me know."
I nodded, gearing up for the night. I knew, if anything, it would be hectic even if all the important people knew him, not me. Walking inside the building and towards the area where the launch was set up, I took a look around. I didn't expect anything less than the extravagant decoration that met my eyes.
"What?"
"Why am I not surprised?"
Getting the hint of my amusement, he just shook his head. "You'll get used to it."
The next was bit of a blur. Arnav talked to one group after another, and I was introduced to many people who were aware of who he was. In this world, people knew him. By the end of the hour, I remembered not one name. There were just too many people, and while I put on a smile and replied to a few questions myself, I was least interested in getting to know anyone. All I did was follow around the grand hall with Arnav.
Until, it was time for the show and the event planner, Kajal, directed us backstage. "ASR, you'll first go on the stage to introduce the theme and purpose behind this year's calendar and pull the ribbon off the calendar already placed on the stage. Then the models will start walking one after another at the music. At the end, you'll introduce Khushi as the designer and walk her to the front of the ramp. After a minute or two while the photographers and media take pictures, you two can come backstage and the models will follow. You're free to mingle again."
We both nodded as Arnav said, "We know, Kajal. Now relax. The party is already amazing. You've planned it perfectly."
She smiled at the compliment, but remained adamant, "I'm not relaxing until the end."
Anjali rushed to us, "Am I late?"
I was surprised seeing her. Arnav must be too, since he asked, "Di? What are you doing here?"
She grinned, "Let's say I had a last-minute epiphany." She turned to Kajal, "Dear, you don't mind if I go on stage with Arnav, do you? I want to announce something before the models walk the ramp."
Kajal slipped back in her work mode, "Oh, okay. Yeah. That shouldn't be a huge problem. Excuse me while I go talk to the..." She turned, already leaving. I assume it was to talk to the person in-charge of music so he wouldn't start playing the music for the models to walk the ramp as soon as the ribbon was pulled from the calendar cut out.
Arnav asked, curious. "What's the announcement?" I was too.
She grinned mysteriously, "Patience, chote."
I bet Anjali told him that since childhood anytime he asked a question. There could be no other explanation for why the guy held infinite amount of patience.
I watched from backstage as Arnav and Anjali climbed the steps to walk on the stage and took the center-stage. Arnav spoke, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to AR Designs calendar launch for the upcoming year, 2017. I'm honored everyone could make it tonight." He paused briefly at the crowd's applause, "Every year since we started this trend, we have tried to bring out a different concept to introduce to the world. It isn't just a calendar, but a thought as well. This year, we bring awareness to one such thing that I feel everyone can relate to."
"Marriage."
"For a girl, her wedding is something she imagines in her head hundreds of times. That day is special for her, and every single bride wants that day to be just perfect. Unfortunately, not every marriage turns out perfectly. If anyone tries to tell you it's perfect, they're lying. Believe me." He paused for a moment as others laughed. I suppose most who have been married would agree too.
Even I would say that marriage isn't without hiccups. The whole point is turning to each other at the end of the day and working it out together. That, I realize in this moment looking at him on the stage, is something I am starting to look forward to. I know we've had our differences, and we'll most definitely have more of those in the future as we navigate each other's lives and continue to mix our separate lives to one But, it doesn't scare me, surprisingly. I look at his eyes, the feeling of home that I get each time I do, and I know we'll be fine.
We'll find our way.
"Some marriages turn abusive. Others are arranged, and the couple don't come around to loving each other. Some lose their love for each other along the way, and yet others fall apart due to family differences. As if this isn't enough, not everyone can afford the perfect dress, or the perfect venue due to financial problems or any other."
"And so, this is our small attempt to put light on the different religions and traditions around the world. We can't control how a couple's married life turns into, but we can play a small hand in giving them a memory they could hold close to their heart to make their special day memorable. With this line of bridal clothes, we want to give the brides something that can be afforded by all. It isn't about wearing a brand or how expensive the dress is, but the idea that glamour shouldn't hide the imperfections. The idea is that everyone looks at marriage differently. We dress differently. It makes us unique, but that doesn't make us any different from each other at the core. We should embrace the differing traditions and beliefs instead of looking down at another for things they could not afford. Because, everyone deserves their ideal marriage."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our latest collection: Happily Ever After."
"Di?" Arnav turned to Anjali, and understanding what he was asking, she walked over to the cut out and pulled the ribbon. The curtain from the huge cut out was dropped, revealing the front cover of the calendar: a male and female silhouette holding hands. For the cover, we hadn't shown the faces or their outfits to be precise as then it would appeal to a particular culture. We had just shown their hands, and then on the inside left flaps, we had a female model from one of the 12 different cultures in their traditional marriage outfit. The male outfits weren't featured in the calendar, but they were certainly going to be revealed in this launch party as the models walked the ramp.
I heard a bunch of cameras going off the same time as everyone welcomed the idea. I had no idea this was the deep thought behind the target audience. When I had initially designed it, it was just a test, and even simply made keeping the target audience in mind. Aman nor ASR had told any of us why they wanted us to create bridal designs for around the world audience instead of just creating one that appealed to the Indian audience.
Anjali then asked for the microphone and Arnav handed it over. "Good evening, everyone. I realize the focus for tonight is the calendar, but I also thought it was the perfect occasion to make an announcement as well. Many of you know I took a hiatus from designing for personal reasons. It was only recently that someone reminded me why I started designing in the first place. I don't want to give any big speech, but I've decided its time I get back to doing what I loved at one point."
My happiness knew no bound when I heard that. I had only talked to her about getting back to it once, but it felt enamoring that she took my suggestion, thought about it, and now decided to start designing again. Arnav must have felt the same, for he gave her a tight hug. I hoped he'd give one to her on my behalf too.
His eyes found mine, and with a huge smile of his own, he mouthed. "Thank you."
I blinked back, as if to say I had played a very small role in the decision. I didn't deserve it, but I was just as happy as him, if not more.
Anjali and Arnav moved aside to continue the show. At the cue of music, the first model stepped up to the stage, walked all the way to the front, and then walked back. The male model whose outfit matched with the female models stepped up then, and repeated. Coming back, she hooked her arm over his and they walked down the ramp once again, together, before walking back and going to stand to the very left of the stage.
This continued till the very last couple and all the couples were now on the stage in a line, leaving the center clear.
Anjali announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together to welcome the very talented designer behind this line, the latest addition to AR Designs, Khushi Gupta!"
Arnav walked back, as planned, and held out his hand. It was nerve wrecking to walk down the ramp, but I gulped down the feeling. Arnav was going to be right by my side. What did I have to worry about? Letting a smile appear on my lips, I slip my hand in his. He gently tugs me so I can climb the steps of the stage, and then moves aside, walking in front of me, leading me to the center stage.
My focus was far from the flashing cameras and the clapping of hands as the crowd welcomes me on the stage. All I knew to focus on was Arnav. Though, as we reached the center, he released my hand and nodded at me to take the step ahead and claim my rightful credit for the work of last four months that culminated in tonight.
My attention shifted from him to the crowd in front. As if sensing I needed a last push, his hand rested on my back and gently nudged me to take one step ahead of him. Still, I turned my head sideways to look at him, and he removed his hand from my back to join the crowd as well as the models behind us who were clapping.
As if that was all the support I needed, I looked back at the crowd and smiled, shedding some of my fears for tonight.
Some of those present here might be veterans and therefore knew more about fashion and designing than I do, but the truth was that atleast for tonight, they were here for me. No one knew these designs better than I did, and I had nothing to be nervous or anxious about.
After tonight, it didn't matter if they criticized my work or applauded it. Arnav and Anjali were proud. And if Anjali, being one of the famous designers, saw something in my designs, then I trusted that instinct.
Arnav stepped up and leaned in to speak in my ear so I would hear it above the other sounds, "Look to your right."
I did, and I let out a grin seeing the people sitting there. Armaan and Riddhima had made it out that they couldn't get out of their shift at the hospital and so wouldn't be able to make it to the launch. I had been a bit upset as I wanted them to see my very first creations, but I also understood. Ofcourse, I now see they were lying. And that wasn't all. Aarav was there, along with Annie. I had no idea how Arnav managed to fly her all the way from Australia, but it was once again a pleasant surprise.
I waved at her, and she cheekily waved back. Aarav thought I was waving at him, and he waved back as well, widening my smile. I waved at him as well, and he did the most adorable thing I could imagine a little kid do. He pressed his palm over his mouth and then sent a flying kiss my way.
I heard Arnav's laugh in my ear, letting me know he was still leaned in. I spoke back in his ear, "Please keep him away from the girls as much as possible." Growing up, he was definitely going to be a charmer as well.
"I'll leave that to you." He spoke back, giving me that right.
I had previously said I was happy being a friend to Aarav, but I'd be lying if I said Arnav's words didn't give me a welcoming boost. I knew I didn't have it in me to be a 'mother' to Aarav anytime soon, but it brought out a glow in me learning I too had a say in his life as much as Arnav himself, or Anjali and Lavanya.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .