07

"Who said what?"

She stared at the man before her. Moments ago she was bursting with the need to find him, give him a piece of her mind. But now?

His deceptive state of calm made her hesitate. "I-I can't get married to you if her paintings are going to be on your walls"

Buaji's voice flitted into her conscious:Think before you speak bitiya. What is life without tact?

"Paintings?", he frowned.

"Lavanya's paintings", she mumbled,"Maybe I am not mature enough to view them as simply art....maybe you can move them somewhere else?"

She hated herself for feeling this insecure. She wanted to think of them as just objects, but the only thing on her mind were those paparazzi pictures of them.

It spoke of an intimacy which made her burn with jealousy. He was just so unlike his usual self in those pictures. A time when he had the most beautiful woman in his arms. A time probably spent in between sheets and laughter. A relationship so strong that Lavanya could adorn his walls with the right of a lover.

"No. Khushi, there are no paintings anywhere. I asked Naina to take them a month ago. She might auction or return them back- I am not handling that."

A gasp escaped her as his strong grip held her chin and tilted her to meet his eyes.Good lord! How does he expect her to think straight when his eyes are so..so seductive?!

"Khushi? It's non consequential. It means nothing"

"She sounded so sure though"

"Did she now?", the fury in his eyes flared.

"Your sister didn't help", she chuckled humorlessly.

Arnav's demeanour changed visibly.And now, he was nothing but calm."Nothing to worry about then"

Before she could ask him about the sudden clarity he seemed to have, he grasped her hands in his. Kissing her knuckles, he sent a flurry of warm sensations whoop in her lower belly.

'I-", she whispered, words failing her.

"I am not going to let some nobodies ruin the evening for you. Come let's go"

He didn't get go right away. Caressing her foot, his eyes seemed to be focused on the task at hand. And with a final clasp, her Louboutin was back on.

---

Payal was the first person she saw as they returned to the party.

With the raise of an eyebrow, Khushi was asked if everything was fine.And with a purse of her lips and shake of her head, it was communicated to Payal that it was not fine.

But before Payal could walk upto the pair, Arnav had guided her to an elderly couple.

"Greetings Arnav! Quite late for the evening aren't you? Ha! I was just telling Malik that his nephew might even be late for the wedding !"

"Good evening to you too, Mr Kashyap, Mrs Kashyap"

The woman,laughed, her eyeshadow of heavy glitter reaching her eyebrows, before glancing at Khushi "Come on, Arnav. Was the incitement not enough for you to leave work?"

"Not at all. But hey, you know the Majumdars? They are a tough negotiator. Just had to put the money bags in today", Arnav ended it with a smile.

Khushi could see the paleness that fell over the couple in front of her. Their mask cracking.

"B-but Arnav. We were in talks for this since months-"

"Too bad", he shrugged, "That was before your spawn decided to dig up dead bones"The spite in his voice made Khushi bite her lip.

"Excuse us", he walked away, with her arm in his tender hold.

Arnav led her away, and before they reached the Maliks, Khushi managed to sneak in a whisper, "You didn't really finalise the deal with the Majumdars tonight, did you?"

His sheepish smile sent her reeling."No, but it will be in a week"

And then he looked straight at her, "Catching me with my bluffs already Miss Gupta?"

She blushed a pretty pink, as she attempted nonchalance."You are not that great a liar, Arnav "

"Is that so?", his gaze dropped to her parted lips.

That's how they were found by Payal.

She cleared her throat, before looking at Khushi, all concern and chaos."Everything alright? Glad to see you finally, Arnavji"

"Everything's fine", Khushi piped up, communicating wordlessly with her sister once again that all information will be passed onto her later.

"Everything's fine Payal. And please, call me Arnav "He smiled, aimed to put her sister at ease.

"Arnav!"Anjali looked at her wristwatch before looking up at him pointedly."Couldn't make it to time for your own engagement party?"

"Why are you upset? My delay gave you time for the little stunt you wanted to pull"

Gasps of shock rippled through the women, except Anjali. She held a tight smile, engaging Arnav in a battle of wills.

"Arnav", Devyani spoke up. The matriarch could sense the tension, and wanted to extinguish the fire before anyone got hurt. Or worse anyone witnessed the fire."Behave now, Anjali. I think it's time for the announcement Arnav. Let this go"

Payal was now at Khushi's side, "What happened?"

But she simply didn't get a moment to get her sister into the loop, because everyone hustled them onto the centre.

Arnav held her gaze as he slid his hand down her arm to entangle it with her hands. Only when he saw that she was ready, did he turn to their curious audience.

"Good evening, everyone. I am honoured to have you all join in for our special evening. A thousand apologies to everyone who awaited me. The traffic was a pain, and well, the traffic police didn't allow me to break signals to reach the club-

A couple of chuckles from the crowd at this point made Khushi at ease.

"I want to thank my beautiful fiancé for not toppling her glass of cosmopolitan all over me. And to thank her..."

And there, right in the centre of the beautiful decked up Navy club hall, Arnav Singh Raizada knelt in front of a woman.

He reached into his pocket, to reveal a velvet box. Khushi could see the frayed ends of the box, and the subtle tremble in his fingers.It opened to reveal the most beautiful ruby set in a gold band. It was an heirloom without a doubt.

"Khushi Gupta? Will you do the honour of marrying me and making me your husband?"

She cracked a smile at that. Trust him to be as simple in public as he was with her back at the restaurant."Yes", her soft acquiescence sent the room into the spirits of cheer.Akash hollered, Payal clapped, Buaji wiped away a tear and she was pretty sure she saw Aman Sethi open a bubbling bottle of champagne.

The ring glided down her finger with ease. Arnav stood up, taking her hand to his lips. Kissing it with a passion which mirrored in his eyes.

---

Her heels were now positively clawing at her feet, as she leaned heavily on Payal even as buaji admired her ring.

"Such old craftsmanship, such beauty. Oh, it is the most beautiful ring I have seen!"

"How couldn't it be, Madhumatiji?", Manorama smiled, "It belonged to Ratna"

Buaji gasped, "Was it her wedding ring?"

"Oh no,this was a ring she had bought in Ajmer. Crafted for her bahu. It is a tradition in their family, you see. When a son is born, they craft one piece of jewellery for their future daughter-in-law"

"My, my"With that, the two dived into a deep dissection of jewellery, Rajasthan and Raizadas.

With a sigh, Payal turned to Khushi, "Now, tell me. What had happened ? One moment I saw you with Anjali. And the next moment, you were gone! Akash told me you stumbled into Arnav-"

"Di..di that Anjali.."

"Anjali? What exactly did she do?"

"She is a bitch!"

Payal straightened up, "What did she say Khushi? Let me give her a piece of my mind-"

"No di, please. I think Arnav will take care of it"

Payal didn't move, but Khushi knew she wasn't convinced."She told me that Lavanya had left her paintings over Arnav's properties. And then they took a dig at my age"

"Oh really? What does she think she will gain by bootlicking Lavanya? That's it! No one needs her Mr Feroz. I am going to take you tomorrow to Sara's boutique. We don't need her opinion on your trousseau."

Khushi couldn't help but be pleased seeing her usually composed sister so furious."Okay Di! No more Mr Feroz and his painful shoes!", she winked managing to coax a smile out of Payal.

---

The road held a stream of cars. One of them was the limousine going to drive Akash, Payal and the Guptas. As all of them walked to the waiting car, occupied with each other, Khushi trailed behind, the evening finally taking its toll.

"Khushi"His touch reached her first, as the seared through the dress at her waist.

"I'll take care of everything. Forget it, forget about everything that bothered you tonight"

She was going to forget her own name if he kept that up. God! He smelt so damn good!

The grip on her waist made her not want to even wait till few weeks.

"I'll call you"He leaned down, pressing his lips to her flushed cheeks. He held her there for more than appropriate.

Was a cheek kiss meant to feel so damning?, Khushi thought before drifting off to sleep on her buaji's shoulder lulled by the smooth roll of the car.

Author's note:I am a bit busy next week~So here it is! Let me know what you think ;)