Chapter 31: Khushi

Khushi smoothed her hands down the front of her pink and cream suit as she waited for her family to alight from the car Arnav-ji had sent. She gazed up at the building in wonder, all blue-tinged windows and blocky, before her eyes found the AR logo on a brick wall. Pride swelled inside her.

"Bitiya?"

Her father came to stand next to her, gazing appreciatively at the glass doors that marked the entrance to the biggest textile empire in India.

"He built this himself," Khushi said, wonder suffusing her tone.

"He's one of a kind," Babu-ji nodded.

"My damaad is a diamond," Bua-ji had heard, "A diamond I tell you. So accomplished and polite, even with all this wealth."

Money is power, Khushi, and I have a lot of money.

Her smile faded with the memory of his words but Khushi forced it back, mindful of the tentative happiness on her sister's face. Jiji looked glad to be out of the house. Khushi took her sister's hand and guided her up the steps to the entryway, where they were met by two security guards.

"Namaste," she greeted brightly, "Arnav-ji invited us."

They were both dressed in black, with the AR logo sewn into the front in red thread. They wore no nametags. They were roughly the same height, though one was broader in the shoulders than the other, and wore matching frowns. Khushi named the first Raju and the other Bunty in her mind, and smiled as they exchanged a look.

Raju walked inside while Bunty consulted a clipboard, "Name?"

"Khushi Kumari Gupta. This is my Jiji, and that's my Babu-ji, my Amma, and my Bua-ji."

He nodded absently as he scanned his papers, and then opened the doors before motioning them through, "Take a seat in reception, someone will come down for you."

Khushi flashed a smile at her parents before walking, arm still linked with Jiji's. Her confidence faltered as she crossed the threshold, however. The entrance hall was painted a bright white, with red accents. Grey sofas lined the edges of the room, and a reception desk stood at the far end, a gateway into the offices beyond. The receptionist manning the desk wore a bright pink top, with matching pink hoops in her ears and her hair in a complicated-looking pile on her head. Her makeup was flawless, her skin dewy and eyes made large with kohl and eye shadow.

Instantly, Khushi felt self-conscious, the cream, lipstick, and kajal she'd applied this morning seeming insignificant in comparison to that lady's perfection. And her outfit, painstakingly picked out the night before in an attempt to look the part of Future-Mrs-Raizada, now seemed out of place.

"Khushi, what's wrong?" Jiji tugged on her arm.

She came back to herself, shaking her head, and led her family to the sofas nearest to them, "Nothing, Jiji. Let's sit down. I'll text Arnav-ji to let him know that we're here."

"Oh my God, who let these behen-ji's in here?"

Khushi looked up at the scathing, high pitched words to see two girls staring in her direction. One wore dark, tight fitting pants and a bright yellow top with no sleeves. Her hair was slicked back into a high ponytail and her shoes were at least 3 inches high. The other wore a bright blue dress, held up by two thin straps and ending two hand spans above her knees. Khushi followed the line of her long legs down to platform shoes in a shade of blue that almost exactly matched her dress.

"What are they wearing? Look at those shoes. And those jhumki! I'd die if I had to dress like that."

Embarrassment curled within her as she glanced at her parents, but they were whispering to Bua-ji and paying no attention. Blessedly, Jiji had fallen into a daydream and hadn't heard anything either. Her unease turned into anger as the ladies continued, snidely commenting on everything from their salwar suits to their plaits and the pom-poms which hung from her sleeves.

Khushi stood, her mind racing as she gathered the words to tell these ladies that while they had the freedom to dress however they wanted – all exposed shoulders and knees and bright lipstick – they had no right to belittle her or her family.

"Khushi-ji, I'm so glad you're here!"

The two ladies were silenced as Di stepped into view with Aakash-ji trailing her. Khushi hugged Di and smiled at Aakash-ji before turning to watch as Di greeted the rest of her family.

"Let's go?" Aakash-ji invited when the polite hellos were complete, "Bhai's meeting is running late but he'll join us as soon as he can."

As they followed Aakash-ji past the reception desk, Khushi couldn't resist stealing a glance at the two ladies. Their faces were pinched as though they'd swallowed lemons, and the shorter one had red blotches on her cheeks. The satisfaction that surged through Khushi at the sight was quickly chased away by guilt.

I'm sorry, Devi Maiyya. I know I shouldn't be petty. But it's so hard after all they said about us!

Di explained what AR Designs did as she led them past a glass partition but Khushi hung back, wanting privacy.

The office opened up into a bullpen area, all white and red with splashes of black, where most of the employees sat at desks with shiny new computers. There was constant movement, an ebb and flow of people crossing the space to speak to others or to disappear into the offices that lined the walls. A spiralled staircase led to an enormous cabin that loomed overhead, encased entirely in glass to provide a clear view of the workers below.

Arnav-ji.

There was so much of him in the architecture of the office alone – clean lines, bold shapes, and splashes of red to add brightness and hint at power. Her heart ached with the need to see him, to hold him and tell him how proud she was of him.

Di paused half-way down a corridor lined with closed doors, seemingly distracted by something behind them. She seemed suddenly nervous as she opened a door and ushered everyone inside. Frowning as she pondered Di's odd behaviour, Khushi made to follow her family but froze when a warm hand settled at her waist.

"Sssshhhh, it's me. I'm taking you away."

Happiness and relief surged within her as Arnav-ji took her hand. His eyes never left hers as he pressed a kiss to her palm before leading her back along the corridor and up to his cabin. He locked the door before turning to her.

"Hi."

Suddenly, she was conscious of their seclusion.

Will he kiss me again, like Emraan Hashmi-ji kisses his heroines?

Khushi turned away, blushing. There was a faint buzz as the quality of the light changed in some unquantifiable way, and then Arnav-ji was right behind her. His hands rested on her shoulders.

"Everyone can see …" she protested.

"See that there?" he turned her gently as he pointed to a small button on the wall, "That button controls the tint on the glass. Now we can see out, but no one can see in."

"Are you sure?"

"What makes you think I'd want an audience when I'm with you?"

His tone was low and gruff, and her tummy gave a low swoop at his words. His breath was warm against her neck.

"You always smell so …" he pressed a kiss to her cheek before running his nose along her jaw.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as he kissed her shoulder. Arnav-ji tilted her head before kissing his way to her neck. Her hand found his hair and tugged as he bit her earlobe. In sync, they shifted until he could brush his lips against hers. He held her closer, supporting her as her knees threatened to buckle.

She didn't know how long they stood there, lost in each other, but they broke apart when his phone emitted a series of low beeps. Arnav-ji groaned as he pressed his lips to her temple.

"We have to go," his tone was laced with regret.

Still breathless, Khushi could only nod. It was only when he draped her dupatta around her neck that she realised it had slipped off as they'd … conversed … and that he'd deftly bundled it in his hand before it found the floor.

Arnav-ji led her out, pausing at the door to his cabin to bestow another electrifying kiss before entwining their fingers. His employees jumped out of their way as they hurried down the stairs, across one corridor and down another, and stopped at the door Di had taken everyone through. Khushi twisted her fingers in his grip, but he held firm.

"Relax."

And with that, he strode through the door, her hand still trapped in his.

Amma and Babu-ji looked up from the sari they were admiring. Di and Jiji paused, their hands hovering over jewellery sets. Aakash-ji's mouth fell open almost comically.

"Hai re Nand Kishore!" Bua-ji raised a hand to her head, "Where did you disappear to, Sanka Devi?"

"Bua-ji … I …"

"I wanted to show her my cabin," Arnav-ji replied smoothly as he ran his thumb over her knuckles, "Khushi should see where I work."

"Khushi-ji, you'll have to be vigilant," Di grinned as she approached, "or that laptop will become your sauten."

The awkwardness seeped from the atmosphere as laughter rang out. Arnav-ji released her hand – thank Devi Maiyya – to greet Amma, Babu-ji and Bua-ji. Khushi smiled as he touched their feet and took their blessings.

"As Di will have no doubt mentioned," he addressed the whole room, "AR is preparing for its second biggest annual show in two months. We're working on some new designs, experimenting with the new factory in Lucknow, and launching our first line of jewellery pieces."

Khushi marvelled at the authority and power in his tone. He looked and sounded every bit like the fashion mogul she'd read about in the newspapers.

"I want to do something different with the jewellery," he continued, "I don't just want the highest quality stones and metalwork, I want them to be one-off, unique pieces, all hand tooled by the finest craftsmen. When someone wears these pieces, they should know that it's the only one of its kind in the world."

Here Arnav-ji smiled and extended his hand towards his sister. Di exchanged a surprised look with Aakash-ji before approaching.

"Di, I want you to design one of the pieces."

Khushi grinned as she clapped with everyone else. Arnav-ji had outlined his plan to her over tea on the night their argument had ended. Delighted, Khushi had made one small suggestion, which he'd wholeheartedly agreed to.

"Your Arnav-ji is very thoughtful," Jiji had approached unnoticed.

"He's not finished yet," Khushi grinned conspiratorially, "and yes, he's everything a husband should be. Maybe we should ask Nani-ji if there's a cousin she can introduce us to?"

"Khushi!" Jiji swatted playfully at her, blushing crimson.

Arnav-ji raised an eyebrow at their antics, asking a silent question, but Khushi only winked in reply.

"Uncle, Aunty," he turned to her parents, "I want both our sisters involved in the launch of AR's first jewellery line. I think Payal should design a set too; she can visit with Khushi every week and work with our designers and jewellers."

She may have missed it, had she been a second slower, but as Khushi turned to her sister she found Jiji looking not at Arnav-ji, not even at Di, but at Aakash-ji.

And Aakash-ji was looking back at her.

Khushi watched as something unspoken passed between the two of them before they both looked away.

And an idea, a thought that was as insane as it was perfect, germinated in her mind.

Author's Note: As usual, thank you very much for reading :)