Chapter 7B: Encounters

 

They got to her house and Arnav parked the car outside. He got out then went over to her side to open the door for her. Khushi went to the door and took out her keys to open it; her Dad was at the sweet shop and didn't come till later, and Payal and her Mom had gone out. She opened the door then switched on lights, Arnav followed her in.

"Do you want something to drink? Coffee, water?" she asked him walking into the kitchen.

"I'll just have some water," he replied.

Khushi took out a glass from the cupboard and poured some water in it. Arnav was looking around and stood by the window that led to their backyard. Khushi came next to him and handed him the glass of water.

"Thanks," he said taking the glass from her and drank some water out of it.

"What are you guys growing?" he asked pointing out to the backyard where they had some vegetables growing.

"Dad usually likes to grow tomatoes, corn and eggplants," she said.

"And the flowers?" he questioned motioning to a few sunflowers that had blossomed on the other side, with smaller roses next to them.

"Those ones Payal and I grow, she like sunflowers but I like roses, so we grow both of them," Khushi replied.

"They're blooming quite nicely," he said. He placed the finish glass of water in the sink and Khushi led him to a where they had most of their important documents. Walking into the room, sunlight peered inside from the big window that was on one of the walls; there was chair in the corner, a table next to it and a shelf that was filled with paperwork. Khushi asked him what he needed and he told her, she went over the table and started looking through the files.

Arnav looked around the room and noticed some canvases sitting along the walls on a table, with some paints lying near them. He moved towards them trying to get a better look; two of the canvases were already painted on, a scenery on one and an abstract piece of art on another one, but one had a painting that was in process. He could make visible a half of a face and a forest in the background. Extending his hand forward he attempted to touch it but a voice interrupted him.

"Don't touch that yet!" Khushi said from behind, and he turned around towards her.

"Woh actually I applied a texture to it this morning, and it's still not dried yet," she said and he nodded.

"Is it supposed to someone?" he asked.

"Not specifically, it's just a child," she said.

He looked back at the painting, and was truly amazed by it. The cautious face of the child was painted realistically, the lines of worry being visible. He would be lying if he told himself that his to-be-wife wasn't talented, but why was she working in a bank? And not selling her art to others, she could make great money from it, that not being the main reason; but others would be able to see her talent of art.

"What are you going to do once you're done with it?" he asked her.

"Do with it? What do you mean?" she replied confused.

"Yeah, once you're done are you going to give it away and sell it or something?" he said.

"I've never sold any of my paintings or art work before, I usually just keep them, and repaint over them to do another one," she said.

"But why don't you find someone so you can get your artwork in a show or something?" Arnav told her, "Didn't you say you volunteer at an art gallery?"

"Yeah I do, but that ones for more renowned artists who have fame and artwork that people want to see," she said.

Arnav was about to reply something return but his phone rang and he picked it up, "Hello?"

It was Aman reminding him of some papers that he needed to be signed before tonight since the company needed them soon as possible.

"I'll be there soon," he said and then turned the phone ff. He turned back towards her and said, "I have to leave now, need to go sign some papers."

"Oh okay," she replied, "And here are the papers you needed," she said handing him a file filled with documents.

"Thanks," he took the papers from her.  

**************************

It was Saturday, and Khushi walked into the art gallery. She had gotten stuck in traffic due to a major accident that had occurred, therefore arriving very late. NK had already started the art classes with the kids and they were painting on the canvases. The class was of about 15 students, who came every weekend.

"Hey Khushi!" NK said seeing her enter and walked up to her, leaving the kids to work on there own. NK was the owner of the art gallery and had started it a few years back. Khushi had met his girlfriend, Lavanya, at an art show and they had become great friends. Lavanya had introduced them and over time, they had also become great friends. Khushi began volunteering at the art gallery only a few months back due to her passion for art and she had nothing else to really do on the weekends.

"Hi NK," she replied putting her purse on one of the counters.

"So I heard you're getting married?" he said.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Lavanya tells me everything," he replied smiling.

Khushi then remembered her phone call with Lavanya two days ago. She had asked her what was new in life and Khushi had told her that she was getting married in the next two months. Lavanya had been so happy for her and screamed into the phone, but before she could even ask to whom Khushi was getting married to, she had to leave.

"Well nothing stays in her stomach does it?" Khushi asked jokingly and NK also laughed.

"But you both better come to my wedding and all the other rituals," she said.

"We definitely will, and Lavanya is already very excited for it," he replied.

"Any plans of you two getting married soon," Khushi said nudging him.

"No no no, not yet," he said.

One of the kids had their hands raised, "I'll go see what it is," Khushi said.

Khushi went over to the girl and asked her what she needed, and she had run out of red paint.

"NK do we have anymore red paint?" she asked from across the room.

"Yeah, a lot of it, I'll get it," he replied and then went to the back storage to room to get it. He came back a few seconds later with a big gallon sized bottle filled with paint.

"Here I'll do it," Khushi said taking the bottle from him. She took off the cap and seal off of it, then pursed some into the girls palette, "There you go."

"Thanks," the girl replied.

Khushi put the cap back on the bottle of paint, getting it all over her hands in the process. She placed it on the counter that was nearest before she got it anywhere else on her.

"You better wash your hands," NK said looking at the mess.

"Yeah, I'll go wash them," she said turning around not paying attention to where she was going.

"Khushi!" NK exclaimed but she didn't have time to turn around completely because she had already bumped into something.

"Oh My God! I'm ..I'm so..sorry," she said looking at the mess she had made on a white shirt, her hand print visible with the red paint. She looked up to see who it was and her eyes made contact with other familiar ones, Arnavs.

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Chapter 7A: Drop the "JI"

Arnav had just gotten home when he received a phone call, "Hello," he said picking it up.

"Sir the job is done," the voice from the other side said, “I’ve asked emailed you all the information.”

“Thank you Aman,” he replied back.

“No problem Sir,” Aman said and then hung up the phone.

Arnav walked into the house and saw that everyone else was already away in their respective rooms, so he also went to his. He changed into his nightwear then grabbed his laptop from the recliner and sat on the bed with it. He opened up his email account and opened up the email from Aman. After yesterday, he had asked Aman to to get a search on Khushi, to find out more about her needs, likes, past and just other things that would help him get to know her better.

He skimmed through the email and found out many things about her. Of course he could’ve just asked her personally for all of these things but he thought it would've been easier this way. The email listed things about her childhood, her birth parents, education and medical records, etc,. Arnav went down to the medical records section; he would need to all this so that if they needed to make any adjustments to their house he could get them done beforehand. It talked about how she could get up stairs absolutely fine if there are railings; it was hard or her to walk long distances all together at times; when she was younger she used to wear a brace in her foot but that wasn’t needed anymore and other small things.

Arnav was still reading through the information when he heard a knock on the door. Anjali peered through the door and walked in.

“What is it Di?”  he asked closing the laptop.

“Nothing I was checking to see if you’d gotten home,” she replied.

“Yeah, I just came like half an hour ago,” he said.

“So what did she say about moving,” Anjali asked.

“She said that she has no problem with it and will move with me after marriage,” he replied running his hand through his hair.

“You know Chotte this going to be a very big step for her?” she said.

“Yeah Di I know,” he said.

“Make sure to ask her about what she wants and is comfortable with, it’s very important to keep that balance in a relationship,” she told him.

“I will Di,” he replied.

*************************

Khushi walked out of her office and looked around to find Payal’s car because she was supposed to come and pick her, but not seeing it anywhere in sight she got out her phone to call her.

“Hello?” Payal answered from the other side.

“Payal where are you?” she asked.

“Oh! I totally forgot to tell you that Arnavji would be coming to pick you up,” Payal said all in one rush.

“Arnavji?” Khushi said.

“Yeah Khushi he should be there. I have to go to the Gurudwara now with Amma so I’ll talk to you later,” Payal replied and quickly hung up.

Khushi hanged up the phone with a confused look and then heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Hey,” he said. Khushi turned around to face him.

“Hi,” she replied, “Arnavji you here?”

“Woh actually I had called your house because I needed some things to get your visa applied for and stuff so Payal had told me that you were at work, and I told her that I could pick you up,” he said as he walked towards his car. They got in the car and he drove out of the parking lot, then to her house.

“You don’t have to add any informality into my name,” he said.

“Ji? (What?),” she said confused.

"I'm not having my woman calling my 'ji'," he told her with a slight smirk on his face.

"Ji?" she said.

"Call me by my name," he replied.

"That's what I am doing," she told him, "Arnavji."

"Drop the 'ji'," he said, "Just Arnav." Then looked at her.

"Arnav...ji," she replied.

"Arnav," he said.

"...Ji," she added.

 

"Arnavji," Arnav said.

"Arnav," she replied.

“That sounds good,” he said while she looked out the window, a small tint of pink creeping up on her cheeks.

___________________________

Chapter 6: First Date (Part 2)

 

"So you decided to come to the mandir everyday after that to come see me?" she said before he even had the chance to say anything, leaving him stumped as to how she knew that.


She looked at him noticing that he wasn't saying anything and just looking at her with a somewhat shocked expression, she smiled and replied, "Piya, the girl I babysit, saw you and your car outside the mandir a couple days after the one where we met. And days after that, I'd noticed that you kept on coming."


The waiter arrived with their plates of food and set them on the table.


"But what was that you wanted to ask me," she said while beginning to feast on her pasta.


"After marriage, I will have to move to New York in order to handle our branch there. Nani has already talked with your parents about this and they have no problem, but I wanted to ask if you have any problem of moving their with me," Arnav said hesitantly not knowing what she would reply back with.


"No," she replied.


Hearing her reply, Arnav didn't know why, but he felt a bit angered. How could she just reply like that, without spending too much time thinking about it, and not explaining why she had decided that.


She could've spent more time, and replied with more than just a one word answer. They barely knew each other very well at all, but she had already decided on this?


"No?" he repeated her.


"Yeah no, I don't have a problem moving with you after marriage," Khushi said while eating her pasta.


"But how can you make that decision so quickly?" he said.


"Why? Don't you want me to come or do you want me to stay here?" she asked looking up at him.


"Of course I do, but we barely even know eachother and you already decided to move to the other side of the world with me," he said.


"You're going to be my husband, so I'll go wherever you go," she told him.
 

"Khushi," he said in a calmed voice, "I am happy that you agreed to this, because I was having doubts that maybe you wouldn't want to move away from your home, leave all your family and friends behind."


"But I also want you to know that just because I am going to be your husband, doesn't mean you have to agree with everything that I tell you, nor do you always have to do it; before marriage and even after. We live in the 21st century and will be equals in this relationship. You have the right to voice out your opinion to me and tell if you think differently than me," he finished off.


"Are you still okay about moving to New York with me after marriage?" he asked.


"Yeah I am," she replied with a slight smile.


"So tell me about you?" she asked.


"What do you want to know?" he asked.


"I don't know, a lot of things. You just said that we barely know each other, so tell me whatever you want about yourself," she said.


"Well I grew up here, then moved went to study abroad at Harvard. When I was younger, my parents died," he said.


"I'm really sorry to hear that," she interrupted.


"It is, but everything happens in life for a reason," he said.


"How did you get into fashion though?" she asked.


"My dad had been running the business before and since it was a family business, I was the one next in line. But I do enjoy it," he said.

 

 

The waiter came with the bill and Arnav paid for it then handed it back to him.

"Shall we go?" he asked and she nodded. Getting up from their chairs, they both made their way to exit the restaurant. At this time, the place was very busy. Many people coming in and many people leaving. The outside of the restaurant was very crowded, so Khushi moved closer towards him, making sure she didn't stumble in her steps. As they were exiting through the first pair of doors, someone bumped into Khushi making her loose her balance a bit but Arnav caught her and steadied her.


They heard a murmured "Sorry" come from that person yet they didn't even bother to turn around and check if she was fine, but instead just kept on walking inside.  Arnav moved Khushi in front of him, and nudged her to walk before him. Once outside, they were walking side by side.


"Uhm can your bring the car around to here?" Khushi asked him.


"Sure," he said, realizing that it might be too long of a walk for her in the dark, then left to get the car. Pulling the car to the curb near where she was standing, he leaned over from his seat and opened the door. Khushi sat in and they drove off.


"I told you a little bit about myself, what about you?" he asked.


"Me?" she said.

 

"Yeah tell me about you," he replied.


"I grew up here also, then went to college, you already know about my parents," she said and paused for a bit remembering them.


"Where do you work?" he asked trying to change the subject.


"Every morning I usually babysit Piya for a few hours because her mom parents aren't hoe, but next week she starts school so I won't have to do that anymore. But other than that I work at a bank and over the weekends volunteer at an art gallery," she said.


"Art gallery? What do you do there?" he asked.


"We usually have new pieces of art come, so I help in hanging them and setting them up. We also give art classes to kids in the afternoons on Saturdays," she said and he noticed how passionate she was about it all.


He pulled the car into her street, parking it outside her house. Khushi unbuckled her seatbelt and turned towards him, "Thank you for the dinner."


"No problem," he replied, "I'll see you again soon."


She nodded then stepped out of the car and closed the door behind her. Having only taken a few steps, she heard him calling her name then turned around to see him walking towards her.


"Yeah?" She asked.


"Woh...what's your number so I can call you," he said.


She told it to him and he added her to his contacts.


"I don't have my phone with me so I can't note down yours," she said.


"I'll send you a message from mine," he said.


"Ok goodnight," she replied.


"Goodnight," he said. She walked to the door and opened it, turning around she saw that her was still there in his car waiting for her to get in safely. She waved to him and then closed the door, haring the engine of the car fade into the wind while walking up to her room.


Arnav had just gotten home when he received a phone call, "Hello," he said picking it up.


"Sir the job is done," the voice from the other side said.

 

 

Chapter 5: First Date

"Uncle and Aunty, if I have your permissions, can I take Khushi out to dinner tomorrow?" he asked.


"Sure Beta," Sashi replied. Sashi and Garima left the doorway, leaving only Khushi and Arnav alone there.


"I'll pick you up at seven," he said.


"Okay, sounds good," she replied leaving him a bit surprised since he'd never heard her speak in English before.


"You speak English?" slipped out of his mouth, then he realized how offensive it might've sounded to her.


"Yeah," Khushi said.


"Oh, it's just that I didn't know, hope you didn't--" he said but was interrupted by her.


"No problem, we barely know each other yet, so it's acceptable to not have known," she said.


"I'll see you tomorrow," he said.


"See you," she replied and he turned around to leave. Maybe there's much more to his soon-to-be-wife that he would've thought, Arnav thought walking to his car.


*************************


The next evening Arnav walked down the stairs getting ready to leave for Khushi's house.


"Yea Beti, I will tell him to tell her about it," Nani said on the phone and then saw him coming down, "Chotte!" she called out.


"Ok I'll talk to you later," she said onto the phone and hung it up.


"Yeah Nani?" he asked. And came to stand by Anjali who was sitting on the sofa also.


"I just spoke to Garima on the phone about the wedding. We decided that Khushi bitiya and your wedding will happen a week before you leave for New York," she said.


"But why a week before?" he asked.


"Don't you want to go on a honeymoon Chotte?" Anjali said with a cheeky smile trying to tease him but dropped it once he gave her a glare.


"And we will have Payal and Akash's wedding after a few months, but both engagements will be held in two weeks," Nani said.


"That's fine with me," Arnav said.


"I didn't ask you if it was fine with you or not," Nani said, "I wanted to tell you that I've talked with Garima and Sashi about you having to move to New York and they have no problem, But you will be one who has to break the news to Khushi."


Break the news to her? Arnav thought. He had totally forgotten about moving to New York, and having to take her along also. But would she agree to doing that just for him?


"Nani I'll talk to her about it tonight," he said and left the house. Upon driving at Khushi's house, he got out of the car and went to knock on the door. A few seconds later the door was opened by a beautiful sight in front of him. Khushi. She was wearing a beige colored dress that came up to her knees, with a bow securing it around her waist. Her hair was in loose curls, resting just in the middle of her back.

 

 

"Hi," she said when nothing came out of his mouth.


"Hey," he said in a husky voice and then broke out of his reverie, "Shall we go?" he asked stepping aside to let her come out.


Khushi stepped out then closed the door behind her and they both walked to the car. ARnav moved in front of her to open the door, she stepped in with her left foot and sat on the seat. He noticed she was having difficulty in lifting her right foot in, so he lifted it in for her.


"Thank you," she said and he in return just smiled at her. He closed the door and made his way to the driver's side while she put on her seat belt.


Arnav started driving and looked over at her, she was just sitting looking outside the window.


"So how was your day?" he asked trying to start up a conversation.


"It was good, how was yours?" she said looking at him for the first time since they had sat in the car.


"Not very interesting, just had a lot of meetings with a some other companies," he said.


"Meetings usually are boring," Khushi replied, "Especially when people talk in monotone voices, just like professors."


"Where did you go to study?" he asked her curiously.


"I got a Degree in Accounting from the University of Mumbai," she said.


"So do you like math and numbers a lot?" he asked.


"It was my best subject at school and I enjoyed doing it, but I also liked art," she said as they pulled into the parking lot of a fancy restaurant, a restaurant that she usually wasn't used to eating at.


"But why didn't you go into art?' he asked.


"Just not a lot of job available these days," she replied. He had parked the car and went over to her side to open the door; taking her hand he helped her out. Khushi stepped out and straightened her dress.


They walked towards the restaurant that was shining with lights and very elegantly decorated on the inside.


"Welcome Mr. Raizada," the man in the front said to them as they walked in and Khushi assumed that he probably visited her frequently.He looked down at his booklet in front of him that was sitting on the small podium, " Table for two reserved, number 7."


When they walked in, a few heads turned towards them. It wasn't everyday you saw Arnav Singh Raizada in a restaurant and that too not for business purposes. Khushi suddenly felt self conscious of herself at all these people staring at her, of course people stared at her because of her limp. But now standing next to such a big man, she didn't know what to do. Before thinking any further, an arm wrapped around her waist. Even though she was wearing a dress, she could still felt the contact of his warm skin against hers, sending a new sensation she had never felt before through her body.


She looked up at him and her eyes made contact with his warm honey colored ones. He had said something to her and for some reason she hadn't heard it, but by the way his lips moved it seemed like he had said "Relax."


He walked her over to their table, then moved his chair out for her and they she sat down. The waiter arrived with the menus and they began looking through them. He arrived back in a few minutes to take their order.


"What would you like sir?" he asked.


"What's the special today?" Arnav asked.


"Raviolli chicken pasta," he replied.


"I'll have that then," Arnav said.


"And would you like the same ma'am?" the waiter asked to Khushi.


"No, I'm a vegetarian. But I'll have the Italian Pasta with Marinara sauce," Khushi replied to him. He wrote it down and walked to the kitchen.


She's a vegetarian? Arnav thought. How the hell would that work out? It's not like he was obsessed with meat, but he had grown up eating it his entire life.


Putting the thought aside, he decided to focus on some more important things.


"Khushi I needed to tell you something important," he began hesitantly not knowing how she would react to it.


"Ji?" she said looking up at him.


"To start off, I'm marrying you because my I will be moving to New York in two months since I have to handle my business there and Nani insisted I get married before I leave. But it's not like you're just a random girl who I chose. That time at the mandir when I saved you,  I immediately liked you," he said and paused for her to comprehend all that he had said.


"So you decided to come to the mandir everyday after that do come see me?" she said before he even had the chance to say anything, leaving him stumped as to how she knew that.

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