Chapter 7

Reflecting back….Arnav’s POV

“Um…I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink sometime next week.”

Am I hearing things or did she really just ask me out for a drink?

“You want to get a drink with me. Did I hear that correctly?”

“Are you surprised, Arnav?  It’s only a drink, unless you can’t handle that?”

Now, she is questioning if I can handle my drinks. Wait, is that a smug expression I see on her face.  Seems like Ms. Gupta is having fun at my expense.

Game on! She won’t know what hit her.

“Handle it?  Interesting choice of words there. Actually, I would love to get a drink with you. How about Friday night to celebrate your first week at AR?”

“I hear that my new boss is a workaholic.  If he lets me leave on time, Friday could work.”

This woman amazes me with her retort, giving it right back at me. I can’t help but smile, walking up close to her. I bend slightly, and get ready to take the win. She has no clue what’s coming next.

“Khushi, I can guarantee you this, Arnav Singh Raizada can handle the drinks and you, anytime of the day or night.  The real question is, can you?”  Giving her a sly wink, I make my way out of her apartment, without giving her a chance to respond. God knows, one more minute of being in close confines with her, I will lost all semblance of control that I have reined in.

I shake my head rubbing my temple in disbelief at how this woman has affected me, and make my way downstairs in the elevator.

However, her reaction to my response was not one I had expected. Yes she was slightly shocked at first, but then I noticed a small smile tug at the corner of her lip, just as I had taken a step back.

Could it be possible she is taking the first step to move forward?

Let’s hope that is the case, not sure how much longer I can wait for her yes.

The plan is to make Friday evening memorable, one she will never forget.

Right now the biggest deal for me to get closed out is making Khushi say yes to us.

As I make my way out when Henry opens the door for me, I hand him a generous tip for allowing me to leave the car in front of the building.  It has saved me the hassle of parking in the garage down the street.

“Sir, here is a parking permit you can use since Ms. Gupta doesn’t have a car, and has your name cleared for visitors. There is parking for the tenants in the garage below the building. You can pull the car into the driveway next door and park there any time you come visit.”

“Thank you Henry, I appreciate it.” After taking the permit from his hand, I shake his hand for helping me out. He’s a good man, and I can really use his assistance. “Can you do me a favor, please keep an eye on Ms. Gupta? Since she is new to the city, I was hoping you can help her out if anything comes up.  Here is my card with my cell number, if there are any issues please call me anytime.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Raizada. You don’t worry I will watch out for her.”

Feeling a bit at ease at his response, I thank him once again, before getting into my car.

Why is her safety important to me?

In matter of days, anything related to her has become my priority.

As I start up the engine, my eyes instantly lock on the passenger seat. An earlier image of her comfortably sitting there with her feet up on the seat, springs up.

Damn, she looked fabulous sitting there.

“Khushi…”

Her name rolls off of my tongue as I begin my journey home, recalling when I first came across her work at Ogilvy over six months ago.

AR was in the middle of acquiring a client that Khushi managed, and rebranded prior to them going on the market to be sold. For over a year I had had them on the radar for purchase, but to my surprise their position at the time of purchase had significantly changed.

Their value had gone up which meant more money. It pissed me off that I had to pay more. All because they hired a damn consultant to clean up their mess.  AR needed this acquisition for further expansion so I had no other option than eat the cost to move forward with the acquisition.

Once we purchased the company I was able to see firsthand what Khushi had implemented.  I was left impressed and intrigued by this woman who was able to turn them around in less than a year to make them profitable.

It was a first for me. Arnav Singh Raizada rarely gets impressed.

What does one do in this situation? Easy. Hire her.

With my mind made up, I had my HR team hire the best headhunter to go find out what Khushi Kumari Gupta was all about. And once I received the information, I was blown away with her accomplishments in the few years she had been with the PR agency. She had the edge that AR needed for our upcoming International expansion in New York. Her ‘Khushi style’ unique approach about her work, was something that would be essential on my team.

At first, I had assumed there was no chance with her being under contract for a few more months with the company that had paid for her MBA.  But when she agreed to meet with us, that had me pleasantly surprised.

During her first interview, I wanted the team to sell AR and our upcoming strategy. I made sure they delivered all the facts and benefits to entice the offer. Looking at Khushi’s background I was confident she would take the bait. The challenge alone was enough for an achiever like her. Relocating to New York could be the only obstacle for her to not consider the offer.  But when she didn’t hesitate I knew we had her.

Due to an urgent meeting in New York, I was unable to meet her during the second interview in Delhi where I had planned on extending the job offer.

Before she had a chance to change her mind, I had HR push through the offer which was quite lucrative. I even went a step further to have her relocate to New York, with a final approval contingent upon meeting me with all expenses paid by AR.

At the time of drawing up her contract, her negotiating skills, and additions had further convinced me she was going to be an asset to AR. The woman knew precisely what she wanted, and had not backed down until the contract was based on her terms and conditions.

Khushi had also insisted on finishing out her last few months prior to joining AR in New York, which to me showed her loyalty and dedication. It was rare to find someone these days with those values.

On numerous occasions we had tried to connect prior to New York but our schedules had not aligned. Though I had been quite curious about putting a face to the name.

Khushi Kumari Gupta.

Walking inside my penthouse, I instantly notice how spacious it is compared to Khushi’s apartment.

They say, money can buy a house but it’s what’s in it that makes it a home. That statement has never felt so true coming back from Di’s home and Khushi’s apartment. The warmth and people there made it complete. Unlike now, walking inside a lonely house.

The last few of months working tirelessly, hearing about Di’s pregnancy and then this weekend, has begun to put things into perspective. Suddenly, I feel the need to settle down in my personal life. I want to be able to come home to someone. And perhaps one day, even have children.

I want to make my life complete.

What the hell has happened to me?

Trying to find the answer to that question, I make my way out to the terrace. Sitting on the recliner, I place my hand behind my head and take a deep breath. This has been my favorite place to unwind after the long days I put in at AR.

I find myself relaxing at the serene view of the Hudson River, as the sun disappears below the horizon.  

Which is ironic since my life has been the opposite growing up.

Ever since my parents’ untimely death when I was ten years old, my sister and I had to grow up rather quickly.

We lived in hell for almost a year with barely any food and locked in the house by my father’s family.  Greed for the money and property that my father had left for the both of us had taken over.

We were only able to survive through the tragedy with the support of each other.

It was a miracle when Nani came with the police to take us back with her. I will never forget the guilt and pain on Nani’s face when she first saw us locked inside a dark room in the attic. At that moment it felt like our parents had sent an angel to rescue us.

After bringing us back to her home, she had fed us nonstop to make us healthy again. It was the love and support she gave us that we truly were able to overcome our dreadful past to move forward in life. A life that our parents would have wanted for us.

Though we were able to move forward, I had vowed to never feel helpless again in life.

So, I decided to make something of myself. Fortunately, I received a full scholarship in college and MBA at Harvard that covered my education expenses. And my internships in the States were going to help open doors for me after graduation.  However, that quickly changed seeing my Nana’s failing business when I was home for a visit after graduation. It was then that I knew I had to step in for my Nani’s sake.

How I could I turn my back on her?

The last seven years, I have rebuilt AR Corporation to where it is today making it a multi-million dollar company. My goal for the next five years is to make this into a billion dollar company.  And now with Ms. Gupta by my side I am positive that will easily be accomplished as we expand internationally.

“Ms. Gupta…”  Saying her name in any form automatically brings a smile to my face.

My life has always been about getting to the top, and that can only be achieved by being level headed and in control. From a personal aspect, that has gone out the window since Khushi came into my life.

The day of Khushi’s interview, I had just wrapped up a conference call when Lavanya mentioned she had arrived. And hearing the knock on my door, I decided to get up to greet her in.

Who would have thought, I was going to have to catch her from falling. I had quickly reached and grabbed a hold of her. It was then that I had halted in my tracks feeling a jolt of electricity.

What the fuck was that?

After getting my bearings in order, I helped her steady herself. But I had been captivated by her shy, hazel eyes, as they looked in mine. She not only was intelligent, but exquisite as well.

If someone had told me that a woman would literally fall into my life and takeover my mind, for sure my response would have been… Please get yourself checked out by a Psychiatrist.

Now it seems I need a shrink… you know, since I  have fallen for her.

Who would have thought that?!

After see her flushed face, I had decided to lighten the situation by starting out with introductions, and inviting her into my office. Once I had closed the door, I realized how affected I had been with her presence. While she was lost in the view outside, I was mesmerized watching her every move.

When she had mentioned being in love with the view, I couldn’t help but agree.  Except the view I was referring to was her.

There was a big problem though, I could not take my fucking eyes off of her. Though it had been rather amusing watching her struggle with her portfolio and then dropping it on the floor.

For someone so well put together, that had surprised me. But then it was obvious. Yes. She was affected by me… and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

Knowing we would have plenty of opportunities to see what this spark was between us, I decided to take control over the interview once she had composed herself.  She already had the job, before I met. But then I decided to ask her some questions for curiosity sake in a formal setting.

There was an honesty about her answers which had appealed to me. When she confirmed about not having distractions in her life, I was relieved to know there was no special someone in her life.

Throughout the interview, as she kept pushing her hair back, I couldn’t help shifting in my seat. Even her blushing did something to me.

What the hell was wrong with me? I was getting turned on during an interview…

I can’t remember the number of deep breaths I had taken inwardly. But then, I immediately diverted my thoughts back to work to keep myself in check.

This girl was driving me crazy. Still does to this day.

At one point, I was shocked when she asked…

“And where do I fit into that equation?”

My ability to think quickly on my feet came out with an evasive response. Which by the way should earn me a reward. One from a certain beautiful woman.

“The verdict is still out but I think you would fit in perfectly. If that is what you want, of course.”

She already fits in professionally, but how do I make her fit in personally was running through my mind at that moment in my office.

When I officially offered her the position, I waited eagerly for her response.  The excitement with which she accepted the position was contagious. I couldn’t help but smile widely which was unusual for me.

Arnav Singh Raizada does not smile like that in front of his staff. Never… well, not true anymore, all courtesy of Khushi Kumari Gupta. Something tells me there will be more of these moments at the office.

There was this temptation to give her a tour of the office but that would have been awkward, since she looked like she wanted to run in the opposite direction of me. So, I opted to have Lavanya take her around. When I saw them returning back from the tour, I figured I would walk her downstairs since I was headed to lunch with Di.

The urgent need to know if I would feel a spark again, had me do the unimaginable. Yes, I took the woman’s handbag out of Lavanya’s hand. At that time their shocked expressions had not fazed me. In fact I was cool as a Goddamn cucumber. Especially when feeling the spark once again. I had wondered if she felt is as well.

Throughout the elevator ride down, neither one of us had said a word. I will admit, I had rather enjoyed the companionable silence between us. It had given me time to check her out from the corner. But I knew she wasn’t seeing it that way based on the body language. Khushi wanted to bolt out of the elevator and run away.

Was she nervous around me?

 

The biggest shock thus far about Khushi, has to be the fact that my sister and she are friends. She is ‘The Khushi’!

My sister talked about this girl nonstop when they were in Philadelphia.  Every time I called it was Khushi this, Khushi that.

If I knew she was this hot, I would have paid attention to every detail.

How did I not put this together?

It was interesting observing the two friends reunite over lunch. It gave me an opportunity to witness Khushi outside the professional aspect which had me intrigued to know more.

The moment Di brought up ‘Sameer’, I had sensed something was not right.  Khushi’s reaction and voice had done a complete turnaround. While Khushi was looking down trying to compose herself, I signaled my sister to drop it. And decided to change the topic, though I was curious. Still am.

Who the hell is Sameer?

Coming back inside the penthouse, I realize the answer is in the envelope sitting on the foyer table. I take the envelope and my briefcase to my study debating what I should do with it.

After lunch that day, I knew I wanted to pursue Khushi, so I had my head of security run a background check. Every employee of AR goes through an extensive background check. But for Khushi, I had it taken a step further. It isn’t something new, since I have done this for every woman before I begin a relationship. However, this time it doesn’t feel right.

Didn’t I tell Khushi that her past meant nothing to me?                 

Going with my better judgement, I decide against it and put the sealed envelope away in my desk drawer. I don’t want our relationship to start with any secrets or lies.

Khushi is becoming important to me in this short amount of time, and I don’t want to deceive her by looking into her past without her knowledge.

It’s best not knowing until she tells me herself.

As I take out my laptop from my bag, it reminds me I need to send out a couple of emails before I head out for a run. Going through a few correspondences, I see Khushi’s email when she accepted the job offer. I remember opening it right away, since I was at the office working late. Seeing her confirmation had brought on a smile on my face, just like now.

It took a few months, but finally it was done and she was onboard.

I felt a sense of accomplishment for making this happen, being a firm believer in hiring talented, hardworking people. That’s the only way my company will be successful.

Feeling the instantaneous urge to speak with her, I had picked up my phone. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable calling so late at night, I opted to send her a congratulatory text.

Our first text interaction was quite entertaining. Khushi was trying to be quick and precise with her answers which I had caught onto after my second question. So, I let it go for another few more, then threw out a rather direct question.

‘Do you find me attractive?’

Her saying ‘Yes’ had initially given me some hope but when I called her our conversation went in a whole another direction. Not at all as I had expected.

Damn it. Khushi had to bring up the other women.

My personal life is not a hidden secret being in the public eye. I know that.

Yes, I have dated women casually but I have never been in a serious relationship. If that matters. I haven’t had the time or met a woman that has been interesting enough. Many of these women are only looking at one thing. My bank balance.

Talking to Khushi that evening I realized that she cannot be just a fling.

There is too much at stake, her working at AR and her being a close friend of Di.  Plus, Khushi doesn’t seem like the type that would be okay with a casual relationship.

That’s when I decided it’s best to keep it professional. At least for now.

As I was ending the call, she left me stunned by offering to help me look at a couple of companies that AR is planning to acquire. I had been reluctant at first, not wanting to impose on her time off. But knowing her experience with startups, I was curious to see what she would come up with.

And boy, did she deliver or what?!  This woman is a Goddamn prodigy.

Khushi delivered a full blown business plan with short and long term strategies for both companies in less than two days.  Her recommendations were spot on. This could be one of the most profitable deals for AR.

This had to be a first in history that someone had offered to work prior to start date. I still can’t believe she did that.

Ms. Gupta hasn’t even started working for me, and she is already my favorite on my team. Surprisingly it has nothing to do with the fact I find her attractive.

When I heard her mutter, “Good night”, it had sounded so damn sexy. And had taken the opportunity to tease her.

“And Khushi, I know I am attractive, but try not to think about me too much.  Sweet Dreams!”

That had me laughing out loud like an idiot in my office after I hung up. It was a good thing that mostly everyone had left for the day.

Damn, this woman for making me laugh. No one has ever done that.

In order for her to effectively work on this, I needed to ensure she was set-up with the proper equipment, software and file access into AR’s network. I had called Aman, the head of IT, to send Khushi whatever she needs by the following morning.

Aman had her package ready in no time, since she was going to be starting on Monday in any case. When he dropped it off in my office as I was about to leave, I did something that I haven’t done in a long time. Physically handwritten a note. My handwriting is atrocious, not sure what possessed me to do that.

The next day I remember feeling guilty she ended up working all day when I saw her preliminary findings along with her progress. I had texted her right away, to let her know I did not expect her to spend her day working.  But Ms. Gupta decided to turn it back on me about my expectations that my staff work hard.

When she mentioned…

‘I had nothing to do today, so you lucked out :)’

I couldn’t help but tell her I would have been luckier if I saw her which was exactly what I wanted to do hearing her voice.

Her response showed me she was giving it right back, which had surprised me.

‘Lucky for you, you’ll get to see me every day once I start on Monday’

I thank the lucky stars that brought Khushi in my life.

Glancing at the time on my laptop, I can’t believe it’s eight o’clock already. Reminiscing has made the time zip by. I guess going for a run is out of the question.

Running in Central Park will never be same after colliding into Khushi last Saturday morning.

She had been on my mind all of Friday night into Saturday morning. Thinking about how to deal with the fact I am attracted to this woman who is going to be working very close to me.

Is it possible for us to have a relationship?

When I saw her running in my direction, I couldn’t believe she was there. At first I thought I was imagining her in the park, but then I ran right into her. Literally. I immediately grasped onto her, putting my arms around her waist to prevent her from falling.

Looking down at her closed eyes, I was concerned that she might have gotten hurt. But once she opened her eyes and our gaze was upon each other, I knew she was okay.

Damn, the woman has the most striking eyes I have ever come across.

When I had to let go of her, I was disappointed.  Holding her made me realize how perfect she feels in my arms.

I took a chance asking her for coffee which I figured she would decline. But with Khushi, you always get the unexpected. She agreed, but only if I paid.  Really?!

I would buy the damn Starbucks if she asked!

Our coffee ‘date’ turned out to be enjoyable with the exception of the unwanted attention I was getting from the Barista.

Thinking back at it now, it turned out in my favor.

She called me, ‘Arnav’… I had liked the way my name sounded coming from her mouth. It also felt personal, and seemed like we were moving in the right direction.

Her stunned expression was priceless when she found out what I told the barista.

“Okay Ms. Gupta, I told the girl that you were my girlfriend and if she doesn’t stop looking at me, you might get angry. And an angry Khushi is hard to hold back.”

The whole situation between her and the barista was amusing.

I am looking forward to many more coffee dates. And I plan on bumping into Khushi often at the park now that I know she shares my passion of running.

Right now Khushi is all I can think about. And it seems like I am not getting any work done here so it might be best to close my laptop for the night. I drag myself out of the study, which is the opposite when I am going to see her.

 

I remember getting ready quickly to pick her up to take her with me to Di’s house. Going as far as getting to her apartment a half hour early. Now talk about being desperate.

What had gotten over me?

It had only been a few hours since we had coffee. but I needed to see her. Not to mention, check out her place to make sure everything was fine, since she was alone in the city.

When she had opened the door, I was pleased to see she was checking me out. And I wasn’t shy about pointing that out. But she held her own by denying it.  which I know was a lie. She can’t me fool me with her expressive eyes.

To know if Khushi is telling the truth, all you have to do is look into her eyes. Her expressions give everything away, makes me wonder if she knows that.

I had been impressed with the location and her building. But when I walked into her apartment, I had really liked it.  It was cozy, comfortable and very inviting.  You can tell Khushi had put her own touches on the place making it feel homey.

Perhaps I need to have her come here and do that to my place.

I knew I was a lost cause seeing her dressed in semi Indian clothes with hardly any make-up, looking naturally beautiful in her element. Without a thought I walked up close to her.

I wasn’t joking about not being shy… I wanted her at that moment.

Being so close to her flawless face, I lightly caressed my fingers on her soft skin.  When I saw her lips slightly tremble, I wanted to capture them. I wanted to see what they would be like against mine, to taste them.

When she backed away, I realized how inappropriate that was.

Damn it, what the hell had I been thinking.

That’s when I knew we needed to talk, this could not go on like this. It’s better she knew exactly how I felt. And frankly it was obvious she was feeling the same. It was better to have everything out in the open.

Khushi’s concerns were valid, when we spoke. But I know we can work through the professional aspect of it. There should not be a roadblock if we pursue this relationship. I decided to be direct and ask her if she had feelings for Sameer. That was the only thing that would have stopped me from taking this further.

Her anger told me immediately that was not the case, which had me letting out a sigh in relief. But seeing her in anguish had made my chest ache, making my feelings grow stronger for her. There was this desperate need to pull her into my arms and take her pain away, seeing the torment in her eyes.

But I couldn’t do that. She had already backed away, so I gave her a few minutes before approaching her.

As she talked about her fears and insecurities, that had given me a glimpse into why she was hesitant to move forward.

Khushi needs someone to help her heal. And I have full intentions of doing just that.

But I will not back down in pursuing her, since my instincts are never wrong. She is the one. There is something about her that keeps pushing me towards her. I have yet to meet a woman that has ever made me feel this way.

What is it about her?

Our journey to Di’s house was enlightening. It was good to see her open up about her parents. She had relaxed which made me feel better, since I wasn’t sure how she would be in the car after the incident in her apartment .

The highlight of our car trip has to be me clarifying there is nothing ‘little’ about me. I am looking forward to that day when she will find out for herself.  But we have a long, very long way to go for that to happen.

I wish I hadn’t helped her out of the car when we got to Di’s house, but thankfully Khushi was in her senses to pull away. Otherwise, I am pretty sure I would have taken her right then and there. I don’t think Di would have appreciated seeing me lip locked with her friend.

Just as I figured, my family loved her but then who wouldn’t. Throughout the weekend she blended in perfectly with everyone. Someone looking in from the outside would think she was one of us.

And perhaps one day she will be…

Unfortunately due to the issue I was dealing with at work, I could not spend much time with everyone. By now my family is used to it but I wanted to make sure I was down there for dinner. Knowing Di and Nani, they had probably made all of my favorite dishes.

When I had gone downstairs, I saw Khushi lost in her own world so I quickly made my way next to her so we could sit together. But damn this woman is tenacious. I was astonished when she got up and sat next to NK.

Did she really do that?

What the Fuck?

But then karma is a bitch. I could see she wasn’t very happy next to NK which was rather funny. I had to hold myself from laughing at times looking at her face.

I had kept my eyes on her the entire time, of course making sure no one else caught on. Otherwise, there was no doubt the matchmaking would have begun, pairing us together.

Watching her eat was pure torture, the way her lips moved when she was chewing, putting a spoon in her mouth, even drinking water.

Did she have to go sit on the other side?

I was surprised at her gesture when she brought dessert over for me.  Besides my family, I don’t remember anyone doing that for me.

Why would she do that for me?

How can someone look so sexy eating dessert?

Well, Khushi certainly does!

I made it a point to let my ‘sweetie’ know by texting her in front of my family. Yup Arnav Singh Raizada had lost it, which Khushi so nicely pointed out.

I had left saying Good night with the intention of getting some work done and get Ms. Gupta out of my head for a while.

It worked initially but there was this instinct that she had been close by. So, I had not been surprised when she knocked on my door. Though, I can bet she had, after seeing me without my shirt on.

That should have tempted her to come into my arms. But not, Khushi!  

She would rather eat and torture me by making me watch her.  So I decided to let her go, for that night…

This morning when I heard her yell, I rushed to see what happened.  Taking one look at her, I knew right away she was having an issue with her dress.

And I had no intentions of letting the opportunity go. I decided to make my way inside her room, leaving her no choice but to take my assistance.

Catching a glimpse of us in the mirror, I had been mesmerized. It was a stunning visual, the two of us made a perfect pair. That image of us together will always remain with me.

After tying her string and seeing her exposed back I was losing control. But I knew I couldn’t. So I finished my job, by fixing her dupatta and took the clip out of her hair to let her hair loose. This completed her look. It was perfection!

By now I have seen Khushi dressed in various styles, but seeing her in formal Indian clothes, that too in my favorite color red, was exquisite.

When my gaze fell on hers, I could see the desire in her eyes reflecting mine. I knew if I had kissed her this morning, she would not have pushed me away. But then it hit me, she wants to take it slow. And I will respect her decision.

I didn’t want her to regret the kiss if she wasn’t ready, so I decided to give her the space she needs.

In matter of days, Khushi has made me do something that was unimaginable.

After losing my parents, I have lost faith in a higher being and everything associated with it. My family understands my stance so they have left me alone, even though they don’t agree.

When Khushi asked me to do this for my sister to make her happy, I began to debate whether I should or not. But it made me think about everything my sister and I have been through. Not to mention she is finally going to be a mother after so many years.

Isn’t that a miracle in itself?

It wouldn’t hurt to make her happy. All I needed to do was go and be there for her. By her side, that’s all. And when I had, to see the happiness in my sister’s eyes had made it worth it.

The last few days including this weekend have been rather eventful. Wonder what the future holds.

For now let the fun begin tomorrow, work will be very interesting with Ms. Gupta around.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-zd5H24MbM

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