Chapter 10

                       
                    Pushing The EnVeLoPe..... 

             Khushi was blinking more than usual in attempts to concentrate on 'Most important DeaL'  presented to her to start a mutual venture with Arnav Singh Raizada'.(It was another fact that her attention was diverted  more towards the man presenting it than the actual presentation. )

         

          As he stopped talking in his oh so commandingly husky voice and envisaged her with expectant eyes..she concluded ...whatever it was, must be over now and tried to recollect all her senses lost in that room effulgent from full moon . She was truly impressed by the presentation...umm..or rather his style of presenting it. His confident voice, his convincing way to explain every term, his detailed study of the supposed subject and ohh not to forget the glint  in his eyes which would make his persona more attractive. She realized, these must be the reasons that Arnav Singh Raizada never fails to seal any deal he lays his hands on. What his opponents are expected to do other than agreeing to his every term with such a killing attitude?

          ...Once her appraisal note on ASR's presentation skills ended, she realized the depth of the situation with all amusing things happening around her.

             

        Khushi noticed that she had almost forgotten to animate her amusement in her usual way, very  first time in her life. So as her brain denied to make the day more exceptional, She first formed her signature mark 'O' with those petal soft lips and widened her eyes displaying her surprise.

                  

           

    She mechanically rose from her seat and pinched him hard on his forearm trying to believe in the thing just occurred.

       

    "Arnavji , am I hallucinating it or are you really here ?"

  

 Arnav winced in the pain. "What the..! Khushi, is this your way to respond affirmatively?"  He asked so impatiently.

Khushi's mind was not in condition to decode any word said by him anymore. She was shocked thoroughly.

    "Ar..nav..ji, did you..did you.. just try to propose me for  marriage????"She asked doubtfully.

     

          Arnav realized something. "Ohh, wait not yet."  He switched on the light and while trying to adjust his eyes to sudden illumination, brought out the velvet box from his cupboard.

   

            Holding open the box containing  the ring in front of her he said,

       "Here! Now I try to...I mean ..I tell you to marry me with all your  acceptance"

                     

        

              Human anatomy was never Arnav's subject to study  in detail but at least he was well aware of the functions of every organ..now he doubted ... was it his oblivion of the knowledge or his heart was being an exceptional case for science??...because as he noted...his heart was sucking back all the blood towards itself  for its survival  through every vessel which were meant to circulate that blood away to other poor organs otherwise.

         

              

          It was a strong feeling of dj vu... those similar emotions which were quite frequent many years ago had appeared again...when he was a school going boy...like an akin  experience of anticipating result after appearing for an important  exam. But those results were never  a matter of life or death  for him as current one seemed to be..He had never imagined  ..a mere  word...those three letters.. among whole 26 alphabets which he used to stump people with his commanding speech..only damn 3 letters out of  them could be sole reason of his existence today...He wasting all ears to listen...only a soft voiced "YES"..!

               

             

             

         

         The luminous ring could not avoid her dampened gaze. 'How beautiful the ring is'.. Her heart irradiated with a single peek. It was made in her favorite gem 'Ruby'..bright, reflecting color! And those solitaire hearts being plain were providing  more illusion for ruby's bright radiation. It was a perfect ring for her. She felt proud to be offered to be master of this most beautiful jewel. Her hand moved forward to hold the ring as if it has its own mind...suddenly she felt something amiss.

         

          

         She glanced at Arnav..He was standing there with a sort of nervous smile on his face holding the ring. Then reality dawned on her. His proposal which he was assuming kind of a business deal, his way of ordering her to marry him and his..his posture...he could not even offer her this divine ring with all proper honor it deserved...He was expected to be on his knees at least..  And lack of that gesture annoyed her.

             

            

           She had anticipated that in coming days Arnavji would try to kind of express his  feelings for her. It was not expected from him to voice his emotions with red roses, chocolates or candles like those scenes in her favorite Salmanji's  romantic movies.  But she could not have even imagined him to present her a business like deal to  propose her.

                           

        

            

               He must be only man on this earth who could make a girl choleric and ecstatic at the same time... 'Hey Devi Maiyya...Kis mitti se banaya hai apane inhe...banaya to banaya ...uparase hum akele hi mile the apko puri duniya mein inke nasib mein likhane ke liye???? (What  have you made this man of? ..Fine, though a grave mistake..didn't you find any other girl in the whole world  to assign as his better half other than me?) ' crotchety Khushi  admonished  her deity ..being  elated with the assuring  news that he wishes to marry her but grumpy  at the same time with his way.

 She mentally mocked herself

        

     'Khushi Kumari Gupta, kya socha tha tumane?  Is that so easy to bring Arnav Singh Raizada on his knees to propose you? Laad Governor kahike... Unse unake dil ki baat manwana itana aasan hota to duniya unhe ASR kyo bulati? (had it been so easy to make him express his emotions, why the world would have called him ASR??)But if he is Arnav Singh Raizada then I am Khushi Kumari Gupta and that too from Lukhnow...and ..may be would be Mrs. ASR?   Hum thode hi ese haan kar denge unhe?  Yes, I take this challenge. I will bring this Laad Governor on his knees before saying 'YES' to him. Till then two can play the game.'

       

           

          She decided, she would make him understand this cardinal business. He needed to be acquainted with his inner emotions before marrying  her. And it was a challenge for her to force him to open his heart and let herself enter that deserted place and seek for her oasis therein.

           

     

          Had our own Khushi Kumari Gupta ever ran away from any challenge? So it was obvious for her to accept it and act on the same  instantly. So composing herself from the shock and folding her hands against her chest  she spoke as matter of fact.

   

     "Ummm..Arnavji, I must say you have presented this proposal very thoughtfully and I do agree that your deal is so tempting too"

  

                      Arnav smirked with self satisfaction.

      

     "But ..as I think over it in detail, I don't see any rattling advantage over here for me besides  I know your family very well. So before I respond you, I would suggest you to come with some enormously attractive benefit for me if you wish me to accept it. Or I give a choice in that case. You can even try to impress me any way so under that impression I would happily say 'YES' to you. So try both the ways. You can treat it as a challenge???"

    Saying that she moved towards door boasting over self intelligence with which she had replied him successfully.

           That flurry enraged  Arnav. 'How can she simply move away denying  HIS proposal??'

       

       This time his hibernating brain came to her rescue taking her side.(cognizant to the fact that both are actually on the same side )

    

     'She did not deny your proposal...but challenged  you to make her accept...ohh, I must say ASR... this girl is not playing so easy to have...'

That sparked his ego to acme.

        

              Arnav has always considered her as a naive and innocent girl from a small town. Though he was familiar with her courage and good heart, he had never allotted her much marks in intelligence department. So when he had prepared this presentation, was more than sure that the proposed reasoning would be sufficient for her to accept it. But his calculation had been proven so wrong. He had never expected her to come up with such a challenge using her little brain. Really, this crazy girl never misses any chance to surprise him. He liked it. He would definitely show her that Arnav Singh Raizada never loses any challenge.

    "So. Till when you expect me to make you accept this deal, Ms. Gupta?"

      

      Khushi didn't fail to notice his over confident tone and replied smartly,         "Take as much time you need to do this difficult task, Mr. Raizada! Make use of all your time. I know you would be in the need of best wishes soon. So all the very best."

         

       Saying this she left his room & started towards the garden calming her over stressed nerves that were fortunate enough to be supplied with excess blood so as to project a confident  posture in front of him..ironically contradiction to the fortune of ASR's nerves...pondering over the thought whether she has done a right thing.