THE PRETEND WORLD

CHAPTER 3

Khushi sat sighing deeply inside the car after all the drama back there at the party. She would rather prefer working on something useful and meet some really genuine people, but she knew better that is not even close to possibility here, she thought thinking about her life.

Khushi Gupta the eldest daughter of Shashi Gupta is the CEO of "SIZZLE FASHION HOUSE" where her dad was the Chair of the "ISHA CORPORATIONS" and monitored every happening in the companies and still held the position as CEO of the other companies to himself.

She always stayed out of the media as she felt it would just be a waste of her time and all she wanted to do her job well, that's it. She knew this was temporary, her stay in India. Her green card application in the USA was already filed under the EB1 category(Alien of extraordinary ability) and she would soon be a permanent resident of the USA and permanently move there she thought with satisfaction. She didn't like the USA over India but she knew she won't be able to live the normal life and whatever she wants under his empire and influence and she would always be the target if she tried something new.

Khushi came out of her thoughts when Ray informed her that they have reached the ARISHA MANSION. She came out after quickly thanking Ray and Driver and looked at the tall building in front of her ." Her home" which people told her and which never made her feel so.

LITTLE DESCRIPTION ABOUT ARISHA MANSION

Arisha Mansion was 15 storied building with everything an Indian top most billionaire would have. Their people worked in 3 slots Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night and most of them stayed at the adjacent building which was exclusively created for employees with 1 bhk, 2bhk, 3 bhk, and 4 bhk depending on the position of the staff at Arisha Mansion. You had workers for everything even to open doors and each of the family members had 5-6 staff exclusively for them. For example, Shashi Gupta had an assistant for all his official work and then a designer who would always work on the costumes that he would wear, and then a PR manager for all the communication purposes. One staff to give him all the updates happening in and around the business circle and in his house so that he had control over everything before things get complicated. One more person to maintain all of them and monitor them the Head Staff who would always make sure everything is check or else it was his duty to inform his boss. This was the same for every family member and Khushi used them as little as possible as she knew the more she used them the more her dad would keep an eye on her activities.

Khushi entered the mansion as the door handler opened the door for her.

She was about to enter the elevator to go to her floor and finish her work she turned around as a voice called her from behind which was the second most hated voice in the world.

She closed her eyes in irritation and spoke 'Hello Mrs. Gupta'

Lata Kashyap/Gupta spoke ' How was the party Khushi'?

Khushi chuckled and continued ' you and I both know that what is the reason for the conversation. Please do the honor and cut the crap and tell me what do you want?' sternly.

'Okay! we sent you to attend the party Khushi not to insult Mrs. Avasthi which was none of your concern and in the report, it states that Arnav Raizada asked you for a date and you denied to him on his face. They are our business partner and why do you go on spoiling business relations wherever you go? use some brain! she told clearly irritated.

'Let's not talk about who has brains or not. No matter how much I try my brain is nothing compared to your brain and the past is proof of that!' Khushi told in anger.

Khush...Before angry Lata could even continue...

'And whoever I date or sleep with is not your concern or your husband's and don't teach me about business and I know how to deal with that. It's not that I was dying to go to that party anyways and if you are so concerned about Arnav Raizada and business relations, then why not ask Lavanya to date him as she is already 18 years old.' Khushi said with anger-filled eyes.

'How dare you?' Lata shouted

'Don't shout, why you feel so angry when it comes to your daughter right?' Khushi said glaring at her 'Don't try to be my mother because you are not. You are nothing but the wife of Mr. Gupta who happens to be my father. Period'

'With that Khushi left the place with Mrs. Gupta seething in rage looking at the retreating back of her stepdaughter.

Raizada Mansion

Anjali looked at her brother who looked lost from the time they returned from the party. He had told her that he was going out with some new girl called Shiya but then had told her, he just didn't feel like today and returned with her. She knew something was bothering him as the ever chirpy brother was all silent after meeting the beautiful 'Khushi Gupta'.

Arnav entered his room and straight went to the washroom and removed his shirt and stood in front of the mirror.

'Do I look old'? 'Is my body not in shape?' 'Does my teeth have anything in it' and checked for pimples on the face and biceps triceps and six-packs and anything and everything possible in his body and didn't find anything wrong with him.

'Then why did Miss Gupta tell me that she is not interested in dating me?' he started thinking.

'Is she lesbian or boyfriend?' he seemed totally confused and she looked like a puzzle to him which he wanted to solve and get to know the secret.

Thinking to ask his friend Karan Singhania his friend/ PA or more to say a manager to manage his girlfriend's list. He got changed and came and lay on bed. He had refused Shiya on her face after Khushi had told a big NO to him, saying he was too tired. But he knew that was a lie.

He couldn't think of anything other than the Hazel beauty he had met and faced rejection for the first time in his life.

'Why was she affecting her so much' he thought. 'There was something in her eyes that was different compared to others. It was bold and piercing and firm without trying to hide anything' he remembered her gaze when she looked at him. After surfing on the internet and her social media which she rarely even used unlike him. Sleep eluded him as the same bold hazel kept him awake in his thoughts till he finally fell into a deep slumber.