My Heartless Knight

Part 5

"Welcome Miss Gupta" I greeted her the moment she stepped in my cabin.
"Thank you sir" came her nervously reply.
"Make yourself comfortable" getting up from my own chair I offered her a seat in the lounge area of my cabin.
"How was your journey?" I asked her as she got settled on the couch while I made myself seated opposite to her.
"It was good" she rumbled, looking down at her lap to escape any eye contact with me, which didn't go well with me, at all. I like people to look at me when I talk, specially her. I want to look in her beautiful, sparkling eye.
"Look at me Miss Gupta while I am talking to you" a grouty whisper escaped my lip, grabbing her attention. She immediately turns her head up.
Oh! those eyes. The first time I saw her, those hazel orbes were glistering with innumerous tears, but, today they have a different gleam in them. She looks more beautiful than the previous time.

A knock at the door brought me out of my trance.
"Come in" knowing who it would be, I gave him the permission to enter.
"Good Evening ASR" came in Aman Mathur.
"Good Evening. Miss Gupta this is Aman Mathur, Vice President of AR and Aman she is Khushi Gupta, our main model for Indian bridal wear" I introduced her with Aman who is now sitting beside me on the couch.
"Her?" he replied in an amusing tone as if it is something hard to believe.
I gave a glance in Khushi direction and found her getting nervous. That comment from Aman might have offended her.
"Yes, HER Aman" I said throwing a firing glare in his direction, making him realise the blunder he has done. He composed himself and passed a smile to Khushi.
"Hello Miss Gupta. Nice to meet you"
"Hello" came her meek reply with a fake smile plastered on her lips.
"Aman, I want you to look after her training. Hire Avantika for her grooming lessons, call our best hair and makeup stylists, do what ever is required. By the end of this month I want her to be able to walk on the ramp, confidently and gracefully." I made myself clear.
"A month?" he gaped at me and then gave a quick thorough look at Khushi, taking in her appearance.
"Trust me, it will take a much longer than a month"
I understand what he is trying to indicate. I switch my gaze towards the topic of our discussion. With the long pale coloured salwar suit, waist length hair tied in a loose braid and an extensive shawl wrapped around her petite body, sits a jittering teenage girl. It is going to be hell of a task to turn this nervous bundle of innocence into a confident and sophisticated women. Turning towards Aman I heaved a sigh.
"Fine. Take fifteen days more, not more than that."
"It's still less time but we will work it out" his tone is still complaining.
"Ok Miss Gupta, your training will start from tomorrow. So go home and relax for today or you could explore the city" I informed Khushi, shifting my attention towards her.
"Thank you. I would like to take take some rest" she replied, this time looking straight at me and not her lap. She is a fast learner. May be it won't be too hard to train her.
"Ok. Miss Neha Sharma will drop you at your apartment" I dailed my P.A, Miss Sharma, and within a minute she entered my cabin.
"Yes sir?"
"Take Miss Gupta to AR employ's apartment building and arrange her stay in one of the vacant apartment. Help her to settle there and see if she needs anything" I instructed her everything.
"Ok Sir. Miss Gupta, shall we?"
"Yeah" giving a sweet smile she immediately got up from her seat and tailed behind Neha, after bidding a goodbye to me and Aman.
As she disappeared from my sight I got up from the couch and went toward my desk to resume the pending work.
"Are you sure, ASR?" Aman, who was still in my cabin and sprawling on the couch, asked the absurd question.
"Sure about what?" I replied while checking this month's finance report.
"About the girl, ofcourse. Is she the right choice?"
"Are you doubting my abilities to make a good decision" leaving the file I diverted my attention towards him.
"No. I mean, I do agree that she is beautiful but she looks too innocent for this profession"
"I know, and this is exactly what I was looking for. When she walks the ramp, wearing my show stopper design, I want my model to look not just beautiful but pure, innocent and angelic. Can your models depict all these qualities? No, right? So now stop questioning me and do your work, and let me do mine." I busted out, quite irritated with his questions.
"Fine, whatever pleases you. But let me remind you one last thing. This show is going to be a hot topic of the fashion industry, even a slightest mistake and the media would butcher us." he tried to reason me.
"Then what YOU are here for. It's your duty to see that everything executes perfectly. After all you are the incharge" I replied him with a teasing smirk, making him roll his eyes.
Without another question or advice he just left my cabin, muttering something about me going crazy. I small laugh escape my lips, seeing his antics, he could be a child sometimes. But he is not wrong though, I surely am taking a risk by selecting a girl with no modeling experience as the showstopper. I heaves a sigh, falling back in my chair.

"Khushi Gupta, don't let me down."

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Phew! An update after so long.
First, sorry for this late and thanks for bearing with me.
Hope you all like it.
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