Desert Rose

Chapter 19

ARNAV sat in his study looking at the letter that Ria had sent. It was the two week notice that Akash had failed to see, consequentially putting them in a precarious position with regards to the fashion event, leaving them without a co-ordinator or a designer for the ethnic collection.

'I am really sorry Bhai,' Akash apologized for the millionth time, 'but I can't understand why Ria would suddenly do this to us.'

Arnav remembered the portfolio she had brought over to the house that night in Delhi, before they had quarrelled. Afterward he had hired one of the designers and left her in charge of the event.

'She even came to my wedding.' Akash commented as Arnav continued to brood.

On the Sangeet night, after dropping her off to her room, he had made it very clear to her that the incident in the study earlier, could never ever repeat. He had then assigned the responsibility of the event to Akash, under her supervision.

But it was clear from her behaviour that she hadn't taken that rebuff lightly. She had fired the designer for the ethnic collection on the basis of incompetence just before sending in her two week notice to the Delhi office, knowing very well that it would be couriered to Raisar when he would be away on his business trip. She had deliberately set out to sabotage the fashion event. He had never imagined that she had the brains to pull this off so smoothly. To make matters worse, he couldn't even take action against her because she was legally on the right.

'It doesn't matter why she did this,' he said harshly, angry more at himself than at Akash, 'the point is you should have seen that damn notice and let me know right away!

'How the f@#$ are we going to be ready for the fashion event which is in ten days? None of the good designers will be available for us now.'

'But bhai,' said Akash in a low voice, 'you said Khushi's name was on the list of potential designers that Aman scouted for us. We have a chance, however slight, don't we?' Akash asked as Arnav continued to stare out toward the window, his face hard and unreadable.

Just then they heard a knock and Khushi walked in unaware of the tension in the room. After asking her about her role in her previous job, Arnav had asked her meet him in the study after freshening up. He had been so cryptic that her trepidation had increased.

'Akash, would you please leave us?' Arnav said, 'I want to talk to Khushi alone.'

'Why didn't you tell me?' he asked her as soon as Akash left the room. When Khushi remained silent he continued, 'the day I showed you the picture on my phone.'

Khushi's thoughts went back to the day in the green house when he had said ---

You have a bloody nerve, standing on my property preaching to me about my morals, when you yourself expose yourself in front of thousands

'You didn't really give me a chance to, remember?' she shot back. Arnav face went taut, the muscle in his jaw ticking when he remembered how he had kissed her to prove a point.

Standing up swiftly, he came up to her and grabbed her hands, his fingers biting into the soft flesh of her upper arms. 'But you could have told me later --- the day you barged into the bedroom and gave me a lashing for having those picture removed!'

'You had formed preconceived notions about me after seeing those pictures,' she countered, 'would it have made any difference if I had told you?'She tried shrugging off his arms but failed.

'God Khushi if you had only told me ----' he stopped as they both realized at the same instant that he was talking about the night in the desert.

You work in the fashion industry for heaven's sake! What was I supposed to think?