Desert Rose

Chapter 25

KHUSHI hurried out of the lobby and found herself approached by the hotel manager asking her if they should get her car around. Khushi was about to ask him if he could get her a taxi when she heard a familiar voice from behind.

'That won't be necessary,' Arnav told the manager and as the man stepped away, he turned toward Khushi, 'I think you forgot the way back to our table.' He extended his hand peremptorily toward her. 'Shall we?'

'I.... I need to go back home.' Khushi said firmly, ignoring his hand.

'Khushi, we need to talk,' Arnav said, his mouth a thin line, 'unless you want to create a scene here, you better walk back inside with me.'

'I don't care!' Khushi shot back even though her hands were clammy with nervousness.

'Well....' Arnav said looking her straight in the eye, 'neither do I.' 

Before Khushi could realize what he meant to do, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

'Arnavji! Put me down.' Khushi begged as Arnav stepped into lobby and headed for the elevator.

 People in the lobby had begun to stare at them and Khushi wished the ground would open up and swallow her.Arnav lowered Khushi down after he stepped into the elevator already occupied by a family. 'It's a family tradition,' he the onlookers who were trying hard not to stare, 'for the groom to carry the bride on her --- first night.'

Khushi went beet red as she realized how they must look to the family, she in a bridal lehenga and Arnav in a suit.As Khuhsi looked at Arnav she couldn't take her eyes away from him. His suit was a black designer one and the shirt he wore inside was also black , with a chinese collar, the top two buttons undone. Though he had gelled his hair, he seemed to have mussed it so a few of the wayward strands fell across his forehead giving him a boyish look in spite of the hardness of his features. He had his customary stubble and he had never looked more handsome than he was at this moment.Her dhak-dhak began and then skipped a beat when Arnav came toward her and picked her up again.Khushi felt the stares of the family boring into their backs and gritted her teeth with frustration. Laad Governor was just incorrigible!Her anger rose as the elevator doors closed and they were all alone in the corridor.'Put me down right away!' she exclaimed trying to wriggle out of his arms.His hold on her tightened, but he didn't let her go. 

'I will put you down in just a minute.' When they reached the room he put her down and fished out a key from the jacket pocket. When she made a move to step back he swept her up once again and entered the room and put her down on the huge bed.

Khushi was awestruck looking the beautifully decorated room, with scented candles scattered all over. She had no doubt it was the honeymoon suite.'Why did you bring me here?' she asked him standing up.

He looked at the bed and then back at her. 'Why did you think?' Looking at her eyes flash with anger he reiterated. 'I am kidding! I just want to talk.'

'But, I don't want to talk to you.' Khushi shot back angrily.

'Khushi,' began Arnav, 'please sit down and we can talk about this calmly.'

'Calmly?' Khushi said moving to the far end of the room. 'What was all that back there? All that drama.'

'What drama?' 

'You planned it all, didn't you? You sent Akash pretending to have left for the US so you could trick me into working for your damn fashion event.'

'There was no trick. I did really go to the US Khushi, but ----'

'There was really no show stopper was there?' she said as realization dawned. 'That was why the clothes fit me perfectly. I should have known.'

'The moment you showed me the design I had made up my mind that you -- and only you would be my show stopper.' Arnav said quietly.