The next week, to Khushi's surprise, went by quite smoothly. Apart from the excessive work of completing her designs in the first week so that she could sew them in the next and walking in on Payal and Aakash during a private moment, which made Khushi's resolve of needing to move out once she got the job more firm, the week went without a glitch. This had primarily to do with the fact that Arnav had not been there bearing down on her. She had been sure when she arrived the second morning that he would be there and would make her life hell, but to her surprise she found out that he got called away to Mumbai for his other projects, which meant that she could breathe freely and design at her leisure. Him not in the office lightened her mood, allowing her to work freely; which meant less stress for her condition too. And when the stress of completing her portfolio on time got to her, she had NK's company, who was like a never extinguishing ball of energy spreading such liveliness in his vicinity that it motivated everyone around him to do their best.
Thus the first week past without Khushi having to break much of a sweat. She even befriended some of her competitors, the men, as the women all were interested in being Ishiqa's friend, who Khushi after the first day didn't bother wasting her time with. For she knew nothing she would say would get her to work cordially alongside her. The three men were quite something and Khushi got over her first judgment of them. Their names were Abaan, Sooraj and Mike. They were quite the trio, they had many interesting stories that they happily shared and their sense of attire got better too, well Abaan and Mike's definitely, Sooraj's dressing in Khushi's opinion was still questionable. He still adorned the flashy scarves and really weird trousers, his shirts were generally ok, apart from the fanged one he had worn on the third day. Abaan on the other hand started wearing more formal wear, not suits, but blazers and collared shirts on elegant jeans, although his hair was still all over the place. Mike did a complete turn around and started coming in his pyjama's and vests seeing the relaxed atmosphere of the office. When curiosity got the better of her, she asked them why on the first day they had dressed in the flashy, gaudy clothes; Abaan said how he thought as he was coming for a designer's post he should look like one, hence the make-up and the clothes, although once here he realized that he could be himself and they wouldn't care as long as he designed good clothes. Mike's response was that that had been one of his designs and so he wanted to show them what he was capable of, and Sooraj she didn't bother to ask as she saw no change in him, thus figuring this was the way he probably dressed.
Other then the three guys she also became great friends with the cafeteria lady who was also from Lucknow and had moved to Delhi twenty-five years back when she had gotten married. They shared many stories from Lucknow and Khushi loved talking to her about their home city, which they both missed dearly. In this way her first week completed and she went home happily not believing how easy it had been. She had feared Arnav and what he may do to cause her trouble but as he had not been there it had been excellent and silently she prayed the second week would go this way too, with him not coming back. However, when she arrived Monday morning to work and he still wasn't there she didn't feel relieved but tensed up, as it finally hit her that Arnav not being there would cause her more trouble than not and she began fearing that, that may be what his game-plan was.
This thought struck her when the others, after arriving went to fetch their designs and asked Mihraj for material and details of the models so that they could begin sewing their designs according to their sizes. She went with them too, when he shot her down. Sorry Khushi, but I'm not your supervisor, ASR is, you will have to consult him for material and everything else.' With a shrug he went off helping the others, leaving Khushi to hit herself for praying that Arnav not show up this week either. She was stranded without him, she needed him and he was nowhere to be found.This was not good. She needed five designs ready to model and for that she needed material and five models but how was she going to get them if Arnav didn't show up. Panic started rising within her. What was she going to do?
All of Monday she spent in panic. She got Arnav's number from NK and dialed vigorously in hope to get a hold of him but after telling her not to disturb him the first time he did not answer any of her calls. She even messaged him, telling him that she required models and material but he didn't respond. She went home with her stomach in knots.
'Jiji how can you tell me to relax, I cannot possibly relax!' Khushi huffed, as she sat down under Payal's concerned and angry glare, but did not quieten. 'I don't know what to do? He isn't coming into work, if he doesn't come tomorrow either then how will I get my clothes ready in time? I'm already a day behind the others. He is doing this on purpose I tell you Jiji, just to sabotage my work, because I wrecked his show, by accident.' Vented Khushi.
'Wrecked his show? When Khushi?' Asked Payal.
'On your wedding day, Jiji.' Replied Khushi, off-handedly.
'What?!! You never told me this.' Halted Payal in the middle of picking up the bowl of lentils, she was clearing away the in-between dinner and lunch meal Khushi had these days after she came home from work. She had made Khushi sit down, when she had tried to help, to stop her from over-exherting herself. She was already stressed out she didn't need the extra work.
'Hunh? Didn't I, oh whatever, it doesn't matter that was a long time ago what matters is that he is not coming in to work. Jiji I swear this is so unfair, I told him so many times it was an accident, all of the incidents, but will he listen, no. I swear he is such a...such a...' Khushi searched for the right term to describe him, 'A Rakhshas. Yes that is what he is. A Monster. Who doesn't care about anyone else but himself. He is the most selfish, obnoxious, obstinate man I have ever met!'
'Hmmm...but what did you do, that he is exacting his revenge out on you Khushi, tell me.' Payal prodded, not prepared to take Khushi's judgment on the man, for she knew how bias she became against certain people when they wronged her, therefore she wanted to hear what she had done to judge his actions accordingly or at least with a slightly less subjective lens than Khushi's as she would be the third party in this.
'Hmmm...ok I get his anger, it is right you did wreck a very important event and meeting for him Khushi, but yes this is not the way to go about taking revenge.' She added hastily, seeing Khushi about to burst again. 'Revenge is not a path one should take anyway, and him being this big business tycoon and all, one would not expect him to get so personal in professional matters...' Reasoned Payal after Khushi told her about all her encounters with Arnav.
'Exactly Jiji. That's why I say he is a monster. A Laad Governor. Who wishes to dictate his terms to everybody in his vicinity through fear and intimidation.' Khushi went on heatedly.
'A Laad Governor?!! Hahaha...Khushi you are insane. I'm sure he is not as bad as you make him sound...although he has fixated on you for some reason, which isn't good for you. Hmm...maybe he likes you Khushi. You never know may be he is your prince, the one you have always dreamed of.' Payal joked.
'Ugh...eew please Jiji...like there was no one else in the world for him... ugh, who would want to be with such a horrible person? Anyway he is not a prince Jiji, rather a monster!! Have you not been listening to anything I have said?!! And stop taking his side Jiji, you are my Jiji.' Khushi added as she remembered what Payal had said before she suggested the disgusting...him liking her, egh...the very thought sent shivers down her spine.
'Ok, ok...I won't take his side...so what are you going to do about your problem, if he doesn't show up tomorrow either?' questioned Payal as she took her seat next to her and made her bring her head down on to her lap as she began massaging it.
'Ugh...I don't know, Jiji...all I know is that man is a nightmare...around or not he makes my life hell!!' grumbled Khushi as she slumped into her motherly lap.
When she got into work on Tuesday she had decided that if he didn't show up today, then she would go out in the market and get her own material rather than wait for him and as for the models she decided to consult NK. But to her surprise he walked in moments after she had settled down in her chair. As soon as she spied him she rushed over to him and began walking with him 'Arnav ji, thank God you are here. Do you-'
'No need to thank God, Ms Gupta, this my office if I won't be here then where else would I be.' He cut across, not bothering to look at her, but Khushi let that slide right now she needed him therefore couldn't lecture him on etiquettes.
'Arnav ji, I ne-' she began.
'Not now Ms. Gupta I'm really busy, I've got important clients from Bangalore coming over, I need to prepare for them, I'll deal with you later.' With that he closed his office door and left her outside.
Irritated she went back downstairs and headed straight for the cafeteria, she needed something sweet to calm her down. Seeing her face the cafeteria lady brought over jalebies knowing those were Khushi's favourites.
'What's wrong Khushi?' she asked kindly.
'That Laad Governor, what else.' She exhaled as she began munching her favourite stress-buster.
'Laad- what?!!' she asked.
'Your boss, our boss...Mr ASR. Ugh I hate him. I hate him Rubina ji. He is so...ugh!'
'Heyy...sshh...sshh...I agree sir can be a little hard to work with, ok very hard to work with,' she amended, seeing the look on Khushi's face, 'but he isn't that bad, you just have to give him time...'explained Rubina ji.
'I don't have time...I need the material today and he won't let me in his office to discuss it. I swear he is doing it on purpose, he wants me to lose, that is why. He is such a monster!' she said in a muffled voice as her mouth was full of jalebies.
'Hmm...well he seems to be alone in his office right now, why don't you go talk to him now?' she asked.
'Because Rubina ji, he has some important clients coming in from Bangalore, whom he needs to prepare for...'she reiterated his words in an imitation of his voice that made Rubina laugh.
'Oh Khushi, you are quite good...' She said between fits of laughter. Once settled down she added, 'ok so he has some meeting right now, you can go to see him afterwards can't you? Don't get disheartened, just wait he will have to let you in eventually, right?'
'Hmm...' Was all the agreement she could muster up.
Most of the morning went with delegates coming in and out of Arnav's cabin but he didn't call for her. She spent quite sometime rearranging her portfolio; tweaking any designs that she felt needed it. She even went and helped Sooraj with his mock-up as he had ordered some really stiff cloth that was quite hard to maneuver around the sewing machine. It was midday and another client had just left from upstairs when Khushi had enough. She stomped right over and barged into his office.
'I have had enough Arnav ji. I get it you don't like me and so you aren't too fond of the idea of me succeeding, but I didn't expect you to stoop so low to make me lose. I figured that no matter what you were you are a professional being, thus you would at least give me a fair fighting chance, but seeing how you have been ignoring me shows just how unprofessional and juvenile you yourself are. I mean to not provide me with the essentials to complete my task that is just unfair and crude. It's not done. You-' but she stopped as a voice interrupted her.
'Mr Raizada, should I come back later, you seem to be in the middle of something.' Khushi twisted her head to see that there was someone else in the room besides Arnav. She felt her hands and feet go cold, oh she was a dead duck. She had yet again embarrassed him in front of his clientele.
'No Mr Roy. You stay here and I will deal with Ms Gupta outside.' Gritted Arnav as he got up from his chair yanked Khushi's arm and dragged her outside towards the balcony that overlooked the office below. 'Khushi Kumari Gupta how many times will I have to remind you to remember your place in front of me.' He spoke in a deathly whisper, 'You are not some high profile person that needs my attention yet you beg for it every moment. You are an insignificant, middle-class girl who bears no value to me, you are not even an employee of this office yet, so what gives you the right to barge into my office during my meeting? Just because I entertained your little dramatic court gesture last time doesn't mean I will do it all the time.' His face was inches away from hers now, 'Now what was your complaint? That I have not provided you with what you need, well if you had actually taken the time to notice what was on your table rather then what was going on in my office you would have seen a bag of the material that you requested and the sizes of the five models on your desk in the sewing area. I do not need reminding of what my duties are to my employees Ms Gupta and I do not see the need of involving myself in petty acts to sabotage your collection. Arnav Singh Raizada plays with the big guns, which you are not, besides no one needs to create trouble for you, you seem to manage that perfectly well yourself. Now if your drama for the day is over I have work to do and I believe so do you considering that is why you barged in to my office.' With that he jerked her towards the balcony wall and strode back to his office.
It took her a few seconds to comprehend what he had just said; once she did she realized just how much he had insulted her and was in the mind to go back in there and yell at him some more but caught herself realizing that he was in there with someone right now and so she shouldn't, besides he was right, as annoying as it was to admit it, she needed to get to work.
Slowly, she made her way to her desk in the Seam-Line. There it was, like he had said, a paper with the list of the models sizes and a big bag of material that she had requested him the day before in her message. When had he gotten these here, for she was sure they hadn't been there earlier, or had they and she hadn't noticed because, like he said, she had been too preoccupied with him. No she had not, or had she been? Shrugging she got to work, she pulled out the fabric, half expecting them to be wrong or of really bad quality but to her surprise they were perfect, the quality of the material and the shades. They were better than what the others were using, for Mihraj had gotten them mediocre quality clothes saying that this was for the mock-up and most of their clothes designs would be rejected as it was, considering only two would be chosen therefore he didn't see the point in giving them the best when it would be going into the scrap pile after Friday. Stingy git, Mike had called him, as he had felt the fabric which wouldn't showcase his piece as well as the good quality one would have. Well she had to be grateful to Arnav for this, as much as she didn't want to, him being her supervisor meant good quality clothes for her that would bring her designs to life most vivaciously.
Fabric in hand she studied the measurements of the models. The figures seemed amiss and so she studied them closely, this wasn't right, the length, height and breadth of these models were extortionate. According to these figures they must be really healthy, like really. Their proportions were all wrong. She got up to go ask Arnav, but then stopped herself, if she went in there again today he would not spare her and what was she going to say that these figures suggest that these models are quite bulky. That didn't seem right, so what if they were she would make do with them. Her job was just to design the outfits, not decide who modeled them. Thus she turned back and went to work, measuring and cutting and then measuring some more before she started sewing.
The next three days went by with Khushi frantically sewing, tweaking and ironing her dresses so that they would be ready for Friday. She didn't socialize much and neither did the others as they were busy with their own designs. Arnav and Khushi's encounters were limited too, even though Khushi did bump into him a few times, knocking his papers over once and dropping a wad of material on top of him the other time that led to his 'What the-?' and aggravated stare, but they managed to keep it more or less civil between them. Friday arrived and Khushi excitedly left the apartment for work, hopeful that she would win today.
'Khushi, your models and designs are in room three and you will be the fifth contestant, so have your models and portfolio ready to display in about three hours as the first contestant will begin her display in about an hour once the judges and photographers are ready, ok?' related Mihraj, as Khushi came into the office.
'Ok...then I will head straight for room three.' With a smile and a hop in her step she made her way to the staging room. Saw the camera crew setting up their equipment as she made her way to the back-stage area and opened the door to find five doors behind it each leading to separate dressing rooms and to her right the curtain which led to the stage outside. She made her way to door number three and opened, only to jump back outside and yank it close again, to check the number written on the door she had opened. It was number three, she had opened the right one. May be she had imagined it. Testily, she opened the door again. Aaaggh, no she hadn't!! She shut the door again and ran for it, there must be some mistake, she needed to find Mihraj or anyone who would explain what had happened. She pulled the stage door open and ran right into someone's chest. Someone who smelled very nice. There was a sweet yet, fruity sort of a fragrance about this person. Mmm...Oh Crap!! She knew who this person was, she had smelt him before, in a situation very much like this back in Lucknow. Why?! Dear God, why?!! Why did she always have to run into Arnav Singh Raizada's arms, were all the other men dead or something?!!!
'Ms Gupta, what is your excuse now, for bashing into me?' he asked curtly, as he pulled her away from him, but kept his hands on her arms, uncertain whether her knees would support her weight on her own.
'They're men.' Was all she could muster, in her flustered state.
Thus the first week past without Khushi having to break much of a sweat. She even befriended some of her competitors, the men, as the women all were interested in being Ishiqa's friend, who Khushi after the first day didn't bother wasting her time with. For she knew nothing she would say would get her to work cordially alongside her. The three men were quite something and Khushi got over her first judgment of them. Their names were Abaan, Sooraj and Mike. They were quite the trio, they had many interesting stories that they happily shared and their sense of attire got better too, well Abaan and Mike's definitely, Sooraj's dressing in Khushi's opinion was still questionable. He still adorned the flashy scarves and really weird trousers, his shirts were generally ok, apart from the fanged one he had worn on the third day. Abaan on the other hand started wearing more formal wear, not suits, but blazers and collared shirts on elegant jeans, although his hair was still all over the place. Mike did a complete turn around and started coming in his pyjama's and vests seeing the relaxed atmosphere of the office. When curiosity got the better of her, she asked them why on the first day they had dressed in the flashy, gaudy clothes; Abaan said how he thought as he was coming for a designer's post he should look like one, hence the make-up and the clothes, although once here he realized that he could be himself and they wouldn't care as long as he designed good clothes. Mike's response was that that had been one of his designs and so he wanted to show them what he was capable of, and Sooraj she didn't bother to ask as she saw no change in him, thus figuring this was the way he probably dressed.
Other then the three guys she also became great friends with the cafeteria lady who was also from Lucknow and had moved to Delhi twenty-five years back when she had gotten married. They shared many stories from Lucknow and Khushi loved talking to her about their home city, which they both missed dearly. In this way her first week completed and she went home happily not believing how easy it had been. She had feared Arnav and what he may do to cause her trouble but as he had not been there it had been excellent and silently she prayed the second week would go this way too, with him not coming back. However, when she arrived Monday morning to work and he still wasn't there she didn't feel relieved but tensed up, as it finally hit her that Arnav not being there would cause her more trouble than not and she began fearing that, that may be what his game-plan was.
This thought struck her when the others, after arriving went to fetch their designs and asked Mihraj for material and details of the models so that they could begin sewing their designs according to their sizes. She went with them too, when he shot her down. Sorry Khushi, but I'm not your supervisor, ASR is, you will have to consult him for material and everything else.' With a shrug he went off helping the others, leaving Khushi to hit herself for praying that Arnav not show up this week either. She was stranded without him, she needed him and he was nowhere to be found.This was not good. She needed five designs ready to model and for that she needed material and five models but how was she going to get them if Arnav didn't show up. Panic started rising within her. What was she going to do?
All of Monday she spent in panic. She got Arnav's number from NK and dialed vigorously in hope to get a hold of him but after telling her not to disturb him the first time he did not answer any of her calls. She even messaged him, telling him that she required models and material but he didn't respond. She went home with her stomach in knots.
'Jiji how can you tell me to relax, I cannot possibly relax!' Khushi huffed, as she sat down under Payal's concerned and angry glare, but did not quieten. 'I don't know what to do? He isn't coming into work, if he doesn't come tomorrow either then how will I get my clothes ready in time? I'm already a day behind the others. He is doing this on purpose I tell you Jiji, just to sabotage my work, because I wrecked his show, by accident.' Vented Khushi.
'Wrecked his show? When Khushi?' Asked Payal.
'On your wedding day, Jiji.' Replied Khushi, off-handedly.
'What?!! You never told me this.' Halted Payal in the middle of picking up the bowl of lentils, she was clearing away the in-between dinner and lunch meal Khushi had these days after she came home from work. She had made Khushi sit down, when she had tried to help, to stop her from over-exherting herself. She was already stressed out she didn't need the extra work.
'Hunh? Didn't I, oh whatever, it doesn't matter that was a long time ago what matters is that he is not coming in to work. Jiji I swear this is so unfair, I told him so many times it was an accident, all of the incidents, but will he listen, no. I swear he is such a...such a...' Khushi searched for the right term to describe him, 'A Rakhshas. Yes that is what he is. A Monster. Who doesn't care about anyone else but himself. He is the most selfish, obnoxious, obstinate man I have ever met!'
'Hmmm...but what did you do, that he is exacting his revenge out on you Khushi, tell me.' Payal prodded, not prepared to take Khushi's judgment on the man, for she knew how bias she became against certain people when they wronged her, therefore she wanted to hear what she had done to judge his actions accordingly or at least with a slightly less subjective lens than Khushi's as she would be the third party in this.
'Hmmm...ok I get his anger, it is right you did wreck a very important event and meeting for him Khushi, but yes this is not the way to go about taking revenge.' She added hastily, seeing Khushi about to burst again. 'Revenge is not a path one should take anyway, and him being this big business tycoon and all, one would not expect him to get so personal in professional matters...' Reasoned Payal after Khushi told her about all her encounters with Arnav.
'Exactly Jiji. That's why I say he is a monster. A Laad Governor. Who wishes to dictate his terms to everybody in his vicinity through fear and intimidation.' Khushi went on heatedly.
'A Laad Governor?!! Hahaha...Khushi you are insane. I'm sure he is not as bad as you make him sound...although he has fixated on you for some reason, which isn't good for you. Hmm...maybe he likes you Khushi. You never know may be he is your prince, the one you have always dreamed of.' Payal joked.
'Ugh...eew please Jiji...like there was no one else in the world for him... ugh, who would want to be with such a horrible person? Anyway he is not a prince Jiji, rather a monster!! Have you not been listening to anything I have said?!! And stop taking his side Jiji, you are my Jiji.' Khushi added as she remembered what Payal had said before she suggested the disgusting...him liking her, egh...the very thought sent shivers down her spine.
'Ok, ok...I won't take his side...so what are you going to do about your problem, if he doesn't show up tomorrow either?' questioned Payal as she took her seat next to her and made her bring her head down on to her lap as she began massaging it.
'Ugh...I don't know, Jiji...all I know is that man is a nightmare...around or not he makes my life hell!!' grumbled Khushi as she slumped into her motherly lap.
When she got into work on Tuesday she had decided that if he didn't show up today, then she would go out in the market and get her own material rather than wait for him and as for the models she decided to consult NK. But to her surprise he walked in moments after she had settled down in her chair. As soon as she spied him she rushed over to him and began walking with him 'Arnav ji, thank God you are here. Do you-'
'No need to thank God, Ms Gupta, this my office if I won't be here then where else would I be.' He cut across, not bothering to look at her, but Khushi let that slide right now she needed him therefore couldn't lecture him on etiquettes.
'Arnav ji, I ne-' she began.
'Not now Ms. Gupta I'm really busy, I've got important clients from Bangalore coming over, I need to prepare for them, I'll deal with you later.' With that he closed his office door and left her outside.
Irritated she went back downstairs and headed straight for the cafeteria, she needed something sweet to calm her down. Seeing her face the cafeteria lady brought over jalebies knowing those were Khushi's favourites.
'What's wrong Khushi?' she asked kindly.
'That Laad Governor, what else.' She exhaled as she began munching her favourite stress-buster.
'Laad- what?!!' she asked.
'Your boss, our boss...Mr ASR. Ugh I hate him. I hate him Rubina ji. He is so...ugh!'
'Heyy...sshh...sshh...I agree sir can be a little hard to work with, ok very hard to work with,' she amended, seeing the look on Khushi's face, 'but he isn't that bad, you just have to give him time...'explained Rubina ji.
'I don't have time...I need the material today and he won't let me in his office to discuss it. I swear he is doing it on purpose, he wants me to lose, that is why. He is such a monster!' she said in a muffled voice as her mouth was full of jalebies.
'Hmm...well he seems to be alone in his office right now, why don't you go talk to him now?' she asked.
'Because Rubina ji, he has some important clients coming in from Bangalore, whom he needs to prepare for...'she reiterated his words in an imitation of his voice that made Rubina laugh.
'Oh Khushi, you are quite good...' She said between fits of laughter. Once settled down she added, 'ok so he has some meeting right now, you can go to see him afterwards can't you? Don't get disheartened, just wait he will have to let you in eventually, right?'
'Hmm...' Was all the agreement she could muster up.
Most of the morning went with delegates coming in and out of Arnav's cabin but he didn't call for her. She spent quite sometime rearranging her portfolio; tweaking any designs that she felt needed it. She even went and helped Sooraj with his mock-up as he had ordered some really stiff cloth that was quite hard to maneuver around the sewing machine. It was midday and another client had just left from upstairs when Khushi had enough. She stomped right over and barged into his office.
'I have had enough Arnav ji. I get it you don't like me and so you aren't too fond of the idea of me succeeding, but I didn't expect you to stoop so low to make me lose. I figured that no matter what you were you are a professional being, thus you would at least give me a fair fighting chance, but seeing how you have been ignoring me shows just how unprofessional and juvenile you yourself are. I mean to not provide me with the essentials to complete my task that is just unfair and crude. It's not done. You-' but she stopped as a voice interrupted her.
'Mr Raizada, should I come back later, you seem to be in the middle of something.' Khushi twisted her head to see that there was someone else in the room besides Arnav. She felt her hands and feet go cold, oh she was a dead duck. She had yet again embarrassed him in front of his clientele.
'No Mr Roy. You stay here and I will deal with Ms Gupta outside.' Gritted Arnav as he got up from his chair yanked Khushi's arm and dragged her outside towards the balcony that overlooked the office below. 'Khushi Kumari Gupta how many times will I have to remind you to remember your place in front of me.' He spoke in a deathly whisper, 'You are not some high profile person that needs my attention yet you beg for it every moment. You are an insignificant, middle-class girl who bears no value to me, you are not even an employee of this office yet, so what gives you the right to barge into my office during my meeting? Just because I entertained your little dramatic court gesture last time doesn't mean I will do it all the time.' His face was inches away from hers now, 'Now what was your complaint? That I have not provided you with what you need, well if you had actually taken the time to notice what was on your table rather then what was going on in my office you would have seen a bag of the material that you requested and the sizes of the five models on your desk in the sewing area. I do not need reminding of what my duties are to my employees Ms Gupta and I do not see the need of involving myself in petty acts to sabotage your collection. Arnav Singh Raizada plays with the big guns, which you are not, besides no one needs to create trouble for you, you seem to manage that perfectly well yourself. Now if your drama for the day is over I have work to do and I believe so do you considering that is why you barged in to my office.' With that he jerked her towards the balcony wall and strode back to his office.
It took her a few seconds to comprehend what he had just said; once she did she realized just how much he had insulted her and was in the mind to go back in there and yell at him some more but caught herself realizing that he was in there with someone right now and so she shouldn't, besides he was right, as annoying as it was to admit it, she needed to get to work.
Slowly, she made her way to her desk in the Seam-Line. There it was, like he had said, a paper with the list of the models sizes and a big bag of material that she had requested him the day before in her message. When had he gotten these here, for she was sure they hadn't been there earlier, or had they and she hadn't noticed because, like he said, she had been too preoccupied with him. No she had not, or had she been? Shrugging she got to work, she pulled out the fabric, half expecting them to be wrong or of really bad quality but to her surprise they were perfect, the quality of the material and the shades. They were better than what the others were using, for Mihraj had gotten them mediocre quality clothes saying that this was for the mock-up and most of their clothes designs would be rejected as it was, considering only two would be chosen therefore he didn't see the point in giving them the best when it would be going into the scrap pile after Friday. Stingy git, Mike had called him, as he had felt the fabric which wouldn't showcase his piece as well as the good quality one would have. Well she had to be grateful to Arnav for this, as much as she didn't want to, him being her supervisor meant good quality clothes for her that would bring her designs to life most vivaciously.
Fabric in hand she studied the measurements of the models. The figures seemed amiss and so she studied them closely, this wasn't right, the length, height and breadth of these models were extortionate. According to these figures they must be really healthy, like really. Their proportions were all wrong. She got up to go ask Arnav, but then stopped herself, if she went in there again today he would not spare her and what was she going to say that these figures suggest that these models are quite bulky. That didn't seem right, so what if they were she would make do with them. Her job was just to design the outfits, not decide who modeled them. Thus she turned back and went to work, measuring and cutting and then measuring some more before she started sewing.
The next three days went by with Khushi frantically sewing, tweaking and ironing her dresses so that they would be ready for Friday. She didn't socialize much and neither did the others as they were busy with their own designs. Arnav and Khushi's encounters were limited too, even though Khushi did bump into him a few times, knocking his papers over once and dropping a wad of material on top of him the other time that led to his 'What the-?' and aggravated stare, but they managed to keep it more or less civil between them. Friday arrived and Khushi excitedly left the apartment for work, hopeful that she would win today.
'Khushi, your models and designs are in room three and you will be the fifth contestant, so have your models and portfolio ready to display in about three hours as the first contestant will begin her display in about an hour once the judges and photographers are ready, ok?' related Mihraj, as Khushi came into the office.
'Ok...then I will head straight for room three.' With a smile and a hop in her step she made her way to the staging room. Saw the camera crew setting up their equipment as she made her way to the back-stage area and opened the door to find five doors behind it each leading to separate dressing rooms and to her right the curtain which led to the stage outside. She made her way to door number three and opened, only to jump back outside and yank it close again, to check the number written on the door she had opened. It was number three, she had opened the right one. May be she had imagined it. Testily, she opened the door again. Aaaggh, no she hadn't!! She shut the door again and ran for it, there must be some mistake, she needed to find Mihraj or anyone who would explain what had happened. She pulled the stage door open and ran right into someone's chest. Someone who smelled very nice. There was a sweet yet, fruity sort of a fragrance about this person. Mmm...Oh Crap!! She knew who this person was, she had smelt him before, in a situation very much like this back in Lucknow. Why?! Dear God, why?!! Why did she always have to run into Arnav Singh Raizada's arms, were all the other men dead or something?!!!
'Ms Gupta, what is your excuse now, for bashing into me?' he asked curtly, as he pulled her away from him, but kept his hands on her arms, uncertain whether her knees would support her weight on her own.
'They're men.' Was all she could muster, in her flustered state.
*****
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