Arnav checked his watch again. 5 minutes. Hah, Khushi Kumari Gupta, you're toast. That's what you get for messing with Arnav Singh Raizada. You dared to humiliate me by messing my show, now you will be humiliated in front of all these people for being unable to complete the task given to you. Revenge was sweet. He had seen her walk in earlier, when the first contestant had walked out, only to see her walk out again with all her designs shortly followed by the five male models he had called for her. She had lost and had admitted defeat by taking her things and leaving. Although he had to admit, it did feel a bit anti-climatic seeing her not even try to fix things, not that he was complaining. He had given her just enough time for damage control, now if she had possessed his brains and contacts that was a manageable feat in three hours but she clearly didn't, thus had failed; and now in a few minutes she would have to walk on stage to explain just that. How he wished the hands would tick faster and this lady would leave the stage.What was her name...he studied the list, Ishiqa. Hmmm her designs were ok, truthfully, they all looked like a mash-up of the designs you found in any western fashion magazine. There was no originality. This is what he had wanted to avoid, thus had opted to install this programme, yet so far he had seen nothing that made him stop and forget everything. Nothing had moved him. Made him want to jump up and shout yeah, that's the one. Yup, this is what Lavanya and we had in mind when we thought up LaANK. All clones so far. Well no worries, next up he would have some entertainment in the form of Khushi Kumari Gupta before he went back to viewing the other candidates work.
A smirk played across his lips as he thought about what was to come. He could feel the blood rushing in his veins with excitement. 'You seem to like her designs...' NK noted, jerking Arnav out of his thoughts. 'You're smiling. Haven't seen you smile like that in a while Nannav.' He continued in a whisper. Perfect. As always he had noticed things Arnav would prefer him not to have; and as always had drawn the wrong conclusions. Ugh...why did have to be seated next to him. Arnav opened his mouth to reply, when his phone beeped, on the table in front of them. It flashed Aman's name. 'Excuse me, got to take this.' With that he got up and moved towards the door to take the call so as not to distract the other judges and the person on stage who was wrapping up her presentation now. Yes. Mihraj would call Khushi any minute now. He had to end his call with Aman quickly.
'Yes.' He barked into the phone.
'Sir the Bisliri water company called they are interested in sponsoring LaANK.' Came the anxious voice of Aman. He had been six years with Arnav now, yet the fear was still very much alive in his heart, if anything it had increased with time.
'Ok. Set up a meeting and leave their Accounts file on my desk, I will go through the numbers and then decide.' Arnav responded with a terse tone and then cut the line before Aman could distract him any further from seeing Khushi's loss.
He had just began to head back to his seat when his phone rung again. Annoyed he looked at who was calling. The display, flashed, Di, he couldn't avoid that call, so grudgingly he looked at the stage where Mihraj was emerging from backstage looking a little disgruntled, no doubt Khushi had just informed him that she didn't have a show to put only a portfolio to display, which the crew were assembling on stage. With that he slid his thumb across the green call button and answered the phone turning away from the stage, he would have to miss the beginning of Khushi's stuttering apology.
'Yes Di? Everything ok?' he asked, considering Anjali generally didn't call him during work as she knew it annoyed him to be disturbed with house issues.
'Yes. Yes, I just got off the phone with Mr Rizwaan. He said the papers for my institution are ready, so can you pick them up for me after work so that I can get a copy to the construction company to get them to begin their job?'
'Sure.' Arnav replied, he knew how important this institute was for Anjali, it was what had gotten her out of her misery after the divorce and given her something to work for. An institute for children with special needs.
'Thank you Chotay. Court closes at five, so try and get there before that.' Came her chirpy voice.
'I'm busy till four here at LaANK. So if I leave after that court will probably close. I will send Aman and tell him to get a copy done for you too. Ok?' said Arnav as he checked the time. It was already 2:10 and after Khushi there would be four more candidates and then they had to make the selection. It was going to be a long process.
'Yeah. That will be perfect. Thank you Chotay, you're the best!' he could hear her smile in her voice, which made him smile.
'For you, anytime, Di. Ok I've got to go. Will call Aman and tell him to drop the papers at home.' With that he hung up and dialed Aman's number. He answered on the first bell, 'Sir?'
'Yeah Aman, listen I need you to go to court and collect construction papers from Mr Rizwaan. Make a copy of them and then drop the copy and the original document at home with Di. Ok?'
'Yes sir. Anything else.' He enquired.
'No. That's it.' Said Arnav as he hung up and turned to head back towards the stage. But only he couldn't, his whole body became stiff and limp at the same time. His phone slipped from his hands as his mouth fell open and his eyes widened to better take in the beauty that stood on stage in front of him. He felt his breathing shorten as his heart-rate increased. Never before had he seen a creature so beautiful. If he was a believer, he would have sweared she wasn't human but a fairie. All thoughts left him: revenge, gloating, humiliation, all of them. What was left, was Khushi Kumari Gupta, adorned in a deep red sari on centre stage, looking breath-takingly magnificent.
She began to walk down the ramp and so did he, towards her. The photographer snapped photos as she elegantly walked towards the centre of the room, the crystals on her sari and in her ear glistening in the light. The judges nodded in appreciation and out of the corner of his eye he saw NK raising his thumb up at her and winking. That bothered him. She reached the centre of the room as did he, where she paused to let the photographer take another snap before she began to explain her designs. She hadn't noticed him, that bothered him too. He wanted her attention, so he moved out of the shadows and came in front of the judges table to be directly in her line of vision when she turned away from the camera to go towards her portfolio.
As she turned she caught sight of him, he saw it in her eyes, the confidence and nervousness it had displayed moments before, turned into something else completely. Fear. She was afraid of him. She shifted her feet nervously as her hand found her anchal, which she began to play with.A nervous habit, he had noticed her do that with her dupatta back in Lucknow too. She averted her gaze from his, which was transfixed on hers. Then suddenly her stance changed, she let go of her anchal, stood taller, as her expression changed from afraid to defiant. The fear in her eyes tuned out as triumph and determination replaced it. Meeting his eyes, she fixed her anchal and then walked over towards her portfolio that was displayed next to the four models. No, not models, but girls. They all looked to be in their late teens, one or two may be in their early twenties, like her. She had accomplished what he thought she wouldn't be able to. He was truly impressed. She took her stance next to them, to allow the photographer to take the final shot capturing the five mock-ups and the portfolio behind them, as Arnav turned to take his seat next to the judges and hear Khushi's presentation.
'Ready Ms Gupta?' Asked Mihraj, who was the one introducing and asking all the contestants about their designs.
'Yes.' Khushi smiled.
'Firstly, I think we all would like to know why you opted to not use professional models to showcase your designs?' As he asked this question, Khushi saw that it was only then that the judges realized that they were not models. Mihraj had asked because he was irked by Khushi's choice and wished to inform the judges of her discrepancy. Well she hadn't gone against Arnav just to be stumped by this fool, who was happy to not abide by rules when it was him doing it, but not when others.
'I did not realize we had to use professional models, no one specified that,' she said that looking directly at Arnav. He smirked internally, she had taken a leaf out of his book and turned his own words for her advantage just the way he had done to her. 'Besides I figured that since this is a mock-up why waste the company's resources by paying professional models when I had four friends happy to do the job for free. I don't think LaANK should be disappointed by that descision.'
'Not at all Khushi. You thought right.' Came the enthusiastic response of NK, from beside Arnav. Arnav didn't see why NK had to say anything but didn't bother scolding him, while Mihraj, put out, went on to ask Khushi about her designs.
'Ok, so what would you like to tell us about the line you have designed and why do you think LaANK should be interested in it?'
'It's simple really, as it appeals to every girl. This line is catered to the Indian Girl, not just a working lady, married woman, a mother or a teenager, but to all. I have designed outfits both western and Indian, heavy and light. So that any woman wanting to buy designer clothes can come to LaANK and find what she likes. In my line you can see,' she said pointing towards Mehreen and Mehjabeen, as well as the sketches behind them, 'there is western attire for the woman who wishes to dress herself in it, there is formal attire for the working woman a mix of shalwar kameez's and pant-suits,' here she gestured towards Mehnaz and the designs on the canvas behind her. 'Then there is wedding wear,' now she was standing behind Maheen, 'for brides and those who are attending the wedding and lastly there is an assortment of intricate cutwork and stonework on these outfits here,' she said gesturing towards the outfits drawn behind her and the one she herself wore, 'for newlyweds, where the design is heavy and delicate yet the work is not that heavy in weight thus she can carry the clothes easily, see,' she walked forward easily and twirled for them, making Arnav's heart-stop for a moment as her silky brown hair whipped up around her face and the sudden twirl brought a flush of rouge in her cheeks, 'otherwise you generally see newlyweds often having difficulty.' She carried on with her point as she adjusted her sari before she went back to her place on the stage. 'Thus you see, it appeals to all, so in my opinion it is not why LaANK should be interested, it is, why shouldn't they be? It represents their slogan to the fullest, "LaANK, where your choice is our choice".' Khushi ended with a heart-stopping smile that re-emphasized the question she had just asked.
He couldn't help but be pleased with what she had accomplished, true he hadn't wanted that, but he couldn't deny her achievement, she had earned it. Yes he would have to see her every day now at LaANK, but he was a man of his words, he had promised her the job if she won and she had, fair and square. Actually, no, not fair and square but rather by a mile, he would never admit it to her but her designs were outstanding compared to the others. He had four more to see, but he knew that they would never match up. Khushi had a fire in her to prove herself, he hadn't seen that in any of the others. She had passion and flare. Too much flare for his like, but then again if one was going to beat Arnav Singh Raizada at anything then they needed to have that didn't they? She was what LaANK were looking for, what LaANK needed and he wasn't stupid to let her go because of his dislike towards her.
'Thank you Ms Gupta. You will be notified of our decision after the final contender has shown their pieces.' Mihraj said, signaling Khushi to wrap up her things and take them backstage.
'Her's was brilliant wasn't it Nannav?' voiced NK excitedly in Arnav's ear. Why was he so ecstatic?
'Let's just see what the other's have before you decide who to pick NK.' Was all he replied.
'But you think she is better than the others too right, I mean I saw it, you smiled and you were standing by the ramp for quite some time when she was there...you like her right?' NK pushed on.
'What rubbish? I don't like her NK. She's a brown-noser that's what she is, I have catered to all, just like LaANK says...suck up.' Gritted Arnav through his teeth.
'And that is wrong because...this is what we wanted didn't we, someone who kept LaANK's moto in mind and someone who brought originality in their work.' NK reminded Arnav of their talks prior to the selection of the designers. 'I mean she kind of reminds me of La, in her designing sense I mean,' he added quickly seeing the rage enter Arnav's eyes. 'She has originality in her work and she keeps her intended customers in mind, she doesn't target just one branch of women but rather every branch...Just the way La did, that is all I'm saying.'
'She is no Lavanya, NK, so don't ever compare her to her. And as for whether she will be chosen, that we will decide after the final contestant has displayed their designs. Now enough let me concentrate on this guy...what's his name...' he checked the list, 'Sooraj...interesting choice of colours...' Arnav changed the subject as he no longer wished to discuss Khushi or Lavanya. But try as he may, he couldn't deny what NK had witnessed, for he had too, she had that passion Lavanya had when it came to designing clothes. He had seen it in her eyes when she had talked about her designs, during those five minutes all nervousness had left her and only passion had spoken. She had moved so gracefully, between each of her pieces. Her voice had been so melodious that one was caught in a trance whilst they listened to it talk about her items. She had been mesmerizing. And that bothered him, how she had completely captivated his mind, his attention for those few minutes.
Pleased as he was about finding the next designer for LaANK, that he was sure she would be one of the two they would choose, for no other had even come up to her mark, something troubled him. Now that she was no longer in front of him, but this Sooraj person, with the most atrocious designs he had seen, he could think more clearly; and his mind was telling him to keep clear of her, she was bad news. She flummoxed him and he did not like it. He hated not being in control and that was what she did. She was unpredictable and he was not a fan of the unpredictable at all.
A smirk played across his lips as he thought about what was to come. He could feel the blood rushing in his veins with excitement. 'You seem to like her designs...' NK noted, jerking Arnav out of his thoughts. 'You're smiling. Haven't seen you smile like that in a while Nannav.' He continued in a whisper. Perfect. As always he had noticed things Arnav would prefer him not to have; and as always had drawn the wrong conclusions. Ugh...why did have to be seated next to him. Arnav opened his mouth to reply, when his phone beeped, on the table in front of them. It flashed Aman's name. 'Excuse me, got to take this.' With that he got up and moved towards the door to take the call so as not to distract the other judges and the person on stage who was wrapping up her presentation now. Yes. Mihraj would call Khushi any minute now. He had to end his call with Aman quickly.
'Yes.' He barked into the phone.
'Sir the Bisliri water company called they are interested in sponsoring LaANK.' Came the anxious voice of Aman. He had been six years with Arnav now, yet the fear was still very much alive in his heart, if anything it had increased with time.
'Ok. Set up a meeting and leave their Accounts file on my desk, I will go through the numbers and then decide.' Arnav responded with a terse tone and then cut the line before Aman could distract him any further from seeing Khushi's loss.
He had just began to head back to his seat when his phone rung again. Annoyed he looked at who was calling. The display, flashed, Di, he couldn't avoid that call, so grudgingly he looked at the stage where Mihraj was emerging from backstage looking a little disgruntled, no doubt Khushi had just informed him that she didn't have a show to put only a portfolio to display, which the crew were assembling on stage. With that he slid his thumb across the green call button and answered the phone turning away from the stage, he would have to miss the beginning of Khushi's stuttering apology.
'Yes Di? Everything ok?' he asked, considering Anjali generally didn't call him during work as she knew it annoyed him to be disturbed with house issues.
'Yes. Yes, I just got off the phone with Mr Rizwaan. He said the papers for my institution are ready, so can you pick them up for me after work so that I can get a copy to the construction company to get them to begin their job?'
'Sure.' Arnav replied, he knew how important this institute was for Anjali, it was what had gotten her out of her misery after the divorce and given her something to work for. An institute for children with special needs.
'Thank you Chotay. Court closes at five, so try and get there before that.' Came her chirpy voice.
'I'm busy till four here at LaANK. So if I leave after that court will probably close. I will send Aman and tell him to get a copy done for you too. Ok?' said Arnav as he checked the time. It was already 2:10 and after Khushi there would be four more candidates and then they had to make the selection. It was going to be a long process.
'Yeah. That will be perfect. Thank you Chotay, you're the best!' he could hear her smile in her voice, which made him smile.
'For you, anytime, Di. Ok I've got to go. Will call Aman and tell him to drop the papers at home.' With that he hung up and dialed Aman's number. He answered on the first bell, 'Sir?'
'Yeah Aman, listen I need you to go to court and collect construction papers from Mr Rizwaan. Make a copy of them and then drop the copy and the original document at home with Di. Ok?'
'Yes sir. Anything else.' He enquired.
'No. That's it.' Said Arnav as he hung up and turned to head back towards the stage. But only he couldn't, his whole body became stiff and limp at the same time. His phone slipped from his hands as his mouth fell open and his eyes widened to better take in the beauty that stood on stage in front of him. He felt his breathing shorten as his heart-rate increased. Never before had he seen a creature so beautiful. If he was a believer, he would have sweared she wasn't human but a fairie. All thoughts left him: revenge, gloating, humiliation, all of them. What was left, was Khushi Kumari Gupta, adorned in a deep red sari on centre stage, looking breath-takingly magnificent.
She began to walk down the ramp and so did he, towards her. The photographer snapped photos as she elegantly walked towards the centre of the room, the crystals on her sari and in her ear glistening in the light. The judges nodded in appreciation and out of the corner of his eye he saw NK raising his thumb up at her and winking. That bothered him. She reached the centre of the room as did he, where she paused to let the photographer take another snap before she began to explain her designs. She hadn't noticed him, that bothered him too. He wanted her attention, so he moved out of the shadows and came in front of the judges table to be directly in her line of vision when she turned away from the camera to go towards her portfolio.
As she turned she caught sight of him, he saw it in her eyes, the confidence and nervousness it had displayed moments before, turned into something else completely. Fear. She was afraid of him. She shifted her feet nervously as her hand found her anchal, which she began to play with.A nervous habit, he had noticed her do that with her dupatta back in Lucknow too. She averted her gaze from his, which was transfixed on hers. Then suddenly her stance changed, she let go of her anchal, stood taller, as her expression changed from afraid to defiant. The fear in her eyes tuned out as triumph and determination replaced it. Meeting his eyes, she fixed her anchal and then walked over towards her portfolio that was displayed next to the four models. No, not models, but girls. They all looked to be in their late teens, one or two may be in their early twenties, like her. She had accomplished what he thought she wouldn't be able to. He was truly impressed. She took her stance next to them, to allow the photographer to take the final shot capturing the five mock-ups and the portfolio behind them, as Arnav turned to take his seat next to the judges and hear Khushi's presentation.
'Ready Ms Gupta?' Asked Mihraj, who was the one introducing and asking all the contestants about their designs.
'Yes.' Khushi smiled.
'Firstly, I think we all would like to know why you opted to not use professional models to showcase your designs?' As he asked this question, Khushi saw that it was only then that the judges realized that they were not models. Mihraj had asked because he was irked by Khushi's choice and wished to inform the judges of her discrepancy. Well she hadn't gone against Arnav just to be stumped by this fool, who was happy to not abide by rules when it was him doing it, but not when others.
'I did not realize we had to use professional models, no one specified that,' she said that looking directly at Arnav. He smirked internally, she had taken a leaf out of his book and turned his own words for her advantage just the way he had done to her. 'Besides I figured that since this is a mock-up why waste the company's resources by paying professional models when I had four friends happy to do the job for free. I don't think LaANK should be disappointed by that descision.'
'Not at all Khushi. You thought right.' Came the enthusiastic response of NK, from beside Arnav. Arnav didn't see why NK had to say anything but didn't bother scolding him, while Mihraj, put out, went on to ask Khushi about her designs.
'Ok, so what would you like to tell us about the line you have designed and why do you think LaANK should be interested in it?'
'It's simple really, as it appeals to every girl. This line is catered to the Indian Girl, not just a working lady, married woman, a mother or a teenager, but to all. I have designed outfits both western and Indian, heavy and light. So that any woman wanting to buy designer clothes can come to LaANK and find what she likes. In my line you can see,' she said pointing towards Mehreen and Mehjabeen, as well as the sketches behind them, 'there is western attire for the woman who wishes to dress herself in it, there is formal attire for the working woman a mix of shalwar kameez's and pant-suits,' here she gestured towards Mehnaz and the designs on the canvas behind her. 'Then there is wedding wear,' now she was standing behind Maheen, 'for brides and those who are attending the wedding and lastly there is an assortment of intricate cutwork and stonework on these outfits here,' she said gesturing towards the outfits drawn behind her and the one she herself wore, 'for newlyweds, where the design is heavy and delicate yet the work is not that heavy in weight thus she can carry the clothes easily, see,' she walked forward easily and twirled for them, making Arnav's heart-stop for a moment as her silky brown hair whipped up around her face and the sudden twirl brought a flush of rouge in her cheeks, 'otherwise you generally see newlyweds often having difficulty.' She carried on with her point as she adjusted her sari before she went back to her place on the stage. 'Thus you see, it appeals to all, so in my opinion it is not why LaANK should be interested, it is, why shouldn't they be? It represents their slogan to the fullest, "LaANK, where your choice is our choice".' Khushi ended with a heart-stopping smile that re-emphasized the question she had just asked.
He couldn't help but be pleased with what she had accomplished, true he hadn't wanted that, but he couldn't deny her achievement, she had earned it. Yes he would have to see her every day now at LaANK, but he was a man of his words, he had promised her the job if she won and she had, fair and square. Actually, no, not fair and square but rather by a mile, he would never admit it to her but her designs were outstanding compared to the others. He had four more to see, but he knew that they would never match up. Khushi had a fire in her to prove herself, he hadn't seen that in any of the others. She had passion and flare. Too much flare for his like, but then again if one was going to beat Arnav Singh Raizada at anything then they needed to have that didn't they? She was what LaANK were looking for, what LaANK needed and he wasn't stupid to let her go because of his dislike towards her.
'Thank you Ms Gupta. You will be notified of our decision after the final contender has shown their pieces.' Mihraj said, signaling Khushi to wrap up her things and take them backstage.
'Her's was brilliant wasn't it Nannav?' voiced NK excitedly in Arnav's ear. Why was he so ecstatic?
'Let's just see what the other's have before you decide who to pick NK.' Was all he replied.
'But you think she is better than the others too right, I mean I saw it, you smiled and you were standing by the ramp for quite some time when she was there...you like her right?' NK pushed on.
'What rubbish? I don't like her NK. She's a brown-noser that's what she is, I have catered to all, just like LaANK says...suck up.' Gritted Arnav through his teeth.
'And that is wrong because...this is what we wanted didn't we, someone who kept LaANK's moto in mind and someone who brought originality in their work.' NK reminded Arnav of their talks prior to the selection of the designers. 'I mean she kind of reminds me of La, in her designing sense I mean,' he added quickly seeing the rage enter Arnav's eyes. 'She has originality in her work and she keeps her intended customers in mind, she doesn't target just one branch of women but rather every branch...Just the way La did, that is all I'm saying.'
'She is no Lavanya, NK, so don't ever compare her to her. And as for whether she will be chosen, that we will decide after the final contestant has displayed their designs. Now enough let me concentrate on this guy...what's his name...' he checked the list, 'Sooraj...interesting choice of colours...' Arnav changed the subject as he no longer wished to discuss Khushi or Lavanya. But try as he may, he couldn't deny what NK had witnessed, for he had too, she had that passion Lavanya had when it came to designing clothes. He had seen it in her eyes when she had talked about her designs, during those five minutes all nervousness had left her and only passion had spoken. She had moved so gracefully, between each of her pieces. Her voice had been so melodious that one was caught in a trance whilst they listened to it talk about her items. She had been mesmerizing. And that bothered him, how she had completely captivated his mind, his attention for those few minutes.
Pleased as he was about finding the next designer for LaANK, that he was sure she would be one of the two they would choose, for no other had even come up to her mark, something troubled him. Now that she was no longer in front of him, but this Sooraj person, with the most atrocious designs he had seen, he could think more clearly; and his mind was telling him to keep clear of her, she was bad news. She flummoxed him and he did not like it. He hated not being in control and that was what she did. She was unpredictable and he was not a fan of the unpredictable at all.
*****
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