As he stepped down from the platform, he closed his eyes and let the noise and the atmosphere seep into his being. He had pulled it off. The grand launch had begun and was going great. The last three months of extensive hard work, long, frustrating nights, in unchartered waters had finally come to being a success. The close calls that had threatened the event to be cancelled had shimmered away under his determination to see this project through and now he stood on the brink of his love’s dream turning into a success. I did it Lavanya. I did it! You’re dream has finally been realized. It’s happening you’re collection is being modeled right now for this good-for-nothing world to see and revel in.
Lavanya, his best-friend, his love, his fiancée. How happy would she have been today, seeing LaANK’s first fashion show being paraded. How hard had she worked for this, only to have been taken so far away from it just days before its launch. Leading people to get carried away with their ridiculous superstitions and wanting nothing to do with the project; and now look at them, three months later, all sitting in the front row, mulling over what the best quotation for this line would be, how to get their hands on such unique designs. One-of-a-kind, which they would remain, as its’ creator would never make another line again, for she was no longer in this world. Despicable, these people were, they had abstained from this project months before, leaving Arnav and NK to fund and plan this launch all by themselves. The silent partners and the best-friends of Lavanya, left to wade out in waters they had never known, they had planned on cruising in but never thought they would be left alone to man the ship. It had been Lavanya’s project, they had just meant to be the partners, Arnav the funder while NK the organizer, as he was well connected. They had not even dreamed of ever working together, without Lavanya as a buffer between the two, to manage LaANK – which stood for Lavanya-Arnav-NandKishore. But love for her had brought the two together to make sure their best-friend’s final project and dream was fulfilled and today it was. Today LaANK had launched its’ first collection in the heart of India’s fashion centre, Lucknow; all the big names and media were here to witness the event which was a stunning success, and if anyone dared to wreck it they would face the wrath of Arnav Singh Raizada.
‘Nanav!’ NK exclaimed, jolting Arnav out of his reverie. He turned to face the over-optimistic face of NK, as he approached him. NK – NandKishore, Lavanya’s other best friend and Arnav’s thorn in the side, not because of any romantic relationship between the two that would have been better for the awkwardness would have kept him at bay from Arnav when he had proposed to Lavanya, or rather when Lavanya had proposed him. That day still brought a smile to his face, how she had jumped the gun when she had found the ring in his office drawer. She had charged at him like a bull when baited with red cloth.
‘What’s this ASR?’ She’s demanded.
‘What’s what, Lavanya?’ asked Arnav unaware of what she had discovered from under his files.
‘This ASR. This ring.’
‘What ring?’ asked Arnav not following at all and still immersed in the report from the interior office.
‘ASR….this solitaire in your drawer and now in my hand….’ Lavanya stressed, causing him to finally turn around. He focused in on the box she was holding. The Diwali present he had gotten Anjali. He opened his mouth to tell her when what she said next made him go rigid, she had taken his silence to mean something else entirely.
‘WAOH!! Wait….ASR, are you…..are you about to propose to me?!!’ she asked now, her voice on edge with nerves. ‘Oh my God. This is surreal!! I mean I can’t believe it…’ she clutched her abdomen as she heaved. She was hyperventilating!! What was he supposed to do now? How was he supposed to say that he wasn’t, when it clearly was such a big deal for her.
‘Lavanya….hey shhh….breathe….’ He was by her side as quick as a flash, ‘Sshhh…..just breathe….look I won’t if you don’t want to…’ but that only worsened her breathing, she wanted this, Oh god, she wanted to marry him, Why?!!! But he couldn’t let his panic show, when she was panicking herself, ‘hey ssshh, just take deep, slow breaths okay…..whatever you want will happen…..’ he whispered into her ear as he patted her back trying to soothe her. Her head snapped up at that but her breathing was still aggravated. She ignored It, this was more important. ‘You….you want to marry me?’ she asked in disbelief.
‘Umm…’ he began uncertainly, not sure of what was the right answer anymore, his heart was in his throat, she wanted to marry him…..
‘You want to marry me?!! Arnav Singh Raizada wants to marry me?’ she repeated astounded.
‘Uuh….Lavanya, I mean if you…..then I…. I mean, if it’s what you want….but if you don’t….’He said thinking that’s what she wanted, but added that he would be fine if she didn’t, he would be more than fine, marriage was not something that he had ever considered, it wasn’t for him.
‘ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!!! OF COURSE I WANT TO MARRY YOU!!! I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU WANT TO TOO…..I mean you have never really been much of a believer in the whole institution, what with you and your sister’s past, and yet here you are without me even prodding you…ready to marry…..I mean ASR!!!’ she squealed as she hugged him.
Her hug and excitement filled his chest with warmth. Yes this was why he was doing this, because it made her happy. She wanted this and that’s why he would do it for her….he hugged her back. The uncertainty that he had felt regarding marriage all dissipated, all that mattered was she was happy, fine that meant marrying her, but what did it matter? She was his best friend and his girlfriend for the last three years, why not spend the rest of his life with her? He may not have thought about marriage with her but he certainly had never thought about leaving her either and if, if he said no then that may lead her to leave him, for she clearly wanted marriage in her future, this way he could be sure to always have her and it also made her happy….and that’s all that mattered, right? This was the right thing, he need not question it. It would also make his Di happy as after her broken marriage all she wanted was for him to get married, that was her only dream left, as she repeated day and night. This way he would bring his Di great happiness too, she would be ecstatic with the news, it would be a better gift than the ring which was encompassed in Lavanya’s hands at the moment.
After a moment she pulled back and asked him again, ‘You will marry me? I mean even though you don’t believe in it?’ Just to be sure.
He stared at her hard, how was he going to explain it to her so that she understood it, ‘It’s not that I don’t believe in marriage Lavanya, I do and I respect it sincerely, its’ people I lack faith in….’ woman to be precise. But he could trust her….he did trust her. He wasn’t against marriage or love, he just didn’t believe that it existed, for he had seen no evidence of it. All he had seen was lust, lust that had broken marriages, lust that had caused his father and brother in law to forget their vows and their wives. They had disrespected the sacred bond and he hated them for it, but he hated those women more. Those women who had no respect for themselves or marriage. Who drew men out of their homes and slept with them out of marriage. Who had no shame or integrity. Who indulged in sexual activity outside of wedlock, disgracing themselves and their family. But Lavanya wasn’t that woman, she may be a city girl but she was modest at heart. She had her values which she would never cross for anyone. He knew that well, she had been his girlfriend for the past three years, yet she had done nothing that would compromise her. He could trust her to be loyal, to value marriage, to not make an artifice out of it.
‘Yes Lavanya, I want to marry you, I trust you, one should be able to trust who they chose to be their life partner and you are that person!’ now convinced that this was the right decision, ‘And hey, shouldn’t I be the one asking the question?!!’ he asked smilingly, to which she gave him her big smug smile that stated she was Lavanya, so exceptions were the rule with her, nothing ever normal.
‘Nannav?!! Hello are you listening to me?!!’ broke through NK’s chirpy voice, bringing him back to the loud patio of Sheesh-Mahal.
‘Hunh? What?’ Arnav asked.
‘I said I’m going to head backstage to make sure all is well, you take your seat here and make sure everything is A-O-Kay over here, yeah?’ Said NK again.
‘Yeah fine. If you need me back there let me know.’
‘Will do, but we won’t, as we want the models to look graceful and elegant, not petrified when they come out on the ramp.’ Laughed NK as he walked off.
‘Haha..’ Arnav gave an annoyed laugh, ugh….irritating….Lavanya how could you do this to me? Leave me all alone with this irritating friend of yours. You are cruel!! Thought Arnav as he made his way to his seat. It wasn’t that NK was a bad guy, he was great and that was the problem. He was too great, always cheerful, always cracking jokes and busy being the life of the party. Even that wasn’t the problem, it was his lack of seriousness regarding anything and the fact that he just expected to be Arnav’s best bud because he was Lavanya’s, that irked him. He didn’t like forced friendships and he sure as hell didn’t enjoy being called ‘Nannav’ especially not in his place of work, which NK didn’t understand, everything was a joke to him and annoying Arnav his mission in life. Or that’s how it seemed to him. For if that wasn’t the case then why would he remain calling him ‘Nannav’ when he knew his name was Arnav and that he despised people messing with his name, yet he had continued after Lavanya had slurred it when she had introduced them to each other. She had had her mouthful with chocolate, when she had introduced them therefore NK had misheard it.
Uff!! Arnav exhaled, he had to come out his thoughts regarding Lavanya, he had to focus on the event, make sure it went smoothly, this was Lavanya’s dream, he couldn’t let anything ruin it and thinking about her would stop him from focusing on the event. He concentrated on everyone around him and on the stage, things were proceeding as planned. Good. After twenty minutes they would have the interval, then NK’s presentation about LaANK, telling the audience about the aims and the upcoming projects of the company.
People seemed to be enjoying the show, they were whispering animatedly about the different attires and making notes regarding them. He glanced up at the platform, the models were now portraying Lavanya’s red theme. Red. She loved that colour, her favourite colour. It would be her signature she said, her every line would have red in it. He closed his eyes and let his mind tarry for a moment, lost in her thoughts. That is when it happened. The music kept on blaring loudly but the crowd went quite. Something was amiss. He snapped open his eyes to find a vision in green and gold amongst the sea of red on the dais before him.
Lavanya, his best-friend, his love, his fiancée. How happy would she have been today, seeing LaANK’s first fashion show being paraded. How hard had she worked for this, only to have been taken so far away from it just days before its launch. Leading people to get carried away with their ridiculous superstitions and wanting nothing to do with the project; and now look at them, three months later, all sitting in the front row, mulling over what the best quotation for this line would be, how to get their hands on such unique designs. One-of-a-kind, which they would remain, as its’ creator would never make another line again, for she was no longer in this world. Despicable, these people were, they had abstained from this project months before, leaving Arnav and NK to fund and plan this launch all by themselves. The silent partners and the best-friends of Lavanya, left to wade out in waters they had never known, they had planned on cruising in but never thought they would be left alone to man the ship. It had been Lavanya’s project, they had just meant to be the partners, Arnav the funder while NK the organizer, as he was well connected. They had not even dreamed of ever working together, without Lavanya as a buffer between the two, to manage LaANK – which stood for Lavanya-Arnav-NandKishore. But love for her had brought the two together to make sure their best-friend’s final project and dream was fulfilled and today it was. Today LaANK had launched its’ first collection in the heart of India’s fashion centre, Lucknow; all the big names and media were here to witness the event which was a stunning success, and if anyone dared to wreck it they would face the wrath of Arnav Singh Raizada.
‘Nanav!’ NK exclaimed, jolting Arnav out of his reverie. He turned to face the over-optimistic face of NK, as he approached him. NK – NandKishore, Lavanya’s other best friend and Arnav’s thorn in the side, not because of any romantic relationship between the two that would have been better for the awkwardness would have kept him at bay from Arnav when he had proposed to Lavanya, or rather when Lavanya had proposed him. That day still brought a smile to his face, how she had jumped the gun when she had found the ring in his office drawer. She had charged at him like a bull when baited with red cloth.
‘What’s this ASR?’ She’s demanded.
‘What’s what, Lavanya?’ asked Arnav unaware of what she had discovered from under his files.
‘This ASR. This ring.’
‘What ring?’ asked Arnav not following at all and still immersed in the report from the interior office.
‘ASR….this solitaire in your drawer and now in my hand….’ Lavanya stressed, causing him to finally turn around. He focused in on the box she was holding. The Diwali present he had gotten Anjali. He opened his mouth to tell her when what she said next made him go rigid, she had taken his silence to mean something else entirely.
‘WAOH!! Wait….ASR, are you…..are you about to propose to me?!!’ she asked now, her voice on edge with nerves. ‘Oh my God. This is surreal!! I mean I can’t believe it…’ she clutched her abdomen as she heaved. She was hyperventilating!! What was he supposed to do now? How was he supposed to say that he wasn’t, when it clearly was such a big deal for her.
‘Lavanya….hey shhh….breathe….’ He was by her side as quick as a flash, ‘Sshhh…..just breathe….look I won’t if you don’t want to…’ but that only worsened her breathing, she wanted this, Oh god, she wanted to marry him, Why?!!! But he couldn’t let his panic show, when she was panicking herself, ‘hey ssshh, just take deep, slow breaths okay…..whatever you want will happen…..’ he whispered into her ear as he patted her back trying to soothe her. Her head snapped up at that but her breathing was still aggravated. She ignored It, this was more important. ‘You….you want to marry me?’ she asked in disbelief.
‘Umm…’ he began uncertainly, not sure of what was the right answer anymore, his heart was in his throat, she wanted to marry him…..
‘You want to marry me?!! Arnav Singh Raizada wants to marry me?’ she repeated astounded.
‘Uuh….Lavanya, I mean if you…..then I…. I mean, if it’s what you want….but if you don’t….’He said thinking that’s what she wanted, but added that he would be fine if she didn’t, he would be more than fine, marriage was not something that he had ever considered, it wasn’t for him.
‘ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!!! OF COURSE I WANT TO MARRY YOU!!! I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU WANT TO TOO…..I mean you have never really been much of a believer in the whole institution, what with you and your sister’s past, and yet here you are without me even prodding you…ready to marry…..I mean ASR!!!’ she squealed as she hugged him.
Her hug and excitement filled his chest with warmth. Yes this was why he was doing this, because it made her happy. She wanted this and that’s why he would do it for her….he hugged her back. The uncertainty that he had felt regarding marriage all dissipated, all that mattered was she was happy, fine that meant marrying her, but what did it matter? She was his best friend and his girlfriend for the last three years, why not spend the rest of his life with her? He may not have thought about marriage with her but he certainly had never thought about leaving her either and if, if he said no then that may lead her to leave him, for she clearly wanted marriage in her future, this way he could be sure to always have her and it also made her happy….and that’s all that mattered, right? This was the right thing, he need not question it. It would also make his Di happy as after her broken marriage all she wanted was for him to get married, that was her only dream left, as she repeated day and night. This way he would bring his Di great happiness too, she would be ecstatic with the news, it would be a better gift than the ring which was encompassed in Lavanya’s hands at the moment.
After a moment she pulled back and asked him again, ‘You will marry me? I mean even though you don’t believe in it?’ Just to be sure.
He stared at her hard, how was he going to explain it to her so that she understood it, ‘It’s not that I don’t believe in marriage Lavanya, I do and I respect it sincerely, its’ people I lack faith in….’ woman to be precise. But he could trust her….he did trust her. He wasn’t against marriage or love, he just didn’t believe that it existed, for he had seen no evidence of it. All he had seen was lust, lust that had broken marriages, lust that had caused his father and brother in law to forget their vows and their wives. They had disrespected the sacred bond and he hated them for it, but he hated those women more. Those women who had no respect for themselves or marriage. Who drew men out of their homes and slept with them out of marriage. Who had no shame or integrity. Who indulged in sexual activity outside of wedlock, disgracing themselves and their family. But Lavanya wasn’t that woman, she may be a city girl but she was modest at heart. She had her values which she would never cross for anyone. He knew that well, she had been his girlfriend for the past three years, yet she had done nothing that would compromise her. He could trust her to be loyal, to value marriage, to not make an artifice out of it.
‘Yes Lavanya, I want to marry you, I trust you, one should be able to trust who they chose to be their life partner and you are that person!’ now convinced that this was the right decision, ‘And hey, shouldn’t I be the one asking the question?!!’ he asked smilingly, to which she gave him her big smug smile that stated she was Lavanya, so exceptions were the rule with her, nothing ever normal.
‘Nannav?!! Hello are you listening to me?!!’ broke through NK’s chirpy voice, bringing him back to the loud patio of Sheesh-Mahal.
‘Hunh? What?’ Arnav asked.
‘I said I’m going to head backstage to make sure all is well, you take your seat here and make sure everything is A-O-Kay over here, yeah?’ Said NK again.
‘Yeah fine. If you need me back there let me know.’
‘Will do, but we won’t, as we want the models to look graceful and elegant, not petrified when they come out on the ramp.’ Laughed NK as he walked off.
‘Haha..’ Arnav gave an annoyed laugh, ugh….irritating….Lavanya how could you do this to me? Leave me all alone with this irritating friend of yours. You are cruel!! Thought Arnav as he made his way to his seat. It wasn’t that NK was a bad guy, he was great and that was the problem. He was too great, always cheerful, always cracking jokes and busy being the life of the party. Even that wasn’t the problem, it was his lack of seriousness regarding anything and the fact that he just expected to be Arnav’s best bud because he was Lavanya’s, that irked him. He didn’t like forced friendships and he sure as hell didn’t enjoy being called ‘Nannav’ especially not in his place of work, which NK didn’t understand, everything was a joke to him and annoying Arnav his mission in life. Or that’s how it seemed to him. For if that wasn’t the case then why would he remain calling him ‘Nannav’ when he knew his name was Arnav and that he despised people messing with his name, yet he had continued after Lavanya had slurred it when she had introduced them to each other. She had had her mouthful with chocolate, when she had introduced them therefore NK had misheard it.
Uff!! Arnav exhaled, he had to come out his thoughts regarding Lavanya, he had to focus on the event, make sure it went smoothly, this was Lavanya’s dream, he couldn’t let anything ruin it and thinking about her would stop him from focusing on the event. He concentrated on everyone around him and on the stage, things were proceeding as planned. Good. After twenty minutes they would have the interval, then NK’s presentation about LaANK, telling the audience about the aims and the upcoming projects of the company.
People seemed to be enjoying the show, they were whispering animatedly about the different attires and making notes regarding them. He glanced up at the platform, the models were now portraying Lavanya’s red theme. Red. She loved that colour, her favourite colour. It would be her signature she said, her every line would have red in it. He closed his eyes and let his mind tarry for a moment, lost in her thoughts. That is when it happened. The music kept on blaring loudly but the crowd went quite. Something was amiss. He snapped open his eyes to find a vision in green and gold amongst the sea of red on the dais before him.
*****
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