SS: 6 Din, Ladki In! - Part 4

Read all previous parts of this SS over here.

AU Office based story. Khushi matchmakes between Akash and Payal. Title and some story inspiration from the scene in Kal Ho Na Ho.

Part 4

Khushi rubbed her eyes and yawned as she sorted through the racks of jackets trying to find the perfect one to go with the outfit she'd chosen for Akash. She had planned to make the date with Akash last night as short as possible just so he could truthfully say that they had been on one to Payal today but then they'd ended up staying until 2 in the morning.

They'd both been all set to leave when Khushi had almost had a heart attack as she saw Shahrukh Khan walk in with some friends and then he sat on the table right next to them! Khushi had spent two hours just staring at him and working up the courage to talk to him.


Then she'd stayed awake until 5 making sure she had everything perfect for today and had to get to work extra early just to finish the long list of demands that Arnav had given her when he'd called last night. He'd called numerous times over the evening with different requests, all completely non-urgent but Khushi had still taken his calls because they provided amusing breaks from Akash's rather dull recounting of all his encounters with Payal.

When Saurabh Khan had turned up however she'd diverted one call and then promptly switched her phone off. She hadn't wanted any disturbances to probably her one and only time to freely ogle her favourite TV star.


"Khushi? I feel weird."


Khushi turned around and gave a low whistle as Akash came out of the dressing room. She'd given him a pair of skinny jeans and a slim fit pale blue t-shirt to wear instead of his usual suit trousers and boring shirts. "Looking good, sir! Payal won't be able to keep her eyes off you, trust me! Here, try this jacket on."


Akash put the vintage-style leather jacket on and Khushi straightened his collar and smoothed down the arms for him before she stepped back to admire her handiwork.


"You look nice too Khushi," Akash smiled back.


"Don't I just?" Khushi grinned and looked down at the clothes she'd appropriated from the fashion closet herself while she'd been waiting for him to change. She loved clothes and fashion, loved the bright colours and different fabrics. It had been her main incentive for working at AR and she had learnt so much just by being around creative people like Arnav and the other designers.


"Let's take a picture!" Khushi took out the digital camera she always kept with her and set it up to self-time, coming back to stand next to Akash. She linked her arm through his and leaned in, smiling widely.


"Okay you wait here sir, while I change, then we'll do your hair."


"What's wrong with my hair?"


"It needs a cut, and you need to use less gel. You look more like a hedgehog than a human on most days," she called out to him through the door.


"I like my hair though," Akash grumbled and settled down on the chair that was outside the dressing room.


"We have to talk about tomorrow as well because I won't be here. You need to find an interest you share with Payal and 'accidentally' turn up somewhere she goes. That way she can see you in a setting outside work."


"What do you mean? What interests? You're her friend; tell me what she likes, please!"


Khushi stuck her head out of the door and shook it. "Nu unh, I can't do that. Your relationship won't be real otherwise if you just pretend to like something because I told you she likes it too. You have to actually talk to her sir. Find out what she likes, tell her what you like. Then subtly find out what she's doing tomorrow or suggest something that you think she should try and go there yourself as well."


Khushi went back into the dressing room and Akash thought hard about all the conversations he'd had in the past with Payal. "She did mention something about an art show she was going to once. And I like art. Oh! And there's that new exhibition this week, I was planning to go next weekend after the launch but maybe I could go tomorrow? Does she like Art? Khushi? Khushi?"


He waited anxiously for a few minutes before Khushi came out and shrugged causing his face to drop before giving him a huge smile and allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

---

"Can I see you in my office please, Miss Gupta."


The perfunctory knock, opening of the door and clipped demand startled her slightly. Khushi had seen Arnav only briefly in the morning when he had all but snatched his coffee from her hand and stalked off to spend the morning going over the fittings with the designer of their new line. Khushi had used the time to dress up Akash, finish off her to do list and then speak with Akash to confirm his plans for the next day and to check if Payal had approved of his new look. Apparently Payal had smiled and said "you look very nice today Akashji," which had sent the recipient of the compliment into a stuttering frenzy of thanks.


Khushi stood up to go to Arnav's office when she saw his eyes narrow and focus on the notice board behind her. He then began to walk into the office and towards her with slow precise steps.


"Sir? I thought you said we were going to your office?"


"In a moment," he said still not looking at her and Khushi turned herself to look at the two new photo additions to her notice board that had caught his attention.

'And when did you happen to meet this actor, Miss Gupta?'


"Last night sir! He was at Rainbow Delhites and he was so amazing! You know you always think that actors won't look as good in real life but he really does! I mean he was a bit shorter than I'd expected but he was so sweet!"

"I see," he said slowly his gaze moving to the picture of her and Akash that she'd printed off only an hour ago.


He looked annoyed and Khushi bit her lip anxiously. Although the clothes she'd worn were last season's they were still specifically for photo shoots and to lend out to magazines. Employees, particularly the female ones were strictly forbidden from borrowing clothes although many still did.


"Sir, it was only for a few minutes! And I didn't wear them out of the office and even if I did they're last..."


He interrupted her before she managed to get into full flow, "why did you choose those specific items?"


Khushi looked at him in confusion, "sorry sir?"


"The skirt, top and dupatta are all from three different outfits Miss Gupta. Why did you pair them together?"


"Oh! Well I thought they looked better like that," she said quickly before realising how potentially insulting that sounded to his design team's abilities and went back again to biting her lower lip.


"I see." Arnav continued to examine the pictures, even leaning close towards them until his nose was almost touching them. 'Not bad. I suppose they don't look that bad.' He then turned suddenly to Khushi who was still chewing her lip. "Stop that," he growled before stepping back around her desk, £forget my office; we'll go down to my workroom. Let's see if there are any changes you'd make to this collection."


Khushi's eyes widened incredulously. She'd never before been allowed into his private workroom, once having received a stern lecture about how it was his private sanctum and all and so she couldn't believe that he was finally extending and invitation on the one day that she couldn't take him up on it. "Sir, I... I'm sorry but I can't."


"Don't be ridiculous Miss Gupta; I know I said you weren't allowed in there before but that hardly holds water now when I'm asking you specifically. Now come on."


"No sir, you don't understand. I have the afternoon off today."


"What the...? How can you have an afternoon off two days before the launch? Well, I'm cancelling it," he then turned and walked out of her door towards his own office.


Khushi chased after him, "Sir! Sir you can't do this!"


Arnav was standing outside his door waiting for her with a disapproving look. "So tell me Miss Gupta, what exactly is it that's more important than AR's launch? Another date with Akash maybe? I hear your last one was quite successful. Perhaps in future you shouldn't schedule dates on workdays if you plan to come home at 2 in the morning and then turn up to work the following day looking like a panda."


Khushi gasped at the harsh tone and insult, reminiscent of his way of talking to her when she'd first begun work rather than the easy camaraderie they'd fallen into after Lavanya left.


There was a brief moment of uncomfortable silence before Arnav's eyes darted away from her hurt gaze and then back again. He continued in a lighter tone with a slight smile, "or perhaps you have a date lined up with Saurabh Khan?"


"I couldn't date a man shorter than me!" Khushi matched his light hearted tone and smiled back at him before remembering the reason she'd run after him. "Sir, I booked this afternoon off three months ago, it's very important. Please?"


She very rarely said please to Arnav and he must have noted it since he relented, "very well Miss Gupta. You can go and see to your very important appointment but I expect you here tomorrow to work on those outfits with me."


"Done! Absolutely! I'll be here, bright and early!"