1.

"I love you!!" he whispered in her ears in everybody's presence!!! There was a lot of commotion as everyone had found out someone to talk to. Khushi could not hear properly.

"What? What did you say?" she broke apart and asked loudly. Arnav looked at her startled.

"What? Nothing! " He looked surprised.

She looked at others. No one had heard anything. She thought she heard it wrong. She came nearer and whispered. "Did you say that you....."

Arnav had already moved away and was talking to papaji. She followed him. Arnav and Papaji had started business talks. She had to wait for her turn to grab his attention. She stood there rooted to the ground.

Papaji's phone rang. He looked at the screen with surprise on his face. He answered the phone.

"Bonjour! He said rapidly. Khushi looked at him in surprise. Everybody had stopped talking. Papaji's face brightened up.
"oui! oui! He said.
Nous serons heureux! .... There was a long talk from the other end.
Je suis honor! ... Papaji smiled.
Je vais revenir vous! ... He disconnected the phone.

"What was that ?" Khushi asked clumsily. Arnav gaped at her stupidity.

 "Why does she have to show her ignorance all the time? " He thought
"Its French!" he whispered.

Papaji put his hand around her shoulder and said... "Khushi it's a big opportunity to you all!" International Fashion Week will be hosted in Kolkata and we are invited to participate.

Arnav felt a surge of disappointment in his heart! Kolkata Fashion House is invited and not AR designs? He was surprised and disappointed.

"Oh! Yes! We too are invited!" said Aakash coming forward. Arnav looked at him. We received the mail yesterday itself, bhai!!"

“And you didn’t bother to tell me!” Arnav accused bitterly.
“When? At the reception?” Aakash too flared up…! Arnav had no argument….! Papaji stepped in between thumping his hand on Khushi’s Shoulder.  She was the owner of KFH. 

"Now that you two are together forever, It can be a combined big event!" said papaji happily holding their hands.

Arnav and Khushi looked at each other and unanimously said "NO!"

"What?" was everybody else's unanimous shocked reaction.
Papaji gaped at both of them. "Puttar..!" he started off

"Oh! No! It can't be combined! AR Group is at the top in these types of events!" thought Arnav.
"Oh! No! Its papaji's company, though it is in my name now! But I cannot lose its identity by merging it in a combined event!" thought Khushi.

They both looked at papaji... Papaji's mouth fell open so did every body's.

"What on earth they think they are doing? Can't they understand the big opportunity?" Thought everyone else including Aakash.

"Bhai!" Aakash placed his hand on ASR's shoulder. "No Aakash!" said ASR raising his hand stopping further arguments.

Papaji looked at Khushi. She said "No!" refraining herself from giving any explanation. Papaji looked at her for a while and shook his head hopelessly.

"What are they doing?" he thought flabbergasted. Mummiji looked serious. Raj and Shondeep gaped at each other. Lavanya looked excited. Elsa smiled at Khushi. She loved Khushi's spark and her individuality.

"Any way... there is enough time! (to reconsider the decision!). We can talk about it later! For now, we have to take your leave!" said papaji joining his hands to Naniji and Mamaji. Naniji came forward with the pile of gifts.

"Raj and Elsa with the kids are staying back. They will come to take you for Pug Phere to Kolkata!" said Papaji. "Both of you are invited!"

 "Anjali and Lavanya, you too are coming!" said papaji authoritatively compelling everyone to accept the invitation. Everyone nodded.

"You two must be exhausted now! You need not come to the airport!" said papaji hugging Arnav.

"No! We are coming to see you off!" both Arnav and Khushi said again consentaneously. Papaji laughed.

Papaji's phone rang again. It was commissioner of Police. He talked to Papaji for a long time.

"Arnav and Anjali!" papaji started in a grave tone. "You two and Khushi may have to go to sign on the statement tomorrow. I will arrange for my lawyer before that. Please remember do not talk anything or sign on any paper before talking to the lawyer. Understand?" he spoke kindly, looking at devastated Anjali. She nodded.
"Don't worry! everything will be alright." He said putting his hand on her head.
"Puttar, do you want me to stay back?" he asked her. "No!" she said.

"I will take care of it Dad!" said Raj.
"I can stay back!" offered Shondeep! Khushi looked at him in surprise.

"No! it’s ok! Thank you! I will handle it!" said Arnav resolutely looking at papaji with gratitude.

Papaji took him aside and said in a bear whisper "He will be discharged from the hospital and will be taken in police custody in a couple of days! You have to be careful! Let me know every step! Ok?"Arnav nodded.

"Oh! Um.. You know! I am so excited about the fashion event!" said Lavanya brightly ignoring the grave discussion! Papaji looked at her blankly and nodded. "Indeed!" he said. Shondeep and Raj showed no expression.

*** **** *********

"What did you say before the call?" Khushi opened the topic. They were heading back home in their car followed by Raj in his. Raj was invited for dinner and he had agreed.

"What?" he asked again in surprise.

"You said .. something!" she was hell bent on hearing it again from him. He remembered his resolution of getting the confession from her first.

Regi had instigated and challenged him to get the confession of her love…!” He wouldn’t turn his back on the challenge.  The wedding ceremony offered him no chance to do anything.  The reception was too formal…!  She seemed to be enjoying every moment.

The entire office had gathered on the stage and Rekha was at her best teasing the couple.  Arnav felt awkward… The office staff enjoyed that awkwardness.  They had this rarest of the rare chance to tease their otherwise terror boss…!
They all knew the challenge by now...!

“Khushi, what happened? Did he say ‘I love you?’… haan?” Regi asked loud enough for the crowd to hear on the stage.  She blushed but looked at him with gaping mouth.

“What? Did he or did he not?” she shook her head casting an angry glance at Arnav.

“What? And you still married him? Tut..tut… Khushi, this is not good.  There has to be a love confession before marriage…!” Rekha added fuel.  Arnav ignored wanting to vanish from then place.  Regi had turned to him.

“And ASR…!” he started off.  ASR raised his hand to stop him.  The staff chuckled. 

“ASR…! Did she confess?” Regi whispered in ASR’s ear sympathizing with him changing his party.  Khushi flared up.  ASR looked away.

“Regi Sir! What are you doing there?” she asked angrily, seeing Regi with the other party...!

“What? I am asking him to say…. Those magic words..!” he sent waves of laughter.  ASR’s face changed color.  The staff was enjoying his condition.  He was trapped.  The staff left no opportunity to tease him.  He couldn’t do anything.

“This Khushi… It’s all because of her..!” he blamed her for his condition.  She was happily talking to everyone, giggling…! “Why does she have to be so friendly with everyone..?” He didn’t know. Regi and Rekha exchanged glances…!

“Before we go, accept the defeat or the challenge…!” Regi whispered in ASR’s ears; so did Rekha in Khushi’s ears.  ASR and Khushi looked at each other shocked.  The next moment they looked away frowning.  The staff roared in laughter. 

“Shut up!” Arnav had no chance to be heard…!As always, serendipity rescued the couple.  They were interrupted by the press-conference….

*** ***

“Arnav ji, Boliye naa…!” Khushi nudged him…. He came back from the dream state…!


"What? Khushi... I said you are one sample unique piece!" he said what he had said.

"Then ? after that?" she asked him again looking at him. He looked away.
"Then what? I hugged you!" he said concentrating on the road ahead.
"You said something in my ear!" she said pulling his hand to divert his attention from the road.

"Stop it Khushi! I am driving!" he said pulling back his hand smirking.

She kept quiet. "He always does this. Escapes from confessing!" she started muttering.

"Stop it, Khushi!" he ordered applying break. They had reached Raizada House.

*** **** ***

"I am surprised by their decision" Shondeep had said looking at Papaji.

"They are and will be like that!" said papaji.

"This will be interesting! To watch them pitched against each other!" said Shondeep grinning.

"I am worried!" whispered mummiji. Papaji looked at his wife in surprise raising his eyebrows.

"I don't know! But I somehow….  it’s my hunch that this will take a different turn!" she said gravely.

"Don't worry! Nothing will happen! It will be a fun!" said papaji wrapping his arm around his wife.