Chapter 27: Without Her Consent

"Maan and Geet have arrived and are waiting for me at security, I will go meet them and show them where to sit," Arnav said burying his face further into her hair, "Till then you get changed into the dress sweetheart, I'll be back in a few minutes.
 
 
He placed the kiss on her cheek and walked out of the room without looking back; leaving behind a stunned Khushi was still trying to steady her breath.
 
 
Khushi went back to the dress and looked at it. It was absolutely stunning. It was a silver colored long gown, covered in sequin from top to bottom. There was a sheer accent of lace covered with sequins to go over the right shoulder. An encrusted jewel had that to the dress, and the rest of the sequences created a sash from her right should to her left hip, making it flow elegantly.
 
 
Khushi put on the gown and adjusted it. She looked at herself in the mirror and noticed that it fitted her perfectly, like it was meant for her. The sizing was correct of the entire gown, even the under garments. The thought of Arnav knowing that caused a slight blush to rise up her cheeks. She was broken out of her reverie when there was knock on the door.
 
 
"Come in," she said. She had expected it to be Anav, but it was someone else.
 
 
One of the assistants walked in carrying supplies in her hand, "Sir told me to come here to get you ready for the fashion show."
 
 
Khushi said down in front of the dresser on the stool and allowed for the assistant to get her ready. Mary, the name that assistant had told her when questioned, first put Khushi's hair into curlers and then started on her makeup. After spending an hour of putting on makeup, fixing her hair and applying final touches, Mary stepped back and looked at her work. She looked amazing. Mary packed up her things and said, "Sir would be back in a few minutes to escort her to the ramp."
 
 
Mary walked out of the room and closed the door while leaving. Khushi began to fidget with her dress, then let it go realizing that she was probably messing it up. She stood up and began to pace the room muttering things under her breath. How was she going to do this in front of so many people? She was already so nervous thinking about it, what would happen of her when she walked on stage. She continued saying things under her breath, and this was the site that welcomed Arnav when he stepped into the room.
 
 
He closed the door behind him and looked back up at Khushi, she still hadn't noticed his presence. Arnav took this time to have his eyes wander over the sight in front of him; she looked beautiful in the dress. The material clung to her figure, and the sequins glistened in the light as she walked back and forth. The curls in her hair were slightly bouncing at every step she took, her bottom lip being caught in the torture of her teeth as she bit it. Reminding him of what had happened last night at the party when she had done that.
 
 
He took steady steps towards her, trying not to alarm her and stood there for a few minutes still watching her. Khushi finally realized him standing there and looked up into his eyes.
 
 
"Arnav I can't do this," she said walking up to him.
 
 
"Khushi you're going to do this, perfectly fine. You'll be amazing, I know," he replied back assuring her.
 
 
"I've never walked a ramp before. Forget about walking a ramp, I've never walked in front of so many people that will only have attention on me," she said.
 
 
"Khushi it will work out. I'm going to be walking alongside with you, since you're the showstopper. I won't let you get nervous, do you trust me?" he said taking her hand in his.
 
 
Khushi could see the sincerity in his eyes, and knew he truly meant everything he had said, she placed her other free hand on top of his and said, "I trust you."
 
 
This was enough for Arnav's heartbeat to go fluttering, he quickly engulfed her in a hug, making sure not to ruin her dress and hair.
 
 
"Thank you for doing this Khushi," he said into her ear.
 
 
"No problem," she replied back and broke from the hug. The lady on the intercom had just announced the show stopper and designer for DK Group Designs, and AR was right after them to walk the ramp.
 
 
"Challe (Shall we go)?" Arnav asked looking back at Khushi and she nodded. Arnav and Khushi walked side by side to the backstage of the ramp, AR Industries ramp walk had already begun, as the could see the models walking down and coming back in. A lot of cheers were heard from the audience, indicating that they liked his designs.
 
Finally the last model walked backstage and Arnav wound his hand around Khushi's waist .
 
 
"Ready?" he asked.
 
 
"Yea, just don't let me fall," she said looking back at him only to make him chuckle and tighten his hold around her waist. This girl sure surprised him a lot.
 
 
"And now, please put your hands together for the showstopper of AR Industries along with that man behind it all, Arnav Singh Raizada!," the woman said into the microphone.
 
 
Arnav walked onto the ramp, with Khushi alongside him. A lot flashes were seen due to the amount of photographs that were being taken. Arnav smiled back at everyone then looked down at Khushi who didn't seem as nervous as before. He rubbed his hand along her waist and she smiled looking back at him. They stopped at the edge of the ramp and posed for a few seconds. One the way back, Arnav clasped his hand with Khushi's and walked back with her, not to miss the whistle that came from the audience. Only to tilt his head back a bit and figure out it was his best friend Maan. When they had reached the beginning of the ramp, all the models were back on the ramp, Arnav and Khushi turned back around to show of the entire collection to the audience.
 
 
While they stood there for a few minutes, Arnav whispered into her ear, "Earlier you said you didn't have so many people putting this much attention on you, but now you need to start getting used to it."
 
 
"Why?" she asked him tilting her head a bit, but still facing the audience.
 
 
"Because so many girls are going to get their heart broken, and you're going to be the reason behind it," he replied with a smirk. In all the lights and commotion, Arnav still didn't miss the pink color that started to appear on her cheeks.
 

They walked backstage and waited for the results. Khushi sighed a breath of relief that it was over. AR was the last company to walk the ramp, meaning that the results would soon be told. All this time while waiting for the results, Arnav had his hand held in his, he needed reassurance from someone else that he had done well. And without a doubt, AR had won, making their designs to go worldwide next year.
 
 
"You did it!" Khushi exclaimed and looked back at Arnav with excitement in her eyes. Without thinking twice, she quickly kissed his cheek as a way of congratulating him.
 
"We did it," he said replying to her. They walked off of the backstage and were greeted with many congrats by other associates. Khushi left for a while saying that she had to go to the bathroom.
 
Mr. Kapoor had come to him in order to congratulate him for his victory at such a young age, they had known each other for many years as he used to be one of his dads best friend. Although Arnav considered him as a uncle, Mr. Kapoor still insisted on calling him Mr. Raizada.
 
 
"Mr. Raizada, I'm holding a dinner tonight and you will definitely have to come," Mr. Kapoor said.

   
"Sure, definitely I'll come," Arnav replied back.

   
"Also bring your significant other," Mr. Kapoor replied, "It's a couple's dinner."

   
"Ok," Arnav said. Mr. Kapoor left to talk with other business associates. Khushi came back a few minutes later from the bathroom.

   
"Khushi there's a dinner tonight that I have to go to," Arnav said looking at her.
 
 
"So? Then go to it," Khushi said smiling.
 
 
"It's a couple's dinner...," Arnav said, "...and you're coming with me."
 
 
"KYA?!" Khushi exclaimed.
 
 
"Yea," he replied back.
 
 
"But there will be so much media there, and they'll see me with you," Khushi said.
 
 
"So what if they see us together? We are together," Arnav said.

   
"Yea, but we haven't told anyone back home about this, and I don't want anyone to find out from the media," Khushi said.
 
 
"Ummm...actually I've told them...," Arnav said hesitantly.
 
 
"You what?!" Khushi said rage being clearly heard in her voice.
 
 
"Khushi let me explain this please," Arnav said protesting while he followed angry looking Khushi outside. On his way there, he spotted Maan coming to congratulate him. But seeing the current state of Khushi being angry, he told Arnav to go pacify her first.
 
 
"Khushi let me explain," he said when he reached behind her. They were standing in the garden that was connected with the banquet hall, flowers aligned the edges and a fountain was in the middle, with a bench at one end.

Khushi turned back around and said, "You better have a very good explanation for this!"