Edited on August 8th, 2020

| . . . C H A P T E R . . . 3.14 - L A D I E S - D A Y - O U T . . . |

I fished for my phone the second I was out of the building. As soon as the call was answered, I let out the squeal I had been holding back, jumping around in a circle.

Arnav laughed on the other side of the phone. "I take it you got the job?"

"Yes! Yes! Oh, Arnav, I'm so, so happy. Are you at the office or home? I have to tell you everything about the interview." I gushed, turning around to glance back at the building that was going to be the place I'd spend my days at. My brows narrowed when I caught a sight of Sam walking away from his window after shaking his head. He saw me jumping around in circles. "Crap."

"What?"

"I think my boss saw me jumping around in circles in the middle of the parking lot."

Arnav went off in a laughing spree. "Only you, sweet pea. Only you."

"Oh, hush." I scolded him for teasing me, even though it may be true. "Where are you?"

"Office, but how about I meet you at Napoleon's for lunch?"

I negotiated, scrunching my nose, "Hmm, no. We always eat Pizza. You can't always be taking me out for Pizza."

"Okay, baba. You pick, where do you want to go?"

My eyes sparkled as I remembered a spot across from the office. "Raju's. That place has the best frankies." I could go for a couple Manchurian Frankies right now with extra cheese. If you don't know what those are, they are the Indian version of wraps, and let me tell you, you have not lived if you have not had them. In other words, they are also called Mumbai burritos. They are a must have type of street food.

He mocked my choice "Count on you to always suggest street food.".

I rolled my eyes, told him to shut up, and that I would see him there in twenty minutes. Without traffic, it would only be a 3-5 minute ride. But ofcourse, this is Mumbai. Even at odd hours of the night, this place is never quiet.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

As predicted, Arnav was already there when I arrived. Also as assumed, he had picked a table towards the corner window even though many booths near the front of the restaurant were empty given it was slightly early for lunch time. This was the person who preferred peace and quiet when eating, and so would look for secluded and private locations.

I walked over to the table and he seemed to be too engrossed in the menu. Or so I thought. As I pulled out the chair, he made it known. "Seven minutes."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered in a bored tone, "Blame the traffic." He was always on time wherever he needed to be. If he'd know he'd be met with traffic, he'd make sure to account that into his trip time and leave early. Why did I fall for a guy who could be the complete opposite of me in many little things?

My conscious mocked back, "Well, too late now. You love him."

It was one of his vices I was going to have to get used to. Or better yet, he was going to have to learn to deal with my lack of punctuality.

"See anything you like?" He looked up to find me already looking at him. He must have assumed I too was looking at the menu. I didn't need to. I knew exactly what I wanted.

I fluttered my lashes at the extra sweetness in my tone. "Babe, please. I always know what I want even before I get to the restaurant."

He made a knowing face, closing the menu. "I should have known." Before I'd get the chance to remark on his comment, he moved on to question, "Am I going to finally find out which place you got the job at?"

It's one of the things I had kept hidden from him. While I was applying, he had given me tips on the sorts of things I should look for from company websites and job description. But, seeing there could be common interests, I had refrained from telling him the places I had shortlisted. Another reason was my own insecurities. I didn't want to build up my hopes. I had told him I'd tell him after I get the job so in case I didn't do well on the interview, I'd be that much less disappointed.

I replied with a grin, "Irani House."

His eyes widened, in surprise or pride. Perhaps, both. A waiter came up to us, "Are you ready to order?"

Arnav placed his order after I ordered the Manchurian Frankie I wanted with extra cheese and loads of fries to go with it. It was a full-on unhealthy lunch, but neither of us truly cared for the calories. If anything, I needed to up my weight anyway. I should probably go about doing that the healthy way, but who was counting?

Besides, getting a job is a reason to celebrate and all the unhealthy calories were welcome to the party.

As for Arnav, he'll easily burn off the extra calories with his laps in the pool.

When the waiter left us, taking the menus with him, Arnav continued the conversation, "Well, congratulations. I haven't had the chance to work with them much. I do know though that they have a stellar reputation in the industry."

I nodded along, agreeing. "Yes, I mean I'll know more when I join. And do you know, the owner does all the interviews personally? I had thought I'd meet someone from human resource or something first, you know? It's how I had gotten the job at AR. I didn't even know you were the owner until I saw you on the first day, remember?"

"Really? I didn't know that." He answered my initial question about how interviews worked at Irani House. "As owners, we do look over the shortlisted resumes after the HR conducts all of the interviews but I guess some people like to do it themselves."

"Wait, did you see my shortlisted resume too?"

He shook his head, "No, that'd be di. She's the designer. I just handle the business aspect. She picks after looking at portfolios the applicants submit."

"I suppose that makes sense." That's a good balance. Not too much of workload on one person. "So, do you know anything about Sam Irani?"

"Sam?" He questioned, "Is that the son of Inder Irani? I thought his name was Samar."

I shrugged my shoulders, "I guess? He introduced himself as Sam. Might be what he prefers."

"Hmm. I didn't know Mr. Irani passed the reins over to him. They must have kept it out of the news for some reason." He commented before answering my previous question, "Anyway, no. Not much. Anytime during business parties, I've only come across Inder Irani and his wife. Good people, I think. Always a smile on their face whenever they talk to anyone."

I take in that information before concluding, "So not a lot on their son."

"No, just the basics such as he's lived with relatives in US since he was about 12 years old."

"He mentioned he was there at the calendar launch. You didn't come across him then?"

He shook his head again drawing suspicion. "Lavanya had mentioned seeing him the next day, but I didn't."

"He did say he was only there briefly. Probably left early?"

"Probably."

The thoughts were placed on hold since our food arrived and we dug in like hungry animals. Well... let me correct that. I dug in like a hungry animal. Arnav did pass me an amused look at the big bites I was taking, but I had to. I hadn't eaten much in the morning due to wanting to arrive a bit early for the interview, and knowing my track record, I decided it was best to leave earlier, way earlier, causing me to skip breakfast.

"Slow down, sweet pea. Chew."

I waved my hand in air, letting him know I was going to swallow like a cow right now and let my stomach do the chewing later. I suddenly remembered, so I spoke with stuffed mouth, "Oh, btw, Aarav is going to be at Jhanvi's house after school. Could you pick him up when you're on your way home?"

He questioned after swallowing, "Why can't Lavanya do it? Or you for that matter. You don't have anything to do today from what I recall."

"We ladies are going shopping. I seriously need some proper business clothes."

He narrowed his eyes, "What's wrong with the ones you have?"

I raised my brows, nudging him to ask himself if he seriously asked that question. I may not be a shopping freak like most females, but it was a given fact that the clothes I had were almost 2 years old, and from the time when I still purchased my clothes a size or two bigger. I needed to revamp my wardrobe now that I was over those insecurities and could do with clothes that actually fit my body.

He sighed, "Okay, fine. I'll pick him up. Just don't let La and di lose track of time while shopping. And take the driver instead of hopping cabs."

Seeing that they had been just kidnapped, I didn't comment on his overprotectiveness. I simply nodded, agreeing along to all of his instructions. I knew it would keep his mind if he knew we were being safe and careful.

Though, I did object when after we had finished eating and he pulled out his credit card to pay for it. I did let him pay for lunch, but the part I objected was when he passed me the card after the waiter had returned it with the receipt. "Here, keep it."

"Because?"

"Because you're going shopping,"

I rolled my eyes at him not getting the hint, "I earn money, you know, Arnav. I can pay for my own shopping bills."

"Are you going to turn into a feminist right now? I know you can pay for yourself, but if not you, who else is going to spend the money I earn?" He took my hand and placed the card in my palm before enclosing my fingers around it.

It was his way of saying I had a right over it, and it did touch my heart somewhere. I warned him, pointing a finger at him, "Then you can never ever in your life complain about the credit card bills."

He laughed, hooking his index finger with mine, "Sweet pea, I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about you not using it enough."

"Well, if you insist on spoiling me..." I trailed off.

I wasn't going to stop him then, not when he did it as a way of showering his love instead of coming off as I had to depend on him for it. Still, I decided I would only buy things for me with his card. The other things I planned on getting for family and friends, I'd get with my own.

He smiled back, shifting closer and pecking my hooked finger causing my stomach to turn. A simplest of gesture. Innocent in nature. And I pushed away the tingles I felt at my core. "Have fun, okay?"

I pushed a carefree smile on my face, assuring him we'd make the most of the rest of the day. I might not be a fan of shopping, but I looked forward to spending some time with Lavanya and Anjali. A bit of female bonding was much needed.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

I nudged my shoulder towards the right to get Lavanya's attention who was busy going through the racks in one of the shops in the mall - looking for clothes for me because apparently, my choices did not stand through her trial and definitions of class and fashion. "No," she said without looking up, assuming I am holding up another hanger to get her opinion on yet another blouse that she would reject.

"Ofo," I muttered, grabbing her elbow and turning her about so she's facing the same direction. Irritated, she still allowed me to steer her about. I nodded towards Anjali who was physically present with us, but preoccupied with her phone.

Forgetting all about shopping, Lavanya smirked in a mischievous mode. I was right with her. She picked out a dress with a low cut to the chest, skintight, and barely reached mid-thigh. Innocently walking over to Anjali, she requested, "Di, can you go try this on? It is so your color."

Without sparing a glance, Anjali accepted the dress with one hand while the other held her phone reading a message.

I picked another outfit: a white button up with black pencil skirt. "Di, this too." Again, her eyes failed to notice the scandalous nature of the outfits we were handing her as she hung them over her arm and absent mindedly walked to the fitting room.

Knowing what was going to happen in the next coming minute, we bit back our laughter. Sure enough, she returned from the fitting room with a deathly glare in her eyes, a hand propped on her hip. "Very. Funny."

That is when we lost it and burst out laughing. "It was too easy," Lavanya offered the justification on our behalf.

Anjali may be the trend setting designer, but she still had her own restrictions on what made her comfortable. Dress pants and tops, or traditional. If she had to attend business parties, she'd wear a conservative evening gown. The two outfits we had suggested? They didn't exist in her wardrobe. She had no qualms about designing sexy, elegant dresses, but wouldn't wear it herself.

She switched the glare to me, expressing her disappointment, "Khushi, you too?"

"You can't blame me. You were asking for it!"

"Yeah, di." Lavanya went on to imply, "What was Aman saying that you lost track of what's going on around you?"

I added, "Love is in the air, Lavanya."

Chuckling, Lavanya suggested, "Di, come on. Go wear them. Just for laughs."

Anjali's eyes snapped wider, "What? No way! I am not wearing those. They are not even my size."

"We know," I grinned. "They're a size smaller on purpose."

Lavanya gushed, "Yeah, it'll be sexy. Oo, imagine what would happen if you walked into the office wearing that button up and skirt. Aman would lose it!"

I opened my mouth to add to the teasing, but something had Anjali di snapping at her, "Stop it, Lavanya."

But, she didn't. "Hey, come on. You've got an amazing body, di. No one will say you're a mother of a 6-year old. You're meeting him for dinner, right? I say you should definitely dress up for that."

"There is no need for that when I'm thinking of ending it."

It took us a second to process that news, but it made no sense. "Wait, wait, wait. What?" I expressed my shock. How is this the first we are hearing of it?

"Um, yes. It's why I agreed to meet him tonight when he asked. I have a lot to explain to him with everything that has happened. And... I am also not the same as I was two weeks ago."

Lavanya scolds, "Okay, woah, stop. Are you serious? You're giving up without even giving him the chance to be okay with it all?"

I seconded, "Yes, di. Come on. Aman is not going to be scared away because you've survived through something more than most people. He cares for you, di. Heck, it won't be wrong to say he loves you!"

"Even if, it won't work. I should have known better than to start something that mixes business with pleasure."

I raised a brow, questioning if she was being serious again, and scoffed.

She scolded, "Don't scoff, Khushi. Is that not why you got a job somewhere else?"

I shared a look with Lavanya and she shrugged her shoulder, telling me that explaining this was all on me. Exhaling, I stepped closer to her, hooking my arm with hers. "Di, Arnav and I are different than you and Aman. You are both on an equal footing. He's been as instrumental in success of AR Designs as you, Arnav and Lavanya. Tell me, hasn't Aman been with the fashion house since the start?"

"Yes, but..."

I grunted, "Ugh, I am really starting to hate the word!" Turning to face her, I shook her shoulders. "Di! Why the heck are you making things complicated when it doesn't need to be? You both like each other. He is not the kind of person to back off just because of some hiccups along the way."

Lavanya approached us, standing next to me. "Neither do you have to worry about him and Aarav not getting along or whatever. So how about you stop with this nonsense and focus on taking your relationship to the next level?"

Anjali grimaced slightly, "Mm, not sure if I am ready for that."

Lavanya looked ready to bash her head into the wall but held her patience, "Then take it slow. What do I care? That's for the two of you to decide together. But, please, drop this idea of giving up on this relationship altogether because that would be plain idiotic."

I gently added, "Yes, di. He's waited for you for years. Isn't it time you let him in?"

I would have pulled my hair out too, like Lavanya, if she had continued to resist, but thankfully for our innocent hair, she let out a slow nod.

Lavanya grinned, "Great! Now let's find you something to wear so you can look smashing for him."

Anjali instructed at once knowing Lavanya's mischievous streak better, "It better be something decent."

Sadly for her, the odds were stacked against her. Lavanya and I were in no mood to let her have her way. Ofcourse, we weren't a bunch of bullies either. We didn't entirely push her out of her comfort zone. We made sure the outfit would be something she'd be comfortable and confident in pulling off while also highlighting her features.

When I least expected it while exiting the store, Lavanya turned to me. "Khushi, now your turn."

"Uh, excuse me? We already got my clothes. 6 pairs are more than enough, I think."

She slapped my shoulder as if needing to do that to knock some sense into me, "I'm not talking about work clothes and you know that."

I bee-lined at once to escape in the opposite direction of the store she was eying. "Oh hell no," My great escape was, sadly, not so great after all. Since we had tormented Anjali for the last hour and half, she joined hands with Lavanya to pull me into the lingerie store. "Does no one see the problem with my own sister-in-law dragging me into a lingerie store?!"

Anjali clarified, "Not your sister-in-law yet."

I decided to use it as my weapon. "Exactly! We are not even married yet! Heck, he hasn't even asked or made any indication that..."

Lavanya cut me off, speaking over me. "Shut it, Khushi. We both know you are getting married. It's a matter of when."

Anjali added, "Yeah, and I have a son out of wedlock. You don't get to be prim and proper in front of me."

I frowned, "You do realize we've only kissed a few times? Not even a full-blown make out session."

Lavanya used that to further her cause, "Then you two definitely need a push."

"What about you, hmm?"

She smirked, "See the problem with that, babe? There is no guy in my life."

My tongue betrayed me, speaking too soon, "Just so I can get my revenge, I am going to make it my mission to set you up with a guy."

She laughed. "Oh, Khushi. Naïve Khushi. You shouldn't have told me your plan if you were thinking of tricking me into going out with someone."

Damn it. She was right. I should have kept my big mouth shut. Now I had no upper hand to sneak in the revenge subtly.

For the next hour, I was pulled in all directions inside the store and my face must have flushed a thousand times. Other than having no choice but letting them maneuver me around like a puppet, I shook my head at every single thing they suggested I should buy. Eventually, they stopped asking my approval and decided between themselves. When I refused to pay for it, Lavanya tickled me to give Anjali the opportunity to snatch my purse out of my hands.

As we left the mall, I announced, "I am never asking either of you to accompany me in shopping again."

I was better off sticking to just having Riddhima as my best friend. If she wasn't busy with her classes and hospital shifts, I wouldn't have asked Lavanya and Anjali. Why did I have to be nice? I had thought it would be a good opportunity for us to hang out. Bond.

How well it turned out for me.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |

Ths is the third update in less than 24 hours. Be sure to read the prvious two :) Also, next chapter is going to be entirely new and I have a feeling old readers are going to love it so gear up!