The food was yummy, it even tasted better as I was seated with Arnav having lunch, everything about this just made me so happy.

"So how is the decoration coming through?" Arnav asked.

"Great actually, it's turned out so beautiful, you should come see it sometime, you haven't been at the garden for so long, everything is finally coming together." I smiled, hoping he would come see it sometimes so I would get a chance to see him again.

"Sure, I'd love to see it, we can go after having lunch if you're heading there and then I can go back to work from there."

"Sound great." I said happily, yayyy, he would come along with me, I wanted to do a happy dance once again. I wish he could notice how I was feeling, I wish he could feel something similar for me. Oh these feelings were so beautiful.

"So, what made you want to become an event planner?" He asked.

"I just love everything about events, especially weddings and I love planning them, they are so fun. You know everything about it, flowers, the different kind of functions and usually every family has something different in their weddings so it's kind of interesting for me. And the happiness I feel when I see two people that love each other finally coming together and getting tied in the bond, oh, so beautiful." I said, he kept on staring at me with a smile on his face while I explained my love for weddings, it seemed like me talking was somehow fascinating to him.

"So you believe in love huh?"

"Yeah, everyone does, don't you?"

"I do. Love is beautiful, I mean look at Sonali and Samar, the love between them it's so magical."

"I know right, I'm going to cry on their wedding even though I don't know much about them, just two people that love each other coming together makes me happy and emotional." I giggled.

He smiled as he grabbed a towel and wiped off his hands, I was also done with my food so I stood up as soon as he did.

"We should get going then, would you come with me in my car?" He asked.

"I came with my car too, I'll need it."

"Okay no worries, I'll come with you in your car, I'll tell the driver to pick me up later."

"Sound great." I smiled excitedly, the idea of him with me in my car just made me happy. Okay why was I obsessing so much over him?

We both walked out of the mansion, I unlocked my car as we sat inside, as soon as I switched it on, the music started playing, I always had music playing in my car, I was obsessed with music, like my day dint feel complete if I hadn't listened to songs so every time I was driving I made sure I had some music playing.

"Your favorite singer once again." Arnav smiled.

"You remember?" I looked at him happily, I mean of course I dint expect him to remember who my favorite singer was, so it was kind of exciting for me that he actually remembered.

"I don't forget easily, which sometimes is a problem." He sighed, he looked sad when he said that. Was there something he wanted to forget but he couldn't? what was it?

He sat beside me silently listening to music as I drove, he dint say much but he did seem to be enjoying the music, he was kind of moving a bit with the rhythm.

Once we arrived at the Jade garden, I parked my car as we both stepped out and I led him inside to show him how everything was coming through, I explained each and every details as much as I could while he looked around keenly at everything.

I was kind of nervous, I mean it all looked great to me but I wasn't sure if he was going to like it or not. I hoped he was.

"You have really don't some beautiful work here Khushi, this looks so beautiful." He smiled at me.

"Really? Thank you, I was hoping you'd like it, I've so much work and thought into this, I'm glad it's coming through well."

"Yeah, it's perfect, it will make everything memorable for Samar and Sonali." He smiled, I blushed a little so I looked at the floor immediately to hide my blush, I mean he wasn't complementing me but he was complimenting my work and it made me blush. I was becoming crazy.

We went around as I showed him everything that had been done so far and explained to him about the things that weren't complete yet and he seemed to love it all, well that was good news for me, as long as my clients loved it, I had nothing to worry about.

"Anyway, I'll take your leave now, I've got to get back to work, but everything is coming out beautifully."

"Thank you." I smiled at him, I wish I could make him stay a bit longer, we dint even talk much, as he wasn't a talkative person, most of the times I was just talking and he was smiling and listening but I liked that he was listening, I liked his company and just him being around.

*****

After a busy and tiring day at work, I finally came back home, I threw off my shoes and just lied down on my bed for a couple of minutes trying to rest when suddenly my phone started ringing.

Why didn't anyone want me to rest? I pulled my phone from the pocket of my jean and looked at the screen, it was an unknown number, now I was a curious person so I never actually ignored unknown numbers, I wanted to know who was calling me and why so I received the call.

"Hello?" Why was I saying it like a question?

"Hello, am I talking to Khushi?" A familiar voice came, I knew I had heard this voice, I just couldn't remember where.

"Yes." I replied.

"Khushi, it's me Barkha. Samar's mother." Yes, I knew I had heard that voice, I just couldn't remember it. I sat up straight as soon as she told me her name as if she was in my house standing in front of me.

"I needed a favor, if you aren't busy could you please come at the Raizada mansion?" She asked.

"Sure, I will be there in a while." I said.

"Perfect, see you then." And with that she disconnected the call. Okay usually when I was this tired, I wouldn't even agree to go out with my friends or anything but when she asked, it meant another chance to see Arnav and I literally jumped on the chance, even though I dint know if he was going to be home or not.

What was wrong with me?

I put on my shoes once again and grabbed my keys as I rushed out of the house hoping to reach to the Raizada mansion as soon as I could, gladly it wasn't too far and there wasn't much traffic at this time so it look me like fifteen minutes to reach.

I parked my car in the usual spot and headed inside where I was met with two ladies, Sonali's mom wasn't around today so it was just Barkha and Asha.

"Khushi! I'm so sorry for calling you suddenly like this, but I am so glad you came." Barkha smiled as she walked towards me and hugged me while I stood there like a statue confused at what was happening.

"Barkha where is my coat?" A man appeared out of nowhere, I turned to look at him, he looked like an older version of Arnav, they had so many similar feature, he kind of looked exactly just like Arnav.

"Oh Amar, you never find anything do you?" Barkha frowned.

"And who is this beautiful lady?" He asked finally turning his attention to me, I mean I could already guess he was Arnav's dad, all this while I kept on coming here I hadn't met him, this was the first time I was actually meeting him, he looked like an angry man but he really wasn't according to the way he was talking to me right now.

"She's the wedding planner for Samar and Sonali's wedding." Barkha said.

"Oh, she's a pretty young lady, nice to meet you, I am Amar, Samar and Arnav's father." He held out his hand for a handshake which I returned.

"I am Khushi Gupta." I smiled.

"Okay Khushi, can you sit down with Asha I'll be right back once I find my husband his coat." Barkha excused herself as she grabbed his arm and pulled him up the stairs while I walked towards Asha and sat down beside her.

She kept on staring at me which made me feel a little nervous, gladly Barkha came back quickly.

"So what favor did you need from me?" I asked.

"There's this business event Amar, Samar and Arnav had to attend today, but Samar isn't attending because him and Sonali are held up with the whole wedding thing. Amar is going with his friend and Asha had promise Arnav that she would go along with him." Barkha explained as I listened, I was confused, I had no idea how any of this related to me but I kept on listening.

"But just a while back she slipped on the staircase and broke her leg, now she can't go with Arnav, and it's not good to attend such events alone, I would have gone with Arnav but I have to stay here with Barkha so I was hoping maybe you could do me a favor and give Arnav company?"

I wanted to jump immediately as say yes, I mean I was getting to spend time with Arnav, but I was nervous too, casually meeting him or talking to him was different than actually attending an event with him, I wasn't even his friend or anything, why couldn't they ask someone else to give him company?

"I don't know... I mean I am not even dressed for it." I said as I looked at my light blue washed jean and whit top, I couldn't definitely attend something business related like this.

"Don't worry I'm sure Sonali has something that would help you, she's already brought so many of her clothes here." Barkha said.

"But will Arnav be okay with it? I mean me accompanying him?"

"Don't worry he would be. You go upstairs I have talked to Sonali, she will give you something to wear and help you get ready okay?" Asha said.

"Okay if you say so." I nodded as I headed upstairs while both the ladies giggled about something. Was this some sort of a trap? Why were they giggling? As much as I wanted to be around Arnav, I was kind of nervous about this while attending an event with him, dint they have any other relative or friends that could do this? Why did they ask me?

I stopped at Samar's room and knocked at the door and then walked in, I found Sonali holding a few dressed in her hand already. Well, here we go, it's not like I could refuse to go now. I actually did want to go but I also dint want to go, you get me?

*****

"Am I not overdressed?" I asked Sonali as soon as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, this floor length dress with a side slit was already too much, to top it up she did some glam makeup for me and curled my hair too, gladly I had washed it just today.

"No, trust me these events are so extravagant." Sonali assured me. I just nodded nervously, I don't remember the last time I had dressed up this much, I rarely had time to go anywhere, I mean of course I loved putting on some makeup and stuff but it was the usual that went along with my daily clothing, it was after long that I had done some glam make up and dressed like this, I looked beautiful though.

"Okay, it's almost time, off you go, Arnav must be waiting downstairs. Have fun." She smiled at me, I just smiled back and rushed outside, I was getting more and more nervous, these ladies had put me up to this, what if Arnav wasn't okay with it? I was going to be so embarrassed.

"If I find out this is what I am thinking, I will be so mad at you." Arnav said to Asha as I started to walk down the staircase, I had no idea what they were talking about but as soon as I took another step, they all turned to look at me because of the sound my heels were making.

They were kind of loose for me as Sonali wore a size bigger than mine but they were comfortable so it was okay.

I saw Arnav's eyes open up widely as he looked at me and he stared at me continuously without blinking his eyes until I was done descending the staircase. I liked that he was staring at me, maybe he found me beautiful?

AMAR RAIZADA