Part 21 About Khushi

Lavanya was driving the car and Khushi was looking outside thinking about Arnav. Arnav was following them in his car as Khushi refused to come with him. Khushi was fed-up with her own self. She was planning to be stubborn in front of Arnav but when he came in front of her, she couldn't be stern as per her plan. She knew she loves him but not to this extend. She was familiar with her rude behavior but she failed to be rude to Arnav. She didn't know how to handle him. She was sure that Arnav will not be hesitant to show his feelings anymore. He won't allow her to be aloof until the movie shooting gets completed. It's not going to be easy to stop him. She has to deal with him in a different way.

They reached the shooting spot and Aman smirked inwardly. He made face as if he didn't expect her to come to the shooting.

"Khushi, you said you have fever... then why did you come to the shooting today?"

"I had... Now, I feel better."

"Her fever flew away seeing me." Arnav countered.

Without looking at him, Khushi went to the make-up room to get ready for the next shot as she didn't know that Aman has rescheduled the shooting slat.

Aman asked Arnav to wait for a while until he prepares for their scene and Arnav agreed to it. Arnav went to the cameraman and learned about setting angles and lights to pass the time.

That's when a reporter came with her channel team to the shooting spot which became usual these days. She saw Khushi coming out of the make-up room, getting ready in KHUSHI's costume. She rushed to Khushi.

"Ma'am, we are from the "Media Talks" channel. We would like to do a program with you."

"Actually, you have to get permission from our director sir. I will surely cooperate with you if he permits." Khushi said politely.

Aman who heard that said,

"I have no problem. But finish the program before lunchtime. Khushi's scene will be shot after lunch."

"Thank you so much, sir. We will finish it in an hour." The reporter thanked Aman.

"Tell me about the program," Khushi asked the reporter.

"Ma'am, you are going to ask your co-actors about you. But they are allowed to tell only lies."

"Means?" Khushi asked not getting it.

"They should not tell the truth but everything in reverse. Like, you are lazy..."

"Ohh... it's interesting." Khushi became excited.

The reporter handed the MIKE to Khushi. Khushi saw Naniji was sitting, completing her scene. Khushi went to her and asked her to tell about her. But Nani couldn't fit into the rule of the program and she started praising Khushi instead of lying.

"Arrey, why should I lie? Khushi is a very nice girl. No one could resist themselves from liking her. Very sincere... very lovable..." Nani continued flattering.

"She is a good woman who doesn't even know how to lie. So, don't take it on the account." Khushi laughed and so did the team.

Khushi went to Anjali and she started teasing Khushi in the name of lying.

"She is a beautiful girl... So dedicated... she talks so sweetly... loves everyone immensely... She is not a rude person..." She laughed so did Khushi.

"Thank you for prising me, Anjlaiji." Khushi chuckled.

Khushi looked here and there for the next one.

"Ma'am, ASR is there. Go and ask him the same." The reporter insisted.

"We will ask him later..." Khushi tried to avoid him.

"No Ma'am didn't Aman sir said, you should be ready for the shot, after lunch. ASR is free now it seems. Please don't miss the chance ma'am...Please..." She pleaded.

Without any choice, Khushi nodded yes.

"Lavanya, bring me water."

Lavanya gave her the water bottle. Khushi drank it taking time, making herself cool. Taking a deep breath, she went to Arnav who was asking questions about camera angles to the cameraman.

"Hi, Arnav..." She called him casually, not showing the "cold war" which is going between them.

Arnav was not surprised. She is a good actress, after all.

"Hi, Tintin..." he reciprocated her as usual.

Seeing, her with mike, he raised his eyebrows.

"Are you going to become a reporter, after quitting the film industry?" He asked teasingly.

"As of now, I have no such ideas... but I will consider it." Khushi smiled.

"What's happening here?" Arnav asked with his trademark lopsided smile.

"You should tell SOMETHING about me."

"Ohhh... I will tell MANY THING about you nonstop, for the whole day..."

"But with one condition."

"What?"

"You are not allowed to tell the truth."

"Means?"

"You should lie. Like, I'm a good girl."

"It's not at all a lie... You are indeed a good girl."

"That's the rule. I'm here to make you lie." Khushi smiled.

"No problem... I'm ready to lie."

"Let's start."

Arnav started, lying...and... Khushi was suffocating like hell about his lies.

"I really hate you a lot. I don't feel you are beautiful. I never think about you... not even a single minute... I scold you all the time. I don't want to be with you. I just want to run away from you. I had never seen such an undedicated actress like you. Unlovable...ugly...unfaithful...and last but not least, she also hates me a lot as I do." Arnav said one by one, taking enough time, giving enough space to every sentence, looking at Khushi lovingly.

Khushi forgot to blink. She felt butterflies in her stomach which she never felt before. She didn't even sense that she is gazing at Arnav.

The reporter clapped whereas Khushi swallowed her uneasiness.

"Ma'am, we will end the program with Aman sir."

Khushi nodded yes and about to go, Arnav clutched her upper arms and whispered.

"I had not told them one important thing."

Khushi looked at him like "what?"

"I don't like to act with you in the romantic scenes because I don't like touching you," he smirked.

Khushi's stomach churned hearing that. She could do nothing other than gulping down. Shoving his hand off, she went to Aman.

Aman, who was watching the entire scene from his seat, got alerted, seeing Khushi coming towards him.

Before Khushi started to tell him the rules,

"I should lie about you, right?"

"Yeah... that's all. She is making us as lairs. " Arnav said smilingly.

"Tell me Aman..." Khushi asked.

Aman's statement made Khushi emotional.

"I don't want you to quit the film industry. I don't want you to settle down in your life with a suitable person who makes you happy."

Aman's eyes were on Arnav when he said that. Undoubtedly, Khushi spared a quick glance at Arnav.

"Thank you so much, Khushi ma'am." The reporter thanked her.

"My pleasure."

"You can watch this program today at 9:00 pm."

"Sure..."

The team left the shooting spot with an interesting program with an interesting concept.

"Khushi get ready for the shot," Aman said.

"Yup..."

"Aman.... whom you want her to get settled down with?" Arnav asked looking at Khushi.

"Whoever... he should understand her and should be with her all the time," Aman said.

"Do you really want her to quit the industry?"

"As a director, I don't want her to quit but being her brother, I don't want to wish anything against her."

"Don't worry; your wishes to be granted," Arnav said smilingly.

Khushi left the place and went to have lunch. Of course, the lunch from Arnav's house... cooked by Arnav's mother.

To be continued...

Next part on Inkitt

I'm quitting

Khushi started to be so casual which Arnav didn't expect. He thought she will give him a cold shoulder. But nope. She looked cool. In fact, soooo cool. Arnav wondered that whether she is acting or really behaving coolly. He didn't think about it anymore as he was not ready to waste his time because he was already fixed his goal and moves.