Part 1

Khushi could not tear her thoughts away from the evening's events. Why had Arnavji come to dance with her? She had always thought of him as a man focus on winning. Wasn't that what he said to her numerous times in the past. Then why the man that made his own fate was on stage to aid her victory and his defeat?! Her mind remained blank for an answer. She unscrewed her earring ' first left and then right, and placed them carefully on the dresser. What did this all mean Devi Maya? She asked as her heart continued pounding.

She gently grabbed her long black hair though immediately her thoughts returned to him ' his hands caressing her hair as he guided her through parts of the dance, as though she was a mere toy. He was leading in the dance and she just followed, content to be led by Arnavji. Since when Khushi? She asked herself.

Her mind did not have the chance to answer when she heard the knock on the door.

"Khushi are you inside?"

"Yes jiji" her voice waivered. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves. She did not want anyone to think that he had unnerved her. That would be what he would have wanted, right? Devi Maya, right?

"Then why did you come up here without telling me?" her sister continued.

Why did she come up here? She stood there thinking. Why? She didn't know. She needed space. Away from him. To think. Or was she running? Running from him or herself. She wasn't sure but either way, she didn't have a valid answer to give to her sister.

"Are you changing Khushi?"

"No, actually." No actually what Khushi? Why are you up here? She asked herself.

"Khushi, then open the door. Khushi you are okay, right?" her sister continued.

"Of course, jiji." She did not want her sister to be worried over her. What was she thinking? Today was Payal's 2^nd biggest day - her sangeet and here she was wondering whether her little sister was well when she should be enjoying the party and mingling with the guest, not that she really would Khushi thought.

"I'm okay jiji. I'm just changing." She sighed in relief. Of course, she was up here to change. Khushi did not run away from anyone, particularly that Lard Governor. She running away from him? Never. That brought some sense of calmness in her, though only temporarily.

"That's good Khushi, I'll let Anjali know. She was looking for you. And listen, come down quick, okay?"

Khushi stared at her reflection. If she was only here to change, then why did her heart continue to pound. Why was she having trouble breathing and why did he not leave her in peace. Why were her own thoughts going against her by flashing their dance and his every move - the way his hands caressed her lovingly.
Khushi closed her eyes momentarily. This has to stop. Pull yourself together girl. He is just a jerk. A rakhsas. Nothing more or less. Just drop it. 

The knock on the door brought her attention back to the room.

"Jiji let me atleast change my clothes!"

Maybe she would just let jiji in. That would be best for her. With jiji in the room, at least her mind would be more aware of her sister and not of him. A good plan she thought. She marched to the door, opened it and made her way to where her evening outfit was kept. She heard the door bolted shut.

Khushi grabbed her purple lengha and immediately her thoughts returned to him.

"I don't know how this happened Jiji. I didn't even know that the Lard Governor would dance like that with me." She stated out loud, unsure if she was talking to her jiji or to herself. What was it about the dance that was bugging her or was it the way he looked at her, the way his eyes were gazing at her with so much depth and emotions. She had seen that only a few times whenever he stood by her during her time in need. Just like today. But was it just a ploy? She had seen those eyes on Diwali night and then he shattered her world by telling her that she meant nothing to him. That it meant nothing at all. That it made no difference. No difference at all. She meant nothing to him. Her insides screamed. Not again.

"I don't know what he thinks of himself. It doesn't matter to me either. He can do " she turned and immediately her heart stopped.

There he stood in front of her by the door, arms crossed, resting slightly towards the door frame with a smirk on his face.

She struggled to look away. Koi farak nai padta, she repeated to herself and tried as she could to look away, she stood still, outfit in hand, staring at him. What was he doing here? Normally he walked away. He didn't like being confronted. Isn't that what happened during Diwali. He had walked away from their near kiss. She followed him, wanting to know what it all meant. How childish was she? Hoping that he would be her Prince Charming?! Hoping that if she confronted him, he would go on his knees and tell her that he meant to kiss her and that he loved her and then seal that with a beautiful kiss?!

She confronted him. And that was her mistake. And of course, he retaliated and shattered her into zillionth pieces.

Is that why she ran away today from him? If she was away from him then he wouldn't say anything. He couldn't say that the dance did not matter and he wouldn't be able to say that she did not matter to him again. She could believe foolishly maybe, but she could still cherish their first dance. Afterall, she still believed in fairytales. Which girl didn't?!

She continued to watch him as he stood still. He was waiting and soon he would speak. This was definitely a bad sign. Didn't he watch her as well on the night they first met. And then he spoke, tearing her dori and belittling her, making her feel as though she was nothing.

She took a deep breath and close her eyes. Soon her foolish heart will pay the price again for believing in fairy tales. That was her punishment, for believing that the great ASR could fall for her, the mere Khushi Kumari Gupta, the girl that was just his employee. Again, her thoughts returned to their first meeting. Wasn't it also in a locked room on the night of her sister's function. And was it because she confronted him that he lost his patience and the night turned out to be a disaster? Payal's wedding broke and she was responsible.

Immediately her eyes opened wide. Not tonight. Tonight, she would not make a scene. Tonight, she would not shatter her sister's happiness. Tonight, she would have no expectation. Tonight, she would take whatever he threw at her.