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Goldenhaze Fiction<br />
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 1
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 2<br />
PROLOGUE<br />
I’ve always yearned for a glimpse…of U…<br />
Do you <strong>eve</strong>n know I exist?<br />
…Do you care at all?<br />
Unknown to you, my eyes seek you…<br />
Unknown to you, my heart flutters at your sight!<br />
I do not know if I could <strong>eve</strong>r be <strong>with</strong> you…<br />
But I know this much that…<br />
Everyone has a right to live it up….Just once!<br />
…and its ok if you just do it!<br />
…as long as it’s no harm…<br />
But do we really live our dreams at all?<br />
How many have the will…<br />
How many the guts…<br />
and most importantly,<br />
How many can pull through a facade just to see eye to eye <strong>with</strong> their<br />
wildest of dreams?<br />
But here I go <strong>with</strong> my dreams on my eyelashes, living a lifetime…<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 3<br />
DISCLAIMER<br />
All the work on these novels is a work of fiction.<br />
These are novels that are penned by the author Goldenhaze. All the names,<br />
characters, locales, businesses & professions, <strong>eve</strong>nts and incidents are the<br />
product of the author's imagination.<br />
The religious or cultural rituals or any situations or any scientific or sociological,<br />
legal and super natural assumptions made are to be understood as concocted as<br />
part of the fiction and not otherwise.<br />
Some facts may have been used for authenticity, but it may be understood that<br />
these are used for purely fictional purposes and not for any other reason,<br />
whatso<strong>eve</strong>r.<br />
ABOUT GOLDENHAZE<br />
Goldenhaze is the pen name of the author AnuRam who is a doctorate in<br />
Business management and writes fiction for hobby. Her first novel The Mirage,<br />
was set in the back drop of Rajasthan and highlighted the theme of women<br />
empowerment, woven into romance and intrigue. The sequel of the Miirage, The<br />
Pursuit was again a romantic thriller which was much appreciated. Goldenhaze<br />
has also written s<strong>eve</strong>ral novels including The Masquerade, An Evening <strong>with</strong> U,<br />
and The WhisperValley and Vaishali.<br />
Known for the variety in her story settings, and the usage of local flavors &<br />
languages Goldenhaze is also known for her blog goldenhazefiction.blogspot.in<br />
which has many ongoing works of her like A Dialogue in the Dark, The<br />
Inexplicable Attraction and the Contrivance.<br />
Currently Goldenhaze is working on the launch of a new stream of intense<br />
romance, under the name Destiny series, <strong>with</strong> Deepthimaan- a character she<br />
created in Mirage as the lead, who also happens to be the pivotal character in<br />
her much acclaimed novel Destiny U&ME.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 4<br />
PART-12<br />
“Be careful in what you wish for Khushi. I seem to be in a mood to give<br />
just what you ask for” Arnav almost whispered narrowing her eyes at her.<br />
“Then what are you waiting for?” Khushi hissed.<br />
“That bad huh?” Arnav winced.<br />
“Tell you what! Let me just take a taxi and you enjoy your <strong>eve</strong>ning” Khushi<br />
said moving past him…<br />
“You came <strong>with</strong> me, you will go <strong>with</strong> me Khushi” he said sternly, holding<br />
her wrist in a vice-like grip.<br />
“Says who?” She demanded trying to unwind his fingers from around her<br />
wrist.<br />
“Says me! Arnav said now holding her by her elbow.<br />
“Oh! I forgot the great Mr. A. S. Wadera” she mocked at him.<br />
“You know something called r<strong>eve</strong>rse snobbery?” Arnav asked suddenly!<br />
“I want to go home” Khushi said adamantly.<br />
“I shall drop you, when I have finished dealing <strong>with</strong> what<strong>eve</strong>r bloody<br />
notions you have about me” Arnav said seriously.<br />
“I have my own mind! So what’s it <strong>with</strong> you. Why bother about me in the<br />
first place?” Khushi demanded.<br />
“Lets say it matters to me” Arnav said and saw her going still.<br />
“Why is it so very difficult for you to accept that I can be normal like you<br />
all?” Arnav asked her.<br />
“Coz you are not!” Khushi got back at him.<br />
“HA!” Arnav said in disdain.<br />
“Ha to you!” She spat back.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 5<br />
He gave a tug to her elbow and she flopped on to him her hair flowing in<br />
all directions and Khushi put her other hand on his chest to pr<strong>eve</strong>nt<br />
herself from bumping into him completely.<br />
“Who do you think you are to talk to me that way, judge me?” Arnav<br />
whispered his breath fanning her face.<br />
She was trying her best to come out of the dreamland she had built as a<br />
school kid, which now as a sane woman she knew was a sham! There was<br />
no way she could be <strong>with</strong> Arnav! She had a reality check when she<br />
became Maya! They were leagues apart, and she tried to correct herself<br />
by coming out of her self concocted fantasy world and stopped looking<br />
at him and all his actions <strong>with</strong> rose-tinted glasses.<br />
Yeah! She agreed to the fact that the bitterness showed, but she knew it<br />
was only for a while! She was hurting, and her anger, which was directed<br />
at Arnav actually, was anger on self for being such a crazy fool. She still<br />
liked him but now she knew it was just a whim… a school crush!<br />
She might not mend completely but she would try. He was not the end of<br />
the world!<br />
Arnav saw her face changing in its expressions and could not decipher<br />
much. He was shocked by his own reaction to Khushi. She was just Akhil’s<br />
baby sister! But somehow, he realised that in the past two weeks after<br />
Maya to be precise, that it was important for him what Akhil and his sister<br />
thought of him. At first he attributed to his connect <strong>with</strong> Akhil and his<br />
family. But when Khushi accused him of being overbearing, snobbish and<br />
insensitive, somehow it affected him. He Arnav Sayan Wadera who cared<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 6<br />
two hoots about anyone, suddenly was trying to justify himself to this… he<br />
looked at Khushi who was fuming at him…this girl.<br />
“I want to go Arnav. It’s late and Deepa will be waiting for me” she said<br />
stepping back as he left her arm.<br />
They were going nowhere! Hell he did not know where he wanted to go in<br />
the first place! Arnav wanted to make peace and he simply said,” Listen I<br />
told Deepa I was going to pick you up.”<br />
Khushi was shocked to know that.<br />
“And why do I get that expression?” He enquired.<br />
“Nothing” she said.<br />
Arnav and picking her up from her college? Khushi don’t again go back to<br />
the sham of your fantasy land! Her inner voice cautioned her.<br />
“I got there and found that you left already” he said.<br />
“But why did you?” She asked.<br />
“‘Coz yesterday you said someone was following you, and I thought they<br />
might try today too! And moreover Akhil is out of town… so…” he paused<br />
for her to understand.<br />
“Oh! But that’s why we waited at the Cafe! Me and Dev…so that they don’t<br />
get to know where I stay… I can take care of myself Arnav. I am a big girl<br />
now you know? You need not worry for my safety” Khushi thawed a little.<br />
Awe he was thinking for her safety!<br />
“Oh Is it?” He asked snidely!<br />
Khushi saw his expression change and got wild.<br />
“Yeah! I had survived my parent’s death and I got over…” She stopped<br />
herself in time from spelling out. I have gotten over you!<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 7<br />
“Got over what? Arnav did not miss her slip.<br />
“Nothing! Please let’s go” she said.<br />
“So there you are” Lavanya’s voice was carried over by the wind…<br />
Khushi tried to spring apart but Arnav stalled her saying “Hi La come!”<br />
Lavanya gave a dirty look to Khushi who flinched under her scrutiny as<br />
she immediately staked her claim to Arnav by looping her arm through his<br />
elbow saying, “What are you doing here? Don’t you check your mobile? I<br />
rang about hundred times and then took a chance and came here hoping<br />
to find you. And what have we here! Some private party between my<br />
fiancé and some …”<br />
“LA! That’s enough!” Arnav was the first to speak.<br />
“What’s enough? And what are you both doing here?” she asked a little<br />
louder, and Arnav closed his eyes in exasperation.<br />
“You were supposed to go <strong>with</strong> me to select a gift for yourselves that I<br />
would be giving you for an engagement and you are <strong>with</strong> …wait a minute!<br />
Have we met before?” La pulled Khushi by her arm towards her and as the<br />
beach was lit by lights which were far and few, she struggled to make out<br />
her features.<br />
Khushi felt embarrassed. Then anger rose like a tide in her.<br />
How dared he! Just because of him, she was being insulted by a…&*^% of<br />
a woman!<br />
But she did not speak as Arnav simply extricate her from La and said,” La!<br />
I am supposed to drop her home and….”<br />
“What? Who is she and how come you are here <strong>with</strong> her?” La was now<br />
absolutely filled <strong>with</strong> rage.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 8<br />
Khushi was shocked…as Arnav coolly said,” She is my friend Akhil’s sister.”<br />
“Who<strong>eve</strong>r! How come she is here <strong>with</strong> you? and…” LA was furious and<br />
tantraumatic…<br />
Arnav again said,” Are you asking me?”<br />
LA went mute for a second and hissed,” I have a right to know.”<br />
“Yeah! But you cannot question me…yet!” He added as an after thought.<br />
Khushi felt odd about them.<br />
They were supposed to be engaged to be married and this whole<br />
scenario was like out of a court room! There was something amiss or was<br />
she imagining things!<br />
“I told you she is my friend’s sister. I need to drop her home as she was<br />
being stalked and her brother is out of town” Arnav patiently explained to<br />
La, who was looking at Khushi as if she was about to pinch her family<br />
silver…”and…” Arnav continued “…I dropped by to pick this up… he pulled<br />
out a document from his breast pocket and said …. for tomorrow…my gift<br />
to you.”<br />
La visibly thawed and she was all over Arnav saying,” Awe! You were going<br />
to give me a surprise! “Oh! I am so sorry! I think…er… I …jumped at the<br />
wrong… cue… and…”<br />
Arnav just stared at her….<br />
“I am sorry she said giving him a peck on his cheek, and Khushi felt a pang<br />
deep inside but she patted herself mentally…<br />
Khushi this is the reality! Learn to accept it!<br />
“You better be! Now let me drop Khushi and come” He said very plainly.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 9<br />
“Oh! Let me join too…we shall go and drop her and…” LA was LA, and<br />
Khushi just could not see how Arnav could like a person like La who was<br />
so conceited and basically she felt there was no trust in their relationship.<br />
And why was Arnav busy dropping another girl when he was to be<br />
engaged to La…this was weird. Anyway! Why should she bother!<br />
Arnav again very coldly said,” NO! You don’t! Go home La! Go to the bord<br />
de l’eau and wait for me. We shall spend the night there…you have a<br />
surprise there” he said.<br />
Khushi closed her eyes and looked away. She knew… Akhil told her about<br />
the apartment, Arnav had on the beach, which he used to get away from<br />
his busy life…they were going to spend the night there? It hurt but well…<br />
how many times she had to tell her heart… it was all over!<br />
“Awe Darling!” La clung to him saying,” You are such a …”<br />
“La I am getting late, and I want you to be there when your gift gets<br />
delivered and receive it personally” He said.<br />
“Of course my love” she said preening under his attention and left after a<br />
few minutes <strong>with</strong>out <strong>eve</strong>n wishing Khushi.<br />
Khushi felt odd at what she saw. There was definitely something missing!<br />
Did Arnav not make out? They were all wrong for each other. Enough<br />
Khushi! Just stop it! She mentally chided herself.<br />
Arnav turned and looked at the sea and then suddenly asked,” Do you<br />
mind if I have my dinner?”<br />
“What?” Khushi was shocked! He just was so simple sometimes and so<br />
very pompous the rest of the time! she could not understand these<br />
switches in his personality.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 10<br />
“Yeah! Please carry on! I shall take a taxi…” Khushi said trying to sound<br />
casual…<br />
“I SAID I WILL DROP YOU” he yelled at he… and added softly,” And I shall!<br />
Just that I had an early breakfast and something came up that I missed<br />
out on lunch. Couldn’t have my snack at THE DEN, courteousy you, and<br />
well as such I have a habit of having an early dinner” He explained.<br />
Khushi had no other choice but to accept if not reluctantly.<br />
“Lets call Deepa she should be worried” he said and Khushi for the first<br />
time noticed that he looked tired and troubled.<br />
He switched on the speaker and called Deepa.<br />
D: Oh…ok!<br />
A: Deepa we are on our way… please don’t mind buddy and Khushi is here<br />
<strong>with</strong> me.<br />
K: Hi Deepu! Will be there by 9.<br />
D: Khushi…you alright?<br />
K: Yeah Deeps! Not to worry! Er…Deepu…” she improvised, “Make<br />
something lighter for me for dinner will you?”<br />
D: Er ok…done…and……Arnav… take care of her…<br />
A: I shall! Be seeing you!<br />
He cut the call and asked Khushi,” What would you like to eat?<br />
“I shall have my dinner at home Deepa will wait for me!” Khushi raised her<br />
chin up daring him to defend.<br />
“Little loyalist! Aren’t you?” Arnav’s quip made her confused again.<br />
Well she thought he would talk about her class, as she was being rude<br />
not joining him.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 11<br />
“Er…” Khushi looked at him helplessly. He smiled and said “…then<br />
something to drink?”<br />
Khushi chose a mocktail and he was served dinner. He was hungry she<br />
noticed, and felt bad for a second.<br />
How romantic… beach front… warm breeze… fantastic food… well only<br />
one difference. She was not having dinner <strong>with</strong> him and definitely she was<br />
not his woman. She deliberately denied herself that, as she would have to<br />
be very tough <strong>with</strong> herself. One slip and she would slip into the<br />
bottomless pit called her obsession for him. She shook her head and he<br />
asked,” What?”<br />
“Pity you won’t be having your dinner <strong>with</strong> your girl!” She said to cover up.<br />
“Yeah! Pity isn’t it? Arnav said ruefully.<br />
Khushi again felt very odd <strong>with</strong> his expression! But n<strong>eve</strong>rtheless she said,”<br />
I am amazed how you handled her and well…”<br />
“You expected a cat fight?” Arnav was incredulous.<br />
Khushi shrugged her shoulders and said,” Sort of. well… Any woman will<br />
be upset her guy is out <strong>with</strong> another woman on the <strong>eve</strong> of their<br />
engagement!” She said smiling.<br />
“Any woman! Not the likes of La” he said shocking Khushi yet again.<br />
“What…do you mean?” Khushi couldn’t stop herself from asking Arnav.<br />
“Yeah Khushi! Just give them what they want and well you are at ease” he<br />
said sipping on his drink.<br />
Khushi shivered at the coldness in his voice and said,” You talk as if…as<br />
if…its a …”<br />
“Deal” He finished for her munching on his food.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 12<br />
“Yeah! Human relationships are so! You see let me explain” he said again<br />
surprising Khushi.<br />
“My mother is a Bhimani” he said and waited for that to sink.<br />
“OMG!” Khushi smarted “You mean The Bhimani of…”She just stared<br />
ahead…<br />
“Yeah Vaishnav Bhimani the great industrialist’s only daughter, and my<br />
father a Wadera. Their marriage was a business amalgamation.<br />
They have been very good parents mind you but as a couple I find them<br />
very…lets say interesting.<br />
Ma… lives her life and dad his. They agree to disagree” he smiled and<br />
Khushi understood what he was saying.<br />
“They did not indulge in any indiscretions Khushi…” He corrected her<br />
thoughts. They are morally very astute no doubt…but its coz they cannot<br />
afford to make any mistakes, being a celebrity couple. That’s why no<br />
affairs etc., but after producing me…” Khushi winced at how he referred to<br />
himself as a factory product.<br />
“… they realised they can’t stand each other anymore.<br />
But life had become a deal by then. Together they hold the biggest<br />
business in the country and they cant <strong>eve</strong>n dream of separation.<br />
So I have seen them pining away for a normal life and n<strong>eve</strong>r being able to<br />
live it up inspite of literally all luxuries!<br />
I realised I too am a leaf from the same garden. Now any woman is dazed<br />
by my wealth and name no matter what I as a person am lost behind all<br />
that. So I am reconciled to the fact that I should be <strong>with</strong> one who I can<br />
manage easily. See that’s predictable easy and manageable” he paused.<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 13<br />
Khushi flinched at the way he was discussing relationships.<br />
“And feelings?” She asked.<br />
“Where is the place for those my dear?” He asked her.<br />
“They are just a sham! Did you see how I managed La <strong>with</strong> one<br />
masterstroke? Property and a fabulous gift, and well I shall spend the<br />
night <strong>with</strong> her and get some…” he looked at the sea and said<br />
…er…diversion and of course pleasure…a good break… from stress and<br />
routine.”<br />
Khushi blushed a crimson. Oh God! This was what it was all about! But it<br />
was so cold and cut and dried!<br />
“…and what about the other party… the lady’s feelings?” She asked…<br />
“Well! I pay for her, I take care of her. Keep her happy…” he paused for<br />
Khushi to understand what all it involved and then said “…what else? You<br />
know <strong>eve</strong>n Akhil asked me couldn’t I get a better girl! I see my parents.<br />
None adjusts and it’s very tough to please my mom. I have seen them<br />
always arguing or sneering at each other <strong>with</strong> disdain. Now I know if I<br />
marry some big wig’s daughter, I will end up like them. So I chose a<br />
woman who I can manage. Give her what she craves and you are at ease<br />
and at the helm of affairs” Khushi felt that it was disgusting.<br />
Was this the man who she loved all along!<br />
How cold and calculating he was! She couldn’t help but look at him <strong>with</strong><br />
disdain. “And why are you looking at me like that Ms. Marwah?” He asked<br />
wiping his lips <strong>with</strong> the napkin having finished <strong>with</strong> his dinner.<br />
“Coz, I feel bad for you! How very poor you are amidst all this…luxury” she<br />
said. He laughed out loud saying,” I knew you would say that! You will<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 14<br />
grow up don’t worry. Initially it seems so. You get to know a guy then you<br />
will be wiser. I swear!” “Are there any boyfriends already?” He asked<br />
casually.<br />
Khushi gulped at his insinuation, and she was enraged coz what he was<br />
saying was actually true. Her debacle had already taught her the<br />
difference between fantasy and reality. In the absence of anything else in<br />
defense she lashed out at him saying,” When I fall for someone it would<br />
be to be engulfed by love and not to be a programmed robot.”<br />
Arnav looked at her sharply and said,” Are you by any chance insulting<br />
me?”<br />
“Nope! I am just stating a fact. If anyone treated me like you did La, that<br />
would be the end of it. Anyways I would n<strong>eve</strong>r <strong>eve</strong>n get into such a<br />
relationship in the first place” she said boldly.<br />
“And what is that?” He asked her.<br />
“The one where you seem to be a spectator and not a party to it.” Khushi<br />
continued…<br />
“If I get a guy both of us would be burnt- something like spontaneous<br />
combustion! I wouldn’t stand on the platform and watch like you and La<br />
do. Trying to wrest things off each other or trying to outwit one another<br />
<strong>with</strong> wealth and favours” she sneered.<br />
Arnav looked at her expressionlessly.<br />
“What?” Khushi asked.<br />
“You watch a lot of movies?” He laughed.<br />
Khushi had had enough! She got up saying,” You think this is all … unreal.<br />
Let me tell you… to be in love is to be in an inferno that burns you<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 15<br />
completely, and you still lament in your ashes to be <strong>with</strong> your beloved. It’s<br />
like a roller coaster of yearning, connection, and rainbow of emotions that<br />
overwhelm you so much that you win by loosing yourself. Anyways … you<br />
won’t understand lets go.”<br />
She walked towards the entrance as Arnav signed and got up but called<br />
her,” Khushi? She turned, standing where she was…<br />
Then he asked straight… “Did you get burnt anytime?”<br />
Goldenhaze Fiction
Goldenhaze Fiction<br />
An Evening <strong>with</strong> U 16