Chapter Six

Placing my iPad in my bag, I got up and headed out. Lavanya needed to rush to her next class because she had a test, so I let her go. Once I got out to the hallway, all the tension from the presentation went bye-bye.

"Khushi!"

I froze. Uh oh. This can't be good.

Turning on my heels, I looked back and saw Arnav. He was looking directly at me and started coming my way.

What does he want?

Arnav stood inches away and looked down at me. "Hi Khushi."

The way he says my name... it's making me swoon! But why?

"Um, hi?"

He looked down at his shoes and then back up at me. "Um, I wanted to ask you something."

I scrunched my eyebrows. "Ask me...?"

"Um, are you free friday night?"

What. In. The. World?! Pot- Arnav is asking me out? On a date? Wah?

"U-um... y-yeah?"

"Are you sure? I mean you sound like you're asking me if you're free," he said, the corner of his lips slightly curving.

I shook my head clear. "No, I mean, I'm free- Friday night, that is... yeah...?"

Arnav smiled, looking down and then back at me. Aww! His smile is so cute! He looks so young!

"So would you be able to come to my place Friday night," he asked.

"Um...."

Do I want to go? I mean- wait a minute. Maybe I can find out some information on him. I mean I'm curious about this man, so....

"Sure," I said. "I'd be able to come," I smiled timidly.

He smiled again and boy does he look cute. "Great. I'll see you around."

"Okay."

He smiled and left.

Well this just got interesting.

*~*

"You did what," Lavanya exclaimed.

I knew she would kinda freak.

"He asked you out? On a date?!"

I nodded and moved to another bookshelf. We were in Barnes & Nobles.

"He asked you out? To his place? Big corporate guy with money bags in every corner of his room? Him?"

I nodded. "The one, the only."

Lavanya's jaw dropped to the floor. "I can't believe it!"

"Nor can I."

We moved to another shelf and I think what I'm looking for should be here.

"But wait; Khushi you don't sound so excited."

I looked at her. "Should I be?"

I really don't know.

"Well yeah! I mean Arnav fucking Raizada asked you out on a date!"

"Shh," someone hissed out.

"Sorry," she hissed and then she looked at me. "Well?"

"I don't know, I mean... where is he and where am I?"

"Khushi, don't think that. I mean seriously, ever since you told me how you guys met, it seemed like something would happen between you two."

"Oh really?"

I found what I was looking for and pulled it out.

"Yes," she replied. "But I don't know. You're attitude towards it seems...."

I placed the books on the register. "Seems what?"

"Like you're not exactly saying yes cause you like him."

The guy at the register looked up at me and I looked from Lavanya to him. The guy's eyes were wide and I kept a straight face.

"Can you please hurry," I said kindly.

The guy snapped back to reality and did his job.

"Well," Lavanya asked.

I looked at her. "Well Lav, it's been some time since I've had a relationship, focusing on school and all. Especially after.... And I mean he's a rich, successful guy so... I don't know."

Truth be told, this was also the truth.

"Oh sweetie, don't worry. He may be rich, but I'm sure he'll be nice."

I smiled softly. "Thanks."

The guy handed me my bag with his eyes wide.

Seriously?

"It's just the Fifty Shades Trilogy," I exclaimed at the guy, and then left, the guy shaking his head.

*~*

"So what are you going to wear," Lavanya asked as she got comfy on my sofa.

"I don't know."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

"No."

"Sweetie friday is tomorrow!"

"No. It the day after tomorrow."

"Whatever. All I'm saying is we need to find you a dress. ... and I know just the one!"

"And which one would that be?"

Lavanya went to my bedroom and I followed her in. She went through my stuff and pulled out a black dress from my closet. "Now this baby is sexy."

It was an off-the-shoulder black mini dress:

"I don't know," I said unsure. "I don't know how I feel about showing my shoulder."

"Are you serious? You always say that! Then what was the point of buying the dress?"

"Because it's so cute!"

I reached out for it and put it in front of me and looked in the mirror.

"And it'll look cute on you," Lavanya exclaimed. "You are wearing that to his place. PERIOD."

"Should I?"

"Yes you should! Khushi, you are going to show that man what you're made of. Understood?"

I nodded, but still unsure.

"Plus who knows, you might even..." and she wiggled her eyebrows.

Understanding what she meant, I gaped. "Lav, no!"

"Oh come on! Watch how you do."

"Lav no, okay? I mean with him...."

"With him...?"

"I don't know! I mean... he's hot, no doubt - I mean I realized that the first day I saw him - but... I don't know.... Plus I've never done it before."

"And what a good opportunity this is! You haven't had a boyfriend in three years!"

"Uh, four years-"

"My point exactly! It's time you've had something going on."

"Listen, just cause you and Aman have crossed that line, doesn't mean that I-"

"Hey! Aman and I is a whole other thing! We love each other as well-"

"Exactly. See, key word: love. Ding ding ding!"

Lavanya let out a deep sigh. "Look, if it happens, then best of luck. If not, then hey! Maybe next time, or with the next guy. Now go try on that dress. Hopefully it still fits."

"Ha. Ha," I frowned, and then went to change.

"Can I tell you something Kush?"

"Yeah," I yelled from the bathroom.

"From the way your intro went with Arnav, it's like those stories."

"Which stories?"

"You know, those romance stories we read all the time."

I came out of the bathroom and brushed the dress down. "Oh please."

"Okay A: you look hot, B: you are definitely wearing that to his place, and C: your story has just started."

"A: thank you, B: I guess? C: meaning?"

"A: you're welcome, B: YES. YOU. ARE. C: meaning there's something between you two. A vibe. Something."

"You think?"

"Yes! I mean your intro and situation are so novel like."

"I don't know...." I looked at myself in the mirror and sighed. "Let's just see what Friday night holds."