Chapter 6

"See...that's her!" Payal whispered to Khushi as she pointed towards the two women who were seated at the chef's table where ASR entertained his personal guests.

Mostly it was reserved for his sister and her family and some of his close friends who visited the restaurant often...and now in this case, his supposed girlfriend.

Sheetal kapoor was every man's dream woman...flawless fair skin, most of which was on display...perfect features, striking cat-like eyes and straight jet black hair.

Her endless legs were encased in five-inch heels making her almost as tall as ASR. They both looked stunning standing together, but there was something that just did not gel'...Khushi mumbled under her breath

"Yeah I know what you mean" Payal said as both retreated from their position behind the door and got back inside the kitchen. Khushi looked on in embarrassment as Payal agreed with her mumbled words "They don't gel...we all thought that too when she first came to the restaurant few months ago"

"Plus, their relationship is such a mystery! I mean, everyone assumes that she is his girlfriend or at least a special friend, but neither of them have ever agreed to the gossip"she said as Khushi said a soft hmmm'...wondering the reason why.

She remembered her cousin Ria gushing about Sheetal Kapoor all the time! Especially since she got into Bollywood, with her first movie up for release anytime now.

Taking her place behind the dishwasher, Khushi thought about Sheetal Kapoor's perfect life, but also pitied the poor girl for dating her boss...who in their right mind would want to willingly date that Kroor singh, she thought making a face.

He was very ruthless and beastly to everyone in the restaurant, never smiled...never! And also never believed in sweet-talking with anyone! Not even the really high paying customers. In fact he avoided the public eye completely...such a snob!

Plus her distaste for him had increased multi-fold when he had blasted her for even thinking of cooking for the staff last Monday. She had come all happy and excited with many ideas of what she will cook for them, but was left heartbroken when ASR had refused to let her cook

It was only when NK had told him that he had insisted Khushi to cook for them, had he turned his ire from her to NK, telling him to stop making decisions in His Kitchen!' How rude! Poor NK had apologized and also said a sorry to Khushi for ASR's misplaced anger

Since that day she had kept her distance a lot more from him and it was good that he too had mostly been busy with his new restaurant work, which apparently he could only take decisions on after taking his sister's approval...which was again news for her, cause she had assumed he was a certified loner!

She had come to know from the guys, that he had an elder sister who he cared about a lot; In fact she was more like a mother to him than a sister and often visited him whenever she came down from Pune, where she lived with her husband and two year old son. Rest of his personal life was a mystery to her and most of the staff at Perido.

And now, Sheetal Kapoor. Apparently they had been dating for a few weeks...but Sheetal was always pictured at various parties and dos with no ASR around her...which was strange! "I don't pay you to dream and while away your time Ms Gupta!" a thundering voice roused her from her thoughts as a shiver ran down her spine

"S..sorry sir" she stammered as Arnav bore down on her...he looked at her for a moment more before thinning his lips "If I catch you one more time in one of your trance modes, you will be out of this job...understood!" he said as Khushi narrowed her eyes in anger...once, just once she was distracted and he made it look like she was not fit for her job. She quickly spooled her features and nodded stiffly before getting back to her work

Arnav walked away from her and started shouting orders to the staff for the specials. He glanced back at her from the corner of his eyes, to watch her efficiently doing her job like a machine. Her face was now back to its normal cheery self and the scowl he had just witnessed was now gone.

He was actually quite surprised to see her showing some of that hidden spunk of hers, and it gave him an odd kind of satisfaction to see that glimpse of fire in her eyes...though he still could not figure out why he was so bothered about her!

"So no cream, no butter, no oil, no refined flour and no cheese, right ASR?" NK asked him as he came in front of Arnav with the sauce bubbling in a small pot he held, and offered a taste to Arnav who smelled it before taking a quick taste

NK looked at Arnav's sour face and chuckled as he returned to his station "I know its bad, but that's the bchamel sauce you get without the good stuff" NK grinned as Arnav waved his hands and leaned against the counter watching his team at work

Sheetal Kapoor...he did not understand why Models like her even asked for things without the key ingredients in a recipe. Usually he never entertained these demands, asking the customer to order something that is designed to be low-fat unless they are allergic to certain things, but then this was Sheetal and he couldn't really say no to her, in front of the celebrity food critic who was sitting with her

He thought about his so called' girlfriend and wondered why he was not even bothered to correct people about this perception which had started when they had attended a party few weeks ago, on the behest of his Di's husband. He was good friend with the man producing Sheetal's movie, who wanted to score some publicity for her

He had first disagreed to it completely, but had to finally give up when his jijaji had personally requested it of him and had shown him the benefits of it, when he could easily avoid all those women who tried to flirt with him.

It suited him that they thought he was taken and he too found it very relaxing when all that attention had finally abated, thanks to Miss Kapoor on his arms.

But Sheetal had made it more than obvious that she liked him, but he had made it very clear that he was not interested in her that way...not that he did not find her attractive...She was beautiful, but somehow it all seemed so fake...

Her skin was fair but lacked the healthy glow of peaches and cream...her eyes were too narrow and always heavily made up unlike the guileless hazels that kept flashing in front of his...her long hair had too much product and was artificially straightened unlike gorgeous bouncy dark brown waves

And her body...yes, it was perfect and always on ample display...but it lacked the curves of a real woman...someone who you would like to hold and feel the softness instead of skin and bones.

Her laugh too was very screechy and artificial unlike the lilting melodious one he always heard in the kitchen whenever he passed outside the door...but had never experienced first hand in person...

"ASR...sir?...umm...is there something on my face?" Khushi asked him touching her face as he realized that he had been staring at her all this time. Thank fully everyone else was busy with their work while Arnav had sauntered towards Khushi's station and was now leaning against it as she went about doing her work

"No...I...I was thinking how inefficient you are...how long you are taking to do a simple task...you need to hurry up and be quick..." he said in a rude voice as he saw her eyes suddenly filling up with tears...shit!

Khushi nodded and turned away from him and increased her speed of cleansing and washing as her heart felt heavy at his callous words. She was doing her best, but then what more could she expect from this Kroor singh!...she wiped her eyes on her shoulder to get rid of any lingering moistness and got on with her work without looking anywhere near her rude boss

***

Arnav walked away from the kitchen and into his cabin to clear his head as he cursed himself for his behavior. Yes he was ruthless and strict, but he had never before ridiculed anyone who did their job well...that was so against his principles.

He did not understand why he said all those hurtful things to her when she was doing a perfect job! Plus the sight of her eyes filling up, made him feel like a complete a****e for hurting her in this way.

"Arnie?" He heard Sheetal call his name and turned around in irritation "How many time have I told you not to call me that...its ASR...for you and for everyone else" he said as Sheetal pouted and came closer to him "Come on A...S...R, how long will you be so formal with me...you know I like you...and I know we started all this for publicity..." she said as Arnav cut her midway

"Not me...but you. If your producer wasn't such a good friend of my Sister's husband, I would never had even considered it...I don't need any publicity for my restaurant, and as for you liking me...you like the fact that you are known to be dating ASR and are still free to do whatever you wish to" he said as Sheetal shrunk back...she knew when it was time to back out

"Fine! You lost your chance with me...and anyways my movie will be wrapping up soon...then we can mutually break-up...or not" Sheetal said saucily before moving closer and planting a loud smooch on his lips making him glare at her as she giggled and left his cabin

***

"Shit! I can't believe how busy its gotten today dude!" One of the prepping staff said as he went about chopping at his station while the chef's moved about frantically getting orders out in record time. Khushi looked on in awe as NK called her out from his station "Yo! KG, can you take this to the boss? I forgot to give it to him earlier" he said as he pointed towards a tall glass, full of green juice

"Me? Why can't one of the waiter's take it?" She asked, as the prospect of coming face to face with him again got her sweating. She had enough of his presence for the day "Why? Are you scared? Trust me babe, if there was anyone else free right now, I would have...but it looks like it's only you with some free time " he said as Khushi looked around and saw that he was right...she had really worked in record speed and had some time to kill till the next lotadcame in

"Fine...but what is it? Poison? No wonder he is so caustic!" she said with a face as NK and couple of other guys laughed at her "No, bitter gourd juice...its his sister's order for him to have a glass on alternate days" he said as Khushi rolled her eyes "Figures...he's caustic and bitter" she said as NK shook his head "Be careful now...he better not hear you darling...but, if you must know, he is diabetic...soo..." NK said as Khushi suddenly felt bad

ASR was diabetic? That was sad...no one should get that disease...how can anyone live without sweets?? Now she got his odd disposition. How can you expect someone to be sweet and kind when his blood has none!  She thought as she wiped her hands and picked up the small tray that held the glass...she walked out and towards his cabin quickly so that she could place the tray and run back

She got inside the main cabin slowly, in case he was once again shirtless, she giggled to herself when a strong whiff of perfume hit her...it was definitely feminine, she thought as her mind went back to Sheetal Kapoor.

Her eyes grew wide as she nearly fled the cabin, thinking she may intrude on a private moment, when the inner door of his cabin opened up and out walked the same woman she was just thinking about

She stopped short on noticing Khushi and gave her a dazzling smile before sauntering off back to the restaurant. Khushi turned around to see her sashaying off, leaving the door swinging away when she heard him behind her "Ms Gupta...what are you doing here again? Why are you not at your work station?!" he asked as Khushi turned around and showed him the glass of juice

"Uh...NK asked me to give this to you...everyone is kind of busy and.." she said as he waved his hands at her "Fine...just leave the juice there..." He said pointing at a coffee table in the center of the room as Khushi nodded and proceeded to place it there.

She straightened up and nearly gasped to find him so close to her as he bent down to pick up the juice. Her eyes widened further seeing his face and she felt some unknown heaviness settle in her chest at the obviousness of the situation

"What? Why are you looking at me as If I have grown two heads?" he asked her as she came out of her thoughts and shook her head "N..nothing sir...umm...I'll go now" she said as he smelled the juice in the glass

"Umm...before I go...y...you have something...here..." She said pointing to his lips "You might want to...um...before you come out" she said as she felt her cheeks heat up...she rushed out before he could ask her further questions and ran back to the kitchen.

Arnav kept staring at the swinging door before keeping the glass of juice back on the table, and making his way to the mirror on one of the walls. He looked up to find his lips smudged with red lipstick which gave anyone an impression that he had just engaged in a thorough kissing session... he groaned as the implications of what Khushi might have thought hit him...damn that Sheetal!!