Opposite Poles..Part 38

Part 38

During Lunch, everybody tried to cheer her up.  Her group had grown to multiple tables now.  Even the canteen boys looked forward for the lunch hour.  They all enjoyed sharing, pulling each others’ legs, sharing their feelings, talking about cinemas, music…..!  

But Khushi was all lost.  She was scared not for her humiliation, but for the kind of clothes she may be compelled to wear.  She knew the price of her refusal.  She felt trapped.  “What am I doing here? I better go back to Lucknow…!” she had an impractical thought.  Everyone was apprehensive and even the canteen wali lady prayed for her.  

“Regi…!” Rekha walked in Regi’s work area.  He was busy rearranging his designs.  He looked back.

“Hi Rekha..!” he understood looking at her face.  “I know, but can’t help! Hope she carries herself well in my designed dresses.  My reputation is also at stake…!” he said gravely.  Regi, a funky looking designer was known as the bold designer.  Some of his designs were worn only by international models..! He had a different style and had a rare mix of fabric with other materials including leather, paper, plastic.. for the right kind of effects…!

Khushi was called in the green room an hour earlier.  She looked up at his cabin and saw him gazing at her with a smirk.

“Khushi Kumari Gupta..!” he gritted his teeth.  She was frightened to the core.  Her knees gave way.  She held her desk tightly and prayed her devi mayya.  “Be brave Khushi, you can always say no!” she consoled herself bringing a forced smile on her face. He still was gazing at her.  For a fraction of second he opened his mouth to call off the trial but two smirking eyes flashed at him seeing him walking in the warehouse with flat tires.  

“Let me see, Khushi Kumari Gupta!” he muttered under his breath.

“ASR! “ Lavanya walked in in a mini skirt and a tiny top.  She gave him a light hug.

“Hope This Chamakili doesn’t create a scene!” she muttered. 

“ASR, you don’t have to come.  I will handle it!” she said holding his hand.  He looked at her blankly!

“I mean, ASR! You don’t have to waste your time in trial! And that too on a girl like her!” said Lavanya.  He did not respond.  She took it for a yes and went away happily.

“Listen Regi, I am going to handle this.  ASR is not coming!” she said entering Regi’s cabin.  Khushi heard it and prayed her devi mayya happily.  “Thank you Devi mayya! Today I will prepare laddus for your prashad!” she said joining her hands.  Regi winked at her.

“So Ms Gupta, ready?” he asked her grinning.  She was little relaxed.  Two girls took her into the greenroom for the dress trials.  All designers, visualizers, a photographer, and advertisers of AR designs had gathered.  Lavanya wore a frown on her face.  

“Actually, no need for all these people.  This is only a trial and that too on a common looking girl..!” she kept saying looking at the enthusiasm on the faces of the people. Some of them had come there to cheer Khushi up.  They were from her sharing group.  They all had decided to help her go through the ordeal. 

“Look! You don’t have to do anything…! Just wear the dresses, walk in and stand before them.  Rest of the things others will do!” Regi encouraged her looking at her fallen face.  “You have seen those models wearing the clothes, right? Just look confident…! Ok?” he put his hand on her shoulder.  She nodded.

“Good girl!” he said patting on her back.  He too was nervous.  “Good luck, Khushi!” he said in a hoarse voice.

“Regi Sir?” Khushi looked up pleadingly but Regi had turned his back on her.  

She was helped to wear her first dress.  She looked at her figure in the mirror.  It was a full length dress, with traditional chikenkaari borders.  It had a hand woven sash… Khushi looked at the lehenga type dress and smiled.  “Not bad!” she murmured. She was brought in the display room and there was pin drop silence.  Everyone gaped at her.  She had no makeup, no ornaments… only the plane aqua green dress with chikenkaari borders and a woolen sash, with her waist length wavy hair let loose, sprawling on her back ! 

She had no courage to look at the people.  She turned to leave and the door opened.  He walked in gazing at her unblinkingly.  Her knees gave way.  She tripped over a stand.  “CAREFUL!” he screamed leaping forward to hold her.  He helped her regain her balance.  The helper girls came running  and she went in. 

“Why is he here?” the anger and humiliation brought tears in her eyes.  

“Keep your crying face like that !” said Regi.  She looked up.  He held a backless black dress with  long Transparent plastic sleeves and a black hat.  “Did you think I would make you wear anything like that?” he asked her.  She smiled with tearful eyes.  “I want those tears on your cheeks when you go out!” Regi demanded to her astonishment.  She went out with her eyes filled and tears on her cheek, her hair locks sprawled over her face, her hair covering her back.  She looked like a loner, mourner.  All young men present there fell for her flat.  They were rendered speechless.  

“What rubbish! This girl has spoilt everything..! Look at her face! Disgusting!” Lavanya whispered in her friends’ ears. She wore a frown on her face.  She grew restless.  ASR had not taken his eyes off Khushi, even for a fraction of second.  Her appearance in the black dress whipped his heart.  His brain smirked wickedly. 

“Last one, ASR!” Lavanya whispered in his ears and he got up to go.  Khushi went into the room taking a sigh of relief.  Lavanya walked in.  “Here, wear this!”  she ordered throwing a tiny, semi transparent, uncomfortable dress at her.  She gaped in fright.  “No!” she blurted.  “Five minutes…!”  Lavanya was all set to humiliate her.  

Khushi looked up at Regi.  He was furious.  “Look Lavanya..!” he opened his mouth.

“Enough, Regi! She will wear this!” Lavanya spoke with disgust.  Regi looked at Khushi.  She was looking at him with hope.  He tore the sash he was holding, in frustration.  

Khushi changed into her salwar suit and came out.  She showed the dress to Lavanya.. “Its torn!” she said innocently.  There was a murmur in the crowd, enraging Lavanya more.  She lost her control and before anyone could realize, slapped Khushi.  “How dare you tear the dress!” she screamed.  Khushi was turned into statue.  

Regi was the first one to react. 

“Lavanya..!” he called her in a deadly voice.  “Apologize to her!” he said.

“Apology, my foot!” Lavanya stormed out of the display room.  Khushi dashed to the rest room.  Regi picked up the phone.  

“ASR..!” he called looking at everyone around.  They all nodded.  The storm was brewing up.  

“ASR, we want an apology right now!” they all demanded.  Lavanya was fuming with rage.

“This is an insult, ASR! No one, no one dared ask me an apology!” she was pacing ASR’s cabin.  People from display room had gathered in the passage.  Others looked on curiously.  The matter had taken a serious turn.  

“What the hell Lavanya! How dare you slap her!” he came on to her like a panther.  She shuddered.

“ASR! She tore the dress!” she said justifying her action. She was upset.  She was upset that everyone liked Khushi in those dresses.  She was upset that her ASR couldn’t take his eyes off.  She was upset that she was losing her confidence.  All because of that classless, ordinary girl! And her frustration had culminated in the slap.  

Regi stood before ASR fording his arms.  “ASR!” he opened his mouth for Khushi. 

“Stop it Regi! Who are you talking to? Do you want an apology for that stupid, brainless, third rate girl? Forget it!” said Lavanya stomping.  The restless murmur grew in the passage.  Everyone was furious.

The person, for whom all this was going on, was in the restroom talking to her mirror bhai sobbing uncontrollably.  Rekha was at the restroom door.  It was locked from inside.

“Khushi… Khushi, open the door, Khushi!” she pleaded.  “Let me in, Khushi!” she knocked on the restroom door.  Khushi did not want anyone at that moment.  She wanted to pour her heart out to her mirror bhai.  Rekha outside, grew restless with tears in her eyes. Soon she was accompanied by other girls.  They all wanted to be with Khushi.  

“Khushi, please…!” Rekha wanted nothing else.  Not the apology or anything.  She just wanted to hug Khushi .. wanted to be with her.  A teardrop rolled down her cheek.  “Khushi, please…!” she pleaded. 

ASR looked at the commotion at the ladies rest room.  His heart sank.  He knew who was in.  Unable to take in what was going on around him, his eyes fixed on the closed restroom door. 

“Look ASR! ..” Regi started off.  ASR raised his hand turning to Lavanya.

“Lavanya…!” he started off sternly and froze.  The restroom door had opened and Khushi walked out.  She looked devastated.  There was a pin drop silence as she walked past everyone to her cubical.  ASR descended the stairs to reach up to her.  Others followed.

Khushi looked around with hazy vision blurred with tears.  She could sense the tension.  Regi came forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.  She looked up to him miserably.

“Apoligy, Lavanya!” he demanded turning to ASR and Lavanya.  Lavanya looked at ASR for support.  But he was lost in Khushi.  

“ASR! I will not tolerate this !” she threatened, turning angrily at Regi.

“Nothing less than an apology!” he demanded again and everyone nodded to Lavanya’s shock. 

“ASR!” she held his hand to bring him back to her from Khushi. 

“Enough!” he screamed, clenching his fists and turning to Lavanya said  “Lavanya..!”

But before he could ask Lavanya to apologize, Khushi spoke…

“Bass Kijiye! Stop all this..! I don’t need an apology.  A girl like me is not worth it!  It was just a physical slap, but making me wear the dresses against my wishes, was no less than a slap…!  So? Forget it!  And if this drama is over, I want to go home right now!” she said in a forced steady voice, took her bag, picked up her Tiffin bag and marched out of the office stunning everyone around.  His ego held him back from running after her and holding her to his heart!  

“ASR! This is outrageous..! Look at her arrogance!” Lavanya fumed.

“Shut up!” he yelled at her and climbed the stairs of his cabin.  Regi looked at Lavanya disdainfully and left.  So did everyone else.  Rekha stood there gazing at the exit of Khushi and said, “I am proud of you, Khushi!” So were others.