Chapter Thirty One

Khushi went through the crowd and came out to an opening. She stood by the banister, which looked out to the dance floor below. Bodies moved and swayed, moving along to the thumping music. Even though they were songs that Khushi would love to dance to, all she could think about was finding Arnav. But it was a difficult task as there were many men dressed up in charcoal tuxedos.

Khushi continued to look around, when her eyes caught a man in a charcoal tuxedo going up the stairs to the VIP lounge. She made her way over to the stairs and when she did, the man was granted access and disappeared behind the velvet curtains. Just as Khushi got to the top of the steps, Simon blocked her path with the velvet rope.

"Was that Arnav," Khushi asked.

"I don't know," he simply replied.

"You don't know? But don't you ask for people's names when they enter?"

"Yes."

"So you would know if it was Arnav?"

"Perhaps."

Khushi groaned in frustration. "Are you going to tell me if it was him or not Simon?"

"I'm not allowed to."

Khushi frowned. "Well let me in then and I'll find out for myself."

"Name."

"Khushi Kumari Gupta."

Simon went through his tablet. "Please take of your mask for verification."

Khushi lifted her mask and Simon nodded.

"You may pass," and Simon unhooked the velvet rope.

Khushi paused. "Wait, he didn't do that."

"Those who live here always show security what they will be wearing. In this case, we know what their masks look like."

"Hmm, interesting. Does anyone else know?"

"Only the workers. We take masquerades quite seriously, so when our, ah, residents, have chosen their masks, we the security hold onto it."

"Why?"

"Just the rules."

"Oh... interesting. Well, thank you Simon," and Khushi went through the velvet drapes.

When she got to the end of the hall, she noticed that like last time, this area was very intimate. There were dancers wearing masks, entertaining the VIP members who weren't engaged. Khushi looked around and noticed that there were many men here today, not to mention several of them in charcoal tuxedos.

Khushi groaned inwardly. At this point, I'll never find him.

"Mistress?"

Khushi looked up at the skinny bartender.

"May I help you with something," he asked.

"A gin & tonic please- actually, make that a Gimlet."

"Yes Mistress," he bowed, and made her drink.

Khushi sat at the bar and glanced around the room. For some reason, she wasn't feeling as blushy as she had last time she was here.

Maybe its the alcohol, she thought.

The bartender placed her Gimlet down.

"Put it on Arnav's tab," Khushi said.

"Yes Mistress," and he went away to tend to others.

Khushi took a sip of her drink and glanced to her left. There were three men, one of them in a charcoal suit. She glanced to her right and there were two men, both of them in charcoal suits. Khushi felt that feeling within her, but she couldn't tell if it was really that feeling, or if it was the alcohol within her system.

Khushi finished her drink and looked around the room again. She still couldn't figure out if Arnav was any of the men here. Deciding to give up and rejoin Lavanya and Aman, she got up.

"Mistress," the bartender called out.

Khushi turned back to look at him.

"You forgot your key."

"I didn't-"

Khushi looked at where she was sitting and saw a key on a key chain with a red metal-plate beside her empty glass.

"But that's not-"

Khushi felt another jolt shoot up her spine. Arnav was around and she was 200% sure. She picked up the key and looked at the plate. Engraved on it was 704.

Is that his apartment number, Khushi wondered.

Khushi looked around the room but everyone was engaged in something. She looked back down at the metal-plate and then at the hall that lead to the apartments. Without another thought, she headed down the hall and called an elevator. It arrived immediately and she hit the button for the 7th floor. It went up smoothly and arrived to the 7th floor. Khushi stepped out and looked at Arnav's apartment. She walked down the hall, flashbacks of what had happened here the last time she was here, playing in her head.

When Khushi got to the door of Arnav's apartment, she saw the engraving reading 704 right above the keyhole. Inserting the key, she turned it and heard the lock click, unlocking the door. With a deep breath, she opened the door and entered yet again, another world.

Khushi held the door open and looked at the apartment. It was a duplex, the theme modern in black and white. The kitchen was in the wide corner to her left with a breakfast bar. Walking in, she saw the big living area, a big flat screen adorning the wall with Bose speakers surrounding. There was a glass table between the TV and black leather couches, holding remotes and a Macbook Pro. Underneath the black metal-banister staircase was a study, with black bookcases filled with books. and a glass desk adorned with a beautiful iMac and several books and papers. There was also a picture frame, but she couldn't exactly see it. Curious, she went over to it and gasped.

It was a picture of her from their first year. She wasn't exactly sure when during that time, but it was obvious that she wasn't aware and that this was an off-guard photo. Khushi noticed movement from the corner of her eye and she looked up, only causing her to be even more shocked. The screensaver of the iMac was on, a slideshow of pictures of her and of her with Arnav.

Khushi blinked. She didn't know what to think. Picture after picture played, all of them of her.

I can't believe... Arnav....

Khushi glanced around the apartment and decided to continue looking around. Leaving her mask behind, she went up the staircase and entered the single, massive bedroom. It followed the theme of the rest of the apartment, the walls white with solid black borders. A black leather lounger sat by the side that led to the balcony. The vanity and dresser were black. The king-sized bed was in the middle covered by a black duvet. The bedside tables were black and each of the two had a white lamp sitting on them, one of them holding yet again another picture of her. Khushi noticed a door and opened it up to see an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in closet.

Khushi blinked, stunned by the large closet.

He couldn't possibly need such a big closet!

Khushi couldn't believe that this was the place Arnav was living in. It was absolutely beautiful, not to mention pricey-looking. But the fact that an apartment like this was a part of a sex club didn't add up to her.

I guess it lures people?

Khushi sighed and stepped out of the en-suite.

Arnav led me here, fine. But why?

Before she could ponder forward, she heard footsteps- no, heel-steps. Khushi stepped out of the bedroom and looked down at living room below to see Anisha getting comfortable, removing her heels, setting her mask aside, as well as tugging her strapless dress lower to expose cleavage.

Pathetic, Khushi thought. The game begins.

Khushi leaned against the banister. "Can I help you," she asked coolly.

Anisha let out a screech and looked up. "You?!"

Khushi shrugged.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I believe the correct question is what are you doing here?"

"I let myself in."

"Is that so?"

"Please, you think I don't have access," she scoffed and brushed her hair off her shoulder.

"No, I don't. Where's you key?"

"I don't need one."

"Uh, yes, you do."

"And how would you know?"

"Because I have one," Khushi said, waving the key in her hand.

Khushi saw Anisha's face fill with rage, and then she quickly recovered.

"Oh, so you stole the key? How pathetic."

Khushi rolled her eyes and made her way downstairs. "Oh Anisha, don't be jealous. I mean it's not your fault Arnav gave me access to his apartment."

I don't know where this is coming from, but I'm not going to stop myself.

"Jealous? And gave you access? Whatever. I've been here more than you have, so a key really isn't necessary for me, if you know what I mean."

Khushi could she was trying to get under her skin, but she refused to let that happen.

"Give it up Anisha - it's obvious he doesn't care about you."

Anisha scoffed and laughed. "Doesn't care about me? Oh honey, don't be so clueless. We've gone to such a place, you wish you could have that," she laughed.

Khushi crossed her arms. "Well you see Anisha, I don't think it's true."

Anisha stopped and looked at her.

"To tell you the truth, the entire time I actually believed that Arnav had slept with you. But now, as of this minute, I no longer believe it."

I really don't?

"Oh believe it honey-"

"No, no I don't."

I really don't.

Anisha got up and stood before Khushi, looking smug. "Is someone in denial," she faked sympathy. "Arnav and I had sex. We fucked and it was uh-may-zing! We're perfect together! So get that through your head. You and Arnav are never gonna happen. It never was! So run along home with your cheap dress and fake Louboutins."

Khushi couldn't help it and broke into laughter. Anisha looked at her in shock and every time Khushi tried to stop, she burst even more. It took about five minutes before Khushi got herself together. She even had tears, so she wiped them away before it messed up her makeup.

"Okay, officially, you are pathetic," Khushi said.

"Excuse me," Anisha shrieked.

Khushi got herself together and took a deep breath to get her composure. "You're really something else," she chuckled. "I mean seriously," and she chuckled some more.

Anisha huffed and puffed, getting irritated.

Khushi shook her head. "Really Anisha? You guys fucked and are perfect? Look around you Anisha!"

Khushi stepped back and picked up the photo of her off the desk in the study. "There's pictures of me everywhere! I mean for crying out loud, I'm even his screensaver on his Mac. Heck," she walked over to the closed Macbook sitting on the glass table, "I bet I'm even on this."

And Khushi was right. When she turned the Macbook on, the icon was a picture of her.

"What more proof do you need," Khushi asked.

"Honey, for all we know, you probably put these here. A pathetic person like you would do anything to get someone as gorgeous as Arnav."

Khushi broke into laughter again. "Are you serious? Do you even hear yourself?"

Anisha rolled her eyes, looking smug. "What? Did you even make the password your name? Pathetic," and she looked down at her nails.

Khushi wondered for a moment. Is it my name?

Khushi typed her name in, but it didn't work. She tried it again, putting it all in lowercase, but it didn't work. She tried all caps, but it still didn't work.

Hmm... what could it be?

Khushi thought of old conversations between them. She tried "Kush" but it didn't work. She tried "Arnu" but that didn't work either.

What could it be?

And then a flashback played in her head

"I love you Khushi, my Beloved. I always have."

"That's it," Khushi whispered.

"What," Anisha questioned.

Khushi typed in "Beloved" and it let her through.

"It worked," Khushi breathed.

"Of course it did - you put the password."

Khushi ignored her and looked at the screen. A window was opened, which seemed to be a video, only it was black and white with a date and time at the bottom. On top of that window was a small window, opened to Notepad saying Turn on the TV and press play Beloved. Curious, she minimized that window and noticed that the paused video showed a frame which was of the apartment.

"What is that," Anisha asked.

"We're about to find out."