Chapter 2

Chapter 2 :Getting Along

Khushi couldn't believe her luck. Without even an interview, she had been selected for the job—the job of assisting Arnav Singh Raizada. The man who dominated Page 3 of all the famous newspapers and, this month, was on the cover of People's Magazine, which cited him as one of the top three Indian billionaires. Most Eligible Bachelor, Dashing Raizada, Hottest Businessman in Town—these were just a few of the adjectives used daily to define him.

Though all this had never mattered to Khushi, it was Sheetal and her other college friends who kept her updated about the latest "ifs and buts" surrounding the breathtakingly handsome ASR.

Breaking her train of thought, Khushi took out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Jiji? You won't believe this, but I have got the job! Very soon, things will be back to the way they were," she informed Payal, her elder sister.

"But, Khushi..." Payal sounded tense and worried.

"No ifs and buts, Jiji. I am on my way home. Once I get there, we'll talk," Khushi cut in happily.

"No, it's not that. Babuji..." Payal tried to explain.

"What happened to Babuji? Is he okay?" A chill ran down Khushi's spine.

"He got another minor attack, and Doctor Uncle is checking on him."

"Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes, Jiji," Khushi said, disconnecting the call and urging the auto-rickshaw driver to hurry.

~~***~

"Are you nuts, ASR? Do you even know what you just did?" Aman yelled.

"Shut up, Aman. Stop screaming at me. I am your boss, not a bloody peon," Arnav shot back.

"Oh, I am so sorry, dear boss. But do you even realize that we have almost lost this deal? All because of you," Aman retorted.

"F*** the deal, Aman. AR Fashions isn’t going to shut down just because we didn’t bag one deal. And now, please get lost," Arnav said, his impatience laced with irritation.

Aman found it quite surprising that his boss-cum-best friend was acting so indifferent after losing the most lucrative deal of the season—especially when, until this morning, they had been getting their asses kicked by him for not being serious enough about it. Arnav had badly wanted this deal, particularly after failing to secure it the previous year due to Akash’s inefficiency.

And yet, during today’s meeting, Arnav had been strangely silent and distracted, lost in his own world.

Then, just as the meeting was concluding, the client had asked him if he liked the presentation, and Arnav had casually replied—

"Oh, your lips, I love the way they move. Are they as soft as they look?"

The entire room had been stunned into silence.

The client had abruptly ended the meeting and bolted from the room, clearly rattled by Arnav’s bizarre remark.

Aman, quick on his feet, had dismissed the rest of the attendees, citing that Arnav wasn’t feeling well.

Now, standing before his friend, Aman leveled him with a serious gaze.

"What’s up with you?" he asked.

"Leave me alone, will you?" Arnav muttered, rising from his chair and walking toward the glass walls of his cabin, his thoughts elsewhere.

"Don’t tell me it’s a girl," Aman said, though he highly doubted it.

As well as he knew Arnav, the man had never been affected by a woman. He had never been in a relationship, nor had he shown interest in one. When it came to women, Arnav Singh Raizada was strictly business. To put it plainly, he was a one-woman man—except that there had never been a woman.

"A girl?" Arnav mused to himself. He was certain that Khushi attracted him, stirring feelings that had long remained dormant. But could it be more than just attraction?

"I kindly request Mr. Raizada to let his plane of thoughts land back on the runway," Aman quipped, snapping his fingers in front of Arnav’s face.

Snapping out of his daze, Arnav turned to glare at him. "F*** off, Aman."

"Answer me, and I will," Aman replied, unfazed. Years of friendship had taught him to be just as stubborn as Arnav himself.

Arnav exhaled sharply, then smirked. "I actually have a better option."

Sliding a hand into his trousers’ pocket, he pulled out his cell phone. His fingers dialed a number as he raised a brow at Aman.

"Shall I?" he asked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Hey, come on! I was just leaving," Aman said hastily, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"I see," Arnav said, smirking.

"That wasn’t fair, ASR. But anyway, mark my words—if it is a girl, be warned. Girls are painkillers," Aman said as he turned toward the door.

"Painkillers?" Arnav repeated, frowning.

"Means they kill you with excessive pain," Aman clarified, throwing him a final, meaningful look before disappearing from the cabin.

"Crazy-head," Arnav muttered, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

~~***~~

"He is out of danger for now, but you’ll have to take precautions regarding his condition. He wouldn’t be able to survive another attack, so please be extra cautious with him," the doctor instructed the Gupta family, who nodded attentively at his every word.

"And he must strictly follow the diet chart I have provided. Here is the prescription—get these medicines as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Doctor Saahab. We are very grateful to you," Buaji said tearfully, joining her hands in gratitude.

"No, please. Do not thank me. It is my duty," the doctor replied as he made his way to the door, with Khushi following closely behind.

"Everything is okay, doctor?" she asked once they reached the entrance.

"For now, he is stable. But the surgery is compulsory," the doctor said in a low voice.

"I know, Doctor Uncle. But we are short of money. How long do you think the surgery can wait?" Khushi asked, worry lining her forehead.

"Not more than a few months, Khushi beta. After that, the risks will double."

"No, Doctor Uncle, we won’t wait that long. I have got a job at the best place, and I am sure I will earn the expenses in two or three months," Khushi said, offering a weak smile.

"I am sure you will. All the best, Khushi. And take care of your father," the doctor said before leaving.

~~***~~

*AT RAIZADA MANSION*

After much effort, Arnav had finally managed to push back the resurfacing thoughts of Khushi. Now, he sat peacefully before his laptop, eyes glued to the screen, when a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Bhai?" Akash called out.

"Yeah, come in, Akash," Arnav responded without looking up.

"So?" Akash asked, stepping inside and leaning against the back of Arnav's chair.

"So, what?" Arnav replied, his fingers furiously typing a reply to an email.

"I mean, how did the interview with Sheetal go?" Akash asked skeptically.

"Oh, the interview?" Arnav repeated, shutting his laptop and turning fully to face Akash, his expression unreadable behind a faint smile.

"So, this Sheetal girl—was she or is she your girlfriend?" he asked, his tone casual yet probing.

"Uh... Actually, Bhai, she was just a friend. Just a friend. But why do you ask?" Akash was beginning to sense that something was off.

"Oh, nothing much, Akash. It’s just that your ex-friend wanted to sleep with me," Arnav said in an infuriatingly calm manner.

"WHAT?" Akash’s face was a picture of shock, his eyes widening to the size of saucers.

"That bit**! How could she? Just three days ago, she was telling me how deeply she’s in love with me. I can’t believe it, Bhai!" Akash muttered, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Well, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, Akash, considering she was or is your friend-slash-girlfriend," Arnav said, his tone edged with sarcasm.

"I am so going to kill her, Bhai! How could she even think about sleeping with you when I myself haven’t got the chance yet?" Akash blurted out, looking genuinely offended.

Arnav’s eyebrows shot up, and Akash instantly regretted his words.

"I mean, Bhai—" he stammered, scrambling to correct himself.

"Enough, Akash. I get your meaning very well," Arnav interrupted coolly. "Now, what I want you to understand is that you need to stop involving me with your friends, girlfriends, or whosoever they are to you. You know I detest girls who can stoop to any level for money or status. So from now on, avoid setting me up with people you’re acquainted with. Got it? And while you're at it, stop hanging out with such types of girls." His voice grew sharper with each word.

Akash could sense the infamous ASR taking over his usually cool-headed Bhai, and he knew better than to argue. He nodded silently.

"Now, go," Arnav said, his tone reverting to its usual composed self as he turned back to his work.

Akash lingered for a moment, lost in thought, before finally exiting the room.

******