Silent Whispers
-CHAPTER TEN-
Off Limits
Friday afternoons were always a blast in AR Designs. Most employees were usually
found counting down to the end of the day with jokes and plans about their
upcoming weekend. Khushi actively took part in these discussions, elated about
her second day of work, which needless to say, went much better than the first.
Finally being free of meetings, she spent the whole day creating a report on
quality issues. The best part of the whole thing was the distance she
maintained from the beloved boss of the company.
"Have a good weekend guys," she told the few friends she
managed to make, before walking out into the parking lot. As if on the cue, her
phone began to buzz. She paled upon seeing the caller id - it was Akash.
Khushi let out a sigh, realizing there was no way out of the
situation, not when he made the first move to talk to her. So without much
debate, she pressed the green button.
"Hello?"
"Khushi? It's me Akash."
"I know."
Akash paused, taking in her stoic tone before saying, "I
know you are mad at me, but at least give me a chance to explain..."
"I'm not mad. It's your life, I hardly have a say in it."
"Don't say that! You are a very important part of my life!"
She didn't answer.
"My relationship with my family is complicated Khushi."
"And so is mine," she snapped unexpectedly. "But you could
have at least given me a hint... I walked into that interview looking like a
complete idiot!"
"But you got the job..."
Khushi tried to hold on to her dwindling patience. "Look, I
don't want to have this conversation right now. I have to-"
"I don't either, but we can't go on ignoring each other. We
have to talk it out!"
"Fine," she agreed. "But I don't know what I am supposed to
say. I mean, yeah, everything worked out in the end. I got the job, you are at
the workshop... so, life is good and that's all that matters."
"Say what you want
to, okay? The only thing that matters to me is that you are fine."
"Well if you expect me to yell at you or something, then no,
I'm not going to. I don't want to be
mad at you Akash... you are my best friend."
"Just best friend?" The hurt in his voice was obvious.
"I meant boyfriend too," she added quickly. "I just think
that maybe we should take a break. I mean you are busy with your workshop and
I'm busy with this job..."
A strange silence fell in between the two, as Akash tried to
collect his thoughts. And without a warning, he plunged into an explanation.
"I didn't tell you I was a Raizada," he began. "Because I
never was. It's nothing but a tag that always brought problems for me. Believe
it or not, people look at me different the moment they realize who I am related
to... it's like I sprung a pair of wings or something. Whatever it was, I didn't
want that with you. I knew I couldn't hide my last name forever seeing how you
absolutely idolize my family, but I just hoped that by the time you found out,
you would know me as Akash and not
the brother of your boss."
"I don't see you as the brother of my boss," Khushi said
quickly. She knew he divulged his feelings only to save their relationship. "And
I never will. I'm sorry for avoiding you... it's just that..."
"Just what?"
Khushi hesitated, debating whether she should continue or
not.
"Khushi?"
"I grew up with a lot of people lying to me," she blurted. After
all that they have been through, she owed him the truth. "For what they thought
was my own good. But it wasn't, because I deserve
to know the truth."
Akash was quiet.
"I agree I haven't been the ideal best friend or girlfriend...
but regardless, I thought we would at least keep things honest between us."
"I'm sorry," he said earnestly. "I should have known you
better... The thing is you mean a lot to me Khushi, and I don't ever want to lose
you."
She didn't know what to say that. If truth be told, she didn't
want to lose him either, except she meant in a completely different way. "Then
let's just forget this... I don't want to get into a blame game. So, tell me -
How is Jaipur?"
"It's beautiful. The workshop starts on Monday, so I have
been mostly touring the city. How is working with Bhai?"
"Different..."
Akash laughed. "Well you are in the right hands. Bhai is
good at what he does."
"I hope so. Anyway, I really do have to go. Lavanya planned
a girls night out."
"Sounds fun! Tell her I'm sorry for not picking up her
calls."
"Um no - You are
going to deal with that all by yourself."
"Good thing I'm not coming home anytime soon then."
Khushi snorted. "Okay, I will talk to you later then." And
with that she hung up the phone and began edging towards her car, when-
"Why so glum Ms. Krazy Kinetic Gupta?"
Khushi stopped in her tracks, recognizing the baritone voice
instantly. She whipped around to stare incredulously at the man she was so
happy to have avoided for most of the day.
"What?" Arnav asked, walking up to her. "You didn't
seriously think I would let that slip, did you?"
"I know you have the right to annoy me from 9 to 5, courtesy
of that pay cheque you sign every month, but it's 5:10 now. I'm off limits."
He smirked. "Oh no sweetheart, the limits are from 9 to 5. After that, I can do whatever I want, whenever I want to."
"And here we go with your flirty one liners," she muttered,
walking away.
Arnav was hot at her heels. "You still didn't answer my
question."
She refused to reply.
"Did my brother piss you off so much that you have taken a
vow of silence?"
Khushi paused, throwing him a glare. "You were
eavesdropping?!"
"Oh trust me, I have much more interesting things to occupy
myself with than eavesdrop on what you two presume to be a relationship. I was
merely heading home, when your conversation drifted my way."
She huffed in answer. "More like you drifted to my
conversation."
"So how is my brother?," he asked, ignoring her remark. "Is
he excited for the painting workshop? I believe it starts on Monday, right?"
Khushi froze. "What?!"
"I'm assuming your expression of pure shock to be, yes - it
does start on Monday."
"You know Akash
went to Jaipur for a workshop and not an internship?!"
"Please don't insult my intelligence birthday girl," Arnav
answered drily. "He is my brother. I
know him inside out."
Khushi didn't know what to say. "So... why didn't you stop him
then?"
"And risk making him angrier than he is already? I don't
think so. If he feels this workshop is important enough to lie to me, then I have no interest whatsoever
in ruining it."
Khushi was stunned. Wasn't it only two weeks ago that Arnav
was revolting against Akash's interest in painting? And yet, he did nothing to
stop him from pursuing it. What was he trying to prove?
"You know, I never had any girl stare at me as much as you
do. Am I really that good looking?"
She ignored his comment. "I don't get it," she admitted.
"You know painting makes Akash happy, and you are perfectly okay allowing him
to learn it in these workshops, and yet, you refuse to let him become a
painter. Where is the logic in all this?"
"The logic is that there are things much bigger than Akash's
passion. Things that I doubt you would understand."
"Then make me understand!"
Arnav smiled. "Is that care I see? Has Ms. Krazy Kinetic
Gupta finally overcome her competitiveness?"
She rolled her eyes. "First of all, that doesn't even rhyme.
It's the most pointless nickname anyone has ever come with. And second, yes, it
is care. Because Akash is my best friend!"
"And not your boyfriend?"
"Urgh! You talk just like him!"
"And yet you don't mind dating him. What you do mind is seeing me for eight hours a
day, Monday to Friday?"
Khushi glared at him.
"Okay, I won't say anything about your relationship. But
tell me something birthday girl - If you see so many similarities between us,
then why is it so hard for you see
that Akash also belongs in this company?"
She didn't reply.
"I get it... he loves painting, it keeps him happy; but what
about his parents' happiness? Shouldn't that be of equal importance?"
"But if it makes him miserable to keep his parents happy-"
"How do you know that? How does he know that? I can understand sitting in an office for eight hours
a day may not sound as appealing as painting on an empty canvas, but that
doesn't mean the former is not made for you."
"Well parents say and think a lot about their kids and many
times for their kids. But in this
whole process of, quote on quote, "securing their future", they forget about the
kids themselves."
"So you are telling me that the people who have literally
made you the reason for their living, don't wish good for you?"
"I don't know what world you live in Mr. Raizada, but yes,
they don't. Because at the end of the day, parents are humans and if thrown in
a tsunami, they will save themselves first."
If Arnav was appalled, he didn't let it show on his face.
Taking his silence as victory, Khushi turned on her heels and headed to her
car.
"Wait!" he said, walking along. "It's not my place to change
your views-"
"Then don't!"
"I'm not. What I wanted to say was that, I read your report.
I strongly feel you misu- whoa, is that yours?!"
They had finally reached her car, and Khushi was just about
to open the door, when she heard his exclamation. She turned around to see that
Arnav was positively astonished to see her bright red convertible, glowing
exquisitely in the evening sunlight.
"Yeah, so?"
"You drive around a Porsche?!"
She shrugged in response. "My brother is the city's biggest
criminal lawyer. What else did you think I would be driving around?"
It was full minute before Arnav regained his composure. "Well,
I have to hand it to your brother - he has a great sense of cars."
Khushi swelled up with pride. "Thank you - at least I have
your approval in something. And as
for the report, I'm sure you disagree with every word I have written. However,
I am getting late. So instead, I will be here on Monday morning, bright and
early, to listen to all your complaints. For now, I have to go."
And without waiting for his response, she got into her car
and drove off, desperate to get away from what was a complicated mess between
two brothers.
* * *
Anjali unnecessarily straightened out her red blouse as she
walked into the Gupta Law Firm. She
knew it was foolish to be nervous. After all, Shyam himself had offered her the
project. And yet, she couldn't help but be scared that he might refuse to
acknowledge her, just like most people of his stature would.
"Hi," the receptionist greeted, brightly.
Anjali gave an anxious smile. "Um hi... I'm here to see Mr.
Shyam Manohar Gupta."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Err... no. But he told me to come by when I could."
The receptionist gave her skeptical look before hurriedly picking
up the phone and pushing the intercom button.
I should have just
booked an appointment, Anjali thought to herself. Having watched and
admired her brother for most of her life, she knew casual conversations did not mean confirmed business deals.
But no matter what, she simply couldn't get herself to
disregard the calm and trusting face of Shyam Manohar Gupta. There was just
something about him that made her want to meet him again, even if it was for
rejection.
"You can go in Ma'am," the receptionist said, hanging up the
phone. "Mr. Gupta's office is on the second floor."
Anjali nodded, feeling her confidence rise significantly.
She was reassured that he wasn't at least going to ignore her.
The second floor of the law firm was simple, situating only
three large cabins. In the center was a small circular desk, behind which sat a
middle-aged woman, typing hurriedly on to the keyboard. Anjali assumed the
woman was Rosie, the secretary.
"Hi," she said, walking up to her. "Can you tell me where is
Mr. Gupta's office?"
Rosie looked up from her computer and let out a bright
smile. "Sure. It's the one in the center."
Anjali nodded in gratitude and swiftly walked up to the said
office, noting gladly that her bouquet choice for Rosie was dead on perfect. Taking
in a deep breath, she knocked against the mahogany door.
"Come in."
She gingerly stepped inside to see Shyam casually seated on
his chair. Dressed in a sky blue collared shirt, he looked tired, but pleased
nonetheless.
"Anjali," he said walking around to greet her. "I'm glad to see
you here."
"Same here Mr. Gupta."
"Let's just skip the formalities, okay? Call me Shyam.
Come in and have a seat."
Anjali smiled, feeling all her fears vanish into thin air.
How silly of her to even think that
he would back off from his offer?
"So," Shyam said, sitting down across her. "When do you want
get started on the renovations?"
She was surprised. "Umm... maybe we should go over what you
want or don't want in the re-design. People, understandably, get picky with
these things."
"Well, in that case, I don't have any concerns whatsoever.
As I have told you, I don't really have a great sense in interior decorating.
So, feel free to do whatever you want."
"Thank you, but this is
your office at the end of the day. And I would feel terrible if you have to
spend everyday in a room you don't like."
Shyam laughed. "Look around, and tell me that again."
Anjali obeyed and surveyed the room. It was of decent size;
with ash colored walls that were completely bare save for a large abstract
painting. A wall sized window occupied one side of the room, in front of which
was a small leather sofa accompanied with a glass coffee table.
She didn't even have to finish examining the room to
understand what he meant. The room was convenient, not extravagant. She was
just about to turn back to him, when her eyes fell on a lone photo frame on his
desk.
"You know Khushi?!" she asked, astonished.
A line appeared on Shyam's forehead, as he followed her eyes
to the photo in question. It was of him and his sister on a trip to Goa years
ago. "That's my sister..."
Anjali gasped. "Khushi is your sister?!"
"Yes... how do you know her?"
"Wow - The world really is a small place! I'm Akash's
sister... twin actually."
It was Shyam's turn to be surprised. "Really? Meeti never
said Akash had a twin!"
"Meeti?"
"I call Khushi, Meeti..."
"Oh! That's sweet - No pun intended."
Shyam laughed.
"But yes, Akash and I are twins, though he likes to think he
is my older brother. Being born five
minutes earlier doesn't count, right?"
"I don't think so."
"Exactly! But I do
have an older brother... he is the eldest of us three. His name is Arnav."
"Yes, Arnav I have heard of. Meeti works for him now, as an
intern. But I have to ask, what made you become an interior designer? Didn't AR Designs interest you at all?"
"Well, I work there part time... mostly help Bhai with a few
things. But it's not the same really... I like the challenge that comes with
being an interior designer."
Shyam was impressed. She looked so delicate and innocent,
and yet here she was, talking about challenges and hard work.
"So, should I show you some designs?" she said, eager to display
the blueprints she worked hard on.
"Of course! But as you have seen, I don't know much about
these things... As long as my office looks like - well, an office - I'm
good."
She put on a disappointed expression. "So, no pink fluffy
curtains?"
Shyam gave her an incredulous look, causing her to burst
into laughter.
"No, Anjali," he replied, with mocking seriousness. "No pink
fluffy curtains."
Anjali grinned in answer and began showing him the various
designs she came up with over the past few days. She explained in detail what
each feature she decided to include, the accompanying color schemes and so on. When she was finally done, Shyam began to
clap.
"Wow," he said. "I don't think even the builder put so much
thought when constructing the office."
"No, seriously... if you didn't like anything, then I can
definitely come up with a new design."
"I am serious - you
are talented! I mean we barely met... I didn't confirm our contract, but you
still went ahead and put so much work into this."
Anjali smiled sheepishly.
"What?"
"Well," she said, looking down at her hands. "I definitely
did think you would get cold feet and back out."
Shyam was surprised. "Seriously?"
"I'm not new to these contracts," she said, defensive.
"Unless and until you sign that dotted line, nothing is set in concrete."
"And still you came to see me."
It was not a question, and yet, Anjali felt as if she should
answer it. "I... I just couldn't believe you would be one of those types."
"Which types?"
"The ones who make promises they can't keep."
Shyam watched her eyes continue to stare at her hands, as if
she feared his reaction. "Well, I'm not one of them. I keep my word, even if it
is the last thing I do."
Anjali looked up, hearing the sincerity in his voice. And
somehow she knew that she could trust him. Come what may, he will never harm
her.
"And as for your designs," he said. "Then, I'm not going to
choose any of them."
"What? Why?!"
"Seeing what you have shown me so far, I'm convinced you
know exactly what you are doing. What I want to see is how well you can do it. So, do your best and surprise me."
"Surprise you?"
Shyam nodded.
"Are you sure?"
Even though she didn't work on many projects, Anjali knew this wasn't normal. People usually
never wanted to take any risks with their work place. And yet, here he was, asking
her to surprise him.
"Of course I'm sure," he replied. "I never place my bets on
things destined to be a failure."
He then calmly picked up a red file and handed it to her. "I
have drawn up a rough contract. Take a look and let me know what changes you
would like to be made. Once that's all finished, we can get the deed done
with."
Anjali took the file, but didn't open it. "I can sign it
right now if you want."
"Trust is a good thing, but definitely not enough to make
decisions on the whim. Go home and look over it with a different eye. And if
you are okay with it, then we can sign it tomorrow."
"Just so you know, I keep my word too... always."
"I'm sure you do."
Anjali smiled. "When do you want the work to be finished
by?"
"Let's just get started first... I'm not in a hurry.
Thankfully, the cabin next door is empty, so I'm going to move in there
temporarily."
"I can start tomorrow," Anjali said quickly. She was eager
to get started on the project to say the least.
"If that's what you want?"
She nodded in affirmative.
"Okay, I will get the office prepped for tomorrow then."
She stood up to leave. "Thank you... I will come by tomorrow
afternoon with the signed contract."
"Great! But just before you leave," Shyam said. "What do the
flowers represent?"
Anjali looked down and noticed the yellow colored daffodils
peeking out of her purse. She shook her head at her own absent-mindedness. She
had meant to give him the flowers.
"I completely forgot about these," she said, pulling the
bouquet out. "I actually bought them for your office."
"For me?"
"Yes, daffodils symbolize new beginnings. I thought it would
be a nice start to our partnership."
Shyam couldn't help but grin, the thought of her bringing
flowers for him giving him immense pleasure.
"So," he said. "Tulips for caring, hyacinth for sincerity,
freesia for trust and daffodils for new beginnings. Did I get everything
right?"
She handed him the bouquet. "That's impressive."
"Thank you... I was considering starting a guide for myself,
in case I have to buy a bouquet in the future."
"That would be a very useful thing to write," she said. "But
you can also use this amazing thing called "Google" and save yourself the
effort."
Shyam laughed. "Is that how you keep track of your flowers?"
"No, I have it all in here," she said, tapping her temple.
"How convenient."
"One day you will know it all too... I mean after memorizing the
Indian Constitution, I think flowers will be a piece of cake."
Shyam grinned and bid her farewell. She was almost out of
the door, when a new thought struck him:
Memorizing the Indian Constitution
would also be a piece of cake if it meant seeing you everyday...
). To make up, this chapter is extra long - 12 whole pages on word! Enjoy 
Comments (18)
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Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
3 months ago
ASR knew abt Jaipur, he knows his siblings inside out.
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
3 months ago
Anjali Shyam are too cute man, cuteness overloaded
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
6 months ago
And wow ASR knew Akash going to painting workshop n he didnt stop him nice. Arshi doesnt agree on parents part. Thats given coz khushi dad is worst
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
6 months ago
Arshi talk fun as always lol.
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
6 months ago
Glad Akash n khushi talked it out n things r better now
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
6 months ago
Seriously Shyam n Anjali r too adorable.
coderlady @coderlady
+ 8
1 years ago
Arnav knew where Akash went. In a way, Akash could apply his talent in designing for the company.
coderlady @coderlady
+ 8
1 years ago
Arnav just exasperates Khushi on every occasion. But she holds up well.
Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
1 years ago
Lmao Asr is too awesome, m loving arshi. Anjali n shyam scene was too good too.
MorallyGrey @WildestDreams
+ 32
1 years ago
wah wah ji .. superb chapter this one!👏🏼👏🏼