Chapter 11

The Morning After The Night Before

Chapter 11

Reality was hard. She felt like death in the mornings but Arnav true to his word always brought her her morning brew and waited till she had drunk it and drifted back off to sleep, before she left.

The boredom and inactivity combined with Mamiji constant comments were draining Khushi till finally she rang "Daaad help"

"Hi" not wanting to alert any other parties in his room to the identity of the caller.

"You in a meeting?"

"I'm sure they will excuse while I take this call ,gentlemen"

They nodded in agreement. While Shashi Gupta left the room discussion took place in the room. "It's probably his daughter or your wife Arnav"

"Excuse me ?"

"It's a well known fact that Shashi Gupta doesn't take calls during meetings except his girls."

Shashi re-entered the room "sorry for interruption gentlemen shall we continue"

Once the meeting was complete Shashi made his apologies to Arnav and saying "I will need to postpone our lunch to another day sorry but needs must"

Arnav nodded in understanding but his mind was whirring ahead of himself.

Who had been on the phone Khushi or Payal ? If Khushi why had he changed their lunch date and if Payal she could have come as well. Something wasn't gelling.

Arnav decided to hang around to see who came.

A sports SLK 320 sedately pulled up and reversed carefully into a parking spot. The utmost care being take to place the small car in a space three times its size. A car with that pull and power was totally wasted on the driver. It could only be Khushi. Khan Shashi's driver got out the passenger and open the driver side door. A pair of legs that could only belong to his wife came out. It was Khushi;curiouser and curioser. He would give her five minutes and then go back in, on the pretext that he had seem her come in on his way out.

"You back sir ?"

"Yes I just saw Khushi"

"She's in with her father and I'm not allowed to disturb them on any account but you're different sir shall I call"

"No I'll let myself in"

The site that greeted him made his heart flip and quiver. She sat next to him on the sofa crying into his shirt.

"Khushi it's always hard adjusting and you haven't done it in the best of circumstances his family will come round, they will warm to you give them time. As for the rest -tell Arnav I'm sure he won't mind if you work with me and I will miss you if you work for him.

"I won't mind"

"Arnav ?"

"I saw Khushi drive in - painful she should have a maruti 800 or just a full time driver."

"A father's whim -that car Khan's pride and Joy"

"More importantly you cancelled your lunch meeting with your son-in-law because you had an upset daughter why not ask me to stay ?"

"Arnav it was not about negotiations it was about a father listening to his daughter- tell him Khushi what your problems are ?"

"I'm going stark raving mad in that house, I am climbing up the walls and my brain is going to mush. I can't be a stay at home house wife cooking, carrying out embroidery, decking myself out in the latest banarsi sari or pray all day"

She had honed in on the striking trait that was peculiar to each female member of his family with faultless precision.

"Khushi who said you had to stay at home -the only reason was you have been so ill -if you want to work- work ,the only condition I lay is that you take care of yourself and don't over exert yourself - Agreed dad and I think this is where I came in work where ever you are comfortable in AR designs or with your dad I really don't mind."

"Dad- please I need something to remain a constant; there is too much change happening too quickly for me. I'll start today"

"Khushi beti when did you ever leave ? Your office everything is as it was, down to your PA who has been twiddling her thumbs waiting on your return."

Arnav come and let me show you my office it's the exact opposite of yours dad doesn't allow me to conduct meetings in there then we will have lunch?"

"Khushi ,Arnav remember I'm her father first then you are my son, a piece of advice to you both -talk to each other -it will save me a lot of heart ache and with a grandchild coming, 50% of the genes will be Khushi's I really need a rest before he or she arrives"

Arnav could only gape at Khushi office -there was no suaveness about it or sophistication -it was a kaleidoscope of colours, memory boards ,a dart board it was a mish mash of a number of styles and era's. She had just taken what she liked and placed it together and unbelievably she had broken every rule in the design book but it worked - It oozed Khushiness from every pore by looking in this room you would know her dislikes and likes in an instant.

On her desk a framed photograph -Arnav knowing Khushi expected her dad ,mum or Family picture "Really Khushi -THIS has pride of place"

"Do you know how long I queued to get that autograph photograph of Salman Khan!"

"They broke the mould when they made you - thank god! I don't think the world could cope with two like you"

There was a discreet knock on the door and her father only entered when given permission.

"Since when do you knock at my office door dad ?"

"Since you're husband is here. I needed to give him time to recover from the shock of your office -she calls it inspiration and organised chaos; I call it a no entry zone for clients."

"Lunch both of you ? I have asked for it to be delivered to my office"

"Dad doesn't spend any time in here he says he can't think straight"

"Arnav don't comment she is laying one of those traps for you -agree with her you will be disagreeing with your father in law, agree with me and she won't let you forget it"

Arnav smiled and laughed - he really liked Shashi - he was a good father the complete opposite of anything he had experienced in his life. "Thanks for the heads up"

Food arrived and both Shashi and Arnav watched in awe as Khushi demolished the food in front of her.

"Arnav what she got in there a foodie monster"

"I have no idea - but I've seen where the idea of hoovers originated from - they clean up everything in sight "

"You're both being mean - I was just hungry!"

"Oh son I do feel for you , I feel as though I am watching a re-run of Khushi's mum when she was carrying Khushi" Shashi quickly glanced at Khushi she always glazed over any mention of her mother. "What you thinking of Khushi - you have a strange smile on your face one I have not seen before"

"Cake mixture dad"

Arnav smiled and got up "I really have to get to my offices or AR designs will start making a loss."

"Khushi I had my reservations - but you will be fine -just fine. However you found each other I think you could not have chosen better. Now, if you are ready take these account sheets from a fashion house that AR designs and us are considering for a joint purchase and write a report on it's financial standing."

Khushi refelected on what her dad said it was the little things he did for her that showed he cared.

He always brought her ,her brew and waited till she fell asleep again. The little texts he would send asking if she were ok. The little surprise tokens he would bring, a belt , a butterfly hair pin ,a crystal rose making time to listen to her . He never brought her flowers ever again after the first time- those yellow roses. Neither would ever forget them.

Like dad said the family had to get to know her .

The spread sheet , her office KKG was back! She looked at the sheet again and again adding subtracting totting the numbers trying different formulations till her dad came in Khushi its 7:30 . I just got a text from Arnav asking if you were with me - you're not answering your phone .

"Sorry dad let me call Arnav its these accounts. I've missed this so much I'm starving lets go home and we will discuss this on the way"

"Brake girl! Let's get you to your husband and to your home and feed you and then you can tell me about the accounts if your husband lets you OK!"

Khushi looked at her dad "In principle I agree but I have two homes now! You're not getting rid of me that easy and I'll stay wherever I please ."

"As long as your husband agrees"

"DAD"

" Send a text we will be there in 30 minutes is dinner cooked or we will pick something on the way"

"Khushi I don't mind you working just let me know so that I am not worried OK "

"Someone is starving"

"Again?"

"She wants to discuss business after dinner -that's down to both of you."

Everyone at the dinner table watched in awe as Khushi made short work of the mountain of food on her plate.

Mami Ji threw one of her regular comments - How muchis ish she going to eat ? Our foodish cost ish tripling shince she ish coming"

"No mami Ji its is rising at 54 % on a daily basis and if you take in the additional cost of staff and electricity and breaks required i am quadrupling the cost. So it's a good thing that I went to work to feed my habit"

Shashiand smothered his laughter understanding the double entendre that was missed by her Mamiji .

Arnav was annoyed and made short work of the comment "No worries Mamiji I'll just trim your sari allowance and jewellery as you have so much anyway"

Mamiji got the message loud and clear - Khushi was not for the touching.

"The account sheet -It can wait till tomorrow."

"OK"

Khushi got up and went to the freezer and pulled a vanilla and chocolate swirl tub of icecream and sat back at the table with a spoon and delved into the tub.

Her father got two spoons and said "Arnav a piece of advice icecream and jelabies are a definite you're in trouble mate sign -lets have the information or you will have burrowed a bore hole in my damad's brain by the morning"

Khushi got the spread sheet out and started spouting numbers -Mami ji and Nani and Di left . The rest stayed and listed. There was embezzlement going on and Khushi showed them how cleverly it had been done numbers chaging from 1 to 7 ,stock controls not adding up -someone was borrowing so in reality the company was profitable a worthwhile buy but the thief had to be caught.

"That's why I hired her ! Not because she is my daughter"

"I might have to re think the job situation and insist that she work for AR designs!"

"How about we share her ?"

"Oye both of you I'll decide where I work !"

"Of course you will my dear" came the joint reply from husband and father who then laughed in unison.

"Stay at GH I can't have an office like yours spoiling my clean uncluttered lines"

"wait till I re decorate your bedroom so that it is our bedroom"

"Son quit while your ahead -she could do you house and office and you won't have a say in it at all "

So started Khushi return to sanity and a modicum of normality that she was used to.