Chapter 2

"How was your day Khushi?" Her Mom asked her nervously as she returned.

"Oh great!" Khushi chirped, "I'll skip dinner, Pari & I snacked a lot during shopping. I'm so tired, I'm off to bed." Khushi went to her room.

After dinner Payal and Mom went to Khushi's room. She was asleep. After almost a month they had seen some signs of emotion, no' some signs of life in her. It was a month since she had resigned from that hell she called office. But she still woke up every night screaming and thrashing as a result of the nightmare's she had of what she had been through.

As they sat watching, her face began to twitch, she began stirring restlessly, "No" She began mumbling in her sleep. "No' I did not' trust me Sir' No' Arnav Sir' Please, please listen to me."

She began thrashing as her voice began to raise. "Khushi, wake up Khushi" Payal tried to wake her. Both of them were worried now as her voice grew louder. Her mom finally gripped her shoulders and shook her violently.

She woke up with a wild shriek of "Arnav Sir NO".

Khushi was shocked as she realized it was only a dream. Payal gave her some water which helped her clear her mind. Her mom soothed her and tucked her back in bed.

Her mom was in tears as they walked out of her room. "After today I thought things would be better, but.."

"It's Ok Amma, Khushi has been through a lot, we have to give her time. Her wounds are deep & only time will heal them."

With that they went to their respective rooms. But Khushi lay awake in her bed, thinking of the past.

But after her first day Khushi realized that she was misinformed. ASR was not a strict Boss at all' He was a Demon, summoned right from the Pits of Hell'

As ASR's PA, her small cabin was attached to his large one so she could have direct access. Pari & Karan wished her luck as she entered her cabin. Khushi's palms were sweating, "Devi Maiya raksha karna." She prayed and entered. The surroundings were not at all cozy, strictly businesslike. She hadn't met ASR yet, her interview was conducted by one of the managers. She sat at her desk. She was given instructions that it was not allowed to personalize her work station at AR, so she had to live with the boring, pale textures. She started having a look at the papers in the 'IN' tray & tried to figure out what she had to do when the phone rang.

"Crap" there were three phones on her desk. By the time she figured out which one it was, it had already rang 5 times.

"Hello" She said.

"Why the hell did you take so long to answer?" A voice practically barked from the other end.

She stared at the phone instrument; it was labeled 'ASR'. This was the boss calling. "S-Sir I'"

"I hate people who give excuses" the voice roared back cutting her off. "In my cabin NOW" and the line went dead.

She was shaken, had she done something wrong already? Couldn't be' she wasn't in the office 10 minutes. She gathered her wits, picked up a pen & notepad & rushed to the connecting door & knocked.

"Come in" she heard from the other side.

Khushi entered and walked to the front of his desk.

'Whoa' Was she in office or what? She could only stare at him. ASR was without doubt the most stunningly hot guy she had ever laid eyes on. Whatever she was expecting it wasn't this. God must've taken a week-long vacation after carving this piece of perfection. He was
concentrating on his laptop screen which was good because she just stood there like an idiot staring at him.

After a few moments she recovered a bit and said, "Yes Sir?"

His jaw clenched, "You will speak only when asked to, you understand?" and he glared at her.

She was stunned. The glare was so full of hatred, a chill ran down her spine and she was convinced that she'd definitely done something to offend him excessively.

"Sit down" He ordered after about 10 minutes. She sat down gladly her knees were about to give away. "Take down this letter, I will dictate & I will not repeat." He growled.

He spoke fast but Khushi was faster so had no difficulty. After that he gave her 2 files, "I want you to prepare reports on these files" He passed her a sheet of paper, "this is your work email ID & password. Mail me the letter & the reports separately."

"Yes Sir" Khushi replied.

"This has to be completed before you take your lunch break" He said and Khushi heard the challenge in his voice.

"Sure sir" She said & started to leave.

"Wait I'm not done yet." He was angry again. "What's your name?"

Khushi was surprised. She was in ASR's cabin for over half an hour, he knew she was his PA but didn't know her name.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta" She replied.

"Miss Gupta, what are you wearing?"

"Sir?" Khushi asked confused.

"Didn't you hear when I said, I don't like to repeat? What are you wearing Miss Gupta?"

"Salwar Kameez" She replied slowly.

"Weren't you informed that there is a dress code here" He asked glaring at her.

"But Sir, Salwar Kameez is Indian formals" Khushi protested. She knew that the dress code was strictly formal and she wasn't even wearing the 'chamkili' dresses she normally wore. Pari had advised against it. She had carefully chosen this formal attire for her first day.

"Don't you teach me that Miss Gupta, I run a fashion house" He was angrier. "You will wear western formals from tomorrow or type your resignation letter before you leave." His voice was challenging again.

All Khushi could manage was to nod.

"Now get out of here and get some work done. OUT"

Khushi all but ran back to her cabin and collapsed on her chair

'He was so rude!' It was hard to believe what had just passed through. 'Welcome to hell Khushi Kumari Gupta.' She thought & got to type the letter he had dictated.