Chapter 10
Chapter 10: The Monster
Memories Continued...
Over the next few days Khushi worked like a maniac, not wanting her thoughts to stray in dangerous territories. ASR hadn't tried to talk to her about anything except work. Khushi started to believe that he didn't care for what had occurred between them in Mumbai. What was that supposed to mean? He had walked into her room, kissed her like crazy & stormed out without a word or explanation. She was furious at herself for getting carried away. She shuddered internally at the thought of what might have happened had jiji not called that day. This man didn't care at all. Fine, she wouldn't think about it either, from now on she would be completely professional with him if that's what he wanted.
Arnav on the other hand was upset with himself too. How could he have lost control like that? He hated this feeling of weakness. Every time he looked at Khushi, he was reminded of the magical moments they had shared in Mumbai and he longed to have her back in his arms.. continue where they had left off.. improvise. He had felt guilty initially for leaving her like that. But Khushi hadn't looked at him in the eye even once since that day. He could have said that she was avoiding him. She came in to his cabin only when he called her. If she had a question for him she would call him on the desk phone & keep the conversation short & to the point.
He had wanted to talk to her several times but didn't know what to say to her. Maybe she was thinking that what happened between them was wrong. But then it wasn't like he had forced her into it, she was as much of an active participant as he was. He longed to know her point of view but she seemed to be busy ignoring him.
She no longer smiled at him either. Though it was a completely different story when it came to others. He had seen her sitting on Karan's desk chatting with him happily several times. She even spoke to Akash like they were old friends, joking & laughing. But what irked him the most was that Product manager Shyam Jha. He had seen Khushi sitting opposite him at lunch a few times. Arnav had found him at Khushi's cabin a lot lately & he left as soon as Arnav came to speak to her and she never mentioned as to why he was there.
~~~~~~
A few weeks later..
It was late in the evening & everyone had started to leave. Khushi was working late for a project that was almost at its deadline.
"Khushiji, how are you?" Khushi heard that annoying sound at her cabin's door again.
She sighed, "Shyam sir. I'm still working on the Shimmer project, will send you the listings once I'm done." She said a bit annoyed & in a dismissive tone.
"Take your time Khushiji, I don't mind. I just came to ask if you would like to go for a coffee with me?" He said smiling too much.
"No sir, I need to type this letter for Arnav Sir. It's urgent." She said in a tone that clearly said 'Not interested'.
But this was Shyam she was dealing with. "It's ok Khushiji, I've got time. I'll wait here till you finish the letter." He sat down on a chair opposite her.
"Shyam sir, honestly, I have no time for this. I have lots to do & it's getting late. You please carry on." Khushi was getting irritated now.
"Oh, come on Khushiji, you can definitely spare 10 minutes to have a coffee with me. I'll wait." He said.
Khushi just continued with her work, hoping that Shyam would get bored after a while & leave on his own. She hadn't typed two lines when she heard a crash. Shyam had accidentally knocked her In tray & all the papers in it were spread on the floor.
"Oh Khushiji, I'm so sorry." He said & started to get up to pick the papers.
"That's ok" Khushi said swearing at him mentally & gestured him to remain seated. "I'll pick them up."
She started picking up the papers but when she reached to the ones that were near his feet, he suddenly grabbed her wrists pulling her on him.
"Khushiji, you are so beautiful, why do you seem so indifferent towards me. I like you so much.You can go to Mumbai with ASR for 3 days. All I'm asking for is a coffee. I can satisfy you better than ASR." He was saying, there was a click on the connecting door as he continued to say, "Why are you doing this to me?"
Then HIS voice rang loudly in the cabin, "KHUSHI.. WHAT THE DEVIL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"
From where he was looking, Khushi had her back towards him & it seemed like she was bending over Shyam & he was holding her wrists to restrain her. They both stood up to look at ASR. But ASR was glaring dangerously at Khushi, his eyes mad with rage. Unfortunately he had only heard Shyam's last statement 'Why are you doing this to me?'
"Sir.. He.." Khushi could hardly speak & she was on the verge of tears.
But Shyam had already recovered from the initial shock & realised that ASR's anger was directed towards Khushi & not him.
"Sir, thank god you are hear. Did you see what she was trying to do?" He said trying to sound hurt.
"Sir..No.. I.. he was.." Khushi tried to explain but ASR walked up to her.
He could hardly believe what he had seen. He was maddened with rage. "Don't even try.. I saw what you were doing."
"Sir no, please, listen to me." Khushi stepped forward & caught his arm.
He glared at her with eyes filled with hatred and shrugged her away with force & went back to his cabin.
Shyam followed him. "Sir, thanks a lot. She has been trying to do that for a long time you know? She always called me to her cabin under some or the other pretence & tried to come closer. I told her several times to stay away, that I am a married man, but she didn't care."
Arnav looked at him shocked. He still couldn't believe Khushi had behaved that way. Khushi, with whom he longed to be with. With whom he had shared the most beautiful & intimate moments of his life. With whom he had shared the secrets of his past. How could SHE be like that?
Shyam looked at the confusion on ASR's face & continued, "You must have noticed how I always left from her cabin the moment you came in; I knew she couldn't do anything in front of you so I would make my escape." ASR turned away from him angrily & Shyam smelled an easy victory, he couldn't afford to lose his job. "Sir and it's not just me either. I'm sure you have noticed how she tries to be close to Akash Sir as well. & then there is that Karan with whom she is always seen with. I wouldn't be surprised if I heard that she tried to.. you know.. with YOU.." He said with an evil grin.
Arnav shut his eyes tightly, he couldn't bear it any longer. "That will do Shyam, you may leave."
"Yes Sir." Shyam said & left hurriedly.
Arnav sat on his chair holding his head in his hands. His mind was racing. Was Khushi really playing around with all these men? With Shyam he couldn't deny. What he had seen and heard just now left no room for a doubt! He didn't know Karan much but he was always with Khushi & that couldn't be denied. But Akash? His brother.. the thought enraged him so much. What kind of a disgusting creature she was. He still couldn't forget their kiss. She had responded him in every way. Not once had she resisted. Was she trying to trap him as well in her games all the while, trying to play hard to get so that he would be drawn to her?
It all fits, he thought. She had made a mockery of his emotions. Anger boiled in his veins & he stormed to Khushi's cabin.
~~~~~~
Khushi fell down on the floor. Her arm hurt where it hit on a chair when he shrugged her away. Her eyes were wide open with shock. Her brain had gone numb. She just stayed sitting on the floor not realising where she was or what she was doing.
She didn't realise when ASR came & stood in front of her. Suddenly a strong hand grabbed her jaw & pulled it up. Khushi's eyes still wide with shock looked into ASR's eyes narrowed with rage. If she had ever been scared of him before, it was nothing to what she felt now. His eyes were glowing with anger, hatred and something else. Khushi couldn't fathom what it was; there was some madness in his eyes, devilish maybe. A chill ran down her spine.
"You like playing around with men, don't you?" He said in a cold, dangerous tone. "Shyam, Karan, Akash.. Me even, right?"
What was he saying? Where did all this come from? She couldn't understand what he meant. "S-s-sir no.. I-I.."
"That's fine.. KHUSHI.." He said in a low, chilling voice that dragged. "Girls like you aren't really worried about their reputation, are they? As long as you get to have FUN with different men. But you made a big mistake, don't you think." He continued, his hand getting tighter on her jaw. "You should've had too much over confidence that you thought you could trap Me."
"No.. Arnav Sir.. That's not true.." She said with great difficulty as his grip on her jaw only got tighter.
"Oh, come on Khushi.. There's no need for niceties now, your true colours have been revealed." His glare bored into her. "But were you really so foolish enough to believe that you could get away from Me? No.. You need to pay for your deeds, don't you?"
She was in tears, "S-Sir P-Please.. Listen to me.. trust me sir.. I did not.."
But her words were cut off. His lips captured hers. But to say that he kissed her would be totally untrue. This was a harsh punishment; nothing like the one they had shared the last time. His hand had moved from her jaw to the back of her hair grabbing them painfully, his lips held no passion or love unlike last time. He was not the Arnav who had held her possessively at the dance or had ran crazily through the streets of Mumbai worried for her.. Neither was he the ASR who yelled at her.. He was just a MONSTER.
She gasped as he pulled her hair back painfully breaking contact. "Does that satisfy you?" He continued in his low dangerous tone. "Of course not, isn't it? Not even close. It would take more than that to satisfy someone like you." He slid his hands down her back to her waist, rubbing them & for the first time his touch felt.. dirty.. revolting..
"No Arnav Sir.. Please stop.." She pleaded trying to free herself.
"Stop? Already? Oh we haven't even started yet. I'm sure you are eager to have more of me, aren't you?" He purred gripping her shoulders and roughly pushing her back. Her back hit the edge of the chair & she cried in pain. He pushed her back further until she was lying on the floor, hitting her head in the process.
His eyes were beyond reason. He had her arms held in his grip, holding her in place. She looked at him terrified as he bent over her; biting from her jawline down her neck.
"No please.. please.. Stop.. NO.." She cried out, her voice rising with every word. "I beg you.. please.. please let me go.." She continued pleading while he continued to punish her.. hurt her.. damage her..
She went on begging him, her terrified eyes tightly shut when she started sensing a change in his touch. To her horror she realised that he had opened her shirt and his hands & mouth were performing a repulsive dance on her body. She started struggled madly, her legs kicking in every direction as she screamed aloud, "NOOO.." and her hands in his hair trying to pull him away from her.
Her scream slapped him back to his senses. He suddenly looked down at her trembling, terrified form.. She was still pleading him for mercy. He felt as if he had been brought back to senses by someone splashing a jug of ice cold water on his face. What was he doing? He couldn't believe he had behaved that way. No matter what she had done, how could HE be such a monster? He straightened back & stood up suddenly. Khushi sat up & slid back to the corner, pulling her shirt up and trying to shield her body with her feeble arms, sobbing hysterically.
He looked down at her & felt a wave of regret hit him. He almost took a step towards her to comfort her. She shrank back further trembling with fear. But then the image of her bending over Shyam flashed across his mind. Anger filled his system again, he turned away from her.
"GET OUT OF THIS PLACE.. & NEVER SHOW YOUR FACE HERE AGAIN.." He said harshly &walked away..
He came back to his cabin but couldn't bear to wait in the office any longer. He went to his car & drove off.
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