Chapter 17

Khushi was stirring her tea, nervous a bit. She was having a feeling that today she had to face Arnav some way or other, she don't want to as she knew he will scold her as its second time he wanted to talk and she walked away. She knew how much he hated that. But since morning she is having this nervous feeling that something might happen that she will land infront of Arnav. She took her tea and went to her table; she decided that she will somehow pass this day today trying her best to stick to her cubicle. But she stopped at the stairs, because Sameer was standing near her cubicle with his one arm over the cubicle wall and he was talking with Prachi, who was blushing in return.

So much of sticking to the cubicle, huh .. Khushi thought irritated.

She didn't want to go there as she knew Sameer would made flirting remarks. So she goes up the stairs so that she can be in peace and think of something to do as she didn't have any work to do. Little did she know that Arnav had planned something for her.

She went upstairs and saw Annie coming out of Arnav's cabin, she had tears in her eyes.

Khushi got worried, "Annie what happened dear? All ok?", she ask coming toward her.

Annie who saw Khushi just shake her head and quickly moves toward Ladies restroom on that floor, that was behind her cabin. Khushi knew that something is wrong, why else would she cry.

"Zaroor uss ladd governer ne kuch kaha hoga (Sure that laad governer had said something)", Khushi muttered. She places her cup on Annie's desk and went to Ladies restroom to ask her whats wrong.

She opens the door and saw Annie standing at the sink wiping her face but the tears still coming down her face. She went ahead and put her hand on Annie's shoulder and asked her whats the matter.

Annie turn around and hold Khushi's hand and tell her while sobbing that her mother was admitted in hospital, she had infected kidney and need to do surgery, she have to be with her thats why she asked Aman if she can have 2 weeks off but Aman said he can't do anything because she was ASR's P.A so she have to ask him directly and she did but instead she have been blasted by ASR. Because a month back she had already taken a week off as her mother was sick and now she can't get off and ASR has asked her to send in her resignation letter if she want more offs.

"Khushi I don't know what to do, my mom needs me but I can't lose this job, because if I lose this job then how will I pay for my mom medical bills and surgery. If she didn't get the surgery on time she might get worse. And I don't have anyone else to look after my mom", said Annie while sobbing.

Khushi was worried, who can understand better than her the importance of parents. Her selfless soul wanted to help her but then that would meant she have to go the lion itself. She gulped and then said, "Don't worry Annie I will talk to Lavanyaji may be she can help".

"No Khushi, Lavanya Mam also can't do nothing, no one can persuade ASR", Annie sobs hard, "I guess I had to resign then", with that she move out of restroom and went to her cabin.

Khushi stood there thinking what she can do to help her, she starts chewing her nail as the thought of talking to Arnav making her nervous.

On the other hand Arnav had planned out what he have to do to make Khushi be with him so that she can't ignore him. His client Mr. Yash Mital had call him and ask him to make bridal dresses for his daughter as she is going to be married in 2 weeks and if someone want to do a quick job and that too perfect than what better option is there than AR. So Arnav call Lavanya and asked her to come with Khushi to his cabin. Lavanya went to Khushi's cubicle but she wasn't there. She asked Prachi who said that Khushi went to Cafeteria, so Lavanya went towards the caf, thats when she saw Khushi coming down the stairs.

"Oh Khushi, good that you are here, come on ASR asked about us", Lavanya quickly said looking at Khushi.

"huh .. why me?", Asked Khushi gulping a little, now she had to go Lion, she thought.

Lavanya roll her eyes and move forward and grabs her hand, "because you are the designer (she move up the stair taking Khushi along with her) and I am the head, so obviously he wanted to talk to us about some project … now come on", and move to Arnav's cabin.

Lavanya knock on Arnav's cabin twice. "Come in" came the curt reply. Lavanya and Khushi enter the cabin and move towards the chair and sat down. Arnav who was going through the file looked up. His gaze came in contact with Khushi, who instantly averted her eyes.

"Lavanya you know Yash Mital right?"

"Yes ASR he is one of our regular clients", said Lavanya.

"Hmmm his daughter is getting married …."

Lavanya cut in, "oh my God … Shanaya is getting married? (as she was friends with her as her dad was their regular client so she had met Shanaya many times and become friends)", Lavanya was surprise plus shock …"She didn't tell me …" she was a bit angry on that.

I will deal with her later ... Lavanya thought huffing.

"Lavanya ..?", Arnav said a bit sternly … "Oh sorry ASR .. you were saying?", Lavanya said quickly.

"He has asked us to make bridal dresses for her daughter, so I want Miss Gupta to work on it … I email you the details regarding style and colors … you can discuss it with Miss Gupta".

"Ok ASR …"

"And yes, I want ONLY (he stresses on the word) Miss Gupta to work on it and the progress of design should be shown to me directly", with he looked straight towards Khushi who also looked at him, their gaze linger for few secs then he looked at file again.

"You can go"….Lavanya move ahead and went out of cabin, Khushi was at the door when Arnav call her, "Miss Gupta"…

Khushi turn around and found Arnav standing infront of her few feets away. She gulped and said, "yes Arnav Sir?"

Arnav take step ahead and said, "What … were … you doing … in my … wardrobe … yesterday" ? he move ahead one step with each word, so now he was standing real close to Khushi.

Khushi looked down and try to say , " umm … I was .. I was .. just …"

"Hiding?", Arnav completes her sentence .. "for me …. Right?".

Khushi instantly look up and shakes her head in No. Arnav cocked his eyebrow as if telling don't you dare deny it and then Khushi move her head slowly in a yes and moves towards her right making distance between them …

"How DARE YOU WALK AWAY?", he said a bit loud and Khushi jumped a little and instantly move backwards. Now Arnav's back was toward the cabin and Khushi's back was towards the table.

"I don't like that a bit … so NEVER walk away when I am talking .. UNDERSTOOD", he said out loud and Khushi just nods her head.

"You will show the design directly to me, no need to go to Lavanya, if you have any question , any query you will ask me direct… am I CLEAR?", he said and move toward Khushi, who in return take step back.

Arnav saw that and he look at her face, he clearly see nervousness on Khushi's face. He didn't want to scare her more, he knew she is already nervous. So take a step toward his table when he heard Khushi speak..

"Please give Annie 2 weeks off as her mother is sick and needs her", Khushi said out of the blue, without thinking while looking up.

Arnav who was not at all expecting it stopped, it took him few secs to understand what Khushi had just said. He looks toward Khushi who was looking back at him with hopeful eyes.

"Its not my problem … she had already took leave a month back …" Arnav said sternly.

Khushi takes a step ahead, "but her mother is sick … she needs a surgery and someone too, to look after her"

"So? Mein kia karun (what should I do)… she had work to handle"

"Someone else can fit in her place while she is gone, Aman ji can find someone" Khushi said.

With that Arnav's brain quickly snapped and an idea came to him. He smirk inwardly, little evily thinking about the idea that had just struck him.

"Ok I will give her leave", said Arnav

"Really .. oh thank you sir", Khushi instantly said smiling a bit.

"Uh ah .. I am not finished, I will give her leave only on one condition which YOU (he stress on the word) will have to fulfill".

Khushi smile faded, "what condition Arnav sir?".

"You (he stake a step toward Khushi) have (another step and Khushi moves backwad) to become (another step ahead and Khushi moves back one step) my P.A (he moves ahead and Khushi moves back, her legs hit the chair and she stumble back and sit on the chair) for a month (Arnav lean ahead, Khushi moves back in the chair and Arnav put his hand on chair and looked down at Khushi) 24/7".

Khushi look up and gulped, 24/7 his P.A that's mean I have to be with him every time for every work? .. no I cant do that , she thought.

"No .. I .. I …can't do that .. I have … have (she tried to thought) other work … yes ... other work …. I have to design ..", Khushi babbled.

Arnav move back and said, "Ok then I just call Aman (he took his phone from table) and just terminate Annie's contract … that way she can have as much leaves as she want…"

"NOOO .." Khushi stood up … " I mean I can find someone who can be your P.A".

"uh ah … KHUSHI", he said … "I want YOU (he point her index finger toward her) to be my P.A, no one else .. that is my condition … decide yourself .. you have 1 minute", said and Arnav and move towards his chair and sits on it.

Khushi stood there thinking hard, what she can do …she knew it will be like a torture working beside him …. But Annie's mother need her … if she say yes … Annie can be go home and her mother surgery can be done. At last her selfless soul made a decision to help, as it was her nature to always help others.

"your minute is up … Khushi …", said Arnav and Khushi looked at him … "So you can do it or not?" Arnav asked, Khushi saw the challenge in his eyes, she will be damned if she let him think that she is coward and can't handle him.

"Yes I will do it", said Khushi confidently.

"Good then … (he pics the receiver of landline and asked Annie to come in) .. Annie come here now.." he put the receiver down.

After few secs the door open and Annie comes there, she saw Khushi there and got alarmed

Did she talked to ASR about me? , she thought.

"Annie .. you can take leave for a month, you will get the advance salary too … Khushi will be my P.A in your absence, give her all the detail about my work and schedule", Arnav said all in one go.

Annie was shocked hearing that she didn't say anything but stare at ASR

"What? You don't want leave?", said Arnav ...

"Yes sir, I do … I do want the leaves", Annie stammered a bit.

"Then what you are doing here go and do what I said … don't waste time … Khushi will start from today … (he look up at Khushi) .. infact she starts this minute. NOW GO".

Annie nods her head and tugs Khushi arm, Khushi looks at her, Annie gesture her to come with her.

Khushi moves out and went to Annie's cabin .."Khushi … how you .. I mean … how did that happen?"

"Umm … mmm I asked Arnav Sir that I can work in your absence so that there is no affect on his work. And he agrees", Khushi lied as she don't want to tell anyone about Arnav's condition.

"Oh thank you so much Khushi, I really owe you a big one for that", Annie hugged Khushi

Khushi hugged her back "you're welcome".

Annie then tell her each and everything regarding ASR work and schedule, she gave her the planner, her notebook and also told her which thing is where in computer, after 2 hours she bid good bye to Khushi and went home.

Khushi sits on the chair and look at the planner to see what is today's schedule, Khushi you can do this … you can this ,,, no need to be nervous … she thought and prepare herself mentally .

On the other hand Arnav dialed Aman and told him to give Annie her advance salary and also that from today Khushi will be his P.A till the absence of Annie and asked him to tell everyone so that if they have any work with him they should consult Khushi for that. He put the phone down and said, "Now we will see how you can ignore me … abh aye ga maza (now it will be fun)", with a smile on his face.

He had planned early to make Khushi work on Mital design but then fate had given him better opportunity to make Khushi work with him, that way she can be with him all the time he work, and also who knows after the work too ..

TO BE CONTINUED ... (next update will be on Monday)

Precap: Khushi as Arnav's P.A ... 😳

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