Chapter 24

Monday @ AR – Noon

It was a new day but with the same routine for Khushi, she arranges his cabin and files, give him his schedule in the morning and stick to her desk. But today she was getting more confused with Arnav's behavior. She was avoiding him and he knows that but still he didn't say anything nor he tried to make her do his things like before when he was making her run here and there. Not that she complain about it but it was confusing her to some extent. Yesterday too when she was in his house he didn't say anything nor he passes some remark about her. As much as she knew about Arnav he doesn't like if someone ignores him then why he is not getting angry?

After lunch Khushi was preparing for the next meeting that Arnav has to attend in half an hour. One file was missing which has the quotes to be given to the client. She checks her desk and cupboard in her cabin but she couldn't find that file. She stops to think where did she put it, and she remembers that she has given that file to the peon to give it to Arnav to check it. So she moves into his cabin, she knew Arnav has gone to Akash's cabin for lunch so she has to be quick to find the file and move out of his cabin. Khushi checked Arnav's table but the file was not there so she moves towards the cupboard and started to look for the file. She searches all the files on her level of sight but couldn't find it so she has to look above but her height didn't allow her to. She looks here and there to find something to stand on, she find the small table near the sofa. She put the decoration piece on the sofa and brings the table near the cupboard; she held one rack of cupboard and pushes herself upwards. Now she was standing on the table. She scans the area for the file, and yes she finds the file. She pulls out the file and open to check if indeed it was that file she was looking for.

Suddenly the door open with a loud voice and Khushi quickly turn around to see who was it and loses her balance and fall backwards, she yelps and the file falls from her hand. She closes her eyes tightly waiting to hit the hard floor any sec but it never came. She felt something warm was holding her. She slowly opens her eyes to see the brown eyes looking down at her. Her face transform into shock expression finding herself into the arms of Arnav Singh Raizada.

Arnav was looking down at the innocent beauty in his arms … her soft body touching his hard one … wearing a simple pink top with long white skirt. He felt his heart beats becoming faster with each second. His face showing concern, he saw her standing on the table and about to fall when he opened the door. His heart literally skips a beat thinking that she will get hurt and in a reflex he runs to catch her.

"tum thek ho? (Are you alright?)", asked Arnav in a concerned voice, thinking that does she twisted her foot or not.

"huh … ?" … Khushi was totally lost in his brown depths.

"Khushi … (Arnav paused a sec) … tum thek ho? Did you hurt your ankle? Arnav asked again giving a slight jerk to her body.

"haan ..hum … hum thek hain ( yes .. I am … I am alright)", Khushi said pondering over the fact that why Arnav hadn't started shouting on her like before when she bumped into him and spilled hot coffee all over him. Remembering the incident her anger builds up, she wiggle in his arms and said with an irritated tone, "leave me".

Arnav slowly put her down on her feet in way that her body slides against his front in slow sensual way. Khushi breath caught in her throat at the sensual contact of his body against her. Arnav was looking at her face noticing her every expression ,,, first dazed … then irritation … then anger and now again back to dazed one. Khushi now stood on her foot her hands on Arnav's chest looking into his eyes. Arnav's one hand was at her back and other holding her arm. Arnav slowly move his hand on her back in upward and downward direction. The movement seems to make Khushi come out of trance and she push Arnav, "Apki himat kaise hui? (how dare you?), said Khushi in irritating tone. "What ..?", asked Arnav totally confuse at her tone.

"You cannot take me into your arms like that … its an office … not your personal garden Mr.Raizada", Khushi said anger slowly building up.

"What the ..!! I just save you from falling down … you could have hurt yourself dammit", said Arnav taking a step towards her getting angry.

"Toh…? humein hi chot lagti na … ap ko iss se kia faraq perta hai? ( So ..? I would have get hurt … what does it make a difference to you)", Khushi answer back in equal anger.

"of course faraq perta hai dammit (of course it make a difference to me dammit)", Arnav said grabbing both of her arms.

"kyun perta hai? (why it does?)", said Khushi trying to get rid of his strong grip on her arms.

Arnav didn't have an answer to this question, because he don't know himself why it does make a difference to him if she got hurt or not, if she is alright or not … why he is so concerned about her?

Khushi was waiting for an answer; she wanted to know if she means something … anything to him. But seeing him all quit she gets more irritated. She push his hands away from her arms … Arnav didn't have an answer so he do what his ego always make him do, "you should be thanking me that I save you from falling", scorned Arnav.

"apki madad ki bajaye humain girna manzoor hai (I would prefer falling rather than your help) … I don't need to thank you as it was your fault … who said to burst into the cabin scaring people like that? Don't know whats going on your mind … khabi khabi to hap humain itna pareshan kertey hain k hum Devi Maiya se prathna kertey hein k ap humarey samney hi na ayien (sometime you irritate me that much I pray to Devi Maiya that you don't come infront of me), Khushi said all in one go and without waiting for his answer she bend down pick up the file from the floor and storm out of his cabin.

It took few seconds for Arnav to understand what she had just said in her super fast speed. "How dare she", thought Arnav angrily and move towards the door so that he can go and give her a piece of his mind. He opens the door with a jerk and found Aman standing there with his hand up in the air to knock the door.

"ASR …?", said Aman seeing the angry expression on his boss face. Arnav look beyond Aman but he couldn't see Khushi there. "What ??", he said curtly looking at Aman.

"The meeting .. ASR … I came to call you for the conference", said Aman coming straight to the point knowing that its no use asking an angry ASR what happened with his mood. "hmmm … lets go", said Arnav remembering that he have a conference meeting to attend.

Khushi angrily come out of Arnav's cabin and come to face Aman, "Khushi .." "Aman.." .. both said each other's name at the same time.

"Aman … here is the file containing the quotes for the next meeting", said Khushi handing the file to Aman. "thanks … I was ...", Aman was about to say but Khushi move towards the washroom.

She open the tab standing in front of sink … splashes water on her face … closing her eyes to control the frantic rhythm of her heart.

She cursed herself for losing her temper but it was getting hard for her to keep her emotions hold back which were pulling her towards him and she feels helpless in controlling them … feeling restless … touching his body like that left her wanting more of him. She splashes more water on her face to calm herself.

Relax … just relax … follow your mantra … ignore him, she said to herself … she scold herself that why she wanted to know if she make a difference to him or not. Rest of the day she stick to her desk again.

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After Office hours ….

The meeting was over and Arnav was in his cabin going through the files, he didn't have another encounter with Khushi … it was like she was hell bent on ignoring him and now it started to irk him.

He was still pondering on her question that why it does make a difference to him when he heard his cabin door being knocked "come in", he said.

Aman came in the cabin with some files and hand him over to sign. He sat down on the chair infront of him discussing further things related to meeting. Once the discussion was over Aman thought how to approach the object as Anjali has asked him to ask Arnav his plans for tomorrow. He knows what work he will be having at office tomorrow as being his General Manager but he didn't know if he wanted to stay here or not as Anjali would constantly insist him like before to be at RM. So he did what he always do ask him in a different way so that he won't feel that he is interfering his personal life.

So he stood up showing that he was leaving,"ASR … do you want me to book your tickets to some place for tomorrow?", Aman asked looking at Arnav.

"why … what for?", asked Arnav still looking down the file writing something.

"umm its 21^st February … you know Tania's .." Aman stop at her name … Arnav hand stop at that …

21^st Feb … the date rings in his head …. Arnav stop his work to think for a minute what do to. He don't want to be here … he cant stand all the drama again like last time.

"No … I will take the chopper" said Arnav and put the pen down. Aman nods his head, he knew ASR wont be staying here in Dehli tomorrow. Aman moves towards the door

"umm Aman ..", Arnav called him .. Aman turn back to look at him

"I will leave tonight … can you handle the meetings for 2 days?", Arnav said.

"yeah sure ASR ..", said Aman and move out of cabin.

Arnav closes his eyes and lean back his head on chair… 21^st Feb …. Its Tania's death Anniversary …..

Aman closes the door of Arnav's cabin and let out a huge sigh. He knows Arnav won't be here tomorrow, he tried to tell that to Anjali when she called him half hour ago. But she was requesting him to make Arnav stay back and Aman told her it no use forcing him.

Aman known Arnav from past 8 years and one thing he knows for sure that when Arnav set his mind on one thing, nothing can change his decision. He is the most determine and hard working man Aman ever known. Aman still remember the day when he first met Arnav 8 years ago in Boston.

Aman went to Boston for his MBA, it was very difficult for his family to bare the expenses but still his dad supported him and somehow manages to send him to US. After 2, 3 months he started to do a part time job in a local bar to help in his finances for his studies. One night a rich brat got drunk and started to misbehave with the bar dancer. Aman being a gentleman tries to stop the guy but end up in heated argument which resulted in losing his job. As the owner of the club knows the father of that brat and he insisted him to fire Aman from the job if the owner wanted to save his bar. Late night when Aman was on way to his hostel that brat cornered him with 4 more guys and they started to beat him black and blue. After much beating 2 men hold him from either side and that brat take a knife out to plunge into his stomach, but before he could do that someone kicked the knife out of his hand. Aman was slowly losing his conscious but he manages to see his savior and it was no other than Arnav. He don't know where he came from but he did and save him from those spoiled brats by fighting alone … beating all 5 of them. Then Arnav took Aman to his hostel and tend to his wounds. He didnt take him to the hospital because it will create problem for them as it would consider as a police case and involving police is not a good idea when they are not the citizen of this country.

For a week Aman stayed there and Arnav took care of his every needs. Arnav also help him in his studies, whenever he needed guidance he would consult Arnav. Arnav was a year senior to him studying in Harverd University where as he was studying at Suffolk University. He also helps him getting a part time job at the same caf where Arnav worked. Since then, Aman indebted his life to Arnav. Arnav had become his role model and mentor.

He had seen Arnav working so hard to achieve his goals … yes he was arrogant and rude but Aman knew deep down he is a good human being as he have seen his caring side. Later after completing his MBA when he went back to Dehli he started to look for job and again Arnav came to his help, asking him to join him in his plan of making a Fashion House. Aman without any hesitance and doubting his capability he joined Arnav. And again he witness his hard work how he build AR group from scratch and taking it to heights of success with his hard work and determination.

Knowing him from 8 years and working with him from 6 years Aman almost knew everything about Arnav and his life. He knows how much Arnav trusts him and he also never fail showing his loyalty to him. He was there when he got married to Tania, when he broke up with her and when she died … silently supporting him always. Aman never question his motives and plans and never ask him reasons, because he had enough experience that whatever Arnav do or decides its always turn out to be right at the end.

Besides Rahul and Anjali, Aman was the only one who knew what really happened with Tania and Arnav. And he too knows that Arnav never forgives betrayal, no matter how close the person is. And he too agrees what Tania did it's not easy to forget or forgive. Aman knew whose side he has to take even if he has to lie, so he take his phone out and call Anjali to tell her that ASR simply didn't want to talk about that topic.