Chapter 18
Chapter 17
Anjali Jha was never perturbed. She was always prepared for any outcome, which is why she was seldom caught like a deer between the headlights. Today, however had surpassed any complicated situation she had faced since she joined AR in a long time.
It was already close to bedtime when Anjali reached home.
"How's Anya", she asked Shyam, relieving herself of her jacket, laptop and handbag.
"Good", said Shyam, lowering his reading glasses to glance up at her. He was busy reading the latest Law Report issue when Anjali arrived. "I've just tucked her in. She might not be asleep as yet. If you want, you can go and say Good Night."
"No Shyam. Let her sleep. I'm not really in the right frame of mind. And to top it all, I have a throbbing headache.
"I just want to shower and change and call it a night."
"Dinner?"
"Not hungry."
*******
Anjali was just getting out of her bathroom, toweling her damp her, when she noticed two steaming hot cups of chai laid out on the coffee table in their room.
She looked up to see Shyam absentmindedly staring out of the French windows that overlooked the balcony. She slowly tiptoed upto him and laid her hand on his shoulder indicating her presence.
"Chai was a great idea Shyam. Just the thing I needed", said Anjali, picking up one of the mugs and joining Shyam at the French windows.
Without looking at her, Shyam asked: "Something seems to bother you, what is it?"
It had been five years since their marriage and Anjali still marveled at how attuned they both had become to each other's moods. There were times, in the past, when no words were required between them.
Today however was not one such moment. Anjali knew that. She also knew that they only way she could deal with it was by talking about it to Shyam. And so she began: "Its Chhote. He has been doing crazy things that I can't make head or tail sense of. And somehow I don't want to discuss all this with him over the phone."
Gently running his hand in a soothing motion on her back, in an effort to relax her, Shyam said: "You can talk to me, maybe I can give you some insight. After all, I'm not half as bad with advice as you make me out to be," with a wicked grin.
That comment elicited a chuckle from Anjali. Shyam was very good, in fact, he was the best, but although Anjali acknowledged it, she would never admit it in front of him. Husband - wife thing, she said.
Today however, she desperately needed some advice and so she continued: "You know Chhote has found himself yet another Business Developer."
"That's hardly surprising! I'm amazed Lavanya lasted as long as she did. Arnav gets bored with his "Business Developers" faster than seasons can change in the course of a year."
"True. But this time its completely different. The girl, Khushi Gupta, is an average middle class girl from Lucknow - not his type at all. Moreover, her dad owns a sweetmeat shop, called Devi Maiyya Mishtan Bhandar in Lucknow."
"And that is crazy because..."
"Because one week ago, Arnav bought the land that the shop stands on and a bit of land around it as well. I initially thought he intended it for AR's new offices in Lucknow, but apparently he has leased the shop back to Mr Shashi Gupta at more lenient terms than what the original contract had."
Shyam, who was in the process of picking up his own mug of piping hot chai, stopped and looked up with amusement.
"Really?? Arnav playing the knight in shining armour? Very hard to believe."
"Exactly and one week later, I see Khushi Gupta in the office meeting with Lavanya for a "handover". What more, I ask HR to send me a copy of her offer letter and it specifies that Khushi is joining AR as a Trainee Designer."
Anjali paused to take a deep breath.
"And that's not even the most important part of it. Khushi is nothing like any of Chhote's previous dalliances. She is a simple girl. She came to AR today wearing jeans and kurta and no make-up - JEANS, KURTA AND NO MAKEUP," stated Anjali, in a desperate effort to emphasize on the point.
"Shyam, when have you seen any of Chhote's girlfriends ever dressed in anything less than the exclusive collection of AR Designs?"
When she didn't get an answer from her husband, she answered it for him: "NEVER"
Anjali sighed and rested her head on her husband's shoulders.
"I have very bad feeling about this. I don't know what is going on in Chhote's devilish mind this time but I am very worried for this girl. She seems to nave to know the twisted ways of my brother."
Shyam pulled Anjali closer to himself putting an arm around her shoulder. "The girl might not know anything about Arnav but you certainly know a lot about your brother.
"And by the sound of it, you've decided to take this girl under your wing, although she doesn't know about it, right?"
"Something like that," murmured Anjali, the cozy warmth of his arms soothing her restless spirit.
"That's great. All you need to do is talk to her. Tell her about Chhote so that she is forewarned. If she decides to quit, then you won't have anything to worry about and if she decides to continue, well its' not on your conscience anyway."
"I think you're right. I'll pull her address and phone number from her file tomorrow and give her a call. I only think its fair she knows what she is in for."
The piping hot tea and the relaxing caresses were finally working their wonder. Thanking Shyam for his wonderful gesture, Anjali slowly made her way to the bed, propping a pillow against the headboard and picking up a book read. Five minutes later, when Shyam turned to look at her, she was fast asleep, the book lying open right next to her.
Chapter 18: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4343261&TPN=41
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