Hello hello hello everyone! I'm back with the next update for you guys. To make up for the last part, I've included Arnav and Khushi here. I hope everyone likes it!
~Part 24~
Arnav was feeling better. He had spent the past hour thinking hard and then making some calls to set the wheels in motion. He had forced himself to think. At that time when he carried Khushi home he remembered Payal saying that she will inform Shyamji. He also remembered the time when his Jeejaji dropped the plate of jalebies when Anjali Di said Khushi's name. He also remembered that Khushi makes jalebies and that Anjali had asked Jeejaji where he learnt it.
Arnav had no doubt in his mind that it was the same person. However, he forced himself to think that there may a hundred reasons why Jeejaji may have helped Khushi. He may have wanted to help Khushi out since she and her family were in a lot of problems. He may have decided against telling anyone at home because of Arnav's situation with Khushi. Maybe there was a clash of loyalties or something. Whatever it is, he had decided to get the situation investigated and had contacted the best people for it. It wasn't the most sensitive thing to do to a family member, but if Jeejaji is really like the person Arnav thinks he is, then he would ultimately understand why Arnav was doing all this.
He heard a knock on his door, and didn't turn around to know it was Khushi. Unthinkingly, he said "Haan aa jaao Khushi."
Khushi looked up, surprised and said "Aapko kaise pata ki hum hai?"
"Ab tum hi ho na.. toh kya farak padta hai?" said Arnav getting up and turning around "Kya hua?"
Khushi walked in saying "Humne Jiji se baat karli hai. Jiji ne ghar pe sabko mana liya hai aur kal subah woh aa rahi hai."
"Aur tum? Tumne kya socha hai?"
"Kis baare mei?"
"Nahi, not about the kiss. About the job as my executive assistant" said Arnav with a straight face.
Khushi stared at him for a moment before blushing and stammering "Haan er haan hum kiss.. matlab kiss ke baare mei nahi.. matlab" she felt her face heat more.
"Congratulations Khushi. You said the word! How does it feel?"
"Arnav sir" said Khushi trying to think about what she was going to say "Aap humaari baat suniye."
"Of course sun rahaa hu. I have been waiting to talk about the kiss.. talk and more"
"Sir please" Khushi almost stamped her foot "Dekhiye hum aapko thank you bolna chahte the. Hum jaante hai ki aapke office mei kaam hai par iss waqt aapne hume aur Jiji ko ye job diya aur yahaa rehne ke liye bhi maan gaye. Hum shukriya kehna chahte the."
"Khushi ye sirf ek job hai aur uske liye tumhe salary milegi. Tumhe aur tumhaari behen ko job ki zaroorat hai aur mujhe aur Akash ko employees ki. I think it works out for everyone" said Arnav and thought "You're welcome is all I meant."
Khushi said "Arnav Sir..hum"
"Kya?"
"Woh hum.."
"Nahi uske pehle kya kaha?"
"Ji? Arnav Sir..?"
"Oh achcha.. Mujhe laga maine sirf Arnav suna.. haan kya bol rahi thi tum?"
"Er.. woh.. Arnav.. matlab sir.. matlab.. Arnav sir.."
Arnav just folded his hands and stood watching her.
She continued uncomfortably "Hum keh rahe the ki.. hume lagta hai ki ab se humaara apne kamre mei rehna theek nahi hoga.."
"Toh tum mere kamre mei rehna chahti ho.. Ye batane ke liye hichkicha rahi ho?"
"Ji.." said Khushi and then her eyes widened and said "Nahi! Sir.. matlab.. hum keh rahe the ki jab Jiji bhi aa jayengi toh humaara yuhi uss kamre mei rehna achcha nahi hoga. Toh hum soch rahe the ki agar hum aapke outhouse mei reh sakte hai toh.. aur aap humaari salary se rent bhi kaat lijiyega.."
"Dekho Khushi pehle tumhaari behen ko aa jaane do. Aur kal se kaam shuru hone do. Iss sabke baare mei baad mei baat kar lenge. Di aur Nani se baat kar lena. Anyway, toh tum kal se meri executive assistant ho, right?"
"Ji" said Khushi.
"Well, congratulations on your new job and welcome to AR" said Arnav and put out his hand. He wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe to help erase the previous memories from the last time she joined, he thought.
Khushi stared at him for a moment before taking his hand and saying "Thank you Arnav sir"
He shook it firmly and she felt very warm. They looked into each others' eyes for a moment before Khushi started to pull her hand away. She looked at their entwined hands and then back up at Arnav when she realized that he wasn't letting her hand go.
She fiddled for a few moments and said "Arnav sir.."
Arnav was watching her in amusement "Haan?"
She kept fiddling and looking up at him. He watched her for a few moments and said "Handshake toh tumne Arjun ko bhi diya tha na?"
She stopped moving and looked up and said "Kya?"
"Haan handshake toh tumne Arjun ko bhi diya.. jo tumhaare liye ajnabi hai. Mai toh ajnabi nahi hu na. So, you should treat us differently."
She met his eyes quizzically when he said "ek hug toh hona hi chahiye" and pulled her into his arms. She wasn't expecting that and she tumbled on to his chest. Her head hit the top of his shoulder and instinctively she clutched his upper arms. She felt his arms move over her waist. All thought flew out of her head as he suddenly pulled her closer into his form. Her breath quickened and, unthinkingly, her hands moved from his upper arm and linked behind his neck as she hugged him back.
His breath hitched and he pulled out the band holding her plaited hair behind her. Her hair came lose and he buried his face in it. Khushi had completely stopped thinking and was only feeling every inch of Arnav's form pressed against her. She felt his face and his arms in her hair and she sighed into his neck. Arnav held her tighter when he felt her breath on his neck.
He used a hand to move her hair out of his way and placed his lips on her nape. She gasped softly and her fists crunched up on his shirt behind him as they hugged each other tightly. She turned her head a bit and her lips grazed his ear. Instinctively tightening his hold on her, he was almost lifting her off her feet when they heard voices approaching.
Arnav and Khushi stood that way for a moment before releasing each other slowly. They took in each others' disheveled look. Khushi didn't look away, but Arnav could clearly see the confusion and surprise registering on her face. He thought she was probably more surprised at her own response to him than his behavior. He straightened his shirt and stepped forward and put her dupatta properly as it had fallen off from one side.
As he quickly ran a hand over her hair as if it was the most natural thing in the world to straighten out the parts he had crunched up, he whispered "that's much better. Agar random logo ko handshake se greet karti ho toh mujhe kam se kam aise toh greet karna hi chahiye na?" She just stared at him.
By now the voices were at his door and just as he stepped away from Khushi, Akash and Anjali walked into the room. Seeing Anjali made Arnav thinking briefly of what he had found out, but he forced the thought out of his mind until things were clearer.
Anjali said "Lunch ke liye toh abhi time hai na toh humne socha Sunday ke din apne bhaiyo ke saath baithna chahiye. Akash bol raha tha ki tum kaam kar rahe hoge Chote, lekin humne bol diya ki pakka filhaal toh kaam nahi kar raha hoga" and she smirked.
Arnav rolled his eyes, by now very used to his Di's teasing. "Mai kaam hi kar raha tha Di. Khushi mujhe jawaab dene aayi thi"
"Kya?" said Anjali dramatically "Tumne propose kar diya aur hume pataa bhi nahi?"
"Very funny, Di. Akash ne aapko job ke baare mei bataaya hoga?"
Akash stood wide eyed wondering since when Arnav and Khushi were being teased about each other. He shook his head thinking he had been touring too much. Anjali laughed and said "Haan bataaya Akash ne. Toh Khushi ka jawab toh haan hi hoga?"
Khushi finally came out of her world and smiled at Anjali. Anjali said "Khushi hume toh bahut achcha laga ki tum aur Payal humaare saath rahenge. Jab se tum aayi ho na, ghar mei ek jaan si aa gayi hai. Varna sirf hum hi baat karte hai yahaa. Ghar bhi office jaisa hi ban gaya tha."
"Di Khushi bol rahi thi ki woh aur Payal outhouse mei rent pay karke rehna chahte hai" said Arnav without preamble.
Anjali's smile disappeared and Khushi glared at him. She turned to Anjali and said "Aisa nahi hai Di.."
"Excuse me?" said Arnav "Tumne exactly wahi kaha mujhe"
Khushi wanted to punch him, but she turned to Anjali again and said "Di humaara matlab hai ki jab hum Arnav sir aur Akash sir ke saath kaam karenge toh iss tarah yahaa rahenge toh.. humaara matlab hai.."
Anjali's expression softened when she realized what she was saying "Khushi, hum samajh rahe hai ki tum kya keh rahi ho. Lekin tab ki baat alag thi jab tum sirf Chote ke saath kaam karti thi. Tab toh tum hume jaante bhi nahi thi. Lekin ab toh tum humaari behen jaisi ho na? Hume Di bulaati ho na? Toh aise kaise outhouse mei reh sakti ho?"
"Di hum.." Khushi hesitated coz she understood that Anjali was saying that now they had made some personal bridges too. But, Anjali too understood that Khushi had a lot of self respect.
So, she said "Theek hai theek hai, ek kaam karte hai, jo bhi tumhaari aur Payal ki salary hogi usko thoda kam kar dete hai. Samajh lena wahi rent hai. Lekin rahogi tum yahi par apne kamre mei. Aur Payal bhi. Kya khyaal hai? Humne tumhaari rent waali baat maani toh ab tumhe humaari baat maanni padegi"
Khushi smiled "Theek hai Di."
Arnav smirked inwardly thinking "Score!" Akash too was mentally punching the air.
Khushi turned to Akash and said "Akash sir, hume aapko thank you kehna tha Jiji se baat karke ye sab karne ke liye"
"Thank you aap apne boss ko kahiye Khushi. Ye puura idea Bhai ka hi toh tha. Maine toh bas execute kiya sab kuch." said Akash. Khushi looked at Arnav who shrugged uncomfortably. Akash continued "Haan, Payal ko manane ka puura credit mai hi loonga."
Khushi and Anjali laughed and Khushi said "Oh haan Akash sir, Jiji kal subah aa rahi hai."
"Haan unhone phone kiya tha mujhe. Mai chala jaunga unhe pick karne ke liye."
Khushi looked surprised. Jiji phoned Akash sir? Anjali smirked while Arnav raised a brow. He looked at Akash who was suddenly looking very uncomfortable like he wished he hadn't said that. Oh? thought Arnav. So, that's what the 'bringing Payal to keep Khushi company' solution was about?
"Khushi, neeche chale?" said Anjali.
"Haan Di" said Khushi and turned around when Arnav called "Khushi.."
She turned to see him hold out the band that he had taken out from her hair earlier. Khushi blushed furiously when she remembered the moment when he pulled it out. She could see Anjali and Akash stare at Arnav's hand practically open mouthed. She grabbed the band from his hand and rushed out without meeting anyone's eye.
Anjali looked at Akash and jerked her head towards Arnav smirking. Akash, too shook his head at her as if saying "Seriously!" Anjali started walking out smiling. Akash looked at Arnav and winked before turning around.
Arnav said "Yeah yeah, don't forget to pick Payal tomorrow" Anjali and Akash stopped and he said "Yeah OK fine, truce, Bhai."
The three siblings laughed lightly and walked out.
~End of Part 24~
Shiv Shakti
193