I'll be honest - I'm not ecstatic about this part. I've several excuses, of course - I'm still a bit unwell and on antibiotics, today's episode was too intense and it was difficult for me to switch into this mode again so soon, etc. etc. etc. [Edit in the note] I've decided that I'm not enthu enough to change this, but promise to make it up the next time in case this didn't live up to expectations!
~Part 26~
Khushi had a particularly uncomfortable lunch as Arnav made no bones about checking her out constantly. Anjali and Akash were quite clued in to what was happening, so they were quite amused. For once, Khushi was glad that Nani and Mami were busy with their constant bickering and Mamaji was busy trying to make peace between them.
After lunch, the elders went in for a nap and the others were walking out of the dining room when Arnav turned to Khushi and said "Khushi, chalo upar"
Khushi stopped in her tracks "Kya?"
Arnav rolled his eyes and said "Kitna drama karti ho? Har baat sunne ke baad effect ke liye iss tarah 'kya' bolna hi hota hai na tumhe?"
"Arnav Sir aap jaayiye hum nahi aa rahe"
"Hello! Afternoon nap mei company dene ke liye nahi pooch raha hu. Kaam ke liye bula raha hu."
Akash and Anjali sniggered and Khushi glared at Arnav "Hum abhi upar nahi aayenge"
Anjali controlled her laughter and said "Haan Chote, kitna kaam karvaate ho? Abhi lunch ke pehle hi toh waapis aayi hai"
Arnav didn't take his eyes off Khushi while saying "Lekin kaam abhi tak kahaa karvaaya? Kyu Khushi? Lunch ke pehle kya kaam karvaaya maine?"
Khushi closed her eyes for a moment before starting "Arnav Sir.."
Akash interrupted and said "Kya Bhai rehne do naa. Sunday hai. Thoda toh chutti de do"
Arnav said "Arre I'm not kidding. Abhi tak koi kaam karvaya hi nahi maine. Khushi, bolo na inko. Kya kaam karvaya maine abhi tak?"
Khushi looked him in the eye and said "Jo bhi ho Arnav sir. Aapne khud humse kahaa ki ghar par hum aapke executive assistant nahi hai. Toh phir?"
Arnav raised a brow and said "Oh? Toh maine ye bhi bataaya hoga ki ghar par tum meri kya ho? Nahi toh abhi bataa deta.."
"Chaliye" interrupted Khushi hurriedly.
Arnav smirked and said "Thought as much" and turned to walk around when Khushi called out
"Vaise Arnav sir, hum neeche kaam karle? Toh Di aur Akash sir ke saath bhi baith sakte hai thodi der ke liye."
Arnav turned around slowly. Oh that's how you wanna play it? he thought. He looked intently straight into her eyes and started walking towards her slowly saying "Theek hai Khushi. Lunch ke pehle waala kaam hi continue karenge phir. Yahi karte hai, I don't mind. Toh kahaa the hum?"
Blushing furiously, Khushi rushed past him before he reached her muttering "Upar hi kaam karenge, chaliye."
Arnav followed her leisurely out of the room.
"Bhai ka ye side toh kabhi dekhne ko hi nahi milta hai na Di?" said Akash.
"Haan Akash, Chote ke ye mazaak aur nok jhok itne barso baad dekhne ko mil rahaa hai Khushi ki vaje se. Hum toh lagbhag bhool hi gaye the ki Chote kabhi aise the bhi!"
"I know Di. Khushi ko kabhi thank you bolenge hum. Bhai ko iss tarah hume lautaane ke liye. Vaise Khushi bhi kuch kam sample nahi hai."
Anjali laughed and said "Ye bilkul sahi kahaa tumne. Ye Khushi ke mazaak hi toh Chote ke iss andaaz ko bahaar laate hai. Dono na ek se badkar ek hai"
"Kya lagta hai aapko? Kya chal rahaa hai?"
Anjali gave him a look and said "Pehle tum apni fikar karo na. Vaha jo chal raha hai wahi chalta rahega. Tum aise khade rahoge toh tumhaara toh kuch chalnewaala hai nahi"
"Di aap bhi na" said Akash "On an unrelated note, mai Payal ko phone kar leta hu."
Anjali laughed and said "Abhi tak nahi kiya?"
"Last time nahi uthaaya" said Akash without meeting Anjali's eye.
"Unke ghar ka number hai na? Uthaaya nahi matlab?"
"Offo Di uthaaya nahi matlab Payal ne nahi uthaaya. Male voice sunke tension mei kat gaya mera phone"
Anjali laughed and said "Dekho kaun Khushi ko sample bol raha hai. Tum kya kam ho? Ab jaao jaldi aur phone karlo."
Akash gave her a thumbs up and rushed to call Payal. This time when the phone rang, Garima picked. Mustering his courage, he introduced himself. She thanked him and Arnav for thinking about her children and said that Payal wasn't around, but will surely call him back if he gave the number. Even though he couldn't speak to Payal, he was in a rather good mood after he hung up.
--
Arnav caught up with Khushi and said "Arre arre kahaa bhaag rahi ho? Lunch ke pehle waala kaam continue karne ki itni jaldi hai tumhe?"
Khushi looked at him sideways and kept walking. The moment they reached the door and Arnav was about to get in, she pushed past him and went in first. She hurried and went and sat on a chair in his room. Arnav shook his head and closed the door and went in and sat on the couch opposite her and pulled open his laptop.
He looked at her and said "Khushi, maine tumhe kaha tha ki tum ghar pe meri executive assistant nahi ho and I meant it. Right now is an exception. Kal mai kaafi busy rahunga aur mai chahta hu ki tum bhi pahunchte hi busy ho jao. There are lot of things to be done and we won't have the time to have this discussion in the morning. Isliye mai tumhe samjhaane waala hu ki tumhe kal kya kaam hai. Chaaho toh notes le sakti ho."
Khushi looked around and found a notepad and pen. He gestured her to sit nexto him on the couch, which she did. She was relieved that he was indeed wanting to work. They spent a couple of hours talking about work. Arnav gave her a description of what he expected of her the next and then each day in general. He gave a thorough description of her job and all other details she needed to execute it. He also walked her through some of the specifics of the meetings that were going to happen the next day and what she needed to do for each of those meetings and presentations.
By the time they were done, both of them were quite exhausted, but satisfied. It was then that they both realized that they had actually managed to sit together and have a normal, productive conversation for close to a couple of hours. They were both sitting on the same couch, stretching.
"Hume paani chahiye" announced Khushi.
Without opening his eyes, Arnav said "Thanks for the information"
Khushi glared at him in spite of his eyes being closed, and said "Hum khudi jaake le lenge" and got up.
"Aise mat kaho Khushi, paani khud chalke aayega tumhaare paas" said Arnav.
Khushi, looking up saying "Hai Devi Maiyya" silently, started to walk and tripped on Arnav's foot and fell sideways onto his lap.
He yelped and lurched forward with his arms around her and opened his eyes and said "Mere upar se hi nahi, zameen se bhi ek raasta jaata hai paani ki taraf, pata hai?"
Khushi was about to retort when she realized that she was seated comfortably on his lap with her arms around his neck and his around her waist. She looked at him for a moment wondering if the shade of his eyes is going to change. Then, shaking herself, she was about to get up when Arnav pulled her closer. This time when she looked back at him, she saw his eyes darken to the same expression that she was searching for.
Arnav took one of his hands to move her hair which had fallen against her face during her fall, and said softly "Kahaa bhaagti rehti ho? Aur kisse? Mujhse? Ya khud se?"
"Arnav.." she breathed as she went closer to him.
"Khushi" he whispered back as he continued to play with her hair.
"Hum.. matlab.." she stammered softly.
Arnav came forward and nudged her cheek with his nose. Surprising herself, she put her arms back around his neck and pulled back a bit to look into his eyes.
"Kya dekh rahi ho?" he breathed against her face and nudged her nose with his.
Khushi stared into his eyes for a long moment. Then, she gave a small smile and looked down.
Arnav pulled her sharply so that their chests bumped into each other and said "Hassi toh phassi?"
Khushi placed her forehead softly against his and said "Arre waah aapko toh insaano ke dialogues bhi pataa hai?" and before he could react, pushed off him and got up. "Chaliye do ghante se kaam kar rahe hai, ab toh neeche jaa sakte hai na?"
She started walking and then turned around to see that Arnav had gotten up. She walked back to him and stared at his face.
When he raised a brow, she said "Nahi, bas dekh rahe the ki hamaari kaajal ya bindi ya dupatta aap par toh nahi hai?" she smirked and walked away as Arnav stood staring after her.
~End of Part 26~
Edited by Janet.Das - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
193