"Chotey, Khushi and Payal both need some clothes, hum aaj office aah rahe hai." Anjali called her brother to inform him of their arrival.
"Di, just tell me what you need I will send them home, no need for you to come" He didn't really want to face Khushi for longer than he had to. He already had a niggling feeling that there was a little bit more to the story and until he worked out meeting her was not something he was comfortable with. The confusing mix of anger and desire had made his life a living hell over the last 2 days.
At the insistence of his family he had married her with all the bells and whistles. He had done the saat phere, carried her over the threshold and even played silly games with her. Yet he couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes. He couldn't work out if it was deceit or desperation he saw clouded in them.
"No Chotey, I want them to come and look themselves. Plus I am going to need some new clothes soon with the baby. I will get moti you know"
"Yes Di whatever. I think will be plenty of time for that later. Anyways, I will be busy so please don't expect anything from me."'
"Waise chotey, for someone who eloped you are not at all romantic. Your beautiful bride is coming to our headquarters for the first time as your wife to pick out clothes, something which really is something special, don't you think you should atleast give your opinion or pick out a few sarees for her?"
"Di, I have a business empire to run. I am sorry I am not quite henpecked to pick our sarees for my wife. Perhaps you should bring your husband along ' its right up his alley, this sort of thing."
"CHOTEY! I have been noticing, there is some tension between you and your Jija but that's no reason to speak like that. And whatever it is don't forget he is my husband and you will treat him with respect." Anjali faught back tears that were prickling her eyes. He could be so hurtful. She waited for him to break the silence and she heard a deep sigh, "Sorry Di. I didn't mean to. Its nothing. We just had a disagreement over my marrying Khushi. I will get over it. Ok, I will try to see if I can make some time for you. Now turn that frown upside down." Arnav cursed himself for losing control but he just couldn't handle this for much longer.
***
"Chamkeeli? Tum yeha kya kar rahi ho?" called out a girl as Khushi entered the office. Anjali and Payal had gone to the ladies and asked to meet her in Arnav's cabin.
"Ek baar kaafi nahi tha kya? Phirse ASR ki office se girna hai?" another girl replied as she looked Khushi up and down and Khushi could hear several pockets of laughter.
"Oh Namaste Pamji, Simji, woh hum actually Arnavji ki office mein," the office had been refurbished considerably since the last time she worked there, however her desk still remained. The desk had not been cleared out completely, it was still bedecked as a bride. The only thing missing was her devi maiyya murti. She looked lovingly at the desk, the memories came flooding back. Yes, he had been nasty to her then but it had hurt a lot less. So much had changed between them, yet so little. Khushi looked up towards his office longingly. Gone were the glass walls. Replaced instead by a mirrored wall. All she saw was her own turmoil reflected back.
Arnav had seen her walk in and the discomfiture she was feeling. Was she thinking of the last time she had walked into this office. He sat at his desk and swivelled his chair to face the giant windows. He could see down to his office but no one could see in. he had refurbished the glass walls with a mirror coating on the outside. He watched as she walked to her old desk. He couldn't bring himself to clear out her desk. Every morning he had walked in to his office it reminded him of her silly antics, the over the top craziness that was his Khushi. He loved her that way and didn't for the world want her to change. But that was not to be. She looked up towards his office and instinctively turned to hide himself. He could have sworn that she looked right at him. That she saw through all the smoke and mirrors and looked right at him. Through the glass, through his barriers and into his soul. And her hollow look drove a piercing stake through his heart.
"Chamkeeli! What do you think you are doing here? This is an office! Oh apni trash lene ayii ho. Well yeah pick it up and get out."
"Nahi Pamji, hum yeh nahi, hum Arnavji se," Khushi tried to explain.
Arnavs curiosity stirred as he saw Khushi's expressions change as she was talking to Pam. Pam seemed to be gesticulating at her and he clenched his jaws in anger as he saw Pam pick up a saffron chunri from Khushis old table and toss it at Khushi. Khushi looked rooted to the spot, taken aback by whatever the girl was saying. He got up to call Khushi and made it to the stairs,
"Pamji rukiye. Hum aapse yeh poochne ki koshsh kar rahe hai ki Arnav ji ki nayi office kaha hai? Hume unki office mein jana hai."
"Kyu? Kya kaam hai? Main ASR ki PA hoon, aur job hi kaam hai tum mujhe bolo, main decide karungi. Aur waise bhi tum jaise ladkiyon ki liye ASR ke paas time nahi hai."
"Theek hai Pamji, aap unki PA hai toh hum unki bivi hai. Lagayiye phone." Khushi's patience was dwindling, everyone seemed to be walking all over her lately and she was not going to take this standing.
Pam picked up the phone but before she dialled she saw ASR standing at the top of the staircase with a combination of amusement and fury in his face.
"Sir! There you are. Dekhiye yeh ladki phirse agayi hai. Main security bula ke bahar phek du?"
"Nahi Pam. Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Khushi, upar ajao." He waited for Khushi to walk past him and then he walked down to Pam's desk.
"Tum ek kaam karo. Ek chiti type karo. Ek dismissal letter"
"Kiski, Chamkeeli to kab ka kaam chorchuki hai."
"Tumhari. You're Fired." He looked at her with deadly fury in his eyes,
"Per sir!"
"No One talks to my wife like that. NO ONE."
Will continue.. soon...but do please keep comments rolling...they make my day :)
PArT 2 : PAge 2
PArt 3: PAge 5
Part 4: Page 7
Part 5 : Page 11
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