Arhi FF: It's meant to be.. DISCONTINUED - Page 8

Both of them had an emotionally tiring day. Though Arnav was elated to find her single again, it saddened him to see her the way she was. When he prodded his mind about how she must have gotten through emotional wrecks, he found his heart constricting with pain. He felt bad for her. He badly wanted to do something for her.

Though she doesn't want to give him a chance, he would at least take care of her necessities and that's the main reason for hiring her. He can look after her; can protect her without her knowledge, if needed.

They hit their respective beds in their homes and neither of them could catch a drop of sleep that night.

As the night progressed, their mind staggered backwards.

Minutes flowed slowly as their past played themselves before the two pairs of eyes. It was fresh, the feelings and emotions appearing real, giving them the same jitters, stomach churns and heart wrenches.

It was like rewinding the incidents, with every single minute detail unforgotten.

The worst part was only that it could never be amended.

*~*~*

Khushi almost ran into Jha Constructions. She was asked to be in the office earlier than it was necessary. Her team leader always picked on her and hence she had to wake up from her sleep even before the sun roe.

She was under Human resource department, under the training of a strict HR manager, at Jha constructions which is one of the most powerful organizations of this industry.

She cursed her reckless leader, Arnav Singh Raizada, who was the sole reason to spoil her slumber. A great start for the week, she thought as she entered the elevator.

Not bothering to notice the other person in the elevator and with slumped shoulders, pouting lips and sulking face, she pressed the button of her floor and leaned back at the wall trying to fetch some sleep even it is only for few seconds.

The elevator halted abruptly with a startle bringing back Khushi to her life.

'What's wrong?' she growled and glanced at the person only to find her Arnav glaring back at her.

'Si- Sir, Good morning, sir!' she stood straight, gulped her fear and plastered a sheepish smile.

He shook his head with irritation and pressed the buttons randomly trying to bring the lift back to its life but it went vain.

'Sir! Don't get us into trouble even more!' she said scared of getting stuck in there with him for a long time.

'As if I'm not in already', he retorted only to earn mumbles under her breath. But he's not going to care.

He pulled his phone out, and tucked it to his ear, 'The elevator is stuck. Get someone. Quick!' he shoved it in his pocket, crossed his arms and leaned back wanting to get out as soon as possible.

She tapped her feet in sync to the song she was humming not aware that she was being loud enough for him to hear.

'Will you please stop that nonsense?' he gritted his teeth.

She stopped abrupt and turned away her face to hide her glare. What he thinks he is! , she thought.

'I'm your immediate superior officer. Isn't that enough?' he told her with a smirk.

Her mouth hung open but she snapped it close not wanting to appear like a fool before him. Not having anything to do in particular, she checked him out. What does he have that makes Lavanya drool over him? She was always curious and now she was going to find out. She angled her head pretending to be casual as she noted him mentally.

He was wearing a deep blue formal shirt, neatly tucked in his black trousers. His ID tag hung around his neck and it added some qualification to his appearance. He was too young to be in this position and though she hated to admit, he had the potentiality to achieve big in the near future. He glanced up at his face.

His eyebrows were lengthy and dark having a natural shape unlike NK who goes to parlours to get them done. His eyes were fixed to the doors and they were a colour of honey and brown meshed together with specks of green. Was that possible to have three colour in an orb? I should have studied science more diligently, her mind ranted. His nose was sharp, not too large, nor too small. His lips were—

'Stop staring. Have you prepared the PPTs?' he asked his eyes still fixated to the doors.

'Yes- yes…', she trailed off having caught red handed.

'Will see if it is any good'

She gritted her teeth and turned her face in reflex to convey him that she was angry.

'Why can't you be a little fresh at mornings? Sleeping like school kid', he stated disgusted.

'Just make sure whether I do my work properly. Other things matters not', she answered back annoyed by the constant criticism.

Arnav glared in reflex at the counter back. This girl was just too much. How could she dare to answer him back? His phone rang bringing him from the reverie.

'Yes?' he paused, 'What? I don't have all day! Listen, I give you 2 hours' time to fix it up. If not, type your resignation', he banged the wall, irked.

'What was it?' she asked hoping to get released soon.

His eyes shot daggers at her as he spoke, 'Seems like my day is wasted'.

'What? Are we going to be stuck up in here?' she asked unable to believe.

'Wasn't my reply obvious?' he felt he was wasting his energy.

Arnav heard Khushi whining. He turned to see her sinking in the floor with her face dug into her knees. Her body rocked lightly as she sobbed leaving Arnav shocked.

'Khushi, are you... Crying?' he squatted near her concerned.

'Yes', came a muffled voice from under.

'But, why?' he asked grossed out. She let out a loud sob making him continue, 'Stop crying. You're not going to die!'. H reached for his handkerchief and extended it to her.

She raised her head stopping her deed. 'Who said I'm crying because I'm going to die? I don't want to stay here with you for another few hours!'

He pulled back the fabric to his pocket as he had no words to speak. He opened his mouth to state that he was more cursed to be in this situation but he felt useless explaining as he shut his mouth and sat at a farthest corner in the medium sized elevator.

*~*~*

Later that evening staffs were announced to stay a bit longer as their MD was arriving.

The office seemed to be in full swing and everyone was trying their best to make their files and records proper. The only person that seemed unaffected was Arnav and he also let his team mates free because he always had things in place and no last minute panic required.

Shyam Manohar Jha was their MD and he was visiting his Indian branch today. He lives abroad to take care of that country's branch which needed him as it has a huge part in that country's economy. He was young, skilful, and a successful business man. He gets what he aims, by hook or crook. And that attitude of his has somehow helped him to attain this stage. He's not easy and he was always a tough competitor.

Khushi, Lavanya and NK were sitting in Arnav's cabin waiting for their MD to come. Khushi looked around the office and was tensed by the hastiness of the people. It reinforced her notion that her MD has to be tough and strict. She was new here and had never seen her boss before and she always imagined him to bossy. If he wasn't, it's not easy to achieve branches all over the world.

'La, how does Shyam sir looks like?'

'He's damn handsome, Khushi. I don't know how to describe. Better see with your own eyes. It's a treat!' she exclaimed.

Khushi glanced and Arnav. He was in his chair relaxed and rotating the paper weight under his fingers. Is he really handsomer than Arnav sir? She kept ogling unintentionally until Arnav's gaze stroke her's. She quickly averted and bit her lip in jitters.

Arnav had nothing to do much today. His HR job was to bring the optimum from employees and when they were already doing it, though it's only out of panic, what would he have to bother much about? He sat in his cabin monitoring his three trainees. They were the three most drastic trainees one could ever get and they were under control only because they were trained by Arnav Singh Raizada.

Arnav had to afford more attention to Khushi, since she was real clumsy but perfect at times. Her approach in things might be wrong and unprofessional but at the end, the result will be always more than expected. It's her way of style. But how can Arnav as a trainer let her sweet smile to the clients and offer jalebis to them to convince the negotiations?

He tried to throw a glance and when he found her already looking at him with appreciation, he could not help but smirk. She's harmless. She's more like a kid that requires taming at times but apart from that, she's innocent.

He cleared his throat to shove every thought about her off and only found him exploring them deeper and deeper. He again shifted in his uncomfortably and tried his best to divert his mind, when the door was knocked.

'Yes?' Arnav called out to let the person in.

The door swung open and there stood Shyam in all his glory. The threesome stood in nervous and unison seeing their trainer stand up and walk towards the man.

'Hello, Shyam. Welcome back', Arnav shook his hands briskly as Shyam's eyes showed how glad was he to hire this guy. Their rapport was more than being an employee and employer. Shyam had always admired the personality of his.

'Thanks, Arnav. How's everything going?' Shyam let his eyes travel over the kiddos standing behind Arnav.

Shyam knew NK and Lavanya from before. But the petite girl seemed new. Shaym eyes twinkled at the sight of the innocent, quivering under his gaze. He found her prettier than the girl standing next and his tactful eyes measured and weighed her in fraction of seconds.

Arnav found them greeting and he sensed the discomfort in Khushi's tone. She tried her best to stand behind Arnav hiding herself from the piercing gaze. Arnav adjusted himself in a position which hid her behind his back as he escorted Shyam out of the cabin hitting a conversation.

That's it for now.. Did you like it? Lemme know.. 😳

And i have accepted many buddy requests lately where most of them are newbies or groupbies.. I dont have a problem with your position in IF but i'm looking forward you to comment.. or atleast to 'like' if you enjoyed.. If i'm not having a PM list, i wouldn't have bothered at all.. But sending out PM is really tiring and that makes me look for the return.. After all, i'm a business admin student! 😆

Thanks for your time..

Nafee 😳