"ANJALI?!" Khushi gasped. The woman looked up, confused at hearing her name, and finally she looked at Khushi. Khushi waved at Anjali who frowned in surprise and observed the girl in salwar-kameez carefully. "Khushi?!"
Both women rushed forward to greet each other. Anjali looked at Khushi carefully. "Oh my God! What are you wearing!"
Khushi looked away sheepishly. "Family obligations."
"So how is Aunty, Uncle and all??"
Khushi nodded once. "Yeah. Everyone's good."
"God, I still cannot believe its you!" Anjali exclaimed. "It's been nearly, what, seven years?"
"Yeah..."
Suddenly, Anjali smacked Khushi. "Pagli, where did you go off to! 12th Class was done and not even a week later you simply disappeared!"
"Oh. That. Anjali, actually there was some family problem and-"
"Oh forget it! All that matters is you are here again! You should drop in sometime! Nani will be glad to see you! And you never got the chance to meet my brothers!"
Khushi thought for a while. "Um, okay. When?"
"NOW? Would that be okay? My brothers are at home and Bade bhaiyya is also back from US!"
"Okay then. But I will have to leave before afternoon." Khushi said.
"Yeah yeah okay!" Anjali said, already dragging Khushi out.
Arnav sat typing away on his laptop, thinking about this Lavanya Malhotra. Strange character. She'd been a bundle of nerves and he could not believe Varma had sent her! Anyways, then his thoughts went to Khushi Gupta; an efficient employee, but she seemed to lack professionalism. She was a little strange...
Then he heard some commotion downstairs, and went out to check. On the ground floor, he saw a girl standing with his back towards him, surrounded by his family. Anjali was standing arm in arm with her.
Suddenly, Anjali looked up and saw Arnav standing there. "Hey Bhaiyya! Come down here!"
Uff! Arnav thought. He went downstairs hesitantly, as Anjali continued to explain to others. "She is my childhood friend! Then she disappaeared without contact after twelfth!"
As Arnav neared her, Anjali spoke over the girl's shoulder. "Oh, Bhaiyya! I wanted you to meet her from our school days itself but this idiot somehow stayed at home. Anyways,now you're here."
She turned to the girl. "Hey Khush! Meet my Chhote Bhaiyya!"
Khushi turned around reluctantly... If only she could tell Anjali how unnerved and nervous she felt around boys. She turned around and gasped. "Aap!"
Arnav gaped at her. "Khushi?!"
Anjai narrowed her eyes. "You both KNOW each other!?"
"Yeah Anjali, she is my employee!"
Anjali gasped. Khushi was an employee in FASHION industry! WhAt?!
SHIT.SHIT.SHIT. Khushi thought. Could things get any more complicated! Arnav Singh Raizada, was her best friend's brother!! Oh Lord, no! The only positive outcome was now, her search could be extended to the house too.
Suddenly, Nani asked. "Bitiya, where do you stay? You should come often!"
"At Laxmi Nagar..." Khushi said slowly.
"Oh, thats only few minutes away from here!" Nani exclaimed.
"I bhant to bhijit your paarents aalso!" Mamiji said.
Khushi looked away. "I-I live here a-alone."
Nani's face grew concerned. "Then bitiya, where are your parents?"
"Lucknow!" she said.
"Then you must come live with us."
This was a good opportunity, but no...she couldn't and wouldn't.
"No No Aunty. I am fine..."
"But Khushi, please yaar..."
"No, no Anjali. I've got loads of work and-"
Arnav's brow shot up. "Loads of work?" He knew for sure that he did not give his employees so much work...
"Well, sir my work is not limited to just AR you know" Khushi muttered.
*******
Next Day-
Khushi walked to ASR's cabin with a stack of files when she saw the Malhotra girl sitting and whispering away to someon eon the phone as her eyes darted to and fro. Fishy...!
*******
Five minutes in the hot sun, she was waiting for Riya to come. And another five minutes later little Riya ran to her. "Mamma!"
She opened her arms out to the adorable angel and hugged her. Just then, her phone rang. She immediately reciefved the call. "Yes Sir?"
"Is this Miss Malhotra?"
"Yes sir" She replied, as she took Riya's hand and walked back to her house.
"Anything new?"
She sighed. "Nothing really sir...Any news on Jha?"
"No. We are still trying to do that girl's background check. Okay, is that all then?"
"Yes Sir," she replied, hesitating for a moment.
"Well, Goodnight!" he said.
"Goodnigh sir" she replied and hung up. GOD! LEt this be over soon!!!!
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