The next morning, Khushi left her house quite early. She had made up her mind not to listen to any of Rohan's crap about love and infatuation. All she knew was that she had "unfortunately" got into the Raizada's firm and had to survive there for another six months until she completed her internship. She wore her black pleated skirt and teamed it up with a yellow shirt, with minimal makeup and her hair in a high ponytail. She took a taxi to work. She went to the HR department, and began going through the various workflows of the company. She had almost buried her head into the papers, when Grace tapped her shoulders. Khushi smiled and hugged her on an instant.
"I heard what happened Khushi" Grace said in a low voice, causing Khushi to heave a sigh. "I know it is none of my business. But as an elderly woman I want to give you an advice, hoping you would not take me in the wrong way." Khushi's raised her brow in question. She didn't like the tone as to where the conversation was leading. "I know Arnav Raizada very well over the number of years. I do know he has his share of fun with the women, and although morally wrong, I do not want to comment on him. But Khushi, this has never happened in the office. This is the first time Arnav has behaved this way. And frankly speaking, no employee has ever complained about the Raizada brothers, despite their Casanova image. I treat you like my kid, and that's why I'm telling you..." Khushi raised her hand to stop Grace. "I appreciate your advice Grace, but I do not think that I'm the one needing your advice. I wish you had spoken to Mr Arnav Raizada before you approached me. You only heard what the office employees told you. you believed them and believed that it was my fault. And without wanting to know anything else, you just came here and decided to advise me to behave in the office?" Grace opened her mouth to disagree with Khushi, but was not given any further chance to talk. "I'm sorry Grace. But I do not owe anyone any explanation of any kind. We both are employees at the Raizada's and it would be best if you do your job and let me do my job." Khushi knew she was slightly rude to Grace, but she did not have a control over her temper when she thought about the elevator incident. And Grace seemed to be understanding enough. She patted Khushi's back, wishing her good luck at the new department, and left for her work.
Soon, Khushi had her hands full of work as soon as the other trainees and the Manager arrived to the office. Aakash did come to check on Khushi with an excuse of checking for some file in the department. Aakash greeted Khushi, who politely greeted him back. "How's work going on, Khushi? Comfortable here?" he asked to which she nodded her head in a yes, with a smile. Aakash was mentally relieved that at least she wasn't talking about quitting. Continuing the talk, he asked her to meet him at his cabin as he had to talk something important to her. She looked at her Manager who nodded her head and permitted her to leave the department.
"Sit Khushi" Aakash said as she entered his cabin. "Would you like to drink something?" he offered, to which she said no. Aakash asked the reception for a file, and the peon brought the blue file to him within a few minutes. After flipping the pages, he looked up to Khushi. "Khushi, you remember I had spoken to you about the annual auction?" she nodded her head and sat up straight to listen to him. "Well, I'd like you to assist me for the same. That way, you can have a report with additional weight for your college dissertation." For the next twenty minutes, she went through a list of instructions and requirements that she was expected to do. It basically required her to carry out the publicity where she would contact some of the top clients of the Raizada firm and invite them personally for the event. If they were not in contact, she was expected to get their contacts to invite them. She was also required to manage the advertising of the event. After going through the list, she agreed to carry out the same.
Arnav knocked on the door and entered Aakash's cabin to find Khushi seated there. An awkward silence prevailed for a few seconds. Finally Arnav handed over an official document to Aakash and told him that the work was complete. Aakash smiled and rose up to hug him, which seemed very odd to Khushi. "Safe Journey, Arnav. And all the best for the deal with Mr. Paulos" Arnav smiled at him and nodded his head. He passed a sideway glance at Khushi, who was lost in her own thoughts. "Alright Aakash, flight is in an hour and a half. I need to get to the airport in time. I'll be leaving now" Aakash patted Arnav's back and said, "Try to be back for the auction." "Yeah, I'll try. Advance wishes, in case I do not make it back on time" the brothers shook their hands and Arnav left the cabin, without another glance. Once the door closed behind Arnav, Aakash spoke to Khushi, "Yeah Khushi. You keep this file with you. Go through it and see if you have any doubt. Before that, please contact Mr. Subramaniam, on the ground floor, regarding the finance allotment for the publicity." She shook her head and left the cabin too.
She reached the elevator and saw Arnav waiting for the elevator too. The last time she was with him inside the enclosed space, it had created a lot of storm in her life. She did not want to risk it again. She proceeded toward the stairs, but Arnav called out to her. "We can take the elevator. I'll behave. I promise" The sincerity in his tone made her turn around and come back near the door of the elevator. None of them spoke a word. The door soon opened at the floor. Both extended their hands to press the "G" button for the ground, but unlike the cheesy movies where their hands would brush and an eye lock would be shared, Khushi quickly withdrew her hand as though she was on the verge of being electrocuted and hugged the file she held in her hand. Meanwhile, Arnav had ample time to notice her hand, where her ring finger did not bear the huge glittering rock that her fianc had given her the previous day. "Ground Floor" she said when Arnav looked at her in question. Why wasn't she wearing her engagement ring? The "irrelevant" question ate his brain. Why do I care? It's not like I have anything to do with Khushi or her Fianc. "Safe journey", She said to him and he nodded his head saying, "Thank you" He placed his hand on the frame of the elevator and tapped his fingers. His restlessness had not gone unnoticed by Khushi, and she wondered what happened to him. All of a sudden, he pressed the emergency button and the elevator came to a sudden halt. Khushi's fear grew worse. She felt nauseated as she recollected her horrid experience with Arnav Raizada. She instantly stepped to the corner of the elevator and hugged the file close to her chest, as though it were an iron shield protecting her from the deadly monstor in front of her.
Arnav felt a sudden pang of guilt hit him as he saw her withdraw to a corner. He mentally realized how badly he treated her for no fault. Wait dude! She had slapped you. And that is why you took your revenge, his inner devil poked into his head. And as though conversing with the inner devil, he replied mentally, She slapped me because I spoke certain disgusting things. She slapped me in private. What I did was the unthinkable. The little devil took pride as Arnav said that, and patted himself. Oh hello!, Arnav interrupted the devil. I wasn't complimenting you. I mean, I wasn't complimenting me. I did a disgusting thing. I degraded her and misbehaved. And looking at Khushi in the corner, he continued, Look at her! Poor thing. She's cornered herself like a frightened rabbit. She is visibly shivering. Look what you made me do, you incorrigible rascal of a devil! Well, the devilwasn't going to back off and decided to put new ideas into Arnav's brain that was already suffering from a damaged wiring. Arnav, she's cornered and there's no where she can run. Take the opportunity dude. Last time you let her go by putting up a farce of a kiss. This time, make it happen dude. Kiss her to a senseless point. And just look at her legs. Thank your lucky stars she's wearing a skirt. All you need to do is kiss her, lift that skirt up and then make her moan as you thrust yourself deep inside her. Arnav stepped away from her. His inner devil was capable of making him commit sins of which one wouldn't speak in front of another person. And as though on cue, the devil reminded him yet again. I wonder what she's wearing beneath that yellow shirt. The same Violet lingerie, I bet. "Enough" Arnav said aloud, causing Khushi to shudder. She got it confirmed that Arnav Raizada needed to fix an appointment with a psychiatrist. Wonder how they leave mad people on the streets! She thought to herself.
Mustering all the courage she could, she asked him in a feeble voice, "Why did you stop the elevator?" "I need to talk to you" he replied dryly. Khushi did not look at him. He heaved a sigh. "Why aren't you wearing your engagement ring?" he asked in the same dry tone. Khushi's throat was parched. She did not want to lie, but at the same time, she wanted to know why it made a difference to him whether she was engaged or not. When she did not reply, he repeated the question in a loud and slow manner. "I asked you, why aren't you wearing your engagement ring?" "I forgot to wear it" she mumbled. Arnav gritted his teeth and took two long steps towards her. He held her shoulders in a tight grip and shook her once. "I hate the mumbling. Speak up!" he raised his voice. Khushi could not take it anymore. She pushed him away from herself and screamed at him. "Why does it make a difference to you?" Arnav balled his fists in anger and banged the wall of the elevator. "BECAUSE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, DAMN IT!" she bellowed. His breathing had gotten fierce and his overall appearance, at the moment, scared Khushi. She shut her eyes tight and pushed herself into the farthest corner of the elevator, as though trying to widen the enclosed space.
Arnav had nothing more to say. He pressed the button at the side, causing the elevator to move again. In a few seconds, they reached the ground floor and Arnav stormed out leaving behind a trembling Khushi. The driver had already packed the bags in the car and was waiting for Arnav to drop him to the airport. The security guard saluted Arnav as he reached the glass door of the main entrance to the Raizada firm. Arnav turned around to give one last look at the feminine figure way behind him. She stared at him as he looked into her eyes from a distance of a few feet. Whether it was her imagination or something else, she did not know. But she saw a different Arnav looking back at her; a Arnav who did not seem rude, cruel or shrewd; a Arnav who looked a little more soft and affectionate. Her heart beat faster than usual. There was something unusual in his stare, unlike the ice-cold stare he used to give her like always. And in split seconds, the soft and affectionate Arnav was replaced with the same-old arrogant Arnav, as he put on his sun shades and walked out. She hugged the file and proceeded towards Mr. Subramaniam's cabin, to discuss the finance for the publicity. Arnav sat in the car and the driver drove off. His chest started to burn up again. Damn you, acidity! He cursed inwardly and asked the driver to get some antacid from the medical stores, which "surprisingly" did not help. He shut his eyes and mentally prepared himself for the meeting with Mr. Paulos. God alone knows when and how his thoughts drifted from the Greek Tycoon to the petite woman in his office. Her lovely eyes, her captivating smile, her graceful figure, her shapely legs, her womanly poise, her violet fabric-covered breasts... Arnav opened his eyes. No, shutting his eyes did not help him at all. He hoped not to think about her at all. But the weird fact about the brain is that the harder you try to forget someone, the more difficult it is to get them off your mind. There was definitely going be a tough time for him in the ten hour flight.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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