Arshi SS-Sentiments|Thread 2 link Pg 1| - Page 7

Chapter 2

Monday.

Khushi quickly readied herself for her first day in her office. Butterflies continued to create havoc in her stomach, as the time passed. She wasn't nervous for her work, but was nervous for meeting Arnav. After twelve years, it was obvious that he wouldn't be looking the same as the little boy in the photo, which she kept with her. She herself had no idea how would he look. Whether he'll recognise her or not. And what would happen when he recognises her...

Khushi closed her eyes as she felt her heart beat increase. Without letting any more negative thoughts come across her mind, she quickly picked up her bag and escaped her apartment, towards her destination.

She breathed deeply to relax her mind, and stepped into the AR building. It was 7.54 am. Six minutes more to go. The receptionist asked her to sit down for another five minutes, before she gets the call from the Boss.

*

"Ma'am. You can now go upstairs" the receptionist called for Khushi, handing her the appointment letter and showing her the way to ASR's cabin.

Khushi's heart rate increased as she stepped further on the stairs. She did wanted to meet him.. but didn't wanted him to recognise her. Otherwise he will again send her away from him, which she never wanted. She reached the last stair and for the last time, closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She knocked the door gently, "May I come in, Sir?"

Arnav halted in his work, as he heard the soft voice coming from the door. Her voice wasn't really recognisable, but he felt good hearing her. He replied with hard voice, "Yes come in."

Khushi stepped in and moved to stand in front of him. She was literally rooted in her place as soon as she had a look at him. How well he looked! Just as her prince should be. He was no more that Arnav who used to have his hair all ruffled up and refused every time he was asked to comb his hair. He was no more that Arnav who used to keep his clothes unclean after he came home after playing. He was well-maintained now. Maintained himself to be the most eligible bachelor of Delhi.

"So Ms. Gupta" she came out of her dream-land as she heard his stern voice, "We've gone through your designs. And as you're recommended by Mr. Mehta, we take this for granted that you'll be well experienced as to how to deal with dead-lines and completing the orders efficiently."

"Y--Yes Sir" she replied in a slow voice.

"Great. For now, you'll go to Aman and clear all your doubts with him. Where you have to sit, where you have to work everything will be told to you by him" he added, "and keep this thing clear in your mind that you've replaced one of the best designers in AR. I hope you'll live up to our standards."

"Yes Sir" she replied again.

"Good. Now you can leave" he ordered as she walked out of his cabin, keeping her eyes down-casted all the time.

She literally ran down the stairs, blinking her eyes many times to not to let tears flow down. She just met the person whom she had loved all her life. He didn't recognise her; good for her. But he will soon. She didn't knew what was going to happen. But just for the sake of the present moment, she wished to cherish all his good-looks, well-spoken English and his such-a-charming personality. She was proud of herself for falling in love with such a person.

As she hurried down the stairs, her foot slipped on the second-last stair. She tightly closed her eyes, in anticipation of breaking her one bone at least. After a minute or so, she opened her eyes, only to find herself hanging in the air. Was she really hallucinating? She blinked her eyes and looked around for the source which kept her hanging. She found a pair of arms clasping her slender waist, and she quickly stood up and walked a few steps backwards to steady herself.

There stood a guy, no not Arnav, a random guy, with a cute smile on his face. His smile dug dimples on both of his cheeks and his eyes shone with utmost elation. Was he happy that he got to touch a girl and hold her by her waist? Or was he happy to save a girl from falling off the stairs? He stared at Khushi, his smile intact on his face. Khushi clicked her fingers in front of his face, to wake him up.

She looked at him incredulously as he shifted in his posture and spoke, "Hey beautiful lady. You need to be careful while walking here. By the way, I don't think that AR's floor is so slippery. Did you lose your balance seeing me?" and he winked at her.

Khushi eyes widened as he continued, "I've seen you today for the first time. New here?"

Khushi smiled weakly and replied, "Yes I'm new here. I've joined AR today on the post of Designer replacing Mr. Vivaan."

"Oh. You know Vivaan was a great friend of mine. But sadly he had to leave India because of his mother's illness. But now that you have replaced him, you'll be my new friend. Okay?" he smartly told her, his cute smile widening.

Khushi looked at him with narrowed eyes, amazed at his outspoken nature. She stared at his stretched-out hand, and then again at his face, "Okay friends" and she shook hands with him.

"Oho. I talked so much and I didn't even tell you my name" he said putting a hand on his forehead, and then added, "I'm Gautam Singhania. I work here as male-model manager."

Khushi smiled faintly, "I'm Khushi Kumari Gupta"

Gautam smiled and was about to move away from her to continue his work and let her do hers, when he heard her soft voice, "Gautam can you please help me?"

"Ya sure tell me na."

"I'm told to meet Aman. Can you please tell me where is he?"

"You want to meet Aman? He is in that cabin right now I guess" he replied as he pointed to a cabin towards the end of corridor.

"Okay thanks!" and she hurried towards the cabin.

*

"Sir may I come in?" she knocked the door and peeped in.

"Are you Miss. Gupta?"

"Yes sir"

"Please come in."

Khushi moved in to his cabin and seated herself in front of him, as instructed. Aman went on informing her everything about her job, her responsibilities, what AR expects from its employees, her schedule, where she had to sit etc etc. Khushi listened to him keenly, nodding every now and then. He also gave her a pending order, stating its deadline, so that she can use her first day productively.

*

Arnav moved in his cabin taking long strides, highly confused about something.

'That eyes. I've seen that eyes somewhere. But where?' he asked himself, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

He walked up to his personal cupboard where he usually kept things which were not of daily use, but still had importance to him. He preferred to keep it in his office because he felt that it occupied much of the space in his house. He key-opened the cupboard and searched the upper counter, shuffling the contents kept there. He at last found a book and hastily opened it.

His eyes widened with utmost shock as he recalled the same eyes.

A little Khushi peeped into his book with narrowed eyes, pouting at his habit of always being drowned in his secret book.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" (What are you doing?) she asked him, sounding like the Isabella of Phineas and Ferb. [ :P ]

"Kuch nahi. Tum jao yahan se!" (Nothing. You go from here!) Arnav ordered her as he quickly closed his notebook.

Khushi pouted cutely looking at his notebook, "Kya chhupa rahe ho?" (What are you hiding?)

"Kuch nahi. Tum jao na!" (Nothing. You go!) he irritatingly said.

Khushi made a crying face as Arnav got up and left from there. He moved to the terrace and again opened his notebook, continuing to draw Khushi's eyes. How he loved those big-fat eyes of hers, innocently fluttering every time she said something to him.

His features hardened as anger took over him. He kept the book back in the cupboard and locked it. He walked up to his table and looked at Khushi's profile data.

'Khushi Kumari Gupta?'

His knuckles turned white as he angrily pressed the intercom, "Aman in my cabin right now!"

What was to come?

~~~

*Fingers again crossed*

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Sanjana.