Part 8
Rashi stirred her coffee as her eyes were watching something in the distance. Her mind was not focussed on her coffee or on the object that her eyes were staring at. She was rethinking her encounter with Rajveer today afternoon. He had been really sweet to her. Why, she didn't know. Probably guilt. Pity. Or just plain humanity. But that was the nicest thing, someone other than her family, had done to her recently. And to receive that from someone totally unexpected threw her off. She wanted to share this small happiness with her family, but she was scared at how they will react. She should probably just share it with dadi.
It had been years Rashi had had to take decisions on her own. Her family had always looked out and decided for her. Treated her like a princess, a fragile show piece, who can break at the slightest of pressure. But she was much stronger than what others thought her to be. You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. And Rashi had been forced to make that choice by God, by destiny. Till recently, her dreams were to have a loving family, a doting husband and children of her own, whom she would love and spoil.
But one incident had changed it all. Changed her life.
And although she had her regrets, she was not complaining. She had Raj. He made up for every child that she dreamt of raising and loving. Now her wishes, her goals, her dreams had changed completely. They were no longer dependant on a husband or a family. She knew what really mattered to her and how to be happy and content with her life.
Her first and foremost priority was Arjun. His happiness. His love. He was the most neglected person, looking out for everyone, but noone to look out for him. Except her and dadi. And now she had to step up and take measures to make a difference. Most importantly she needed an aide, an accomplice in the Ahluwalia camp, who would help her or support her in this. Both the dadis were very smart and enthusiastic but they had their limitations, age being one of them. She needed someone her age, who could help her in setting up her bhai and bhabhi.
Meeting Rajveer had built up hopes in her heart. Could he be the one to do it? He seemed nice enough but then she was not unaware of his feelings towards Arjun. He will not approve of this. And if he found out that she is planning something then he will make sure that she never succeeds. So Rajveer was out. Then who else???
***
Arohi was tossing and turning in her bed. She pushed her head under the pillow to block out all thoughts and get some sleep. But a certain Miss Valentine D'Souza was not allowing her any peace of mind.
Will she accept the gift from Arjun? What secretary would do that on the first day of her work? What did he mean by 'itni modern'??? Even she was modern! She wore western clothes but classy ones. Showing skin was not her way of displaying modernism. Modernism existed in your thoughts and liberal actions, not in clothes. Arohi smiled to herself as she felt proud of her speech in her mind. Why didn't she say all this when Arjun was busy ranting about his secretary?? Dammit! 'That's because you were busy ogling at him' a small voice in her head interrupted her thoughts before she shut it up. Probably a warm glass of milk will put her to sleep.
She made her way to the kitchen. Switching on the light, she removed the milk from the fridge, and grabbed a mug to warm it in the microwave. As she placed the mug inside, she heard a noise in the living room. Keeping the milk to be warmed, she moved to the door to see her Lovedeep bua return from another one of her weddings that she had planned. Completely exhausted and bone tired, her face had a smile of satisfaction and happiness of finding her calling in life. Arohi felt happy for her that she had finally found something she was good at and happy with. She needed to do the same for herself asap.
"Chai peeyoge bua?" Lovedeep smiled at Arohi and nodded.
Arohi went back to the kitchen to make tea. Maybe she should share whatever happened today with her bua. She was dying to talk to somebody about it. She had avoided doing it with Shefali because she was angry with her for hugging Arjun and talking to him. But she needed to share it with someone, and unload how she felt about it. And what better way to do it than over a mid night cup of tea, with the person who understood her the most.
***
Arjun needed to do something. The mystery was killing him. He had tried to find out as discreetly as possible. But it had lead him nowhere. Now the time had come to lead the hunter to the bait. The bait was anyways in danger, all the time. He might as well risk it completely if that will get him face-to-face with the hunter. He was sure it was someone from abroad as he had run a background check on all his Indian contacts, friends and foes. And he needed to know, if he had to plan his next move. He smirked as he realised the irony of his profession. The bait was putting itself out to trap the hunter, and the bait itself was planning to kill the hunter. This can only happen when the bait was as dangerous as Arjun Singhania.
He felt a nudge on his shoulder which made him break away from his thoughts and look sideways. He saw Raj, with a new toy clutched in his left hand and a blanket clutched in his right, trying to sleep as close to Arjun as possible, on his bed.
"Raj? Kya hua? Aaj dadi ke paas nahi sona?" Arjun turned towards his son and helped him settle next to him.
Raj looked up at him with half open eyes and said in his sleepy voice "Nahi. Aaj dadi story khatam hone se pehle hi sogayi. Aur mujhe aaj realise hua ki woh bohat jor se snore karti hain. Roj mein unse pehle sojata hu issliye it doesn't bother me. Lekin ab mein so nahi paaya issliye yaha aagaya. Please mujhe aaj aapke paas sone do dad." Raj pouted with his innocent face and sleepy eyes.
Arjun chuckled at his explaination and nodded at his request. He threw one arm around his son as Raj slept with his head in the crook of Arjuns neck. Arjun moved his hand soothingly on his back, trying to help him fall asleep. He looked at his sons innocent face and smiled. Raj was the light in his dark life. His baby angel for whom he could do anything, to keep him safe, or bring a smile on his face. He remembered the way Raj had hugged and kissed him on seeing all the video games that he bought for him. An amazing amount of possessiveness and protectiveness had shot through Arjun's nerves.
Never in his life, had Arjun thought that he would willingly father a child or even he would be good at it. But looking at Raj made him realise, he was so wrong. If he felt this way for Raj, who was not even his flesh and blood, then how would he have felt about his own child? His and Arohis child.
Whenever he thought about anything regarding love, marriage, children or growing old together, it was Arohi that he could imagine doing it all with. Even after all that had happened, he knew that nobody would ever be able to take Arohis place in his life. Or now even Raj's. Raj always was and will remain his first child.
***
Mikhail stared at the long line of girls that were sitting in the reception the next morning. He walked up to the receptionist as she greeted him good morning.
"Ye sab ladkiyaan yaha kya karrahi hain?"
"Sir woh, Arjun sir aaj apni secretary ke job ke liye interviews lene waale hain. Ye sab ussi ke liye aayi hain."
Mikhail nodded and walked away. As he glanced at the girls sitting there, a particular young girl caught his eye. Her short skirt had ridden way above her thighs than necessary, she was applying lipstick on her already red lips and pouting in the mirror to check the effect. Mikhail placed a mental bet with himself that "this" will be the one that Arjun will select, and he walked away to his cabin.
***
"YE SAB KYA HAI???" His palms on the table top and eyes blazing with fury, Arjun asked Billu who stared at him from across the desk.
"Secretaries hain bhai. Interview ke liye aayi hain." Has he forgotten? Billu wondered. His bhai needed a break from work, probably he was developing amnesia.
"Secretaries hain ya heroines?? Mujhe ek efficient secretary chahiye' kisi ad film mein kaam karne ke liye koi model nahi!!!"
Arjun sighed as he saw a pretty scared Billu stare at him. "Ek toh dad ne pehle hi mujhe bohat kaam diya hua hai Billu. Aur jabse mein wapas aaya hoon, its like he wants me to prove myself. I cannot make any mistakes now. Mujhe dad ka dil aur vishwas, dono firse jeetna hoga. Aur usske liye mujhe koi aisi secretary chahiye jo bohat jyada experienced ho, multi tasker ho aur mere ek baar kehnese samajh jaaye. Na ki woh jo 2 ghante makeup karne mein gavayein!"
Billu hung his head down in shame. "Sorry bhai. Mein inn sab ko rawana karke experienced secretaries ka bandobast karta hoon."
"Make sure she is qualified and highly experienced. Aur ho sakey toh... Shadi shuda."
Billu stared open mouthed as Arjun turned around and sat on his chair checking his files. Love and marriage had definitely changed his bhai, more like ruined him?!
***
Sudhir Ahluwalia rushed up the huge mountain of stairs. He was late.
Arohi checked her watch for the tenth time in the past five minutes. Exasperated, he lifted her head to notice her father cum lawyer, rush up the steps leading to the court.
"Where were you dad??! Humein kisi bhi waqt bula sakte hain."
"Im sorry beta. Wo files collect karna bhool gaya, isliye wapas office jaana pada. But don't worry, everything is under control now. Maine aisa case tayar kiya hai ki judge saahiba tumhe aaj hi divorce grant kar dengi." Sudhir smiled reassuringly at his daughter.
Arohi half smiled as she took some files from her fathers hand to ease him of the load. Her tayaji came out inside and informed them that they will be the next ones to be called, and should be ready.
Taking a deep breath and bracing herself to what laid ahead, Arohi turned around towards the door, when she noticed her husband walking up the stairs in all his arrogance and pride. His lawyer followed him on his heels as he strived to keep up with Arjuns long strides.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Arjun stopped seeing Arohi. He had sensed her eyes on him all the while climbing the steps. However, he had refrained from acknowledging her scrutinising gaze. As he reached the top, he had no choice but to look at her. Arohi could not decipher Arjuns mind as his eyes had dark sunglasses on them. She wanted to know what he felt about the whole thing because she herself was feeling completely lost. They stared at each other from a distance till Arjuns view was cut off by his father-in-law, Sudhir Ahluwalia, who stepped right in front of his daughter.
i know a lot of you think that the story is progressing slowly and you want arjuhi together asap... well let me confirm that they will meet time and again but not happily. there is sometime before they actually get back together and im leading the plot to it. if i've to update daily then it'll take what it takes to bring everything together. i hope you all keep patience till then 😊
Edited by cherry227 - 12 years ago
Indian Idol 15
