Hi all...so here is the next update..I could not bear my readers hating the Arnav in my story and that's why I have posted this update quicker than usual...
But still got a bit late because I had to write translations for all the conversations...
Please read and leave your feedback...😊...likes and comments left by you are very important to me...encourages me a lot..
Key to your heart..
Chapter 11
Anjali was watching her saas-bahu serial reruns when Shyam joined her at the couch...They both had just returned from a trip to Delhi for matters related to Shyam's job and and were relaxing on that Friday as Shyam had a day off...Anjali passed Shyam the remote as she knew he would want to catch the lunchtime news headlines..
Shyam was flipping through the news channels when Anjali thought she saw Arnav in one of news telecasts. She grabbed the remote from him and pressed the button for the previous channel...
She recognized that Arnav was standing in front of AR Designs office...There were a group of reporters surrounding him...
"Mr.Raizada..Is it true that one of your employees is the prime suspect in this case of corporate espionage...?"
"Yes..it is absolutely true...And the employee's name is Khushi Kumari Gupta..She was a recent recruit and unfortunately we did not realize her true colors until now..."
Anjali raised her palms to her mouth to cover a gasp and turned to look at Shyam..Shyam too was in disbelief...The Arnav they knew never talked to the media...He always maintained a distance from them..and yet here he was...openly discussing the case's details with them...and maligning Khushi's name on national television..
Though they were informed by Aakash that there was some issue at the Design House and that Khushi was somehow involved, Anjali never realized the seriousness of the whole incident...
She turned the TV off and grabbed Shyam's hand..while taking the car key from the coffee table nearby..
***********
Shaantivan..
Anjali was fuming..there was nothing that Mamaji, Maamiji, Naniji or Shyam could say that would pacify her..She was furious.
"Yeh sab aap logon ki galthi hain...Chotte ki zimmedari maine aap logon ko dekhar iss ghar se gayi thi..Naaniji..aap Chotte ki aisi bhartav kaise seh liya...Chotte ka dimag kharab ho gaya hain...Aur Mamiji..aap..Aakash Chotte ko bhai bulaathe hain...usko respect karthe hain.uske khilaf kuch nahin bolthe...lekin iska mathlab ye nahin hain ki aap bhi aise hi karein...Use daadndne ke bajaay aap sab log uske har manmaani sehthe huyte aye hain..bade aya businessman...aaj dikhathi hoon main sabko ki Chotte ke aisi badtameezi ko kaise control karthe hain..seekh leejiye sab log..main apne sasural se baar baar yahan pe nehin aanewali.."
("You all are at fault here..You were all responsible for Chotte's actions once I had left this home...Naniji..how did you tolerate such behavior...He has lost his mind...And mamiji...you...Akash calls Chotte bhai..respects him..never utters a word against him...but that does not mean that you too follow the same...Instead of scolding him you all continue to tolerate his heartless behavior...Businessman..yeah right...I will show you all how to keep his ignorant and unpardonable behavior in check...Watch and learn...because I am not going to come here everytime from my In law's place..")
Naani and others sat with their head bowed...Anjali was always the quieter one ...but when she lost her temper, not even Arnav could manage her..
As if on cue, the front door opened and Arnav walked in, followed by Aakash..They spotted Di and came to the sitting area...Before they could utter a word, Anjali spoke..
"Chotte..mujhe tumse yeh ummeed nahhin thi...yeh sikhayi thi maine..ya phir tumne yeh sab harvard se seekhke aaye ho..?"
("Chotte..I never expected this from you...Is this what you were taught by me...or..is this something you picked up while at Harvard...?")
"Di..what are you talking about..?I don't understand.."
"Haan...tumhe kuch samajh mein nahin aayega..kaise aayenge...mann mein jo ithni nafrat aur ghamand bharke ghoomthe ho.."
("Yes..you will never understand...How can you...when your mind is filled with so much of pride and hatred...")
and Anjali broke into sobs...Shyam led her to sit on the couch..
"Di...what...what are you trying to say.?"
"Kuch nahin..ab kehke bhi kya fayada..Khushiji to duniya ke samne badnaam ho gayi.."
("Nothing..what is the point in me saying anything..you have already dragged Khushiji's name in mud in front of the whole world..")
"Oh..so this is what it was all about..forget it Di..I don't want to talk about it.."
"Acha..hum bhool jaayenge..lekin log nahin bhoolnewale hain Chotte..tumne aise kisi ladki ko saare media ke samne accuse kiya...tumhe koi pashtava nahin hain.?."
("OK..I will forget it...but the people are not going to forget...How dare you do something like this...make public accusations against a girl...don't you have any regrets...?")
"Kyun pachthavun Di..galthi usne ki hai...pashtana tho use hain..seedhe seedhe apne gunah maan lethi tho yeh media ka drama thoda kam ho jaatha...lekin nahin...Ms. Gupta shaayad Singhanias ke rakhe huye lawyers ki intezaar kar rahi hain...Maine aaj police se baath ki..Maine kaha unse..ki agar Khushi Singhanias ke corporate spy hone ki charges accept karthi hain tho main ye charges drop kar doonga...Kyuki tab Singhanias ke khilaaf mein case kar saktha hoon..lekin pichle theen ghanton se woh log usko inetrrogate kar rahein hain..woh ab tak apne begunayi ki geet ga rahi hain.."
("Why should I regret Di...She is the one at fault...She is the one who has to regret...If she had accepted her crime, I would have seen to it that this media circus does not affect her...I had talked to the police..and had informed that if Khushi accepts that she did this for the Singhanias, then I will drop the charges against her..She will be taken as a witness and then I could have pursued the case against Singhanias for corporate esionage...But no..She has been nothing but adamant...Maybe she is waiting for the legal team of Singhanias to come and rescue her...")
"Chotte..bahuth ho gaya..Shayad Khushiji sach mein begunaah hain.."
("Chotte..enough is enough...maybe Khushiji is really innocent..")
"Nahin Di..maine usse poocha tha ki us Singhania ke head designer..Ranvir Sharma..use jaanthe hain ya nahin..kabhi unse mile ya nahin..Usne khud kaha ki woh jaanthe hain use.."
("No Di...I had asked her if she knew the head designer of Singhania Fahsions...Ranvir Sharma..had she ever met him..Ans she herself agreed to it that she did..")
"Mein tumhare ek bhi baat nahin maanongi..tumne use daraaya hoga...chillaya hoga uss par..mein jaanthi hoon tumhara gussa kis had tak doosron ko daraatha hain..Jab maine tumse kaha tha ki mujhe Shayamji se pyar hua hain, toh tumne itna gussa kiya tha ki maine soch li thi ki mujhe bhaag ke shaadi karni padegi.. "
("I won't believe it Chotte...You must have shouted at her and scared the hell out of her..I know that you have absolutely zero control over your temper...I remember that when I had told you about me and Shyamji being in a relationship, how you had gotten angry..I was almost convinced then that I will have to elope and get married..")
"Di...that is different..you are family..this is Khushi we are talking about..."
Anjali interrupted him and asked..
"Acha..toh Khushiji...woh tumhare liye sirf ek employee hain..?"
("Oh..so you do not consider her as family..She is just another employee..?")
Arnav looked at Anjali, who continued...
"Aur agar sirf employee bhi hothe tumhare liye...tab bhi tumhein aise barathaav nahin karna chahiye tha..woh ek ladki hain..use aise police..court kehkar ghaseetenge toh socho ki uski aur uski parivaar waalon ka kya haal hoga.. ."
("And even if she is just another employee for you..your actions can never be justified..she is a girl for godsake...If you drag her through police station and court like this, have you ever thought how she and her family will face the taunts from society...?")
"Chaliye..mujhe abhi police station jaana hain...aapke paas saare papaers hain.?."Anjali asked Shyam and he nodded..
("Come...I want to go to the police station right away..Do you have all the papers with you..?")
"Di...tell me..and what are you going to do...?"
"Chotte..AR ke co-owner hone ke naathe main yeh case waapas le rahi hoon...case AR Designs vs Khushi Kumari Gupta hain..Arnav vs Khushi nahin..aur jab complaint hi nahin rahegi tho police kya karenge.."
("Chotte...As the co-owner of AR, I am withdrawing the complaint...The case is registered as between AR Designs and Khushi Kumari Gupta..not between Arnav and Khushi..and when there is no complaint, the police will have to let her go...")
Arnav stared at her in disbelief..He could not believe that Anjali would go against him...and that too for that cheat...He stormed upstairs to gather his thoughts..
**************
Police Station
The inspector glanced at the papers that Shyam had handed over and then ordered the constable to bring Ms. Gupta from the holding cell..
"Dekhiye Mrs Raizada...accused ko aaj subhah yaha par sirf questioning ke lye le aaya tha...lekin woh humse co-operate nahin kar rahi thi...Aur aaj dopahar ko aap aayi hain complaint waapas lene..Khair...papers sab valid hain..aur mujhe accused ko release na karne ki koi wajah nahin..jab aap hi use riha karne aayi hain toh hum police kya kar sakthe hain.."
("See Mrs Raizada..we had brought in the accused only for questioning..but she is not co-operating...and now you are here to withdraw the complaint...Well...all the papers seem to be valid...And I have nothing against releasing the accused...What can the police do if the complainant itself is not interested in pursuing the case..?...")
Before Anjali could reply, Khushi entered the room...and it broke Anjali's heart to see Khushi like this,...Khushi's face was pale and her cheeks seemed hollow...It was like she had aged a few years since Anjali had last seen her...She was trembling slightly..and when she looked up, Anjali saw that there was emptiness..no emotions..Anjali realised that the incessant questioning must have taken its toll on her...Oh god...What had Arnav done..How could he..
Her chain of thoughts halted as Khushi walked towards her...Anjali let out a small cry and hugged her...
"Khushiji..I am sorry...so sorry for all this..."
Khushi did not respond...Her hands lay limb on her sides...she did not have the energy to raise them..After a few hours following rounds of intense questioning, there was not an ounce of energy left in her..added to that she had been crying for the past couple of days even while at home..
Anjali led her to the car waiting outside as Shyam followed them to drive them back to Shaanthivan..
**********
Anjali had decided that it would be better if Khushi does not go back to Laxmi Nagar until her name is cleared..Being in a close knit community must have meant that Khushi's name was being ridiculed in that locality and if she went back now, it would hurt her even more to see the accusatory glances of her neighbors and family friends...Anjali had informed Shashi Gupta regarding the same, who had reluctantly agreed..
**********
Shaantivan
Arnav was coming down the stairs when he saw them coming in..Anjali, Khushi and Shyam...
He came down the stairs taking two at a time and before Anjali could lead Khushi towards the sitting area, blocked the way..
"What is this drama Di...How can you bring her to our home..?."
"Hat jayiye Chotte...Please..."
("Move aside Chotte...Please..")
Anjali pleaded, sensing Khushi tremble a little more after hearing Arnav's shouting..
"But Di.."
Anjali slightly pushed Arnav out of the way and made Khushi sit on the couch..Naani and Mamiji joined her...
Anjali took Arnav's hand and led him to the study nearby..
"Chotte...tell me one thing...Can you tell me with 100% conviction that Khushi is able to do such a thing"
"Di...it does not matter what I believe or don't..I am a man of reason and I did give her a chance to say the truth...I am not the one at fault..She is.."
"...tumne kya poocha tha usse...mujhe batao.."
("What did you ask her..exactly...?")
""Di..I don't remember the exact words..But I did ask her if she knew Ranveer..If she had ever seen him..and she said yes..."
"Chotte..Khushiji shayad tumhare darr se yeh baat accept ki hogi...mujhe yakeen hai ki woh kabhi.."
("Chhotte...She must have replied yes as she fears you a lot...I am convinced taht she would never...")
"Nahin Anjaliji...maine Mr. Ranveer Sharma ko dekha hain..."
("No Anjaliji...I have seen Mr. ranveer SHarma before..")
Anjali and Arnav turned back to see Khushi standing at the door..She stepped inside the room..
"Main aapse sach keh rahi thi...maine usey dekha hain..lekin woh kaun hain...yeh main nahin jaanthi thi..."
("I was telling the truth...I had seen him..but as to who he is..I was not aware...")
"Tumne use kahan dekha tha...?"Arnav asked...
("Where had you seen him...?")
"Woh..uss raat ki party main..Fashion Portal ke party mein.."
("On the night of the party..the one organised by Fashion Portal...")
"Achcha..to tum use woh files uss party mein handover kiya tha...Achcha hua tumne mujhe right prove kar liya..Kaha tha na Di..and she herself has confessed..."
("Oh..so you had handed him the files at that party...Its good that you finally proved me right..See for yourself Di...that she has confessed..")
"Arnav..stop it...let her finish.."
Anjali interrupted as Arnav stood by...all restless..
"Maine iss aadmi ko kisi aur se baath karthe huye dekha tha...hamare company ke hi ek employee se...Shaayad sir ne bhi dekha tha"
("I had seen this guy talking to someone from our company...And I think..even you must have seen it...")
"What nonsense are you talking Ms. Gupta..?..I would remember if I had seen Ranvir Sharma talking to one of my employees at that party...they are our main competitors.."
"Yaad hain..?..jab aap Aakash sir ke saath party ke baad ghaadi lene aaye the..tab main ek car mein baithi thi..Sheetal ki ghaadi mein...Aur Sheetal kisi aadmi se baath kar rahi thi..woh parking space mein zyada roshni nahin thi..isliye aapne teek tarah se dekha nahin hoga...lekin woh aadmi..jisse Sheetal baath kar rahi thi...woh Mr. Ranveer Shrama hi tha... "
("Do you remember...?.you had come down to the parking lot with Akash sir after the party..to get home..and I was sitting in a car..in Sheetal's car...waiting for her to finish talking to a guy...the parking lot was not well lit..may be that is why you did not see them properly...but that person she was talking to, that was Mr. Ranveer Shrama ")
"Sheetal...??!!...Toh tumne mujhse yeh baath pehle kyu nahin baathayi..?"
("Why didn't you tell this matter to anyone..?")
"Aapne mujhse poocha tha ki kya maine us aadmi ko kahin dekha hain..maine haan keh diya..jo sach tha..lekin main kabhi yeh nahin kaha tha ki files maine usko diya hain.Aapne mujhe bolne ka mauka nahin diya tha.."
("You had asked me if I had ever seen him..and I had replied yes..but I never said that I had given him the files..You never gave me a chance to complete...")
"Toh tum kisi aur se kehthe..tumne Aakash ko yeh baath nahin bathayi...?"
("So you could have told somebody else...why didn't you tell Akash..?")
"Maine office ke mere saare colleagues ko phone kiya..lekin mere naam sunthe hi sab log phone kaat diya..aaapke dar se..koi mujhpe yakeen nahin kiya..sivaayi Anjaliji ke..."
("I had called up everyone of my colleagues..but as soon as they heard my voice, they cut the call...because they feared you..no one wanted to believe me...except for Anjaliji...")
Khushi slid down the study room door in tears..Anjali ran to her and hugged her...
Arnav felt guilty beyond measure..but he knew he had to rectify the situation..He left the two ladies there and walked outside..
*********
By evening, Arnav had recovered the CCTV footage from the parking space and was viewing it at the police station..
In the tapes, he could see himself, standing at the door of his car, glancing towards Sheetal's car...He recalled the tender moment that he and Khushi had shared then..him mouthing her a good night...He felt guilt stifle his heart at the thought of her...He directed the techie to find the other camera angle that was captured and there it was...Sheetal was standing below the camera...Ranvir was next to her..She was handing him a USB..In their hurry to stay out of sight of the guests, they had moved right in front of that CCTV camera..Arnav realised..He got a copy of the tape and walked out of the station to face the waiting media..
The day was a unique one in Arnav's life...he had spoken to the media twice that day...the first time for accusing Khushi of a crime she had never committed and the second time for vindicating her..This time around, he refrained from naming the suspect, leaving it to the police to do the right thing...
Another thing which added to the uniqueness of the day was the fact that he had apologized to his Di...He had never ever been in a situation such as this and extraordinary situations required extraordinary steps to be taken..Anjali forgave him..but Arnav knew that she was hurt...Anjali was the mother figure in his life and it ashamed him to see her disappointed of his behaviour...
The next task was the hardest...He had to apologize to Khushi...But before he could do that, Shashi Gupta made an entrance to take her home...It was around 5.30 in the evening and by then, the news of the real suspect being nabbed and Khushi being released had spread...Hence he saw no need of Khushi spending more time at Shanthivan..
As Khushi walked beside her babuji, she looked at Anjali...and instead met Arnav's eyes..she saw that he was trying to come up with the courage to apologize..But being the ASR that he was, Khushi felt he would never do that...
The real reason why Arnav did not apologize was because he knew that a simple sorry would not suffice..
******
As Khushi got down from the taxi, she was met by Amma and Payal and they hugged each other while in tears...The neighbours were all there as well to welcome her...They felt guilty that they all had misunderstood her..As Khushi was being ushered in to the house,.they heard a blaring horn...
Khushi turned and saw that it was Arnav's car and Arnav and Anjali got down from it...Arnav walked towards the Gupta family and said in a steady voice...
"Main aap sab se maafi maangne aaya hoon...Aapki beti ke upar galath ilzaam lagane ke liye...mujhe har kadam sochkar lena chahiye tha..I am sorry..Please forgive me..Khushi..please."
("I ask for forgiveness from you all...I am truly sorry...for framing false accusations against Khushi...I should have handled it more sensitively...Please forgive me...Khushi..please")
And then he said in a louder voice..for the benefit of the neighbours..."Aur main chahtha hoon ki Khushi apne job vaapas join kare..agar woh mere saath kaam karne ke liye ab bhi taiyaar hain toh.."
("And I wish that Khushi would join back AR...if she would not mind working with me again...")
Then he glanced up at Khushi..and realized that he did not deserve an immediate answer...
Broken hearted, ashamed and disappointed in himself..he walked back to his car...
*******
Khushi was sitting at the dining table...not paying any attention to the food that was being served to her...that is when a piece of conversation that Payal was having with her Bauji fell on her ears...
"Aap unse baath karne ke liye gaye hi kyu...aise log jo bina kuch pooche samjhe rishthe thodne ki baath karte hein..aise logon ke ladke se mujhe shaadi karna hi nahin hai..."
("Why did you even go to talk to them...these people..who did not even think for a second or verify things before talking about breaking alliances..I never want to get married to a person from such a family...")
"Kya hua jeeji...kya baath hai..."
("What is the matter jeeji..")
"Kuch nahin Khushi ... tum khana khao"
("Nothing Khsuhi..you have your food...")
"Nahin..pehle aap ye batayiye ki baath kya hai.."
("No..first tell me what you all were talking about..")
Amma offered her the reply..
"Bititya..woh..kya hai ki...jo log Payal se milne aaye the..aaj subah.. jab un logon ne dekha ki tumhe police le jaa raha hai..jaane ke waqt hi...yeh rishthe se inkar kar diya...aur jab tum begunaah sthapith huye...toh unhone yaha phone kiya...kaha ki isa rishthe ke liye taiyaar hain...lekin tumhari jeeji nahin maan rahi.. "
("Khushi..the thing is...you know..the family that had come to see Payal...today morning..when they saw you being taken awya by the police, they refused to agree for this marriage..then and there itself...and when you were declared innocent, then they had called us and informed that they are willing to proceed..but Payal is now against this...")
"Jeeji..meri wajah se yeh sab.."
("Jeeji..because of me...")
"Tum chup raho Khushi...tu abhi bachchi hai...aise log..ek pal soche bina yaha se rishtha tukraake ke nikal liya..phir shaam ko kehthe hai ki taiyaar hain..agar kal mere khilaaf kisi ne kuch kaha toh tabh bhi aise nahin karenge...iska guarantee hai tumhein..?..sach kya hain..iss ke baare mein unhone ek baar poocha hi nahin..mujhe un logon ke ghar mein bahu banke nahin jaana..baath khatham.."
("Shut up Khushi..you are just a kid...such kind of people; who did not think even a second before rejecting this alliance..and who then change their decision by evening...I don't want anything to do with them..If I fget falsely accused of something tomorrow, can you assure me that the same thing won't repeat then also...?...they never trued to enquire the truth..and I will never become the daughter in law of such a family..")
*********
1 day later...
Khushi was lost in her thoughts..confused...she did not know what she could do for her sister...And she could not even comprehend about Arnav's offer...
Work with him...kabhi nahin...phir se AR me kadam rakhna...nahin...colleagueas ke saamne mujhe naukri se baahar nikala tha...traitor..aisi shabd sunne ke baadh phir se wahaan par kaam karna..
(never..to even step foot in AR...no...he had berated me in front of all my colleagues..traitor..after hearing such names, I will never work for him again..)
Khushi's eyes teared up when she remembered how Arnav had accused her...insulted her...fired her...what hurt most was that he had found it so easy to believe that she could have done such a thing...
She heard the door bell ring and Payal going to answer it...From the voice of the guests..she realized it was Anjaliji and Aakash sir...She went out to the drawing room..
"Namaste Khushi..."...the usual chirpy voice of Anjali was laced with sadness...Khushi realised that..she did not want to put Anjali at unease...not after Anjali had gone against her own brother for her...
She tried to reply with as much as a cheerful tone aa she can..
"Namaste Anjaliji...kaisi hein aap..?.."
("How are you..?")
"Teek hoon...Khushi..mein aur Aakash..hum tumse baath karne aaye hain.."
("Fine..Khushi...I and Akash...we are here to talk to you...")
*******
Anjali was trying her best to convince Khushi...
"Khushi..hum apne employees ko Raizada parivar ka hissa maanthe hain...aur aap hamare liye usse bhi khaas hain...Chotte ne aapko bahuth insult kiya hoga...main jaanthi hoon..lekin woh iss baath ko ab regret karthe hain..iss liye usne khud aapse kal maafi maanga tha...aur jab tak aap AR waapas join nahin karthi..tab tak hum yahin samjhenge ki aapne humein aur Chotte ko maaf nahin kiya hai"
("Khushi...we consider the AR employees a part of the Raizada family...And you are even more special to us...I realise that Chotte insulted you greatly...I know that..But he deeply regrets his actions...That is why he came here to apologise in person..And till the time you rejoin AR, we will not believe that you have forgiven Arnav...")
"Anjaliji..hum aapko aur aakash sir ko sharminda nahin karna chahthe hain..lekin..baath yeh hain ki...agar yeh sab hone se sirf mujhe hi takleef pahunchi thi..tho main yeh sab do din mein bhool jaathi..lekin haalath aise nahin hai...uss din jab police aaya yahaan pe...tho meri jeeji ki shaadi ki baathein ho rahi thi...aur jab mujhe police le gaye...tho woh rishtha bhi toot gaya...mujhpar jo ilzaam lagaya tha..woh ab nahin raha..mein apni naukri mein waapas join kar sakthi hoon..lekin meri jeeji..aur amma bauji...un sabko iss sabse bahuth dukh hua hain.."
("Anjaliji...I don't want to embarass you..but...the thing is...If it was just me who had got hurt due to his actions, maybe I would have forgiven him..but now the situation is different...That day when the police came to take me away, we had guests...a family friend of bauji who had come to see jeeji...they were willing to consider jeeji as the bride for their son..and with all that happened, they rejected the alliance...The accusations made against me are invalid now...I can go back to my life and my job...but what about my jeeji..and amma bauji..they too have been hurt a lot because of this...")
"meri jeeji ke liye amma bauji do saal se ladka doondh rahe hain...kabhi dahejh ke naam pe..toh kabhi kisi aur wajah ke kaaran achcha rishtha nahin mil rahi thi...lekin aakhir mein jo aaya...woh bauji ke ek door ke rishthedaar ke parivaar se tha...woh log hamare baare mein aur hamare paristhithi ke baare mein achchi tarah jaanthe the...zyaadthi log nahin the woh...aur hum sabne iss mein bahuth ummeed mein lagayi thi..par uss din jo hua...usse yeh rishtha hi tooth gaya.."
("Its been a while since we have been seeking a good bridegroom for jeeji..but most of the times, we have faced many obstacles..sometimes its in the form of dowry demands..other times, it is something else...But the last family who had come, they knew us and were not greedy about dowry...and we all had pinned our hopes on it...however, after what happened...the proposal is lost forever..")
"Khushi...tum chup raho..Anjaliji..baath yeh hain ki woh log sach jaanne ke baadh iss rishthe ke liye haa kahan tha..lekin aaakhri faisla meri thi...aur tum yeh baath achchi tarah samajhe lena Khushi..ki tumhari career khatham ho chuki hai..wajah jo bhi ho...ab agar tum AR waapas join nahin karoge toh kya..kya tum doosre companies mein job apply karogi..?..kya tumhein lagtha hain ki koi tumhein job offer karenge..?...bilkul nahin...kyuki tum pe shakh ka jo saaya gira hain na..woh poori tarah se hat nahin gaya hai abhi bhi.."
("Khushi...no..Anjaliji...actually, it was me who had the last say in it...That family was willing to proceed with this proposal..and get one thought into your mind Khushi...that your career is virtually finished...whatever may have been the reason..now if you dont rejoin AR, what is your plan..?Go and seek jobs in other companies..?Do you honestly feel that they will give you any job offers..?Never...because the shadow of doubt on your integrity is still not fully gone")
"Jeeji..mein kaise AR waapas jaa sakthi hoon..?"
("Jeeji, how can I go back to that place..?")
"Khushi...Payalji teek keh rahi hain..wohi ek aisi jagah hain jahaan tumhari begunaahi pe koi shakh nahin karenge..Main aapko yakeen dilaathi hoon ki aap office join karne se pehle mein..Di aur Chotte..hum teeno saare employees se baath karenge aur sach unko batha denge..lekin yeh hum sirf AR mein kar sakthe hain..doosre companies mein nahin..issi liye aap ye offer accept kijiye..Please.."
("Khushi..Payalji is right..AR is the only place where no one will doubt your integrity and honesty..they will believe in your innocence..I assure you taht before you rejoin, I, Di and of course Arnav as well, will hold a meeting and convey the actual truth to them...But we will be abloe to do this only in AR..not in other companies...So I request you..please consider this option thoroughly...")
Khushi was always grateful to Aakash as he was the one who had given her the job and she knew that he was speaking the absolute truth...
"And Khushi..its up to you if you decide to leave AR after rejoining...if you work with us again for some days..and then look for a job in a different company..they would hire you without any apprehensions...as the one who had accused you...us..ourselves had employed you again..your career will be out of danger Khushi..think about it."
Khushi nodded silently..Payal was impressed by Aakash..though she had nothing but hatred towards Arnav, the younger brother seemed to be a sane one..more logical..practical..Payal liked that...
***********
Next day..AR Office..
The meeting was over by noon...Akash and Arnav had spoken to the employees and told them the truth about Sheetal...They all had regret written on their faces as they all had doubted Khushi, who was an honest and hard working employee..
Anjali had personally went to Laxmi Nagar to get Khushi...She noticed Khushi sitting silently on the drive to AR Office and held her hand, assuring her..Khushi gave her a small smile and continued looking out of the window...
As she entered the office, Khushi inched closer to Anjali, who was leading her to Arnav's office...She could feel her colleagues' eyes on her..She did meet a few of their eyes and saw nothing but regret in them..a few of them had offered her a smile as well..
As she entered the cabin, Arnav and Akash who were standing, turned to face them..
Akash decided to break the awkwardness of the situation and greeted Khushi..
"Khushi..we are all relieved that you agreed to rejoin your old position at our office...Thank you so much..."
"Please do not thank me yet Akash sir...If you want me to continue at AR, there is one condition that will have to be met..."
Arnav looked at Khushi hesitantly and tried to guess what it was that she wanted..as Anjali encouraged her...
"Please..go ahead Khushiji..whatever it is..it will be agreed to.."
"Anjaliji..the condition is that... I will not rejoin my old position...I will work at AR...but only if I am employed as Akash sir's secretary..."
"And not mine..."...the sentence was completed by Arnav...in a voice laced with hurt...
Author's note:
The car park meeting that Khushi refers to in this chapter can be found in Chapter 7 of this FF..last para...link
This chapter effectively concludes the twist track..so how was it..?..liked it...any dislikes..?Edit: did any of my dear readers suspect Sheetal to be the culprit..??
Waiting for your feedback...😊
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