"Khushi Baby already left for work. She isn't there" Hari Kaaka told Laxman Prasad. He simply nodded his head and left the Gupta mansion to proceed towards the car. He sat in the driver's seat, after he prepared himself to be yelled at. "Where's Khushi? I thought I asked you to bring her along" Arnav said dryly, while flipping pages of the file. Laxman swallowed hard. "Sahab, I asked the old Kaaka about Khushi Ma'am. He said she already left" Arnav was stunned. Although he did not give away with his expression, his blood boiled. He looked at his watch. What the hell! It is barely 8.20am, and this girl has the audacity to leave? How dare she avoid me? I've been calling her like a fool since last night. She doesn't care to answer my call. And now she leaves before time! Well, if that's what she is asking for, then that is what she gets. I don't give a damn if she exists or not, let alone talking to me. She's my P.A. and she'll just do her job; do what I ask of her. "Well, what are you waiting for? Drive" he yelled at an already nervous Laxman, who immediately started the car after he almost dropped the keys in a fearful hurry.
Arnav entered the building of his office, and all the staff greeted him, while he simply rushed to the elevator. The elevator opened at the floor of his office, and he saw Khushi typing furiously on her laptop, while Grace was busy stapling some documents. Khushi noticed him coming as she heard his footfalls. No Khushi. Keep a hold on your anger. Right now, he is not the Arnav Raizada who was feasting on Ananya. Here, right now, he is your boss and you are his employee. Keep calm. She continued to type, as the sound of his footfalls increased.He walked up to the seat where Khushi was seated and banged his keys on the table. Khushi jumped in fear. "Good morning Sir" she spoke without looking at Arnav, which agitated him more. "There is nothing so good about the morning." He said dryly. Turning to Grace he said, "Grace, talk to Mr. Antonio Paulos and confirm the details of the business trip to Greece." And returning his gaze to Khushi, he yelled "Get me my bloody coffee along with the file for the noon conference in exactly five minutes" He smirked while Khushi turned pale, as the blood from her face drained with the intensity in his voice. Grabbing his keys, he walked into his cabin, completely happy that he scared her at the first five minutes of the day. Ha! So much for her I-don't-care attitude!
Exactly five minutes later, there was a knock on his door. He smiled in arrogance as he saw Khushi bring his coffee and the file to his table. She placed the coffee next to his laptop, and the file on the side table. She was about to leave, when Arnav called her back and asked her to take a seat. "Sir, I have some work pending at my table" she said softly, avoiding looking at him in his eyes. Arnav's temper rose. "I did not call you to gossip about stories. I just asked you to sit. Don't act smart with me. When I say sit, you sit." Khushi knew it was hopeless arguing with a man whose ego was bigger than his height. She sat at the opposite seat and waited for him to talk. When he said nothing, she looked at him, to find him staring at her. Those eyes! She turned to look at every single thing present in the room, except Arnav Raizada. Arnav said nothing, but kept sipping on his coffee and looking at her. Finally, he spoke up. "The auction is in less than a week. There's a hell lot of work pending. I hope you will not let down Akaash. Important clients all over the world are flying down for this event. I take it that you would handle everything with extra care." Khushi nodded her head in a yes. Continuing his talk, he further said, "Ten days later, we're going to Greece" he spoke as a statement, not wanting to even give her an option. Khushi's eyes grew wide. "Excuse me, what?" she stood up. "I did not ask you to stand. Be seated where you are" he bellowed to which she sat quickly. "And there's no need to get so shocked. We're not going on a honeymoon. We're going to sign a business deal with Mr. Antonio Paulos. I've been putting in my sweat and blood for the past one and a half years into sealing the deal with the Nikolas Industries. And you being my P.A. are expected to follow me wherever I go for work." Khushi was about to interrupt, but Arnav held his hand up. "I'm not finished talking Ms. Gupta. I expected you to know your mannerisms better. And before you can give me any of your jibber-jabber, let me inform you that I already spoke to your Dad, and he has no problem with you going to Greece with me. In fact, he told me you've always loved the place and have been keen on visiting it. So, I'm hoping that you have no problem. And even if you do, it's none of my concern." He paused, waiting for a reaction from her, but she seemed too shocked to say anything. "You can clarify any doubts from Grace. That's all. You may leave" Khushi stood rooted to the ground. Still images of the intimacy between Ananya and Arnav at the stable flooded her mind and played back and forth in Technicolor. She could not possibly go alone with such a disgusting man who lusted after every single woman. To make matters worse, her dad had consented to Arnav taking her with him. I will not go with him she thought, but was too scared to voice her thoughts. I'll take time to think into it. First things first. Let me finish off the work related to the auction. Then I'd talk about the trip to Greece. "Hello? I thought I asked you to leave. Or do you plan to order a coffee for yourself and make yourself comfortable in my cabin?" Arnav raised his voice and she ran out like a mouse who stole the cheese under the cat's nose. As the door closed, Arnav grinned at the satisfaction of his male ego as she hurried out the door.
The whole day went horribly busy. There was not a single free minute. Khushi barely took out five minutes to swallow a sandwich from the office canteen. She resumed her work till the clock struck half past six. She rose from her seat to pack up from office, but a phone call interrupted her. Arnav too came out of his office and was locking the cabin door, when he overheard Khushi's conversation over the phone.
"Oh, so now you remember me ha?... No arguments. You are getting your bags straight home... Of course, I'm dying to meet you Rohan... Okay... Yes. I'll be home in half an hour... Yeah, I work at the Raizada's... No, No, I'll take a cab and come home...See you soon" He noticed her smiling like a Cheshire cat. Grace patted her shoulder. "Ahem, Khushi you're glowing! Boyfriend's call?" Arnav's blood heated up. Why the hell am I getting irritated? He thought to himself and continued to overhear the conversation. "Well, best friend since childhood, actually. He's come down from London for some legal work. It's been ages since I saw him in person. In the sense, we regularly have video chats. But I'll be seeing him in person after about eight years. I'm so damn excited Grace" Khushi hugged Grace, while she smiled and patted her back.
Arnav cleared his throat and made his presence known. Grace greeted him and bid bye to Khushi. After she left, Arnav said to her, "Let's go. I'll drop you home" Khushi chose not to respond. Instead she picked up her bag and pressed the button of the elevator, waiting for it to arrive at their floor. Arnav waited next to her. When the elevator arrived, they quietly stepped into it. On reaching the ground floor, Khushi hurried out and made her way, passing Arnav's car. Arnav ran past her and grabbed her by her arm. "Where the hell do you think you're going? I said I'm dropping you home." Khushi let go of her arm from his grip, and pushed him away. "Who the hell do you think you are? I can take care of myself. Outside the office you are not my boss. So quit ordering me around." Arnav caught hold of her wrist and pulled her towards him. "I have been calling you since last night to talk to you and explain myself to you. Don't you think you must have a little courtesy and return the call?" She struggled out of his grip, but failed miserably. "I did not feel like talking to you yesterday. Nor do I want to talk to you now. My working hours are over, and I am not your employee right now." "I know you are not my employee outside office. Don't try to teach me." He pulled her toward himself and pinned her against the wall. "Leave me, Mr. Raizada" Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "I will not leave you until you listen to whatever I have to say" and he gripped her tighter, not concerned if his huge hands were piercing into the skin of her delicate hands.
"Whatever happened yesterday was not right. But why are you blaming me alone?" Khushi looked up at him. This man had no shame or regret, whatsoever. "I never blamed you. And I told you I do not want to talk about it. Whatever happens between you and anyone else is none of my concern. Let me go." The force of his hands on her wrists caused a bangle to break and pierce into her skin, causing a cut. She shrieked in pain, but it did not make a difference to Arnav. "You may not have blamed me vocally. But your eyes tell me something else. You have been giving me those accusing looks ever since you found me and your friend in the stable. It wasn't my fault. I did yield into it, but she started it. She was the one trying to seduce me, throwing herself at me." "Look, Mr. Arnav Raizada, what you do behind closed doors is none of my business. I came searching for Ananya since I had finished my work and was wanting to go home. I saw you both in a situation that would have embarrassed anyone. I have no say in any matter regarding your life. Now please let me go. You're hurting me" It was then that Arnav saw the droplets of blood trickling from her hand. He let go of her as though she was on fire. He took her hand to wipe off the blood and bandage it, but she pulled her hand away from his.
"I'm in a hurry. I need to go." He looked at her walking away, after a severe blow to his ego. She was a few feet away from him, when he called out to her, in a sarcastic tone. "Of course you have to go. Your lover boy must be waiting for you, right?" Arnav had absolutely no idea why he uttered those words. Khushi stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. "What?" She mouthed. "Yeah. Your London returned lover boy. Go, run along. After all you are dying to meet him" She returned to where he was standing. "You overheard my phone conversation?" This man was unbelievable! "And even if he is my lover boy, it shouldn't concern you. Did I talk to you about your sneaky little incident with Anu at the stable? No, I didn't. You have no right to talk about anyone in my life." Arnav stepped towards her and Khushi was forced to take two steps behind, on an instinct. "Why do you compare Ananya and myself, to Rohan and yourself? Oh, so you both too have been sneaking around in stables and have been busy having your share of dirty fun..." SLAP. Khushi slapped Arnav's left cheek with her right hand. "ENOUGH" she screamed her lungs out. "Mind your language Mr Raizada. I do not need you to certify my character. And I am definitely not answerable to you about my life." She turned around, not sparing a glance at him, stopped a cab and proceeded home.
Arnav stood still. For the first time a girl had slapped him. His hand went up to his cheek, and the cheek tingled as he rubbed his fingers on it. He regretted commenting on her character, but slapping him was way too much. Khushi, I will make you pay for this, with interest.
On her way back home, Khushi cried her heart out. How could a disgusting man like him malign her character, when he himself belonged to the category of sleeping around with any female? Her phone buzzed. It was Rohan's text. "Jus rchd ur house. Cm soon. Lets hv dinnr 2gethr, jus lyk d old dayz" She wiped away her tears and a silent smile crept on her lips.
Rohan's mother and Khushi's mother were college friends. Rohan's Dad had passed away before he was born, and his Mom expired due to childbirth. It was Khushi's parents that looked after him. Soon after Khushi's mom passed away, Mr. Gupta took it upon himself to raise the kids. Rohan had always been a very responsible and a smart kid. He excelled in whatever he took up. Apart from her dad, the next person who knew Khushi through and through was Rohan. And today, her best friend since childhood had come back, and she would be seeing him after eight long years. The thought excited her. She grinned recollecting her awesome childhood with him. They had played crazy pranks on anyone in sight. They grew up together, sharing smiles and tears. And then he had to go away on receiving the scholarship from the University of Brisbane, after which he was posted to London as a part of his job. But today, he was home, and that was all that mattered. She smiled whole heartedly, leaning against the headrest of the car seat. Arnav Raizada was a distant memory, for now.
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