Arshi FF: A Hundred Flukes. CHAPTER 37; See note pg 82 - Page 10

Originally posted by: mayurisb80

Oh I so look forward for these updates...with your slight changes ...reliving the old magic

Originally posted by: MOnamy11

Are we gonna get just 1 update today ? Please update the next one soon :-) I love that you update several times a day wish other writers would do that !

Originally posted by: cineraria

Honey, I wonder once the bag of already written chapters is posted here, how regularly would I manage to update. 😉

I take one day to write a chapter and 9 days to come out of a writer's block induced after every chapter. 😛

Chapter 17: Socialism

"11:57, it's 3 minutes before the date changes, yay, that means the partyyy is still on, it's still your birthday jiji." cried an effulgent Khushi. Payal smiled brightly at her, closing her umbrella, "Uh, careful Khushi there is water on the floor." she cautioned. Too late, "Whoa..." Khushi yelled as she slipped and fell on the ground on her knees and palms saving her chin from hitting the muddy floor. A hand much larger than her was extended in front of her, she looked up to catch Shyam's gaze resting upon her.

"So you are finally back." he said helping her up. "Khushi are you all right?" said Payal rushing towards her. "Y..yeah, kind of.", "I didn't see you coming though." she said turning to Shyam. "Well I have a tendency to escape eyes." he chuckled. Khushi stared at him blankly. "Don't look at me like that, I was just kidding." he assured.

Khushi nodded, "A--TISSHOOO" she sneezed.

"There comes Sanakadevi announcing her arrival." Madhumati grumbled standing on the door. "A--TISHHOO" Khushi sneezed on her face, earning herself a slap on the back. "Ouch, Buaji..."

Madhumati glared at her, raising both her eye brows and placing her hands on her hips, "Tell me one thing, when Siyam babua was coming to fetch you, what was the need to hop into your boss' car?"

"Buaji that wasn't my boss, that was..."

"Haye re Nandkissore..." Madhumati whined slapping her forehead, "then who was that man? Look Khusee, for the time you are living with me, BEHAVE YOUR SELF!" Khushi made a face ignoring her aunt's remark and ran behind Payal who took the cake out from refrigerator. "Hurry jiji, 50 seconds to go... Chocolate!" she exclaimed licking her lips, "thank you so much Shyamji."

"Stop hanging out your tongue like a puppy, roll it in!" said Madhumati peevishly. Khushi lit a matchstick that was extinguished the next moment by her king sized sneeze. "Arree sassuri cannot do one thing properly." Madhumati complained.

"It's all right give it to me." said Shyam.

"Haan babua, you do it."

"A--TISSHOO"

****

"A-TISHOO... excuse me" Arnav sneezed into the napkin. "God bless you." said Anjali softly taking a fresh dry towel from the valet, who stood with three more in his hands. She patted her younger brother's almost-dry-by-now hair further dry with the towel, while her brother sat in his recliner, sulking.

"May I know what inspired you to go for a rain dance tonight?" she asked in her affectionate, mock angry tone. Arnav did not reply, the bickering of two women outside the door was clearly audible inside the room, it became clearer as Devyani Raizada entered his room, "I will make hot honey milk for my grandson, to keep cold away from him." she said clearing her throat.

"At least you should know that Arnav doesn't like either of milk and honey." Manorma Raizada remarked sharply from behind her, "I'll make ginger tea for my nephew, that helps more in cold." Arnav pinched between his eyebrows, sighing.

"You Manorma?" Devyani shook her head, "have you stepped in the kitchen ever since you brought your useless self to this family? Your mother sent her spoilt girl to my house." Manorma glared at her mother in law, "Hello hi bye bye! Telling lies Johnny! I mean M-I-L, when I came to this house, you had only one servant. My mother cried when she saw me cook!" she groaned.

"No, we cried when we ate the food you cooked." Devyani moaned, "That's why I tell you to stay out of this, I can take care of my kids, you take care of your son."

"My son was not the one to get drenched in rain." Manorma retorted, "It's my nephew who needs my care right now." Arnav rolled his eyes.

"He's healthier and happier without your care Manorma! Anjali tell your mami to leave this room."

"Right" Manorma scowled, folding her arms, "so that you handle him just as well as you handled an upset Anjali today?"

Arnav jerked up from the recliner, concern evident on his face, "What happened to you Di? Why were you upset?"

"Why wouldn't she be upset when neither her brothers nor her husband attended the Ratna - Genius Girl Scholarship she organized today?" Devyani said chidingly. Anjali's face fell.

"Di was Jijaji supposed to come today?" asked Arnav.

"Yes he was." Manorma chimed in, "but as usual, an absent was marked for dearesht son-in-law."

"He says his stay in Mumbai has been extended by another week." said a disappointed Anjali.

"Oh c'mon Di, stop behaving like that, he must be busy and it's not like his unavailability makes a big difference. He already calls you like what, four times a day?" Arnav teased. Anjali glowered dropping the towel in her hand on the recliner.

"You men are just..." she marched out of the room.

"Arnav, I'll ask you the last time, my honey milk or your mami's whatever she plans to make for you." Devyani inquired.

"Nothing, please..." Arnav protested, "Stop fussing over me, it's not like I'm catching pneumonia."

****

Khushi snorted loudly gobbling a huge slice of cake. "Mmm...jiji there is something for you." she said smacking her lips, picking her tote, she took out the dopatta Akash had given her, "Surprise, surprise...your gift."

Payal jumped in delight grabbing the delicate fabric, "Wow, how did you know that I loved this dopatta?" she said, her eyes lighting up, "You know this one is exactly the same as the one I had seen on display that day..." Khushi hadn't seen her sister so happy in days. "You know Khushi, I didn't buy it for it was quite expensive, but you got it for me! Thank you so much little sis."

"Jiji...actually I didn't find time to get anything for you, this dopatta...well my sir gave me this for you." Khushi told her honestly. Payal gaped at her and then stared disbelievingly at the dopatta folding it, "You mean Arnav Singh Raizada gave this to you?" she gasped.

Khushi slapped her forehead," Offo jiji, don't take the name of that Laad Governor. He cannot do such a thing in hundred lives, Akash sir gave me this, you know the guy who dropped me home. He's a real gem."

Shyam Manoher Jha's hands fiddled feverishly with the pen he was holding, hearing the name.

Payal floundered a little and then with a mischievous grin distanced the dopatta from herself, "Tell me, is this Akash guy as good looking as your boss?"

Khushi puckered her nose, cringing at the question although it was intended with humor, "Jiji, he's much better than that Laad Governor in every possible way. Only that I always have this feeling to take off his specs and run away."

"Only you can have that feeling Khushi." said Payal blushing all of a sudden. A vague image of a boyishly charming guy hadn't turned into oblivion yet. Of late even Madhumati's thick glasses somehow reminded her of a fleeting encounter with that guy, two days back. Payal was a very reserved person, she barely spoke and especially with strangers but that particular guy had been different, she had ended up behaving like Khushi in his presence, speaking whatever came to her head. She blushed again recalling his words, Please say something...anything, he was so adorable that even she couldn't be herself and ignore. She walked to her room, avoiding her sister's gaze, if Khushi caught her cheeks colored, she sure wouldn't let her sleep the entire night.

Shyam fidgeted with the doubt nibbling at his mind, "Khushi?" he said in a low tone.

"Yes?"

"That man...I mean the man who dropped you home, do you work under him?" he asked trying to sound normal.

"No Shyamji." Khushi sighed licking her chocolate smudged finger, "I wish I did. Unlucky me, I am stuck with that ASR."

"Oh, I see." he said, an abstruse look befallen over his face. Khushi stifled a yawn, "I am so sleepy that I can sleep till my death" she said stretching her arms over her head. Shyam smiled even at her yawning face.

****

The antique grandfather's clock, formerly owned by Robert Clive struck 12:30 at night in the Raizada Mansion, but sleep had yet again decided to elude the proud owner. Arnav Singh Raizada ambulated in his room, holding a cup of whichever of honey milk or ginger tea it was, regardless of nature, the contents of the cup were now stone cold. It was a well known and established fact that of all the things that came easy to Raizada, anger was the easiest. He grabbed his phone, speed dialing, knowing that the receiver would only be happy to receive his call at this unholy hour.

"Hello ASR?" said the husky voice of a woman.

"Lavanya send me Khushi Kumari Gupta's number and address. Now." he ordered.

"What? ASR, are you going to call her at this hour of night?" she asked, skeptic of what she had just heard.

"Do what you have been told to." he said sharply.

"Don't you think you are giving too much importance to that frivolous employee?"

"Enough Lavanya. Number."

He put the cup down on the table, "Jai Prakash!" he screamed. The sleepy valet appeared on the door, rubbing his eyes. "Take this away." he said pointing at the untouched beverage, "and get me some black coffee." The servant nodded and disappeared with the job. ASR's phone beeped with the message, his lips pursed in sadistic pleasure, "Do you plan to sleep Ms Gupta?" he muttered under his breath.

"Chalo Maiyya ke bhawan bhawan bhawan" blared into his ears making him jerk away the earpiece as soon as he had dialed the number.

The same song played the role of the girl's ring tone. Madhumati glowered at the phone and then at the wall clock with a broken glass. "Nandkissore who calls you this late at night?"

"Must be amma babuji" giggled Khushi.

"Hello, I was waiting for your phone, you aren't asleep yet? I was just going to sleep, I would have missed your phone. You won't believe I just managed to come on time, my boss is such a rotten piece of..." she rambled without a pause, without thinking or even caring to check the number.

"What?" breathed a flabbergasted ASR.

"Arre who is it Nandkissore? Your Amma Babuji have already called four times today, whom are you blabbering with?"

Khushi pulled the phone away from her ears, realization dawning at the leisurely pace it assumed often with poor Ms Gupta. "Don't know Buaji, doesn't seem like Babuji." she said putting it against her ears again.

"Is your mouth done spewing gibberish?" he barked.

Her eyeballs bulged, "I...its y...you."

"Make use of your ears now and listen. You'd be receiving a bunch of reports shortly that need to be typed by you. I want the work completed by the morning, I don't care how you do it, and whether you sit typing the entire night is up to you. I want my work done. Do you understand?"

"But sir how will I..."

"I'd be sending my driver with all the requisites. I need the reports at 7:00 am sharp."

"Ok, I'll do it, tell your driver to come and take the reports in the morning..."

"My driver is not your servant." he snapped, "You will personally deliver the reports at my residence. You get it?" The line went dead before she could say anything else.

****

The parcel delivered at 00:50 am, at 'Chandan Kothi', Sector E, Lakshmi Nagar consisted of two bulky folders- one stuffed with printed pages and other with pages to be printed and a rather tall briefcase. The briefcase felt too heavy to carry a laptop, too small to carry a desktop computer; in either case the probability of a printer inside was nil.

Khushi opened the latches somewhat thrilled; aghast when the creaky device was revealed to her. Her first question was, were such things still in existence? They sure were but where did ASR get this one from. Her generation had seen vintage mechanical typewriters only in museums, she wasn't sure about ASR's generation though.

"What's this?" gasped Payal.

"Adam's personal computer which Eve brought as dowry." Khushi replied turning to her sister, "My boss is all set to impress me with his sense of humor." she said with no humor in her voice.

Next twenty minutes were spent in figuring out how the typewriter would work by the sisters. Shyam had gone upstairs to his room before the parcel had arrived and Madhumati after grumbling what kind of work was her niece doing and downing one jug of water had retired to bed.

The sisters soon discovered that F, J, R, C, I, P, S, G, A keys had to be pressed five to six times to produce the desired effect.

It was an hour before Payal dozed off, with reasonable might she forced her eyelids to open and head back on the page she was dictating to her sister, a few words getting drowned in her yawn. Khushi looked apologetically at her sister, "You leave it Jiji, go and sleep, I'll do it."

"No Khushi its okay, umm, where were we?" she said looking confused at the open page and then at Khushi, "Is it so important to complete this in one night?"

Khushi nodded, "If I don't, then tomorrow, that Laad Governor will do a break dance over my tiny head!"

"Hmm. Sixty percent of the investment in human resource..."Payal began.

"Jiji, that was the previous para," Khushi said placing her hand over the file, "Jiji, It's okay, you can go and sleep, if you end up making sleepy mistakes, I'll be done. I can do it, it's my headache after all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, good night."

"I am sorry I am unable to help you," said Payal getting up from the chair, she placed her hand over her sister's shoulder, "please wake me up if you need any kind of help, okay?"

"Sure."

****

The lawyer closed the case sheet, his client's case was weak. He had to brace himself for another loss but that wouldn't mean any loss in his clientele for he was the only hope of the class of people he dealt with. He glanced across the table to find the jug of water empty, he got up and headed downstairs to get a refill.

His heart fluttered the moment he saw her, her tired eyes switching between an open file and apparently a fifty year old typewriter. "You are still up?" he found himself asking her.

She looked at him with a start, "Oh Shyamji, yeah I am. Got work to do."

Shyam pulled the chair next to her, "What sort of work is this?" he said looking with disgust at the pile of pages and the creaky machinery. Khushi forced a weak smile to her lips, "It's like that only. ASR makes me do strange things and I don't have much of a choice." she said ruefully, "you see I have signed a contract with him."

"What? What contract? Khushi is he troubling you?" he asked concerned.

"Not much that I can't handle. It's okay, really."

Shyam appeared disconcerted, "I am sorry I got you into all this." he said finally, "I am ashamed, Khushi I didn't know you were going to..."

"Shyamji? Why are you saying sorry, you only tried to help me."

"If you want I can find another job for you..."

"Oh no, if I have started something I will complete it. And good or bad, work is work." she said cheering up.

"But Arnav Singh Raizada...?"

"You know him?" she asked surprised.

"Unfortunately yes."

"Of course, so stupid of me to ask. He is the kind of rich and famous people whom everybody seems to know." she muttered, "I wonder sometimes what he has done to deserve all that money."

"Or wealth accumulated at the cost of somebody else's blood and sweat." said Shyam bitterly. Khushi looked at him as if waiting for an explanation to what he had just said, "That's what all capitalists do Khushi, haven't you heard, behind every big fortune there is a crime."

"Is capitalism a crime?"

"Not to those who reap benefits from it, in fact in today's scenario most support it for it empowers those who are already in power and weakens those who could be a possible threat to this power. Look how labor unions are not let to survive, how the labor class are used and misused against each other. They form a vicious circle, the plutocracy, the rich and influential business lobbies, together they make it impossible for workers to have a say or right over what they produce." he said tearing his gaze away from her at the wall in front of him, his eyes becoming lifeless for a moment remembering the charred body of his brother...his mind drifting back to the memories of a night, where for once he had felt the lust for money and then they had been shown the reality. His brother was used and thrown away, burned away, a life discarded like bone from meat...and the one responsible for it remained unscathed. Dheerendra Mallik remained unscathed...

"Are you all right?" said Khushi placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Huh? Of course, absolutely." he said recovering fast, "I think I should help you with this, what about me dictating."

"I don't think it's a good thing to bother you, you must be tired too and this is basically..."

"Basically I am used to stay up till late at night, my senses are more alert during night." he said chuckling.

Khushi laughed, "Wow I got company, I can stay up as long as I wish at night, but getting up in morning is such a pain, by the way Shyamji, suppose you had Raizada's money, what would you do with it?"

"My dream come true," Shyam grinned, "I guess I'll donate most of it, but keep a handsome amount for myself. You see I can't survive all my life on UP government's scholarship and the people who approach me with their cases are usually the ones who can't afford a better lawyer. I don't even ask them for remuneration!"

Khushi looked at him with new found respect, "I know what you are, you are a commu...como" she scratched her head for the word.

"Communist? Not really, I am a socialist; somebody who just wants equality and opportunity for all."

"What's the difference anyway...listen I have an idea, let's make a team and rob Arnav Singh Raizada of all his money. I think he has enough to sustain this city. We all can then have equality and opportunity, for example I'll open a huge jalebi production plant and all those who work with me will get equal shares of jalebi and profit if any. How does that sound?" she said widely grinning and bouncing her eyebrows at him. To her surprise he actually heard her with utmost seriousness. Khushi laughed hard looking at his face, "Oh c'mon I was just joking" she laughed harder clutching the handle of her chair. Shyam ran a finger through his hair, he slowly began to smile, resting his elbow on the table, his fingers still in his hair, he gaped at her. The lawyer had experienced infatuation before, attraction before but that wasn't comparable to what he felt right now. Her sonorous laughter had begun to ring in his life, he was gradually feeling her closer to himself, he needed this 'Khushi' for life...

Khushi clapped her hands in front of his eyes, "Where are you lost again, Mr. advocate of the poor?"

"Uh, no...nowhere." he said abashed.

"You wanted to help me right?" said Khushi mischievously, "Get me a cup of tea then."

"Tea at this time?"

"Yes."

"Sure." he said getting up from the chair, Khushi grabbed his hand, pulling him back to his chair, "Wait, you don't have to, why do you take me so seriously?" she exclaimed laughing again. "Although I love one sugary chai at night but I am not gonna ask you for it."

"Why not? Because I am an incompetent lawyer doesn't mean I am an incompetent cook." he assured.

The tea was brilliant and to her taste. The three cups that she had of it along with their nonstop chatter made the night almost bearable. It was mostly her talking and him listening and dictating from the notes. By 5:30 in the morning her finger tips were swollen but the job had been completed, she even took a half an hour nap. She couldn't afford more, she had to deliver the report at 7:00 and Vasant Vihar was the opposite corner of the city. Shyam had too gone to bed, his hearing was at twelve noon and the court was barely a two minute walk.

****

Dear Fellowmen, summers are dreadful and monsoon elusory in my part of the world. The rains were rather generous three years ago...

My heartfelt thanks to all those who were kind enough to like and comment. For silent readers I hope, someday they would indulge me. 😛

Chapter 18: Circus

Day #3

"I can't go beyond this gate behenji. The security won't let me." informed the auto rikshaw driver. Khushi got down with the heavy briefcase and folders, 7:04 she checked her watch, and paid the autowala his due. She was stopped by a uniformed man five steps later, "Where to Ms?" he inquired in a surly tone.

"Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, where is his residence? I mean Shantivan." she said reading from the address his driver had given her the previous night.

"Show me your permit." said the guard.

"What permit? He called me here for his work, I work in his office, I need to hand him..."

The guard shook his head, he pulled out a cordless, pressing a few buttons and waited for a while, "Good morning ma'am, sorry to disturb you. There is a girl wanting to see Arnav Sir, she says she works in his office, should I send her?"

"Yes please." said the voice from the other side of the line.

The guard turned towards an impatient Khushi, "You can go, his mansion is in the next block, take right, the tallest building you see would be it."

Khushi stared at the majestic edifice in front of her, it somehow reminded her of the haunted castles in fairy tales. How could someone possibly live alone in that big a house, she wondered. The idea of that grouchy misanthrope having a big happy family seemed absurd. With every passing moment she only heard Shyam's verdict on him from last night. Wealth accumulated at the cost of other's sweat and blood.

"Ma'am what is this?" Questioned the female guard who was checking her belongings.

"A typewriter, it's ASR's. You better let me take it in."

"Sorry ma'am, it's a suspicious thing. I'll send it in once we are through with it. You may go in now."

Khushi muttered thanks. So much security around his house, it felt like she was visiting someone in jail. Her jootis creaked on the expensive marble as she walked. She gulped looking at the grand entrance.

A servant opened the door, a couple of minutes after she had rung the bell. Her jaw dropped at what she beheld. The grandiosity was stark. Delicate crystal chandeliers hung from the tall ceiling, the lighting alone seemed to be worth a king's ransom. Huge paintings adorned the side walls from ceiling to floor. It all imposed upon the onlooker, a palatial aura.

"Come in please." Khushi heard an effeminate voice call to her. She looked up to see, behind a dainty flower vase was the most beautiful woman she had seen in her life. She appeared to be in her early thirties or perhaps mid thirties, her beauty was not the kind of pretty babes you saw at AR Designs, but one of royal elegance and grace. She was clad in a red chiffon sari with Kanjivaram work over it. Contrasted to her sari were her sleek necklace and danglers, green emeralds and sparkling diamonds. Khushi blinked gaping at Anjali. "Is this ASR sir's house?" she asked politely.

"Yes, very much, you work in his office right? I am Anjali his sister" she said chuckling at the funny expression the girl had on her face.

Khushi almost tripped on learning the woman's relation with her boss. "Cousin or real?" she blabbed stupidly.

"Real. Why?" said Anjali in the sweetest possible voice.

Khushi felt her brain bursting into smithereens at the irony of Mother Nature. This angel is that demon's real sister!

Anjali studied the girl for moment, "Come here. Have we met before, I think I have seen you somewhere." she said trying hard to recall where had she seen her. The video footage of the Lucknow couture of course, had completely escaped her mind.

Whether it was Anjali's sweet comportment or just her manners that Khushi felt her nervousness wear away, she felt opening up to the woman. "Actually you are not the first one to say that" she said giggling, "many people tell me that I look like some heroine but which one, they can never tell."

Anjali giggled as well and led Khushi to the drawing room. Khushi noticed that the woman had difficulty in walking.

The silken upholstery of the sofa felt too soft for her comfort. She moved klutzily in it, "Hey Devi Maiyya, I am gonna sink in this." she muttered as a cushion fell on the ground. Anjali looked at the girl with keen interest, amused at her bungle.

"Where are you from? Your accent sounds familiar." she asked Khushi.

"I am from Lucknow, have you ever been there? It's a wonderful city, it's ..."

"It's my home town." Anjali replied softly, "wait my Nani is in the pooja, she'd love to meet you." Khushi felt her eyes would pop out any moment. Sister, Nani, pooja in the house, was this really ASR's family?

"Anjaliji, actually I had to submit these reports to sir. If you could call him..." Khushi began.

"Jai Prakash!" Anjali called, "has Arnav returned from his jog?"

" Jai Prakash is not at home bitiya." said an old man with a beard, "I haven't seen Arnav baba as well."

"Kaka please let us know when he is back." Anjali said respectfully, "I hope you won't mind waiting for a while." she said turning to Khushi. Of course she did mind. She had rushed in such a hurry and hadn't even had her breakfast, it was frustrating to know that ASR must be conveniently doing his workout while she sat waiting for him. "Anjaliji, could you do me a favor. May I leave this report here, will you give it to him when he's back?" she requested.

"Okay but if you don't mind you could wait to see my grandmother, she's very happy to meet people from Lucknow." Anjali insisted.

Khushi flashed a bright toothed smile, that was something she couldn't refuse.

Devyani Raizada loved the girl as soon as she saw her. Together they sat chatting for about half an hour about the city and Khushi's family. Khushi had almost forgotten about Arnav when a servant appeared, informing that he was in his room. Khushi got up, reluctant to see him, as the servant guided her upstairs to a long corridor.

"Mehehehe mehehehe" the bleating astounded her, so did the sight of a goat, "Arre Laxmi..."the servant grumbled picking up the animal, "Ma'am please take right from here and knock at the door." he said and went away with the goat. Khushi walked around the crazy place and knocked at a random door hoping it be his.

"Aaa." she screamed, so did the woman standing in front of her. Not that Khushi hadn't seen someone wearing a facial mask before but if all of a sudden a door opens and a pale green faced plump woman with large pink rollers in her hair clad in a bottle green nighty appears in front of you, you get kind of scared.

"Who the hell are you?" Manorma Raizada demanded in a scornful high pitched tone.

"A human being and you?" her mental tattle flew out of her mouth before she could stop. Putting her hand over to shut her I-love-verbal-screw-ups mouth that had just accomplished another ludicrous feat, "S...s..sorry." she stammered.

"You impudent girl, what are you doing in my house?" Manorma yelled scowling dangerously. This woman had to be closely related to ASR, Khushi decided.

"I am so sorry aunty, I lost my way" she mumbled.

"I am naat your Aenty hello hi bye bye." said Manorma poking a long finger at her with nails painted green as well, "Hari Prakash! Rahim! Radha! Who let this vermin in?" she yelled.

The oldest servant appeared, agitated, "Arre bitiya, this is not Arnav baba's room, come with me. Khushi followed the servant silently, when would she learn to shut up?

****

He had not been cognizant of her presence; these moments of a morning were usually his time away from his thoughts, away from his work. He spent half an hour or so, meticulously watering his plants while his mind reflected upon one reason, at least one reason for sustaining his vapid existence.

When the servant left Khushi at Arnav's door, she had realized the shockers for the day weren't over just as yet. The large butterfly at the door, fluttering its iridescent wings led her to what didn't seem like somebody's room. The clear azure waters of the pool sparkled in the intermittent sunlight filling the space. She took a deep breath in the lingering delicate fragrance of morning flowers and stopped short as her vision found him.

An aberrant tenderness was felt in the air, her jaw slackened watching him, not wanting to disturb him in what he seemed to be doing with so much love! He was almost human this morning, wearing a boysenberry sweatshirt and cream coloured track pants with light creases. His tousled hair fallen over his forehead, had in Khushi a fleeting urge to run her fingers through it, she kicked herself for the thought. Quite literally, causing herself to stumble forward, "Ouch" she groaned, which made Arnav's head jerk in her direction, the reports flew from her hands as she struggled to regain her balance, she leapt up to catch the files, the latter landing over her head posing a canopy and she, miraculously on the ground.

"If your circus act is over, you can place the reports on the table to your right." was ASR's cold remark. The file dropped from her head that moment, her hands finally catching it. She walked carefully to the wooden table, shuffling the papers back in place.

"I know you wouldn't like me finding faults in your work." said ASR, some of the smugness returning to his face.

"Sir you can check if you like, I haven't made any mistake this time." she replied blowing away the fringes of hair that disobediently fell over her forehead, her hands firmly resting on her hips. Arnav held the enticing picture she made for longer than necessary.

"You may leave then." Came the terse command after several seconds.

****

Khushi

Phew it wasn't as bad as I had thought. Even Laad governor went easy on me, for the first time he didn't say anything mean, although he has done the meanest thing to my poor stomach. I am hungry and Naniji is inviting me to have breakfast with them and above all that, the sandwiches smell yummm!

Although my sense (even if buaji doubts it's presence) tells me to get out of this castle before Laad Governor comes down and finds an opportunity to scold me, but the massive dinosaurs swimming in my digestive juices suggest otherwise. My stomach betrays a growl, hunger cries like a cantankerous tot, I take a chair next to naniji. She is a sweet old woman, actually I must say, apart from that green-witch aunty his family is really nice. Opposite to me, a middle aged man takes a chair, he smiles at me, I am surprised at the familiar expression he bears, the one I always see on Akash sir's face, "Namaste Uncle." I wish him.

"Oh so you are the one whom Manorma scared in the morning?" he says in a friendly way, I giggle but stop when I see Manorma aunty approaching us, scowling at me.

"So Mahendra, Akash left early this morning?" Naniji says to the man making me jump. My head spins and my stomach makes noises. I shut my mouth tight or I'll end up making silly sounds- the way I usually react to big shocks. No way, they can't be talking about the same Akash, there must be several Akashs in Delhi...but then today is a day of shockers. Naniji places three sandwiches in my plate, all right I get it, it must be written all over my face that I am famished. I pick up one smiling...

"Why the hell are you still in my house?" I hear that loathsome sullen voice, my smile forgotten and the sandwich drops from my hands back in the plate. I stand up timidly, he is glaring at me, his hair now fiercely gelled and perfectly in place and he's dressed in a lush black three piece suit which means his business mode on which means vile mode on.

"Chotte, don't talk to her like that, I insisted her to stay." says Naniji.

Chotte? What a ridiculously inappropriate nick-name for this ogre! Chotte would make one imagine a cute little child, I doubt he was ever a child, Laad Governor of birth!

"But Nani..." well there he goes in his argumentative mode.

"Why Chotte, you two work together, you should take her with you in your car." No Naniji, don't put me into this. Hey Devi Maiyya, do something, make this Laad Governor go. From. Here.

Instead Uncle gets up from his chair with his plate, "Ma, India vs Pakistan today, I'll have my breakfast in my room, watching the match. Excuse me." he says and walks away. Why devi maiyya, why this cross connection? ASR continues to glare at me, his phone rings, he picks it up and marches away, leaving me and Naniji alone on the table. Thank you Devi Maiyya.

The journey of the sandwich from the plate to my mouth begins again.

"Does Arnav get these phone calls all the time?" Nani asks, startling me. Sandwich finds its way back to the plate. "I mean calls from Ms Kasyap, he never talks in front of me, whenever his phone rings, he walks away." Naniji says, sounding a little disappointed, she keeps on looking at me inquisitively.

"You mean, Lavanya Kashyap?" I say.

Nani's face goes blank, "yes, yes, her only." she says sounding unsure.

"Why would she call him? They are always together in the office, you know I always find her around him." I blurt.

"What? They are always together?" Naniji looks shocked. Hey devi maiyya, didn't she know already. What has my mouth done again? "Naniji, you didn't know?" I gulp.

"I know everything bitiya, I am Nani." she says proudly, "but it seems my kids thought they could keep me in dark. I asked you for I only intended to know how many people know about this in the office.

"Oh everyone knows that Lavanya ma'am and ASR sir have an affair. In fact yesterday I saw them..."I shut my mouth, remembering their kiss. Am I mad, was I going to tell his old Nani about that? Nani looks curiously at me, "Hehe, forget it, tell me when is the marriage?" I blurt again.

"Marriage?"

Now, now isn't that obvious? "Yes marriage, whenever it is Naniji, two Lukhnavi Chicken suits from my side." I declare and my hand goes out for the sandwich again.

^^^^

"Arnav are you leaving?" asked Anjali, "but you haven't had your breakfast."

"I had sprouts Di." he said heading for the door.

"Why don't you take Khushi with you Arnav? Poor girl has been waiting for you since seven in the morning. Wait I'll call her."

ASR stopped, reluctantly.

Anjali's call made Khushi leave the sandwiches in her plate, untouched. She quickly made her way towards the front door, watching Arnav loftily brisk forward, she too picked up pace.

The chauffer got down from the white Jaguar that he had just parked near the gate for his master and handed ASR the keys. Once he left ASR turned towards Khushi, adorning a chilly expression, "How dare you enter my house?" he said severely.

"Sir you only called..."

"Shut up, you don't have the privilege to argue with Me." he bragged, "I told you to submit the reports and leave, not squat and jabber with my family."

"But sir your Nani..."

"Oh shut your f**king mouth, I should have known that it's your tendency to forget your contemptuous status. Need I remind you time and again Khushi Kumari Gupta that you belong to the petite bourgeoisie, behave accordingly." He spat in dearth of any better argument.

"Look Sir, I..."

"Get that idea out of your head that I am going to give you a ride to the office, hire an auto and come in that." he said scurrying to the door of the driving seat.

"And you get this idea out of your head that I am interested in coming with you in your car." she snorted as he slammed his door shut and fired the ignition, Khushi stumbled backwards before the wheels of his huge car decided to crush her feet but as she moved her dopatta got stuck in the hinge of the rear view mirror, she fidgeted feverishly to free it, jerking, pulling.

"I can't believe this." ASR muttered scornfully, getting down from the Jaguar, he strode to where she stood, still struggling. "Move." he said getting hold of her dopatta, the next moment he tore it into two pieces, thus freeing his rear view mirror of Khushi but not of the tiny piece of cloth still stuck in the hinge. He stormed back to his car and raced away, leaving a dumbstruck Khushi, staring at her torn dopatta, wide eyed and mouth ajar, "When I pay your twenty five thousand, I am going to cut three hundred ruppees for this." she yelled at the now distant car.

****

Annoyed when his phone rang for the third time, he picked it up, "What's the matter Di, why are you calling me?"

"Why weren't you picking up my phone Arnav?" inquired a troubled Anjali.

"I am busy, now will you tell me what's so urgent?"

"You are done bro, Khushi told Nani everything about your romantic escapades in office. Nani is mad at us, now just wait till she thrusts Lavanya over your head for your life."

The other side of the line was hung without a word. "Hello Arnav? Hello?" Anjali spoke then sighed.

He pushed back his chair, standing up to his full length and walked over to the array of glass windows, his glare incinerating the entrance down. Timings can play a killer at times, Khushi entered the office just then. "Ms Gupta." ASR thundered bringing the office hubbub to a standstill, "In my cabin. Now." One look at him confirmed that he was terribly pissed. Unnerved, Khushi slowly made her way to the stairs.

"Who the hell gave you the right to speak about me to my grandmother? What were you trying to prove Khushi Kumari Gupta, what did you intend to do, for I know very well that a girl like you will always have an ulterior motive." he snarled.

Khushi stared at him, horrified, "S..sir, I didn't know...sir I.."

"Shut the f**k up." he yelled, slamming his fist on the table, shoving away files that dropped, hitting her legs. Khushi shivered, her voice stuck in her throat. "Should anyone interfere with my personal life, I don't give them a chance to apologize." he hissed. "And you, I should have known, ever since I have seen you, you seem to show up just everywhere in my space, unwarranted."

"Sir please listen to me..."she begged.

"You were so desperate, weren't you? To trap a rich man in your snare." he said caustically, his eyes spitting hatred, "but when you saw your plans not meeting any success, you were desperate and that explains all your mindlessness."

The fresh injuries inflicted upon her pride left her in a state of absolute despair, tears streamed down her trembling cheeks and all effort to fight them was futile. Such accusations! Accusations that were as baseless as obscene they sounded.

"Sir you can't go on saying anything about me." she said indignantly.

"You know what, I can't tolerate you anymore. To hell with this contract" he paused, "or better, you continue with the job but not in this office, you'll operate from the guest house." He opened a drawer, taking out a maroon leather covered file and flung it at her. "On top of this file is the address of the new guest house in progress. From today, you'd work there so that both my day and my mood aren't spoiled by having to see your face."

Khushi stood there, unable to make any sense of what was happening.

"Get out." he said resuming his position in his chair.

****

The drizzle was gentle when she reached the building under construction, she closed her umbrella, cursing. A part of her was actually happy, at least in this way, she wouldn't have to face that horrid man throughout the day. "How was I supposed to know that his grandmother doesn't know of his Romeo instincts? Khullam-khulla romance in office and nobody knows in house, how ironic." she said aloud.

Standing ahead of her was the incomplete cross section of a massive building. The roof was being covered with tents, the structure- a combination of marine blue and white, appeared beautiful from outside but the inside was altogether a different story. It was one hell of a place, debris bestrewn all over the ground, wooden ladders here and there in awkward positions, the hall smelled distinctly of seepage and semi dried building materials. An electrician stood on one of the ladders, working with wire insulation, there were many naked wires hanging over the walls. Laborers carried bricks in wide vessels over their heads. A rotary kiln churned intermittently at the outer. At a distance, a light bulb hanging from a semi insulated wire was switched on, a few workers sat smoking. "Arre bhai, the building was greatly damaged by the rain yesterday. It rained all night and the tent was no protection." said one of them sounding disturbed.

"I think Bhaiyya, the new material wasn't water resistant, look the mortar is wet and the bricks are still loose." said another, "I think we should talk to engineer sahib on this matter." The others nodded.

Khushi looked flustered around the place. What was she supposed to do here? Just then, a couple of bricks landed near her feet. "Arre bhaiyya carefully, what if they hit somebody?" she cried looking up, there was nobody to be seen. How had the bricks dropped then? Reluctantly Khushi took out her phone and dialed ASR's number. He picked up after seven rings, "What is it now?" he said curtly.

"Sir you didn't tell what was my job here." she said.

"Make a report on the construction's progress, Mr. Mehta is there, find him and take inputs from him." he said and cut the line.

"Hello Sir?" Silence. "Hey Devi Maiyya, how will I make a report, I am not an engineer." she cried, shocked. "Listen Bhaiyya, where can I find a Mr. Mehta? I have to make a report." she asked a laborer who was instructing the others. He thought for a second, "Madam he must be upstairs, an expert has come today, but Mehta Sahib has made the report already, he even submitted it in the head office."

"Okay." she said and dialed Arnav's number again. He didn't respond. She called again and received no response yet again. She decided to meet Mehta.

Upstairs, the expert measured with a portable Concrete and Mortar moisture tester, the strength and the moisture content, he shook his head. "Mr. Mehta it seems the constructor didn't get the right proportion of PRAs (permeability reducing admixtures) mixed. The new cement is certainly a better binder but it could not sustain the rain. I am afraid, you must arrange for the building to be evacuated as soon as possible."

Mehta wiped worry beads of sweat from his forehead with a white napkin, "How much time do we have Saxena?"

"I can't say exactly, but this place is not safe anymore. See neither the plaster nor the roof will hold for long. I won't be surprised if this place comes down in the next twenty four hours." he said, hastily retreating to the door.

"But, but I'll have to ask ASR before shutting down." said a worried Mehta.

"Look ASR himself was doubtful after the rain, that's why he called me, I suggest you inform him right away and evacuate." said Saxena. Mehta nodded.

****

Khushi looked around for stairs, "How do we go up? I need to see Mr. Mehta." she asked a few workers who were busy with hammers.

"Madam, the stairs are not proper, but they are towards your right."

"Thank you." Khushi acknowledged, she recovered the maroon leather cover file from her tote and placed the distraction of bag along with her phone on a stool. She then climbed the stairs. Once up she entered a complete wreck of a room, but there was no human to be found. The door was spring loaded and it shut behind her, from above the lintel, about forty kilograms of debris fell outside the door jamming it.

When Mehta's name displayed for the third time on the screen in middle of a meeting, ASR silenced his phone and flung it to a corner of his table, "Brain weeds." he muttered peevishly.

Mehta nervously dialed his number twice more and sighed. "Sir must be in a meeting, he isn't picking my phone. In this situation I have to take the control, Prajapati, we need to shut now. Get all the workers out, fast." he ordered.

The labor force was informed about the risky state of the site and herded out. One of them was hurt in the process and taken to the hospital. A few were sent again to check that everyone was out safely. Heads were counted, when none was found missing, relief flashed in Mehta's eyes.

"But Sahib," said one whom Khushi had asked about the stairs, "there was one girl who had come to see you, did you find her? I didn't see her coming out."

"What girl are you talking about? I didn't see any." Mehta denied.

"Yes Sahib, even I saw, a young girl looking for you." said another.

Mehta wiped a few more beads of sweat from his forehead, "Look I have no such information and I have seen no such girl. Who would send a girl to this place? Madhav and Prajapati went to check inside the building, if she were there, they must have found her. Now one of our men is hurt and I can't risk sending anyone inside that mess."

"But sahib..."

Mehta pulled out his phone again, afraid ASR might demote him for making so many calls, but he had to confirm if it was his boss who had sent a girl. No response, again, he discarded the idea.

****

Khushi screamed inside, her screams went unheard save the reverberation from walls of the room. There were no windows, no other exit. Just one door and that too jammed. The obnoxious smell of the seepage through the walls filled her nostrils making her nauseous. She banged her fists against the door, kicked it relentlessly till all her four limbs were bruised, but the door didn't budge. Her strength gave away and she slipped against it. Helpless, hapless.

****