Posted:
**
Khushi sullenly put down the file on her desk and looked up towards Arnav Sir. Frowning at him, she sat back at her seat and got to do the corrections that he had so easily and not so kindly pointed out to her in front of everyone who were there in the team lead and managed by him. But then she wouldn't have expected him to do it otherwise. He couldn't do without his khadoosness now, could he? Scribbling the page with the pencil, it didn't take her long to start doodling out flowers, fruits and mickey mouse s' face all around the text.
But then he has been discreetly helpful too whenever required, a thought arose. Even when all this is relatively new and her being not so educationally qualified, he is one person from whom she is learning. He is not very obvious about it when he helps. Blank faced, gruff voice and still that something in his eyes. And she realized that her mock anger at him earlier was not because he had scolded her in front of everyone but because she feels a marked difference in his behaviour with her in times like these than when they are just the two of them. Sighing, she brushed the thoughts away not wanting to dwell on them and confuse herself more. Because about him she doesn't know but to her, all these do things to her heart.
Amongst the murmur and heads buried in the work, she gazed at his face. Tired face. He was loosening his tie and then he ran a hand over his eyes. Which then mets hers and his brows furrowed as he found her eyes on him. Pressing his lips together , he leaned back in his chair as if saying out aloud 'So this is how you are doing your work?' She replied back by smiling at him which was met with an expressionless stare. Her smile faltered and she looked back down.
Later, in the evening, as everyone started winding up, the bellboy came to Arnav to ask for the file their manager wanted to see. He got up from his chair to walk back towards the cabinet behind, at the same time Khushi approached him to get his approval on the corrections made. She waited near his chair while he was immersed in pulling out the needful to send it to their manager. Looking around she glanced at the screen of his laptop. His mail inbox was open and what caught her eye amongst all the work related jazz was the mail titled 'Happy Birthday!' dated today from what she could recall from her memory was the name of his sister. Eyes widening, she glanced at his back, his coat stretching over it with the movements of his arms. A light smile crept on her face which soon vanished when she thought that the time is nowhere soon when he'll return home. Always the last one to leave, much later than when everyone had. She knew that he lived alone, his immediate family comprising of only his mother and a younger sister living in another city while he worked here.
Her reverie was broken as he came back and without looking at her extended his hand to take the file from her while she slowly walked back to her seat.
**
"Sir.,"
Arnav looked up from his work at his desk and raised his eyebrows at Khushi when she didn't say anything for a few moments after calling him. Slowly she took out a paper folded in half from her bag and gave it to him. A man, smiling gaily, dressed in a suit was drawn on it alongwith a conical hat on his head, a birthday cake in front of him while Happy Birthday was written on top of it all.
Arnav looked up from his work at his desk and raised his eyebrows at Khushi when she didn't say anything for a few moments after calling him. Slowly she took out a paper folded in half from her bag and gave it to him. A man, smiling gaily, dressed in a suit was drawn on it alongwith a conical hat on his head, a birthday cake in front of him while Happy Birthday was written on top of it all.
Momemtarily surprised, an undecipherable smile curved the corners of his lips and he took a deep breath in. Awkwardly looking back at her, he nodded and muttered a thanks while Khushi grinned and pivoted to quickly exit the room and the building.
Only to return almost an hour later with a bag. It was nearing 9pm. The silence in the office was a stark contrast to the buzz of the morning. Locating the bellboy, she gained his attention and asked, "Arnav Sahab to honge na abhi ander?" The boy reaffirmed and she quickly made her way towards the room he must be in. Knocking to alert of her presence, she opened it at the same time he teared his eyes away from the desktop. "What the!"
"What the nahi.." and opening her bag, she took out a couple of tiffin boxes to lay them on his table, very well aware that today her actions are going too much out of the way. She didnt think from where she was getting the courage to be like this with him or how well will he recieve it. Or not for that matter. But if she had contemplated before doing this for him, she would have never been able to take the step. And anyways can't an employee cook dinner for her senior and come all the way back to the office at 9 in the night on his birthday? Big deal! What was so much to read into it?
"You like these.." , she stated. Puri-aloo and sweets that incuded gulab jamun. "Birthday par mann ke pasand ka khana chahiye..", she smiled expectantly at his stunned expression and for once was thankful that he didn't say anything even when she wanted him to tell her if he liked it or not but she herself was not sure how will she answer about the importance she was showering on him. Regaining his composure, he looked at her with those eyes, holding the emotion that straight away filled her heart with warmth. Maybe he will talk about it tomorrow but today, she was happy for she knew that it mattred to him. She did make him happy.
He ate to the last morsel, with a satisfied sigh. Looking back at her while she watched him eat, his knowing eyes made her gaze to drop from him and she hastily got up to divert her attention and pulling the tiffin boxes towards herself ,tried to close them with her fumbling fingers. Seconds later , his warm hands covered her own over the tiffin. Her heart beat a little more fast while she couldn't look up at him. "We will talk about it tomorrow. After the office, with a coffee?" And not waiting for her to answer, he slung the laptop bag across his shoulder after the tiffin had closed with a click. "Il drop you home." saying that , he started to walk out while she gathered her tingling nerves.
The ride back home was going uneventful until Khushi after calming herself down, smiled as she remembered what she had got for him. Rummaging through the contents in her handbag, she held out a CD in front of his face with a victorious smile and said,"Sir! For you." And then deciding that it will be more appealing if she made him listen to it, she fidgeted with his cars' music player and inserted it into that. "You like angrezi songs, right? I have a friend in my building who very kindly agreed to compile this today. I myself have selected all the songs. Listen to it.." , she excitedly rattled away and looked back at his amused face as he held the steering with one hand while his other hands' elbow rested over the open window, fingers touching his lips and chin.
The car drove away smoothly on the almost empty roads illuminated by the street lights. Peace settled over his heart today after so long and much of it was because of the unique sample sitting beside him. A light chuckle broke out from his lips as the first song played and he smiled open heartedly at her while she happily leaned back on her seat on witnessing that.
'Coz everytime we touch I get this feeling and everytime we kiss, I swear I can fly..
Can't you feel my heartbeat fast, I want this to last.. Need you by my side..'
Can't you feel my heartbeat fast, I want this to last.. Need you by my side..'
A/N-
A bit of a kuch bhi. But time was just passing by and I was at my wits end at not being able to churn out something more wiser and then I just decided to type out whatever I had in mind when until yesterday I couldn't think of anything else. But but but its not about me or this one shot but a very dear friend. Just so you that you are important and I love talking to you. May you always be this happy , healthy and surrounded by everything dear to you. Sorry if I have ever hurt you and I am just thankful you are there around. Even if its the other part of the Earth yet distance is never felt and I wish it always stays like this. Happy Birthday, Disha!! Love you! đ¤
Shiv Shakti
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