Banner Credit: --mystery.me-- âď¸
Chapter- 14
Arnav reached at Gupta Industries in evening but Khushi was in conference room that time attending some important meeting , so he was asked to wait for some 10 minutes.
Arnav: I shouldn't have listened to Di and informed her earlier! he thought to meet with Shashi Gupta till than , he was moving towards the cabin looking around the office which was very different from his. Employees was working but that with smile where his employees always work fearing of his wrath.
When Arnav was close to Shashi Gupta's cabin , he saw an old man coming out of his cabin wiping his tears, he smirked thinking that he didn't do his work accordingly and might be Shashi Gupta snapped at him but than he heard another emloyee asking aomething from that man which confused him.
Employee(to man): What happened?
Man: he denied! he said i have already taken some extra money and now giving advance salary is not possible.
Employee: Didn't you told him?
Man: I did! but he didn't listened, sighing. Now how'll i submit money in hospital and if i didn't... he stopped unable to say anything when another employee tried to console him.
Arnav looked at the scene confused, it's evening time and most of the employees were ready to leave but the words of both employee was enough for Arnav to understand that the man was asking for advance salary which Shashi denied and he looks desperate for money. Arnav thought to talk with Shashi that man really looks in need when the sight of something or someone made him to stop in his tracks.
There Khushi was coming out of conference room discussing something with her colleagues dressed in business attire with Black trousers and white shirt , hair tied in ponytail looking so simple but stunning. Excusing herself she was walkking towards her cabin when she crossed that old man and stopped, she walked back to him who was facing his back to her and composing himself.
Khushi(tapping his back): hello Khanna Uncle! What are you doing here till now? You should be with your daughter in hospital. She stopped looking at the red eyes of man.
Khushi: What happened uncle? Were you crying? Is your daughter alright? she started asking questions concerned and Arnav looked in amusement , they have met inly once and she hardly spoke that time but he can also see that she's concern for the daughter of that man who is Mr. Khanna according to what Khushi called him.
Mr. Khanna: Yes Madam! she's alright.
Khushi: Than why are you looking so sad? and how mny times i have to tell you don't call me madam?
Mr. Khanna: Sorry beta!
Khushi: It's ok but... she suddenly stopped and looking around she asked other emploees to leave as office hours are over. When Mr. Khanna was ready to leave she stopped him;
Khushi: Did i asked you to leave? she asked keeping her one hand on her waist and frowning at Mr. Khanna which Arnav found really cute that it made him chuckle inwardly.
Mr. Khanna: Sorry beta, he said lowering his ead.
Khushi: I'll forgive you on one condition , Tell me why are you so tensed? is it related to
your daughter?
Mr. Khanna hesitated to answer her but Khushi was admdant so at last he gave in, he was himself in need afterall.
Mr.Khanna: Today i have to submit another installment in hospital and the salary i got was mostly used on on medicines now i don't have enough money to complete the payments.
Khushi: than why didn't you told me?
Mr. Khanna: You were busy in meetings today all day and it was getting late so i thought to ask with Boss if he can give me some loan and cut from my salary but he denied that i am aleady taking advance salary and some amount as loan also.
Khushi: Ohh she looked sad, Arnav wanted to help her but he didn't even knew the exact matter, so he thought it's best to not interrupt them.
Khushi: Uncle I am sorry!
Mr. Khanna: You don't have to beta, you have always helped me but seems like My daugther has lived her life, he said broken.
Khushi(shocked): Uncle! Don't say that again, i know Devi Maiyya is giving hard time to you but you should not loose the hope, Mr. Khanna nodded.
Mr. Khanna: let me see what i can do, i should leave now!
Khushi: How can you leave like that? don't you need money to submit in hospital? she called her secretary and asked her to bring her cheque book.
Secretary: but madam you forgot to bring your bag today! only than
hushii realised that in hurry she have forgot to bring her purse in morning and her cheque books and cards are in it. She looked down biting her lips and slowly looked up at Mr. Khanna with Sorry face.
Mr. Khanna: It's ok beta! You always helps me but seems like today no onne can help me, he turned to leave , dejectedly. Khushi looked at his back crying silently, fidgeting with her hands when suddenly her eyes widened and she looked down at her hand smiling.
Khushi: Khanna Uncle! she almost shouted and ran to him who have now reached to exit door.
Mr. Khanna: What happened?
Khushi: You'll do the payment today and they'll continue with your daughter's treatment, with that she removed the watch from her wrist she was wearing (it was a gold watch studded with beautiful diamonds).
Mr. khanna: What are you doing beta ? i can't take it, he said shocked as Khushi forwarded her hand to give him that watch.
Khushi: Uncle please! We both know how much you need money.
Mr. Khanna: But beta how can I take this? This is very costly.
Khushi: You need more uncle, your daughter is serious and we both know it! She tried to make him understand but when he still looked unsure, she tried once more.
Khushi: Please uncle...
Mr.Khanna nodded fear to lose his only daughter compelling him.
Khushi(smiling): Ok now go fast and don't forget to inform me about her current condition.
Mr.Khanna(nodding): Thank you! Thank you so much my child. May god bless you with all the happiness.
-----------------------------------------------
Arnav was stunned, how can she just do that? There's the high chances that the employee must be lying for money, though looking at him Arnav felt that he was genuine person but if there was anyone else!!!
Arnav: This girl is really crazy and emotional, anyone can fool her with few tears, he muttered and followed her as he saw her going to her cabin.
-----------------------------------------------
Khushi rested her head back on her chair closing her eyes, she was really tired after those meetings and Mr. Khanna's helplessness really unnerved her. "How can she explain anyone why she helped Khanna uncle! His daughter being her old friend and trying to help him is other thing more than that she helps him because she craves for the affection she gets for few moments by him as a father, as a family which she have stopped expecting from her so called family which have adopted her."
Khushi was still lost in thoughts with closed eyes when her cabin door got opened but she was lost to acknowledge it.
-----------------------------------------------
Arnav looked at her with an amused smile, she was looking exhausted but still she have fixed the meeting for today. She seems very dedicated to her work , he mentally thinks that Akash was right.
He walked out of cabin without disturbing her thinking to arrange this meeting later but he was just outside her cabin when her P.A reached there and knowing he's ASR , he barged into Khushi's cabin before Arnav can stop.
-----------------------------------------------
P.A.: Madam! Mr..Raizada is here! Khushi opened her eyes with the loud voice of her P.A, confused why her P.A sounding so excited, Akash have came here many times before.
Khushi: Ok send him in! She ordered.
Just in few minutes she heard door open and suddenly her heartbeat increased. She frowned at her laptop screen and looked up only to left shocked to see Arnav.
Arnav: Hi... He said in his husky voice.
Khushi instantly got up from her seat with her wide eyes.
Khushi: You? What are you doing here? Khushi spoke in daze, only when Arnav raised his one eyebrow looking at her, She realised her folly and looks away embarrassed.
Khushi: Sorry!
Arnav: It's Ok.
Khushi: umm Have a seat, Arnav nodded and seated in front of her.
Khushi: Sorry Actually I didn't expected to see here infact I was expecting Akash ji.
Arnav: It's ok I can understand! Actually Now I'll handle this project instead of Akash, Khushi looked at him in surprise.
Arnav: I know it's so sudden but Di insisted and even asked us to not inform you about the changes, she wants to keep it as a surprise.
Khushi: Ohh
Khushi: It's ok! Tell me what'll you have Tea or coffee?
Arnav: Black Coffee without Sugar.
Khushi: Ok I'll be back and before Arnav could say anything she was walking out of cabin.
Khushi as soon as came out of cabin took a deep breath , regaining her posture. Though she tried to act casual in front on Arnav but she was actually surprised and she knew Why his Di made this changes, they must be expecting them to close through all this.
Khushi came back into cabin , carrying a tray in her hands having two cups and Arnav again looked at her in surprise.
Arnav: What the! Why did you bring it ? where are servants?
Khushi: Arnav ji! it's late Allworkers and servants have left already.
Arnav: But when you're in office , than there should be someone if you need anything.
Khushi: I don't think so ! if I am working that's my personnel problem , why should they wait? They also have their family and personnel life and about if I need something I am very well capable of doing my work, she finished as a matter of fact.
Arnav: I can see that (he muttered under his breathe)
Khushi: I don't make coffe that bad, you can try it! She said looking at Arnav who was muttering to himself.
Arnav: What? No! I didn't mean it.
Khushi: It's ok and she gave him his black coffe and sat back with her cup of coffee .
After that they didn't talked much and got engrossed in work like a good professionals.
When they were done with work for the day , there spread an awkard silence around, both confused what to talk. Nor they were only business partners neither they share relation like any other normal couples, so it was completely messed up. Arnav finally broke the ice thinking of the incident he happened to witness earlier.
Arnav: Khushi! Khushi looked at him instantly.
Khushi: yea..
Arnav: I don't know I should say something about this but still I felt in office you should be more professional and practical than emotinal. When Khushi looked at him confused unable to understand what he is talking about, Arnav cleared.
Arnav: umm.. actually I happened to witness what happened earlier outside with the you were calling Khanna Uncle. Khushi looked at him shocked.
Khushi: Don't tell anything to Dad, Khanna uncle will be fired otherwise and he really need this job.
Arnav(surprised): Why'll I say anything to Mr. Gupta? I was just telling youthat you should me more cautious, Employees mostly fake excuses to get some money.
Khushi(smiled): I am not that much fool , I know many employees fake problems but I know Khanna uncle.
Arnav: Sometimes whom we think we know backstab us.
Khushi: I know! But Arnav ji sometimes someone really needs help and just because of some selfish employees isn't it wrong if they had to suffer.
Khushi: You know Khanna Uncle's only daughter is suffering from cancer, Arnav looked shocked but Khhushi Continued.
Khushi: If thinking that he's also faking to get some money I wouldn't helped him than his daughter could have died due to not getting treatment. We can't look everything and everyone with the same eye because of some selfish peoples around us.
KhushI: And as you said that he can be faking , what difference it'll make to us if we helped him with some money, but that same money make huge difference in his life.
Arnav heard everything she said quietly and he have to admit she is right but living a practical life from so long he have side lined this emotional thinking from his life and he now know why Anjali and Akash are so confident about Khushi , she is not a snob, nor she is marrying him for money as he thought earlier, infact she is very down to earth person inspite of having plenty of money unlike him.
To be continued...
Buddy me for Pm'sđł
Shiv Shakti
10