#1 ArHi Collaboration SS : Jalebis and Chillies [ Completed ] - Page 48

Chapter 7: S... for Sugar &Spice!

"Nikhil Khuranna?" Khushi shook her head in disbelief. He was here again, after all those years. God save me, she thought as he smiled wickedly.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned him, though she already knew a part of the answer.

"Well, I am doing whatever you have been doing. But the only difference is that I will do it better and much better."

"Is it? I have murdered five and assaulted four. You plan to do that better?" She smiled sweetly, maybe a little too sweet than needed.

NK threw a haughty glance at her and continued with his work and for the first time in history, Jalebi wanted to remain quiet and get on with her work. Yes, you heard it right! She wanted to work and not talk.

"Ah! See who is here." The sarcastic voice of Chilli hit Jalebi's ears.

"May I do something for you, my Highness?"

"Hell yeah!" Khushi muttered. Arnav's gaze shifted to NK who was staring intently at the duo. Khushi followed Arnav's gaze which had landed on NK, the pest. And for once neither Jalebi nor Chilli wanted a listener and glared at him. They had something in common! Had they both realised this common factor, they would have probably refuted it. But they both were quite busy in glaring at a certain man.

"I want both of you to take an account of the recent launch and come up with the flaws as well as the high points of the launch. Be sure to leave it on my desk before 5 PM. And mind you, the meeting scheduled at 1 PM tomorrow will have inputs from both of your reports. Get that?"

NK nodded obediently at that and Khushi gave a careless nod, though her mind was urging her to do something better than the pest.

Khushi stretched in between. She was almost done with the work and it was only 3 PM. She herself didn't know why she was suddenly overworking herself. Maybe she wanted to prove her worth to Arnav in front of NK.

Arnav looked at Khushi who was immersed in her work. What is it that that made her work today? Maybe NK was the catalyst here. He was too eager to read her report and for a change maybe appreciate her. Appreciate her? Now where did that come from? He was wondering. He shook his head, realising that thinking about a certain Gupta will only mess his mind.

At 5 PM,

Khushi knocked on Arnav's door and on getting no response, peeked inside. She found his cabin empty. She left her file on the desk and admired his cabin. His cabin was tastefully done and it so reflected Arnav. The black and white interiors of the room were so Arnav. She sent a message to Arnav about the file and went back to her cubicle.

"Where was NK?" She wondered aloud. Maybe he had finished the work before her. She plopped herself on her chair and waited for Arnav.

At 6 PM,

"Come to my cabin NOW." Khushi heard Chilli's booming voice over the intercom which went dead after those five words were said. She was confused and rightly so. Nonetheless, she followed his order. Maybe she had messed the report yet again. Frowning at her thoughts, she went inside.

"I was a stupid to actually trust you to do the work assigned to you. I don't even understand what Papa saw in you to actually employ you. I feel like assigning you under NK to learn from."

Khushi's eyes widened at that. Under that pest? She looked at NK sitting in Arnav's cabin with a smug expression on his face. How she wanted to punch him at that moment.Well she had forgotten that she used to consider Arnav as a pest at one point. Bigger pest and bigger issues. Sigh!

"Um...what did I do?"

"Don't act too innocent Khushi. I had sent word through NK to be present at the conference which was at 5:15 today."

"Wait. Wasn't that conference scheduled for tomorrow?"

"It was rescheduled." Arnav answered, exasperated."And you didn't turn up, but you were rather too comfortable whiling away your time."

"Arnav..."

"No shut up. Don't give me your stupid anger management lessons. Out from here. And you know what, from tomorrow I am assigning you under Papa. Let him see for himself the work you do."

"Arnav, listen to me..."

"I said OUT."

Khushi went out silently and for the first time, Arnav noticed a lone tear make its way from her eyes. And for the first time, he didn't like it. He didn't like seeing that every cheery face go all sad and sorrowful.

**********

The previous EVENING ,

"Amma and Papa, I need to tell you all something."

"Haan bolo Payal." Shashi said calmly while Garima looked at her with anticipation.

"Haan Payaliya bol. We are waiting to hear your madhur vani."

Shashi chuckled at Khushi's comment but Garima shushed Khushi noticing the seriousness in Payal's voice and the way she was clasping and unclasping her fingers.

"Papa read this." Payal handed over the letter which was the source of her recent happy and sad days.

Shashi was confused and perplexed. He did not know what to expect out of the letter thrust into his hands. Garima was impatient at the least.

Payal bit her lips as she saw her father reading the letter. He looked up after what seemed an infinite time. He wore a blank expression. When Shashi didn't speak up, Garima spoke up.

"Kisi ladke ne diya na?"

"Oh Amma! You knew it kya? It was sent by Mr. Varun Iyer."

"Payal you are so cool about it? Kya socha hain tune? Kitne saal se ho raha hai yeh? Aur woh bhi ek Iyer ke saath. Unke ghar main koi problem nahi hai?"

"Kya? Amma why should his people have any issues? I don't get it."

"Arrey aise kaise? Woh log itne broad minded hain kya?"

"Amma! I don't even understand why you are so concerned about this Mr. Iyer and his people. I haven't met him in the first place."

"Kya? Bina dekhe pyaar? Tumhe kya lagta hai ki life koi film hai?"

Shashi burst out laughing at this exact moment. Khushi too joined her father. After all she knew what was in the letter and also knew her mother's line of thoughts.

Payal was angry and frustrated. Here she was so nervous and they are all laughing. "Khushi, Papa, why are you laughing? What is so funny? And Amma, yahan pyaar kahan se aaya?"

"Amma pehle yeh letter toh padho." Khushi, still giggling, handed over the letter to Garima who was stunned to say the least.

She looked at Payal who was almost in the verge of tears. "Congrats, meri bachchi." And she had engulfed Payal in bear hug. "Khushi kuch meetha le aana."

"Amma you are okay with this? Mera America jaana?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I want you to marry when you want to. I know how much you love your work and how much you have worked for this promotion. I will not stand in your way. But promise me one thing. Tum kisi Amreeki se shaadi nahi karogi."

Payal smiled at that and hugged her Ma. Oh she had been worrying for nothing.

Garima glanced at Shashi who smiled indicating his acceptance. He was happy with the way things had turned out. To be frank, he had been dreading Garima's reaction after all she had made plans of Payal's marriage at 24.

"You were right. Now go ahead and tell everyone there."

*Message delivered to Akash.

**********

At the office, Khushi went out of his cabin. The last words she heard were, "Good job NK".

Khushi knew this was that NK's work. He had deliberately not told her anything. And Arnav! He insulted her in front of that pest. Life was mean and so was Arnav!

Right on cue, her friend called out. "Khushi can you help me with this, please?" She was the one who never said no to her friends and so she went forward to help. But she made sure that sulk was in its place. Yes, no smile when she was angry!

After NK left the room, Arnav cleared his desk only to find a lonely blue file sitting alone in the farther end. He opened the file and the first thing he saw was, "KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA" in big bold letters. Curious, he skimmed through the pages and he was definitely shocked. Who was he kidding? Khushi had left the report on his table and it was he who hadn't given her a chance to speak. Damn!

**********

The previous NIGHT:

*New Message from Payal.

"You were right. Now go ahead and tell everyone there."

After a long day at work, Akash's mood brightened as he saw the message sent by Payal in the evening. He had been too busy to check his mobile earlier.

Akash smiled at that. It was time to tell everyone about Pari and the dinner table sounded like the best option.

Dadi...check!

Bade Chacha...check!

Badi Ma...check!

Ma...check!

Papa...check!

Arnav...check!

Avni...check!

He took a deep breath and as he opened his mouth, a laddu was stuffed inside his mouth by Anjali di?! What the!

"Prasad hai, khalo."

"Anjali Di???"

"Surprise!"

And then there went a big round of hugging and kissing and speaking. Just when Akash thought he could continue where he was forcibly stopped, he heard the unmistakable voice of Payal?!

"Congrats, Payal. Le laddu kha le."

"Payal?"

"Hi Akash. Woh kya hain na, Smita Aunty wanted us to come here to celebrate my promotion and also because Anjali di has also returned today."

"Oh!"

"Ab toh tum bol do. See everyone is here. When are you planning to tell?"

And just before another group made an impromptu appearance, Akash spoke up. "I want to tell you all something."

Manorama who had been upset that Payal (her bahu) would be leaving abroad and still Akash hadn't announced anything, was very happy at that. Maybe the time had come.

"Haan bolo na Akash." She urged, excitement shining in her eyes.

"Ma, I am in love with someone."

After a few seconds of silence, each member started speaking at the same time.

Ajay gave a I-knew-it expression.

"Waaah Bhai! I never knew my brother was in love. Ladki toh hai na?" Avni winked at Akash, earning a glare from him.

"I knew it. Hari Prakash, aur laddu le aana. Ek Akash ke liye aur ek Payal ke liye."

If everyone were astounded by Akash's announcement, they were stunned into silence again by Manorama's statement. Manorama is so cool about the whole thing.

"Akash you had told Manu Aunty about this?"Payal questioned. Akash shook his head. "How did Ma come to know?" Akash wondered.

"Arrey, Payal start calling me Ma. Stop with this aunty. Ab jab aap log pyaar karte hain, mujhe Ma bulao."

"Kya?" and now this "kya" was from Khushi and Arnav.

"Jiji?"

"Bhai?"

"Yeh kab hua?" And this was from Garima.

"OMG!" and this was from Anjali and Avni.

"Matlab tum shaadi karke America jaogi, Jiji?" Yet again this was from Jalebi.

Payal rolled her eyes in disbelief at the sudden onslaught of questions thrown unceremoniously at her. Akash closed his eyes. Seriously! His family was total madcap.

Arnav felt amusement build up as he witnessed Akash and Payal's state. He knew something was wrong and seriously. He looked at Khushi who was literally dancing with happiness. So sad, he was sure the happiness will drop when the real truth comes out. And he decided to help Akash and Payal in handling the situation.

"Choti Ma, Avni,Ddi, Khushi, Garima Aunty. Ab sab log thodi der chup rahiye."

"Arnav." Now it was Smita's turn to admonish him.

"Ma you can scold me later. But I don't think this is what Akash Bhai intended to tell."

"Thanks Arnav." And then the bomb was dropped."I love Pari and not Payal. Payal is my best friend, for God's sake." The finality in his voice showed no room for doubts.

"I have no clue from where you guys made such an assumption." Oh finally! The relief!

"Kya?" oh there went around a collective 'kya'. Payal looked at everyone with an expression that read "What? You should have allowed him to speak. All of you made your own assumptions." And just like that fuse was pulled out and the bulb oops bubble was burst, rather brutally.

"Matlab tum pyaar nahi karte ho?" Manorama asked still not believing what Akash said.

"Karta hoon, Ma. Lekin Pari se. Payal se nahi!And I am so glad you are okay with it."

"I was okay with.."

Akash cut her off with a swift hug and an "I love you Ma. I know you will support me always". And he literally ran to his room before his mother could come up with the lamest of excuse to reject Pari and to prevent another hungama. Phew! Life was so not easy!

And then, everyone had convinced Manorama to accept this "unknown and unseen Pari". Of course she had been sad at the sudden turn of events. But nonetheless, decided to meet this Pari in the weekend. "Sab mere bachche ke liye".

And the previous night had ended!

Really Guptas and Raizadas make the onlookers life difficult and maybe provide a little entertainment.

**********

At the office again,

Come on the Raizada and the Gupta have some more stuff to sort out.

By the time, Khushi had helped her friend, the office was almost deserted. She was really glad that the stupid pest had left. Yeah, he hadn't forgotten to throw an annoying bye in her way.

As she cleared her stuff, she heard someone clearing his throat. She looked up to state straight into Chilli's eyes. She ignored him with all her might and continued with her work. As she turned around to leave, he called out.

"Khushi? Uh..."

When she didn't turn to face him, he continued. "I am sorry."

Khushi sucked in a breath at that. He was apologising. For what?

"I didn't know that you had left you report. But why didn't you come to the conference? I still don't get it. You send me a message but don't turn up."

"Because Mr. Obnoxiously handsome man, I didn't not know. I had no damn idea that I should come to the conference room." With every word, Khushi moved a step closer towards Arnav and her fingers almost poked his eyes and twice at that. And at the end, Arnav was pushed against the wall with a 5 foot 6 inches Khushi towering over a 6 foot 2 inches Arnav. Oh the Phoenix had rise! Oh and the words had not stopped. Here is the rest of the conversation.

"You for once, don't care about me! At all! I too know how to work. You sent word through the stupid NK who didn't tell it to me."

At the end of her scolding, she was breathing rather too rapidly.

"I am sorry. I really am. Your report was good. It was really good. Maybe I really deserved that anger management classes. Huh?"

This managed to bring about a little smile on Jalebi's face.

"Trust me you need it more than you realise."

And then for the first time, yet again, they had a conversation. No nok and no joke or jhok.

"Come I will drop you."

Just in a day, Raizada became friendly?! And so, Gupta agreed. And just in a day, Gupta became agreeable?! Well, well, who said miracles don't happen!

The vehicle roared into life as Arnav observed Khushi. She was silent but she wasn't angry, he could tell that. Maybe this was the right time to ask.

"Khushi..." he called out softly getting her attention.

"When you can do things so well, then why aren't you really showing interest in work?"

She stiffened at that. This had been her secret for so long. Could she trust him to keep it that way? She wondered. She was not sure.

Arnav saw her contemplating. So, there was a reason!

"Let's have the heavy talk for some other day, Arnav."

The subject was closed for that night but not forgotten.

**********

Thanks for reading. Check the note below.

Note:

We are extremely sorry for the delay but it is entirely my fault. I had been busy for the last few days due an event in my University. The event was a grant success.😃

A big thank you to everyone for the lovely comments and sharing your thoughts on the last chapter.🤗

In this story, there is no Payash as couple. They are best friends and Akash loves Pari.

Also, I hope you have got an inkling how NK is going to be the catalyst.😉

Do share your thoughts on that.

I will be away this week due to cousin's wedding. I shall post a note regarding the next chapter after I return.

New readers, for PMs buddy barsha_dash or Sadh123.