#1 Arshi FF - The Other Half - 30 Aug - CHAP 15 - page 139 - Page 36

Feeling better! Typed this up real quick. Sorry for the one day delay. Thank you for all the well wishes!

Khushi thrust a piece of paper under Arnav's nose. He was in his cabin, busy reading a file, unaware of anything around him. Until a piece of paper appeared out of nowhere.

Startled, he looked up to see Khushi standing in front of his desk. "What the?" He questioned to himself, afraid of saying it out loud lest she offer him her water bottle again.

Khushi shook the paper, indicating him to take it. With narrowed eyes, he questioned her. "Why didn't you knock?" She held up one finger and pointed to the paper. He sighed and snatched it from where she'd stuffed it in his face and read the first sentence.

I'm sorry I didn't knock. But we don't have time.

Arnav stared at her. "Time for what?" Khushi put up two fingers and then pointed to the paper again. Grumbling, Arnav read the second sentence.

Buaji leaves the house soon. She goes to the temple at 5pm. It is going to be 5pm soon. She will spend at least an hour there, till 6.

Arnav was puzzled. "Why are you telling me this?" Khushi put up three fingers. Arnav pursed his lips and read the third sentence.

I need you to call her up and let her know that I will be late, since you want me to come to your house and make the sweets for you.

"Am I your secretary? What the-" Arnav wasn't able to finish as he saw Khushi jumping and indicating to the paper again. His anger started to simmer. How did she know what he was going to say? How did she have her answers ready?

I know I work for you. Not the other way. And I would have called her up myself, except you told me not to say a word.

He bit his lip, trying not to laugh at her drawing of a sad face next to the sentence. With one strand of hair.

He looked up to see her pouting sadly. Was it strange how much he was enjoying this silent interaction? "What is her number- never mind" He got it, her system of communicating. He glanced down, and sure enough the number was there in the next sentence. Of course she knew what he would ask next.

Geez, she a mind reader of what? He gulped. He hoped she couldn't read his mind when he'd seen her pouting those lips.

"Okay, I'll call her." He said gruffly. She remained standing where she was, looking at him expectantly. "What?" He asked.

He frowned when he saw her put both hands up to point to the ceiling while one hand moved in a circle and stopped, pointing sideways, almost to the floor. He gaped at her. Had keeping silent gotten her fully crazy?

She put her hands down, thinking of what to do. Then she tapped her wrist. He rested his forehead on his hand. "Time?" He said it out loud for her. Happy that he got it, she beamed at him.

"Couldn't you have just pointed to my clock?" He asked her, rethinking his decision of making her not say a word. It was getting exhausting.

Khushi whirled around, spotting the clock hanging on the wall beside them. She looked at him sheepishly. She grabbed a pen and took the paper to write something before passing it back to him. He wanted to hide somewhere.

It's your cabin. I didn't realize where the clock is. Anyway, please call her now, Arnavji.

"Alright!" He said, wanting to get this over and done with so that he could send her to her cabin and have some time of peace. He dialed the number, hit the loudspeaker and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hai re nandkisore! Kaun hai re?" The booming voice made him jump a little in his seat. Khushi smiled, knowing that her Buaji's loud voice must've startled him.

[Hai re nandkisore! Kaun hai re? - Oh god! Who is it?]

"Main Arnav Singh Raizada" Arnav greeted.

[Main Arnav Singh Raizada - I'm Arnav Singh Raizada]

"Haan toh humne kab mana kiya babua? Hum Madhumati hai." Buaji responded.

[When did I say you're not Arnav Singh Raizada? I am Madhumati]

Arnav raised an eyebrow. Now he knew where Khushi got her style of speaking. "Woh main Khushi ka boss hoon"

[Woh main Khushi ka boss hoon - I am Khushi's boss]

"Sanakdevi ke boss! Jiyat raho babua, jiyat raho" Buaji flung her plait around her thick neck and blessed the man who'd given Khusi so many job opportunities. Arnav frowned. He was living. Khushi giggled looking at his expression.

[Sankadevi ke boss! Jiyat raho babua, jiyat raho - Khushi's boss! Live long son, may you live"

"Babua, kauno baat puchni thi" Buaji asked in a softer voice. "Tumri tabiyat toh theek hai na?" She asked in a concern voice.

[Babua, kauno baat puchni thi - I wanted to ask you something | Tumri tabiyat toh theek hai na? - Are you okay?]

Arnav shot daggers at Khushi who suddenly stopped smiling. Had she gone home to announce that her boss had a so called illness?

Before he could say anything, Buaji continued. "Ooh ka hai ke tumne humri titaliya ko naukri di. Woh toh ek dam pagal hai. Pata nahi kaise usko naukri de di tume babua" Buaji joked.

[Ooh ka hai ke tumne humri titaliya ko naukri di. Woh toh ek dam pagal hai. Pata nahi kaise usko naukri de di tume babua - You gave Khushi a job. She is totally crazy. I don't know how you agreed to hire her]

Khushi gasped and put her hands on her hips. Arnav's lips twitched to form a small smile. Okay, so maybe he was a little crazy to hire Khushi when he'd met her for just two minutes.

Buaji mistook his silence, not realizing that she actually wasn't giving him a chance to speak.

"Babua! Sab theek toh hai na? Khusi ne kauno gadbad toh nahi ki? Tumri office ko jala toh nahi diya?" Poor buaji asked frantically.

[Babua! Sab theek toh hai na? Khusi ne kauno gadbad toh nahi ki? Tumri office ko jala toh nahi diya - Is everything okay? Has Khushi done something? Has she burnt down your office?]

Khushi's mouth formed a big O. How could Buaji think that! She crossed her arms.

Arnav gaped at the phone receiver. Burnt down his office? He looked at Khushi who resembled more like a child. He would have to keep an eye on her. Her buaji seemed to think she was a handful, and he couldn't agree more.

"Buaji" He quickly intervened before she could cut him off. "Khushi hasn't done anything of such sort. She is nice.. I mean, she's doing good work." He corrected himself. "I just called to let you know that Khushi will be late today. She's coming to my house to let us try the sweets. Is that okay?" Arnav found himself asking permission. He frowned. He never needed anyone's consent before. And did he really call her buaji?

At her hesitance, Arnav rushed to reassure her. "Buaji, kaam ke baad main khud Khushi ko ghar chod dunga."

[Buaji, kaam ke baad main khud Khushi ko ghar chod dunga - Buaji, I will personally send her back home after the work is over]

"Ab tum itna bol rahe ho toh theek hai babua. Lekin agar woh kuch gadbad kare, toh tum humko phone kar dena. Usko hum theek kar denge." Buaji promised him. He smiled. Khushi huffed.

[Ab tum itna bol rahe ho toh theek hai babua. Lekin agar woh kuch gadbad kare, toh tum humko phone kar dena. Usko hum theek kar denge - If you're saying this then it's fine. But, if she does anything stupid, call me. I will set her straight.]

Khushi stomped her foot and went off to her cabin, missing the slight chuckle her boss gave. She made up her mind to not let Buaji have any of her sweets for the next two days. Hmmph.

P.S Chap 9 this Friday - 1 July 2016

NO PMs - look out for the title + date for latest post please. 😳

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