A/N- Thanks everyone who has given their time to read this fic. All your feedback really helps me and encourages me. Keep letting me know what you think of it!
(Just for ref: When the POV changes, that character's name is in bold in the first line- indicating it.)
Chapter 4 - You. I hate you.
(May 5, Friday)
Later that evening, Khushi took a long bubble bath and felt each muscle in her body relax. She couldn't recall a time when she had taken an off. All these years, work had been her priority. Her uncle and aunt used to complain that she had become a workaholic. Payal was right, she needed to give some time to herself.
Reluctantly getting out of the bathtub, she dried herself with a towel and put on the most comfortable pair of pyjamas and a top.
She then treated herself to a large pizza, as she had decided earlier. She turned on the tv and was selecting a good romcom to watch when it hit her that she hadn't texted Mohit. He didn't have her personal number, only her office one, so there was no way for him to contact her.
She fidgeted with her phone thinking what to write. 'Thank you for cancelling tonight' was what she really wanted to say.
-Khushi, 10:45pm || Hi, hope all's well. Don't worry about tonight. We can do dinner and Avengers when you're back.
She hit 'send.' Khushi wasn't a fan of superhero movies despite the fact that she worked in a company that manufactured children's toys. Magnolia's main demographic were toddlers and kids under 5 so superhero toys weren't something they focused on. Though if and when she wanted to expand, she'd have to take more interest in this field.
Her cell phone beeped indicating the arrival of a text. It was from the number she had just messaged.
-Unknown, 10:46pm || I think you've got a wrong number.
Hmm... that was odd. She took out the page Lavanya had written the number on and tallied it.
-Khushi, 10:46pm || Mohit?
-Unknown, 10:47pm || Nope.
Maybe Lavanya miswrote the number. She'd ask her on Monday.
-Khushi, 10:47pm || Sorry for the bother.
- Unknown, 10:48pm || No issues :) Although I can't believe you haven't watched Avengers yet. The movie was released some 3 weeks back.
Khushi let out a small laugh.
-Khushi- 10:48pm || Not into superheroes.
-Unknown- 10:49pm || You don't know what you are missing out on.
Clearly this other person was young, maybe a teenager. To her, only someone young could be this fixated on a movie to the point of telling strangers about it.
-Khushi- 10:49pm || I'll take my chances. :D
-Unknown- 10:51pm || Wait a minute! Were you going to watch Infinity War without watching any other MCU movie?
-Khushi- 10:52pm || Infinity War? MCU?
-Unknown- 10:52pm || That's the movie. Avengers: Infinity War. MCU is the universe, which this and other movies are set in.
-Khushi- 10:53pm || How many movies are there?
-Unknown- 10:53pm || 18. Infinity War is the 19th movie.
-Khushi- 10:54pm || 18!!! Are you kidding me?? We need to watch 18 movies to understand 1 movie?
-Unknown- 10:54pm || You don't have to watch ALL of them. Watching a third of them is enough.
Khushi shook her head and grinned. This person was undoubtedly a big fan.
-Khushi- 10:55pm || Thanks for the information, kid. This is clearly not my cup of tea.
-Unknown- 10:56pm || Kid? Why would you assume I am a kid?
-Unknown- 10:56pm || Because of the way I talked about the movies?
-Khushi- 10:56pm || I guess...
-Unknown- 10:57pm || Haha. I am not a kid. Haven't been for a long time. I've already crossed 30 a couple of years back.
Khushi raised her eyes at the new information. She wasn't expecting this stranger to be older than her.
-Khushi- 10:57pm || My bad. You're even older than me :D
-Unknown- 10:58pm || So can I call you kid?
Khushi laughed at the text. Biting her lower lip, she formed a reply.
-Khushi- 10:59pm || Is that a sly way of asking my age? You do know it's rude to ask a girl her age :(
-Unknown- 11:00pm || My apologies, Miss.
-Khushi- 11:01pm || No worries. :D Have a good night.
-Unknown- 11:01pm || You too :)
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(May 6, Saturday)
In the morning as Arnav was reading the newspaper, his cell phone chimed indicating a text. He unlocked his phone and clicked on the message inbox.
-Unknown- 09:06am || I hate you.
It was from the same number with whom he had a conversation last night. The girl (he had found out that she was a girl, younger than him from her texts) had assumed him to be some Mohit.
-Arnav- 09:06am || I am not Mohit.
-Unknown- 09:07 am || Not Mohit. You. I hate you.
Arnav crinkled his eyebrows.
-Arnav- 09:08 am || Me? What have I done?
-Unknown- 09:08am || You opened Pandora's box. Last night, I had a good plan- eat junk food, watch a sappy movie and sleep. But since you told me about these MCU movies, my curiosity made me watch them. I have been binge watching since last night. So I hate you.
Arnav laughed aloud.
-Arnav- 09:09am || You didn't sleep the entire night? I am proud of myself. I have never been able to convert someone, from a non-watcher to a binge-watcher, this soon.
-Unknown- 09:10am || I am glad you find my misery so amusing. I have watched 4 of them back to back. I can't anymore. Going to sleep now.
-Arnav- 09:10am || Haha. Goodnight then.
-Arnav- 09:11am || PS: you're gonna finish them all over the weekend, aren't you?
-Unknown- 09:11am || Yes. :( So thanks for ruining not only Friday night, but my entire weekend.
-Arnav- 09:12am || Happy to help ;)
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(May 8, Monday)
Come Monday morning, Khushi had, as stated to her unknown person, finished all the 18 movies. She was a bit wary when she started watching but two movies in, she was having fun. She was now all set to watch the new movie. Maybe she could go after office and watch a late night show. She didn't want to talk to her stranger before watching the latest release, lest he/she unknowingly give away some spoiler.
While waiting for the lift in the lobby, she booked a seat for herself at a 10pm show in a nearby cinema hall. In the past few years, she had been so occupied with work that watching a movie on a weekday felt like fun to her. When was the last time she went to a cinema hall on a weekend, let alone a weekday?
She smiled as her booking was confirmed. She was in a good mood today and not even the sight of Arnav, who was walking toward the lift, with a coffee in his hand, could spoil her mood.
"Good morning," he greeted her.
"Good morning," she replied back.
"You seem in a good mood," he commented.
"I had a good weekend," she answered.
"Went on a date?"
She pursed her lips before answering, "Not really your business."
He grinned, "I was simply joking. Don't mind."
The lift door opened and Khushi walked in without responding. Arnav followed her. He pressed the 33rd floor, which was Magnolia's office.
"What did you think of the HR's report?" He asked, breaking the silence as the elevator ascended up.
Khushi hadn't read even a page of the report. She was busy binge watching movies over the weekend.
"I..." she began to reply, "Wait. How do you know about the HR report?"
"I am the MD. I have to be in the loop about everything," he responded coolly.
The lift door opened and they stepped out to the lobby of the office.
"So that means going behind my back and getting my employees to send you reports?" she asked pointedly.
"I seem to have upset you," he smiled slightly.
"If we don't seem to be on the same page, it reflects badly. The employees can't be shown weak leadership," Khushi explained, "Next time please come directly to me rather. I'll assist you in whatever you need."
"I did come to your office, with an olive branch," Arnav referred to his visit on Friday, "You expressed your disinterest very clearly."
There was no accusation in his tone; Just a simple statement of the facts. Khushi knew she had not behaved courteously.
"Well, it won't happen again," she told him honestly.
Arnav's smile grew bigger. "Does that mean you'll accept my offer of coffee?"
Khushi bit her lip to prevent herself from smiling. Arnav was turning out so different than what she had pictured him to be. In a week he hadn't done or said anything that would raise any red flags. He seemed genuinely interested in Magnolia's affairs and his trial at having a cordial relation with her in professional capacity, felt sincere. Did Sheetal actually do something good for her and the company?
He arched an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. She instead shook her head and walked away from him.
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(May 9, Tuesday)
Khushi got back home at close to 1am that night after viewing the movie. She freshened up, changed into her nightdress, brewed a cup of tea and snuggled in her bed with her phone.
-Khushi- 01:13am || Just came back from Infinity War. It was awesome.
She waited for a few minutes in hope of a reply. It was close to half past 1 at night. The person might be sleeping. She realized she didn't even know if it was s he or she. Just that person was a few years older than her.
In the morning, she saw a text from the unknown number.
-Unknown- 06:26am || Woah! That is some dedication to movies :D You finished the entire set in 3 days. I am very proud of my work. ;)
-Khushi- 06:35am || Can't wait another year for part 2!
-Unknown- 07:10am || Welcome to the club :D
-Khushi- 07:15am || This was fun. I hadn't done this in a long time. So thanks, stranger.
Khushi had hopped out of her shower and wrapped a towel around herself. She was applying lotion when her phone chimed. She knew it must have been her stranger.
-Unknown- 07:22am || My work here is done then.
The tone of finality in the message made her heart a little heavy. Most of Khushi's interactions revolved only around work. In a long time, she spoke to someone who wasn't related to work or office. It was a short period of relief. But it had to end. Smiling, she composed a reply.
-Khushi- 07:23am || Goodbye then.
-Unknown- 07:23am || Goodbye. :)
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