ArHi FF: Love for Hire (Pt13 Pg146, upd 12th Oct) - Page 47

The next week...

At office, everything is going well. Arnav has mellowed down a bit since Lavanya has not contacted him for nearly a week. That made him so happy that he didn't even shout at Khushi for the past few days.

But Khushi begins to miss his scolding, so she decides to deliberately do or say something to annoy him. The opportunity arrives when Khushi's colleague - Aman -challenges her to invite Arnav and Akash to his beach-side bungalow in Goa for the Christmas break.

This happens during the lunch break on the Wednesday before Christmas, when Khushi passes by the Board of Directors - Aman, Virat, Peter, Yash, Aarti, Maanvi - who are discussing something (private). Khushi happens to overhear...

"Arnav won't come this year. He never comes. And don't even try asking him, because he won't agree even though he, and the whole company infact, in on holiday till New Year's." Aman warns the other five people in the room, knowing Arnav well. He seems pretty sure that Arnav won't agree to come along for their annual "Board of Directors" holiday.

Khushi decides to intrude in on the conversation, but the others don't mind much because they know and like her. "Hey guys... Sorry to intrude! But what's this I hear about an annual holiday?"

Maanvi, who is Khushi's closest friend in the office, answers her. "Oh, Khushi... Even since the company started, we have been having this annual December holiday trend where all the Board of Directors go for an out-of-town trip. We invite Arnav and Akash every year..."

Virat interrupts Maanvi. "And you know how Arnav is... Workaholic. Even if it's officially the holidays, he will stay at home and work. He has never come along with us for our annual trips. And because he doesn't come, Akash doesn't either."

"Hmmm. I see..." Khushi starts thinking. "Well, I can convince him to come along."

"Yeah, right!" Virat says sarcastically, thinking Khushi is joking.

But Khushi has never been more serious. "No, really... I can convince him to come. I bet you."

"Errr, Khushi..." Aman and Yash say at the same time, trying to warn Khushi not to place a bet with Virat because they know she will lose.

"Khushi, think over this again. It's very difficult to win a bet you place with Virat." This time it is Peter who speaks up.

"Oh, don't worry Peter. I know what I am doing. And yes Virat, I still bet you..." Khushi turns to Virat with a gleam in her eyes.

"Oh yeah! Well, what will you do if you lose?" Virat questions Khushi.

"Anything you say..." Khushi declares.

"Are you sure? Anything I say...?"

"Yes, Virat. Anything you say..."

"Ok then. I won't tell you what I want now, let that be a surprise lest you back out. But you tell me, what do you want?"

"If I manage to convince Arnav? Can I come along too?"

Virat bursts out laughing, thinking that this time Khushi is really being funny. But looking at Khushi's somewhat serious and determined face, he stops. "I'm serious, Virat. If Arnav agrees, I am going to come along as well. Else, I am not even going to try and convince him."

"Well, about that... You'll have to ask Peter. It's his beach house anyways..." Virat looks questioningly.

"Yes of course. Khushi, you can come along. And feel free to bring a friend too..." Peter says.

"Err. Buaji..." Khushi starts off, before Aman interrupts her.

"What??!!!! You want to bring your Buaji along?" Aman questions in horror, only because he is very afraid of Buaji. Once, Buaji had come to office to drop off Khushi's lunch, and had bumped into Aman, and scared and scolded him.

"Why would I want to bring Buaji along?" Khushi stares at Aman, dumbfounded.

Aarti and Maanvi who were mostly quiet till now burst out laughing at Aman's look of terror on his face.

"Yeah, Aman, why you Khushi want to bring Buaji along? I think Khushi was about to say her sister's name... What was it again?" Aarti speaks up.

"Payal... And yes, I was going to say that Buaji will only allow me to go if Jiji comes along. So can she come too?" Khushi clears Aman's doubts, much to his relief.

"Of course, she can. If Payal comes along, it will be all the more better. Aarti and Maanvi will also have more company, otherwise they always get bored in the company of us men, right?" Peter says.

"Maybe Maanvi does when Virat is not with her, fighting." Yash looks at Virat and Maanvi, teasing them and winking at them.

Virat feels shy but teases Yash right back. "Yeah, well don't blame me... Your dear wife Aarti must be getting bored too, na? At least at the times you don't stick to her 24/7...?!!!"

Now, it's Yash's and Aarti's turn to blush. Khushi smiles to herself, glad to see the camaraderie and friendship between these "so called Board-of-Directors". They are more the best of friends than co-workers, Khushi says to herself.

Peter coughs to get everyone back on track after the distraction due to the friendly teasing. "Anyways, Khushi... Like I said, you can bring Payal along. My beach house has 6 bedrooms. Like we do for every annual trip, Maanvi and I can take the single bed rooms. And as for the double bed rooms, Yash and Aarti will of course share, Virat and Aman can be in another, if Arnav and Akash come along they'll probably share too, and then you and Payal can take the last one."

"Great! That sounds wonderful. I can't wait...!!!"

"You have to convince Arnav first, Khushi." Virat warns her.

"Oh, don't worry. That will be done. Give me about 15 minutes..." Khushi says with confidence, and starts heading towards Arnav's cabin.

*************************

15 minutes later...

Khushi comes out of Arnav's cabin smiling. She goes up to Virat, smiling, and tells him that Arnav agreed to come along. Virat stunned that he lost the first bet of his life, leaves his mouth hanging open. Maanvi goes up to Khushi and high-fives her. Aman and the rest all congratulate Khushi for managing to convince Arnav, glad that she is coming along.

"Yo, dude!" Aman shouts at Virat, bringing him out of his shock.

"Sorry... That must seem so rude. I'm actually glad you're coming Khushi. I'm just stunned that I lost a bet, and that too to a girl, for the first time in my life." Virat turns to Khushi.

"No problem. I'm cool..." Khushi shakes the hand that Virat offered to her.

"By the way... How did you manage to convince Arnav?" Virat asks her, still curious.

"Yes... We were all doubtful whether you would actually manage to convince Arnav." Aarti says.

Maanvi objects to this. "Well, not me. I knew Khushi would eventually convince Arnav. And thank you for doing that Khushi, because of you Virat finally lost a bet for the first time in his life." Maanvi teases Virat, who scowls at her in return. Maanvi then winks at him, indicating that she's just annoying him and he can't help but smile.

*************************

As everyone smiles and pats Khushi on the back for convincing Arnav to something no one has ever convinced him for, Arnav is looking at the scene from his cabin floor-to-ceiling glass walls, moving aside a part of the curtain.

As Khushi laughs at something that Aman says, Arnav looks stunned for the millionth time since she entered his life. Akash interrupts his thoughts by knocking on the cabin door and subsequently entering.

"Bhai, while coming up to your cabin, I heard that you agreed to go for the 'Board of Directors' holiday. What managed to convince you to do so?" Akash asks Arnav.

Arnav lets out an exasperated sigh, and replies "The Rajdhani Express...!!"

"Huh?" Akash is confused.

"This Khushi Kumari Gupta girl. The holiday is apparently in Goa, and Khushi said it's the perfect place to put our 'Mission Get Rid of Miss Namoona Kashyap' into place. It's the perfect setting, and the other 'Board of Directors' will be so-called witnesses to the whole thing."

"And that managed to convince you?"

"Slightly. But what did it was when she mentioned that she can get Lavanya to think she's following us, but instead make her disappear for a month or longer."

"Ah-hah! I see. Bhai, Khushi is smart na? She came up with such a clever plan."

"Clever, my foot! I don't know how this plan of hers will work out. But if it doesn't, I am so going to kill her...!!"

*************************

"What the...!!! Miss Khushi Kumar Gupta...!!" Arnav screams, looking for Khushi.

"Yes, Arnav sir?" Khushi replies in the sort of soft and meek voice that shows she's just mocking Arnav, who on the other hand just doesn't get her sarcasm.

"What is this...?" Arnav asks Khushi, showing her the travel route from Delhi to Goa that she emailed to him for his confirmation.

"Oh, that... Well, the direct flights from Delhi to Goa were all full. So I booked flight tickets from Delhi to Mumbai, then an overnight bus journey to Goa."

"Bus??!! Arnav Singh Raizada in a bus??"

"Yes, sir. And well sir, you have no choice. The tickets I booked are the only ones available until January next year. Apparently because of the Christmas and New Years' holidays coming up, nearly everyone wants to travel overseas. Flights are all booked. The private transport by car or cab would have added onto the budget, leaving less for bonuses, so a bus was the only option. Besides, I booked a first-class, air-conditioned sleeper class, with a toilet too. It is a cheaper, yet reasonable way to travel. And since everyone's comfort levels are taken care of, I don't see why you should have any problem."

"Tell me one reason why I should listen to you?"

"Because, I am always right. And I'm a nice person. Besides, I accidently-on-purpose sent this fake mass email to Lavanya about our 'Board of Directors' annual holiday being in the deserts of Rajasthan. And knowing how stupid she is, I am sure she will believe the email and go to Rajasthan. Unfortunately for her, and fortunately for us, while she will be walking and baking in the desert, we will all nicely be sun-tanning and relaxing on the beaches of Goa. Just imagine... You in Goa, Lavanya lost somewhere in Rajasthan..."

"Ha, ha, ha...!! That does sound good. Thank you, Khushi." Arnav actually somewhat laughs for the first time in a long time, this time surprising Khushi. As Arnav exits his cabin, it's Khushi's turn to stare open-mouthed after him. Akash, who happened to be just outside Arnav's cabin door and heard each and every word, copies Khushi's facial expression. Akash is just as shocked as Khushi is to hear him saying "thank you" to someone out of his own free will.

*************************

And with that, Aman, Peter, Yash, Aarti, Virat, Maanvi, Akash and Arnav finally set off for Goa. Khushi comes along with Payal, seeing whom Akash immediately goes red in the face with shyness, though thankfully no one notices. As everyone alights from the bus in Goa, after reaching Peter's beach house, Lavanya too steps out from the taxi, ready for her journey across the desert, hoping to find Arnav along the way.

Precap: While Lavanya suffers due to the heat after getting lost in the desert, Arnav rediscovers himself while having fun in Goa... Khushi annoys Arnav even more, but he begins to see her in a different light... Payal also falls in love with Akash... Sand and sun prove to be fun for all...!!!

Author's Note: Hey readers :))) I know I'm like more than a month late in posting this latest update, but kya karein?? I was really busy, and besides that, there were many other reasons.. But, I won't give any explanations here, if still wanna know then do pm me..

Please also (after reading) click on the LIKE button or leave a comment/suggestion 😛

~ Neha ~

hunn well thanks God u updated ..the part where khushi told Arnav abt La being roaming in the desert is quite funny 😆...

OMG...khushi did mission impossible...arnav singh raizada is taking a "holiday"...haila!!!

Haha...love the update...why is akash not getting any signs about arnav liking khushi...!!but then no one ever does...the leads also dont realize...im really waitng for khushi's acidity and dhak dhak to start and a gut feeling says its gonna start at goa..:D...this FF is too much fun!!:)