ArHi FF: Diamonds & Pearls NOTE on pg.49[7/1] - Page 2

Chapter 1- Primordial Perceptions

Khushi was running around the ball room of London Marriott Hotel, checking the arrangements for the exhibition of AR Jewels.

As much as she loved the job, she had to fly from place to place to organize the events at the whims and wishes of her boss, which never allowed her stay at her place with her brother and sister-in-law. They were the only family left for her, though her parents were still alive, she never talked about them.

As though he knew, Aakash called his little sister right that moment.

"Bhai... how is bhabz doing...?!?" chirped away as soon as she pulled on her Bluetooth.

"Hello to you too Khush' Your bhabi is doing fine except muttering a few curses at me for putting her in this... state... and I am good too, though you forgot to ask!" mused Aakash.

Khushi picked up a napkin and showed the staff how to fold it while she replied, "Ah! It is true that you are the cause for her state. Poor bhabz. And I know you are alright. Though she curses you, she loves you too much to actually think of killing you bhai. But tell me, is she the size of a house or an apartment yet..."

Aakash laughed out loud at his baby sister's description of his wife's pregnancy.

"She's almost the size of a...ummm...okay, she looks like she swallowed a baby whale... hope that satisfies your curiosity" chuckled Aakash.

While she tried to control her sudden bout of laughter, she heard struggling at her brother's end and a loud crash.

She waited with her Bluetooth still on and napkin left hanging in her hands.

The phone was picked up and her 5 year old nephew's laugh ringed out of it.

"Adi... what happened to your papa chui mui?" cooed Khushi, that the staff looked up at her strangely, cause she had never heard their Secretary speak that way before.

She discarded it along with the half folded napkin and concentrated on her nephew's bubbly words.

"Khoooshi Bua... Ma is beating Dada...gahhh!" Aditya gurgled out.

Khushi laughed at the mental image of Payal beating the crap out of Aakash for calling her fat.

She missed them. They were the only ones she had left to call her own. She blinked a few times to get rid of the moisture gathered in her eyes.

"Awwiieee... forget them now! How is my little Adi doing then?"

"I missh you buaaa... come back shoon... you promished..." his baby voice broke down to whimpers.

Khushi struggled to hold herself together, swallowing the choking lump down her throat. Suddenly Payal's voice spoke through the phone.

"Khushi. I am sorry about Aadhi. You are alright right? I shouldn't have let him get a hold on the phone. I know your work schedule is hard to allow you come home. Don't stay up late and strain yourself doing all the works. You have workers to do that for you nah. And eat on time. Your brother... I swear I am not gonna regret when I end up killing him" gushed out Payal.

"Whoa! Bhabz... Relax! Your overloaded mommy instincts are kicking in. And you have a complete clear from me to get at bhai however you want. I won't mind!" laughed Khushi in relief as soon as she heard her sister-in-laws voice in non-stop express worry mode as always.

Payal finally smiled, "We miss you and you better be here before my due date. Did I make myself clear?"

"oh ho! Yes bhabi. I'll be the first one to hold my niece!" promised Khushi.

"Okay now I need to go and take care of my ignored work bhabz, before the devil of my boss calls again. Give my love to bhai and my cutiepie. Miss you guys!" Khushi told Payal.

"We miss you too Khushi. Love ya...Aaakkaassshhh YOU MOR--"and the line went dead.

Khushi stared off into space on what could have happened to make her Bhabi scream like that. Later shrugged it off and returned back to work. She went to check the displays placed at the secured corner, where the current masterpieces of AR Jewels will soon be displayed.

Around the Europe Exhibition she was currently managing, was just for the display of the ethereal jewels before the final auctioning at France.

Till now, they have exhibited the pieces at Athens, Rome, Berlin and now at London. The next one being the finale at Paris where the much expected grandpiece designed by ASR himself will be displayed.

She was about to check the security arrangements once more when her phone vibrated. She switched on the Bluetooth without bothering to pick up her phone saying clearly, " Hello, this is Khushi Gupta, Chief Secretary at AR Jewels..."

"Miss Gupta..."drawled the unmistakable voice of her boss, that always made goosebumps break out on her arms, even after one year of working for him.

"Yes Mr.Raizada..." she replied back, professionally.

"Just calling to check whether all the arrangements are done..."

She didn't know why he was suddenly attending this exhibition as he never attended any of the ones before. She was a bit nervous about coming face to face with him for the first time. Though he was a great businessman, she had never seen him before cause he didn't prefer media attention. That humbled him. But she was never the one for believing without seeing, cause his voice always seemed to tick her off, and sounded more like an arrogant man than what he posed himself to be.

"Yes Sir. Everything's been done. Security in place. And the guest list checked. The foods prepared. The jewels had arrived waiting to be displayed. Soon the guests will start arriving too!" she replied curtly.

"Good! I had to check. Especially after the Berlin incident!"

If one thing she was happy about her job, it was the remote work relationship she had with that boss of hers, which was always limited to phone conversations. She just had to maintain her voice calm though she stuck out her tongue at something he said or rolled her eyes at him, which she was currently doing and he would never know.

She fisted her fingers and bit back ,"That was not much of a problem, Sir. We just had party crashers which was the momentary breach in security."

"Yeah... the uninvited party crashers who stole the food meant for my guests. It was hardly an incident Ms.Gupta, while my guests had to wait for 40 mins without dinner" he retaliated.

"If you want I could go and talk to NK about the security one more time Mr.Raizada. But I assure you that everything is well in place this time" she replied with controlled fury.

"Your brashness is pretty inspiring Ms. Gupta..." sarcasm dripped off his words.

Brashness? She was confident about her work. Yes. But that didn't mean he could contradict her on something that happened which was not her concern at that moment or her fault.

"If you want, you can go through everything yourself Mr. Raizada!" she replied with contempt. 'The nerve of this man...Laad Governor' she thought.

"No need cause I have already done that Ms. Gupta..." that sexy drawl echoed off the walls of the ball room.

The back of her neck prickled.

She turned around to come face to face with a very masculine chest, thought it was well covered by a button down white shirt, she still could see the rippling muscles beneath it.

She looked up and almost melted in the honey depth of the molten chocolate orbs.

"Ms. Gupta..." he gave her a knowing smirk, that boasted off his arrogance without any obscurity.

That's when she realized she was gaping foolishly at Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, the owner of AR Jewels, her Boss.

Oh God! Why did she choose this job out of everything she was offered? Now she had to maintain cordiality with this sinfully handsome man.

He was the last thing she needed, but the first thing she wanted now. So much for keeping strictly away from the male population for the past 3 years...

And at that instant Khushi knew she was doomed...

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that was it for now... will post the next one soon...PROMISE

only if i get good number of likes and comments...

and i promise u guys that all the chapters will have alot of Arhi moments hopefully...

now go LIKE this and pls do drop in ur comments...it means alot to me

~~~ sam xoxo

He was the last thing she needed, but the first thing she wanted now. So much for keeping strictly away from the male population for the past 3 years...

And at that instant Khushi knew she was doomed....