IPKKND FF: Jab We Met (Ch. 6, pg. 21) UPD: 6/02 - Page 7

Chapter 3

Ten peaceful minutes had passed without any interruptions and Arnav was finally able to start telling the story of Shyam Manohar Jha to Viren Vadhera when his phone rang once again.

"So then my sister-" Who could it possibly be now?? NK again. This better be good.

"Excuse me."

Viren smiled and nodded as Arnav attended the call. His family must really be missing him today. Suddenly, his own phone also started to ring. He checked the caller ID and smiled as his wife's face popped up onto the screen.

"Hello-"

He was interrupted by a frantic voice on the other end of the call. A voice which was not his wife's.

"Hello Virenji? Are you the husband of the owner of this phone?"

"Yes I am." Viren was slowly beginning to worry. Who was this person on his wife's phone?

"Is everything ok? Is my wife ok? Who are you and why are you calling?"

"My name is Khushi Kumari Gupta Si-"

"Please give the phone to my wife! I need to speak to her!"

"I'm sorry Virenji but your wife is not in any condition to speak."

"What? What happened??"

"A robber came into the store Susheela Outfitters and Jewelry at the mall and he pointed a gun at your wife and now she seems to be in shock."

"WHAT??"

"WHAT THE?!"

Viren looked around as another voice accompanied his own as they both screamed into their phones.

Arnav turned around to glance at Viren, who had also yelled along with him. NK had just told him that he was at some stupid store at the mall called Susheela Outfitters and Jewelry, which apparently did not have the common sense to invest in some proper security. And that idiot NK had gone to the bathroom and god knows how long he was in there since by the time he came back, there were police officers surrounding the store. Apparently, there had been an attempted robbery but Arnav didn't care about any of that crap. The only thought that occupied his mind was the fact that his Khushi was still inside.

"What the NK!! Why weren't you there!? Why did you leave Khushi alone!?"

"Nannav, mera bhai, I'm sorry! Her necklace selection was taking too long so I escaped, I mean, I went to the bathroom. I didn't know this would happen!" NK agitatedly paced around the outside of the store, trying to convey the urgency of the situation to his cousin, who seemed to just want to yell at him.

Dammit! I bet Khushi tried something crazy inside. I need to go-now! Arnav quickly turned around to face the lawyer. Today had been a bad day to meet him.

Viren swiftly ended his call, spinning around to speak to Arnav. He needed to go-immediately.

"Mr. Vadhera I have to go. We can have this meeting another day. I'll call you."

"Yes, that's fine. I have to go too. Family emergency," he explained himself just as Arnav muttered "Family emergency."

Both men paused in spite of their hurry to stare at each other. How strange, that they both had a family emergency at the same time..

However, they did not ponder the oddity for long, as they both remembered the critical condition of their respective wives.

Arnav reached into his pocket to retrieve his car keys but couldn't find them. He reached into his other pocket also, unsuccessfully.

"WHERE ARE MY KEYS DAMMIT?!"

"You gave them to your brother, remember?" Viren helpfully supplied.

"Great! I don't have a car now!" Arnav realized that all his vehicles had been taken out today by one family member or another. He checked to see if any of his staff had a car he could borrow, when he realized it was a Saturday and everyone was at home. I have to make my working days their working days from now on. But what should I do now? Then it struck him that he would have to take an auto. And there is no way on earth Arnav Singh Raizada was going to be caught dead in an auto. His pride warred with concern for his wife, and of course, the apprehension soon won over his ego.

Arnav glanced over at Viren, contemplating asking him for a ride. He quickly dismissed the thought however. Arnav Singh Raizada could solve his problems himself; he would not ask for anybody's help. Deciding that taking an auto would be less demeaning than asking for help, he started down the steps of his office building, only to be stopped by Viren.

Viren Vadhera was not the best lawyer in northern India without being able to read the emotions of others. He had seen the arrogant business tycoon struggle with himself, his pride fighting with his concern for his family member who needed him. Apparently, the concern had won, for he had started down the stairs. Viren had been utterly shocked for a moment. Where is he going? Is he really going to take an auto? Though he was not as concerned with his reputation as Arnav, Viren could understand the other man's plight, as he himself had a prominent status in society. He decided to help him. After all, having Arnav Singh Raizada's gratitude could come in quite handy someday.

"Mr. Raizada, I can give you a ride. Where do you need to go?"

Arnav was immensely relieved. I didn't ask for help; he offered it to me. That's fine to accept.

"I really appreciate it Mr. Vadhera. I need to go to Susheela Outfitters and Jewelry."

Viren looked surprised as he responded. "Really? I have to go to the same store' Let's go!"

Arnav couldn't help but puzzle over the starling events as they rushed towards the door. What a coincidence...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Viren pulled into the parking lot of the mall and the two men jumped out of the car, sprinting to the store. Outside, they met NK, who screamed with joy and threw himself at his cousin. Arnav, for his part, looked thoroughly disgusted as he shoved NK off of him and tried to make his way inside. Viren attempted to do the same, but both men were stopped by a police officer barring entry into the store.

"I'm sorry sir. No one is to be let through until investigations are complete."

Arnav's trademark anger, which was already simmering dangerously close to the surface, quickly boiled over. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! I AM ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA! NOW MOVE OUT OF THE WAY DAMMIT!" However, the police officer did not seem to care that he was one of the most successful businessmen in the world. At that moment, Arnav was just another person trying to get into the store.

The police officer was adamant and refused to move and Arnav became increasingly angry, erupting into a series of snarled "what the's" and "dammits." Realizing that he would have to take control, Viren told Arnav to calm down and took his turn with the burly police officer. Arnav paused in his tirade to smirk at Viren. Thinks he can get us in when I, Arnav Singh Raizada, couldn't? Not happening.

"Excuse me! I am Viren Vadhera! My wife is in there. Please let me through!"

Unfortunately, the police officer did not budge, despite Viren's pleas and Arnav's threats. In the end, it was not the formidable business tycoon nor the brilliant lawyer who convinced the police officer to let them through, but the high pitched voice screaming "Oh god! KHUSHIIJI!!" in the background at an alarmingly frequent rate. When he could not stand it any longer, the police officer moved out of the way irritably and both men raced into the store in opposite directions, pulled by an unknown force towards their respective wives.