FF: When Love And Hate Collide... Pt26 pg145 10/07 - Page 35

half century already thank you for liking and appreciating this story guys 🤗

PART 11

D saw the time on his laptop when the email was sent and he frowned.

2.37 am.

Normal people slept at this hour but not his boss. She worked. She worked her ass off. It was a world- known fact that shes a workaholic. Everyone knew that work was her religion, her penance… but very few people knew that work was also her hiding place. She immersed herself in impossible amount of tasks when she was trying to run away from something. And D had not missed that.

He had seen the controlled restlessness in Arohis movements when Arjun was around. He had also noticed the change in atmosphere between the two. They used to spit venom with their eyes, even in front of him. But now he could see some amount of doubt that had crept in, in them. He had been happy to see them 'get along' so well, or so peacefully but he knew for sure that there was something major that had happened that had led them to it. He had tried asking Arohi discreetly a couple of times but she had maintained her silence on it. And so, Dhondu had no other choice but to find another source to satisfy his curiosity.

And as if god had listened to him, that alternate source arrived.

Arjuns cabin…

Arohi heard a woman giggle from inside the cabin and her hand halted in mid air. She had wanted to discuss the off shore orders with Arjun before sending her approval and hence instead of calling him over, or sending the files to him she had decided to walk up to his cabin and have a one-on-one discussion with him. Arohi had not seen him since morning, and now she knew why. As she heard another muffled giggle from inside the cabin, the suppressed anger surged up with a sudden force, and Arohi caught herself before she pounded, instead of knocking on the door.

After her sharp knock, Arohi gritted her teeth when Arjun almost sing-songed a 'Come in' to her. Twisting the handle, Arohi opened the door and was greeted by an unusual sight.

Arjun was leaning on the table with his hip on it, facing a girl wearing a short maroon dress with her back to the door and she was talking to… her friend… her secretary… her D! She also flinched at the happiness and humour in the air. Arjun looked at her smilingly and Arohi froze.

He had a dazzling smile, a smile that reflected in his eyes and she was seeing it after a long time. The girl in the dress turned around and she gave Arohi a smile too. Straightening up, Arjun went to stand behind the girl and placed a hand on her back.

"Arohi… please come. I would like you to meet my secretary… Natasha. And Nats… this is the famous Miss Ahluwalia… our partner."

Arohi surveyed Natasha from her toes to her grinning face. Walking a few steps ahead, Natasha came near her and held out her hand.

"It is so nice to finally meet you. We have spoken on the phone but I have heard so much about you from Arjun."

Arohi took her hand in hers and her eyes flew to Arjuns smiling ones. What had he told her about Arohi??!!

"Shes a liar, don't listen to her Arohi. Actually she knows a lot more about you than me. She had kept a record of your each and every achievement and she admires you a lot." Arjun was still smiling when he explained.

Arohi looked at Natasha, whos eyes were shining with genuine admiration and she could not help but smile back.

"Its nice to meet you too Natasha." Arohi shook her hand and handed over the files to Arjun. "These are the international orders that need to go out this week. I have checked them, just go over them once. Let me know if you feel anything needs to be removed, added or changed. If not, then please hand them over to D and he will have it sent across."

Arjun took the files from her. Arohi smiled at the room and turned around to leave but stopped at Arjuns voice.

"Arohi… actually I wanted to ask for a favour."

Arohi looked at Arjun with a question in her eyes.

"Now that the work load is increasing, im finding it difficult to shuttle between my office and here. So I had called Nats here to brief me up on the latest progress. But I feel that I really need her around now more than ever. So if she can work from here, she can help me and take care of the office work over the phone too… if it is OK with you. I know that my office work has nothing to do with this project, but I was really hoping that this arrangement is acceptable to you. So if you feel that…"

"Ok." Arohis sudden response stunned Arjun. Natasha and D looked at each other and grinned while Arjun just stared at her.

"Thank you." Now it was Arohis turn to get stunned, seeing Arjuns warm gaze on her, fill with gratitude.

Pulling herself back, Arohi quipped a quick 'No problem' to him and left the cabin. So THIS was the reason why Mr Singhania did not find time to meet her since morning. She had also not missed the easy camaraderie between Arjun and his 'Nats'. Even Dhondu was her friend but she would not put her hand around his neck like buddies in the office. Not to mention she was pretty and sweet, just the Arjun Singhania 'type'. As long as he did not spread the way they conducted with each other like an epidemic in her office, she did not care.

She did not care. Repeating this mantra in her mind, Arohi stomped away to her cabin.

Pantry… coffee time…

"Omigod! No wonder she did not tell me anything…"

Natasha nodded her head and sipped her coffee at D's reaction.

"How could he! I mean… I don't know if I should be angry at him or be shocked that hes still alive?? And to top that Arohi has been very civil with him… no screaming or temper tantrums… why…" D trailed away talking more to himself than her.

"That's because I had told Arjun to apologise to her, which he did. So I guess they have reached a truce, a treaty of peace…"

Natasha looked at D but found him deep in thought, knawing at his lips like they are an edible thing to eat. She shook him to bring him out of his thoughts and was surprised to see the worried look on his face.

"Whats the matter D? I know you're upset that Arohi didn't tell you anything about this. But you should be happy that they both are acting like grown ups and moving ahead."

"No Natasha. You don't understand. Do you know what is 'bad arohi'?"

D looked at her for an answer but she just gave him a confused look.

"Bad Arohi is when she is yelling, screaming or giving you the 'i-so-wish-you-were-dead' look. But she is better than worse Arohi… Worse Arohi is when she doesn't react! That means that something is going on in that smart brain of hers. Infact, Im worried she might be plotting Arjuns murder!"

"What?! You're just being ridiculous now… But I do agree with your theory that there might be something going on in that mind of hers. I think she is actually affected by that kiss."

D looked at her in shock. He desperately wished that Natasha was wrong coz that would make Arohi completely unpredictable.

"When she came in the cabin today, I did not see murder in her eyes when she looked at Arjun. There were a lot of other things but definitely not murder."

"Yaa… Probably just cut his hands and legs off and maim him for life!"

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Stop being such a drama queen Dhondu…"

D slightly jumped back and Natasha jerked to see his reaction.

"What???!!!" Natasha was befuddled at the glare in his eyes.

D frowned at her, picked his coffee and went to the door. Turning around he looked at her with one hand on the door. "Call me D… or Danish… only Arohi calls me Dhondu!"

Turning his head, he pulled the door open and walked away leaving a shocked Natasha behind. Both of them scowled, having only thought on their mind.

'Like boss. Like secretary.'

Evening… outside Arjuns cabin…

Black deep orbs watched them from outside as happy animated hands digged into the chaat that had been ordered from outside. The two individuals were completely engrossed in chit-chatting and easy banter to notice dark, intense and angry gaze watch them closely. The blinds of the cabin were not completely drawn and hence glimpses of the two friends having their evening tea and their daily dose of masti was clearly evident.

Arohis eyes narrowed to see Arjun laugh his head off at a comment that Natasha had made. She could not hear them but the way they were both talking a mile per minute told her how much they had missed being around each other. An unusual emotion pulled at Arohis heart on seeing this happy friends unofficial reunion in her office. He seemed genuinely happy for the first time after he had started working with her.

Taking a deep breath, Arohi continued down the corridor towards the elevators. He deserved to be happy and so did she. Unfortunately, they could not be happy together. The smile of one resulted in the frown of the other. They were as similar as water and oil. Well, after torturing her brain for days, she had finally found her way to peace and happiness. And she was not going to let anything or anyone ruin it.

sorry for the short update but really pressed for time again... please do give your precious comments 😳

Originally posted by: archa2810

Is arohi thinking that arjun n nats r in a relationship or something??