Chapter V: Doppler Effect
Khushi and Payal had always been open with each other but somewhere along the line, right before Payal's marriage, the communication between them had dwindled to cryptic sentences and spoke in metaphors and allegories. They had both subconsciously started to read things beneath the surface complicating both, their communication and their relationship.
Garima walked into Khushi's room and made her presence known after taking in the scene unfolded in front of her for a moment. Khushi was lying on her stomach, air around her smelling of nail polish and fried namkeen. The mattress dipped as Garima sat on the edge of bed and shook her daughter awake.
"Khushi, Shyam is here and wants to talk to you." Khushi opened one eye and looked blearily at her mother.
"Do I have to?" She whined softly. She had talked herself to sleep which was not all that of a big deal but her throat was parched. She sat up suddenly realizing why Shyam might be visiting this late in evening.
She ran her fingers through her hair, opening the tangles and patting them to keep them in place. She glanced at the mirror to check her dress and frowned when she caught Garima giving her an enigmatic look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, fixing her veil and readjusting her top. Garima smiled.
"It's nice to see you excited in a non-excited way," Garima finished lamely. Khushi raised an eyebrow but bit her tongue to stop the sarcasm flow out.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Khushi shrugged one shoulder and walked out of her room without looking back and missed the pleasant smile blossoming on her mother's face.
Khushi smiled wanly at the man who was sitting on sofa and drinking tea. Shyam mirrored her smile and her smile softened at the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. "I hear you got the job."
"Isn't it wonderful? After battling for several weeks I finally get a job. Isn't that awesome? I thought I had mucked up the interview when I spoke out of line and more than what was necessary but they were alright with that I suppose. I was scared that the malfunctioning of my brain-to-mouth filter would get me into trouble but thankfully it actually helped. The interview went well and they called me for second round which was basically telling me how hard the job was which was alright as far as they promised to give me the salary they advertised in the first place-"
"Khushi, wait." Shyam interjected when more than half of the information she was relaying was out of context. "What do you mean by interview? There wasn't supposed to be any interview at the stores but just hiring on the spot. I had even spoken about the salary to them…" Shyam furrowed his eyebrows, his mouth forming a frown.
Khushi wriggled her hands. "Yes. Yes. That's where it all started. But he said that I could also try in main office of Raizadas where they were holding a walk-in for second executive assistant. If I didn't make it there, I could always return to the store and take up the clerical job. But guess what? I actually made it in the main office!" Khushi clapped her hands in enthusiasm and twirled. Her happiness was contagious but Shyam felt unknown fear clutch his heart.
"Why the hell would you go to main office Khushi? Didn't I tell you to stay away from Raizadas?" He fumed. Khushi's smile dropped and peered at him.
"What is wrong with Raizadas? You keep telling me to stay away from them yet you get me a job in one of the stores owned by them." Khushi frowned.
"That store is close to my work place so I could always come to your aid if anything went wrong. Don't you see Khushi? The job was perfect for you. It is only ten minutes away by walk, you stay close to home and I and it paid decent salary." Shyam's voice raised an octave. Garima stepped into the living room to see what had gotten Shyam angry.
"Ma, tell her how stupid her decision is," he said walking towards Garima and catching her wrist. Khushi was annoyed.
"You still haven't answered my question Shyam. What.is.wrong.with.Raizadas." She punctuated each word to hint her impatience at his rant.
Shyam pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly as if he was dismissing the anger in his veins. "They aren't nice people Khushi. They are known to trample on people and take unfair advantage of them when they least expect it."
"So?" Khushi felt particularly careless in that moment. Suffocation had started to set in when Shyam started to dissect her decision and compulsively get her agree to do the thing he wanted.
Shyam stilled for a moment. "Just…don't go there. Work here at the stores. It's enough." He said collapsing on sofa. "Ma, please try to make Khushi understand. She will be working in close association with Arnav Raizada – the master task master who doesn't care for anyone else but profit. If she works there she will be working all round the clock and for what Ma? For measly sum of money?"
Garima looked at Khushi and held her eyes for a moment. "Will the workload be bad Khushi?"
Khushi was tempted to lie so that the entire conversation would be over but it wasn't useful in moments like these. "Yes. Workload will be bad. Yes, the office is far. Yes, I will be working closely with Mr. Raizada. Yes, there will be late nights, work on weekends and probably travelling in worst case scenario. Again. So?"
"I am not very comfortable with this job Khushi especially if it keeps you out of the house for long duration and makes you work so much." Garima said, hesitant about her perspective. Khushi's eyes were glassy. Shyam squeezed Garima's wrist in support and looked back at Khushi questioningly.
"What do you want me to do? Give up a job which would pay well and give me a sense of satisfaction for using my master degree to some use because it's tough?" She snorted derisively. "Should I remind you the pending debt we have ma?"
Garima bit her lip and sighed. Khushi had a point there. With Shashi's income they could barely get by and the debt would simply grow and lose the small piece of ancestral land they owned back home.
"Khushi," Shyam said softly. "I know it is important for you to help your father. But it shouldn't come with a heavy cost."
Khushi let go of all the thoughts that were running in her mind and desperately grasped at the one which was bothering her.
"I am taking the job at main office Shyam. I am capable of handling myself though I wonder why Mr. Raizada would or should care about an assistant who wouldn't interact with him on a daily basis." Khushi's voice was carefree as if she was dismissing the anchors Shyam was trying to ground her on.
"What is that you don't want me to know?" Khushi whispered to herself when Shyam passed her angrily. He left her without saying a goodbye making Garima whimper at the turn of events.
"He is such a nice boy." Garima said softly.
Khushi whipped her head and looked at her mother intently. "Do not even go there." She whispered.
Garima hoped Shyam would come back and talk to Khushi the way he had done all these days. His anger made her very nervous as if something wicked was standing on the other side of the threshold.
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