Trapped ARHI SS Part 24 Up Thread 2 - Page 3

She needed a job, Khushi decided, after a lot of thinking. When the need for money arose again, she would have nothing to pawn or sell.

She had to keep the money coming in somehow. A job may not give her a great amount. But ---she could save and manage---or even get a personal loan later.

But how long could she go on? Perhaps till the time she could trust herself to speak to her husband about the problems or till the time she did not have the courage to go on alone.

For now, she could not risk it. She could not allow more problems to befall everyone. She had to try and carry on.

If she cut out the modesty, she knew she was a very good copywriter and she could find a job anywhere, if she looked for it. But she was racing against time. She needed a job real fast, which means she had to get it through sources. There was only one person she could think of-NK, her friend and colleague in AR Advertising.

Being an HR in this industry, NK would know if there were suitable openings. She had not been in touch with NK from the time the sudden marriage had happened. She was embarrassed to face her friends and ex colleagues, especially La and NK, who had been very close to her.

They must have been hurt by her sudden marriage to their boss. Time to change all that, she decided. She needed NK's help as a friend and also wanted the friendship of the only two people who had always stood up for her to ASR.

Picking up her phone she dialed NK's number. His cheerful voice greeted her with a surprised Hi Khushi. What a surprise! The boss's wife decided to be kind and remember her old friends,' he said, with a note of sarcasm and bitterness.

Quietly Khushi apologized I am sorry NK. I want to tell La also sorry. Things happened so suddenly, I did not how to face you.'

NK was silent for a while hen Khushi continued I know it is not a good excuse. But that's the truth. To be fair I am at fault. But don't punish me by cutting me off. You know how important La and you are to me,' she pleaded.

Finally NK spoke It's ok Doll. We were shocked and hurt. But when you totally disappeared from circulation, we were worried too. I am glad you are back. La will be happy too. So, tell me why did you call?' he asked.

I need a job immediately NK. And I know you are the one person who can help me get it,' she said.

A job? Are you kidding? The entire company belongs to your husband. Walk in any time and the job is all yours,' he teased.

But Khushi did not laugh at his banter. Instead she continued stoically, I need a job somewhere else. I need to prove myself on my own. I can't work for AR designs. Moreover I need mo---I mean I need a break,' she corrected. She could not tell NK she needed money without leading to further questions.

Are you sure about this doll? I mean I don't know how ASR is as a husband, but as a boss if he knew you were going to work for someone else being his wife, he might just blow up,' he cautioned.

I will deal with that NK. I won't even tell him you helped me. Just give me information about ad agencies that are looking out for copywriters. I will take it from there. I won't trouble you,' she said.

No trouble at all doll. Send me your resume. I will forward it to some companies,' he said.

Touched at his kindness, she said Thank you NK. You are a friend in need.'

Anytime doll. Thank me after you get the job. In fact let's have a pizza party-you me and La, like old times,' he said,

Done!' she said smiling and signaling a high five in the air.

As promised, NK referred her to a few places in the next few days and Khushi began taking interviews. She did not say a word to Arnav. But she confided in Anjali.

Di, I feel incompetent sitting at home. I want to work. But I can't tell Arnav now. He won't even allow me to look out for a job.

Do you mind if I find a job Di?' she asked.

Not at all. It is good for women to be independent. Look at me. I am so dependent and I don't have the courage to find a job and make it on my own.

I want you to live your dreams. I won't tell Chotey anything till you tell him yourself' she said.

Khushi hugged Anjali and Anjali hugged her back.

In each other, they had found a deep lasting friendship verging on sisterhood and Khushi knew that in Anjali she had a friend for life---

Arnav had been trying to investigate her to the best of his abilities. He felt terrible doing it, because he knew he was actually invading someone else's personal space.

He had wanted to check her phone. But she always kept it in her trousers or in her apron pocket or her hand. She never left it around.

Even when she went for a bath, she took it along and this had puzzled him.

He had tried to find it when she slept, but she kept it under her pillow, much to his amazement.

Her obsessive hold on her phone, made him more suspicious.

Even if she forgot it, by mistake, she came running back in minutes and grabbed it back, looking around guiltily.

Was he imagining all this? Was Khushi acting weird about her phone and about her jewels?

He was sure he was not imagining it. He had been trying for 4 days and he had not been able to lay his hands on her phone even once.

And she kept bringing up the excuse of her hands and the forgotten keys, if he even mentioned her jewels.

Finally, he decided to rest his investigations for a while and give her the benefit of doubt. After all, he had very flimsy grounds to doubt her. But his resolution lasted only till the next week.

He had come to a client's office across the town for a meeting, It was 3'o clock in the afternoon.

Cursing the heat as he walked towards his car, he saw Khushi across the street.

Surprised, he did a double take. He tried to confirm it was her. And sure enough it was. He could identify her even in a crowd. She always stood apart, with her wide hazel eyes and beautiful creamy skin.

His brain began buzzing with questions.

Khushi? Why had had she come out? How had she come out? On her own? Or had the driver got her? But why was she here, in this part of the town?

He turned his attention back to her.

She was talking to a man, her face looking agitated.

Shocked, he watched as she spoke, her beautiful face animated in conversation. He tried to catch a glimpse of the man. But he could not see his face, as he was standing with his back to him.

Slowly he walked towards the pair. But at that time, a few cars and bikes sped across the street, blocking his view and throwing up dust as they passed.

As the dust particles penetrated his eyes, it took him a while to clear his vision.

When he looked across again, the duo was missing.

When he came home, Arnav's mood was as black the clouds gathering in the horizon. He barely acknowledged his Di, as he marched towards his room.

Barging in, he shut the door behind him, knowing well his devious wife was in the room.

She sat on the bed innocently listening to music and humming a song to herself, swinging her legs and reading a book.

He stopped the music first and pulled the book out of her hands.

Next, he yanked her close to him and said in a dangerous voice, Where the hell were you this afternoon?'

Khushi looked stunned at his outburst. She had never seen Arnav this angry after their wedding. Unknown to herself, she shrank from him.

But there was no escaping his anger, as he yanked her back.

Answer me dammit. Here I am protecting you day and night, worrying about you after the incident which ravaged your heart and soul. And there you go gallivanting around the town with strange men.

So who was it Khushi? Tell me the truth now,' he bit out.

It was not someone I knew. Just a stranger. He was trying to hit at me and I was retaliating,' she stammered the answer.

And why were you in that part of the town? What took you there?' he asked.

I---I ---well I--- she fumbled, unable to tell him she had gone to give an interview.

See, you are not able to answer. You are a pathetic liar. You should have your answers ready Khushi' he raged. And without stopping to let her say another word, he said with the same anger blazing from his eyes,

Do you know that anything you do could have consequences for me? If you get hurt, your father is waiting to bring me down.

If someone harms you, I could even be accused of being behind it.

I have tried my best to watch out for you, as much for myself as for you.

But you don't deserve it. It's a pity I am stuck with you at least for a while. I really wish I could be free of this so that you and I can live in peace.

How sad that I am bound to live with you as per the contract your Dad made me sign before I got married to you.

He made sure you or I can't end this marriage before a year by threatening to make things about me public in the media.

You are paying the price of your mistakes Khushi. But whose price am I paying. You lie to me, mislead me and I trust you like a fool,' he ended bitterly

There it was. The bitter circumstances of their marriage---back from the closets to haunt them. Her father's ugly threats had hurt him more than he admitted then.

Fate? Destiny? Irony? She was caught between two men she loved the most and wanted to be loved by.

And did he just say that he had taken care of her to avoid problems for himself?

Something inside her died again. She had felt he cared for her. She pushed his hands away with a strength she never knew she possessed.

I was looking for a job Mr Raizada.

I want to be independent.

I want to be useful.

I did not want to tell you, as you have been fussy about me after the incident.

And before you accuse me of lying again,' she turned around and took out her offer letter from a folder and threw it at him, 'Here it is. My offer letter. I have nothing further to say to you,' she said.

That night, sleep eluded two troubled minds---

I have been wrong about her. I hurt her without even giving her a chance to explain. I brought up the past again. God! Why do I do this again and again? But then she kept me in the dark about the job---she was also responsible for this,' he tried to tell himself. But a part of him could not get over the guilt at her hurt face.

To her credit, she had not shed a drop of tear. She had quietly gone back to her duties. But he could sense rather than hear, her muffled sobs now.

She tried to stifle her sobs. But she couldn't stop them. He proved again, he only hated her"hated being married to her.

He had again broken her heart and she had let it be trampled all over again.

She had to be strong. She had to get over him and become indifferent, if not hate him.

If only she could!

But the part which made her most uneasy was her lie about the man she was speaking to.

Arnav had not been wrong about that.

But she could not tell him the truth---not yet"may be not ever---