And the journey continues - A KaYa FF || Part 2 Pg 7 - 10/12 - Page 3

Everyone at office, including Richa, Sunny, Baby, Kabir and Ananya gathered in the meeting room in the next five minutes and before Manav could start with his daily discussion of what goes on-air, Khalid strolled ahead to address the staff.

"Sweethearts I have a few important announcements to make, so I hope you all are with me" leaning forward, he clasped his hands on the desk.

"You're probably wondering why both me and your Business Head are here today, in the editorial meeting" Khalid exclaimed, inviting curious stares from one and all present. The meeting room was completely packed except for Ronnie's chair that lay empty ever since his demise.

"Well guys we have two three important developments happening behind the scene since a few weeks and since we have the nod of the top guns now, we thought of sharing the details with you all"

By now a sense of restlessness and tension had begun to brew in the meeting room and a soft buzz could be heard as people chatted below their breaths.

Khalid cleared his throat enticing everybody's attention to himself.

"The first announcement of the day, well it isn't really a sort of announcement" Khalid pushed his glasses up his nose and sneaked a glance at Kabir before returning his gaze back to his audience. "As you all must already know, we have a new joinee with us, Daljeet Singh, he will be taking over Ronnie's position as our new Input editor"

Richa felt a twitch of hurt at Ronnie's mention. She loathed the idea of her best friend slowly getting replaced in KKN, and more so in the lives of the people out there. All this while she had been trying too hard to stay strong but such scenarios would often leave her feeling absolutely wrecked from inside. Richa tried to put a strong face to prevent anyone from knowing her inner turmoil but as soon as Daljeet entered the room, her face turned pale and she fell into a whirlpool of emotions. To her shock, Daljeet was no longer wearing his turban and he was rather dressed much like Ronnie in simple jeans and tee leaving one and all stumped for a second.

"You all must not know but Daljeet is Ronnie's younger brother and all that was just a disguise so that you guys don't get shocked" Khalid explained leaving everyone in the room stunned.

"But how's that possible, Ronnie had no younger brother. He was my best friend and he hid nothing from me." Richa was becoming slightly hysterical now and both Kabir and Ananya could easily sense her vulnerability.

"No Richa! Ronnie's mom has had twins and Daljeet has been brought up by his maternal aunt because she didn't have any kids of her own. He had been on his own ever since his mom died. So when he heard about the loss of Ronnie, he decided to shift to Delhi and take over Ronnie's role in his mom's life and fulfil his dreams at KKN. And thanks to Ananya we could get him here, only she knew about this secret of Ronnie's life and she even arranged for Daljeet's email id"

Tears pooled up in Richa's eyes as the realization hit her like a dagger piercing her heart. How could she forget, Ronnie never loved her. He only loved Ananya. There was pin drop silence in the room for a few fleeting seconds before Ananya elbowed Kabir to say something.

"Aah...well...Richa I want you to help Daljeet with the process and all" Kabir was careful with his words gauging Richa's volatility. She hated how everybody was trying to impose this Ronnie look-a-like on her but duty beckoned. Swallowing the thick lump in her throat she looked up and slowly nodded.

"Great" Khalid beamed.

"Ok guys the next biggie is about a new representative from the partner firm" Kabir propped himself up against his seat and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Haye rabba...ek aur representative" Baby whined in her peculiar style making Kabir chuckle.

"Hah! Chillax people it's not about another Shreya Bhagat.' Khalid adjusted his cravat and stated plainly.

We will be having a new representative from our partner company and he will be joining us as an advisory to our Business Head, that is Kabir"

"Sir do you mean he will be working under Kabir Sir" Daljeet was quick to ask.

"Kya baat hai daljeet...I must say you have inherited Ronnie's intelligence" Manav snickered and Richa felt like smacking him in the face.

"No Daljeet" Kabir interrupted. "Aarav will not be working under me...he will hold equal rights to make business decisions and both of us will work together in all major decision making activity"

"And sir what if both of you don't agree on something"

"In that case I will hold the veto power, to make or break" Khalid expounded.

"Waise Sir jee ek baat puchun" Sunny made a grumpy face.

"Poochiye na Sunny paaji" Kabir smiled.

"Ye jo banda hai...Aarav...ye dikhne mein kaisa hai. Shreya Bhagat jaisa khatarnak to nahin ya phir kahin Shah Rukh Khan jaisa nikla to main to bahut badi problem mein aa jaunga...aur kahin isse ghoda to nahin chalana ata??"

Kabir could not control his laughter this time.

"Sunny tu bhi na...bakwas karwa lo bas tujhse" Ananya chided leaving Sunny with a pout and Kabir with a smug. Kabir so knew why was she so impatient now.

"Khalid sir can we please move to the most important announcement of the day...ye Sunny aur Baby ki bakwas to chalti hi rahegi" Ananya asked in an eager tone and Khalid could very well sense her excitement soaring.

"Certainly dear" Khalid exclaimed with a smile.

"So darlings I am sure now you all must be equally excited to know the reason behind Ananya's excitement. Well the reason is another of our new joinee who's not just Kabir and Ananya's great friend but also a very experienced reporter. It's none other than Ms. Tarini Pal" Khalid announced and it was then that Tarini entered the meeting room. A sense of sheer jubilance took over Ananya's features as soon as she looked at Tarini and the smile on her face. Ananya looked up at Kabir, seeing that his moist eyes were fastened hard onto hers. She found herself transfixed by their intensity.

"Thankyou" Kabir sighed softly to her from his seat itself, his eyes still locked at her radiant face. Ananya blushed and blinked at him smilingly.

"I am sure you will take our channel to new heights lady" Khalid shook hands with Tarini and introduced her to rest of the staff members. But much before Khalid could complete Tarini's intro, Richa stood up and excused herself on the pretext of an important lead. Richa's coldness did not go unnoticed by Kabir and it left him thoughtful for a while before Ananya broke his train of thought.

"Aaj kahan khoye hain aap" Ananya muttered under her breath so that no one was listening to them.

"Kahin bhi to nahin..." he was still lost in his own world.

Miffed, Ananya shot him a glare and pinched him hard on his thigh. 🤣 🤣

"Ouch" Kabir almost jumped in his seat leaving everybody startled. Ananya giggled and covered her mouth with her hands to avoid bursting into laughter.

"Please spare me the horror Kabir" Khalid stated alarmed. "I hope you haven't seen a ghost"

"Not a ghost but a female vampire for sure" Kabir hissed rubbing his thigh vigorously while angrily glaring at the culprit of his public embarrassment. Ananya's lips curved into a full o' listening to the new nickname her dear boyfriend had given her.

"You and sense your sense of humor Kabir" Khalid snorted and turned away.

"Female vampire!! You really would regret this Mr. Sharma" she whispered in his ear.

"We will see who will regret what" Kabir warned evilly this time leaving her flustered for a second.

Once the meeting was over, the first thing Ananya did was inquire Rahul about Kabir who gestured towards the desk where she and Richa sit. It seemed as if Kabir had been waiting there for a while. Ananya smiled and walked upto him.

"Mujhe itna bhi miss mat keejiye Mr. Sharma ki poore office ko pata chal jaye" she tapped on his shoulder and winked pursing her lips gleefully. He turned and a smile spread across his lips as he saw his girlfriend grinning at him.

"Kyun Ms. Kashyap aapko kya lagta hai PDA sirf aapko hi karna ata hai" he asked playfully.

"Nahin but mere wali baat nahin hai aur kisi mein"

"Oh definitely! How can I forget that!!!" Kabir grumbled rubbing his thigh and Ananya giggled.

"Waise seriously aap yahan kya kar rahe hain...jahan tak mujhe lagta hai aapko to bahut busy hona chahiye aaj...after all THE Aarav Raghuvanshi is coming to KKN tomorrow" Ananya articulated.

"I know yr bahut kaam hai but actually mujhe Richa se kuch baat karni hai"

"Richa se...but kya?"

"Ananya don't you think jab Richa ne Tarini ke KKN join karne ke bare mein suna to woh kafi upset thi. I think she didn't like it...maine tumse kaha tha ki humein ye baat use bata deni chahiye"

It took Ananya only a moment to register the change in Kabir's tone. She looked up with wide eyes and tracked his as they moved over her face. "Whats wrong?" She asked.

"Don't you know?" he asked in a wry tone. "Ananya already Richa ke mann mein Tarini ko lekar thodi si chid hai...I know she thinks that Tarini's presence here will create problems for you...And I am scared if her apprehensions come true"

Ananya tilted her head slightly and kept a hand on his shoulder.

"Kabir Richa meri friend hai aur waise hi Tarini bhi. Aur jitna Richa ka haq banta hai iss office mein rehne ka utna Tarini ka bhi. Afterall humne uske liye kuch nahin kiya. She cleared her interview with flying colors. Aur aap hi chahte hain ki Tarini ko bhi woh success, woh khushi mile jo apko lagta hai ki apki wajah se nahin mil payi abhi tak. To phir when she is getting that opportunity to aap aise kyun react kar rahe hain?"

His heartbeat stilled for a second as he watched her face, trying to understand what he'd done to deserve her. He sighed and brought their cocooned hands near his chest.

"I know Ananya but still..."

"Still what? Aap Richa ki chinta mat keejiye please...I will make her understand I promise" Ananya reassured and kissed their clasped hands.

"I love you" he whispered and brushed his lips on her forehead leaving her cheeks flushed.

"Kya baat hai Mr. Sharma aapne kahin meri PDA wale comment ko challenge ki tarah to nahin le liya" she teased and he blushed.

"Main tumse kabhi nahin jeet sakta" Kabir declared with a smile that symbolized how sorely he loved to lose in her love.

"Ye to tumne bilkul theek kaha Kabir" Tarini said from behind and walked upto Ananya.

"Iss ladki se to ab main bhi nahin jeet sakti...kitna mana kiya maine ki please mera resume KKN mein forward mat karo but isne meri ek nahin suni"

"Pehli baat to ye madam ke apne mana kiya hi kyun" Ananya faced Tarini and crossed her arms on her chest "Aur agar main aur Anurag thode zyada khush ho jayenge to tumhein koi problem hai kya"

"Matlab?" Kabir and Tarini asked in unison.

"Ohoo matlab yehi Tarini ki ab Anurag ke Kabir bhaiyaa' pe nazar rakhne ke liye aur unki leg pulling ke kisse sunane ke liye uske paas ek nahin do-do didi hain to woh khush to hoga hi nahin" Ananya snickered and Tarini burst into a laugh.

"I don't believe this" Kabir shook his head in exasperation. "Iss Anurag ko to main dekh lunga..."

"Waise ab mujhe lag raha hai mera KKN join karne ka decision itna bhi galat nahin hai" Tarini winked at Ananya and both of them did a hi-5 doubling with laughter.

"Acha Tarini Khalid sir ne kaha hai tumhein office mein ek medical certificate dena hai...sabke liye zaroori hota hai...just for formality sake, so tum aaj jake apna check up karwa lena and rather Kabir will drop you, he has to go for his wrist xray" Ananya told and Kabir sulked at her words.

"Tarini I'll surely drop you but please mujhe kisi xray ki koi zaroorat nahin hai" Kabir looked at Ananya and declared in a stern voice.

"Zaroorat hai ya nahin ye decision hum doctor pe chod de to zyada acha hoga" Ananya ordered.

"Please don't tell me Kabir ab injections ke alawa tumhein xray se bhi problem hai" Tarini asked.

"Don't tell me that" Ananya almost screamed before bursting into another bout of laughter.

"Tarini tumhein pata hai na I am not gonna leave you for this" Kabir threatened.

"Sure Kabir Sharma" Tarini giggled and looked at Ananya and both of them were in splits now.

"Seriously I don't believe this!! THE KABIR SHARMA ko ek chote se injection se darr lagta hai...Awww" Ananya pulled his cheek and Kabir pushed her hand in fake anger. He hated how he was so mercilessly being made a victim of this extreme derision that too at the hands of his best-friend and his girlfriend.

"Tum dono mujhse baat hi mat karo...I am going from here!!" Kabir nagged and looked away sulking like a kid.

"Waise Tarini I really wish I could have seen someone's baby act" Ananya was still giggling.

"Tum zaroor dekh pati if you would have been at hospital that day, jab Kabir ke per mein fracture hua tha..BTW tum ayi kyun nahin uss din Ananya, pata hai Kabir tumhara kitna intezar kar raha tha, bas baar baar apna phone check kare ja raha tha...kahin Miss Kashyap ka koi call ya message to nahin" Tarini slightly jerked Kabir at his shoulder in a teasing manner and he looked back and shot a deadly glare at her.

The grin that graced Ananya's lips faded for a second as she recollected Richa's words from that day...how she had warned about Tarini and Kabir and stopped her from visiting Kabir. Ananya looked up at Tarini and Kabir and the smiles on their faces, how the two teased each other and were so happy. She so could not let that relief in Kabir's eyes that he got by giving to tarini, what she deserved, fade. For the first time Ananya felt concerned about Richa and her stand regarding Tarini joinin KKN. She had to talk to her!

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*Happy Reading People...Hope you like my effort* :-)