Part 2
Khushi wiped her tears with her sleeves and lifted up her chin! How could Lavanyaji fire her for no fault of hers! That that...rakshas ASR he was at the root of all the trouble! He created such a scene that she did not get any chance to explain anything to Lavanyaji! Khushi stamped her foot! "Oh, how I hate him!" she spitted out angrily, her hazel eyes blazing with flecks of angry red!
And how dare he kiss me, she muttered murderously. But it was a wrong thought to think of at the moment because suddenly at the thought of the kiss a bolt of lightening jolted her body and filled her with that strange sweet warmth she had felt when his lips were tasting her...Stop it Khushi! Devi Maiyya raksha karna! Why am I having such ajeeb thoughts...I can have only have one feeling for that man...hate, hate and only hate!
Her phone rang and she picked it up absent-mindedly.
"Hai re Nand Kisor! Arey O Sankadevi! Where are you? When will you come home? It is so late in the evening ..." Buaji's scolded her on the phone n her shrill voice!
Khushi jerked the phone away from her ear and rubbed her ears but the sound of her Buaji's voice brought her back to reality! The reality, that she had been fired! Her heart was bursting and she said in a shaky voice, "Buaji...Buaji...My job..." Her voice trailed away.
"Hai re Nand Kisore! What happened to your job, Titaliya? Did you get a promotion? Tell me quick!" Buaji said excitedly.
"Promotion!" Khushi huffed and rolled her eyes! If only Buaji knew! Suddenly she saw two figures emerging from the office! It was Lavanyaji and that rakshas! He had his arm round her shoulders and was escorting her to a white SUV! It was obvious that Lavanyaji had believed whatever story he had cooked up after she left! They made a cosy couple and Khushi felt a strange pang in her heart.. but she dismissed the feeling quickly...
A brilliant idea occurred to her! Maybe Buaji was right! This was her way to promotion! This man, this ASR who had become Lavanyaji's business partner recently, definitely had some ulterior motive! Why else was he rummaging through her safe like a thief? He was a spy sent by a business rival! Yes that is it, Khushi beamed! All she had to do was prove to Lavanyaji that he had evil designs and was out to destroy her and her jewellery business and she would not only get her job back but Lavanyaji would also promote her!
It was a rare phenomenon but sometimes even Buaji talked sense! "Dhanyavaad, Buaji..." she whispered into the phone..., "You see I am working on my promotion and might be late coming home, so tell Babuji and Jiji not to worry!" She disconnected the line before Buaji could go Nand Kisoring again!
Khushi sprinted towards her scooty and jumping on it clicked the lever just in time to follow the tail lights of the SUV before it could disappear from sight.
After following the SUV for a few minutes she realized where it was headed...to Lavanyaji's mansion-like house! She relaxed and punched the air! Jhansi ki rani was on her way! Savdhan rakshas ASR!
Khushi hid her scooty behind the bushes and peered at the parked SUV! Her forehead creased in disapproval and a lumped formed inside her throat as she saw him scooping a sleepin Lavanyaji in his arms and entering the house! Khushi ran out of her hiding and tiptoed behind him into the house!
She saw him climbing up the stairs with Lavanyaji in his arms. Lavanya murmured, "My bedroom upstairs...on the right," in her sleep and wounded her arms round his neck! Khushi did not know why but at that moment she felt like murdering them both!
How easily Lavanyaji had fallen to his charms! And she was determined to see that he did not harm her! So convincing herself she peeped into Lavanyaji's bedroom to see him laying her on the bed. Poor thing she must be tired thought Khushi. After all she had come to the office straight from the airport!
He straightened up and looked around the room and suddenly turned towards her. Khushi jumped out of sight her heart pounding in her ears! Had he seen her! But she need not have worried for he turned around and entered Lavanyaji's dressing room. She took a deep breath, reminded herself that she was Jhansi ki Rani and her Jhansi (in this case her promotion!) was at stake and tiptoed past a sleeping Lavanya towards the dressing room.
The sight that met her eyes was revolting! He had pulled out all the chester drawers and all Lavanyaji's undergarments laid strewn on the floor and he was inspecting them closely, rubbing them between his fingers...! Khushi's eyes popped out of her sockets! Eeeks! Khushi clamped her hand to her mouth which had turned a perfect O'! He was a pervert! A pyscho! Just as in the horror movies! He was more dangerous than what she had thought! Khushi closed her eyes and prayed to her Devi Maiyya, chanting her name to ward off all evil spirits! She felt strength flowing back into her. She eyed the huge umbrella at the corner of the room! Yes that would be Jhansi ki Rani's sword!
The pervert's back was to her and his head was bent as he fingered a brassiere and Khushi raised the umbrella over her head to bring it crashing down on his head when he suddenly caught her wrist and tugged her down, towards him. She crashed, sprawling on the carpeted floor unceremoniously, with his heavy weight on top of her, her eyes wide with terror! Above her his eyes twinkled and he laughed silently at her, his palm over her mouth to prevent her from shrieking in shock!
"Okay Khushi Kumari Gupta I have let you play detective far too long! Hope you had fun!" he whispered huskily, his lips almost touching her ears! She shivered...maybe she was scared or perhaps it was his male smell, his proximity that had sent her mind in a tizzy...her heart was pounding in her ears...Hey Devi Maiyya, so he had known all along that she was following him! Why didn't he stop her! Who was he really!
As if in answer to her silent question, he moved his hands between them making Khushi shiver again and flashed something in front of her eyes...She stared at the golden badge and blinked her eyes rapidly...it said Arnav Singh Raizada, CID Agent'! Hey Devi Maiyya! What was this! He was a cop! Not a thief!
Arnav saw the realizing dawning in her eyes and smirked! Relief washed over her. She nodded her head slightly and he removed his hand from her mouth, exposing her quivering pink lips to his lazy gaze. A warmth spread through her insides...the heat seemed to emanate from his body...she was very much aware of his hard length as he pressed her down with his weight... goosebumps erupted all over her...her heart raced crazily against his chest...she was afraid he would hear it beating so loudly...for him...no, no, how could it beat for him...!
But similar thoughts were running through him too...he was losing control...his eyes touched her...her temple, her eyes, her nose, her lips...He swallowed hard! Dammit! She was unbelievable! Brave and beautiful! A rare combination and a combination that had his heart slowly somersaulting inspite of himself! How he longed to kiss her again...but not with her consent this time...he wanted her to want him as he wanted her...but they had just met an hour ago...and he had been forced to show himself in a bad light...he had to give her time...and he rolled away from her and sat up straight.
Khushi was surprised that she felt disappointed when he rolled away. But then whole lot of ajeeb things were happening to her today and she did not know what to think anymore! And what was a CID agent doing here! But before she could ask him, she was startled at Lavanyaji's astonished voice at the door. "What is going on here?"
"And you what are you doing here? Didn't I fire you?" Lavanya stared at Khushi accusingly.
Arnav snorted possessively and put a protective arm around Khushi, "You didn't fire her Lavanya! She kicked her job away! She is talented girl and will get a better job any day! A decent girl like her will not like to work with gold and jewel smugglers like you and your friend Sheetal!"
Khushi stared at him wide eyed! What was he saying! Smuggling of gold and jewels! How could Lavanyaji be involved in this! And Sheetalji...Sheetalji she was the real owner of Lavanyaji's company but the people at the office had hardly seen her as she kept a low profile ! But he was right...if this was true...if the company was involved in anti-national activities she herself would have thrown away the job on Lavanyaji's face!
A terrified look replaced the angry look in Lavanya's eyes..."I...I am not involved in anything...I swear..." she backed away from Arnav, her body trembling, the dim light in the room casting a shadow on her scared face. "Are you not ASR of the AR group of companies? Who, who are you?"
"Yes I am! But that is a front. This is my main business..." he flashed his badge at her. "And you have some answering to do...!" he said in a stern voice.
"I admit I have felt something was wrong...there was too much unaccountable gold and jewels...but I did not know what to do...everything belongs to my friend Sheetal...even this room, this house is not mine...believe me! Sheetal" Lavanya broke down. Khushi felt sorry for her.
"If that is so then you have to get a good lawyer for yourself Lavanya, otherwise how will you explain this?...saying that Arnav picked up a fancy bra from the floor.
"What is here to explain?" Lavanya retorted " It's an imported designer bra and Sheetal only wears imported designer bras!
"But what is it used for?" he smirked his eyes gleaming dangerously.
"Is this guy for real?" Lavanya rolled her eyes at Khushi. " He does not know why women use bras!"
Khushi felt blood rising in her cheeks, she glanced at him embarrassedly through her eyelashes! Lavanyaji was right! Seriously what was he upto!
Arnav suddenly realized what a fool he must be looking dangling some woman's bra on his fingers!! Another bad impression on Khushi, he cursed himself mentally! He cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment and said in a business-like voice, "Well look closely...I just found out...all that looks like sequence at the edges of this..this thing...are tiny diamonds..."
He then extracted a blade from his pocket and cut the edges of the bra skillfully and pulled out all the wires...they were golden and glittered like gold Khushi noticed.!
"Yes they are gold wires..." Arnav confirmed Khushi's suspicion. "And the hooks of the bra are made of gold too!"
Khushi gasped! So that is why he was inspecting the undergarments! And she had thought he was a pervert! What a novel way to smuggle! Thank Devi Maiyya she was rid of this job! He had actually done her a good deed and she had called him so many names, Khushi thought guiltily.
"OMG!" Lavanya found her voice finally. "So that is how Sheetal was smuggling gold and jewels into the country...how could I have known!" she wailed.
"Yes we know Sheetal kept you in the dark Lavanya but if you had suspected something you should have told the police..." Arnav's voice was still steely.
A few police officers including a lady cop barged into the room, saluted ASR and took their position all around the room. The senior most among them approached Arnav and saluted him again.
"I am done here! Over to you officer! Lavanya will be co-operate. But arrest Sheetal as fast as you can!"
"Yes sir!" the officer clicked his heels and saluted ASR again. "And congratulations Sir! Only you could have cracked the case!" he said in awe.
Arnav just slapped his shoulder.
He turned to Khushi and asked her, "Can I drop you home...?"
Khushi nodded her head but her eyes went to Lavanya, who had slumped down on the bed and was holding her head between her head.
Khushi turned to him and said in a pleading tone, "Please tell them to be kind to Lavanyaji...she is not a bad person...I know her...It was all Sheetalji's doing I am sure..."
Arnav was amazed at Khushi's compassion for Lavanya! It had taken Lavanya not even a second to think the worse of Khushi and fire her but she was feeling bad for her erstwhile boss and was full of sympathy for her!
"Okay, don't worry. I will see to it that Lavanya is treated leniently..." he said in a gentle voice, respect for Khushi subtly growing in his eyes.
The journey back home was silent...they did not know what to say to each other...yet there was a lot to say...the air was heavy...the hearts were beating together...
The vehicle entered the lane of the Gupta house at Lakshminagar...Khushi pointed her house to him and panicked...would she see him again!
Arnav realized he had stopped breathing! She will be gone soon! And I haven't told her that I want to see her every day...every damn day of my life! Will she believe me? Will she see me again? The way I hurt her in Lavanya's office will she trust me ever! How do I apologize to her...
"I shouldn't have kissed you!" he blurted out abruptly, bringing the vehicle to a halt in front of her house.
"Huh?" Khushi was taken by surprise at his words.
"I mean...I am really really sorry..." he said earnestly, "I know you must be thinking the worst of me ...the way I kissed you...the way I got you fired..." He raked his fingers through his thick hair nervously! Dammit I don't even know how to apologize properly!
Khushi couldn't help smile inwardly. He sounded so cute...apologizing...
"You know I don't mind losing this job...in fact it is a blessing in disguise..." she said smiling, shrugging her shoulders.
"Even so..." he said apologetically and drew out a business card from his pocket... "If you don't mind... meet this guy...my PA Aman...he will help you get a job...or better still you can talk to my Di directly...she runs AR these days and..."
"Its alright," she smiled at him and laid her hand over his... "I will be fine...and as far as the kiss is concerned I did not really mind it..." she said in a mischievous tone.
"Wh...what? What the!" Arnav stammered...Had he heard right...she did not mind the kiss...
"But I will forgive you only if you promise me that you will not kiss any girl ever again or carry her in your arms..." she said pouting.
"Oh Khushi..." Arnav groaned and pulled her in a tight embrace. Khushi's heart missed a beat and then her world smelt of him...only him...and she sighed contently in his arms, her heart racing against his in tandem.
"It's a deal," he whispered drawing back from her slightly and tucking a wisp of her loose hair behind her ears...but can I make one exception...YOU?"
"Hmmm...going by the experience of my first kiss, one exception can be made...I think..." Khushi said lowering her gaze as a sweet longing filled her...
She heard the sharp intake of his breath and then he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers gently. "May I have the pleasure of taking you out for lunch tomorrow?" he said looking intently at her.
Her voice choked at the endearing look in his eyes and she simply nodded, her heart gushing with joy.
"Okay then I will pick you up from your home...and maybe if you feel like you can introduce me to your family..." Unbelievable Raizada! What are you saying! Slow down...not so fast! You don't want to scare her away!
However, there was no scaring Khushi away! If he was the Supercop she was Jhansi ki Rani!
"Lunchtime is hours away...Kiss me goodnight first...you dumbo cop!" she laughed at him.
Arnav was taken aback but only for a second and then he swooped on her... raining kisses all over her face ...and finally taking her lips in a searing kiss...
Khushi felt a thrill run down her spine...she was only too happy to abandon herself to him...Hey Devi Maiyya...its true the first impression is the last impression'...he is a thief... the thief of her heart...for hamesha! And I thank you for him Devi Maiyya, she sighed before his passionate ministrations pushed all rational thoughts away from her mind...and she moaned in pleasure...as their souls melted into each other...
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