Chapter Two

Khushi Drowned herself in the works assigned to her for next few hours. She had to mail and invite entire clients of Desire on behalf of ASR to assure them that this takeover would make no difference in their current dealings with Desire and ASR would personally like to meet and greet hence, he had thrown a party a day after tomorrow evening in Hotel Plaza, one of the  finest in Delhi.

It was about 4p.m when Khushi was done sending 100s of invitation through courier and emails. She also had been coordinating with the event manager and Akash regarding the party and sometimes acting peon for ASR.

She was thinking of having a cup of tea when her mail alert alarmed her of a new arrival. 

Lazily she opened the inbox but soon she was frowning over the content. Several emotions flickered through her eyes from  curiosity to confusion, to anger, to pain and at last disappointment before it settled into bleakness.

She printed the material of the email before deleting it thoroughly from her computer. Collecting the printed copy she was about to grab her handbag when through the corner her eyes rough she saw the closing figure of Akash and hurriedly passed the documents inside the open cabinet near to her worktable. 

"Hey, Khushi would you like to join me for a cup of coffee?" Akash asked smiling warmly.
Khushi was hesitant in her reply as she eyed the open cabinet "mm... Akash... I will go later, you carry on."

Akash was on his dramatics best as he said disbelievingly "Do you really want to do that?"
At Khushi confused expression he ranted on , "Will you rally abandon your friend cum boss when he wanted a little of your break time to pass with him? You will really deprive me of some spicy office gossip and latest happenings while we enjoy my usual and your extra sweet coffee. Not fair Khushi Kumari Gupta not fair at all."

Khushi was laughing as she said it was enough, "bas... bas, Mr. Akash Drama King Raizada, you can stop your rant because you very conveniently have convinced me to accompany you for the evening coffee along with office gossips as side snack... so let's get going."

Akash patted is own shoulder "well done" and like a true gentleman said, "after you Madam."

Khushi shook her head as if to mean you -are -hopeless and walked towards the canteen with him. In between her strides, she didn't forget to glance back once to assure the documents were well hidden. 

***

Akash asked disbelievingly "Are you serious?

Khushi simply nodded .

An amused Akash wanted to reconfirm as he found it hard to believe what she told, 
"You did not."

Khushi said plainly,  "Yes I did. I called him uncle on his face. How dare he? If he is not married in his 40s that doesn't mean that he will go on hitting  18 years old girls thinking abhi to main jawan hu... the moment I saw him I said, uncle, I guess your son was supposed to meet me here, how come you are here? Are you by chance spying on him?"

The way Khushi dramatically narrated the incident set Akash off as he guffawed not caring of the employees around who gaped at him.

Khushi had been sharing anecdotes from her college which she left not so long back as they had coffee. 

Khushi faked annoyance "Don't laugh so much. It is all because of that Preethi one of my college friends. It was her idea to go on a blind date and it turned out to be a disaster for me. Though I took my sweet revenge." She smiled mischievously.

Akash asked chuckling "and what was that?"

"I made her pay all my jalebi bills in our favorite sweet shop for the entire week." Khushi shrugged.

"Jalebi!! Really!! You are unbelievable."Akashi shook his head 

Khushi wiggled her brows before accepting proudly "so I am and I loveJalebiis"

As both of them went back to sipping their hot beverage with lingering smiles on their faces Khushi felt relief wash over her after a long tiring day.  But her relief was short-lived as a prickling sensation on her back made her turn involuntarily. 

To her surprise she found ASR. Slightly leaned on to the coffee machine he was sipping his coffee. Though he had his aviator on still Khushi could swear that his eyes were on them/her. Sudden goosebumps erupted on the skin of her hands as the thought entered her mind.

Well, it could be her mind playing some trick, but still she couldn't shrug off the feeling of being watch. She looked back once more but it was hard to  guess when he had those dark glasses on and Khushi wondered why? inside a cafe area, in the evening light what is the need of that aviator? 

But oblivious to the presence of his brother Akash was happily sharing some of his experience from the previous office when Khushi asked him suspiciously "What is he doing here?"

Akash was clueless about whom she was asking"Who?"

"your brother, my boss." Khushi answered irritably. 

Akash glanced around confused "where?"

Pointing the direction by her eyes where ASR stood Khushi said in a whisper "there."
"Oh"

Akash's nonchalant oh surprised Khushi, who never had seen a CEO walk out of his cabin for coffee in this office before. "Oh! that's it! Why is he here? Why didn't he call me if he needed coffee? Why is he taking the trouble to walk till here for a cup of coffee and having it in the middle of his employees?" Khushi shot nonstop. 

Akash held out both of his hands before he asked her to slow down "whoa... whoa! Stop lady! ...  Slow down your jet speed... uff!"

Khushi zipped her mouth to let Akash speak and heard him say smiling softly which told her that he was very fond of his big brother " Bhai doesn't need secretary for these small works and it doesn't matter where he is, in his office or among his employees, you will never find him talking or even looking at anyone until it is his business...  he will be in his own thoughts... he will not poke his nose in anything till you are doing your job nicely so sit back and relax, it is coffee break."

Even though assured by Akash Khushi couldn't help but think 'But why do I feel he is watching.'She turned  her doubtful eyes only to see ASR's retreating back.

**

At night after reaching her apartment Khushi searched her handbag for the house keys and that was when it struck her that she had forgotten those printouts in office. 

She had to go to the party venue after coffee with Akash, to decide on many preparations. 

This party was a grand affair as it was supposed to be. It was not just a client meet but also to mark Raizada's place in Delhi's upper-class society. Many celebrities, top business personalities, and politicians were attending this event and it was Akash and Khushi's responsibility to arrange everything to the par. 

They were late when they had finally finished checking the last detail and Akash insisted on dropping her considering that it was very late. Hence, she didn't get a chance to go back to the office to get the papers and then she also had forgotten all about it.

She consoled herself thinking no one will touch her table at night and tomorrow she would go early to collect them before anyone found them even accidentally.

**

Next morning Khushi entered Desire only to find an empty office and she had  hoped that to be so.  She hurriedly walked pass all the cubicles and reached hers in no time.

She checked the cabinet for the papers and felt relieved seeing them where she had left them. She decided to have a cup of coffee before the office got crowded and relax for some time.

She slowly moved towards the cafe while trying to keep the papers in her bag. She was little unsteady in her limbs as her temple throbbed terribly due to lack of sleep for few days. She completely missed the approaching figure in her clumsiness and bumped into a hard surface before she realized it wasn't any surface rather was a human body. 

She fell down quite unladylike and looked up irked only to find ASR, standing over her head with his aviator on and arms crossed over his chest unmistakably looking down at her, not so amused.

After a momentary loss of words, she realized she was flat on her back on her office floor before her boss, who was staring her like an alien, which prompted her limbs to function, though haphazardly. 

Embarrassed she dropped her gaze to the floor and to her horror she saw all the papers scattered on the floor. She crouched down and hurriedly started to gather them. By the time she had composed herself enough to speak. 

She apologized for her clumsiness "I am sorry Sir, I wasn't looking." still collecting the papers in a hurry, mindful that ASR could see what was on them. 

Not bothering to give her a hand ASR stood tall only acknowledging her apology through a curt nod. But he also didn't move from there.

Khushi was aware that he was watching and she felt  nervous. Quickly she finished collecting all the papers and stood up with a small smile. She took a step back to return to her cubicle her urge to drink coffee forgotten however, she heard him ask which sounded like a statement, "Weren't you going for coffee?"

Astonished, Khushi looked up and saw him removing his Aviator and then he looked her in the eye deeply as if daring her to deny.

Unable to say anything other than nod in affirmation Khushi stood dumbfounded when he commanded "Come"

Khushi followed him meekly, but not before she shoved the papers in her bag not so carefully.

**

Asking her to take a seat ASR went to bring the coffees.

As he returned with the cups Khushi realized he  had brought her usual along with his black coffee. Another surprise yet, this time, she masked it before giving away with her expressive face. God knows what else he knew about her!

They both sipped their coffees silently.

Finally, when the silence between them became unbearable for her she asked impatiently "Sir why did you call me?"

ASR had  been staring out of the window blankly. He turned to her with an expression as if he didn't understand her question.

"You called me here. Is there anything you want to discuss Sir?" Khushi explained. 

"It is not Sir it is ASR and I didn't call you for anything, you were coming here for coffee and so am I." He answers shortly to a confused Khushi and went back to his thoughts.

Though little intrigued Khushi decided it was useless to try find answers of her boss's weird behavior and suffer more headache. She tried to relax and enjoy her coffee in her mute company. 

Even though she thought not to think her mind was busy assessing the enigma of a person before her.

'Looking at him it doesn't seem that he has seen those prints closely or else he would have asked something ... (she sighed in relief as she felt assured) isn't he wearing the same clothes what he wore yesterday? Looking at him it seems he didn't go home at night. That means he is been here at office whole night, working? What is he? A Robot? He has arrived last afternoon only and came straight to work ... and then worked all day! All night! Doesn't he need rest? And why did he ask me to accompany him for the coffee when he doesn't have any work with me? He also took the pain of ordering and how did he know what is my regular? Maybe from the counter. But honestly he doesn't look so intimidating to me as all say... but there cannot be smoke without fire... anyways why do I care? I am here for a reason and soon I finish my job I will be leaving.' With this, she drew a long breath and left it through her lips pouting them a little in the process. 

Unknown to her, all this time a pair of piercing eyes watched every changing expression on her face while she had been lost in thoughts through her reflection that fell on the glass windowpane beside her . 

When she breathed out audibly announcing her comeback from her thoughts, the eyes got covered in a pair of aviator which had been lying on the table.

ASR finished his coffee and started to leave without saying anything though Khushi wasn't expecting anything. But after a few steps he paused and turned.
"I am going out. I will be back after lunch. Reschedule my meetings and appointments accordingly" he informed in his usual curt manner before walking off.

Khushi nodded to his retreating back and wondered for the umpteenth time that why he wore hose shades inside the building. Only God knows!!

**