Chapter Six

As Arnav came out of the elevator of his office next morning, he walked straight to his cabin. But under his aviator, his eyes searched for that only person who has disobeyed him last night and also taken his sleep away for some reason.

But she was nowhere to be seen. Her desk was also empty. 

But why? She is always punctual and comes before him. So what is wrong today? Is she on leave but she hasn't informed him yet. 

A flashback of her entry in the party hall, their dance, her punching the scum Raghu, her wound, her retort, her fear and her escape... reeled in his head, while he sat in the confine of his office. 

Her retreat, yes... Arnav straightened in his seat... what was that anger for? Why she looked hurt on my comment... and the escape... why she is running away? ... Any girl ... any damn girl will be ecstatic to spend some time with ASR in his car... they will do whatever in their reach to please him... and here he himself wanted to give her a lift but she left, left like she never wanted to be around hm in the first place... why? ... Is my image around feminine gender made her do so?... He smiled remembering her face seeing Sheetal on his lap. Oh! her face was a sight to watch... the smile turned into a grin... She had looked scandalised. Oh, those 10 minutes may be the longest 10 minutes of her life... a small chuckle escapes from his mouth... 

Suddenly he realised that what he had been doing. He felt amused by his own train of thoughts. They were all directed towards that one Khushi Gupta. 

He shook his head to come out of her thought and got back to work.

***

A phone call broke the silence of his cabin and his concentration over the file in his hand. He picked up his cell and in seconds his face got clouded in an indiscernable emotion.

A knock on the door made him blink and compose himself as he asked the person to come in.

Akash walked in, annoyance writ large  on his face. Arnav arched his brows questioningly. 

Akash sat on the chair opposite chair with a thump exclaiming, "this day cannot get any worse..." 

ASR leant back in his chair and picked the discarded file from his right and asked casually, "Why?"

"First Khushi leaves the job without a reason and then we lose Khanna project for high coating and I don't how that is even possible? I was damn sure we will get the project but... and this Khushi doesn't care to give a prior notice and walk away. God, she called me friend and didn't think once of informing me about her decision. Till last night ..."

Akash continued his ranting while checking his phone for emails without noticing the change on his brother's face whose record had stuck to the point where he had informed Khushi has left the Job without prior notice. 

Akash only halted when ASR's cold voice reached his eardrum, which is quite intimidating as per Akash, "How did she inform?"

"Who? Khushi? You didn't check your mails bhai... she has sent her resignation to you through mail. She has attached Mamaji and me in CC . Mamaji is also surprised to find her resignation..." Akash was in a feat to beat Rajdhani...

"Call her in office... we don't accept resignation via mail... she needs to produce a hard copy or we can't release her employment. Have you forgotten AR policies??" ASR says coolly straightening his rolled up sleeves.

"F*ck! How can I forget?" Akash swore and got up trying Khushi's number...

Before Akash could leave Arnav called him, "Akash send me Khushi's employee file..."Akash nodded and left hurriedly. 

As the door swung closed after Akash Arnav punched a phone number  on his phone.

***

Khushi sighed in relief. The tiresome job of packing was almost done and in a few hours, she will be on her way to the US. After so long she will be seeing her brother and Ma... thinking of Ma, let's call her before leaving...
Khushi picked up her cell to dial her mother's number but it started ringing itself indicating an incoming call.

A frown appeared on Khushi's face, Why Akash is calling me? Is it about the resignation? It has to be... but I don't want to talk about it... No explaining, please... NO, I am not taking this...

The ring came to a halt but next moment started ringing all over again.

Khushi's scowled at it the True brother of ASR...

Exasperated she picked the call only to get drilled by a frantic Akash... "Khushi where are you? This is the 5th time I am calling you... and what is all this? Huh? How can you resign like this without prior notice? How can you be so unprofessional? You are Bhai's secretary; you have responsibilities to handover and clarify before you leave anywhere and here you leave your job just like that... you call me friend and you didn't even find it important to let me know... anyways Bhai is very upset with you and he wants to meet you in the office right now so come to the office at this instant..." Akash stopped to breathe.

Khushi took the opportunity and tried to explain, "Akash I am sorry I couldn't inform you and ASR on this matter as it is a sudden decision for me too. There is some personal problem I can't disclose but needs my attention right away and I have to leave for the US, actually, I am leaving now. It is going to be a long trip and I may not come back so I hope you understand why I am resigning?"

"Khushi I am sure the reason must be very serious but you have to do it in a professional way. AR doesn't accept resignation through e-mail. You have to come personally in office to produce a proper letter and collect your release letter or else as per AR policy you can get into a legal trouble... I am sorry if I am sounding harsh to you but here it is AR's MD speaking and I can't go against the company policy... after a second pause Akash added... and as your friend I will suggest you to stay out of trouble... it is not good to be in Bhai's bad list. I hope you understand." With this Akash cut the call.

Khushi was no naive to not get the not so subtle hint of warning in his voice.

***

After half an hour Khushi found herself standing beneath the Desire building turned AR office.

She walked in and the first person she met was Manohar Raizada (Mamaji), talking to an employee. For some reason, he looked surprised seeing her but nodded in greeting nevertheless. Khushi reciprocated with a tight smile of her own. As she took a few more steps, she saw Akash coming out of his office and by his expression she knew he had noticed her.

Khushi has no wish for any chit chat but seeing his face she felt relieved as it looked like he surely is in no mood for that too... though seeing her the scowl on his face softened a bit but didn't ease completely. 

He closed the gap in between them in long strides... "Thank God you came... Khushi Bhai is very upset with you. Go and meet him fast..." He said urgently.

Isn't I am already on the pyre as he is fueling it more... Khushi thought wryly.

Akash noticed the petrified expression on her face and felt pity for the poor thing, who was soon going to face a very unnerving ASR. He kept a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her which worked very little. Khushi smiled weakly at him before she started towards ASR's cabin.

Khushi knocked the door and hearing the cold, husky "Come in" gulped some air before stepping in to come face to face with the Devil himself.

The purpose she was here for had been served and she had decided to leave, leave for good if only God and ASR would have let her... when she thought she would make an escape without anyone's notice, here she was standing in front of a stern-faced, icy glaring-ASR... Khushi thought ruefully.

***

ASR looked up from his laptop screen, knowing who was on the door, with his mask on. But his expression changed as soon she entered and involuntarily his eyes checked her out across the table.

In a pair of skinny jeans and off white spaghetti top, with a dark check scarf stylishly draped around her neck and in a pair of bellies she looked completely different from her regular look plain Jane look. If last night she looked elegant and divine then today she looked young and attractive and might he add hot with  the lip gloss and dark kohl. 

Since he had been here it was only today ASR noticed that she had hair till her midriff. Arranged in a stylish way with a hint of gold the hair her a mystic look. 

As a fashion professional he couldn't say she looked out of a fashion magazine but yes with a little grooming she can very well fit in one. 

Khushi followed his gaze for the first time realised that she had come in the same clothes which she had worn to go somewhere else and  hadn't changed while coming in here in her hurry. 

Shit!

She knew people here never had seen her in this kind of clothes. That's why Mamaji looked surprised. She remembered other workers in office also were giving her strange look. Even Akash. What a mess!

To top it off  now ASR too was looking at her erm.. with his smouldering eyes adding up to her nervousness. 

***


ASR watched as she fidgeted with the strap of the black cross leather bag. For a long time, no one spoke.

The silence grew unbearable for Khushi's and she decided to speak first. It was better she finish the conversation fast and leave this place at the earliest.

"Umm... ASR... Actually..." Khushi looked in his direction for any response but other than his piercing gaze she saw no change not even a little movement of any face muscle. So she continued avoiding his eyes which were somehow unnerved her "I am sorry for my unprofessional behaviour, I should have come to the office to formally present my resignation but I was little disturbed in personal front to think rationally. When Akash called I realised the unfairness in my part so I have come here to rectify my mistake... she now looked up and met his eyes... I have an emergency and I need to leave for the US as soon as possible. I don't know when I can come back or if I can come back at all... she paused for a moment but ASR remained calm and still as it is so she continued, this time again averting his eyes... I don't want the work to suffer because of my absence hence it is better that I leave the job so you can appoint someone who can carry on in my post and do the work efficiently." Khushi finished her reasoning and waited for him to say something.


He had heard her, and heard her very carefully... she was telling the reason to be personal and that was that, no elaboration. Very cleverly she had put the work priority in her reasoning so that no one can question her intention. Who ever heard her will consider her points to be valid but he is not ready to take it. He was not ready to let her leave, not yet. He had a few things to clear and till then he would make sure she stayed in this office. 

She is going abroad all right but other than that all other things she has said are utter sh*t and he knows it. 

Well she doesn't know but her eyes betray her always.

Arnav left his seat and walked across the table to stand before her. He stood leaning on the desk folding his arms  across his chest... "Well, it is very thoughtful of you that you to think of company's benefits and I appreciate that... He noticed the sarcasm wasn't lost on her as she pressed her lips in a thin line and smiled inwardly. BUT being the CEO of the company I would like to make a few decision on my own for AR's benefit which surely doesn't include you leaving the job at this point."he sounded stern in the end.

"I don't know and I don't want to know what your big problem is but if you have forgotten then let me remind you that you no longer work for Desire but AR and there are few rules and regulation we follow. You might not have paid attention when the new prospectus have been distributed among the employees. So let me enlighten you about a strict company policy there... *an employee cannot leave her/his job in any circumstances without paying a minimum of a week notice period* not until it is as serious as life and death situation, which surely isn't your case I can guess... so..." he trailed of enjoying the effect of the bomb he had dropped.

Khushi stared his face; shocked... she can't wait for a week. She surely has a life and Death situation here but she cannot say it to him, can she?Moreover, she cannot afford coming here anymore and tolerate this sheer torture of working like a professional and take tantrums of this arrogant, snobbish and rude creature named ASR and his more weird clients, models, girlfriends... argh... She was working here for a reason and now when her job is done...  she wants to leave to her real life but looking at his face it doesn't seem that it's gonna happen... is it? No. Who am I kidding? that stern face is surely stating otherwise... *sigh*

Khushi attempted one more time, "But ASR this is really important for me and I can't wait for seven days and I have already booked tickets. My flight starts tonight..."

"I am sure it is important but you didn't care to inform beforehand so unless we find a replacement in next seven working days you have to carry your post and serve the notice period... and about your flight, you surely can book one after a week cancelling today's ticket..." Arnav stated firmly brooking no arguments. 

Khushi huffed accepting defeat. She saw the smirking face and so wished to wipe the smirk off of his face...

"OK ASR."

"Good... wisely  chosen. I didn't wish a pretty girl like you pass her time in a lawyer's office negotiating on penalty amount" Khushi could only gape at his back while he walked back to sit in his throne folding his sleeves as he said so.

"You may leave for today, take care of the things need your attention in your personal life and when you come back on Monday I hope you don't bring them to bother your professional space for next seven days... clear." His brows rose eyes questioning her understanding on this matter."

Crystal... Khushi said sarcastically not caring who she was talking to before she turned to leave that damned cabin.

"Oh, I forgot to mention... Khushi turned her head hearing the huskiness in his voice ... You dance well..." he complimented with a lopsided smile adorning his face.

She thanked her God that she hadn't turned to face him completely as she knew her face must be looking flustered. She nodded accepting his compliment before leaving the room little clumsily. 

Arnav chuckled silently after she left before he concentrated back in his work.

***

I hate ASR... she grumbled while walking towards the main gate and making a call.

Hi...

I am not going.

Don't ask...

I know but will you drop that discussion for now... I am in no mood.

Yes, I called to inform I am coming...

I should attain something fun if I am not boarding that bloody flight at night.

Sure.., see you at 7, bye.

***

ASR was about to wrap up his work for Friday night and go back to his poolside in the confinement of his mansion to enjoy the evening in silence with his favourite scotch, but a phone call changed all that peaceful plan. And now he was getting dragged to a popular night club of Delhi much to his annoyance. But he could do very less of protesting when you were forced by your old school buddies who were very high on the spirit to spend a dude night out with their long lost friend.

There were about three other guys apart from ASR. They all had taken their seats near the bar counter and unlike him they were very loud and expressive. 

Among the three, Rajveer and Kunal have studied with ASR in Harvard and Vedanta, ASR was meeting him after 14 years through the formers.   

Soon he too shed off of his self-preservation with them, enjoying the Friday night out in a jaunty mood. He was also grateful to his friends who were understanding enough to not talk about the past and keep the topic usual boy kind. Work, world news, Game, food, drink and woman.

Loud music was playing inside and out. The pub was on the first floor. From where they could see the poolside restaurant attached to the pub. Sitting by the glass bay window they could see a private party was going on there. Bunch of youngsters are going mad while the DJ was continuously playing peppy numbers. 

They wouldn't have paid attention if not suddenly the loud music by the poolside came to a halt. They felt as if the inside music too become a low hum and in that moment boomed the announcement by the DJ outside, "Boys and Girls let's put your hands together for Khush, Nikhil and La."

A loud roar of clap and cat call hit their eardrum making them almost deaf. 

Out of curiosity, Rajveer asked the bar attendant, what's going on there?

"There is a college reunion party going on and few of these boys and girls are daily visitors of this club. Those three whose names have been announced are very popular in the club for their music. Full on entertaining. That is why they are cheering so loudly. Watch, I bet you will enjoy too"

Arnav and his friends looked around to find most of the crowd had moved towards the adjacent balcony to get the better view of the show and few were moving outside and understood why the music inside had stopped. Because people were more interested in the show outside. 

"Are they some renowned musicians?" Finally, Kuna asked.

The bar attendant chuckled, "No sir they play for fun and as they are regular in the club, the manager doesn't stop them from playing in the club. And also they are among the few attraction that pulls the young crowd for free."

Vedanta looked towards the DJ of the pub who was enjoying his drink in the corner and looked back to his friends amusedly.

Arnav eyebrows too went up impressively when the music boomed outside.

Holy sh*t!

F*ck!

Gorgeous!

Vedanta, Kunal and Rajveer exclaimed in unison which was followed by, "What the F*ck!" 

***

Arnav had to turn his head. When rock music with good female and male vocal fell on his eardrum. But of all the things he never expected to see the sight which he witnessed when he turned,

"Khushi"

Same spaghetti trunk top, same scarf, only the skinny jeans had turned into a pair of jean shorts with broad round collar waist belt, black casual shoes. Well, the shock doesn't end here.

"Ow! The girl is something" said  Kunal.

"She is playing really good," Vedanta added.

 "Wild and HOT... what say ASR?" Ranveer asked but the man in question had already moved towards the glass window. Ranveer smirked.

"What else you have in store girl?!" Arnav murmured  watching Khushi, who literally rocked the stage down there...

Her fingers moved fiercely on the guitar. Her head banging with every beat. Her voice that was surprisingly powerful than her petite figure created an impact around making every person listening move and jump.But she looked she cared less lost in her own designed trance.

The girl who was supposedly La was a tall, dusky beauty and almost dressed same like Khushi, the only difference was her black short leather jacket, was playing the synthesiser. She also sang with the chorus.

The chocolate boy, whose name he guessed was, Nikhil, was singing and playing along with Khushi. Two more guys were there playing the flute and drum, whom they had introduced as Raj and Rocky before the start.


Well, it looked like they were a pro in what they were  doing and he wouldn't have believed Khush doing that if he wouldn't have seen it with his own eyes. For the life of him, he could have never believed that Khushi had a side named Khush in her.


Suddenly the scotch in his hand felt less intoxicating than the sight before him.