Chapter 10

The next day in office was pretty routine for both Arnav and Khushi, but with meetings lined up the entire day and both taking care of different divisions of the company, they hardly had any time or reason to meet each other...

“Aman...i really don't know what to do about this girl...why is she making my life so difficult?!” Khushi asked as she rested her tired head on her chair and closed her eyes...all the fun from last night had more of less dissipated as soon as she had woken up to her head of HR's call in the morning

He had told her that Sahiba had spoken to him about a few concerns regarding her role in the department...and had requested to be put back into R&S...this had done it for Khushi, who had failed to understand what her exact problem was.

She had reworked on Sahiba's job profile last week and had given her a much better role looking at the past work she had done in R&S; even Arnav had agreed to the role change, stating that an employee of Sahiba's caliber should be given this deserving post...but Khushi still had a nagging doubt that the woman just did not like working under her.

“I'm not sure maam...i think it's best you speak to her once...” he said as khushi opened one eye “Hmm...i think i'll go and have a word with Arnav first...the matter has still not gone to him since she reports in to me directly now” khushi said as she pushed herself off the chair and left to meet arnav

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“Come in” Arnav called out as he quickly typed up a mail...he looked up briefly to see khushi enter his cabin “Hey...just give me a minute ok” he said with a quick smile as khushi nodded and sat in one of the plush chairs at his desk

Arnav quickly finished drafting his mail and saved it before leaning back in his chair, observing the woman in front of him “So..what's up? Looks like you've been busy all day!” he said as he took in her tired face.

He was still in a happy mood after yesterday's night out and was actually looking forward to meeting her today...but work had kept them both very busy.

“Yes I know...we just signed on a new media agency and a new advertising agency today morning...the entire day went in negotiations and setting deliverables” she said as she sighed and twirled the paperweight on his desk

“What's the matter khushi? You don't look so well...the seekh kabab acting up?” he teased her as she finally looked up at him with a soft smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes “Haha...that is so not funny...” she said as she finally relaxed and sat back in the chair

“Arnav...the reason i'm here is that i'm concerned for Sahiba, she spoke to HR about shifting back to R&S...i really don't know why...she is an asset to GR and i would love to have her in my team...but i think she just does not like me...and i can't seem to understand why” she said as arnav sighed and went back to his laptop

Khushi thought it was very rude of him to disregard her concern so casually but when Arnav turned his laptop towards her a few seconds later, she was stumped by what she saw on his laptop

“Khushi...she wrote this mail to me yesterday...she had already spoken to me about her concern and how she did not find it comfortable to work under you..” he said as khushi looked at him dumbfounded, her mouth set in a tight line.

“Khushi...don't look at me like that...we had promised all the people in the new team, that they could go back to their original job if they wanted to...so i did not argue with her...i told her she can take her decision once she spoke with you” he said as khushi slowly shook her head

“Hold on a minute...you knew about this?And you did not think it would be wise to tell me?” she asked him with a questioning look to which arnav shrugged his shoulders

“I thought it would be best if she spoke to you directly...i did not want to get involved in it; as it is, you look at marketing...i think she only wanted my advice, so she wrote this mail to me” he said nonchalantly only to have khushi spring up from her chair angrily.

“Oh right...and yet, you told her that she could easily go back to her old job!...how is that, you not getting involved, pray tell?” she asked him, her arms flying around animatedly

“Arnav...i'm not saying that you don't have a say in this, but this girl works directly under me...and she had to speak to me about her concerns...if she has a f****g problem because i'm younger and less experienced than her...then screw her..i don't need her on my team” she said, her eyes blazing green

“I had told you this earlier as well arnav...i do not care for people who make issues out of nothing...there is nothing this girl has against me...there is no reason for her to complain and whine when i have only been more than considerate towards her compared to the others...i have gone out of my way to better her role, something which i have never done before...and this is what i have to face?” she asked him banging her hands on arnav's desk

“Calm down khushi” arnav said in a steady voice, but one could make out a kind of underlying rage in it...no one had dared to speak to him in this way...and no one would.

“I really don't know what your problem is here! I have told you time and again, that people like Sahiba will have a problem working for someone who is their junior in experience and age...its natural..and one thing I absolutely believe in, is giving an employee their rightful freedom...if Sahiba does not feel comfortable working with you, then she can go back to R&S...as it is, a person of her caliber is an asset to any company” he said as khushi pursed her lips

“Why are you making such a big deal out of it? I had told her to speak to you before taking any decision...how is it my fault that she did not feel the need to? Maybe she does not feel comfortable talking to you...but that is no reason for you to blow your fuse this way!” he said as he too got up and stood stiffly

“Tell me Khushi...is it because you will lose a good team member or are you so egotistical that you can't seem to accept the fact that someone does not think that highly of you...that they take offense at the fact that you are here purely because of your name...” he said as khushi suddenly looked up, her eyes shining with hurt and disbelief

“That's quite enough Mr Raizada...i think you have said enough” she said as she turned and walked out of his cabin leaving a very angry arnav behind...he kept looking at the door she had just left from and could not help but feel a little regret at the words he had uttered in anger..

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Shalini Gupta looked up at the door in the study as a faint knock halted her conversation with their CFO, she uttered a soft come in and smiled as her daughter walked in “Ah..Garima...you are back...how was school beta?” she asked her daughter who rolled her eyes as she sat down

After saying a quick hello to Mr Raj, their CFO she turned towards her mother “Oho ma...its the same old story...kids fighting, laughing, playing and in these recent years swearing as well” she said with a laugh as the other two joined in

“Good...i'm glad you enjoy your work...you don't know how glad i was when you said you wanted to start teaching again” Shalini said as Garima looked down, a soft smile playing at her lips “I know ma, it gives me peace...something which i've got after a really long time”

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Shalini took a deep breath as she turned towards their CFO “Raj, i think we should talk to Garima about the matter we were discussing just now” she said with a grim face as Garima suddenly looked up to find their faces clouded in worry

“What happened ma? Raj ji, is everything ok?” she asked them when Mr Raj leaned a little bit on the desk and looked at her sideways “Garima, i just want to know something very truthfully from you...it is something personal and i would not have asked you this, had your mother not insisted on it” he said as Garima nodded

“Has Arun asked you for money recently? A large sum..” he asked her with a straight face, the question throwing Garima off for a second before she composed herself “I don't think that is any of your concern” she said in a mild annoyed voice when her mother interrupted

“Yes, it is his concern...because recently there has been a lot of money going out of our company for deals and vendors we don't know about” she said in an exasperated voice which had Garima look at her mother with concern

“Ma, i did not know this....have they found out who is doing this? And please don't say its Arun...now a days anything happens, you blame him...” she said getting disturbed; Shalini looked at Mr Raj and nodded her head to give him consent to continue

“Garima, please don't get distressed, we know how important Mr Arun is to you...but during our yearly Audit, we have come to know that most of these accounts have been made on his insistence...the only reason i asked you the earlier question was because you have helped him before as well...so i was wondering if..” he started saying when Garima looked at him with moist eyes

“Raj ji, I really don't know what to say..." Garima said as she looked away for a few seconds before facing her mother and Raj again 

"Yes...yes he did ask me sometime back for a large sum...he said he wanted to start a new business on Khushi's name in Dubai...he did not tell me all the details, but only that it was with a a very big company and was bound to be a success” she said as both Mr Raj and Shalini looked at each other

“But I had this nagging doubt about the investment...when i asked for some more details and figures, and also asked him to get Khushi involved, he refused...we had a small fight and he did not bring it up again after that” she said as she sighed and closed her eyes

“Garima...its ok, this will help us immensely...but beta, i need to ask something of you” her mother said to her as she lay a withered hand over her daughters “If this comes true...if it really is Arun who is divesting us of money...then there will be criminal proceedings against him...you will not...and i repeat not ask me to pardon him...because i will not” she said with finality

Garima's eyes filled up listening to her mother...she felt guilty of the fact that her mother had to actually say such a thing to her...that a mother had to plead her daughter to be on her side when she always has been...but it was her heart that was a traitor...she squeezed her mother's hand back and took a deep breath

“Ma...i promise, if its proved that Arun is behind all this; if it is proved that he had any hand in playing with hard earned money of so many people, nothing in this world will make me stand against you...i will be with you in this...I have given him too many chances to change...to maybe see a glimpse of what he was all those years ago...but even I am tired now ma...” she said as a new determination shone in her eyes

She smiled at her mother who looked a lot relieved than she was earlier...it would be difficult, she knew that...but it was time she took a stand.

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“ASR?” Lavanya said as she came to stand next to him and shook him by his shoulders to get his attention...she looked at him with a concern when he finally looked up with a thoughtful expression “ASR? What's wrong? I called you name like 3 times...where are you lost?”

“Lavanya...I..nothing, i was just thinking about Sahiba,..remember i told you to keep an eye on the new team...do you have anything to report to me?” he asked her when she gave him a quick smile and went to sit opposite him at the desk

“Actually I was going to tell you this in the morning...but i got busy with the preparations for the mela tomorrow” she said as she kept her phone and notebook down. She leaned a little towards him and spoke in a soft voice

“You see ASR, after you told me to check on the team...i tried to get a bit closer to the new people..the one's from Gupta Mills? They seem to be doing pretty well and seem to be happy...yes some have concerns about how things will progress, but that is natural..” she said as arnav nodded at the information she was parting

“But, when it came to our team...there seemed to be a little bit of a...how do I put it? Disturbance maybe?” she said twisting her face “What disturbance? Was there any concern?” arnav asked her as she sighed loudly and pursed her lips

“You could say that...but more than a concern, it was what was being said that was disturbing...especially Sahiba....she seemed to be instigating to everyone that Khushi is not a nice person to work with...and that her attitude stinks and all that...but I don't think it has affected anyone really..because i personally think she's great to work with...and i guess the rest think that too...its just Sahiba who doesn't...and I wonder why...its not like she has had that many interactions with Khushi maam..” Lavanya said wondering aloud..

She was still in her thoughts, when she heard Arnav take a deep breath...she suddenly looked up to see her boss getting up and pocketing his phone...she too got up as arnav looked at her and gave her a slight smile “Thanks..I have an urgent meeting with Khushi...shift any of my other meetings if they overlap” he said and left before Lavanya could answer

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“Yes Maasi...I know, off course I'll come for the engagement shopping....i've missed all this so much!” Khushi said as a small smile lit her face, lifting her earlier black mood..she had really been hurt by Arnav's words...but somehow wasn't surprised when he had spoken them...oddly enough she knew that whatever light moments they had shared last night would never translate to trust and respect for her work...she did not expect anything else from him

She was working out on prospective new employee for Sahiba's role, when her maasi had called her and reminded her about the shopping trip they were planning for Akhil's fiancee...the thought suddenly making her smile...she was very happy that her cousin had found such a lovely girl and was genuinely looking forward to spending time with the women in her family

She was just saying good bye to her maasi when her door was barged open and the last man she wanted to see walked in...his face sombre but his eyes warm. She calmly kept her phone down and leaned back in her chair...legs crossed at her knees

“I would prefer if you could knock...” she said in a slightly cold tone and watched in satisfaction as his eyes took on an embarrassed look... “I know...but i had to speak to you very urgently..” he said as she nodded and asked him to sit

Arnav was too wound up to do anything else...after his talk with Lavanya, he had gone to speak to Sahiba himself when he had chanced upon a small gathering at her desk...the discussion he had heard there had got his blood boiling...when they had noticed him standing there, everyone had dispersed quickly leaving Sahiba to face his wrath alone

He knew he had to apologize to Khushi for the harsh words he threw at her...she was right, Sahiba was simply being difficult because her ego was hurt...that was the only reason she was badmouthing Khushi and telling people the exact opposite of what Khushi had done for her...he knew that Khushi had gone out of her way to accommodate Sahiba, but the version she was telling the others was completely opposite of what had happened.

So here he was, after blasting of that girl for her behavior and serving her a termination notice...at Khushi Gupta's desk...to apologize.

“Arnav? You can sit you know...its your office anyways...i'm just here because of my name” she said as he felt something prick him and it worsened when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He kept his hands on her desk and looked into her eyes “Look Khushi...I...I only came to tell you...” he started saying when she looked at him questioningly

“Uh...I” he said again, trying to form words which for some reason were getting stuck in his throat...how do you apologize to someone after hurting them with such horrible words... “What is it Arnav? I have a meeting in 5 mins...did you come here to say something or just stare at me?” she asked him when he sighed and took his hands off her desk

“Are you coming to the event tomorrow? The Aastha Foundation Mela?” he asked her when she widened her eyes, not believing that he had come all the way to ask her this “I....I mean, i wanted to personally invite you” he said as he berated himself for steering from the real issue...his apology

“Oh how sweet of you, the great ASR coming to personally invite me...off course I'll be there...its a very noble cause and my mother is also very much involved in it....I don't mix my personal and professional issues Arnav...whatever happened in your cabin a while ago, will not affect my equation with you out of office” she said  stiffly as arnav nodded, not sure of what to say.

“Thats...uh...so i'll see you there tomorrow” he said as khushi looked away and nodded...arnav stood still for a few seconds more before walking back to the door...but the restlessness would not leave him...he turned back before stepping out of the room and called out to her softy “Khushi?”

She looked up at him with guarded eyes, not sure of what he was going to say “Khushi....I'm sorry” he said before he briskly walked away leaving a stunned khushi behind...unsure of what just passed.