Opposite Poles..Part 29

Part 29

Khushi came home fuming.  “This is the black day in my life.!” She muttered furiously.

“That Monster… Arnav Singh Raizada,  is .. is a …!” she couldn’t find the right word to describe his barbaric behavior. 

She entered her home and threw her bag on the chair in rage.  The docket fell down.

“Khushi…? What happened?” Payal came and looked at her younger sister.

“Khushi..?” she held her hand.  “You were crying..!” she whispered.

“Yes Jiji…!” she said with tearful eyes.

“What happened? ” she asked taking Khushi to the kitchen along with her.  She didn’t want Buwaji to hear anything.  

“Jiji… I don’t know.. but that Monster… that Arnav Singh Raizada…!” she started off.

“Raizada? What happened? Where did you meet him?” Payal was panic.

“Meet him? Jiji! I have to work in his office…!” Khushi broke the news.

“What?” payal forgot to breath.  Khushi told her everything including the theft charges and the temporary arrangement to work in his office…!

Payal was shocked.  “Khushi… He will make your life a living hell!... I don’t know, why he is after you..!” Payal blurted. 

“Khushi… tell me! You have not taken out your anger on him .. Anytime..!” she asked holding Khushi’s hand.  Khushi was embarrassed, but defended herself.

“What jiji.. he kept on humiliating me and you expect me to keep quiet?” She asked raising her voice.

“Khushi… Babuji told you to control your anger…! You go to any extent when you are enraged…! Khushi tell me.. you did not do anything..!” Payal spoke aghast.

“No Jiji… That monster is a step ahead of me…. !” Khushi cut her off remembering the humiliation and her retaliation.  She took the towel and went into the bathroom.  Payal stood there deep in thoughts.

“I think.. I spoke too much.  I should have controlled my anger… that monster! I am sure, he will take revenge tomorrow…! I should be ready for more humiliation..!” she spoke loudly.

“Khushi… Whom are you talking to?” asked payal from outside.  Khushi stopped and said “Nothing Jiji!”

“Hold your tongue, Khushi Kumari Gupta… beware! Don’t open your mouth… ! This is the only way to curb his barbarism!” she reprimanded herself. 

When she came out, her Jiji had turned into statue holding the papers from the docket.

“Jiji? What happened?” Khushi shook her.  Payal looked at her aghast.

“Khushi… have you read the papers before signing?” she asked.  “No! Why?” asked Khushi thoroughly confused. 

“Khushi… look at your pay package…!” she showed her the appointment letter.  Khushi glanced at it and the papers dropped down on the floor.

“This can’t be true, Jiji! There must be some mistake…! This Arnav Singh Raizada can make mistakes…!” she said grinning.

Payal had gone ahead to read the terms and conditions.  Khushi collected the papers and said shrugging..

“Anyway Jiji.. I am not going to stay there for long…! It won’t make any difference.  But tomorrow, I will go and ask him…!”

“Khushi… we need someone’s advice before you do anything on this..!” Payal was shocked looking at the terms and conditions.  “Khushi.. look here, it states.. ‘every error, mistake or omission will be quantified and shall be adjusted from the monthly pay…!”

“Yeah! Ok! I won’t make any mistake.. or omission or whatever…!” she was overconfident. 

“Khushi, don’t be so sure! You know… you always make some gadbad wherever you go or whatever you do, you land yourself in trouble..! He will catch you on wrong foot…! This is not a good sign, Khushi…!” Payal had pressed her panic button.  But Khushi was still enraged with that monster.

“Its ok jiji! I will manage!” she said confidently.

“We can ask Sham ji about these terms and conditions..!” Payal was delighted.

“Aree Haan! Where is he?” asked Khushi with a brightened up face. 

“He who?” Buwaji had jumped into the discussion.

“Sham ji, Buwaji, who else?” asked Khushi plainly. Buwaji had a broad smile on her face.

“Aree, he is out of station for another couple of days..!”

“Khushi, we can call him up and ask. Give me your cell. He has saved his number in your mobile..!” said

Payal enthusiastically. Khushi looked furious.

“My mobile is gone, Jiji!” she said bitterly.

“Gone? Where?” Asked Buwaji raising her voice.

“Confiscated!” she said. “What?” came a shocked reaction from both.

“That Monster took it away..!” Khushi clenched her fists in rage.

“Monster?” asked buwaji.

“My boss, buwaji!” Khushi clarified.

“Khushi.. I think we should tell this to babuji!” Payal was worried about Khushi. Khushi didn’t answer.

She went to her room. The terms of contract were bothering her.

“Tomorrow, I am going to ask him. .. And yes, I am not going to get angry at all! Whatever that monster does..!” she clenched her fists in rage.

******** ******** *******

Khushi reached office next day in time.  She stopped at the entrance, prayed her devi mayya and resolved that she will not retort back or react to any of His or Her insults.  “Both are same! He and She! My bosses..!” she blurted and entered the office.  Inadvertently, she looked up. No one was gazing at her.  She felt relaxed. 

There was a pile of files on her table.  The handwritten reports were to be types and print outs needed to be taken.  She prayed her idol of devi mayya, talked to the computer screen and started working. 

Suddenly the entire office fell silent.  She knew who had arrived.  “The Monster King is here to spoil everyone’s mood!” she muttered.  She saw him going to his cabin.  She did not look up. 

Nothing happened.  Aakash walked in after an hour or so.  He went to ASR’s cabin.  Lavanya was nowhere to be seen.

********   ******

“Aakash? I saw you on the road…!” Arnav stared at his cousin brother.

“Umm… Bhai, I went to collect the samples..!” he said sheepishly avoiding ASR’s gaze.

“Samples? Why did you collect the samples, Aakash? There are people to do this work!” he said sternly.

“Don’t waste your time in such things, Aakash!” he reprimanded. 

“Umm.. no, bhai! I mean … I .. I had told her that I would be collecting the samples..!” he said in a haste and immediately repented having said that.

“Her?” ASR looked at the flushed face of his brother.  Aakash came out of the cabin hurriedly and Arnav shrugged.  

*****  *********

“Go Khushi… Ask him …!” Khushi told herself.  She wanted to ask about the employment contract.  She had no courage to go alone to his cabin.  She was waiting for Lavanya Madam to come.  But then, heard that Lavanya would be coming only in the evening.  She saw Aman moving towards ASR’s cabin.

“Umm Aman Sir!” she called in a small voice.

“Yes Ms Gupta?” he turned back.  She took out the docket.  “I mean, I wanted to ask about the terms and conditions..!” she started off.

“I am Sorry, Ms Gupta! ASR sir himself prepared the papers.  You can go and ask him!” he vanished in ASR’s cabin.  Two brown eyes and a smug face were gazing at her.  She turned her back on him.

“Yes.. Khushi! Go and ask about your mobile… and then ask about the papers…!” she encouraged herself after thinking for a while.

“It was fifteen minutes to one in the afternoon and Khushi mustered up all her courage and stepped into ASR’s cabin.  She knocked.  He was busy with his laptop.

“Get in!” he ordered and she winced.  She came in ready to runaway….!  He looked up.  His eyes flashed with malice.  She avoided his gaze.

“Yes?” he folded his arms.

“umm Sir, My mobile…!” her voice failed her.  He got up from his chair and came around.  She paced backwards…! 

“I tried to give you your mobile back, yesterday…!” he said in a deep deadly voice.  She looked up at him remembering how she ran away from him hailing an auto.

“Its gone!”  he said puzzling her more.

“Gone? Where?” she took a step forward and held the back of the chair. 

He walked past her, blocked the entrance and leaning towards her said.. “I threw it away!”

“Haa?” Khushi inhaled and held her breath.  He has already invaded her personal zone.  She could feel his breath.  She forgot to exhale.   The holding of breath made her face red and her eyes popped up.  He kept his hand on her shoulder enjoying the effect he had on her.

“Breathe… breathe….! Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta!”  he said in a bear whisper and she exhaled at once.  She panted.  He smirked. 

“What?”  she asked gathering some courage.  He had moved little away from her.  

“Yes! You did not take the phone and I don’t keep unwanted material with me!” he said coolly.  Her anger started rising to the peak.

“You threw it?” her voice raised so was her finger.

“Aawaaj neeche! Watch your tone!” he threatened her.  She looked aghast. She wanted to yell at him, wanted to snatch away his mobile!  She clenched her fists and turned her back.

“Control, Khushi! Control your anger, before it does any damage!” she muttered.  He was staring at her expecting the explosion anytime.

“Fine!” she said steadying her breath.  He looked surprised.  Her eyes flashed for a second and then she was calm.   Warning bells rang in his head.  

She kept the docket on his table.  “I have some doubts about the terms and conditions, Sir!” she said politely looking down at the floor.

“You already have accepted them by signing on it!” he smirked.

“But sir, about the monthly pay…!” she took out a paper.  He stared at her and again trapped her with his hands placed on both the sides of the chair.  She felt weak and lost her voice.

“Yes, the figure is correct..! You will get fifty thousand per month…!” he said in a bear whisper.  Her mouth fell open.  He stared at her with malice.  She shuddered.  Warning bells ringing, she asked further.

“And, about this.. every error will be quantified… and adjusted from the pay…!” she read out the clause.

“Yes!” he said in a deadly voice.  “An appropriate amount will be deducted from your salary, for each error.. etc etc.. you commit!” he smirked.

“And who will decide the amount sir?” she asked.  He raised his eyebrow and stared at her.

“Ok! Understood, Sir! This means I will end up getting nothing at the end of the month! ” she looked down.  He stepped back to allow her to move.

“So sure about yourself? Ms Gupta?” he asked disdainfully.

“Serve me better and take away the money….!” He was all set to humiliate her further. 

“And afterall, girls like you can go to any extent for money …!” he waited for her reaction but got none!.

She moved towards the door.  He could see the wicked smile on her face.

“What?” he asked. 

“Do you know the story of a king and a tiny mouse?” she asked.  He gaped at her.  She turned her back and descended the stairs.