Opposite Poles..Part 30

Part 30

“What story?” He was left flabbergasted. Her smile made him alert.

“What the hell? What is she planning to do?” he thought to himself and then shrugging, went back to his work.

Khushi did not look up the rest of the day and buried herself in the work. During lunch hour too, she refrained from talking to anyone or commenting on anything. Rekha along with her friend and Aman gave her company enjoying Tiffin Sharing. Others looked on enviously.

“Can I join you?” another one asked and without waiting for acceptance, pulled the chair. Aman introduced, “Regi Thomas, works in Design Department. He is a fashion designer!” Khushi smiled at him. He surveyed Khushi intently and said, “If you change a bit, you will surpass all the leading models! “

“I will take it as a complement. But I am better, the way I am!” They laughed together.

Khushi was deep in thoughts. She knew he would retaliate. She knew he was expecting some reaction from her and when he didn’t get one, he could be angry. His anger made her shudder in fright but she kept to her work.

Lavanya appeared in the evening. Khushi reported the day’s work to her and waited there for further orders.

“Ok, Chamakili! You can go now. Its already six and I have a dinner date with ASR!” she said dreamily. Khushi inadvertently looked up to his cabin. He was not to be seen. “Where is he?” she thought and then shrugging went away happily.

“And wait! Tomorrow we have a trial shoot! You have to help the models!” she ordered. Khushi nodded.

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

“Chote? How come you arrived early?” asked Anjali surprised and happy.

“Nothing Di. Going out for dinner!” he said seriously.

“Dinner? Or Dinner date?” she asked loudly.

“It’s a business dinner Di!” he said and turned to go to his room. He turned back.

“Umm Di..!” he called out.

“Yes, chote?” she asked.

“Umm… do you remember the story of a King and a tiny mouse?” he asked suddenly.

“What?...Umm… I don’t remember , mamma telling us that story…!” she thought trying to remember for a while.

“Why, Chote?” she asked surprised.

“No! its ok!” he went to his room. Even he did not remember his mother telling him that story. Something churned in his mind.

“What story? Why was she smiling wickedly?” he paced the room.

“Damn it!” he clenched his fists and then he shrugged “Who cares!”.

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

He came down ready to go for the dinner.

“Aree chote, where are you going?” asked his grandmother, Nani.

“Business dinner, Nani!” he responded. She nodded.

“Umm… Nani.. do you know the story of the king and the mouse?” he asked looking around and making sure no one was around.

“umm.. yeah, I think I know the story..! why chote?” she asked curiously. His eyes flashed with excitement but that was not the time.

“Umm.. Nothing, Nani. Just asked!” he went leaving nani flabbergasted. She smiled… “He still has the craze of bed time stories…!” she wondered remembering his mother telling her, how crazy he was for the bedtime stories, when he was a kid..!

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

He was in a hurry to reach home after the dinner. Lavanya was all in a romantic mood wanted him to stay back with her in her apartment. He refused irritably and drove home.

He saw everyone had already retired to bed. He came to Nani’s room.

“Umm Nani.. that story..!” he felt embarrassed.

“Chote… look at the time!” she said and he came back to his room.

“No!” he woke up with a start past midnight. “No! this can’t be true!” he blurted. He had dreamt of a mouse in his bed. He turned and went back to sleep.

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

Next day, Khushi arrived before time and went to the canteen to have tea. She was ready to pay rupees 40 for a cup of mild diluted tasteless tea. People had started filing in. She chatted with canteen boys, and saw Rekha walking in.

“Hello Rekha Madam!” she greeted pleasantly. She was the only one to talk to her!

“Khushi?” she came to Khushi. “You look happy today!” Rekha remarked. Khushi smiled. Her phone rang. “Hello!” Rekha responded. Khushi waited patiently sipping the luck warm tea.

“So? Khushi?” Rekha raised her eyebrows. Khushi looked at her mobile.

“Nice handset!” she complemented. Rekha smiled.

“You know? I had the old antique looking one!” she started off.

“ASR sir liked it very much. So I gave it to him..!” she said innocently.

“What?” Rekha almost screamed! “Yeh baat kuch hajam nahi hui!” she said grinning.

“Yeah! Even I couldn’t digest initially.. but then he kept it with him..!” Khushi said seriously. She looked at the clock. It was five minutes to nine.

“Ok, Rekha madam, got to go. See you at lunch. And got Jilebees for you!” said Khushi grinning.

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

“Aakash?” He was surprised to see his brother Aakash on the busy market road talking to someone. He went ahead, parked his vehicle and came back. He saw Aakash talking to a girl. She was fair, beautiful with big expressive eyes and long hair tied with hair band. She looked like a small town girl with salwar suit and matching bangles.

“What the hell is he doing with her?” Arnav thought of calling his brother out but decided otherwise and went back to his car.

“Aakash, where were you?” asked ASR when Aakash returned to office after an hour.

“Umm.. collected the samples..!” he said sheepishly.

“Aakash, are you alright?” ASR asked bewildered looking at Aakash’s flushed face.

“umm.. yes, bhai!” Aakash looked away.

“Aakash, beware of such small town girls…!” Arnav warned him. Aakash was shocked.

“Bhai…!” he blurted.

“Forget it Aakash, go back to your work…!”

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

“What is this ASR? This boorish girl…!” Lavanya entered ASR’s cabin furious with her new assistant. ASR just looked at her.

“ASR! This girl is no good!” she started off. “This girl went on telling everyone that you liked her cell and so she gave it to you!”

“What?” he got up with a jerk.

“KHUSHI!” he screamed. Khushi looked up. “Hmm…. Call from the Monster..! Chalo Khushi, face him!”She got up slowly and started climbing.

“Khushi..!” he yelled again. She reached the door.

“What are you up to?” he grabbed her shoulder and pulled her in.

“What?” she asked with trailing voice. She looked frightened.

“What did you tell? I took your phone?” he asked furious. She looked confused.

“I confiscated your phone, Damn it! As a punishment!” he twisted her wrist.

“ASR!” Lavanya did not like him touching her. He did not leave Khushi. Khushi looked more confused.

“What did you tell others, Chamakili?” Lavanya asked furiously.

“What?” Khushi asked back in small voice.

“Don’t act smart, chamakili!” Lavanya was enraged. ASR tightened his grip on her wrist. Khushi looked blankly at her and then looked at ASR with painful eyes. He immediately released her. She took a step back.

“What did you tell others?” he asked her with gritted teeth.

“That you took my phone!” she said in a lower, polite tone. Lavanya felt hopeless.

“ASR! This girl went on telling everybody!!” she accused. Khushi looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“Everyone? Madam, there is no one who talks to me after the first day fiasco! Who would want to talk to a thief, after all?” she asked looking straight to ASR. He looked away.

“Go back to your work!” he ordered. Khushi descended the stairs wiping off her tears. When she finally reached her cubical, she had a grin.

“Arnav Singh Raizada!!” she muttered under her breath with a vengeance.