Opposite Poles..Part 27

Part 27

“You..! Come in here!” Lavanya called her in.  Khushi stood before her.  Lavanya glared at her from head to toe and made a face.

“Don’t you have a better dress?” she asked with disgust. 

“No Madam, all my dresses are like this” she said plainly. “Oh! God! I don’t understand, why..!” she blurted in frustration.

“Ok, Fine! Wait here!” she ordered picking up the phone.

“ASR, Lunch?” she asked.  “Yeah.. ok!” she responded listening to the other side.

“Ok! You… chamakili..I mean.. Whatever is your name! Go and get our lunch from the canteen!” she said curling up her lip disdainfully. 

“Order, pasta and Salad with a cup of black coffee and a glass of orange juice..! Bring it up to ASR’s cabin!” she ordered.  Khushi nodded and went out.  She found out canteen at the other end of the office.  Ordered the food and waited there till it got ready.  She was shocked with the rates.

“Thank god, I brought my Tiffin with me!” she muttered.

“Don’t you have Jilebees on your menu?” she asked. 

“No! We don’t offer Indian food here!” came a voice. 

“Not even sweets?” she asked surprised.

“Sweets? No way! Our boss is a diabetic…!” she got the shocking information. She thought for a while..

“No wonder he is so bitter…!” she blurted, took the tray and went away.  

She entered his cabin.  He was busy talking over the phone.  He stopped talking. She kept the tray and turned.  He gaped at her forgetting that he was on the phone.  She walked past him; he still was gaping at her.  She turned, looked up at him and pointing her finger at his ear, said..”Phone!” He startled, his jaw dropped.. she turned and descended the stairs smirking.  She saw her madam climbing the stairs.  

“Kept the food, Madam!” she said politely and came back to her place.  She had to finish typing before lunch. 

“ASR! This girl… doesn’t even have a dress sense.  I am doubtful about her abilities…!” Lavanya started off .. Somehow she did not like the idea of ASR appointing a girl as her assistant, without asking her.

“Stop it Lavanya! Forget her!” he snapped jabbing his fork in his pasta. 

“We have a meeting post lunch, Lavanya..!” he said.  They busied themselves with the discussion on the upcoming meeting.  Lavanya felt better.  

“What the hell?” he got up with a jerk looking out of his cabin.  He went upto the entrance of his cabin and yelled

“KHUSHI..What the hell you think you are doing?”  She looked up at him.  Lavanya had already started descending the stairs furiously.  Khushi had opened her Tiffin on the table pushing away the other material  and was about to take a bite of Jilebee.  The jilebee from her fingers dropped when he yelled at her.

Her anger mounting, she said equally loudly.. “Celebrating my first day of humiliation in this office, SIR!” A wave of murmur ran through the office! The stress upon ‘sir’ whipped him.  He clenched his fists in rage.  Lavanya had reached Khushi’s cubical so was Aakash.

“Umm… Ms Gupta! You may go to the canteen and eat! You cannot eat here!” he said mildly before Lavanya could yell at her again.

“Umm Sorry sir, I didn’t know that!” she collected her spread out Tiffin, piled on one another and got up to go to the canteen.  Aakash smiled at her innocence.  Shaking his head he went away. 

“ASR!..” Lavanya was back in his cabin totally frustrated. 

“From where did you pick up this Yokel, boorish girl?” Lavanya looked furious.  ASR was still standing there rooted with shocked expression.

“ASR!” Lavanya held his arm.  He came back to his senses.  Khushi had managed to stun him.  

*********   *******

Khushi took a small table at a remote corner in the canteen and spread her tiffin containers.  She had never eaten alone.  Even in the warehouse, all use to share.  Here she felt like an alien, different in every sense.  She felt a bulk in her throat.  She lost her apatite and stared at her food. 

Someone pulled chair opposite her.  She looked up startled.  A person in suit sat in front of her.  She smiled faintly.

“Aman..! Manager!” he held out his hand.  She looked at her syrup smeared right hand and “Namaste!” said sheepishly.  Inadvertently, she held out the jilebee container.  He took one and tasted it.

“Beautiful… very tasty.. melts in mouth!” he praised.  A broad smile appeared on her face.

“Which shop?” he asked.  “Khushi Kumari Gupta Sweet Home!” she declared proudly and then lowering down her tone said..”I made them..!” He was surprised and picked up one more.  Khushi got a company.  She had a satisfying lunch and came back to her place to resume her work.  

She saw Lavanya coming down.  “You..! Pickup the files and arrange them in the conference room!” she ordered.  She went to her cabin and Khushi followed.

“Umm..Where is the conference room, Madam?” she asked politely.

“Ask Someone!” Lavanya Snapped!  Khushi came out with a pile of files.  She went to the front desk.

“Where is conference room?” she asked.  The girl waved her hand in some direction.  Khushi was more confused.  She looked around.

“I will show you!” said Aman coming to her rescue.  “Go inside and place the files one for every chair” he gave her instructions and vanished.  It was dark inside.  A huge screen on the wall was glowing.  She searched for the light switch.  A shadow appeared at the entrance and she found out the switch.  

He was at the door folding his arms on his chest.  She got nervous and started placing her files hurriedly.  His eyes flashed with malice. He came in advancing at her.  She went back…!

“Dekhiye.. Paas Mat Aaiye!  Don’t ! .. “ she raised her finger. 

“Haath neeche!” he warned her under his breath. 

“Tum Kuch Nahi Kar Sakati! You cannot runaway now!” he said closing the gap.

“Oh yes, I can…I was a champion athlete in school!” she said flaring up her nose jerking her head back.

“Haan?” he was amazed.  She had taken it literally!  His eyes twinkled.   She had already reached at the other side of the table and was pacing towards the door.  He leapt forward but she was out of his reach.  

“Damn it!” he was annoyed by his own boyish behavior.   Khushi descended the stairs and came to her desk.

“Well done,  Khushi!” she patted her own back grinning! 

She buried herself in her work.   She was at peace.  No one from above was glaring at her now.  She started filing the papers humming.  Someone came to her cubical.  She looked up startled.

A woman with modern attire was standing before her. 

“Rekha!” she introduced herself.  “Khushi!” Khushi reciprocated.

“Heard, you make good jilebees?” she asked her in a low tone.  Khushi nodded and took out her Tiffin.  The last remaining one was picked up by Rekha.  She ate it and said.. “Get more tomorrow! They are lovely!” she winked and went away hurriedly.  Khushi smiled broadly.

“Everyone is not so better in this office.  Some do have a sweet tooth!” she muttered.  She had managed to make two people talk to her in this alien environment. 

******   *****   ******

Aakash came out of the conference hall first and hurriedly went out. 

He was at the shop waiting for the girl who was to give him the samples.   He waited nervously.  He saw her at the corner walking with someone else. 

“Oh! She had brought someone..!” he got more nervous.

“Better you push off, Aakash!” he thought and turned his back and went away.

Payal entered the shop.  Buwaji was doing all the talking.

“I will have to ask the party, Madhumati ji!” the shop owner told Buwaji.

“Haan.. to pucho! Ask the party then!” exclaimed Buwaji.

The shop keeper dialed a number.  Aakash picked up from the corner of the road.

They talked over the phone.  “Yes.. Please talk to her!”  Shop keeper gave it to Payal.

“Hello..!” she said shyly.  Aakash felt better.

“Yes, Payal ji!” he too was soft enough. 

“I have kept the samples here.  You can pick them up..!” she said mildly. 

“Umm… sir ji.. my Buwaji wanted to talk to you.. umm.. about the rates…!” she gave him the hint and gave the receiver to Buwaji.

“Hello, NandKishore! … Dekhiye… Rate main kum nahi hoga! Our rates are fixed…!” Buwaji was loud enough that Aakash heard her without his mobile a quarter mile away from the shop.  He held his mobile away from his ear while talking to her.

“Yes.. I agree!” he said cutting off further conversation.  Buwaji was satisfied…!

“See? Logonko kadar hai..! Some people appreciate skills and workmanship!” she said happily. 

Payal and Buwaji came out of the shop.  Aakash stood away and watched them.

“Why does she have to bring her Buwaji? I would have anyway agreed to whatever rate she quoted!” he thought frustrated with himself.   He had chickened out looking at Buwaji.  “Next time, I am going face her bravely!” he thought resolutely.