Opposite Poles..Part 47

Part 47

“Good Morning, ASR!” Lavanya didn’t bother to wish others.  Nani was calm.  She didn’t look at Lavanya.

“Hey, what’s your name?” Lavanya asked Ram Prakash.

“Ram Parakaas! Our servent!” answered Mami smiling broadly.  She was happy that Lavanya stayed. 

“Yeah, whatever! RP get me two boiled eggs and a sandwich, with orange juice..!” she ordered.

“What? Lavanya… we are vegetarians..! No eggs, no non veg!” Anjali said lowering her voice.

“Aree Raani Saheba, she doesn’t know!” Sham sympathized with Lavanya. 

“Ok! I will order from the restaurant!” Lavanya found out a way.

“No! you can’t get that kind of food in here!” Nani spoke for the first time.  Lavanya shrugged.

“Ok! I will have breakfast in the office!” she had a solution.  Nani didn’t respond.

Arnav had his breakfast and said “Lavanya, we need to go early.  I have a meeting with the Canadian Clent! He is in India!” Lavanya nodded.  “Yeah, ASR I will go get ready.

Nani glared at Lavanya.  She had decided that she will not directly confront her but will not tolerate her behavior.   After Arnav left Nani’s room last night, she had decided to wait and watch.  She knew her Chote will not be happy with Lavanya.  But she also knew, he will not listen to anyone now.

“Nani ji… She doesn’t know the norms! Raani Saheba will educate her!” Sham assured Nani.  Nani flared up her nose.

Ram Prakash walked in with pooja material.  Arnav realized, its Teej!

 “Di, don’t fast! For your health’s sake!” Arnav requested.  She shook her head.  He knew! He looked at his Jijaji.

“You know, Saale Saab! Her beliefs .. But I am there with her.  I will talk care of her.” He assured him. 

“Di, you are already lucky.  Why do you want to do all these things?” He asked his Di.  Lavanya came down.  Nani raised her eyebrows.

“Arre Lavanya ji, you can also fast, for Chote!” Anjali proposed.  Lavanya made a face.

“No Di!” ASR rejected the proposal.  “Yeah! I don’t believe in these rituals!” she said looking at ASR.

“Ask her not to eat non veg, at least today!” Nani said scornfully.

“Yes, Naniji!” Lavanya looked at Naniji.  Anjali felt better.  Lavanya looked little homely. 

“If you want me to, I will keep fast!” Lavanya looked at Anjali.  “No need!” Nani said.  Lavanya shrugged. 

“I need to touch up, I will be right back!” she went away.

“Chote, did you send a car for Khushi Bitiya?” she asked turning to Arnav.  He nodded. Sham froze.  Then coming back to his senses asked to confirm,  “Who?” 

“Arre Khushi! She is such a sweet girl.  Nani liked her.  She and Nani are going to prepare Malai ki Gilauri for the evening!” Anjali provided the information.  He went away.  Nani and Anjali busied themselves in pooja preparations.  Mami had a juice under the pretext of Fasting.

They heard a crashing noise and Ajlali got up with a jerk.  “What? What happened?” she tried her best to reach her room.  Aakash and Arnav were first to reach Anjali’s room.  They all stood at the door looking inside.  Sham was standing in the middle of the room looking shattered.

“What happened?” Anjali looked at the glass shards scattered all over the room.  A life size photo frame hung over their bed had fallen down.

“Raani Saheba..! I.. I was trying to clean it up…. It slipped  of my hands!” Sham said shakily. 

“Are you hurt?” she was panic.  “No.. Raani Saheba..! I am fine!” he held her closer to his heart. 

“Ram Prakash… please clean it up!” said Sham and came out with Anjali.

“I will get it fixed!” he went back to pick up the frame.   He brought it out.  Anjali had a look at the shattered frame of her photograph with her husband.  It brought tears in her eyes.

“No! Raani Saaheba… don’t! Its not a bad omen.  Don’t be superstitious about this… Nothing will happen! Infact our love will be strengthened” Sham hugged and whispered in her ears.  She smiled.

“And Raani Saheba, when I am always there with you, why would you want

 the photo frame?” he asked her sweetly.  Nani had a big smile on her face.

“Anjali Bitiya, you two are really lucky to have each other!” she said blessing both of them.  Sham glared at his wife passionately and then took away the frame.

“Raani Saheba..! I will be right back! I remembered some urgent work!” he said winking at her.  She flushed.  He went out hurriedly taking the frame with him.

“I know, he must have gone to get me a gift! He does it for every Teej!” she said blushing.  Nani and Mami had a smile.  

“I don’t know, when he will be back! Hello hi bye bye!” said mami sulkily.

“I am back!” Mamaji came from behind and kept his hands on Mami’s shoulders.

“Hello hi bye bye? When did you come?” Mami was more than happy.

“When you were busy surveying the glass shards..!” said Mamaji. 

“Ok! Mom, Nani! I got to go!” Aakash left hurriedly.  He was already late for the office.  Arnav had already reached the hallway and was waiting for Lavanya! 

******    ******

“Where are we going?” Khushi asked bewildered. 

“Shantivan, Raizada house, madam!” driver answered.  The car had come to pick her up.  She sat back relaxed.  “Hmm USS RAKSHAS KE THODI DER KE LIYE TO CHUTAKARAA MILA! Saved from that Monster at least for some time..!” she murmured.  

*****    ******

“Chamakili, what are you doing here?” Lavanya was shocked to see Khushi there.

“Lavanya ji? Aap?” Khushi was surprised too.

“I moved in yesterday, with ASR!” said Lavanya proudly.

“AAP DONO NE SHAADI KAR LI?” She asked bewildered.

“Shut up Chamakili! This is called Live In!” Lavanya tried to give her some knowledge.  Khushi looked confused.

“Why are you here, Chamakili?” Lavanya didn’t like her in the house.

“She has come on my request!” came a stern voice.  Arnav came up to the door where Khushi still was standing.

“You will finish Nani’s work and come to the office!” he ordered.  She nodded.

“Come on Lavanya! We are late!” he said holding her arm. 

“Yeah, ASR! I will get my purse!” she went hurriedly.  There was an awkward silence.  

********   *********

“I know, Lavanya, you must be disappointed! But this is my family!” he said looking at her. 

She wrapped her arm around his and said “Anything for you, ASR!” she smiled at him.  He felt better.

“Lavanya, look! I don’t want any problems at home! Hope you understand…!” he patted her head.

“Yeah ASR! I know… Things will settle down slowly! I have patience!” she said considerately.  He felt better.  

“Come! I want to gift you something, of your choice!” for the first time ASR was so considerate.  She looked at him passionately.  He bought her an exclusive gift and they went to office.

Khushi had not reached the office.  ASR’s temper reached the peak.

“Di, what is she doing there?” he asked over the phone.

“She has left Chote!” Anjali said.  He looked at the time.  Khushi reached office some time later when ASR and Lavanya were in the meeting room.  There was a pending file on her desk.  She started working putting her head down.

She was making the consolidated statement of all the vendors, suppliers and contractors.  She was supposed to make a tabular statement of all the vendors, their quotations, final purchase orders, payments made, payments pending, remarks.. etc.  She often went to Accounts department to pull out the files. 

“ASR! I am still not sure! Why did you give this task to her? I mean you are giving her the work which involved the most sensitive and crucial information about our financials…!” Lavanya was not at all happy.

“Let me handle it!” ASR dismissed all the arguments.  He knew what he was doing.  The enquiry was to reopen in the evening.  

**********    ********

Almost every female employee had a fasting that day.  Khushi was dying with hunger.  During lunch the women preferred juice and Khushi didn’t feel it right to have food in front of them.  She too preferred juice and fruits..! “Hey devi mayya? Why? Why are you testing my patience? Buwaji gave me only honey water… Anjali ji had fasting so I couldn’t eat in front of her.  And now? Here in the office, all my friends are fasting…! I know you get pleasure in troubling me like this…!” she prayed loudly.  Rekha laughed. 

“Khushi, you can have food!” she said looking at her hungry eyes. Khushi pursed her lips.  “No!” she said resolutely.  “I won’t be able to eat anything when you all are fasting…!” she said sulkily.  Rakha threw an apple at her.  She caught it in mid air and dug her teeth in it.  

“In a way, its good that you too are fasting!” said Rekha smirking.  “What?” Khushi was wild.

“Yeah! You will get a good husband! Your Prince Charming!” Rekha said giggling.  Khushi pursed her lips sulkily.

**********

She was called in the meeting room at Four in the evening.  The same enquiry squad was present with Aakash and ASR.  The paper work was over.  She was asked the same set of questions.  She repeated the answers.  They asked her to remember whom she had disclosed her password.  Every question pointed finger to Prashant, who now was dead.  Three of her old colleagues were called for the inquiry.  They all concurred on the same issue.. that Prashant used to ask them their password and they disclosed in good faith.  There was a deadend.  Everything seemed to be burnt with Prashant’s body.  

The person behind had done it intelligently, putting blame on the dead person.  The auditors suspected a third person involvement in this but had no clue who the person was. 

“You can go, Khushiji!” Aakash was very kind to her.  She looked at him hopefully.  “Is the inquiry over?”

“Not Yet!” came a rude answer.  She frowned.  “Rakshas!” she muttered. 

“You will be called again in a couple of days! You may go now!” he ordered her.  She turned her back and went out of the room.  

The panel had a big discussion of the issue.  They had dug out all four years of audited reports of theft and pilferage.  They had a difference of opinion on why the previous thefts were not reported or investigated, when every year the insurance premium was loaded heavily because of the claims …! They had reached the deadend.  All fingers pointed at the dead Prashant. 

“I feel we should report this to police and get his property sealed!” suggested an auditor.

“No!” said ASR.  “There is no point in putting his family in trouble. “ he closed the discussion.  

“I will handle it.  We will be more cautious from now on.  We need more data security…!” he looked at Aakash.  He nodded. “Yes bhai! I will take care of that!” Aakash assured his bhai.   

The meeting was over.  When ASR came out the office looked empty.  It was 6:30 in the evening and Lavanya was waiting for him.  He looked down at the cubical.  Khushi was busy with her statements filling up the tables, sticking out her tongue.  His eyes twinkled.   

“ASR!” Lavanya hugged him from behind and he turned wearing the same smile.  She looked at his face.

“What is it, ASR? “ she kept looking at his smiling face.  He wore seriousness again. 

“Come, lets go! “ he said in a soft voice.

“Yeah! I will go get my things.. we have to go to Mandir!” she said and went away.   

He looked down at the cubical.  “KHUSHI..!” he yelled.  She startled.

“Hey Devi Mayya! That’s what I was missing the whole day…! His yelling…! Got it finally..!” she joined her hands to her Devi mayya, Closed her eyes, prayed a while and then got up.  Turned again and bent down to touch her forehead at her Devi Mayya’s feet, irritating him more and more.

“KHUSHI..!”his voice echoed in the empty office.  She looked up and started climbing the stairs.

“Chalo Khushi, be ready! The monster is all set …!”  She had reached the door.

“Get those files..!” he ordered.  She descended and got all the files from her table.  She entered his cabin and kept the files on the table.  He looked at her sternly taking a sip of water from his glass.

“Go save the excel sheet, close it and come!” he said scornfully.  She looked at him angrily.

“PEHELE NAHI BATAA SAKATAA THA YEH RAKSHAS? He could have told me earlier!” she muttered furiously clenching her fists.  She saved, closed and came back.

“Ok! Let me open the file here…!” he opened the excel sheet.  His intercom rang.  He looked at her.  She ignored looking away.

“Pickup the phone!” he said under his breath.  “Haan?” she wore a question on her face.

“Pick up the damn phone!” the irritating ring had made him furious.  “Hello?” she picked up.

“Chamakili, give it to ASR!” Lavanya yelled from the other end.  She held out the receiver.  He took it irritably.

“What is it?” he asked irritably.  “ASR, Let’s go!” Lavanya said sweetly.

“I am busy for next half an hour!” he banged the phone.

“Another half an hour of torture..!” she muttered under her breath.

“I heard it!” he said looking at her.  “Thank you for hearing it!” she said equally scornfully.  His eyes twinkled again.  She gaped at his bright face.  “No retaliation?” she was surprised.

“Let us start the work..!” he scrutinized every worksheet opened with every vendor.  He asked her to cross check with the figures.  He looked OK with her work.

“Ok!” he finally said without any adverse remarks.  Encouraged by this, Khushi gathered all her courage to ask him.  She collected all the files.

“umm Sir?” he looked up at her expecting her to talk.  She fumbled looking at his eyes.

“Speak up!” he said.  She shuddered.  “Umm. I will be completing one month…!” she opened the topic. 

“So?” he pretended to know nothing.  She gaped at him.  “How do I ask him?” she was not sure.

“Umm, I mean… my pay…?” she said weakly. 

“Your pay, what?” he stretched it further.  He had got up from his chair and was advancing towards her.  She was frightened.  But she couldn’t back out now.  He had made her move backwards and she sat on the chair with a thud.  He placed his hands on the armrests and leaning forward asked, “What? Khushi Kumari Gupta?” he had a smirk on his face.  This face was familiar to her.  She was ready to strike.

“I mean, how much will I get, a….after the deductions?” she asked him at once.  His face was very close.  She could hear him breathe.  She held her breath back.  

“Do you still feel, you should be paid, Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta?” he asked her curling up his lip.

“What?” her mouth fell open and throat went dry.  “Yo… You mean no pay?” she asked him quivering.  She was doomed.  He was still leaning closer.  She forgot to breathe and lost her senses.  She rolled her eyes upwards in shock.  Next moment everything went dark..!”

“Khushi… Khushi! He was sprinkling water on her face.  She looked up.  She was still in the chair but he had bent down and had put his arm around her back.  He took a glass of water to her lips.  She drank it and took a deep breath.

“Are you ok?” he asked her helping her to sit properly.  “Khushi…!” she couldn’t recognize his soft and concerned voice.  She again gaped at him.

“Are you Ok?” he inadvertently cupped her face gently.  She lost her breath again.  “Khushi..!” he touched her cheek worried.  She opened her eyes and blinked at him.

“Are you alright?” Empty stomach boosted her anger.

“Alright? Are you ask me,Mr Raizada? After giving me the news that I won’t get anything, you have a heart to ask me if I am ok. What do you expect me to do? Dance with joy?” she flared up and got up from the chair with a jerk.

“Easy! Khushi! You will faint again!” he added fuel to fire.  “Don’t worry Mr. Raizada, I am strong enough to stand on my fee..!” her knees gave way.  He was waiting with open arms for her to fall in his arms.

“Khushi…!” he made her sit in the chair again offering her glass of water.  She refused and rested her head on the back of her chair.  He went away, mixed glucose powder in a glass of water and came back.

“Here, drink this!” he said.  She shook her head angrily.  He pulled her hair at the back to steady her head and warned her.

“Chupchap pi lo! Drink it!” she had no choice.  She immediately felt energy pumped in her body.  She got up.  He stepped back.

“Go home, Khushi Kumari Gupta!” he said smirking.  She blew her head off in rage.

“No! I will go after my office hours, SIR!” she retorted back.

“Your Wish!” he shrugged and started descending.  She kept gaping at him angrily.

“Oh! By the way….” he turned back.  She looked down at him.

“It would be interesting to see you dance…!” he smirked.

“You….You!” she raised her hands to strangle him.  Lavanya had come out of her cabin.  He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked out.  She stood in his cabin threw, the empty glass on the carpet in rage.