Opposite Poles..Part 51

Part 51

“Aman Sir?” Khushi entered his cabin.  He looked up from his laptop.  “Ms Gupta?” he was surprised to see her.

“umm…. Wanted to talk to you!” she said.  He nodded.  She sat on the chair.  He closed his laptop and was ready to listen to her.

 She recollected the morning incidence. 

It was around eight in the morning and she was getting ready.  Her Amma-Babuji had gone to the temple and sham had walked in.

“Aree, NandKishore! Sham Babua?” Buwaji was surprised to see him.

“Ji, Buwaji! Actually Khushi ji needs to visit the police station..!” he had dropped the bomb shell.

“What?” but you said the matter is over!” Khushi had exclaimed.

“Yes, but I got a message from the Police Inspector…!” he had avoided to look at her.  She didn’t know what to do.  “Buwaji, where is Babuji?” she had asked.

“Temple!” buwaji had replied panic struck.  “There is no time, Khushi ji!” sham had said hurriedly. 

“Aree, Jao, Khushi!” Buwaji had ordered her to go with Sham.  She had reluctantly gone.

She came out with him.  He started walking down the road.  She was puzzled.  He opened a brand new car door.  She was shocked.

“Your Car?” she asked.  He fumbled a bit, then said “No! It’s my clients car! He has given me for some days..!”

“Brand new car?” she looked confused since it didn’t bear a registration number.  After the hit and run incidence and after getting scolding from ASR, her eyes naturally turn to the number plate of any car!

“Yeah!” he asked her to sit.  She looked at him and sat in the car.

"Actually i wanted to take you in a car, Khushi ji!" he smiled sweetly at her.  She looked at him narrowing her eyes.

"In somebody Else's car?" She was suspicious.

"No! I mean, I will get my car too! But I wanted to feel it... taking you out in a car..!" he said dreamily.

“Which police station?” she asked bringing him down on earth again.  “No!” he said smiling at her.  “What?” she was upset.

“I wanted to talk to you…!” he said seriously.  She gaped at him.

“Khushi ji… I am really worried about you!” he started with his standard statement.  She didn’t respond.  He went ahead.

“Look, these things are dangerous.  You are involved in a big scam.  You need to be careful.  You know, the company will use you and try to put everything on your head!” he tried to scare her.  She looked scared! He was gauging her.  She kept looking at him.

“Khushi ji, I am your friend, a well wisher!” he said with genuine concern.  She waited.

“Khushi ji, I could handle yesterday’s problem with the police…But what if I was not there?” he asked her.  She looked at her plainly and said, “What? Babuji was there…He would have called me.  I would have taken someone’s help!”

“Khushi ji, try and understand the gravity of the situation..!  These things are not that simple.  Your babuji is not adequately educated.  He wouldn’t have managed!” he raised his voice.  She was not responding per his expectations.

“Yeah, I know! Thank you sham ji!” she said with genuine gratitude. 

“You have an option, Khushi ji! You can go back!” he said seriously.  She looked at him in surprise.

“What will happen then? The police will come there also, if they want to! That much I know, though I am not educated!” she snapped.  He was taken aback. 

“Khushi ji… I will manage here! You don’t have to worry!” he said trying to place his hand on hers.  They had stopped at a secluded place. 

“Sham ji, I am getting late.  The office car will come any time!” Khushi said getting worried.

“Don’t worry about it, Khushi ji! Try and understand the problem!” sham did not know how to convince her.  She grew restless.

“Khushi ji, now I could stop the police.. but they will continue to harass you, they will ask to you report to the station.  They may put you in lockup also.  On top of that if someone tips off the police that you are involved in a fraud case and an inquiry is pending against you…!” Sham stoped, glanced at Khushi’s frightened face, and looked away smirking.  He had the right effect on her.  She was gaping at her with fright.

“Your babuji won’t be able to do anything.  Your buwaji will be devastated.  You know her health…!” he went on.

“What should I do now?” she was completely under his control.

“Umm.. trust me, Khushi ji!” he kept his hand on hers.  She didn’t withdraw. He patted on her hand.  Tears welled up her eyes. 

“I want to go home…!” she said in a small voice.  He had to control an urge to hug her.  “Not now, Sham Manohar Zaa… you have plenty of time to take her in your arms… Don’t spoil the effect now!” he smirked patting her hand. 

She withdrew her hand with a jerk and said firmly.

“Sham ji, I want to go home!” sham looked at her startled.  She was gazing out of windown.

“Khushi ji…!” He started off in a soft voice.

“Home!” she looked at him.  “Otherwise I will go on my own!” she said putting her hand on the door handle.

“No! I will take you!” he said starting a car.

He had left her at the corner and had said “Khushi ji, I will leave you here, I have some urgent work!” She had got down without a word.

Her babuji was pacing restlessly.  She came ran into his arms crying.

“Khushi..!” he patted on her back.

“Babuji… Shamji…told me about the danger…!” she started off and told him everything.  He looked serious.

“Khushi bitiya…I think you should talk to someone in the office, about this police harassment…!” he said gravely.  She looked up startled.  He nodded and said…”Yes, talk to someone…!” She went inside deep in thoughts.  And now she was sitting before Aman to discuss the issue…!

“Aman Sir, I am really confused… who might have given the complaint?” she said finally after narrating the incidents. 

“Which police station?” Aman too asked the logical question.

“Don’t know! Sham ji said he had managed and settled the issue…!” she said sheepishly feeling stupid that she didn’t know the police station.

“I mean the issue is settled… but I didn’t tell anyone other than the people in the office…” she looked up at his cabin.  Aman understood.

“Ok, I will see what can be done!” he said seriously.  She came out dropping her shoulders.  She looked up before taking her seat and saw him glaring at her.  She waited for a scream… but nothing happened. She busied herself in the work. 

Lavanya climbed the stairs enraged.  She barged into his cabin and threw a piece of paper on his table.

“ASR! This is not done! Look at her atrocity… how dare she draw a picture like this?” her rage went overboard.  He gazed at her.

“Look at this, ASR!” she said showing him the picture…!  He stared at the picture for a long time…

“Already Started Spreading Tentacles? Suit and Tie… not everyone is rich… Won’t you try your tricks on me…?” his own words were picturised… ! A line of smile appeared on his face… “Pagal!” he blurted looking at her down!

“ASR!” Lavanya raised her voice.  “Call her right now and send her home! I can’t stand her anymore..!”  she demanded.  He coolly folded the piece of paper and slid it into his pocked.  Lavanya went on ranting…

“ASR! Look at her arrogance… this yokel, stupid girl is ruining the atmosphere in the office..!”

“ASR! Are you listening?” she blew her head off in rage.  ASR turned to her,

“Lavanya go back and start preparing about our conference …!” he said ignoring her ranting..

“ASR! Make a decision…!” she was all set to settle the matter once for all.

“Are you asking me to make a decision?” ASR asked her in deadly voice.

“No! I mean… you should.  Send her away, ASR!” she urged.  He stared at her blankly.  She understood.

“ASR! One day this girl will land us in trouble!” she warned him.  He looked at the cubical.

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“Chamakili, prepare this! I want it on my table this evening..!” Lavanya ordered and went off. 

Khushi looked into the file and started working. 

“this needs celebrations..!” she said aloud…!

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“I am sorry, Aakash Sir, I couldn’t prepare all the motifs today..! Actually my father had some health problem and I had to taken him to the Doctor!” she said apologetically. 

“Is he ok? Do you need any help?” Aakash asked concerned.  She shook her head.  “He is ok now” she said smiling. 

“What was the problem?” Aakash asked softly.

“umm.. Doctor said he has some breathing problem… his heart is weak!” she said seriously. 

“Oh!” he said seriously too.

“I promise, this will not happen again.  I will complete the work in time!” she said looking up at his tall figure.

“No! its ok!” he was considerate enough. 

“I will complete by tomorrow and send all the motifs..!” she said.

“Ok! I will come and collect them!” he said smiling at her.  She nodded. 

“I should be going…!” She said keeping the tea glass on the table on the stall.  He never wanted her to leave. 

“umm.. ok!” he said reluctantly.

“Sir?” she turned and looked at him.  He approached her and said in a whisper.. “I am not Sir! I am Aakash!” she blushed. 

“You were saying something..!” he brought her from her dreamy state.

“Umm… actually I wanted to request you…!” she paused.  He raised his eyebrow.

“Umm… I mean… can you come home to pick up the motifs?” she asked hesitantly.  His eyes beamed.

“Why not? Sure… I would love to have Samosas and Malai Gilauri..!” he said smiling broadly.  She felt relieved. 

“Done! Tomorrow evening at Four!” he held out his hand.  She didn’t know what to do.  She looked at the hand shyly and gave hers into his.

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