Opposite Poles..Part 67

Part 67

“Uncle ji, I could manage a stay order from attaching your shop!” Sham looked victorious.  Babuji was grateful.   He took the papers and smiled at Sham. 

“Only thing is, you should not miss a single installment..!” he said gravely.  Babuji too looked serious. 

“Uncle ji… don’t worry.. tell me if you need any help.. I can pay!” said Sham seeing Buwaji entering the hall.  Buwaji came and sat next to Sham.  

“Umm… Buwaji,  what should I tell that family?” he leaned and whispered.  Babuji looked confused. 

“Aree, babua… I told you! Wait for some time..!” said Buwaji glancing at Shashi. 

“Shashi babua, there is a marriage proposal for Sham babua…!” she opened the topic.  Shashi refrained from reacting.  Sham glanced at him and said slyly.  “Umm Buwaji we will talk about it later..! Look at this, I could get stay order..! I am not boasting myself… but only I can get a stay order.  I have contacts.. I can manage anything..!” he said changing the subject. Babuji looked lost in thoughts.  Sham smirked.  His phone rang and he picked it up hurriedly.  “Hello..” he said moving out.

“Shashi babua, what have you decided..?” Buwaji was desperate.  Babuji looked serious and shook his head.  “Jiji… let me think.  Things are not that easy..! “

“Think… think… no action..! I am fed up of your attitude..~” Buwaji went away frustrated.  Babuji got up and went out.

Sham was talking over the phone with his back at the door.

“Don’t worry, Saab! I promise I will get it! I am tightening the noose… soon things will be under my control!” Babuji heard and went away.. Thinking, “what noose… what is he talking about? There is something fishy about his behavior! He seems to be a scandalous man! I have to be more careful..!” he held his hand on his chest.  

“I don’t know, what is in store for Khushi bitiya…!” a surge of pain in his heart made him wince.  

***********    **********

“Payal ji.. your work was fabulous.  Even bhai appreciated it.  Today there is going to be a model shoot.  Your motifs will be used…!” Aakash fell short of words praising Payal.  She blushed sipping tea.  He met her to collect the embroidered fabric.  

“Umm… I am thinking of buying a sewing machne…!” payal said staring unfocused. 

“Oh! Is it? I can help you! I can provide you the latest model..!” Aakash was over excited.  She shook her head.

“No Aakash Sir! You already have helped me so much.  I will buy it on EMI… Khushi enquired the other day!” said Payal gravely. 

“Payal ji, it is not help… it is  of my interest too.  You will be able to design and deliver early.  The turnaround time will be less… it will help you design more!” he held her hand.  She blushed furiously looking around.

“Payal ji..! I will see what can be done…!” he said assuring her.  She nodded. 

“See these…!” he showed her photographs of Regi’s designs using her motifs and borders…!  She looked at them and smiled shyly.  “They look beautiful on those dresses!” she said.  

“The dresses look beautiful with your work..!” he said looking at her unblinkingly. 

“Payal ji.. do you mind coffee with me in the evening?” he urged.  She looked up at him.

“Please..? don’t say no!” he held her hand.  She blushed nodding.  Aakash sighed happily.

“So this evening at five… Coffee with me!  I will come to pick you up!” he said excitedly. 

“No.. I will come.. “ she was not sure about her babuji’s reaction.  Aakash smiled nodding.  

********  *******  ***

ASR stood at the entrance of his cabin watching Khushi.  She was at the entrance and he moved.  She came in without looking at him.  “Sit!” he ordered and when she did, walked around the table and took his chair, reclined it and stared at her intently.  

 She glanced around and saw her plants with the basket were placed on the stand in front of ASR’s table.  She refrained from reacting.  “I think he has plans to return my gift.  If he does that, I will hit him with those plants..!” she frowned.  

“So, you came by public transport, yesterday!” he spoke calmly..

“TAYYAR   HO  JA   KHUSHI,  VAKILSAAB   AB   JIRAH   SHURU   KARENGE..! Be ready Khushi, the prosecutor will start his cross-examination now!” Khushi thought fidgeting, getting nervous! She refrained from answering but nodded.  He opened his mouth to ask further and his phone rang.

“Yeah Di.. I am fine..!” he said staring at his open laptop.  “Is he not well?” Khushi thought and stole a glance at him.  He looked perfect.  She took a sigh of relief.  

“Yeah Di.. I will!  I will order something here…! Yeah Don’t worry. I will eat!” he said staring at Khushi.  She had put her head down. 

“So, he has not had his breakfast..! Bhookha khunkhar sher!” she thought parallelly. 

“No Di… I am not coming for lunch.  There is modeling shoot.. I will be busy..!” he said seriously.

“So he will not have lunch too…!” Khushi thought, with growling stomach.  She suddenly felt hungry. 

“Hope his cross-examination ends soon.  I will go and stuff something in my mouth!” she thought placing her hand on her tummy.

“Dictation!” another monosyllable!

“VAKILSAAB   NE   AGALI   TARIKH   LI,  SHAYAD! Prosecutor has asked for adjournment, perhaps!! ” She opened her notebook, ready to take down.  He started off.  This time he was slow and clear, stopping in between for her to complete writing. 

 “YEAH  SUPERFAST   EXPRESS   AAJ   PASSANGER   TRAIN   KAISE   HO   GAYA?” she wondered. He continued.  

“The matter was referred to the corporate ombudsman for maldministration.  The insurance claim was not settled in time..!” He stared at her stopping in the middle.  She was writing furiously sticking out the tip of her tongue.  He forgot what he was saying.  She stopped but didn’t look up, waiting for him to continue. He got up from his seat, came around and put his hand on her chair.  She looked up at him startled.  He smirked.  He knew the proximity effect on her.  ‘Touch me not!’ he thought controlling his urge to touch her.  

“Let me see what you have written..!” he tried to snatch away her note book.

“No!” She pulled it back.  He raised his eyebrow holding her wrist to snatch the book from her hand.  She freed it with a jerk flaring her nose in anger.  He came back to his senses.. 

“Do you know these words? Let me repeat them..!” he said contemptuously bending down, invading her personal space.  She shook her head.  

 “There is no word which I do not know!” she proclaimed boastfully. He glared at her confidence. 

 “SHABDKOSH    HAIN!” she spoke.  He didn’t understand.

“SHABD what?” he asked confused.  Now it was her turn to smile contemptuously.  “Dictionary..!” she clarified and waited for him to continue.  He gaped at her.  

“Arnie…!” Came an artificial shrill voice and ASR turned from Khushi to the direction of the voice with a jerk. 

A tall, slender figure came in and hugged him tightly.  Khushi couldn’t have a proper look as ASR was standing between them.  Three more clone figures with different skin colors walked in with a style.  Khushi gaped with her mouth open and eyes popped out of the sockets.  

The lady who spoke had not left ASR.  She was holding on to him like a creeper climbing on the tree trunk.  Khushi tried to look at the commotion getting up from her seat.  She couldn’t see ASR’s face.  She was desperate to see his reaction.  The four clones had surrounded him blocking Khushi’s vision. Khushi moved desperately and ASR moved to the other direction, again blocking her way.  

“Oh! Arnie… After a long time..!” she almost rubbed her cheek on his.  Khushi’s disgust went out of bound. 

“Shameless…!” she muttered.  Arnie seemed to be quite comfortable.  Making her angrier.  He didn’t bother to introduce her or tell her who these hockey sticks were.  She automatically was pushed aside by these four super models.  

She thought of going back to her desk but seeing that Arnie surrounded by these four girls blew her head off in rage and decided to stay there and watch what happens next.  

“I told you… these are the girls..!” she waved at the other three.

“Julie… I told you to talk to my creative team..!” he said coolly looking at her.  Khushi had not seen this ASR ! The scarcely dressed models had settled in his cabin at different placed.  Julie had placed herself on his table and relined clutching the edge of the table.  The black shiny skin girl was comfortable on the chair, where Khushi was sitting a few minutes ago.  Two others were standing, leaning against a stand and the showcase.  

“CHARON    TARAF   GOPIYAN   BEECH   MAIN   KANHAIYYA…! ” she muttered furiously under her breath, glaring at Arnie.  

“I told you, I don’t talk to subordinates… I talk to the bosses!” Julie again spoke winding herself like a creeper around him.  He smiled.  Khushi clenched her fists.  ASR was not even looking at her.  Her insides were burning.  She didn’t understand what was hurting her.  

The model with the dark skin who was leaning heavily on the stand, straightened herself shaking the stand.  The basket on the stand was about to plop.  “No!” both Khushi and ASR ran forward to save the basket from falling.  The stand balanced itself, so did the basket.  Khushi contorted her face in rage.  ASR turned to face Julie and Khushi muttered.  

“I think I should leave now! This shamelessness is unbearable…!” She looked at ASR and Julie.  Julie  was about to hug him again.  Khushi walked between Arnie and Julie elbowing her way and trampled on his foot with all her might.

“whoaaaa!” he winced in pain.  She stomped out and down to her cubical jerking her head back sending the locks of curly hair from her forehead back, leaving ASR gape at her forgetting, the presence of hockey sticks.  

“Why was I so angry seeing him surrounded by the girls..?” she was unable to comprehend her own feelings.  “Lavanya ji will be so hurt, seeing these girls..!” she came back to her senses.  She clutched her head in frustration.  “Shameless!” he exclaimed loudly twisting her nose.  

“Julie.. I will call Regi!” ASR calmly removed her hands from around his neck and wrapping his hand lightly around her waist maneuvered her towards the chair.  The first excitement had subsided. She was quieter!

Khushi saw Regi walking towards ASR’s cabin.  “Shh Shh… Regi Sir!” she called him.  Regi came to her desk. “Careful..!” she warned him.  He smiled fondly.  “Don’t worry!” he said grinning.  He bent down and whispered, “Lunch time…have to tell you something..!” she nodded.  

She turned her back and pretended to be engrossed in work.  All her attention was up above, in his cabin.  “Come back, Khushi! Do your duty..!” she reprimanded her mind and tried to concentrate.

“Khushi..!” came his rude voice and she turned.  He was approaching her.  He leaned forward and she backed away.

“You will assist…!” he ordered.  “Come!” he straightened himself.  She looked at Regi walking with the four supermodels.  He winked at her and she smiled.  ASR smirked and turned to leave.  He climbed back to his cabin.