Chapter 3

~ CHAPTER 3 ~

"Bhaiyya...?"

Raghu Ram, who had been working as ASR's driver for many years now, straightened from where he was leisurely leaning against the BMW and stubbed the cigarette he had been smoking with his toes in a hurry as he heard the pretty girl to whom his boss had given a lift to, address him. He turned to her confused as to why she was here and that too sans his boss.

"Yes memsaab?"

The girl in the pretty pink churidaar looked anxious and hesitant "Woh..Woh..Could you help me wake Sir up?"

"Wake Sir up?" Raghu was even more baffled now "Has something happened to him?" he spoke up alarmed.

"No no Bhaiyya" Khushi hurried to reassure him "I just left him to make coffee and when I came back he was asleep on the couch. I tried to wake him a couple of times but he didn't wake up" an embarrassed flush rose on her cheeks as she said the last part.

Raghu let out a relieved sigh to know that nothing drastic had befallen his employer. Arnav Singh Raizada treated all his employees fairly and was respectful to those who were elder to him. He had earned the respect and loyalty he received from his staff rather than commanded it. Raghu knew he wouldn't hesitate to lay his life for him, if the situation ever demanded.

"Did you say he fell asleep on your couch?" Now that the anxiety had receded, the driver was incredulous at this out of character, way out of character, behavior of his boss.

"Haan Bhaiyya. What do I do now? He looks like he is in very deep sleep." Khushi asked him worried.

The driver looked thoughtful for a minute and spoke gently "Will it be a problem for you if we let him sleep tonight memsaab? The thing is, boss usually sleeps very less. Even his grandmother is worried about him. So if he is really sleeping, it sounds cruel to wake him up"

Khushi was conflicted. It wasn't a problem for her per se. She lived alone and didn't have any nosy neighbors who would gossip. Her closest neighbors were an air-hostess and 2 college kids. She never saw them around mostly, if at all. But it was her boss they were talking about. It felt really strange. On the other hand, her boss did look like he needed a good night's sleep.

"I don't have any problem Bhaiyya" Khushi said finally "But is there anyone we should inform at his home?"

"No memsaab" the driver looked relieved "His grandmother has gone on a theerthyathra to haridwar and his wife, ummm that is--------------" his voice trailed.

Khushi didn't ask again knowing it must be a forbidden topic if what La said was true. "I'll go back now Bhaiyya. Where would you wait? Do you have somewhere to sleep?"

Raghu looked at the pretty girl, who worried about even a lowly driver's comfort, and wondered why God hadn't seen fit to send someone like her in ASR's life than the witch he had married. They would have made a beautiful pair, his handsome boss and this angelic girl. If only wishes could be true, he sighed deeply and thanked the girl before letting her know that he would be around in the morning and the boss would call him when he was ready to leave.

No one saw the star high above them twinkle brighter than the others suddenly as if it had heard the whisper of a wish...and granted it.

-----xxx-----

Arnav woke up groggily from a dreamless sleep, the first sound sleep he had had in months, to a refreshing aroma of home and hearth and freshly cooked breakfast. He was disoriented for a minute as to where he was and why he was asleep on a couch. In a flash last evening's events came to him and he sat up abruptly displacing the soft duvet covering him.

He had fallen asleep on his secretary's couch!

Looks like he has lost whatever good sense he had remaining too. How could he fall asleep just like that? And why hadn't Raghu come looking for him? Arnav's brows furrowed as his mind quickly went through the possible reasons for him to be still here, he glanced at his watch, at 6.30 in the morning.

Just then he heard noises coming from a room to the side which he perceived to be the kitchen and kept the quilt aside to stand up just as the said secretary, on whose couch he had fallen asleep last night uninvited, walked in.

Khushi came to a halt as she saw him up "You're awake Sir. Would you like to freshen up now?" Her smile was hesitant as if worried about his reaction. Were there any special rules of etiquette when you encounter your boss in your living room, early in the morning even before breakfast?

"Ms. Gupta...Er..Khushi" Arnav began uncertainly. Another formality bites the dust, he thought cringing. He was on a roll here. When it came to this girl, he seemed to be breaking all his normal rules. First he gives and a lift home and then he promptly falls asleep on her couch! But calling her so formally after spending the night on her couch didn't sound right either. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience I caused you by crashing here. But why didn't you wake me up?"

"I did try Sir but you were in a deep sleep. So we, I mean your driver and I, decided to let you sleep here itself for the night. It wasn't any trouble sir" She quickly went ahead to dispel his apprehensions.

"It's..." Arnav stumbled on the words uncharacteristically and looked around slightly embarrassed "I mean you have a beautiful home. Are you alone? Where are your parents?" Now that was the only drama remaining in his life, to be besieged by the enraged parents of the damsel.

"I live here alone Sir. My parents are long gone"

"Oh. I'm sorry"

Khushi nodded politely "I will set the breakfast at the kitchen table. Or will you have it in the living room Sir?"

"No, No. Kitchen sounds fine" Arnav left to freshen up in the wash room she had pointed out. When he came out 5 mins later, Khushi was setting the table. She looked up at him and sent a brief smile.

"The breakfast is ready Sir"

Arnav sat down at the table and Khushi began to serve him "Umm Khushi. We are not at the office now. And the circumstances..." he looked around wryly "I think it would be fine if you drop the Sir' and call me by my name"

Khushi's hand faltered and Arnav grasped her hand to steady her "But Sir...How can I?" she gasped faintly and withdrew her hand quickly from his. It still tingled where he had touched. She rubbed her wrist unconsciously.

Arnav frowned "Did I hurt you?" he pointed to her wrist and enquired. Khushi quickly dropped her hand from where she had been rubbing and shook her head negatively."And as for your question, very easily. I have been a recipient of your hospitality already, though uninvited. It really sounds weird when you call me Sir".

Khushi pondered over it for a minute "Okay. I'll call you Arnavji"

"Arnav-ji?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

Khushi flushed deeply "You are still older than me. So I cannot just call you by your name Sir..um...Arnavji"

Arnav nodded at that and turned his attention back to the delicious home-made breakfast. Since he had missed dinner last night, he was already beginning to get dizzy. He savored the flavored coffee quietly "The coffee tastes a bit different, but not in a bad way" he mentioned with surprise.

"I added a pinch of cinnamon to it" Khushi mumbled, faint pink spreading over her cheekbones "I read on the internet that it's good for diabetes. If you don't like it. I'll make another one"

"No..I like it" he said as he took another sip of the hot beverage. A warmth spread through him as he realized that she had read up on his condition.

After the plates were cleared Arnav called Raghu on his phone and asked him to bring the car around."Erm...Khushi. I will be coming in a bit late to the office. Do I have any urgent meetings today morning?" He put on his coat which he had kept on the arms of a chair.

"You have a meeting with Patil & Roy advertising firm in the morning at 11 Arnavji. Shall I ask them to reschedule?"

"No. Leave it as it is. I'll be in before that" his cellphone rang and he glanced at it before disconnecting it and turned his imperious dark head towards her "The car is here. Thank you once again for letting me crash here and I'm sorry for the trouble" He left soon as the lift arrived, leaving Khushi staring at the door.

-----xxx-----

The incident paved way for a friendly camaraderie to develop between ASR and Khushi. ASR was just as reserved as earlier but he didn't brood so much as he did before. Khushi kept a small jar of cinnamon in the office and added a pinch in his morning coffee every day and in his heart of hearts ASR was secretly delighted that someone took his well being into account. Other than his Nani, he hadn't ever had anyone worry for his health. As the weekend rolled in they had settled into a comfortable routine as if Khushi had always been with him and not since just a week.

Khushi was closing up to leave on Friday evening. ASR had already left and after finishing her weekly summary, now Khushi was ready to leave too. NK had invited her to a party at a local hot-spot to celebrate his birthday. There was only an hour for her to go home, change clothes and get to the club. She looked at the time once more and began to walk faster. Her phone rang as she crossed the hallway to the entrance. It was NK again, calling to check if she had left.

"Yes NK. I'm on my way. I know it's almost time but I'll just change my clothes and meet you there" she didn't see the lone figure standing at the doorway staring intensely at her, and crashed into the broad chest of Arnav "Wall" Raizada. Khushi apologized automatically before looking up.

"I'm really sorry...Arnavji? I thought you had already left"

Arnav frowned "I had, but I came back for a file" he looked at the phone in her hand intensely "Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?"

"Yes. NK invited me to his birthday party in "Ground Zero" and I'm already running late"

"Only you both?" the intense look was back on ASR's face.

Khushi frowned "No. A bunch of other colleagues are coming too. Why?"

Arnav looked as if he wanted to say something but then thought better of it and smiled "Nothing. Just asked. Have fun tonight"

As Khushi hurried out after wishing him a good weekend, Arnav tried to quell the burning ache that had begun in his gut. So what if Khushi was out partying with NK and friends? It was her life. She was his personal assistant, not his personal slave. He didn't have any say in what she did outside of her office hours. So what if she was courteous to him, and took a little care of him? She was just being herself. A wonderful, friendly girl. There was no reason why she shouldn't pursue a relationship with another man. Is there? A man who was handsome, charming and had tremendous prospects. A man unburdened and unbound by the darker shackles of life. A man like NK Malhotra. So why did the thought of Khushi with any other man make him feel so gutted?

That's it. He needed to be committed. Life has finally gotten to him. Arnav left feeling disgusted with himself forgetting the file he had come to pick up.

Four hours later, Arnav sat in his parked his car outside her building, he had dismissed the driver earlier on, to see a cheerful Khushi in a pretty green dress, being dropped off by NK. NK left soon after and Khushi entered her building. As Arnav the saw lights come on in her apartment he leaned ahead on the steering wheel with a sigh and wondered if he had lost his marbles.

What the hell was he doing?

~ END OF CHAPTER # 3 ~

[NOCOPY]