Chapter 13

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Chapter 12

It was way past midnight when Khushi finished packing the last of her items into an oversized attach. Absentmindedly chewing the back end of her pen, she continued to pry through her list ticking items off making sure she had taken everything. Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel, fragrance oil, clothes, matching jewellery...It was then that she noticed Garima standing next to her bed, holding an extra-large box full of jalebis.

"Mom, there is no space in my suitcase anymore", she chirped

"Then hold these in your hand", said Garima as a matter-of-fact. "Anyway aren't going to last beyond the first hour of your journey."

"But Mom, I'm going to fly to New Delhi, not take the train. These won't be allowed past security."

Garima shrugged. "They won't last until security."

Khushi smiled. How much she would miss her Mom and Dad. She looked up and saw the glow in the dark stars still hanging from her ceiling. She would have to take those down and pack them too. She began to climb on top of her bed to take the stars down.

"Khushi, its really late, why don't you sleep and finish the rest of your packing tomorrow? You still have another day before you leave, remember"?

"No Mom, I'm not really sleepy. Besides I want spend all of tomorrow with you and not waste any of my time packing."

Garima understood. "Once you're done, come and sleep with me and your Dad. You're room is a mess anyway."

"I will." Shashi and Garima Gupta were regular folks who would never approve of what she was about to do to. She didn't know if they would associate themselves with her if ever they found out. Sighing, she decided to make the most of whatever time she had left with them.

*****

The Gupta household was seeing an unusual amount of activity in the early hours of the morning the following day. It was Khushi's last day in Gomti Nagar before she left for New Delhi, but to an unsuspecting onlooker, it more seemed like Khushi was going off to fight a war and might never return home alive.

Garima, try as she might, could not seem to get a hold of herself, crying at the smallest of things and Shashi had a lot of advice to give his daughter who was leaving the nest.

The clock's announcement of the hour turning 8 was followed by a loud knock on the door. Khushi stilled. She knew who would be on the other side of the door, when Shashi Gupta made his way to the front.

****

ASR was a man of few words. And that became more than evident in the half hour he spent with Khushi's family. He politely refused breakfast, as they didn't have his usual toast with orange juice on the table among the choice of items, and opted instead for a cup of Chai and got straight to the point.

He first addressed Shashi Gupta detailing the new lease terms for Devi Maiyya Mishtan Bhandar, making sure Shashi understood all the clauses and implications that were detailed in the new contract. Once satisfied, he turned his attention to Khushi, slipping a small white envelope in her hands. It contained her offer letter to join AR Designs as a Trainee Designer and a one-way flight ticket to New Delhi. He told her that someone would pick her up at the New Delhi airport and would drop her off at the apartment AR leased out to its employees.

"But there is no need for that", interjected Garima. "Shashi's sister lives in New Delhi and will be more than happy to host Khushi."

"That wont be necessary Mrs Gupta", said Arnav as a matter-of-fact. "AR expects all its employees to stay in company accommodation."

Garima was about to say something when Shashi intervened. "I understand company policy Mr Raizada but my sister will be very upset that Khushi won't be staying with her. It would be great if you could make an exception and let Khushi stay with her Aunt for a week before she took up her position with AR.

"You've already been extremely kind to us. Please do us this one last favor."

Arnav shrugged. It would anyway take him around 10 days to wrap up in Lucknow before reaching New Delhi. Khushi could spend that time with her aunt.

Having completed what he had come to do, Arnav made his way out. Khushi followed him, albeit unwillingly, on her mother's insistence.

Chapter 13: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4343261&TPN=23