ArShi SS: Reversed Ch.16 B updated, page 22, 12/11 - Page 12

Rewind 11 months and a half!

"Mr. Raizada. My cabin. Now."

Arnav had been on his toes since the time he had demanded his job back from the devil herself. That's what they call her-the devil. Though, she prefers Armani over Prada. He smacked his own head for relating his boss to a fictional character from a novel that shallow. Miranda Priestly is nothing compared to Khushi Gupta.

He didn't realise, lost in his thoughts, when he climbed up the stairs to Khushi's cabin, reached the glass door and walked right into it. He gripped the handle to steady his frame even as he saw his boss raise an eyebrow at him. 'Who walks right into a door' he mentally punched himself. Harder so, when he saw Khushi Gupta's mocking stance directed at his clumsiness.

"Don't let the door hit you, Raizada... Oh! but it already did."

"I...I.. was.."

"Walk over there."

"Huh? What?"

"Do as I say, Raizada."

Arnav walked to the other end of her glass cabin. Shame coloured his face at accepting such servitude.

"Look down. Do you see that lady in fur coat?"

"Yes."

"She is known as Lisa Smegh in the world of trashy fiction. She is.."

"THAT IS LISA? OH MY GOD."

"Why doesn't your choice of literature surprise me?"

"Excuse me!!" His indignation was directed more at himself for behaving like a teenage fan.

"She is here as a client. A defamation case. And you are to entertain her for the time being. Jha is busy. Whatever you do, keep her entertained."

With that she turned to the file she was going through. Arnav had come to realise it as dismissal.

As he turned to leave he heard his boss.

"Oh and Raizada, good luck."

---------------

He had wondered what her good luck meant but he should have known. Lisa was ... eccentric, for a lack of other polite vocabulary to describe her. Arnav's fandom had flown through the window after five minutes of meeting her.

"So you, what did you say your name was?"

"It's Arnav, ma'am."

"Okay, so you', you said you liked my books, yes?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Why do you like them really? They are trashy and commercial, directed at teenage girls."

Arnav could feel the red of his ears.

"Aww look at you blushing. You just lied. Didn't you? You don't like my books. A paralegal who doesn't know how to lie! Who hired you?"

"I am not actually a paralegal but that's not the point. I didn't lie. I do like your books, though they are a bit on the lighter side in terms of content..."

"Are you calling my books cheap, boy?"

"What? N.. no. I just..."

"You are fired."

"What? You are not my boss."

"Oh well, your boss is fired. How will your lawyers prosecute those who defamed me when they think my books are cheap?"

"Ma'am, please calm down. I didn't mean that. Ma'am please.."

Arnav's frantic pleas scattered around in the floor of S&G along with clanks of Lisa's pointed stilettos as she walked past him violently swaying her hips.

---------------

"Mr. Raizada, you lost me a client in the first month of your appointment."

"Ma'am, I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend her. I.."

"Well, what you did was enough for me to fire you but today is your lucky day. I talked to Lisa and after much sulking and cajoling she has decided to hire us, again."

"Oh! Thank God."

"Don't thank your God yet Raizada. She has specifically asked for you, to accompany the lawyer who will be taking this case- me."

"What? Why?" Dread filled him fast.

"Depends on what you did to offend her."

--------------------

"So, you there, I am bored."

"Ms. Gupta will be here soon, ma'am. She is stuck..."

"That doesn't matter. I am bored. I could watch some tv."

"Wh..what? But here? It's a restaurant."

"I can see that, boy. You be my tv until your boss chooses to show up."

"Ma'am wh..what?"

"Why are you so confused all the time? A goat has a bigger brain than you do. I will choose the channel, you start. News."

All Arnav did was to stare at the face he wanted to punch.

"I said news. Didn't you hear, TV?"

"Plane flying from Delhi to Bangalore crashes. According to our sources famous Indian author Ms. Parmeet Kaur aka Lisa was in the flight. We have not received any confirma..."

"Music"

"Are you serious? Here?"

"MUSIC"

'Shame is for fools and S&G is definitely not a place for fools.It's for your job, Arnav. And you know you can handle it. You can handle anything if it meant not facing wrath of the devil.' Arnav gave himself a little prep talk before he started in a choked voice.

"Thande Thande Paani Se

Nahana Chahiye

Gaana Aaye Ya Na Aaye

Gaana Chahiye

Ho..."

"Boring! Dance."

"Are you...? There is no channel for dance."

"There is.. in this TV.

"I am not dancing."

"Yes. You are."

"Enough. I don't work for you. I work for S&G. You can threaten me all you want or even walk out from here. But there is no chance in hell you are going to win your case without Khushi Gupta leading. She doesn't need you, you need her. You know your defamation case has no base. Oh I read your file, Ms. Kaur and you don't stand a chance without S&G representing you."

"I see you are doing a good job at gaining trust of a client, Raizada."

He took a moment to gather his scattering courage before turning around to look at his boss.

"Raizada, get me a coffee. Would you? Latte with a shot of espresso, hazelnut and chocolate."

Arnav almost raised his eyebrow at his boss' choice of coffee. She doesn't look like a chocolate and vanilla person. Not at all.

"What are you waiting for Raizada?"

Khushi turned to Lisa as Arnav made his hasty retreat.

"Aww.. Khushi, you still remember how I take my coffee. I am..."

Khushi cut her off before she could go on.

"Lisa, you are my client and I respect you but if you do not extend the same courtesy to the employees of S&G, I am sorry. We won't be able to work together."

"I can't believe you just said that to me, for that chit of a boy?"

"That chit of a boy is an associate of S&G. I suggest you practice manners once in a while. I wouldn't tolerate disrespect in this regard. He was here today because I asked him to, not because you demanded. I told you we can't work with you if you don't respect my firm. I take your leave now, Lisa. You can think about it over your cup of coffee and get back to me with a decision."

Arnav almost dropped the cup he was holding as he heard his boss from hell square it out with Lisa, on his behalf.

Originally posted by: ranogill

wow..double wow

Originally posted by: coderlady

Why is standing up for Arnav now?

Payal had arrived from Australia the day after Arnav told her that her cousin sister Kuku has given into her continuous nagging of finding someone nice and live a happily after. Only, she did it without letting her know about it. Disbelief was what Payal believed at first and reprimanded Arnav for making a joke out of her genuine fear that Khushi would be alone, till the end. She knew the independent streak Khushi had inherited from her father, though she would bring down the house if anyone ever mentioned it to her. Khushi had tried hating her father for long enough to believe that she succeeded. Wishful thinking always creates illusion of it being real. Like her father, Khushi liked to do things on her own without having anyone to question her for it. Payal and NK had that right by default and she tolerated it. But Payal knew everyone needs someone to be there, to share the life they are given. And heaven knows Khushi deserved it, she had been shouldering so much alone. Been through so much alone. Khushi deserved her share of happiness, no matter how scared she is of it. And if Khushi had found it with Arnav, she would stand with her. Even when it hurt. Payal had always thought if Khushi ever found someone, she would be the first one to know about it. If for nothing else other than to put an end to her nagging. And as the events suggested, she didn't even get an invitation to the wedding. But then the relief mixed with happiness at her sister's wedding was so much more than her anger and disappointments. And the doubt that comes with too much of happiness had compelled her to fly to India. To see it with her own eyes and believe it.