PEEEP. PEEEP. PEEEP.
Arnav honked impatiently as Vikram ran to open the door. He parked the car jetted out of his seat shouting behind to Vikram to take his bag out, as he only had one thing on his mind. Khushi. He went around the house, for it would be a shorter and faster way to reach the outhouse, going through the house he would have to deal with Anjali and Nani. He threw open the pool house door, in no mood for abiding with the ethics of knocking, considering she had failed to practice the ethic of informing him about her departure.
'Khushi!' he bellowed, once inside her house. There was no answer. But she had definitely been here. He could smell her perfume in the air. 'Khushi!' he called out again and went to check in the room, she wasn't there. Where was she? This was really getting annoying now, the hide-and-seek game. He had never been into these games as kid and sure as hell didn't appreciate being dragged into it as an adult. That too because of an irresponsible, moraless, completely annoying woman. And yet, he couldn't stop himself from worrying over her or looking for her. She really was an enchantress who had taken over his mind completely, he could not operate without knowing where she was.
He trudged out of the house, as Vikram came around carrying his bag. 'Vikram.' He called him.
'Yes, sir.'
'Did you see Khushi?'
'Yes sir, she just left, about twenty minutes ago.'
'Ok.' Now where had she gone? Of course, to work.
He splashed water on his face, changed into his grey suit and set off to work, to find her. He would not spare her. But before he left the house he went by Anjali's room to let her know he had arrived, otherwise she would be in a frenzy for the second time today. After being scolded for a good twenty minutes by her, he was back in his car and off to LaANK.
'Mihraj!' he barked as soon as he got through the translucent office doors.
'Ye-es Ssir.' He cried, jumping away from the receptionist he had been flirting with.
'Send Khu-, send Ms. Gupta to my cabin.' He ordered as he proceeded towards his office.
'Uh...I can't sir.' Arnav stopped and rounded on him, pinning him with a questioning look. 'I mean, she's not here.'
'What do you mean she's not here?!' What was he saying she left a good hour before him?
'I mean sir, she called in earlier, requesting leave and was granted it.'
'On who's authority?!' he thundered.
'NK's sir.' He said shrinking further away from Arnav.
Arnav cursed, under his breath, of course, he wasn't the only one who had the authority to sanction leave at LaANK, NK did too. 'And where is NK, send him to my cabin.' He said in a controlled manner as he turned to head upstairs.
'I can't sir. He's not at work either.' Mihraj, squeaked. Terrified for having to be the one to tell Arnav that the people he wanted were not available for him at the moment.
'Where is he?!' Arnav rounded on him again.
'I...I don't know sir.' He whispered.
'Do you know anything other than the phone numbers of every woman in this office Mihraj?! I can fire you for your incompetence!'
'Sir...please don't. NK left about an hour ago, I don't know where he went, how could I ask him, he is my boss.' He whimpered. Arnav scowled at him, but realizing that it really wasn't his fault for not knowing Khushi's whereabouts, he stalked upstairs, leaving Mihraj on the verge of leaking in his pants.
He paced around his cabin trying to figure out what to do next, how to find out Khushi's whereabouts. She had requested leave but was not at home. Although had been just before he arrived. But if she didn't leave for work then where did she go? Her sisters'! Of course.He fired up his laptop and searched for her in the employee database, from there he got her sister's number which was listed in her emergency contacts area. He called straight away, but there was no answer there either. He tried again and again. But still no answer.Now her sister had disappeared too! He exhaled noisily. What was he going to have to do, search for both the Gupta sisters all around Delhi?!!
He stood up, took off his coat and loosened his tie as he began to pace in his cabin yet again. Going through everything he knew. She left early morning; would have arrived around ten in Delhi. She got home and instead of coming in to work she called in and took leave.Why? Then around one-thirty she left, for he got home at two. But where did she go? She wasn't at her sisters' or at work or with Anjali. So where was she? Wait...she called NK to take leave...he would know her whereabouts and the cause for the sudden leave. He bounded back to his desk and picked up his cellphone to dial NK's number. He paced the office excitedly as it rang. But his excitement soon turned to irritation, for NK too was not answering his phone.
'What rubbish?!!' he exclaimed aloud. Why was everyone away from their phone today of all days?! He threw down the phone on his table and sunk into his chair cursing everyone for being absent today.
Moments later it occurred to him that if Khushi had been home and if she had made a call to NK, that meant she had her phone on her again. Rising with hope again at the thought of finally managing to converse with the being that had him in fits from this morning, he grabbed his phone and dialed her number. The phone began ringing, but then suddenly the engaged tone started playing. He didn't understand. He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared it. No there must be some mistake, she wouldn't have cut his phone. He called again, only to hear the engaged tone on the third bell yet again.
'What the-?!!' Was she actually cutting his phone? He dialed for a third time. She cut it again. How dare she?!! He dialed once again and this time the operator told him her phone was switched off. He stared at the phone incredulously. The nerve of this woman! First she seduces him, then howls all night in misery when he calls her out, then disappears, making him feel guilty and worried for her and now she switches off her phone so as not to talk to him. She actually had the audacity to show him attitude after everything she had done! What was this girl made of? Was it all a game to her? He didn't know what to think anymore, was he to believe her cries and innocent looking face or her actions?
Cursing her, he tried to get on with his work. He had wasted half the day worrying over her already and that too for no good reason considering this was all a game to her. She had done it on purpose, he now realized. He had humiliated her last night by bringing up her past, so now she was showing him attitude. What a stubborn woman! When her cries had not helped she had decided to disappear, knowing that no matter how much he hated her, he felt responsible for her whilst she was with him, he in his anger had revealed that much to her. Thus she had conjured up a new game plan of where she would not talk to him or come in front, hence the leave, thinking that it will affect him. Well she was wrong, for Arnav Singh Raizada was not that weak, that a low class, characterless woman could reign over him like that. No way. If she wished to play this game then fine, but he would not part take init, her not being here didn't bother him. It was better for him actually for he could concentrate on his work. Yes this was good, that she wasn't here anymore. He could actually do some work now instead of worrying over her. And she too soon would realize how her plan had backfired, that nothing she would do would draw him to her. See he had already gotten over his worry over her. He was completely fine again. No worries anymore.
An hour later, when NK walked in, he was still trying to convince himself that he didn't care, that the only reason he had done so little work was because everyone else at work were slow today and so had not provided him with the necessary details he required.
'Hey Nannav, Mi'raj said you were looking for me. What's up buddy? What can I do for you?' he asked, in his usual cheery manner.
'Where were you NK?! Why weren't you answering any of my calls?!' Arnav launched at him, forgetting all decorum or the fact that he had spent the last hour relieving himself from all of his worries over Khushi.
'Waow, hey chill. I was at the station, it was really loud there, that's why must not have heard the phone. Why did you call, what's the emergency, all seems in order downstairs.'
'Station? Why were you at the station? And where is Khushi, why did you grant her leave?' he asked all at once.
'Uff, so many questions, I don't think I've ever heard you say more then two words at a time and now a string of questions...where's the fire Nannav?' he joked, not at all understanding that there certainly was a fire blazing within Arnav.
'NK, just answer the damn questions.'
'Well to answer your question of why I was at the station, well that was because of Khushi, I went to drop her. And as to why I granted her leave, well because she asked for it.' He smiled.
'Why is she at the station? And what kind of a management are you running NK, you don't just grant holidays to employees because they desire it, you should check as to why they need it and whether it is ok for the company to let them off for the time period they are asking, not just give it to them. Cancel Khushi's leave and tell her to come back, she can't just take leave for no reason!' he exclaimed.
'Hey...I do know how to manage a business Nannav,' NK said defensively. 'Just because I don't run it in the same manner as you do doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I granted Khushi leave because she needed it and also because we can afford to have her away for sometime, as she has completed her line for this season, they are in production now, so it seemed feasible to give her leave.'
'Just because she has completed her designs before her deadline does not mean she doesn't have other work to over look. Who will check the mock-ups? You can't just give her leave, what was her reasoning?'
'She said personal reasons.'
'What personal reasons?' Arnav demanded.
'I don't know Nannav, she didn't feel like sharing and I didn't feel right in asking. Her voice and face told me that she wasn't lying, she was completely distressed thus I let it be. If she had wanted to share, to let me know she would have told me what it was, but she didn't so I didn't ask further.' Replied NK, a little annoyed now at why Arnav was being so inquisitive about Khushi.
'NK, you're her boss, you can't bring feelings in decision making. This way all the employees will make a sad face and you'll grant them a holiday.'
'No I won't Nannav. I'm not a fool, I can judge when someone is lying and when they are not. Her distress was genuine so I let her go. In fact that's why I offered to drop her myself. She was completely shaken Nannav. That's why I took her to the train station myself and made sure she got into a carriage before I left her.'
'Why did she get in a train? Where is she going?' Arnav asked, his voice rising in alarm.
'To Lucknow.' NK replied, simply.
'Lu- Lucknow.' Arnav stammered, why was she leaving Delhi? Why was she going to Lucknow? 'Why?'
'I don't know. But her family's in Lucknow, so I guess she's gone to see them. Makes sense, when you are distraught you want no one but your loved ones around you.' he replied as he scratched the back of his head, bored now of the conversation, of Arnav's need to know every detail regarding Khushi.
'How long will she be gone for?' Arnav asked, his heart already beginning to sadden at the thought of not being able to see her.
'I dunno, a week may be.' NK shrugged.
'A week!! What does she need to be in Lucknow for a week for?'
'I don't know Nannav, when she comes back you can ask her yourself, ok?' NK reasoned, then added. 'Besides why are you getting so worked up for? So she is gone, I thought you didn't like her as it was. Plus it's only a week Nannav, her not being here won't bring the world to an end, especially not yours, considering your world revolves around your work.' He jibed.
'I...I...' Arnav hestitated while he thought of a reason to justify his interest in Khushi, 'I...I needed to discuss some designs with her, I'm not satisfied with a couple she has made, that's why. But now I guess I will have to wait till she gets back.' He fibbed.
'Oh...yeah I guess...well we can at least get started on the ones you're happy with...by the way which ones didn't you like cause I liked them all...' NK inquired further.
'Hunh? Oh ummm...' great, today out of all days, NK wanted to take more interest in the designs and which ones he approved of, 'Uh...I can't remember at the moment, will show you them when I have the portfolio in front of me. Ok, I've got other work to do and I'm sure you have something or the other to get on with...' Arnav added, to bring the conversation to an end before NK decided to bring the portfolio up and demand to know which ones he didn't like. NK nodded and left the cabin leaving Arnav to mull over what he had just learned.
Arnav honked impatiently as Vikram ran to open the door. He parked the car jetted out of his seat shouting behind to Vikram to take his bag out, as he only had one thing on his mind. Khushi. He went around the house, for it would be a shorter and faster way to reach the outhouse, going through the house he would have to deal with Anjali and Nani. He threw open the pool house door, in no mood for abiding with the ethics of knocking, considering she had failed to practice the ethic of informing him about her departure.
'Khushi!' he bellowed, once inside her house. There was no answer. But she had definitely been here. He could smell her perfume in the air. 'Khushi!' he called out again and went to check in the room, she wasn't there. Where was she? This was really getting annoying now, the hide-and-seek game. He had never been into these games as kid and sure as hell didn't appreciate being dragged into it as an adult. That too because of an irresponsible, moraless, completely annoying woman. And yet, he couldn't stop himself from worrying over her or looking for her. She really was an enchantress who had taken over his mind completely, he could not operate without knowing where she was.
He trudged out of the house, as Vikram came around carrying his bag. 'Vikram.' He called him.
'Yes, sir.'
'Did you see Khushi?'
'Yes sir, she just left, about twenty minutes ago.'
'Ok.' Now where had she gone? Of course, to work.
He splashed water on his face, changed into his grey suit and set off to work, to find her. He would not spare her. But before he left the house he went by Anjali's room to let her know he had arrived, otherwise she would be in a frenzy for the second time today. After being scolded for a good twenty minutes by her, he was back in his car and off to LaANK.
'Mihraj!' he barked as soon as he got through the translucent office doors.
'Ye-es Ssir.' He cried, jumping away from the receptionist he had been flirting with.
'Send Khu-, send Ms. Gupta to my cabin.' He ordered as he proceeded towards his office.
'Uh...I can't sir.' Arnav stopped and rounded on him, pinning him with a questioning look. 'I mean, she's not here.'
'What do you mean she's not here?!' What was he saying she left a good hour before him?
'I mean sir, she called in earlier, requesting leave and was granted it.'
'On who's authority?!' he thundered.
'NK's sir.' He said shrinking further away from Arnav.
Arnav cursed, under his breath, of course, he wasn't the only one who had the authority to sanction leave at LaANK, NK did too. 'And where is NK, send him to my cabin.' He said in a controlled manner as he turned to head upstairs.
'I can't sir. He's not at work either.' Mihraj, squeaked. Terrified for having to be the one to tell Arnav that the people he wanted were not available for him at the moment.
'Where is he?!' Arnav rounded on him again.
'I...I don't know sir.' He whispered.
'Do you know anything other than the phone numbers of every woman in this office Mihraj?! I can fire you for your incompetence!'
'Sir...please don't. NK left about an hour ago, I don't know where he went, how could I ask him, he is my boss.' He whimpered. Arnav scowled at him, but realizing that it really wasn't his fault for not knowing Khushi's whereabouts, he stalked upstairs, leaving Mihraj on the verge of leaking in his pants.
He paced around his cabin trying to figure out what to do next, how to find out Khushi's whereabouts. She had requested leave but was not at home. Although had been just before he arrived. But if she didn't leave for work then where did she go? Her sisters'! Of course.He fired up his laptop and searched for her in the employee database, from there he got her sister's number which was listed in her emergency contacts area. He called straight away, but there was no answer there either. He tried again and again. But still no answer.Now her sister had disappeared too! He exhaled noisily. What was he going to have to do, search for both the Gupta sisters all around Delhi?!!
He stood up, took off his coat and loosened his tie as he began to pace in his cabin yet again. Going through everything he knew. She left early morning; would have arrived around ten in Delhi. She got home and instead of coming in to work she called in and took leave.Why? Then around one-thirty she left, for he got home at two. But where did she go? She wasn't at her sisters' or at work or with Anjali. So where was she? Wait...she called NK to take leave...he would know her whereabouts and the cause for the sudden leave. He bounded back to his desk and picked up his cellphone to dial NK's number. He paced the office excitedly as it rang. But his excitement soon turned to irritation, for NK too was not answering his phone.
'What rubbish?!!' he exclaimed aloud. Why was everyone away from their phone today of all days?! He threw down the phone on his table and sunk into his chair cursing everyone for being absent today.
Moments later it occurred to him that if Khushi had been home and if she had made a call to NK, that meant she had her phone on her again. Rising with hope again at the thought of finally managing to converse with the being that had him in fits from this morning, he grabbed his phone and dialed her number. The phone began ringing, but then suddenly the engaged tone started playing. He didn't understand. He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared it. No there must be some mistake, she wouldn't have cut his phone. He called again, only to hear the engaged tone on the third bell yet again.
'What the-?!!' Was she actually cutting his phone? He dialed for a third time. She cut it again. How dare she?!! He dialed once again and this time the operator told him her phone was switched off. He stared at the phone incredulously. The nerve of this woman! First she seduces him, then howls all night in misery when he calls her out, then disappears, making him feel guilty and worried for her and now she switches off her phone so as not to talk to him. She actually had the audacity to show him attitude after everything she had done! What was this girl made of? Was it all a game to her? He didn't know what to think anymore, was he to believe her cries and innocent looking face or her actions?
Cursing her, he tried to get on with his work. He had wasted half the day worrying over her already and that too for no good reason considering this was all a game to her. She had done it on purpose, he now realized. He had humiliated her last night by bringing up her past, so now she was showing him attitude. What a stubborn woman! When her cries had not helped she had decided to disappear, knowing that no matter how much he hated her, he felt responsible for her whilst she was with him, he in his anger had revealed that much to her. Thus she had conjured up a new game plan of where she would not talk to him or come in front, hence the leave, thinking that it will affect him. Well she was wrong, for Arnav Singh Raizada was not that weak, that a low class, characterless woman could reign over him like that. No way. If she wished to play this game then fine, but he would not part take init, her not being here didn't bother him. It was better for him actually for he could concentrate on his work. Yes this was good, that she wasn't here anymore. He could actually do some work now instead of worrying over her. And she too soon would realize how her plan had backfired, that nothing she would do would draw him to her. See he had already gotten over his worry over her. He was completely fine again. No worries anymore.
An hour later, when NK walked in, he was still trying to convince himself that he didn't care, that the only reason he had done so little work was because everyone else at work were slow today and so had not provided him with the necessary details he required.
'Hey Nannav, Mi'raj said you were looking for me. What's up buddy? What can I do for you?' he asked, in his usual cheery manner.
'Where were you NK?! Why weren't you answering any of my calls?!' Arnav launched at him, forgetting all decorum or the fact that he had spent the last hour relieving himself from all of his worries over Khushi.
'Waow, hey chill. I was at the station, it was really loud there, that's why must not have heard the phone. Why did you call, what's the emergency, all seems in order downstairs.'
'Station? Why were you at the station? And where is Khushi, why did you grant her leave?' he asked all at once.
'Uff, so many questions, I don't think I've ever heard you say more then two words at a time and now a string of questions...where's the fire Nannav?' he joked, not at all understanding that there certainly was a fire blazing within Arnav.
'NK, just answer the damn questions.'
'Well to answer your question of why I was at the station, well that was because of Khushi, I went to drop her. And as to why I granted her leave, well because she asked for it.' He smiled.
'Why is she at the station? And what kind of a management are you running NK, you don't just grant holidays to employees because they desire it, you should check as to why they need it and whether it is ok for the company to let them off for the time period they are asking, not just give it to them. Cancel Khushi's leave and tell her to come back, she can't just take leave for no reason!' he exclaimed.
'Hey...I do know how to manage a business Nannav,' NK said defensively. 'Just because I don't run it in the same manner as you do doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I granted Khushi leave because she needed it and also because we can afford to have her away for sometime, as she has completed her line for this season, they are in production now, so it seemed feasible to give her leave.'
'Just because she has completed her designs before her deadline does not mean she doesn't have other work to over look. Who will check the mock-ups? You can't just give her leave, what was her reasoning?'
'She said personal reasons.'
'What personal reasons?' Arnav demanded.
'I don't know Nannav, she didn't feel like sharing and I didn't feel right in asking. Her voice and face told me that she wasn't lying, she was completely distressed thus I let it be. If she had wanted to share, to let me know she would have told me what it was, but she didn't so I didn't ask further.' Replied NK, a little annoyed now at why Arnav was being so inquisitive about Khushi.
'NK, you're her boss, you can't bring feelings in decision making. This way all the employees will make a sad face and you'll grant them a holiday.'
'No I won't Nannav. I'm not a fool, I can judge when someone is lying and when they are not. Her distress was genuine so I let her go. In fact that's why I offered to drop her myself. She was completely shaken Nannav. That's why I took her to the train station myself and made sure she got into a carriage before I left her.'
'Why did she get in a train? Where is she going?' Arnav asked, his voice rising in alarm.
'To Lucknow.' NK replied, simply.
'Lu- Lucknow.' Arnav stammered, why was she leaving Delhi? Why was she going to Lucknow? 'Why?'
'I don't know. But her family's in Lucknow, so I guess she's gone to see them. Makes sense, when you are distraught you want no one but your loved ones around you.' he replied as he scratched the back of his head, bored now of the conversation, of Arnav's need to know every detail regarding Khushi.
'How long will she be gone for?' Arnav asked, his heart already beginning to sadden at the thought of not being able to see her.
'I dunno, a week may be.' NK shrugged.
'A week!! What does she need to be in Lucknow for a week for?'
'I don't know Nannav, when she comes back you can ask her yourself, ok?' NK reasoned, then added. 'Besides why are you getting so worked up for? So she is gone, I thought you didn't like her as it was. Plus it's only a week Nannav, her not being here won't bring the world to an end, especially not yours, considering your world revolves around your work.' He jibed.
'I...I...' Arnav hestitated while he thought of a reason to justify his interest in Khushi, 'I...I needed to discuss some designs with her, I'm not satisfied with a couple she has made, that's why. But now I guess I will have to wait till she gets back.' He fibbed.
'Oh...yeah I guess...well we can at least get started on the ones you're happy with...by the way which ones didn't you like cause I liked them all...' NK inquired further.
'Hunh? Oh ummm...' great, today out of all days, NK wanted to take more interest in the designs and which ones he approved of, 'Uh...I can't remember at the moment, will show you them when I have the portfolio in front of me. Ok, I've got other work to do and I'm sure you have something or the other to get on with...' Arnav added, to bring the conversation to an end before NK decided to bring the portfolio up and demand to know which ones he didn't like. NK nodded and left the cabin leaving Arnav to mull over what he had just learned.
*****
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