Part 9 Lioness or Kitten

Khushi came to GH with Arnav's umbrella.

*Khushi... how did you drench?* Shashi asked.

*When I waited for the car...*

She said while heading to her room. She kept the umbrella on the balcony to get it dried. Taking a towel, she wiped her hair and changed the wet dress.

Logging in her laptop, she ran *Harry Potter* movie, part6... *The Half-Blood Prince* which she stopped in the middle, last night. She laughed while watching a particular scene.

She turned towards the door and saw Shashi with a cup.

*Why did you climb the stairs, Dad?* she sighed.

*I'm ok, beta. You had drenched in the rain. Have this coffee.*

He looked at her laptop and his face bloomed with a smile. How many times, had he and Khushi watched the Harry Potter series...! It's all awesome moments of their life. Shashi wanted her to know he was still remembering those moments. So he asked her something.

*AFTER ALL, THIS TIME?*

Khushi smiled, hearing that.

*ALWAYS...* She smiled.

Those are Harry Potter Movies' famous dialogues. Shashi spread his hands. In no time, Khushi rushed to him, could not resist herself.

*I'm sorry beta...* Shashi said emotionally.

Khushi came to the composure and broke the hug.

*Have the coffee...* Shashi said.

Khushi nodded Ok looking down and he left the room. Taking very little time, she came out of the emotions.

Her eyes fell on the umbrella. Having hot coffee, she thought something. Taking her laptop, she minimized the movie and she browsed for something... the best cancer treatment centres in the world. She found a first-rated Cancer Center... MD Anderson cancer centre – university of Texas...

Collecting the contact number of the hospital, she asked for the details. She disconnected the call and called Shyam. Someone attended the call.

*Hello...*

The voice sounded childish. She might be Shyam's daughter.

*Can I talk to Mr Shyam?*

*May I know who is speaking?* The girl asked.

*I'm Khushi Gupta...*

*Ohh... Is that you, who is torturing my Daddy?*

Khushi was shocked. She didn't expect this kind of gesture from a little girl. Though she was not fine with that her heart melted, hearing her next sentences.

*I'm Shali Jha...daughter of Shyam Jha. Aunty, aunty... please don't scold my Daddy... please don't spoil his mood... he is not spending time with me in the office tension...he is not taking me to the park you know? Please...don't scold him, aunty,*

Khushi was numb. She doesn't know what to answer the girl.

*Daddy is taking bath and Mumma is preparing dinner. I will ask him to call you when he comes from the washroom...OK?*

*mmm*

*See you, aunty... bye...*

She disconnected the call. Khushi threw the phone on the bed. The little girl Shali's words echoed in her head. She couldn't resist thinking about her childhood. She was so fond of her father when she was small. She cried, circling his legs whenever he went out. They watched Harry Potter together many times... She always wanted to be with her father... but fate played in her life and she got away from Shashi forever...

Khushi wiped the lonely tears which tried to come out of her eyes. Switching off the light, she lay down on the bed, without having dinner. The small girl's request was disturbing her. She felt bad for her. Shali was not wrong. She missed thinking of her employers' families and apart from the office work; they also have their personal life. The office tension will definitely affect their family... Shali like little children will miss their parents' nearness... Didn't she know the pain? Her thoughts got distracted when Shyam called her and Khushi attended it.

*Sorry, madam. I was taking bath...*

Cutting him,

*Shali told me...*

*Tell me madam*

*Could you get Arnav's medical reports from him?*

Shyam got stuck.

*Actually, he doesn't like to share anything with anyone about it. He gets upset if anybody asks about his health condition, Madam*

Khushi sighed.

*Can't you do anything about it?*

*I can do one thing...*

*What?*

*I will try to accompany him when he goes to the checkup*

*Try to get the details... I will get the medicines from Texas...*

Shyam gulped hard. Don't know where this matter was going to take him to...

*Sure madam*

They disconnected the call.

Shyam sighed. What the hell he had done...? It seemed Khushi won't stop by only showing concern for Arnav. But why she was concerned about him? He couldn't understand anything.

The next day

Arnav was doing arrangements for the show as the date of the show was closed in. Khushi came to the hall and looked at the arrangements without disturbing him. Of course, the work was going smoothly and perfectly. After all, the team leader was Arnav.

She turned to leave the place. That's when a worker came with a tea tray and Khushi collided with him. She was about to shout at him,

*Don't you have eyes?*

*Sorry, Madam... I'm really sorry...* the worker said stammering.

She remembered Shali's words and she saw Arnav and his team were looking at her. She left the place silently which made them wonder.

*What's the matter ASR, Lioness became a kitten, seeing you?* Aman countered.

*Nothing is like that...* Arnav shrugged his shoulders.

*Do you think I didn't notice you two?*

*What did you notice?* Arnav frowned.

*She picks your fallen kerchief... You offer her an umbrella...* Aman teased.

*Yeah... giving her the umbrella, he drenched in the rain...* NK said.

*She became soft towards you...* Aman said.

*I think it's because I helped her...*

Aman widened his eyes.

*What help?*

*Her car broke down. I booked the cab and called our mechanic to repair her car.*

*When did it happen?* NK asked, getting wondered.

*It seems there are many BEHIND THE SCENES beyond our knowledge...*

Cutting him,

*Stop it, damn it... she is our Boss... don't forget that.* Arnav smiled.

*But... she is also a GIRL... don't forget that...* Aman laughed.

*Shut up man... she will get furious if she gets to know your tease...* Arnav warned.

*Let's see... how the story takes the turn...*

Arnav punched his bicep playfully.

To be continued...