Part23 

Anjali called Khushi and she attended it right away.

"Namaste Anjaliji"

"Khushiji, we are in the Temple, standing in front of Devi Maiya." Anjali said happily.

"That's nice Anjaliji. Request something from Devi Maiya which you want the most when Shaymji wears the ring" Khushi insisted.

"Ok Khushiji, as you said."

"Carrot halwa was so tasty, Anjaliji"

"Oh God, if I had known that NK Bhai asked it for you then I would have sent it little extra"

"No no Anjaliji... it's enough... in fact, your brother filled my ears for eating sweets" She chuckled.

"But he is the one who brought it for you...." She asked confusingly.

"No no I'm not talking about NK"

"Then, about whom you are talking?"

"Of course, Mr. Raizada"

"Did Chotte scold you?"

"Yup"

"He is unpredictable sometimes"

"Always" Khushi murmured and Anjali heard it.

"Ok Anjaliji. I have to go now"

"Yeah, I know about your kadoos Boss. You just carry on Khushi." She chuckled.

Khushi disconnected the call. Though Anjali did cut the call her mind didn't come out of what just Khushi said. Her brother usually won't interfere with someone's likes and dislikes. Yesterday also he snatched the jalebi from Akash's hand when he tried to feed it to Khushi.

With the same thought, Anjali did pooja in the temple. She had been arranged a BIG pooja for Arnav's betterment also. Shyam made her wear the ring in front of Devi Maiya. Anjali remembered about Khushi's words. She closed her eyes and prayed.

"Hey Madha, please bless me with a Child" She requested Devi Maiya for what she had been waiting.

..........

Khushi saw the receptionist sitting in the reception. She went to her and greeted her.

"Hi, I'm Khushi"

She forwarded her hand.

"I'm Sowmya" She responded.

"I heard you were on leave for your own marriage. Congratulations"

"Thank you, Ma'am"

"Just Khushi is enough"

"Ok Khushi, Congratulations to you too. You are the first PA of ASR."

"Thank You"

"Where are you from?"

"Laxmi Nagar"

"Ohh really? I'm from Parvathi Nagar" She said excitedly."

"It seems we became close"

"Yes... I have a two-wheeler. why not you take my lift?"

Khushi thought for a while.

"I'm ready only if we share the petrol expense"

"Ohh God...ok" Sowmya smiled.

"Ok... I have to go"

"You carry on Khushi"

Khushi liked Sowmya. She looked good, unlike Neha.

RM

Laya entered the room with a smile. Anjali also smiled brightly. Nani observed Anjali.

"Do you want anything?" Anjali asked with concern.

"I just came to ask you for books"

"Books? What books?

"I feel bored Di, just think of reading books. Do you have any?"

"No, Laya"

"I saw many books in the study room"

"I'm not sure that you will like it. It's all about business and economics"

"That means, those are Arnav's books. Am I right?"

"Exactly" Anjali smiled.

"I'm not that brilliant like Arnav and I have no patience to read such books. I will get it from my friends" she said all smiling.

"Ask NK, you may get some"

"Ok Di"

She stood and stopped.

"I wish you are my sister"

Anjali looked at her perplexed.

"Why?'

"Seeing your concern, care, and love for you brother..."

Before Anjali said anything,

"You know Payal always fights with me. She never thinks about my betterment as you do for your brother. She thinks only about her benefits. Your love towards Arnav makes me yearn" she said feeling sad.

Anjali's facial reaction changed attentively.

"I wanted to tell you something. I heard you prepared sweets for today's pooja. It was very tastier"

Anjali nodded yes. Laya left the place happily. She thought she had sowed a good image of herself in Anjali's mind. But...

"I don't like this girl," Nani said.

Anjali nodded yes.

"You too?"

Anjali again nodded yes.

"It's fine if she wants to appreciate me... for that, she degraded Payal... that's what I don't like"

"Exactly...Payal is our Bahu. To build a good image in our mind, she ruined Payal's image. She is a selfish girl"

Anjali's face hung.

"This kind of girl will do anything to make a place, Anjali bitiya."

That's when they heard,

"Didn't I say?"

They saw Manorama standing.

"You are cent percent right Manorama," Nani said.

"I knew she is not like Payal. That's why I didn't want her in RM"

"I observed one thing...she is targeting Anjali to get Chotte," Nani said.

Anjali looked at her perplexed.

"That's why I stopped Anjali from interfering into Arnav bituwa's marriage issue. Don't I know Anjali?"

Anjali made a face.

"Tell me now; the girl who didn't hesitate to damage her own sister's image to build her own image will be a good Bahu of this family?"

Anjali nodded No hurriedly.

"She will do the same with us too... will you deny?" Manorama questioned.

Anjali nodded NO again.

"Don't be upset. Feel happy that you got to know about her... soon"

Anjali nodded yes sighing.

"But, Nani... I want to tell you something"

Mami and Nani shared a quick glance.

"Is not Chotte showing difference in Khushi's matter?"

Manorama sighed...

"Thank God, you observed it at last." she chuckled.

"That means, you guys observed it already?"

"What do you think?"

Manorama told her about the conversation between Arnav and Khushi.

"Is it? Chotte asked her about her boyfriend?"

Manorama nodded yes.

"Ohh... God...Khushiji seems not interested... she is a self-esteemed girl. He already ruined his image by fighting with her" Anjali said sadly.

"Just leave it on Arnav Bituwa. He will handle it"

"No Mami... he doesn't know how to handle a girl. He will surely mess it"

"You are not wrong. But... we can do nothing with that. Arnav bituwa wants what he wants"

Anjali became sad thinking about Arnav's interest in Khushi and Khushi's disinterest on Arnav.

"Tomorrow is Teej. Will we go to the temple?" Manorama questioned.

"Definitely, Mami"

Next day

AR

Break time

Aman, Akash, and NK were having coffee in the pantry. Khushi came to them.

"Khushi, come, have coffee" Akash raised the coffee cup towards Khushi.

She sat in front of the trio.

"No... Aki, I'm observing fasting today."

"Fasting...? Oh yeah... today is Teej." NK remembered.

"Won't you eat anything, Khushi?" Aman asked.

"NO... not even water," Khushi replied coolly.

"Poor you." NK felt sad while biting a biscuit.

"I think, Amma must have compelled you to observe fasting" Aman teased.

"I agree until last year I observed fasting only for Amma's completion. But not this year" Khushi smiled.

"What made you do it wholeheartedly? There must be an interesting reason, I suppose" NK asked curiously.

"Not certainly. I just thought something." Khushi tried not to tell them the reason. She knew they will surely tease her.

"Won't you share with us, Khushi?" NK asked making face.

"Haan Khushi, Or else, NK will eat only ten pooris in the sorrow" Aman teased.

"Tell us, Khushi please" Akash also insisted.

"OK ok fine. But you guys should not make fun of me". She demanded.

"NO...NO...NO..." the trio assured.

"Husband is a wonderful part of a girl's life. He is a gift of GOD. So, I'm buttering Devi Maiya for a good husband by observing fasting" She laughed. So did the trio.

"You are such a unique piece Khushi," Aman said in between his laugh.

"I wish you to get a good guy like ME," NK said posing like God which made them laugh more.

"I will be the happiest person if I get a guy like you Nanne," Khushi said.

But Khushi's stance made someone's face shrunk, automatically who heard their talks... the great ASR. He just came to the canteen, seeing them together. Don't know what they talk about... How they always get something to converse?

This time, NK dragged his attention.

"Khushi...did you still believe that your RAJKUMAR will come, riding a horse to marry you?" NK asked teasingly.

Arnav frowned. What kind of woman she is? Does anyone think so childish?

"Really, Khushi?" Did you think like that? Aman asked unbelievably.

Khushi nodded yes laughingly.

"Then.... only ASR has the chance because only he knows horse riding" Aman laughed. So did the other duo.

But Khushi frowned. Her next stance took Arnav to the peak of the anger.

"Don't compare HIM with my RAJKUMAR. He can never be my Rajkumar" she said with a pout.

"Why Khushi?" Aman asked sadly.

"The man who doesn't even know to smile could never be my Rajkumar. And my Rajkumar never shows his power to the inferior and degrade them"

"But Khushi, Bhai is not that bad" Akash tried to feed her something good about his Bhai.

"Be it. It doesn't make difference" she said joining her hands.

Arnav's anger was not estimated. It was purely a direct rejection. Arnav left the place with the same anger.

"Won't you go to the temple to complete your fasting, Khushi?" Aman Asked.

"Yes, I will go"

"Are you going to take permission today?"

"No way... Mr. Raizada may give a lecture about my clause again. So, I will go to the temple after the office time."

"Di will also go to the temple in the evening," NK said.

"Payal also," Akash said.

"Ohh.... (She paused)Aman, when is the tender result?"

"Tomorrow... in the hotel Cool Fire"

"Will you go there?"

"It's ASR's decision. I think you will go with him"

"Why?"

"Maybe, he wants you to see the tender auction."

"Really? I too want to see that"

"Shall I tell him?"

"No... let him decide what he wants"

"Ok"

They were expecting the tender result... why not? After all, they knew how much it's important to Arnav.

To be continued...

Next update is available on Inkiit

Devil's Declaration

Arnav was pacing in his room. How could she say that he can't be her Rajkumar? How could she decide what he is up to? Of course, he is a little cynic... doesn't mean he doesn't know to smile. Taking a deep breath, he made up himself. He knew how to turn the table. He is ASR, after all.

Khushi was working on her laptop. She looked at Sowmya who just entered her cubicle.