Part 13 Soft Toy

Arnav entered the office, thinking about the astrologer's words about Khushali.

*She would have lost her parents in her childhood. A stranger couple will raise her like a QUEEN. She will be the eye of an apple to them*

*She will marry the same person again but it won't happen easily. She should cross many hard phases to reach her husband*

*Her husband is the one who is going to find her*

Arnav was recalling his stance again and again while walking. The astrologer said HE was the one who was going to find her. At the same time, it would not happen easily. So, from here on, he should be watchful about it. But how could he find her without having any source? She was seven years old when she went missing. Now, she was twenty-two and soon, she would be turning twenty-three. She would have changed a lot in these years, physically and also mentally. From where he would find her? With what source of help he could find her?

The only source he had to find her was her features in the horoscope. He could match them with the KNOWN girls and could find her. He tried to bring all the KNOWN girls to his memory and matched their features with the horoscope.

The much he knew, there was no girl in his circle with such features. He raised his head automatically while crossing Khushi's cabin. At the same time, she also looked at him. Seeing him, she made a weird face in the manner of mocking him. He stopped for a few seconds, matching the features with Khushi.

*She is a girl who can be controlled only by LOVE. She won't care about who the opposite person is. She will do what is right. She is a quick learner and a good observer. She respects people, but at the same time won't tolerate their attitude*

Arnav gulped down hard as she was the only girl who had such features. She never cared about the person opposite to her even though HE was the one. She always did what was right, including saving his project. No doubt, she was a quick learner and a good observer. She respected Anjali and Aman but got irritated by HIS attitude.

More than that, the astrologer said,

*This girl's name holds the meaning of HAPPINESS... Santhoshi... Anandhi... Khushi...*

The name KHUSHI was also there in his prediction list.

Arnav entered her cabin without thinking anything. Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Where are you from?" he asked.

"From the heaven..." she said with a mockery tone.

Arnav folded his hands.

"I heard the heaven is meant for Angels. From when a LITTLE GOBLIN like you are allowed there?" he asked smirking.

Khushi dropped her jaw.

"Are you coming to the office to fuss me?" She asked gritting her teeth.

"Didn't you challenge me to fire you? That's what I'm doing"

"Hello... excuse me... have you forgotten our CONDITION? You can fire me ONLY if I make mistake officially"

"Yeah, you will make mistake officially only if you are stressed... So, making you stressed is what I'm doing"

"Oh... this is how will you stress people? Nice joke but I can't laugh. I will try another day"

"You have not answered me yet, Ms. Gupta"

"What?"

"From where this LITTLE GOBLIN is coming?"

"Why? Why should I tell you that?"

"Don't you think you are reacting too much? I can get to know that in a few minutes by your job application. Can't I?"

"Then do it... simple"

"Why? Are you scared? Do you think I will do something if I get to know your personal details?"

"Scared? And me? hua..."

Arnav inserted his hands in his pant pocket.

"I'm coming from Laxmi Nagar. My father Shashi Gupta is working in a private company. My mother Garima is a homemaker. We shifted to Delhi fourteen years ago..."

Cutting her,

"Where were you before that?"

"Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand,"

"Why did you emigrate from there?"

"For my studies"

"Oh... what's your designation?"

"BBA... Delhi University. And I have many friends and one close friend named Preeto... I eat sweets a lot and like Golgappe. Every Friday I go to the temple before coming to the office. Are these details enough? Now, you can do what you want..."

"Don't you have siblings?" he asked, not minding what she said.

"I'm the only daughter"

"Have you ever gone to Lucknow?"

"Lucknow?" She thought for a while and nodded NO.

Arnav walked out, saying nothing, thinking about Khushi. He kept her name on the TOP list. He didn't want to come to a conclusion because, in the process of concentrating on Khushi, he didn't want to MISS the real Khushali. The only detail he wanted to know from Khushi was, whether she was her parent's biological daughter or not. He decided to do that after coming from Chennai.

Evening

Arnav came to Aman's cabin.

"I'm leaving, Aman,"

"Yeah, all the best"

"Thanks..."

"You won't be here for MY program... I feel bad about it"

"So what if I'm not here? You have a super smart PA... won't she manage everything?"

Aman was stunned. Was that Arnav who addressed Khushi as super smart?

"Actually, I'm not talking about managing issues but about your ABSENCE in the program," Aman said.

"That's ok... you carry on..."

Aman nodded yes.

..............

Arnav went to Chennai with Akash. Of course, he brought his plan to the venue exactly and succeeded. The music director was highly impressed with Arnav and he wanted Arnav to take over his next concert that was going to be held in Mumbai after three months. Arnav knew, that if he had succeeded in that concert, he would get quite a few...! He was happy as Aman also earned goodwill from the Mayur authorities with his performance.

Arnav thanked the person INWARDLY who was the reason behind the successful projects. Of course, he didn't want to thank her OPENLY... after all, he was ASR...!

Arnav left Chennai the next day of the program as the Music director wanted to throw a party and he invited Arnav to take part. Arnav didn't want to say NO to the music director even though he was not a party bird.

After completing the party, he came back to Delhi the next day. Aman welcomed him, giving him a warm hug.

"You rocked ASR... the whole nation is talking about the concert," Aman said proudly.

"I too heard the industry talking about the award function. We made it"

"Sorry, ASR... I can't take the whole credit. Khushi also has an equal share in it"

Without answering to it,

"I would like to celebrate these double victories by throwing a party to our staff. What say?"

Aman was stunned. Party and Arnav?

"Are you sure?" Aman asked unbelievably.

"Yeah..."

"Ok, but where is the party?"

"On the terrace..."

"On our office terrace?"

"Yup..."

"Do you think the terrace suits our party?"

"Let us check"

"Ok..."

"Call our PAs and ask them to come to the terrace"

"But why?"

"It's because they are the ones who suggest better" he headed to the terrace.

Aman nodded his head from left to right and called Akash and Khushi. They came to him.

"Let's go guys" Aman headed to the lift.

Akash and Khushi followed him. They got into the lift and Aman pressed the TOP floor button.

"Where are we going, sir?" Akash asked.

"ASR decided to throw a party for our staff to celebrate our double victory. It is going to be held on the terrace of our office building. We are going to give it a look"

"Oh..."

The lift stopped at the top floor and they climbed the stairs to reach the terrace. They saw Arnav already there. He was looking at the city, putting his hands in his pocket. Turning his face, he looked at them.

"I think this place will be good for our party," Arnav said.

"The place is good but what if it rains?" Khushi questioned, looking at the sky that looked cloudy.

"It's just passing clouds, Ms. Gupta. Don't worry it will not rain"

"How could you say that, Sir? This is a rainy season. It may start raining anytime"

"But..." Arnav stopped talking as a raindrop fell on his face.

He looked at the sky stunningly. The next second, it started raining. The trio ran towards the sunshade and stood under it but, Arnav kept on drenching in the rain casually as if it could do nothing to him.

"Mr. Raizada... don't drench in the FIRST rain" Khushi shouted.

"The first rain contains pollutants that increase your chance of catching a cold and cause fever... right? I know that" Arnav said sarcastically.

Khushi sighed. There was nothing to tell the person who knew everything and was adamant not to care about the consequences.

"Ms. Gupta, a SOFT TOY like you should bother about the first rain, not me who has a STEEL BODY. Understand?" He said mockingly and stood under the rain.

Aman and Akash looked at each other getting surprised as Arnav addressed Khushi as a SOFT TOY. Did he DEGRADE her or UPGRADE her? They could not understand. How could they understand when Arnav himself didn't?

To be continued...