Part 9 Decision

Was it the Chennai project file? Arnav was shocked to the core. He thought of hitting two birds with one stone. While evicting Khushi from A2, he wanted to pull Nikhil down but he didn't expect his plan would backfire.

"Why the hell did you keep the file here?" Arnav shouted at Khushi.

"It was me who asked her to keep it here because I wanted to give it a look. And you wanted to go through OUR project. So, I told Khushi to keep our file in your cabin..." Aman said.

Arnav rolled his eyes gulping down. He didn't know whom to blame. He could not understand whether he should shout at Khushi or prepare the report immediately, keeping all the issues aside.

"What happened, ASR?"

"Search it..." He rushed to his cabin leaving everything behind. He was not ready to blame Khushi for the mistake she had not made. He had no time to waste on the pointless argument. He had to send an Email to the Chennai Agent before he called him. That was more important than anything now.

Aman stood like a statue as there was nothing to search for. His cabin was neat and clean. There was not a single bit of paper on the floor. Then, what was necessary to search the papers?

"What happened to him?" Aman asked.

"Sir, I think we should not disturb him for a while. He is going to prepare the report again I suppose" Khushi said.

"But, where is the papers?" Aman asked.

"I kept the file here only sir," Khushi said.

"But, no papers here..." Aman frowned.

"Sir, he is ASR after all. He will manage. We have to concentrate on our project" Khushi said.

Aman was not convinced. He knew Arnav. He was not a man who would start preparing the report instead of shouting at Khushi who kept the file in his cabin. Why did he behave weirdly? Something must be wrong. Aman thought.

"Sir, you have to finalize the furniture cover's color," Khushi said.

"Will not RED cover on white furniture be good?"

"Red is a widely used color, sir" She kept sample photos on his table.

"Oh..." he raised his brows.

"Why don't we prefer PEACOCK blue?" She asked.

Aman's eyes sparkled.

"Wow... it's a good idea"

"Thank you, sir"

"So smart, Khushi" Akash smiled.

Khushi stood up smiling.

"I will finalize the color, sir"

"Yeah, do it"

Khushi left Aman's cabin with Akash.

"Khushi,"

"Mmm?"

"Payal wants to meet you"

"Me? why?"

"I told her about you. So, she would like to meet you"

"You went for her birthday date and talked about me? What kind of man you are?"

"We talked about our office randomly. As you become an unavoidable person in our office, we talked about you too"

Khushi rolled her eyes smiling.

"Will you meet her?"

"Sure... we will meet one day"

"Thank you, Khushi"

That was when Akash got a call from Arnav. Akash attended it in the first ring.

"Yes, ASR?"

"Did you note down my points about the Chennai project?"

"Yeah, a few points would be in my notepad"

"You should not have forgotten what we discussed... am I right?"

"Yes, ASR, I do remember"

"Develop them in your own words... quick" Arnav disconnected the call.

Akash looked at Khushi with confusion.

"I really can't understand this man..."

"What happened?" Khushi asked.

"The file is missing... but he started working on it again, without shouting at anyone, without getting angry at anyone... this is strange"

Khushi plainly looked at him.

"This is the first time; ASR is doing things beyond his personality"

"Anyone should change at some point, right?"

Akash nodded yes.

"Go and do the work. Or else, he would start shouting at you and get angry with you"

"You are right" Akash rushed to his cabin.

...........

Aman was leaning on his seat, rotating the rolling chair, from left to right. He could not get anything about Arnav's reaction to the file matter.

That was when he got a call from Anjali. He attended it.

"Haan, Anju..."

"Why do you sound low?"

Aman didn't wonder. Anjali easily found out the difference through his single HELLO.

"I can't understand ASR"

"What he did?"

Aman told her about the issue.

"He said nothing even after knowing, it's Khushi who kept the file in my room. He rushed to his cabin to create a NEW file. I can't understand what he is made up of" he said wearily.

"Were not the papers in your room?"

"No... we didn't find a single bit of paper in my room"

Anjali also became thoughtful.

"Yesterday, when I prayed, closing my eyes, I heard them fighting with each other whispering"

"Whispering?"

"Yes. Khushi teased him like anything and he was countering her back. I don't know how he is letting her tease him. She called him HALF-MINDED"

"Is it? when did ARROGANT change into HALF-MINDED?" Aman chuckled.

"This is not funny"

"I don't know what to say... you and your friend..."

"As if you are not his friend?" Anjali said.

"I think we should stop thinking about him and let him do what he wants"

Anjali sighed.

"Why did you call me?"

"I got a message from Rithu's school, that today is half a day and we should arrange transportation"

"Oh... ok, I will bring him from school"

"If you are busy, let me know. I will go"

"Ok"

They disconnected the call.

Arnav was searching in his notepad if he had written any HINTs about the Chennai project. So that, he could develop it. He was doing that cursing himself. How foolish he was...! He didn't even notice what file it was, in the process of being watchful while tearing the papers! What a bloody blunder he had done...! How big the project was! What if it got canceled? It would become a BIG slap to him for playing a dirty game with Khushi. He annoyed.

Arnav raised his head hearing the door opening sound. He frowned, seeing Khushi entering his cabin, without his permission. Before he said anything,

"I'm sorry," Khushi said.

Arnav was stuck. He didn't know why she apologized.

"I irritated you going overbroad I suppose. I'm sorry for that. I never irritated anyone like that. I don't know why I did that to you."

"Look, I have no time to listen to you now. Get out..."

Without minding it, she said,

"I saw you tearing the papers. I didn't expect you would even DESTROY the project papers to defeat me"

Arnav looked at her shockingly. How did she know that?

"Last evening, Anjali called me and asked me to check whether she put off the lamp in Aman sir's cabin or not. To check it, I came back and saw you tearing the papers. I felt bad for making you do that. I'm really sorry"

Arnav didn't know how to react.

"You did that to fire me because you thought it was OUR project file."

She kept the file on his table that was in her hand.

"This is your project file," she said.

Arnav was stunned. Taking it, he flipped the pages. It was a printout of his project's database form. The file looked neat and clean. Khushi would have worked on it. Her work was more perfect than Akash's.

"I created it this morning, coming to the office a little earlier, and sent it to Mr. Sivamani too," she said making him gulp down.

That was when Arnav's phone rang. The call was from Sivamani, the Chennai agent. Arnav attended it.

"Hello..."

"ASR, I got your Email and sent it to the Music director. He wants to talk to you. I'm connecting him in conference"

"Mmm"

The call connected.

"Hello, ASR..."

"Hello, Sir"

"I'm impressed by your working style. What I want is, assurance from you"

"What assurance, sir?"

"You should bring the plan in real... because anyone can plan but generating it is not easy"

"I will do it, sir"

"When are you coming to Chennai?"

"Day after tomorrow, sir"

"OK, meet me before starting your work"

"Sure sir"

"Have a NICE DAY..."

"Thank you, sir" Arnav disconnected the call. The day would have been worse if Khushi hadn't saved his project.

He looked at Khushi.

"How did you get my schedule?" he asked.

"Aman sir wanted me to look at the file. He wanted me to learn something from that. I did that. I was so impressed. Your work highly attracted me. I wanted to go through it relaxingly. So, I captured them on my phone. As you tore it, I regenerated it because I don't want you or your company to face a huge loss because of me. I was trained by Aman sir and Akash when you were in Chennai. They told me about your work style. I followed it. That's why you could not find any flaws in my work."

Arnav was looking at her without blinking.

"I think I disturbed you a lot. Until I'm here, you won't be peaceful. You don't worry about Anjali. Just because I SAVED Rithu's LIFE, she wants to be grateful to me. "

Arnav looked at her shockingly.

"Did you save Rithvik's life?"

"Don't you know that? I thought Anjali would have told you about it. or else, I would not have told you about it"

She sighed.

"Yes, Rithu was supposed to be hit by a truck. I saved him. That's how Anjali became my friend. That's OK. I will manage her. You can work without thinking of evicting me anymore."

Arnav looked at her confused.

"Because I'm resigning," She said.

To be continued...