Part 12 Ploy

Arnav was stuck, seeing the report created by Khushi. It was so clean and easy to understand. She derived the toughest part of the program so simply in a way any programmer could understand it. Her talent amazed him. Being a programmer, he knew how hard it was to make a report. But this girl had done that so simply and effortlessly.

Arnav thought he could make her busy by advising her. He thought Khushi would start preparing the report instead of ogling at him. But, as he didn't expect, she already finished the report. Now, as he promised, he had to make her a part of the programming project. He had to do that, no choice. Arnav sighed.

Arnav pulled the Pen Drive from his system.

"Do I meet your expectations?" She asked.

Arnav looked at her who looked confident. She didn't ask him, IS IT RIGHT? But DO I MEET YOUR EXPECTATION? Her question itself told him, how confident she was about her work.

Arnav nodded yes. That made her lips curve into a smile.

"Look, Khushi..."

"Looking..."

Arnav got stuck.

"This is a very big project. It will take at least two days for you to understand. I have no time to explain to you as I'm busy with the project"

"No problem, I will go through it"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah..."

"I have almost completed it. Only fifteen percent is remaining. I have to complete it in a day or two"

"May I suggest you something?"

Arnav looked at her and nodded yes.

"If you explain a segment, I can write the particular program of the segment and help you," She said.

Arnav was surprised. He didn't think of that idea.

"Actually you are a BE student. You did your project in Jawa. But, now our company is working with R language. So, as of now, you can't help us. Learn R language first"

"I know R language," Khushi said and Arnav was stunned.

"But, engineering syllable doesn't have R..."

"I studied it privately... Not only that, I know Python too"

Arnav was like WHAT THE...

"I know ten computer languages. Actually, I wanted to become a HACKER. (she said whispering. Arnav looked at her unbelievably. Did she want to become a hacker?) that's why I learned ten languages but before I learned hacking, I remembered you and our previous birth love story. So I started my previous birth husband and found you in Delhi" She smiled.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Ok, Khushi, I'm glad you know many languages... our teammates will get confused if you enter the team all of a sudden because you are new here... you don't know how the program structure would be..."

"Then, what do you want me to do?"

"As of now, nothing..."

He gave her a file.

"This is the program structure. Go through it. Do something if you understand anything. I will include it if it's up to the project standard"

Khushi nodded ok. She understood Arnav didn't want to bring her into the project. She went to her table and sat pouting.

Arnav stole his glance and felt bad. He could not take risks because it was about his company's reputation and income. Being the head of the project team, he wanted to complete it without any complications. Not that he didn't trust Khushi's ability. He almost completed the project. He didn't think she could do anything at the end. So he decided to include her in the next project.

But Khushi was not compromised. She decided what to do.

In the meanwhile, Sonia came to her seat that was on the second floor. She saw NK

There and got confused. What NK was doing there? Where was Khushi?

NK stood up from his seat and came to the first floor. He smiled at Aman who entered the office.

"It seems you have put attendance..." Aman teased.

"Excuse me... I don't have to put attendance to Lavanya anymore because I shifted to the second floor, interchanging my table"

Aman raised his brows and asked,

"With Khushi?"

"Exactly"

"From here on, ASR's condition will be so miserable..." Aman laughed.

"Who knows, he may start to recognize his previous birth wife slowly"

"I don't think he will admit it"

"Poor Khushi"

"Why are you so concerned for her?"

"The pain of love is common and unbearable to everyone... that's why"

"Go... go to your desk and do your work... or else, you will get hits from ASR then its pain will be unbearable"

"You are right. I just came to see you... and I did that... bye"

"Bye..." NK galloped to the second floor.

"Crazy bugger" Aman smiled.

Sonia who followed NK heard their talks and connected the dots.

PREVIOUS BIRTH WIFE? Her eyes sparkled.

After a while,

Arnav raised his head sensing someone. He saw Ranjith standing with a smirk.

"I heard, to strengthen your side, you brought a girl from your previous birth..." he mocked.

Arnav tightened his jaws.

"However, you gave the output using others' talent in your favor. Don't you?"

Arnav looked at the computer screen without answering him.

"You are so lucky Arnav. Everything is falling on your lap effortlessly"

Arnav closed his eyes to control himself. he didn't want to create a scene lowering his standard.

"You are JUST a step ahead in the ladder than me... don't fly high for leading the team, Arnav. Give me a chance if you have guts"

"Go and talk to Bhashyam sir... he will give you the responsibility of leading the team"

"You have buttered the old man already... then how will he listen to me?"

Arnav stood up from his seat and was about to leave the place, Ranjith clutched his shirt.

"Learn what's manners Arnav... I'm your senior... don't forget that"

"You too don't forget that. If you cross your limit, I won't mind you are my senior"

Shrugging his hands, Arnav walked out.

Khushi bowed down when Ranjith looked at her. How did Ranjith know about their previous birth story? Except for NK and Aman, no one knew about it. She was sure about it. Then how did Ranjith taunt Arnav? Arnav said he had no time and should complete the project this week. Yet, he went out, leaving the work as it was. She felt a bad vibe because she knew Arnav's mood was OFF. She decided not to disturb Arnav until he completed the project. She concentrated on the project details given by Arnav and tried to understand them.

That was when a girl came to their section. She stood in front of Khushi. Khushi looked at her and she smiled. Khushi reciprocated to it.

"Are you Khushi Gupta, IIT topper?"

Khushi nodded yes. She didn't know why all of them addressed her as IIT Topper. She never highlighted it before anywhere.

"I'm Sonia..." she extended her hand.

Khushi was dumbstruck. Sonia? Didn't Lavanya tell her about Sonia? She was Sheetal's friend... Partner in crime...

"Hi," Khushi smiled artificially.

"I heard you are Arnav's previous birth wife... is it true?"

Khushi widened her eyes. What the hell was that? Why everyone was purposely talking about it?

"Who said? Nothing is like that" Khushi flipped the page of the file.

"But, everyone is talking about it..."

"You can ask the person who talks about it... not me because I don't talk to you about it"

Sonia looked out through the glass wall and saw Arnav advancing the section with Aman. She made sure Arnav saw her talking with Khushi.

"But, the TPOIC is you"

"It's not my problem"

She intentionally prolonged the conversation as she got to know Arnav was watching her. Sonia left the place smirking.

She came straight to Arnav and stood in front of him.

"Good morning, Arnav"

"Good morning" he was supposed to go to his section,

"Your WIFE... I mean, your previous birth wife looks beautiful... you guys are hot pair" She chuckled sarcastically.

Arnav gritted his teeth.

"Do you believe the story?"

Without answering her, Arnav walked off but Aman didn't.

"Why are you bothering about whether he believes it or not? Go and mind your business" he said.

Sonia walked off shrugging her shoulders off.

Arnav came to the section furiously. He tapped Khushi's table hard. Khushi jerked and stood up fearfully. He flicked his fingers near her face.

"Listen...this is the limit... I won't be quiet letting you do stupidity. Why the hell are you advertising who you are? I don't believe your trash... understand? Stay away from me and stop doing propaganda about senseless stories. You are coming to the office to do the job. Do it and go. If you tell your idiotic story to anyone again, I will call the police... Mind it..." He said all heated up.

No need to say what would have been Khushi's condition. Her eyes tear up. She felt insulted as everyone's eyes were on her. She ran out of the section towards the second floor spilling tears.

Arnav went to his desk and sat on his seat angrily. He tried to concentrate on his work but he could not.

"What have you done, ASR? Why did you shout at her?" Aman asked.

"What else do I do? She is doing publicity... Why should she tell Sonia about it? What does she think of me?"

"I don't think she would have told Sonia about it"

"I saw her talking to her a few minutes ago"

"No, Arnav... she didn't say anything to Sonia," said Priyanka.

Arnav looked at her.

"It was Sonia who voluntarily tried to get words from Khushi and Khushi denied it clear-cut. You misunderstood her..." Priyanka said feeling sad for Khushi.

Arnav gulped hard. He shouted at Khushi and made her cry. After knowing about Sonia and Sheetal, he should not have done that. He felt bad for doing that.

To be continued...