CHAPTER 3

Khushi didn't mean to eavesdrop. It wasn't in her nature to be nosy. She was merely minding her own business chopping tomatoes for sauce. Thankfully, her boss' taste buds coincided with hers today and he was willing to eat pasta. Khushi wondered if there will be any left so that she can take some back to her house and enjoy with him. However, she couldn't help as her efficient, for a normal human being, ears overheard the conversation her boss was having over the phone with his mother in the next room.

She could only hear his side of the conversation, but that was enough to understand what it was all about.

"Maa, please, I am tired of having this conversation with you again and again." Khushi could hear his voice sounding a mixture of annoyance and desperation. "I will not come home for Diwali."

"Yeah, I know. You will miss me. What? Okay. You will miss me more as di also isn't coming home this year. But, I will not change my decision."

Khushi heard him trying to talk but repeatedly cut off by his mother on the other side. It was comical to hear him stop mid sentence every time with a groan.

"Maa, you know why I am not willing to come home. You know how emotionally draining it will be for me. Still, you want me to undergo every pain just so I can eat jalebis fed by you?"

"What? No. Uff!! Maa, I am not saying anything is wrong with your Jalebis. I just... God! Maa! It was just a .... Yeah! You know how much I love Jalebis."

Khushi always thought his elusive behavior was result of his lack of interest in socializing or maybe he was just missing his old life in his hometown. But, now knowing he was not even interested in going back home to his parents. She wondered what even the deal with him is. Why such eccentric behavior?

"Sure. I will come home next month. Maybe around Christmas."

"Okay, maa. I am taking care of myself. Eating healthy. Yeah. Umm...Okay. I have a new house help, maa. Yes, she is good."

Khushi's ears perked at her praise. Some advantages this *unintentional* eavesdropping brings.

"Maa, please, I can tell her all that. I am sure she knows what water temperature to use for washing cotton clothes. What am I... Maa, I am not taking her side. You are being unreasonable. I can't say such rude things to house help, maa. She will get me arrested then. Fine. I will take care of the house. No, I am not overpaying anyone and I am not sending you photo of her pay check. I know how to take care of my house, maa. Jeez!"

Khushi had to hold her index finger in between her teeth to stop her from laughing out loud. She kept the knife aside and held the ends of table in another hand so that she doesn't lose balance because of how her whole body was shaking with silent laughter. She could easily imagine her boss's frustrated expression at ridiculous advises of his mother.

If Khushi knew her boss of three months well, then she was sure that he hated any discrimination against her for being a mere house help.

The other day, secretary of the apartments, an old lady in her early sixties knocked at the door and asked Arnav's stand in paying extra maintenance so that a pool could be constructed at their building. As Arnav was in an important meeting inside his room with DND sign hung on his study's door handle, Khushi took it upon herself to deliver an answer which she was sure will also be his answer.

"He wouldn't mind the extra maintenance money. But, he wouldn't be comfortable with cutting down the trees to make pool. Those trees give the whole apartments an aesthetic feel and cool breeze."

The old lady eyed Khushi from top to bottom in disgruntle way.

"Aren't you the young house help everyone is talking about?"

Khushi knew she was indeed gossip of the month. What with a young man hiring another young woman as house help and all. Blasphemy for our society. Why should she confirm it, though?

So, Khushi just shrugged. "I am Mr.Raizada's house help."

"House help you are, aren't you? Not his girlfriend?"

Khushi only pulled her gloved palms in tight fist and folded her arms determined as answer.

"I am Mr.Raizada's house help." She repeated.

A callous smirk spread on the lady's face. "Good, because, I don't take opinions from servants. Ask your boss to call me after his meeting is up."

Then she left with annoying screech of her pointed heels on the floor.

Though Khushi was fuming inside like a volcano. She knew better than to be a tattling kid who goes complaining about the mean bully.

'You have better class, Khushi.' She told herself. 'Just bear with all this non sense and have your eyes only on the prize.'

That evening, however, when the lady returned with her clan and sweet smile plastered on her face for Arnav. Khushi was asked to serve them coffee and while placing the same on the table for her boss and his guests, she heard him say. "Anitha-ji, my answer is no different from what Khushi said. I agree with her decision completely. It is not about the money, but I don't want the trees to be cut."

Anitha-ji's smile didn't drop but one could clearly see that Arnav's answer didn't please her, especially not him siding with Khushi.

"Arnav beta." Anitha kept the coffee back on the table. "I see what you mean. I assure you there is no one in the world who loves nature more than me. But, I can only consider your word final, you know. There is some rules to all this. I can't just be taking a servant maid's words seriously." She laughed in the way that people do to turn their hostility into humour so that the opposite person is also forced to make light of the situation.

However, Arnav's face held only a no non-sense expression. His head was tilted sideways and he looked like he was counting sheeps in his head to stop himself from saying whatever he has to say in whichever manner he wished.

"Anitha-ji." His tone lost the usual calmness. "A person is not the work he does. It is about the ideals he holds. Khushi has shown that her ideals are far superior by showing how she cares for nature. I don't see why you will have a problem in accepting that. Unless..." he stood on his heels and put his hands in his pocket. "you don't have same noble ideals."

Anitha's smile finally dropped and Khushi could see she was infuriated. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but Arnav's livid face and subtle hand gesture showing her the door served as perfect deterrent. She walked out of the door fuming.

"Thank you." Khushi said as soon as Arnav turned around.

Arnav opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. Wetting his both lips, he nodded at her. "You are welcome." He then said with a smile.

Khushi didn't know if he was generally a remarkable human being or was considerate only to her. Either way, she admired that he took a stand for her. No one has ever done it for her. She was either left to fight her own battles or abandon it to keep a roof on her head and food on her plate. For a change, it felt good to be at the receiving end of such protection without any expectation.

Khushi placed a hot cup of coffee in front of Arnav as he came out of his room and sat on the couch. The coffee was in Disney themed mug that Arnav had bought back as souvenir from his trip to the Disneyland. Seeing coffee being served in the particular cup, Arnav couldn't help but smile.

Khushi has mastered the art of detecting his moods and serving his coffee in mugs that either reflected his mood or had an impact on his mood. It was a subtle act. Took some time for Arnav to understand what she was up to. It has become a game of sort for her. To detect his mood and all. Over time, even Arnav began to enjoy the small, non verbal exchange, especially at time when it gave him comfort. Like the time when he was missing his sister after watching a movie about siblings and she served him coffee in a mug his sister gifted that had a childhood photo of them embossed.

One day, Khushi served him coffee in steel mug with quote about peace by Buddha was printed. He looked at her suspiciously.

"I am not stressed." He half shouted at her.

"You are not. You are just having third coffee in five hours as a hobby." She replied nonchalantly.

Arnav, however, was indeed stressed. What's with deadlines and bugs taking forever to fix and all.

Khushi understood him well in the short span she has been working with him and Arnav couldn't deny that her presence has played a major role in smoothing his living.

"So?" Khushi asked from where she was stirring the pasta in the kitchen."You are going somewhere for Diwali? A party maybe?"

"A party?" asked Arnav as he leaned back on the couch with both his legs on the table sipping his coffee.

"Party of the colleague from UI who sent you that creative e-vite in whatsapp."

"Oh! That."

It was indeed creative. Shaan never fails to remind everyone why he is hired. Anyway, Arnav is not going to change his 'no party' rules just for sake of creative e-vite.

"I am gonna pass." Arnav said lazily. "Diwali parties are overrated. I am in no mood to lose money playing poker. I am not even good at it."

Khushi rolled her eyes and looked at Arnav. Her one hand placed on her hip and another holding the ladle. "Which party is not overrated for you?"

"The one where people don't come for free alcohol or for taking photos for instagram posts."

"You, sir, are missed in 2005. Bye.Bye."Khushi waved at him. Arnav waved back at her with a smile.

How much more candid and enjoyable can their conversation get?

"What do you plan to do then?" Though it was none of Khushi's business, she somehow felt obliged to make sure he doesn't treat the festival of lights as another normal day.

"The usual." Arnav said making Khushi's suspicions true. "With fast food catching up..."

"Latest episodes of YOU." Khushi completed his sentence for him. Arnav smiled gleefully. "That plan sucks. If that is what you are going to do on such a joyous festival, then that makes you creepier than Joe from YOU."

"Well, thank you very much. This is not the first time I am hearing complain."

Khushi didn't know if she should feel sad or happy about no amount of taunts by friends or family affects Arnav or brings him out of self imposed exile.

After Khushi served Arnav his dinner and packed the leftover in foil sheet to take home, she stood in front of his room leaning on the door frame while he was busy reading a file.

"I am done for the day."

"Bye, Khushi. See you tomorrow."

"You don't mean tomorrow."

"Why?" Arnav asked looking up from his file.

"Come on, tomorrow is Diwali. Unlike you, I want to spend it with my family."

"Oh!"

Arnav had almost forgotten that Khushi had a life outside of work. For past few days, she is the one person who he has seen the most. Also, for the past one year, she the one person who he has interacted with the most. Naturally, he assumed he was the only one in her life in whatever capacity it was. To realize that it was only him without a life and she had someone and something to look out for outside this house felt strange.

"Of course." Arnav said with an embarrassed chuckle. "You will want to be with your family." How stupid of him. "Happy Diwali, Khushi. Convey it to you family too." He wondered if he should have bought sweet box for her family. That is what employers do right? Maybe he should get one tomorrow.

When Khushi hasn't still left and stood in the same place staring at him.

"What's it?" he asked

"Do you want to..." she bit her lower lip. "You know... want to spend Diwali with my family?"

Khushi knew his answer was going to be no. How can she convince him to get out of this house when his own mother could? It was just that her heart felt sorry for her employer who she has started to considered more as a friend. So, she has to extend an invitation, though she knew she will be declined.

"I am..."Arnav hesitated for a bit. "I am okay." She said. "Sure. I mean, are you sure?" he asked

When Khushi nodded her head rather enthusiastically at slight positive answer from his side, Arnav sighed deeply.

He wasn't going to like his answer, but his whole being forced him to utter the word. "Yes." 

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