Part 13 Prank

"You too, Aman?"

"Yes, sir, anyone who is concerned about you will do it sir," Aman said.

Arnav smiled contently.

"Dev is such a person, sir"

"What do you want me to do? Should I sit in the office and sign the files without getting into any problem?"

Aman was silent.

"We are officers, Aman. We should know our power. Do you know what's the power of the collator?"

"As per the Indian Constitution, the military should be present in front of you twenty-four hours at any cause if you order, in case of any clutter"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Dev Sinha is a simple DOT... that too, BLACK DOT in the vast universe. He will also bleed if you cut him... he will also die if you shoot him... then why you guys are creating a scene as if he is a God?"

"Yes, sir but you will also bleed and you will also die. That's why we are scared, sir"

"Everyone should die one day... it's better to die all at once than to die of fear every day"

"Sir, a good man like you should live long sir. Society needs you. You are our hope, sir. I could see the hope in people's eyes. They think you will do something for their betterment. Please try to understand sir. Slow down your steps, sir"

Arnav stopped arguing. It seemed Aman was worried about Arnav's life... just like, Khushi. So, there was no use in consoling them.

Aman turned behind and looked at the door, hearing a knock. The Davali peeped in.

"Sir, Dev Sinha is coming, sir," he said.

Arnav and Aman spared a glance.

"Tell him, I'm in an important discussion," Arnav said.

"Yes, sir" The Davali left.

Aman looked at Arnav questioningly.

"You can go, Aman. Come after one hour... after my discussion got over" Arnav said smiling.

Aman nodded yes and left. He knew Arnav was going to make Dev wait for one hour intentionally.

When Aman came out of his room, he saw Dev Sinha entering the first floor. He stopped, seeing Dev Sinha.

"Is Collector sir here?" Dev asked.

"He is in an important discussion, Sir"

"Go and tell him, I'm here"

"He is in the minister's video conference sir" Aman managed because he knew Arnav would get angry if he said about Dev's arrival that he already knew.

Aman didn't leave the place because Dev had no culture. He might enter Arnav's room without caring about anything. So, he stayed outside Arnav's cabin. He could see Dev losing his patience. He was roaming here and there in front of Arnav's cabin.

"Sir, you can sit," Aman said.

Dev glared at him.

"Sir is in a Minister meeting. That's why..." he said.

Dev looked at his wristwatch annoyingly whereas Aman swallowed his uneasiness.

At last, Arnav called him after an hour. Dev went inside his cabin, all the way looking at Arnav who was smirking at him. Aman caught hold of the door not letting it close fully. Of course, it was Arnav's order. He wanted everyone to know how he treated Dev.

"Namaste Collector, sir"

"Namaste... may I know who are you?" he intentionally asked.

"Oh... don't you know who am I?"

"How do I know who you are? Have we met ever before?"

"We will meet often from hereon I suppose"

"Are you a social worker? Because only those who can get my respect to meet me often who care for this nation and I absolutely hate those who exploit the resources of our nation"

Dev felt it was an invisible slap from Arnav as he directly said he hated him.

"By the way, I have a lot of work... I have no time to argue with you. Who are you? What are you here for?"

"I'm Dev Sinha"

"Which Dev Sinha?"

Dev rolled his eyes in irritation.

"The trucks you seized are mine"

Arnav leaned on his seat with attitude.

"Why are you here?"

"Release my trucks"

"I have no power to release your truck. You can go to the court because the case filed"

"Don't I know your law? You can change any papers if you get money. Ask me how much you want... you don't have to pretend to be good"

"Get out..." came from Arnav.

Dev Sinha stood up in shock, looking at Arnav.

"I said get ouuuuut...." Arnav shouted.

Dev Sinha gritted his teeth and turned around only to find the door open. Everyone was looking at them. He glared at Arnav wrathfully as he understood that Arnav intentionally insulted him.

He walked out furiously and his men followed him. Shashi who came to the Collector's office for a meeting saw that. He was also worried about Arnav's super straightforward attitude.

Arnav went to the meeting hall where Tahsildars were gathered. As usual, he lashed those who had not completed their work but he saw improvement in them. Maximum of them tried to show their best and Arnav was glad about it.

He came to his cabin only after lunch hour. He saw two missed calls from Khushi in an hour gap. He smilingly dialed her number. She received it.

"Sir, this is Khushi"

"I know Khushi. Tell me"

"Sir, we decided to build bathrooms in all the government schools of our district, sir"

Arnav was glad and wondered.

"Who decided?"

"Our foundation, sir. Each school needs three lakhs for six bathrooms, sir. Shall we proceed?"

"How will you collect the amount? Does your foundation have funds? If you guys use your own money, you will have to answer the IT department" he said teasingly.

"Payal influences our district sir. Rich people in our district will donate if she asks and our foundation will contribute half of the amount, sir"

"I see... so, can I believe you guys are not going to include Mr. Dev Sinha in this?"

Khushi was shocked.

"No sir... definitely not"

"That will be good for you... come to the office and get the order"

"Thank you, sir"

Khushi was about to disconnect the call, but stopped hearing,

"You are right, Khushi"

She again kept her mobile on her ear.

"Sir...?"

"Is there anyone with you?"

"No sir. I'm alone in my room"

"Are you free today?"

"I'm not feeling well sir"

"What happened?"

"Fever, sir"

"Did you go to the hospital?"

"No sir... it's a normal fever"

"When did you complete MBBS?"

Khushi was silent.

"Don't go for assumption. Go to the hospital... ok?"

"Ok, sir"

"I will call you tonight. You should tell me what medicine you take"

Khushi looked at her phone frowning.

"Won't you?"

"Yes, sir"

"Good... I said you are right. What you guessed happened"

"What sir?"

"Dev Sinha came to the office and threatened me..."

Khushi gulped down.

"He daringly said he would finish me" he lied to see her reaction.

"Whaaaat?" Khushi was horrified.

"Yeah, he looks like a dangerous man indeed"

"Sir, I requested you to be careful. Didn't I tell you about him? He won't care about anything, sir. See, what happened now... I don't know what he is going to do. Please alert the police department and ask them to watch him, sir"

"Mmmm..."

"Trust me, he won't be quiet"

"Oh..."

"He will do what he says"

"Oh ho..."

"Sir, I think you don't understand about him. I will talk to Aman Bahi"

"Are you going to talk to Aman?"

"Haan..."

"what are you going to tell him?"

"I will ask him to be alert all the time"

"How? Will the police be around me 24*7?" he mocked.

Khushi was restless. She sensed him being careless. She didn't know how to make him understand.

"Ok, relax... I will take care of myself. Ok?"

"Thank you, sir"

"Khushi, I said I will take care of MYSELF. Why are you thanking me for taking care of myself?"

"Because we need you, sir"

Arnav smiled.

"I will be here only for two years... after that, I will get transferred"

"Until you are here, it's our responsibility to protect you, sir"

"Thanks for your concern. You too be careful"

"Ok, sir"

"Don't forget to go to the hospital"

"Ok, sir"

"Bye"

Arnav disconnected the call smiling. He wondered how he pranked Khushi, leaving his schedule behind. He rang the calling bell. The Davali came inside with his lunch.

Arnav looked at the clock and it was 3:30 pm.

"Oh... that's why I'm hungry..." he sighed.

The Davali served him food.

At the same time, Aman got a call from Khushi.

"Bhai, please ask him to be careful"

"Whom you are talking about?"

"The collector"

"What's the matter, Khushi?"

"Bhai, I didn't expect you would also be careless like him"

"What are you talking about?"

"How could you be so careless after Dev Sinha threatened the collector sir?"

"whaaaat? Dev Sinha threatened him? When?"

"A few minutes ago... didn't he come to the office?"

"Of course, he came to the office... but it was our collector who insulted him..."

"Whaaat?"

"Yeah, what do you think? Could he leave the collector's office after threatening him? Won't he put him behind the bars?"

Khushi was confused. Then why did Arnav tell her, that Dev threatened him?

"Khushi, someone should have pranked with you, it seems. Relax ok?" he disconnected the call.

Khushi dropped her jaw.

To be continued...