OUR HEARTBEATS BECOME ONE!

CHAPTER 8

On the other hand Khushi stirred in her sleep for the umpteenth time..... Her usually calm and serene face looked worried and worn out!

Payal came in to wake her up. She shook her many times and managed to get her to open her eyes.

"Khushi? Wake up! You'll be late!"

"Jiji? Just a little while longer....please....!" Pleaded Khushi who was again half asleep!

"It's not a Sunday Khushi... You are an employee of AR designs now! You have certain responsibilities! Moreover it's quarter to eight. Hurry up ! " chided Payal.

The time was like a trigger! Khushi sprung up and sat straight, "quarter to eight? Hai Devi maiyya ....how is this possible? That laad governor will surely eat me alive today! Jiji couldn't you have woken me up earlier?" Complained Khushi.

"But that is what I was....."started Payal, but Khushi didn 't let her finish as she sprung off her bed and rushed in to change.

A good 45 minutes passed and there was no sign of Khushi . When bauji enquired about her absence Payal decided to check on her. On finding the bedroom empty Payal knocked at the bathroom door several times . When she got no reply from the other end she tried opening the door and found it was unlocked! Payal stepped in cautiously and was shocked to see Khushi sprawled on the floor with her toothbrush in her mouth. Payal rushed to her thinking she had fainted...but what she saw confused and amused her! Khushi was fast asleep with her toothbrush still in her mouth!

Payal shook her to wake her up, and she sprang up saying," Your black coffee sir! "

"Khushi? Payal? Wake up!! What are you saying? Your still at home!" Payal shook her with each sentence and then as an afterthought splashed water on her face!

Khushi was wide awake now! She looked at her jiji accusingly...but the look wore off as her eyes grew wide and reality struck her! She was late. She got up quickly and got busy with brushing her teeth, not bothering to say anything more.

For the first time that day Payal took in Khushi's appearance. Her sister looked pale and sleep deprived. She had dark circles under her eyes and her usual joyous gait was missing!

"Khushi? Are you alright? Didn't you sleep well?" Asked Payal worried.

Khushi stopped brushing. What could she tell Payal? What would she tell her? She had not slept a wink yesterday night! Every time she tried falling asleep,she felt as though someone was calling out to her! Calling her name! She wasn't being honest! She knew who was calling out to her....or rather who she 'thought' was calling out to her! It was Arnav. She could feel it. Hear his voice!

But she couldn't probably say that to her sister, could she? She would think her mad! Heck.....Khushi herself felt she was going mad! She was in that laad governors proximity for too long! 'You will have to get immune to it Khushi! If you have to accomplish anything in that office!'she thought.

Khushi had unknowingly drifted of yet again and Payal shook her for the umpteenth time to bring her back from her dreamland!

When Payal repeated her question again Khushi brushed it aside as nonchalantly as possible and convinced Payal to go out so that she could get ready.

It was ten minutes past nine when Khushi was finally ready ! She grabbed her bag and hurried out refusing to eat her breakfast in spite of her buaji's repeated coaxing! She was late and the devil would burn her alive today! Then what use was breakfast going to do? As she entered the premises of her self proclaimed hell hole , she uttered a silent prayer to her Devi maiyya to help her...

Stepping inside the premises, Khushi instantly knew that her prayer had been answered. She could feel it...his absence! Khushi's face fell and something inside her cried....

"Khushi Kumari Gupta! You have lost it! Why in the world are you sad? This is what you wanted.....isn't it?" But she was not sure anymore....when it came to him she was not sure about her feelings. 'You are losing it! ' she mentally kicked herself and quickly made her way to her desk.

She noticed that the atmosphere was more playful and easy going in the office...when compared to the tense one on the previous day! But she was not satisfied.

Why had he not come yet? Did he have to go somewhere....on business? No...she would know....!

Was he alright?

As soon as the question popped in her head she began worrying! He had been calling out to her the entire night! Khushi was almost sure that this was not her imagination. But the more practical part of her dint let her live on this fantasy for long.

He must be busy with some personal work Khushi...she chided herself. None of your business!

Having thought the thought she tried with all her might to push his thoughts to the recesses of her mind...and succeeded to some extent with great difficulty!

As the day progressed ,however, Khushi became more and more agitated!

He hadn't called even once to assign her any duty....nor to simply shout at her! She missed.....what was she saying? Though she broke the thought process she had to admit that his absence affected her.....and not in a good way either!

Midday, after lunch hour:

Khushi walked back from the canteen, a tall glass of juice in one hand, munching on a huge jalebi.....the only two edible and affordable things on the menu! She was so lost in savouring the nitty grittiest of her lunch that she didn't notice the tall ,husky complexioned lady standing in her path...that is, till she collided head on into her!

Splosh!

The juice splashed on the woman's exquisite beige dress , creating an uneven orange smear.

Khushi's eyes did the 'turn the to saucer size' thing yet again as she took in the damage. She slowly looked up to meet the fuming woman's eyes taking in her appearance from toe to head as she progressed. She noticed long ,slender, 'uncovered' legs with feet suffocating inside high heeled strappy sandals ! She was wearing a previously spotless, beige off shoulder dress that just about reached her knees. The rest of her body was just as perfect and proportionate as her legs....as though she had been etched out on stone!

As her contemplation of the woman's body and dressing sense ended, Khushi reached her face and saw a set of sharp ,perfectly placed features. To say she was pretty....well Khushi was not sure....she looked more like a porcelain doll!

But her eyes were a complete contrast. Overlooking the dull green lens, her eyes were completely expressive! And at that moment, they held anger.....directed solely at Khushi!

Khushi gulped, and dropped her jalebi, making the woman jump back defensively before she resumed her death stare!

"I am soooooo sorry mam!" Pleaded Khushi....completely aware of her mistake .

"Sorry? " yelled the throaty voice. "Do you by any chance know what this dress is worth?" She looked at Khushi from head to toe and smirked! "Of course you don't ! " She regarded her with her piercing look.

Khushi hung her head off her own account. Then straightened and offered to help her clean up.

"You? And help me? Puh lease ! Lavanya Kashyap would never take help from a low life like you! Who are you anyway? And what are you doing in AR? Has ASR opened a charity counter for people like you? Oh wait? Are you from the circus? " she picked up Khushi multicoloured dupatta and regarded it with contempt, "Should be....... Your a bag of sequins! ....."

"Lavanya!, " shouted the oh so familiar voice of Arnav.

Khushi looked up to see him walk in..... His long strides brought him near the women in no time. The tears ran down freely on Khushi's cheeks . He saw them, something cried inside him. But he regarded her coldly. Their eyes met....hers filled with fear and grief.....and some expectation....his........strangely blank....

"ASR ! Did you see that? Did you see what she did?" asked an enraged Lavanya.

Arnav didn't take his eyes off Khushi. He merely pierced her with his blank stare and addressed Lavanya,"Go clean up! The shoot is in an hour!"

"What? You are not going to say anything to her? ASR she....."

"NOW!!" Roared Arnav , looking directly at Lavanya but in-effect making both women flinch!

Lavanya got back her composure and stormed off to change, while Khushi began backing away , searching for means to escape the tyrant's wrath that was sure to befall her next!

Arnav didn't turn, he didn't need to...he knew Khushi...

"Khushi Kumari Gupta !" He hissed, making her stop in her tracks.

"My office........NOW!!!" He yelled again before storming off, making her flinch for the second time!

Khushi took in a deep breath, said a silent prayer to her Devi maiyya and followed her predator to his lair......

Arnav paced around his cabin......a wounded lion. How could she? Why him? Him?... It had nothing to do with him! But why was it affecting him? The thoughts kept darting around in his head making him all the more agitated! He didn't notice her at his door.

But she had seen him pacing......had seen the hurt look in his previously blank eyes. She was confused ,but she gathered courage and knocked on his door.

He immediately stopped pacing and turned away from her, facing the glass walls that overlooked the office.

She strutted in awkwardly and immediately began framing her apologies!

"Woh mein!...... Forgive me!... I didn't mean to...I was not paying attention.....I just...."

"Who are you engaged to?" Asked Arnav simply.

Khushi's eyes widened . How did he know? Why was he asking her now? Was he just playing around?

"I don't ......don't.... know...what you....." She stammered but couldn't complete cause by them Arnav had spun around and pinned her against the wall. He held her by her shoulders and looked right into her eyes. The proximity was dis earning for both....but Arnav overlooked that as he channelled his anger at her through his eyes!

"Don't lie to me!" He hissed." I know ..... Who is it? Why didn't you tell me before?" He yelled!

Khushi squirmed under his grip. She could feel his fingers cutting into her flesh. There was too much pain ! She couldn't process what he was saying!

Arnav shook her again demanding answers! Khushi couldn't take it anymore. Her arms were sore! She didn't realise that tears were streaming down her eyes, streaking her face. She was looking down at her arm.

But Arnav noticed it.....and immediately his grip loosened......

Khushi felt the circulation again. She touched her sore arms and looked up at Arnav accusingly! She tried to move but Arnav blocked her on either sides and moved towards her! "Not today!" He whispered menacingly. "I want my answers damnit!!" He said a bit louder.

"I have nothing to tell you MrRaizada! Let me go!" Said Khushi.

She pushed him with all her might and tried to get away as he stumbled backwards, caught unawares!

But he was quick to recover. He caught her wrist and pulled her back. She landed in his arms, her hands against his chest. His arms snaked around her waist , where he secured them. Their eyes met ,and both were lost yet again!

Khushi recovered first, and attempted again to get away, but Arnav was not done yet! He moved his head forward tilting it as he proceeded. He eyed her lips hungrily as he got closer. He had completely forgotten his purpose the moment she landed in his arms!

Khushi noticed his advance and knew where it was headed. Neither was she immune to his effect on her, as she had admitted to herself a while back! But his accusation and the pain where fresh in her mind! She pushed him again ......succeeding in getting out of his grip!

" If you know so much Mr Raizada , I suggest you behave in your limits! It's not for a dignified man to pursue a woman who is already pledged to another man!" She said,looking him in the eye, before storming out of his cabin, and his office........and his life! Or so she thought......with a heavy heart!

Arnav swore and rammed his fist into the glass shattering it! Dissatisfied he pushed the nearby shelf down , scattering all the files and documents. He pushed everything off his table, and kicked and punched till he the physical pain he felt numbed his senses to such an extent that he couldn't feel the piercing pain that was seizing his heart!

The entire office had heard him upturn his cabin, but they were vary of going up to face him. They knew his wrath , but this was beyond limits...and honestly they felt intimidated !

Having created havoc in his cabin seemed to have cleared arnav's.......no.....ASR's mind! He stormed out of his office, grabbing his keys and sped off in search of the woman who was responsible for this sharp pain in his unfeeling heart!

Khushi on the other hand was lost! Her mind was muddled with memories and emotions of the past.....as well as the present. The torture and screams, the moments of hatred and love kept hovering simultaneously ,till such a time when she cried out in frustration letting out the steam! She collapsed on the ground crying incessantly ! A crowd formed around her soon....murmuring and whispering!

'Who is she? What is she doing? Why is she crying? '

The crowd enlarged an became oppressive soon! Khushi felt suffocated ! Why wouldn't they leave her alone? The murmurs and whispers came as an additional burden to her muddled mind. There was so much her fragile form could take! She fainted............

Meanwhile ASR drove to her house at full speed. He slammed on the breaks right in front of her gate. Memories of the first time he had been there flooded his head.....he pushed them away...or rather his anger did....blinding any other emotion!

He barged in through the open door, "Khushi!" He shouted.

Bauji and Payal came running out hearing him scream.

"Hai re nandkishore! Kya ....what happened? Arnav bitua? Why are you calling Khushi? She is at office?" Asked a worried and confused bauji.

Payal meanwhile noticed Arnav's expression and immediately understood something was wrong!

"Arnav Ji? " she began cautiously, but was cut off by Arnav's menacing look directed at her!

She gulped as he turned completely towards her and hissed,"Shyam Manohar Jha.......where is he?"

Payal's eyes turned the size of saucers and her mouth fell open..........no! Surely he couldn't know..............??