Music Of The Heart.

CHAPTER ONE.

"One regular, hot coffee, with extra sugar, coming up! " said Antonio, winking at Khushi. Antonio worked at a cafe, near AR. Khushi had this new habit of visiting his cafe, for coffee, every morning before going to AR. 

Khushi giggled when she remembered, how she spat coffee at one of the employees in AR, the very first day of her work. Well, what else could she have done. The coffee at the office cafeteria tasted nothing better than mud.
Such a big company, selling mud instead of coffee. What a shame. She giggled again, just then Antonio appeared, giving Khushi her favourite coffee of all time.
"Whats so funny, eh?" asked Antonio smirking at her.
"Nothing much, just remembered, how I made Emma bath in coffee at AR, the very first day. " laughed Khushi making Antonio's heart flip all over again. Antonio has had a secret crush on Khushi from the day he met her. Her smile, her eyes, her heart, everything was so adorable.
But Khushi always considered him as her friend. A really, good one. She always felt comfortable around him.
"Any ways, I better get going now. Loooads of work at office. See ya' " said Khushi, smiling.
She grabbed her hand bag, and walked out of the cafe.
She was on her way to AR, when her phone rang. Khushi's eyes widened seeing the caller ID. 'Oh crap! I forgot to inform her! uh-oh. Devi Mayya, please save me!'
"Um, hello, Shilpa bua? haha, hi. How are you? um .. ahem.. Any problem?" plattered Khushi.
"Khushi? where are you? Are you okay? I've been knocking at your door, since, like, 2 hours? why don't you open up? you're not even answering your landline! are you not feeling well? Shilpa bua's voice laced with concern.
"Oh. yeah. um, wo buaa, im on my way to office actuallyy. I forg-"
"Whaat?! Why are you going to the office?"
"Um buaa actua-"
"Today is Saturday Khushii! Its weekend. You don't work on weekends remember?"
"Yes buaa, I remem-"
"And when exactly were you planning to tell me? Next year?" Shilpa Bua breathed heavily.
"Buaaa. Relax. Breathe. In .. out, In .. out" Khushi giggled on the other side of the phone.
"KHUSHI!" shouted Shilpa bua, making Khushi aware that she was in no mood to joke with her.
"Okay okaaay. Sorry buaa. You knoow yesterday was a long daay. I was pretty tired after work. I didn't get a chance to inform you Shilpa buaa. Though I wanted to. It happened for the first time, anyway." sighed Khushi.
"What? first time? really Khushi? then what happened last week? when you--"
"Oh alright alright, not the first time. But .. ugh forget itt. I'm sorry buaa, it wouldn't happen again" apologized Khushi.
"Its okayy, Khushi. Its just that, you know, I get worried about you. Not that I mind, you going to work. But just try and inform me whenever there is any change in your plans." sighed Shilpa Bua, making Khushi's heart warm with love, for this lady, who loved her like her own daughter. She never treated Khushi with any difference. It made her feel, so special.
"Aye aye captain" giggled khushi.
"You are crazy Khushi." smiled Shilpa bua, thinking about her insane, and so ever loving niece.
"haha. I know that, really! weird, you realized it now" Khushi's smile evolving into a laughter. Laughing in sync with her bua.
"Never mind, have to go now. take care Love. "
"Bye buaa, take care. Love you" khushi smiled keeping her phone back into her hand bag.
Even though Khushi had been living in NY for the past three years, she never liked it that much. She missed her motherland, just like she missed her family living there. No matter, on which piece of land she is, it will never be the same. 'India tou India hai' the thought itself made khushi proud of her motherland.
"oh cool. AR is here already.. I should talk to buaa everyday, on my way to office. Didn't even realize when I reached AR." said Khushi, making her way inside the office.
"Hey Lav" Khushi greeted Lavanya, who was standing at the cafeteria. Well it was nothing knew. You'll always find Lavanya either in Nihaal's cabin or at the office cafeteria. Khushi and Lavanya both had one thing in common. Their love for food!
"Hey there, Khushi. How are you? Lavanya asked.
"Im goood, What about you? How is Nihaal today?" Khushi winked at Lavanya.
"Why ask me? ask your friend himself" blushed Lavanya.
"haha. Um, I thought who would know him better than you, after all you're his--" teased Khushi.
"Shutup Khushi. I don't know what you're talking about." Lavanya blushed a deeper shade of red.
"What? What am I talking about? What I meant was, who would know him better then you? after all you're his .. PA" Khushi giggled, making Lavanya turn her head side ways, in embarassment. Lavanya, had this secret crush on her boss. She never told anybody about it, not even Khushi. But fortunately Khushi read her diary. Okay, she knew it was not a good habit to read others' personal stuff. But Lav wasn't counted in 'others'. Was she? She was her friend after all.
"What? What did you think? Ohhh .. I see, you thought I was talking about--"
"Hey ladies. Whatsup?" they heard Nihaal's voice from somewhere behind them, making them haste with panic. Lavanya ran from there as quickly as possible while Khushi looked at him with owl-like eyes, silently hoping that he hadn't heard their conversation.
"whats wrong Khushi? whats up with Lavanya? why are you guys acting so weird.?"
Earning no response from khushi, Nihaal said "I guess I wasn't wanted here. guess I should leave." with a dramatic sigh, making Khushi giggle. Oh such a melodrama her friend was.
"haha. nothing like that Nihaal. We were just .. um .. talking about, uh, ants?" Khushi said, faking a laugh.
"yeah, right! ants. Really Khushi? You could've come up with something better than ants. seriously."
"heeyy. I didn't come up with anything! We were really talking about antss!, you know, how they work day and night. 24/7. without breaks." Khushi said, seriously.
" Isn't that bad? I mean c'mon. A 15 minute break would work!"
"uh .. Khus--"
"Everybody needs a break. We take breakes. Why not them!?"
"They don't need--"
"This is so cruel. their queen, is just, ugh, good for nothing. Really. What does she do except for laying eggs anyway?"
Shocked will be an understatement to what Nihaal was feeling right now. This girl could talk about almost anything and everything. All day longg.
Nihaal smirked, when he said. "KHUSHIII. Relaax, I'll try to sort this out with their queen okay?" he laughed.
"Really Khushi? you are cra--" he smirked again.
"yeah yeah, I know, I am crazy. Why does everybody have to keep reminding me that!" Khushi giggled, realizing what she had been talking about all this time. Ants? Really Khushi? she laughed in sync with Nihaal.
"Haha .. Okay. Never mind. Listen Khushi, you know you have to go pick ASR from the airport today? right?" his face turning serious.
"yeah yeah. The big mighty ASR" Khushi ranted, at which Nihaal rolled hi eyes, smirking.
"Really Nihaal, I don't get it. Why me? why do I have to go?" Khushi complained.
"You know, i've got to attend this really important conference call with Mr. Mehta. and Lavanya has to take notes. Also I can't trust anybody else from the office. please understand Khushi, Its not just anybody coming, Its ASR! the creator of this huge fashion house. You know, the ruler of this Fashion Empire, the--"
"Nihaal? are you gay?" Khushi rolled her eyes.
"whaat? ex'cuse me?" His gaze hard.
"Relaax. You're talking as if, you have some secret crush on him! haha! As if your LLL is coming back to you!" Khushi laughed.
"The hell Khushi?! Are you-- , really khushi?! I don't have any stupid crush on him!" He rolled his eyes.
"And btw, what's LLL?" he asked out of curiosity.
"Long Lost Love, Nihaal! haha! okay forget it. When is his flight?" asked khushi
"4 in the evening. Khushi, please dont be late. okay? You dont know how his anger is, You wouldn't wanna see it. trust me." Nihaal sighed.
"Yeah right!" Khushi rolled her eyes again.
"Good. Now lets get back to work" Nihaal ordered.
"um, Nihaal, why is he coming here anyway?" asked a really irritated Khushi.
Just then, they heard, somebody shriek!
"Oh shitt. I almost forgott! ASR's coming todaay. Girls, quick help me get ready. how's my dress? are the shoes perfect matching? what about my purse" Emma pouted.
She was one lazy ass, when it came to work. But dressing up, and shopping? she suddenly becomes the most energetic woman on planet. khushi sighed.
"Really Emma? He's just a normal being like us! You don't have to over react!" Khushi rolled her eyes, yet again. Now her eyes had really started to hurt.
Mental note : Dont roll your eyes too much Khushi. You'll probably get them out of your lids.
"Just a being? JUST A BEING?! have you ever seen him Khushi? Ever heard about him?" Emma rolled her eyes at khushi.
"Well no, i've never seen him, and probably wouldn't want to see him ever. And yes, i've definitely heard about his ruthless, arrogant, proud, and callous nature! Such a JERK! " Khushi snarled.
"Who cares, about his nature anyway! Man, he is a multimillionaire and so handsome! trust me Khushi, when I say, he's gorgeous!" Emma sighed, dreamily
"Earth to Emma!" Khushi snapped her fingers, in front of her. "He doesnot even know, you exist! And, stop dreaming about you two, together, anytime in the future. He wouldn't even notice you here! said Khushi, giving a sarcastic laugh.
"Stop being jealous of me Khushi" Emma said, her anger rising , with every passing second.
"HAHA. Me? Jealous of you? Get a Life Em--"
"OKAAY. Stop you two! Emma get back to work. Right now. Khushi, come with me. NOW " said a really irritated Nihaal, having enough of their fights. It was their daily routine.
"What? Did I say something wrong? Didn't you see, how she was over reacting?" Khushi complained, following Nihaal to his cabin.
"Forget it, Khushi. Please!" Nihaal sighed, earning a frown from Khushi.
"Okay, princess, I'm sorry. Alright?" Nihaal pouted, making Khushi giggle.
"Nevermind. So why is that Laad governer coming here anyway?"
"He's coming for a visit. To see, how AR- NY branch is doing. If the employees are worth their pay" Informed Nihaal, with a straight face.
"How long, will he stay?" asked Khushi, silently hoping that he wouldn't stay for long.
"1 week. Then he will be going, to Austrailia, to see how his Aussie branch is doing." said Nihaal.
"Oh boy. One long week, coming ahead." Khushi sighed dramatically, making Nihaal chuckle.
"Don't be late. Okay princess? And I've arranged a car, at the port. Take the driver's number and call him as soon as you reach there. Its a black Limousine. "
"Yeah yeah, I wouldn't. LIMOUSINE? for just the two of us?! That Rich Show off Jerk!" snarled khushi, turning around, to leave for her cubicle.
"Actually, three. counting the driver." chuckled nihaal.
"HAHA, not funny! Runs such a big empire, and needs someone to pick him up from the airport and bring him safely to the office. Such a baby!" muttered Khushi, under her breath, on her way out of his cabin. Leaving a grinning Nihaal behind.
"Khushiii?" Lavanya called out.
"heyy Lav. Where have you been all this time?" chuckled khushi earning a smack from lavanya on her arm.
"Shutup! Are you crazyy? You almost got us caught" complained lavanya.
"Relax Lav, loving someone is not a crime okay?" Khushi said, rolling her eyes at Lavanya.
"ugh. Youre impossible. Okay forget it. Nihaal has asked me to remind you about ASR's flight. Its 3:15 already. You should leave, or you'll be late." Informed Lavanya.
"hmmph. Okay. Leaving. See ya' Lav" Khushi sighed, grabbing her hand bag and heading out of the office, giving a get-a-life look to Emma, who was busy, getting ready for this Laad Governer.
Oh well. Will finally meet that ruthless man. That arrogant ass. Well, may be he wouldn't be that bad either what if he's really different from what you think about him? Is he really that handsome? Gorgeous, like Emma said? Who cares anyway. And what are you thinking, Khushi? You're thinking about him being nice and handsome? Really? You hate him, remember? But why do I hate him so much, I've never met him before, never talked to him, never seen him. Weird I've never seen him before .Its been 2 years working at AR, and i've never seen him. I mean, I could've seen him. He's all over NY times and magazines. May be he is, really handsome. may be he is Gorg-- . OKAY! stop right there Khushi! YOU HATE HIM! YES YOU HATE HIM! Right! you've always hated him and you still do. Take that Mr. Arrogant ass. Khushi fisted a punch in the air, as if mentally appreciating her self control.
"Cab!" Khushi shouted "To the airport." Khushi said.
The driver, nodded, heading towards the airport.