Music Of The Heart

CHAPTER THREE:

Just when Arnav was about to leave, the office door opened with a bang!
"Oh Fuck! I need water! Hurry!" Khushi was already on her knees, panting.
Lavanya rushed to her friend, with a glass of water.
"Are you okay?! It seems as if you've just run a marathon." Lavanya chuckled, handing her the glass of water.
"Princess? are you okay?" Nihaal asked, his voice, laced with concern.

'Princess? really? What the hell is wrong with Nihaal! She is just a fucking employee damn it!' thought Arnav. 
He couldn't see the girl's face yet. Her head was bent down, still trying to control her harsh breathing.
"Khushi?" repeated Nihaal.

'Khushi? So she is that irresponsible, careless, employee. Can't even come to pick her  boss on time. Not that I needed her to come, anyway.' Arnav scowled.
'Why the hell, isn't she looking up, damn it? Huh. Such a melodrama!' Arnav muttered under his breathe. 
He turned to leave finally, when he stopped mid step.. again.
"Whats wrong? You ask me whats wrong? That .. that, stupid boss of your's is wrong. The whole of him! Why does he even have to come here! You are managing everything with so much perfection Nihaal!" Khushi let out an irritated sigh.
"Where is that pompous ass anyway?!" Khushi snarled.
Nihaal, Lavanya, and every other being present inside the office at that time were, dumbstruck. They couldn't believe what just happened.
Nihaal glanced at Arnav and then back at Khushi, who was still trying to calm her racing heart beat.
There were loud gasps and sharp intakes of breathe, heard from every corner of the office.
Nihaal could see clearly in his mate's eyes, that he had been pushed over the edge. And pushed hard. Any minute from now, he would definitely blow up.
Oh, how he wished, Khushi had not said that. Shit.
"Uh, Khushi? um .. I don't know who you're talking about? Is it Mr. Gills? haha. Oh yes! he is one hell of a pompous ass." Nihaal faked a laugh. Trying to enlighten the situation. Gesturing his eyes in Arnav's direction.
Khushi opened her mouth to say something, utterly confused of who the hell was Mr. Gills.
But before she could do that, Lavanya whispered in her ear " Shut up Khushi! ASR is standing right in front of you, stupid! Are you nuts?!"
Khushi's eyes widened with shock as she lifted her head, into Arnav's direction.
Thats when they realized that, its not actually, the first time they are meeting!
"HOLY SHIT. YOU?!" Khushi nearly shouted. 
'HE is ASR? my boss? Bloody hell! HE is the handsome man, i've been fantasizing for a while? No No No! This can't be!
And wait! Did i just call him an ass. That too a pompous one? Right on his face? OH MY GOD! Im done! Im sooo done here!' Khushi's thoughts were broken when she saw Arnav moving towards her.
'Bloody hell! Is he going to hit me? God! No please. Please don't hit me, please don't hit me'
Khushi was about to move back, when he himself stopped in his tracks. Giving her the Are-you-crazy? look. His gaze never leaving her face.
Nihaal kept his hand on Khushi's shoulders.
"Princess, relax. He's not going to hit you." Nihaal tried to calm her.
"Did I say that aloud? Really? Oh god." Khushi cursed her self.
Arnav couldn't believe this girl.
'She thought I was going to hit her? Really? Unbelievable'

"I take you to be Ms Gupta?" Arnav said, fury embedded in every single word of his. His nostrils flared. His fists clenched. His jaw tightly set.
Not getting any reply from her, he raised his brow at her.
Khushi, was far from even seeing him in the eye, let alone answer him.
Nihaal answered on her behalf. Not wanting to make the situation from bad to worse.
"Uh, Arnav, meet Khushi. Khushi Gupta. And um, pince-- I mean, Khushi, meet ASR." Nihaal smiled at both of them. Hoping, ASR would just let go.
But he very well knew, Arnav's anger. It wouldn't go until he had given Khushi, some piece of his mind. Oh boy, what has she gotten herself into. Nihaal was feeling so helpless, at the moment. He badly wanted to get Khushi out of this mess. But him talking to ASR on her behalf, would just irk arnav more. He could just wish and hope now, that Khushi, wouldn't create anymore blunders, or she would have the worst week, of her life, or she was probably going to have one?
"Everybody get back to work! NOW!" Nihaal ordered the other employees, who were enjoying the scene set here. And in a minute or two, everyone dispersed. Going back to their assigned duties. The office suddenly buzzing with activity.
"I am going to my cabin!" Arnav said gruffly, his gaze never leaving Khushi's face.
Khushi let a sigh of relief. Her hand reached her heart, trying to control the racing beats, when she saw Arnav turning to leave.
"I'll get your coffee ASR." Lavanya called out.
"No" he said, curtly.
"Let Ms. Gupta bring my coffee."
"And make sure, she does not get late, this time!" Arnav added.
Khushi's eyes were almost out of her sockets. BLOODY HELL.
"Fuck. Nihaal. Please save me. I'm not going in there. Na-uh. No chance." Khushi shook her face. Fear evident from her toe to her face. She was practically shaking.
Nihaal, made her sit on the nearest chair, and handed her a glass of water.
"Look, princess! You have to go in there. By not going, you'll just add some more fuel to the fire you have already created. Just don't say anything. okay? apologize to him and listen with calm, to whatever he will say. okay? DONT BACK ANSWER HIM KHUSHI. Understood? And don't worry i'll be right outside his cabin. okay?" Nihaal assured her.
Nodding in agreement, Khushi said "Um, Nihaal, He wouldn't hit me, right?" earning a chuckle from Nihaal in return.
"No stupid. He will not hit you. Never. Now go, before he comes down himself"

And the next minute Khushi was on her heels, running to get his coffee. She asked Lavanya, how did he like his coffee and made sure, the coffee she made for him was perfect and presentable.
Grabbing his coffee in one hand and her files in the other, she made her way to the lion's den. Wondering if the lion would just roar at her or she'll have to face something worse then that. 
'Devi mayyaaa' she silently praye, before knocking at his door.

Arnav couldn't believe what just happened. 'This Gupta girl, is the same pretty girl he met at the airport?' 
No matter how much he disliked her, he couldn't ignore the fact, that the girl was damn beautiful. She had the prettiest features he had ever seen.
'And WHAT THE FUCK? In my own office, right before my eyes, she called me an ass? HOW DARE SHE.' Arnav's thoughts were broken by a weak knock at his door.
"Come in!" he barked, leaning across his new office desk. Hands crossed over his chest. His face calm yet angry.
With slow, small steps, Khushi came to stand, in front of him. Keeping the distance between them large enough, to run out of the cabin if he tried to manhandle her.
She didn't dare to look up at his face, waiting for his orders to give him his coffee. After a long awkward silence, when she heard nothing from his side, she thought if he had fallen asleep. standing? Khushi chuckled at the absurd thought. 
'What if he had really fallen asleep?' she thought and then giggled again.
'God Khushi, you're so funny!'

She looked up to find him gazing at her intently. As if he would strangle her then and there.
'Well, that gaze clearly meant that sleep was no where near him.'

Khushi cleared her throat and extended her hand, to give him his fucking coffee and get out of this place ASAP.
Arnav started walking towards her, a predatory glint in his eyes. And Khushi suddenly started walking backwards, she stopped dead in her tracks, when she felt her back hit against a wall.
Hell! She couldn't move. trapped she was. between him and the wall. Arnav was shooting daggers at khushi from his eyes. As if he was mentally stabbing her to death.
Arnav raised his hand slightly, to take the cup of coffee from her hands when he heard Khushi mutter under her breathe "Oh shit. Please don't hit me. Please, please." Khushi turned her face sideways. her breathing getting harsh.

"WHAT THE HELL?! FOR GOD SAKE, Ms. GUPTA!. Im NOT going to hit you!" Arnav shouted at her, creating some distance between them. So that she could understand he was not going to fucking hit her!'
Khushi let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes tight.
'Just apologize to him khushi' she remembered Nihaal's advice, seeking some strength from those words, she looked at him again.
"Mr. Raizada, Im very sorry. I shouldn't have said, what I said. I truly regret it now. If you could just spare me this time. I promise it wouldn't happen again." Khushi said, hoping for the best.
After a good one minute silence. She heard him speak.
"I see, you don't like me much Ms. Gupta. But how bad is your luck, stuck with this 'pompous ass' for one whole week." Arnav said, with a serious face.
"Uh, Mr. Raizada, I didn't mean to call you that. Really. It was just, um, I was a little tired after all that running and way too exhausted to think straight. So, it just .. kind of, came out of my mouth?" Khushi said, faking a laugh.
Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Arnav's phone.
Yeah di?.. yes di. I know. You don't have to worry .. Yeah. Okay" Arnav was talking on his phone, his gaze never leaving Khushi's face.
Khushi was avoiding his gaze, her nail paint being, her new subject of interest.


'Should I go? He's so busy talking to his .. sister, I guess. But what if he gets more angry. Damn. I have so much work to do! Can't he see, he's wasting my time! and then he calls me irresponsible. huh' Khushi was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Arnav say 

"You plan on staying in my cabin for the rest of your life Ms. Gupta? Get back to work! You are paid to do work not to eavesdrop on others' conversations!" Arnav said, gritting his teeth. His tone so harsh, it made Khushi flinch.
"What? I wasn't eavesdropping on your conversation! I was bloody waiting for your orders to leave! You think I enjoy being with you?! I'd rather get myself killed, then being with YOU! I can't even stand the sight of you!" Khushi said, highly irritated. She didn't even realize what she was saying, until she saw Arnav's face, becoming red with anger. SHIT.
Arnav could not believe the audacity of this girl standing in front of him. Furious was an understatement to what Arnav was feeling right now.

'Oh boy. I guess, I shouldn't have said that. You and your big mouth Khushi. Should I leave now? More like, run for my life now? What if he will really kill me! No no, he wouldn't do that. Be positive Khushi. Be positive. Devi Maiyya. Help. Help. He--" 

"GET OUT" Arnav's fists were clenched into tight balls. His nostrils flared. His teeth gritted.
"huh?" Khushi was so lost in praying to her Devi Maiyya, she couldn't quite register what he said.
"I SAID GET OUT!!" Arnav yelled. Losing his temper.
Khushi trembled at his loud harsh voice. She could nearly hear her heart thumping inside her chest.
Before he could say anything else, she was out of his cabin, praying for dear life.
                                         *----*----*----*
*Phone ringing*
"Hello?" Shilpa bua, answered the phone.
"Shilpaa! How are youu?"
"Ashaa? Im good. How are you? Long time, no talk? You didn't even come for volunteering yesterday?" Shilpa bua, asked.
"Im fine, Shilpaa. Yes. I wasn't feeling quite well, since the past two days. I was advised bed rest, by the Dr." 
"What?! What happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Shilpa bua  started to panic, her voice laced with concern for her friend. A very good one.

Shilpa bua and Asha Raizada work for an NGO "Help children, help nation"  which help poor children, who can not afford education, health facilities, and other entertainments. They are working together since 5 whole years. Their friendship has also increased with the passing years. They are more like sisters to each other. 

"Relax Shilpa, Im fine now. I promise. Will come to work tomorrow. How's Khushi? It has been so long, I haven't seen her. I miss her so much." Asha replied.
"Khushi is fine too. She's really busy with work these days. Can you imagine? she went to office today too. Its weekend, for God's sake. So much pressure on that poor soul." Shilpa bua sighed.
"Oh boy. Where does she work? She never mentioned it. And when she comes back, tell her, Asha bua wants to see her. Anand was also asking about Khushi. She is such a sweet heart. So nice and loving" Asha praised Khushi, with all her heart.
"Ahaha. Yes yes, after all, whose niece is she?" Shilpa bua chuckled.
"There we go again" Asha laughed on the other side of the phone.

Their conversation was, interrupted by the ringing of door bell, at Shilpa bua's house.

"Somebody is at the door. I think its Julia. Will talk to you later Asha. Take care." 

"Sure. Take care Shilpa. See you tomorrow." replied Asha.