My precious

4. Breath for me

Khushi is standing in front of the headquarter in Jeans & blue kurti. Looking at her no one will believe she is one of the most formidable officer. She is looking too innocent. Her big brown eyes makes people fall for her innocence without knowing how vicious she can be in her job. Khushi loves two things more than this world. One is Arnav. It's obvious.Other one is her job. She spent her youth training for it. She lives & breath it. As she works in special force very few people actually knows what's she do for living. People knows her as travel blogger. It's a cover also it's come in handy as she travels too much. Sometimes she is gone for months without any trace.

Khushi entered into the lobby of the enormous building. As she was crossing the reception someone called her from behind. When she looked behind she saw Karan waving at her. She smiled & waved back. Karan come running to her & asked 'What are u doing here? I thought u are on leave?' Khushi replied 'yaa, i was on leave but boss summoned me urgently.'. Karan replied 'oh, then go on. I will catch up with u later.'
Khushi bid him bye & went up to her destination. She knocked her boss Colonel Shiv's door thrice. After getting a response she opened the door & saluted her boss slash mentor. Colonel Shiv is not only her boss but also her father figure. When she was in worst place he saved her. He took her under his wing & give her a reason to live with dignity. She will always be grateful to him. He is the only person who's words she never can ignore.
Colonel looked at her & said 'Major, come & sit'
She set down then colonel asked her how she is doing? If she did anything fun in her tiny vacation.When she didn't reply he just sighed. He knows how she spent her leave. Gathering information about the impending mission. He never wanted her to work on this mission but she literally begged to him for this. She is so good in her work that after many arguments he had to agree. Maybe because she is the daughter he never had, that's why. He then said 'I had read the report u sent me about the last mission.' 'Well done, i expected nothing less from u.Do u have any information about your new mission?' Khushi replied 'Yes sir, Target is located but still in denial mode. It will take few days to bring him back in India.'
Shiv looked at her for few seconds & said 'Khushi i know he is your childhood friend but i want u to remove your personal feelings from it & do what is right. If i see in any moment your personal feelings is getting involved i will remove u from this case.'
Khushi replied 'Sir, Rest assured i won't do this mistake. I know u trusted me. I will never break it. '
Shiv replied 'Okay, u may go now. Try to enjoy the last few days of your vacation.' Khushi stood up & then shiv suddenly said 'do visit your aunt too.She misses u'. Khushi laughed & said she will.
Shiv looked at Khushi's retreating figure & think long & hard. He called Karan & asked him to come up on his office. When Karan came he asked him to shadow Khushi in the case. It's not he don't trust khushi but when heart is involved he needs to be cautious.

Khushi went out & sit in nearby park. She loves quite. She can't believe once she use to live for chaos. So many things had changed with time. But for better. She don't want to be that girl anymore. So naive, so in love. Is she that emotionally unstable that no one believe she could handle the case? Didn't she prove her worth all this years? Honestly she doesn't wants to see Arnav again. She doesn't want to feel those emotions again. But work is work. She will prove it everyone that she moved on. She needs closer. To her past self, to that unrequited love. She knows when Arnav will meet her again he will hate her. Because the mission will use her love for him. & this is the thing Arnav hates. But She will be strong & face the strom bravely. After all,she is Khushi Gupta.

On the other part of the world, Arnav is browsing tinder. He doesn't believe in true love. He doesn't need someone to spend quality time. He needs a quick fling, someone to warm his bed. No string attached. After the news he got, he needs to forget the shitstrom that brewing in his life. But nothing is exciting him. So he closed the app & opened Facebook. He started browsing his timeline suddenly he came across a nature photo. A photo of sunset shared by Danial, his school friend. Looking at the photo he stated feeling calm & peace. He went to the page where the picture was posted. Every photo that he came across made him feeling warm & wistful. Suddenly he wants to travel. But his job makes it hard for him to travel for pleasure. He decided to follow the page but when he noticed the name of the owner of the page he got mad. He thought ' I guess u will never leave me in peace Khushi Gupta. ' He then closed the app & shut down the laptop with a bang.