Bikhre moti (Scattered pearls)

28.2 Locha-e-Ulfat of North&South

The door to the fire exit opened and Arnav and Khushi were startled to see their equally startled visitors, Aman, and Sheetal.

Holding hands.

It seemed it was not only Arnav and Khushi who had a secret romance going on around here...

Sheetal recovered first and closing the door firmly behind her, she turned to the other couple they walked into, "Khushi and Arnav? You two- are together?"

"And it seems like you two are as well, Sheetal and ASR?" Khushi asked in return and Aman quickly left Sheetal's hand.

Aman, whose full name was Aman Singh Raizada shared the same initials as Arnav Subramaniam Rao! People in the office often got confused who was being referred to when someone said ASR. But Khushi never had used that for her 'boyfriend.'

Sheetal nervously smiled. There was no use denying. They were caught. But Aman hadn't given up yet. After all, a chance to catch CEO's daughter and CEO's favorite employee together red handed was rare. Besides, Arnav had always defeated him in every exam and competition back in college days. So, he decided to tease them a little and settle some scores...

"Now I get it why Birla Institute of management's topper guy joined Gupta steels rejecting best of the best offers abroad." Aman provoked his opponent.

But Arnav was always up for a challenge, so he replied in equally witty tone, "Just like Raizada fashion house's owner's son joined here. Why I wonder." Arnav didn't miss the mark as Aman himself was from a business family but still joined here. Although, his reason was his father had asked him to prove himself working somewhere else first and then join their business. Only a few people knew that, and of course, Arnav did too.

"Well said. And you win again like every time." Aman said, raising his hands in surrender.

The two couples then shared their own difficult love stories and how hard it was to keep it under wraps. If Khushi and Arnav had challenges because of her father's opposition to love and his 'no workplace romance policy', Aman and sheetal were struggling as Aman's dad asked him to prove himself and this job was his one chance to do so which he couldn't afford losing least due to an affair!

"So, it's decided then, we will keep each other's secrets." Khushi said.

"Yup, teri bhi chup meri bhi chup." Sheetal said.

Arnav looked at Khushi in question for help in translating what was just said.

Khushi chuckled and replied, "She said, we'll keep silence."

"You haven't mastered Hindi yet, topper?" Aman asked.

"Nope, language doesn't get in the way of love." Arnav said, winking at Aman and earned an 'aww' from Aman's girlfriend and a peck on his cheek from his own!

A few minutes later, after Khushi and Aman had sneaked out from the fire exit, Sheetal and Arnav exited together and that was precisely when NK was passing from there. Seeing these two coming out of a 'fire exit' together, he suspected worse!

Later, as he and Arnav were driving home together as they shared the same rented flat, NK decided to be a "good friend" and warn Arnav against 'workplace romance', "Arnav, you are a very talented guy. You have your entire career in front of you. Don't throw it away like this."

"Excuse me?" Arnav asked, confused.

"I know temptations are natural in this age, but you have to fight it." Nk continued giving his unsolicited advice.