A Hundred Flukes

Outfits

Chapter 14

"What the..." was the only utterance of a disbelieving ASR as he watched her receding figure, leaving through the front door. Albeit she looked lethally tired and worn out, not an ounce of her confidence had diminished despite of all his attempts to fail her. Khushi Kumari Gupta had dealt with all that had been dumped her way, and that was no ordinary thing to do. All his life, Arnav Singh Raizada had not met with such obstinacy, such fierce obstinacy that not only made her to put herself through the grill but also survive it, rendering him speechless. Perhaps he had underestimated his adversary. Experience had taught him distrust and his years of such training suggested him to doubt her real intentions. What if she was a highly trained corporate espionage? Although, from what he could make of her, the possibility was thin, extremely thin. He dialed a number.

"Check her bag, make sure she doesn't take a scratch from here." he said.

****

When she reached her home at 7:30, Khushi wasn't herself. She failed to notice Payal standing with a glass of water for her, she was too tired to even feel hungry, to wash her hands, to change. She simply went to her room and threw herself on the bed falling fast asleep. Her snores could be heard in the hall.

She woke up at around 10:00 at night to the growling in her stomach and wetness of her own drool over her cheek. She rubbed her eyes wiping it, "Jiji dinner?" she mumbled.

"It's waiting for you on the table, at least wash your hands Khushi and tell me how was your day." Payal said smiling, she had seen Khushi's brightened eyes at the mention of 'how was your day', she needn't know anything else.

As soon as she had engulfed her first bite, there was a knock at the door. Madhumati opened it, Khushi's eyes popped out of their sockets when she saw him. "Shyamji...?" she exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, meet Advocate Shyam Manoher Jha, our new paying guest. He'd be living upstairs." said Payal grinning. Khushi's astonished self still unable to digest what she just saw and heard, "You mean in that store-room?" she blurted. Madhumati glared at her.

"Well Khushi, its relative, if you have spent years in Rajlaxmi hostel accommodation, that store-room is no less than three star suite." said Shyam matter-of-factly. The women laughed.

****

"I hope you'd be coming home from work early tomorrow." Payal said, washing her sister's clothes.

"Why what's so special about tomorrow?" said a grinning Khushi resting her hand on the bathroom's door.

Payal scowled, "Nothing. There is nothing tomorrow." she said and began rubbing soap rigorously on Khushi's kurti. Khushi took some water from the bucket in her palm and sprinkled it on her sister, "nothing at all, just somebody is turning twenty four tomorrow." she chuckled.

"Think carefully, maybe it's your no-more-important sister." Payal spat. Khushi hugged her from behind, "jiji, you are the most important person in my life. Along with of course, Amma, babuji and maybe even buaji..."

"And Arnav Singh Raizada." teased Payal, "your life seems to be centered around him now-a-days." It was Khushi's turn to scowl. "Jiji please, don't talk about that monster now." That ridiculously good looking monster an inside voice said. She told her mind to shut up.

****

DAY 2

"Today's my sister's birthday, could I go home earlier?" Khushi asked Chirag as they walked out from well....the elevator, to the first floor.

"Well if ASR permits you."

A few steps away from them, very much in earshot, was ASR entering his cabin, a cynical sneer casting upon his well defined features. I'll see to it that you don't. He mused.