Agnisakshi (Under Editing)

12:A chance.

12: A Chance

"Excuse me, sir."

I turned back to face the sweet voice who held possession of my heart. The winds of love found their way across my face.

"Yes, Khushi." I looked at her with a smile.

She looked as beautiful as ever in the pastel pink dress she had adorned on her petite body.

"Your coffee, sir." She kept the coffee on the table and smiled at me, which came as a surprise. I had not expected that she would smile at me. I thought she was as petrified of meeting me as I was of her, after our previous conversation.

"Hmm..."I replied, pretending to be busy, in an attempt to avoid an awkward conversation.

"Yes!" She breathed out suddenly.

"What?"
I looked at her astonished at what I think I might have misheard. Did she randomly say a yes? Could she have possibly said a yes to accepting my feelings for her?

"I want to give us a chance, sir. I want to come out of the horrid monotonous life I have led till recent. Yes sir, I love you. But I want to be your friend first. I want you to judge whether I am worthy of your love?" She spoke in the rapid speed of Rajdhani express.

"What?" I breathed out. I felt spasms in my wind pipe and coughed out. She rushed closer to me as I sat on my chair.

"Sir? Are you okay?" She rubbed my back.

"I...can't," I coughed.

"Wait!" She forwarded me a glass of water and placed it near my lips, continuously rubbing my back with her soft beautiful hands.

At last my coughs stopped and I felt relief. My brain processed what she said. She wanted to be my girlfriend? Or friend?

Actually speaking as long as it is not being her brother, anything close to her is fine. You see, I am not into incest.

"Friends?" I sheepishly smiled forwarding my hand. I have started sounding like a teenager, god help my office image!

She looked towards my hand and stared at it for a second. Was she being shy or was she hesitating?

"Friends!" She gave a small smile and shook hands with me. Her chubby cheeks glowed pink with blush.

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"I am proud of you, Khushi!" Lavanya hugged her. "Such confidence is awesome!"

"I am yet feeling shivers down my spine Lavanya ji! The way he said... Friends? I felt my heart jump. He looked so cute." Khushi blushed.

"Ohho! ASR and cute! But then again, what else is love if it doesn't convert you into a teenager!"Lavanya giggled.

"But I yet can't come to think that I deserve happiness!"

"Chup! If Khushi herself doesn't deserve happiness then who do you think does?" Lavanya scolded Khushi.

"Khushi, La? You guys are free after office right? Let's go out bowling!" Arnav slumped against the sofa in Lavanya's cabin. His sudden entry shocked both girls. He loosened his tie and looked at their surprised expression.

"What? Close your mouths, guys. Or are you planning to eat a fly or two?" Arnav laughed.

"Bowling? You are giving us a treat or something, ASR?" Lavanya said, sitting next to him on the sofa. "And why take me too? Why make me a thorn in your rose of love?" Lavanya said dramatically.

"Nahi Nahi, Lavanya ji please come along! You are no thorn." Khushi spoke up at once.

"I agree, La. You are no thorn. You are the gardener."Arnav supported Khushi.

"Ya,Ya! I completed my masters to become a gardener only na..."
Lavanya rolled her eyes, making Arnav laugh.
"Wow ASR , you are supporting all of Khushi's words. Accha hai! Good practice!"Lavanya teased Arnav and Khushi, making Arnav roll his eyes and Khushi blush.

"You didn't answer yet, are you guys up for bowling or not?" Arnav said.

"Boss ki baat kaise taal sakte hain?( How can we say no to the boss)" Lavanya said, dramatically making Khushi giggle.

Arnav gazed as Khushi as she giggled. She looks so cute, he thought.

"Okay then let's go!"

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"What is this? What place is this?" Khushi said as she gazed around the sports bar. She had never seen such a place before.

"It is a sports bar, you can play games here like Bowling, Foosball etc.." Arnav turned towards her.

"I have never been to such a place. What is bowling?"Khushi looked around inquisitively.

"ASR will teach you, Khushi. I will go and fetch something to eat. You guys go forward." Lavanya said and ran towards the food counter.

"Arre Lavanya ji..."

"But La..."

Both Arnav and Khushi looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

"Umm ..will you teach me ...how ..this...uh ? Ball?"Khushi was the first to break the silence.

"Sure. Let's go." Arnav smiled.

"I don't know how to hold this ..."

"It is simple." Arnav came behind her and helped her clutch the ball and taught her to hold the ball with three fingers.

His touch is so different. She noted to herself. I am grateful to god that he gave me a chance with such an awesome person.
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