CHAPTER 15: No control
Khushi was rushing through the corridor wiping her that tears which didn’t seem to stop without looking in front of her; hence she collided with a warm-hard wall making her steps stumble which immediately caught her preventing her from falling down and she look up to see the person who turned out to be none other than Aman Mathur.
Aman was taken aback by the sudden collision an quickly steady the person before she fell down and when she looked up, he was shocked to see Khushi’s teary face as his concern voiced out: “Bhabhi..? Bhabhi are okay..? What’s wrong Bhabhi... why are you crying..?”
But Khushi didn’t answer him instead she bit her lips to content the sob which was threatening to break out even more after Aman’s brotherly concern and not replying she pushed the lunch basket in his hands and ran past him from there hurriedly with tears still streaming down from her face leaving behind highly confused and concerned Aman behind who tried calling her but she didn’t pay an ear to his calls instead ran out of the office crying without any backward glance.
Aman couldn’t comprehend what actually happened as he stared at the way his Khushi Bhabhi ran way and then looked at his hand what she had thrush in his hand, he stared at the lunch basket trying to process his dazed brain as what might have happened. Than the thought struck him that Khushi came with lunch basket means she brought lunch for ASR and if she came running from his cabin’s direction...did they both had fight? He seems to have to ask his thick-headed friend about what he said to his Bhabhi to make her cry like that.
Worried Aman made way to ASR’s cabin with lunch-basket in hand frowning as to wondering what might have occurred and then he spotted the two wicked witches near ASR’s cabin with gloating expression about something which definitely didn’t seem to any good sign to him. Standing behind the still-unaware pair he asked in serious tone: “What is happening here..? What are you both doing ASR’s cabin..?”
Pam and Sim turned paled at the voice and gulping hard they both slowly turned around to face a stern Aman Mathur. Sim stammering replied: “Woh...woh Aman sir, we had some work with La ma’am; so we were waiting for her to come out from ASR’s cabin...” making an excuse and Pam nodded in agreement.
Aman sternly: “So you both are going to stand here until Lavanya comes out?”
Pam and Sim first nodded a yes and then hurriedly nodded a no as they both got scared and confused not knowing how to reply.
Seeing their dumb act Aman almost shouted as he ordered them: “Get back to your respective works. RIGHT NOW!” making them ran from there to save life.
Aman looked disapprovingly at the evil pair disappearing backs but right now he had another important issue to sort out rather than pondering over the two jokers.
Aman turned back to ASR’s cabin and as for the sake of urgency of the matter he didn’t knock, instead pushed open the door of the cabin and was instantly greeted with the sight of Lavanya stood in front of ASR getting humiliated again as the Lion roared away at the trembling prey in all glory: “...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU UPTO MS. KASHYAP??!! CAN’T WALK PROPERLY OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT...I WON’T TAKE YOUR THIS FALLING ON ME ALL THE TIME. NEXT TIME IF YOU DID THIS THAN I’M REALLY NOT ONLY GONNA DUMP YOU ON THE FLOOR FACE-FLAT BUT ALSO THROW YOU OUT OF THIS COMPANY. DO I MAKE MYSELF LOUD AND CLEA-” stopping in his track seeing Aman entering his cabin without knocking which is very unusual and never really happens unless it’s very urgent matter. He asked with concern frown, “Aman what happen?” getting even more confused at seeing the lunch basket in his hand, even Lavanya turned to see Aman standing at the door.
Aman entered the cabin kept the lunch-basket in nearby coffee-table demanded to know: “ASR what did you say to Bhabhi to make her cry like that..?”
Arnav was taken back: “What the! What are you saying...where did Mishti come here?”
Aman asked concernedly: “Bhabhi tumse nahi mili..?” (Bhabhi didn’t meet you..?)
Arnav confused: “That is what I’m asking you when did she came here..? I mean she is supposed to coming office with lunch but she hasn’t arrived yet. But where did you get this lunch from..?” pointing towards the basket he kept on table.
Aman mutters musing as if trying to understand himself: “Bhabhi came to your cabin way but ran back without meeting you and if you didn’t say anything to her than what happened to her..?”
Arnav confused hearing his talks, not understanding anything questioned: “Aman what are you blabbering about, can you please explain..?”
Aman looks at Arnav with concern frown on face replied: “I was coming to your cabin when I bumped into Bhabhi and she was crying. I tried to ask her what happened but she didn’t say anything and simply pushed the lunch basket in my hand and ran away...I thought you might have said her something and that’s what came to ask you about, but now you are saying she never came here. Than what happened to Bhabhi that she was crying like that..?”
Hearing this Arnav went into panic mode: “What the! Khushi came to office...but when? Why didn’t she meet me? And why was she crying? And why didn’t you stop her damn it..?”
Aman was about to say something but Lavanya beat him who started giving her unwanted opinion: “ASR nothing has happened to her, it’s just another of her tricks to make you run after her. You don’t know such middle-class girl... they’re totally attention-seekers and for that they would do anything and that’s what Chamkeli is doing with you... trying to domina--”
Her blabbering was rudely cut off by a fire-spitting-angry ASR whose furious expression made Lavanya step back and gulp in fear as ASR blasted on her: “WHAT THE FUCK! HOW DARE YOU MS. KASHYAP THAT YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT MY WIFE? Who are you to make such comments... and how dare you call her ‘Chamkeli’ or middle-class, don’t forget she is your boss’s wife and I would happily throw you out of my office for disrespecting my wife, without any regrets. And I think I had enough of your dramas for the day and I don’t pay you for standing on my head... so get to your work, doing something productive rather than giving unwanted opinions. RIGHT, NOW!!” scared Lavanya ran out of the cabin to save her life.
After Lavanya was out Aman asked Arnav: “ASR, are you that you haven’t done anything to upset her..?”
Arnav replied annoyed: “Nahi Aman, nothing happened and I didn’t have slightest idea that Mishti even came to office,I was waiting for her...”
Aman: “Then why was she so upset?”
Arnav frustrated: “How am I suppose to know that Aman?”
After a moment or two, Aman asked thoughtfully: “By the way, why were you shouting at Lavanya when I entered your cabin?”
Arnav gave a agitated look to him said: “What, are you seriously asking me that right now?”
Aman calmly: “Yeah I’m...now tell me...”
Arnav getting annoyed: “I was standing near window talking on phone with a client and as I ended the call she came to my cabin with some files for signature. I was going to my chair when she stumbled, falling on me and I held her to steady... So I was just telling her off that she needs to stop her cheap tactics or else I’m going to throw her out...” having a angry look on his face remembering it.
Aman thoughtfully: “I saw Pam and Sim outside your cabin, and what I’m hearing from you happened in cabin... You think they might have done something?”
This made Arnav also think as his eyes went wide realizing Aman might be right: “Oh shit! You’re right Aman, they might have seen Mishti entering cabin and after that Lavanya came to my cabin, did act whole falling on me drama while from outside those two minions of her painted a completely wrong scene in front of Mishti...” getting into full panicked mode.
Aman trying to calm him: “ASR relax, I think if you explain Bhabhi she’ll understand... Just call her and get sort out with her as soon as possible... she might be on the way to home...” to which Arnav nodded calming himself down.
Arnav picked his phone from the desk and dialed Khushi’s number and waited impatiently for her to pick up but after long ring, no picking up it got end. He again tried her number but same, she wasn’t answering and after few tries when he called again it was switched off which made him get worried that she might be really hurt that she isn’t answering his calls.
Arnav worriedly: “She wasn’t picking up and now it’s switched-off...”
Aman: “Try calling Mohan, your driver...”
Arnav: “Hmmm...” as he dialed his driver, Mohan’s number who picked up after few rings and he spoke first, “Hello Mohan, where are you?”
Mohan from other side replied: “Sir I just entered Shantivaan and parked the car in garage.”
Arnav inquired: “Is Khushi there... can you give her the phone please..?”
Mohan: “But sir Khushi ma’am toh Shantivaan nahi aayi...”
Arnav: “What?”
Mohan: “Yes sir, Khushi ma’am came out and told me to go home and she’ll come later I thought she’ll be coming with you... So I came back as I was told, any problem sir?”
Arnav muttered: “No...” and ended the call turned to Aman said, “Khushi send Mohan back alone and isn’t at home... Aman where is my Mishti?” getting into full panic mode now.
Aman: “ASR calm down, she might be somewhere nearby...kaha jayengi bhala...”
Arnav restless: “Don’t fucking tell me to calm down Aman, I can’t bloody calm down right now knowing my wife is emotionally hurt and god knows where is she right now...” he closed his eyes taking a deep breath and rubbed his eyes than said slowly, “God, Aman I’m so worried about her, I just hope she is fine Aman...I won’t be able to take it if something happened to her...” his eyes glittering with unshed tears and worry.
Aman kept a hand on Arnav’s shoulder in comforting way said: “She is going to fine, we’ll find her soon...” though he was equally worried for Khushi.
Arnav nodded and said: “I’m calling Police Commissioner to start looking for her...” to which Aman nodded in agreement as Arnav dialed his friend who is also Police Commissioner of Delhi and told him that Khushi is missing since an hour who assured him that he will get his team to search for her and asked to SMS him a picture of hers which after immediately finishing the call he send him and receiving a reply from the Commissioner that his team is send for searching her.
Seeing Arnav dejected Aman asked thoughtfully: “ASR, you think Bhabhi might have gone to Gupta House?”
Arnav then turned Aman said: “I don’t think do Aman, its really rare she might have gone their or Gupta’s have let her in after all that has happened I don’t think so. Anyways I’m going home to see if she came or not... I can’t really sit waiting until I find her.”
Aman nodded in understanding said: “Okay you go, I’ll handle office here...”
Arnav picked up his car-keys and jacket than nodding at Aman dashed out from his cabin. Arnav noted the staff looking gobsmacked seeing him rushing like madman but he could care less about them right now as he dashed to parking lot and unlocked his SUV, got in his car and zoomed out of AR Office premises. Aman stood in ASR’s cabin for few moments trying to think how all this happened than shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and then getting out of ASR’s cabin to in his cabin and get to work, but his eyes went to the suspicious trio at Lavanya’s cabin and turned to their direction in silent feet.
.....
Here Lavanya and his two minions saw ASR hurriedly rushing out than Lavanya pulled her phone out and dialed Anjali’s number to inform her about the happenings as after a few rings Anjali picked up the phone answering with: “Hello” from the other side.
Lavanya: “Hello Di, ASR just rushed out of office, I’m sure he is on the way to home... have you done your work of getting Chamkeli’s doubt strengthen?”
Anjali: “No Lavanya, that Khushi didn’t come home from office and also she send back Mohan home with car. So from what you’re saying I think she went somewhere else...”
Lavanya inquired: “You mean to say she went missing right now?”
Anjali: “I guess so... too upset to be coming Shantivaan...”
Lavanya commented: “I hope she never returns from wherever she went!”
Anjali: “I also don’t want her to come but it will be hard to handle Chotte...”
Lavanya: “Hmmm, I just hope ASR doesn’t finds out what we did or else we’re dead. Well now I’ll keep before anyone hears here.”
Anjali: “Yeah, I need to see Chotte when he gets home and I’ll make sure to turn him against that Khushi soon, so she is out of our life permanently. Bye now...”
Lavanya: “Bye Di” ending the call and turned to see very pale Pam and Sim standing behind her as she asked them, “What happened to you both?”
Pam said scared: “La what will happen if ASR gets to know what we did with Chamkeli... he’ll kill us!”
Sim equally scared: “Yeah so right, I’m really scared and on top of that Aman sir saw us outside ASR’s cabin... if they questioned us about Chamkeli missing, what are we gonna do?”
Lavanya: “Shut up you both, nothing is gonna happen...”
Sim: “Nothing will happen to you, but what about us?”
Pam: “Yeah ASR will ruin our careers if he got to know about our involvement, we so shouldn’t have agreed to your plan...”
Sim: “Now with Chamkeli missing, things are to go very serious and I hope nothing happens to her and ASR finds her soon or else he’ll definitely get to know what we did which would be deadly for all of us...especially if ASR got that courier...” gulping sacredly imagining ASR’s wrath that might fall on them.
Lavanya confidently: “Nothing of that sort would happen... and ASR won’t find about courier...” though she was also internally scared of the consequence knowing if ASR got slightest wind of their involvement he would kill them but she tried playing cool in front of the two knowing if they got scared too much then they would give away.
Aman came and stood at Lavanya’s cabin door when he heard a mention of courier by Sim and Lavanya brushing her off, he made his presence known to them: “What’s happening here?”
The trio was caught off guard as they turned around to see Aman standing with a frown as he questioned again: “What are you three doing here..?”
Where Pam and Sim gulped scared, Lavanya quickly schooled her expression and arrogantly said: “None of your business, Aman!”
Aman too replied strongly: “Well if you three gossip in office hours leaving all work than it makes it my business. Now get back to work!” ordering which made Pam-Sim run from there while Lavanya made a face as Aman left from there giving her a last look though he now has strong feeling about the wicked trio’s involvement with Khushi being upset and what courier were they talking about... he’ll have to tell this to Arnav ASAP.
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The big temple of Mahadev which is vacant of the usual crowd at this time of afternoon except very few people coming to visit, sitting on a lonely corner curled up in miseries of her own was a hysterically crying Khushi. She sat crying as everything played inside her head; the various times she had seen Arnav with Lavanya at times working in AR and had witnessed Lavanya openly hugging or kissing Arnav’s cheek, the photos that came in that courier and the scene she saw in office today. Everything played like a broken record which made question herself. Her self-thoughts were that if she had unintentionally imposed herself on Arnav, never for once did she doubt Arnav to be cheating her, she trusts him immensely and he is a kind of person who is very loyal and always abides his promises, never in even dreams would he ever cheat her.
But the questions lingered in her mind were if she unknowingly taken his love from him..? Had he loved Lavanya and she came in-between them..? How could she have done it... to keep him away from his love..? No, she won’t come let this happen, she won’t be hindrance in-between him and his Lavanya. She very well knows that he would never let her realize anything about his lost love or ever leave her. He would fulfil everything and take all pain with smile on face but she won’t let him make such sacrifices. It was time to the right thing which is tough as tears kept flowing from her eyes and for once she knew they won’t seize time soon nor would she be able to hide them behind the facade of smiles like she does always.
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NOTE: Helloooo janta, I'm back! So here is 'Gustakh Dil...' update and I know I made you wait quite long but I hope I made it worth it. Well before you people bombard me with updates of my other stories let me tell you, I'll update 'Na bole tum...' soon within a day or two and as for 'Meant to be' well working on it, I'm writing the flashback scenes now...hopefully it'll be done in two-three days. So have patience MTB readers I'll update it within this week as soon as I possibly can...trust me I'm trying real hard but I'm a human only and it takes time for me. Anyways take care and will try updating soon...
With love,
Kavya
