A few days passed by smoothly. Arnav tried every trick up his sleeve to impress Khushi.

It was the day before the pooja Buaji told the girls about. Khushi submitted an application for leave at the HR department.

"What is this?" Pam asked, blowing her nails with a bored look on her face.

"Leave application. I want a day off tomorrow" Khushi said and Sim's ears perked up.

"You will have to get your leave sanctioned by ASR directly, chamkili" Sim said with a smirk.

Now there will definitely be a blast, Sim thought gleefully.

Khushi frowned.

"Why? My sister just got her leave approved?" Khushi asked in confusion.

"We can't have too many people take leave, can we? If you want leave, get it from ASR" Sim said with a casual shrug.

Khushi wanted to stomp her foot in annoyance. Why does this always happen to her?

Now she will have to go to his office. She had tried her best to avoid him over the past few days, after that drama in temple.

Khushi turned around and walked away. Sim called out for Pam and gleefully shared about the upcoming blast.

They hurried to share it with Lavanya. Lavanya smirked, knowing all Sim's and Pam's plan is going to go into the drain.

****

"ASR, the contract for the new deal with the Favian Group is ready. Mr Roy just mailed them. Please check it out" Aman said and placed a file in front of Arnav.

Arnav went through the documents.

"Aman, mail Roy regarding some changes in the clauses. I want him to add a few more points to the contract" Arnav said and Aman quickly noted down the new closes.

"Do it from here. Once it is done, we can discuss about the progress of our new line" Arnav said and gestured Aman to take a seat at the couch in the corner of his cabin.

Aman and Arnav got on with their work. A little while later, there was a knock on the door.

Arnav felt his heart picking up it's beat and a light breeze caressing his face.

Aman watched as ASR's hands slowly rose to clutch at his heart.

"Khushi…" Arnav whispered. Though Aman couldn't hear him, he was able to lip read.

Khushi? Was that Khushi at door? How did ASR guess? He thought to himself and looked towards the cabin door and his eyes widened seeing Khushi poking her head through the half opened door.

"May I come in, sir?" Khushi asked.

"Yes yes" Arnav said.

Should I stay? Or should I go out? Aman thought for a moment then decided against going out.

If there is going to be a fight, he should be present to diffuse the situation.

"Yes Khushi?" ASR asked, leaning back on his chair and taking his fill of the petite girl clad in a green anarkali suit. Her hair braided.

"I want a day off tomorrow, sir. I was asked to get my leave sanctioned by you directly" Khushi said and forwarded her leave application towards him.

Arnav took the paper from her, opened and read it.

"Visit temple? Is there anything special?" ASR asked.

"Ji. There is a pooja and fast" Khushi mumbled.

"Which temple?" Arnav asked

Aman sagged against the couch. ASR is asking details about a temple? Why?

"The one near the big banyan tree" Khushi said

"The one where I broke your fast on teej, Khushi?" Arnav asked softly, a smirk making its way to his face and Khushi's eyes widened in surprise.

Aman gasped softly. ASR broke Khushi's fast on teej?

"Ji. The same temple where you broke Lavanya ji's fast after that" Khushi said wiping off the smirk from Arnav's face.

"Damn it, Khushi. Why do you have to drag Lavanya into everything?" Arnav bit out angrily, as he stood up from his chair.

"I was just pointing out the facts, sir" Khushi said neutrally.

"Khushi, me and Lavanya, it is not how you think. It didn't mean anything" Arnav said helplessly and Khushi shot a cold look at him.

"It didn’t mean anything?" She asked

"No, Khushi. It didn't" Arnav said, trying somehow to convince her that what he feels for her is far far more than what he ever felt for anyone before.

"What about Lisa ji? Did she also mean nothing to you?" Khushi asked

"I briefly dated Lisa. It was nothing serious, Khushi" Arnav hurriedly said.

"What about Sheetal ji?" Khushi asked and Arnav's eyes widened in horror.

How the hell does she know Sheetal?

"Lavanya ji once told me about her. That you had a girl friend at college" Khushi said, answering his unasked question.

"It was just…It-" Arnav struggled with his words.

"Meant nothing" Khushi completed his words and he cringed as he heard it.

"And you want me to believe that I mean something to you, Sir?" Khushi asked with a scoff.

"You mean everything to me, Khushi" Arnav said as he took a step towards her.

Khushi took a step back.

"Forgive me if I find it difficult believe. You change girlfriends like you change tee shirts, Sir. I have no wish to be one among your long line of girlfriends" Khushi bit out.

"Damn it." Arnav cursed and in fury he tore up the leave application into many pieces leaving Khushi stare at it with open mouth.

"Your leave application is rejected. I want to see you here in office tomorrow" Arnav bit out furiously.

At that exact moment, Khushi's phone rang. It was her Bua ji.

"Ji Bua ji" Khushi said as soon as she picked up the call.

"Did you apply for leave sanka devi? Or did you forget?" Buaji asked

"I asked Bua ji. But it got rejected" Khushi said and Arnav's eyes widened in horror.

"Hei? Did you ask Arnav babua?" Buaji asked

"Your Arnav babua only rejected it" Khushi muttered miffed.

Arnav snatched the phone from Khushi and shot a furious look at her.

"Bua ji. It is okay to take leave. Khushi and Payal will be home tomorrow" Arnav told Buaji and Khushi stared at him in shock.

"Shukriya babua" Buaji said and hung up the call.

Arnav gave the phone back to Khushi. She took it and walked out of his cabin.

Aman stared at all the happenings, his mouth wide open.

What the hell just happened?

Did the khadoos akdu ASR just say Khushi meant everything to him. Since when?

Maybe he should ask his mother to book a bed for him in the Agra mental asylum.

"What the hell are you doing here, Aman?" ASR roared at the poor man, who was gobsmacked by what just happened.

"I- file- Khushi-" Aman stammered.

"Get out" ASR roared and Aman ran for his life.

A/n

Here goes the next shot

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Love,

SF