Part 4 Lighting the lamp

Arnav could not come out of the scene in which Khushi threw her hair behind to cover her back. It was not just a scene but her CHARACTER. If she was so cautious about her respect, she would never lose it. He wanted to check how she would deal with such a situation. At the same time, he didn't want her to suspect, he was keeping her with him for a purpose.

The next day

Arnav entered AR like a cyclone as usual but his walking speed decreased unusually when he saw the DM Idol on Khushi's desk. Why did he feel like that woman trying to tell him something? Why did she smile at him sarcastically? He walked to his cabin all the way looking at the idol.

Arnav gave the task to Khushi to measure male models. That was kind of QUALITY CHECK. If she won the task, she would lose the challenge. If she lost the task, she would win the challenge. If she stayed as Khushi, she would lose the challenge. She could not win the challenge until she transformed into Arnav Singh Raizada because measuring male models would not be a cup of tea for Khushi Gupta.

Arnav waited for the results. He was fed up when Khushi submitted the measurements. He didn't believe she measured them. So, he asked for the CCTV footage of the measurement hall. Lavanya could not understand what was there in Arnav's mind.

Arnav watched the footage and got to know how Khushi did the measurements successfully. There was a smile on his face. Not that she succeeded in the task and lost the challenge. It was because she saved her respect. He should have gotten angry about it. instead, he felt content. He wondered about it.

Lavanya, who watched his face hated the smile because she didn't like him smiling for someone instead of her. That too, Arnav Singh Raizada who was popular for his arrogance smiled. Why didn't he get angry with Khushi for doing the task tricking him? She could not understand. More to her annoyance, Arnav said,

"Lavanya, SEND Khushi Gupta to my cabin"

He said SEND not BRING.

Lavanya left his cabin irritatingly. She didn't like him giving importance to a simple girl. She sensed a sudden change in Arnav's behavior. He became soft, unlike him. Though he challenged Khushi there was no toughness in that. She sensed it. after all, she was the girl who had the complete list of his likes and dislikes...!

She came downstairs and saw Khushi making a call to the inverter man.

"Hey, Chamkili, ASR is calling you. Go..."

Khushi gulped down. She went to his cabin nervously. She didn't know what was waiting for her in his cabin.

Arnav looked at Khushi rigidly.

"So, you made someone work for you..."

Khushi was horrified. How did he get to know that?

"So... you became like ME"

"whaaat?" she shouted in shock.

"Haann... you used your skills and handled the issue just like me... will you say no?"

"Yes. I will say no" She said bravely.

"oh... really?"

"I used my skills and measured them by adopting a guy as my brother. I'm sure you would not have moved the sentimental card to win the task just like me. So, I didn't become YOU because neither I used power nor did I use the money" she said making him speechless.

Of course, she was not wrong. Arnav would not have used sentiments to win any deal because he didn't have sentiments. He was stunned.

Seeing him tongue-tied, she left his cabin joyfully.

Arnav closed his eyes. What was he doing? Why was he giving heed to a village girl leaving everything behind? Why was he wasting his time on her? He doubted that Khushi would be the cause for the girl to fall from the cliff. Then why was he behaving soft towards her? Arnav was confused and also irritated.

He thought he was traveling on the wrong route. What the flashes was about? Who was the girl? Why did he see her falling shockingly? What was the connection between her and him? Why would he let Khushi be in his office? But how did he send her out? She should be defeated or he should accept his defeat. Then only she would leave this office. That was the deal. He punched the table in irritation.

On the other side, Lavanya was fuming.

"What happened La? Why are you upset?"

"I don't know what happened to ASR. He is unnecessarily giving heed to Chamkili"

"But why?"

"I don't know. He had a deal with her unwantedly. She won the given task. I don't know why he was doing this"

"I have an idea. We should make her make mistakes. Then, ASR will get angry with her for sure. What say" Sim said.

"Good idea but how could we do that when ASR has taken the responsibility of handling her?"

"We should give her more work and stop her from completing ASR's task. Then she will lose the challenge" Pam said.

"Yes, she has to lose the challenge. Then only she will be left with no choice of giving one lakh to AR" Lavanya was overjoyed.

"I'm sure she will not give the money" Sim chuckled.

"Think something guys. We have to do something. I don't want her to be in AR" Lavanya insisted them.

"She is so stupid you know. She doesn't even know how to operate any equipment... no computer knowledge, no English knowledge, nothing...!" Pam said wearily.

Lavanya remembered something. Her face lit. She called security to ask for the CCTV footage to find out who lit the lamp in front of DM the previous day because she believed it must be Khushi who was the newcomer of AR. Old staff of AR would not have done that because they knew ASR and his wrath. They were aware of the fire alarm well. If it was Khushi who lit the lamp, it was enough for her to create a scene.

"Bring the CCTV footage of the DM idol. I want to know who lit the lamp yesterday"

"Jee, madam. I will bring it to you"

"Make it fast. I'm waiting"

Lavanya disconnected the call and waited.

The security came with the CD. He handed it to Lavanya. She played the CD. Her eyes widened, seeing Khushi lighting the lamp. She smirked as her guess was right.

"My God... was she the one who lit the lamp and messed up the whole office yesterday?" Sim said looking at the computer screen.

"La, this is enough to provoke ASR's anger. He was angry like hell when he heard the fire alarm sound..." Pam said.

"He became angrier when he drenched. Do you know how he glared at me? God... still it's making me nervous" Lavanya said.

"Not only him but the whole office drenched," Sim said wearily.

"Let me tell ASR about it..."

Taking the CD, Lavanya headed to Arnav's cabin. Arnav looked at her.

"ASR, watch this CD..."

"What's there in the CD?" Arnav asked with disinterest as he was in another trauma.

Lavanya herself inserted the CD into Arnav's laptop and played the footage. Arnav saw Khushi lighting the lamp.

"See, ASR, it was Chamkili who lit the lamp. She was the reason for AR's unwanted loss. I have never seen such a stupid girl in my life. She didn't even know AR like a reputed office would have a fire alarm and lighting lamp would lead in to trouble. Oh, God, I can't believe this...! How dumb she is...!"

"Will you stop it, Lavanya?" Arnav shouted making Lavanya jerk.

"You are the biggest stupid. You are the one who appointed her as your PA. How did you appoint her without even knowing what she is capable of? Is this how you are working? I'm stupid to believe you would be handling everything right. You disappointed me. After being the reason for the blunder, you are blaming someone. Shame on you, Lavanya..." he shouted.

Lavanya stood like a statue as her trick backfired.

"Why are you looking at me? Leave... now..." Arnav yelled at her.

Lavanya felt insulted and left his cabin all infuriated. She didn't expect Arnav would turn the table like that.

Arnav sat on his seat irritated. He didn't know why he was behaving upside down.

He saw the computer screen in which Khushi talking to Devi Maiya with a smile on her face as if she was her friend. What was she talking about? Lighting the lamp, Khushi left the place.

Was keeping this girl in this office necessary? Couldn't he send her out of AR by lighting the lamp in front of DM's idol? He thought. In no time, he again got the flash...! In that, he was asking,

"I agree I tortured her... I agree I did that senselessly but I wholeheartedly want to make her happy. If you are a God, you would have known that"

To be continued...