Khushi stepped inside his cabin with his cup of coffee. He was standing near the glass wall, facing his back to her and talking with someone over the phone.

"What? Is she out of her mind? Kaka, you put some sense in her mind. She can't keep suffocating and pressuring Khushi into forgiving her. Khushi needs to be given space and time to process and recover from this incident. Make her understand that she will make things worse if she comes here. If Khushi doesn't even want to look at my face, then imagine her reaction when she sees Di here."

Khushi was touched by his understanding nature. The fact that he understood what she was going through emotionally helped diminish the anger and hurt she was feeling before. This is what she needed. A little understanding and compassion from his side instead of acting indifferent to her pain.

The noise made when the coffee mug came into contact with the base of the glass table made Arnav turn to look at the source of the sound. His molten brown eyes glowed as if he found his object of affection.

"I'll call you later, Kaka. Don't forget to talk to Di," he whispered quickly before hanging up the call and walking towards her.

"Your coffee, sir," Khushi pointed to the cup, her eyes downcast.

Arnav rolled his eyes, annoyed by the way she called him, sir. It was normal as during office hours, she always addressed him like this. But he was desperately waiting to hear Arnav ji from her mouth.

When he saw her taking steps towards the door, he hurriedly walked around his table as his hand reached out to the coffee cup. He took a sip of the coffee and instantly commented before she stepped out of his cabin, "Acchi bani hai chai! (The tea is good)."

Khushi silently chuckled at his slip of tongue. What wrong with this man today? Was he so desperate to talk to her?

She turned her head to look at him and corrected him, "Coffee!"

And then she witnessed the humanoid robot bite back a smile, "Really? It tasted like tea."

Khushi gave him a suspicious look before she approached him to peek at the interior of the cup, "Dekhne mein toh coffee hi lag rahi hai (It's looking like coffee only)."

He followed her gaze, feigning innocence, "Yes, but I don't know why it tasted like tea!"

"If you want, then I can make you another coffee," Khushi said as her hand reached forward to take the cup from him.

Arnav shook his head, taking a seat on his chair, with the cup in his hand as he took another sip, "No. It's okay. You go and complete your work. I'll drink this coffee only."

Khushi glanced at him suspiciously, a slow slight smile crept across her face at his silly attempts to get her attention.

"May I go now?" she asked with a tone that implied 'Are-you-done-now?'.

Arnav looked up to her as he shrugged, "It depends on you."

Khushi's eyes widened incredulously at the implication. What happened to the man who used to shut her out of his cabin?

Khushi walked away from there with a dampened smile on her face. While Arnav sat questioning his own actions, he needed to behave moderately as he might be appearing too desperate and annoying to her at this point.

Two hours passed by, and he didn't get any of his work done. He was constantly getting affected by the unsettling feeling dominating his heart. It's been two hours, and nothing changed between them. She was outside his cabin, focused on completing her tasks, and he was staring at her through the TV, letting his overthinker side disturb him with negative thoughts. He couldn't help but fear losing her at this point. She seemed so determined to limit their relationship to professional levels, and he was not ready to lose the woman who could bring a smile to his face effortlessly.

He got up from his chair, leaving his negative thoughts behind him, and reached the door of his cabin. He opened the door, leaning his shoulder against the frame, as he stared at Khushi, his eyes pleading her to break this wall between them, "Khushi," he called her with a please-maan-jao-na tone.

Khushi melted on the inside, still she looked at him in a composed manner, "Yes, sir!"

His face fell. Even if he's calling her Khushi, she is still talking to him formally.

"Come inside. I want you to look for a black file," he said and disappeared inside his cabin. Khushi followed him obediently.

*****************************************

Khushi started searching for the 'black file' in a mountain of black colored files kept inside the filing cabinets.

She sat down on her knees, tired of handing him one file after another and receiving a negative response from him.

"It's not the black one I'm looking for," his constant reply at every file handed over to him.

She rummaged through the last drawer of the last cabinet and found only one black file, relieved that even if it's not the one he was looking for, at least her search finally ends here. She supported her hand on the left side of the cabinet to pull herself up but failed to see him bend down to take the file from her hand, resulting in them banging their foreheads together.

"Ouch!" they broke apart after the collision, hissing in pain.

"Sorry!" Arnav said, his eyes squinted, feeling the pain on the inside.

Khushi was forced to sit back on the floor to recover from the pain. She rubbed her forehead, a pout adorning her face as she looked up at him, "Come here. Sit down!"

Arnav looked at her questioningly, "Me?"

"Haan ji. Aur kon? (Who else?)," she asked sarcastically, motioning him with a movement of her head to sit with her on the floor.

Arnav obliged as he sat crossed leg on the floor, and Khushi quickly came close to him, cupping his face to hit her forehead lightly with his before she rubbed the spot to ease the pain she probably caused to him.

When her soft palms came in contact with his skin, he gulped at the warm sensation that engulfed his soul. It felt as if someone wrapped a lightweight yet warm blanket around his warmth deprived body.

"I don't want to grow horns on my head," she justified her actions as she moved back, embarrassed, feeling her stomach flutter and her heart racing at the realisation of their closeness in that moment. She wondered why a simple act related to her silly beliefs felt so intimate when done to him. Perhaps it's the way he looks at her differently as if he's completely lost in her.

Arnav blinked his eyes in confusion as he was forced to come back to reality as soon as her voice reached his ears, "Huh?"

"Let it be. You will find it silly," Khushi shook her head as she lowered her eyes, leisurely fidgeting with her ring.

"Did it ever stop you from telling me anyway?" he asked, annoyed at the way the changes in her behaviour towards him were starting to feel more palpable to him.

"I had this image in my mind.. that you're my genie, the one who my parents sent to me when I was on the verge of breaking down in my life. That's why it was easy to be my true self with you," she said in a low, sad tone.

"Khushi, do you want me to me to dye my skin blue, shave my head and leave a tuft of black hair on top of my head, replace my legs with a wispy tail for you to believe that I'm still the same person you consider as your Genie?" he asked in a sarcastic, scolding tone, "Nothing changed. I'm still the same," he softened his tone, trying to make her understand.

Khushi held back a chuckle as she looked up at him, "May I go now? I don't think the black file you're looking for is here."

"No," he instantly replied as he didn't want her to leave yet, "If it's not black, then it might be a blue file. Let's search for the blue one."

Khushi stared at him in disbelief. A light smile spread on her lips as she was finding it tough to deal with this man today, "What are you doing?"

Arnav's shoulder droop down in defeat as he confessed in a whisper like tone, "Silly attempts to make you talk to me."

Her doe eyes stared at him in awe. It hit in her mind that in normal situations, he would never confess this to her. If he was letting her know his intentions, then he is actually desperate to get her forgiveness.

"Jab bhi main aapse naraz hongi, tab hamesha mujhe aise manaoge? (Will you always manofy me like this whenever I get mad at you?)" Khushi asked, breaking her serious, firm, and unaffected demeanour.

Arnav looked up at her, caught off guard by her question. But before he could answer, they heard constant knocks on the door. It made them turn their head in that direction. Arnav frowned slightly as he glanced at the TV to check who's at the door and it was Sheetal, who might want to discuss details of their upcoming fashion show.

He got up from the floor, giving her permission to walk in, while Khushi hurriedly picked up the remaining files scattered on the floor and went to resume her work.

*****************************************

One hour later..

It was their lunch break time, and Khushi joined Aina at the office canteen. They settled in a table at the corner, Khushi placed her tiffin on the table while Aina ordered her food.

Khushi couldn't bring herself to touch her food as the thought that Arnav didn't have his lunch yet crossed her mind. If she hadn't been upset with him yesterday, she would have packed something for him as well. Now, if the man passed out again, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.

This thought was actually nagging her because why is she suddenly feeling like it's only her duty to take care of him. First there are a lot of servants in his mansion who can prepare his lunch and bring it to his office without him having to worry about who's going to prepare the food and if he has those ingredients at home to cook what he feels like eating. The man can just order what he wishes to eat, and it will come ready made to him. Second, he's a billionaire who can drive himself to any high rated restaurant and get the best chefs of the world cook for him.

So it's not like he was running out of options. In fact, he had plenty of options in his hands. Despite being truly aware of his privileges, she was getting disturbed by this feeling inside her as if it's her responsibility to ensure he had his lunch.

"Hey, kya hua? Why aren't you eating?" Aina pulled her cheek to bring her back to earth.

Khushi looked at her, "I'm not feeling hungry."

"Shut up. Open your tiffin and finish your food quietly. Do you know we've to charge ourselves for the rest of the day? And you're working for ASR, the one who doesn't stop working till he drains your energy beyond its limits. So you better eat, Khushi," Aina scolded her. Still, her tone was laced with a certain care and affection she developed for Khushi over time.

"If you knew that humanoid robot is doing everything but work today," Khushi muttered to herself, making Aina look at her curiously, "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Khushi shook her head immediately, faking a smile, "And I'm not feeling like eating now. If I manage a break during my working period, then I'll surely finish my food, ok? If you don't mind, then I would like to go back to my cabin now. I want to rest for a little while."

She made a cute, innocent face to Aina, who found it hard to deny her. Aina sighed, "Thik hai fir.. but don't forget to eat, okay? Otherwise, I'll be the first one to contact your brother if you start skipping your meals."

Khushi nodded her head obediently, "Ji huzoor!"

Aina chuckled lightly, staring at her, picking her tiffin from the table and waving her hand at her.

*****************************************

Khushi walked to the elevator with the tiffin in her hands. She was about to press the button when she heard a familiar voice calling her from behind.

She closed her eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath before she turned to face Anjali with a poker face.

A devastated Anjali dragged Aman standing beside her, closer to Khushi as she desperately wanted to prove her point to Khushi.

"Khushi, we need to sit and talk calmly," Anjali said pleadingly, "You need to give me a chance to clear this out. I brought Aman here so you understand what exactly happened behind your back, and then decide if my brief involvement in this case deserves such a big punishment from you."

"I'm listening," Khushi folded her arms across her chest with a straight face.

"Let's go and sit somewhere,"

"No, it's okay. Explain yourself here," Khushi said firmly.

Anjali looked at Aman and signalled him to explain everything to Khushi.

"Khushi, you know how heartbroken I was when you called off our engagement, I was desperate to have you back in my life," Aman started. He looked at painfully. Khushi ignored that look of his.

Anjali nodded her head vigorously, with a 'See-I-told-you-so' look.

"And during that phase, I didn't know what to do.. so I just called Anjali and asked her for help. I wanted her to help me bring you back in my life. But then.. do you remember when we talked after a meeting here in the office? You clearly told me that you were firm on your decision.. that you loved me, but you love yourself more.. I understood what you meant and decided to move on in my life. I even stopped meeting Anjali after that day. So I don't know what she did or said to you about me without my knowledge. The last time, she insisted that I should join you guys to watch Tiger movies and dance on stage to woo you back. It so happened that coincidentally, I was there to watch the movie with Ma, but I had no plan to embarrass myself and dance in front of everyone. I seriously don't know what happened behind my back, too. I did ask her for help, but the day you confronted me. I stopped it immediately.. I don't know what Anjali did after that," Aman said innocently.

Anjali jaws dropped as she looked at Aman in shock and anger, "What are you saying, Aman? Why are you lying to Khushi?" she looked at Khushi, "Don't trust his words, Khushi. He's lying to you. He's acting innocent in front of you and throwing me under the bus now that he's caught."

Khushi was silently staring at them desperately trying to prove their innocence and put the blame on each other.

"Really Anjali? Am I the one acting innocent here?" Aman asked sarcastically, "Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror and see your truth? The truth is you only accepted to help me back then because you had your own selfish motives," Aman turned to look at Khushi, and he softened his tone, "Do you remember when we had pizza party at your home, Khushi? That day, I caught Anjali staring at your brother, completely lost in him. And to tease her, I asked when she was planning to propose to him. Do you know what she replied to me? She would have done that long back, but she knows Shyam bhai wouldn't have accepted her proposal as he wants to get you married first. She said she couldn't wait for the day you got married to me, as only then would she be able to think about a future with Shyam bhai."

"I guess I don't need to explain you further. You're smart enough to understand why she was so desperate to help me convince you to come back into my life and get married to me as this was the only way she had to make Shyam bhai accept her in his life," Aman said, throwing an accusing glare at Anjali, before he looked back at Khushi making an innocent face.

Anjali resembled a deer caught in the headlights. She didn't know what to do or say to cover up for this situation she was caught off guard when Aman exposed her real inner intentions behind helping him get Khushi back in his life.

Khushi shook her head, disillusioned and disgusted, as the realisation hit her that these two literally used her for their selfish motives. They never really cared about her. One only wanted to make her his possession, and the other used her to get to her brother.

"This is what happens when you join hands with untrustworthy and cunning people for your selfish motives. They don't think twice before throwing you under the bus," Khushi said, throwing a pity look at Anjali before she walked inside the elevator and quickly pressed the button to close the door before Anjali followed her.

Aman was offended that she called him untrustworthy and cunning. He thought he cooked up a believable story to make him get a second entry in Khushi's good books. But it seems like his plan failed this time as well.

Anjali looked at him angrily with frustrated tears in her eyes, "Why did you do this to me? I called you to clarify things with you, and you ruined everything. I never thought you would do this to me, Aman. I helped you as I considered you as my brother. But look at what you did to me.."

Aman shrugged, "I did exactly what you planned to do with me. Tit for tat. You wanted to spoil my image in front of Khushi to make it look as if I forced you to help me, I'm the bad guy and you were the innocent little princess who was coerced by me into joining my plans and betray your friend. Sorry, Anjali, but I wouldn't let you ruin the little chances left with me to reconcile with Khushi while you get a second chance to be friends with her when you clearly helped me out willingly and out of your selfishness to get Shyam by hook or crook in your life. We had decided to join hands, not to betray each other. But since you took the first step to backstab me, I couldn't stay behind!"

"Watch your tone, Aman!" she looked at him sharply, threatening him through her eyes, "You're talking to Anjali Singh Raizada, not any random woman, ok? If I want, then I can get you kicked out of here right now. Do you get that? Don't act smart and play games with me."

Aman was shocked by the sudden change in her demeanour. He tried hard to suppress the sudden anger that rose in him after getting threatened by this woman and escaped from there after nodding his head with downcast eyes.

*****************************************

Khushi was waiting to reach her floor, completely lost in her thoughts. Her chest felt heavy, and her eyes pooled in tears. She couldn't bring herself to believe that the two people she held close to her heart betrayed her in the most heartless way. She considered Aman - her world, her life, her everything. And she used to look at Anjali as her elder sister.

It's so hard to realise the lack of trust they had in her even after she made them a part of her family and opened herself to them. Why Aman didn't trust her and jumped to tag her as a golddigger because she didn't quit her job? Why Anjali didn't trust her enough to share her feelings towards her brother to her first instead of joining hands with Aman and plot a disgusting plan to get her married first so that her brother is left with no other reason to deny her proposal?

Her glistening eyes travelled to the elevator number sign to check if she was close to her floor or not. She was impatiently waiting to reach the 15th floor. Never in her life would she have imagined that the floor she dreaded the most when she joined the office would become her safe place.

As the door of the elevator ding open and her eyes fell on the man standing near her cabin, Khushi couldn't help but correct herself in her mind. It wasn't the 15th floor but the man who stays there that is her safe place.

The moment he turned, without a second thought, she ran towards her source of solace and threw herself in his arms.

Arnav stumbled backwards, caught unprepared for the weight that landed on him without any prior notice. But then managed to hold himself upright during the process.

He was caught off guard with this sudden hug. He frowned slightly, feeling the dampness on his shirt, "Khushi.. what happened?"

Khushi didn't reply to him. No words were coming out of her mouth at that moment. She just wanted to find solace in her Genie's company. She closed her eyes, pushing herself more into his chest.

Arnav certainly wasn't experienced in consoling people in his life. So he didn't know what exactly to do to make her feel better and stop shedding tears. He stood still for a long time, contemplating what he should do to console her.

The time he took to respond to her was enough for Khushi to become conscious of their position. The fact that he didn't reciprocate her hug and stood rigid while she tried to find solace in his arms finally sunk in as she slowly started to detach herself from him only for her earrings to get stuck on his shirt. She hissed in pain, trying to release her earring hastily as she no longer wanted to stay in the arms of the man who made her feel unwelcome.

He kept staring at her, miserably failing to release her earrings, and realised dawn upon him, he was again committing the mistake of expecting her to understand his unsaid words when wasn't in condition to do so. She was hurt, and she expected him to take her in his arms, comforting her in silence.

Pushing his hesitation behind, he circled his left arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him while his right hand helped her untangle her earrings from his shirt.

Khushi placed her hand on his chest, trying to maintain a certain distance between them as she was still hurt that he took time to think whether he would hug her back or not, "Why didn't you reciprocate when I hugged you first?" she inquired, a frown adorning her forehead.

Arnav made her rest her head on his chest, which she tried to resist at first but eventually gave up, as he started stroking her hair gently, "Sometimes you too need to understand that Genie was stuck in the lamp for 10000 years."

Understanding the meaning behind his words, Khushi fell into silence, feeling warm and cocooned in his arms.

"What are you holding in your hand?" Arnav asked, feeling something poking his back behind.

"Sorry.. it's my lunchbox!" Khushi replied, breaking the hug and moving back to show him the lunchbox. Arnav mentally cursed himself for bringing this up. If he knew she would have broken their hug, he would never mention the discomfort he was feeling with her lunchbox touching his back.

"I was coming to share my lunch with a genie who probably skips his lunch because he was stuck in a lamp for 10000 years, but then I met Anjali and Aman on my way," Khushi shared with him.

The last line caught his attention as he turned serious, "What did they do to you?"

"Arnav!"

Khushi couldn't answer him as Anjali came towards them. She stood in front of Arnav and declared determinedly, "I accept your offer to join AR photography team as their head."

She glanced at Khushi, looking for a reaction. Khushi acted indifferently.

Arnav wondered what changed her mind suddenly, still he nodded his head at her, "Join us tomorrow. Now you can leave. I'll ask the driver to take you back home."