Khushi reached the cabin of Arnav. She was about to knock when her gaze fell on the name plate proudly hanging on the door.

The CEO
"Mr Arnav Singh Raizada"

She touched his name and smiled.

"My arnavji. May Devi mayia make you see heights of success, prosperity, happiness and everything I don't have."She prayed for him.

Freely lingering her fingers on his name, she pressed her head on the door to control her sobs.

Last day seeing him.

Last day visiting his cabin.

Last day to admire him.

Last day to say as her's secretly.

Last day...

Arnav was as usual working in his cabin. A fashion show is lined up this month which could give a huge fame to AR internationally. He has for now busied himself with the show keeping all other thoughts at bay.

Keenly typing and preparing his presentation and designs, he didn't notice when Aman came and sat infront of him.

After few minutes, clearing his throat Aman started.

"Hello!!... Yaar 2 minute ho gye mujhe yaha aaye huye. Itna bhi kya dooba hai kaam mei ki yeh bhi nhi pta ki kon aaya hai cabin mei tere. (I am sitting in your cabin from last 2 minutes. What is it that you are engrossed in the work and haven't noticed me coming in your cabin.)"

Arnav's head shot towards him to gather his presence and then shrugging he again buried himself in his work.

"Oye mene abhi Khushi ko yaha se bahar jate dekha tha. Kyu aayi thi voh? (I have seen Khushi exiting your cabin. Why was she here?)" Getting frustrated, Aman lied. He couldn't bear someone ignoring him.

Attention seeker which he was, so he lied to Arnav on his favourite topic. Getting the new formed information, Arnav's head shot up.

" Nhi Khushi toh nhi aayi. Mei yhi hu kab se. Mujhe toh nhi bulaya usne. Kyu aayi hogi voh. Mujhe kese nhi pta chla uske aane ka. (No Khushi hasn't came. I was here only. She hasn't even called me. Why would have she came? Why couldn't I get her presence.)" Said Arnav worried and glanced at the windows.

Seeing his urge to see his love, Aman laughed and blurted out in between his laughs.

"Dekh-dekh kitna be-chen ho rha hai use milne ke liye... Yaar agar itna hi pyar krta hai toh bta kyu nhi deta use. (Look how desperate are you to meet her. Friend, if you love her so much why don't you tell her.)" Aman composed himself after seeing his deadly glare.

"Gadha hai tu bilkul. Mujhe sach mei lga ki voh aayi thi or bina mujhe mille chli gyi. (You are such a idiot. I really thought that she came and went without meeting me.)" Arnav said.

"Arnav mei tujhe sach mei khe rha hu, bta de use. Is se phele ke bhut der ho jaye. Tu samaj rha hai na mei kya khe rha hu. Jaldi bta de use apne dil ki baat. (Arnav tell her about your feelings before its too late. Are you understanding what I want to say. Go and tell her your feelings, your love towards her.)"

He is true and only friend of Arnav. Arnav shares his feelings with him. He never saw him as his brother-in-law who has to be kept on eyes. He has became a family member in short span of time.

"No Aman not now. You know how important this fashion show is for us. I have alot of tension for this and I don't want that I do something stupid in this situation. After this I will definitely tell her and she won't be able to reject me." Said arnav dreaming about that day.

"Abhi bhi waqt hai Arnav bta de use khi bhut... (There's still time Arnav. Tell her before its... )"

They were interrupted by the knock on the door.

"Come in" Arnav said authoritively and looked back on his laptop.

Khushi came in with a paper in her hand. Quickly greeting the two men, she handed her resignation to Arnav and in meanwhile Aman left the cabin to give the duo much needed privacy but not before gesturing him to tell her about his feelings.

Reading the contents of letter, Arnav was flabbergasted. He felt the ground beneath him slipping.

A resignation letter .

Arnav's eyes shot up to hers for answers where as her eyes were rooted to ground as if it was the most enchanting thing to watch.

She controlled her emotions and didn't let a drop fell by blinking her eyes repeatedly.

Arnav just sat numb as his senses had left him the minute he gained this new shock.

His Khushi is planning to leave him and go. Leave him all alone when he fell head over heels for her that a mere thought of being away from her could sent jolts down his spine. Even in his worst nightmare he could never think of this. He somehow had thought or rather assumed that the feelings he held for her are mutual. She too love him, adore him, dream about him, and what not!!

Khushi cleared her throat after few minutes seeing him not responding. She somewhere too thought her love to be mutual but again the thoughts of her being low class, her status, 'even cannot hold a place of servant in his life' striked hard. After long battle between her heart and mind she couldn't differentiate between infatuation or love for him. But after continuous meetings and formal smiles she got from him, she finally named this feeling as love.

She was very happy that day to know about her love and wanted someone to share her happiness but sadly couldn't find a single person around her. A single person who would listen her, to whom she could tell her all day happenings, who would help her in her difficulties and all.

That day she realised that she was so alone.

Except for Devi mayia she has no one.

Arnav stood up and came forward towards her and demanded reasons for sudden resignation. He behaved little rudely not knowing that he is breaking a soul by his meaningless behaviour.

"Why this sudden resignation Miss Gupta? Can you explain." His voice was demanding. He tried to maintain his calm look and not to lash on the poor soul.

"Sir i-its a p-personal reason." She stuttered.

"It could be. But according to company's policy the reason has to be specified or else forget the resignation." He anyhow wanted to know the reason so he brought the policy and rules thing to reach the truth.

"Sir please I need to leave the job. I-I am getting married." Khushi spoke the last line looking in his eyes. For the last time she wanted to look in those chocolate brown eyes which had captured her heart and may be forever.

Arnav stumbled a step back. Shock evident in his every feature. His nightmares are coming out to be true. His love is slipping away from his life as sand slips from hands.

Tears blurred his vision. He will lose his life if Khushi leaves him. He don't know its love or what but he is addicted to her now. Not a day passes without seeing her, admiring her, hearing her voice. Even his secret and dearest wish was her calling him 'Arnavji' in her melodious voice.

Now his every dream itself will become a dream.

Har sapna ab sapna hi ban kr rhe jayega.

Thinking about all this he don't know when a tear slipped from his eyes. Realising this he immediately turned and wipped off that tear. He doesn't want anyone to see his vulnerable state.

"Leave me alone." Was all he commented.

This was not what she wanted to hear. She just wanted to listen that her resignation is accepted. That's it.

"S-Sir..." Not getting her desired answer she started to be cut off in middle.

"I said leave me ALONE." Arnav gritted his teeth and stretched the last word not to lash his anger on her.

But Khushi never left. She wanted to know whether she got the resignation or not. Otherwise she has to answer her family.

"Sir p-please. I need to leave this job otherwise my family will get upset. I know I was the one begging for the job when I was nowhere eligible for it. I can't thank you enough for that. But please sir... Please." Hearing her pleads he gulped and abruptly turned.

Eyes filled with unshed tears which confused her. Why was he crying on her departure.
Everyone used to get happy when I leave from their lives. So why these tears.

Before she could think further she was pinned to nearest wall. The action was so immediate that she couldn't comprehend when he did all this. Like holding her from her arms and backing her till wall.

Bringing his face closer to her's , he said in painful yet composed voice.

"Sha-ad-di... Tumhari shaddi... Khushi. Khushi tum janti bhi ho mei tumse kitna p- (Mar-riage... Your marriage... Khushi do you even know how much I l-)" The words were never completed. He left her shoulders and said.

"Are you sure about this marriage thing."

Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion she said a yes.

"Go"

Having no other option, she left the cabin not to enrage him further by her presence.

Reaching her desk, she sat on her chair deeply thinking about the behaviour of Arnav. What did he behave that way. She just simply asked about resigning. If she was not wrong, she saw a tear leaving his eye before he turned.

Why... Why was he crying over her leaving. What did he say in the end. Why did he leave it incomplete and why was he shocked listening about my marriage!!

Why did he behave this way. She knew she is, will always remain unloved. She knew. Everyone hated her presence. The haters list is so long for describing

Her buaji

Her amma

Her babuji

Her class fellows

Her colleagues at work

And now she feels that every person she meets hate her.

What wrong has she ever done to bear such hatred. Why she. Why is she left all alone !!!

After Khushi left he quickly locked the cabin and sat on his chair letting the tears spill out of his eyes. He realised that he is late... Very late. He has lost her. The only person who created these feelings in him just by looking at her. Strange but true because he never conversed with her except for business.

He got the flashes of the day he saw her for the first time cladded in red, his favourite.

It was the day of interviews. He was interviewing the fresher's for the job when he saw her. She was the next one. She came in and gave her portfolio. But he was lost in her.

Never in his seven years of business he saw such a beauty who defined red so beautifully. She changed the definition of red by wearing it. His favourite color became more dear to him now.

An innocent face.

Plumpy and glossy lips.

Chubby and pink cheeks.

Slim

In short, Innocent beauty.

Seeing him all lost, she cleared her throat bringing him back from his day dream. Feeling embarrassed he looked down in the file.

He himself was amused. How can 'The ASR' lose his control. Snapping back to reality, he checked the file.

Furrowing his brows he saw that she wasn't eligible for the post. If she isn't qualified, then why has she came here was the confusion for him. Confused and curious to clear his confusion, he looked at her who was looking at him with her nervous eyes as if pleading him to accept her for job. He glanced her name in file and whispered.

Khushi

"Nice name" without acknowledging the words slipped from his tongue.

She smiled nervously and thanked him. Getting professional he said,

"You don't have a degree and are applying for the job. Can I know the reason, Miss Khushi?"

"Sir I need the job an-anyhow. Please give me the job. Any job. I would even become a servant in your canteen, or a sweeper or any other low class jobs. I will do anything sir. But please give a job."

Arnav was shocked. He never thought that a beautiful girl like her can ask for such jobs. He can't see her begging, so without a second thought he finalized her.  But before that he needs a good explanation from her.

"Ms. Khushi why would you do such jobs." He sounded surprised.

"Sir I need a job at any cost. So I am ready to do an-anything." Said Khushi hoping he would not ask her to do those things.

The places where she applied for a job, their boss would behave as a jerk with her. They would ask her to his bed mate and he would fill her account with money. So without another thought sje would move on in the search of a decent job where she would not have to sell her respect.

He so called parents have asked her to earn for her living at the age of 18, and they said that she would not get a penny from them but have to contribute in the house expenses.

So to meet the her basics she badly needs a job. Any job would do for now but not at the cost of her self-respect.

"But why... Seeing your qualifications, I can't hire you!" Asked Arnav hoping to get the desired truth from her.

"Sir I have to earn for my living. I have no one."she spoke truth.

Arnav got another blow.

"So that means you are an o-orphan." He asked hoping to be wrong.

"No sir. I live with my..." Khushi couldn't complete because of the loud shrill of intercom.

"What!!... Why haven't you informed me before hand." Shouted arnav over the phone.

"Ok ask them to wait and dismiss all other freshers. I have already choosen one." Arnav eyed khushi while speaking the last line and hanged up.

"Ok miss Khushi you can come from tomorrow and for further details please visit reception. See you tomorrow. Bye." Arnav said with a smile. He was amused with himself by the way he behaved.

Please.

See you tomorrow.

Bye.

These were not his words. He never speak to his employees with such politeness.

Smiling sheepishly and collecting the desired files for the unexpected meeting, he left the cabin.

Snapping out of his memories, he opened his teary eyes.

Aman was right, he realised. He is late, indeed very late. He has lost the chance of spending a happy life with her. She is marrying and he simply can't do anything. Why... Why he feels so helpless!!

Tumhe paane ki itni chah thi,
pr tere jane se voh sab gamm mei badal gyi.

Shayad hi sukoon mille ab is dil ko,
pr yakin hai ki tujhe vapas paane se jannat mill jaye gi.

________________________

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