Khushi Makes it – Chapter 5

Khushi Makes it – chapter 5

Khushi had spent the rest of the day playing hide and seek with Arnav, she knew he was looking for her she ducked and dived and made sure she was neither seen nor heard by him.

She used all the skills that she had learned over the last five years living away from her family; how to hide, how to get away, and how to get out and in, when you had been banned.

She had learned to make herself invisible over the years when needed, a skill that served her well. So far she had hidden behind a tree, up a tree, under the stage, behind Akash anywhere to make sure Arnav did not catch her.

Next morning Shantivan was a place of silence , a state of peace to be savoured following on from the previous two days mayhem and enjoyment that had swamped her.

Everyone had got together after the events of the last two days, The PKC committee-the  protect Khushi committee  gathered to discuss the best way to manage the situation.

They had not forgotten the intense hatred between Arnav and Khushi.

But Anjali was a Raizada after all, an ambassador in the field of negotiation and managing her brother’s tantrums whilst controlling the fallout between grandson and grandmother. The usual bone of contention between the two was the continual parade of girls through Arnav ‘s life, reflecting according to his Nani his poor taste and judgment in the opposite sex. None of them were suitable to become part of the Raizada family. She often pointed out to Arnav the lack of clothing on these women and considering his reputation in the fashion world, should he have not provided them with a bit more fabric –he could certainly afford the extra yard of fabric !

Anjali Raizada recruited a new member to the committee Lavanya –well she was almost family –her and NK had been an item for a while now and she worked quite closely with Arnav.

“So you see Lavanya ji, the cats out the bag Arnav knows she’s here; but that’s all he know’s  , he doesn’t know she works for him, he doesn’t know she’s is his new intern. We are going to keep it that way, so he’s not going to find out and for that we need a spy to tell us his where abouts and keep Khushi hidden- you are the perfect candidate for that.”

Arnav sat down to breakfast with the family.

“Di, keep her out of my way she is not allowed anywhere near ASR Designs, in fact she’s not allowed in Shantivan when I’m at home , otherwise it will be anything but Shanti here.” “What did she ever do to you-the fashion show was a mistake everyone is allowed to make one mistake”

“Di where she’s concerned it’s never one mistake, think back the cricket bat I had 14 stitches, the nest’s in the tree I’m the one who had a broken arm, the hot tea I’m the one who got burnt, and currently what she got against my pool why are they two fish swimming in my pool”

Di replied “it’s actually four”

“Four – ? Four!- What do you mean four ?”

“Arnav, didn’t wait for an answer he stood up from the table, grabbed his coffee and walked to the poolside to see what how many fish were in his pool.

There in his pool were 4 fish swimming -what the hell was she doing in his space why was it 4 fish in his pool. There was also a little structure for them, but it wasn’t big enough – what was he thinking it wasn’t big enough there should be no fish in his pool and no funny structures or leaves-he would tell how Hari- Prakash to remove the fish and clean his pool by tonight.

That was the last thought in his head before setting of to work.

Khushi on the other hand tipped toed into Shantivan once she had seen Arnav drive of.

Once she arrived  she fed her four fish – such a big space and only four of them – they needed some more friends and with that she added a  few more fishes of different colours and species and more pond weed.

Told Hari Prakash not to feed the fish as she had done.

“But Khushi ji Arnav Bhaiya has told me to clean out the pool”

“Hari Prakash ji – tell him you’ve cleaned the pool it’s such a big pool and its empty at least its now got some colour and life it not barren and empty like him”

Khushi went onto meet the rest of the family and all she heard was that keep a low profile do not let him see you, and definitely don’t let him know that you are an intern, working for ASR Fashions.

“I’m keeping a low profile – look he didn’t catch me last night”

“Khushi why do you insist on playing with fire?” Akaash asked – I’m too young to die and that’s what’s going to happen to me once Bhai realizes that his new intern is you -KKG.”

Lavanya popped in – “Akaash don’t worry you have me now and all we have to do is keep a low profile and send the intern to satellite centers where Arnav doesn’t go – sorted”

“That’s perfect where shall we send her first? – to the design factory – he goes there once a year when they have problems – Khushi can work from there.”

Khushi arrived at the design factory and was allocated her cabin and was introduced to her job at this place -ensuring that the correct amount of supplies were arriving at one of the factories and the right number of garments were ready for dispatch well within the deadline expectations.

The cutting room had to cut the design templates and it was her role to make sure the template and finished product matched.

Here Khushi spent many a boring day –four weeks to be precise at the factory counting supplies and ensuring that the right number of garments were packaged well before the deadline –was the job exciting –no, was the job boring –yes but the pay and the people she made friends with far than more made up for it.

She knew everyone in the factory, from the watchman outside to the cleaners inside right up to CEO –Akash.

She treated everyone as an equal or with the respect that their age demanded not their position.

Khushi made time to stop and talk to everyone and help whomever she could in her own way.

As far as The PKC was concerned another 4 weeks notched up with no meeting of Arnav and Khushi – Akaash and Anjali had started to relax – things were going well and Khushi and Payal were regular visitors to Shantivan – usually came for tea when everyone knew Arnav was not at home.

Everything was going great until a delivery made by one of ASR logistics group under delivered for an order that was due out in the next 48 hours or the penalty were severe.

For Khushi a good job was rapidly crumbling around her –supplies had arrived as ordered but the delivery was short but the correct amount had been delivered but not enough fabric to complete the task at hand.

If the order wasn’t complete the company would return the whole order and AR designs would lose money and a customer and their reputation.

Khushi so far had been unable to get Akash or Lavanya on their phones –as it turned out this was the only time in the history of AR designs that a mast went down and all signals were down.

Out of sheer desperation Khushi rang the purchasing company and asked them about the contract and penalties incurred if it were a late delivery and what exactly were they expecting and how many of each design.

Khushi asked them to fax /email over the expectations of designs and quantity of each.

She re read all the information –no where on the order sheet was there a description of the garment only the colors and fabric and an design number-

She thought hard and fast and called in the cutters and explained her idea and how they would proceed to cut the fabric and alter the design and still get the right number of garments out. It would take the other company a while before they realized that they had been supplied the wrong design –hopefully they would have sold some by then it would be the point of no return –and her designs far superseded the current designs –besides everyone knew that less is more nowadays.

Her team of people went to work whist she desperately tried to get hold of Akash or Lavanya –to no joy.

Khushi sent a special prayer up to her Devi Maya before she continued with her task –it had been a long time since she had used them, but her design eye was always as sharp as it had ever been.

Everyone agreed that the garments produced were better than originally designed and cheaper to produce!

Khushi sat there nervously chewing her nails –unable to get hold of Akash borrowed a scooti and drove like a maniac to Shantivan.

As Shantivan grew closer her heart pounded louder what had she done that mistake could cost her, her job and AR designs their reputation where was everyone when she needed them –tears started to build up in her eyes and trickle down her face. Khushi couldn’t see clearly and then she felt it crash! The crunching of cold metal there attached to her scootie a wing mirror –how had she knocked that huge car –it wasn’t exactly small it was a big and overbearing .

Now what how bad could her day get this on top of all the problems she had spent the day trying to solve.

 Khushi thought to herself better face the owner and get it over and done with and agree to pay for the damage.

Before she could look up her view was blocked by an impassible mass.

Khushi placed both palms flat against the human blockade only to find it immovable.

Khushi looked upwards arching her neck backwards to see a pair of black aviators staring down at her –nostrils flaring she waited with bated breath for the torrent of abuse to flow. It was her fault she had been weaving in and out of traffic to get to Shantivan. Problem after problem, this was the day from hell.

“What exactly were you thinking about ?”

that was all Khushi needed –an angry Arnav –yes it had been her fault but she was prepared to pay could he just not accept a sorry and be done with it and money to repair his wing mirror.

“Well if you must know the delivery sheet matched the stock being delivered but not the quantity being ordered. I had to phone around every department to find my missing stock to be told 3 hours later that the original amount that had been ordered had left the warehouse but had been delivered to two different centres.

I have chased the paperwork unable to find the second half of the order –I have to meet a deadline before the stock goes out –altered the design to meet the stock I’m holding checked the contracts that I have not broken any rules –spoken to the cutters re designed the outfits got them on the go in order to meet the deadline and I can’t find anyone to sanction everything I have done –because a mast has got damaged and all the cells in the area are off line. If I have screwed up then I have just lost my company crores of money, my job and may be a few others as well –so if you want money get in line!”

With that Khushi promptly handed him his broken wing mirror.

“Here’s my number call me with the cost –right now I have more urgent matters to deal with”

“What the… Khushi, as for the costs I don’t think your monthly salary will cover the damage –as for the rest –all I can say is that the company that is employing you deserves to lose the money after all they have employed you ! Your company sounds as disorganized as yourself. If you ever find yourself needing a job after the fiasco that you have just entertained us all with –please don’t apply to my company. You will be doing me a favor – In fact apply to Mehta Industries my competitor and I will have single handedly reduced the worth of his company overnight –a business coup!” 

Khushi speechless turned on her feet and jumped on her scootie and set off leaving behind her Arnav choking on a cloud of dust and petrol fumes.

Khushi found herself at Shantivan finally having located Akash and poured out her sorry tale of the last twenty four hours including her accident with a pompous oaf who she eventually revealed was Arnav.

Khushi cried and hiccupped her way through her story telling Akash about the changes that she had undertaken to ensure the order was completed on time.

This was the scene that Arnav encountered when he entered Shantivan.

The first sense of impending doom hit him when he drove into his drive to find a very familiar looking scootie –then to enter his home ,his haven ,his sanctuary to find the girl he had argued with earlier, who had tried to poison him with petrol fumes sitting there sobbing into Akash’s shirt.

“AKASH –What the hell is she doing here ?”

“Bhai?”

Akash looked helplessly at Di, then Nani –would anyone come to his rescue till he could make head and tail of what was going on –How had things got so complicated. What was the wording on the contracts –all she was supposed to do was stay under the radar and in one day it sounded like she had cost ASR crores of money and had damaged his pride and joy-his SUV.

“Akash I don’t have a habit of repeating myself –what the hell is she doing here ?”

“err Bhai ….it …isn’t ….all that bad –everything is solvable and it isn’t Khushi fault ..you see ..”

And that was as far as anyone got, the name exploded out of Arnav’s mouth like a cannon ball , echoing throughout the room.

Through gritted teeth and barely controlled anger all that was heard was “Akash my office –Now!”

Arnav stared at his Di with an accusing look-as if to say I warned you.

All that could be heard in the room was a sobbing Khushi.

Arnav entered his office looking out onto his garden and the calming waters of his pool – that now seem to have a multitude of fish in different colours- CONTROL-was all he told himself –it was inevitable –disaster was always going to strike –why had he given in to Di, where had his mind been when he agreed to let her come and stay in the same town as him her-now he would have to sort another problem.

“Akash explain” was all Arnav said as he continued to stare out the window –trying to calm himself as he felt his heart race –what the hell was wrong with him. What was this feeling –why did he feel like this, was the impending disastrous news that was about to be revealed really that bad –what had Khushi said something about a missing delivery a short delivery  –his reply had been work for Mehta Industries because his company was not that incompetent – but by the sounds of it –it was by the sounds of it was she working ASR industries in some capacity.  OMG that was it , not only had she smashed his car that garble she had explained at the scene was something to do with his company.

“At least have the decency to face me when I am speaking to you, Mr Raizada”

Khushi stood there with a tear stained dusty face shoulders squared ready to take the lion on in battle- Akash had said he would handle the problem and explain to Arnav about her mistake –at which point Khushi rose and pushed him out the way – “I can justify every decision I took- I would be an asset to Mehta Industries ”

Di ,Nani and Akash stood in awe of her as she stood up wiped her eyes squared her shoulders and stormed off after Arnav.

Arnav spun round –speechless for the first time in his life –all he saw was a stunning looking woman dressed in simple white, the loose strands of hair wafting across her face as her dupatta fluttered across her chest from the breeze of his open patio doors. Her almond shaped eyes sparked fire. For the first time in his life Arnav felt at a loss-speechless –she was …..stunning and not scared of him. Twice in one day she had told him off-most wouldn’t dare and here she was for the second time in one day confronting him her mouth was moving and she was spuing forth an explanation –some of it sounded vaguely familiar-missing stock –redesign –contracts –CONTRACTS he better focus on the words coming out of her rather than on her.

“So in conclusion my use of the given amount of fabric versus the new contemporary design I have allowed to be manufactured –reading the small print in the contract versus the penalties that would have been incurred by a late delivery –made it the only justifiable option possible. Besides which my design is smoking hot”

“That is yet to be proved –have you a photograph of the new completed garment?”

Khushi nodded

“Forward it to me by email”

Their conversation had reached an impass – Arnav hadn’t listen to the conversation only heard the last part and his mind was busily whirring trying to piece together the events and come up with a suitable explanation for his buyers who were now by all accounts receiving a different product. It was all about the spin he was going to have to place on the turn of events.

He had no idea whatsoever to say to Khushi.

Khushi on the other hand was exhausted from the days events and the final straw for her was having to stand up to Arnav for something she believed in.

Then they both heard it –a growling sound emanating from Khushi stomach.

“I’m hungry”

“You were always hungry and could eat as much as the entire cricket team”

“You noticed”

“I’ve always noticed, why don’t you go to the dining room they should

 be laying out some food –let me deal with this first and I’ll let you know the outcome”

Outside the “Protecting Khushi Committee” were deciding exactly what to do next – she had entered the lion’s den spuing forth fire but now all they could hear was pin drop silence –what had occurred behind closed doors –was their Khushi still alive or had Arnav eaten her up alive.

Khushi opened the door to a reception committee and took a step back instead of forward.

“No I have not killed her yet –she is still very much alive and she needs feeding as per usual”

Akash, Di and Nani noticed the smile hovering around Arnav’s lips threatening to break forth.

They all looked at each other in stunned disbelief –Khushi had walked into the lions den breathing fire and walked out not only alive but with the merest hint of the lion smiling.

What exactly had occurred – more had been accomplished than just the great escape –but exactly what ?

 Nani came to the rescue “Chai Bittia ?”

“Nani Ji chai aur khanna – I am starving!”

“I think the whole world can hear- come child”