Chapter 4

Two days later…

"How is she?" Deepthimaan enquired…

"I don't know sir" Subhojit said, as he handed over the preliminary report on Khushi Sharma to the Prince.

"Its errr… very odd sir," he said mirroring Deepthimaan's expressions, as he read through the report.

He read through and through, his head resting on to the lush swivel leather chair he was in and mused…that meant there was no background information on the lady Khushi Sharma.

That's it? Whew!

Deepthimaan was zapped.

She was so different from the beginning. Actually she was so simple, so much so that, she could easily meld into the background.

But that's where he thought something was wrong. Some people were reserved and shy by nature, but something did not match the lady.

The attire, the attitude and her bearing, everything was a perfect fit! So much so that it cracked under his scrutiny to be a mismatch.

She dressed too plainly, but her behavior was very suave. She wore simple attire, but her demeanor was very regal and she spoke so softly yet so firmly. She tried to look timid. He deduced that she fought like a tigress. She told him off before the doctor Man!

He squirmed in his seat. None dared to talk before him, leave alone answering back. That gave her away in fact, he thought. It was too authoritative to order your boss around when practically every employee was scared to even breath before him. She wanted to look weak and frail. But she was actually very strong by her spirit. He had felt it when he saw her fighting and winning over pain, when her hand got burnt. The lady had guts. And she had one more thing! A secret! That's what made her so very wary and secretive, his experience told him. And he would be damned if any of his rivals sent her to create some trouble at the Corporal.

He again looked at the details

Name: Khushi Sharma

Father's name: Ram Chandra Sharma

Mothers name: Janaki Sharma…

Brothers and sisters: None

Marital status: Single

Edu Qualifications: BL from Percy College of law, Ratlam.

He read on…. All phony!

The family names told him it was phony. Parents name too were a dead giveaway- Ramchandra and Janaki Sharma. It could be true too…he frowned. Somehow, she looked like a person who would not lie.

There was an experience certificate for three years' apprenticeship at some individual lawyer, again phony he knew…

How come his consultant hired her?

They did extensive third party check, didn't they?

He turned to Subhojit and asked, "Jitey! I want to know who hired her, and also… send this case to our profilogist. And remember, this is…" he just left the word 'Top Secret' unsaid.

"Ok Sir…" Subhojit left, as Deepthimaan called Neha to ask Raina to meet him. Raina walked in gingerly and he got up to make her comfortable and asked her straight… "How is Khushi?"

"I don't know sir!" She said looking everywhere but at him.

"Don't tell me. You know…you would have called her." He said a tad sternly.

"She does not carry a mobile sir" Raina said.

"What? Those kind of people still exist?" He asked.

She smiled a watery smile and burst out saying "She said she could not afford one the last time I asked. Aweweeweeee! I am sorry it's a baby thing sir! I feel weepy! Snifffffff! Snifffff!" and Deepthimaan got up and offered her a glass of still water and said,"I understand."

"Pray tell me what do you know about her?" He asked very casually so that he does not ring any bells.

"She is an angel sir! But she does not like to talk about self." Raina went on and

Deepthimaan frowned as Raina left. He had lots of information on Personality Khushi, which was…

Khushi Sharma was simple, very shy and absolutely an angel! But… he knew that was the projected one. The facts he got were that no one knew where she lived. She did not have a contact number. The address she gave in the employment form was a fake. The salary was withdrawn within twenty-four hours every month, and became untraceable as she was not traced anywhere. No one knew her background. No one saw a boyfriend or a husband. She never mentioned a family, which was very odd. Not even to her female colleagues! But strangely no one had a bad remark about her but for a few who openly showed their disdain saying she sought attention… this he noted with a wry smile that they were miffed about her being noticed by him and the other men, coz she was a pretty… women! He rolled his eyes.

How would he trace her! And what was this woman about! He suddenly got up on an idea and called SurPal who was visiting his family in Mothiapur.

Chasing the Rainbow

Khushi gave the print command and breathed in peace. Done! She finished the work for the day with two hours to spare. It was a record of sorts! Coz, Mr. Avadhani always gave work that would last for ages. She looked cheerfully at the window and turned only to freeze.

Kunwar whatever Maan was staring at her from the entrance of the cabin and what annoyed her the most, was the entire floor staring from behind him.

Oh no! She made to get up forgetting about her leg and fell, as he lunged forward but stopped short of her and said, "Good I was about to ask you… I got the answer" Khushi winced and looked up sharply only to be asked sarcastically, "Have you acquired this trait in between? Or you happened this way to the planet?"

Khushi looked beyond and saw the rest of the staff watching them…

He stepped forward, and she raised her hand and stalled him saying, "I will manage"

"Of course! You will!" He said lounging on the arm rest of the nearby chair and said, "You were supposed to be on sick leave."

"My leg is temporarily useless sir, not my brain and hands," was the reply as the intercom buzzed and since Khushi was still on the floor, Deepthimaan pressed the speaker button and Avadhani's voice boomed through…

"If you are finished with that, then make a review…" He went on for two more minutes, non-stop and asked, "OK?"

Deepthimaan simply said, "Are you finished Mr. Avadhani?"

Khushi couldn't help feeling amused at the sudden panic in Mr. Avadhani's voice, as he stuttered, "…Eh…Kunwar ji? How come you are there?"

And then Khushi was even more amused by the Prince's reply as he said, "I didn't know I needed your permission to visit my own office sir?"

"No…No! I meant…er… I will be right there sir!" Mr. Avadhani said immediately.

"No need. I don't need you." He said and cut the call as Khushi flinched. Mr. Avadhani will put her through the gallows for the next month.

"OK!" He said and coz she was on the floor, suddenly sat down on the floor and asked her, "Don't you think you need to take care of yourself? Who asked you to come to office?"

Khushi was first of all flabbergasted by the way he sat on the carpeted floor and was chatting her up…on top of that she felt super conscious of being watched by about a 100 odd assistants who comprised of an entire floor. What was he trying to do?

Deepthimaan felt odd himself. He never acted that way. In all the years, apart from his training period he never came down to the floor ever! But what he was doing right then was something he would never comprehend himself. He called SurPal to know about her address but instead got to know that she was at work. SurPal actually sounded protective of her. It made him jealous in a way. SurPal was his man. He was his buddy…a brother…and he was supposed to be close to him. Not some woman who was mystery personified. Anyways he came down to probe, but was somehow impressed by the way she just came back to work and that too without any support. And the best of the surprises was that he was actually chatting her up sitting on the floor as if they were some long lost friends. The woman had something in her! He had to give it to her!

Khushi looked at the man and smarted. No one cared for the other these days! She even saw couples these days first thinking of self rather than their spouses. How come this man was so endearing and caring? If this was the fare an employee was getting, how lucky his family would be! His wife and mother would be so very well taken care of! She somehow felt good about thinking about it. It was news for her!

Since when was she feeling good thinking about human relationships? She was so not into it!

"Tell you what!" The man was saying… "Just pack your bags and go home! Take rest for a week, and if you come a day early, I will cut your salary."

Khushi smiled. He must be the first boss in history to cut salary for reporting to work. What the bloody hell was she smiling at! He got incensed and yelled "Jitey!!!" Subhojit Sarkar came in and froze!

"Yeh kya Kunwar? Aap zameen pay?"

(Prince! You on the floor?) …and then he immediately saw Khushi and asked, "Aap ko…aap girgayeen kya?"

(What's the matter? You fell?) …and immediately helped her to stand. "Thank you so much!" Khushi smiled at him, and Deepthimaan somehow didn't like her doing that.

"Jitey she is going home and I am leaving for the day. Tell Avadhani to give her a

week's off, and depending on the medical reports we shall see." He turned to her and wagged his finger at her in a warning and left.