Girl Friday

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

(Part 1)

Arav

As I walked out of my room, I saw Riya bhabhi approach me with a smile.

“Arav, what are you wearing?” she asked looking at me

“Why, bhabhi?” I asked looking at myself. I was wearing pastel green round neck T shirt and khaki pants, just like every day.

“Arav, you are going to attend Malhotra Group of Industries’ board meeting today. Suit up.” She suggested

“Bhabhi, you know I don’t like to go to office. And board meeting is hell.” I said.

Why can’t Rohan just buy my shares from me and free me from being associated with business in any way? I have already decided the path my life should follow and business is not part of it.

“I believe you have already discussed this with your brothers, Arav. It is just shares and you have right over it. Stop being a drama queen so early in the morning and wear a suit.” She said in a strict voice.

“Bhabhi, please...”

“Nothing doing. Anjali has sent this suit from your designer. Wear this.” She said and pressed suit in my hand before walking away.

My mind stopped listening to her the moment she said Anjali.

“Board meeting today, so I have no work. Will meet you at the studio that is if you plan to work later today.”

That is what her text message from morning read. As I walked out of her apartment last night, I spent almost thirty minutes driving around aimlessly analyzing what happened to me then. I was way past the age letting my mind be controlled by my body. I am not oblivious to the way my family keeps teasing me with her. When I am single, Rohan and Yash takes it upon them to fix me up with anyone they deem fit. Just like Rohan convinced me to date Ridhima, his college junior because she is not a regular girl and will definitely interest me. Later, he himself told me that Ridhima is spoiling my life and trying to influence me adversely. So, this is all just fun for them, tease me and laugh at my expense and forget it. I don’t really take my brothers seriously at things like this. However, there were times even when I enjoyed being linked up with Anjali. She is extremely in contrast with the kind of girls I have met in my social circle. She is intelligent, sensitive, caring at the same time carefree, light hearted and crazy. There is even an underlined innocence in her. It didn’t take much time for her to catch my attention. She intrigued me, entertained me. But, that is where whatever I have close to any feelings for her ends.

Impulsive act of yesterday made me confused rather than angry. What was I thinking trying to kiss her?

I am not unmindful of the fact that she is attracted to me. She is a girl, a young one at that. And I believe for a girl crushing on her boss is not unheard of. Shouldn’t I have been the more responsible one? I am not a hormonal teenager to just lose control and try to kiss an attractive girl. If she had not stopped me, then I would have definitely kissed her. For someone like Anjali, kiss is not matter of just physical intimacy. Along with her lips, her heart would have been involved in the kiss as well. That would have made things complicated.

I care for her. Yes, I do. She is sometimes too naive to understand the repercussion of the world. Cheerfully roaming around in an elite party filled with morons in glamorous outfits without guard on, no attempt to distinguish between harmless flirting and lecherous glances, trusting readily, going out with someone introduced on f*******: and what not. I look out for her with good will. No heart involved, I am positive.

I looked at my phone where a new message from her lit my screen.

“Boss, I am going out with Sara. Is it okay if I don’t come to work?”

Avoiding situation. I was very well aware that my personal assistant will be absent today. I am sure she is embarrassed, worried and, to an extent, guilty even.

“Arav, why are you not ready yet?” asked Rohan as he placed his hand on my shoulder from behind.

I turned to find my brothers all suited up.

“Bhaiya, Arav just had a date yesterday. Perhaps, he is tired.” said Yash teasingly.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Tell me, how was the date?” asked Yash

“Shut up, Yash.” I said

“Come on, did you realize after all that Anji has a crush on you?” he asked

“Crush?” I asked raising my eyebrows. “Yash, it is not crush it is fan girl-ing. “ I said

“Say what?” asked Rohan

“Fan girl, Rohan. She just is amazed by meeting people about who she has only read in newspapers and magazines. Not crush. It is all just kind of timepass for her. Probably, I am just flavour of the month as actor Ranbir Kapoor was last year. So, I will be glad if you people just leave her and me alone.” I said and noticed my brothers look at each other questioningly. “Anyway, I will go get ready and meet you guys at officeS.” I said walking away.

My brothers are quiet faraway from reality. If only they understood Arav SMalhotra and Anjali Sharma can be together only in alternate universe.

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(Part 2)

Anjali

“Let me just get all things in my head straight. You went with Arav on a date, oops, unofficial dinner, then he came to your apartments to change shirt and The Arav Malhotra was close to kissing you?” asked Sara her eyes grew wider with each word to emphasis her surprise.

Sara is Rohan Malhotra’s assistant’s assistant who also happens to be my college senior and a good friend of mine.

“Are you mad?” she almost shouted

“Why?” I asked narrowing my eyes

“Arav wanted to kiss you and you turned away.”

“Yeah, I don’t find anything wrong with that.” I said shrugging

“Not wrong with that? You had all reasons to kiss him, Anjali. First, he is a Malhotra, Two, he is very handsome. Ah! If only Rohan sir kisses me!” she sighed

“Shut up, yaar. He is married and very much in love with his wife.” I argued

“I know, my bad. But, Arav is single and ready to mingle. The other day, didn’t you tell me that you have a crush on him and he kind of turns you on.” She said

“Yes, I did.” I answered casually sipping my coffee. When Sara gave me a hard ‘what is wrong with you’ look. I continued, “And I have had crush on 129 men and 8 women so far fictional characters included.”

“What is the point?” she asked

“The point is that Sara crush is nothing but pure attraction or wishful thinking. It is nothing close to love.”

“Have you not heard baby? Crush that lasts more than six months is love. You have already passed that six months mark with Arav.” She said

“And I have passed on ten years mark with Shah Rukh Khan. Do you think I love him?” I asked

“But, you don’t work with Shah Rukh Khan.” She reasoned

“Exactly, more reason for me to not mess with Arav. I am working with him.”

“Huh?”

“I have to be in this job at least for next six months. Only if I work in a single job for one year, I will get good reference from Malhotras if or when I try for a new job.” I said

“Baby, what does all this has to with kiss?” she asked sounding exhausted with my logic.

I know Sara would never understand why you need to stay away from easily attracting men in the likes of Malhotras. Their life is extremely different from our normal middle class life. If both lives blend then things will get complicated.

“I agree he is handsome and all, but kiss or any kind of physical intimacy needs some love.”

“What if he has some kind of feelings for you?” she asked

“Seriously! Do you hear yourself? Arav Malhotra having feelings for me? Those people fall even in love with someone of their status. You know, I googled Arav’s last girlfriend Manisha she is younger daughter of Harman Chopra.”

“Harman Chopra as in Chopra Constructions?” she asked

“The same. Let’s assume, Arav has feelings for me as you claim, it will go nowhere. He will want nothing but to do time pass with me.” I said

“What is the harm, Anjali? You also pass time with him. Boyfriend like Arav will be like a dream come true.”

“I am not a kind of girl for that, Sara and you know about me. How can I invest in a relationship knowing there is no future? He will end up marrying rich daughter of a rich father.”

“What harm in having fun?”

“I do have my share of fun. I unabashedly admire him, subtly flirt with him, enjoy his attention, I even flirt back with his brothers sometimes, but that is where my line of control is. Maybe for people like Malhotras fun may involve sleeping around and entering meaningless relationships. Not for me.”

“Yaar, Anjali, I didn’t know you were capable of such intense thoughts, huh?”

“I am a happy go lucky type of person, Sara, but not a fool. As much as I enjoy badboy multimillionaire who falls in love with his secretary romance books, I know better than to expect that to happen to me. Some things are too good to be true.” I remarked.

“So, what now? Arav would have already taken offense with your behaviour I am sure.” She said

“I know, that is why it is a good thing that he has board meeting today. I am sure his father would have pissed him off again by compelling him to join office and artist will be fuming today and then brooding for another week about it. He would have already forgotten the missed kiss.”

“Super cool, baby. But, you just broke my heart as I was totally shipping for AnAv.” She said blending our names Anjali and Arav

“Aww, don’t worry, baby. I am sure one of us will find an actual boyfriend soon enough who will deserves us and vice versa.” I lifted my coffee cup on that and we both cheered.

Arav Malhotra and Anjali Sharma can be together not even in alternate universe.

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