It was then that she realized that her eyes had tears rolling down, but her lips were parted in a smile. Self-mockery was more like it she thought.
“How is it doc?” he asked the doctor.
“Pretty bad! In fact, even for dressing, I should have given a sedative but it‟s already late so I just finished cleaning the wound.” The doc said frowning. He gave her a tetanus shot and took another saying, “This is a tranquilizer.”

“No! No sedatives please!” Khushi said.
“Are you allergic to sedatives?” The doc asked.
“No! I mean yes!” She said. One thing she could not afford to do, was not to be on her guard. And she would let anyone sedate her over her dead body.
“Look Ms. you can tell me which formulation you are allergic to...” The doc insisted. “All! It ...they don‟t agree with me.” Nor I with them! She thought inwardly. The doctor turned to Deepthimaan and said, “Kunwar she needs to rest. Its ...Er... very painful actually and I am amazed how she is so very composed.” He said looking at her and asked her, “Are you genetically resistant to pain?”
Deepthimaan was in a rare specter, as the lady smiled as her eyes filled with tears and she said, “I experience pain alright doctor. But I am averse to bowing down to it.”
The doc shook his head and said, “Amazing! But one thing my dear! High pain threshold levels are not always good news! You understand don‟t you? Here let me give this mild one... it will sooth the pain and you will be safe” He gave her another shot and then patted on her hand and left after giving her a prescription.
She looked at the piece of paper and smiled and looked up just in time to see the man in front of her studying her. He simply asked, “Why that smile?”
She smiled and said, “So much about these, that are supposed to be pain killers. Little do they know that, pain can be circumvented but not the scars! They stay.” Deepthimaan narrowed his eyes and looked at her! She seemed to be saying something about life, and it didn‟t take him much to understand that she must have had a bad experience with hers. She suddenly raised her head embarrassed of her musings and said, “This was not necessary.”
“Objection over ruled!” he said waving his hand in dismissal, “And I just wonder how you typed and edited all that stuff!”
“Nothing much sir,” she brushed him aside and said, “If you have finished here, may I start working sir?”
Deepthimaan was zapped by her audacity.
“No you may not!” He said tongue in cheek and noticed her going still.
“You are going home Ms. Ms.?” He asked her, her name.
“I am Khushi!” She said grimly. Deepthimaan noticed she did not mention her surname. Was she married?
And why was she so very uptight all the time? He had to find out! Don‟t they do a third party check on their staff? What was he paying for to that premium manpower consultancy that they commissioned to hire employees?
“Excuse me sir?” She fluttered her eyelashes.
“You are going home Khushi.” He said.
“No way sir I need to finish the work.”

“No! You are going home and taking rest for the day!” He said sternly.
“No sir I can‟t!” Khushi said lamely.
“Says who?” He asked narrowing his eyes challenging her.
Bloody hell it was his organization and the slip of a lady was talking back to him, and that too when he was trying to be nice to her.

“Says me. Mr. Avadhani will skin me alive...” she caught her tongue just in time...and looked at him stricken.
He was smiling ruefully as he said, “Tough isn‟t it? Ok Let me talk to your boss” he moved and she too moved in panic pleading, “No! Please!”

“Watch me” he said and simply called out, “Neha!”
The door burst open and Khushi groaned inwardly, as she knew people were hanging just outside curious about why the Prince had come down, and that too to talk to her! “Mr. Avadhani” He said and he pressed a button on the intercom and said, “Suri!” Khushi turned to him and said, “Sir please! I appreciate your concern for your employees! But I am ok! I don‟t er... want my boss to be upset with me. I ...”
“Yes Kunwar ji?” Mr. Avadhani entered into the cabin, before she could finish. “Avadhani ji let her go for the day!” Deepthimaan‟s voice boomed in the tiny cabin.
“Okay sir! She may take half day leave.” Mr. Avadhani was no less.
“NO Avadhani ji! She is going, and not on leave. She is going on...” he was about to say sick leave, but somehow he felt she did not like it that way. He turned and saw her eyes spewing venom at him. Suddenly he wanted to see her expression if he were scandalous...He smiled naughtily and said, “Because I say so. She will not be marked
for the day and tomorrow. She will join back on the day after.” Khushi felt like digging a hole and crawling into it.
How very embarrassing!
Raina had told her the Prince was well known for his escapades with women. However, they were with top celebrities and not with any of his staff. And remotely with a Plain Jane like her. She grimaced.
Avadhani cleared his throat scandalously and said, “As you say sir”
The door opened and a very handsome dusky young man stepped in and he smiled and said, “Kunwar?”
“Thank you Avadhani ji! Suri get the vehicle ready” Deepthimaan dismissed the elderly auditor and as an afterthought added, “Suri wait!” He turned to Khushi and asked her, “Where do you stay?”
“What?” Khushi was taken aback.
“Is it nearby?” He asked her ignoring her.
“Ummm...” Khushi stalled replying him.
“Ok! Call home and ask someone to pick you.” The Prince was dishing out orders.
She had to put a stop to it, before it went out of hands.
“That‟s not necessary sir.” Khushi said very firmly.
“It is.” He replied as firmly.
“It isn‟t.” She lowered her voice a notch, to get the upper hand.
“Believe me. It is. “He hissed and his eyes challenged her to negate him.
“Isn‟t!” she whispered almost.
“Why are you so stubborn?” He asked her, irritated at her.
Khushi gulped and looked away.

“Can‟t you call someone to pick you?” He asked her again.
“No sir! I don‟t want to bother anyone. I shall go on my own.” She said very softly.
“The hell you will!” Deepthimaan lost his cool.
Bloody hell he was slogging away and one slip of a secretary was standing and arguing with him about going home.
Khushi flinched and he abruptly stopped and shook his head and said, “Look! You were given a tranquilizer! Ok? So spare this drama! You can‟t be on your own for God‟s sake... Now call someone!”
“Ok Sir! I will go by a taxi.” She said as he turned to leave and he stopped midway and asked, “Taxi?”
She said, “Yeah!”
“Why? Call someone damn it!” He yelled at her.
She gulped and closed her eyes! There wasn’t anyone to call! Little did he know! “Women!” He rolled his eyes and glared at her and said, “Aah! Suri! Inhay ghar chodnaa hai...”
(She needs to be dropped at her home.)
“That‟s not necessary sir! Thank you” she was still talking when he reached her in two strides dwarfing her, and breathed down on her saying, “I...shall decide what‟s necessary here at the Corporal. Suri will drop you safely. And now no more arguments! Pack your bag go home. Get well Ms.”
He turned looked at the man Suri and said, “Suri...” Khushi noticed that he never spoke one word but the man called Suri just looked at him and nodded as if they were communicating silently and the door closed with a resounding click.
“Neechay parking mein hain...aap aajaayiye.”
(I shall wait in the parking area. Please come.) Suri left her staring at the door, through which Raina breezed in.
“What is all this babes?” Raina exclaimed.
“Now please don‟t start Raina. I am leaving for the day. These are the keys and....” Khushi quickly handed over the work and went down.