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 back 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: Sri. Ramachandra Sharma
Mothers name: Smt. 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.
He turned to Subhojit and asked, “Jitey! 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!” 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 indeed 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 miss, weren't you?”
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