PART 30

Khushi and ASR had a difficult time concentrating on their work.Their dinner date kept them preoccupied.Worst one was khushi who had butterflies somersaulting in her stomach.

They tried to pacify their throbbing heart by terming the dinner as a mundane formality,an apology,yet they both couldn't help but glance at watch every minute.

Time seemed to be slugging yet it had never been so fast!

In eager anticipation of the date,ASR and khushi quite conveniently forgot that situations could flop even best of plans and drop them into cold bag.

The fact that they were the members of one of India's most imminent Intelligence agency didn't help it either.Not so surprisingly,they were flooded by so many case of National security,high profile espionage,murders,rape and mugging that their desks and cubicles were burdened under heaps of precariously kept legal documents and evidences.

Normally ACP Arnav Singh Raizada had never been perturbed by burning his brain cells to the limit yet today it irked him to no end.He was frustrated.Given the amount of workload they had,khushi and he didn't have a prayer of going out for dinner.

Still he was determined to keep his words.ASR leaned back in his chair and let his mind buzz until the idea struck him.

He immediately called Chandru and gave him instructions.But unlike every other time,he had a strange jittery feeling in his stomach.

For the first time in his life ASR was nervous.

''Khushi,we've to go!''ASR said.

It was 10'o clock but still S.T.F office was bustling with activity.Khushi was sitting in the conference room,pouring over some papers when ASR found her.She had her hair tied in an untidy bun and her long tresses kept caressing her face.Even all messed up she looked ethereal.

 ASR continued to ogle at her until her voice broke his trance.

''Huh,Where?''She asked confused.

''We're going on dinner.''ASR reminded her.

''But Sir there's so much of work.We really can't go out!Maybe some other time...''Khushi said glibly,but was interrupted by ASR.

''We're not going out.Now come along will you?''He said sternly and walked off with khushi at his heels.

They entered the elevator and ASR pressed the button.

''Where are we going?''Khushi asked curiously.

''You'll come to know soon.''ASR replied shortly.

Doors slid open and ASR walked past her wordlessly in the dark lobby beyond.

Khushi looked around bewildered.They were on the eighth and the top most floor of the S.T.F office.On their right,a huge mahogany door led to the archives  which stored every case that the S.T.F had handled since its establishment.

On the far end was another door,nearly discrete in long shadow of the room.ASR opened the door and stepped aside to let khushi in.

Intrigued,khushi walked past him only to be taken aback.

They were on terrace of the building.Two chairs were set round a plastic table on which packed food lay.

Khushi pootled in amazed.Though there were no flowers,scented candles,fancy lights or a stereo piping some soothing melody,as they had in movies and soap operas,it was simply perfect in a unique way.

Silvery moonlight bathed the entire place and star dappled sky added to it being surreal.Gentle breeze played with her tresses and khushi felt invigorated.She absolutely loved it.

ASR walked behind her nervously.He knew it wasn't much and he wouldn't have been surprised if she walked out,refusing to dine there.

''Its so beautiful!''He heard khushi exclaim.

ASR opened his mouth uncertainly to apologize as he thought she was being sarcastic but was stopped short at the look on her.It was that of sheer joy!

As he looked on startled,khushi turned towards him as if she had just now gotten aware of his presence.She came excitedly up to him and dragged him along with her to the edge,unconsciously clutching his hand tighter.

''Look! It looks so beautiful from here,Arnavji!''She gushed,admiring the frenetic  city.

But her words didn't register on ASR who was busy gazing at her.Khushi's disarmed him,childish fervour had disarmed him,had robbed him of his antagonistic facade.

His life had been like an unending,dark night.But now as he drowned in her and   resurfaced ,he wasn't the same bitter man who saw darkness in everything.

ACP Arnav Singh Raizada had fallen in love.....