Footprints on Sand

Seven: Blurred Lines

Aman Mathur stepped out of a pearl white sedan, wearing a three-piece suit identical to the suits that his boss was seen wearing. The man who had opened the door for him looked at him to move so that the door could be closed. Aman let out a weak chuckle at his own lack of common sense and almost tripped on his own feet as he moved away when the gates were opened again to let someone in. He pretended to observe the sprawling gardens surrounding the Raizada Estate. He took the Bluetooth earpiece off as his eyes got caught at the rose bushes planted in the garden. He wasn't sure if he had seen rose bushes in the outside half of the gardens on the house before, but their presence didn't astound him in light of Arnav's more predictable mood swings since his marriage. His attention to the new details of the house fell apart when the man who had opened the door of the sedan for him tapped his shoulder.

"Sir, the door's that way!" Rahim Chacha said, curious at Aman's behavior. Aman mumbled something inaudible under his breath before nodding, swinging the strap of his laptop bag over his shoulder, and heading towards the staircase that led towards the doors of the mansion. He was unaware that almost the entirety of his arrival was observed by a spectator standing still by the main doors.

Anjali smiled to herself at noticing the anxious swing of emotions wavering in and out from Aman's face as he headed towards the door. She slowly followed suit to enter the house, hoping that it wouldn't be someone who would want answers from her about her whereabouts.

Aman rang the bell twice before the doors opened. It was none other than Khushi bhabhi standing with a frowning smile. She looked wearier than she would after fights with ASR but Aman felt prying whilst he stood at the door wouldn't be the smartest move. He smiled uncomfortably remembering their interaction when he had been texting ASR updates about a project he had been keen on entering while he was on a weekend business trip coupled with a personal vacation. Khushi had called him about two hours later and threatened his job if he sent any other message until the next morning. She had sent an apology note with the lunch tiffin the next day but that was perhaps the first time, Aman had dealt with Khushi Kumari Gupta whom half of the staff worked with for the whole of three days about almost two years ago when she had ended up in an absurd challenge with ASR. It was also one of the most affirming moments of why ASR had chosen her to be his wife than anyone else.

"Namaste!" Khushi said with a warm smile, inviting him in.

Aman observed her smile and nodded in response. "Khushi bhabhi, I swear I didn't schedule the meeting. Especially when I know ASR is still recovering from the accident. He was insistent!" He said stepping inside and trying to justify a meeting before being given the green flag by her, letting him know that she deemed him fit enough to return back to work. Khushi's shoulders slumped at his response but before she could say anything, Anjali stood at the door.

"Di?" Khushi said, unsure whether she should ask her about her whereabouts. Aman turned around to see Anjali Raizada standing at the door. Her cheeks appeared flushed and her eyes appeared to be masking something.

"—oh just stepped out for a walk Khushi ji!" Anjali exclaimed, "Clear the head a little bit!"

"You should've let me know. I would've come with." Khushi replied. Aman's frowned at the exchange, unsure whether he was supposed to witness an exchange as such. He made a mental note of perhaps to ask the next house-help he would encounter, to redirect him towards ASR's study.

Anjali stepped inside, and pushed the door to close behind her, "Oh no Khushi ji! You should be resting instead of fluttering around. You know Chotte wouldn't have allowed for you to even keep your foot on the ground!"

Aman let out an involuntarily snort at hearing 'Chotte'. His reaction brought the conversation between both the women to halt who stared at him without a clue of what was funny. Before Aman could justify or excuse himself, Arnav arrived on-scene to see his supposed wife, and his sister blankly staring at Aman. "—Oh, you're here!" He called out, slipping his phone into his pocket. For a brief second his eyes met Khushi's and the photos of her he had seen on his phone the night before propped in his head. He looked away a little too quick, making her realize that either he remembered something or he knew something.