That was a surprise Arnav could not have possibly anticipated. It was his focus in life - to make sure his family would always prosper. Sure, Khushi taught him to attend to more sensitive needs of his loved ones, but this stayed too - Anjali simply didn't HAVE to work... and she never wished to before...

- Di... Do you need more money? Some charity project I need to count in? Upcoming festivities I forgot to finance?

That's where Arnav's ideas were exhausted - he simply could not envision other reasons for Di to need a job unless it was for some expenses she didn't want to put on family upkeep budget.

Anjali kept shaking her head in disagreement to Arnav's options:

- No, Chote, nothing like that. I just... want to work. Here, in AR Design. I mean... not really to work... but I was thinking about applying for that design internships you have opened.

Arnav kept staring at his older sister trying to comprehend what was happening... Was she really asking to be an intern in the company she co-owned? How did she even knew about that internship program, he never discussed it with anybody but...

- Khushi! - they said in the same time, but for Arnav it was more of an one-word explanation (his wife's involvement explained pretty much everything that was happening in his life right now so no surprises here) but for Anjali it was a start of more elaborated story:

- See... I spoke with her about... doing something with my life... She said that having a job would be a great idea for me...

Anjali sounded so insecure, so scared... She kept straying her pallu and looking around him not really meeting his eyes. Arnav was almost angry at his wife for proposing this idea to his Di as it was so obviously terrifying to her... until it dawned on him - Anjali was going to move on with her life and Khushi had send her to him for help! This he could not blow off!

- Di, you own this company! You can do whatever you want here! Why would you want an internship in design? I mean, I didn't even know you are interested in this!

Anjali sighted and said that one-word explanation again:

- Khushi.

- What? What does Khushi have to do with design?

Anjali smiled easily:

- Apart from being married to a president of fashion design company?

Arnav hissed - he was too anxious to get to the core of this new thing that his wife and Di had thought up. Anjali answered with taking out one more item from her oversized bag - this time it was big flat folder. She handed it over to Arnav without a word - but the content of the folder spoke for itself. It was a portfolio - saree sketches, pattern designs, even some fabric compilations.

He didn't really know what to say - he was gasping for some words:

- But... how? When? Why? How?!

Anjali sounded shy (but she always sounded shy) yet a bit proud of herself:

- Remember that art therapy I was going for these last few months? Well... I guess at some point I started collecting the things I was doing... And then I forgot my folder on a terrace once... and Khushi'd found it... and the rest you can figure out by yourself.

Arnav sighted:

- Yes... Khushi...

This time there was no irritation in his voice. It made sense that his ever-present wife would grasp this opportunity to push Anjali out of her shell - especially when it turned out that Di had so much to offer!

Arnav was silent for a long while, looking through sketches, going deeper into his own thoughts... At some point Anjali saw him making calculations at a piece of paper. None of it made much of a sense to her until he said:

- Sorry, Di, I can't give you that internship, - and before Anjali's heart sank to her feet he finished, - because I have much-much better idea!

She tried asking him about that "better idea" but Arnav was already on his phone requesting Mr. Sharma to come to his office. That was bad, really bad... Mr. Sharma was their chief designer, and Anjali had a feeling that Arnav was about to simply give her a designer's position in his company, just like that. But Anjali was completely prepared to fight this offer - she wanted to try her own strengths with this internship, not her brother's power over his employees.

Mr. Sharma came in shortly and greeted Anjali with gracious bow:

- Mrs. Anjali, such a pleasure to see you. I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for that sweets basket you've sent us on this Diwali. My wife was enchanted by your jalebi!

Anjali nodded back with a short chuckle:

- Mr. Sharma, it was the least we could do for you after all the hard work you put in this company. But I should warn you - once I will deliver your comment to my sister-in-law who made those jalebis - you will see no end of them! Khushi barely need an excuse to make more jalebis!

Everybody in the room smiled the same warm knowing smile - Khushi was famous in AR Design for her jalebis and for her generous nature. But then Mr. Sharma turned to Arnav with questioning gaze - it was doubtful that president would call him to his office just for courtesy exchanges. Arnav said:

- Mr. Sharma, I've got this portfolio, - he motioned to Anjali's folder,- from one little known designer and already made up my mind about it but since you are the boss in this department I leave it to make the final decision. Can you look through it and tell me if I need to call this designer for an interview or shouldn't we bother at all?

Anjali kept looking between Mr. Sharma who was about to judge her artwork and Chote who spoke about dismissing "little known designer" so calmly as it wasn't his own sister! That ASR had some nerve!

But then again... there was something in his voice... some restrain... Anjali knew he was playing some game both with her and Mr. Sharma and she needed to wait to see how it will play out.

Mr. Sharma looked through her folder - much faster than Chote, no calculations and deep thinking involved - and declared:

- No need for an interview. You see it for yourself, don't you?

This time it was final for Anjali - the man responsible for all the gorgeous artwork of AR Design has just rejected her...

While Anjali was trying to keep her composure Arnav confirmed:

- Yes, off course, I see it. Just wanted to hear it from you...

Mr. Sharma exclaimed passionately:

- What's there to hear? It's absolutely astonishing! Brilliant! Colours combinations, transitions, fabric styling! It's perfect!

Anjali's eyes were wide open - yet she thought she was sleeping. Or maybe it was some kind of cruel joke - only Chote and Mr. Sharma wouldn't play anything like that on her. So... was it for real? Mr. Sharma was... praising her work? Admiring it actually?

Mr. Sharma kept on with his awe:

- We don't need no interview - I want this designer in this office right now! I need to shake this man's hand as soon as possible!

Arnav's voice was suggestive:

- Would it be much of a problem if it isn't a man? More like a woman who just recently found out she has this natural talent for colours and wanted to try it out in our company? What say you - maybe, assistant designer?

Arnav winked at Anjali who still considered it all to be a dream - things were unfolding too quick... and too perfect to be true.

Mr. Sharma confirmed his intentions:

- Beginner or not, I want this lady to work for us because... just because!

Arnav nodded:

- Deal! Mr. Sharma, meet your new assistant - Mrs. Anjali Singh Raizada! Di, meet your new boss - Mr. Anil Sharma!

...

There was an awkward silence, muffled explanations, even more awkward handshakes... But what could Anjali say to deny this offer? Mr. Sharma was swayed with her work not knowing the author so no "ASR power" was involved... It was her, only her.

And that's how Anjali started to work for AR Design.