Chapter 6

PART 6
It took her forever to sleep that night,.not that there were many hours left of the night
She just could not understand what was going inside her.. She was not sure whether she felt elated that "The Shaurya Khanna " wanted to kiss her or should she be angry that he thought her easy enough. She could not decide whether she should be embarrassed or mortified that she had actually begin to enjoy the kiss or should she be proud that he had told that man off.
Kanta Chachi woke her up almost as soon as she fell asleep.
Mehak ..utth beta ..it is 7 Am. Here have your tea .
I would not have woken you up beta . I know you would have hardly caught any sleep last night after coming back so late, but you said you had an important lunch today so thought you might want to get back in time.
Thanks Chachi..aap kitna khayal rakhte ho mera ...Mehak hugged her Chachi . She was the mother figure in her life , loving her and yet keeping her disciplined. She did not know what she would do without Kanta Chachi.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. She was thankful it was so busy . She did not have time to let her mind wander on pointless questions and improbable possibilities .
Possibly this was the answer , being busy. .It meant that she could avoid him both in person and in her thoughts.

Mehak decided that she was from now on going to focus on her job and her role as the Sous chef in the restaurant . Her focus was going to be the kitchen of the restaurant not the owner of the restaurant.
The fact that he too had not come any where near her the whole day did cross her mind fleetingly , but then she was busy . She had once seen him across the floor , meeting his clients and that was that .
Of course she did not miss him .She was too busy.
That day perhaps set the pattern for the next month . She would wake up early in the morning to get to the restaurant and work late in the night. Her mind was at her creative best , She was coming up with recipes and presentation style that sometimes even surprised her
Rajiv sir was always there to provide his guidance and feedback and in case she needed anything unique which she could not buy herself , she just told him . Rajiv could get in touch with whoever was needed.
No point in any unnecessary contact , she told herself . I am too busy .
She would hear "only with half a ear afterall she was too busy" that Shaurya was trying to set up a franchise for a multinational organic food chain . He had gone to UK twice in that span of a month ,and would be out for multiple meetings even when in town.
They had one review meeting together . It happened every Friday He had been out the last two and Rajiv had presided over the meeting. Mehak was cursing her fate , as to why he could not be out today also She did that even as she freshened her makeup in the ladies room just before the meeting.
It is not for him. She sternly told her reflection in the mirror . I want to present a well groomed , professional image of mine at all the time.
They went through all the highlights and lowlights of the week in the review and set up the plan for the next.
Her mind had gone blank , the moment she had seen him . Nobody had a right to look that hot.
His business white shirt being set at the right contrast with his blue suit and the maroon tie.
Her brain just could not process the information that was being thrown at her.
So were there two good reviews in the local press or one .??and who was the critic who thought their dish featuring Indian squash was just preposterous.??
She was just seeing those lips moving , thinking about the last time they were doing something totally different.
Ms Sharma ..what changes would you make ?
Haan ..Sorry I did not catch the question.. She said blanking her facial expression as much as possible She had to hide her utterly shameful thoughts at all cost ...
I said what changes would you make to our Indian Squash offering ..
Change ??
Yes Ms Sharma change ..Shaurya s patience was on it's last tethers.
He could have lived with the fact that this girl would avoid him. He was ready to give her that much leeway
. He had ignored her changing directions in the corridor and diving in the storeroom atleast twice, though he had itched to dive in the store room right after her and lock the door from inside and ..oh well ..let us not go there,
But she was taking it too far .She was openly ignoring him , in his own staff meeting.
Yes Ms Sharma   Change , he was gritting his teeth.., I do not relish being panned by the critics
Umm umm .I would still like to keep the bharwa option with just the local spices filling, as that is the authentic recipie and would still like to steam them in the banana leaves , but I guess to assuage some more "mundane " tastes and egos I can come up with a cottage cheese filling and fry them..
Thank you Ms Sharma ..you know I like to prove my point ..do you not..
She could swear that his eyes were boring holes in the back of her head . She wanted to let him know she meant ego of the critic not his , for she was sure he had taken the reference to ego as his own.
She decided to remain quiet for rest of the meeting . He left 15 minutes before the meeting was slotted to end , with Rajiv taking over to discuss the new week's events. Apparently he had another meeting.
She had not see him the whole of next week till Saturday evening .
Mehak wrapped up that evening. at around 12 and called her Company cab driver.
"Bhaiyya app ho na neeche ..main buss aa rahi hoon." ( Are you there bhaiyya ..I am coming down " She asked the driver.
Ma'am aap aa jao neeche ..Main 5 minute mein aa raha hoo..Diesel dalaana that ...( Ma'am you come downstairs ..I will be there in 5 mins ,,,I had gone for refueling)
She came down ..to realise that the cab had not reached yet ..She should have known better , 5 minutes of a cab driver should never be taken at face value.
It was mid December and the night was very cold ,with a chilly breeze picking up.She pulled her shawl tightly around her .
Bhaiyya aap kahan ho..she called the driver again ..Ma'am buss 5 min ..came the standard reply
She squinted as the sudden glare of headlights fell on her eyes.
The immediate rush of relief that she felt was short lived .It was not her cab. It was Shaurya Khanna.
He parked right next to her and waited . She stood her ground .. He honked ..she stood her ground. He rolled down the window , she stood her ground.
He started getting out of the car , making her very nervous.
Mata Rani intervened at the right time .and her cab appeared at that moment . She was inside the cab even before the driver could actually stop the cab.
Chaliye bahiyya ..jaldi challiye ..( let's go .fast)
Ma'am who Shaurya sir the naa..( that was Shaurya Sir ..right Ma'am?)
Haan haan ..aap jaldi chaliye ..., she told the driver sternly ..at the time making mental note to offer prasaad to Mata Rani .
She looked back just for a second . Shaurya was kicking the car door.
She turned back and again thanked her lucky stars , for saving her from that man.
The next day was Sunday and this time round it was her day off .
She could sleep in till late morning and then planned to go with Sonal and Nehal to Dilli haat. That was the best way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon.
However Mata Rani had already bestowed her share of luck last night . Hence she asked for pay back sending Chachi knocking in her room at 8 in the morning.
Chachi let me sleep ..aaj chutti hai meri ..( it is my day off)
Haan haan ..mujhe pata hai teri chutti hai , but tera boss tere ghar mein baitha hua hai( yes I know it is your day off..but your boss is sitting in your home)
Hainn .Kaun..( who?)
Shaurya Khanna..came at 7:30 saying he has something important to talk about , but will not till you are there.
Shaurya Khanna in her home at 7:30 in the morning.. oh Mata rani ..what is this man up to now?
She quickly made herself presentable and ran into the aangan , where Shaurya was sitting with the rest of the Sharma clan.
Oh Mehak ..Good Morning ..he said ..as soon as he saw her .
A big smile broke on his face ..I have a proposal for you.
tibs092016-12-18 09:02:30