Chapter 11
Chapter #37
"Oh, did I mention that my Skype interview has been scheduled? I'm really excited about it."
Her back to Mel, Mehek grinned to herself. She did know actually, but had asked Shaurya, that aside from the advance notification, that she not be involved further involved with the process in any way, and especially not to apprise his partner, just how good of a friend the American girl was to her. She had full confidence in Melissa being able to impress Rajiv Sir all on her own without influence. At the same time though, she couldn't help but to question how much of Mel's determination to go for the overseas internship stemmed from real possibility that Malik could show up periodically in Delhi. As she pre-packaged the laddoos she had just finished making, Mehek wondered what was going on with that man. According to Mel, her attempts to reach out to the chef had been, if not rebuffed, then strangely disregarded. It was something she fully intended to speak to Malik about the next time he saw the man. This almost bi-polar reaction to Melissa's overture was mind-boggling to say the least. He either wanted to make a go of things or not.
"I can't believe that the festival will be over in a few more days, and the college program not long after," Melissa stated. She took advantage of the lull in the customers and turned her back to face the others in the kiosk. "I will never forget my time here and especially any of you guys," she said emphatically of the work-crew she had spent the last four months with. She playfully punched the arm of the young man near her. "Even you Navin," she teased.
"Sure," he responded sarcastically, with a roll of his eyes, only to be caught by surprise when his co-worker gave him an impromptu hug. "Okay you got me," she exclaimed, "I really can't stand you," she said giggling. "But honestly you have to keep in touch online, okay?"
"Naturally, especially since you look to be the one to be travelling afar. So, what happens if this internship doesn't pan out Mel, will you be heading home, instead?"
"I'm not sure."
"Good Afternoon. One order of laddoos, please."
Separating from Navin, Mel automatically responded with her usual charm as she turned to face their customer. "Of course, you may, and trust me, if you haven't had them before, you will be thankful that you have ordered them. That will be..."
*******
***PING***
...BTW I have made my selection, any guesses?
... Wait you can't leave the story left unfinished, what happened?
...Shaurya, may I remind you that you were the one who said that you had limited time this morning, that you were to begin filming momentarily?
...Ji, but given that she will be interviewing soon, it may be good to know her frame of mind beforehand.
...That's not right, her personal life should have no bearing on whether her interview is successful.
...And if you would let me finish Dost...and more importantly... I care about her and will always wish for her happiness. I would like to know if she is okay.
Reading his last message, Mehek felt her heart melt a little more, if that was at all possible, for the man on the other end of the chat.
****
She had made absolutely no pretense of not paying attention when she heard their next customer's voice. She glanced quickly at Mel, who must have been so caught up in her own conversation to have been caught so off guard.
"That will be... oh Mal...um...Chef Malik, h-hello. What are you doing...ah...how are you?"
"I've just concluded overseeing the set-up of a private function here in the park and was in the mood for something a bit sweet. I figured that this may be one of my last chances, before the festival ended, and I lost the opportunity all together."
His answer was perfectly logical, but from her vantage, Mehek had a clear view of the man's face, and his expression as he dealt with his young server, solidified her opinion that the chef was without a doubt, inferring something entirely different with his words. She suspected Mel understood the same, when the charged silence that fell between the two of them, was only interrupted when Malik spoke again, when he asked how much he owed her for the plate of laddoos she had yet to hand over.
"Nothing, I mean, they're on me," Melissa answered as she hastily pushed the package in his direction. "In thanks for the flowers, you sent the other day. They...they were lovely," she said hesitantly, most likely remembering exactly what she had done with the blooms.
A frown was his response. "If that's the case, then I will definitely take care of cost." He turned to Navin, and confirmed the price, and then quickly handed the currency to the young man. He looked about to leave, when he suddenly stopped. "Is there one flavor you prefer above the others, Melissa" he asked.
"The carrot halwa: definitely that one," she insisted.
Malik had smiled at her softly, and then extracted the one she had indicated from his plate. He held it out to her. "All the best in your future endeavors, Melissa," he said before walking away.
****
...I think he has basically put the ball in her court Shaurya, at least that how I interpreted it.
...I suspect you may be right.
...I think she is okay, I hope she is anyway.
...Hmm
...So you had mentioned a choice Jaan? So what flower represents our future, Dost?
...I did. Do you finally wish to know, Shaurya?
...Thik hai...Jasmine
"Shaurya you're needed on set."
Without raising his head, Shaurya acknowledged the production assistant who had hailed him. His fingers flew over the touch-screen.
... Jaan, I have to admit to being just a little disappointed. Of all the flowers in the world, you select something so commonplace, so traditional. Even with the services of an expert on the subject, you pick something you could easily get at home.
...Hmm and of all the women in the world, and despite the fact that you had to travel to secure her affections, you still choose one basically from home.
...I think that it's time for you to do some research yourself Mr. Khanna.
... But I am sure you must go now.
... But...when I come home it will be your turn to show me if you have learned anything Shaurya Khanna.
...About the flower I've chosen, and about me...
...Not long now.
He read the flurry of messages Mehek sent as he walked on to the set. Undeniably, she had a point; not to mention high expectations of him, he thought. as he put his phone on vibrate and pocketed it. He grinned at the challenge she had effectively thrown down. He would prove to her that he was more up to the task.
*****
Leaving the responsibility of leading the dialogue to his partner, Shaurya recognized Rajiv bhai's satisfaction with the young woman being interviewed via teleconference, early on. What he had picked up on immediately when he had met the recent college grad in Florida, was being revealed in spades by the bright young woman over the course of the question and answer session, and more than ever, he believed that he had found a true winner in her. Melissa would be a capable member of their organization and under Rajiv Bhai's mentorship, would easily be fast-tracked to take up the significant role in their Florida based enterprise that he already had in mind up for her. Frankly, he could only envision a life-changing matter to get in the way of the success he envisioned in her future. And as far as Shaurya was concerned, that could only come in the form of a certain chef with whom she was at an impasse. He studied her as she skillfully answered yet another of Bhai's probing question and pondered that situation. If there was still any anguish in her life, she was not giving any indication of it. Still he would be remiss not to investigate...
"I think that's it. I believe I have acquired all of the information I need to make a decision," Rajiv announced suddenly, interrupting Shaurya's internal musings. "Are there any questions you have, Melissa, for either Shaurya or myself?"
"Nahi Rajiv Saab; you have been exceptionally forthcoming. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you."
Rajiv cracked a smile at her statement, presented as a fait accompli, and his gaze strayed to his partner. The young woman's confident persona was very reminiscent of the man's beside him, and when supplemented with her obvious intelligence, it made her an ideal candidate.
Shaurya's subtle response contained all of the smugness that Rajiv expected. That raised eyebrow of his all but screaming "I told you so back at him for his choice of the young woman he had met in America for this position.
"Melissa, it was a pleasure, and I will certainly be in touch. I believe that Shaurya would like to speak to you for a few minutes. Until we speak again..."
The door had barely closed behind the older man, when Shaurya addressed the young woman. "I will have our HR begin the process for your work permit as soon as possible, so I will need some details from you as soon as possible."
Melissa appeared a bit confused. "Do you mean the interview was a mere formality; you were to make the final decision Shaurya?
"Nahi, not at all. But I know my partner, and I knew that he would be as impressed with you as I. He won't take a long time at all to make a final decision, so I will just help him along. I expect that the processing time, even if we have it expedited to take some a few weeks. I realize that your time with Disney will be over before then, so I wanted to discuss that other matter that I hoped you could help me with. If you are still willing, that is. At the very least it will allow you to stay in the area before you travel to India." He studied her a little more intently, before he broached what he felt needed to before got a commitment from her. "So, disregarding the fact that I am who I am, and just between friends...tell me Melissa, how are you really doing?"
********
Nine days later, Melissa watched Mehek lose her mind as she dashed around her apartment making sure she had everything she needed. Her frenzied actions were briefly interrupted by the ringing of her mobile, which she answered, making quick work of the call, and then resuming her mad pacing.
"The driver will be here in a minute, let me make sure..."
Melissa grabbed her friend by the shoulders and brought her to a halt. "Mehek: stop. You are heading home, not to some foreign land. Anything you don't have with you I am sure you can sort out there. And if it's that critical, I can FedEx it to you. Stop letting your nerves get to you. Everything will be fine. You are going to do a great job for Disney. Your family is going to be thrilled to have you back and so proud of how far you come in your career. And Shaurya...you will be back with Shaurya, and he will be there at your side when you sort things out. I'm sure everything will work out perfectly. Chill girl, you are going to get it all."
Mehek exhaled and then hugged her friend. "Thank you. I think I really needed to hear that, Mel." She pulled back. "My only regret is that I'm leaving you while things are still up in the air with you and Malik."
Melissa shook her head. "Nothing is up in the air, I think we've come to the conclusion that it's best to leave things as they are." She shrugged. "We are too different to gel anyway, I think.
"Mel..."
"It's okay Mehek. No harm, no foul...just something to chalk up to experience. And anyway, I'm going to be so busy..."
"Ah yes this mystery project of yours. When are you going to spill the beans on that, Mel?"
Melissa wandered over to the window as to hide her smile from her friend "Once I get started, if you are not too busy to speak to me I will let you know how it is going. Oh, the driver is here." She walked over and grabbed the second of Mehek's suitcases. "Come on Ms. Celebrity, let's get you off to fulfill your destiny."
They were halfway to the airport, when Mehek fielded another telephone call. Listening to the one-sided conversation, Melissa assumed that someone was coming to meet Mehek at the airport. As they pulled up to the busy departure area, Gerald spoke up from the front. "I'm not going to be able to stay, so I will drop you off, and then go to long-term parking until you call Melissa."
"That's fine."
Mehek smiled to herself, hoping that the call that Melissa would be making would be to dismiss the driver, when she realized who was already waiting there. She caught sight of him and signaled Gerald to pull over as close to Malik as she could. Call her the hopeless romantic, but if her departure would allow her to play cupid one last time for these two then she would definitely give it a go.
Mehek got out of the car through the door that the chef held open for her, and then stepped aside. In a telling move, the man extended his hand to assist Mel out of the car.
"No work today, Malik?"
"Not until this evening. I've made an exception to see you off. You have everything?"
"She should, she has been stressing over it enough. Although..."
Mehek looked up from where she was rechecking for her boarding pass and passport. "What..." she queried, looking at Melissa's outstretched hand.
"The keys. Unless you need me to check into a hotel tonight."
"Oh shit...I'm sorry Mel," the chef said rifling through her handbag. "Here you go. And speaking of going...that will be me, so come hugs so I don't miss this flight."
Neither of them questioned her and first Melissa and the Malik hugged their dear friend. Almost abruptly, she walked away and headed inside, smiling to herself, and leaving the pair no alternative but to interact.
"I guess she was anxious to leave," Malik said.
"Who can blame her. She's returning to the man she loves. I would be as anxious if I was in her position."
Malik stared at her for a minute, while she looked out for her driver.
"You are staying at her place, while she's gone then?"
"Yes, it will be easier for me not to have to move into somewhere new while I am waiting my work visa to come through."
"I see. And how long?"
"Will it take? I'm not sure, but I have enough to keep me busy in the meantime.""
"What about now, Mel? Are you busy...perhaps we can go for a meal." When his question had her turning to face him at last, he indicated his car which was parked in one of the highly-prized curbside spots "We can probably still get breakfast at this hour."
Melissa caught sight of Gerald returning. "I'm sorry, I have to meet someone now."
"In that case I guess I will see you off then," he replied, as he reached for the back door of the town-car. She stared up at him wondering if the terseness she thought she heard in his voice was her imagination. "I guess I'll see you later, Malik."
Due to the traffic situation, Malik actually managed to pull out ahead of them, and after a while Melissa realized that they were heading in the same direction.
"Gerald. Our friend Malik, the guy who was at the airport, he stays in the same gated community. I'd rather not have him aware that we are going there as well. Mr. Khanna wants to keep this completely under wraps for now."
"No problem Miss, I can either drop a few cars back are go for an alternative route."
"Whichever you think best, as long as I'm not late."
"What is the distance between the two residences, Miss?"
Melissa pulled out the dossier she had kept in her tote and checked the neighborhood site plan that was included, and after pinpointing the house that Shaurya had purchased from they elderly couple he had met at Malik's Diwali part, scanned the grid for the plot she knew to be Malik's. "Four houses, but his is around the corner so if he reaches home first, it's unlikely he will see our arrival."
"Good to know, Miss."
Thankfully she was right, as when they reached, there was a veritable crowd outside the house in question. Everyone had arrived early it appeared: Shaurya's lawyer, the designer, contractor and landscaper. Melissa smiled as she approached them. The lawyer, who she had already met, greeted her, and then brought her into the conversation.
"Everyone, this is Melissa. She is my client's local liaison and whom you will defer to in the first instance."
"Perhaps defer is the wrong choice of word," Melissa interjected. "The fact that Mr. Khanna has selected your firms is a clear indicator that you are each the best in your respective fields, so clearly the experience lies with you. While the house has good bones, Mr. Khanna is anxious to tweak it so that it is as close to perfection as possible for his intended wife while she is working in America. Mr. Khanna holds his partner's happiness above everything, but he is also a businessman, so I won't go as far to say that money is no object. Suffice to say, we need to be both on budget and on time with this project. That being said; why don't we go in and begin? I have with me copies of Mr. Khanna's wish list that we can discuss. Ideally my first report to him will be finalizing what can or cannot be done to make this a dream home for Mehek.
[NOCOPY]
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