The Apple of Our Eyes; Last Prt(27: Pg 62) - Page 8

At 8^th B

Priya was taking attendance. When she called out Peehu's number, she responded with 'yes maa' instead of 'yes ma'am' but slightly accentuated it not to make it too obvious. Nevertheless Priya realized, she looked up and gave her patented killer look. Peehu knew she was in for trouble. Luckily for her, Priya soon called out the next name.

The Annual student elections for Class Reps, House Leads and School Leads were scheduled for the next day, a Saturday. It was a big event at school and understandably so. Students wishing to contest were supposed to leave their names with class teachers. However, 8^th std students could not become School Leads, it was open only for 9^th and 10^th graders.

Priya asked all nominees and contestants for Class Rep elections to raise hands. A bunch of hands went up, she wrote down the names. For the popular kid that she was, Peehu was surely contesting. She was even nominated for House elections - she represented the Blue house. The elections and results would be out the next day. Peehu was anxious. In this anxiety she had forgotten what Priya had told her that morning "haslo..aur haslo. Waise ye sab band karwaane wali hun aaj shaam ko."

Priya began to teach. The chapter was on Gravity - quite a topic with heavy concepts and complex math. Students looked relaxed, sitting back and focussing on the lecture. Half an hour passed. By now they were at the edge of their desks, almost gravitating towards Priya! The hour ended and Priya left after dictating assignments. Peehu's friends complimented her mom. They all felt knowledgeable and pleased. "Kamaal hai yaar, maa chhaa-gayi. Papa ke office me 13 yrs bekaar hi gawaadiya" was Peehu's reaction.

After school hours Peehu went to the staff room but didn't find Priya. After waiting for a few minutes Peehu went home.

Ram had to chair back-to-back meetings the whole day. They were to announce reporting and leadership changes the next morning, so preparations were in full-swing. In the back of his mind, Ram was thinking about the response to a proposal that had to be submitted by evening. Priya had trained Sid to handle it. Ram was hoping for Sid to do a good job especially because it was huuuge - worth 250-Crore INR. He wanted to go through the files one final time but did not get a chance. Vikram was busy with another RFP, and so were two other seniors that Ram trusted. Ram tried a few times to reach Sid but Sid was not reachable.

At 6:30PM, Kapoor Mansion

Priya entered the gate and got a call from Neha.

Neha: "I wanted to let you know Priya ki Peehu has gone to Juhu beach. All kids matlab mere junglee bacche, Peehu, Kashish, Khush, Ishaan sab gaye huw hai. Don't worry Rahul ne responsibility liya hai. He picked Peehu after she returned from school. She should be back by 9."

Priya: "What? Neha how could you take her without checking with me or Ram?"

Neha: "Helllooo..please check your phone, maine 2:30 ko hi tumhe aur Ram ko sms bheja tha madam."

Priya: "Oh sorry, I hadnt seen.

Priya got nervous. She cut the call. She saw Ram's car entering the gate. She walked a few steps, entered the mansion and waited for Ram at the door. She wanted to know why Ram did not stop Peehu from going to the beach if he saw the message.

Ram walked towards Priya, he almost ran to her. His eyes, ears, in fact his face had turned red. He was fuming.

Ram thundered on top of his voice: "Priya what's going on damn it? Just look at this file. I need an explanation."

Priya also shouted: "Ram stop shouting..pehle ek minute mere baat suniye everything else can wait. Peehu Juhu beach..

Ram cut her off in-between: "Priya mujhe kuch nahi sun-na hai till you clarify this to me."

Priya: "But Peehu.."

Again he cut-in!

Ram: "Priya for God's sake mujhe kkkuuuchhh nahi sun na hai. Please understand Kapoor industries ka sabse bada project ke baare mein baat kar rahaa hun and I need you to reply in the next 2 seconds."

Priya threw her handbag on the floor. She took a deep breath. Ram was not interested even to hear about Peehu?

Priya: "What is it?"

Ram: "You were responsible for this pharma project quotation Priya. Ye kya numbers daala hai? A copy of this file has gone to Mr.Singhania at 6pm with bloody errors. We will lose this project Priya. We will lose 250 crores - two hundred and fifty crores..did you hear me??? "

Priya thought of something for a moment: "Ram I did handle it but only till last week. Sid ko ye hand over kar diya tha na? I had even explained the changes to him. I don't know why the changes are not done."

Ram: "I am sure you would not have explained it well enough to Sid. Warna who ye changes kar deta."

Priya: "Wow Ram, kitna conveniently blame kar rahe hai aap. You know how I work. Itne saal mei ek baar bhi mujse koyi galati nahi hui thi, not even 'by mistake'. By the way I am no more an employee there but why didn't you check? Aap tho CEO hai na? you should be the one to blame"

Ram: "Exactly, ussi baat ka rona hai Priya that I did not check. I didn't check hoping you have taught Sid to do it correctly. And let me tell you Priya subah se itna busy tha you cant even imagine. Aaj subah se maine chai tak nahi piya hai. I didn't even have lunch. I was dying to see this file but time nahi raha. I was trying to reach Sid but pata nahi kaha gaayab hai woh. Aur jab ghar laut rahaa thaa tab ye file mere haath aaya. On my way now in the car I noticed these errors. But it is too late, they would have opened responses by all competitors by now. Hum haar gaye Priya, we have lost it completely. Ek aur baat - tum jitni bhi safai do it does not matter. You and only YOU are responsible."

Priya was shattered: "Ho gaya aapka? Are you done Mr. Ram Kapoor? Ya aur bhi kuch kehna baaki hai? Nahi..matlab kuch aur hai tho bol dijiye please. Aadat hai mujhe Ram aapke ye be-buniyaad thaane sun-ne ki. So open your big mouth and tell me I am responsible for everything..every single thing that goes wrong in your company, in your life..tell mee damn it!"

At this moment, Ram got a mail notification on his phone. It was from Mr. Singhania. A few minutes ago he had sent Mr. Singhania a request to give him 2 more hours to submit a corrected response, but his request was rejected. He was obviouly more dejected.

He looked up at Priya and said: "Mujhe aur kuch nahi bolna hai Priya, I have nothing left to say. He threw the file down walked towards the sofa to sit down."

Priya: "Rukiye Ram. Mujhe aap se kuch kehna hai. It is important and you HAVE to listen. Mere khaatir nahi tho at least for your daughter's sake."

An expressionless Ram turned back and looked at her. "Kaho"

Priya: "Ram Neha ne aap ko ek sms bheja tha this afternoon. Did you see it?"

Ram: "Are you kidding me? Saans lene ka phursat nahi tha, you think mein Neha ka sms dekhunga?"

Priya: "Ok ok I should have expected this. Ram aapko pata hai - Peehu Juhu beach gayi hai bacchon ke saath."

Ram: "You are trying to blame me?? Ridiculous! Neha must have sent that sms to you also?"

Priya: "haa Ram but I was also terribly busy today. Bohat kaam tha. Maine bhi sms nahi dekha. Abhi mujhe neha ne phone pe bataaya. Kya kare Ram'Peehu dar jaayegi. I don't want her to get Thalassophobia attack again. Pichli baar jab use attack aaya tha it was so tough for her to recover. At least she should have refused to go. Itni baate karthi hai, why didn't she tell them she cant go"

(Peehu suffered from Thalassophobia - a fear of sea/ocean. It is triggered by fearing the sight of a large sea creature underwater.)

Ram: "You know she feels very embarassed to tell anyone about it. But Priya you are missing the point. Let us talk about the cause - You were equally responsible for not seeing neha's message Priya. "

Priya: "Ram please stop it. Ab saare cheez mere upar blame karne lage? I am telling you I was busy. Maine bhi aaj khaana nahi khaaya. Hazaar kam tha aaj.. "

Ram: "Enough yaar itna bhi kya kaam ki you could not see a message"

Priya: "Understand my limitations Ram. I cannot use phones during class hours. But aapko aise restrictions nahi ha na? You are the CEO Ram and that phone is an official one. Even if you are in a meeting you ARE PERMITTED to read mails and msgs. But you dint do that. Aapko apni paisa aur project ki padi thi."

Ram: "I don't want to talk to you." He went and sat on the sofa with his hands over his forehead. "

Priya meanwhile understood there was no point talking to him. She ran towards the staircase and climbed them in a hurry to rush into her room.

<to be continued>...