Priya fidgeted around nervously...what could be the best way out. Should she just tell Sunita that she needed to rethink about this offer? No that would seem extremely unprofessional. Apart from having Ram as her colleague there was no real reason that she should not take up this job. She cursed her spontaneous reaction to Sunita's offer, what had happened to the rational and logical thinking Priya..Well what was done was done..now she just prayed that Ram did not invoke the topic of marriage...
Apu: Priya..we have the briefing in another 10 minutes time. Make yourself comfortable..
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Sudhir walked in humming the tune of an old Hindi song..He had still not heard from Priya, but he was confident that she would take up the offer. Maybe working together might change her opinion about Ram.
Shipra: You seem to be in a good mood...
Sudhir: Yes i am..there is nothing more joyous than having our daughter back with us..I feel so so happy.
Shipra: Sudhir, i hope this is not short lived?
Sudhir: Short Lived?
Shipra: I have a feeling she might want to go back
Sudhir: No chance..you see..i am very confident she would get this job and once she starts working with Ram..that boy is going to charm her..
Shipra: You have very high hopes of that happening, don't you..
Sudhir: Shipra, you know Priya. She takes time to like things..
Shipra: This is not any thing we are talking about Sudhir...its a person. Sometimes i feel that we are thrusting our choice on her..and in this case your choice.
Sudhir: Oh come on Shipra...we are doing what normal parents do..arrange a match for her..In fact i am even giving her the time to get to know him better. You do remember how we were married off don't you?
Shipra: Lots of things have changed since then..
Sudhir: Shipra..you are worrying about unnecessary things...it will work out perfectly..
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Priya finished reading more than half of the itineraries. It all looked the same to her and repetitive after a while. She could not help but yawn after some time. She looked at her phone, there was still no reply from Jay...she was sure he would not sleep so early..She decided to message Krutika..
Priya: Hey..got the job with I trek...Suhani and me are meeting today for the party..what time will you join? She hit the send button. Almost instantly she received the reply. Sometimes she wondered if Krutika had some different processor in her phone or if she deciphered the messages before it even went out from her phone.
Krutika: Hii Sweetie..i am at the parlour..getting ready for today's party..Wait a sec..did you say you took the job? Are you at work? You don't even have the decency to inform?
Priya rolled her eyes as she read Krutika's msg...trust her to be melodramatic at times. She typed in her reply.
Priya: Long Story, will let you know when we meet...Pick me up from the below address at 6..C U Soon..
Priya looked around to find Apu smiling at her..
Apu: Boyfriend?
Priya: Nah...best friend...
Apu gave her another smile which seemed to suggest she understood the crazy things that best friends indulge in..
Apu: Time for our break..Tea or coffee?
Priya: I prefer Tea...
Apu: Great..lets go down..
Priya: Down?
Apu: Yeah, we have our very own personalized tea maker...
Apu got up from her chair and led Priya out. Vidyut followed them, 2 steps behind..
Just at the entrance of the office there was a tea stall named Dattu's . Apu strode in confidently and introduced Priya..
Apu: Dattu Bhau..navin mulgi..first class chaha dya (New girl, give first class tea)
Dattu Bhau smiled at Priya flashing his yellow teeth..He immediately went on to put together the cuppa for them..
Priya: You know Marathi?
Apu: Yeh hai Mumbai mere jaan..you learn everything here..
Vidyut: Bhabhiji..please have a seat..
Priya looked at Vidyut...he had addressed her as Bhabhiji before also but she had ignored him.
Priya: Excuse me?
Vidyut: Ji
Priya: My name is Priya..not Bhabhi ji
Vidyut : I know..but you are ..i mean Ram Bhai is like elder brother to me..he gave her his best smile..
Priya: So?
Vidyut: I respect you Bhabhiji..
It was then that it struck Priya..this moron was referring to her as Bhabhiji because of Ram..
Priya: Listen Vidyut..you don't need to address me as Bhabhiji...me and Ram are not married..
Before Vidyut could reply Ram arrived at the stall. He signaled to Dattu to give him his regular fix..
Ram: So, i hope you are enjoying your day.
Priya clenched her teeth..
Priya : So far so good...
Apu: After the break, we can sit on our FB page?
Priya's eyes twinkled at that prospect. May be she could log on to her account as well..She nodded at Apu. The unmistakable fragrance of tea waffled through the stall. Dattu Bhau put forward the tray for them to pick their concoctions.Everyone picked theirs and a sudden silence swept through them as they put the warm liquid on to their lips..
It was heavenly thought Priya. Definately one of the things that she missed in the USA. The first gulp had her truly refreshed. As she looked around she made a mental note of speaking to Ram about Vidyut. She wanted to know did the entire office know about them?
The rest of the day passed too quickly and Ram was very busy shuttling between meetings and calls for Priya to get time to talk to him..By the end of the day Priya had completely forgotten about it. She checked her watch, it was 5 45, she had to be ready to go with Krutika and Suhani. She watched as everyone left one by one. She too switched off her PC and bade goodbye to Apu and Vidyut.
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So darling..how was your first day at work? Krutika asked her literally shouting ot be heard as a loud song played in the background...Krutika had picked priya up and drove to Suhani's house. Priya had quickly changed into something more casual and the 3 girls had headed to their fav club.
Priya: I don't know what to make of it..I mean he could have told me that he worked there..
Suhani: What difference does that make? Come on Priya..this is just job and from what you have described i think he played fair..
Priya: And how is that?
Suhani: Well you asked for advice and thats what he gave you, remember the decision to choose I trek on the spur of the moment was yours..
Priya sighed as she gulped down her lemon ice tea...Somewhere Suhani was right..
Krutika: Now that you have seen him up, close and personal...i am sure you share the same views as mine...
Priya: What views?
Krutika: Admit it woman..the guy is handsome...
Priya: I care two hoot about it...
Suhani: On a serious note, Priya you should be telling your folks about Jay..
Priya: What do i tell them, i am in love with a guy who is half american and half Indian and i want to marry him?
Krutika: Well for starters you can convince Aunty that Jay plays all of the virtual games and she will have all her requests accepted...that will score some brownie points..
The girls giggled at that..
Priya: First i need to get my dad out of this spell called Ram Kapoor. He thinks Mr. Ram Kapoor is the solution to every problem..and there is this stupid colleague of mine who is hell bent on calling me Bhabhi ji...can you imagine?
Both Suhani and Krutika laughed at that...
Krutika: I suggest you speak to Ram first, i don't think you have properly interacted with him on this issue. If have a feeling that he might understand the situation..
Priya: I don't know, after that mail i kind of have a very negative opinion of him and i do not want to share such an intimate detail of my life.
Suhani: Well if i was you, i would rather speak to Ram first and then maybe to the parents.
Krutika: Well if i was you, i would first and foremost speak to Jay..his opinion will be decisive..
Priya shrugged her shoulders as she downed the last of her drink..That was the biggest problem of all. Jay had not been that responsive to her..the physical distance between them was too much but they now had better modes of communication.. She could not figure out this behaviour of Jay or was he always like that and she was seeing it just now...
To be Continued
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
