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Chapter 8
Thursday morning brought with it chaos at R & K Kapoor. Ram woke up in a foul mood, once again burnt his breakfast, stormed out of his apartment and blazed into his work. He thought he would catch up on the work left incomplete as a result of taking an early mark the day before. Seeing Neha's car in the parking lot at 6.30 am brought some relief to him. Then seeing Priya's car parked beside Neha's reversed the condition again. Hadn't anyone been able to sleep last night? he thought,
He left his briefcase on his desk and walked over to their department. He needed to know if Neha was going to be in for the day. His appointments and meeting depended on her plans. As he neared the room he heard Neha.
"I knew this would happen. I told Ram to keep Mr. Sharma away from you."
"It's not Abh..aay. It's me" Priya sounded nervous,
"You loved it here. Until last week; A & K Kapoor was your life. So what has changed in this past week?" Neha asked the question.
"Neha you are having a baby. In less than seven months you will be gone. I can't go through the meetings, the socialising. I hate it."
"So what will you do? Find another job. Please talk to Ram. He knows your work, he can work something out." Neha pleaded,
I can't Neha, I just can't. This past week, instead of being a help, I have added to his problems. Oh, I know my work is good, but the job needs someone who can carry out the public relations as well. I can't, we all know that." Priya pleaded,
"Priya, the same arrangement that exists between us can continue with the person that takes my place, and I am not even sure of my plans yet. I am working through them now. It could work Priya, just give it a try. If you leave now, we will never know." Neha words were her prayer as well.
Priya leaving! Ram knew he could not let that happen. That, damn Abhay! It had to be him. Priya was fine until yesterday. He would give Abhay a piece of his mind later, but first he had to talk to both Neha and Priya.
Neha and Priya took one look at Ram and knew that he was upset. They also knew he had overheard their conversation, so there was no point in pretending that their conversation had not taken place.
Ram spoke to Neha first, asking about her health and then asked if she was feeling well enough to return to work. Neha assured him that she was and made an appointment to see him at eleven that morning.
Next Ram looked at Priya. Her hands were clasped together. So tight was her grasp that the knuckles of both hands had turned white. His eyes softened. Neha noticed the change and frowned.
"So what's this about wanting to leave?" He questioned,
"R...Ram. I am not good at meetings, and at socialising..."she started,
"From what I saw last night, I don't think you really have a problem with either" Ram had not meant to sound either angry or sarcastic but that is exactly how he sounded.
Priya's face fell and Neha's frown deepened. She had been away for less than a week. What the hell had happened in that short time? They rarely spoke but whenever they had in the past, Priya and Ram's conversations had always been civil. Now there was a totally different ball game in play, with Neha still not sure as to who was playing what.
Looking at Priya's face, Ram once again realized he had said the wrong thing.
"I am sorry. I should not have said that. It's really none of my business." Ram corrected the situation.
Neha sensed that the moment had come when she should leave. Under the pretext of making another coffee she left them alone.
"Look Priya, I'll be honest. I know you are not comfortable at presentations. But the few I have seen you at, you were quite good. In fact you are getting better with each one. Give me a little time and I will work things out so that you do not have to participate in the presentations if you do not want to. Ok? Now I am asking you to be honest with me, is this the only reason for your wanting to leave?"
Priya told herself that she should feel happy that Ram thought so well of her and her work, that he was prepared to work around her problem. But instead she felt more miserable. For the first time in over ten years she wanted someone to look past her work and at her, but all Ram was seeing was a valuable employee. Yes she would love to stay and work for him forever, but it was not Neha's absence that was worrying her, it was Ram's presence. And then there was Trisha. Much as she liked the woman, she knew she could not go through the future, seeing them together. The pain she felt now would be nothing compared to the pain she would suffer then. But what answer should she give? She could never tell him the truth, and lying to him was not an option,
"Ram if I could stay, I would, but..."Priya had just begun, when Ram cut her short,
"In that case, I won't stop you. When do you want to leave?" Ram questioned abruptly.
"As soon as you find someone else" Priya began,
Just then the phone rang and Neha ran in and answered it. Ram and Priya listened,
"Hi Mr. Sharma, I am very well, thanks. Did you want to speak to Ram? To Priya? Yes sure you can." With that Neha handed the phone to Priya.
Priya looked at Ram, held her hand over the mouthpiece. "I won't be long" she whispered,
"Abhay better not be the cause for your resignation." The cutting remark floated in the air even after Ram had left the room.
Once again Neha frowned. And Priya spoke into the mouthpiece only to find that her voice had died within her. It took a few sips of water for her larynx to work again.
By then Neha had followed Ram out of the room.
"Ram, wait up, this is a pregnant woman chasing you." she called after him,
"I am sorry Neha, what is it?" he growled,
"Maybe I should ask you that, what is it Ram?" she returned,
"Look Neha, maybe I should have listened to you. You asked me to watch over her. You said Abhay would scare her away. Last night they were dining together, and today she resigns. I think Abhay has had some influence over Priya's decision to leave, wouldn't you say that?"
"Dining with Mr. Sharma? Priya? Are you sure?" Neha could not believe her ears. Priya did not socialise with anyone apart from her and Vikram. Dining with anyone else would be out of the question and especially not a man she hardly knew. Ram had been given the wrong information. She was sure of it.
"I saw her myself. She arrived with Abhay and believe me, he was all ears." Ram could not hide his irritation,
"And you think he is stealing one of your employees, is that it? But Ram, he is just a client. He does not run an advertising business. He is not competition. Why would he even bother to do that?" Neha could not see the logic behind such a move from Mr. Sharma.
"Neha, don't you see, he is not stealing an employee, he is dating one." Ram fumed back.
Neha burst out laughing, but Ram continued to smother in anger.
"Ram, did you hear yourself. Priya is not interested in any man, I hoped for a long time that she would find someone nice or someone nice would find her. But Priya will never get involved with any man. At least not at the moment" Neha commented trying her hardest to be serious and without giving too much information.
"How can you be so sure Neha? Abhay is rich, he has power, and he is also lonely. Priya is talented. And when she chooses to be, she can be quite attractive and she is also alone. Abhay said Priya reminded him of his dead daughter. That would explain only his motive for a relationship. What is hers?" Ram babbled on,
Ram what are you really upset about, Priya leaving us or Priya dating Mr. Sharma?" Neha could not understand Ram's reaction. Yes Priya was a brilliant employee, but even brilliant employees left. It was never the end of the world. But Ram was acting as if it was. And the way he had looked and spoken to Priya. Would she be wrong, if she said, Ram was interested in Priya himself. Surely he could not be jealous of Mr. Sharma? But there was definitely a jealous undertone to his voice when he had spoken to Priya last.
Why would I be upset if she dated Abhay? Priya is a grown woman. At any other time if she liked Abhy that would be fine, but Priya is very fragile at the moment and vulnerable. You yourself asked me not to let Abhay scare her away. But he must be using his leverage as a valuable client, to force Priya into going out with him" Even Ram realised that his argument was sounding weak. In this day and age, that kind of intimidation did not work.
Neha heard Ram but her mind was elsewhere. Suddenly she asked, "You said just now, when she chooses, she can be quite attractive', what did you mean by that?" then before he could reply, she fired her second question to him "Ram are you interested in Priya yourself? Is that what the problem is?"
Ram became silent. Interested in Priya? What an understatement. No Neha, he wanted to say, I am not interested in her, I have gone way past mere 'interest'.
"The problem is Abhay Sharma. He is going to cost me a very valuable employee." His phone rang and with than Ram made it very clear that the conversation was over. He asked Neha to come in for the meeting at 11 am.
Neha walked back to her desk. On route she popped into Vikram's office. "Vikram, have you noticed anything strange with Ram?"
"He seems to be very thoughtful lately but I would hardly call that strange. The poor guy has been holding the fort single handedly for five years, and now with our little problem, I have been told Ram has basically taken it all on himself. Priya has managed things beautifully but with her problem, it's Ram who has done all the presentations and conducted the meetings." Vikram hoped he had been helpful,
"I don't mean strange as in overworked. I mean strange as in, do you think he is emotionally involved with a lady?" Neha tried to beat around the bush in her attempt to be loyal to everyone.
"From what I heard, he met Trisha last night again, that makes it twice in less than a fortnight"
He replied thinking that he had solved the puzzle,
"Vikram, please pay attention. Do you think he is interested in someone at work?" Neha decided to pursue her chain of thoughts
"At work, come on Neha, as long as the work is done, Ram is least interested in the figures or faces around here. The only figures Ram is interested in are the ones on the paper, besides there is only one beauty here as far as I am concerned, and I have already married her." Neha beamed with joy at his remark but she still hadn't heard what she came for.
"You are a sweetie, I am lucky to have bagged you" she answered,
"But .." she started,
"Neha, who do you have in mind? You know you do, so let's hear it" Sometimes Vikram knew his wife better than she knew herself.
"OK since you asked and only because you asked,"
Neha began, "I sense something odd between Ram and Priya"
"Priya!" Vikram burst out "Oh come on Neha, Priya hates men."
"She does not hate men, Vikram, she is afraid of them. There is a difference." Neha fiercely defended her friend. "Did you know she dined with Mr. Sharma last night?"
"Now that you mention it, I did overhear something in the lift the other day. Mr. Sharma apparently asked Priya out for lunch. Ram it was said made his displeasure known. I just thought it was because Ram does not like employees being involved with clients. But I still think you are wrong Neha. Priya is not Ram's type."
"Vikram, I noticed something today. There was softness in Ram's eyes and tone when he addressed Priya. Then Mr. Sharma rang for Priya. You should have seen Ram. He was blazing mad. I have never seen him that way before. And Priya, she resigned today." Neha continued,
"Resigned? This is getting serious whichever way we look at it. What the hell is she going to do? How will she manage alone? Maybe Ram or Mr. Sharma is not the problem. Maybe Priya is nervous about being on her own, as she will be, after our baby arrives and you are not here."
"No, that's not it. She knows the same arrangement could have been made with my replacement. No it's got to do with Ram. Look honey, I have to get to the bottom of this. Would you mind if I went to Priya's place after work? We can't talk here, and I think a talk is urgently needed. For my sanity, if not for any other reason."
"Yes my little Sherlock Holmes, go solve your case. I have a sales call to make at seven anyway." Vikram thought Neha's imagination had gone way overboard this time but he also knew telling her so, would have no effect on her enthusiasm to solve her mystery.
Once back at her desk, Neha was lost in her work. It was 11.05 am when she remembered her meeting with Ram. Picking up her folders, she raced to his office. Ram was not there. Neha took a seat and waited for almost twenty minutes before ringing Ram on his mobile.
"Yes." he growled into it,
"Ram, it's Neha here. I am at our 11 am meeting. Where are you? Is everything alright?" she spoke hesitantly,
"Oh hell, sorry Neha, I am in the middle of something at the moment. We'll have to meet later. I will ring you when I return to work." And with that he was gone.
"And have a nice day to you too" Neha yelled back into the dead phone.
Thursday morning brought with it chaos at R & K Kapoor. Ram woke up in a foul mood, once again burnt his breakfast, stormed out of his apartment and blazed into his work. He thought he would catch up on the work left incomplete as a result of taking an early mark the day before. Seeing Neha's car in the parking lot at 6.30 am brought some relief to him. Then seeing Priya's car parked beside Neha's reversed the condition again. Hadn't anyone been able to sleep last night? he thought,
He left his briefcase on his desk and walked over to their department. He needed to know if Neha was going to be in for the day. His appointments and meeting depended on her plans. As he neared the room he heard Neha.
"I knew this would happen. I told Ram to keep Mr. Sharma away from you."
"It's not Abh..aay. It's me" Priya sounded nervous,
"You loved it here. Until last week; A & K Kapoor was your life. So what has changed in this past week?" Neha asked the question.
"Neha you are having a baby. In less than seven months you will be gone. I can't go through the meetings, the socialising. I hate it."
"So what will you do? Find another job. Please talk to Ram. He knows your work, he can work something out." Neha pleaded,
I can't Neha, I just can't. This past week, instead of being a help, I have added to his problems. Oh, I know my work is good, but the job needs someone who can carry out the public relations as well. I can't, we all know that." Priya pleaded,
"Priya, the same arrangement that exists between us can continue with the person that takes my place, and I am not even sure of my plans yet. I am working through them now. It could work Priya, just give it a try. If you leave now, we will never know." Neha words were her prayer as well.
Priya leaving! Ram knew he could not let that happen. That, damn Abhay! It had to be him. Priya was fine until yesterday. He would give Abhay a piece of his mind later, but first he had to talk to both Neha and Priya.
Neha and Priya took one look at Ram and knew that he was upset. They also knew he had overheard their conversation, so there was no point in pretending that their conversation had not taken place.
Ram spoke to Neha first, asking about her health and then asked if she was feeling well enough to return to work. Neha assured him that she was and made an appointment to see him at eleven that morning.
Next Ram looked at Priya. Her hands were clasped together. So tight was her grasp that the knuckles of both hands had turned white. His eyes softened. Neha noticed the change and frowned.
"So what's this about wanting to leave?" He questioned,
"R...Ram. I am not good at meetings, and at socialising..."she started,
"From what I saw last night, I don't think you really have a problem with either" Ram had not meant to sound either angry or sarcastic but that is exactly how he sounded.
Priya's face fell and Neha's frown deepened. She had been away for less than a week. What the hell had happened in that short time? They rarely spoke but whenever they had in the past, Priya and Ram's conversations had always been civil. Now there was a totally different ball game in play, with Neha still not sure as to who was playing what.
Looking at Priya's face, Ram once again realized he had said the wrong thing.
"I am sorry. I should not have said that. It's really none of my business." Ram corrected the situation.
Neha sensed that the moment had come when she should leave. Under the pretext of making another coffee she left them alone.
"Look Priya, I'll be honest. I know you are not comfortable at presentations. But the few I have seen you at, you were quite good. In fact you are getting better with each one. Give me a little time and I will work things out so that you do not have to participate in the presentations if you do not want to. Ok? Now I am asking you to be honest with me, is this the only reason for your wanting to leave?"
Priya told herself that she should feel happy that Ram thought so well of her and her work, that he was prepared to work around her problem. But instead she felt more miserable. For the first time in over ten years she wanted someone to look past her work and at her, but all Ram was seeing was a valuable employee. Yes she would love to stay and work for him forever, but it was not Neha's absence that was worrying her, it was Ram's presence. And then there was Trisha. Much as she liked the woman, she knew she could not go through the future, seeing them together. The pain she felt now would be nothing compared to the pain she would suffer then. But what answer should she give? She could never tell him the truth, and lying to him was not an option,
"Ram if I could stay, I would, but..."Priya had just begun, when Ram cut her short,
"In that case, I won't stop you. When do you want to leave?" Ram questioned abruptly.
"As soon as you find someone else" Priya began,
Just then the phone rang and Neha ran in and answered it. Ram and Priya listened,
"Hi Mr. Sharma, I am very well, thanks. Did you want to speak to Ram? To Priya? Yes sure you can." With that Neha handed the phone to Priya.
Priya looked at Ram, held her hand over the mouthpiece. "I won't be long" she whispered,
"Abhay better not be the cause for your resignation." The cutting remark floated in the air even after Ram had left the room.
Once again Neha frowned. And Priya spoke into the mouthpiece only to find that her voice had died within her. It took a few sips of water for her larynx to work again.
By then Neha had followed Ram out of the room.
"Ram, wait up, this is a pregnant woman chasing you." she called after him,
"I am sorry Neha, what is it?" he growled,
"Maybe I should ask you that, what is it Ram?" she returned,
"Look Neha, maybe I should have listened to you. You asked me to watch over her. You said Abhay would scare her away. Last night they were dining together, and today she resigns. I think Abhay has had some influence over Priya's decision to leave, wouldn't you say that?"
"Dining with Mr. Sharma? Priya? Are you sure?" Neha could not believe her ears. Priya did not socialise with anyone apart from her and Vikram. Dining with anyone else would be out of the question and especially not a man she hardly knew. Ram had been given the wrong information. She was sure of it.
"I saw her myself. She arrived with Abhay and believe me, he was all ears." Ram could not hide his irritation,
"And you think he is stealing one of your employees, is that it? But Ram, he is just a client. He does not run an advertising business. He is not competition. Why would he even bother to do that?" Neha could not see the logic behind such a move from Mr. Sharma.
"Neha, don't you see, he is not stealing an employee, he is dating one." Ram fumed back.
Neha burst out laughing, but Ram continued to smother in anger.
"Ram, did you hear yourself. Priya is not interested in any man, I hoped for a long time that she would find someone nice or someone nice would find her. But Priya will never get involved with any man. At least not at the moment" Neha commented trying her hardest to be serious and without giving too much information.
"How can you be so sure Neha? Abhay is rich, he has power, and he is also lonely. Priya is talented. And when she chooses to be, she can be quite attractive and she is also alone. Abhay said Priya reminded him of his dead daughter. That would explain only his motive for a relationship. What is hers?" Ram babbled on,
Ram what are you really upset about, Priya leaving us or Priya dating Mr. Sharma?" Neha could not understand Ram's reaction. Yes Priya was a brilliant employee, but even brilliant employees left. It was never the end of the world. But Ram was acting as if it was. And the way he had looked and spoken to Priya. Would she be wrong, if she said, Ram was interested in Priya himself. Surely he could not be jealous of Mr. Sharma? But there was definitely a jealous undertone to his voice when he had spoken to Priya last.
Why would I be upset if she dated Abhay? Priya is a grown woman. At any other time if she liked Abhy that would be fine, but Priya is very fragile at the moment and vulnerable. You yourself asked me not to let Abhay scare her away. But he must be using his leverage as a valuable client, to force Priya into going out with him" Even Ram realised that his argument was sounding weak. In this day and age, that kind of intimidation did not work.
Neha heard Ram but her mind was elsewhere. Suddenly she asked, "You said just now, when she chooses, she can be quite attractive', what did you mean by that?" then before he could reply, she fired her second question to him "Ram are you interested in Priya yourself? Is that what the problem is?"
Ram became silent. Interested in Priya? What an understatement. No Neha, he wanted to say, I am not interested in her, I have gone way past mere 'interest'.
"The problem is Abhay Sharma. He is going to cost me a very valuable employee." His phone rang and with than Ram made it very clear that the conversation was over. He asked Neha to come in for the meeting at 11 am.
Neha walked back to her desk. On route she popped into Vikram's office. "Vikram, have you noticed anything strange with Ram?"
"He seems to be very thoughtful lately but I would hardly call that strange. The poor guy has been holding the fort single handedly for five years, and now with our little problem, I have been told Ram has basically taken it all on himself. Priya has managed things beautifully but with her problem, it's Ram who has done all the presentations and conducted the meetings." Vikram hoped he had been helpful,
"I don't mean strange as in overworked. I mean strange as in, do you think he is emotionally involved with a lady?" Neha tried to beat around the bush in her attempt to be loyal to everyone.
"From what I heard, he met Trisha last night again, that makes it twice in less than a fortnight"
He replied thinking that he had solved the puzzle,
"Vikram, please pay attention. Do you think he is interested in someone at work?" Neha decided to pursue her chain of thoughts
"At work, come on Neha, as long as the work is done, Ram is least interested in the figures or faces around here. The only figures Ram is interested in are the ones on the paper, besides there is only one beauty here as far as I am concerned, and I have already married her." Neha beamed with joy at his remark but she still hadn't heard what she came for.
"You are a sweetie, I am lucky to have bagged you" she answered,
"But .." she started,
"Neha, who do you have in mind? You know you do, so let's hear it" Sometimes Vikram knew his wife better than she knew herself.
"OK since you asked and only because you asked,"
Neha began, "I sense something odd between Ram and Priya"
"Priya!" Vikram burst out "Oh come on Neha, Priya hates men."
"She does not hate men, Vikram, she is afraid of them. There is a difference." Neha fiercely defended her friend. "Did you know she dined with Mr. Sharma last night?"
"Now that you mention it, I did overhear something in the lift the other day. Mr. Sharma apparently asked Priya out for lunch. Ram it was said made his displeasure known. I just thought it was because Ram does not like employees being involved with clients. But I still think you are wrong Neha. Priya is not Ram's type."
"Vikram, I noticed something today. There was softness in Ram's eyes and tone when he addressed Priya. Then Mr. Sharma rang for Priya. You should have seen Ram. He was blazing mad. I have never seen him that way before. And Priya, she resigned today." Neha continued,
"Resigned? This is getting serious whichever way we look at it. What the hell is she going to do? How will she manage alone? Maybe Ram or Mr. Sharma is not the problem. Maybe Priya is nervous about being on her own, as she will be, after our baby arrives and you are not here."
"No, that's not it. She knows the same arrangement could have been made with my replacement. No it's got to do with Ram. Look honey, I have to get to the bottom of this. Would you mind if I went to Priya's place after work? We can't talk here, and I think a talk is urgently needed. For my sanity, if not for any other reason."
"Yes my little Sherlock Holmes, go solve your case. I have a sales call to make at seven anyway." Vikram thought Neha's imagination had gone way overboard this time but he also knew telling her so, would have no effect on her enthusiasm to solve her mystery.
Once back at her desk, Neha was lost in her work. It was 11.05 am when she remembered her meeting with Ram. Picking up her folders, she raced to his office. Ram was not there. Neha took a seat and waited for almost twenty minutes before ringing Ram on his mobile.
"Yes." he growled into it,
"Ram, it's Neha here. I am at our 11 am meeting. Where are you? Is everything alright?" she spoke hesitantly,
"Oh hell, sorry Neha, I am in the middle of something at the moment. We'll have to meet later. I will ring you when I return to work." And with that he was gone.
"And have a nice day to you too" Neha yelled back into the dead phone.
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