Blossom-Two lives and One heart FF** completed and author's notepg 29 - Page 9

Chapter 8- That was Chaotic and Frenzy

At 8:30 pm ,same day

Nandini was checking the files along with Prapti. Ashwath was busy in typing Excel sheet. They never had time to even move their eyelids. It was so constraint . Whenever they moved their lips to speak,it was related to work .

Nandini :"Ashwath , Contract curve is not proper just check the values"

Ashwath :"Kya yara..zara tik se dekh.. Yeh to sahi hei Nandini maiyya"

Prapti : "Nandini,look here,the values correspond to report and its accurate."

Nandini: "Yes! I did not notice,but Consolidated income is again different.Wait let me check."

She took a piece of paper and wrote some formulae on it. Calculator was lavishly used and at last "Prapti look here,this the correct answer"

Prapti :"Hmm... yes Nandini"

Ashwath :" Nandini ,Prapti where is file related to Current asset and liability?"

Prapti searched the file and found it "Its right in front of you.check properly Ashwath"

Ashwath:" Hmm lets see whether there are any assets and liabilities for the current year. Bap re Liabilty is more than assets.."

Nandini:"Guys,Muje jor se bhook lag rahi hey..kya khana khane chale. Canteen hogi na ?

Prapti :" han.. jaroor... "

Ashwath :" Guys ,Let me order Pizza! As Canteen will have only dheela dhal and some suki roti which even dogs wont eat"

Nandini :"Pizza va ?"

As soon she heard the word Pizza , Nandini's eyes imagined as her mother Akhila was standing and was throwing scrounful look."Kandada sapidate Nandini"(Dont eat junk food)

Nandini with a cunning smile said " I want one veg extravaganza pizza topped with jalapeno and olives. With extra cheese ,along with garlic cheese dip.One Coke with pizza will take me to paradise ."

Prapti :" Muje a chicken vala pizza chahiye"

Ashwath :" Tike.. Tike.. Pehle number ghumane do..Fir se"

Prapti :"App nahi hei kya Domino's ki.Kya bekar ki phone rakhi hei bina app."

Ashwath :"Shant Shant.. Kya karun yar,mere dost ne format kar diya memory card ko.Sala.ghabad kar raka hei.. "

By 10 ,they finished the dinner. After getting refreshed once again those people sunk deep in their respective work. They were seeing records relating to Swan Telecoms.

Ashwath : "Swan telecoms ki file rakh lete hein reference ke liye. "

Prapti : "Yes,we can always cut ,copy common things"

Nandini: " This is called smart work.Anyways Helen will get praises. We will get work share.Hurray .."

Ashwath : "maiyaa..dheere se Khadoos hei yahan.he hei."

Nandini: "Mr Khadoos, I wonder how their family tolerates him.I don't like any one so serious. I will like only those persons who are always smiling ."

Ashwath: "Tike apne papa se keh dena,jab shadi karte samay useful rehega."

Nandini: " Ashwath ,chup ho jao"

Ashwath: "Nandini,muje lagta hei,tum us Khadoos ke sath hi vivah karoge. Itna ghrina usse.Ghrina ko pyar mein badlne me zyada vakth nahi lagegi."

Nandini : " Tike,man lete hein,kya tum us Helen se shadi karpge,itna ghrina karti ho."

Ashwath: "Maiyaa, Charan saprsh. I cannot imagine her in shadi ke joda aur red lipstick. Yucks! its a nightmare."

Nandini: " ok,ok,bacha hum connection nahi denge uske sath."

Prapti : "Guys,stop this...please for heaven sake.Remember what Sangeetha said.She issued us a warning. So no talks regarding anybody.Am I clear".

Silence was restored in the cubicle.Around midnight they again started to chat while their eyes fixed in their computer screen

Prapti :"Last year turnover is very less compared to previous years. So,Swan is forced to go for Merger with Matrix. Fate of the existing employees are hanging in the cliff. Freshers were refused to be taken in. My heart goes with those new aspirants whose dreams wee chucked off.Now there is rumour that cost cutting is going to be implemented. All except the most talented and hardworking will be shown the door."

Nandini:"This scenario is nothing new. Do you know when Triumph computers was acquired by Technosys.Most of the existing employees were asked to resign .It was somewhat forcible by management. More than that fate of the freshers was still terrible.All their dreams of joining Triumph, was crushed beyond repair. My own Sister Dhanya faced that brunt.Later she got selected In Infosys, Pune.For past 10 years she is working there as Senior Project Manager. Dhanya though is happy and content there,she still loves Triumph deep in her heart as it was her first company."

Prapti :"Yes ,Nandini,Even in the case of Satyam computers,one mistake by management team led to downfall of a big it giant Satyam. All the campus of Satyam except few were forcibly closed citing operational difficulties by new management, Now all those campus stands as a Ghost company in the history of Silicon valley."

Ashwath who was minding his own work all along,upon hearing the word Ghost he started to chat

" Girls ,kya tum log Ghost par vishwas karte ho"

They said yes.

Prapti: Yes ,Ashwath,I have heard lots of ghost stories.My native village in Punjab has many stories related to the sightings of Ghosts. They never venture out on New moon day and during eclipse time

Nandini : "Today is lunar eclipse guys.. Do you know guys? "

Prapti : "Heard Evil spirits gain more power during eclipses and New moon day. I remember ,my grandmother used to tie chilly and lemon in the vehicle whenever our grandpa travels during those times. He was working on a shift rotation. Grandpa cannot avoid traveling in night.Just imagine,in those days to travel in night alone in a TVS 50,how scary and tiring it will be"

Nandini : "Yes ,Prapti.. They say evil will not come near lemon and chilies. In our native place we will keep vibhooti (Holy Ash of Shiv) while traveling during odd hours. We don't keep fragrant flowers or perfumes during night travel . The smell is liked by ghosts . "

Ashwath : "Girls Do you know our floor is haunted.The moment he said haunted a chill went down in spines of Nandini .

Nandini : Ashwath,if you want to do play some prank on me,just leave it.I warn you. I have lots of things to do .

Prapti : Yes Nandini,what he says is true.It is haunted.

Ashwath :"Do you see the corridor there adjoining Chandu mama'cabin Nandini. Right there some 2 years ago , one of our employee jumped from the balcony facing the corridor.That guy had love failure it seems. After that there were many story regarding appearance of partition of that employee sprang up. Chandu mama rubbished off all these story,but for the sake of employees peace of mind ,he had to get havan conducted to pacify the soul and various yantras were kept in the corridor."

Nandini looked at him with fear. He continues "Even today, near record room entrance we can hear sobbing sound . Last year,My friend Harish left the job within a month after he heard that sound.He was scared to work here. You know Nandini,Harish was down with a high fever for 10 days after that experience."

Nandini did not reply and Prapti was murmuring prayers silently.

After 10 minutes of silence

Ashwath :" Nandini,go to the record room and bring the Mr Karwal and Kumar file dated 13-02-2011 ."

Nandini :"No, Ashwath,I cannot go,.. I am scared to even think about that corridor "

Ashwath : "Hanuman chalisa keh do.. kuch nahi hoga. Jana"

Nandini :" I know KandaShasthiKavacham(Sloka on Kathikeya in tamil to ward of evil spirits similar to Hanuman chalisa),even then I will not go"

Prapti :" Dont worry ,I will also come with you"

Nandini :"thank you ,But I cannot venture out"

Ashwath : "Helen se kya bhoot bayanak hogi.. ja na.. Time nahi hei humari pass. "

Nandini :"Tum jao..Pehle Prapti,mein tere peeche avoongi."

Ashwath said " Go and get yara"

Nandini and Prapti reached the record room.She saw lights were flickering in the room.Nandini swallowed a lump in her throat.

Nandini" Prapti lights"

Prapti " Here it is always like that .Don't worry"

Prapti and Nandini went towards the shelves and Nandini was sweating profusely .

Prapti :"Nandini look in that shelf(she points to the shelf ) and I will search here in this side."

The shelf was positioned in a such an angle that Nandini cannot get the view of the other side. While she was searching for records in the shelf,call it either destiny or coincidence. The power went off and the room was pitch dark. Nandini immediately let of a loud shrill . In the dark Nandini held out her hand and stumbled upon a pair of hands .Nandini pulled it towards her and hugged very tightly. The other person though tried to go,Nandini never let it happen out of fear.

"Prapti " Nandini was blabbering .Prapti too got scared and she could not let any words come out from her mouth.She was fixed to the ground where she was standing.

"Prapti. Kaka kaka Kanakavel kaka noka noka nodiyin nokka..Perumaley Srinivasa.(She was saying tamil Sloka on Lord Kartikeya called Kanda Shasti Kavacham )"

But something was wrong !!Nandini's mind issued a warning to her. The person she was holding tight was not a girl at all .Nandini felt a chest which was broad and firm. She could hear other person's heartbeats more louder than hers. Strong fragrance of some men's perfume lingered in her nostrils. "OH no..it is he Ghost of that dead employee "

(To be continued in next post)

Nandini shouted at the top of her voice . The other person was not in a position to say or understand anything ,because Nandini created all dramas and confusion so quickly.Couple of minutes later electricity was resumed soon in the record room . As the lights came Prapti came looking for Nandini ,She was horrified to see Nandini.

Prapti "Nandini,I am here .open your eyes "

Nandini opened her eyes to face another horror of her life. She slowly raised her eyes to see Chandra's cold,starring eyes .Nandini " awwwa"She released her grip from him and murmured "Sorry Sir"

Chandra face was like a volcano erupting; fury sweeping off him like ferocious waves of sea during strom. He said " Get lost" and his voice hit the crescendo.Chandra walked away like a wind from the room. Chandra went inside his chamber and drank a few glasses of water. He sat in his chair with his eyes closed .

Chandrasekhar's cubicle( some time before Nandini came to Record room),

Chandrasekhar was looking at files. He needed some file regarding deficit financing of the year 2014. He called Mr Shukla to bring the file. Chandra waited for him to return,but he was no where to be seen. Instead of wasting time , he went to record room himself.

Busily Chandra was searching the file in the room .Hearing Nandini's shrill,Chandra got confused because he did not actually notice girls coming or listen to their mumbling.He was reading the file so attentively and also those shelves were placed in a such angle where girls cannot get a view of Chandra .When the current went off ,he moved from his place in the pitch dark towards the place where Nandini was standing.Chandra felt someone pulled him and embraced so tightly out of fear.

Later in Nandini's cubicle

Nandini and Prapti returned to their cubicle.

Ashwath :"File dedo"

Nandini took few glasses of water and sat in her chair. She was in state of crude shock

Ashwath :"Maiyya..kya hua,bhoot ko deka kya"

Prapti : " Shayad.us se bhi bayanak dekha ..Isilye Dar ke mare usne Chandu mama ko kas kar pakda liya"

Ashwath :"Kya .?.. "

Ashwath as he heard this words,He went to a state of shock...Ashwath took glasses of water."Prapti tu batao kya hua"

Prapti explained the set of events that happened in that record room.

Ashwath blew a whistle "Wow,yeh to romantic hua.. Chandu mama and Nandini maiyya ..yippee.. Mene isse kaise miss kiya"

Nandini :" Ashwath ,Stop this..You very well know that I don't like him. Stop teasing How will i face my parents.. What they will think about me .I have disgraced my family."

Nandini started to cry."

Ashwath : "Nandini,relax.tension nah le"

Prapti : "Stop crying...Nandini".Prapti gave her water to drink. Nandini finished it in a single gulp.

Prapti :" Do you want some more"

Nandini :" Khadoos shouted at me.. He thought all wrong about me.How will I face him here afterwards. It is hopeless here now. I think I have to pack my baggage to Srirangam. That was chaotic and frenzy ."

Nandini was still thinking about that incident in the record room.

Ashwath :". Chandra will not mind .He will understand that you did not do anything intentionally. The electricity shutdown was the culprit.Let me file a case against E.B board. I am going to sue them for all the damages occurred to Chandra and Nandini. Chandini.Hey It is nice name. Chandra+Nandini =Chandini..Wowie"

Nandini :" Dei Idiot .Aswath ellam unnale padupavi...Unna yaru pei patti solla sonna( Its all because of you Ashwath.Why the hell you said about that ghost .)Nandini has a weird habit to speak in tamil whenever she was in tension."

Ashwath : "Tumne ne kuch galat nahi kiya yara.Tumne chandu mama ko nahi dekha..is me galti kya hei"

Prapti :" Nandini,dont be a stupid. If you feel ,you can always ask apologies from him. Lets us finish the work and submit it ,Then we will think about this matter."

Ashwath : "Wahi sahi.."

Nandini : "I have to ask sorry to him,before he leaves from here. "

Prapti : "Yes,let us wind up these heaps of files else we have to see another bhoot tomorrow"

When they winded up the work ,the time was 5 a. m .The city was preparing it for another day. Nandini wanted to ask sorry from Chandra very badly. Nandini accompanied by her friends went to his room.They knocked the door,but there was no reply from inside.

Prapti "Looks like no one is there"

Ashwath " No,lights are on,He never leaves without switching off the lights and fans.So,he must be in there.Lets us wait for sometime.After few minutes Nandini again knocked the door quiet louder this time.

Nandini: " May be he is asleep"

Ashwath :" Chandu mama,never sleeps like this in office. "

Nandini : "Something is wrong,my mind says so"

Ashwath : "Ok,let us break in and see.What do you say?"

Prapti : "What if he gets angry?"

Nandini: "we will say,we did not get any response from you so we broke in and came to see whether he is alright." Nandini convinced them.

Ashwath gave a harder bang on the door and it got opened .

Nandini:" Ashwath,lets go in"

They went inside the room looking for him. To their shock , Chandrasekhar was lying unconscious on the floor near his table.

Chapter 9 Feelings of Compassion

Nandini and her friends saw Chandra was lying unconscious. They were confused about next course of action to be taken .

Ashwath :Oh no... Hey Ram ji..kya hua inko.Where is the security people,Cant they notice this?

Prapti : Bhool jao unhe un Nalayakon ko. Kahi nahi dikay de rahe,Hum hein na,Jaldi kuch karen.Shukla Sab ko bulao?

Nandini without waiting for anybody took some water from the glass .She sprinkled some water on his face,fortunately he opened his eyes with a beatific smile looking at Nandini " Dhara.. I know ..." He was delirious and started to stare at Nandini .Chandra was not in a position to know where he was and to whom he was addressing too. Chandra could not connect any things what he spoke .

Chandra looking at Nandini " Dhara .. did you come...I know you will come to me. I love you Dhara "

Nandini :Sir.. what happened .I am not Dhara.Myself Nandini,your employee.Please try to understand .

Ashwath : Hey leave it,don't explain him,he will not understand anything.Tum us se bath karti raho..he should not stop speaking else he may enter coma.Shukla sab bhi nahi dikaye de rahe hein. Let him speak what ever he wants. You keep him engaged in a conversation

Prapti : I will call the ambulance and alert the security personnel.Nandini you speak to him,for godsake.

Nandini : Sir.. I know...( With lot of hesitation) yes Iam your wife Dhara Just tell me how do you feel. Do you like to have some water.

Chandra : Dhara.. I want to...have some peace..I want to rest in peace..yes..it is burning here pointing to his heart. Life is cruel to me Dhara...It never gave anything what I wanted.

Nandini : No sir,don't speak like that.. We all are here for you.Would you like to eat some thing.

Chandra : Will you make for me Dhara. ?

Nandini: What do you want?

Chandra: I like it.. can you get that..no it cannot be done.

Nandini : Sure Sir.. I will make it right away.

Chandra patting on her cheeks " I gave you lots of pain and miseries.I am sorry Dhara, I was adamant for that tender ,because my ego you died in the accident.I did not save you..

Nandini notices that he was sweating profusely.She took her kerchief and wiped his forehead. Still he was speaking nothing relevant.Nandini noticed that his head was boiling with a very high fever.

Nandini:" Prapti,get me some more water Fast"?

Prapti :" Why ,What happened Nandini?

Nandini: He is running from high fever. We need to control it,else he may get convolutions.

Prapti brings her water in a glass.Nandini dipped the kerchief in water from the glass and applied it in his forehead.Chandra was mumbling in pain

Shukla came at that point and he was alarmed to see Chandra .

SHukla " Sir.. What happened"

Chandra looking at Nandini alone " Where were you? Bindu is there in our home. Ma is also there. Come with me Don't leave me.. Where is that ring ?

Nandini looking at SHukla " Sir,please do something"

Shukla understood everything in a jiffy and looking at Nandini ",No other way, just speak to him, Don't say that you are not Dhara.It will worsen his condition . Continue speaking ,ask something .

Nandini : Sir, Where were you born?

Chandra : Iam dead ..Iam dead.. Dhara ..please save me..I don't want this company,I will come with you.Ma is mad,she says you are dead.If you are dead,how come you are sitting before me..Common answer me..darling Dhara .

Nandini was unable to respond to his statements.She felt very delicate and embarrassed.She looked at her friends,but they signaled her to continue speaking.Chandra was drifting again.

Nandini gave a tight slap on his face,once again he started to murmur "Dear,today is our anniversary. Nandini started to speak for which he said " Yes,I am late for the dinner. Sorry.. Please talk to me..don't get angry...

Nandini was beating in his knuckles and face alternatively. Shukla made him drink some water ,but he refused.Nandini " Sir how do you feel.

Chandra " agh lag rahi hei" He fell again on the floor and began to stare at the roof of the room" Dhara I am thirsty.. give me water.please Dhara .Wont you quench my thirst?"

Nandini out of a compassion and pity for a soul which was in deep pain ,took him in her laps ,made him drink few sips of water. Ashwath and Prapti helped Nandini to take him in her laps. Chandra touched Nandini's face" I love you dhara..Please don't leave me "

Nandini started to drat some tears for him.For the first time she saw how a death can break anyone so deeply. She understood his intensity of pain.Nandini never liked him as an employer,but she sympathized for his current state of his mental health and pains he is enduring because of it. Not only Nandini,Even Ashwath ,Shukla and Prapti felt their eyes was moistened .Ambulance came at last.

Shukla "Ambulance came ,common Ashwath take him in his arm this side".

With the help of ambulance personnel ,Ashwath and Shukla ,Chandra was taken into it.The ambulance started to go towards Global hospital which was nearer to Matrix. Nandini,Ashwath and Prapti too went along with him to hospital in that ambulance.Shukla went in his bike before to make alert the doctors at Global Hospitals. Shukla requested Nandini to keep Chandra awake and make him to speak before he left for the hospital. Nandini was keeping him engaged all the way to the hospital.Soon,they reached the hospital and Chandra was admitted in the emergency room . Duty doctors were inspecting him and started to give him first aid.

At hospital

Nandinin ,her friends and Shukla were waiting outside the emergency room. SHukla "nandini and Prapti ,it is already late,I think you should go now,Myself and Ashwath will stay with Sir.

Prapti: It is not a problem sir,we will leave after seeing doctor. We want to know his state

Ashwath : Shukla Sir ,kya hua unko

Shukla : arey,tumhe pata na.. Chandra sir is always brooding over the past and these days he does not take good care of himself.Sir does not sleep and skips taking food. So,it all manifested like this .

Ashwath :Did you call his Mother

Shukla : No use ..she will get tense and create a sensational headlines in the hospital itself. I have called his younger sister Preethi.Lets see what the doctor has to say. Then we will do the necessary.

Somewhere in other corner of the room

Prapti: Nandini,Chandu mama loves his wife more than anybody in this worls.See even in unconscious state he takes her name only Dhara is really unlucky to die early.

Nandini: Oh,may be that's why he is not getting married again. Chandu mama cannot love that lady like Dhara. So,I doubt even If he marries,that girl will be just a glorified nanny for his son.

Prapti: Nandini,I guess you are right. We cannot really fall in love twice. If it happens ,It is just an attraction towards them,you cannot call them as love.

Nandini: I would rather call it as Obsession.Yes ,Prapti. We all have that in our mind. That craze we feel for a particular object will be lost as soon as the desire is satiated with the object.

Prapti: Nandini,your words are so rude.

Nandini: Iam speaking the reality Prapti. I really pray god that Chandra should never get married again.He cannot do any justice for that girl whom he is married again.

to be contd in next post