Here is chapter 3 for you. Plz press like button and leave your comments. I am busy this week so I might not be able to asnwer all commetns individually right away but as I will get mroe time, I surely will...Plus, I have also added the new characters on page 1
Chapter 3: Not so good News
The employees of KC had hoped to find their boss in a good mood after his engagement the previous day but when he came in, he was clearly in a foul mood. The reason was this new client of his who wanted to get her house renovated. She had, additionally to KC, also appointed another construction company which stood in competetion to KC for the top rank in the business.
"MK, shall I arrange a meeting with Mr Singhania?" Sasha asked a little scared. She had often witnessed Maan blowing a fuse even at the mention of his biggest rival. Maan gave her a glare.
"No ways am I going ot work with that guy. Tell this lady she can find someone else to do her work." Maan was angry but Sasha tried to talk reason.
"MK, if you will not accept this project, Mr Singhania will think you are giving up and accepting that he is better." Maan knew Sasha was right but he didn't want to work with Arjun Singhania. Sasha waited patiently till Maan gave his ok to set up a meeting with Arjun.
Adi was also in a fix. He had received the call in the morning and was glad that Arjun was still not in office. He knew that Arjun would not want to work with Maan at any cost and the reason was quite clear.
"Adi, why are you looking so worried?" Suresh asked when both came to the pantry.
"I am so gonna die today. Our client wants a collaboration between KC and us." Suresh spit the sip of coffee he had in his mouth.
"Poor you. I would rather not tell this to Arjun sir."
"I have no choice. If I won't tell him I am dead and if I tell him he is going to kill me anyways. There is only one person who can handel him."
"Where is she anyways? I haven't seen her this morning." Just then a cheerful voice spoke behind them.
"Mere bare mein soch rahe the? (Were you thinking of me?)" A slim but tall girl stood at the pantry entrance and smiled brightly. She was dressed in a churidar dress and had her waist length dark brown hair brown hair open. Two earrings adored her ears and a little kohl made her eyes look beautiful.
"Arohi, so good you are here. You have to save me from Arjun sir, please." Arohi heard out Adi's problem and chuckled at his plight. She knew that her boss was an angry young man and frightened his employees more than necessary. Everyone liked Arohi dearly because she was the only one who could withstand his anger. They didn't know Arohi's secret wappon but were happy to let her handle Arjun at his worst of moods.
"Don't worry, I will talk to him."
Arjun came in late. He had just come back from Bangalore where he had finalised a long pending deal.
"Good moring sir." They all greeted him and he greeted back. A warm cup of coffee welcomed him and he sat down to start his work.
"May I come in sir?" Arjun looked up and grunted. 'Iska chera dekh liya, ab din bura hi jaega (I have seen her face, now my day is going to go bad for sure)', he thought.
"Yes Miss Arohi, what new problem did you creat this time?" Arohi ignored his remark. She was quite used to his comments and didn't bother. Arjun generally didn't like women much and he made no heed of hiding this fact. Arohi was his secretary and only because Arjun's sisters had interfered in this case. Arjun had protested but there was no way he could win in front of the two ladies that ruled his household.
"Sir, our new client wants to set up a meeting with you." Arjun nodded.
"The thing is that she has also appointed another company to get her work done, that is you and the MD of the other company have to work together."
"What is his name?"
"Maan Singh Khurana." Arohi closed her eyes and clutched tightly onto her file. When the expected blow did not come, she opened one eye and peeped towards Arjun. He was standing in front of her, red with anger, his hands a few millimeters away from her troat.
"YOU KNOW I DO NOT WANT THAT GUYS NAME MENTIONED IN MY PRESENCE"
"I know but this is work and you have to do it" Arjun looked even more angry now.
"Firstly, Maan Khurana will think you are a chicken and secondly, Geet will surely not like hearing you backed off a challenge."
"And who will tell her" Arjun said threatheningly.
"The one who always does." Arohi ran. She was quite good at this game by now. If she wanted Arjun to listen to her, all she had to do was mention Geet. In not one case hadn't it worked.
Arjun was a tad bit too slow and she was out in the corridor before he could call her back. He sat in his chair and thought about it. Somewhere Arohi was right, if he didn't agree for this meeting, Maan will think of him as a coward and he would never give Maan the chance to mock him.
"Adi, call KC and arrange a meeting with Maan." Adi thanked Arohi silently and said he will do it right away.
"And one more thing Adi, the next time if you tell Arohi to do any of your work, I will not spare you."
Annie was going along the shelves which were backed full with all sorts of books. Her visit to the house did not go all that well. The taxi driver dropped her off on the outscirts of the village and drove off, not willing to wait for her. The entire place was deserted and she was not feeling to sure about her decision at that moment. But once she found her house, her opinion changed instanly. It was not a house but a castle. There was an inscription on the wall but it was not readable anymore. The doors were unlocked and swung open. Dead leaves, twigs and dirt lay on the floor and even the windows were not in a good shape anymore. Annie took a small tour of the castle and fell in love with it. The old oil paintings showed beautiful faces, the chandelier looked royal even after so many years and the silky curtains gave the place a nostalgic feeling. She noticed that while many areas looked almost untouched, some parts had become unlivable over the years. Doors were out of their hinges and windows broken open. One corridor was completely blocked by broken furniture and one door was locked with a heavy lock. She was about to touch it, when she heard a voice speak somewhere behind her.
"Kaun ho tum?" Annie's heart almost stopped beating. An old man was standing there, a stick in his hands.
"Excuse me?"
"Who are you I asked?" he repeated with more pressure.
"I am Anvesha Walkers, the new owner of this house." The man's face brightened.
"I don't think you should touch that lock. It is a sacred lock put on to keep all the evil spirits inside the door. Come, let's go back down." Annie threw a last look at the door and came down.
"I am the caretaker of this place even though there is not much I can take care of. This house gives me the creeps even in brought daylight." Annie listened silently.
"After the last few deaths in this place, even the last residence abandoned this village and shifted to the other ones closeby. I strongly suggest you not to stay here for too long and especially not alone."
"Do you know the previous owner of this place?"
"Never met him myself" he answered very quickly. He walked towards a waiting taxi.
"Go Miss, the driver will drop you off in Delhi. I will go back to my house. It is not far from here." Annie drove off and looked back towards the caretaker who was still standing on the road. Once Annie was out of sight, he hinked towards his jeep and made a call.
"Ji sahab wo yahin aai thi. Maine usse bagha diya. (Sir, she came here alright. I send her away.)" The man listened and said he will finish the work.
But Annie didn't let all this scare her. The castel might have been abandoned but she felt as if she was home. The place was so welcoming to her that she decided against all advice given to her and arranged for someone to renovate and rebuild the castle. For that, she had inquired about a good construction company and found that while KC was famous for their architectural work, Singhania Constructions specialised in renovation. This fitted her well as she wanted to get one part of the house, which had been burnt down and closed, completely taken down and renewed. She sighed and checked for her funds. Her dad had left her off well but she wanted to keep the money for a rainy day. She faught with herself and gave in to her heart's desire.
Annie came out of her toughts, when she bumped into someone. She lost her balance and fell while she was showered with a couple of books.
"Ouch" she said and rubbed her head, where two books had hit her.
"I am so sorry, I didn't see you coming." A young man helped her up and started collecting the books.
"It is ok, I was somewhere else with my mind, too." Annie gave the man a smile and he smiled back. Then he focused on his books.
"Were you looking for something particular, by the way?" the man asked when he had all the books in his hands again.
"Not really. I was just killing my time."
"Hmm, I recommend Anvesha Walkers' books. They are quite good." Annie smiled brightly.
"Thank you" she said and made the man wonder. When he didn't pick up the clue she said a little embarressed:
"I am Anvesha Walkers." The man let the books drop and they fell on Annie's feet.
"Ouch." Now the man turned bright red.
"I am so sorry, I ' I'"
"It is ok." Annie stepped away from the heap at her feet.
"I just can't believe I am talking to you. I have been trying to get in contact with you for a long time now. I even flew to Italy but found out that you have left from there. You see, I work in a publishing house here in Delhi. I have read all your books and think they would do quite well here. The only reason they haven't been selling so well till now is because of the publisher being foreign." He spoke quickly and with much exitement.
"Would it be possible for you to meet my boss?" he pleaded with a big puppy face. Annie laughed.
"My old contract is over but I am not sure about writing any more books. I am kind of lacking inspiration right now." But he didn't let go of her so easily.
"Please Miss, just talk to my publisher. I am sure you two can arrange for something." Annie agreed and left her phone number with the guy.
"I am usually free during the day so just give me a ring."
"Great, thanks Miss."
"Call me Annie.
"Thanks Annie, I am Romeo."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Characters: Arohi, Arjun, Caretaker
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
32