Part 2
"Di!...Di!...Kahaan hain aap?", Khushi ran down the stairs, with her cellphone plastered against her ear, as she looked around frantically for Anjali.
Not spotting her anywhere, she tunred to run down the corridor, only to see Anjali come rushing out of the library, a few files clutched close, her cellphone held tight in her hand, a broad grin splitting her face.
Before she could utter a word, Khushi spoke up, "Ji, Sir, ek minute hold keejiye, hum aapko Ms. Raizada se baat karvaate hain. Saare scheduling aur agreement ke baatein who hi handle karti hain", before promptly handing the phone to a gob-smacked Anjali, who mouthed "Kaun" to Khushi, only to have her shake her head and do an on-the-spot jig in her excitement.
Shaking her head, Anjali took the phone, an in front of her sister-in-law's admiring eyes, transformed from her gentle Anjali Di into the cool, composed, Ms. ASR. Aftersending Arnav off to office, Khushi was busy straightening up their room and getting ready for her day at Pratheeksha when her phone had rung. Pre-occupied in planning the menu for the day's function, it had taken her a moment to recognise that the voice speaking over phone was Mr. Goyal, one of the biggest industrialists in town, and an important client of the ARH, what with his corporate account being managed by ARH for over five years.
And at his jolly booming voice informing her that he had decided that he wanted 'Annapoorna', of which he had been hearing rave reviews to cater his upcoming annual charity ball, Khushi had fairly jumped out of her skin, and barely managing to piece together a coherent sentence about Anjali being the one handling the scheduling, had run downstairs. Having attended his ball the past year, she knew what a grand function it was, and what a coup it would be if Annapoorna could carry it off successfully. the publicity from that one event would keep them booked through the year!
So engrossed was Khushi in her daydreaming that she started as she heard the tail end of Anjali's response, "... I'm really sorry. Hum ummeed karte hain ki aapko koi suitable firm mil jaayein... Nahi, Mr. Goyal, pehle se hi scheduling aur agreement ho chuki hain, aur hum yeh tod nahi sakte, kisi ke liye bhi... thank you, for your appreciation. Ok, bye."
Looking up to see Khushi standing as if someone had stolen her Jalebis, Anjali smothered a grin, even as disappointment coursed through her. At the sputtering question from her sister-in-law at having turned down the offer, Anjali sighed, "Kya karein, Khushiji, humari woh Wedding Reception, Mr. Khanna ke bete ka, ussi taareekh ko hain. Aur itni short notice mein hum agreement nahi tod sakte..."
Her face falling, as she remembered the other commitment, Khushi replied, "Koi baat nahin, Di. Aur bhi bahut saari maukaayein ayenge. Chalo, ab humein nikalna hoga, varna taiyyaariyan shuroo karne mein der ho jaayegi", refering to their event of the day.
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They were on their way to Pratheeksha when Khushi's phone rang, the familiar ringtone making her smile fondly. Answering the call, she said, "Ji, Arnavji?"
His voice softening in a smile, Arnav said, "Khushi, why did you turn down Mr. Goyal's offer? Jaanti ho kitna valuable client ho sakta tha?"
"Hum jaante hain, Arnavji, lekin hum aur kya karte, ek prior booking tha, aur woh hum aise hi cancel nahi kar sakte hain naah?', Khushi sighed.
Heaving a big sigh himself, Arnav replied, "Di ko phone do..."
Grimacing slightly as she took the phone Khushi had held out, anticipating a yelling, Anjali said, "Hello...", only to hear a big sigh from the other end, "To think that this is the woman who I've always called 'Sayani'!"
Surprised by this sudden proclamation, Anjali stuttered, "Huh?... Yeh kya bol rahe ho, Chotte?"
"Di, Mr. Goyal ka account aapke liye bahut important and profitable hoga, and I would've thought that someone with your business skills would've found some way or the other to remain in the loop with him."
Brushing aside her justifications, he continued, "Di, aapki poori staff toh engaged nahi honge, naah? Uss din? Toh why now hire a make-shift crew to help you out, or even partner with another smaller firm to cater for the event? Decorations toh aap additional hired crew se aaraam se karva sakte ho..."
The silence on the other end telling him that the wheels were turning indeed in his 'Sayani' Di's head, Arnav bid her goodbye and kept the phone down, smiling to himself at how much he was enjoying this new enterprise that his wife and Di were running. He would do all he could without coming out from behind the curtains.
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It was a grinning Anjali who greeted her brother that evening. His questioning look morphing into deep laugh, he asked, "Di... toh final decision kya liya?"
The answering hug squeezing the very breath out of him, Arnav gathered his sister close in a hug, smiling over her head at his wife, who too was fairly jumping up and down in her excitement. And it would take on a new dimension, the results being anybody's guess.
Author's Note:
And here's the long-delayed second chapter. Work pressure, illness of mother, death of mother's cousin,... the list is quite big... but I'm back now!
Please leave your comments, next chapter will be up next Tuesday... Enjoy!
Anupamaa
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