Chapter 9: Its Business Time
The two men walked to the receptionist and introduced themselves. The receptionist was busy checking the two men and so didn't give attention to what they said. Sensing the situation getting out of hands, the shorter man cleared his throat to break the receptionist's trance and spoke.
Man 1: Hi we are the directors of ASP Constructions and we have a meeting scheduled with Mr Vardhan Suryavanshi at 11. Could you guide us?
Receptionist: Sure why not. Here please wear these visitor passes. Take the elevator on the left and go to the 5th floor, the conference room is there.
Man 1: Thank you. Randhir?
He called out to Randhir and handed him the visitor pass. They started walking towards the elevator and went to the 5th floor as instructed by the receptionist. Once they came out of the elevator there was a long corridor with amazing pictures hanging. All the pictures were of various buildings, towers, monuments, etc. Each had its own significance. Randhir and Jiggy just stood there mesmerized. They were admiring the last picture when they heard a man clearing his throat. They truned to find Mr. Vardhan standing.
Randhir: Good morning sir.
Vardhan: Good morning Mr. Shekawat, Mr Patel.
Jiggy: Good morning sir.
Vardhan: Shall we? And please address me as Suryavanshi. Its business time.
Randhir and jiggy in unision nodded their head and they went inside. Once they were in, they saw a young girl sitting at her position and just going through the various papers. There were other board members too who were busy discussing about the collaboration.
Vardhan: Am glad your already here Miss Agarwal.
Sanyu: Good morning Mr. Suryavanshi.
As she turned she saw the other two men, and immediately recognized them to be the Directors of ASP Construction. So she continued.
Sanyu: Good morning gentlemen! I assume you both are the Directors of ASP Constructions with whom O&S Industries are planning for a collaboration.
Man 1: Yes mam.
Sanyu: Please address my by my surname. Lets not be very formal. And you are?
Man 1: Am Jignesh Patel and he is
"Can we skip this inroduction to the end? We are actually running behind schedule." Came a woman's voice as she entered the room.
Sanyu: Good morning Miss Oberoi.
Miss Oberoi: Good morning Miss Auditor.
Sanyu: mr. Suryavanshi, where is Mr. Mehta? I believe he has the hardcopy of the agreements?
Vardhan: Yes he does and as usual he's late.
Just when he was about to take his cell phone and call Mr.Mehta and blast him, a man in his late forties entered the room carrying a a breifcase.
Vardhan: Mr.Mehta you are late again.
Mehta: Am sorry Sir. Got held up in traffic.
Vardhan: excuses and nothing but excuses.
Miss Oberoi: Its ok Vardhan. Ho jaata hai kabhi kabhi
Vardhan: Ya right! Anyway so shall we proceed.
All: Yes
Vardhan: So we are aware of the meeting's agenda. So we skip the introductory matters and enter into the main matter. So Mr.Mehta what do you think about the deal?
Mr.Mehta: Sir, the deal is exceptionally good. Am pretty sure you will not be in a position to get a better foreign collaboration than this. My assistants have done the background check of ASP Constructions and the best thing is that the roots are from India and hence they get a clean background chit. Am sorry gentlemen but its our routine procedure to have a check on the people with whom we have business dealings.
Varshan: Good. So gentlemen do you have anything to say?
Man 2: Yes Mr.Suryavanshi
Saying this he got up from his place inserted the cd into the player, adjusted the projector and got comfortable in his place and started explaining the pros and cons of the collaboration. In 15 minutes he completed the presentation with style. At the end when he asked if there were any questions, he was flabagastered when indeed there was someone who had questions regarding his presentation. He thought that this person must be a fool to not understand these things. To maintain decency he asked the person to go ahead with the query.
Sanyu: Well everything seems to be good and perfect. I've gone through the documents and there seems to be no loophole. But I just have one question, why do you want to collaborate with O&S Industries when you had many other options.
Man 1(Jiggy): Miss Agarwal. This company is led by the top most industrialists in the world. Who would miss a chance to join hands with such a company. And moreover, this company is from India and I would love to do something for my home country.
Sanyu: Well answered. We were expecting such an answer. I just have one last question. When you were explaning the project, the land where you are expecting your dream to turn true is under litigation. As its occupied by the local slum people. Moreover, the land is situated in a remote place and its almost inaccessible. How do you think this will be viable and what about the slum people?
Well Jiggy was left with no answer. And so was Randhir as he was busy cursing himself for not looking into such an important thing which could actually cost him the whole deal at the same time he was impressed with the way the auditor worked. Soon he gained his calm and spoke out.
Man 2(Randhir): Thanks for pointing it out Ms.Agarwal. I really apologise for not looking into such an important matter. Well if the land is under litigation, then we would have to wait till the same is cleared. Since we know that the litigation has been framed by the local slum people, I would recommend that we talk once to them and sort the things out. We could probably build them new houses where they can reside. And the next thing about accessibility to the place, am pretty sure every place is like that before its developed. Once the area is developed, am dead sure it will be more accessable.
He was confident with his reply and was sure they'd crack the deal. Soon Sanyukta gave her approval in an affirmative nod. And as expected Vardhan spoke out
Vardhan: Congratulations Mr.Shekawat,Mr patel.
Miss Oberoi: The deal is yours. We expect you to meet the standards of the people and serve the needy.
Randhir: Definitely Miss Oberoi. Thank you.
With this Randhir and Jiggy shook hands with the entire board and at last with the Chartered Accountant. As soon as Randhir came in front of her, she saw his eyes, and a shiver went through her. She could not come to terms with reality. She was in some dreamland as she was totally immersed into his black eyes.So was he. Both were brought back to this world as her phone buzzed. She broke the eye contact and started seraching for her cell in her bag. And once she found it she picked it up with joy.
Sanyu: Bhai!!!! How are you? You were supposed to present here for the meeting.
Bhai: Sorry princess. Woh actually the work I came for here got delayed. Waise are you free this evening. I wanna meet you before going back home.
Sanyu: Sure bhai! Aap office aajao. Bye. Take care.
With this she cut the call and turned to see Randhir and Jiggy waiting for her.
Sanyu: Hey sorry guys. It was my brother.
Jiggy: Its ok Miss Agarwal
Sanyu: Well Jignesh, the meeting is over. You can address me by my first name. hi am Sanyukta Agarwal.
Hearing the name, Randhir was stunned. He found the name to be very familiar but he was just not able to recollect.
Jiggy: Hi Sanyukta. Am Jignesh and this is Randhir Singh Shekawat.
Randhir held out his hand which she shook again, this time being very soft as this was freindship handshake.
Randhir: If u don't mistake me can I ask you something?
Sanyu: Yes?
Randhir: Have we met before? You look very familiar.
Sanyu: Well I would have asked you to stop flirting if it was any other time. But what an irony. Even I feel I've met you earlier.
Randhir: Hmmm. We'll soon find out. Wanna catch up for coffee?
Sanyu: Well am really sorry. I gotta catch up with my bro this afternoon. He's going back to Ahemdabad this evening.
Randhir and Jiggy in unision : Ahemdabad?
Sanyu: Why? Even you guys are going?
Jiggy: No. But our parents are going. Basically we are from Ahemdabad. So
Sanyu: Oh wow! Even am from Ahemdabad. Dad has his Head Office there. I take care of the Delhi branch while my brother takes care of the Mumbai branch. Actually we have a few visitors. Even I was supposed to go. But I will go after this project starts.
Randhir: Oh.. even we would be going there after the project is starts. Maybe we could find out if we know each other or not. And now its definitely certain that I do know you.
Sanyu: Ok I gotta leave. This is my visiting card. Contact me if you guys need any help.
Randhir: Thank you. And this is mine. Take care.
Jiggy: Tell our love to your bhai.
Sanyu stood there for a second, smiled at the two of them and dashed out. As soon as she was out, Randhir took the card and noted her number and address in his Phone. Jiggy saw this and started teasing him. Suddenly Randhir became serious and said
Randhir: Sach mein Jiggy. I think I know her very well.
Jiggy: Kahin yeh basanti nahi?
Randhir never thought on those lines. But he immediately said
Randhir: Arey nahi yaar. Her eyes are totally different and sanyukta's eyes are different. Basanti has brown eyes. But sanyukta's is some sort of greyish.
Jiggy: Yeh sab bhi note kar liya hai kya?
Randhir: Chal ab. Mom dad and uncle aunty are also leaving this evening. See of nahi karna hai kya?
Both left O&S Industries with a smile on their faces as they had cracked the deal and this was no less than a festival to celebrate for them.
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
708