Scene 2: Behind Sid
At the building of Empire State Development, Sid had just reached work in a nick of time. As he entered the building, he was greeted by the receptionist to which he contently smiled. He then went inside the elevator and headed up to the third floor where he went down to his office. Sid dropped his briefcase inside his office and took out some papers and his laptop, heading into the board room for his meeting. "Great! You're on time, Sidhant!" Sid's boss exclaimed. "Ready for your presentation?"
"Of course, sir." Sid nodded.
Sid went in front of the board room, connecting his laptop to show a PowerPoint presentation to present to his colleagues. As he presented, the board members listened to him carefully for the next half an hour. After he finished, the board members clapped for him to which Sid smiled nicely.
After the meeting was over, Sid went back to his office and began working on some documents that were on his desk. Just then, a young Indian man came inside his office and handed him a cup of coffee. Sid turned to him and said, "Thanks, Jeet."
That was Jeet Khurana, Sid's colleague and friend from school days. Jeet always hung around Sid when he wasn't working. But frankly, he really never worked to begin with.
Jeet: How many times will I have to bring your coffee for you?!
Sid: I don't have time to do it myself.
Jeet: Why don't you drink it before coming here? Nisha makes great coffee.
Sid: If I wait for Nisha, I end up getting late to work.
Jeet: Is everything okay between you two?
Sid: Yeah. Why?
Jeet: You two were so much fun before you got married! Now what happened?
Suddenly, Sid's cell phone rang. He picked up his phone to see it was Nisha calling him. He answered the call and said, "Hello?"
Nisha: Hi. How was your meeting?
Sid: It went okay. Do you need anything?
Nisha: I just wanted to check on you.
Sid: Nisha, I'm not a kid. You don't need to call me just to check up on me.
Nisha: Okay, fine.
Sid: Don't you have work today?
Nisha: I'm on my break, Sid. No need to be rude.
Sid: Sorry. Anything else?
Nisha: Listen, I don't think I can cook dinner today. So can I order something?
Sid: Yeah. Do what you want.
Nisha: Are you sure?
Sid: Yeah. Listen, I have to get back to work. I'll talk to you later.
Nisha: Okay. Sid!
Sid: Yeah?
Nisha: I love you.
Sid: You too. Bye.
With that, Sid disconnected the call and put his phone back on his desk. Jeet looked at Sid, nodding his head.
Sid: What?
Jeet: This is exactly what I was talking about!
Sid: What do you mean?
Jeet: Before you both got married, you were always waiting for Nisha's calls! Now you get irritated when she calls you!
Sid: I'm not getting irritated. I'm just busy with work. She doesn't get that.
Jeet: But you don't have a problem with me around?!
Sid: You hardly work to begin with! Nisha works at New York Times! She has her own job. She should understand. That's it!
Jeet: Wow. Life after marriage is really different! I guess I won't be getting married any time soon!
With that, Jeet left Sid's office. As Sid continued to work, he stopped for a moment, pondering over Jeet's words. As he sat in thought, Sid's boss, Mr. Anderson, knocked.
Sid: Sir.
Mr. Anderson: How are you, Sidhant?
Sid: I'm good, sir. And you?
Mr. Anderson: I'm good. Follow me. I want to show you something.
Sid nodded as he followed Mr. Anderson down the hall into what was the newest cabin on the third floor.
Mr. Anderson: Welcome to your new office.
Sid: My new office? Really?
Mr. Anderson: Really, Sidhant! You've been working really hard. And after today's great presentation, I think you deserve it. Enjoy.
Sid: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Anderson: My pleasure. I will send someone to get your things for you.
After Mr. Anderson left, Sid sat down at the seat of his new office desk. As he sat down, Mr. Anderson came back and said, "Sidhant?"
Sid: Yes, sir?
Mr. Anderson: I think you should get your own secretary.
Sid: Why, sir?
Mr. Anderson: You're always working. And I can't have Jeet come to do small favors for you. I'll find someone suitable.
Mr. Anderson then left. As Sid stood in his office, he looked outside in the window. Could Jeet be right? Me and Nisha were better off when we weren't married. Now I feel like something is out of place in our relationship, Sid thought to himself. But what is it?
On the other hand, Shanaya was walking down the street, almost heading to her office. As she walked, her cell phone rang in her bag. She took out her bag and beamed as she saw the number calling her. She answered the call, "Mama!"
Nandita: Hi, Shanaya. How are you?
Shanaya: Great, Mama! And you?
Nandita: I'm fine. How's your day been?
Shanaya: Well I'm almost at work. But you won't believe what happened!
Nandita: What, beta?
Shanaya: There was this Indian boy in the streets. He was playing guitar and singing a Punjabi song.
Nandita: Singing and playing guitar? Really?
Shanaya: I know! I liked his singing, so I gave him four quarters in his hat. But you know what he said?!
Nandita: What?
Shanaya: He called me jaan-e-maan!
Nandita smiled.
Nandita: Jaan-e-maan?!
Shanaya: Yes, Mama! Can you believe it?! I haven't even met this boy before, and he calls me that!
Nandita: Who can blame him?! You're our little jaan-e-maan.
Shanaya: Very funny, Mama! Anyways, I'm at my office now. I'll talk to you later.
Nandita: Sure, Shanaya. Love you.
Shanaya: Love you too! Bye!
After Shanaya dropped the call, Nandita smiled as she sat in the living room of her home. And that's when Raj came inside the room.
Raj: Who was that?
Nandita: Shanaya. And guess what?
Raj: What?
Nandita: I think you have competition, Mr. Crazy Lover.
Raj: Really? Who is it?
Nandita: Shanaya met an Indian boy in the streets. He was playing guitar while singing a Punjabi song.
Raj: Really?!
Nandita: Yes. And to top it off, he called her jaan-e-maan!
Raj: Hayye! Its true! Love is crazy!
Nandita: If only Shanaya believed in the love you believe in.
Raj: She will. I have faith. If love plays the right cards, then Shanaya will meet that boy again. All I want to know is...who is he.
"Anaan!" an older woman called from the front of the house.
And there was Anaan. He had just come back home with his guitar and hat filled with coins and dollars. "Hey, Anu Aunty!" Anaan greeted.
And that was Anu Aunty, Anaan's aunt and caretaker. After Anaan's parents died, Anu Aunty took him in as her own. She herself was lonely after her husband's death. But with Anaan around, she never felt alone.
Anu Aunty: What took you so long?! You said you were going out with friends?!
Anaan: I lied. I went out to sing.
Anu Aunty: I should have known! Come inside! Your food is getting cold!
Anu Aunty brought Anaan to the dining room of her small home, where she served him aloo parathas to eat.
Anaan: Yay! My favorite! You're the best aunty in the world!
Anu Aunty: I'm more than an aunty, Anaan. I'm like your mom.
Anaan: That's true. After all, who else do I have besides you.
Anu Aunty: You were only six when your parents passed away. And by then, your uncle had died as well. But I knew that only you and I could complete each other's loneliness. So what if we don't have lots of money. We're happy, right?
Anaan: Of course! I love you for that!
Anaan gave Anu Aunty a big hug to which Anu Aunty happily returned.
Anu Aunty: When do you plan to apply for a job?
Anaan: Aunty, I only graduated a few months ago. Give me time!
Anu Aunty: You graduated with a music degree. The only question is what to with it!
Anaan: I know what to do, Aunty! Remember the dream! My day will come! I will bring Punjabi music to New York in full swing! Just you watch!
Anu Aunty smiled and kissed Anaan on the forehead.
Anu Aunty: I know your dream will come true one day.
Edited by -Meryl- - 10 years ago
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