Chapter 5
"A cockroach? In my house? Impossible. I believe Ammi just got the pest control done last week..." Sahir was indignant. Tolerance and co-existence with the creepy-crawlies in the house was not his cup of tea.
Aarzo in the meanwhile had gathered all her marbles back. She freed herself from Sahir's arms and stepped back.
"I just opened the cupboard and there...it flew out of nowhere! I just ran out of the room..."
"Ok, let's check..." Sahir gestured to a manservant who quickly equipped himself with an insecticide spray and a broom.
The manservant entered the room first, swept his visual radar across the room and soon declared an all clear'.
The next one to enter the room was Sahir, with a mock show of confidence. He too looked around and found nothing. The room was spotlessly clean. He turned to Aarzoo, who stood at the threshold, ready to bolt away at the first sign of the winged arthropod.
"See? There is nobody here. As I told you, Ammi had got pest control done just last week. Anyway, the manservant will check the room thoroughly once again. And now please excuse me..."
It was a strange coincidence that the arthropod decided to crawl out of its hiding place and fly to the shoulder of the Master of the house, at that very instance.
Aarzoo was the first one to notice the unwanted guest nestling on Sahir's shoulder. Mouth hanging open, her eyes widened with pure shock as her hand shot out gesturing towards the arthropod nestling smugly against the collar.
The manservant was the next one to notice the insect on his Master's shoulder. He slowly raised the aerosol towards the retreating back and then lowered it on second thoughts. He certainly wasn't going to harm his Master just for the sake of one small denizen of the house.
The Master of the house was totally unaware of the event. He had almost reached the corridor when his mobile buzzed with an incoming call.
The buzz had a strange effect on the insect perched on his shoulder. The vibration alarmed the insect and it flew back to the relative safety of the room.
Its return flight evoked mixed response from the inhabitants of the room.
Aarzoo screamed at the top of her voice.
The manservant raised the insecticide aerosol once again and lowered it indecisively as the cockroach found its sanctuary on Aarzoo's dupatta this time.
Aarzoo's scream alerted the Master, who rushed back to the room in alarm. And then stood mesmerized as a hitherto unknown scene unfolded in front of him.
Arzoo tore off her dupatta in a vain effort to get rid of the insect, her hand and leg movements jerky and random. The cockroach flew out of the window, away from the noisy turmoil, to a place of relative peace and safety.
"What the heck..."
"The cockroach...was very much there. It flew out as soon as your back was turned, landed on your shoulder first and then on my dupa...Oops!" The wild gestures along with the blabbering brought on an awareness which was missing so far, and Aarzoo crossed her hands to her bossom and turned away, but not before giving a flash vision to the others of her ample assets.
There was complete silence in the room for a while, punctuated by the rustling of the leaves outside and the curtains on the window.
Sahir was stunned beyond comprehension. The sight, even though it had lasted less than a minute, was enough to unnerve even a saint. He was anyway beginning to have serious doubts about himself in that matter.
The manservant swallowed nervously, unsure of the next course of action.
Sahir was the first to recover as he sighted her dupatta lying near his feet. He glared at the manservant who lowered his eyes and beat a hasty retreat.
Sahir quietly picked up the dupatta and left it on the bed.
"You can be comfortable now...I am leaving the room. And hurry up, we are getting late!" Arzoo turned around abruptly just in time to see Sahir leave the room. She hastily donned the dupatta and ran down the stairs to the front porch.
"Hop in, we are getting late!" Sahir held the door of the car open for her. She got in the back seat and the car started spontaneously.
There was awkward silence in the car for a while.
"Sir..."
"Yes?"
"I heard an ambulance came in the morning. Is someone sick?"
"Yes, Kurti Aapa has persistent backpain these days. So I sent her to a hospice nearby!"
"I see..."
"Aarzoo..."
She looked at him with askance. He was lost in thoughts.
"I want to assign an important responsibility to you. I am sure you can handle it!"
"Me? What responsibility?"
"Can you manage the entire Jannat collection?"
To say that Arzoo was taken aback was an understatement. She cleared her throat hastily, not sure whether she had heard it right.
"The prestigious Jannat collection? You plan to handover its management to...me?"
"Hmmm, Yes. You see any problem there?"
Aarzoo was silent for a while. A bitter past incidence slowly surfaced.
"But why me, Sir? I am sure Anam Ma'm can do a better job!"
"Anam is elsewhere now. So I ask you directly. Do you foresee any problem with handling this portfolio?"
Aarzoo shook her head.
"I ...I don't see any problem Sir..."
"Good. We are there, anyway. See me in my cabin in ten minutes!"
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And that set the tone of the time to come. Aarzoo quickly learnt the meaning of being dropped in the deep end of the proverbial pool without even a life support' as Sahir was a hard taskmaster. She quickly went through the entire collection codified and catalogued it. This done, she set about deciding on the yarn and colour combinations for each design. It was mid afternoon when a small grumble from her metabolic machinery reminded her of sustenance.
"Hey...no lunch today?" Linda's voice broached her surroundings and she looked up hastily. Linda placed a tray of sandwiches on her table. Aarzoo was visibly flustered.
"But who...I mean, I didn't order them..."
"Of course you didn't. Sahir Sir sent them for you!"
The mention of the name sent her eyes darting to his cabin subconsciously.
The cabin was empty. Linda read through her thoughts.
"Sir has gone for a meeting. He will be back by four...he wants this work done by then. So, it is going to be a working lunch for you and... good luck!"
Arzoo was perplexed.
"Why the good luck wish?"
Linda leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Ohhh you are working with Sahir Sir for the first time, right? You will quickly re-define the term work-alcaholic'...hence the wish. There are many who couldn't keep up with him. Hope you survive!"
Aarzoo took the cue and went back to her work, taking an occasional bite.
She slid the final design in the folder and stretched herself as the clock stuck four, containing herself just in time. Sahir had walked in sometime back and was beckoning to her.
Gosh, how quickly time flew here! She swore under her breath and entered his cabin, the folder of catalogued designs balanced in the crook of her arm.
He waved her to the seat across his perch and broached the topic straightaway.
"You are done?"
"Yes Sir. Please have a look..." She neatly placed the folder in front of him. "These are all catalogued and codified, the code is here in my notebook...I intend to formalize the codes once you approve them. And these are the colours and the yarn for each design. Again Sir, this is what I feel would be the best, but you can correct me..."
Sahir picked up the folder and smiled in relief. So his judgement had not been misplaced.
"Sir, and this one design I couldn't understand..." She abruptly stood up and leaned towards him, fingers pointing to a complex sketch in his hand.
"Wha..." Sahir, initially alarmed at the sudden movement, found himself staring at one of the most fascinating sights in the world. And the world came to a standstill.
Milky white peaks of desire, barely contained by her lingerie, heaving and collapsing with every tide of breathing... and then there was the fragrance of her perfume...mild and yet refreshing...Sahir stopped breathing for a minute and completely lost track of what was being pointed out to him. He was being painfully aware of the erotic sensations emanating in his body, his intellectual process defying all diktats of the conscious being... Aarzoo, on the other hand, continued in her enthusiasm, totally unaware of the havoc she was causing to the sensory system of the person sitting across the table.
Why was today being so tantalizing? The morning had brought on a vision which he had only imagined. Then the cockroach episode...had enforced the vision further. And now this...was something beyond his wildest fantasies. He idlly wondered what the next vision would be...would he be actually touc...
"Sir?"
"Ehh?" Sahir came back to the present as she sat down in her chair and the bewitching sight was turned off. Aarzoo cleared her throat.
"I just couldn't find a good yarn as well as a colour combination for it. What is this meant for...is it a part of the bridal trousseau?"
"Yes, it can be that...Maybe you can think of some bridal colours for that? And try a combination of Jute and silk..." was all that he could muster without sounding extraordinarily out of context.
"Fine Sir...I will try that. Just give me some time!" Sahir slumped in his chair, glad that she had finally left his senses to his own command. He closed his eyes and palmed them for some time, wishing that the image imprinted on his retina would stay forever.
He was so lost that he missed on Zaki's entry, who promptly took up station across the table.
"So, Bhai Jaan...Enjoyed?"
"Wha...what did you say? Enjoyed what?"
"Oh come on, Bhai Jaan...You know what I am talking about. Jahanaara is certainly quite resourceful, won't you say?"
"Shut up, Zaki!" Sahir hoped to sound forceful, but the quiver in his voice was a dead giveaway. His ears were burning hot anyway. Zaki smiled a knowing smile.
"Well, I just meant her designing skills. What did you assume?"
"Zaki!" Sahir's fingers toyed with a paperweight.
"Ok, Bhai Jaan...Let me escape before you start throwing things at me!"
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Arzoo was lost in thoughts. She had completed her work for her day and a refreshing bath later, was more than willing to dive in the bed and let the world around her shut itself. But something kept her awake. What was it?
The day had begun with her sighting the cockroach. She had run out, screaming in terror. And then he had held her in his arms, comforting her.
And then, she had thrown off her dupatta to shake off the winged culprit. In her world, the act symbolized the loss of one's chastity. Ammi would be surely scandalized, had she been there.
And he had protected her and yet, made no transgression on her personal space.
What sort of a man was he? The grapevine at Saiyyara was potent with the fact that he was an eligible bachelor. So, did he have a woman in his life? Nobody had mentioned about it. What sort of a lover was he? She hugged her dupatta, her fingers caressing the smooth fabric, where his fingers could have been...what would it be like to be loved by him? Her hands all over her body, his luscious lips on hers, probing hers to open, his darting tongue tasting the recesses of her mouth, eyes burning with desire...
Her mobile trilled to indicate a message and Aarzoo jumped out of her dream. She looked at the caller ID and swore softly to herself.
It was from Sarfaraz.
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Indias Got Talent 11
Cricket
Anupamaa
