Confession #1 : The world is really really small. Now I understand why!What was the thing that fascinated you the most when you were a kid? To me, it was rain. Small droplets of water falling from the sky like a shower; I used to think that it was magic. My mother used to say that the rain comes when the God above in heaven is extremely happy or is extremely sad. I don't know what's his mood is today but mine, I am feeling depressed right now. Sometimes I wonder, for what sins I am getting punished for. I lost my parents, and then my step-mother made mine and my brother's life hell. Though I escaped from that hell 9 years ago but do you expect an 18 year old girl to be prepared to face the brutal world alone? I managed it somehow. But today! It's my birthday today and I am right now working my ass off to finish making this huge 5-tier dark chocolate cake for an engagement party.
"Anika! Is the cake ready?" asked Swami. Swami Narayan Krishna Murthy, the owner of Murthy's Cakes and my employer. In his mid 40's, Swami along his wife runs this bakery, both of them are really good people.
"What do you think I am making? A cupcake? Perfection needs time Swami." I replied back with an eye roll.
"Don't be rude kid." Me? A kid? For God's sake I am 27 years old woman! "I know it was supposed to be your day off but we need to deliver this order by tomorrow morning, they loved the sample of the cake you had baked for your birthday. And you know that no one here can bake this perfection." He said pointing his finger at the cake I was now applying icing at.
"And that is all your fault." Using a spatula I placed more icing on the top of the cake. Uuummm...the aroma of Oreo-cookies and chocolate cream mix is delicious. I sniffed loudly; I should be eating this thing right now and not making it for someone else.
"Don't torture yourself kid." Swami chuckled, " Just finish this cake up. The sooner you do that the sooner you can go home."
I placed the final and fifth tier of the cake on the revolving plate and begin icing it but not before placing the other one in the refrigerator, "It will take me whole night to make this, my birthday night."
I could clearly see the apology written ask over his face. We don't actually get orders as huge as this one, it's the very first time that we got an order from a hotshot family, so it was very important for Swami to complete this order as this might get is some more of such huge orders.
"I told you I am really sorry for that..." Feeling a little bad for trading him about the situation to much, I interrupted him before he could apologize again and said, "I demand a day off tomorrow!"
"You enjoy the weekend." Wow that means two days off and a Sunday. Three days free, hhmm, " I owe you that for causing disruption in your birthday plans." Swami said in guilt laced tone.
"Hey its okay." I smiled, "I was just messing up with you. Now that I have no work for the next three days, I can take Sahil to that science museum. Thank you."
Swami smiled, worry lines disappeared from his face, "Glad to hear that. Now hurry up, get this cake ready fast."
"On it boss!" Swami went away leaving me with the damn cake alone. The cake aka "perfection" is my mother's recipe which of course I am not sharing with you because its a family secret. There are many fond memories associated with this cake. I remember how me and my Dad used to fight for the last slice. Those are fond memories but they always bring tears into my eyes.
I sometimes wonder what my live would have been if my Mom and Dada weren't dead. No! Don't go there again Anika!. It is better to live what you have than to dream about what you can't, it always hurt. Wiping my tears I placed the now iced cake in the refrigerator and brought out different color fondant. The cake will take time to set till then I can finish making the fondant decorations I am gonna use for the cake.
Tring Tring Sahil Calling...Trrriinngg Trrriinngg Sahil Calling...
I hastily picked up my cell phone and answered the call, "Hello"
"DiMaa! Kahan ho aap? Itni der se aapka intezaar kar raha hoon main." Sahil, my brother called me by the name "DiMaa" it's a combination of Didi and Maa. It happened on his 10th birthday when he questioned me where our family was, I didn't want to keep this a secret I told him the truth, the whole truth. Since that day he started calling me DiMaa, says that I am more his mother than a sister. It's... overwhelming.
"Sahil I can't come. Aaj ek bohot bada order aaya hai and they liked our choco-crunch cake so..."
"Aap apne birthday waale din bhi kaam karoge? What about the plans we made? Nahi! You can't do this to me! Come home now!" Sahil whined. Good lord! That kid is really demanding.
"I am free this weekend Sahil. Aur hum kal chalenge na ghumne. Aaj mujhe kaam hai, please understand na."
"This is not done!" Sahil whined and I cringed at the shrilling sound of it. He really has an awesome set of vocal chords.
"Bachha please understand na. Hum mera birthday kal celebrate karenge and now we have 3 days to enjoy. I'll also take you to that science museum okay?!."
"Fine." he muttered in a low voice.
"Good. Now go finish your homework. Mujhe raat ko ghar aane mein der ho jayegi so Mishra Aunty will come there, okay? Aunty ko pareshaan mat karna and don't wait for me as well. Khana kha kar so jaana. Theek hai?"
"Yeah yeah."
We talked for free more minutes and then I was back in action, "Come on Anika. Let's get done with this." I cracked my knuckles and started making the fondant flowers humming my favourite song along.
The next day
"Haayyewwwhha.." I yawned loudly earning comical stare from Sandeep, he's Murthy's delivery boy. I had to do some last minute decorations on the cake so I came along. I shot an angry glare towards him. He finds this funny? Good damnit! I was awake the whole night making that delicious cake. I shouldn't have washed my hair, it always makes me more sleepy.
Now I am standing in front of an epic example of architecture, "The Oberoi Mansion" Sandeep was in awe of it, the tone of his voice said it all. Oberoi..hhmm...nah! Why would he be here? He isn't the only Oberoi in the world.
"Kya kaam hai?" asked a watchman while the other one was eyeing us suspiciously. Idiots.
"Hum yahan cake deliver karne ke liye aaye hain. For the engagement party?!" said Sandeep.
"Ek minute ruko." said the watchman and went in his booth to make a call. He came out after talking for two minutes. By every passing second I was losing my patience, I have been awake the while night, haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning, don't you blame me for being cranky.
"Aap log jaa sakte hain." the watchman said that as if he was doing is a favour by letting us go inside. The other watchman op penned the gates, me and Sandeep sat back inside our can and drove inside. The place looked huge from outside, it was actually enormous.
Just one word for the beauty, "Incredible!" Despite how much beautiful it was, the mansion lacked something. I don't know what but something made me feel as if there was something missing. Before I could feel on my said feeling a moment longer, we stopped in front of the main door.
Hopping off my seat I walked towards the door with lazy moves and knocked out hard. Hadn't the watchman informed that we are here? Why wasn't the door open? Frustrated I knocked at the door again and rang the door bell three times. The door still didn't open. I was about to start bearing the door hard with my fists and feet when a soft voice came from behind.
I turned around and saw a girl dressed in black pencil skirt and a full sleeves white shirt. She looked elegant, in comparison I must have looked like a clown in my comfortably loose kurta, palazzo pants and messy hair.
"I am sorry Ma'am. Please come." Ma'am? "Actually the party has just begun so we have to go from the back door."
The girl lead us inside the mansion through the back door and then to the kitchen. "Do you need any help?" the girl asked.
"No, I'll manage. Thanks." the girl did a little now and went away. Sandeep helped me setting up the cake and adding dowels for stability. Once I was sure that each piece was placed perfectly I started decorating it but what a second, where's the box that had all the items I am gonna use to make this cake beautiful looking.
"Sandeep!" I whined. "Kya bhool gayi?" He sighed.
"Van mein ek blue color ka box jhoga, usse le aao please."
"Okay."
Letting out a deep breath I open the refrigerator and press myself a glass of cold water. I wish this ends fast, I will then go back home and sleep for hours.
"Excuse me." I turned on my head fast to face the person who had yelled in a familiar tenor. "Oh crap!" Due to sudden and careless move I slipped over a dowel that was lying on the floor. Oh shit! My head's going to crack. I closed my eyes out of fear as I was about to hit the hatred tiled floor. But...
Instead of hitting the floor I felt myself suspended in air, someone was holding me from my waist. I kept my eyes close fearing the worst but still nothing happened. "Tum!" I heard that familiar voice again. Opening my left eye at first and then the second I found myself staring into the eyes of one of my greatest mess up. His name, Shivaay Singh Oberoi.
Approximately 25 hours ago hours ago
Mom's 27th letter.
I smiled tearfully and I'm hugged the letter to my chest. When my Mom got to know that she was suffering from cancer and wasn't going to be there for me and Sahil, she had then started to write these letters for me. Her letters have guides me in ways I couldn't explain. She had told me to open one letter per birthday.
I opened out and started reading;
Meri pyaar beti, Anu
Today is your 27th birthday aurr mujhe tum logon se door gaye 14 saal beet gaye hain. Main tumse door zaroor hoon but you know na that I am looking at you from above. I may not be with you as person but I am alive in your memories. 27 saal ki ho gayi ho tum, you are a big girl now. Literally. I hope that you got everything you dreamed of. And I really really wish ki tumhe tumgara Prince Charming mil gaya ho ga ab tak.
I pouted, "There's no Prince Charming."
Aurr agar nahi mila hai toh mil jayega. Just like that Cinderella story I used to read for you. One day a Prince will come riding his white horse and take you with him to his castle, marry you and have cutesy babies.
"Mom!" I was appalled.
What? Don't feel embarrassed my dear. Dekhna, one day you're prince will definitely come, he'll love you deeply and truly and shower you with happiness.
*splash*
"Huh" I was wet. From top to bottom I was covered in must water that not only soiled my clothes but my Mom's letter was now a soggy mess. "What the f**k!"
"Oye!" I yelled at the car that was responsible for this state of mind. The shining white car stopped for a minute and when I started walking towards it, wanting to teach that dude a lesson on how to drive, that guy started driving again.
"Hhhaaww!" angered I picked up a stone and threw it at the car. Bulls eye, it hit where I wanted it to, the windscreen at the back of the car, breaking it into numerous pieces.
The car screeched to a halt and a well dressed man stepped outside of the driving seat. He's your typical business man, dressed in a charcoal black suit and a blue shirt underneath. Anger evident in his aristocratic features, he walked towards me. It felt as if he was a tiger and I, his prey but that guy doesn't know that right now, me being covered in muddy water from head to toe, am no less than a tigress, a wounded one.
He stopped walking once he was few inches away from me. The first thing I noticed about him as he stood close to me was his eyes. His eyes, a complicated shade of green or is it blue. His eyes looks like that of a...of a...oh yeah, a cat!
"What the..How dare you? Why the hell did you threw that stone at my car? Do you even know how expensive it is?" Mr. Cat-Eyes yelled at me. Hello! Can't you see what you did to me? Are you like blind?
I wasn't going to back away, so I too came forward and snapped my fingers in front of him, "How dare I? Dude, you surely are blind! I had a doubt about this but know I am sure that YOU ARE BLIND. Can't you see, that your oh-so expensive car had splashed mud on me!"
"So what? You can always go home and wash that. It's easy." He clicked his fingers at me. Oh no you didn't!
"Now I get it you are like those girls who struggle hard to have my attention! Not only mine, you are one of those who target rich people to extract stone money from them." He shrugged and smirked at me. My my! Bout you are digging your own grave now.
Looking directly into his eyes, I smirked and replied, "Oh really! Are you Tom Cruise or Salmaan Khan? You don't have that Hritik factor as well. Aurr tum Varun haise toh bilkul nahi lagte. Then why in the hell would I like having your attention? You may have the money but you lack brains. You know what, you aren't worth my attention."
Uh-Oh, I think Mr. Cat-Eyes just got more angry. I can actually sense what he's thinking, 'How dare she? This chit of a girl, dares to argue with me!'
"Is that so? It's my bad then." He spoke sarcastically. "You..just forget it. You will not be able to compensate for the broken glass. Do you know how much it costs? 20,000 rupees. Bloody middle-class!" he sounded disgusted. What does he think of himself!
"Oh My!! Do you really think so?" I chuckled.
Wanting to teach him a lesson, a different one this time, I quickly spotted that young boy who was selling mustard oil, under the name of a special kind of massage oil. I ran towards him and whispered, "Listen kid, agar tum wahi karoge jo main kahungi then I will give you 5,000 rupees."
"Sachi?" the boy asked with hopeful eyes, I whispered my plan to him. I know what I was going to do now is a little bit wrong but at least I am helping a poor kid as well.
Mr. Cat-Eyes looked perplexed now, as we started breaking those medium sized glass bottles that had oil in them. After breaking them all, we started crying ever so loudly, thus catching the attention of the people nearby.
Mr. Cat-Eyes was baffled, "What the hell are you doing?" he asked.
Huge crowd gathered around us. A middle aged lady came forward and asked;
"Why are you crying?"
"See na, aunty, these rich people..Uhhh..oohh..mmhh.." I cried some more, nothing over, just some realistic acting.
"Tell us clearly beta!" the lady encouraged.
"Aunty, iss aadmi ne... Yeh itni tezzi se car Chaka raha thha, he was about to hit us! We managed to save ourselves but couldn't save these medicine bottles. Because of all this, my mother's medicine bottles fell down and broke!!"
"Our mom is suffering from cancer and we had struggled so hard to collect money to buy these medicines and he..because of his carelessness.." I cried hard. Anika you are going to hell. See that horrible and scary looking guy polishing his axe. Yup, hell is waiting for ya.
"How dare you? You idiot!" roared the lady at him.
"Dekhiye..aap.." Mr. Cat-Eyes tried to argue.
"I what haan? You rich brat, see what you did. Ameer ho toh kuch bhi karoge tum?" yelled an old man. Me and that kid continued crying.
"Listen you...aap kuch jaante nahi hai, yeh ladki...??" Mr. Cat-Eyes spoke, narrowing his eyes.
*Some more crying*
"Kya hain? We are with these kids. Help her or else we will file a complaint against you. Do you get that?" spoke a young man, coming out of the crowd.
"Fine!" See! This is called the power of common people. When they stand united they can do anything.
"How much?" he asked.
"What how much?" I batted my eyes innocently. I knew he was talking about money, these rich people I tell you only talk about money and money. Insaano ki koi value hi nahi hai.
"How much did these medicines cost? I'll pay for it." I bit inside of my cheek trying to control the bubbling laughter as he spoke emphasising on "medicines" part.
"30,000 rupees." I replied, smirking inwardly.
"What the..! 30,000 for these..!" he asked pointing his finger at the broken pieces of those bottles.
"Yes! 30,000 for these medicines. My relative had cancer too, and I know, how much costly such medicines are. Are you giving her the money or..?" threatened another guy.
"Here take this.." He handed 30,000 rupees to me. Yu-Hu! Anika 1, Mr. Cat-Eyes 0.
The crowd started to disperse, but stood there staring at each other. After the whole lot of people, who had gathered around had finally left, I broke into a victorious grin, fanning myself with the bundle of notes.
He gritted his teeth and made his way towards his car, but I stopped him again.
"Aye Mr. Cat-Eyes..." I yelled, making him stop. It was like he knew I would call him by a name like this, guys he gets that a lot about that. The cat thing I mean.
"Here take this, money for the broken glass of your car. And haan, take these 5,000, extra, just to make sure that you get the best services." I said and handed him 25,000 rupees out of the 30,000, which only he had given me. In short, I handed him a part of his own money. Poor cat. I mean, poor chap.
Clicking my fingers in front of his face, staring directly into his eyes, I said, "Saw, what I did? Believe me, I can do much more. You were talking about me not able to give you 20,000 rupees, see actually happened instead?. You better not mess with me!"
I smiled, gave 5,000 rupees to that 14 year old boy, who happily took the money and thanked me.
"Tch tch tch...agar sorry bol dete toh itna jhamela nahi hota na. Ab tumhi dekho na...yeh kya ho gaya.." I actually sang the last part to him. Ask this while Mr. Cat-Eyes was shooting imaginary daggers at me. Ole-le-le, galat ladki se panga le liya na. I chuckled making him more angrier, if that was even possible.
I flicked my wet hair to a side and started walking away only to be stopped by Mr. Cat-Eyes, "Just pray ki hum dobara na mile, warna Shivaay Singh Oberoi tumhara woh haal karega that you will feel sorry for messing with me."
"Who Shivaay Singh Oberoi?" I laughed out and walked away.
Present Time
We were still standing in the same position, me half hanging in his arms looking like an idiot and he, he had anger dripping off his face. "Hello" Oh shit!
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Edited by dmegha - 9 years ago
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