Chapter 8: A Big Mmm!... To Freshly baked Croissants, Scones and Fresh New Beginnings
After her great and very easy escape Annika recounted to Badi Ma in the car the secret behind the trick. To say Badi Ma was amused and entertained by the details would have been an understatement.
It was such a pleasure to hear Badi Ma laugh her full throaty laugh. Her head thrown back in the passenger car seat, tears of laughter running down her alabaster cheeks blushed to a perfect shade and hand delicately holding her heart, she would have been the perfect sculpture of a Goddess of Beauty for her adoring son, Omkara.
It was clear where both my almost perfect Devars and Prinku got their lovable personalities and inner beauty from. Bade Papa had no idea what a rich man he was to have her in his life. We even had the good 'ol Ram Singh, our favorite driver, snickering privately at the recount, as he expertly wove through the madness of the Mumbai traffic.
I thought back to the day I saw her in the intoxicated state. Her defeated stance and her sad reminiscings about times gone by, with unshed tears of sadness in her eyes and had promised myself that day, all over again, that I would never let any man do that to me, EVER!!
I reinstated that promise the night after the reception while I sat defeated by the pool. As I wiped the tears of defeat that ran down my cheeks I looked at my refection in the still pool water in shock and horror.
Who was this girl? That wasn't me, was it?!! No, it could not be!!! This was a look alike younger version of Jhanvi Aunty! I had promised I would never let anyone defeat me and break me like Tej Sir had done to her and still here I was an exact reflection of what I promised I would not become. This was not Annika, this was Mrs. Annika Singh Oberoi who actually cared about the man she had been forced to marry.
There was no way in hell I was going to let the man have the satisfaction of seeing me cry again or get away with what he had done. You can start the divorce proceedings Mr. Oberoi but only I will end it, I thought, as I smiled in satisfaction. The 'Annika without a surname' is back and with a vengeance. I hope you have your boxing gloves on because it is time to put em up. Besides the fight is going to get downright nasty because the referee is in my corner and the crowd is rooting for me. Annika!!! Annikaa!!!
I was brought to the present by a gentle hand on mine and a concerned look from Badi Ma's adoring face. I assured her I was fine and started talking excitedly about my resumes sent out to the different Hotels and well known corporate offices. I had discovered a new love and a new career and I could not wait to get into it again. I could now blend the love of cooking and event management into a catering business. I was hoping for some answers in the next few days
Badi Ma smiled affectionately and said, "You aware that Shivvay puts a generous amount into your account every week, don't you Annika?"
"I know", I replied softly as I lowered my head and unseeingly stared at her hand still on mine.
She continued, a small comforting squeeze to my hand," Why do you need to work? You are the only Oberoi Bahu and I think we are able to look after you even with our meager finances." she teased.
I snapped my head up and gaped at her face mouth open at the statement till I saw the amused twinkle in her eyes and heard Ram Singh burst into an uncontrollable laughter that almost had him hit the car in front of him. A grin spread across my face as I shook my head at Badi Ma and said, "How do you do it?? You always manage to make all the serious stuff I tell you into something light. I already envy your two would be Bahu's and am secretly planning to steal you from them."
Badi Ma lightly took my chin in her fingers like you would a child's and replied sincerely, "You are and will always be my older and most loved Bahu Annika. No one and nothing will ever change that even if Shivvay does ever marry again, which I have serious doubts that he ever will"
She sighed softly and continued," Let me tell you a little something about my darling, but presently very daft nephew, my dear. He not only has a very good eye for profits and losses but is as tenacious as a wolf when it comes to acquiring profitable assets. Whether he would like to admit or not, because as I said he is presently being very daft, he does see you as a profitable asset in his life. He is just being a Tej' right now and that is saying a lot. You have no idea of the ego and arrogance that goes with being a 'Tej' trust me ", she ended and laughed bitterly.
I smiled and, this time it was my turn to squeeze her hand comfortingly. She waved the other hand delicately as though dismissing the present topic and with a gentle toss of her head she changed the topic, addressing Ram Singh to take us to her favorite place- La Patisserie at The Taj Mahal Palace. She mockingly reprimanded Ram Singh that one was not expected to do binge shopping on an empty stomach, could they? Ram Singh smiled a small smile and completely agreed with Jhanvi Di, one definitely could not.
To say The Taj Mahal Palace is gorgeous, the croissants and pastries from The Patisserie finger licking good and the herbal tea to wash all that down as close to meditation as one could get would be an understatement. Of course having Badi Ma as your brunch date is the icing on the cake, that woman could charm the socks off anyone's feet. It was not at all amazing to see the admiring glances the staff, guests and even the woman sent our way. I knew I wanted to be her when I grew up!
After a satisfying brunch and over the steaming cups of herbal tea she took me completely by surprise as she threw the curve ball at me. Would I be interested in a position as her second in command at the Oberoi Offices and no, this was not nepotism and was not being offered to the Oberoi Bahu but was being offered to Annika who had applied for the position a week ago. As I stared at her in disbelief, jaw dropped open in surprise she slid my resume across the table to me.
"For the love of God close your mouth Anni Bahu!It does not become an elegant, gorgeous woman who turns heads just by walking past them, to have her mouth open like a gasping fish", and with that she gently pushed my chin up to shut my mouth and gulp the tea that was still lingering there.
"So", she continued casually as though she had just told me her favorite colour, "do we have a deal? You will be working solely and only for and under me. All instructions and details will be discussed with me and me alone. You will answer to no one and report to no one but ME. All other partners, shareholders, directors and even the CEO will have to go through ME. You will discuss and take no orders from them and will refer them to ME if questions need to be answered. If you are in agreement to this arrangement we can draw up the necessary papers today and you can start tomorrow. "
How!!?? When??!! What just happened here???!!! I was still staring in disbelief as Badi Ma calmly took another sip of her tea and leaned back with a teasing smile to enjoy the myriad reactions and emotions that were probably showing on my very open face. God!!! She was so an OBEROI!! I want to be HER when I grow up ... I so want to be her I thought and smiled
"Good!" smiled Badi Ma knowingly, "I knew you would not refuse such a good offer to go "in your face" at Shivvay at every opportunity you got. Shivvay has no idea what a brilliant businessman Rudra is going to make when he decides to join the business. It was he who sent your resume to us. I think he is going to make Shivvay and us very proud. Don't you??!"
I understood now what had happened. My DevRu and Soumya had done this. They were helping me make my resume and send it to the different job opportunities and I am sure DevRu sent one to Badi Ma's office as well. Of course it would have been scanned and short-listed to even reach her desk and I knew she would never lie to me.
"Hello?!", spoke Badi Ma on the phone. "Sarah send the papers I had asked you to prepare with Anil to the Taj please. We are at The Patisserie"
chapter 9 - page 20
