CHAPTER 18 (ANJALI)
As ordered by Chote, work began from the next day immediately.
I spent the morning with Akash. He gave me all the financial and legal documents of AR Ind. He helped me understand and study the finance.
Khushiji, on the other hand, had spent her morning in the office with Chote.
The previous night, both of them had rearranged the old study to make it into my office. It was a sight to be seen to believe…
Khushiji was sitting on a couch (credit to her wounded foot) with a glass of haldi milk and ordering Hariprakashji and Chote, sipping her milk casually.
Occasionally, I could see ASR take over from Chote…but 1 look from Khushiji, and Chote was back.
It was incredible how much had changed since he had returned…how much Chote had changed…
Seeing him with Khushiji, I finally feel complete.
When I say that 'I feel complete', I mean it…
Chote is an inseparable part of me. And when Khushiji completes him, I'm completed…
Chote had always been my concern.
Especially after whatever had happened years back.
And the thing that had worried me the most after that was Chote had thought of me to be his responsibility.
Not that I regret any part of it, he is the most wonderful brother…more than what I could have ever dared to ask for…
But he was so over-protective, over-loving, over-caring, over-responsible….somewhere in these 'over-s' his sensitivity had taken a back seat.
But Khushiji was a perfect match for him. She was slowly succeeding in letting Chote free…free from his tension…his responsibilities…his cold insensitivity.
I remember how they argued over the position of the coffee table. While she said it had to be in front of the couch, he was adamant on it being between the sitting arrangement.
I think Chote won, because I saw them that night, on their way up, Khushiji comfortably in his arms, still bickering over the table's position.
Next day, there wasn't much work. I just studied the financials.
In the afternoon, when Khushiji returned from office, both of us sat and discussed the status of a new project, and the history of some old ones.
At tea time, everyone came back home and we had tea together.
I was in a conversation with Nani when I noticed it.
Chote and Akash were talking, and the next minute Akash got up and left.
"Akash? Tum kahin ja rahe ho?", I asked, surprised.
"Haan Di….office."
"Lekin abhi to aye ho!"
"Akash tum jao", Chote interrupted me.
"Di, kuch zaroori kaam hai."
And the topic was left there itself.
Something was wrong….no, not wrong, weird….
I had noticed Akash and Chote, and sometimes even Chote and Khushiji exchange looks…not in a suspicious way…but just different.
I had never given it much thought…something about work maybe.
Anyway, it had been more than a week since I had rejoined.
Khushiji's foot was now perfectly fine….
Along with her, I was working on a new project, a construction project, called 'EUPHORIA'…
It was going to be a club which would have the capacity to host at least 18 to 21 big independent events at one time…
This was a very important project…and considering the name given to it by Chote, it was close to him…
After dinner, Shyamji and I proceeded to our room. I got ready for bed, and slipped under the blankets when Shyamji said,"Ranisaheba? Humein aapse kuch kaam tha."
"Kahiye na…kya hua?", I asked, smiling, wondering what the work would be….
"Abhi humare client se baat hui hai…humein 18 lakh rupai chahiye…", he paused.
I gave him a questioning lok.
"Aapko to pata hai, itni badi rakam bank se nikalne ke liye Manager ki permission lagti hai…vo sab formalities…lekin humare bank ke Manager to yahan nahi hai…toh aap humein de paengi?", he paused again for a brief second and before I could answer,"thoda urgent hai, isiliye puch rahe hai.."
"aur vapas kab denge?", I asked softly.
"Ji?!", I could sense the shock in his voice…
After a painful pause, I burst out laughing.
"Kya aap bhi…hum mazak kar rahe the…aapki shakal dekhi?!", I managed to say between my laughs.
He joined in with me.
Finally, after all the 'masti', I told him softly,"Agar aapka sab humara hai, toh humara bhi sab aapka hi to hai…hum dono ek hai."
He came and sat next to me.
Very delicately, he hugged me, and I rested my head on his chest.
"Hum kal hi Khushiji se kehte hai, ki vo paise humare joint account mein transfer kar de. Aap lelena…thik hai?"
"Khushiji?! Khushiji ko kyu?", he asked, a bit surprised.
"Khushiji ab humare sab financials dekhti hai. Hum kaam mein itna busy the ye pura haft!! Isiliye…" and I gave him an update of my day…
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2day is 1 of those days wher u gotta jus chill...
nthing much...
still,im lookin fwd 2 readin ur commnts...😃
It is my humble request to all to avoid copying anyone's piece of work as they have taken a lot of pains in creating it.
It would be unfair and disgraceful.
Thank you all for your support!!👍🏼😊
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