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JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 001)
"WHAT NONSENSE!" Khushi laughed with characteristic good humour. She straightened, tossing her heavy plait over her shoulder as though to underline the finality of her opinion. "You need your eyes examined, Pari. The only resemblance between the two men is that they are of the same height, same build and same complexion. A resemblance shared, I might add, with Manu, the security guard---and about a million other men beyond that gate," she teased her colleague, pointing to the large steel gates which guarded ASR Group Headquarters.
And just before moving away, she added in a feigned-whisper, "but be careful our boss doesn't hear you. You're not paying the great-and-mighty man any compliment by suggesting he resembles a Bollywood hero. Most men would be flattered; Arnav Singh Raizada would be insulted. He wouldn't enjoy having his unrivalled popularity challenged by a mere actor."
With a final smile and wink to Pari, she turned to return to her desk---but was prevented. It appeared that her dupatta had attached itself to a protruding nail on the edge of Pari's desk when she had leaned over to view the film trailer.
Hai Devi Maiyya!
Her brand-new dupatta! With the sweet border of tiny pom-poms which her Jiji had lovingly stitched along the selvedge. It was one pesky pom-pom which was responsible for the predicament she now found herself in.
As she gently tugged on the pom-pom, she continued to chat affably, wholly unaware that Pari---who had insisted Khushi come over to her desk and view the trailer---was now turned away, suddenly engrossed with paperwork.
Had Khushi noticed, she would have been alerted, for no work-related matter ever held the dreamy Pari in such rapt attention.
But as Khushi did not notice, she belaboured the previous topic while she worked to liberate her dupatta. "For one thing," she stated, "that actor---what's his name? Bobti? Sobti?---his charming self-effacing smile would instantly capture the heart of any woman. But Mr Raizada? Humph! Is there anything remotely charming about him? Has he cracked one smile in all the years you've sat behind this desk? Behind this dupatta-destroying desk!"
The pom-pom was now free, but the silk was still caught and as Khushi carefully worked on this final stage, she graciously allowed, "Granted there may be some women who would be captivated by Mr Raizada. Women who would be drawn to his wealth and power. And on a strictly physical level, he could be considered reasonably attractive. From certain angles. With good lighting. But a man," here she paused briefly in her task and turned her eyes to the ceiling to construct her sentence, "a man who possesses such inordinate pride, such personal vanity, would have no energy left over for the woman by his side. No, Pari, I have only pity for the woman Mr Raizada chooses as his future wife. That poor misfortunate creature! Thank Devi Maiyya that it will not be anyone you or I know." She returned to her task with a decisive nod of her head, gave one final tug---and she and her dupatta were finally free.
It was now---only now!---that Khushi saw that Pari was visibly pale---almost quaking---and was turned entirely away from her. And in the next moment she became aware that the main floor of ASR Group Headquarters had silenced to that eerie quiet which descended when Arnav Singh Raizada was within eyesight or earshot.
Cold dread filled Khushi's veins and she knew without even daring a furtive look over her shoulder that he was there now.
He.
That man whom she had been publicly lambasting was very likely standing inches away from her. It was also very likely that he had heard her every word.
And let me say, Sisters---Khushi was not so foolish as to not realize (though it was far too late!) that she had in the past five minutes behaved in a most unprofessional manner. She knew this. And felt all the shame of it. However Mr Raizada choose to discipline her now, she deserved it.
Her heart sank. Her mind already leaping ahead to how Buaji would scold and Jiji would sigh when she went home to inform them that she had been dismissed from her job because of her careless tongue.
"WHAT NONSENSE!" Khushi laughed with characteristic good humour. She straightened, tossing her heavy plait over her shoulder as though to underline the finality of her opinion. "You need your eyes examined, Pari. The only resemblance between the two men is that they are of the same height, same build and same complexion. A resemblance shared, I might add, with Manu, the security guard---and about a million other men beyond that gate," she teased her colleague, pointing to the large steel gates which guarded ASR Group Headquarters.
And just before moving away, she added in a feigned-whisper, "but be careful our boss doesn't hear you. You're not paying the great-and-mighty man any compliment by suggesting he resembles a Bollywood hero. Most men would be flattered; Arnav Singh Raizada would be insulted. He wouldn't enjoy having his unrivalled popularity challenged by a mere actor."
With a final smile and wink to Pari, she turned to return to her desk---but was prevented. It appeared that her dupatta had attached itself to a protruding nail on the edge of Pari's desk when she had leaned over to view the film trailer.
Hai Devi Maiyya!
Her brand-new dupatta! With the sweet border of tiny pom-poms which her Jiji had lovingly stitched along the selvedge. It was one pesky pom-pom which was responsible for the predicament she now found herself in.
As she gently tugged on the pom-pom, she continued to chat affably, wholly unaware that Pari---who had insisted Khushi come over to her desk and view the trailer---was now turned away, suddenly engrossed with paperwork.
Had Khushi noticed, she would have been alerted, for no work-related matter ever held the dreamy Pari in such rapt attention.
But as Khushi did not notice, she belaboured the previous topic while she worked to liberate her dupatta. "For one thing," she stated, "that actor---what's his name? Bobti? Sobti?---his charming self-effacing smile would instantly capture the heart of any woman. But Mr Raizada? Humph! Is there anything remotely charming about him? Has he cracked one smile in all the years you've sat behind this desk? Behind this dupatta-destroying desk!"
The pom-pom was now free, but the silk was still caught and as Khushi carefully worked on this final stage, she graciously allowed, "Granted there may be some women who would be captivated by Mr Raizada. Women who would be drawn to his wealth and power. And on a strictly physical level, he could be considered reasonably attractive. From certain angles. With good lighting. But a man," here she paused briefly in her task and turned her eyes to the ceiling to construct her sentence, "a man who possesses such inordinate pride, such personal vanity, would have no energy left over for the woman by his side. No, Pari, I have only pity for the woman Mr Raizada chooses as his future wife. That poor misfortunate creature! Thank Devi Maiyya that it will not be anyone you or I know." She returned to her task with a decisive nod of her head, gave one final tug---and she and her dupatta were finally free.
It was now---only now!---that Khushi saw that Pari was visibly pale---almost quaking---and was turned entirely away from her. And in the next moment she became aware that the main floor of ASR Group Headquarters had silenced to that eerie quiet which descended when Arnav Singh Raizada was within eyesight or earshot.
Cold dread filled Khushi's veins and she knew without even daring a furtive look over her shoulder that he was there now.
He.
That man whom she had been publicly lambasting was very likely standing inches away from her. It was also very likely that he had heard her every word.
And let me say, Sisters---Khushi was not so foolish as to not realize (though it was far too late!) that she had in the past five minutes behaved in a most unprofessional manner. She knew this. And felt all the shame of it. However Mr Raizada choose to discipline her now, she deserved it.
Her heart sank. Her mind already leaping ahead to how Buaji would scold and Jiji would sigh when she went home to inform them that she had been dismissed from her job because of her careless tongue.
She took a deep breath and pivoted to face her soon-to-be-former employer.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
182