Raj enters his office to find Neha nervously waiting for him. He looks expectantly at her.
Neha: Sir, maine presentation banaa li hai.
Raj whistles, then quickly composes his features as Neha is looking a bit taken aback. "Itni Jaldi! That's great!"
Neha: (shyly) Sir, jab maine iss par kaam shuru kiya, toh mujhe khud nahin pata chala ki prsenation apne-aap kaise banti chali gayi…pata nahin kaisi bani hai sir….lekin main aaj aapko dikhana chahti hoon..
Raj: Sure! (switches on the computer and, taking the CD from Neha, inserts it. Just then he remembers something)
Raj: Wait a minute….main Armaan ko bhi bulata hoon….!
Neha: (apprehensively) Armaan sir ko! Please Raj sir….agar unhe psand nahin aayi toh…
Raj: I'm certain ki usse yeh presentation zaroor pasand aayegi. (slowing down) Neha, iss collection ke saath Armaan ki bahut strong feelings judi hui hain…it's only fair ki wo iss presentation ko dekhe….
He leaves the room, leaving Neha shifting uneasily in her seat.
Raj barges into Armaan's office. Armaan looks up from his file and quips, "Tu knock karke aana kabhi nahin seekhega na?"
Raj: (nonchalantly) Abe yeh knock-knock chod….main jo tujhe dikhane le jar aha hoon usse dekh kar tu knock-out ho jayega….! Chal mere saath!
He drags Armaan to his cabin. Armaan looks quizzically at Raj when he sees Neha sitting before the computer.
Raj: Armaan, Neha ne hamari collection ke liye ek presentation taiyar ki hai. Go ahead, Neha.
Neha starts the slide show, and Armaan and Raj watch intently. More than the pictures, the narration catches their attention with its sensitivity to an expectant mother's rosy hopes and dreams. Raj casts admiring glances at Neha, who is looking earnestly at the screen.
Armaan, meanwhile, finds himself drifting into a recollection of the first time Jassi had made a presentation for him. Her honest eyes, peering out from behind her huge glasses; her eagerness to please him; her innocent delight when he congratulated her…..all flash before him. Then he composes himself and concentrates on the slides. His face grows tender, melancholy as each word finds its way to his heart. Flashbacks again: Jassi announcing she is pregnant the first time, his delight, his head gently lying on her tummy, listening to their baby's heartbeat…….😳😳😳
He is nearly in tears as the presentation ends. Raj claps his hands enthusiastically.
Raj: This is superb! Neha, mujhe shak toh tha ki tumme talent hai, lekin itna zyada….! Well done!
Neha blushes; she looks somewhat nervously at Armaan, who has not given any reaction so far. But he suddenly flashes that dimpled smile of his.
Armaan: (fervently) Neha….main aapko congratulate nahin karunga…..i'll just say, "Thank you!" Mujhe aisa lag raha tha ki koi meri Jassi ki kahaani mujhe suna raha hai.
Raj: (quickly) Sirf Jassi hi nahin, har expecting mother iss collection se identify karegi. Armaan, tumhe nahin lagta ki hame Neha ko koi creative profile dena chahiye?
Armu: Umm….?
Raj: (winking at him) Main soch hi raha tha ki hame agar apne business ko expand karna hai, toh hame sirf product pe hi nahin, uski promotion pe bhi dhyan dena hoga. Iske liye ham ek bahut impactful publicity campaign ready karna hoga, jisme hame Neha ki bahut zaroorat padegi…
Neha: Meri…..?
Raj: Why not? Armaan, hum Neha ko Gulmohur ka content writer kyun nahin banate? Aakhir apne campaign ke liye hame achche writer kit oh zaroorat padegi hi….aur Neha se achcchi chouce kya ho sakti hai?
Armaan: Of course! Main jald-se-jald ye proposal Board ke saamne rakhta hun!
Neha: Sir, aap log mujhe sharminda kar rahe hain….main yeh sab handle nahin kar paungi.
Armaan: (firmly) Neha, hum logon ne kai baar galtiyan ki hai (looks wistful for a second, but quickly regains his cheer) lekin talent pehchanne mein kabhi galati nahin ki! Aap yeh kaam sambhaalengi,and that is an order!
Neha: Thank you sir! Main poori sincerity se …..
Armu: Wait a minute! Aap mujhe please sirf "Armaan" kahiye….
Raj: Aur mujhe sirf "Raj".
Neha looks from one to another, then smiles. "Ok!"
As Armaan leaves the room, he catches Raj smiling fondly at Neha😉. He hides his own smile as he heads back to the office.😛
Tomorrow: Bebe requests Ila…..
Book Talk
