Wishes from Jahnu Di ~
What should one do when one's mood is down!! Stare at a flower for one minute and you'll unknowingly smile!!
What do I do when my mood is down!! Talk to Rose for one minute and I'll (un)knowingly smile!!
Thanks for lit-ing me up Rose!! Thanks for being there every time I looked for you!!
May God bless you with a life like a bed of Roses!! 😉😉
Your gift is here.. Enjoy!😆
Sparkle water zindabad!!
"Me?" The surprised lady threw palm in air. "I'm serving my notice period Raj. And you want ME to attend this meeting?"
"Yes!!" The cool manager ever more coolly swung in his executive chair. "You're employee of Regal till your termination letter is typed and signed. So you're attending this meeting and presenting on behalf of Regal."
"But Raj..."
"No more discussion Jodha" she was cut short, "Here is the presentation notes. Prepare well. Tomorrow night is your flight and two days is the trip. Any questions?"
"Why me?..." she shot it straight, "...when my substitute is trained and ready to replace me?"
"I don't rely on substitutes when I have the original at hand," the manager affirmed. "Any other questions?" The skeptical architect threw him a gauging glance, rolled eyes and finally picked up the file indicating her acceptance.
"As you say Raj," she nodded and left the cabin missing the conniving smile playing on the cupid manager's lips.
"OMG!! Mauritius trip with sizzling hot man," squishing Jodha's arms in girlish anxiety, Divya screamed.
"Shashank and sizzling?" Jodha scrunched her nose. "Your taste is getting poor day by day Divi."
"Aha" diving banged her friend's arm, "Don't act so innocent madam. I know that you know whom I'm talking about."
"If it is about Mr. MD," Jodha tucked her head into the file. "He's definitely hot but in a totally different way. God save me from his heat," she scornfully rolled eyes and Divya broke into a bout of grins.
Three days later...
"Are you not ready, yet?" checking her watch, the impatient lady demanded the snail paced man. "I told you we've to leave by Seven and here you are... still combing the four strands on your head."
"Four strands?" Shashank looked shocked. "How insulting yaar!! Do you know why my girlfriend fell for me? Just for this," he admiringly caressed the silky locks. "By the way... did I tell you I'm enjoying this avoid-avoid game between boss and you?" he winked from mirror and she threw the nearest available object at him, the wet towel to be precise.
"Just because he proposed dinner at eight, you decided to have it at Seven, isn't it?"
"Whatever!!" Jodha shrugged. "And I see you're making the best out of it. Extended party hours, extra drinks... that too at my expense," she glared at him.
"Of course," the easy going colleague grinned. "When two monkeys fight, obviously the cat gets benefited."
"The cat part is absolutely right," she seriously agreed. "But I'm not monkey and as to what Mr. MD is... let me go and ask for you" She swiftly turned back and the horrified colleague blocked her way clasping his hands in fright. "Dandavat pranam to you meri maa. I know you're daring enough to ask him but why to spoil my reputation. You're leaving this office but I've to stay here only na, so please..." he pleaded.
"This tone sounds better" the triumphant girl showed attitude and the helpless colleague could do nothing but grit his teeth. As they waited for the elevator, the athirst girl's eyes stole glances at the suite door adjacent to elevator.
You don't want to see him, but your eyes keep searching for him.
You don't want to hear him, but your ears erect with faintest of sound from him.
You don't want to talk to him, but you find excuses to argue with him.
You don't want to dress for him, but your every nerve yearns for the slightest appreciation from him.
"Jodha..."
Only with Shashank's call she realized she's not waiting for elevator but was at the entrance of the beach side restaurant.
Get a grip idiot!!
"What?" looking for a vacant table, she asked.
"Did you plan to set Mauritius on fire or what?" studying the appreciative glances hauled at the lady beside him, Shashank smirked.
Who cares Mauritius? All I care is...
Shutting off the rattling conscience, she looked down to the floral printed cream silk below knee length gown on her. "Be a Roman in Rome!" Jodha feigned casualty. "Since I bought it I should also try it, right? And unfortunately Bangalore is not the right choice for this."
"And see, you've your feedback" Shashank winked hinting at the men around. Jodha smiled.
"Should I inform sir that we're here!!" Settling at a table, Shashank suggested.
"Tell him at Eight," scanning the menu, she said. "I'll leave and you can continue your party."
"Its been almost forty eight hours..." Shashank grinned. "You didn't have one civil conversation with him except for the presentation topic. Why're you doing this? Why should you complicate things between you two? Why not quit on a friendly note?"
"How does it matter Shashank?" she asked disinterested. "My reputation is already tarnished and no matter what I do, it is not going to improve. So, let me have it my way."
"You're too stubborn!" Shashank gave up. "I'm going for a dance," he showed the band. "Wanna join?"
"No, you go and dance, I'll cheer from here." The next twenty minutes rolled in a blink as she busied herself with delicious appetizers and foot tapping music. Although she knew her quest is futile, every now and then her impulsive eyes kept scanning in and around for the desirous man.
"Yaar... it's lot of fun... come," pulling her up, Shashank forced her into the dancing troupe.
"Hey gorgeous!!" A black skinned dancer took Jodha's hand for dance and put his cream floral hat on her head. Shredding her inhibitions, Jodha gave in to the joy of the moment and began shaking her legs.
"That was fun, thank you!!" bringing her feet to a stop as the music paused, she happily shouted to the dancer and returned his hat. "My pleasure lady!" He gave a toothy smile and stylishly thumped the hat back on her head. "Its from me, goes well with your dress" he quickly kissed her hand and moved on with another dance, with another lady.
"It'd be injustice if you dance with a foreigner and not with desi," Shashank griped and pulled Jodha into another dance. And Jodha didn't refuse him this time. Dance took the stress out of her and she felt light like a feather, relieved of an intangible weight. She completely gave into dancing forgetting the world around her when a sudden feeling of discomfort disrupted her blithe. She looked around checking on what made her unease and her search stopped at a pair of flaring eyes.
"Jeez!!" She squirmed seeing the boss sitting at the table she earlier sat and staring at her. "Why is he early? And why is he glaring at me?" She cussed, broke the eye contact and also oppressed the gale of happiness that sprouted on seeing him. "Who cares? I'm not going to be scared by his big hot eyes!!" She turned away from him and focused on her moves. "One... Two... Three!!" The discomfort multiplied with each second and she had to turn back only to find that there was no change in his position. With a glass in hands and eyes on her, he sat as manly as he could; his eyes silently speaking to her.
"Did you tell him we're here?" she glowered at her dance partner.
"Of course, he shouldn't be angry with me that we left him, right?" Shashank grinned. "Tujhe kya... you're leaving in ten days. I've to be in his good books na."
"Boss ka chamcha..." Jodha seethed and stomped on his foot.
"Ouch..." the poor prey immediately parted holding his foot and Jodha moved off the floor. Completely aware of Jalal's following gaze, she didn't return to the seat she left. Instead she proceeded to the bar counter and ordered something. The observer's brows furrowed!!
"One more!!" Gulping the drink in a go, she spatted the glass on deck. After two more one mores' she got up and walked towards the target- her tipsy gait speaking for what she consumed. Pressing his lips, Jalal continued staring at the advancing lady, of course, ravishing her swooning moves. She stopped right before his table and resolutely crossed arms. "I've to talk to you Mr. Jalal!!"
Crossing legs and leisurely reposing back in chair Jalal showed her the opposite seat.
"Not here," she denied, "Out!!" She declared and without waiting for his approval, she headed towards the sit out. Smirking at the interesting advent, Jalal took his own sweet time to finish his drink and then made his way to the awaiting lady.
"Yes!!" He stood by the silent form gazing at Sea.
"What's your problem Mr. Jalal?" she asked, her eyes glued to the Sea.
"What?" his forehead cringed.
"I'm asking what exactly your problem is?" she faced him. "Why were you glaring at me as if I was doing strip dance?" Words rushed out of her mouth before she could exercise control. Strangely, his eyes glinted with mischief rather than rage. "If only you remember you're talking to a MAN Jodha," his gaze lingered over her woozy eyes. "Let it be. I'll give it to the three shots that slithered down your throat. And what did you ask? What problem do I have, right?" he closed in and she stood firm.
"Before I answer that, let me ask you something," he smirked. "Amidst the zonked fun of music and dance, you had time to notice my glares but not the lewd stares of men around you, right?" For a moment, Jodha was taken aback as she didn't expect this coming. "Is he protective or jealous?" Confusion clubbed her mind, nevertheless, she resurrected in no time. "What is it you Mr. Jalal?" she snapped back. "Why does it matter you? And for your kind information, I'm not oblivious to any kind of stares. I'm a woman, reading a man's eye is my innate instinct," her nose flared. "And what am I supposed to do? Go and fight with them? Then every day I end up fighting because the only way to avoid it is to shut myself behind doors or to come out in a veil and I cannot do either of them," she gulped anger and embarrassment the nasty reality brought along. "I and as a matter of fact every woman is habituated to lewdness. That hardly bothers me, what bothers me is..." she kneaded forehead to ease the burdening head. "...rudeness. YOUR RUDENESS!!" Her voice spitted rage but eyes conveyed something different altogether. "When I don't join you for breakfast and lunch, you lecture me that I don't know how to socialize. And now when I socialize, you're again questioning me. I don't follow your orders, it is a problem; I follow your orders then also it is a problem. What should I do? " By the end of it, she held the spinning head with both hands.
"Jodha..." Jalal extended hand to hold her but the adamant lady furiously showed her palm.
"Shall I tell you what your problem is..." she continued in full swing, "Me!!" She didn't take her eyes off him. "I'm your problem!" She announced. "For some reason, you don't like me, no actually you hate me," she nodded asserting her own statement. "With a baggage of hatred for me in your heart, obviously you don't like anything I do, right?" She asked and before he opened mouth, she answered her own question. "I know I'm right," gripping the railing, she turned aside. "And I don't know how to mold myself to your liking" She mumbled under breath. "I am what I am and I don't know how to become someone else for you. Moreover, if I do so, I'll begin disliking myself," pain smothered her tone. Taking a quick moment to recoup, she bounced back with boosted self-esteem. "Anyways why should I change? If you don't like me it's your problem and it's foolish of me to quest solution to a problem that is not mine." Jodha pressed her temples with thumbs and gave the laded head a shake.
"Ten days," she turned back, stuttered and proudly refused the help Jalal offered. "Just ten days and I'm gone. Don't unnecessarily waste your time glaring at me sir. Drink, dance, and party hard. Celebrate my quitting." She said, waited a moment and then swiftly walked ahead without looking back.
"Jodha..." Just as she was about to get into the dining area, Jalal's call stopped her.
"One small advice," he approached her and she waited with bated breath. She sensed him standing beside her but she didn't attempt to look at him. "When you're bored with architecture," he sheepishly leaned so that only she could hear what he said. "...you can try hands at ACTING," he finished with a closing smile and the listener's head impulsively shot up. His thumb rose to her cheek, his lips holding a majestic smile on them. "Sparkle water hasn't made anyone tipsy till date Jodha," he brushed the single tear that dribbled down her left cheek. The astonished girl's eyes first widened and then shut sealing the embarrassment behind. Hurt and shame pooled up behind the closed eyes and before she broke down before the last man on earth to see the vulnerable side of her, she ran away from him, away from the restaurant.
With a hand tucked in pocket, Jalal stood at his place smilingly watching the wetness on this thumb.
~~~
"What have you done? Chii.." She dug her face deeper between knees. "Why do you succumb to impulsion? Why do you always forget he's the MD of the company you're employed in? Can't you keep your mouth and mind shut for ten more days... just ten days and you'd have permanently been freed from this torture. What is the need to blurt your anguish to him? Top of it... the drunkard facade... chi chi..." she brusquely rubbed her moist eyes against the silk. "How are you going to face him now? What answer do you have if he questions on this impudence? How to avoid him now and for the days to come?"
"This might help!!" The familiar baritone made her immediately look up from knees and the sight before her cringed her some more. "Not sparkle water," mischief danced on his lips. "A real drink to calm you down." She darted him a blazing stare and turned her head aside, towards the people on her right. "When did he come?" His relaxed posture indicated he had been there for quite a while. "Why did he come? To taunt?!"
Sleeveless arms tangled around knees, deep black tresses that ended up in curls, creamy skin that competed with the softness of silk on her body he took a precious moment to revel in her beauty.
"You've a peculiar taste Jodha, don't you?" smiling within, he placed the flutes in sand and her brows knitted in intrigue.
"You like black skinned over white skinned, isn't it?"
"Huh? When did I say that?" Her nose wrinkled.
"Isn't that why you are enjoying seeing those people than my face?"
"What?" Her head turned left, gave him a quick confused glance and then to right to the topless sturdy dark skinned men. "Ayyo rama!!" She mentally smacked her head and fixed her eyes on the safest direction - down on the sand.
"Why did he come?" She thought again and checked him from corner of eye. Casually seated in sand with one leg folded, planked against the rock and looking at her; his posture appeared extremely coy and her beats raced up. She so wanted to flee again but his captivating aura worked like manacles on her feet. She knew she cherishes his presence and she also knew she despise herself for doing so. Too many contradicting emotions!! She breathed deep and stayed silent waiting for him to speak.
Jalal smirked seeing her succumbing to silence. With a mystical smile, he began counting... his eyes only on her.
One thousand one... One thousand two... One thousand three... One thousand twenty four...
She lifted head and looked at sea!!
One thousand fifty five... One thousand fifty six...
She glanced right and immediately to left... at a steamer!!
One thousand sixty eight... One thousand sixty nine...
"Why did you come?" He heard her and the mystical smile transformed into winning one.
"Why did you leave?" he asked in reverse.
"In shame!!" She couldn't say that, hence approached silence.
"You asked a question," he slightly leaned towards her making her squish her body further "and left without waiting for answer. So I had to come."
"Answer?" Solidifying her clasp around knees, Jodha instructed her mind to be prepared for the worst to come.
"You asked what my problem is, right?" he repeated and she withheld breathing.
"Me!!"
"Huh?" She exhaled and gradually faced him. "Sarcasm? Or...?"
"To be precise..." he answered her suspicious orbs, "my expectations of you!!" Bafflement became easily perceptible on her face thus freeing her from the need to voice her questions.
"Yes... my expectation of you to be genuine, compassionate, responsible and committed is the real problem," he elucidated throwing her into greater confusion. "What does he mean?"
"Am I not any of that?" she batted lids in disbelief. "Not even one?" An aura of innocence flickered in her hazel eyes and the mesmerized boss felt a pining to pull her cheeks. Postponing the urge to a better time, he chuckled and sat straight. "I assumed you're NOT but realized you indeed are," he said and she blankly stared at him. He fathomed from her frowned brows that she's struggling hard to decode his cryptic language.
"I'll not go into details but for reasons of my own, I assumed you lack all above said qualities. The outburst on conference day is the result of it. But later, certain facts became clear and I corrected my perceptions. There is no personal like or dislike here Jodha." His voice sounded calm and soothing. An avalanche of two contrast feelings engulfed the listener - happiness and sadness.
Happy He volunteered to sort out the tension between them.
Sad He's keeping it too formal.
Sad He thought all wrong of her.
Happy He no longer thinks so.
Happy He doesn't dislike her.
Sad He neither likes her.
Sad He's not asking her to stay back.
Happy She can leave on friendly terms.
Not knowing the exact reciprocation she has to show, Jodha remained tongue tied and diverted her gaze to Sea. On the other hand, Jalal was partly surprised and partly disappointed to see no reciprocation from her. He knew he sounded too formal and discerned it could be the reason for her silence too but he didn't know how to get informal with her - with a girl leaving him, getting married in a month and when he could do nothing about it.
As it is sitting on a seashore and trying to sort out things is something he hadn't done in the past - neither for a man nor for a woman. He knew the single tear she shredded succeeded in pulling him all the way from restaurant to shore. But what he didn't like was his own weakness to let this girl overrule his willpower, not for once but time and again.
"Jodha..." he softly called and she turned to him, "Lets keep things clear between you and me. I once again say I've no resentment for you, or hatred. I really appreciate your skills, sincerity and respect your commitment. Its wrong of me to be presumptuous and I apolog..."
"Thank you..." faintly smiling, Jodha interjected him before he finished the word, "you don't really have to do this Mr. Jalal, but still you're doing. Thanks for taking time to talk to me, and thanks for being compassionate. Also I apologize my audacity. I shouldn't have behaved that way. I'm very sorry."
"How formal?!!" Getting the taste of how it feels being on receiving end, Jalal batted lids. "Who the hell cares about what's going to happen a month later, this minute, this moment is important."
"I was unnecessarily rude to you during and after the conference," he continued with a renewed determination to break the barriers of formalities, "and was harsh with the socializing tantrums. I should've behaved better... I'm sor..."
"It's okay..." she again interrupted him at perfect timing, "Its rude of me too to stay aloof when we are here as a team. Bad manners, isn't it?!" she asked like a kid and he couldn't help but chuckle. His infectious smiles spread to her too inflicting her to giggle.
"Right," he gladly agreed, inwardly thanking her for breaking the wall of formality. "I think I should include - How to behave well as part of the initial training curriculum for all new joiners." He quipped and she too gladly agreed playfully nodding. "Right! But I think the seniors too..." she impishly pursed lips, "...including the MD, need to attend that course once, just once," she retorted and the mirthful boss's giggles only magnified.
Amidst the fun he didn't fail registering how she stopped him from finishing the apologies... twice. Somehow, he felt that gesture warm and compassionate but the question "Why she did so?" remained lingering in his mind. The soft smiles didn't leave his lips as he kept fondly staring at her.
Seeing him smile and knowing that she's the reason for it made Jodha's heart fill with content and pride. Egos apart, she knows how difficult it is for a man of his stature to tread down several levels to apologize an employee, and when he took the initiative to do so, she felt partly satiated and partly bad. After all, he is her most cherished boss and probably much more than that. When his respect takes priority over her ego, how would she let him utter an apology? The soft smiles didn't leave her lips as she kept fondly staring at him.
"I'm glad we are at same grade in the subject of manners," he cheerfully winked and she grinned. "Amongst equals there is no senior-junior or boss-subordinate relationship, so..." he took the flutes he placed aside in sand and offered her one. Though a little confused on what exactly he's offering- a drink or a new relation - Jodha accepted the glass. "Cheers to our FRIENDSHIP!!" he touched his glass to her and she simply stared with big, rounded eyes.
"Friendship?" she repeated in disbelief, too much joy clogging her cognizance.
"Toast," he asserted by raising his glass. "If you think I'm eligible for it."
"Eligible?" Her lips parted in rapturous delight and he got his answer. "Three cheers to our new-born relation," he winked.
"Cheers!!" Jodha screamed, toasted, gulped the plain liquid in a shot and eventually coughed.
"Hey easy..." patting on her head, Jalal laughed at her girlish enthusiasm.
"Jalal... what did I drink?" making a bitter face and covering the coughing mouth she asked.
"Champagne!!" He smirked at the missing MISTER before his name.
"God!!" she stared agape at the drink in his flute. "Champagne? You mean liquor? I never had alcohol before Jalal," she shook his hand in tension. "Will I get tipsy? Will I faint? Will I puke? Will I get hangover tomorrow?"
Laughing loud, Jalal carefully transferred the glass to his other hand to save the drink from her massive shake. "The questions you're supposed to ask before drinking..." he gulped the drink and turned to his frenetic girl, "You're asking now?" He took her hand into his. "Why didn't you think of it before blindly accepting?"
"Faith on you..." she easily said and immediately amended, "I mean you're smart enough not to risk our return trip with unnecessary complications like fainting, vomiting, hospitalizing and all, right?" she jested and Jalal laughed more. Needless to say, he loved the little confession she involuntarily gave on the faith part.
"Smart girl..." he dotingly made her sit by him, "Fret not!! Your faith worked for you." Majestically smiling, he pressed her hand in assurance before gently releasing it. Getting lost in the magnetism of his charisma, Jodha smiled in response, sat back relaxed and stealthily brought the hand he just released to her chest. Jazz, salsa, disco, rap she knew her heart is doing a mix of all those at the most beautiful twist in their story. She recalled how it all started and a mischievous smile tugged on her lips. "Sparkle water zindabad!!" She murmured and Jalal turned to her at that exact moment - his teasing smile and nod conveying her he didn't miss hearing it!!
*************
Edited by NJAPA_Addict - 9 years ago
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
155