Thanks again for all the comments, once again they are much appreciated. I had great fun writing this part, and hope you enjoy it just as much. 😳
Chapter 6
"It is often said that eyes are the windows to the soul. If this is true, then a smile is the doorway."
~ Anonymous ~
A month had now passed, since Bani had started working at Excel and she was truly enjoying it. The fact that she worked for Jai Walia did grate her, but she had talked to Pushkar about the hiring process and had been told by him that he had hired every one personally, because even though Mr. Walia was the owner, it was Pushkar who handled everything, because Excel had been his baby project. Working at Excel was a great learning experience, even though she was too qualified for the job, it was a stepping stone that she appreciated - she even managed to learn more than she had expected. She had a great working relation with Pushkar and had easily fallen into what seemed like a friendship of years. He was the quintessential play boy, dating two or three girls at the same time, but he was a nice guy, he opened doors for her, had nice manners and didn't show off his wealth. Unlike some people she had met, mainly that Jai Walia. Bani didn't approve of his dating around, but he never led a girl on and it seemed that when ever he broke up with a girl, she left the room smiling (she had seen him in action, though she didn't approve, she couldn't help but be impressed). Pushkar also had a great family - his father had died when he was very young, and so had been raised by his mother alone, he had an older brother and bhabhi and seemed like a very happy family. She had met them on occasion, when she went to give Pushkar office files. Today, Excel had landed a large project, of planning and hosting a medical conference, where America's famous Cardio Thoracic Surgeon was going to lecture. They were in the final stages of planning and executing. It had been a hard two weeks, getting everything organised.
As Bani was getting ready to leave Pia sauntered in, with a smile on her face. Pia the middle sister, was a complete air-head, Bani hated to admit it, but it was the truth, she loved her fashion and make-up. She was studying fashion design at college, and wanted to become a fashion designer. She also talked non stop, loved material things and boys, but was very protective about her family. Bani knew that she must have come by the office with an ulterior motive.
"Pia, tum yahan? What do you want this time?" Bani questioned Pia.
"Kya Di, can't I come and see you because I feel like it? I mean you've been working so hard this past month. I thought that you could treat us, please Di, there's a new restaurant called Beirut Gardens, all my friends are talking about it. Please Di, please, please, please?" Pia begged. Before Bani could reply, Pushkar walked in and stopped in his tracks. He saw Pia and his mind immediately started to play a song;
Ho ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga
Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga
Jaise khilta gulaab
Jaise shaayar ka khwaab
Jaise ujli kiran
Jaise van mein hiran
Jaise chaandni raat
Jaise naghme ki baat
Jaise mandir mein ho ek jalta diya
Ho ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga
Snapping out of the song playing in his head, Pushkar immediately introduced himself;
"Hi, I'm Pushkar, Bani's team leader and friend, I hope, and you are?" Pushkar asked, whilst holding his hand out.
Taking his hand, Pia replied; "Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Pia, Bani Di's younger sister, I was just trying to convince her to treat us to dinner, But she wont listen." All the whilst, she still held onto Pushkar's hand.
"Bani, why don't you go, your sister is asking you so nicely," Pushkar said.
"Pushkar, I still have some work to do," Bani replied.
"Its okay today, in fact, since you have been doing such a great job, I'll treat you and your sister to dinner, anywhere that you want to go. No complaints okay Bani?" Pushkar told her. She nodded with a smile at his nice gesture.
"Thank you soo much, I was trying to convince Di, to take us to Beirut Gardens, but now you can. And its sisters - we have another one at home, the baby Rano. So, you can come pick us up at 8? It takes me just forever to get ready, come on Di, we better get going, and thanks Pushkar, we really appreciate the dinner invitation," Saying that, Pia took a deep breath, waved at Pushkar and dragged her Bani Di out of the office.
At the restaurant Pushkar in essence wined and dined them, making all three girls feel special after a very long time. However, it was Pia and Pushkar who got on like a house on fire and kept constant chatter alive, talking about every thing and nothing. Bani, excused herself to go to the ladies room. As she was making her way out, she was pushed hard by a group of girls making their way in, causing her to bump into someone else and loose her balance. She would have fallen on the floor, but she felt a pair of hands hold onto her, one hand clasping her waist and the other her hand.
"I didn't know Miss. Dixit, that you were that desperate to fall at my feet that you would do it in such a public place. I would have thought that you would have had more style than that, since its already been tried and failed," Came the deep baritone of Jai Walia's voice. He smiled, when he felt her stiffen in his arms and slowly straighten up. His eyes held a gleam of smugness, and an arrogant smile tilted the corners of his mouth up.
"Mr. Walia, I think you need to get your eyes checked out, if you couldn't see that I had been pushed, not "falling" than you must be even blinder than I thought. As it is I have better people to fall in front of than you, and sorry to disappoint, you're no where on that list. Now, if you don't mind letting go of my hand, people will think that your hassling me and falling for me, not the other way around." Saying that, Bani swirled around, the long strands of her hair, gently caressed Jai's face, and for a second, he closed his eyes trying to breathe in the scent of her hair. But she was gone before he could. Jai made his way back to his table, and noticed that it was behind Bani's table, and the only available seat was facing her. Their eyes met across two tables, except it was Bani's eyes that held the gleam of smugness in her eyes. Jai inclined his head, silently congratulating her at her one-up-man ship. As the waiter came towards Jai, without breaking eye contact with Bani, he gave him his order.
The same waiter came to Bani a few minutes later, holding a pink rose and a folded card. Curiously, Bani read the card;
Touch
Jai Walia
Bani looked up, and straight into Jai's grey eyes and smiled at him, the smile lighting up her whole face. For a moment, Jai thought that he had been truly blinded, by the beauty of her smile.
Bani slid the note into her handbag and the rose as well. Pia and Pushkar were still talking away, having completely forgotten that there were other people at the table. Rano, however, had watched the whole exchange between her Di and the good looking man and was curious about what was going on between them. Bani Di had a gleam in her eyes and a glow to her skin. Nosily she thought, she had to find out what was going on.
Edited by chickster - 18 years ago
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