FF: MIRAGE part 41pg53Updated 20/04 - Page 8

hey no update yet pls continue soon

HEY PEOPLE, I KNOW UPDATING ON THE WEEKENDS ALONG CAN BE A DRAG BUT IT'S THE BEST I CAN DO FOR NOW, WHAT WITH SCHOOL AND EVERY THING. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS. HERE IS MY NEXT PART….



It had taken her about a week to round up all the parties she needed for the initial briefing of the project under the steady hand of Natchiket. He had really been a God-send for her. The Conference room briefing had been amazing, for in that moment and in that room, she had seen first hand the influence of power and position on people. Natchiket had coached her on boardroom tactics and she had pulled it off.
"The most important thing is to project to them that you believe in what you are saying and though it seems impossible, if you believe it can be done, then it can be done."
She remembered those words and smiled to herself in satisfaction. The plans for the Spa were coming together bit by bit. The architects would have something for her to see in the coming week, the surveyors were already on site and she had already spoken to the landowners who had not completed arrangements for outright sale of the land, but since the sale was certain, did not object to the company sending their staff to do the work that needed to be done in preparation for the kick off of the project.
She had not had to deal with Jai in the last few days as all her correspondence with him had been on line via emails and on the occasional occasion, a phone call or two. Kaveri and Ranveer had been darlings as well, making sure that she didn't get into any kind of trouble.
At that instance her phone rang and not recognizing the number picked up and answered cautiously, "Hello?"
"Is this anyway to greet the only man in your life?" came the voice at the other end of the line.
"Excuse me?" she said in confusion.
"How easily you forget all that I did for you. Tsk tsk, I am very disappointed."
"Who is this?" she asked in a firmer tone.
"Oh, now you want to get angry?"the man at the other end said, "Get angry all you want but truth is truth. You forgot all about me…"
Recognition hit and she squealed, "Tarun!"
"Now she recognizes me," he said, his voice tinted with an expression of hurt.
"Oh my darling I am so sorry. I didn't forget you, how could you even think that?" she said, trying to pacify him.
"I have played three games in the last three weeks and not a pip out of you. How is that not forgetting? Tarun asked.
"I called you two weeks ago Tarun to share the news about getting this job," she said matter of factly, "I don't see you calling me to find out what it's like working here now do I?"
"Not fair, I'm practically in detention here," he said.
"And I'm not?"
"Whatever," he said and she smiled knowing he had shrugged when he said that, "How are you?"
"Hanging in there," she said happily, "I seem to be doing a good job of holding my own here. With the help of a few friends of course."
"Glad to hear it," he said, "I just spoke to Ma and Pops."
"And?"
"They were doing ok, excited I called, you know the drill," he said.
"They push you on the marriage thing?" she asked.
"In every single sentence!" he groaned.
She laughed at that, "Try living with them, then complain to me. You should hear Dadi and Dada going on about it. I promise you they take the goat on pushing for marriage."
"So, they have any luck?"
"Not even a lick," Bani said and they both laughed at that, "With this job and from what I hear about it, I'll be lucky to even go on a date."
"It cannot be that bad," Tarun said.
"I didn't think so either but when you check the reason why my predecessor left, you kind of have to wonder."
"I hear you," he said, sighing, "Imiss you Di."
"I miss you too Tarun," she said softly,a sad smile touching her lips. "It's the first time we have really truly been apart."
"I know, but we have to be at some point right?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't make it any easier," she said, knowing that in the past she had always had Micheal or Tarun to lean on.
"Well as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, hai na?"
She laughed at that. They were more Indian than Mexican and it had always amused their birth father how easily they fell to their Indian roots than their Mexican roots, but he was happy they embraced both diverse cultures.
"Right you are," she smiled, "I gotta get back to work dear, talk to you later?"
"Sure thing. Take good care of you now," he said.
"I will. Bye my love."
"Bye," he said, and the tone went dead.
She held on to the receiver for a while, listening to the dead tone before slowly replacing the receiver. She had been so busy she actually gone two weeks without a so much as a text message to her brother or even Micheal. She smiled as she thought back to those years where they were literally the three musketeers who did every thing together. Forget doing every thing together, they got into all kinds of scrapes together. But then they all had to grow up some time, and this was it. The separation.
She sighed and relaxed in her seat, only to shoot out of it again, as her eyes fell on the figure in the doorway.
"Sir?" she said, uncertain as so exactly how long he had been standing there.
"I pay you to do your job Bani, not waste company time on meaningless phone calls," Jai said with a severe look on his face, "Or maybe you do not have enough work to do."
"I'm sorry sir,' she said.
He just looked at her,and then as if making up his mind,turned and walked away. His attitude left her in no doubt he was going to get on her case now. Well, she couldn't worry herself about that right now, she had work to do.



AT WALIA MANSION……

"Uday, isn't Natchiket supposed to be here by now?" Krishna asked, looking at the time.
It was fifteen minutes past seven, "Calm down Krishna, he's just late."
"Well he usually leaves early doesn't he?" she said, beginning to pace the study.
"He'll be here Ma," Jigyasa said, coming into the drawing room with Aditya in tow.
She was still sulking and looking at the wall clock. Her son was having dinner with them which he did just once a week and for him to miss not come was going to be a problem.
"Krishna," Uday said, drawing out the name, "Sit down."
"One would think he doesn't live right here in Mumbai," Aditya teased.
"Who doesn't live in Mumbai?"
They all turned to see Natchiket standing in the doorway of the study, and everyone began talking in excitement all over again. Krishna went to hug her son with a huge smile of relief on her face.
"Oh my child," she held him, then leaned away from him and slapped his hand,"Aap bhi na!"
"Ouch! What?" he asked, looking around the room.
"You're late," Uday smiled at him, "She's been waiting for you."
"Maff ki jiye Ma,"he said,holding his ears and beseeching her with a mischievous yet apologetic smile.
"Jao, go and greet your father," she said, at her than reply his apology.
He did same and went to touch his Father's feet in greeting and then turned to shake hands with Aditya whom he had seen earlier on in the day, then hugged Jigyasa.
"How are you Didi?" he asked.
"Like I always tell you," she said, cupping his cheek, and shaking her head sadly, "You'd know better if you were here more often."
"There you go again," he said in mock exasperation, as they had had this song and dance for the last few years since he moved out of the house, "I came here to eat, now where's the food?"
That drew laughter from everyone in the room, and Aditya said, "You and Jai, I don't know who's worse. You are not planning to get married, neither do you bring any sensible girl home."
"Hey, am I on trial here because I was twenty minutes late?" he asked, and turned to his father, "Surely you're not part of this are you?"
"This is your fight son," Uday smiled.
"Tony!" he called and strolled past all of them, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake.
"I think we better go after him," Jigyasa said, and they all filed out of the study to the living room where Tony was pouring drinks.
Natchiket was already taking a sip from his glass and Krishna warned, "I do not want drunks at my table."
"If it'll get you all off my case then that's exactly what I'll do," he said, knocking back the rest of the drink.
"I can see the fun has already began,"Ranveer said, as he and Anu strolled into the living room.
"Hey Uncle!" Anu called and literally jumped on him
"How are my favorite nephew and niece this evening?" he said, ruffling Anu's hair and pumping Ranveer's hand in a manly hand shake.
"Great!" Anu exclaimed, "You should know I aced in all my courses again."
"Congratulations baby!" he hugged her again.
"Why do you always call me baby?" she asked grumpily.
"Lo," he said, gesturing with his hand, "I was there when you were born kiddo, you'll always be my baby."
"Yeah yeah,"she sulked and they laughed together.
Uday sat next to his wife and they looked at each other at the same time,knowing they were thinking the exact same things. This was what their family once used to be…that was until everything went sour and hearts were divided.
"Oiy, what are you two moping at?" Natchiket called, knowing fully well what they were thinking, but no way was he going to let that sadness spoil another night as it had spoiled so many before this one, "Our little ones are growing up and you two are frowning about getting old?"
"Natchiket!" Jigyasa hushed him up.
"Maine kuch bola?" he asked innocently,causing his parents to shake their heads.
Tony appeared at that precise moment, and announced formally, "Dinner is served."
"And about time," Ranveer said, "I am starving!"
"You eat like a horse," Anu said in the disgust borne of a 'skinny'.
"And you barely eat at all," he fired back.
"Hey, no upsetting my baby tonight," Natchiket put his hands round the shoulders of both his niece and nephew.
"You always take her side," Ranveer said.
"Hey, you're a man now. Act like it," Natchiket said.
Anu stuck her tongue out at her brother and gave him a victorious smile.
They sat down to dinner and a heavy feeling of nostalgia swept over Natchiket. He was always seated to his Uday's left while Krishna was on the right. She always served them and made a note to always complain that she shouldn't be doing this at her age as she should have a daughter in law by now. He knew his mother always personally cooked these Friday meals as it was about the only time she got to eat with the whole family…well, save for Jai. He always made it a point to show up when dinner was almost over so he spent less time with the him around.
Friday dinner was always a noisy affair and table manners went out the window once they sat down to eat. Everyone wanted to be heard so talking above the next person's voice was key. They caught up on their different activities during the week and what they were planning to do next week. It was almost nine when dessert was laid out for them.
"Are you trying to get us all fat?!" Anu exclaimed when she saw the cake and ice cream combo that the servant placed in front of them, one after the other.
"Hey, it's okay to indulge once in a while," Uday said.
"Dada, you should be careful of your health."
"Will you stop being a worry worth," Ranveer said, "You can give me yours if you're so set against it."
"Anyone but you," she said and pulled her bowl closer to herself.
"What is it with you women? How is it that you don't know that not all men like skinny women?"
"They don't?" his father asked in amusement.
"Contrary to popular belief, some of us men like a woman with flesh on her bones."
"I take it you're one of them?" Uday asked.
"Most definitely!" he said proudly , "Give me a woman who can eat any day and I'll marry her."
"See, even Ranveer is ready to take the plunge," Krishna said to Natchiket.
"I am so proud of him," Natchiket said indulgently, earning himself a smack from Jigyasa.
"Good to know someone will give me a daughter in law soon," Krishna said.
"Amen to that," Natchiket said, "So you'll leave me alone now won't you?"
"What is it with you and Jai? Is marriage so horrible because of what …"
"Ma!" Jigyasa stopped her before she could complete her line of thoughts
Krishna looked around the table and on the faces of everyone, she could see the discomfort her 'almost' words had caused. Everyone in the room knew what she was going to say so her completing the statement would have been inconsequential.
A low pitched sarcastic laugh carried across the room and they all turned to see Jai standing there, coat in hand.
"And I thought I was the party pooper."
It was official. The excitement and joy of the night was dead and buried. Total silence fell over the room like a wet blanket.




GOTTA STOP HERE TILL NEXT WEEK PEOPLE. DID THE BEST I COULD AND I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED IT. TILL NEXT WEEK, THIS IS ME SIGNING OFF. CIAO!! 😉 😉

amazing part
wonder what happen between jai n natchiket
feel bad 4 bani
cont soon

Very nice Ezther. Was waiting for the update. Bani holding her own so far. The family atmosphere came across very well.
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What happens next? Nothing happening with Jai and Bani yet!!
Please continue soon..

u ended at the worst spot,, too much mystery with jai and nach,, dont tell me both will like bani ,, pls continue soon

no jb part in this. I was so looking forward for that.

how ever it was nice.

pooja

NEXT PART.....ENJOY!!


No one wanted to talk about what had happened that evening, least of all Krishna as she felt she had some how jinxed the night. Each time they had a wonderful dinner like this, something always happened to spoil it. This time it was her fault.
"Krishna, nothing is going to change if you punish yourself like this," Uday said, coming to sit by his wife who was sitting alone on the back porch overlooking the garden.
She sighed deeply, "You can say that Uday, because it's not your fault that all of this is happening."
"No one blames you my dear."
She smiled sadly, "No one but me."
He put his hand round her shoulder and hugged her to him, "Tonight is not a repeat of the past Krishna. Whatever happened, happened. Nothing can change that, but we can hope for the future to be different."
"I don't know that I can keep hoping Uday. Look at our sons, they barely speak to each other. If only…"
"Rehne di jiye Krishna," Uday said, holding his wife closer as he could feel the tears roll down her cheeks without seeing them. No one wished to be at this stage in their old age, "Kya faida hai?"
Jigyasa stood in the shadows listening to all this, unable to decide whether to make her presence known or not. This was the part she hated most about Natchiket's visits—the aftermath of what his mother had to go through. She swiped at a lone tear that fell from her left eye and she directed her gaze upward.
You need to do something, she thought, asking God for a miracle to unite this family sooner than later, else there would be nothing left of it. It was hard enough trying to remain neutral in the fight between the two brothers.


Bani had just come from Natchiket's office and he was a little distracted and she would have asked what the problem was but she already knew he wasn't going to tell her, as she had come to find he was a very personal person.
"Morning Kavs," she called as she walked past the reception.
"Morning dear, how's it going?" she asked.
"A few more meetings and I'll be through," she said.
"Hello beautiful," Ranveer materialized from nowhere.
"Hey yourself," Bani said, "How was your weekend?"
"Could have been better," he said, "Yours?"
"Splendid," she said with a huge smile, "I could tell you all about it but I wouldn't want to torture you."
"Thank God for small mercies," he said, "Hey, any news on the land sale yet?"
"It's being finalized today," she said, "The owners are coming in today for the final signing of the papers."
"Congratulations!" Ranveer shook her hand vigorously, "One down, ten more to go."
"Some encouragement you are," Kaveri said.
"I aim to please."
"Gotta run guys," she said, "Need some final touches for the transfer papers."
"Told you she was going to be good for this place," Ranveer said.
"Really kid," Kaveri said on a serious note, "How was your weekend?"
His smile disappeared, "The same old story Kaveri. Same old story."
"And your Grandmother?" she asked.
"Devastated as usual," he said, "It's like this feud is never going to end."
"Hey," she said, snapping out of the sad mood, "You are way too young to be talking about giving up hope, now chin up!"
He smiled at that, "Never a dull moment with you is there?"
"Not if I can help it. Now run along, here comes the boss," she said, as Jai stepped off the elevator and headed straight to his office, acknowledging greetings with an inclination of his head.
Some things never changed, Kaveri thought.

Bani made her way back to her office and dialed the number of the Land Registry information desk(don't now if that's what its called in India).
"Good morning, Land Registry how may I help you?" a polite woman said at the other end of the line.
"Good morning, I'm Bani Dixit calling from Walia Group of Companies in Mumbai. I'm waiting on an email from the registry in respect of a few acres of land in Hyderabad and would like to know if the mail has been sent."
"One moment please," the woman said, and Bani could hearher tapping away at the keyboard of her laptop. A few seconds later, she said, "You should be receiving it in a few seconds ma'am. Sorry for the delay."
"Not a problem," Bani said and an alert popped up at that instance to say she had a mail waiting, "I think I have it now. Thank you."
"My pleasure," the woman said.
Bani replaced the receiver and opened themail and began to read the abstract of the land which dated back 40 years and all seemed to be in good order until she got to the part that said the lease given to the owners had lapsed and the land had reverted back to the government.
"That can't be right," she said with a frown, and went down to the schedule to check the location of the land on the map of the area that was sent to them.
The same area was marked in red to indicate that the parcel of land they were about to buy no longer belonged to the people claiming to be the owners and if they were to be dealing with anyone, it should be the Governor of the State and not these people who were prior owners. In confusion she sat back in her chair, wondering why the hell Jai would not do business with them when they didn't have any title to pass to him?
Wait a minute, she sat straighter in her chair, if no one had known about this and she was just finding out, then it meant that Jai didn't know either! She jack-knifed out of her chair and went flying down the hall, as she knew the documents were about to be signed.
"Bani I…"
"Not now!" she called as she flew past Ranveer in the corridor and headed straight for the boardroom. She burst through the door, startling all the occupants in the room, "You cannot sign those papers!"
There was absolute silence in the room as they all looked at her in confusion, Natchiket and Jai exchanged a look.
"What is this about Bani?" Natchiket asked.
"I think you're going to want to hear this in private," she said, panting.
"Whatever you have to say…" Jai began.
"Will have to be said in private," Bani said more firmly.
He gave her a piercing stare and then when Natchiket rose, he followed suit, "Excuse us for a moment please."
They stepped out of the room and he turned to give Bani a hard look, "This better be good."
She ignored him and spoke to Natchiket, "You remember I had told you I was still waiting for the abstract and schedule from the Land Registry in Hyderabad?"
"Yes?" he said.
"Well I just received it a few minutes ago…"
"I have a copy of the abstract and schedule," Jai cut her off, "Now get to the point."
"I don't know what you think you have but the schedule and abstract I just received says that those people in there are cheating you. The land in question is now Government property and these people have no good title to pass to you if you were to buy the land from them."
Natchiket was confused, "Are you sure about this?"
"That aside sir, the land in question has a metro line running across a quarter of one of the acres and that could spell problems if we are not dealing with the Government directly."
Jai's expression had gone from impatience to the way he got when he didn't want anyone to tell what he was about to do.
"Do you have proof of what you are saying?" he asked her.
She turned and walked into his office, followed by Natchiket who was mildly surprised at her boldness. She went and pulled up her system on his laptop, entered her email and pulled up the mail in question. She stepped back to let him see what she was talking about.
He stared at the screen for a while and before jumping to his feet and headed back to the board room.
"Jai, what are you going to do?" Natchiket asked.
But Jai didn't say a word. He just went into the room and shut the door behind him.Natchiket actually feared what would happen next as he knew his brother all too well.If there was something he hated more than anything, it was being taken for a fool.Every other thing was a rebuttable presumption but being made a fool of stuck with you for life.
"I don't get it.What does that mean?"Bani asked in confusion.
"It means I feel sorry for those men seated in that room," he said matter of factly.
The door opened and the men filed out with big smiles on their faces, shaking Jai's hand vigorously.Jai had his poker face on and was too polite to them.When the men were a safe distance away he turned to look at Bani and Natchiket who were still in the hallway.
"Good work Miss Dixit," he said, "Looks to me like I inderestimated you."
Bani was taken aback, "Well...thank you sir."
"Natchiket," he said by way of acknowledgement and re-entered the boardroom.
Natchiket just exhaled deeply and knew that he only had to wait unti l tomorrow to see what new devastation his brother had planned...knowing him, it would be front page news.He patted Bani on the back and walked off to his office.


"You're kidding!" Ranveer exclaimed.
"Nope!" Bani said, positively beaming.
"He actually used those words!"Kaveri exclaimed.
"The very same," Bani affirmed, "Imagine my shock!"
"Imagine mine," Kaveri said.
"This is high praise indeed," Ranveer said.
"Thank you," Bani bowed at the waist and then got serious, "I have a few more people I have to go gloat to so excuse me people,superstar coming through!"
They laughed at the theatrics and Ranveer said, "Well, gotta go too Kavs. See you later."
"Later kid," she said and settled in to do her own business.


Bani was on cloud nine when she had shared the news with her family and then Tarun and Micheal. Little did she now the devastation her find was going to bring upon the cu;prits.She had just walked into WGI the following day when she was bombarded with the front page of Indian Daily with a picture of the very same men she had seen in the boardroom yesterday being led away in handcuffs. The caption read:BIG SCALE FRAUD ON GOVT. LAND. The incept read,The WALIAS' FIGHT BACK!
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, holding the paper up in shock.
At that moment Jai walked into the building which sent the people who had been huddled together whispering scurrying to their duty posts.She just stared at him incredulously and he paused a few feet away from her.
"Good morning Miss Dixit," he said politely.
Her mouth opened and shut like that of a fish out of water but no sound came out.He shrugged and continued on his way to the elevator.She just stared after him, unable to make head or tail of all of this.
Heavens, the man was a psycho!

"Have you seen this?" she walked into Natchiket's office and dropped the paper on his desk.
"I knew it was going to happen before you did my dear," he said tiredly.
"And?"
"The truth is they di try to sell government land that didn't belong to them and try as I did to dissuade Jai, there was just no stopping him."
"Wow," she said, dropping into the seat opposite him, "Remind me never to cross him."
"Will do," Natchiket said.
There was a knock on the door and Jai came in, "Have you...why Miss Dixit,I see you found your tongue."
Bani got to her feet and made to leave but Jai stopped her.
"Stay, this involves you too," he said, "Natchiket, has the arrival of the delegates from America been confirmed?"
"Yes."
"Good," he said then turned to Bani, "We are hosting a dinner party for about fifty people from the US this evening and I need you to find a caterer for the event.You have at least eleven hours."
Bani just stared at him, then looked at Natchiket with questioning eyes.
"Jai you know there is no caterer alive who would agree to take on such a job at such short notice."
"I know,but I have come to believe that this woman here can pull the impossible.Look what she saved us from yesterday," he said with a small smile, then looked at Bani, "Chop chop!"
Bani looked at the door he had just shut and then at Natchiket,"He hates me doesn't he?"
"Sometimes I think he hates everyone," Natchiket said, a deep frown on his face, "I'll give you the names of a few caterers."
"Maybe I could draw up a menu and Spread the job evenly amongst them.That ought to work," she said, going into productive mode.
"Smart," Natchiket said, "Now hurry.Elevne hours is not a lot of time."
"Tell me about it," and just like that, the fiasco of this morning was out the window.
She had a new task at hand. But if she was honest with herself,she loved the intrigues of this job.Not to mention her boss,as unapproachable as he was.She was about to enter her office whena hush fell on the outer office and Bani turned to see a very beautiful woman in a black pants suit make her way confidently to Jai's office.
"Who's that?" she asked Kaveri.
"That's the she devil," Kaveri said,"She's Pia, Mr Wali'a ex-girlfriend."
"He had a girlfriend?"Bani was shocked.
Kaveri looked at her funny, "Any devil who looked like Jai Walia would have a girlfriend."
"Girlfriends even,"Bani said in agreement, "But if she's his ex,what is she doing here?"
Kaveri scoffed, "The same thing they all come to do here.See if they'll end up being Mrs.Jai Walia."
"Oh," Bani said,not sure why she suddenly didn't like the woman she had just seen walk into Jai's office.
"You alright?" Kaveri asked.
"Yeah, got a lot to do," she said and quickly walked off to her office.
Kaveri had a knowing smile on her face. Show her one young single woman here at WGI Hq who wasn't a little with the aloof,untouchable Jai Walia and she would call you liar!
Oh things were really looking up at WGI for her! she smiled and returned to work.


GOTTA STOP HERE GUYS,MY LAPTOP BATTERY IS ALMOST DEAD AND I HAVE SCHOOL WORK.AS FOR THE MYSTERIES THERE ARE,PICASSO NEVER SHOWED HIS WORK BEFORE IT WAS DONE SO A LITTLE PATIENCE WOULD DO.I PROMISE IT'LL ALL BE WORTH IT!CIAO!! 😉 😉 😳

Very good update, as usual. I love all your little details about the business - makes for a great ff. Have to wait a whole week for another update, sigh...
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