SORRY SORRY SOOOOO SOORRYYYYYYYY FOR THE DELAY. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
MIRAGE AGAIN
Bani called a few of the caterers Natchiket had recommended and they dared not refuse a favor for a member of the Walia clan. She however called home too to ask her mother to make some sweet dishes…what would be the difference if there were home made sweets?
"Ma, I need them by this evening," she said.
"Don't worry Bani, it'll be ready by tonight," Kiran said.
Bani hung up and decided to give it two hours before she started calling to make sure they were the priority. Finger foods and a world class continental dinner in buffet style and she hoped she could pull this off. Her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"How is the dinner coming?"
It was Jai. "It's coming along nicely," she said confidently.
"Good. I would really hate to be embarrassed tonight."
For some reason she didn't quite understand, she felt there was a note of warning somewhere in that casual statement.
"No need to worry," she said again.
Before he hung up, she heard the voice of a woman, "Jai, I haven't seen you in the last two weeks and yet you're more…"
He hung up. Bani didn't realize she was still holding on to the phone until there was a soft knock on the door to her office. A peon came in and handed her a note and vanished again. For all his finesse and sophistication, she wondered why Jai Walia would have anything to do with a woman like that. She looked cold and calculating.
Anyway, why would she care? It's not like she had any business with what Jai did with his life. She was just here to work, and that was that.
Krishna was on the phone to Kiran and both were ecstatic about how things seemed to be developing nicely between their children.
"I can't believe how excited she was when she got home last night. It was like she was a seven year old birthday girl with lots of candy!" Kiran said.
"If my son is impressed with her and he rarely is impressed with anyone, then I can say we have made giant strides," Krishna said happily, "For a moment I thought Uday had finally managed to fix an alliance with a friend's daughter. I couldn't well tell him I had your daughter in mind now could I?"
"But what do we do now?" Kiran asked.
"I don't know," she said, "Why don't we let tonight play out first and then decide what to do."
"Great idea. I'll speak to you later on then. I have to go check on the sweets she asked me to prepare," Kiran said.
"Ok then, take care now."
"You too."
Bani looked at the wall clock for the umpteenth time. The venue was right there at WGI so she was only anxious about getting the hall ready for the dinner. The decorators and catering services were working round the clock to make sure that all was ready in time. She had gone for a simple yet formal layout and decided not to go overboard with it.
"How are you doing?" Natchiket showed up behind her at the entrance to the banquet hall.
"I'm freaking out here," she said, running her hand through her hair in agitation.
"Are you?" Natchiket asked, for he could very well see the twinkle in her eyes at the prospect of knowing she had a deadline and was going to meet it at all cost.
A grin appeared on her face, "I have to complain, or else it doesn't seem like I am doing my job."
"I can understand that. And the caterers?"
"They are all on board. Inder's and Full moon will be here to set up at five and Mohan will be here at exactly the same time so we have a two hour window for final touches."
"Excellent! I knew you were one to multi task," Natchiket said.
"I agree."
They both turned to see Jai standing and nodding at all the work she had had done in the hall. At that moment, she showed up behind him.
"Are we ready?"
Natchiket and Bani turned to see Pia had come up behind Jai, and was regarding the hall in open disdain.
"I thought this was a business function," she said, giving the hall a once over.
Bani looked at Jai, whose eyes had flickered to her face and then back to the hall, "It is Pia, and I'm satisfied with it."
The woman was silent for a while, "Your taste has really fallen since I've been away then."
Jai scowled, "Let's go."
So saying he turned and walked away, leaving her to stare at his retreating back, before giving a dirty look to Bani and then leaving to catch up with Jai.
"I thought I didn't like her," Bani began, "But now I'm really sure I don't like her."
Natchiket chuckled at that, "I don't think anybody likes her. Not when he was dating her and most certainly not now."
"How did he even…" she stopped and shot Natchiket a quick glance, "It's not my place to wonder."
He looked at her averted face and smiled. She was jealous. And to think she had only been here six weeks. He knew what it was about his brother that drew women in droves,
and it wasn't just the Walia name. Some had genuinely cared for him but he had burned them badly. He guessed it was a woman's thing—they were born to nurture and he knew they realized that something inside Jai needed fixing, and it was their duty to fix it. Only they never could…Jai never let them get close enough to even try.
"I'll be back at five to see how far you've gone," he said and turned to go with a quirky smile on his lips.
He hoped all she ever felt was a simple crush and it never went beyond that, or else Bani would find herself in a real ugly mess.
It was six thirty and the tables were getting set along with the hot plates. The tables were done up in rich red and cream with cream dishes and gleaming gold-plated cutlery. Natchiket and Ranveer showed up again to see what she had been up to.
Ranveer gave off a low whistle, "You have really outdone yourself Bani!"
"Why thank you Ranveer," she smiled tiredly.
"You're welcome," he said.
"This is outstanding Bani," Natchiket said, smiling appreciatively, "Very well done."
The delegates of Walia group America were due to arrive any minute. Cars had been dispatched to pick them up from their hotels at four and in the time it took to get ready, they should all be here real soon. As if on cue, Jai once again materialized from nowhere.
He smiled.
That action shocked both Ntachiket and Ranveer, for even they knew the smile was genuine. Neither one could remember the last time they had seen one of those.
"Once again, you have proven yourself Miss Dixit," he said, giving her a mild look.
"Thank you sir," she smiled, a little blush creeping into her cheeks.
Then a serious look crossed his face, "Why the hell aren't you dressed?"
She froze, "Me?"
"Does it look to you like I'm talking to Ranveer?" he snapped.
"Well I wasn't aware I was part of the evening," she said in confusion.
"Well now you know. You have an hour and half before they get here and I want you manning the door and showing them where to go. Is that clear?"
She gave him a glare, as polite as was possible for the man who signed her cheques, "Crystal."
"Good," he said and headed off to his office.
"Can you believe that guy?! All this time and he tells me now that I'm invited."
"Calm down Bani, just throw something on…" Ranveer began.
"I didn't bring something to throw on," she snapped.
"Whoa, we're on your side," Natchiket smiled at her frustration, "There's always a solution. Here, take my credit card and go to the nearest shop you can find and get something good to wear. That shouldn't take too long."
"You have an idea, thanks," she said, calming down a bit, "But I can't take your money."
"Reason being?" he frowned.
"It was generous of you, thank you," she said, "But I can take care of me."
"I didn't ask you Bani," Natchiket said seriously, "It's an order. Now take it."
Bani looked at Ranveer for help but he shrugged and said, "I think you better take it."
She hesitated, then took it, "Thank you."
"Now off you go," he said, "Ill take care of the rest of this."
"Thanks…"
"Will you get out of here?" he said in playful frustration, "Ranveer, go with her."
"My pleasure," he said, "Come on Cinderella, your transformation awaits!"
"Ooohh!" she shivered playfully and she grabbed her bag off one of the tables and they were off.
"Where do you think you're going in that?" Ranveer asked her.
"What?" Bani looked down at the simple blue dress she was wearing, "It's simple and stylish."
"It's frumpy," he said, going to look at the different dresses on the racks in front of the changing room.
"Hey I resent that," Bani said indignantly.
"Resent it all you want, but I will not be seen with you in that dress," he said and picked out a stunning dress in soft pink with intricately designed silver thread work, "Now this, this is a dress."
"I'm not going to wear that!" she gasped, "That's a dress that says I'm dressed to kill!"
"But you are dressing to kill," he said, putting the dress in her hand and shooing her towards the changing room.
"I can't wear…"
"Ahhhhhhh!" Ranveer shouted to drown out her complaint until he had locked her in the room, "Change and come on out. We don't have time."
She quickly changed into the dress and inched the zipper at the side up until it was under her arm. She took a deep breath and then looked at herself in the mirror.
"If you laugh, I'll kill you," she said.
"Yeah yeah," Ranveer said.
Timidly, she stepped out of the changing room. Ranveer was speechless for the first ten seconds. Bani looked at him for approval and misunderstood the expression on his face.
"You don't like it," she said with a pout.
"No…no," Ranveer said, coming to stand in front of her, "You look amazing!"
Her face broke out in a huge smile, "Really?"
He nodded vigorously, "You look just…perfection!" was all he could come up with and gave her the once over.
The pink gown was of the softest pink and had a Roman flare to it. The neck line was a deep V, held together by a small gold brooch. The same gold brooches held the material up at the shoulders to give the perfect drape to the neckline which showed off the slightest hint of her cleavage. From the bust line, the gown flowed and draped beautifully in soft folds when she moved. The silver thread work gleamed and gave off a wonderful illusion as it played with the lights it got caught on.
"We need shoes," he said to the attendant who had not taken his eyes off Bani since she walked out.
"Huh? ... oh yes!" he snapped to attention, "Shoes. I've got just the thing."
He disappeared for a while, and Ranveer continued to walk round Bani like a designer looking for flaws, "We need to put curls in your hair."
"There's no time for that," Bani said.
"Oh but there is," he flicked his wrist to look at his watch, "We've got at least fifty minutes."
"You're crazy!" Bani laughed.
"Take it from a man who wants you to make a point here tonight," Ranveer said, "You need hair to go with this dress."
"Acha baba, whatever you say. But if I get fired, I'll kill you."
"Fat chance of that happening when Mamaji sees you in this dress," Ranveer said, wiggling his eyes at her, causing Bani to laugh.
"Here we are," the attendant said, holding up a pair of the most beautiful slippers Bani had ever seen.
"Oh my goodness, they're exquisite!" she said, taking the pair from the attendant.
"I'll say," Ranveer said, and motioned for her to sit so that he could help slip the shoes on.
The slippers were built in the form of a single spiral thistle with a tiny rose at the end, all done in braided silver with diamond studs in the rose. It came up to just under the hem line of the gown and made for the perfect ensemble.
"We definitely have to get hair," Ranveer said, satisfied with what he had created.
"I agree," the attendant said, ogling Bani openly this time.
"Hey," Ranveer said, giving him a warning look, and then thrusting the platinum card at him, "Get the bill settled."
The attendant looked at him for a second, then took the card, "Certainly sir."
When he was out of earshot, "That was not necessary Ranveer."
"It was," he insisted, "That man needed to stop looking at my future mami now do I?"
"What?" Bani was confused, thinking she hadn't heard right, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on Bani," he said, "I know you may not see it now, but you like my Uncle."
"I do not!" she denied hotly.
"Of course you do," he said stubbornly, "And let me be the first to tell you, I approve."
"What are you saying?" Bani was embarrassed now.
"Look Bani, if Kavs has seen it I think it's safe to say I'm on authoritative grounds here," he said in a serious tone, "Look, it's only normal. I mean, if you didn't have some kind of reaction to him I would have thought you swam upstream."
"Are you crazy?!" she asked, turning away from him and adjusting the gown needlessly.
"He laughed at that, "Mami, there's nothing to ashamed of. I dare say my family will so approve. What I need is for you to admit that until today, you didn't think him as anything but the boss."
"Ranveer…" she said in frustration and went into the changing room to take off the dress.
"The fourth week you got here you started dressing up more," he said, looking at the ceiling as if he was trying to recall something, "You started using a different perfume, different lipstick, you pretend to be bothered he's always picking on you but you make damn sure you rise up to the challenge not necessarily to shut him up but more to impress him… when he throws something at you, you come alive Bani. You want to show him you can take whatever he throws. You make moon faces at him when he walk by for heaven's sake, need I go on?"
She had folded her arms across her chest and was glaring at him, then her expression crumbled into defeat, "Okay! So I have a little crush. Big deal, every girl has them."
"Great, now we're getting somewhere," he said, rubbing his hands together in glee.
She gave him a considering look, "Kaveri knows?"
"Girl please! She found out today," he said, "You have the most expressive face I know."
"Really?" she screwed up her face in disbelief.
"Oh yeah, I can tell what you're thinking sometimes before you say it," he said, and added quickly on seeing her discomfort, "Not that that's a bad thing Bani."
"I don't know if it's a good thing," she said doubtfully.
"All done Mr.Bali," the attendant came back and took the dress and shoes away to package.
"Well forget all that. First thing's first, we have to make Jai mama remember you after tonight cos that witch Pia will be there so we need to get you dolled up real fast. Shall we?"
"We shall," she said as they headed to the counter and he got on the phone to call someone to take care of her hair.
Where the hell were they? Natchiket glanced at his watch for the hundredth time. They should have been back by now.
Asif in answer to his question they appeared in the hallway, "I'm sorry we're late, but Ranveer wouldn't listen to me."
"You're still not dressed?" he eyed the shopping bags in her hands.
"I promise I won't be long. I'll just go change in the ladies room. Be back in ten minutes."
"Well hurry," he said and turned to see Ranveer smiling sheepishly, "What's with you?"
"Wait till you see her," he said with a mischievous grin Natchiket knew his nephew so well for.
"It's a good thing your Dad is away a lot these days," he said, shaking his head.
"I think so too," he said with a huge smile.
Fifteen minutes later, Jai walked off the elevators at exactly seven thirty and went to survey the hall in which Natchiket and Ranveer were standing, all dressed up for the night's event.
"Are we set to go?" he directed the question at Natchiket.
"We are," he confirmed.
Jai looked around, "Where's Bani?"
"Here!" she called from behind them and they all turned to look at her.
Ranveer had his eyes on Jai and smiled when he saw the almost imperceptible stiffening of Jai's body and the slight widening of his eyes. His work here was done. He quietly walked away from the group.
Jai turned and years of practice saved him from gasping out loud. The woman he saw walking towards him was not the same woman he had seen the last two months here at WGI. This was an angel. He took in her gleaming black hair that was now cascading down her creamy olive shoulders in curls and the lightly applied make up. Her eyes were bright and her lips a soft, almost colorless shade of pink which accentuated its gentle curve, making them fuller. The dress was doing her justice as it showed off her small waist and full hips. The slippers had a spiral thingy that snaked up and around her legs until they almost disappeared into the dress. This wasn't the person he saw every day at work, this was a real woman. He was actually really, truly seeing her for the first time.
He looked at her to find she had been talking to him, "I'm sorry?"
"I asked if there was anything else you needed before the guests get here," she said, frowning at him.
"Nothing…I'm ok," he said, and cleared his throat in an effort to focus, "I'll go…"
He left the sentenced unfinished as the first of the guests walked into the hall. Before he could move, Bani walked toward them with a warm smile on her face and greeted the guests by name much to Jai's surprise. All he could do was stare, for this was not the same person he had been talking to a few hours ago.
Natchiket signaled Ranveer to come over, "I take it this was your doing?"
"Mhhmmm," Ranveer nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. You did good."
"Thank you Mamaji," he said and then they made their way over to the entrance too.
This was going to be an exciting evening, Ranveer thought to himself with a huge grin on his face. He caught Bani's eye and winked at her. She gave him a thumbs up and an answering smile.
Oh yeah,things were looking up, he said, rocking back on his heels.
***************************************8
OKAY PEEPS, GOTTA RUN NOW. HOPE YOU LIKED IT. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!
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