This is going to be a two part SS and is for all of you who are bored by the long weekend...and can't wait for Monday to come around. Do comment on it...it should have been for Valentine Day but I was writing a long epilogue for some people.
The Proposal Planner
Jai Walia lounged in his study, bored, idly flicking through the magazine. He picked up his cell and browsed through the directory, stopping when he located his girlfriend's number, Roshni. A smile formed on his lips as he pressed the dial button. She had been gone only a week but like hell he missed her. If she had been here, they would have been cosseted up in his bedroom, actually in his bed, making love. Why the hell did she have to go away for two weeks to London, just on a spur of a moment? If she had told him earlier, he would have planned to go with her, yes it would have been fun exploring the city, dining, clubbing in one of the popular capital of the world.
The smile on his face turned into a grin as he heard Roshni's voice, "Hi Jai."
"Missing you like crazy Roshni. Can't you cut the trip short and come home?" he asked.
"Darling, I miss you too but only one more week. Next Saturday we will be together." Roshni purred in the phone. She knew exactly what to say. Her hand wrapped around on the mouth piece as she turned and glared at AD, who was propped up on his elbow, tickling her while she talked, "Stop it AD. Want to get me into trouble? I came all the way just so we could be together. Now let me just talk to him."
"Why don't you lose the b******. What do you want to hang around the loser for?" AD snapped at her.
She snapped back, "Cause unlike you, he is has a large bank account."
"Is someone there with you Roshni?" Jai asked.
Her voice husky and low, "No darling. It's just the TV, I was turning down the sound. Now tell what are you doing?"
"What do you think I am doing…"
They talked for few more minutes before Roshni ended the call. Turning her cell off, she dropped it on the side table and turned back towards AD. She sighed now by can't Jai Walia take care of himself. At one time he used to look even more gorgeous than AD, but with passing years he let stopped exercising and eating healthy and start putting on the extra pounds. Darting AD a smouldering look she wrapped her arms around him, "Now where were we baby?" AD did not bother replying, instead he crushed her to him and said aggressively, "If he calls again, I will fly down there and personally take care of him."
Jai put his cell down and started flicking through the magazine again. A small ad in corner of the page caught his eyes. He peered at it and laughed. Then looking at it again carefully read it. "Are you planning to get married? Do you need help asking your special someone to say the magic word 'YES"? Do you want to make it a memorable day and do something special. If the answer is yes, than call yes at The Proposal Planner. We specialize in arranging a special evening for you to propose to the special woman in your life. Call us and find out how we can make your special event magical."
Jai tore the ad out and put it on his desk. Yes, that's what he needs to do, make an honest woman out of Roshni, tie her down to him so she can never leave him alone and go away. They had been friends first and lovers for years now, it was about time he got serious about her. Tomorrow he will call the place up and arrange s surprise for her return.
XXXXX
Bani Dixit hitched her skirt for the umpteenth time as she carted the folders from her office to the small boardroom. Her glasses slipped but she couldn't push them up as her arms wrapped around the heavy folders. She kicked the door open and dumped the folders on the table and pushed her glasses up and adjusted her skirt once more, it was a little loose and kept on slipping slightly. She arranged the folders neatly and then went into the bathroom and smoothed her long hair into a ponytail. Inspecting her skirt and blouse to make sure she hadn't stained it with coffee or food, something she couldn't avoid doing even after being so careful. She had a client to take care. Pushkar, her boss had dumped him on her as soon as she walked in, warning her to make sure she did her best to get Jai Walia to use their services, because if they were successful with him, he would be a walking, talking advertisement for his business.
Bani did not mind consulting customers, but she liked to have some time to find out a little bit more about the person she was dealing with before seeing them in person. She had no clue, who this Jai Walia was, but Pushkar seemed to be impressed by him. Now she had no time to do research on Jai Walia as he was due in ten minutes. She went to the coffee maker and poured some coffee out in flask and set it on a tray with some cups, glasses and bottle of water. Since she was the only other person there, she had to act as jack of all trade. Bani put the tray in the room and went and sat at her desk waiting for the client to arrive.
Jai Walia looked at the grimy building, with peeling paint and ugly graffiti on the walls. He stepped through the open door and peered down the dark hallway. The office was on the second floor and he went down the hall looking for elevator or stairs. He located stairs, stinking of unrecognizable odours and put his hand over his nose to stop the bile from arising. He almost ran up the stairs and took a deep breath once he reached the floor. At least it didn't smell so bad on this floor. He walked down reading names on door, until he reached the door on which a sign made out of cardboard hung, with a neat printed name TPP Company. He knocked on the door and waited for it to be opened.
Jai Walia stared at the girl in front of him, short, glasses, skirt and blouse hanging limply on her and lips pulled into thin line. Jai arched his brow, "I am looking for the offices of The Proposal Planner?"
Bani stepped aside, "Well you came to the right place. You must be Jai Walia. Come in." Jai followed Bani into the office and sat down on the empty chair. He glanced around, it was clean, but the walls could do with a fresh coat of paint and the windows needed to be cleaned. Bani picking up the flask, "Coffee sir?" she asked.
Jai shook his head, "No coffee but I will have some water." Bani put a clean glass and the water bottle in front of him and sat down.
Bani pulled one of the folders towards her and opened it gave a quick glance, "Would you like to see samples of some of the themes we have done for clients. Or if you have an idea of what you have in mind, we could discuss it?"
With a smirk on his face Jai said, "Let's see what you guys have done. I mean this place hardly scream professionalism."
Bani back stiffened at his offending remark and glaring at him, pushed her glasses up sharply, "Why bother than, you might as well leave if you have such a low opinion of our company already." She pushed her chair back and stood with folded arms looking at him.
Jai controlling his urge to laugh out at her outburst, instead smiled indolently and leaned forward, "Now miss…I don't know your name…" "Its Bani Dixit!" she snapped back at him. "Well Ms Dixit, sit down and show me how creative you've been. I am sorry if I offended you, but you know we all build up this image in our mind. This is your opportunity to prove me wrong."
Throwing another caustic look she sat down and opened up the folder and took him through the concept and design of the final event. Jai watched as Bani's talked animatedly about the idea, her face losing its surliness and actually smiling at him. She constantly pushed her glasses up out of habit while talking. There were couple of the ideas that he was really impressed with and some which were wacky, that both of them couldn't help but laugh at. As Bani explained, they were there to please the client and if some of them wanted to swing from the ceiling dressed as batman and propose to the girl, who was she to tell them no. She just had to make it happen and make sure he didn't end up splat on the floor 25 feet below.
Bani poured coffee out for herself and peered at him from top of her glasses, "Sure you want have a cup?" Jai couldn't resist how cute she looked and nodded, "Ok go on then, but I take it black with no sugar."
"Yuck! How could you drink the bitter stuff without sugar?"
He watched as she spooned about three teaspoons of sugar in her coffee. "I could say the same to you. How could you load so much sugar in the coffee? You don't get to taste the coffee then."
Bani sipped her coffee and sat back, 'Now would like to tell something about you're the girl you want to propose to. And do you have something in mind about how you want to do this?"
Jai leaned back and put his arms at back of his head, "Roshni…that's her name. Let me see what can I tell you about her…" Bani listened avidly for half an hour as Jai Walia told her about Roshni, their friendship, her likes and dislikes and her expectations. When he had finished Bani's next question stumped him, "Why do you want to marry her Mr Walia?"
He reddened slightly, "Ahem! Isn't it obvious, we are both so compatible."
Bani gazed at him seriously making him feel slightly uncomfortable, "Well not once have you mentioned you love her Mr Walia. If your relationship has lasted so long, you must have some deep feelings for her…you must love her."
"Of course I love her. I mean I don't have to verbalize it do I? It's obvious if we are a couple than we must love each other."
Bani's voice turned brisk, "I am sure you know your girlfriend better than me. Anyway do have a venue in mind? Do you know what you want to do?"
"Can I leave this to you? Money is no objection. I want you to come up with something unique, something spectacular. But whatever you come up with, it has to be ready for Saturday, that's when she is flying back from London."
Bani gave him her business card, "My phone number is on the card. Would you like to leave a phone number where I can contact you." Jai took out his business card and on the back scribbled his cell number and gave it to her. He extended his hand, "Ms Dixit, it was a pleasure to meet you. I shall wait for your call."
Bani shook his hand and followed him out of the office and saw him out through the door. She knocked on the door of Pushkar's offce but no reply. She swore under her breath, her boss always wandered off leaving her alone to look after the business. She sat down at her computer and made notes about Jai Walia and Roshni from what he had told her.
Fired by the challenge of having to come up with something superb in such a short time, she turned her attention to her pc and started surfing, looking at resorts, hotels, restaurants, trying to find something at is special…yes if she could pull this off, than she was going to ask Pushkar to make her a partner in the business.
To be continued…
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