If anybody would steal Prerna Sharma's phone and checked for her last searches on the Web, they would find frequent searches of 'stress and hair loss'.
Prerna was having very demanding and strenuous days at the office back to back. With the deadline of the first big launch of the merger being only a few weeks away, the employees of the Kashyap-Malhotra merger are being pushed to the limits. She was working and stressing so much. And also losing hair. Lots of it. She suspected she'd be bald by the end of this thing.
Prerna wasn't complaining however. Work has always been her first love. She returned home everyday and collapsed on the bed without bothering to change. She would immediately shut the lights off and sleep.
Prerna's new team mate at work was being a welcome change too. Anurag Basu, she realised, was not even that bad a company. They worked without any glitches majority times. But the few times that they did have a difference of opinion, none would back down. They ended up going to their boss for solution who somehow always managed to find a common ground which also seemed like the best option for the business. He was the boss for a reason.
Prerna found a new chat buddy in Anurag. They would daily bicker about some random stuff for a good half an hour before she went to sleep. This had become a daily routine. It was fun too.
Nights became short, it seemed to Prerna. She hardly got full, satisfactory sleep these days. Dreams of Chris Evans are slowly and mysteriously seeming to disappear.
Her car was back to looking sleek and shiny, thanks to the trip she and Anurag took the repair works the other day.
The repair had cost a whooping one lakh rupees. After arguing like mad men for about an hour about the charge and bringing it down to a very reasonable 70000, Prerna and Anurag agreed.
Prerna offered to share. She could have been at mistake too the other day. She didn't bother sharing.
When the stress turned too much and not a word of anything entered their minds anymore, Prerna and Anurag would make a detour to the chai and samosa stall at the end of the street. It provided the much needed stimulus. It had wooden benches laid infront of it and was quite popular in the surrounding areas. The benches were properly shaded by low hanging branches of the few municipality trees. The shopkeeper, an extremely genial guy served excellent chai and the light drizzling of the rain that accompanied their trip majority times made it an excellent stress busting part of the day. Prerna's favourite infact.
All in all Prerna's life was at a juncture where she had no time to think about anything more than work and had nightmares of losing her hair. She didn't have the time to even talk to anybody except for her arch nemesis and of course had the time to chat with him and also go out with him on Saturdays and Sundays also.
One thing Prerna discovered about Anurag was that he worked with a passion which was unparalleled and nothing like anything she has encountered in her six years of working experience. He got very edgy and frustrated if he committed any mistake and worked as long as it took to make it right. It seemed like his passion was fuelled by something more than his love for his job. Something very strong. And one day, Prerna knew what it was. Or atleast she got a sheer idea that something was different.
She was sitting on the bench outside the tea stall all alone, fiddling with her samosa and thinking deeply.
There were only two weeks left for their first launch and the environment in the office was extremely tense. Anurag and Prerna coped with it very well and were confident it was going to work out well. This morning, they were supposed to go through the revised plan and ensure it was perfect, as its presentation to the Board was scheduled the next day. They made big plans for today last night and decided they needed to work double to not leave an scope for discrepancies.
However, Anurag seemed very distant since morning. He came a good one hour late to the office and didn't seem his usual self. He just kept nodding to what Prerna said and 'hmmed' when she paused. He bore a mixed expression of apprehension and pain. Prerna even had to shake him out of his reverie when he stopped responding. When she asked him what it was he merely shook his head. Coming from somebody who was so passionate and particular about work, this was extremely weird behaviour, Prerna decided. Anurag was not ready to confide in her though, which was totally okay. She won't force him. Even now, he said he had some work to do and would have tea outside. Prerna merely shrugged. Part of weird behaviour, she noted.
Something was off. What?
Curiosity got better of her and Prerna fished her phone out. She did the thing she had been postponing for many days. Search Anurag Basu on Google.
There was all the usual information about his birth, parents, school and degree. He apparently went to the US for his education and returned to India a few years ago. Usual stuff. His mom was Mohini Roy, a famous land developer during her time who unfortunately died in a car accident, shortly after her divorce with her husband. She didn't know that.
Prerna read further to read all the usual stuff.
There was one link, however, which caught Prerna's attention. 'Custody'
Apparently, after Mohini Roy's death, her mom filed a huge case against Anurag's dad Moloy Basu for his custody. She failed to win though. And Anurag was with his father. The case however was an altogether new link.
Prerna's intrigue piqued. She searched all about the custody case, the divorce case and all about Mohini Roy and Moloy Basu.
Apparently, Mohini Roy and Moloy Basu had gotten into a love marriage which was Vikram's second marriage. It was a big affair at that time. A very young and successful woman in her early twenties marrying the divorcee son of one of the most famous industrialists. It was good gossip stirring news.
One year into the marriage, Mohini and Moloy had a son.
After twelve years of marriage, which everybody thought was a happy one, Mohini Roy had, quite shockingly, filled a divorce case against her husband and also charges of domestic abuse.
The case went on for two years after which the judgement came out. The divorce happened. However the charges of domestic abuse were never proved. Mohini Roy had been accused of infidelity and having an extra martial affair with her PA. None of these accusations were proved either. The very public divorce case had been a tumultuous affair for Mohini Roy to the extent that she had to file a case for defamatory statements being made against her personal life by certain sections of the society.
There was a case for the custody of her son as well. Mohini Roy got the custody of her only son, Anurag Basu. Not even a few months had passed after her famous divorce when Mohini Roy had died in a terrible car accident.
It was after this that Mohini's mother had filed a case for Anurag's custody and failed to win. Anurag had to be with his father.
Moloy Basu got married again, two years after his divorce to his second wife.
Prerna set her tea cup down and thought. She never knew all of this at all!
Anurag went through so much! That too when he was just a child. What does a child go through when it's parents get divorced?
She could never imagine that happening to her parents. All her life, she had seen her parents be together, love each other and care for their kids. They had always been by her side. Mom and dad.
But for Anurag, he only had dad. He had to witness his parents get divorced. What impact did it have on him? Doesn't every child wish for a normal family?
And there were accusations, from both parties. Domestic violence and infidelity in marriage. She didn't even know what to believe. She was no one to decide though.
And then his mom died. Too terrible.
Prerna empathised with Anurag. She understood what all Anurag had to go through. He has had a tough childhood. And she never knew it all these years when she was at school. Was this pathetic situation at his house that made him so distant and rude? Was being a bully his way of letting out his frustration? Had he suffered alone all these years? Why isn't he staying with his father? Is everything as it seems or was there something more to this?
Prerna mulled over all these thoughts. There had to be something more to his story. She saw pain in his eyes today. It broke her a little. It was extreme pain, the pain of someone who had gone through a lot in life.
Prerna's respect for Anurag increased. She saw him as a winner. A winner through and through. He battled his fears and frustrations and emerged out so successful. That needed courage. And he had loads of it.
She was scrolling through some random news about Moloy Basu when she felt somebody ruffle her hair.
"Sharma," Anurag said, smiling at her.
Prerna shut her phone off, in a haste.
"Hey," she said, managing a small smile.
"Still didn't complete?" he asked, pointing at her unfinished samosa. He still seemed sad and his eyes looked like he and cried recently.
Prerna's stomach knotted in an unpleasant manner. He cried. What was it that made a twenty six year old man cry?
"Was thinking about you." Prerna said, shrugging.
"Me?" he said, momentarily surprised.
"Yeah."
"What about me?" he asked, curious.
"Something," she said, with a coy smile.
"Shut up and tell," he said, impatiently.
"I was thinking if I needed a shrink or you actually looked good last Wednesday." She said, gravely.
"What?" uttered Anurag, bewildered.
"I was thinking if I needed a shrink or-"
"Cut that. I heard you." Anurag said, waving off his hand, impatiently.
"Then?"
"You genuinely thought I looked good last Wednesday?" he asked. He looked like he wanted to know sincerely. Like her answer mattered to him. He looked cute doing it. Innocent.
"Yeah," Prerna said, smiling.
There was a meeting with some of the investors last Wednesday. They all were asked to be perfect. Anurag chose to wear a blue-grey suit and he actually looked really good in it.
"Woah," Anurag said, cracking a small smile.
"Now tell me if I need a shrink."
"I am good looking, come on!" Anurag said, laughing.
"Yes, you are," Prerna agreed.
Anurag looked at her shocked.
"Are you okay?" he said, checking her temperature.
Prerna laughed. "Stop the theatrics already. It makes you look cuter still."
Anurag stared at her in complete silence for a good two minutes.
"You are flirting," he stated, still in shock.
"Yeah, I am. I have to now." Prerna nodded.
"What?"
"My friend, Akanksha, she is getting married to this investment banker," she said, showing Anurag a photo, "See. This guy, he looks so good." She sighed.
"You are crushing over your friends fiancee?" Anurag asked, making a disgusted face.
"I am not crushing," she said, rolling her eyes. "But he IS good looking. And they make such a cute pair!"
Anurag shook his head. "No."
"I am not asking you. Anyway, I was thinking if I don't make a move fast, all the good ones will be gone."
"And you chose me?" he asked, still in doubt.
Prerna simply nodded, biting into her samosa.
"You think we will make a cute pair?" he smirked.
"Sexy," she corrected.
That was unexpected. "Woah. Why?" he asked.
"We have chemistry," She said, eating some more of her samosa.
"Like sexual chemistry?" he asked, nudging his shoulder with hers, laughing.
Prerna considered. "Maybe." She said.
"What?" he said laughing. "You are insane!"
Prerna ignored his remark. "Tell me if you are okay with the proposal?" she asked, talking business.
"My pleasure it would be," he said laughing, his eyes twinkling. "So are we going to get married?"
"Yes. And are going to live in a house by the beach." She said nodding.
"You will kiss me goodbye to the office daily and make me breakfast!" he said, still laughing.
"I am not making you breakfast," she deadpanned. "We'll share work."
"What!? You won't stop working after marriage?" he asked, mocking being shocked.
Prerna punched him in the gut.
"We'll share all work." She stated.
"Yeah. I'll make you breakfast everyday," he said.
"Aww," she said, smiling.
"And make kids?" he asked, punching her on the shoulder lightly, still grinning.
A small, totally uncalled for blush crept up her cheeks as she laughed out loud.
"Stupid," she said, smiling and rolling her eyes.
"We'll make twins," he said, his eyes twinkling excitedly, showing up two fingers. "Okay?" he asked her permission.
Prerna simply laughed. "Give you little chance and you spin stories. Let's get back to work now."
Anurag let out a disappointing grunt only making Prerna laugh louder, throwing her head back.
Prerna smiled at her, fondly. This girl was something.
They went back to work and Prerna was glad Anurag was back to normal. He worked with full concentration and their work was done.
Later that evening, after they were done with their work and were making way to the parking, chatting randomly.
Prerna made her way to the car and was about to open the door when she heard Anurag's voice just behind her.
She turned around. And her breath hitched.
There was Anurag, standing behind her, at a decent distance, which felt too close to her. What is wrong with her?
He stepped closer to her when she felt her heart thrum loudly. Woah, woah, woah. His eyes held a soft unnerving expression which did nothing to calm her excited heart beats.
"Thanks, Prerna," he whispered. He seemed so vulnerable. His eyes open. Like he was allowing her to read him.
He brushed her knuckles with his thumb, lightly, feather like.
Her stomach reacted like she hadn't eaten anything since morning. Wierd swooping sensations.
He turned away with a small, smile.
What was all this? Prerna drove home in a daze.
It was after she had her dinner, changed into her night suit and shut the lights off that she realised it was the first time that he had ever called her Prerna.
How was it? I am excited to know.
Vanshaj
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Udne Ki Aasha
