SS: Before Anyone Else (Pg 9 NEW Chapter 3 Prerish) - Page 6

Interesting update 👏

Loved PreRish's banter🤣

Waiting for next

This Prerna is such a love. The way she dominates him🤣. And RB is super cute.

Update is awesome❤️

Originally posted by: MayurChan

Heyyy ,

This part i think was very fast as in writing and event wise ...and both the leads are out of character if you compared them to there inspiration😆

Khair....it is interesting would like to wait for the presentation and RB's take on it😉

Continue soonish

Yes, this Prerna and Rishab will be very different.

Originally posted by: Marybarton

Hola, how are things in the dead zone? Can someone give me a quick update of what happened since Bajaj left. How pathetic is Prerna at the moment?

Pathetic to the core!

Damn! I loved the second chapter. The pace is pretty good and this RB is so mean. 😆

Their banter in the conference room was so entertaining and I loved how he helped the woman despite his reservations against her. 😆

Originally posted by: MR21

I LOVED how Prerna ordered him to be her ride along with helping her clearing the mess she created while working. I LOVE their banter😆.

SRK❤️.

So he is getting awarded and she has a chat. Let's see how this would change his perspective on her. He hurt her, looks like even this would change after he sees her plan the next day.

Lovely update. Please do continue soon.

Glad you liked it :)

Wow! Amazing SS! Love it! Love this Prerana! This is a Pre I can get behind :). Love PreRish banter.

Please continue soon

New chapter to come today

Hmmm waiting to see if pre is princess in distress or a sharp queen

Sorry for the delay again. I was debating about which way to go with this story. As some of you have noted, my Prerna is a bit different from the story. I have been trying to mature and spice up both the characters. Prerna here is not a middle class, modest girl, she has all the advantages of Anurag and more, so my reasoning was to make her own it all. Bajaj is also a sharper voice to match her. You can call it my shot of feminism and modernity in a typical Indian soap. It is a story about more of what I wish to see than what was, hope you all stay with me and let me know what you thought of my changes :)

Chapter 3:

Rishab stood outside for a while, debating what he should do. Her reaction was so unexpected. He did not think being stern could leave her in tears like that.

He didn't want her to be in tears, Rishab thought guiltily.

Awkwardly shuffling his feet for a while, Rishab sighed, and walked in to find her. He still hadn't made up his mind about what to say to her. It took a while as he was being continually stopped by well-wishers. They congratulated him on the award and then wanted to make small talk. Rishab hated small talk. He cut it short with the fifth person when he finally spotted Prerna at the event photo-booth. She was being photographed for a portrait like all the other speakers.

God, what a remarkable figure she made...her raven black hair was set down one side of her face and her eyes were large and so, well, dignified. That was just the word for her. Everything in this young woman was just so dignified, even that neck of hers. Her neck really accentuated how she held her head high and it traced the most fragile lines down to her collarbones. And those lips...Rishab blinked as they parted slightly. He swallowed hard, his throat very dry.

"There you are, Mr. Bajaj!"

Rishab startled when the guy approached.

Sameh was Rishab's international lawyer for all the export ventures of R. Bajaj Infragiant. A brilliant young man and a bit too good at reading people. It was a handy skill on most occasions, except this one...

Sameh: I daresay you are blushing!

Rishab gruffly: Nothing of the sort. Welcome back, how did it go?

Sameh: I have a lot to report, but first, this wonderful, young lady wants to speak to you.

Prerna?

No, it was just one of the organizers. A woman of about 60 who was managing the photo-booth. Of course Sameh had to go be all charming about it which made this woman giggle. Rishab learned through their small talk that her name was Simone.

Simone: Mr. Bajaj, you are next then sir. It will just be five minutes. I will do a little makeup on you if you don't mind.

Rishab: I don't need make-up, than-k...(he coughed as the woman attacked him with a giant puff).

Rishab stayed quiet as she quickly did the touch-up.

Simone: This just helps a little with the HD pictures.

Sameh smiled and nodded in agreement, enjoying Rishab's growing irritation.

Rishab: Thanks.

Woman: Stay right here then, you will be next as soon as that young lady is done.

Rishab looked at the young lady in question. Prerna got off the stool and thanked the photographer warmly, holding both hands.

She hadn't yet seen him.

Rishab stepped closer, wary of upsetting her again.

Prerna turned and froze as Rishab approached.

Rishab: Ms. Sharma, I have to introduce you to someone. This is Sameh Gyozalyan, my attorney.

She spared a glance at Sameh and gave a curt nod. Then, walked away in the other direction.

Rishab: Sorry about that. She's upset with me.

Sameh: Who is she?

Rishab: Owner of my new business acquisition. She's from the U.S. nowadays, came back to take over her father's business after he sold his majority share to me and retired. Basically, she's here to make my life a living hell.

Sameh quietly: Not many men would complain.

Rishab chuckled and went to take his photos.

Rishab found her again by the bathrooms. She had a whole different makeup on and looked very shaken.

Was she crying in the bathroom?

Rishab looked at the ground: I...ah...maybe shouldn't have worded things that way (he looked up at her).

Prerna's face was hard: Did your research well there, Rishab. Even I didn't think you could stoop this low.

Rishab grabbed her arm and pulled her back: I am apologizing here, Prerna.

She wrung her arm out his grip and walked away. When he next spotted her, she was sitting at the far end of the auditorium, still as a statue, deep in thought.

Fine, then. He was not going to bend himself backwards trying to appease some ghamandi girl's feelings.

Sameh approached him as Rishab found his reserved seating: I am going to head out. Congratulations, Mr. Bajaj. See you tomorrow at the office.

Rishab: Wait, what...why are you already leaving? Please keep me company, you know how I feel about these events. Here, sit right here. It's for any guests of mine.

Sameh hesitantly obliged: I can't stay long...bit tired after the journey actually.

Rishab: Just stay for the first half, I will take the award and leave after seeing the princess speak.

At Sameh's quizzical expression, Rishab sighed: Sorry, I mean Ms. Sharma down there. She's giving the speech afterwards. I have to drop her off afterwards, I will drop you too if you like.

Sameh: No, no, I will be fine, thank you.

The opening remarks began.

Rishab looked down the row at her. Prerna sat at the furthest end after a row of empty chairs, so his view was unobstructed. She did not look in his direction. She looked so lonely down there by herself. If she wasn't such a brat, they could have sat together, but no, she had to put up a fight with every thing.

Rishab accepted his award with a short appreciation speech and got off the stage. He did not personally enjoy the attention getting on stage brought a person. Prerna was different. She was completely at ease, having a conversation with the host like they were sitting in some living room.

Rishab remarked to Sameh: I don't understand how she can be so natural under all that spotlight. She speaks so well.

Sameh was staring too deeply at Prerna to notice Rishab's words. It made Rishab feel a tinge of jealousy.

Fair play to the guy, Rishab corrected himself. Prerna Sharma did not belong to him now, did she?

The talk finished in 20 minutes. Ms. Sharma was quite magnificent at winning an audience over with inspirational chit chat about the future of media. She even made people laugh a few times. People clapped for her a while as she disappeared backstage.

Sameh took his leave.

Rishab waited for Prerna to get back to her seat. A while passed, but she did not reappear. After 15 minutes of waiting, Rishab cracked and asked the host sitting nearby.

Host: Oh, Ms. Sharma? She left right after the talk, Mr. Bajaj.

Rishab ground his teeth. How rude could she be? He brought her here and without so much as a thank you or a goodbye, she left! What if he waited here the whole night thinking he was to be her ride?

But, I didn't ask you to wait for me, did I? I can come and go as I please.

Her sharp tongue was already playing in his ears.

Rishab left the award show, livid.

On the way back in the traffic jam, Rishab was still muttering to himself. No movement...it just made him snap.

Rishab called to his chauffeur: We have been stuck here for ten minutes, what's taking so long?

Chauffeur: I will go check why the cars are not moving, sir.

He came back, wild eyed: It's Ms. Prerna, sir. She's holding up the traffic.

Rishab, flabbergasted: What!?

Chauffeur: She's looking a fright, the police are here and there are some men on the sidewalk too that she's threatening with her heels. It's the police cars and the commotion that's created the traffic situation.

Rishab jumped off the car and sped toward the front. Sure enough, she was standing there with one a red stiletto on hand, barefoot - her other shoe missing somehow, her face tear-streaked.

Prerna: Saach bol darogaji koh varna yeh heel seh mein tujhe toh aaj...

Police: Excuse me maam, you can't threaten them like this in front of us. Let us talk to them.

Rishab: What happened here?

A frightened looking heroin addict looked at him with eyes like huge marbles.

Prerna to Rishab: You are not needed here. I can handle it.

He ignored her.

The police officer spoke first: This Miss here gave a concussion to a young boy, he's in the ambulance being treated.

Rishab muttered: This is insane.

Prera: Excuse me Officer, I threw the shoe to stop him. How was I to know that the harassers are so strong that they will drop like flies because of a shoe? Concussion toreh plan kiya tha meine. They followed me because I was alone. I was only protecting myself.

Rishab rubbed his temple and smiled despite the absurdity of it all. This was the first time in his or anyone's life, he was sure, that street harassers called the police for their safety.

Officer: Are you her husband?

Prerna: NO! He's a random man off the street, why do you have to assume that?

Officer: Cause you two match, Madam. We are not idiots. You are both holding brochures from the same event. Or aap jaise log yahan raaste mein nehi ghumte.

Preran: We ARE coming from the same event, but there are many other men coming back from the same event held up in traffic thanks to you now, Officer. Are they all my husbands!?

Rishab held up his hands: Please! Let's just get this over with, ok? What's the damage, Officer?

Prerna snapped: I don't have money on me right now, Genius! Why else do you think was I walking home? Take me to the police station, I will call home, Officer.

Police: I will make an incident report.

Rishab: We can settle the matter here. I will pay. And please, stop holding up the traffic.

The police man was scribbling on his notepad: Let us do our bit, sir. It is up to the victim if he doesn't want to press charges and take money instead.

Prerna: I am the victim, not that idiot in the ambulance! These two men were following me in the dark sidewalk! And I am pressing charges.

Rishab stayed silent, watching her in begrudging admiration.

Police: We will take both your statements, madam, please don't worry.

Two hours later, at the police station, Prerna was finally done.

Prerna glared at him: I didn't invite you here.

Rishab: I can't leave a barefooted woman with no money on the sidewalk.

Prerna showed him her damaged shoes: I have them back and I pressed charges, not them. Someone from home will pick me up.

Rishab: That's great, but we are in the outskirts of Calcutta and thanks to your traffic jam, your ride will be 2 hours away. You want to stay here till midnight or come with me?

On the way back...

Prerna sat in total silence during the trip. She was breathing very hard. No doubt this incident was a very scary one for any woman no matter how brave.

Rishab: You could have waited for me. I was going to drop you off.

Prerna didn't say anything.

Rishab: If you didn't have money, why not call an Uber? Did you not have your phone either?

Prerna: Ubers are unsafe for women alone. But I don't expect you to understand.

Rishab: And walking is safer? You couldn't just have told me you needed a ride? After demanding I bring you here, this was supposed to be easy for you.

Prerna, abruptly: Why did you bring him? What are you playing at here?

Rishab, confused: What are you talking about, Ms. Sharma?

Prerna scoffed: Playing dumb now, great. Whatever I said to you in that meeting, I kept it professional, how could you stoop this low?

Awaiting all your thoughts on this piece.