Re-cap : Kasturi and Robbie get to spend some time together in Raunak's party. They are attracted to each other but Robbie decides Kasturi was not his type.
PART - 13 : THE INTERVIEW
When Ajay and Kasturi drive back home that night, Kasturi is very quiet. Ajay is angry 😡 and he says to Kasturi in a very firm tone
Ajay : I NEVER want you to see him again!
Kasturi turns to look at him shocked 😲 and says...."Lekin bhaiyyu.....I like him!!!". Ajay shocked : What rubbish!!! 😲 😲 He is a jerk and you have feelings for him???? After the stunt he tried to pull on you today, I will shoot him if I see him near you again! 😡 😡
Kasturi suddenly realizes that he was talking about Anand!!!!! She is shocked,😲😲 embarassed 😳 and very flustered to realize that she was talking about Robbie!!!
Kasturi : Sorry bhaiyyu....what I mean is Anand is a very good dancer and I like him as a dance partner!
Ajay : Get another partner 😡.....iss sheher mei naachne waalon ki kami nahi hai...and that too tumhaare saath toh koi bhi dance karne keliye tayyar ho jaayega!
Kasturi does not reply back. She is still shocked at her own reaction!!! For a long time that night Kasturi is tossing and turning unable to sleep and constantly remembers her interaction with Robbie.
Robbie also had thought about her for long that night.........but he was absolutely sure that his decision was right!
"Rest assured, Shah saahab.....I am giving my word! Aapko meri baat par yakeen hai na? 😊 This project will definitely meet the deadline....aap bilkul chinta mat keejiye!!" says Kaushalya Chawla. She listens into the phone, apparently the other person on the line is satisfied and then she says "Thank you, I appreciate it" and disconnects the call. She finishes the phone call and finally turns her attention to the folder infront of her......"Delhi University-Resumes".
She opens it. Her HR department had filtered the resumes they had recieved and zeroed in on 3. This new Government project that they had bagged, was not a high turnover project.....but a prestigious one!! Kaushalya had made Ajay in charge of this project but she had given orders that she wanted to be involved in every aspect of the project. There were several job openings currently in Chawla Enterprises, but for this project they were looking for only one candidate, a talented and hard-working youngster who would have the enthusiasm to work long hours and contribute effectively and immediately to the group. The rest of the team was already set. She glances through the 3 resumes.......Kartik Dixit, Ranbir Sabharwal and Laxmi Raghavan. On paper they all looked very capable. She was going to ask Ajay about them.
It was 2 weeks since she got back from her Europe tour. So many issues needed her attention, so many pending items to be completed that she had not had the time to even talk to her family properly!!! But today she had made the arrangements for all of them to have their dinner together so she could talk to all of them, specially Kasturi!
That evening during dinner, Kaushalya asks Kasturi when her finals were starting..........."In 3 weeks" replies Kasturi. "Kaise chal rahi hai preparations?".....asks Kaushalya. "Acchi hai mom" replies Kasturi again. She just did not like where this conversation was leading 🤢 because she knew her mom's next question would be what her plans were going to be after graduation !!! 😒 And she is preparing for the battle when she hears her mom ask...."Tumhaare studio ka kaam kaisa chal rahaa hai?" Kasturi looks up to her shocked 😲 😲 😲...did she hear her right??
Yes she heard her right!! Within a week of her return, Kaushalya and Ajay had a long discussion about Kasturi and Ajay had convinced his mom that she should let Kasturi do what she wants, for now. He had explained to her that at this point it was best that Kasturi follow her passion. At a later date, they could interest her in the family business. He promised his mom that it will be his responsibility to make something out of Kasturi!!!! Kasturi is still looking shocked 😲 😲 and so Ajay answers on her behalf....."Accha chal rahaa hai, Mom!!" Kasturi also adds, still shocked...."Haan, its amonst done!" 😲
Kaushalya : When are you planning to open it?
Kasturi looks at her brother shocked. 😲 😲 😲 Is this for real or was she dreaming!!! Ajay winks at her 😉 and says...."I think we will open it after the finals are over. It will be perfectly timed, just in time for the summer vacation. 😊 Right, Kasturi?
Kasturi nods her head, dazed.....looking at her brother with a lot of gratitude!! Kaushalya also likes the idea and then she turns to Ajay and says...."Ajay.....DU seh jinke resumes finalize hue tum un candidates ko jaante ho?
Ajay says : Yes mom.
Kaushalya : Is there anyone in particular among those that you would recommend?
Ajay thinks for a minute and says : I think I will lean towards Kartik Dixit.
Kaushalya : Why not Ranbir Sabharwal or Ms.Raghavan?
Kasturi looks up sharply at her mom......did she take Robbie Sabharwal's name??? 😲 She starts paying more attention to their conversation.
Ajay thinks carefully before he answers. His mom is an extremly smart, sharp and intelligent lady......he says....."Actually Robbie bhi bahut accha hai lekin Kartik is the University topper". Kaushalya replies : But that should not be the only criteria in choosing someone....please send out interview letters to all 3 of them. Lets decide based on their interview performance.
Ajay says : Ok, mom.
Kasturi feels somehow relieved to hear good things about Robbie from her brother's mouth 😊 ! A week passes. During that week Kasturi starts visiting her studio every day, hoping to run into Robbie. But she always finds the Theatre group office closed! She does not understand why it is always closed and so finally she asks the security at the entrance of the building and she is informed that they are open only on weekends......Friday evening to Sunday evening. Kasturi desperately waits for the weekend!
On Wednesday, Robbie gets his interview call from Chawla.E!! It is scheduled that Friday at 2.00 PM in the University itself. Robbie is relieved and very very excited!! 😃
On Friday, Robbie gets ready for his interview. He is a little nervous. 😕 He has attended interviews before because he has been working for a long time now.......but he wanted this job real bad and so that was making him nervous!!! He dresses in a light yellow shirt and black slacks. Everyone in the house wish him a lot of luck! Devika feeds him yogurt with sugar (this is considered as a good omen for success) and Puru brings out a black blazer for Robbie to wear.
Puru says : "Beta, yeh tumhaare pitaaji ki thi! Badi khushi ho rahi hai yeh dekh ke, ke aaj tum isse pehenane ke laayak ho gaye ho!"
His eyes become moist 😭 and so do Robbie's!! Robbie hugs his uncle and Puru will help him wear the jacket and he leaves for the University. Soon its time for his interview. All 3 of the candidates have been given different interview timings and so none of them meet each other. Robbie is waiting in the waiting area when Ajay comes out to meet him. They shake hands and exchange pleasantries and Ajay leads Robbie into the interview room.
Robbie walks in and he sees 3 people seated at the table. 2 men and a lady. Ajay introduces them starting with the first man...."This is Mr.Chittaranjan Banerjee......Manager of this new project for which you are interviewing". Robbie shakes hands with him from across the table and Ajay continues......."and this is Mr.Ahmed Rasool.......he is the Technical Team lead for the same project"....Robbie shakes hands with him too and then Ajay continues......."And this is the CEO of Chawla Enterprises and my mom...Smt Kaushalya Chawla". 😊 Robbie shakes hands with Kaushalya. They both size each other up. Robbie is thinking she is a very beautiful, graceful and dignified looking lady while Kaushalya is impressed by the way Robbie is carrying himself and the pleasant and intelligent look that his face is reflecting....and then Ajay says......"Mujhe toh tum jaante hi ho!". Robbie smiles 😊 and he takes his seat.
The panel has been reviewing his resume and credentials. Mr.Banerjee starts off by asking him about his courses at the University and other general things. Then between him and Mr.Rasool they explain the project scope, the requirements and slowly start the technical grill. Techincal questions are asked, solutions for situational problems are sought, bio-mechanics research is discussed, design and mechanics of robotic science are analyzed and throughout this process Kaushalya sits listening, quietly!! Every aspect of Robbie's personality is examined by her, every answer he gives is considered by her, not a single expression of his eyes, not a single feeling on his face escapes her notice! That was Kaushalya Chawla......She was way too smart then anybody in the room!!!
The techincal interview is over and Ajay takes over and questions him on his previous jobs, his extra-curricular activities and other general issues. While Robbie is busy with Ajay, Mr.Banerjee and Mr.Rasool pass their comments discreetly to Kaushalya. "Very Good", "Very Good" is what she sees in their notes. They had said the same thing about Kartik Dixit as well........so Robbie has passed the techincal part of the interview. Ajay is done and Robbie turns to Kaushalya.....he feels he has done very well but somehow he cannot shake the feeling that everything depended on what she asked and how he answered her!! 😕
Kaushalya smiles at Robbie and asks : May I call you Ranbir? 😊
Robbie replies : Ofcourse, Maam.
Kaushalya says : You know Ranbir, some of the technical questions that were asked went right above my head.....whoosh! 😃
Everyone smiles 😃 and referring to Banerjee and Rasool, she continues........"But luckily for me I have some fantastic people working with me who can take care of that aspect for me! And THAT is the policy that Chawla Enterprises believes in and works on........a policy of people coming together to create wonders.....which, by the way is this company's motto! And so I have only two questions for you Ranbir......the first one is...."If you do not get this job today because, lets say we think you don't fit the bill.....what will be your next step?"
Robbie is a little stunned. 😲 😲 He had not expected this kind of a question, it seemed like a trick question!! But shaking off the feeling of onsetting desperation, he answers honestly........."My next and only step would be to seek an opportunity to change your mind about me!!".
Kaushalya is listening to him. Both the other candidates had replied that if they did not get this job, they would take up the next offer that they got. None of them had given the answer that Robbie gave!!
Kaushalya continues : The second question is, if you do get this job, how do you think I will feel about you in say 6 months from now?
Robbie cannot help but feel that this is a do or die situation 😕 and the risky side of his personality, the one that his chachi disliked so much comes upfront!!!!! And Robbie says....."I cannot tell you how you will feel about me in six months, maam....but I can definitely tell you what you will feel about yourself in 6 months, after hiring me! You will be very proud........that after all these years, you still did not loose the knack of picking up a winner!!!" 😊
Kaushalya listens to him......He had the right amount of confidence, the right amount of assurance and the right amount of arrogance in his tone!! He had the same kind of zeal that she had!! She feels he also belongs to that select league of people like her, who knew what to say, exactly when!!!! She is very impressed......and says...."Great answers. I think that should do. What do you say gentlemen?"
They concur with her and Robbie is told that he will be informed of their decision in a week. Robbie comes out and takes a deep sigh!! He did his best....the rest was going to be his fate's decision.
That weekend Kasturi spends almost the whole weekend at her studio but the theatre office is closed the whole weekend too!!!! She is extremely frustrated!! 😡 😡 And the reason the theater office was closed that weekend was because all of them had gone that weekend to Balsaa, a hamlet in next doors Haryana to enact their latest play on educating girl-children and stopping child-marriages after the Panchayat elections in that village.
"Ranbir Sabharwal is my choice"........says Kaushalya. She and Ajay were making the final decision in his office, a week later. Banerjee and Rasool had already expressed that either Kartik Dixit or Ranbir Sabharwal was fine by them. Ajay looked at his mom. She did not have the finality in her voice that usually came with all her final decisions.....maybe he can still express his thoughts.........Kaushalya reads his thoughts and getting up says...."Ajay, yeh tumhaara project hai, isliye mei yeh faislaa tum peh chodhti hun ke tum kisko appoint karna chahte ho. But if I were you I will bet all my money on Ranbir. He is a winner.....all the way!". 👍🏼
She leaves him to make the decision. Ajay walks over to the window and stares out of his 14th floor office window. He thinks for about 10 minutes and comes back to his desk and calls his Admin assistant.
"Lata.....please type up an appointment letter for that new position that we interviewed last week." He listens into the phone hearing Lata's question and says...."The name is Kartik Dixit!!" ( 😔 )
That evening Kasturi again goes back to the studio. This time Gia joins her. Gia has been noticing that Kasturi was looking very dull and was acting all secretive and different for the past 2 weeks and so she finally confronts her with a "What is going on?"
Kasturi turning to her says: What do you mean?
Gia : Kuch toh hai, tum ekdum different seh behave kar rahi ho!
Kasturi : Mei ekdum waisi hoon jaisi pehle thi!
Gia : Oh come on Kas......drop the act...
They hear knocking on the door. Gia who is closest to the door, opens it and says : Yes?
"Mei Kasturi Chawla seh milnaa chah rahaa tha......." Kasturi recognizes the voice and suddenly her heart beat races.....she quickly walks towards the door!!!! Robbie Sabharwal was standing at the door looking like million dollars in a red T-shirt and knee-length cargoes and Kasturi stops in her tracks!!!!!! Robbie sees her and smiles 😊. He walks in and says......"Hey Kasturi...kaisi hai aap?". Kasturi's mouth had gone dry and so she swallows hard and says......."Acchi hun.....aap kaise hai?"
Robbie says : I am great!!! 😛
And he looks at Gia as if seeking an introduction but Kasturi is staring at him like an idiot 😳. So he introduces himself to Gia..."Hello, I am Robbie Sabharwal"......Gia grasps his extended hand and says....."I know who you are.....that was the hottest hockey match I had seen till date !!!" 😉 😆 Robbie turns a little red 😳 understanding that she is referring to his shirt-less act!! Gia laughs 😆 😆 and continues......."Sorry, did not mean to embarass you! I am Gia Patel. Really nice to meet you!"
They both turn to Kasturi who is still staring at him and Robbie says......"Mei aapke liye kuch laaya hun!" That's when Kasturi notices that he is carrying something. She looks at the thing in his hand and asks......"Kya hai yeh?"
Robbie unwraps it and Kasturi and Gia stare at it surprised and thrilled!!!! 😲 😲 😲 It was an exact replica of the broken village belle in a dancing pose statue, that broke in the lift!!!!! (Khush Robina??? 😉 😆 😆 )
Edited by pragalbha - 16 years ago
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
