Chapter 21: Ahista Ahista
"Nakul, this is the second time in four weeks that the catering staff as been complaining about the quality of stock from our primary suppliers, Vardhan Foods.", Barkha entered Nakul's cabin,sounding annoyed."Really. We've never had problems with them before. I'll call up Ira and check with her about the same." "Thanks Nakul." Just as she was about to open the door, Barkha turned around with a sharp, "Who is Ira?" "She's a friend of mine. Ira Vardhan, our point of contact with Vardhan Suppliers." Nakul answered without looking up from the document he was busy perusing. "Ok...Nakul, I'll be going to Doshi house after my evening shift. So please don't wait for me." "Ok."
As she was on her way down to the banquet hall rather absent mindedly, Barkha almost ran into Karan Virani. "Barkha beta....Everything going fine?" "Yes Sir..." "Arey...don't forget to remind Nakul to pack lots of warm clothing. New York is cold this time of the year." Karan had Barkha's undivided attention now. "New York?" she asked him, stunned. "He didn't tell you? We're planning to open a chain overseas. New York is just testing waters. We'll initially partner with one of the local hotels out there and then branch out. Nakul volunteered for this during our board meeting a while ago. He didn't discuss this with you?" Karan asked, perplexed. Barkha shook her head. "Well...that's not nice. He'll be gone for more than a month.I'll ..." "Its ok chachu. If he thought it was any of my concern, he would have told me earlier." she said, not looking up at Karan.
"You still here?" Barkha asked Nakul as she prepared to leave the restaurant at night. "Er...Yes...I had a couple of important issues to take care of." Nakul shrugged. "I can drive you to Doshi house and go home afterwards. I don't have any meetings tomorrow morning, so it'll be ok if I come in late." "Nice excuses. Just wants to make sure that I go straight to destination, as if I love loitering around at night." Barkha muttered to herself, thoroughly annoyed for some reason. "No Barkha," Nakul corrected her. "I'm just concerned for your safety." "And atleast this way I get to spend more forty minutes with you." he told himself.
Through the dulcet strains of "Kya Yehi pyar hai...." playing on the car stereo, Barkha cagily asked Nakul. "So when do you leave for New York?" "In a week." "Finished packing?" "Yet to start." "Remember to carry woollens....." "I will." "You didn't think it was necessary to tell me about it, did you?" Barkha asked him, not making any efforts to mask her anger. "Sorry.....Angry?" "No." she snapped back, sounding the opposite.
"I'll walk you to the door Barkha." Nakul said as they reached their destination. Walking together, Barkha couldn't resist jabbing him with, "You don't trust me enough, do you?" "Is that what you think, Barkha? No...I'm walking with you right now because I like spending time with you. I like it when we talk, I like it when we sit together in complete silence. I just like being with you, Barkha.....One more thing Barkha" Nakul said, looking at his wife-gifted new watch, "Fifteen minutes from now is your birthday. If I could have it my way, I would like for you to spend it with me. I would like to drive you out to the beach and have your birthday celebration there. Of course with the people you consider your own. But I also know Barkha, that you are a very reserved person. You would like to usher in this day with people you like, love and feel most comfortable with. So I'm going to leave now. Happy Birthday, Barkha," he wished her, giving her a rose. As he turned to go, he felt Barkha's hand on his wrist. "Nakul.......", she said softly. "Stay."
Edited by anut - 18 years ago
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