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Chapter 7: Sagai
Three days before New Year's Eve, the Virani family were scheduled to have their first family celebration in twenty years. The occasions were manifold, the return of their assumed-dead matriarch Tulsi Virani to Shantiniketan, Bhumi Virani's engagement to Abhir and of course New Year itself. The celebration itself was to be held over the entire week. The onus for organizing the bash had fallen on Nakul's shoulders, who in turn had deputed the various tasks amongst his staff.
To Barkha, Nakul assigned the charge of food exclusively. She was responsible for both quality and quantity as well as providing a unique menu. She had also been directed to enquire into possible food preferences of Bhumi and Abhir and cater accordingly. While Nakul had called her to the cabin approximately three weeks before the gathering and outlined her responsibilites, she was all formal politeness outward and delighted inherently.
When Barkha began working with the Virani family members for the menu, she could sense an undercurrent of tension amongst them, most palpably felt when the discussion veered to anything to do with Bhumi Virani and Abhir's engagement. Manthan had told her the circumstances under which his father had given his consent to the alliance and told her that half the family, most notably his grandmom and uncle Sahil had been vehemently opposed to it. He had also told her that despite his own misgivings about Abhir, Bhumi's happiness was his main concern. For Manthan's sake and as the first test of her capabilities, Barkha wanted the event to be memorable.
A week before Bhumi's official engagement, Tanya and Bhumi had invited Abhir for dinner with their family. Barkha, as usual was catering for the occasion and food served was exclusively for Abhir's liking. She sat with Bhumi and Tanya for more than an hour discussing what appetizers,entre's , desserts and drinks were to be served, worked very hard to create the right ambience for the food she was going to serve. And after the compliments which had been given to her during and after dinner, she was sure the Virani's and Abhir had enjoyed the evening immensely.
She was not a little surprised when during her regular lunch supervision at the restaurant diner, Nakul and Karan Virani asked her to come up to the conference room immediately. She had an intution that something had gone wrong and with some trepidation she entered the Hotel conference room.
"Miss Doshi....You were in charge for the dinner yesterday night, were you not?" "Yes Sir" "So will you know explain to me, why my wife is suffering from food poisoning?".
Nakul who had been looking at Barkha while Karan questioned her, saw her face turn from blood red to blanch white. "Food poisoning?", she muttered. "Yes....Abhir and Bhumi have been afflicted with mild symptoms but Tanya's really ill."
Three days before New Year's Eve, the Virani family were scheduled to have their first family celebration in twenty years. The occasions were manifold, the return of their assumed-dead matriarch Tulsi Virani to Shantiniketan, Bhumi Virani's engagement to Abhir and of course New Year itself. The celebration itself was to be held over the entire week. The onus for organizing the bash had fallen on Nakul's shoulders, who in turn had deputed the various tasks amongst his staff.
To Barkha, Nakul assigned the charge of food exclusively. She was responsible for both quality and quantity as well as providing a unique menu. She had also been directed to enquire into possible food preferences of Bhumi and Abhir and cater accordingly. While Nakul had called her to the cabin approximately three weeks before the gathering and outlined her responsibilites, she was all formal politeness outward and delighted inherently.
When Barkha began working with the Virani family members for the menu, she could sense an undercurrent of tension amongst them, most palpably felt when the discussion veered to anything to do with Bhumi Virani and Abhir's engagement. Manthan had told her the circumstances under which his father had given his consent to the alliance and told her that half the family, most notably his grandmom and uncle Sahil had been vehemently opposed to it. He had also told her that despite his own misgivings about Abhir, Bhumi's happiness was his main concern. For Manthan's sake and as the first test of her capabilities, Barkha wanted the event to be memorable.
A week before Bhumi's official engagement, Tanya and Bhumi had invited Abhir for dinner with their family. Barkha, as usual was catering for the occasion and food served was exclusively for Abhir's liking. She sat with Bhumi and Tanya for more than an hour discussing what appetizers,entre's , desserts and drinks were to be served, worked very hard to create the right ambience for the food she was going to serve. And after the compliments which had been given to her during and after dinner, she was sure the Virani's and Abhir had enjoyed the evening immensely.
She was not a little surprised when during her regular lunch supervision at the restaurant diner, Nakul and Karan Virani asked her to come up to the conference room immediately. She had an intution that something had gone wrong and with some trepidation she entered the Hotel conference room.
"Miss Doshi....You were in charge for the dinner yesterday night, were you not?" "Yes Sir" "So will you know explain to me, why my wife is suffering from food poisoning?".
Nakul who had been looking at Barkha while Karan questioned her, saw her face turn from blood red to blanch white. "Food poisoning?", she muttered. "Yes....Abhir and Bhumi have been afflicted with mild symptoms but Tanya's really ill."
Indian Idol 15
