Delhi! The city of many possibilities. The city that can change lives and make new dreams. And she was here. She was finally here. Sanyukta Aggarwal was here. The city was different from where she belonged. Shimla was lot more...hilly and colder,even during spring. Delhi is cold but less. She turned her phone on and checked the last message received. It was sent from Neha. Neha Arora was this young and bright senior from her college and everyone wanted to be like her,smart,funny,attractive. Sanyukta would certainly be lying if she said that she was not one of those wanna bes. "Meet me a Cafe Myara", said Neha's text. Well,for someone who did not even know where her future lay in the city,cafe Myara would be a little difficult to find,don't you think.
She got out of the airport premise and hailed a cab. The cabs run on digital metres. In Shimal,Sanyukta was used to taking the local bus,to school,to college,to almost everywhere she went. "Bhaiya,do you know where Cafe Myara is?"
The driver nodded and started the engine. Sanyukta kept her luggage on the floor and seated herself.
The journey was pleasant. Even though it was a mere one and half hour flight,Sanyukta was really tired and felt jet-lagged. But the view outside her window kept her awake.It was certainly the county capital. Busy streets,cars and people everywhere,and not one of the them resembled her humble town. She passed by the India Gate and it reminded her of Rang Dey Basanti. Only the taxi did not have a windshield so she would have done what Aamir had done in the film. For now,she just smiled.
She was about to doze off when the driver halted with a jerk and said,"We're at Cafe Myara."
"Kitna hua?"asked Sanyukta
"Rs 255",he said.
Sanyukta rechecked the metre. Did she really travel a distance worth 255? If she had known the city well enough,she would have followed traditions and would have taken a bus. But now that she was a stranger,she had to pay the exact amount. She got out of the car took out her heavy luggage and looked at the cafe.
It was less a cafe and more like those fancy eateries she see on TV. A three-floored building,with chrome lighting on the outside and tables that were made of glass were kept outside. In shimla,cafes were small and the tables were not made of glass. She was about to get in when the security guard stopped her and told her that she could not enter the building with so many bags and luggage. She had to deposit them outside. Sanyukta made a small receipt of the deposition and entered the building.
The last time she met Neha,she had cut her hair short and straightened it. She always tried to keep up with the current fashion trends. She looked around. It was very fancy. There were paintings of Hollywood icons like Gene Kelly and Katherine Hepburn and also film posters of When Harry Met Sally and My Blueberry Nights. Sanyukta loved films and she recognized them instantly. There were couples everywhere,some drinking coffee mostly drinking alcohol. "Gosh,can they drink that early morning",wondered Sanyukta. There were waitresses wearing a typical skirt and a white shirt with name tags on their left chest. The interior was well taken care off and it seemed that there was a special occasion somehwhat.
"Over here!" came a voice.
Sanyukta looked in that direction and saw a girl with bob hair cut and violet streaks. She was wearing a casual shirt and trousers. Sanyukta smiled.
"How are you?" she said and hugged the girl.
"I am amazing,but you tell me", said Neha.
"Excited and nervous",Sanyukta said and they both laughed.
"Well I am not surprised. You should be. Infact if you weren't,I'd be worried".
"So tell me about your job,how are you doing. You told me you got engaged."
"Yes!" said Neha and showed her her ring finger. "15 caret".
"Congratulations! And thank you so much for helping me with this".
"I have not helped you with anything yet Chicken",smiled Neha.
"Chicken?"
"Well,my dad used to call me dad and as you know he was my biggest mentor till he passed. And now that I am going to help you carve your way into the Delhi Corporate world,I am going to call you that", said Neha in her usual confident tone that she used in debates in colleges.
"Great!" smiled Sanyukta."So do you want to order something?"
"Well,I have a meeting in 35 so I cannot. But you go ahead. And by the way,you will be living with a tenant like yourself and here are your details",said Neha and handed her an envelope. "I have spoken with the owners of the flat and they are very helpful so if you need any help,you can go to them."
"Who is the other tenant?"
"Some lawyer practicing in the High Court last I heard. But don';t worry. It is just for security".
"Okay,so when do we meet again?" asked Sanyukta. she was hoping that it would be really soon. She still haven't got used to the traditions or rather 'modernition' of Delhi.
"You will see me this evening. Here. The owner's daughter is getting married next week and so the owner has thrown a huge party for all the customers including new ones. There'll be karaoke nights and dancing and drinking and lots of fun stuff. But it'll give us plenty of time to talk about your new job at SanCorp".
"Wow! I've heard about this company so much. It has built nuclear plants and security devices for company and lately I've read it is trying to launch a new technology called 'Smart House" said Sanyukta."I am surprised that I was even selected among those lakhs of applicants."
"Well you earned it. Your resume looks gorgeous and your previous firm in Shimla,though it was a freelance firm,wrote a glowing recommendation letter. There was no way they could have overlooked all of that",said Neha.
"I just cannot wait to get started",beamed Sanyukta.
"Here is the thing Chicken",said Neha,her tone getting a little severe."They want to meet you personally and asses your qualities."
"You mean they might reject me?" asked Sanyukta. She knew her dream was too good to be true.
"No no no,you already got the job and it has been confirmed. But...this CMO,Vardhan Shukla is a little bit over-the-edge when it come to recruitment. He personally meets his employees and makes sure SanCorp is signing the right people,especially after the big controversy last year",said Neha,reminding Sanyukta of the time when Sancorp had funded for the State Elections and got into a hissy-fit with some of the MPs. 200 employee had to be laid off to stabilize the situation. "Now they are just looking for new and fresh people to work with".
"But shouldn't the CEO be doing it?"asked Sanyukta.
"Honestly? The CEO looks upto Vardhan. His decisions are final. No one can say anything above him. Not even the owners who made SanCorp",said Neha,taking out her lipstick and applying it.
Sanyukta looked at her doing so. She knew this part of the world was going to be tough and sorted but it was still a lot better than marrying a tea entrepreneur and becoming a homemaker.
"Okay so I have to rush. I'll see you here at 7pm sharp and will tell you everything about the interview. Its on Thursday so you'll have 3 more days to prepare. and relax",said Neha rubbing Sanyukta arm"You'll do great."
"Thanks Neha. What you're doing means a lot".
"I love seeing small town girls like you and me achieve and accomplish all the odds",she took her bag and waved good bye to her.
"Last piece of advice?" asked Sanyukta.
"Two. Survive. And don't fall in love with your colleague. If you do that,it's end of your SanCorp journey."
NOTE: Comment and tell me what you think. And next chapter,I am introducing our male protagonist and am going to write the cafe scene in detail. I was going to include it in the first chapter but it will be a huge chapter. So hold your breath.
Edited by _Ashy_ - 11 years ago
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