Thread 2 : EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - Part 26 Updated!! :D (Page 124) 13/04 - Page 26

Originally posted by: neha_dna

Thanks Ayesha 😳

You will know soon...

Maybe Shlok did it, maybe not...😛

Originally posted by: xayeshax

hmmm haha curiousss😆😆

EK ANOKHI KAHAANI - Part 14

The team members were sitting around the table in M-112. Now as the power supply was fixed, there was no problem. They were discussing the final event from the point of view of every department - design, marketting, accounts...
Varun, who maintained the accounts for the event, was explaining all the details. Aastha was more than satisfied knowing the reports.
"Great! So going according to the present state, we would be making a profit of 42.37 percent!! Let's take it as 42 percent. Our target was 30 percent... Toh, thoda aur kharcha karne mein koi problem nahi hai..." she said. There were smiles everywhere.
"So plan kya hai?" asked Shikha.
"Bachchon ke liye function hai... toh why don't we invite some cartoon-character?" said Aastha, excited.
"Cartoon-character... you mean like... Mickey Mouse?" asked Avi.
"Yes! Well, I was thinking of..." said Aastha but was interrupted by Sonali.
"What?!" said Sonali, disgusted. "No way...!! It's a very bad idea... And Shlok Sir would never like it...!"
"Sonali, you don't like it... so what? The kids will!! And you are not the only one to take the decision... The team will decide it based on majority...!!" said Dolly. "I loved the idea Aastha!! It will be good for the event... good for publicity of the company...!!" added Dolly, from the point of view of marketting.
"Whatever...!!" said Sonali.
"I think it would be nice... The kids will really like it!" said Shikha.
Pranav and Avi too agreed.
So, except Sonali, everyone backed the idea.
"Rishab Sir, could you please..." Aastha was interrupted by Rishab.
"This is not fair!" said Rishab. "Ya toh sab ko Sir-Ma'am kaho, ya kisi ko nahi...!!" he said.
Everyone agreed with a smile. Aastha was embarrassed.
"O-okay... Rishab, could you please make the arrangements for this?" requested Aastha.
"Sure! So, should I arrange for a Mickey Mouse?"
"Actually I was thinking of 'Chhota Bheem'!! This character is very popular among kids these days...!!" suggested Aastha.
"Yes, she is right!" agreed Pranav.
"Oh yes!! My nephew too loves Chhota Bheem!" told Varun.
So everyone agreed on this.
"Okay, so Chhota Bheem is final, right?" confirmed Rishab.
Everyone agreed with a "yes".
"Iss ke baad bhi we still have quite a margin left as far as our budget is considered..." said Aastha. "So why don't we order for special T-Shirts for the team and the volunteers of this event?! What say guys?"
Everyone loved the idea.
"Great!!! That would be so nice!!" exclaimed Sonali.
"Yeah!" said Avi.
"But what would be printed on them? Or would they be plain?" questioned Shikha.
"Ofcourse they would have something interesting on them...!" said Dolly, she was already thinking about it being from the marketting side.
"Baki kuchh ho na ho, the logo of our company ought to be there...!" said Pranav.
"Why don't we give a name to this event?" suggested Dolly, "and that we would have on the T-Shirts!!"
"Good idea Dolly!!" said Aastha.
Everyone put on their thinking caps and suggested many different and creative names for the event. Finally they came up with a nice name...

"CARE for them..."

After the T-Shirt was designed, Aastha asked Rishab to get the estimated cost of the T-Shirts as well as the "Chhota Bheem". She asked Varun to check what effect this had on their gain.
"Okay! So even after the extra expenses, we are making 34.48% profit!" announced Aastha gladly. Everyone celebrated by clapping.

Two days to go for the event. All the team members, except Aastha, were present in Shlok's cabin.
"Everything going fine?" asked Shlok.
"Perfectly fine, Sir!" Shikha replied.
"There should be no problem during the event... especially from Aastha's side...! Samajh rahe ho na main kya keh raha hoon?"
"Yes Sir! No need to worry Sir... Everything's under control!" assured Shikha.
"Good!" remarked Shlok, "ab aayega maza!!"

On the day before the event, the team and the volunteers were at the venue , making all the arrangements. Aastha and Shikha were supervising the work. It was a very hectic day for everyone. They all came back tired.

Today was a big day for Aastha. It was her first ever commercial event. She was ver excited as well as nervous. She took blessings from Bappa, her parents and Ajju. They all wished her luck.
Aastha went to office early. The other team members and volunteers were there too, along with Rahul.
"So Aastha... all set?!" asked Rahul.
"I think so...!" replied Aastha.

The T-Shirts were distributed to everyone.
"This is for you!!" said Aastha, handing a T-Shirt to Rahul.
"For me?! Wow! Thank you so much!" said Rahul, closely observing the white T-Shirt.
On the front, there was logo of the company on the left side and the logo of the orphanage on the right side. There were some smiling faces of children at the center. On the back, there was today's date written along with the following words :

Celebrating
and
Appreciating
the
Relentless
Efforts
for them...

Rahul loved the T-Shirt.
"I am wearing it right away!!" he said, as he went to the changing room.
All the members wore the T-Shirt. It was time to leave for the venue. Just then, Rishab came to Aastha...
"Aastha, tumne Shirts ki quantity sahi batayi thi na?" he asked.
"Haan! But why? Uh-oh!! Kahin kum toh nahi pad rahe?!"
"Nahi Aastha! Infact this one is extra...!!" said Rishab.
"Extra? Oh haan! I had considered Shlok Sir too...!"
"What?!!" exclaimed Shikha, "Shlok Sir would never wear this!!"
"I know!" said Aastha, "I had not thought of him as Shlok Sir... I had considered him as the Director of this company...!"
Rishab's phone began ringing. It was from the caterers. Rishab handed the T-Shirt to Aastha and moved away to take the call.
Dolly came there, saying "Arey, what are you both doing here...! Hurry up! We need to leave...!!"
"I will come in a moment!" said Aastha and went to the store to keep the extra T-Shirt. But the store room was locked. She thought of taking the keys from the reception, but as everyone was waiting for her, she dicarded the thought.
Everyone was calling out for her. She quickly dumped the Shirt in her sachel, and joined her team.

Niranjan Agnihotri was the chief guest. He was invited along with his family. In the evening when Niranjan and Shlok arrived with the family, everyone was ready to welcome them. There were hundreds of guests invited. The lights in the garden were supposed to be on when the Chief Guest arrived. But they weren't. Aastha called he respective volunteer.
"Pata nahi Aastha Ma'am... there is some problem...!!" replied the volunteer.
"Oh no! Wait I'll come there..." said Aastha as she hurried there in tension.
"What happened? Why is there tension on this beautiful face?" asked Avi.
Aastha told him. Both hurried to the spot. They were surprised to see that the wire was cut.
"Oh no!! What will happen now!!" said Aastha, worried.
"Don't worry Aastha... we will manage to do something...!!" said Avi.
Avi contacted the electrician. Aastha urged the electrician to hurry up as the Chief Guests had already arrived.
Just as Niranjan and others reached the entrance of the garden, the lights lit up. The guests were pleasantly surprised at the perfect arrangement!!
"Thank you Bappa!" said Aastha gladly.
"Yaar Aastha, this was perfect!! See, everything happens for a reason!!" said Avi being optimistic.
Aastha agreed.

The kids, having juice, were watching the Chief Guests arrive... Little Soumya couldn't see anyhing what was going on... So she climbed up a chair with the help of Shikha as she had the glass of range juice in her hands. Now Soumya was happy as she could see what was going on! Shlok recieved a call on his cell phone, so he stayed back as the others moved ahead.
After finishing the call, when Shlok was passing by Soumya, she somehow lost her balance and the orange juice spilled on Shlok!! His coat and shirt got spoilt!! He was very angry...!!
"Kya kiya tumne!!" he shouted at Soumya, "Girls...!!" he said angrily.
Aastha came there to see what was wrong. Soumya was crying. Aastha hugged Soumya...
"Kuchh nahi hua Soumya... Don't cry dear... Uncle thode gusse waale hain na..." said Aastha. She gestured the 'Chhota Bheem' to come there.
"Tumne dekha yahan Soumya se milne kaun aaya hai...?"
Soumya turned to see her favourite cartoon character and was delighted.
"Jaao khelo...!" said Aastha and Soumya went away happily.

Aastha turned to Shlok. She saw Shikha trying to help Shlok clean the juice, but Shlok did not entertain Shikha. He asked one of the volunteers where washroom was and went there. He was trying to clean the juice marks with water when Aastha came there. Shlok saw her enter, in the mirror.
"Excuse me!!!" he said, "this is Gents' washroom... can't you see??!!"
"I know Sir... I am really sorry for what happened Sir... Soumya is a little girl, she didn't do it purposefully...!"
This enraged Shlok. "Little girl...huh!! All girls are the same! Someday she too will grow to become as dumb as you!!"
Aastha felt offended. But before she could say anything, Shlok continued.
"I know you girls very well!!" he said. "Selfish, stubborn, disgusting... You all are the same, just like Swati!!!"
"Excuse me Sir!!!!" said Aastha, "You are being judgemental!!"
"Just shut up!!" said Shlok and left the washroom.
Aastha went behind him.

"Excuse me Sir!" she called back.
Shlok turned in anger, "Kya hai?!!!"
Aastha was taken aback. "Sir... woh achha nahi dikh raha hai..." she said innocently, pointing at his wet shirt, with juice traces still visible.
He looked at his shirt and coat. He had to agree to that.
Suddenly Aastha remembered something and her face glowed.
"I know the solution to this...!!" exclaimed Aastha.
"I don't want your solution, please...!!" replied Shlok.
"Believe me Sir, this is for your own good! What will people think if they see you like this?" said Aastha.
Shlok was still thinking on it and before he could understand anything Aastha held his hand and pulled him inside the washroom.
"You stay here Sir, so that no one sees you like this... I will be back in a moment!" she said as she hurried out.
"But..." said Shlok, confused. But she was gone.

Shlok waited there.
"Kahan gayi yeh ladki?? Pata nahi yeh ladkiyon ke dimaag mein kya chalta rehta hai..." he thought as Aastha had not yet returned.
"And I am listening to her... Unbelievable!!" he thought, but still waited there.

Aastha returned finally.
"Where were you?!" he asked.
"Shhh..." replied Aastha. "Take this..." she said as she took out the T-Shirt from her sachel.
"Yeh kya hai?"
"T-Shirt hai... aur kya?"
"I am not gonna wear this!!" he said, looking at the T-Shirt. "Yeh tumhaara hi ghatiya idea hoga sab ke liye T-Shirts banwaane ka...!!"
"Haan!! Lekin aap ki company ka koi nuksaan nahi hua hai...!!" replied Aastha. "Aap jaldi se change kar leejiye!" said Aastha as she walked out of the washroom.
"Sorry!! Main yeh T-Shirt nahi pehenne waala!!"
"Okay!! Toh aise hi rahiye...!!" she replied from outside.

Shlok was standing there thinking what to do, staring at the T-Shirt in his hand. He looked at himself in the mirror.
"Kya dekh rahe ho Shlok?" he said to himself. "Aise thodi baahar jaa sakte ho... Ab change toh karna hi padega!!"

Aastha was waiting outside. She heard some footsteps behind her. She turned to see Shlok. He was wearing the T-Shirt. Aastha was very happy.
"You should try wearing T-Shirts more often! They suit you!" remarked Aastha.
"Majhboori thi isliye pehena, samjhi?!! Else, I would never have worn it!!!" said Shlok and left to join the guests.
"Akdu!!" said Aastha and went to her work.

Everyone was surprised to see Shlok wearing the T-Shirt.
"Thank you so much Sir for wearing it!" said Shikha.
"Aakhir Aastha ne tumhein yeh Shirt pehenne ke liye manaa hi liya!!" teased Rahul.
Shlok gave Rahul a tough look.
"Arey nahi Rahul Sir, it's not because of Aastha, it is because of Soumya that Shlok Sir is wearing it!!" said Shikha and everyone laughed. Shlok left the spot in anger.

Here, Aastha was checking whether everything was going as planned. She was supervising the buffet area, when a gravy fell on her fingers by mistake. It was hot, so she immediately put the fingers in her mouth.
"Yeh kya!!" she said, "Yeh sabzi kitni khaari hai!!"
"Lekin ma'am, we had checked everything!!" said the volunteer.
"Then how did this happen?!!"
The volunteer tasted it. "Ismein itna namak kaise aaya?" He was very tensed.
"Don't worry, just take this away... And make arrangements for different one...! We still have 20 minutes!!"

The other food items were also checked again. Thankfully there was no problem. Everyone enjoyed the food.
There was magic show arranged for the kids. The kids enjoyed a lot. Kavya too enjoyed with them.

At the end, the guests praised the wonderful arrangements of the function. They also appreciated the small programme which Aastha and her team had arranged to promote 'Mamta' and adoption. Everyone admired the name they had given to the event.
Overall, the function was very successful.

The event was finally over. The volunteers were cleaning up the place. Aastha felt relieved and satisfied that she did a good job!
Shlok had realised that the event was exactly as Aastha had explained during the presentation, and his plan was nowhere acted upon!! He was very angry.
He searched for Shikha.
"You did not do a single thing I had told you to!!!" he scolded Shikha.
"Sorry Sir, b..but... " Shikha panicked looking at Shlok's anger. "Rahul Sir told us to..."
"Rahul!! Where is he?" said Shlok looking around.

Everyone was busy working. Rahul was talking to Aastha in the back yard. Shlok reached there.
"Yeh tum ne theek nahi kiya Rahul!!" said Shlok in anger.
Rahul and Aastha realisd what Shlok was talking about.
"And you!!" he said turning towards Aastha, "what do you think of yourself, haan?!! Why are you doing this?!!"
Aastha felt bad. Now she couldn't help speak out.
"What am I doing?!!! It is you who is doing everything!!" she said. "It is you who made me the event-head, you had my folder deleted from the computer, you threw my file in the dustbin" Aasth's eyes watered as she spoke on... "you locked me into the room, and you tried to ruin this event too... lights, food..."
"Stop it!!!" roared Slok. "Just stop it!!! I did not do any of this!!! Do you understand!!! And if I had locked you in that room, I would never have come to rescue you!!!!"
"Shlok! Aastha! Enough! Stop it yaar both of you!" interrupted Rahul.
Aastha was crying. Shlok still angry.
"Shlok, ab bohot ho gaya!" said Rahul. "Why are you doing all this?! What has Aastha done!"
"She reminds me of Swati all the time, right from the day we met!!!" said Shlok. "I just don't want her here... Darr lagta hai mujhe... bohot darr...!!!"
Shlok left the place. Rahul was stunned.
Aastha was curious to know who this Swati was. She had heard this name twice from Shlok.
Rahul tried to console Aastha.
"Aastha, don't worry... everything will be okay... Shlok is a bit disturbed right now, but he will be fine soon...!"
Aastha wiped her tears...
"All this is happening because of Swati...!!" she said to Rahul, "Who is Swati? Yeh Swati hai kaun?!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Hope you all liked it... Do give your precious feedback...

All criticism, comments, discussions, suggestions,requests are most welcome.

Originally posted by: Anukalu

So the cat is out of the bag. Lovely update.