Chapter 1 - A disagreeable man.
"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."
Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters
He cannot believe it he is doing this. Seriously, he cannot.
He has not done this in a very long time, so long in fact that it is hard for him to recall the last time that it happened.
His memory fails him, of course it does.
How can it even recollect an event of so long ago? The last time he had done something like this was ages ago.
Not to mention he was in a different age group too then.
However, sometimes you do things you never dreamt you would do, life has that ability - its takes you by surprise so completely it never ceases to amaze you.
So here, he is today doing something he believes he last did in what seems to him like the last century- more like the last millennia and that has him nervous, very nervous... extremely so, only he cannot let that happen.
He cannot let his nerves undo him, not now.
It is Showtime!
Time to show your moves Raman Bhalla he reminded himself.
Therefore, with a smile on his face he moves on. He walks among the people assembled in the hall, all of whom are here to congratulate him. He is hosting a bash - a bash for a double celebration, at that.
The first reason for the bash is of course the tender that he has bagged in partnership with Ashok, last month. It put him on a map literally. He was accounted for amongst the rising stars of the Asian business tycoons - the Times, had placed him on number 6 on the list.
That of course called for a celebration - everyone from his family to his board of directors to his staff, literally begged him for a party.
So he obliged, of course that was no trouble. He could do as much; celebrate with the people who have made his success possible with their contribution. Everyone who is a part of his life in any capacity was to deserve a party.
It was no trouble at all.
At least it was not until his little daughter; his pint sized five-year-old daughter opened her mouth and threw him under a bus!
He would have had less trouble dealing with the repercussions of her doing so had it been literally.
She reminded everyone his birthday is coming up! Of course she had to, urgh and he hates birthday bashes, especially his own. Everyone just annoys him, the last time he celebrated his birthday with a party was perhaps when he was ten. He still remembers all those uncles and aunties pulling his cheeks and asking the same question over and over again - how old are you? What age did you turn today?
Despite there being a huge freaking birthday banner hung for all to see. Raman' tenth birthday party in huge bold capital letters printed on it.
He made his parents vow to never ever, ever host a birthday party for him after that!
He only celebrated in the privacy of his home and family.
So of course, now after all these years - at age thirty three, it makes him feel more than awkward to be a birthday boy in midst of a gathering where everyone wishes him for his birthday. Most people are not even bothering to congratulate him on the Times article for crying aloud! Even when it is a bigger deal to him than his own freaking birthday is!
He got backed into a corner, into this by his own family but mostly by his daughter. He could see her mother delighting in his visible discomfort. She so figured out that he hates his own birthday parties and the woman got Ruhi to get him to agree to this.
Declare that the bash he is hosting is a dual celebration - for his corporate success and his birthday! Urgh!
Horrible, wicked, scheming woman, she enjoyed watching him squirm.
Speaking of which, where is she? He looked at his watch to see the time.
The invites were for 7 pm and its 8 already, fine its fashionable to be late these days but come on how can a woman be late for her husband' birthday party.
He turns around the hall looking for her, though he knows it is not a chance that he might have missed her. Just then in walk Ashok, Shagun and Aditya. He cannot know what is wrong but he has noticed there is some problem between his ex and her boyfriend. The only good thing he muses about having to invite Ashok for this party since he is now a partner as well is that his son would be present for his birthday too.
Aditya walks up to him, hands him a bouquet of roses and extends his hand,
"Wish you a very happy birthday."
He wishes he had added the word dad or papa at the end, but smiles on and shakes hands with his son nonetheless.
"Thanks Adi."
Aditya then looks back at his mother and Ashok,
"Mom I will find Ruhi, talk with her for sometime okay."
Saying so he walks away from his father, at least his kids would spend some time together he thinks.
"I must say Raman I am impressed here, way to kill two birds with one stone, corporate bash cum birthday bash. Must applaud the middle class upbringing your parents gave you. It teaches you ways to save money." Ashok said haughtily, seething with anger at the lavishness of the party.
"Whatever... besides do we really need to discuss our financial situation here Ashok? You do know the deal with TVC, has us as partners, 60-40 and I am sure you can do the simple math of which number is the bigger figure here. Which reminds me, haven't you been filing losses fakely with the IT department since the past three years now? How unfortunate this time around that will be the truth. I am sure that has to hurt right. Don't worry I am a helpful man at that, enjoy all the drinks and food it's on the house tonight and in case you need a doggy bag just say the word I'll have it arranged too."
Muttering under his breath Ashok walked off to meet Mr. Smith, who had merely waved his hand.
"Looks like your boyfriend had to call up that chef of yours to check on the status of things in your kitchen. Really Shagun you could at least help the poor guy out in that department."
"You need not worry about the kitchen in our home, besides we have staff for that. Just because your behenji wife has to slog in the kitchen doesn't mean all women are so unfortunate."
"Shagun... Shagun when will you ever learn? Just because a woman cooks in her kitchen doesn't mean she is slogging and if you ever call Ishita a behenji again I'll..."
He had barely said the words that his jaw dropped at the sight before him.
If she had not seen the slack-jawed look that took over the face of her Ex, Shagun might not have turned around to witness what exactly it was that got him to stop.
Right at the moment, Ruhi carried by her Mihir Chachu came towards her father.
"Papa, look Ishimaa is here." "Bhai, Bhabhi has arrived." The duo spoke in unison and laughed.
However, Raman had heard neither of them, barring his eyes, his ability to see, all his senses had abandoned him for the time being.
It took Ruhi closing his mouth shut for him to come back to his senses.
As his daughter and friend giggled at him, he gave both of them an incredulous look even as he was sneaking glances at his wife who happened to be still standing at the entrance.
She looked dropped dead gorgeous wearing the dark midnight blue dress he had purchased on impulse just weeks ago; when Ruhi had insisted they shop for Ishita.
Edited by EkPaheli - 11 years ago
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