Ever since she had been given the visitor tag by the keeper staff at main gate of Ibrahim Capital Real Estate and ushered in she felt she'd stepped into a different world. A world of serious work and professionalism.
Surely she had not expected the pompous ass to be this big. She knew he was rich with the way he callously threw those 10 lakhs at her. She knew he was revengeful for he had come prepared to burn her dhaba. Who the hell keeps that much money in their pockets anyways? And suddenly she realized she knew so little about him.
"Chuck it Sanam... Just do what you have to do and get out. Why should you bother how much or how less you know of him" she chided herself.
The corridor in front of his room was empty. Hell, it was the only room in this part of the hall. She straightened her clothes. Heck, even the carpet looks cleaner that her dupatta. She peered through the foggy glass cabin door and could make out there were more than 2 people inside the room. "Good! So we will have audience." The audience will see her making a fool of herself. Sanam panicked. She turned around to look at the rest of the office. It was regular office atmosphere. People busy on computers, laptops, mobiles, desk phones, files. A busy work hour...3 PM in the afternoon. No one looked in her direction.
"Get your act together Sanam. You can't go wrong now. You can't back off now. It's a 5 min job. Do it and get out. Even if the jerk does not remember you, it hardly matters."
The unusual urge to look presentable made her pull open her humble pony loosening her hair. She brushed them thrice with her comb and knocked the cabin door. Loud and clear.
"Yeah...Come in" a deep baritone resonated through. Even after all these months, she can recognize that voice anywhere. Flashback Aahil Raja Ibrahim neechi giri hui cheezon ko haath nahi lagatha'
Sanam gently opened the door and immediately came face to face with him. He must have been in throes of a meeting. The huge conference table at farther end of the room had open laptops, files and sundry stationery. He looked impeccable in his tailored suit. His aides gathered around him near a whiteboard which still had a presentation going on from the projector. The room was huge and had a certain expensive simplicity in its ambience. He was at the farther end of the room. But she could not will her eyes to avert from his hypnotic gaze. Suddenly they were alone in the space.
The group simultaneously turned and looked at Sanam. This was the first time that one of their bosses tryst was in office. She was pretty no doubt. But so not the type boss will date, thought his team which comprised of 2 females and 2 males currently. As Rehan nudged him, Aahil broke his trance and made a discreet nod to his team. On clue, they silently marched out of his office in a single file.
At the soft click of door closing, Aahil approached Sanam in his trademark predatory style. He had thought he'd gone crazy because he had been unable to get this female out of his system in the past 8 months. His first memories of her were as clear in his mind as if it had all happened yesterday.
He was curious as to what Miss Dhabbewali wanted to do or say and he waited without speaking. She looked exotic, just like last time. Had an unmistakable rustic charm. No make-up, simple but gaudy clothes and those yards of fabric failed to hide the fabulous curves.
Sanam took a sharp breath. It was bad enough he looked even more handsome than last time. Now he is staring at her as if he will eat her raw. "He is checking me out..." She thought incredulously. No Sanam, he is just staring at her like a city child would at a stray cow in countryside.
She dug into her large, humble handbag and took out 4 large envelopes stuffed to capacity.
"10 lakhs and the interest amount for 8 months. I am returning you the money you gave me that day. after..."
"After I burned your dhaba" Aahil completed. He suddenly recalled his heinous crime.
"I had rebuilt it with your money and still had some left to improve its structure. I was able to earn sufficeint profit and I think it is my duty to return what belongs to you."
"What's wrong with me? What am I saying? Hadn't I rehearsed this meeting so many times with haya? I was supposed to throw the envelopes 1 by one at his chest and walk -off. And here she is talking to him about her duty."Sanam wondered worriedly
Aahil felt a lump in his throat and an unexplained propriety pride for the girl? Wait..What? pride' for HER? Why? Who is she to him?
Aahil silently took the envelopes as she gave them to him. "I am sorry for burning your dhaba. Would you like some coffee?"
Coffee? Where did that come from?
"No. I am out of here. Next time think twice about the repercussions of your actions" She softly nodded her leave and walked out of his cabin.
Once away from his un-nerving presence the anger returned and she strode out angrily.
As soon as the door clicked shut Aahil dialed the security desk and barked " Quick... disable the access system for next 5 minutes"
He knew she'd be striding out angrily and he did not want her to stand and wait few more agonized minutes before someone swipes at the turnstiles for her.
Sanam took a deep breath and realized she had walked out of the campus still wearing the visitor tag of Ibrahims. Wasn't she supposed to take his signature and return it back to the guard office at gate? Why didn't the guard stop her? She got to tell Aahil about this carelessness of the guards!
WHAT? Tell Aahil? Since when are you on such terms with him? Taking his first name? ...Just get out of this place. Its making you behave weirdly. You still have to explain to Haya ...your cowardice! You were supposed to be rude and arrogant to that jerk who deserved no less and look at you... What a shame?
She looked back at the now closed heavy gate and high walls of his companies corporate office'. Iinside there would be work as usual. People busy. A rude jerk would be laughing at her stupidity of handing over her hard earned profits to him. Perhaps he would have resumed his meeting. She looked at her watch. She had been in this office for a little less than 30 minutes. And yet she felt it was a life changing experience for her. Hit by an urge to ruminate on her thoughts some more, she decided to walk a little before taking the auto to station. She'd booked the return tickets for the same day.
Aahil looked down at the 4 envelopes, tenderly running his finger along the edges. The envelopes were custom made and carried the address of her dhaba ' Sanam the dhaba' ... Sanam Asad Khan... He enjoyed the taste of her name on his tongue.
HIS Miss Dhabbewali had surprised him again. "His? Since when did you start referring to her as yours Aahil? She has practically thrown your money at your face and you are drooling over her" Aahil sat pensively behind his desk for a few minutes. No...This time he will not wait for fate for the next meeting!
If only to get back at her again .He looked at the address on the envelopes...
The train to Punjab - Pg 6
Bollywood
Health and Fitness
Anupamaa
