FF: Pale Blue Dot (Chap 10, page122 14/10) updated - Page 92

Originally posted by: lashy

'Bah!' 😎 Lashy e uttama!

Originally posted by: Kalgi22

@bold; Awww😃 waiting waiting

Originally posted by: lashy

🤣 I was going to say the same thing... what the!

🤣🤣🤣

You both are...😆😆😆

Edited by AbHer_neha - 10 years ago

Originally posted by: AbHer_neha

🤣 I was going to say the same thing... what the!

Originally posted by: AbHer_neha

Sorry yaar net chala gaya tha so I got late in replying.

Jhanu, this is my first comment on any chapter of ur FF. First, I would like to tell you that I m very selective in my reading. There are so many talented authors here in this forum but very few grabbed my attention. You are one of them.😃
>> I should attribute this to NJAPA then.. 😆 and thanks for considering this story read worthy.. I'm super happy..

You are a fantastic author dear.
>> I'm blushing.. ☺️

I haven't read ur FF from the beginning. I started reading it from chapter 5.
>> When you get time, please read beginning chaps dear.. you'll find them interesting (me thinks so)..

Your Jodha is a very strong girl. Sad she lost her parents. But I liked her bonding with her friends. Her bade papa, badi maa & her neighbours are very nice. I was eagerly waiting for Jalal's entry.
>> Yeah.. a strong girl.. but she should thank her luck she has caring friends and relatives atleast.. 😊
There first meeting was awesome.😆 I liked how Jodha & Jalal were introduced to each-other in the official meeting. Jalal got impressed with her that she came from NCC. I can visualize his naughty expressions when Jo called him "Mr. Jalal..".😉
>> he he.. you naughty naughty haa.. 😆
I feel Jalal found something in her in their very first meeting that he's not able to ignore her presence around him.

>> Ofcourse yaar.. an intriguing name, good looks, good job history.. she is not an ignorable one.. right? 😉

I liked the lift scene...just loved how Jalal noticed that she was feeling uneasy & he brought her back to normal by talking to her. She also realizes it & finally she addresses him 'Sir'. Jalal also enjoyed this moment.😳 I loved ur Jalal. Kuch baat hai bande me. It was a beautiful chapter dear. BTW, are you an architect?
>> Awie.. I'm glad you love him.. I hope you are viewing him as a decent MD with a decent wit.. that's how I wanted to depict him.. and me no architect.. 😉

Chapter 9 gives some more information abt Jalal's past. So he's a divorcee. Who's that unlucky girl who left him, is that Aaliya mam his ex-wife?
>> Yes she is..
Seems there's gonna be some MU between both of them. Jalal overheard Jodha's conversation with her friends. She made a general statement but I think he will develop a prejudice against her. Toh Abdul yahan bhi hai. I liked Jalal's interaction with him & his wife. Is he his BIL?
>> No Abdul and Jalal are friends, that's why you should read 1st chapters.. Sara calls Jalal as brother just like that.. not a real sibling.. 😊
Jalal noticed Jodha with a man & feeling restless at their closeness...achha bachchu abhi se itni possessiveness?😉 Fas gayi Jodha...her friend's marriage is coming. Jalal doesn't know how imp this marriage can be for Jodha...he'll surely consider her careless abt her job...bhawbaan bachaye use.😆
>> he he.. may be.. 😉 and yeah he has thodasa restlessness unable to define if it is jealousy or possessiveness.. 😆
The story is getting interesting day by day. I wanna tell you one thing that I m gonna be addicted to ur Jodha & Jalal in the same way as I m addicted to NJAPA's JoJa.😳 Plz update soon.
>>Hayyy hayy.. I love this word addiction now.. and I encourage you by all means.. 😃
will update soon dear.. and thanks a bunch for taking time amidst your bsy days..

Originally posted by: hemakeerti

>>Hayyy hayy.. I love this word addiction now.. and I encourage you by all means.. 😃
will update soon dear.. and thanks a bunch for taking time amidst your bsy days..

Chapter 10

May 23 Regal Infra, 9:00pm

"Office looks pretty vibrant today Raj!!" peeking at a group of youngsters exchanging lively talks in the common area, Jalal addressed the bouyant project manager. "Yes Jalal. Half the team is working late tonight and the other half will be coming early tomorrow. We are targeting to wind up phase1 design by tomorrow evening," Raj shared the progress looking triumphantly at his team.

"Very impressive Raj, your team is just awesome!" the young MD admitted in genuine ecstasy.

"Hello sir, hi Raj, are you both joining us for dinner in the conference room or..", carrying the heavy packets of food, Shashank questioned skeptically perceiving they would dine separately, while Raj and Jalal opted to join the team for dinner. "We'll be there in five minutes Shashank, mean time you invite others".

Handing over a bag to his colleague, Shashank proceeded to Jodha's cabin to return her car keys. "Hey Jodha! Ye le keys, come fast. The flavor of your tandoori chicken is driving me crazy," sniffing deep the aroma of tandoori placed on top of the large pack, he provoked the preoccupied lady. "Oy you! Stop sniffing and don't dare touch it. That's all mine. I warn you, stay away from it. I'm coming in two minutes," throwing a pencil at him, she intimidated him with a dragon gaze. "Make it fast, else I can't guarantee", escaping her pencil attack, he fled from the room with a sheepish shrug. Steered by dire hunger and enticing flavor of chicken, she quickly saved her work and rushed to the washroom before joining the folks for dinner.

-----

"Hmm!!" Puffing in the fragrance of sumptuous delicacies, she settled beside her female colleague nodding playfully, "It was worth skipping evening break today".

Handing over a packet and a plateful of rice, the colleague agreed. "Right Jodha, I'm also very hungry. Take this, your tandoori chicken and egg fried rice. There are kabas and Manchurian as well. Do you want me to pass on?"

Cutting open the parcel, Jodha nodded sideways saying, "No no, this is more than enough re. I shamelessly say I'm not going to share this tandoori with anyone," smiling at her colleagues, she secured her half-tandoori and salad in a plate and pulled it closer making others giggle at her antics. "Where is Raj?" squeezing a lemon over the onion-cabbage salad, she questioned Shashank feeling impatient to wait further.

"Here I'm Jodha," came an instant response from conference room door as Raj walked in folding his sleeves. "Ah, you can't be so late Raj. See how Shashank is staring at that biryani like flood victims vehemently waiting for puliogare packets," mocking a pity face, she exaggerated a bit riling up Shashank while others, including the boss who stepped in a moment later, guffawed aloud. "Ah why is he here? He should be at site on Friday, when did he return?" baffled by his unexpected entry, she smiled quickly to make up for her idiotic dido.

"Hello sir, are you too joining us for dinner? It's a pleasant surprise indeed," Ramesh gleamed in delight voicing the excitement of his fellow team members. "Yes Ramesh, it's unfair of me sleeping happily while my employees are working hard. Just trying to be a good boss by accompanying you guys tonight," he smiled and seated in the only vacant chair available - beside Raj and opposite to Jodha.

"Ayyo, why did he sit here? How can I tug this thigh piece before him? God, hope I don't look like an adivasi. Waise, should I offer him this chicken? Huh, I've only two pieces," badly self-pitying for her state, she determined to ignore him and looked aside restlessly waiting for the superiors to be served - blissfully unaware of her evil colleague's devilish intentions. Passing on the starters to Raj and Jalal, Shashank slyly looked at Jo whilst questioning Jalal in extra sweeteness- "Would you like to try tandoori sir?"

Startled out of blue, she momentarily adorned the expression of a five year old forced to share her one and only chocolate with others, but her 25year old self quickly made it up with a decent smile. With no chance to kill her wicked colleague with fiendish stares, she extended the plate masking her disconcert, and rest of the team sealed their lips recollecting her previous warnings.

Witnessing rapid transformation of her expressions, Raj and Jalal exchanged wry glances. Clearing his throat to suppress the chuckles, Jalal humbly replied, "I don't want to be cursed Shashank" - saying so he turned to the puzzled form glaring at him with a cute confused brow. "I already got the warning! I don't dare touch it!"

"Ha ha ha!" the room resonated with boisterous laughs, making her drown into abashment. Covering up her embarrassment she flashed a pleasing face retaliating, "That warning is exclusively for him, not for others. Please take it". He cordially refused the offer with an appealing smile - "That's ok Jodha, I was just kidding. I'm good with these starters. You have it please" and returned the plate to her.

Happily smiling at him, she took a piece and was about to enjoy the first bite when she heard that wicked colleagues' voice once again. "Lucky you, your name is carved on that chicken today, enjoy", Shashank teased her compelling her to halt then and there. Swiftly putting thigh piece down, she tweaked a small piece out, moved her hand three times round the plate doing nazar-utaar and exclaimed in relief, "Huh.. I can eat peacefully now!" making everyone, especially him, amuse at her doings.

----

"No wonder he is an automobile engineer!" posing a deaf ear to the ongoing analysis on the latest election results, she shifted her gaze to the opposite plate only to find two manly hands handling a fork and knife with innate ease. "The way he is tackling them ensembles tools in the hands of a mechanic!" Impressed by the way his fingers involuntarily operated even when he is engrossed in discussion, she decided to a take a break from the boring debate and resort to a better entertainment - there by she lowered her head as if concentrating on her plate and raised her pupils to stealthily watch the show.

"I should take a tuition from him on dhang se khana'", having observed him on and off for quite a while, she thus concluded remembering her mother's tantrums on her messy dining etiquette. Setting aside the coke tin, she resumed her recreation, before being perturbed by an unusual act from the other end, which made her narrow her eyes to focus. The fork in his left hand pierced a piece of Kebab and slightly forwarded to her in a Do-you-want-it gesticulation. Ignoring the movement as her hunch she focused once again, but when the gesture repeated, she comprehended that she was caught. Controlling her reflex senses to the best, she tried and managed not to react instantly by diverting her attention to the fried rice and quickly stuffed her mouth with two spoons full.

"Phew.. did he presume I was slavering his plate?" zipping the awkwardness behind lips, she checked on other colleagues ensuring to be extra-cautious not to meet eyes with him. A few moments past the facade, she couldn't refrain from watching him as her cheeky mind compelled her to confirm her inkling. Though his concealed smirk behind the glass of water near his lips was not apparent to her, the slightest raise of his brow and the sly glint in those black orbs explained it all. Putting up a straight face, she faked being poised and decided to break the gaze before an unknown instinct triggered her mind forcing her to look at him once again. "A few strands of hair falling on his forehead and a pair of sharp edged eyes!! Why do these eyes look familiar to me?"

********************

Three days later, The Estate building cellar

"Hello aunty, how are you? How is Rao uncle?" delighted by the caller's name, she answered it immediately moving away from the elevator door giving way for others to getin.

"We are fine Jodha. How are you? Are you at home?" Lakshmi asked dearingly.

"No aunty, I just came to office. Kya baat hai?"

"Oh! It's just 9'o clock na, so I thought you are at home. Actually I called now to inform Prameela ji about Kiran's wedding date and invite them for marriage. We'll be posting wedding invitation, but I wished to personally invite them. "

"Wow, so the date is fixed? When is it and when is Kiran coming from the US?" she clamored in excitement.

"Yes dear, yesterday only we decided on the date. It is on June 6^th, Friday and you should be here by Thursday morning, samjhi! Give me your home landline number, I'll talk to Peddamma."

"Ok, ok!" after mouthing the number to her, Jodha repeated her question, "When is Kiran coming?"

"Someday next week Jodhu, they are looking for tickets. As it is vacation time, tickets are not readily available. Actually uncle wanted to arrange the wedding in October or November, but she has some Visa issues and her parents insisted to fix it soon. So we had to rush on everything. Ok Jodhu, I'll call you later, let me dial Prameela ji."

"Ok aunty bye bye!" disconnecting the call, she waved at Divya who was parking her Scooty. "Arree wah.. pink dress, pink studs, pink lips, looking as fresh as a pink rose! What's special pinky baby!" Divya winked at her, openly admiring her friend's refreshing charm in that baby pink Aargandi cotton salwar. "Special? What specialty do you find in this normal cotton dress Divya? Nothing special at all", pressing the elevator button, she blatantly dismissed the appreciation, but Divya didn't give up. "But something looks different today. Ah, yes your hair, off late you are plaiting it and today you left it open!"

"Summer yaar, open hair is way irritating. I didn't get enough time to dry it today, so I left it open!" As they waited for the elevator, the Assistant marketing manager (AMM) of Regal joined them with a meek smile, "Hi girls, what's up? Jodha you look very pretty today!" Flapping a pleasing smile at that compliment, she returned the courtesy, "Thank you so much. By the way nice dress, you look very exotic!"

---

"Did you understand why she complimented you?" out of the elevator, Divya whispered to Jodha signaling at AMM. Surprised by her question, Jodha asked, "Why?" to which Divya sniggered - "So that she gets a compliment in return. You acted just the way she wanted!"

Swiping her card Jodha reciprocated with a steel glare at that weird assumption, but her gazes spelled no effect on Divya. "Aise ghurke mat dekhna, sachi yaar. Do you know another interesting fact, her tops became tighter and necks deeper after boss's divorce. Going by her dress, I bet boss has a meeting with marketing section today!" Casting her spoiled pal a dirty look, Jodha averred seriously, "How do you manage to come up with such nasty theories Divi?"

"Oye, you are just 4 months old here. I'm your senior and this is my foolproof prediction. I observed it five times before and every time I came out right. And one more thing, she is jealous of you because she thinks you are her competition!" As that last warning succeeded in arousing her curiosity, Jodha sounded flummoxed unable to decrypt the reason behind AMM's jealousy. "Competition? I'm an architect and she's a marketing manager. We are poles apart in profession, why should she be jealous of me or compete with me Divi?"

Signaling her to wait, Divya made way to her cabin followed by Jodha. Once into closed chambers, Divya patted on her shoulder saying, "Budhu! I'm not talking about profession-wala competition. Before you joined Regal, she was the unanimous contestant in winning boss's attention, atleast within office premises. Now that you roped in, she has to be insecure, right?"

This comment of Divya reminded her of her friends' teasing a few days ago. Envisaging herself in the race of winning attention of a divorcee, her body involuntarily quivered in disgust. "Come on Divi, let's be sensible. Stop cooking your own creepy theories."

"It's not my cooked up story dear. I came to know of this from Nina. When marketing-wali saw you talking to boss, she passed some invidious comments on you. Nina being the HR, could perceive the envy behind her comments, thence she informed me to warn you. So just be careful when she is around," Divya framed her sentences cautiously as she presumed this newfound truth would rile up her friend.

"What the heck!" instead of firing, Jodha guffawed taking Divya by surprise. "I mean, like seriously she is envious of me, heights yaar. I have had a pride that I'm generally subjected to compliments, so this news is riveting", winking at her baffled pal, she continued, "Hmm, whatever! If possible, convey Ms Envy that I'm NOT interested in married men and I'm NO competition to her," she asserted stressing on NOT and NO. "Now back to work, catch you at lunch, see you!"

----------

2 hours later

"Tuck, tuck!" the knock on the open door made her look ahead of the system. Mystified by the presence of boss at her cabin, she got up welcoming, "Yes sir. What happened Mohan?" to which Mohan shrugged saying "Even I'm clueless!"

"We have a problem guys!" Jalal said. "I just got a call from Ericsson EVP asking us to demonstrate our project on Friday, 20^th June instead of 25^th June. You know we have two more competitors in this deal, one of them is supposed to present on Friday, but for reasons unknown they planned to postpone their presentation date. So, Ericsson contacted us asking to swap our date with them, only if we are comfortable with it so that they don't need to change their itinerary. This is like an unknocked guest coming our way and I don't want to miss this chance. A competitor backing off and we taking up their slot is like winning half the battle. We'll surely leave a good impression if we take up this challenge. But I don't want to commit it prior to think of the feasibilities. Can you quickly think of any hurdles in this plan as I want to answer them in next 10 minutes, even if it is a NO."

Dazed by the unexpected change in plan, Divya quickly glanced at project progress document. Skeptical of giving an assurance, she ushered low looking at Mohan, "I think it is ok Sir! What do you say Mohan?" to which Mohan avowed in similar terms. "Looks feasible to me too! How about asking Jodha? She is the one who came up with idea of building a prototype along with design. So she should be the better person to answer this!"

"Ok, let's get to her cabin then!" unwilling to waste any time further, Jalal dashed out with Divya and Mohan following him.

Bang opening the closed door, Divya was the first to step into the cabin calling out to her. Listening to Divya's voice, she neither budged from her place nor left the task she was busy at, instead she cheerfully yelped, "Hey Divi! Hundred years to you, I was about to call you. Tell me how this looks!" Contently glaring at the sketch, she moved away from the board anticipating Divya's amazement at her art, but the moment she discerned two more visitors along with Divya, she staggered at her place.

Examining the avatar she is in, Mohan zipped his lips not to erupt his chuckles out, Divya donned a partly startled-partly amused gaze, while Jalal's expressions were completely out of their bounds to decipher. It was only when Divya signaled to her, she realized her posture- with dupatta happily resting on the chair, with her long silky hair zapped up in clutches of a banana clip, and two pencils tucked into the hair erupting out like devil's horns, she fathomed she should be looking no less than a clown.

Cursing her stars for the bad timing of their entry, she swiftly pulled the pencils off and enquired in curiosity, "What happened Mohan? Anything serious?" Back to business, Mohan explained the exigency and asked her opinion on change of date.

"Rescheduling to 20^th implies we'll be losing three days!" she intensely looked at the desk calendar for few moments. "We preserved last 10 days for prototype building and presentation. So..", lining up her thoughts, she stated firmly in conviction, "Given that our interior team is working on the preceding weekend, we should say YES to this proposal. What does Raj say by the way, did we talk to him?"

"Yes, I did," impressed by her confidence and assurance, Jalal exhilarated - "I first dialed him before approaching you guys. He says exactly the same you just said!" with an evident delight, he looked satisfied at his team - "So are we ready to take up this challenge? Should I go ahead and inform the same to Ericsson?"

"Definitely," with utmost certitude, they replied in high spirits making their boss proud of them. "Great guys. I'll call them then and keep you posted if there is a deviation. See you!" The moment the two men turned to leave, she quickly pulled the dupatta on to her, but Jalal turned back as if he has something left to say.

Pointing at the fancy pencil holder on the desk, he witted "By the way, nice pencil holder!" Though his hand pointed at the desk, his eyes conveyed her what he ACTUALLY meant, making her virtually bang her head for giving him another chance to mock her. Tossing him a titter, she acted ignorant of his intentions and responded in a simple "Thank you!"

The instant the door closed behind the men, she let out a huge sigh of relief while Divya collapsed into the chair laughing loud. Enraged by the laughing form, Jodha reached out to Divya's neck revolting in outburst, "Idiot, why did you bring them with you? You should have called me to your room instead!" Escaping the fiery clench, Divya locked her hands still giggling. "When was I given that chance? The minute Mohan took your name, he stormed to your room as if he can't wait a moment to see you. Still I tried my best to come first and alert you, you see. But what a timing yaar," holding onto her stomach, she choked, "my my, he always catches you doing everything on earth, expect project work. Tch tch poor Jo."

"That's what Divi! When I work hours and hours like a donkey, he never notices. But the minute I take a break, he thrashes into my chamber as if somebody just informed him, what an irony!" she exclaimed shaking her head in unease. "Priya's marriage is just a week away and this project is hardly allowing me to finish that sketch. I decided to finish it at any cost today and get it laminated and see, it made me pay for my decision", looking at the sketch clipped to the board, she vented her frustration.

Leaning against the table opposite to Divya, she continued with her vexation, "Did you watch his reaction on seeing me doing this sketch Divi? If this small anomaly turns him so hyper, God knows banda ka kya haal hoga, if he knows my two days leave next week!" she tittered clasping her hands in air like a God-save-him gesticulation. Laughing more at her friend's antics Divya suggested, "Then cancel Friday leave na, you said Priya insisted to attend reception at Chennai on Monday!"

"No yaar. I have to be in Hyderabad on Friday. Our family friend's marriage is also on Friday, which I can't miss. Anyways, boss is on field on Friday, so for him it'll be only one day leave!" Minimizing her chuckles, Divya caressed Jodha's hand so as to comfort her. "Don't worry Jo! Since Raj has approved the leaves, boss will not bother as he respects Raj's decisions. Waise, even if he were angry at first, your ultra cute pose would have satiated his anger. Gosh, with those pencils tucked in hair and a confused cum startled wala look, you were at heights of enticing!" she winked evilly at Jodha while the later ruthlessly grabbed her neck, making sure not to miss this time.

*******************