FF: Raya Story - New Chapter 21 updated, Pg 54 on 27 Nov 2016 - Page 9

lovely update. thanks for pm. pl continue.

Nice both r waiting to meet again...
Continue soon..
Nice flow...

Hey Everybody... I hope you like today's update... Do comment... I am a little confused on how I should progress in some aspects of the story... Will try and keep it moving... and more of RaYa...

Chapter 8

Ajay has another poster session on Tuesday morning at the conference... He calls Priya early in the morning... Priya is still sleeping...tired from yesterday..

Ajay: Priya... Bega kelage baa (Come down quickly - Kannada)... please ..

Priya: Eno... Ajay... ishtu belge call madiya... en aitho... (What Ajay you have called so early in the morning, What happened?- Kannada)

Ajay: Priya... wake up... I need help... with regard to my poster.

Priya: Did we not set it up earlier?

Ajay: Priya... you forgot... I have 2 posters... My student was not able to make it... remember...

Priya: Oh..Ok... Bartini kelege in 10 mins... By the way time eshtu?

Ajay: Priya...Its 7 am. This session begins at 8 AM... I wonder what you were up to last night... Dreams about the Aane (Elephant- Kannada) , I mean RK...

Priya: Don't start... That too in the morning... Do you want my help or not??...

Ajay: Ok... Just come down quick.. waiting for you. After that we can get breakfast together...

Priya: Give me about 15 mins.. will be there.

Priya joins Ajay in the lobby. Both go and set up the poster and have breakfast. Priya goes back to her room to get ready for the attending the rest of the day at the conference...

Today is the last day of the conference. In the evening the organizers have a dinner banquet arranged for all the attendees. They also have some awards to distribute to the students and post docs like the best poster, talk.. etc... Priya with her colleagues decide to leave the conference early and go check out the Jagmohan palace in Mysore. Ram, leaves the conference early... but not for visiting places... but gets back to his room... and does a few video conference calls with regard to work...

Priya gets back to her room in the evening... and is deciding on what to wear for banquet. She finds a cotton Maroon saree in her bag... While she gets ready.. she is thinking about the last couple of days. Thinks about her talk, how positive the response was, maybe she might be able to find funding... But her mind wanders off to RK... She has a smile on her face... She just did not expect somebody would capture her imagination... I have not even spoken to this person... I hope I meet him at the banquet... Suddenly realizing she is staring at the mirror holding the safety pin in her hand to pin her pallu... She shakes her head... pins her pallu...Mobile rings...

Priya: Maa.. aap... Kaiso ho?

Shipra: Teek hoon. Tum kya kar rahi ho? Ho gayi conference?

Priya: Conference main dinner banquet hain maa... I was getting ready for that...

Shipra: Ok... I just called to ask you .. what time you are back tomorrow? Shall I make lunch?

Priya: I am back only in the afternoon. Don't make Lunch ... I am meeting somebody for Lunch here in Mysore...

Shipra: Ok... How did your talk go?

Priya: Talk accha gaya Maa.. Very good response...

Shipra: Good... Have fun at the Banquet... Aur.. ek baat bolna hi bhool gayi..

Priya: Kya hua Maa?

Shipra: Kuch nahi beta... Krishna ji ne call kiya tha..

Priya: Kaun Krishna ji...

Shipra: Arey... Ladke ki Maa... Maine bataya tha na.. Tujhe... Shaadi ka proposal...

Priya: Maa.. aap... abhi baat karni hain kya?

Shipra: Chup... Krishna ji called and gave me his son's email id... He has given to initiate contact... Apparently he is quite busy... so decided the best way to begin is through email... I am texting you his email id... Ok... Email him.

Priya: Arey Maa...

Shipra: Tu meri baat sun... Tu email karegi... Aur ho sake to aaj ya kal... Main kuch nahi sunna chahti hoon...

Priya: Maa.. Ok.. Main soch thi hoon...

Shipra: Sochna.. Baad main.. Email first... Ok...

Priya: Ok Maa... Rakthi hoon... Bye

Shipra: Bye.. See you tomorrow...

She receives the text from her mom. Ram_ak@abcmail.com. Priya resigns to the fact that her mother will not let her go on this issue... And gets ready for the banquet... maybe a bit extra than usual.

Meanwhile, Ram is contemplating to go the banquet or not... He is tired with today's video conference calls... And he had to prepare for tomorrow's meeting in Bangalore as well. He reflects on what he has gained from this conference... But before he could... his thoughts are flooded by Flat tire lady... and that is when he decides to go the banquet... maybe I can get to meet her again...He is just checking his email... and sees an email from his mother...

Ram beta..

Kaiso ho? How is the conference going? I know it is best to contact you thro' email when you are out of town... You can respond when you can...

Yesterday, Shipra ji had called (for shaadi proposal). She has forwarded me the girl's email id (priyas@abcmail.com). The girl has given the email id.. to initiate contact... She is definitely your kind... best way to reach thro' email. I would like you to send her an email ASAP...

We guys are doing good. Both Natasha and Rishab are waiting for you to be back to go try the new place. You are back on Thursday afternoon right? Please let me know your arrival details.

Take care beta,

Love Maa.

Ram is surprised by the email and especially the urgency with which Maa expects him to send an email... But his thoughts are back to the flat tire lady... He was not sure why he was thinking about her after reading this email... Never mind Ram...Forget it... We will see what happens... He gets ready.. heads to the banquet.

At the Banquet, lots of people .. long lines ... Ram finds a few people he knows and joins them at their table... Looks around.. but does not see Priya... Priya enter about 5 minutes later. She looks around, finds Ajay and her colleagues seated at a table.. She walks over. The awards begin and one of the students from the institute wins a prize for best poster...After a few more presentations,

Priya: I am hungry and getting some food...anyone?

Ajay : I will join you.. I am hungry too.. Let's go.

Priya: Let us go... Where is the Veggie food?

Ajay : There... Pointing at the other end of the hall.

Is something bothering you Priya? Seems like you are a bit lost this evening..

Priya: En illa kano (nothing- kannada) .. Maa had called. She wanted me to contact this boy for marriage proposal.. Parents are excited.. Boy has given his email id for contact...

Ajay : Cool kane... That is good.. They are keen on this proposal then.. What is the issue? Why are you hesitating?

Priya: I don't know... Maybe I should email..

Ajay : I think so too.. Go for it...

Both of them are talking and picking up food from the Buffet, but not really paying attention to the people around.

Ajay : I am going over there...

Priya: Ok.. I will just get something from here...

Ajay walks way to grab something from the non- veg counter. Priya turns around to get something from the dessert counter... But bumps into someone.. almost dropping food on herself and the other person...

Priya: Sorry... I am so sorry...

Ram: I am sorry too... Just did not look...

Suddenly.. Ram realizes that he has bumped into Priya... He just stares at her.. with an open mouth...thinking to himself...She looks so radiant in this maroon cotton saree...He cannot take his eyes off her... Unknowingly he mutters..

Ram: Beautiful...

Priya has realized too that she has bumped into Ram... But she is in an apologetic mode... Making sure nothing has happened to her dress and nothing has fallen on him either... But then she hears Ram saying beautiful.. She is surprised... but before she could think...Ram continues...shocked at what he has just said... And tries to manage the situation... By

Ram: ... Hmmm... I mean it is such a beautiful saree... I hope no food has fallen on it... I am sorry... I should have paid more attention.

Priya: Oh.. it's ok.. Nothing fell on me or my dress.. lucky...I hope nothing fell on you...

Ram: Nope nothing fell on me or my clothes...

Ram .. thinking... Bach gaye yaar... Yeh kya bole jaa raha hain tu... Control kar...

Priya, on the other hand, Did he say beautiful??? Really... or Am I day dreaming... He must have meant the saree only... Forget it...meanwhile Ram continues with the conversation... Trying to gather himself...

Ram: Seems like a nice buffet with lots of choices...

Priya, taken aback at the conversation moving in a totally different direction... And she almost whispers... Yeh to Elephant hai.. isliye.,.. back to food... and chuckles...

Ram is not able to understand.. what she said... He finds the chuckle amusing...

Ram: Did you say something?

Priya: No... Food looks very nice. I like that there are lots of vegetarian options...

Ram: So you are a vegetarian... Hmmm

Priya: Yes...

Ram: Not sure of what to say... He changes the topic again... I enjoyed your talk ... It was wonderful and excellent work too..

Priya: Thanks.. I am happy that people liked my work and it is being recognized. You were great at the panel discussion.

Both of them... In their minds... Oh so she or he knows me... Cool...

Ram: Thanks... It was my first... Actually my colleague should have attended this meeting..but unavoidable circumstances he could not and I had to fill in... But I am glad I did...

Priya: Cool... Your first... You should do more...

Ram: Thanks... Silence for a few secs... Have you been to Mysore before?

Priya: Yes ... How about you? Have you been here before?

Ram: No this my first time here... Is there anything I should see... I have some time tomorrow.

Priya: Lots of places to see... She lists a few attractions like the Mysore Palace, Brindavan gardens, chamundi hills.. You need a few days here to see most of them...

Ram: Oh.. Do you have a suggestion that I should/can visit... in a couple of hours time...

Priya: Oh... I would say Mysore Palace... Within the city.. and very unique..

Ram: Almost wanted to ask her to show the place... But keeps it to himself... Thanks... I will try and go tomorrow... Are you going back tonight?

Priya: No tomorrow... Drive back in the afternoon to Bangalore. Meeting a friend for lunch.. How about you?

Ram: Oh.. I get to Bangalore tomorrow... Have a meeting in the evening and fly back on Thursday to Mumbai...

Priya: She has half a mind to say I can take around in Mysore and drop you in Bangalore... or maybe a coffee in Bangalore... But... She is too terrified of this thought... Stranger... and going out... Gathers herself... She sees Ajay and her colleagues waving at her... I better go... Oh ok... Have a productive meeting and a safe flight... I have to go... My colleagues are calling.. It was nice meeting you.

Ram: Oh.. Ok... Almost takes his Business card out... but puts it back inside... Good luck with everything... Hopefully no flat tire on your way back... With a wink... Nice talking to you.

Priya: Laughs at the flat tire comment... Yeah I hope so... If it does... maybe you will be around... She does not understand Y she says that.... Thanks... Bye..

Ram: Bye...

Both of them walk away... reluctantly... reaching their respective tables... But something happened between the two... They both had an easy conversation... Enjoying talking to each other... There was a realization also... that this maybe the last time... that they meet or even talk to each other...

Ajay notices that Priya is a little lost in her thoughts... not her usual self... But decides to talk about it later as there were others...

Priya is thinking about Ram while having her dinner... He was not supposed to be in this conference... but we met... many times during the last week... Why did it feel nice to be talking to him... Eventually these thoughts... This will go away Priya... Forget it... Enjoy the dinner... and Just think it is something to cherish the rest of your life...

Meanwhile Ram has similar thoughts about Priya... She looked beautiful... Ram.. you may never meet her... Just be happy to have met her.. and whatever little time you spent with her has been very memorable... Once you are in Mumbai.. you will not have the time... even to think... So forget it... and finish dinner and go sleep...

Both head back to their respective rooms.. Both are contemplating about the email their parents have requested them to send... They are tired... and not in the mood to do it tonight...

Ram and Priya : Let me send that email tomorrow... Anyway... I am exhausted... Better get some sleep... New day tomorrow...Thinking about what happened at the dinner... drift off to sleep...

Thanks for reading guys...

Lovely update.

nyc part...both r thnkng abt each othr...gud pgrs...continue soon.

Nyc story beautiful
finely Raya met n talked 2 each other...
thanx fr d pm...
Continue sooon..

Curiosity increasing with every update, ram priya restless, lost in thoights of each other.
Priya innu asne antane kareyoda 😆
the convo was brisk n perfect.
Uff mothers succeed yo forward mail ids.


Thx for d pm.

Story is moving quiet nice pls continue soon

So dey talk nd hesitating to move fwd..
Lets c wt hpns nxt..
Continue soon..