Chapter 11
Working with Ranveer became an inseparable part of Ishani's life as days became weeks and weeks became a month. She came to believe she could never have made it had it not been for the support provided by Ranveer. So far it had been one month since the day she first set her foot in Ranveer's office. When and how time and life changed Ishani could not guess. Resisting her true emotions she sometimes credited Ranveer for this change but never confessed this to him, for she found it rather silly to say such little things to him. The time was gone when she could really share even the most frivolous of the matters and laugh it all out with him. Even after a month she hardly saw him smiling other than twisting his lips in a casual way. It irked her more than often for she could not get used to this new Ranveer even after weeks.
Ishani was sitting in her cabin working on the documents on the current development of their project when Puneet knocked the door of her cabin. Ishani signaled him to come in.
"Ma'am, there is something that perhaps you might be interested in," Puneet said, coming in.
"Yes?" Ishani said suspiciously.
"Actually, our business partner Mr. Watson is interested in a business with you," Puneet said, rather hesitantly.
"Puneet, would you please elaborate a bit? Why are you hesitating?" Ishani asked.
"You know there's a construction work on the hotel building going on next to your place, right?"
Ishani nodded.
"Right. So, Mr. Watson wants you to co-join in his work once his work gets done. He wants your cafe to be a part of his hotel, since you'd be leaving the country in few months."
Looking at Puneet's expressions she understood he was as reluctant in telling her as she was with the deal.
"Mr. Puneet, first of all, why did your Mr. Watson not come instead of you if he is interested in this deal this much?" Ishani asked Puneet, a tone of anger explicit in her voice.
"He isn't here. He sent his associate, Ms. Anya, to finalize the deal, and she was quite hesitant in coming to meet you-- I don't know why but she refused to see you and decided wait for RV sir to arrive-- so I..." sensing Ishani's anger in her eyes Puneet could not complete his sentence.
"Oh! Do I look like a ghost or something?" Ishani gave a sarcastic laugh. "It's alright, Puneet. And yes, tell your Mr. Watson's friend that Ishani Parekh is not interested in any business with them. She has presented her courtesy in a very awful manner that, although unintentionally, has harmed our future relations. And before any business with me she needs to learn to respect others if she expects this from them," Ishani declared.
"Ma'am, may I ask you something?" Puneet asked, understanding Ishani's opinion.
"Sure."
"Would you have agreed to the deal had things been alright, like you just wanted?"
"No, never! That cafe of mine is not for business, and nor do I run it for any kind of financial profit. It is because..." Ishani paused for a few moments then added, "It's because doing so reminds me of a friend of mine who always helped others when he had nothing, who always knew how to be giving, how to live your life's each moment to the fullest, how to never complain when you have every reason to think and feel opposite. You know what, he even treated strangers like they were his friends. He taught me so much in life. And helping others is one of the things is what I run my cafe for. It always seems peaceful when a poor, who is unable to pay, takes something from me, and says he has no money. But when I tell them I don't need any, the joy on their faces happens to be worth watching. How can I give away this to anyone for just business?"
"I understand you," he said. "And I hope you get your friend back."
"So do I," said Ishani looking at Ranveer, who was talking to Anya in his cabin. Ishani believed she lost her friend in Ranveer the day she found out the feelings he had for her were more than just a friendship. She shared her most intimate thoughts, fears, and dreams and feelings with him but the revelation of the unexpected things--that he loved her-- had turned everything upside down. The events still haunted her even after 2 years. The moment Ranveer had left her life it seemed to her that a part of hers had died to never recover again, but surprisingly things had changed for better and she wondered if it was same for Ranveer too. She had seen him now for one month but he still looked the same-- careless about the things around him, and lost in the world of his own.
Puneet had left her cabin when she was lost in her thoughts. Ishani saw Anya arguing with Ranveer and Puneet that she realized was because of her refusing to work with them. Soon, after some time she saw Anya leaving who looked strange. She had an awkwardly round face, very thin eyebrows, eyes possessing a wicked feeling and lips emanating a cunning smile hiding her anger. Ishani felt uncomfortable seeing her and hoped this does not cause any problem for Ranveer.
After the whole Anya stuff got wrapped up Ishani gave a sigh of relief as if a dark shadow of an unpleasant feeling was hanging over the place. She remained still in the thoughts when suddenly her phone rang. She saw the caller, it was Mr. Zaveri.
"Hello, uncle," she said, composing herself.
"How are you, Ishani? I heard you're working really hard," Mr. Zaveri said. "RV keeps mentioning you often. Seems he's very impressed with you and your work."
Ishani's heart skipped with the mention of RV's name as she blushed a little.
"Is he?" Ishani asked with an excitement in her voice.
"Yeah. That's very unlikely for a person like RV who happens to be very critical of himself," Mr. Zaveri responded. "By the way, Ishani, I wanted to know what did you think of Mr. Watson's offer?"
"Mr. Watson's offer? You knew about that?" Ishani asked in a surprise.
"Oh, sorry! I forgot to tell you. As you know his work is going to be complete in a couple of weeks, so it'd be good if you too land in this business. Or else your cafe will lose its popularity and everything. Also he is very good friend of mine so I suggested him your name thinking you would be interested. You get what I'm saying?" Mr. Zaveri said.
"But, uncle, I don't want it to happen," Ishani replied in an irritated tone. "My place isn't for sale."
"Ishani, Watson doesn't like No' and he might do something that will cause you a bigger loss," Mr. Zaveri said worriedly.
"I'm not scared of that," Ishani replied. "Let him do whatever he wants. I'll see him," Ishani replied defiantly.
"As you wish. And hope for the best," Mr. Zaveri disconnected the call.
"He's going harm me?" Ishani chuckled. "Let's see if he has guts to do that. Didn't come to have a proper meeting and going to harm me?"
Ranveer just finished an important call with one of his most important partners who was bringing a new product in the market in a few weeks. There were some documents that needed to be kept in high security as there had been a great danger of them getting either stolen of lost, for documents of such importance could not be kept in their office and somehow should be kept at the most unexpected place. To help him Ranveer agreed to keep them in his office without letting anyone except 3 people know.
Ranveer came out of his cabin, walked towards Ishani's but saw the room was empty and no was there. He wondered where Ishani might be since it was very unusual of her to leave at this early hour when the time was only 8 in the evening. Leaving the office with Ishani in the evening had become his habit and tonight her absence irked him giving a panicky feeling. By now all the employees had left the office by now save one or two.
"Did you see Ms. Parekh?" he asked one of the people working and was disappointed when the man shook his head in a no.' Ranveer went outside to see whether Ishani was somewhere over there, but returned disappointed again for she was not found even there too. He tried calling her, but Ishani did not pick up his call. This scared him. A panic filled his heart, a horrifying feeling taking him over. Ranveer tried calling Ishani over and over again but it was still the same. A single ring in his phone made his heart leap with an anticipation of Ishani's whereabouts. But neither Ishani nor any information came.
Time passed on. It was 11 O' clock and Ranveer still waited for Ishani when he heard a sound of footsteps in the corridor. He ran towards it, and saw a grey figure of Ishani's was walking towards him, she looked depressed. As Ranveer switched on the lights, he saw Ishani looking lost as though she didn't realize the changed in surroundings.
"Ishani!" he said.
Ishani looked at him, tears still falling down her cheeks. "Ranveer," she could only say.
"Is everything alright? And where were you?" Ranveer asked with concern in his voice.
"Ranveer... you know, my cafe...they have illegally taken over my caf and also half of the shares of my company. Zaveri uncle told me what kind of man Watson is; still I chose to ignore him. And now..." Ishani said in a disgusted tone.
Ranveer looked shocked.
"Wait, Ishani. What happened? Explain everything," he said restlessly.
Ranveer looked at Ishani while she still sobbed uncontrollably.
"Mr. Watson wanted me to associate my caf with his new hotel but I turned down his offer. And few hours later I got a call from my office saying that my company has been taken over by Mr. Watson, and the documents of the caf were missing as well. I asked for the lawful investigation for the whole matter but they said there is no need for this as all the documents they had were clean. But I know, Ranveer, they are not. There is someone else who has halped them. I don't know who," Ishani said.
Ranveer contemplated for few moments then said, "Everything will be alright. You don't worry. I know what to do"
Ishani looked at Ranveer, a faith returning in her again. She held his hand and said imploringly, "I don't want to lose this."
"You won't. Trust me," Ranveer assured her. Ishani smiled feeling as if someone had taken off a heavy burden from her shoulders.