Chapter 1
Lime green. A flourishing spread of freshness. A fast roll and a swirl. Roll and swirl. A lot more of it. Phew! Again. A bit more colour and again roll and swirl. Blue now. Royalty spread across the canvas. Roll and swirl. Faster. A bit more. There! Now the sides. Roll the length, then breadth. Phew! Water sprinkles! Only a little. Need a thick texture. There! Done. Now the plastic wrap to cover this.
"Good Morning bete!" Sudhir Kashyap called out to his very engrossed daughter, who was struggling with a long plastic cover.
"Morning Dad!" Ananya replied, "Come and help me straighten this please!"
"Yeh canvas ke cover ke saath kya kar rahi ho? Paint to karna start kar diya. Cover phek kyu nahi diya?" Mr. Kashyap asked as they together straightened the plastic wrap that was used to pack the 72"x48" canvas.
"I need to put this back on the canvas and create wrinkles." She replied, covering the canvas with her father help.
"Okay. Now what?" he asked.
"Now this!" Ananya said, wrinkling the plastic with her hands.
As Mr. Kashyap helped, he asked, "How long have you been up doing this?"
"Since a little after six." Ananya replied calmly.
"So you didn't go for your run?"
"I probably had much more exercise than running as I covered this entire thing with paint." Ananya said rolling her eyes.
"Ananya, it's essential that you follow your routine strictly. You got up earlier than usual, you skipped your exercise and now you're going to be late for breakfast. It's a matter of discipline. And you know what I always say about discipline-"
"Discipline is doing what you know needs to be done even when you don't want to do it." Ananya recited from memory.
"Well yes. So now go get ready and meet me down for breakfast in half an hour's time." Her father instructed stroking her hair.
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"Bete, I read your proposal for the Mehta Deal." Mr. Kashyap said as he buttered his toast.
"Yes?" Ananya asked reaching for a fork.
"It's good on the surface but you didn't factor the fluctuation of the Indian rupee. That is going to be a major factor in the production cost over the year." Mr. Kashyap explained.
Ananya felt bummed. She was never going to be as good as her father. She had studied business administration in the best institutes of the world but when it came to deliver, she always lacked somewhere or the other. It wasn't oversight or even over confidence. It was inaptitude. She lacked only in the necessary zeal for it.
"But it's not a problem. I can get Sinha to make necessary changes." Mr. Kashyap was saying.
"Or you could just use Prashant's proposal. I know you asked him to make one too." Ananya replied, swallowing the low feeling in her gut and putting up a smile on her face.
"No. Your work is good. It could be better. But you're just starting. So that is okay." Mr. Kashyap encouraged gently. Ananya saw through it. She nodded. Thinking she needed to do better to meet her father's expectations.
"So, do you want to come for the meeting?"
"No. How about I go to the channel. See what is up there?"
"Sure. But be back on time. Aaj party hai. I've asked Purnima to make appointments with your stylists and make up people. Tell her if you need anything else." Mr. Kashyap said, getting up from the table.
Ananya nodded.
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By 8 o'clock that evening Ananya looked ravishing in a splendid red Chanel gown. Her make up was immaculately done by an internationally ac1claimed make up artist. And the end result was that every eye was on her as she walked into the front gardens of the Kashyap mansion where the party was in full swing.
As expected she spent half of her time stuck by her father's side who made introduction with all the important people there were for her to know, simultaneously giving her tidbits about each of them. It was incredible that her father, busy man as he was, knew something interesting about every one of them.
"Kashyap sahab!" Came a booming voice.
"Mr. Khurana!" Sudhir Kashyap greeted. "Kaise hai aap?"
"I'm well." He replied jovially shaking Mr. Kashyap's hand. "And this must be Ananya! You've grown to be more beautiful than your mother beta!"
"Thank you Uncle!" Ananya smiled pleased.
"Meet my son Ronit!" he said, grabbing hold of his rather good-looking son. "You both used to play a lot together in the country club."
"Hi!" Ronit said raising his hand forward. "Ronnie!"
"Ananya." she said, smiling and taking her hand.
"Why don't you youngsters go enjoy the party?" Mr. Khurana proposed.
Ronit gave his father a slight nod and gestured with a hand for Ananya to lead.
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"Ronit Khurana! This is a surprise!" Ananya exclaimed
"Ronnie! What is?" He asked, as he ordered two drinks for them at the open bar.
"Us having a conversation without pulling each other's hair." Ananya replied taking the proffered drink.
"All part of growing up. Besides I still think most of my attack on your braids were acts of self defense."
"Yeah right! I used to bully you. I had forgotten!" Ananya laughed.
"I'm still trying. I think I finally have to start considering therapy!" he joked.
"Your jokes haven't improved at all Ronit!" Ananya commented cheekily.
"Ronnie! Ananya!"
"I like Ronit better. You have a nice enough name."
"It's just I'm used to it. All those years abroad."
"I see. I have been referred to as Anya all my adult life. But I'm not really a fan of that name. I liked the name my mum gave me, Ananya. It's probably one of the reasons I like coming back to India."
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"Kashyap sahab. Ananya ke liye aap ka kya plan hai?" Mr. Khurana asked.
"It's a matter of time before I ease the reigns of Kashyap Empire into her hands." Mr. Kashyap said, looking around to see Ananya laughing with Ronnie.
"This is your plan for your business. Main aapse yeh puch raha hu ki Ananya ke liye aapka kya plan hai?" Mr. Khurana explained his query.
"Ananya ke liye mujhe aisa ladka chahiye jo acha insaan ho, jo samjhe ki who bholi hai, jo uska khayal rakh sake. You know how I've cared for her since Karuna's demise. I want her to flourish. I want her at the top of the game. And therefore what I really want in her life partner is a person who shouldn't overshadow her. I've groomed Ananya to achieve great things. And I don't want anyone in the way of that." Sudhir Kashyap explained.
"Aap Ronnie ke bare mein kya sochte hai?" Khurana asked. "Dekhiye, main Ronnie ko jaanta hu. Uske paas jo hai woh usse khush hai. He doesn't want to go beyond his music company. Infact mera poora business meri beti ke haath mein hai. Aapke saath naam judne par sirf hamare business ko face value par maddat milegi. Mujhe koi merger nahi chahiye ya partnership. Bus what I want is that our names be known together. That in itself would be profitable. And you've known Ronnie for long. You know he is a good kid."
Both these gentlemen were staring at their children, Ananya was cleaning her hand as Ronit handed her tissues.
It could be a good idea. Especially after Ananya's past relationships. Mr. Kashyap thought.
"We'll talk about this more Khurana ji. Tomorrow."
Precap: Kabir Singhania makes his entry.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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