IshRa FF : Bas Ek Sanam Chahiye (Updated Chapter 13 & 14 page 60) - Page 29

Originally posted by: super_cutie

Tis story is tooo good and I love tis story a lot

Plz update sooon

Originally posted by: beyul

Hey Dipa Bas Ek Update Chahiye yaar😉 Waiting

Chapter 10

The grandfather clock in the office marked midnight in a melancholy baritone that reverberated through the entryway where it stood. When Gemini Consulting leased the space, this clock was the first piece of furniture brought in, both as good luck and as a tribute to Mihir's dad to whom it had belonged. Working late one Friday night, Raman and Mihir were in the final throes of brain function, and were now staring blankly at the clock from the meeting space across the entrance.

Mihir's croaky voice broke through the silence. "You know, that clock was one of the first non-essential items Daddy ever bought. He thought it would give his home an air of history and longevity. But he said it ended up bringing lots of good luck instead, because after years of trying for kids, they finally got pregnant with Shagun. And then me right after."

"Mihir you've told me that story a hundred times."
"Have I?"
"And I heard it as a kid from Uncle, a million times before that."
"Well it is a good story, no?"

Raman nodded lazily, his eyes practically glazed over. The office was deserted, with just the two of them left. They'd been working non stop the last couple of days. It reminded Raman of college days when they would sleep overnight at the library, their minds going fuzzy after staring at the same notes for hours which then led to senseless conversations.

"When I get married, I'm going to have to take this clock back Bhai."
"Are you in that much of a rush to have kids?"

Mihir lifted his head off the conference table and looked over seriously. "Haan yaar...I don't want to be too old to enjoy all the milestones in my kids' lives. My dad was close to retirement by the time I became a teenager."

"Good point but beta first get a girl. No more of your casual dating and dumping. At least have a serious girlfriend before talking about taking the clock back."

Raman noticed the sly smile on his friend's sleepy face and stirred to attention. Mihir was no playboy but he'd had a series of brief dalliances; you couldn't even call them relationships because he would break up with them within a month or two, citing extreme boredom. He'd never seen him actually invested in any of the girls.

"Wait, DO you have a girlfriend?" Mihir was blushing now, Raman couldn't believe it. "Saale, mujhe bataya nahin?!"
"Sorry Bhai, I'm not saying anything now either. I'll tell you...at some point. Its delicate and I feel nervous even thinking about it."
Raman grunted in disappointment. "Fine, I'll leave you alone for now then."

"Bhai, lets go na? My brain is completely dead. We can tackle this tomorrow. We should come in to meet the Finance team anyway. You should see the solutions Vinod's put together for the Tandon project. I think they're really good, and should get us out of the hole."

"He better have found a good solution. We would have had to roll some heads if he didn't." Then something popped into his mind a second later. "Tomorrow is Saturday!"

"Toh?"

He stood up suddenly, "I can't come in tomorrow. I have a...a thing." Raman began packing his things. Then feeling self-conscious, he clarified before being asked, "Its a wedding thing."

Seeing his Bhai's sudden activity, Mihir also dragged himself up to gather the papers together. "Oh wedding thing, then just postpone it. We should really touch base with Vinod before Sunday's call with Mr. Tandon. That way we can tell him the good news on the phone rather than over email during the week."

Raman scrambled, not knowing why he felt nervous. "No I can't postpone it. I think it was um...hard to get...right yeah...see we were lucky to get the appointment and I don't want to delay it. You know how it is with these vendors, they get booked up so quickly."

Mihir frowned at his shifty friend. This may be the first time he was seeing his Bhai choose something personal over work. It was a good thing, probably, but in this case it didn't seem like the right decision. The Tandon project was the most important thing on their plate and with the bad luck they'd had at the outset, they could benefit from telling their client about a win.

Seeing Mihir's concerned look, Raman attempted to pacify him. "Don't worry mere bhai. Why don't we do this, you guys meet up tomorrow afternoon as planned and I'll come in later at night to check out Vinod's work and you and I can touch base Sunday morning right before the call. Easy. It'll be fine, we've winged it before!"

"Winged it? On a project? Who are you and what have you done with Raman Bhalla??" Mihir was serious but Raman just laughed it off and started walking out. His exhaustion seemed to have vanished and when he turned around to say goodbye, his eyes were shining.

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The next morning in another part of the city, Ishita walked into her own very cramped office to find Mihika yelling hoarsely into the phone. "Panditji, doh nahin, nau NAU bhaje aana hai! Warna woh dono aapke bina hi honeymoon pe chale jayenge!"

Ishita chuckled as her cousin finished the rest of the conversation. The cozy little two room office had been subleased from a software company that owned the entire building. With outsourcing contracts harder to find in recent years, they'd begun to parcel out bits of their space to reduce overhead and so Ishita had gotten it fairly cheap. The main purpose of the office was really for them to be able to work, so it wasn't fancy. Occasionally, they also used it to coordinate with vendors. Clients, they hardly ever met here but Ishita hoped someday to move into a nicer place so they could eventually. Half the battle in this business was presentation and swankier digs would help acquire higher end clients.

Hanging up, Mihika turned to her in exasperation, "I think the constant temple ghante have finally taken a toll, he's gone completely deaf!"
"Was that for the Gupta wedding?"
"Yeah Akka, I also spoke with the caterers again and asked to switch out the mutter paneer for palak paneer as Mrs. Gupta wanted."
"Achha, thanks Mihika. I have to run to a meeting in a bit but can we look through that Vikram Singh contract? I'm sure its fine, but just want to review the last details he wanted added before we send off the signed copy."
"Yah yah, let me find it. What meeting do you have today?"
"Its a tasting at Bukhara for the Bhalla wedding."
"Hai lucky yaar...I love those trials, you get to sample everything on the menu. That too at Bukhara...otherwise who could afford to go there! Apparently it's the new hotspot for proposals. You remember my friend Antara, that's where her boyfriend popped the question. She said the same night, there were four other proposals!"

Ishita listened to all that but responded practically, "Oh really? Well, it'll be really good to network with their events team."

"God you're so boring sometimes Akka. Not one romantic blood cell to be found!"

Sighing, Mihika pulled out the contract and they sat down at the small table in the outer room. As Ishita started perusing the document, her cousin remembered something, "Oh wait, are you bummed that you'll be spending a whole meal with that khaddoos Mr. Bhalla? You must be praying for his mother to get better quickly!"

Ishita felt her back arch and she looked down quickly at the paperwork on the table, "I think she was told 6 weeks off her feet so still awhile to go." Then she paused and added, "He's not so bad actually."

"Akka? Akka? Where did you get lost?"

Ishita blinked back into the present, "Oh sorry, you were asking something...right...um nothing specific happened, just going beyond first impressions and all."
"Hm if you say so." Mihika was about to turn back to the contract when she noticed something, "Akka are you sick? Here I am sweating like a hippo in this stifling office and you have goosebumps??"

Moving her arms off the table, Ishita waved off the comment and turned their attention back to the task at hand. After a productive twenty minutes, they signed and sent off the contract for Mr. Singh's engagement party next month. Before leaving she reminded Mihika about the dinner at her parents' place that night.

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Raman was pacing vaguely in the Bukhara lobby, alternating an eye between the two entrances. Looking down at his suit he had a feeling that maybe he should have gone casual today. It was a Saturday; but then thought better of the regret. There were certain places where it was a significant advantage to be overdressed. And Bukhara was definitely one of those spots. He resumed his stride and glanced at the main entrance just as Ishita walked in. She was dressed expertly in a mix of clothing Raman couldn't begin to name, but he could see that they lent her an air of both sophistication and professionalism. Spotting her target, she approached with a warm smile.

"Hi! Sorry, waiting long time?"

He could get used to her talking to him this way. "You are punctual, as always. I was a little eager and arrived early. Eager to eat."

She was looking around, "Where is Shagun?"

"Oh sorry I forgot to message you, her shoot got moved last minute. Won't be a problem will it?"
"No no. We can just let them know it's the two of us. Let me see if I can track down the catering director I spoke with."

As she looked around the plush lobby for the right person to ask, a very tall, slicked and suited manager strode over in great hurry, speaking with a booming voice. "Mr. Bhalla! So good to see you here again, sir. It's been too long. How is Mr. Arora?"

"Mukesh, good to see you. Mihir is fine, thank you. Its a good sign I haven't been here for awhile, means we haven't messed up on a project recently." Raman then turned to Ishita to explain as Mukesh laughed exaggeratedly. "We used to bring clients here to help them forget certain mistakes, that's how good the food and service is here. Right Mukesh?"

"Absolutely Mr. Bhalla...we provide only the best for you."

Ishita cringed as the small talk continued for a few minutes. The application and reception of makhan was never a pleasant sight. She felt a little awkward all of a sudden. Thankfully she got a call and stepped a little away to take it.

"So what can I help you with today sir, a table for two?"
"Actually we're here for a tryout of your catering options. I'm getting married in a few months."

Mukesh now looked happier than he might have if his own brother was getting married. He shook Raman's hands violently before turning to beam at Ishita while she was speaking on the phone. "Congrats Sir! What wonderful news! God bless you both, beautiful jodi!"

"Actually Mukesh, she is my...", but then a staff person interrupted taking the over enthusiastic manager aside. "Excuse me one second sir."

Ishita came back to an amused-looking Raman wondering what had happened, but waited silently for Mukesh so she could find out where they should go. When he finally turned around, he spoke quickly, "Mr. Bhalla, as always you get the best from us. Let me just have you seated in the main dining room and I'll have Dinesh our catering manager come over to speak to you. He'll get you set up."

Finally Ishita was able to get a word in, "Actually I spoke with a Rajesh Goyal last week, he must have already made arrangements."

"I see, so sorry Ma'am. Rajesh has been out due to a family emergency since yesterday. But don't worry, I'm sure he briefed Dinesh. I wasn't aware actually, otherwise we would have made special preparations as its Mr. Bhalla." Mukesh then called a few people over and spoke to them in undertones.

Leaning sideways, Ishita whispered. "Why was he so excited. Its like you're marrying his sister or something!" Raman also leaned to hear better. Suddenly feeling the proximity of their heads, she pulled back sharply making him self conscious too. "And why are they seating us, I thought they'd have an office for this sort of thing."

"They're giving us special treatment, why turn that down. I'm actually curious how the service will be for something like this. Usually for our client events, it's mostly a free-flow of alcohol and pretty waitre...". Raman cut off his words seeing her expression and cleared his throat. "I mean, this must be better than sitting in an office to taste food right?"

With crossed arms, Ishita rolled her eyes as Mukesh turned back to them yet again. Within a few minutes they were escorted into the main dining area and seated in a quiet corner. The hall was decked out in dark plush velvets, dim lighting and heavy curtains, some of which cordoned off private sections like their table for two. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon in the real world, inside here must perpetually seem like 10pm. Dinesh came over shortly after to review a trial menu with them and explained their options. He told them to enjoy and before parting congratulated them heartily, which confused Ishita, but like before she couldn't get a word in edgewise to ask what was going on.

Once he left, a deep silence settled over the two of them and they waited stiffly for the first course. Raman was observing Ishita's eyes darting around, everywhere but to him. He could tell that the romantic ambience was making her extremely uncomfortable.

"You're not used to NOT being in control are you?"
She looked at him, her fidgeting paused. "Matlab?"
"I mean this, here. It isn't what you planned or expected and I can see it's really thrown you for a loop."
She shrugged in response. She fretted over not driving what was supposed to be a professional meeting. Instead they were sitting down for lunch like they were friends or something. That too in this mood lighting.

"Why so serious? Sit back, relax. Sometimes it's good to go with the flow. Imagine you're just out to dinner with a friend. Er I mean lunch, it's so dark in here I almost forgot. Seems like they hired raccoons to do the interior design! I don't know how we're supposed to see what we're eating in this dim lighting."

Ishita was glad he didn't seem to notice the romantic nature of the place. It helped alleviate her discomfort slightly and she tried taking his advice by relaxing a bit. "I never pegged you as the 'go with the flow type' of person."

"I'm not, but I'm better than some people apparently." He mumbled.

She frowned, "Heyy I'm not that bad! And I am not a control freak thank you very much. This is my work, I'm sure you're no less stressed about your work. Plus in my business, impressions are everything."

"Well you've impressed me. So I'll put in a good word with them later."

Ishita tried to adjust her mind to the situation just as the first round of food came out. Three plates held small samples of all the appetizer options. Two glasses of rose champagne were also placed discreetly on the table. Raman noticed Ishita frowning at the one in front of her. Of course, Iyer girl...she must be a teetotaler. He quietly moved her glass away as she listened attentively to the waiter explain what was in each of the items and how they were prepared. Most importantly he didn't want her figuring out that the staff thought she was his fiancee. If Mukesh sent any more special treatment their way though, she was sure to connect the dots. Raman had a gut feeling that a sound thrashing was in his near future.

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Originally posted by: sidivyapall

waiting 😆

Originally posted by: SA1234

How is this a long update? I can never get enough of your writing Dipa. Oh ! I just love the pace of this story. It so real and relatable. Love the sprinkling of humor here and there,like Mihika's convo with Pandit, the hotel manager muskafying Raman bit. .. But what I loved the most in this update was the goose bump bit..and of course Mihir's convo with Raman and the sudden change in Raman's body language when he realised he is supposed to meet her.

Ur writing is simply brilliant. I have no complaints about the delay bcoz its always worth the wait.

Originally posted by: Richajin

Briliant update.. And what a build up to the story.. Raman waiting for the lunch date.. Then ok with manager having the impression that ishita is his fiance. Update soon.. Just cant wait what will follow next.. How will their journey as soulmates begin...