A typical scene at the Kashyap residence one fine morning.
"Ma...breakfast! I am getting late!" Ananya yelled from the bedroom.
"Ten minutes more, Beta..." Anita replied from the kitchen. That blasted cylinder: why did it have to get over just this morning, right in the middle of the breakfast?
She yelled from the kitchen.
Armaan!
What is it, Ma? And where is my coffee?
That would have to wait. The cylinder is empty. Please get the spare cylinder from the store. And Ananya, if you could help me fix the regulator?"
"No Ma...I am already running late. And we have a new khadoos boss these days. You know what? one can set the clock by his movements! In the office at sharp 9 AM, give or take five minutes..."
Ananya would have continued in her enthusiasm but for a sharp tug on her stole from her mother.
"And now you are not getting late?"
One look at the wall clock and Ananya swore colourfully. She was indeed running late! She turned to her mother with a puppy face.
"Don't worry about my breakfast, Ma. I will have something in the canteen!"
-----
KKN office, an hour later, the grapevine was buzzing with the happening news of the day.
"Hey...you know what? Malvika is treating everyone today!"
"What?" this was the unanimous response. So far this had never happened in the past.
"But what could be the reason? Some new merger?"
"But that sort of announcement would come from Khalid! Or even KL!"
The quartet of Ananya, Richa, Sunny and Trisha were not immune to the grapevine either. However, the response from each of them was as diverse as the weather pattern across the country.
"What could be the reason? I think she has got a new skirt!"
"Or new spectacles...But the previous pair was better"
"But that cannot be the reason. I am sure, she wants to announce something!"
"But what?"
"Maybe her engagement? She has been going steady with Kabir since quite some time!" Richa interjected, giving a sideways glance to her best friend.
Ananya banged her file shut. Somehow she could never define that feeling of dejectedness whenever she saw them together.
"Ok Guys...forget it. Whatever be the reason, I am not joining in!"
"But why?"
"Samajha karo yaar. Given a choice, even I wouldn't. But then, it looks bad!"
"Ohh I will make an excuse. Of say, a fast?"
"And you will stay hungry the whole day?" Richa had a concern for her best friend.
"Nahi re...I am sure Aunty packed something nice in the box!" Ronnie drooled over.
"That's the problem, Ronnie..." Ananya stared at him. "Today early morning the gas cylinder got exhausted and hence..."
"Awww...tsk tsk! And what about breakfast?"
It was then that Ananya became acutely aware of a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. She shook her head and gathered her purse.
"Nothing since morning. So I am going to the canteen right now for coffee!"
"I think all of us would like to join you!"
And the quartet made its way for coffee. Ananya ordered coffee for all and then strolled over to the snacks bar for some solid sustenance. And to her horror, it was empty! The man at the bar was quite apologetic.
"Sorry Ma'm...the delivery van didn't come!"
Ananya pouted and returned to her friends.
"What happened? Nothing there?" The answer was quite obvious.
"No problem... How about some chhole bature round the street corner?" Sunny drooled and Ananya smacked him neatly.
"Don't forget we have a meeting in ten minutes. You think I can come back in time?"
"No problem...Malvika is treating everyone anyway!" Ronnie quipped and Ananya made a moue. Somehow, she could never get to like that one. Owner's daughter and what not, she threw her weight around the entire KKN office! And now, she stuck to Kabir like superglue...and he was not immune either! Indeed, he was a manipulator and a womanizer on top of that. With a string of girlfriends across the city with the latest tally of Malvika.
Yes, she idolized him...she admitted grudgingly to herself. He was a reporter par excellence. His command on the profession, his ability to make news appear out of nowhere was legendary.
She struggled to appear non-chalent and indifferent whenever he walked by.
A beep on their mobile alerted the quartet about the pending meeting. They all binned their cups and trooped out, Ananya being the last one.
Ok, she could survive for the time being on coffee, and treat herself to Sunny's Chhole bature on her way home.
She was totally unaware that the person on the next table had listened in to their conversation carefully. Manav, while sipping his coffee, smiled in complete understanding. She was in his team after all...fast or no fast, he couldn't let her go hungry!
Shiv Shakti
