Chapter 39
"Had you not insisted on Sewaiyan amma..." simmering the flame and continuing with stirring, Vasantha said, "...I'd have introduced you to Karnataka special Moongdal Kheer. Not to boast, but I make it finger licking delicious. Shall I make it this evening?" Unwitting to disappoint the elderly lady by revealing her disinterest in Kheers and the real reason behind Sewaiyan, Jodha deferred the offer with an alluring smile. "Some other time Vasantha. I've different menu in mind for evening."
"Are you sure sir would have just an omelet with toast madam?" Chuckling at the attendant's furrowed brows and unconvinced gazes, Jodha reasserted with a sure nod. It wasn't the first time Mani asking her that question and she nodding in confirmation. Why not? Till date, the chief chef is not accustomed to so light a menu in that home. Abundant choices for each course were the standard set by his ex-mistress and for years he was only following that, even after her exit.
"It's almost eight. Let me see if sir is ready so that you can start toasting." As she merrily trekked up, the prills of Peach Anarkali leaped to life as if posing tough competition to the sashaying tresses. "Jalal... are you rea..." She barged in, in her usual alacrity but the welcoming sight rooted her feet to their spot. Wet towel on bed, shirt on armrest of the recliner he's seated, blazer hanging from bedstead, and he before a stockpile of scattered papers - the room appeared like an epitome of disheveled discipline.
"Mm yes..." His continued conversation on phone confirmed that he missed perceiving her presence. "Anything more to add?" she heard him ask and guessed it had to be his friends on the other end.
"Jal..." she began calling him again but withdrew on seeing his complete focus on the task at hands. Skeptically standing by the wall, she kept drifting gazes from his sculpted back to ticking time and to the whizzing fingers. "Needle edged eyes, taut jaw, knitted lips..." she admired his picturesque sternness. Her gaze trailed to the attire on him and her lips curved into an entranced smile. "Who said clothes define the grace of a man?" crossing arms she leant against wall, openly admiring him. "Mr. Jalal Ahmed.. you should be one of the very few men who look every bit IMPERIAL even in a vest."
The doting eyes caught sight of the dewdrops dribbling down his nape and sinking into his vest. "Seems he settled at laptop straight from shower." Shaking head, she stepped ahead to dab his hair dry but recoiled just in time. His obliviousness to her presence asserted how focused he is, like a saint in deep penance and she didn't have the heart to disrupt it. Thirty minutes to Regal and forty five minutes more from there, it means it'd be almost Ten. Calculating in mind she peeked at clock which confirmed her speculation is indeed right and that they should start in five minutes if he were to drop her on his way. Any further delay, he is going to definitely default to meeting. Yet, instead of pressurizing him with a reminder of time, she switched the fan on and calmly scooted out. In less than ten minutes she returned as much unnoticed as she left, placed the breakfast tray on center table and settled on couch with an intention to remind him had he not winded up in next ten minutes.
"Sent and done!!" Eight minutes later, Jalal got up. "Abdul, you start now and look after the arrangements. It might be nine thirty before I turn out," he checked system time. "Thirty minutes to Regal and forty five minutes from there... Shoot!!"
"Actually a little later than nine thirty as I've to drop Jodha too..." He hastily took shirt to hands and then noticed his wet back. "I'd be there by Ten but in case I'm late, you know what to do. Chalo, see you!!" He went near dresser for the dryer but the reflection in mirror made him freeze. "Wow!!" His eyes inevitably shone at the appeasing visual - soft glowing skin clad in golden patched Peach suit, pink lips glowing with smile, kohl eyes glowing with love and rosy cheeks propped against palms - "Hey beautiful.." his addressing came undeliberated and it puffed more glow to the already illuminating girl. "For how long have you been waiting here?" he wondered observing the breakfast tray. "Just five minutes," he hastened before she responded. "Have your breakfast and be ready, we'll start."
"YOU'LL start." She got up with the plate of toast. " I'm not coming with you." His fingers that were about to turn the dryer on, ceased. "I'm going to Badepapa's office to finish yesterday's incomplete work," she stood right before him and showed the phone in her hands. "And the answer to your angry frown..." she dialed a number and put the speaker on.
"Yes madam!!"
"Ranga, did you start?"
"Yes madam I'm on the way!!"
"Okay!" she disconnected the call and playfully rose brows as in got-your-answer. "Happy? Convinced? I'm not going alone... I came here fifteen minutes back and seeing you seriously work I dialed Ranga. Now sit and eat while I help you with dryer," she tried to make him sit on the dresser stool but Jalal didn't budge. "You sure you wouldn't go anywhere else than office?" he probed and she rolled eyes. "Not after yesterday's dramatic innings."
"Good, I see the dose of wrath working," he cheekily winked and resumed drying, "and glad you called Ranga, else we'd have been late. I'll have breakfast with clients. You have it."
"I know," scurrying to his side, she persuaded. "That's the reason I asked Mani to make light breakfast. It's not good to leave home with empty stomach na. It doesn't take more than two minutes to finish this," she pleaded with eyes leaving him no option than to relent. "Good boy, take this and give that to me.." she scooped the dryer out of his hand and moved to his back but Jalal pulled her front.
"Better than that would be this," he returned the plate and took back dryer. "I can accomplish many tasks if my hands are free, so..." he switched the dryer on, inclined a little forward and opened his mouth. Oh!! Her amazed face said she didn't expect the grown up man would prefer to be fed. Nevertheless, she gladly abided. Trying her best to stick her sight only to his face, and not to the enticing view the partly gaped vest offered, she lifted the toast to his mouth. But alas!! The rebellious eyes defied her command, took a stealthy peek at his rugged upper arms, haired chest and sculpted planes and she discerned her heart is plummeting rather than pumping.
"It got cold," averting gaze to preserve her sanity, she said. "Sorry I should've switched the fan off."
"Not a deal yaar," Jalal casually waved off but then dubiously glimpsed up.
"I turned it on when I last came," reading the question in his eyes, she answered. "Your hair was too damp and you're too engrossed to be disturbed."
"Mm?!" he rose an impish brow. "Is that fan truly for my hair or...?" The corner of his mouth twisted into an evil smirk and the naive girl furrowed brows failing to perceive the reason behind this sudden deviltry. "Or...?"
"Or did Bangalore's autumn turn into Chennai's summer this morning?"
"What?" she took a second to decode and when she did, her first reflex was to check his shirtless body and recall her own comment. Stupid me!! She quickly corrected her gaze, fiercely thumped a morsel into his mouth and finally when she's sure she isn't flustered, she leveled him with a pompous stare. "My attention was ONLY on the headache a wet head yields. Nothing else."
"Aha?" he reduced the gap by a step and angled enough for her to have a full view of his bare upper body through the dehisced vest. "Check for me if it is dry enough? I too don't like headaches." The devastating blend of his cologne and shampoo, added to the extremely scintillating view he presented, gave the baffled girl's heart a swift jerk. "Forget your headache, I'll get heart attack if you stand like this for one more second." She lurched back and the wicked boss smirked lopsided. "Bluff all you want my dear, I know my effect on you!!"
"Check it fast.."
Helplessly sighing, she proceeded to do a safe test by touching his scalp only by one finger but the lush tresses weakened her will. Compelled to relish the satiny softness of his pitch dark locks, her fingers slipped deeper into them. "Mm... completely dry," her heart filled with a sudden tinge of maternal love. "What was it that demanded your urgent attention..." she gave a fond caress, "...so much that you had no time to dry your hair or put on a shirt?"
"Last minute alterations," he stood straight though he didn't want to. He'd have let her play for hours with his hair; if only, there wasn't a meeting beckoning him. "The presentation lacked something and that something struck only after turning on the shower."
"Like Archimedes?!" jesting, she filled his empty mouth with another bite.
"Kind of..." he winked shoving his arms into shirt sleeves. "But glad I had the conscious to half dress unlike Archimedes." It was the first time he spoke to her in such open brazenness and undoubtedly, it got her into splits. Curbing her grey cells from delving into imagining how HIS Archimedes-like view would've been, she attempted to divert the topic. "I'm also glad to see you..."
"Semi naked?" Not letting her finish, Jalal poked with mock stun and her lips parted wide. "Youu..." she shifted plate to right so that she could smack him with the left and when she did it to her complete satisfaction, she thrust a major portion of toast into his mouth... only to make sure he wouldn't utter another word till she's done. "I was saying I was glad to see you messy," she hissed. "I was happy to see the ever organized boss's suite screwed up for once. I was in fact very, very glad that you too keep things for last minute like the normal we."
"Normal you?" he frowned. "What am I then?"
"Systematic aristocrat..." her chirpy response was spot on, "Prudent planner and a perfectionist!!" He keenly looked on for traces of sarcasm but her eyes reflected only admiration. "With such impression on you, obviously it should be a pleasant surprise to see you detour from being mister perfectionist."
"By any chance..." cuffing his sleeves Jalal prodded, his skeptical frown giving away the scruples scurrying in his head, "...are you saying your opinion of me had marred after this?" Studying the apprehension behind that query, Jodha tossed a teasing smile. "Before I answer that, may I know how substantial is my opinion of you to you?"
"More substantial than you assume." He moved to dresser to brush the hair and stayed pensive for a while. "It doesn't harm if my perfectionist image falls down by few notches but..." distinctly watching her reflection to not miss her reflexes, he finished, "it surely does if you STILL consider me a rich Mahaan brat who divorced for petty reasons." At the end of it, the vivacious smile on the keen listener gradually dissipated. Failing to make out head or tail, Jodha knitted brows. "What are you saying Jalal? Where did that come from?"
"Doesn't matter..." he turned back gauging, "the question is... do you or do you not?"
Rich mahaan brat divorced for petty reason?! She got lost in contemplation. Why does this sound familiar? She looked on. "Perhaps a gossip?" she empathetically smiled seeing him wait for her response. It had to be!! Don't I know the gossips around his divorce since day one?
"Jalal, is this one of the many fancy rumors around your divorce?" wondering at her own ease in discussing the delicate topic, she smiled. "If so, let me tell you, they didn't matter me then and they neither matter me now."
"Uh huh?" looking her in the eye, Jalal half smirked. "Okay, as you say," he took the last portion and moved on but Jodha didn't miss the glint of incredulity in his eyes. What am I missing? She stood pondering over his quizzical reaction. Measuring gazes, questioning smirks and slick turn away - something is there!! She concentrated on his first question and pondered over and over it. But it does if you STILL consider me a rich Mahaan brat... She stopped thinking when the keyword in his question struck her- STILL?!
"Jalal..." she pointedly looked at this back. "What do you mean by STILL considering you a rich brat? You mean, you think I did so once?"
"Jo, help me lining these papers. I'm running late..." picking up the sheets scattered on bed, he asked as if he hadn't heard her. Throwing him a sober stare, Jodha silently moved to bed to help him but the speed of her hands conveyed her determination to quickly wind up the task and seek her answers. The agility in her fingers, the perseverance in her clenched jaw - Jalal cheekily smirked and took a stealthy side step. "So you didn't?" he whispered from her back and Jodha spun her head around. Their heads were perilously close, so close that she felt the warmth of his breath directly against her skin. Heat leapt up to her cheeks and down to her toes, yet she didn't flinch an inch. "Who told you I did?" she demanded and just then remembered Divya's warning to be careful with Asst. Marketing manager's gossiping mouth. "That marketing-wali?"
"Marketing wali?!" reveling in her appealing fury, Jalal grinned. "Who's that?"
"Your asst. marketing manager!" she scowled and he grinned wider at the emphasized YOUR.
"Oh, because she does marketing for me, she's MY marketing-wali?" he teased, "then going by your theory, you should be MY architect-wali... and if that architect is in my home," his voice turned huskier as he inched closer, "shouldn't she be called MY... GHAR-WALI?"
What!! The unprepared lady was so genuinely taken aback that she blankly stared for five seconds.. My gharwali?! She clenched lips and turned head aside to shield her flushed face. My gharwali...!! She silently laughed. "Sounds so pertinent and perfect!!"
My, my!! Her battle against blush instilled only one devilish urge into the fiendish man's mind. Pouting lips, he trailed them towards her temple. "What say architect-ghar-wali?" While she's still cherishing her new name, he seductively blew air on her temple. Huh!! She visibly shuddered, dug fingers into bedspread and waited with bated breath for his next action to come. "Ufff.." he blew again, and again and again and then she discerned his game. The game between him and his sweet rival - her strayed strand. He's hell bent on puffing it back to its nest, and it is hell bent on disobeying him by returning to temple. "Battle is yours but defeat is going to be mine?!" she angered with both of them for making her a prey in between. To her, it didn't seem silly to be angry with a strand of hair because, by then, she's utterly angry and extremely unhappy with many other revolting parts of hers.
She strictly ordered the skin not to form goose bumps, yet it did.
She strictly ordered the cheeks not to flush, yet they did.
She strictly ordered the ears not to erect, yet they did.
She strictly ordered the eyes not to shut, yet they did.
She strictly ordered the lips not to dry, yet they did.
Above all, she's been strictly ordering the hands to nudge him, yet.. THEY DIDN'T.
Nothing under control!!
Gritting under breath, she splayed fingers and the papers that touched her tips gave her the damn needed makeshift. She picked up a bunch and snapped them against her temple thus intruding into the fight. "Aren't you running late?"
"Aren't you avoiding my question?"
Though thoroughly impressed by his comeback, she maintained the intensity. "Who started it? Anyways.. since we're on the topic tell me..." she met his frolic orbs. "When, how and from who did you hear me discussing your divorce?"
"Many months back..." he answered the when part, "I happened to overhear..." he clarified the how part and concluded with whom part. "YOU!!"
"Me?!" Startled, she instantly shot her head back. "You mean I called you mahaan brat and spoke low of you?" Surprised by the bleached color of her face, Jalal momentarily doubted his judgment. "At least that is what I assumed..." grabbing the remaining sheets, he reposed opposite to her, "...when I heard you quoting those exact words to someone over phone." He waited for her to say something and when she didn't he resumed with diplomatic nonchalance. "What else should I deduce when I'm not ignorant to the gossips of my employees on my back? I'm not complaining on you or anyone here. After all, what could be more intriguing subject for employees than the MD's abrupt divorce?" He maintained his poise but Jodha could see much beyond that misleading grace - a blunt indifference and a raw soreness - and it stung her heart. She knew she has to speak something in her defense, say something to clear his misunderstanding, yet she flatly stared. For, she herself couldn't come to terms with what he revealed.
"I heard you quoting to someone else over phone...?!" His claim got her thinking. When, why and with who did I speak of his divorce?" She began churning her memory. Rich... mahaan... brat... many months back I heard you speaking... divorce... rich... mahaan..
Immersed in thoughts, she didn't notice Jalal seizing papers from her.
Divorce...mahaan brat... no mahaan cousin... Anu?! Yes... Anu!!
"Jo please, you don't have to..."
"You heard me one evening..." glimpsing up, she cut him short, "...when I was on call with my friends?! Isn't it?"
Seeing him nod Jodha sighed relieved and vaguely recalled the discussion after the issue was resolved. Her friends teased her taking his name and if she remembered right, her reply wasn't quite polite. Of course, back then her situation was different; her priorities were different. Though sure he wouldn't have heard the last part of their conversation, she didn't want to take a chance. "What part of our conversation have you heard?" she asked smiling. "All of it or...?"
"I'd have heard all of it had I eavesdropped," he got up with files. "...but I know my manners."
Smiling in relief, real relief, Jodha blocked his way. "Had you shredded your manners and overheard for another minute..." she crossed arms on back, "you'd have known the rich mahaan brat I referred to was a SHE, not a HE." Noticing the last traces of skepticism in his eyes, she picked up the papers from him. "My explanations wouldn't take long... just the time to put your shoes on, go." She nudged him towards shoe rack, scooted to his bag and began. "I've a friend Anu and this rich brat was her cousin who divorced for incompatibility issues..."
By the time she ended narration, she also finished fixing his bag, placed it on bed and walked to him with Sewaiyan bowl. "... and now Anu is expecting her first child. All is well that ends well..." She gripped his hand. "So, that was it. I'm glad your brought this discussion instead of keeping it to yourself. Misconceptions are a pain in the neck and I know how disgusting they could get," she breathed deep, looking down to their hands.
"Jalal.." a quiet moment later, she lowly called. "Will you hate it if I admit.." she briefly stopped in apprehension, not of the topic, but of the poignancy of discussing it .. at this time when he had a significant meeting ahead.
Entwining fingers into hers, Jalal warmly smiled. "Go on. I've enough time."
Moved by his perceptivity and support, she softly smiled and resumed with absolute certainty. "...if I admit I was wrong about you, that I completely misjudged you once?"
The tenderness in her eyes conveyed she's not talking about their heated confrontation after conference; rather it is something else and somehow, he half guessed what it is going to be. Is she REALLY going to talk about it? He glanced partly incredulous, partly gratified. About the most sensitive situation she always preferred to avert? If so... this morning definitely is going to be very promising.
Sheathing her hands between palms, he encouraged her to liberate herself from withholding inhibitions. "In Delhi when I came looking for you, you're there... right before me yet I didn't come to you. I ran away because I've already arrived at a my own conceptions by then. I judged you based on what I saw and didn't care to look beyond the obvious," her eyes looked away as she revisited the memory. "That one wrong decision and I ended up messing the whole situation. Had I been thoughtful enough, Ramesh would have been behind bars now. I had no right to judge you, yet I did it and not just that... I cussed you, blamed you, avoided you," she gulped the embarrassment. "I can't forget how stubborn I was when you questioned me on my odd behavior," unable to meet his eyes, she casted her lids down.
"That day you had no reason to be patient with me. You had no reason to bear my stupidity, yet you did. And the best thing is you when you knew I was mistaken, you didn't wait longer to clarify it and it got me thinking.
When you were mistaken about me, why didn't I act likewise? I too could have talked to you, explained the situation and sorted out the misunderstanding, but no, I preferred to quit even before making tiniest of attempt towards redemption. I was wrong both the times, took irrational decisions and later realized such stupidity gets me nothing but a splitting headache and..." she glimpsed up apologetic, "And that the headache wouldn't stop with me but passes on to everyone around me. Forgive me for that Jalal. I learnt my lessons." She finished and waited for him to say something but Jalal regarded her with eloquent silence. Contended by her gallant first step towards establishing an immaculate relation, she glimpsed down to their entwined hands and something struck her - It wasn't as tough to speak of the embarrassing situation as she feared because... she had his support all through out. All the while she spoke, he, not for once, left her hand!!
Overwhelmed by apprehending the real meaning of his gesture - that she always has his backing - Jodha reverently caressed his knuckles.
"Jo..." his deep baritone solemnly rang in the silent confines. "I've a question.."
Preparing for the confrontation to come, she faced him with an I-am-ready-to-answer-anything smile. The corners of his eyes sharpened as he bore his gazes into her. "What did you cuss that night?"
Uh?! She batted lids, for, out of very many taunting questions, she didn't expect this to come. She gauged him intently and the tug at the corner of his lips gave away his REAL intentions. Oh!! Kidding me?!
She slyly smiled as she very well remembered how she cussed him, what she accused him of - cheating. "Something like what you'd have cursed when I didn't turn up for conference on time."
Cheat?! He instantaneously guessed, as that is what he felt that day when she defaulted despite his personal reminder. "I expected you'd have unleashed at least half of 'F' dictionary on me." He twitched lips in distaste.
"How poor of me!!" she wryly sympathized with herself. "I should seriously consider taking tuition on that language. Will you be my teacher?" She retorted and he watched her in grim silence and then... the duo broke into giggles.
That's all? No more questions like why you called me cheat?! What is it to you if I hug Aliya? What rights you had on me then? Her gaily eyes asked unable to believe he's letting the best opportunity of hounding her to go... just like that.
Not this time!! His mellow gaze confirmed. When I know the answers, why troubling you with taunting questions? Don't I know the delicate line between teasing and tormenting?
Completely gladdened, Jodha tucked a spoonful of Sewaiyan into his mouth. "For the happy beginnings", she chirped and put in another spoonful, "and this is for your meeting. All the very best and good luck dear boss." Eventually the sweet and the wishes triggered a memory from his past - his mother's similar gesture on the day of his first step towards his dream - Four Wheels. The sweetness of the sweet traveled from mouth to his heart as the latent significance of her choice of sweet hit him hard. Sewaiyan is not just any other sweet... it symbolizes his culture and she, in the simplest way conveyed her acceptance of HIM... and his culture.
Seeing him submersed in thoughts, Jodha narrowed eyes but didn't prod further. "Let me get your keys and wallet" she got up and he too got up pulling her back. She looked on puzzled while he took the spoon from her. "For the happy beginnings.." he fed her with brimming affection and no wonder she stroke an immediate liking for the not-so-fond-sweet. "Kheers can also be tried..." accepting another mouthful, she concluded, "...as long as he feeds them."
"Tastes good Jo", he savored the next morsel. "Did you make it?"
"What?" she glanced at him so offended that he doubted if he spoke some indirect profanity. "You think I'd try hands at cooking when you have an important meeting ahead?"
"Stupid" he choked at her horrendous expressions and Jodha quickly got him a glass of water. "How insulting Jalal!! You choked at the mere mention of my cooking. Too bad," pursing lips, she patted on his head till he settled.
"I wonder what this talented architect's proficiency level at cooking is?" he provoked. "Zero?!"
"Not really. I know some cooking but Kheers aren't part of it" she quipped returning with his keys and wallet. "and the proficiency level..." she passed on stuff from her hands to his, "I'll let you decide on your own."
"Though its quite a risky step from my side," he grinned cheesy. "I'd love to!!"
"May God bless you.." she rolled eyes in sly prayer and left to get his bag.
Not realizing she's living up to the new title she earned that morning, Jodha casually instructed. "There is enough time, drive slow. You don't have to whip your Jaguar hard."
Gharwali's commands thus begin!!
When she turned back with his bag, Jodha saw him mysteriously grinning. "What?"
Stifling his grins, Jalal nodded in a no but seeing her suspiciously glare at him with a hand on hip he chortled loud. "Since its confession time shall I make one?" he drew her by waist. "No, actually it's two," he trailed his fingertip on her temple and gladly watched the color on her cheeks changing. "One, you look super cute in that hand-on-hip pose. Two...," his voice mellowed and thumb rose to caress the apple of her cheek. "From three days...my mornings were only getting better."
Wait... what? Whoo hoo!!
She pursed lips... that didn't work.
She lowered lids... that didn't work.
She looked aside.. that didn't work.
And when she realized she completely failed in reining the rosiness, she threw up the attempt and broke into coy grins. Ravishing the sensuous sway of his favorite jhumkis, the enamored boss slid fingers into her hair and drew her closer.. so closer that the sandwiched bag suffocated for breath. "Wanna share your thoughts?" he whispered huskily and witnessed roses flourishing in her cheeks.
"My thoughts," toying with lapels of his shirt, she shyly murmured. "... are exactly like yours..." she bit on her lips at the earnest confession she's going to make, "except that I substituted morning with life."
Wait... what?
Half a second later she heard wolf whistle... right in her ears!!
"God.." she clamped mouth with both hands and then realized she could do better with hands than shutting mouth, that is... nudging him. She put the idea to immediate implementation but the grip on her waist was so vice that she inadvertently failed.
"We are not yet done missy," he traced the contours of her stained cheek with nose and earned a melodious chuckle in return. "You know.." he stopped by her ear almost kissing the jhumki "...you're free to THANK me!!"
The wickedly accented THANK told her what sort of thanks he is expecting from her. Devil in disguise!! She impotently swore thinking of modes of escape - escape not because she didn't like the idea, just because... she couldn't THANK in HASTE!
"Actually lets keep the deal fair," his fingers strummed on her collarbone inflicting a shaky breath in her. Dangerously deft musician!! She cursed with a praise. "Since my admission came first, let me thank first, then you can do yours." He proposed and while she's still weighing on Thanks Vs Time, he held her face between palms.
"Your clients.." trying to bring his hands down, she hastily spoke; lest she feared she should be deprived of the MEANS to speak had she delayed. "If you don't hurry up now, they'll surely leave saying - No, Thanks."
"Don't you worry sweetheart. I know how to turn a No, thanks to Yes, thanks.." he easily said enjoying the tension palpable in her mildly quivering lips and agile gazes. "So back to our thanks game..."
Buzzz... Buzzz..
Never before Jodha felt so relieved, and the same time so disappointed on the ring of a phone. "Your phone.." she freed her face from his clutch.
"Fxxk.." he began to swear but refrained to confirm the dialer first and once he did, he undoubtedly finished it. Fxxking intruder!!
Faintly perceiving what he swore, Jodha bit on her chuckles and lurched back, mentally thanking and accusing the intruding savior... Abdul.
"Haan.. bol. Yes.. Yes.. I'm starting now...no straight to Four wheels," he signed Jodha that he's starting and she handed over his bag, for reasons best known to her. "Did Chetan start? Ok.. great. As soon as you go.." his gait towards door ceased when he fathomed the soft pressure on his shoulder, of her hand and then on his cheek, of her lips. "Thank you..." she kissed again. "Thank you.." and again. "thank you!! One for each day." She whispered and retreated, darting a challenging stare at his busy hands.
"Idiot!!" He cussed her for getting away with the game when his hands are tied and the triumphant girl stuck her tongue out, seized the bag from him and happily sprinted out.
9:35am
"@Badepapa's office." Texting another update of her whereabouts as per Jalal's orders, Jodha waited for response and when it didn't show up, she deduced he is busy hosting clients. Fifteen minutes later, when she's done gifting Saradhi's associates, a custom the couple followed for every Dussehra, her phone buzzed with a message from him.
"K"
The shortest message conveyed he was surrounded by clients and couldn't talk at lengths.
"Meeting started?" She messaged back.
"10 mts"
"Any ladies in the clients?"
"??"
"Then you don't have to speak for hours. One Jalal-ish smile and deal is yours!!"
Gulping down the chuckle along with coffee, the amused boss managed to pose a straight face. To be double sure he isn't eyed, he glanced at the clients keenly listening to Chetan and another impish smile sprouted seeing the lady from Nissan, seated opposite to him.
"Idiot"
"hehe... Cya... Rock the show Rockstar!!" She sent and on seeing the reply it was her turn to struggle putting up a straight face. Exiting from Saradhi's office, she peeked again at his last message... and shamelessly blushed.
"Aye my DARLING!!"
1:45pm
"Hey, I was expecting you to call only after the clients left," the exuberant girl made no attempt to hide her ecstasy. Taking time for her amidst the busiest day, though for a minute, of course called for yet another marvelous smile on her. "How was it till now?"
"Smooth..." briskly striding to a silent zone, Jalal said. "But the real deal begins in five minutes. Negotiations, you know. Had lunch?"
"Mm... You?"
"Just done."
"When will the decision be made? Today? Will you know by evening if the deal is yours?"
"I don't think so. Usually they take a call after their internal discussion. So it might be in a week or even longer."
"Fingers crossed..." she smiled, "And you didn't tell me if there's a lady..."
"Ahmed sir..."
Jodha stopped hearing a female voice from other end. The voice continued speaking to Jalal and from the conversation she recognized it should be the HR of Four wheels.
"Tell me..." Jalal resumed after the HR left.
"I was asking if there is any..."
"Ahmed..."
Jodha was cut short again by another female voice. "We're about to start."
"Yeah coming."
"Go Ahmed sir... go..." Jodha teased, "looks like your employees can't live without you even for a minute."
"Aha?!" His lips curved into a twisted smirk. "Why do I smell jealousy here?"
"Is it?" the undaunted girl quirked a sheepish brow. "I thought jealousy would be something that shows up on your F.A.N.G.I.R.L.S..."
He laughed at her mocking accent.
"... when I say that I get to spend every hour, every minute, every second with you after office hours while they strive for a glimpse of you, for a word with you in office."
"As if they've no other work than seeing me?" he chided with a grin.
"Not everyone, but yeah 99.99% are only on this work," she scoffed. "And of that 99 percent, 75% are ready to lay their life for you. You only have to ask. You're underestimating the power of your charms Ahmed saab."
"Brazen idiot" he guffawed. "Got to go now and the reason I called you is not to call Ranga in evening. I'll come to pick you."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll wait, bye..."
"Bye..."
"Hey..." she screamed just when he's about to disconnect.
"Haan?!"
"I don't have much work left for afternoon. I'll be ready by five. Will you come soon?" she sweetly asked. "That is if you don't have any work after the clients left."
"Oh?!" It's Jalal's turn to quirk brows. "Looks like MY employees can't live without me even for a minute."
"Oops..." she bit tongue and chuckled. "Let's discuss this evening... bye!!"
~~~
"I'm starting now and I'll take the 6:30 meeting from home." Searching for needed files, Jalal missed his friends' yet another exchange of sly glances - a phenomenon that started right from his entry into Four wheels that morning.
"If you have a minute for us," Chetan solemnly said. "We need to talk."
"Yes?" Jalal briefly stopped searching and looked up. Abdul is seen leisurely seated in the chair opposite to him and Chetan planked against the desk but one thing was common in both - seriousness in their gazes.
"What happened?"
"Every one on time. I don't spare any delays!!" Abdul mimicked Jalal's instructions. "And yet today the CEO says- 'I'll be late. Manage without me.' That too when he knows how ugly it gets when the CEO doesn't show up on time for a client meeting?!"
"No silent mode, switch the damn phones off!!" The next imitation came from Chetan. "Remember that, eh?"
"Client is king!!" Abdul took over. "And kings can be satiated only with unfaltering attention."
Rightly deducing where this is heading to, Jalal leant back relaxed. "If you're done with display of your gross mimicking skills," he began packing his bag. "Shall we come to the point?"
"You don't hesitate to turn up late.." Chetan began.
"You text right under the nose of customers.." Abdul added.
"You sneak every single opportunity to be on phone.."
"And you rush to home by five' o clock.."
"Don't you think you're defying your own rules?"
"Don't you think you're messing our business big time?"
Raising his palm, Jalal sought for a break from the ongoing jugalbandi. "Why do I feel there's something else mattering you, more than my defied rules or messed business?"
The crooked duo intently glared at their target and crossed arms. "A confession from you!!" They announced their demand and Jalal had a choking laugh. "Is it World Confession Day or what?"
"What confession?"
"What did the IDIOT do?"
What...? His brows furrowed and soon he unraveled what they're demanding. Tossing them a nasty glare, he got up with his bag and they too got up blocking him.
"So you need to know?" Seeing them determined to hound, Jalal surrendered.
"YES!!"
"I can't say it but I'll show you," his clipped voice reflected sincerity and the duo looked on attentively. Slowly, his fingers formed a fist and as the friends waited, he brought his middle finger up. "Fxck off saalon!!" he tossed them a dirty glance, yanked Abdul with shoulder and made his way out grinning at the profane attack on his back.
*******
Edited by hemakeerti - 8 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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