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 - 7 years ago
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