MehRya FF: Discovering the Magic Chapter28 pg148 (10/12) - Page 30

Chapter #8

The glint in the other man's eyes immediately clued Shaurya to the fact that although the producer had lost the overall skirmish, that in this, the victory he had strived most for had been achieved. Steeling himself from revealing anything that could be seen a weakness to the man who was determined to be his adversary, Shaurya turned away from Uday to address the matter put to him, by the station executive.

"Nahi, none of last season's competitors were contractually bound once the show ended. At the time, there didn't seem any need to."

"A definite oversight that, Shaurya. At the very least you should have demanded an obligation from the victor." The man turned briefly to his PA who sat in on the meeting. "Schedule some time with the legal team ASAP. We need to sure up that loophole." He then refocused on the creator of India's Super Cook. "A rookie mistake, but not an insurmountable problem. However, it's a known fact that no matter how many seasons any genre of reality show has under their belt, the audience never forgets the initial winner. They forever represent the pinnacle of the show's endearment to the target audience; and anything they get up to, whether good or bad is immediately correlated back to the show. Especially a contestant like Mehek Sharma. She's one of them: someone that the masses related to on a massive scale. Uday was absolutely right in insisting that we have her back for an episode or two in the upcoming season. It will be an instant TRP boost. Everyone will be anxious to know what she has been up to, and how ISC has changed her life."

"Exactly my line of thinking, Sir," Uday stated. "I concede that I may have been overzealous in my other actions, but in this, I am totally confident in the wisdom of my decision. We definitely need to have Mehek Sharma back in some; in any capacity, next season."

Out the corner of his eye, Shaurya saw Rajiv's jaw tighten. The producer's conciliatory tone hadn't fooled Bhai either. They had been outplayed for sure, but he would not relinquish control of this particular matter to a man he had no trust in. He clapped his hands once, affecting a congenial smile to those in the room.

"Done," Shaurya said affably. "If it's Mehek Sharma you want; then it's Mehek Sharma you will get."

The executive stood, followed by his assistant, satisfied that he had cut short the warring between the new producer and show's creator. The two men where cut from the same cloth, which not unexpectedly had led to some premature clashing between the two alpha personalities. It was a chance the network had taken: pairing the two together this season. However, the risk would be worth it once Shaurya and Uday got on the same page, as it would only lead to phenomenal success for both the show and by virtue the station.

"Excellent, now that's settled, I will leave the three of you to hash out anything else you need to. The meeting room is yours for the next forty-five minutes should you need it."

Not even a fraction of that length of time was required as Shaurya immediately began collecting his things, his mind already moved on to what next needed to be accomplished in his busy day. Uday stood and walked around the table to meet him, holding out his hand.

"No hard feelings, right Shaurya?"

A small smile on his face, Shaurya met the test of the tight handshake he was given in equal measure. "None whatsoever, Uday. We will handle everything and then be in touch to confirm Ms. Sharma's participation, soon. Like you said we should be easily be able to fit her into any of the episodes, so her availability shouldn't interfere at all with our production schedule."

"Aacha," the man agreed. He then nodded at Rajiv, and the preceded the pair out of the conference room, buoyed by the victory he had achieved over the arrogant man he had left to follow.

"Shaurya..."

Signaled not to speak, when Shaurya raised one finger, Rajiv allowed the producer to pull further ahead of them, recognizing his partner's wariness of the man they were to work with having access to their conversation.

When they were crossing the parking-lot back to their car, Rajiv finally voiced his concern. "Tell me I am wrong in suspecting that you are not entirely unhappy with what just happened in there."

Shaurya pulled out his keys and remotely unlocked the vehicle. From the driver's side, he looked over the bonnet to his waiting friend. "Only if you want me to lie Bhai. You cannot discount the ratings potential of her returning." He held up one hand when Rajiv began to turn his face away in disgust. "My personal preference though is that Mehek Sharma doesn't step a foot near, let alone on the set of my show," he continued, shocking his partner. "And not for the reasons you think. However, we have no choice but to make the request, to satisfy the network. And should she somehow agree to do this, I would prefer that you and I handle all aspects of her return as opposed to that deviant we've been saddled with, having an ounce of control. Even his thinking is too low-brow for the likes of me and I wouldn't trust him around any woman, even Mehek Sharma."

Silently Rajiv got into the passenger side. He immediately reached for his seatbelt, dazed; albeit pleasantly by the younger man's adjusted thinking.

"Bhai, under the circumstances, I think it would be best that you make the initial contact. I have no doubt that I will remain persona non-grata for the foreseeable future with Mehek and her family. If anyone stands the chance of her agreeing to this, it would be you. But if you are not successful, I won't be overly upset either. It will probably be for the best to let sleeping dogs lie, don't you think?"

"Ji."

Shaurya nodded to acknowledge his response and put the vehicle in reverse and out of the bay. When they finally exited onto the street, to head back to their offices, he finally spoke again.

"How is she doing anyway? Is she keeping well? I mean, I expect you have kept in touch with her since the finale, right?"

Rajiv didn't even bother to refute the suggestion. "Actually, she's doing well; rather well as I understand," he candidly answered Shaurya, a contented smile on his face; one that immediately had his partner intrigued.

"Aacha? That well huh?"

"That well," Rajiv concurred without further explanation, as he immediately turned the conversation to the next pressing issue they had to tend to.

**********

**Ping**

...Shaurya before we start. I need to issue a raincheck on our chat later. Sorry.

...Longer work day than usual, Dost? Your mystery assignment reaching a critical state?

...Ji, yes the final push. I'll be presenting to the higher ups today You can expect to see some samples of what I've been up to. I'll be posting some pictures later today. I'm rather proud of what I've come up with. But then I have some errands to take care of after work.

Whereas he should be commenting on what she had disclosed on her work; something it looked as if she was about ready to disclose to him, instead Shaurya's misgivings immediately rose on reading her last sentence. As if they had a mind of their own, automatically his fingers flew over the keyboard.

...Errands that will keep you out so long that there is no time to chat at all?

He waited, on edge, for a confirmation of what he suspected; wondering if she would come clean with him.

...Being treated to a meal this evening, so not sure when exactly I will be in, that's all.

...I see.

... Well, have a good outing, we will chat when you are next available.

He knew. Even though she hadn't typed the words, Mehek could tell that he understood exactly with whom she was dining tonight. Mehek sat there with her eyes closed, willing herself to remember that this was Shaurya Khanna she was chatting with, not her KK, so there it was no just cause for this irrational sense of guilt that she was feeling.

"Bas, Mehek, stop being so silly," she chided herself. "The man wouldn't give two figs who you were sleeping with, let alone who you have agreed to have dinner with, if he really knew who you really were." She pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead "He Bhagwan, now he has me talking to myself."

She turned back to her keyboard.

... I need to stock up on some groceries, and Malik is available to take me this evening. It made sense that we arrange to grab a bite to eat at the same time. Just in case we are running late. I'm not even dressing for the occasion, going straight from work.

...Chef Malik

...Haan Chef Malik, and I...two co-workers grabbing a quick meal after work. Come on, can you say you've never...at the very least you and Rajiv Sir would have had dinner together after a busy day.

...Haan, but neither Rajiv bhai or I were interested in the other to the point that you would have to question the ulterior motives behind the suggestion. I cannot imagine you are that naive not to grasp that the man is sweet on you, MS. I can only assume that your agreement reflects your willingness accept his advances. My advices obviously mean nothing to you.

Mehek's mouth dropped open in shock at the condemning tone of his note. He was certifiably crazy.

...Shaurya, you don't know me. There is no rational reason for you to feel this way.

A brush-off if he ever read one, Shaurya thought.

...You are right MS; absolutely right...evidently, I don't know you at all.

He sent his message and then immediately logged off, slamming shut his laptop in the process

**********

Familiar with her backstory of how she found comfort from her worries in the kitchen, Chef Malik watched from across the room as Mehek worked in the test kitchen, surrounded by the cornucopia of plated dishes she already had completed for the final tasting session.

She was humming; loudly...Janam Janam from SRK's movie Diwale if he wasn't mistaken.

He moved his attention back to the dishes, easily recognizing those that she had run by him as possibilities for today, but if he was not mistaken, there were one or two variations there as well. She had, he had been advised, arrived here a lot earlier then she had been expected to this morning. Judging by the results of her endeavors, she was either in an industrious mood, or exceedingly disturbed today. He hated to think that it was the latter and approached her to see if he could decipher what was going on with the young cook. Assailed by the delectable aromas as he reached her station, he appreciated, that whatever the reason behind her industry, everyone who would partake of her food was in for a treat today. But so much, he thought as he got a true view of her work space.

"I don't think the intention was you for to feed the entire theme park today, Chef Mehek."

His heart stuttered a bit, when she turned to him, as easy smile on her face.

"Namaste, Chef Malik," she responded. "How are you this morning?" She waited as the senior chef evaluated the plates at her station.

"Intrigued to say the least," he finally responded. He selected one many of the disposable tappas size plates holding the laddoo trio. "May I," he queried.

"Please do. As you say, there is plenty."

She stopped her work, not due to any concern, but because this was her absolute favorite reward; the chance to view someone enjoying her preparations. Of course, this was slightly different as the professional dissected the three specialty confections: taste not being the only context by which they were to be judged. He finished the dish and without commentary moved to the next sample plate.

"The same flavor profiles in a different form," Mehek explained. The sesame seed peanut has been transformed into a nut brittle; the jackfruit laddoo now in form of a custard with a caramelized jaggery crust, and finally the halwa coconut ladoo presented as a hlawa mousse topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut."

Chef Malik finished the three innovative desserts and offered a smile, schooling his true reactions, but already anticipating the feedbacks the plates would garner later from those who had more clout than he. Without doubt they were in possession of a gem in the form of the young cook. The corporation would be fools to let her go after her contract was up.

"Very nice, and your savory options, Chef Mehek?"

********

She ended up creating a bit of mess for herself: in an entirely good way though, with the variety of desserts she had prepared causing some debate whether to offer the traditional sweet at the kiosk or to supplant them with the alternatives she had created on a whim that morning. After much discussion, tradition won out, but she was still rewarded with both the sweet carrot mousse and jackfruit custard chosen to be showcased at Saana, at the insistence of Chef Malik. Additionally, the four cooking workshops that had now been fixed into her schedule would now include at least one of them. In hindsight, Mehek was glad that hadn't the time to explore other options than the two karela snacks she had come up, which too were immediate hits.

Now all that was left was to await Chef Malik to finish his own work, leaving Mehek, finally for the first time during her day, the opportunity to log online. She hadn't even the chance to send the images that she had promised this morning before their chat abruptly ended. Mehek frowned, recalling the circumstances behind it and wondering if it would just be a waste of her time now to even send the photos she had collated this morning. Did she even want to, as technically it would be outside the scope of what they were supposed to be doing? Or had she, through their recent playful back and forth banter with Shaurya, already made her choice to establish or was it re-establish a friendship with the man she had come to know online. And what about that; the fact that he had flown off the handle over the simple fact that she was having dinner with a friend? Shaurya's reaction had been absurd, and yet true to his character as well. Which meant what exactly? Was he attracted to her or just greedy over his online friend?

"Now this is all wrong, especially after your success today, Mehek."

Startled out her thoughts when she was addressed, Mehek looked up to find the man she was awaiting standing in front of her.

"Smile, Mehek."

She did so wanly.

"Hmm, I would say that you have come down from the euphoria that today has brought. Our dinner will be just the pick you up you need," he offered.

"Um, Chef Malik about that, perhaps another night may be bett..."

"Nahi, nahi, no excuses Mehek Sharma," the always jovial man insisted. "And, we're off the clock now, so it just Malik. Chalo, the dining experience I am offering is just what the chef calls for, but in concession, I promise we can make it quick if you wish. Just trust me in this Mehek," he asked offering her his hand, determined that he wouldn't take a no from her today.

*********

Grimacing, Shaurya limped back to his bedroom. If he had come face to face with their landscaper, he would have fired the man on the spot for the divot in the lawn that had gone unseen in the predawn hours, that had resulted in the sprained ankle he was sure he had suffered. He supposed it was what he deserved for deciding a run in the dark would be the just the thing to distract his mind from the notion that MS was most likely sitting across a candlelit table from some bloody overly-aggressive American. Chef f**king Malik: he hoped for the man's sake he knew his limits as it pertained to her. If he didn't, he would soon learn, Shaurya muttered to himself as he hobbled over to his computer.

The idea had come to him just before he had stepped into the hole that was the source of the pain he was in now. Just because he had promised MS that he wouldn't seek her out, did not mean that he was prevented from checking into anyone-else. Google search was a wonderful thing, even with the limited information he had. And if the well-being of a friend wasn't a good enough reason to investigate someone who was interested in her, then nothing was.

Chef Malik, Orlando Florida, he typed.