Part 11:
Aashima and her team finally arrived for the meeting sharp at 7 at the hotel. She was one of the young female entrepreneurs and a very well known face in various Delhi Page 3 parties. When she entered the hotel with her entourage, all the hotel staff looked at her in awe. She was the perfect example of a rich, haughty, spoilt brat born with the silver spoon and looks to die for.
Rajeev, Shaurya, Aashima and her manager Aditya were seated in Shaurya's cabin discussing the details of their proposal.
Aashima: So you see Mr. Shaurya , we would like to hold our event in your hotel. Not only that, we would also like you to sponsor our event so that it increases ours as well as your brand value. She said so winking at him.
That wink annoyed Shaurya. He had dated a lot of women in the past and flirted with them but it irritated him when women threw themselves at him to gain his attention and she surely was doing it. Maybe that is why he always kept women like Shruti at a distance.
Shaurya: We are already very popular in the market Ms. Singh (emphasizing on the word), we do not need the help of others to showcase our brand value.
Sensing that Shaurya would cancel the deal, Aashima spoke: Shaurya, it's not what you are thinking. We would want you to make the arrangements for the event here and it would be beneficial for your company too as your name would be included in all the press releases of our event. We will also share the profits of the event with your company.
Rajeev: Sorry to interrupt Ms. Singh, but we are booked for the next few weeks and we weren't anticipating your event to be on such a large scale. This event would require preparations to be started by next month or so. That would get very hectic in the coming weeks for us and our staff. We do agree that it's going to be profitable for us and we have done business with your father too but this seems a bit unmanageable.
Aashima signaled Aditya, her manager to explain the details of the event to Rajeev and Shaurya. After Aditya finished his presentation, Aashima spoke: This is a win-win deal for both of us Rajeev. We will get your top class hospitality and world class quality food for our guests and in return your hotel will get the royalty as the sole sponsor of our event. I assure you this event will be all over the newspapers and the media for the next few months. It will be the talk of the town. Imagine the amount of publicity it will get for both of us.
Rajeev and Shaurya looked at each other and excused themselves to discuss this proposal.
Rajeev: It's a good proposal. The only thing that we will have to concentrate is the staff and the new recipes. It's a high profile event. Besides, it will also give us added publicity for our new venture in Tokyo. And not to forget Mr. Singh is our old customer. He has given us so much business in the past. We owe him this much, don't we Shaurya?
Shaurya agreed with Rajeev and they decided to go ahead with the deal.
Shaurya: Ms. Singh, we are ready to do this deal with you. Rajeev and I are impressed with your presentation.
Aashima smiled and said: That's great. It would be my pleasure to do business with you Shaurya and one more thing please don't call me Ms. Singh. I am Aashima for you.
Shaurya ignored her last line and simply nodded.
Aashima: Shaurya, can I make a request?
She said so coming too close to him.
Shaurya looked at her and stepped back saying: Yes?
Aashima: May I see your kitchen?
Rajeev and Shaurya looked at her surprised.
Aashima: Please don't get me wrong. I trust the hygiene standards of your hotel. It's just that I wanted to meet the staff here and if possible to taste some dishes. Hope you don't mind Shaurie?
Shaurya and Rajeev spoke together: What!!!!
Rajeev looked at Shaurya and then at Aashima and thought to himself: For sure woman, you are in deep trouble!
Shaurya: Excuse me, what did you just call me? Ms. Singh for the next two months we are going to strictly share a professional relationship and I would want it to remain that way. I am Shaurya Khanna for all my business partners as well as my rivals. It's better if you stick to that.
Aashima gulped her fear and apologized to Shaurya.
Rajeev was trying to hide his smile somehow but he wasn't doing a good job at it either.
Shaurya looked at him with anger.
Rajeev: Ok Aashima, you can see our kitchen. Besides, it seems fair. We are going to do business now and it is your right to check everything before the deal is signed on the dotted line.
Sensing that Shaurya might cancel the deal, Aashima said: No no, I am really sorry Rajeev. I didn't mean that. The deal is on. And Shaurya I am very sorry. I just thought that since both of us are of the same age and also planning to do business for the next two months, I thought if we could become friends it would be easy for us to work together.
Rajeev knew that Shaurya was planning to say something that would surely hurt Aashima, he interrupted and said: Its fine Aashima. Let us not waste time. Shall we show you the kitchen then?
Aashima followed Rajeev and Shaurya to the kitchen area. While they were walking towards the kitchen area, Rajeev's phone beeped.
Rajeev checked the message - Just keep her away from me...Hate her!!! And don't you dare smile after reading this Bhai!!
Rajeev looked at Shaurya and winked.
Shaurya was standing in one corner of the kitchen with his hands in his pocket at an angle so that he could see Mehak. Mehak could feel his eyes on her but she chose to ignore him and concentrate on her work. Well, last time when he was looking at her, it was with anger but now it was different. He wasn't scowling but admiring her beauty. He couldn't stop himself from looking at the way she worked meticulously- truly, cooking was her passion. She knew how much and what to add in what quantity. There was so much confidence in her and he couldn't stop himself from admiring that aspect of her.
Alok was explaining to Aashima of their specialties and what all new dishes they could add in the menu for their event. All the while Aashima was pretending to listen to Rajeev and Alok but her eyes were on Shaurya. Ever since her dad told her that he would like her to do business with Shaurya, she was elated. It was a known fact that Shaurya Khanna was a big name in Delhi parties and also one of the most eligible bachelors in town.
Business wasn't the only reason for which she had come to Delhi but to meet Shaurya. She thought that she would have an easy chance with him but with his no nonsense attitude; she knew that it wasn't easy as it seemed to be and he was indeed a tough nut to crack.
Aashima thought: Come on, just think of something. This guy doesn't give two hoots for your beauty. I mean wherever I go, guys cannot stop looking at me and here I am trying so much to gain his attention but all in vain. God knows which world he lives in? Does he have a girlfriend? Haven't read anything in the papers yet. But even if he does have, I am sure once he gets to know me, he would forget her too...Need to do something soon!!!
Rajeev looked at her and realized that she wasn't paying attention to what Alok was talking. Rajeev signaled Alok to stop and said: Aashima are you listening or is it getting too boring for you?
Aashima honestly wasn't interested in what Alok was saying about the dishes. Frankly, she had no knowledge about cooking. She had only requested to see the kitchen to spend some time with Shaurya alone but she didn't know that Rajeev would come too.
In order to impress Shaurya and to cover up about her lack of attention, Aashima spoke: I would like to taste this..What is it? Looks very nice? May I?
Rajeev nodded.
Aashima tasted the dish and said: Ummm this is very nice...Perfect sweetness? What is this called as?
Alok: Mam, that is Banoffee pie. It is made by our chef Ms. Mehak Sharma.
Aashima: Its really nice. May I who she is?
Alok asked Mehak to step forward and introduced her to Aashima.
Rajeev: She is one of the youngest chefs in our team and the most talented too.
Aashima: Really? I don't know why but she looks familiar to me...Have I seen you somewhere?
Before anyone could say anything, Shaurya walked up to Aashima and said: She was one of the contestants in "India's Super Cook" competition. Oh sorry let me rephrase it again - She was one of our "star finalists" in the show and always managed to topscore in all the rounds.
Shaurya had a proud smile on his face when he said so. He was looking at Mehak with pride.
Alok and Mehak looked at each other shocked. The mere thought of him complimenting someone for their culinary skills shocked them.
Rajeev smiled: Yes, she was our star performer then and is one now too!
Aashima didn't like the fact that the conversation was getting veered away from her towards Mehak. Shaurya was standing few inches behind Aashima. Sensing this is as the perfect opportunity to get close to him, she turned around and slipped landing straight in his arms.
Aashima: Ahhh...
Well now that was a scene straight out of a Bollywood movie with Shaurya holding Aashima firmly in his arms and her hands around his neck trying to steady her balance. Rajeev, Alok and the entire staff looked at them smilingly except Mehak. She was jealous seeing Aashima being so close to him but the moment Shaurya looked at her; she hid her emotion and pretended to smile like the others.
Shaurya made Aashima stand and adjusted his coat.
Aashima: I am so sorry Shaurie...
Everyone looked at Aashima in horror when she said "Shaurie". The fact that she had a nick name for their boss shocked them. Shaurya looked at her in anger.
Aashima: Sorry I mean Shaurya... I didn't see and I don't know how I slipped maybe there was some water here.
Aashima's fake excuse did not go unnoticed - neither by Shaurya nor by Mehak. It was obvious to everyone that she slipped on purpose but Shaurya kept mum.
Shaurya (controlling his anger): Its ok..Shall we leave now? Or do you still have any questions?
Aashima: No, I guess I will leave now. Its very late. It was nice meeting everyone.
Rajeev: It was our pleasure too. Thank you.
Aashima and her manager Aditya bid their farewells and left. Shaurya looked at Mehak and smiled but she ignored and went back to her work station. His face fell seeing her reaction. He didn't know what him smile at her but when she didn't smile back, he felt a little sad.
Rajeev and Shaurya were sitting in Shaurya's cabin when Shaurya noticed that Rajeev was smiling thinking of something.
Shaurya looked at him questioningly: What?
Rajeev: What happened?
Shaurya: You tell me..What are you smiling for?
Rajeev smiled: Come on Shaurya, you don't know why? I am thinking about the scene that just took place a couple of minutes before in the kitchen.
Shaurya: Which scene?
Rajeev: Seriously!!! You don't know..Aashima falling in your arms and you holding her like a typical Hindi film hero...He couldn't control his laughter anymore.
Shaurya: Bhai please..Stop irritating me!! She was faking it and I could see her lie...Bloody despo!!
Rajeev controlled his laughter: Its ok...you should have seen the faces of our staff..Well, the guys were smiling, maybe they were hooting and whistling in their dreamlands but the girls were seething in jealousy seeing you so close to Aashima. I don't blame them. Everyone knows the girls find you totally irresistible!! And anyways, Aashima is beautiful too.
He said so winking at him. Ever since he had met Aashima, he didn't throw a second glance at her let alone finding her beautiful. Also, the way she was purposely getting too close to him irritated him more.
Shaurya: What about Mehak?
Shaurya didn't know what made him ask about Mehak's reaction but he wished to know what she felt when she saw him with Aashima.
Rajeev surprisingly: Mehak? What about her? Oh...she was ok..Shayad use kuch farak nahi pada...I didn't see that kind of reaction on her face...And why would she get jealous?
Shaurya couldn't stop himself from asking: Why wouldn't she?
Rajeev: What is wrong with you Shaurya? You ok right? Well, what I meant was that she is going to get married in few days and surely it wouldn't bother her seeing you or any other guy in the arms of other women...Now will you please excuse me I gotta make a call to the manager in Tokyo..See you later.
Rajeev's reply made Shaurya think. But he wasn't any other guy - he was Shaurya Khanna; the "Shaurya" that she fell in love with.
Shaurya thinking to himself: Farak toh use padna chahiye..I mean I didn't like seeing her with Kunal or tht son of **** Ajay but ...Ahh I ll go mad...I wasn't jealous seeing her with them..Of course, not. That is not jealousy..What is wrong with me? Why cant I stop thinking about her? Damn it!!!!
Shaurya's ego wouldn't let him accept the fact that he was getting affected with Mehak's reaction. He couldn't accept the fact that he was indeed jealous seeing her with other guys. But the main question for him which still remain unanswered was - Did Mehak feel the same too when she saw him with Aashima? And what if she didn't?
Note : Yes, I agree that this update too didn't have any major Mehrya scene but trust me guys I do not want to rush with Shaurya's changed feelings towards Mehak. I promise the future updates would definitely include lot of Mehrya scenes. Sorry for this one guys!!!
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