aah so this story is going to be through and through prerna and RB! He's just Santa Claus or what her she keeps coming in I want this I want that !
I love how sure she is that he's the one who can get her out of a sticky situation! You update so quick just makes me way too happy cuz the 2/3 minute RB guest appearances on the show just aren't enough satisfaction.
Cheers- you can address me as US (my initials)
hi
i am new here
i read all the parts at one go. wow its beautifully written.
it is simply superb. I just loved it.
eagerly waiting for the new update
thank you
suma
The story is getting more and more gripping and unpredictable which every passing update. This deal was unforeseeable and puzzling.
You have weaved RB's wittiness, sassiness, aura, and elegance really well. There's an air of mysticism that surrounds him and it's highly tempting for a reader.
I loved how Prerna retreated to his place to seek his help in her personal issue. It shows she trusts him to get things done.
My name is Shruti. đ
One move at a time eh
Whats the checkmate move and who will make it?
Very very interesting
Anju
You guys! I get so happy when I read your comments. Ankie, thank you for being so consistent in your support. Poore kahaani mein kaafi waqt lag jaayega. Intezaar karein. Mahi, Iâm so glad you liked RBâs grit and sarcasm. I wanted to make my RB even more hard to decipher than the one shown on TV. Esther, Moushumi, Suma thank you so much for your kind words. US, yes. RB is bit like Santa Clause but only if Santa Clause was Luciferâs personal aide. Shruti, your message made me giddy with excitement. Itâs so nice to know that what I was trying to convey as an author has been absorbed by the reader. Thank you, again. Anju and Breez, you guys sure know how to make a girl happy. I will try and update the story as quickly as I can. Keep the love coming.
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Disclaimer: A couple of things that always bother me when I watch any Indian show is (1) how completely devoid of personal identity the female lead is shown to be once she falls in love with the male lead. The romance story takes center stage and the girlâs career, dreams, individuality are all sidelined. Does Prerna not have anything more to her life than getting married to Anurag? My story will be different in that regard, I want Prerna to continue her classes â get her post graduate degree and get the love of her life. Women can have it all. 2) why are all secretaries shown as women? It's such a sexist notion. Well, Mr. Bajajâs secretary is male.
Part IX
It was just supposed to be one deal. But like an addict, Prerna found herself skipping college and standing outside his office merely two days later. Even his secretary hadnât batted an eyelid. Prerna didnât know why security hadnât escorted her out yet. Mr. Bajaj had no reason to keep indulging her. Her pride smarted at having to come to him repeatedly, but she needed his help and beggars couldnât afford to be picky.
She looked at her hands and remembered his warning.
âAre you sure you want to be beholden to me, Ms. Sharma?â
Prerna should have been more afraid of his threats. She had firsthand seen what Mr. Bajaj did to those who couldnât pay what they owed him and yetâŠhere she was. A restless anticipation gnawing away at her. He had kept his word. Prerna had come to understand that Rishabh Bajaj operated under his own peculiar code of conduct and his deals were ironclad. Shivani had been found that very night by the police, based on an anonymous tip off. But Ronit was in the wind. Prerna was certain that Ronit hadnât fled for good, he was simply biding his time and she wasnât going to wait like a fattened rooster for his next attack. Thatâs why she was back in his office. To bargain for his help.
âMr. Bajaj has back to back meetings, Maâam. He has asked me to take a message.â The gentle faced Mr. Dubey said, interrupting her thoughts.
âPlease, I have to meet him. Itâs urgent. I wouldnât be here if it werenât.â Prerna wasnât going to be shooed away so easily. She had discovered a new backbone during her interactions with him and she was going to use it.
âI understand, Maâam. But Sir has specifically asked not be disturbed and has requested you to write down your business with him.â The man was unfailingly polite as he handed her crisp personalized stationary and envelopes to seal her message in. Realizing that she had no other practical option, she began penning down her request of locating and outing Ronit Chaubey. She was confident that the police and prosecution would do the rest. Signing it and sealing it, she handed the envelope to Mr. Dubey and prayed that she would receive a response soon.
Nearly three hours later, she was handed a matching sealed envelope. Half mad with boredom and hunger, she tore open the envelope with her teeth and hurriedly read its contents.
âIâll see that the right people find Ronit Chaubey. In return, please await further directions. Make your-self comfortable in the office lounge.
R B â
Prerna let out a sigh of relief. He would help her. At what cost, she didnât know but atleast half the battle was over. She dragged herself to the office lounge to get lunch, texting her mom and Anurag that she was going to watch a movie after college and would be home later than usual. This was her life now, she thought regretfully. Lying to her parent and fiancĂ©e. Prerna had had multiple discussions with Anurag about finding Ronit but he himself was so entangled in business issues that he had deferred the Ronit problem.
âI have no choice. Ronit has to be stopped.â Prerna reassured herself.
Settling in with some food and a book she had in her bag, Prerna began waiting.
2 pm.
3 pm.
4 pm.
5 pm.
6.30 pm.
She had been in his office for nine hours, had drank four cups of tea, bothered Mr. Dubey a total of five times, sent two additional texts to her mother and almost finished re-reading her book. Still nothing from Mr. Bajaj. If she was the sort to give up or lose patience, the office lounge would have been covered in broken things and debris by now.
Where was he?
Just as she was preparing her barge-in-and-mount-an-attack plan, Mr. Dubey called out to her. He was walking towards her with a slightly embarrassed expression.
âI apologize for the delay, Maâam. Sir has said he cannot meet with you today and has asked me to pass this on to you.â
What in the bloody hell? Prerna snatched the message and debated the merits of staging a loud tantrum and then decided against it. She didnât have the time to give her best performance when she had to getting home soon. Opening the envelope she began reading, her frustration swiftly turning into utter confusion.
"Ms. Sharma,
Consider your end of the contract fulfilled. Ronit Chaubey will be in custody soon enough. Our earlier deal requires yours and Mr. Basuâs attendance on Monday morning. Apologies for the inconvenience it may cause with your classes. It will not happen again.
For now, I suggest you take your leave soon. Itâs getting dark out there.
RB"
Prerna began to feel a healthy appreciation for regular people with their regular behavio rand regular thought processes. She was going to need a road map and an algorithm to figure out Mr. Rishabh Bajaj.
If he didnât want anything for the favor he was doing her, then khuba bhalo. No skin off her nose.
And if she felt a prickling of disappointment, it was only because she had a wasted an entire day waiting. Thatâs all.
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Convincing Anurag to go with her had taken substantial effort. He couldnât understand why they were going to see condos when neither of them were particularly interested in real estate beyond the existing set of problems real estate had embroiled them in. It had taken some serious cajoling for Anurag to finally agree. Prerna had waxed poetry about the apartment property which was expected to be stunning with sunken gardens and state of the art facilities. There was no harm in sight seeing, was there?
The first sign of trouble began when they were escorted around the site by the manager. Prerna had genuinely been amazed at how beautifully the modern facilities like gym, pools, sauna, tennis courts had been blended inwith the heritage architecture so unique to Kolkata. She had even âooh-edâ and âaah-edâ at appropriate places on remembering her promise to Mr. Bajaj.
It had taken her several minutes to realize that Anurag was sporting a surly expression on his face and was barely talking.
âWhatâs wrong? Everything okay at work?â She asked.
Anurag pulled her aside, out of anyoneâs earshot.
âWhy are we here?â Anurag replied, ignoring her question.
âHuh? I told you already. There's no reason as such. I saw an advert on the property and read some reviews about how beautiful this place. We could actually have a picnic here. Itâs so quaint and lovely, na?â Prerna prevaricated, trying to lessen the guilt she felt by lying to him.
âAnd this has nothing to do with us getting married soon?â Anurag asked shortly.
âWhat do you mean? What does our wedding have to do with this place?â Prerna was stumped by his line of thinking.
âLook, if this is your way of saying you want to move out of Basuwadi after marriage then Iâm sorry, I canât give you that. It's my ancestral home, Prerna. My family lives there and I canât leave them and go live separately. What kind of a son would I be? Please try and understand.â Anurag said beseechingly.
âWhat, no--, Anurag, youâve completely misunderstoodââ Prerna tried to interject but Anurag cut her off.
âHave I? Why else would you drag me here? You even skipped college to come here.â
âSkipped college?â Prerna snorted in disbelief. âSo what? Iâve skipped college to do a multitude of things with you Anurag, you never questioned my motives then nor did the state of my education concern you before now.â She took a deep breath and gentled her tone. âYouâre reading too much into this. Listen, I donât want to fight, okay? Please trust me. I would never ask you to leave your home. I know how important family is to you. This place was just a random, spur-of-the-moment kind of a thing. Nothing to it.â
Anurag nodded but looked unconvinced. They finished the remainder of their tour in silence, unnoticing of the fact that their relationship had suffered another silent blow.
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On the 15th floor of Bajaj Holdings, the King looked away from his papers and glanced at his Rolex to note the time. His upper lip quirked upwards into a smirk as he poured himself a scotch.
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Cheers,
Sohaa
Next update will have prerna and rishabh together in a scene. For all those who may be disappointed that they didn't have a scene here.
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