FF: PALLAVI by Jalebi Jane SEE NOTE PAGE 117 - Page 28

Originally posted by: Vibrant_Ana

JJ - I remember that you are an ardent fan of Jane Austen novels... same pinch 😆

Are there any of your stories on lines of the eternal love story of Mr Darcy and Lizzy?? If yes, can you please share them with me... would love to read.

Oh! A fellow Janeite. kiss-kiss.

I love Jane Austen. Hence---Jalebi Jane.

I've not written an overt Darcy-Lizzy story. However, as they epitomise the enemies-to-lovers plot, I would say all my writing is influenced by -Pride & Prejudice-. I think -JALEBI- is the closest. I'll be sharing -JALEBI- in June to mark the 10th Anniversary of IPKKND. You might enjoy that.

I think the Austen influence in writing is more in language and style (what they call free and indirect speech) rather than plot. But having said that, few writers attempting to write a romance can avoid being influenced by Austen. She is the Queen of the genre.

Do you read Georgette Heyer? Her writing is different but her plots are fun.

Originally posted by: nautankitadka

As always loved the last chapter too; Anna caring about his Amma and Keerthi warms the heart, but idk how right he is about being the source of ALL funds coz there is a certain level of self-respect attached to what Keerti wishes to do for her Amma, and it will not sit well with her to know that despite her making so many rounds, her Anna is being so persistent. I think they will end up at Pallavi's shop now, and it will be quite a delight to watch Raghav interact with Pallavi without disguise, while Pallavi knows she has met this guy earlier. Also the fact that they are investigating at source with Anjali means less chances of further MU coz she will HAVE to come clean. Look forward to the next part! 😆

Yes, Sister, that is an interesting and important distinction you make. I sense Farhad understands that. Kirti should work to build confidence. How long can Raghav keep trying to secretly support them? I suspect what is going to happen is that Raghav will subsidise Kirti's salary.

I can't wait to share the next few episodes. Twist upon twist :-)

I haven't read JALEBI :( :(

How unfortunate of me....

And I haven't read Georgette Heyer... but will look for her and give a try. I think I have a conscious bias towards Jane Austen.

Keep writing dear and looking forward to the next update❤️

Originally posted by: Vibrant_Ana

I haven't read JALEBI :( :(

How unfortunate of me....

And I haven't read Georgette Heyer... but will look for her and give a try. I think I have a conscious bias towards Jane Austen.

Keep writing dear and looking forward to the next update❤️

And you have chosen your preferences well. Austen is the best. But as she only wrote six novels, two unfinished works and a smattering of juvenilia---eventually one has to begin searching for other writers. GH is good because she researched the Regency and captures the flavour of Austen's period better than most historical writers.

Don't worry---I will somehow get JALEBI in your hands, Sister. :-)

April 17, 2021

EPISODE 14 **MAHA EPISODE**

Pallavi asked Krishna, “What time did you tell Kirti to come for the interview?”

Krishna said, “I didn’t provide her with a specific time, Didi. When I called her yesterday, she didn’t pick up. But she called me in the evening and said she would come mid-morning. She accompanies her mom to the hospital for dialysis so she said she would come after that.”

Pallavi responded, “How awful! Asha Aunty—that is Rahul’s mom, our Mansi’s future mother-in-law, you know—she was on dialysis until she received a new kidney. She said dialysis was awful. Not just for her, but she felt so guilty because it made her entire family beholden to those appointments. You can’t make plans. You can’t go on holidays.”

Krishna lifted a saree and said, “How about this one?”

Pallavi and Krishna were pulling stock to show Kirti some of their most popular designs as a guideline.

“No,” Pallavi replied, “I prefer the green one.”

Krishna laughed, “If we had it your way, Didi, we would sell only green sarees—” she interrupted herself, and went to the front of the shop, “—That’s her! That’s Kirti. I recognize her from her Instagram profile. Isn’t she pretty?”

“Very pretty,” Pallavi agreed, coming to her feet, to watch the young lady approach.

Kirti climbed up the three steps into the shop.

Krishna welcomed her, and ushered her to the back.

“Didi, this is Kirti Ajit,” Krishna introduced her to Pallavi.

“Hi! I’m Pallavi Deshmukh. Krishna showed me your artwork online. You do beautiful work.”

Pallavi saw from Kirti’s response that though young, she was confident. She spoke with poise. “Thank you, Didi. I love art. Drawing. Design. Painting. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do with my life.”

Pallavi smiled, “You make me quite envious. Of all the talents I most admire are drawing and singing. I can do neither. Krishna show Kirti the sarees we pulled. I’ll just get my order book.”

When Pallavi went to the desk, she noticed a well-built young man leaning against the pillar directly opposite the shop. He had his eyes on Kirti.

A boyfriend? A brother?

She returned to join Kirti and Krishna who were chatting in animated tones.

“I’m not sure whether Krishna indicated to you what our circumstances are—?” Pallavi began.

Krishna was more succinct. “We need help but we have no money.”

Kirti looked shocked.

Pallavi expanded, “We are in no position to hire a designer—yet, unless we begin to produce original sarees for the younger market, we’ll never improve our sales.”

“I agree,” Kirti said. “I did check your shop’s social media and your designs are very old-fashioned.” She spoke—and then seemed to regret it. She immediately apologized. “Forgive me. That was rude. Amma always reprimands me because my brother is blunt to a fault and she fears I’m turning out that way.”

Pallavi laughed. “No need to apologize. You spoke truthfully. Which is what we need. This is my Baba’s shop. He started it thirty-five years ago, and his original designs are so precious to him that he has never expanded.”

Krishna added, “But Didi has been running the shop for a year and she understands that the business has to change with the times.”

“How can I help?” Kirti asked.

Pallavi opened her notebook. “Would you be amenable to a joint venture? You would design sarees that would appeal to younger women; we would pay for the production, and you would receive a cut of each saree sold.”

Krishna added, “The labels would reflect that they are your designs exclusively for DSE. We could cross-market them on social media.”

Kirti didn’t respond immediately. And her thoughtful expression was unreadable.

Pallavi and Krishna exchanged worried looks.

Krishna offered, “Why don’t you think about it overnight?”

“I dont have to,” Kirti said. “I accept. It sounds like such a fun project.”

Pallavi jumped up with joy. Krishna impulsively hugged Kirti.

In truth, when Krishna had first suggested the concept of a joint venture to Pallavi after admiring Kirti’s work on Instagram, Pallavi had not been too enthusiastic.

No, let me restate that, Sisters.

Pallavi had thought the idea worth pursuing but she had hesitated because Baba was adamant that his shop carry only his original designs—and she was not sure how to convince him.

But as the circumstances of the shop grew more dire, she realized that something had to be done. Again and again, she noticed that mothers bought sarees for themselves at DSE but never for their betis and bahus. For that they went to other shops.

Finally Pallavi decided—after a disappointing day in which they had not sold a single saree!—to proceed without Baba’s permission. He always told her it was her shop—so why not make the decision herself?

If the plan succeeded she would tell him she had brought in a new line. And would mollify him by showing him how well the new sarees were selling.

Kirti was saying, “I know there will be no objection, but I must just check at home before I commit fully.”

“Of course, you must check with your family members.” Pallavi approved of the young woman’s manners.

“It’s just Amma,” Kirti said.

Pallavi couldn’t help asking, “That young man waiting for you—is that your blunt-speaking brother?”

Kirti looked to where Pallavi indicated.

Immediately, the glowing excitement drained from Kirti’s face, her lips curled with disgust. “No, that is not my brother. He follows me everywhere I go.”

Krishna frowned. “But why?”

Kirti began to answer—but then shrugged, and said, “It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it.”

Pallavi said, “That’s unacceptable!”

***

In appearance, the police inspector, Swamy, would not have commanded much authority. He resembled more a comical uncle than a man who headed a constabulary. But appearance aside, he was of immeasureable value to a man like Raghav Rao because he was venal. And he had access to men and resources.

He was leaving the Palace just as Farhad and Harish were entering.

Farhad noted that Raghav’s expression was not jubilant—but nor did he appear dejected.

“Good news on the Anjali woman?” Farhad asked.

“A disloyal woman such as Anjali can never be good news,” Raghav pronounced.

He moved from the lounge to the bar and poured himself a scotch.

The two men exchanged looks. They knew their employer to be a committed drinker but this was a bit early in the day.

Raghav took a sip and said, “Anjali’s not in Hyderabad.” Adding after another sip, “With the shame of her wedding being called off, she left for Mumbai. According to Swamy, she’s been there for the past month. Enrolled in acting school.”

Farhad sighed, “So she cannot be responsible for the video. Sagar Lake security is still checking who accessed the camera footage. It might be someone acting alone for some other motive unrelated to Anjali.”

“Not so quick,” Raghav cautioned. “The casino-burqa girl could still have been engaged by Anjali. She might even be from Mumbai. Maybe they’re in acting school together. She successfully convinced me she was an escort. And then by donning a burqa convinced me she was your cousin.”

Farhad thought out loud. “That would explain why we had difficulty finding her. Nobody recognised her because she is not from here.”

Raghav said, “Swamy’s contact in Mumbai will meet us tomorrow morning and take us to the acting school. Hopefully they’ll both be there together. Two birds; one stone.”

Farhad gave a nod and suggested, “I’ll book the jet for eight? Eight-thirty?”

“Also book a meeting with Mrs Tarabai Raje in the afternoon. As we’ll be in Mumbai, I want to meet her in person,” Raghav added.

Farhad was turned away—in the process of making flight arrangements on the phone—but at Raghav’s words, he ended the call and turned back to face Raghav.

“She has already declined our offer, Annah.”

Raghav drained his glass, and asked, “She shut the door so I should walk away?”

Farhad said, “She was quite clear. How did she put it? ‘Jayati Jewellers does not appear to be a good fit for Raje Hotels.’ ”

Raghav laughed. “Such an elegant diplomatic lady. What she meant was—‘You are a gangster. I am royalty. Goodbye.’ ”

“So why press the matter?” Farhad asked. “There are other hoteliers who would be happy to have us in their properties. We don’t need to partner with those who believe they are superior to us because they were born into wealth and position.”

“No,” Raghav said, “that is where you are wrong, Farhad. I came to open doors. Not disdain doors shut in our faces. I am more determined than ever to have JJ boutiques in all Raje hotels. I won’t be kept out of where I want to be. Book an appointment with her for tomorrow afternoon.”

Farhad nodded, but it was clear that he did not agree. With each communication with Raje Hotels, his dislike for the matriarch founder—Mrs Tarabai Raje—had grown. She spoke to Raghav as if he was unworthy—but did it in that veiled manner which the rich often use to hide their prejudice.

Raghav was speaking with Harish. “Why the doleful face, Gorilla?”

Harish’s face dropped lower and he looked even more dejected than when he had entered the Palace.

Farhad gave a laugh. “I’ve reassigned him. Johnny will now be Kirti’s bodyguard.”

Raghav slammed his glass down on the bartop and demanded, “Just like that? Without asking me?”

“I had to, Annah. Harish was compromised.”

“Compromised? How so?” Raghav asked, looking between the two men. “We are not RAW agents. Chelli already knows that Harish keeps an eye on her. It’s for her own safety from our enemies.”

Farhad threw up his hands and said to Harish. “Explain to Annah what happened.”

Harish came forward. “After Amma’s dialysis appointment this morning, Kirti dropped Amma at home and went shopping. She went into a saree shop. I was opposite the road. As usual. Keeping my eye on her. Making sure there was no danger. The shop had an open front so I could observe from a distance—”

Raghav interrupted him, “—Give me the breaking news headlines not the entire tv-serial.”

“The saree shop lady ran across the road and started taping me with her phone!” Harish declared in wounded tones.

“What?!” Raghav asked, and looked at Farhad for explanation.

Farhad said, smothering a laugh. “It gets better. Hear the rest.”

Harish continued. “While recording, she warned me that if I didn’t stop following Kirti around, she would make the video public on her brother’s YouTube channel. He has one lakh followers, she said. Everyone in Hyderabad would know what a despicable man I am for stalking a young woman. My friends would abandon me. My family would be mortified. And forget about any shaadi ka rishtas.”

“The saree shop lady said this to you?” Raghav asked.

“Yes!” Harish stated.

“How did you respond?”

“I legged it, Annah.”

Raghav then turned to Farhad—and asked, “Farhad, did you lie to me when you told me that Harish the Gorilla won the state wrestling championship?”

Farhad burst into laughter.

Raghav was laughing equally hard, leaning on the bar for support.

Harish was clearly disgusted with the two men who were supposed to be his allies. “You didn’t see this woman. She’s a dragon.”

Raghav grabbed his jacket and told Harish and Farhad, “Let’s go pay this terrifying creature a visit. Nobody threatens my Gorilla.”

Awesome 👏🏻 thanks 🙏🏻.. I always wanted to watch a maha episode of this serial and u gave it to us 😍😍

Awww Harish also makes an appearance ..I like him.too

I love these interlinking relationships

Plus these female friendships are bae ..

Waiting to see pallu and Kriti bonding 🤪

Do old friends feel J when their bestie makes new ones ?

Love and hugs for updating regularly ❤️ and keeping my mood up in this pandemic .

What an amazing mahaepisode. The makers won't give us one but you did. Love you so much🤗

Our Gorilla is too cute😆

Loved it❤️

Thank you for updating❤️

I loved the maha ep

It is amazing how you cloud include elements of the show in your own story and managed to make us always looking forward for the next update

Poor harish pally scold him and raghav mocked him 😆

I love how raghav is always there for hiw people 😉

Originally posted by: Roroo

Awesome 👏🏻 thanks 🙏🏻.. I always wanted to watch a maha episode of this serial and u gave it to us 😍😍

hehe

It's twice as long as my usual episodes so I took the liberty of calling it MAHA :-)