Author's note
Thank you guys for reading. Do ignore mistakes, writing on my phone. The joy of writing is priceless. 😊
Part 2
"Paas rehke bhi thi doori
Jaane kaise thi majboori
Waqt woh bhi ajeeb tha
Jab tu mere kareeb tha..."
Anu had risen even before the sun and had as usual finish all her duties which no longer were for her to do but she continued to do so simple because it kept her baa and bapuji happy and inturn her happy.
'Jai Shri Krishna Bapuji, aapki dawa and chai', Anu announced as she rushed towards him with the newspaper press firmly under her arm, the hands holding a tray full of tea, breakfast and his tablets placed diligent in the small bowl she'd spared for his tablets.
'Jai Shri Krishna beta. Thank you', he helped her with the tray and set it on the table.
Checking his watch, he said, 'Shu vaat che Anupama beta, aaj itna jaldi sab?', he inquired gently.
'Wo aaj ek meeting ke liye Baroda jaana hai ne Bapuji, to sab kuch fatafat finish kar diya', she replied enthusiastically.
'acha.., acha...'
'Wo Devika bhi aa rahi hai Bapuji, Anuj aur mere saath', she added as if justifying.
Taking Anuj's name came more easily to her. And this, two people realised but her. One was Devika and the other was her Bapuji. And this somehow didn't irk him, it rather pleased him.
He smiled gently reading her apprehensions and said politely, 'beta, I never asked who is going with
you? I never will. Tu to mera garv hai, you don't have to explain anything to me. I know everything'
Anu smiled and thanked her lord for blessing her with such a wonderful father who was being a father to her in the truest sense.
"You should go beta you shouldn't be late'.
Anu nodded positively and was about to leave when she turned suddenly remembering something, 'Wo bapuji...'
Reading her mind bapuji interrupted, 'Tu Samar ki chinta mat kar, waise bhi the matter is closed and sorted. I will look into it if required. And ghar mein sab ko mein sambhal lunga tu ja'
'Thank you', she said and slipped out of the door quickly collected her things quietly in no mood to Interact with anyone especially Mr. Shah.
*********
'Good Morning Anuj,' Anu strode into his cabin chirpily. There was a spring in her step and she looked radiant.
'Can it get any better?. Anuj asked loudly and grinned like an idiot. Devika cleared her throat and added, 'Of course not.'
The grin vanished and reflexively his hand reached the collar of his shirt tugging at it repeatedly, something he usually did when caught off guard and teased. Slyly he pressed his index finger to his
lips and briefly dosed his eyes begging her to not tease any further.
Devika was his friend but a notorious one at that. He scowled at her evil grin and plastered a decent smile on his face for Anupama.
"Good morning Anu', Devika greeted. 'Bhai hame bhi kehdo good morning'. She said and stood up to face her. She was seated on the sofa all this long, her back facing the door.
'Meine tumhe dekha hi nahi Devika, sorry, Good morning', she said naively.
'haan.. aajkal mein na tumhe dikhti hu na Anuj ko... she teased rolling her eyes and enjoyed the awkwardness of the two that followed. They both looking at everything else but each other.
'Arre Patli jo ho gayi huy, she guffawed further when neither reacted. She felt so powerful these days, she was able to embarrass them so quickly and easily. One must enjoy while it lasts, she thought mentally and sniggered.
Anuj cleared his throat, ' I guess we should get going, he said standing up and buttoning up his suit. As a habit he pressed on the bridge of his glasses and walked to hold the door open for the ladies to make way first.
'uff your chivalry Anuj', Devika commented dreamily and giggled when Anu elbowed her for teasing him unnecessarily.
Blushing hard Anuj went straight after them without saying a word and followed the two to the parking. Just when they had arrived, one of the executive came running after, calling for him.
'Am sorry to disturb you sir, but there is something that needs your urgent attention', said the perplexed employee.
"Can it wait for a while Rohan?' Anuj asked calmly.
'Unfortunately, no. Its regarding the collaboration with Mastani House - Surat'
Devika overheard the conversation and stepped in immediately, 'Have they raised concerns regarding the terms?'
"Yes Mam.'
'Anuj, I'll take care of it. We've anyways discussed this. I've got it. You carry on with the Baroda meeting', she assured. Her tone back to meaning business.
'Are you sure? We can postpone the meeting,' Anuj proposed seriously.
'Trust me, I got this.', she reassured and allowed Rohan to go back and fetch the relevant documents to join her.
Taking a quick look at his watch Anuj said, 'Ok, driver will take you to Surat then, I'll drive Anupama and me to Baroda. It's not much' and held the door open for Devika to get into the car.
'Anupama two minutes ok?!.' Anuj said and earned an approving nod from her immediately.
Meanwhile he instructed the driver to fetch another car. Ouickly Devika and he both ran through the points before they both set off for their respective destinations.
Anupama watched the entire scene unfold in pure amazement. She was in awe of her friend's confidence and her leadership. It all came so easily to her and of course Anuj's thoughtfulness in smallest of things. She observed, it was his general behaviour to treat all his ermployees so kindly and so well, especially women, not just her and Devika, but even the other staff. She had not only heard but had also seen the women of all age group in his company admiring him. Hadn't he given her a chance too? Trusting her abilities when she doubted them herself?
The driver stopped the car slowly raising the dust thus bringing back Anupama from her reverie.
'Mam please', the driver had helped Anu into the front passenger seat as instructed by Anuj and came to the car he was to chauffeur.
'Alright then Devika, good luck. Call me if you need any help'
'Yes, I will. Meanwhile...she paused purposely and grinned.' you enjoy the drive alright?', she pointed her thumb in Anu's direction and winked.
Anuj laughed and sighed deeply, 'uhh..I guess I will.'
Devika waved one last time and set off while Anuj took the driving seat of his car and fastened the seat belt. He observed hers was undone.
'Anu'
'Huh?'
'I mean Anupama, sorry', he flustered. 'Seat belt please', he pointed at the belt.
'Anu kehke to sab pukarte hai ismein itna chonkne wali kya baat thi Anupama', she chided herself and then smlled when she recollected how nice, new and different it felt.
She pulled the belt but it snapped out of her hands and got stuck. 'Uh oh! Sorry', she muttered feeling embarrassed of making a fool of herself. She was so confused and surprisingly disoriented that she kept tugging at the wrong end.
'Can I?', Anuj asked to break the tension in the air and waited till she nodded; her eyes downcast, her fingers fumbling with the ring on her finger.
Resting his left hand on the head of her seat, he slowly leaned over on her side, his right hand stretching, it brushed slightly on her left shoulder, she could feel his warm breath on the bare skin of her neck. His exquisite cologne filled her nostrils and surprisingly she closed her eyes as if registering all this at once to replay it in her mind later.
He deftly secured the belt in the lock and ensured that he had done it right and smiled in response to her bashful "thank you'
He'd seen her closing her eyes and a hint of blush when he retreated. It pleased him that his proximity could do this.
Though only he knew how his heart had plummeted 10 times and would explode out of his chest had he not stopped thinking about her. "Get a grip Anuj".
To be continued...
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