Chapter 2
During the week, Jai tried to ask many girls to go on a date with him, and he found that it was not very easy. He could not muster enough courage to ask any of them. One time, he managed to get to the point of asking one girl out in a club. However, he got the shock of his life when he turned around and found the girl's boyfriend behind him who happened to be a professional boxer. He would never forget that night for sure. On the last day of the week, he was resolute to ask his PA out. Her name was Pia, and she was one of the most beautiful girls in the office to any red-blooded male. He was no exception, and he genuinely liked her or so he thought. To the girls in the office, she was a walking, talking Barbie doll, and she expected her Kevin to be filthy rich. Jai walked to her office and stepped in.
Pia – Good morning sir. Is there something that I could do for you?
Jai – Good morning to you too, and yes, there is something that you could do for me. I was wondering if you would umm… make some coffee and bring it to my office. I'll be there.
Pia – Okay sir.
Pia went out of the office and left Jai behind.
Jai to himself – Who am I kidding? I can't ask her out. I don't know how. And coffee? I don't even drink coffee. What an excuse!
Jai went off to his office. Afterwards, Pia came in. She set the coffee on his table and left. Just as she was leaving, Jai noticed something flashing on her left hand – a diamond ring.
Jai – Excuse me Pia.
Pia – Yes sir.
Jai – Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
Pia – Not at all sir.
Jai – Are you married?
Pia – I'm engaged sir.
Jai – Oh, who's the lucky guy?
Pia – Sahil Roy, the owner of Roy Companies.
Jai – Oh, my business rival and friend. How long was this?
Pia – 2 months sir.
Jai – Why wasn't I invited?
Pia – You were invited sir, but you were on a business trip at that time.
Jai – Sorry that I could not come. I promise you that I will come to the wedding.
Pia – I'll constantly remind you of that promise sir.
Pia left the office, and Jai wondered how he could have forgotten about that engagement. Anyhow, he practically rejoiced that he could not ask a girl out right now. He would have been pretty angry being rejected by one of the most beautiful girls in the office.
He would try one more time at the club tonight. After that, it was Raffle with Rano. Jai went to one of his own clubs that night but had no luck. He was not ready to do anything like that, and the main thing was that he didn't know what to do. He even tried to adapt the avatars of the characters in movies and ended up with a red cheek because of his cheesy lines. Poor guy does not know that if he remains himself, he'll have girls at his feet at all times.
Next morning, Jai prepared himself to admit defeat in front of Rano. He was inexperienced, he needed her help or else his mom would tie him down with some traditional girl whether she was beautiful or not. Jai sat in his well furnished office and awaited Rano's arrival. At exactly 10, Rano entered his office and plopped down on the leather couch.
Rano – Good morning loser. Just say what you have to say quickly and get rid of it.
Jai – Good morning winner, and I use that term loosely. I admit to the fact that I am inexperienced when it comes to girls, and I totally agree to your raffle idea.
Rano – So let's talk about the raffle. It is occurring in the last week of this month.
Jai – What? But the time limit mom gave me is a month.
Rano – So?
Jai – Well, genius, what if the raffle ticket girl isn't the one I'm looking for?
Rano – Don't worry. I assure you that this girl will be the perfect one for you.
Jai – Why are you so sure? What do you have up your sleeve?
Rano – That's for me to know and you to find out. I'll get back to you on the issue. I have to scram now.
Jai – Wait.
Rano – What now?
Jai – Why don't you just go on a date with Pushkar?
Rano – I can't. Good bye.
Jai – Bye.
Rano left and Jai decided to talk to Pushkar. It was obvious that Rano was not going to make a move so Pushkar would have to. Rano had been nursing a crush on Pushkar since college and she could not muster enough courage to tell him anything. Yet, here she was setting him up on a date. How ironic!
On her out of the office, Rano thought to herself. She knew the perfect girl for Jai. It was one of her good friends who had not dated for a while too. She too was engrossed in work, work and more work. She chuckled to her herself when she thought that she had two workaholics for friends. She was going to enter her friend into that raffle, and she was sure that if they were destined to be with each other, her friend would win. She went to the Youth Center to talk to Pushkar about it. Oh, how she quivered when she entered his office and saw his lean muscular form pouring over a file! She stood there for a while taking it all in until Pushkar noticed her staring. He raised his hand and clicked his fingers.
Pushkar – Rano, where are you? Please come back to earth.
Rano – I'm nowhere. I just wanted to talk about the fund raising. I have an idea for the raffle.
She went on to relate Jai's story with his mom and how he has to find a girl before the end of the month. She also told him about his dating abilities. Pushkar grinned at Jai's predicament. He agreed to the raffle idea without argument.
Rano – Pushkar, I also have a girl in mind.
She told him about the girl and how perfect she was for Jai. Pushkar agreed totally as he knew the girl well.
Pushkar – Are you going to alert her before entering her into this? I doubt whether she will agree.
Rano – That's exactly the reason why I won't tell her. I will tell her when she wins.
Pushkar – How are you so sure that she will win?
Rano – From the minute I saw her and Jai in the same picture, they made the cutest couple. I am sure that they are destined to be with each other so she will win.
Pushkar – Okay, we'll hook unto your undying hope of destiny.
Rano – Bye Pushkar.
Pushkar – Bye Rano. Wait. One more thing.
Rano – Yes Pushkar.
Pushkar – I hoped you liked what you saw when you came in.
He winked at her and caused her to blush. She left the office in a hurry, not daring to turn back and look at the man who invaded her dreams. A little after Pushkar left, Jai called.
Pushkar – Hello?
Jai – Hey Pushkar. It's Jai. What's up?
Pushkar – I heard about your predicament.
Jai – I guess Rano reached there. Man, she's fast. Is she still there?
Pushkar – She just left. Is anything wrong?
Jai – I just wanted to know if you have plans for tonight. You know maybe we could catch up at the club.
Pushkar – That's a great idea. I'll definitely come. Which club?
Jai – The usual, of course.
Pushkar – Okay. See you there. You know what's funny?
Jai – What?
Pushkar – You go out for regular drinks with me instead of going on a date. It's no wonder that you are inexperienced.
Jai – I'll see you there Pushkar. Bye.
Jai finished his office work at around 7 and went home. He changed into a jeans and red t-shirt, grabbed an apple from the kitchen and headed to the front door. Before he could leave, his mom crept up behind him.
Mom – Where are you going?
Jai – To the club.
Mom – Are you going there to look for a girl?
Jai – Maybe.
Mom – My bahu will not come from some club. She will be well cultured.
Jai – Mom relax. I will not make any girl your bahu or my wife. You will love her once you see her. She will brighten up this house and will not tarnish our good name.
Mom – She had better or I will be the worse mother-in-law that she has ever seen.
Jai laughed lightly and walked out of the house, envisioning his mom chasing her bahu with a broom. In his vision, he saw the face of the bahu. He was not quite sure where he had seen the face before but he had seen it somewhere. What puzzled him more though was that he dreamt that the person with that face was his mom's bahu, his wife.
He went off to the club to find Pushkar there already. He took a seat next to Pushkar and they drank and talked. Finally, the topic of Rano came up.
Jai – Pushkar, I would like to know something. Do you like anybody?
Pushkar – Well, there is one girl.
Jai – Does her name begin with R and end with O?
Pushkar – Yes.
Jai – It's Rano, isn't it?
Pushkar – Yeah.
Jai – Why don't you ask her out?
Pushkar – Well, I kind of get tongue-tied when it comes to asking her out. It could be any other girl, but her. I just can't. I am afraid of rejection.
Jai – Is there a reason for her to reject you? You are one great guy. I think you should give it a shot.
Pushkar – You think?
Jai – Yeah. Go for it.
Pushkar – Okay.
Jai – Promise me you will.
Pushkar – I promise. What's this though?
Jai – What do you mean?
Pushkar – You can't even get a date, and you are setting me up to get one.
Jai – Look, all I want is for the raffle winner to be my lucky break.
Pushkar – Whatever you say.
They spent some more time talking about what's going on in their life and left at around 11.
On the Thursday after Jai had talked to Pushkar, Rano came waltzing into Jai's office. It was not hard to guess what happened for her to be in seventh heaven. Pushkar had kept his promise and asked Rano out on a date.
Jai to himself – The duffers took so long.
Rano – I heard that. What kind of a friend are you! The duffers took so long. What about you? At least we know who we like. You are still searching.
Jai – Well, I hope the raffle will be my lucky break. Thanks so much for even inventing the idea.
Rano – You are most welcome.
Jai – Okay. So when's the date?
Rano – Saturday.
Jai – This Saturday?
Rano – Yep. I can't wait.
Jai – Is it just like or is it love?
Rano – It's love. I loved him from the day we bumped into each other on the first day of college.
Jai – Yep, afterwards you bumped into me and became my best friend. What is wrong with you?
Rano – What do you mean by that?
Jai – You are so clumsy. Is that how you meet friends? You bump into them.
Rano – Actually, I bumped into you on purpose. Like all the other girls, I thought you were hot so I wanted to meet you. I became your best friend instead of your girlfriend, and I want it to stay that way. You are my strength Jai and I want to thank you for supporting me throughout my life from the day I bumped into your life. You were always there…
Jai – and I always will be.
Jai got up and wrapped his arms around Rano in a bear hug.
Rano – Thanks for being my friend Jai.
Jai – You reciprocating my friendship is all the thanks I need.
Rano – I have to go now. We are getting way too emotional in the office. If one your business associates see you right now, they would wonder how this hardcore businessman can be so sentimental.
Jai – Bye and don't forget to pick a nice dress for the date. Buy something that will blow Pushkar away.
Rano – I will. Bye.
Rano walked out of the office and went straight to the mall with her No. 1 shopping buddy, Anu Walia, Jai's adorable 25-year-old sister who was one of Mumbai's successful fashion designers. When Rano told Anu that Pushkar asked her out, she was not surprised when Anu said the same words that Jai did. The duffers took so long. Anu and Jai were the ideal brother-sister duo. They fought all the time but they truly cared about each other. Anu and Jai reacted to matters in the same way. After some time, the girls finished shopping and went to their separate homes.
Positive and negative feedback welcome. Promise Bani for next chapter.
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