Chapter 1: "Anjaane se - woh"
Kapoor house.9 am – knock at the door. Shiv kapoor standing in the surroundings of his lavish room has just stepped out of the shower. Perfectly timed that knock and interruption is just what shiv has been waiting for. Standing in a bath robe shiv takes a glance at the time and is approves of her timing, just perfect. Whilst he was glancing through some project file his words swayed in the direction of her presence.
"Come in" his words had a sense of authority yet a more casual balance too, a soft edge that showed this was a daily routine. As shiv took a glance towards the door she entered. "Ria Shen", formally dressed in an western dress in the shade of black she had very much an P.A and thats just what she was. Shiv kapoors personal assistant. From his outfit to his meetings and even his menu was all in this one ladies hands. Smiling gently "good morning sir," shiv without taking a glance up replies "good morning miss shen" which adds a sparkle to Ria's smile. There was something about the way shiv said her name but she never knew what it was exactly.
Walking into the room – lavish yet with a touch of modern. Centre of the room positioned the bed, sounding the left an array of walldrobes and on the opposite side a desk, wall hangings that showed the status of Shiv kapoor. Ria walks past shiv who is still engrossed in reading this project paper work and heads for the cupboard. Sliding it open she's always amazed by the array of suits which her boss owns. He is ritch but it means that she has to know every single suit...
What suit would you like to wear sir?
Shiv responds: black vintage, which means ria has to pull through a number of black suits to find the one that shiv wants..yey years of practice and she knows just wear it is and takes it out. Moving on to the next element..
Ria: "Aur tie?"
Shiv: "gold stripes" ria picks out the tie again from a vast array and then moves onto the shoes.. she didn't bother asking him just looked though the range and picked some with her own preference.
As shiv finishes off reading his paper work he throws the file onto his bed and turns to take his cloths from ria.. who smiles at him. Shiv looks at the range of clothing she has picked out and approves yet adds something whilst taking his attire and turning to the restroom. "-thank you very much miss sen."-------
Having almost completed his morning routine shiv adds touch ups to his appearance in front of the mirror. Standing in front of a reflection that looks influential in every way Shivs personality of status and good looks could be seen clearly by anyone. In three piece attire shiv kapoor looked matured as a personality. Deep shade of black which showed the quality of is suit along side the stripes of his tie that added a little class. This was shiv kapoor, his every look was perfected from cuff links to the very musky fragrance in aftershave.
Fastening his watch which was another addition to his elements of wear shiv lisens to a morning brief from his secretary.
Ria: "Sir, woh anpupam ji ka phone ayay tha woh aap se milna chahte hai. - Everything else is per schedule."
Shiv approves with a nod, taking a last glance in the mirror he is about to turn away and leave when his secretary stops him. – "and sir.."
Shiv stops in his tracks, knowing that there is always something shiv waits, with his back to her.
Ria: what car would you like to take sir/driver chahiyay ya phir khud drive karenge?.
Shiv turns to look at her with a little annoyance.
"you can drive " shivs tone, his presence and posture as ever influential as he looks down at her. he notices that very look on her face that he has seen for years. She drops her gaze every time she feels that she is in for a harsh confrontation.
Ria is a bit surprised at his reply and her tone reveals that to shiv, "ji?" but shiv as ever is adamant.
Shiv : "Why is there a problem", looking down at her shiv kapoor would only and only accept a reply that was in favour of his opinion .
Nodding a little unsure she replies "No sir" and shiv carries on.
Shiv: "Take the benz vaise agar meri car ko kuch hua"...shiv takes a glance at ria and the intensely in his glare leaves there no need for the sentence to be completed."
"Toe..chale. shiv walks away turning leaving his P.A on her own. Pulling her tongue a little at the way she had just managed to avoid her boss's wrath, She knew it was her boss's way of showing his irritation at her. After all these years of working for him she knew exactly what his comments meant.
-------Anupam walks into kapoor industries, a cheerful as ever his expression beams with smiles. Its like a second home. As he walks in and meets and greets the employees on his way to shivs office. Anupam is a well known personality in the office even though he is only a friend of shivs. He distracts himself my flirting casually to the elderly lady hugging the cleaner kaka and just rubbing his cheerfulness off anyone and everyone. Contrary to all this as anupam reaches closer to shivs office he notices Gupta ji. One of shivs old employees yet in a very depressed state sitting outside shivs office. As anpupam sits down next to gupta ji he notices that the man is in tears.
Sometime later Anupam walks into shivs office without knocking because he really doesn't need to. shivs kapoors office needs no description as lavish as his other properties his office is no exception. A certain shade of red the walls of the room give off a very influential look and feel. As anupam walks in, takes a seat and begins to talk shiv is engrossed in some paper work and doesn't really react to anupam entering just seems to listen while commencing his work.
Anupam: Tume nahin lagta ke Gupta ji ko aise hein nikala is a bit harsh. Tume poocha tha ke woh meeting tak kyun nahin aapayey. Anupam knew that the answer would be a no.
Shiv without taking up a glance up from his work replies. "jo insaan apne boss ka karodo ka nuksaan karvade uski yehi saza hoti hai. I don't think its harsh. "
Anupam: "uske bte ka accident ho gayay tha shiv. Think about it shiv agar gupta ji ki jage mehen uncle hote toe. " shiv took a glance up at anupam that showed that maybe he had got it wrong. But gupta had never mentioned this to him or maybe it was because he never gave him the chance to explain.
Shiv takes to his desk phone and makes a call to his secretary by the looks of it. "gupta ji ko andar bhejo." Listing to this but a smile on anupams face. This meant that shiv has admitted that he was wrong in a very shiv kapoor way he would never say he was wrong yet his actions spoke louder than words. As Gupta ji entered the room shiv apologised in his very own way.
Mr gupta, joe dismissal papers meine aapko diyey hai..woh deejyey please. Mr gupta still looking very upset and worried too walks closer to shivs desk and hands shivs the papers.
Watching in suprise whilst shiv tares them up in front of him. Forget about this kal se aap woh usual position pein kam karenge. I'm sorry i wasn't aware of the situation.
Mr gupta is both overwhelmed and surprised by shivs reaction and leaves with mixed expression.
On the other hand nothing ever gets to anpuam. Digging inside his trouser pocket anupam take out a sweet unwraps it and happily puts it in his mouth. Even offers them to shiv..but he refuses.
As shiv and anupam sit at ease shivs phone rings once again.
The secritaty describes the caller as palak. Shivs sister now studying aboard palak has not been home for a long time yet her every moment in need is a call to shiv.
Sir palak ji ka phone hai, shivs face lights up hearing that it is palak he puts her on speakerphone. "yes put her through."
Anupam watches while shiv talks to his sister and is equally happy to see the sort of smile that forms on his friend's expression.
Conversation starts of lightly but shiv notices palaks tone to be upset and his face creases in worry.
Shiv : Baat kya hai palak...?
Palak: Bhaiyay woh actually prom night hai aur...kuch nahin
Shiv: Kya, shiv looks concerned yet very calm, he could hear that certain dullness in his sisters voice as she tried to avoid the situation. "Kuch nahin" but shiv insists
Shiv: Palak
Palak: "Woh...mera dost..aditya.."
Kya?, soon as shiv heard that it was the boy that he had heard so much about and even spoken to shiv got a little more serious.
Palak "Usne jaane se mana kardi.." shiv began to take things lighter and even wished his sister wouldn't over react so much.
Shiv: "Toe itni si baat, kisi aur ke saath chali jaaon."
It sounded like palak was really going to go on "Nahin bhaiya woh."
Shiv : "Ok, yey tumara dost aditya uska pura naam kya hai.."
Palak: "K Sharma"
Shiv : "Tum fikar maat karo woh tumare saath zarur aayeyga"
Palak sounded instantly more happy now "Thanks bhaiya"
Shiv "..hm teekh hai..take care"
Shiv puts the phone down and instantly asks his secretary to find details on this friend of palaks. Anupam gives shiv a look of caution.
Anpuam had an idea of what shiv was about to do but the question was of a rhetorical sort "Kya karne jaa rahe ho shiv...?" picking up the phone shivs words are aimed at anupams question.
Shiv : "Joe pyaar nahin karta woh power se hota hai anupam."
Anupam : Shiv tum us ladke ko bribe nahin karsakte shiv , anupam knew his friend well and totally disapproved of this. Anpuam knew shiv was wiser than this but he did have this streak of something in him that took over at times.
Shiv: "Money can do anything anupam..and i have enough of it." Shiv kapoor was a but stubborn when it came to it although he knew inside that this was the ego talking.
Anupam carried on trying "It can't buy happiness shiv"
Shiv:" But it can let me have what I want" anupam let it go shivs way. It was hard to argue with someone like shiv and anupam was more interested in his sweets right now but in the back of his mind he did hope that this ideology of shivs was just ideology and not belief.
.............
Later on in the night shiv finishes from work late night. Taking the car keys from his p.a he dismisses her for the remainder of the day and drives towards the kapoor haveli. Friday evening routine for shiv was to visit his farther in this rural village. By tradition and custom shiv was next air to this village as a thakur. But shiv didn't belive in any of this. He was shiv kapoor, industrialist and businessman shiv kapoor. He had an dislike for the old village ways and therefore refused to accept this thakur stamp. But as a son he would visit his farther but nothing more than that.
As the rain washed away against the windows of his rather grand car the shade of deep blue of the Bentley looked more distinguished. Along with it the darkness of the night seemed to be very deep. Every time shiv approached this village this haveli it was like it was a completely different world. Stepping back in time was the feeling.
Parking outside the grandness of the building the rain also seems to fade away. Shiv towards the entrance of the house and two door men greet him. Shiv walks past them into the haveli..
The surroundings exquisite, a touch of the old fashioned village look alongside a very rich personality. Black and white titled floor...magnificent staircase..walls that were filled with images of shiv ancestors, his mother, grandmother..shades of royal red, deep dark wood furniture and emerald greens filled the decor. The main feature was the staircase and as shiv walked into the house..and his footsteps sounded against the floor.
A certain sound of soft foot steps became stronger...a girl or was it a lady...dressed in an elegant red shade saari walked down the staircase..her face hidden somewhat she walked towards shiv. Her face discretely lowered as not to take a glance at shiv..she approached silently from behind shiv. Nearly Touching apon his shoulder but not. It was just a hint to help him out of his wet suit jacket. Shiv said nothing and let her do just that. She helped shiv out of his blazer and took it from him. As shiv folded up his sleeves and loosened his tie not once did he take a glance at her, he questioned the her. "dad kaha hai?" she didn't answer her expression lowered as shiv looked down at her she replied meekly " unke kamre mein."
Shiv without any other words walks toward his father's room. Amongst very characteristic setting mehen kapoor sits at a chess table. The posture elegance and feel of mehen was very characteristic. His dress sense seemed very fluid of Indian culture, draped in a cream shawl the admiration of culture could be seen in his dress sense. Mehen kapoor showed all the signs of being very handsome in his own time maybe this is where shiv had got his looks from. As mehen was engrossed in his game of chess the sharpness of his character failed not to sense shivs entrance which makes shiv smile. Happy to see his son mehens face breaks out in a smile. "agayay shiv..5 mins at 2secs late today, "mein tumara hein intaasar kar raha tha."
Shiv smiles sits down and takes up a game of chess with his farther...
"Kafi busy tha dad" mehen takes a glance at shiv and gives and smiles ..his expression gives off ease of age. Like he had once been in shivs place. But mehen had to add something.
"apni zimadari kab sambaloge beta?"
Shiv takes a very serious glance up at his farther "meine apni haar zimadari puri ki hai dad. Agar aap is haveli kii baat kar rahe ho..is gaaon ki baat kar rahe ho then aap mere jaavab jante ho dad." Mehen knew that shiv never wanted to or no will agree to be apart of this thakur culture and this hurt mehen to an extent. He let it be. Interrupting the moment an maid entered the room and left two plated meals. This was there routine. Shiv would visit his day one night a week and spend his time in the haveli. Eat dinner with his farther, talk spend time in general and the next morning he would leave.
It was a similar routine today, shiv and mehen finished off there chess game, they talked...dinned together and sometime later as they were continuing there conversations towards the entrance of the room that female in the red saari stood silently. Not interrupting yet mehens eyes happen to fall in the direction and notice her. carrying a tray with two glasses of water..it was like she was waiting to be permitted to enter. Mehens one soft glance gave her that signal. Entering again her face was somewhat covered over by her saari. Her steps into the room provoked shivs attention and with one glance came with his expression a certain dislike as well. She walked into the room softy and one the table that sat in-between both..firstly left mehens glass of water on the wooden surface and then shivs. Shivs site seem to hover over her very briefly and then chance perspective. She had left the room and with it shiv also decided that he would leave.....spending a little more time shiv left late into the night.
Early next morning and in the haveli and mehen has a visitor. As mehen relaxes with a newspaper his is told about the presence of somebody new.
Door man : Sahib koi aap se milna chahta hai.
Mehen: Kaun?
Ji pata nahin..woh keh rehe hai ke une bade papa se milna tha... mehens face lights up as there is only one person who call him bade papa and that is anupam. Just when mehen is about to let kaka know to let him in anupam strolls in.. looking around the haveli a bit like a forenier he has a camera strung around his neck. Overly excited to see anuapm after such a long time mehen greets anupam with a hug.
Behto beta..pehli baar ayey ho na yaha? Anupam takes a seat on the very elegant seating and is lost with the appeal of this palace time ambience.. looking around you could see his expression exploring every element of the haveli.
Yaha aane ka kabhi mohka hein nahin mila.. anupam smiles at mehen and notices the changes in him.. mehen had noticeably gone older. His expression had maturied yet he still cared that certain sparlkle to his personality.
Anupam: aap theek toe hai na bade papa..
Mehen: Muje kya hua im fine..Tum baton tum kaise ho.
Anupam: "Not bad..kafi tired hoon..raaste mein kho gayay tha.". mehen finds it a little amusing.
"Actually papa muje kuch tasvirer chahiyey thi..havli ki..kya hai naa for my next novel kuch inspiration chahiyey tha.."
The way in which anupam picked up the ornaments on the coffee table showed his enchantment at the place.
Mehen: is mein kya hai..feel free yey tumara hein ghar hai.. it was clear that mehen was lonely and he enjoyed company yet he was an busy man. As much as he would have loved to continue his conversation with anupam there were people who wanted to see him. By the looks of it they were villages. As mehen did his thing anupam went to explore the haveli for his inspiration.
Exquisitly grand rooms, starting off with the ground floor its self...anupam went past the array of rich potraties. All traditional figures seemingly of shivs ansestores. "shiv vaakehin thakuro ke khandan se aata hai..these look as scary as him." Talking to himself as well as taking the snaps anupam amused himself with his own comments. The surroundings very traditional he loved them..from the grand stairwell to the..wooden ornimates..prayer room.. the passing by of maids and butlers who were constantly busy.
Anupam loved it.. the place gave off the essence of power influence..and culture. Making his way upstairs and top of the stairwell. With two directions..either left or right. Anupam had to be a little different and took the path were by the floor was wet. Looked like it had been freshly cleaned as the black and white checked tiles gave off a certain glow. As anupam stepped very carefully onto the titles he did well to walk a few steps but hearing footsteps from a distance anpupam took his concentration away from the floor and took a glance up. walking at distance was a slender figure female in a saari. The shade of red..it was exquisite .and worn quite traditionally anupam could only see the side of her yet noticed that she was dressed for to richly to be a maid. Her skin tone was a perfect tan shade and hair..long black.. who was she? ..just as s anupam went out to call for her his feet took to misbalance and before he knew it he was on the floor. She had gone..
As light he was per personality he didn't find the situation embarrassing just a little amusing. He had fallen to his feet and now had to get up. luckily there was someone to help. Servant who happened to come in time helped anupam up.
The man helped anpupam up and anpuam thanked him. Just as he was about to walk away anpupam managed to stop him.
Suno!, the man turns around and walks back. "ji saahab." Anupam is curious as to the lady he had just seen and asks. "Woh aurat kon thi?" the man looks at anupam strangely ... and replies, "kaun saahab"
Anupam: "woh abhi yaha thi"
Man: "ji koi naukrani hogi sahib."
"Nahin woh.." in anupams mind she cant have been a maid she didn't seem to be at appreance. All the other staff in the house were dressed in a blue shade.. " nahin usne lal rang ki saar pehni thi."
The man looks at anpuam strangely,
Man: Mein toe yaha naya hoon par yaha par saab kehte hai ke.. shiv sahib use is ghar mein le kar aayey hai. Anpuam looks at the man with question, what did he mean by shiv has bought her into the house.
Anpuam: mein kuch samja nahin, anupam had the look of confusion on his face as the man replied "Sahib aap jaante hai...bade log kuch bhi kar sakte hai...kuch bhi khareed sakte hai."
Anpuam got a little defensive over his friend, what was this man trying to imply "Tum kehna kya chahte ho ke shiv.." although the man didn't let shiv finish off his words..
"Pata nahin sahib magar yey gaaon hai.,.yaha yey sab chalta hai.."
The man left quickly without saying anything leaving anpuam to deal with the aftermath of his words.
Stunned at what he had just heard anupam began to question himself. "shiv aisa kuch nahin kar sakta ?"
..................
Hey guys I'm back with another ff, hope you all enjoy it. Similar to my last couple of pieces this is going to be a mid legth ff too. The idea has sort grown to something a little different than my usual ffs although the trademark elements i think are still there.
Another thing is i've not done a intro type thing for this ff so please read the character sketch as i think it will help get the flavour of things,
Hope you all like it and please leave your comments
Jagruti
Edited by jagrutid - 15 years ago
