FF *Lattie returns+D3 five years leap*

"Aiden!!!"

Her scream shook the walls yet again. Aiden was tired. This morning had been one of those difficult ones this week, and she wished she could just magically disappear somehow.

A job with Sullivan Solutions had seemed like a blessing seven months back… and it had even been so. It was one of the finest fashion event management companies in New York, and assisted designers to showcase their collection with aplomb.

It really had all been okay…until this new project had come up…this Indian designer. One of Sullivan Solution's biggest projects. How enthusiastic she had been about this, especially when she was told she would be the one to coordinate with the designer personally. And she had tried hard…so hard. But this Miss-Snooty-Pants…she was just plain sadistic. Couldn't she ever be pleased about at least something?

"Aiden…where are you?" The designer's repeated screams quavered the workshop some more.

'For the love of Mary…when will this project end…?' Aiden wondered in hassle as she hurried to her current boss's office. 'Please God…please make it slightly milder this time.'

"Yes ma'am?" Aiden flashed a nervous smile as she stood at the door.

"What the hell is this?" her boss's voice was chillingly hushed. Typical signpost of a forthcoming explosion.

"Uh…ma'am…it's…it's the backdrop…remember…the…"

"This?!!!" she was livid now. "This piece of garbage is going to be my event backdrop? Are you serious…?" The explosion had happened. "Look Aiden, I don't care if Sullivan's has any standards at all, but I… Sharon Raiprakash… sure does! And there is NO way that I am going to let months of my hard work get ruined over this…this…this lame…eww…" Sharon minced her words, as she pointed at the backdrop design.

Aiden stared timidly at the design samples propped at the messy side table by the window, mad inside, but fiercely counting numbers inside.

"Sharon, Aiden, is everything okay?"

Aiden sighed in relief at the sight of Sharon's business partner. Thank God for her, or Sullivan Solutions would have blown over months back.

"It's all finished Simi," Sharon screamed dramatically. "These people are all set to ruin our show!"

"Hey chill Sharon…kya hua?" Simi asked calmly, seating Sharon down on the hand couch.

"Look at that…that thing," Sharon pointed at the samples again. "They call it a backdrop…I call it a rag!"

Simi studied the samples closely, and looked back at Sharon again with a mild knowing smile. "Sharon sweeti, they are fine…they'll look good with our collection."

"Have you lost it Simi?" Sharon stood up in excitement. "What the hell do YOU know? You only design the footwears dude…those will be my dresses up there…!"

Having said this, Sharon immediately bit her tongue, and silently cursed herself for having crossed the line once again. She looked apologetically at Simi. "Simi…I…I am sorry…"

"Oho, it's ok Sharon," Simi smiled warmly. "Hum best friends hain naa…college se? And main jaanti hoon tumhe…you are stressed right now…and tension me itna toh chalta hai." Simi hugged Sharon with a laugh.

A tear escaped Sharon's eyes as she hugged her back. "Thanks Sims…ek tum hi toh ho jo…jo abhi bhi…" Sharon tried to speak unemotionally, but could not. "Baaki sab toh…"

"Aisa nahi hai Sharon," Simi refuted. "If only you would…"

"Forget it Simi," Sharon collected herself and wiped the tear off. "Let's not talk about all that. Aiden…get me 3 new backdrop samples…NOW!"

Aiden had been watching the events in awe, and reluctantly scurried to her own cubicle. She had always believed Miss Raiprakash to be a mono dimensionally irritated person, but after today…she seemed to have a softer side after all.

***

"Hi, is this Gustave Virtual Arts dot com?" Aiden asked in anticipation, while the man on the other side loudly cleared his throat.

"Yeah, this is. What'd'ya want?" he grunted in a clear Mexican drawl. "Your voice sure sounds purrty…what's your number, eh?"

It took every ounce of self control to keep Aiden from swearing back at this man. Time was running out, and the last thing she needed was a comedian on the other side of the line. "Excuse me sir, but I do need to know…who should I be talking to for the negotiation of… of this art piece numbered 78695 on your website?"

"Huh…?" the man sounded confused at this. "Lady, what are you talking about? We are the Gustave Virtual Tarts dot com…we sell the best tarts in all of South New York…Strawberry, blueberry, apple, lemongrass…"

Aiden hung up in exasperation. 'Jesus…what am I gonna do…' she was close to palpitating. 'One…just this ONE sample Miss Raiprakash had liked…' she muttered within. 'Really liked out of the eighty-seven I had shown…She had actually smiled in approval…that was a first…and now…and now…I can't seem to find a way to get hold of this painting…God damn it!!!'

Since the last two hours she had been trying hard, but was failing to get hold of the correct website contact.

Suddenly her phone rang. She looked over. The number looked familiar. "Hi! Aiden Wilburson, Sullivan Solutions," she held her breath in anticipation.

"Hi, we got a call from this number," the voice informed. "This is Amy from the Gustave Virtual Arts dot com. May I help you?"

Aiden was instantly on cloud 9. "Oh thank God!!! Ok Amy, here's the deal…"

Fifteen minutes later, Aiden was gleefully dialing the concerned artist's agent.

***

"Baby ji," Mr. Chopra chirped like a child, a rhythm of ecstasy evident in his tone. "We sold The Dancing Coyotes an hour ago!"

"Nice…good work uncle," she replied inattentively, sipping her coffee, lost in the grandeur of Grand Canyon snowfall from her hotel room window.

"Arey baby ji, it is very good! You won't believe…" Mr. Chopra almost danced over the phone. "Sold it for 5 million dollars, baby ji!"

"Hmm," she mumbled, still preoccupied by the beauty of the snow settling on some orange flowers. 'What flowers are they…' she wanted to know.

"Kya baby ji? Sirf ek 'hmm'?" he sounded almost hurt. "Itni acchi deal…priceless deal…aur aap hain ki…"

"Arey uncle…paise bhi kabhi priceless hote hain?" she laughed blankly, all the while aware that Mr. Chopra would never really understand this. Once an agent, always an agent. "Anyway, great deal uncle."

"Thank you baby ji," he sounded pleased again. "Accha, aap India wapis kab aa rahi hain Lattie baby ji?"

"Pata nahi Chopra uncle…" Latika smiled, as she stared at the snow. "Soon. Ye do paintings finish ho jaaye…bas."

Ashwin Chopra had been one of their oldest family friends. A man with a sharp eye for detail, and some tremendous business sense. Since the past three years; ever since she had begun; he had been Latika's art agent. A man extremely honest and extremely loyal. All in all, the best agent one could get.

And for now…he seemed to be her only link to the world.

It had been five years since she had visited India. During college, her parents would sometimes come to meet her in Boston…but now, she travelled so often…they just could not keep track geographically.

"Enough now," Latika's mother often coaxed. "Come home now beta. It has been five years."

"Soon Ma…" Latika would always assure, and yet…

She was tired of her own hollow promises. Something seemed to strongly hold her back. Mostly, she was terrified of another heartbreak.

In fact, since the last five years, she had not even kept contact with any of her friends…the gang… not even Swayam.

'Swammy…' she smiled. His memories always warmed her…and yet scared her. Because in a strange way, he happened to remind her of Rey.

Rey and Kriya… How she missed them. Rey… Kriya… Swammy… everyone…!

'Rey and Kriya must be so happy together' she thought with a smile. 'Maybe they are even married now…or at least engaged…'

Latika walked up to the full length mirror in the room, and stared blankly at her reflection. Nothing seemed to have changed on the outside. She still looked like the same Latika… and yet…so much had changed within. She had still not been able to grasp exactly when that flamboyant, friendly Lattie had metamorphosed into this reclusive and silent Latika Rathod. Art had been her only solace. Even dance had taken a backseat.

'Rey must have completely forgotten me,' she thought, as she drained away the remaining mug of coffee that had cooled off. 'What else did you expect Lattie…? You had ALWAYS been the outsider…' Her heart cringed at this thought. 'It was always supposed to be Rey and Kriya… how dare you even think -"

"Good good, you are making more paintings baby ji?" Mr. Chopra excitement suddenly brought Latika back to the present. "Banao bacche…more painting, more money. More money…balle hi balle! Arey money is honey ji!"

Latika just had to laugh at this. Chopra uncle could talk really funny sometimes… and she loved his enthusiasm.

"Accha uncle," it abruptly struck her. "Main poochna hi bhool gayi."

"Haan beta ji…?"

"Dancing Coyotes ka buyer kaun tha?"

"Wo…Sullivan Solutions, New York," Mr. Chopra informed before hanging up. "Koi…koi Miss Sharanjeet Raiprakash."