FF~ When Fate Strikes It's Magic Wand~pt.13~pg.36- Page 5

Krishna Kapoor.. her mother-in-law.. her only support to live this haunting life.

"ji maa" priya replied softly.

"10 baj rahe hain beta.. its late, chalo khana khale.

Priya nodded her head and silently followed her to the dining room.

Chapter.2

The dinner session went silent as always.. the only sound audible was of the spoons striking the bowls n plates. KK finished her meal 1^st and sat staring at priya intensely as if trying to read her mind. Priya was stroking her spoon over the food having one or two nibbles occasionally. KK brushed her hand on priya's hair n said "priya.. kya baat hain beta?? Haar roz khane ko leke aise baith jati ho jaise wo tumhara dushmaan ho"

P: khane ka maan nehi hai maa

KK: who toh kabhi bhi nehi hota.. thik se khana nehi khaogi toh tabiat kharab hojayegi.

Priya pressed an assuring smile and started digging in her food just trying to get it over with

KK: tum delhi kab jarahi ho??

P: main nehi ja rahi maa, Natasha aur vikram ja rahe hain

KK: Nats toh Australia gayi huyi hain na' aur tum kyun nehi ja sakti??

Priya replied sadly: iska jawab ap janti hain maa

KK held priya's hand n replied: do saal beett gaye uss baat ko.. kyun apne apko itna takleef deti ho?

Not being able to face her priya slowly got up from her chair and turned back.. "I can't bear it maa." priya choked.. "main waha jake apnea p ko nehi sambhal paungi."

KK: tum akeli thodi jaogi.. Natasha ya vikram ko le jao saath mein. Treat it as your work beta.

P: nehi hoga maa.. yeh nehi hoga

KK got up and went beside priya.. holding her shoulders she made priya face her.. "do saal.. do saal se yehi isi ghar mein ho tum.. ghar se office.. office se ghar.. bas yehi rehgaya hain tumhare zindegi mein.. zara bahar niklo priya.. apne ap pe bharosa karo."

Hearing her priya broke down.. encircling KK into a hug she burst out into tears.. "kyun maa kyun?? Mere saath hi aisa kyun ho na tha?? Kya galti thi meri?? Main itni buri hu kya??"

KK engulfed her into a motherly hug trying to calm her down.. "ssshhh.. kuch nehi beta.. tumhare saath kuch bura nehi hua, meri priya sabse acchi hai"

P: "maa mujhse aur basdasht nehi hota.." she spoke between her sobs.. "kab khatam hogi meri yeh saaza..?? ram ne aisa kyun kiya maa??"

That was one question priya repeatedly asked but KK had no answer

KK: "bas meri bacchi bohot hogaya.. ab rona bandh karo" she pulled away from the hug and wiped her tears.. "choti bacchi ho kya?? Baat baat per rone lagti ho.. lollipop chahiye??" she giggled.. trying to lighten up

Priya smiled at her little joke.. she did acknowledge how hard it must hv been for KK as well.. priya wiped her tears and thanked KK for always being by her side.. KK held her head and pressed a kiss on priya's forehead giving her blessings.

The dark night soon crept towards a beautiful morning; the sun was shining proudly at the horizon. The morning light or any light didn't matter to her any more. Priya got up. Completed her daily routine and was just rushing out of the house when.. "priyaaa' nashta karke jao" KK called her back. Priya hit her head with her hand.. "yeh ma bhi na.. humesha pakad leti hain" she whispered to herself. "haan maa.. kar rahi hu !" she picked up a brown bread sandwich from the plate and stormed out.

The roads were awfully busy.. "aur kitna time lagega Shankar?" priya inquired the driver... "bohot traffic hain maa'm, ek adha ghanta toh lag hi jayega".

Priya sat back and looked out through the window.. her sight transfixed over a couple on a bike right next to her car. They were arguing on something. Seeing them a subtle smiled played on her lips. Her mind lost back in tym'

"kid?? Again this kid??" priya yelled.. "listen Mr. I am 28 years old.. I am no kid! U get that??" she exclaimed.. "wow wow young lady.. I thought women were supposed to hide there age and here you are standing in the middle of an office telling your age at the top of your lungs" Ram replied. Priya was embarrassed.. to she each side to find ppl staring at her.. her face was turning red.. "get back to work ppl.." Ram ordered.. priya was a little puzzled by ram's commanding voice but ram broke in her thoughts.. "ok young lady, enough of blushing.. now let's go for the meeting!" ram declared.. "God you're irritating" saying that priya walked off and Ram followed her chuckling.

All the applicants presented their projects one after another. Unknowingly Priya's eyes were searching for Ram. After a while the owner of so and so company introduced the man taking over their company and it was none other then Ram Kapoor. Priya's face turned pale.. "ab toh tu gayi kaam se beta, tera kuch nehi hone wala." Priya murmured to herself.

The introduction session continued "so applicants Mr.Kapoor is the new owner of this company. He had been monitoring all your presentation from the other cabin and so the final decision will be his." The man thanked Ram for one last time and left the board room.

"hello people!" ram spoke up. "hell priya tu kyun ayi yaha..?? isse pehle ki aur beizzati ho tu khisakle yaha se" thinking that in her mind priya picked up her files and was preparing to leave.

"going some where Ms.Sharma??" ram intervened.

"damn it!" priya shut her eyes close n cursed her luck.. she turned towards ram to reply "woh sir.. m.. m..main who" she stammered.. "main.. haan.. who main pani pi ne ja rahi thi"

"oh I see, ap pani pi ne ja rahe hain ya apne files ko pani pilane jarahi hain??" ram enquired in a teasing tone

"ji??" she was puzzled

"I mean files niche rakkhiye aur pani pi ke ayiye, m about to announce the result"

Priya nodded.. she came back after a minute and joined the rest of them.

Ram started speaking.. "ok guies that was some great presentations by you all.. 1^st of all I would like to tell you that there's a little change in plan.. we will be doing this project here in Delhi only not in Mumbai.. and our target time is 3 months.. Now time to announce the result.. after careful observation I hv chosen the best candite "

"he is no way choosing u beta.. phir kya ek flight and seedhe wapas ghar aur bas chutkara!" priya thought to herself and smiled.

"so ladies and gentlemen its Ms Priya Sharma" Ram declared.

"what?!" priya almost yelled. The rest of them clapped.

"kya hua Ms. Sharma.. u don't think your deserving enough?"

"nehi.."

"nehi??" a confused ram asked again

"I mean haan lekin who.."

"kya woh woh?? U should be happy.. we are starting with the project tomorrow so brace yourself, thnk you ppl " saying that ram left the board room and priya rushed after him.

"but sir this project was supposed to be in Mumbai. I'm not prepared to be in delhi for 3 whole months" priya insisted.

"ok so you hv whole day today.. preparation karlijiye, I don't hv time for this Priya." He stopped to look at her.

Suddenly her name sounded musical.. she was transfixed in her position.. "priya.. priya..!!" ram snapped in front her. "huh what..!" she snapped out of her thoughts.. "u take this card.. m staying at this hotel. Filhaal ke liye tum yaha room book karlo later on we'll see the rest" saying that he patted on her shoulder n walked towards the exit. Priya stood there watching him go in daze. Ram turned one last time "u surely are a kid" he thought to himself n smiled "see ya kid" he waved at her.

The car stopped with a jerk.. "Ma'am hum pohoch gaye" priya's mind dragged back to the present, to the reality. "haan ok" getting down from the car she slammed da door behind. "ap wait maat kijiye ghar wapas chale jaiye, I will call u when I need" she ordered the driver.

TO BE CONTINUED..