PART 6
"Next time… whenever im given reports on any major deal… including the history of the company and its owners… make sure that photographs are attached… make it a rule, a law… I don't care! But from next time… I want to see photographs too!!!"
D stared at his boss. She was extremely stressed… why, he could not figure out! There was nothing wrong that had happened, between when he had dropped her last night, and she had walked into the office today morning. Atleast nothing that HE knew of. Except the informal meeting with Arjun Singhania! But what could go wrong there? Didn't she know him since childhood?
"Stop biting your lip when you're thinking deeply!"
Arohis bark jerked D out of his thoughts.
"Seriously… it makes you look so… so girly!" Arohi glared at him and Danish stopped tormenting his lips with his teeth.
"Between the two of us… atleast one should have girly traits… no?" D replied smirking.
Arohi shot a look at her secretary and he almost stumbled back physically by the intensity of it. Ok… she was in a real foul mood… so no jokes!
"Arohi… kya hua hai? Jab se aayi ho sabki class le rahi ho. I don't remember anything that has happened since morning that can be labelled as 'catastrophic'! Then why are you in such a bad mood???"
Arohi grunted and turned her face away. Time and again all the scenes from the past played on her mind. And they all ended up with Arjun looking in to her eyes and kissing her knuckles. GODDD!!! She had felt like hitting someone… breaking something. But she had to keep quiet and smile… because her family thought that He, was what her father quoted as… a GOOD BOY!!!
Only she knew how 'good' that 'boy' was!!!
D noticed Arohi huffing and puffing like an enraged bull thinking about something which she might be destroying soon, in the near future. He sat on the chair across her desk and placed his hands on hers, which were gripping the Singhania file tightly.
"Arohi… I know that we are in office and right now we are only colleagues. But Im also your personal secretary, so you can tell me. What is the matter???"
Sudhir Ahluwalias cabin…
Sudhir Ahluwalia had a pleasant smile on his face as he took the file from Danish and opened it out for Arjun to sign. Arjun removed his platinum-plated, personally engraved Cross pen from his jacket pocket. One of his many dreams was coming true. He was signing his first major venture in India and he was doing it with a person who was his mentor, his guide. Smiling at his Sudhir uncle, Arjun bend down to sign on the official final documents when he heard the door to the cabin open.
Before Arjun could see behind, a waft of white jasmine blocked the thought process to his brain via his nasal passage. Breathing in deeply, Arjun closed his eyes and he got a sudden feeling of calmness in his heart. This smell was of his favourite flower but he didn't know from where it came. He turned around slowly, and saw a beauty in white and red sari, with almond-shaped pretty eyes and a kissable red mouth standing in front of him. The sweet and fresh smell was radiating from the flowers that she had woven in the plait of her knee long hair.
Sudhir uncle was speaking something to her but Arjun could not hear them… he could only see… or what others could term as… stare!!!
Arjuns dreamy haze was broken harshly when Arohi entered the cabin and came to stand in front of the gorgeous woman, blocking Arjuns view. Arjuns stare turned into glare, but he caught himself in time and turned off his emotions to indifference.
"Ok… Thank you Shanti. Yes, please tell him I will call him back and im in an urgent meeting. Ok?"
The woman nodded at Sudhir and stole a glance at the handsome young man in the cabin with shy eyes. Arjun gave her a soft acknowledging smile.
"Is. There. Anything. Else… Shanti???" Arohis curt and stern question set off warning bells in Shantis brain and shaking her head in a quick no, she scurried away like a mouse escaping a lions den.
Being Sudhir Ahluwalias secretary, she rarely had to face the 'Phoolan devis' wrath. That's what they called Arohi Ahluwalia behind her back. Someone had named her as 'Jhansi ki Rani' but then they felt that it was too mild for her personality and something more dangerous would be suitable. So then, a vote was taken, and eventually Phoolan Devi won, with a huge margin.
Glad of getting rid of this South Indian beauty, Arohi turned to her father.
"Dad, I think you and Arjun should read the contract again. After consulting with our lawyer, I have added a few clauses to it. Its nothing major, only for purely professional purpose, which will protect the interest of both the parties. But nonetheless, we should not sign it till everyone has read and agreed to it."
Sudhir looked perplexed. He had consulted his laywer before making the papers. But he did not want to question Arohi. She was the one incharge now and he understood her professional ethics, so he turned to Arjun.
"Since you and Arohi are going to be partners in this project, I think you both should read it and agree on it. Im am fine with whatever you both decide."
Arjun scrutinised Arohi. What was she playing at? Why did she introduce new conditions when everything had been read and agreed upon. He knew that after the way he had intimidated her last night, she was definitely going to retaliate. He had expected more of a one-on-one confrontation, but she had chosen to do it the professional way.
Well, looks like Miss Ahluwalia had managed to surprise him this time, but he will make sure that he is ahead of the game.
"Sudhir uncle, I've heard a lot about Arohis professionalism and the way she conducts business. So I don't want to question this last minute change or go through the entire contract again. But since it is mandatory I agree before I sign, why doesn't Arohi just tell me what are the new or the altered conditions, and I will give my approval."
Very. Smart.
Two words that came on Arohis lips and died there. She could see what he was doing here. He was showing trust in her to impress dad and yet he didn't want to read them but wanted to hear the conditions from her mouth, so that dad also hears them. If they are unreasonable, then dad himself will object because he trusts his 'Arjun beta' too much to impose any hard core conditions on him. But, 'beta' was in for a surprise.
"Fair enough." Arohi smiled and wore her glasses. Walking towards the table, she took the file in her hands and opened the relevant pages.
"Most of the terms are left as it is, since you and Dad have agreed upon it. Only one has been changed, regarding the profit, that it will be divided in to three parts. 40% for Singhania Industries, 40% for Ahluwalia group of Companies, and the remaining 20% will go for a charity. We, as a multinational company believe in giving something back to the society and hence a part of our profits are given to charity. Since this project is in India, the trust will be one that works for Indian underprivileged children."
"Ok."
Arjuns immediate response stunned Arohi a bit. She had not expected him to protest but neither had she expected such a blind, knee-jerk approval. Staring at him for a moment, she continued.
"One particular clause that has been added in the conditions is that… Neither of us, can back out of this project halfway, before completion. The credibility of both the companies is at stake and one of us pulling out will put financial and ethical pressure on the other and that will not be good for our future. In the event something like this happens, the defaulted company will have to face legal action from the opposite party. This is just to safeguard your interest as much as ours."
Arohi looked up at Arjun and found him staring at her. She could make out he was thinking something and that was exactly what she had aimed at.
'What. The. Hell?!' Arjun just could not understand. This clause was not something out of the ordinary, but in this case it was not required. He had not intentions of leaving his Sudhir uncle in any kind of lurch and he was sure that uncle felt the same too. Then why??!! Did she expect him to quit midway??? Was she planning something on those lines??? Well… then he will be prepared for it!
"I really don't think this is required Arohi…" Seeing Arjun deep in thought, Sudhir cut in.
"No uncle. She is right. Its only fair to both of us. I agree that it is not required but then it is not wrong either. Arjun Singhania respects professionalism and im really impressed by the changes she has made in the contract." Turning to Arohi, Arjun picked up his pen. "Agreed. So… where do I sign???"
Arjun had managed to stump Arohi again, but she would be damned if she accepted so. Throwing an air of satisfaction, she sauntered over to the table and pointed to the place on the paper which had 'Arjun Singhania' typed below. Arjun offered Arohi the pen after he signed. She felt the warmth of his fingers on the pen, and of his breath on her neck as she bend down to sign.
"Good Luck… Miss Ahluwalia…" Arohi heard the husky whisper in her ears as soon as she had finished signing the deal. Straightening up, she handed Arjun back his pen and put out her hand to shake on it. Arjun smirked looking at her outstretched steady hand and took it in his.
Sudhir smiled as he saw two of the people he was proud of, shake hands smilingly. This was going to be a new era for both their businesses, their families, and for Arjun and Arohis lives.
Arohis cabin…
Danish gave his boss coffee and sat down to file the papers that were to go in the new contract. His hands were doing his work in almost a robotic manner but his mind was working elsewhere.
He had noticed the devilish smirk that both, Arohi and Arjun had given each other after shaking hands. Poor Sudhir uncle was completely clueless about the silent cold war brewing, right under his long, straight nose. Even he would have been, had Arohi not confided in him about her linked past to the 'playboy' Singhania.
To say that Danish was shocked was an understatement. He had felt almost… betrayed! He had read a lot about Arjun and he had been very impressed. Infact when Sudhir Ahluwalia told him about their family connection, he had been looking forward to meeting him. Arjun was only a few years older to him and Arohi, but the kind of accomplishments that he had in his name at his age, were remarkable. A lot of women had a lot of nice things to tell about him.
Now he knew why!
He had told a lot about Arjun to Arohi when she had first asked him. But later, when she told him about Arjuns 'real character' he felt like a fool!
He had not missed the knowing glance that Arjun had thrown Shantis way. He was not as disgusted at that as Arohi, but he did not approve of it either. Arohi was strictly against any emotional involvements in the office time and space. Even a husband who worked with his wife, did not dare to say sweet nothings in her ear during their office hours or in the premises. And Danish respected that. But looked like, Mr Singhania was going to violate a lot many rules that Arohi had set.
Finishing off his work, he went back to his desk and laptop. Adding a new folder to his list, he started uploading the documents in it. Whenever a new project was started, D always prayed. Folding his hands he sent a silent prayer to god, thanking him for this new opportunity, praying for everything to go well and for giving him strength and wisdom to carry it through.
This time D prayed for two more things. Patience for Arohi Ahluwalia and Maturity for Arjun Singhania.
Im writing this story full steam ahead! so i need your comments and feedbacks... if i feel it right or like your suggestions, then i may make the necessary changes in the story 😉 i dont know how writers handle 10 different SS/FF... im struggling with just 2
