Hello all. So here's the next chapter, with a whole new character. I'm super excited to see what you all think about this new person. Before I let you get to it though, thanks again to all those who commented, special thanks to Shweta and Amu. Amu, I loved your comments on each of the chapters, especially your thoughts regarding NK. There's alot more depth to him then meets the eye. Shweta, you're kinda the reason I didn't stop at chapter 5. Thanks so much ladies. Anyhoo, here's the latest chapter, the longest one yet. Comment to let me know what you all thought.
Chapter 6: Keeping tabs
Somewhere far far away from Arshi land, in sunny California, she was getting ready to start her day. Sitting on the balcony overlooking the beautiful gardens her mother worked diligently on, she sipped her coffee reading the New York Times. American news? Check. Now for the Indian news. She picked up the Hindi newspaper, looked at it in annoyance and flung it back down on the coffee table. "How many times do I have to remind people I can't read Hindi, why they still send me the paper here every day is beyond me." Secretly though, she was pleased that people thought her that accomplished. Or that Indian. Born and raised in the States, most Indians she met presumed that she was an uncultured, disrespectful American coconut, brown from the outside, white on the inside. She resented being judged that way. "I speak Hindi well enough," she muttered to herself. With a sigh, she inserted the hands-free device in her ear, and made the daily call. "Hi, Abhi, news please, if you're ready." The next few minutes passed in silence as she took in whatever was been communicated from the other side of the line. Finally, the news update was done. She smiled. "Thanks Abhi, as always. But, there's one more thing as always." She paused, and as she listened, disappointment filled her face. "Nothing, again? Ok, thanks Abhi. See you in the office soon."
An hour later, she was ready. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror and appraised herself. "Not bad, Saakshi Tanwar. I think you'll do for a hot shot business person," Not bad was an understatement. She cut an impressive figure in her designer suit and heels. Make-up perfect, not a hair out of place. At 29, Saakshi Tanwar was the youngest south east-Asian female business woman in the United States of America. And she looked every inch the no-nonsense sharp-tongued business woman she was reputed to be. Very few people knew that the image was just a facade. And even fewer knew the real face behind the mask. She looked at herself one more time, smoothed away imaginary creases from her skirt and headed downstairs.
"Morning Nani, morning Ma, gotta jet, see you later." She practically flew away, before she felt a sharp tug on her ear. "Ah..ah..Maa...it hurts." She was duly deposited on a chair before the ear was released. "Ma, it is attached to my body. It hurts," she exclaimed as she rubbed her ear glaring at her mother, who was chuckling with glee. "Good, I wanted to do a regular tune up of your ear, just to make sure you still have the ability to hear. You see, we're never sure, since you're never here." Saakshi glared at them, muttering under her breath. "That's because the inquisition will start, and I'll have to spend from now till Sunday explaining every decision I've made from grade school to now." Shweta Tanwar smirked at her daughter across the table, enjoying their little exchange. "What's that? Speak up, will you? We can't hear your muttering." Saakshi glared at them again, and seeing no other alternative, picked up the piece of toast on the plate in front of her.
Her mother looked at her with laughter in her eyes. For all the back and forth that people witnessed between mother and daughter, there was nothing but love and respect between the two. "Your father called," she said. "He wanted to know when you are planning on expanding into India and helping him that side." Saakshi shot an irritated look at her mother. "If he wanted to talk business, he can call me at work. Why is he sending messages like that through you?" Her mother looked back at her serenely. "He's your father beta. Of-course he will ask about you when he calls." Saakshi sat quietly, not saying a word, while the air around them crackled with tension. Her mom sighed and surrendered. "Ok fine, let's not talk about this now then. Next topic, I was thinking of coming with you this time when you go to India to that ashram of yours." Saakshi looked up in surprise. That was really a sudden shift in topics. She suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Ma, I don't know, I was thinking of not going this year." Surprised eyes looked up. "Not going this year? But you've been going every six months for the past three years! And, it's almost September again. You always go to India in September." Saakshi looked up at her mom, thinking of the phone call this morning. Abhi's voice reverberated in her head. "No ma'am. As always, there is no news of her." She sighed and looked up at her mother. "Maybe I'll go next year. This year, maybe take a break?" Her mother assessed her coolly, and then smiled. "Ok beta, you're lucky that your Nani doesn't understand your fancy angrezi. She'd be scandalized to know that you're turning your back on your religion." Saakshi grinned impishly. She flung herself into her mother's arms, quickly kissed her Nani and ran off. "Crazy child," Shweta muttered, and turned her attention back to her food.
The office scene for Saakshi, was as usual, crazy. She didn't go to the office often. She was a more in-the-field type person. Dealing with clients, fashion houses and designers, coordinating shows, that was her scene. That was what made her blood tingle with excitement. Making things happen. The office, was not where things happened, according to Saakshi. The office, was a place of bureaucracy and kitchen politics. Thank God for Abhi, she thought. He made sure that the circus ran like a well-oiled machine. It was lunch time and she was taking a well-earned break in her cabin. Most of the morning passed in staff meetings, board meetings, discussing company policies, media issues, pretty much everything other than fashion. "Why do I even work in fashion," she thought grumpily. "I don't even like fashion." Ok, so that wasn't entirely true. Saakshi was not a vain girl. She dressed the way she did because she had to. But what she really loved, was Indian clothes. Even as a child, she would dress up in her Ma's saris, and jewelry, prancing around pretending to be an Indian princess. She wasn't very creative, and therefore designing didn't quite work out for her, but she had a killer intuition and an uncanny sense of people. What people liked, what they didn't. What would work, what wouldn't. She knew how to get people to do things. And so was born Satyam Creations. An American-based Indian fashion house. In five short years, she had changed the face of Indian fashions in America. From bridezillas to Hollywood production houses, everyone wanted to work with her. Even India had come knocking at her door in recent years. But she shied away not wanting to tie herself down with anyone else. She preferred being answerable to herself and herself alone. However, two years ago, she had come very close to partnering with an Indian fashion house, but even that didn't work out. "Bloody Arnav Singh Raizada," she muttered again remembering their heated correspondence from two years ago. Oh well, such is life. She felt a weird sense of satisfaction knowing that the collection she had coveted never saw the light of day after all. She wasn't usually a possessive person, but she had fallen in love with the collection as soon as she had seen it. Whimsical designs with light airy fabrics, bright colours, bold prints. It was totally different from what they had showcased in the past. Saakshi knew there was a big risk in launching such a quirky collection, but she was in love. It was quite a brutal shock for her when the CEO of AR designs not only refused to work with her, but also didn't at all seem affected by her charms. She had taken it personally, and buried away the incident in her mind, ready to call upon it in the future if she had to. "Arnav Singh Raizada," she thought to herself. "We will meet one day, and then I'll show you who's boss." The thought made her smile.
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Thoughts? 😊
With Love, Shy
Chapter 7 here Edited by st03im - 11 years ago
Anupamaa
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