chapter 8
"Miss pratigya... I need to talk to you." Rajev Uncle stood in the door and looked serious at me.
"Whats the matter, Rajev Uncle. Is something wrong?" I asked looking up from the books.
"Well... I dont know how to say this, but..." I felt my muscles tighten in my stomach and was now really concerned.
"What is it, Rajev Uncle? What is wrong? Is something with you? Or the restaurant? Am I not working good enough?" I asked panicing.
"...really, you can tell me." but he only shook his head, almost not able to hide his grin.
"No, nothing like that, Miss pratigya. Calm down. I just wanted to tell you that You are doing a great job! The restaurant is running better than ever and the accountants are perfect." I sighed relieved and smiled at him.
"Well, thank you Rajev Uncle." I got back to my books.
"There is one more thing..." I looked up again.
"What is it?" He came over to my desk and took a seat on the edge of it.
"Well, as everything is going so well I thought about making you to the manager of the restaurant and to give you a salary increase." I stared at him open mouthed.
"But Rajev Uncle. Ive just been here for about 3 months." But he only giggled.
"So? You are the best employee Ive ever had, you work for 3, you have great ideas for the restaurant and you are always kind, nice and smiling. What else can I ask for."
"No, Rajev Uncle. I cant take it. You helped me by giving me this job, so its normal for me to work as hard as I can." Rajev Uncle stroke my cheek and smiled warm.
"You will never change, will you? But never the less. There is no way in backtalking. From tomorrow on you are my manager... And for today... you get the rest of the day off. Go and celebrate!" I hesitated a second, but then I got up, hugged Rajev Uncle tight and giggled.
"Thank you so much, Rajev Uncle." He laughed out loud and hugged me back.
"Go and call krishna to tell him the good news." I hurried out of the office.
"Oh, Miss pratigya..." he called me back.
"Yes?"
He gave me some money.
"This is for you, go and buy you something new. Its a little fee.... And before you can say NO, Ill throw you out." he said laughing and pushed me out of the office.
Outside I breathed deep, the sun was shining, the birds sang, I heard children laughing and everything was so colourful.
I walked through the streets, a smile on my face and just enjoyed to do some windowshopping. In one shop I saw a wonderful dress, it was really beautiful, in my favourite colour and not too expensive. So I just walked in and bought it.
After that I called krishna.
"Hello beauty..." he said charming.
"Hey krishna. Do you have time for me?" I giggled.
"Umm... sure, but only when you tell me why you are so happy."
"Umm... no, I wont tell you... not now. Do me a favour and come later to the park bench... you know which one I mean. Lets say about 7?" I could imagine him being really astonished.
"O... ok... Ill be there." he only answered.
"Great, see you later." with that I hung up.
I wanted to suprise him with a picnic at the place where we had first met and so I shopped some food.
Right at 7 I waited for him at the bench where we had first met.
Everything was prepared and I wore my new dress. I couldnt help, but when I saw krishna walking towards me, I began to feel nervous.
"pratigya... Wow... you..." he stuttered when he saw me. I beamed at him.
"You look like a one in a million." he said honest and shot me a look that made me blush and my legs weak.
"Thank you for coming." I managed to say, took his hand and led him to a small meadow where I had prepared the picnic.
"Wow do we celebrate anything?" he asked suprised and took a seat on the blanket.
"Yes, I got promoted today. From now on, Im the manager of Rajev Uncles restaurant." I told him proud.
"Oh my god, pratigya... thats so great! Im so proud of you." he called excited. I had to giggle.
"Thank you, krishna. But there is something else to celebrate..." I added a bit more serious.
"And that is?" He asked courious.
"I want to celebrate that I have the best friend in the world. And I want to say Thank you to you. Youve always been there for me and helped me in every possible way, without you I would have never got all this..." I tried to grab his hand, but he pulled it away and looked with this sorrowfull eyes at me again. I could swear I saw tears in his eyes.
"krishna? What is with you?" I asked alarmed, but he only shook his head and got up.
"krishna? Please, talk to me." I also got up.
"pratigya, my sweet and lovely pratigyaa... I dont deserve all this." he said with a shaky voice.
"Why do you think that, you surely deserve this. You are the best that happened to me after my parents death." Suddenly he turned to me and shot me a look that made me jump and back up at once.
"pratigya... I have to tell you something..."
I was shocked, hurt, mad, sad, furious...
All I wanted was to get away, just far away from this place, from him, from everything. I raced home and slammed the door behind me.
How could he do this to me? Why? Why now?
This night I found no sleep at all. My mind was racing with thoughts about him, about Poo, about Rajev Uncle and with my memories.
I really didnt know what to do or how to handle all this, all I knew was that I wouldnt give up everything because of him.
"Good morning, Rajev Uncle." I greeted smiling when I entered the restaurant.
"Good morning, Miss pratigya. Um..." I passed him by, walked into the office and began to work.
I decided to take no break as there was so much to do.
"Um... Miss pratigya..." Rajev Uncle knocked carefully the door and came in.
"Yes?" I asked looking at him.
"Dont you want to take a break?" I smiled and shook my head.
"No, thank you. There is so much to do and as the new manager I have to take care of this." he shot me a weird look.
"Yes, sure... but its already 9pm. Youve been here for 12 hours." I jumped and looked shocked at him.
"You are kidding me." I took a look at the watch and jumped even more.
"Oh my god, I totally forgot the time." he smiled soft at me and walked over to where I sat.
"You really suprise me from time to time." he sat down on the edge of the table.
"To be honest, I never thought that you would come back..." I looked alarmed at him.
"Yes, I know about krishnas secret. Sure I do... it was me who took care of the boys after it." I felt my muscles tighten and began to tremble.
"Miss pratigya... It wasnt his fault, believe me. It really wasnt." i shook violently my head.
"No.. no....no. I... I hate him." I stuttered.
"You do? Then why are you here? Why did you come back to this restaurant, to his uncle..." he looked hard at me.
I looked with big eyes at him, but then I sighed and straightened my shoulders.
"I came here because I decided that I wouldnt give up because of him. I wont loose everything again." I answered, more to convince me than him.
Rajev Uncle studied my face for awhile, then he nodded smiling.
"You are an incredible young lady, Miss pratigya. Im so proud of you for not giving up. But what about krishna.... and more... what about Pooja and Rishi? They will be here in less then 2 months." I looked up and him and shrugged.
"To be honest? I dont know. All I can say is that I want Poo to be lucky and I think she will be happy with Rishi..." He nodded, put his hand on my shoulder and pressed it comforting.
"And krishna?" I shook my head.
"Please, I dont want to talk about him." He got up and walked to the door, right when he wanted to close it I called him back.
"Rajev Uncle?!"
"Yes?" he looked suprised at me.
"Are you willing to let me stay after all?" I asked a bit anxious. He only laughed.
"You are the best that could have happened to me. I wont let you go, Miss pratigya." With that he left.
I sighed deep, grabbed my stuff and walked home.
Dear Didi,
how are you??? Oh my god, I cant believe that the 2 years are already over!!! Im so excited!!! I have passed my exams, Im going home and Ill see you again!!! God, you have no idea how much I have missed you all this time!!! And Rishi is so nervous to meet you.
Didi, please do me a favour and try to be nice, ok??? But I think you wont have a problem with that. I mean, after all hes krishnas brother, hai na?!?!?!?!
Ok, well arrive this friday at 12.40pm. I hope krishna and you are going to pick us from the airport!!!
I really cant wait to see you again.
I love you,
Poo
I sighed and closed the mail.
"And? When will they come?" asked Rajev Uncle courious, I had to giggle.
"This friday, they will land at 12.40 pm. And she askes krishna and me to fetch them." I sighed.
"Hmm... perhaps you should do it for them, hai na?" I looked suspicious at him, but then I nodded slightly.
"Perhaps you are right... For Poo." I mumbled.
"Great! Ok, you both fetch them and Ill close the restaurant and we make celebration.
"But Rajev Uncle!" I called suprised.
"No way. We do it like I say it. Im the boss." We looked at each other, then we burst into laughter.
"Thank you." I said and hugged him.
The next Friday soon arrived and I was really nervous.
"Miss pratigya... your taxi is here!" called Rajev Uncle. I grabbed my bag and left the office. Outside stood krishna. I could see that he was really nervous. It was the first time that I saw him after the picnic and I felt the anger rise in me immediately.
"Chalo." I said harsh and passed him by.
The way to the airport was really quiet. I didnt want to talk to krishna and he didnt have the heart to break the silence. I stared out of the window and tried to controll my anger, but then I just couldnt controll myself.
"Kyon, krishna?" I asked calm. He shot me a suprised look, but said nothing.
"Why didnt you tell me earlier? Why at this evening?" He still didnt know what to say, so I stared out of the window again.
"I wanted to do it so many times, but I just couldnt." He answered after a while.
"And why?" I asked a bit impatient.
"You were so... so... fragile. I wanted to protect you." I looked mad at him.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" I called now.
"Please, pratigya.... believe me...Im really sorry." I was so mad by now that I could barely controll myself. My blood rushed through my veins and my head felt hot.
"You are sorry! You are sorry??? krishna, what you did is unexcusable!" I screamed, he only looked at the street, but I could see that he felt really bad.
"I know that you will never be able to forgive me, but I want you to know that Im really sorry." he repeated with a small voice.
"You know what, krishna? You are right." I said, he looked suprised at me.
"I will never be able to forgive you."
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
