PART-6
for the next one week pratigya was busy with her work.she was checking the canteen and catering department and very much unhappy with that department.she told catering department people to bring all the files for checking.for the past 10 days she was working on that and was tired.she closed the files , lean back on the chair and relaxed.she looked in to the wall clock.it was 1.10pm.for the past two days she was thinking to visit the canteen personally.she decided to visit today.
she got up from her seat ,fixed her saree and walked out of her cabin...walked towards the canteen.
canteen:
it was lunch break...canteen was over crowded .the workers wished her and moved to give way to her to get in.she wished them back while getting in.she stepped in to the canteen...some of the workers who were sitting and eating stood up to wish her.
pratigya :' please sit ...don't get up while you are eating...😊'she told them politely with a sweet smile.the canteen was not that clean...she looked around the canteen with a slight disgust on her face...and hooked on to a table for few moment.yep..she saw krishna sitting beside a worker and eating kichdi with a plastic spoon.the worker is from his unit...he was wearing kaki uniform.different unit has different colour uniform...so that by seeing the uniform we can say which unit workers they are...
krishna did not noticed her.he was looking down and eating his food.he was wearing cream colour plain full sleeve shirt, folded his sleeve just above the wrist....pratigya moved to the counter.the canteen people came running to her for service.
pratigya: 'wo yellow wala food give me...😊'she pointed out the kichdi and told in half hindi half english.a worker standing beside her chuckle ...'wo kichdi hai..'he said without laughing.
pratigya: 'oh! whatever...give me sample of that..'she don't want to show that she forgot the name of indian foods.
the canteen man served her the kichdi in a small plate along with a spoon..she took spoon full of kichdi and put it in her mouth...her cute face shrunk with disgust.she put back the spoon in the plate with force...looked at the canteen people with anger.
pratigya: ' what the hell food this is?😡...yeah khana workers ko ghela yeangay?if this type of food they eat kya kaam karayngay wo?😡.....called the catering in charge...'she screamed.catering supervisor appeared in front of her in no time.
pratigya:'yeh kay hai...?😡'she showed the food plate.
supervisor:'kichdi...😊'he said slowly.pratigya got annoyed with his answer.
pratigya:'i know that..eat the food..khayeah..😡'she told her to eat the kichdi.supervisor stood silently.
pratigya:'kabi kabi thum bhi khayaa karo...then only you will know the quality of your food ...?'
supervisor:'ma'am yeh khana concession price mai hai.bhahar kay mool say bahooth sastha hai...😊'
pratigya:'so what...?that doesn't mean you can serve garbage to them.look...!!!! they are loyal workers of this company.i would like them to have a good meal atleast a day.from tomorrow onwards sample food should come to my table before it was served to them....?she showed her fingers at the workers.'if you can't i don't mind to cancel your contract and with in no time i can arrange for the other caterer...by the way i want to see the canteen clean...do you understand?😡'
the whole canteen went in pin drop silence.even though krishna was looking at his food and eating he was listening to her 'SHE IS A GOOD HUMAN'...the thought flashed in his mind....he stoped eating...slowly raised his head and turned towards her...she was standing near the counter and firing them...his eyes stuck on her.she was standing like a marble statue...with a peacock blue plain silk saree with a thin silver border,sleeveless matching blouse...the sari was elegantly flowing on her.she was looking gorgeous....the way she was shaking her head with a silky short hair cut was eye catching...he tried to take off his eyes from her...but could not... he was stunned by her look .FIRST TIME HE HOOKED ON TO HER......he tried to swallow the kichdi ...but it refuse to go inside... stuck in his throat...he started coughing...the worker sitting beside him took the water and helped him to drink...the water too refuse to go in...
worker:'aap teek tho hai na sir..."
krishna:'i am ok..."he pushed the chair back...left the food and walked out of the canteen.
after two days pratigya was still working on canteen.the time was 12:50 pm.she took the phone and dialed the number.
pratigya: 'i need your help.... will you please come to my office..."with in few minutes krishna was in her office.she want to discuss about the development of canteen.krishna sat in front of her.
pratigya: mr.krishna singh i have some suggestions... before finalizing i want to discuss with you (actually shyam told her to take his advice before taking any desition...)....the canteen is over crowded...it should be extended...all the furniture should be replaced, they are all very old and some of them are broken too...'krishna was listening to her carefully...he liked all her suggestions ...she was pointing out the files with the right hand which has no extra fittings like bangle...finger ring...not even nail polish...her hand was looking as if it was made up of smooth polished ivory..when krishna was peeping in to the file the distance between them was negligible...she was smelling too good..which disturbed him constantly...she was discussing till 1.40pm.
soon after the discussion krishna stood up to leave as if he was awaiting for that moment.
pratigya:'have lunch with me..." she said.
krishna did not expect this invitation.
krishna: 'it is ok..." he don't want to stay further...
pratigya:'now the time is 1.40pm..canteen is closed..."
krishna:'it is ok i can manage..."he tried to avoid again.
pratigya:'i don't like to see any of our staff working with empty stomach...'she too got up from her seat and walked towards the sofa which was placed in one side of the room .in front of the sofa a big hot pack was kept on the tea table.already out side of her cabin the red light was on which says not to disturb.krishna could not avoid her and he don't want to make her angry too.
he went and sat beside her .it is only a two seater sofa...there was no much distance between them.she opened the hot pack and served the food in the plate.it was chicken biriyani with tandoori chicken , cucumber and yogurt salad.... her favorite food.she gave the plate to him.he took it unwillingly.for few seconds he did not eat...he was simply holding the plate and staring at the food..
pratigya:'have it...'she gave the spoon.
krishna took one spoon full of briyaani and put it in his mouth...he shrunk his face...he tried to swallow..he took one more spoon and stuffed in his mouth ...pratigya was looking at his weird way of eating...next movement he spit the food in the plate...stood up immediately 'i am sorry ...'moved out of the sofa..'excuse me...'he said to her without looking at her.without waiting for her action or reply he walked fast and went out of her cabin.
every think happened with few minutes...which pratigya did not expected...she looked at krishna rushing out .it took few seconds to come back to her sense.she could not understand why he did not eat' she took one spoon of briyaani and tasted...it was really really delicious...and more over it was her favorite food...she got so mad... 'what did he think of himself. he can eat such a worst kichidi in the canteen... but he don't like to eat saxena house food....😡' she pushed the hot pack with anger from the table...the hot pack rolled down and the chicken briyani spilled all around...
Edited by shumi. - 15 years ago
