Chapter - 24
Aman had called them to a cafe close to his office. When Arti and Yash reached, they found a table reserved for them. They settled in to wait for the CEO and owner of ACE Marketing in the secluded alcove. They ordered cold coffee and as they sipped the brew, briefly discussed the main points they wanted to cover - Yash's checklist to select a partnering firm.
"Nightingale!" the bright greeting broke into their conversation and both turned to find a tall, lean, handsome man grinning at them. As soon as Arti saw him and stood up, he caught her in a brief hug and said, "It's so good to see you again Arti! Welcome back to Delhi".
Arti flushed and smiled, "Thank you Aman. Meet my husband, Yash Scindia." Yash was standing too by then and the two men shook hands, both clasps firm, one face beaming, the other with a hint of cloud.
"Thank you for meeting with us yourself Mr. Chauhan" Yash started, curbing his irritation, when Aman interrupted, "Call me Aman, please. And how could I not meet with you? I wouldn't give up a chance to catch up with Arti."
Arti flushed again, and Yash felt another sharp pang at the interchange. Oblivious to the reactions he was causing, Aman ordered his coffee and sat down across from them. "My VP told me good things about you Yash - can I call you Yash?" As Yash nodded, he continued, "So tell me, what can ACE Marketing do for you?"
Aman had come to meet Arti, catch up with an old friend and colleague who had suddenly disappeared. Being the shrewd businessman he was, he had obviously checked up on Yash before the meeting, getting a de-brief from his sales VP who had done extensive research on the Scindias and their company. What he had heard was impressive enough, but Aman was well aware that the business had been developed by the father, not the son, and had its main presence in Bhopal. He was curious to find out Yash's plans, but was not expecting anything productive or lucrative for his own firm. He was in for a surprise...
Yash had done his research and knew that ACE Marketing and the man sitting in front of them was his best bet. However, Arti's familiarity with him disturbed him, more than he cared to admit even to himself. He wanted to find a reason, any reason to reject ACE Marketing as a potential partner. He was in for a surprise...
Arti could not believe she had not even thought about Aman when they had moved to Delhi and had been scouring around for a partner and marketing firm. She had worked with him when ACE was a fledgling company, had seen how he grew it, had even helped them initially with their accounts and audits till they developed their own accounting department. She knew he had built extensive contacts in Delhi's power circles, and his name had not even entered her head. Her life had changed so much in the last few months that in some ways, this old friend felt like a stranger. She was in for a surprise...
Yash and Arti gave Aman a brief review of their current status and then shared their plans. As Aman listened and asked questions, his admiration for the woman grew and respect for her husband cemented. These two knew what they wanted, and knew how to go about it. All they needed was the right hook, the right entry point. And he would be happy to provide that. He would have done that much for Arti anyway, but as they talked, he saw how a collaboration with Scindia Events Ltd. would prove beneficial for ACE Marketing. His contacts would get them in, get them some of the events they needed to grow. Their events would give him the advertisement and sponsorship opportunities he needed to take ACE to the next level. Goals he had set for himself and his topmost management team would be that much easier to achieve. He could see the magnitude of opportunity opening up for ACE - if Scindia Events Ltd could get the events they were targeting. And he could get them that.
As the discussion continued, Aman shared details of his own company, clients and proposed plans. It was Yash's turn to be impressed. The man knew what he was about. One could tell he had grown the business from scratch just by talking to him. His knowledge and exposure was breathtakingly broad, and they quickly converged on common grounds, all three seeing the synergies in a joint collaboration, a partnership that would only be mutually beneficial.
"We need to continue this in more detail, and in more secure surroundings" Aman said after a lengthy talk. Yash nodded and Arti sighed as she leaned back in her chair in relief. Only then did she realize how tense she had been. And she wasn't even sure why. Getting the right partner had been key of course, but once she thought about Aman and ACE she had known they would not need to look further. No, the stress had been something else... more personal. Aman had been her closest friend in Delhi after Zoya. They had met only in the office, his or hers, only for work. But during the hours they had worked together, they had formed a strong friendship - strong enough that she knew she would only have to make a phone call even after so long, and he would be there. They hadn't even shared details about their lives, they just knew the bare facts about each other. Their friendship was based on mutual liking, respect and trust, a recognition of pure friendship in the other, an identification and comfort level that had come from nowhere and had strengthened over time.
No, her anxiety had been about the two men meeting. She had never mentioned Aman to Prashant - not with an intent to hide him, but because she knew he would not understand. She had no such hesitation with Yashji, but she had not known what to expect when they met. She had taken care over her appearance today, not to impress Aman, but to give herself confidence, and make Yashji proud of her. And now when the two men seemed to be getting along well together, the sense of relief that flooded her made her realize how tensed her very body had been for so long.
She scraped back her chair and immediately Aman stood up, holding out the chair for her. She picked up her purse and smiled at the men, "I will be back." As she walked away, the two men looked at her retreating back till she disappeared around the corner.
Aman turned back to Yash and smiled as he sat down, "You are a lucky man. Arti is a wonderful person." Yash inclined his head in agreement and started gathering the papers together. As he shuffled them before placing them inside the file, he asked, without looking up, "Why 'nightingale'?"
"Hmmm? Oh... Have you ever spoken to her over the phone? Well, I guess you don't get much chance to do so given that you both even work together. But that's how I first knew her - a voice over the phone asking me questions about our accounts" and Aman smiled reminiscently. "I started calling her nightingale from that time. She has the most amazing voice over the phone, well even in person, but over the phone its magic. And she tells me she can't carry a tune" and he shook his head in disbelief.
Yash smiled at that, "That much at least is true. She can't sing. She refuses any and every attempt to make her do so. I have only heard her hum a lullaby, and even that was off-key" his smile broadened at the memory, remembering how Arti had blushed a bright red when she realized he had heard her. "She does have a nice voice, but she can't carry a tune."
"Are you both done bad-mouthing me enough?" Arti said, a mock angry look on her face and the two men almost jumped as if caught doing something illegal. Aman got to her before Yash, pulling out her chair again as she sat down.
"It wasn't me Arti, all your husband's fault. I just called you a nightingale like I always do" Aman said, a bland innocent look on his face as his eyes twinkled with mischief at Arti. She did not reply, only looking at Yash briefly. "You would have done better to marry me. Serisouly, dobara shaadi hi karni thi toh mujhse hi kar leti" he continued a teasing smile on his lips now as he glanced between husband and wife. (If you had to marry again, you could have married me).
Arti flushed again and glared back, "You are as incorrigible as ever Aman."
Aman laughed out loud at that, "Sorry, meri amma. But truth to tell, being married to Yash suits you. I have never seen you so... so glowing".
They had said their goodbyes soon after, settling on another date and time to finalize details. The drive back was quiet, with both Yash and Arti lost in their own thoughts. A couple of times she turned to look at him, and only saw a grim, stony profile. She could not figure out his thoughts, and she stopped trying, concentrating on her own. What had Aman meant by that last comment...?
As they walked into their penthouse, Arti before Yash, she felt him hold her back by the arm. Before she could turn he came closer to her and with his free hand tugged her chignon loose till her long tresses cascaded down her back. He fingered her hair as Arti stood stock still in shock and he turned her around to face him. "I have wanted to do that all morning. As sexy as you look in this outfit and the knot, you look ravishing with your hair open... my traditional-modern wife" and the slight stress on the last word felt as if he had staked his claim on her.
Her eyes widened but before she could say anything, before she could react, he tucked a strand of her errant hair behind hear ear, flicked her cheek and walked away. Leaving Arti gasping for breath, her thoughts in turmoil, her heart racing...
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It was the day of the engagement dinner of the Guptas' daughter. Yash had been at the site since morning directing everything, while Arti coordinated with the vendors over the phone. Deepak was at the house with her, it being a Saturday, and he worked on the design drafts for the other two contracts. Towards mid-morning, Arti took Ansh and Deepak with her to the orphanage - it was time for Ratan to head over to the venue and start the final preparations for the dinner.
Ansh had become friendly with the younger children at the orphanage and as soon as they reached, Pia, now 5-years old, came running out to take him with her. Arti knew Pia and the other kids would keep an eye on Ansh and she rushed to the kitchen to relieve Ratan.
"Didi - lunch is prepared, and I have kept everything ready for the dinner. You will just have to cook everything" Ratan said as she practically hustled him out. "Don't worry Ratan, I won't leave the children hungry" she assured him as he hesitated. He smiled at that, "I know Didi. I just... thank you Didi, thank you for giving me this opportunity and for making it happen" he said, clasping her hands tightly.
She smiled at him, and cupped his cheek, "You deserve it. And you are helping us out. Go now, you can't be late for your debut" and she grinned at him as he grinned back. He knew how Yash had convinced the Guptas and had found it hilarious that he was being touted as a big secret to be unveiled before society.
Soon after Ratan left, Ammi came into the kitchen. "And what exactly do you think you are doing Arti?" she asked sternly. Zoya had filled her in on what had happened and the fact that Arti was taking Ratan's place that day so he could go cook at the venue. "Ammi!" Arti cried happily giving her a hug. "Ratan had to go to this event as a chef so I am going to cook dinner tonight."
"For 50+ people" Ammi nodded sagely. "And why do you think you have to do all this by yourself? Teri Ammi nahi hai kya? Couldn't you at least call me?" the elder lady scolded. (Isn't your Ammi here?).
"Sorry Ammi. I just wasn't thinking" Arti smiled and held her ears. "Ab chalo, now that you are here, let's cook up a storm, shall we?"
It was late night before Yash drove into the orphanage grounds. He had been around till the end, wrapping everything up, accepting congratulations and grateful thanks, especially from Mrs. Gupta who was grinning from ear to ear with the compliments about the food. Yash was tired, but he brightened as the headlights fell on Arti who had come running out as she heard the car.
He got down from the car and caught her as she ran up to him. The elation from the success of the evening took over and he picked her up, twirling her around. She caught his zest and laughed and he put her down pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. "We did it Artiji! It was a huge success. We got two new offers, as long as Ratan is the chef!" he filled her in.
Her face split into a wide smile and she literally beamed at him. "That's terrific! And where is the hero of the day?" Yash chuckled as he pointed to the back-seat of the car. "Sleeping. He is exhausted, poor chap. I think the excitement got to him."
They had managed to put a very sleepy Ratan to bed and then taken a fast asleep Ansh with them back home. They went to bed exhausted but happy, secure in the knowledge that their first event in Delhi had been a huge success, they had a new exclusive chef and a partner that would help them grow their business.
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Author's note:
Hi,
A short update after a long time đ - should make some people happy. And apologies to the others who prefer long updates. For them - read the last part of chapter 23 along with this one.
Question for you: since the last couple of chapters the story-telling style has changed a bit. More narrative than dialogues. It helps me to move the story along with the narrative form and i can gloss over time-gaps, not show day-to-day details. Is that working out for you? Let me know your thoughts please.
And thank you once again for reading. I know we all have busy lives and with PV ZMD at an end, many have moved on to other things - be it other shows or catching up with life. In the midst of that, you find time to come visit Dil Jaanta Hai and some of you even leave your comments. I don't have words to express how thankful i am for that - for your continued love and support.
Love you all and happy reading,
Kat
NEXT: Chapter 25 Edited by kdsubs - 12 years ago
