Casa 50B on 146 Most links on Page 1) - Page 23

Originally posted by: aditee

I told one of my dear darling young friends ki main 10 page likhkar update karoongi......... Souma...... u know

10 abhi hua nahi

But will post anyway ruk ja

Its around 4 or 5 pages only

Kab post karegi???

Agle Janam??

Kab se ruki hui hu !! LOL !

Iru di na, Vandu kahin ki

Originally posted by: aditee

Iru di na, Vandu kahin ki

PART 11

Monday evening and other thoughts

He was back at his cube, trying to wind up. He wanted to go out tonite. His "not so serious" girlfriend number 3 Mahi had already called half a doz. Times. He picks up his car keys. Checks to see if there are any msgs from the driver, there is one. Shaan is glad. From the 25^th floor the traffic down below does not look very pretty at all. He doesn't care to drive in this mess.

Shaan's car snakes out of the basement parking lot and makes what would be the first of many endless waits of the evening'''. to merge.

As Khanak and Aman step out of the building to cross the road to get to the median. Mumbai rush hour traffic is a flickering noisy beeping maze of automobiles. The air smells like dirt and exhaust.

Aman was stopped by Nachiket for a while, (Aman reports to Shaan).

Shaan spots her first, the sequins on her green blouse catch as many headlights as possible, its like she is wearing a necklace around her. She is detached, listening while Aman talks animatedly. They wait at the edge of the kerb, waiting to cross. Shaan's driver inches forward. The car's Sirius plays the OST from 127 Hours ''''."Did she go home with Aman every day?" "How long has she known him?" "Didn't Aman have a girlfriend already?" Wonder how long this partnership had been happening? Will have to remind myself to quiz Aman in the morning. He has to find out.

The way they stood on the edge of the kerb made him uncomfortable for some reason. He was her height, her dupatta flew and splayed itself on his back, she reached out and grabbed it. Suddenly she became aware of a set of eyes'''''. Focused on the back window, under the street lights the image was clearly visible. He was looking at her! Her hair flies to her face and disrupts her view. She pushes it back and is drawn to his gaze. Time stands still.

There is a gap between a row of cars, Aman grabs her elbow and nudges her forward "Chalo"

Shaan lowers his gaze and releases her from his virtual hold, his eyes shift to the elbow hold and follows it until they disappear from eyesight''.. looks away at the other window trying to erase the thought from his mind.

They loop between the honking approaching cars and buses and get on to the median.

She was taking the day off tomorrow?" She was a complete mystery. Until two weeks ago he had no clue she was widowed, and now he did not have one additional piece of info on her. She seemed like she was extremely private.

She has the most calm serene face he has ever seen on a girl. Nothing touches her emotionally, or so it seemed like. She seemed aloof and indifferent. She could be standing inside a Buddhist prayer hall and her expression would not be different. The only time he saw fervent, fierce, passionate emotion was when she fought with him. She had battled with him today. Her eyes had told him what she thought of him'''.. arrogant, conceited, egotistical snob. When he had approached her by the door, he saw panic/apprehension in her eyes. The closeness had bothered her. At that moment he had felt the FIRST fleeting sense of attraction towards her. She had the flawlessly smooth skin. Those eyes became as big as saucers. He wanted to reach out and touch her kohl lining. He could hear her breathe.

When she had looked at him from inside the elevator he could feel the quick charge pass between them. His heart had raced when he found her looking.

Most other times those eyes were plainly scornful when she looked at him''''''

Shaan had over a dozen direct reports. He divided his time between the Site and the Corp Off. These days more at Corp. He wanted to stay on this position until Casa was completed and was willing to rotate into another group. Ehsaan would agree in a heartbeat he knew.

His dad and Akshay were leaving for Taiwan tonite. His Mom would have returned from Goa mid day. He hardly saw her. He was pretty much by himself at home from the time he was 12 or so. Until then he saw his Mom and dad a lot. His Nanny Eileen was his best friend until he discovered his good looks in the mirror during his pre-teen days.

It helped him get over his loneliness, shyness and opened a whole new world for him. He loved looking good. Teenage brought with it a host of its problems. He was busted many times by his Dad in doing the things teens routinely did. Eileen's influence started to wane. He never sat down with books but always managed to score straight As.

That helped to a large extent in mitigating some of the errant behavior during his teen years. Between his parents he was always close to his Mom. His Dad had a natural liking for Akshay from childhood and that had translated into him going to the same college, partnering in the family business etc in his adult life.

When ever he found his Mom home, he usually had dinner with her, if he didn't have to go someplace and chatted with her for an hour or two. She was very proud of his accomplishments. In fact both Gujral boys did not have to enroll in college, they could have spent their days hanging out with friends and evenings drinking and dancing. But'.. they both possessed incredible will power and focus and went on to craft independent careers after acquiring a solid education.

His Mom had often asked him if he was dating anybody. He had never taken his girlfriends home. He had been on vacations in groups. None, he was seriously interested in taking to the next level.

She had often teased him about speaking with Dad for posting an ad in the Mumbai Sunday TOI edition's matrimonial columns. She worried if her son was suddenly disconnected from doing the "age appropriate" thing.

His Dad was the more compassionate of two, Mom didn't really connect with any of the house help and didn't care for their sick days or their being absent for family events. His Dad was the opposite, Shaan was somewhere in-between.

She would urge Shaan to take a break and go back packing around the world for a year or go pursue anything else except work. He would have to reassure her time and again that he got a a "high" from work itself.

Khanak and Aman took an auto to the CST Terminal to catch the 8.30 local to Chembur. It usually took between a half hour -45 minutes. The local wove its way thru the city like a glittering necklace, Khanak stared out " Shaan prolly has never taken a local ever"

" I want him to, if I can make him do it'''. She vowed

Her Dad was expected to be in town tonite on his way to Pune to meet his brother, so she had taken the day off tomm to be with him. Thinking of day off, she was reminded that she had to send some information on approvals for the height of the celings in a certain block. Ajmera was expected to to carry a consolidated proposal for all structural requirements to BMC's structural engineer for approval

A lot of what had to be sent was already taken care of, there had been meetings in the past two days about San Marco's ceiling height and it was adjusted by a foot here and there and so additional supporting documentation was required.

Ritu had fixed dinner and was on the phone with her Mom, she was waiting for her Dad to arrive, stood at her favorite spot''''. By the window.

Since the realization happened on the train, she had been worried about making that phone call. Ram was taking the day off tomorrow and he did not have the data sheet on the height changes with him. Shaan was expected to send someone from his team to the BMC office for a "in person" submission

Before that he would get Ehsaan's signatures on it

Her phone lay on the divan, she looked at it wondering what she would say to him first, in the process of doing that, she picks it up'''' does not know the number to walks over to the desk by the wall and hits the space key, opens the email and dials the number!

Her finger tips feel like moist leathery pads with no sensation.

9 812346568

Turns around to walk to the window, sees hubby's picture on the mantel, but the task at hand seems to big, that even the sight of Sooraj's image is not able to comfort at this point'''''..

She hears a ring''''.. second''.. third'''..

She is by the window now, grips the rounds metal flower petal on it'''

Shaan: Hello?!

Shaan: Hellooooo!

Khanak: Ummm''.. Hmmm' its me.

Shaan: KHANAK?

For a second both feel like having gotten that dream job offer or a tip about school test results that indicate they got an A. Or like being picked for a world tour by a TV show'''. The thrill is quite unparalleled

Khanak: I think so'''..

Shaan: (since they had fought in the evening, tries to compose himself) Ya?

Khanak: Are you busy?

Shaan: Why? Do you want to fight again?

Khanak: (indignant) NO!

Shaan: So?

Khanak: Where are you?

Shaan: Why? (none of your business kinda tone)

Khanak: Only becoz I want to know if it's a good time to talk about "work"

Shaan: Go ahead (polite)

Khanak: I wanted to remind you know I forgot to send the data sheet on the height changes. I know it was due at BMC in the morning. But I have to complete some calculations and will do it tonite and will have it sent to your in box? I just wanted you to know that the dox u have right now are incomplete. Approvals usually take longer and files get returned if the data sheet is not logged for changes

Silence

Khanak: Hello (confident)

Shaan: Thanks

Khanak: Alright then? (indifferent again, since the monolog gave her the extra boost)

Shaan: Have u realized you've called me? (Like I wanted you to?)

Khanak: Yep, to talk about work.

He smiles

Shaan: That u did (referring to the non stop monolog)

Khanak: You are the client and you need to know

Shaan: Where did you go with Aman?

Khanak: I always thought people inside luxury cars never really worried about the outside?

(giving herself away at having seen him inside the car)

Shaan: I asked first, and since I am the client you owe me an answer

Khanak: Yes, you will have your data sheet in the morning

Shaan: Khanak''.(impatient)

Khanak: I never ask you where you were going

Shaan: Do you want to?

Khanak: I know, so I don't want to.

Shaan: I am at home, watching a movie (does that help?)

Shaan: So?

Khanak: His sister lives in Chembur and he wanted to visit her tonite. Do you always ask all the vendor employees who they go home with?

Shaan: Only those that wonder if I am home or at a pub with my girlfriend

Khanak: I never said anything (outraged)

Shaan: You don't have to. You know that! Your eyes do all the talking. I can see them right now.

Khanak: You have a vivid imagination for a guy who is not drunk.

Shaan: So are we fighting again?

Khanak: NO!

Shaan: Good!

Khanak: I meant'' (he interrupts)

Shaan: Khanak

That's enough to shut her up

Khanak: Hmmm?

Shaan: Truce?

Khanak: To fight with you I have to either hate you or be in love with you, I don't feel anything for you. (agitated)

Shaan smiles

Shaan: Why are you taking the day off tomorrow?

Khanak: Ram knows

Shaan: Does that mean, "I wont tell you" or does that mean "Check with Ram"

She is sure he will call Ram

The last thing she wanted was Ram to get curious about Shaan

Khanak: Iam expecting family to visit (cryptic)

Shaan: Whose?

Khanak: MINE!

His phone makes a clicking sound''.

Khanak: I think you should take that call

He smiles again

Shaan: Thanks

Khanak: Enjoy your movie

Shaan: Thanks! What were you doing?

Khanak(spontaneous) standing by the window''''.

He can picture her standing there''. With that lost expression'' mind far far away

Shaan: Thanks for letting me know about the data sheet. I will see if we can move it to next week. So don't worry about working tonite. Its not required

Khanak: (beaming) Thanks (In a "Really???" kinda tone)

Shaan: Thanks ''''(She goes to hang up)

Shaan: Khanak''

Khanak Haan?

Shaan: I will call you from now !!!!!!!

Click!!