Casa 50B on 146 Most links on Page 1) - Page 55

Originally posted by: lghosh

OMG one more juicy update!! Ooohhhh lala!! Thank u so much for spending the weekend on us! See this is what I die for! Just a phone conversation, not meeting in person, not even talking anything about carnal pleasure or anything sleazy but just a timely pause at the right places puts the intention to the forefront crystal clearly! Again its the magic of ur writing. I can even imagine Shaan's expressions & smiles & his smoky look while he was talking to her. 😃 What he did when he asked how was her weekend, with whom she went to lunch & what she was wearing!! I didn't need the details but I could imagine it. Seriously u r creating a masterpiece. But what surprised me was he didn't pursue her about the dinner date. He is purposely giving her time, time to digest his presence in her life, to absorb that he will be around for good, just not a temporary fling which she thinks he has in mind. He is letting it all seep in slowly in her system. And then the authority in his voice to let her know she has got the weekend off from him but not for long, tomorrow he will be there to make his presence felt. 😃

Sigh!! Why can't we find such guys in real life? 😃 Once again awesome explication by u! It was delicious. 😃

PS - And oh the songs u r choosing for this story, OMG ek se bad kar ek hai! And all my favorite! U must also be a KK, Panchamda fan like me!! 😃 I love all the numbers of 'Ghar' & this one is no exception! Love it.

Originally posted by: rbofan1

Aditee..

Got time now to read your updates together.

Sighhhhhhhhh................

Only one word FANTABULOUS!

I loved the phone convo.

Your FF is like a fairy tale never told for me.

your writing shows how much you love these two characters.

👏👏👏

Originally posted by: aditee

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I lived my life vicariously through them for 6 months, now I live it vicariously through my writing.

I love this jodi like I have loved no other

Thanks Vaish!

I am so happy you like them and their tale

My story is intertwined with hopes I have for a certain couple

Whatever destiny holds........ only time will tell......... but in my FF they belong together😳😳

<font color="#ff0000">Its all about"how" they get there </font>

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<font color="#ff0000">Thank you so much for reading</font>

<strong><font color="#ff0000">I feel immensely gratified!</font>

<font color="#ff0000">I miss CC and miss you and Smi immensely</font>

PART 25

Monday

Casa Corp Office-Prabhadevi

Something she had eaten on Sunday did not go down well and she felt nauseous all morning, she didn't care for her appearance, she wore a offwhite Anarkali in cotton with a silver trim, paired with a purple Jaipuri choodidar and a purple dupatta, tied her hair, as it would be easier to manage if she had to go be sick. Took an auto to work. Was in before 9, would have ideally wanted to take the day off but knew she couldn't as no one else could talk about her slides, Ajemra VP was supposed to review slides from every architect/contractor on the Casa project.

Based on the population at every core meeting she guessed there might be atleast half a dozen, the core team was over 20 strong. She did not talk to or interact with many other than Nivs, Aman, Nachike Shamim etc. Shantanu'''. Was however a different story. Her hair was damp thanks to the muggy weather, her braid stuck on the back of her neck, sweat beads formed on top of her upper lip. "I must look like a mess, and do feel like a mess" she told herself when she got on the elevator. A gal from Corp accounting smiles''''. They meet at the coffee station sometimes.

Girl: You look lovely today!............. as usual if I may add'''..

Khanak laughs out loud "Really? Thanks! I feel awful"

Girl: I am so sorry! Kya hua?

Khanak: I am sick'' couldn't take the day off so am at work (grimace)

Girl: Well I don't know of anybody that wears ONLY kajal and yet manages to look so gorgeous. I notice you also have the best silver jewelry'.. chunky and finely crafted

Khanak: I buy it when I go home'..

Girl: Kahan?

Khanak really doesn't want to get into the details in the elevator, but the girl seems very curious, so decides to share reluctantly "Ahmedabad" (softly)

Girl: I KNEW IT! You must be a Gujju, my guess was right''.They have the best clothes and jewelry in India (longing)

Khanak smiles shyly

Girl: You are not from Ajmera are you?

Khanak: No! I work for a vendor, architects actually'' on Casa (bored)

Girl: Good luck with the day! (step off at 25^th and walk to their desks)

Paula works past 8 or 9 each nite so no sign of her this early. The guard smiles at her these days, which makes her very uncomfortable. She doesn't care for smiles from strangers.

The office is squeaky clean. Smells of some expensive air freshner, the music is Western Classical. Very few PC monitors are blue''. Squiggly shapes, smiling children, under dressed women hugging men adorn the rest as she walks by. "This place must pay their people well, for them to go on such expensive vacations with gorgeous partners" she infers.

Sets up her things in the usual conference room after checking the schedule on the wall by the door for changes. Her phone rings, its Ram

Ram: Mornin Khanak, are you in the local?

Khanak: No! I am at work, set up and ready to go, but no one here to present to (smug at having earned brownie points)

Ram: Wonderful! How was weekend?

Khanak (honest) it was OK'.. Ritu and I hung out. I ate something, that made me sick

Ram: Ouch! TC, (switches topic as bosses always do) about those additions Khanak, were u able to incorporate those?

Khanak: No! They are half done. Mine were all done'' when he called at 9 I think'.. my internet was slow'..I didn't see his email until 11

Ram interrupts "Gujral mentioned yours were done so you might not be able to get to his"

She is FURIOUS! He tattled? How dare he?

Khanak: What did he say?

Ram: (confused) Who?

Khanak: Guj'' I mean Shaan

Ram: Nothing'' why (still confused) no I meant to say, don't worry about his slides we can get to those tomorrow, in the 25 or so minutes assigned to us today we might not even be able to get to ours alone.

She is no longer paying attention, furiously typing away.

Ram: Khanak?

Khanak: Are you going to be here soon? (miffed)

Ram smiles "Haan Khanak, don't worry, youll do fine even if I don't get there on time, shoot me a copy will you? I will review during commute"

Khanak: They changed our time did they not? Ya, sure''

Ram: Yes, the last one before lunch!

Khanak: Just sent it.

Ram: Thanks, you are the best! You know it ofcourse! If you don't go to Ahemdabad on vacation by Fall you go with my family to Kerala. That's a promise. (proud)

Khanak smiles

He is used to her not saying much at all, so they say their goodbyes and hang up.

People start to trickle in, things pick up speed, its close to 10 and the first architect doing the "lowest" end homes (if you can refer to Rs. 2 crores and under homes that way) do a messy job, there are too many questions so they run over on time. The hairs on the back of her neck warn of impending danger, her body stiffens involuntarily around the 10 :45 break time. She knows she doesn't have to look so she does not, bends down and picks off a string of thread from her jooti, she is furious with him yet she is unable to control the gush of color on her face.

He walks in does his hands shakes and nods, walks over to the snack/coffee table starts to chat''' laughs, jokes, in his typical style she looks up from her monitor when her brain tells her its safe to do so, he is wearing the most gorgeous dress shirt she has ever seen, off white with deep navy stripes, teamed with grey trousers, his hands are in his pockets, looks like he has gotten a hair cut. She wonders what his typical weekend must be like''.. some where around then'.. he turns around ever so casually and catches her staring! She feels like having hit a wall midway in her marathon.

He is still talking, but does not let go of her eyes "I wasn't looking at you actually" say her eyes. "Ofcourse not! The coffee decanter is a piece of rare art" is his response.

She hears a ping from chat, so doesn't bother arguing with his eyes, looks down and is reminded of what he is supposed to have done.

People go in and out, less than a hanful remain''' he lazily walks up to where she is seated just when she thinks, she should have taken a walk to stretch her legs.

He leans on the table and faces her, she continues staring at her monitor, ignoring him.

Shaan: "NOW would be the moment I would ask "Are we fightin again?" (mocks)(softly, people in the room have no clue about these two)

Khanak: Really? (drips icicles)

Shaan: We usually say good morning around here! (grins)

She looks at his eyes and ever so coolly responds "not when its close to Noon, for some of us it WAS, oh may be two, three hours ago?"

Shaan: agree! (just stares at her flawless face, thoughtful)

Khanak: Aapne kaha Ram ko, I wouldn't add your slides?

Shaan is confused "kya?"

Khanak: Ram alluded to the fact that I refused to make changes.

Shaan: Why would I? (incredulous)

Khank: Oh! Let me guess, the people you guys hire don't do a good enough job? Maybe? (sarcastic)

Shaan is equally mad "Is that what you think I said?"

Khanak: Don't deny it (angry whisper)

Shaan: Look Khanak, this had to be done, we happened to talk last nite, so I told him if they don't go on your slides they will''. On mine (matter of fact)

Khanak: Thanks! (taunts)

Shaan: Iam accountable for way more than liaison with Modi Dastur, I cannot be building a dozen band aid slides each nite.

Khanak: I am accountable for more than one super ego (slam!) so the next time before you speak with my boss, I would urge you to show some caution.

They both shoot daggers at each other. People walk in take their seats, Ram shows up, Modi Dastur's turn comes at around 1, Khanak is tired and dehydrated, her face is pale, she has downed multiple glasses of chilled water.

They break for a late lunch at 2:30. She talks with Ram and tells him she is going to take off, he is mighty pleased with her work so immediately agrees, worries'. She reassures him, he offers her his car and driver she refuses, saying she will be fine.

Nivs and her are the only one in the room while she is packing

Nivs: U really should call yourself a cab.

Khanak: Don't be silly, I will be fine

Nivs: Nahi''' I am worried''. Touches her forehead and does a "Phew!"

Khanak: I don't have fever''' the weather is so terrible'.. (moans)

Shaan walks in to grab some post it notes he made in the morning, he sees both engrossed in serious conversation

Walks over

Shaan: Excuse me, sorry to butt in Nivs BMC corporator ka email mujhe fwd karogi when u get back to ur desk?

Nivs (winks) You got it! Please Khanak'.

Khanak really doesn't want her condition to be advertised, but

Shaan: Is she leaving? (more angry)

Nivs's phone rings, she nods in the affirmative, worried and does a "wait" with her hand and steps out.

Khanak's brain does a "Oh! God!"

Shaan: Khanak? Where are you going?

Khanak: movie actually (feeble)

Shaan: (ignores her sarcasm) Are you sick? (shocked)

She doesn't say a word

Shaan: What is wrong?

Khanak: Iam just a lil tired, and nauseous'''.sick (replaces)

Shhan: kyon? Are you''.. (stands less than a foot away from her chair, leans on the table later, bends down to peer at her face)

Before he can say "OK" she assumes he thinks she might be pregnant, he assumes she must have "cramps"

Khanak: NO! Its not what you think (barks) Iam not pregnant!

Shaan: you are unbelievable aren't you (mad)

Khanak: I know (too sick to argue)

She later understands where he might be coming from and feels embarrassed, is stunned he is so "perceptive", yet totally uncomfortable at having him think of such things

Shaan: why didn't you take the day off and rested instead?

Khanak: So you can tell Ram what a slacker Iam?

Shaan: I really want to get a rain check on the fight! (furious)

Khanak: Sorry, we are all out!

Silence

She reaches for her mouse pad that's behind his back, he wont move, she reaches and withdraws, he is just waiting''''.. she reluctantly reaches'' her silver bangles slide against his wrist and her forearm briefly brushes against his forehand that's anchored on the table. If they enjoyed that contact, they don't say it''..

Shaan: you shouldn't have come in to work if you are so sick, Khanak (worried)😳

Khanak: Just like you shouldn't have played tennis barely a week after shoulder injury (motor mouth)😳

Shaan: Touche' (husky)

Their eyes lock.