Kabir sat in his cabin with his laptop open and files scattered around... the files for the new hotel wide open in front of him...His mind, however, was not anywhere near the work that he should have been completing...he knows he should be working, they have a deadline to meet for an Italian project bid next week...but instead he is sitting back in his chair and looking out towards glass partition...only to be surprised to still find it empty...checking the time for the nth time to realize its much late than Ananya usually arrives...He is in a double mind to call check up on her once...
Afterall now she is not just a colleague or daughter of business partner but she is his fianc of 3 months...He still remembers her happy, glowing face... Her eyes that sparkled naturally and her smile glowed when he consented for the relationship ...on an impulse she had hugged him out of happiness only to move back & turn red blushing realizing her action..😊😊 ...within few days a small private engagement ceremony was organized...& now, they have been engaged for past 3 months 😊...the office staff had been formally informed..
Now that Kabir looks back at his decision, to be honest, he himself was surprised by decision...he doesn't know what made him say yes, his chat with Mr. Kashyap or his Di's words of giving life a second chance, Ananya's trust on him or his own growing feelings towards her, which he is still yet to come terms with...😊😊 no matter how much he tries to deny...but he himself realizes that he gotten used to her presence around him, of her chirpiness, her smiles her non stop chatter around him...he has got used to see her hovering around the office with her head stuck in her files and a pen holding up her hair in a bun...her tinkling bracelets...
Every day in & out, her presence, her warm and sincere smile that he felt lit up the dreary office... He had gotten used to passing by her desk every morning...with her greeting him with a gentle smile... Initially when she had joined office, she had been nervous & clumsy around him...He had a faint smile at memory of their first meet, how she had literally bumped into him...
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Being her first day at office, Ananya had been a nervous wreck ...in excitement of her Dad given her first responsibility, she slept late, woke up late...got stuck in traffic jam...😆 as a result she had been late for her first day with certain Mr. Sharma...😛😛 with whom her Dad had been working with on a project together...
Ananya tried to calm herself down and in her mind goes over everything her father told her about the business partner... realizing she had been almost 30mins late than scheduled meet she ran up the steps into the magnificent lobby...conveniently forgetting that she cud have used the lift...😛 rushed towards reception, almost slipping on the tile floor...but managed to hold herself... Thanking the receptionist for telling the way to Mr. Sharma's cabin, even before her raised hand cud knock on the cabin she got surprised to find the door itself flying open...as a result her hand banging on a person's hard chest with a force...catching the person unawares making him take a step back...only to land up flat on floor with Ananya on top of him...It took a moment or two for Ananya to realize what exactly had happened & with whom she has bumped into...😊 The person she never thought she will ever come face to face again...one person with whom she never expected nor desired to meet ...
Kabir tried to struggle to get up but his one hand is caught beneath him, and Ananya has turned into a stone, the surprise of meeting this one person, from whom she had ran away all these years was too much to sink in...It was shrill ringing of her phone bringing her out of thoughts & she made efforts to get up only to find her bracelets getting entangled in his jacket...it took minutes for her to entangle herself...& get back onto feet...
If meeting Kabir Sharma after all these years was not a enough surprise...as soon as she introduced herself...& Kabir welcomed her to the office...& explained about the project & working pattern...the realization stuck her hard that her father had been business partner with this man...😲 & she will have to be working with "The Kabir Sharma"...she kept looking at him in disbelief, with her mouth gaping wide open...as he explained about everything...
Kabir (looked back at her and smirked)-- We're going to be spending a lot of time together Miss Kashyap, Behtar hoga ke aap apna muh bandh, aur kaan khule rakhe & ofcourse eyes too!! OK!!
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Kabir shook his head at the memory, he smiled to himself remembering how it took weeks for Ananya to get in sync with his working style & let go off her clumsiness & nervousness around him, she kept bumping in him all the time ...she was accident-prone where Kabir is concerned...😆
Professionally things went smooth for them at very first go...at very first presentation Kabir was impressed by her work...& gradually he got accustomed to her presence in the meetings, and for some reason her points and views always seemed to make sense to him...He was definitely pleased with her work...& found both had the same diligent working styles, similar senses of humor and the same drive to be the best they could...
Kabir looked back once again towards the cabin it was still empty...his fingers fiddled with the phone with dilemma to dial or not to dial Ananya's number...but he was interrupted by a call from business associate...& got busy for next hour or so in discussions about a project, with his brother-in-law Shekhar, who also worked with them...it was third time Shekhar noticed, that it had been only him doing the talking & Kabir's gaze unconsciously going towards the empty cabin...
Shekhar (smiled)"Kabir I was thinking about moving the location of this new hotel from Goa to the Arctic Ocean... what do you think?
Kabir(still staring out)"sounds great!!
Shekhar (cracked up laughing)"Are you sure Saale saab?...project ka budget bigad jaega...
It took a moment for Kabir to realize what Shekhar was saying...& got his professional demeanor back & seriously discussed the project...before walking out of his cabin Shekhar turned back...
Shekhar (smirked)"just for info Kabir, Madhu bata rahi thi, Ananya shayad aaj office nahi aaegi...she has taken leave today...
++++++++++
It was on 16th call that Ananya picked up her phone...even before Kabir cud say Hello...Ananya's question left him speechless...
Ananya (teased)"miss kar rahe hai mujhe Mr. Sharma??
Kabir "ermm ...yes...No... I mean....(composed himself) office nahi aana tha, toh bata dena tha,...aise achanak...its
Ananya "actually Aryan wanted to have a day out with me...so ...
Kabir (interrupted)"Aryan? really Miss (stopped himself, as remembered how Ananya asked him not to call her miss kashyap anymore as they are officially engaged) I mean ...day out, sorry office bunk tumhe karna tha ya Aryan ko...
Ananya (smiled)-I get to spend a day with cutie, so its one & the same thing...(changing the topic) waise 5 min mein 15 miss call ...not that I am complaining but mujhe itna miss karenge, toh Kaam ka kya hoga workaholic Mr. Sharma?
Kabir (ignoring her teasing)"Kaam ki hi baat karni thi...agar sunne ka irada hai...woh Italian project ke liye first schedule of meeting pre pone hogayi hai...its tomorrow, it wud b good if you are around... & don't bunk office tomorrow...
Ananya"Aye Aye Sir!!! Will be right on time...waise, itni si information aap mujhe msg kar sakte the...mujhse baat karne ke liye kaam ka bahane ki zarut nahi thi...(teased) & You know, apni fianc se baat karna is not a crime...also, I am sorry for not informing you that I was bunking office today...agli baar aapko batakar bunk karungi...waise wont mind agar aap bhi saath bunk karna chahe...(laughed) just kidding...& before you hang up on me...just to remind, hope u remember you promised Aryan to be on time on dinner...Cya in evening.
With that she hang up the call...!!! & Hi fived giggling Aryan 😆😆😆😆...even Kabir cud hear Aryan's giggle on other end...before he disconnected...
Kabir sighed to himself, how in this 2 years, Aryan had grown so close to Ananya...
Aryan had always been a reclusive kid... he always stuck to Kabir, never opened up with anyone...except for Madhu Di, but that too only when Kabir was not around...but Aryan getting comfortable with Ananya had been something which amazed him since the day two of them met...afterall Aryan had been just 8 months old back then...& out of Ananya's habit... she had happened to bump into him...in the mall, where he had been out shopping with Aryan...
+++++++++
Ananya had been too deep in phone conversation, drinking her cold coffee...not to realise whom she walked into splashing her coffee on person she bumped into... until she cud hear the very familiar "watch out Miss Kashyap" ...she had been used to hearing since 2 months she had started working with Kabir...
Ananya was surprised to see, Kabir holding a cute 8 month old boy...closely snuggled upto him...it took her a moment to realize what she had done with Kabir's starch white shirt...spilling her cold coffee...even before she cud open her mouth to apologise...
Kabir(smirked)--its ok Miss kashyap, mujhe laga tha aap sirf office mein hi aise bina dekhe chalti hai ...I never knew yeh aapki adat hai...
Ananya (sheepish)--i ...mean...i really sorry...I was not looking where i was going...sorry for coffee...(after a thought) ermmm, if you want I can take care of this cutie (smiled)...aap yeh coffee stain... I can hold him for a while?
Kabir (softly)--No, Its Ok... (watching her face fall, he felt compelled to explain) actually, he doesn't do well with strangers... yeh...
Ananya (smiled)--doesn't harm trying .... (extending his arms towards the little boy)...
Kabir was apprehensive about Aryan's reaction...as Ananya reached over for him. He mentally prepared himself for Aryan to start crying and wailing...& Ananya to hand him back immediately and run from there, like most did... He was so lost in thoughts that he didn't realised when Aryan conviniently went to Ananya...& it was Aryan's giggle that brought him out of thoughts...he saw him happy Ananya's arms...patting her cheeks & giggling away happily... Aryan was fascinated by Ananya's earrings...started playing with them...
Ananya (looking back)--see, cutie doesn't seem to mind...aap (pointing to the coffee stain)
Kabir nodded & left...once again looking back Aryan happily playing away with Ananya...
Since their first meet, Aryan & Ananya have just grown more & more comfortable...to an extent that two ended up spending time together more than often...
Kabir came out of his thoughts as Shekhar knocked on the cabin reminding him its time to leave...
++++++++
Throughout dinner, Kabir was amused to see his Di, continuously observing him...as if waiting for something...
Kabir (curious)--Di, something wrong with my face? isse pehle aapne mujhe khaana khate huye nahi dekha??
Madhu(smiled)--no, just waiting for your reaction??(seeing Kabir still confused) Dinner ke baare mein... I mean how is it?? ...Maine Ananya ko kaha tha, toh usn hi ... sab khud...
Before Madhu cud finished her sentence Kabir chocked on his food...& on reflex her gaze went on Ananya who continued digging her food...avoiding his gaze...
A look of astonishment sweeps onto his face only to be replaced with wonderment as he tries to make sense of what he has just heard...but he just replied "its good"...
++++
As Kabir dropped Ananya at her house...before she cud get down...
Kabir --Aaj Tuesdays ko toh "Spicy Treat" band rehta hai, phir dinner kaha se order kara?
Ananya (very coolly)-- Pan Asian se, (realising what he had asked) aapko kaise pata ...khana bahar se order kara??
Kabir--Do saal mein itna toh janta hoon tumhe, ki cooking ke naam par tumhe sirf paani boil karna aata hai...provided tum kitchen ko aag na laga do 😆😆😆...(he tried hard to control his laugh)
Ananya (gaped at him)--aap mera mazaak uda rahe hai?? ek toh itni mushkil se maine sab manage kiya...spent whole day...aur...
Kabir (cracking up)--what?? tumhe sab order karne mein poora din laga...dont tell me, tumne isliye office bunk kiya...you are too much Ananya...
Ananya--please, pura din nahi...ab Di ne last minute par mujhse request ki, & she was busy in meeting...dinner ka time ho raha tha...& as you said, Spicy treat aaj band hota hai...& considering you & your Di are so particular in food choices toh dusra hotel dhundne mein kitni mehnat lagti hai...
Kabir--but ofcourse, jooth bolne mein bahut mehnat lagti hai 😆😆😆Di ko simply mana kar sakti thi 😊...
Ananya--& disappoint her, unhone pehli baar mujhse kuch kaha...I cudn't say No...its just before I cud tell her, I didn't cooked, she just assumed...(turned to leave) aap chahe toh ghar jakar Di ko bata sakte hai...ki aapki fiancee ko cooking nahi aati...your bad luck (she was about to get down the car when she felt Kabir holding her hand)
Kabir-- I never said I am complaining, tumhe cooking nahi aati...& its not some rocket science, jo tum seekh nahi sakti !!(Unconsciously, a faint smile plays on his lips only to be removed a second later as he saw mischevious look on her face)
Ananya (excited)--aap seekhayenge(teased) Sir??
Kabir (shook his head)--Sorry I even sugested...(teased) tum bahar se order kar liya karo...I dont mind.
*************
to be continued ...
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show "Reporters" on 'Sony TV".
The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show.
Hope part was OK...!!
This time seriously part became too long...khatam hi nahi ho raha 🥱😆😆anyways hope it still wud be worth commenting 😃😃 Wud be waiting for comments 😃😊😊 ..As I always say ... njoy reading... ...Any suggestions, criticisms.. all are welcome 🤗 ...but commenting is necessary'😆😆😆 silent readers can press the like button to let me know u liked reading the part'😳😳
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