In case of doubt overdress
Do you see that girl wearing a black pencil skirt, red silk blouse and four-inch stilettos? Yes, the one with sleek dark hair pulled into a low bun. That's me Zoya Siddiqui. I am here for a public hearing and I believe in looking the part.
Or not.
I take in the red building in front of me - old, make that very old and nondescript with paint peeling off some places. Maybe I am a little overdressed. I had grabbed the opportunity to dress like a top shot lawyer for the public hearing. The truth that I was just an assistant was another story. What's a girl to do ? Watching too many shows like L.A. Law where the female litigators possess rapier wits, wear stylish suits with impeccable hairstyles, and work in glass offices in the sky, is bound to leave its effect. And then you face reality. I sigh - disappointed. What the hell was I thinking ?
Also there is this teeny tiny fact - courtroom sex has always been my fantasy and top search in my po*n. Don't look at me with those small judgy eyes. Yes, I am a girl. Yes, I watch po*n. Deal with it. And one day I am going to fulfill this wish of mine. If he knew this secret fantasy, it would not be a fantasy anymore. It would be our dirty little secret. Thank goodness, he can't read my mind.
"It was commissioned by the State government in 1952. First Chamber of Commerce, then Mayor's office and finally public hearing."
I raise a shocked eyebrow at the man who brought me back from my po*no land.
"Had Wikipedia for breakfast?" I retort.
"Nah. There is an awesome thing known as the Internet. When you get a break from those damned lists, I suggest you give it a try"
"Lists keep things organized" I defend my habit.
"Sometimes I want to rescue you from yourself"
I roll my eyes. Rescue me? No, Thank you. I like myself just fine, Mr. knight in shining armor. Lists bring a sense of organization into my otherwise haywire world. Also, they are cute. I always had a thing for those pink, green, blue and neon yellow Post-It Notes. Things magically seem doable once I scribble it down and slap a note on my table. I also get the personal satisfaction of crossing it out once I am done with it. Bought a big black marker especially for the task. Am I childish ? Maybe. But, I like it.
"Get your lazy ass moving Siddiqui. It's show time" Arjun opened the backseat to retrieve the files and exhibits.
Before we move forward, introductions are in order. Meet Arjun Mehta - Chief Architect at Wave Designs. Oh me ? I am his assistant. I know what you are thinking - what the hell are we doing at a public hearing ? Well, our company Wave Designs was hired by Aztec Group, a multimillion dollar conglomerate to build a hotel with a nine-hole golf course near Kushsundar Lake in Aloha district. So here we are, obedient little soldiers - fighting for environmental clearance regarding their ambitious project.
The development plan is strongly opposed by locals, especially the farmers who consider the hotel and golf course as a threat to their pious lake. Moreover, a grand hotel complete with equally impressive golf course will draw more tourists than this little town could possibly handle. And we all know what happens when their is a massive influx of sneaker-wearing, sunglass flaunting humans - pollution, overcrowding, energy shortage and ecosystem degradation.
Valid points. I agree. But who cares?
The building is better inside. After passing through security - now isn't that cute ? like do they expect terrorists to bomb this place, and kill who ? stray dogs ? - we enter the waiting room with a dozen tables and chairs scattered around and a vending machine along one wall.
"Miss Siddiqui" Neel Kundra stands and smiles. I shake his hand, having met the Aztec Group's manager several times. And just as always the man was dressed up for a european aristocratic event. I can bet my life that those brown shoes had a 'Made in Italy' mark and the elegant watch was all Swiss. His charcoal grey suit and blue silk tie completed the snob look. He was well dressed, I agree but just a little too polished, just a little too perfect to be appealing. And sexy. Or maybe he was just not my type. My kind of man has to be ... well manly. Someone who takes care of himself but is not afraid to get down and dirty. If you know what I mean.
"Meet Kunal Ahluwalia, our lawyer" Me and Arjun shake hands with the Aztec Group's lawyer and make small talk. The day I discover the need for small talk, I will achieve my goal in life. I might even go to the Himalayas.
How are you doing?
How was your weekend?
Nice to meet you. My ass.
Kunal takes my hand in a firm grip. Too firm. His eyes scan my face and finally settle squarely on my chest. I know I got a nice rack. Thank you very much.
Jerk.
Entering the dark, scary corporate world, I knew the high probability of working with douches like Kunal, but that didn't deter me. Opportunities, my father would say, have to be seized with both hands, because you never know if they'll come again. He taught me to be fearless. More than a husband he wanted me to have the chance to go anywhere. To do anything. Being a Delhi girl gave me an edge. I learned early to be on guard and generally distrust unfamiliar people.
Guilty until proven innocent is the mantra to live by.
Don't you worry, a leering, skeevy sonofabitch like Kunal didn't intimidate me.
I deliberately sit between Neel and Arjun as they take their positions in the public hearing room. Neel was a snob but not a bas***d like Kunal. Little mercies.
The room is packed with people and heavy with a layer of tense apprehension. There is absolutely nothing else happening in Aloha, so we are the entertainment !
"First I'll introduce the firm and our very noble intentions of increasing tourism in this sleepy little town, and then Miss Siddiqui will show the design to the members of the committee. They are senile fossils but I'll handle that" Neel declares with complete assuredness. "Then the public will testify; most will babble on about the precious lake will be polluted and all. The members have heard it all, so no issues on that front. And most importantly we have Kunal on our side " Neel patted the lawyer who suddenly gained an inch in height.Kunal Ahluwalia is loud, flamboyant, ambitious, a driven man who's going places, though it's not clear exactly where. He is crafty and doesn't shy away from using brutal tactics. Oh, and he loves cameras. His face garnered front-page coverage for a recent corporate land dispute case in Mumbai. Aztec definitely went all out to get this clearance.
"What about the locals? " Arjun asks.
An island of reason in the ocean of obnoxiousness.
"I assume their lawyer will be testifying." Kunal tapped the ream of documents on the table to emphasize his preparation.
"Can't wait to get out of this shit hole" Neel stretched in his chair.
"There are a few good scenic places in Aloha, I suggest you should see around" I gave my two cents.
"You mean the deserted petrol pump and the stray cows? No thanks"
I open my mouth but wisely shut it when Arjun puts a hand on my shoulder. Neel's indefatigable arrogance is off putting and very damn irritating.
Let him be.
"Here comes the man of the hour Mr. Aditya Hooda"
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Chapter 2: If you were a pill, I'd overdose
If you were a pill, I'd overdose
"Here comes the man of the hour Mr. Aditya Hooda" Arjun declared sarcastically.
His crisp white dress shirt with red tie emphasized his face and strong jawline, while his navy sports coat accentuated his muscled torso. There was a dusting of hair along his jaw like he hadn't bothered to shave in a few days. Calvin Klein billboard definitely lost its best model the day Aditya Hooda chose to be a lawyer. He slowly scanned the room until he found me. His eyes widened the second they met mine and an eyebrow lifted in amusement.
What is with him and that damned one eyebrow lift ? It always made me squirm like a child.
"Can you read 'Jerk' written on his forehead ?" Arjun whispered for my ears only. A little too close for comfort. And it was not accidental. Arjun had been behaving oddly for the past few months.
Did I hear sexual harassment?
Save your breath ladies! I know Arjun. The odds of him winning a Nobel Prize exceed the chances of him being a sexual predator. Maybe he likes me. After all, we have been working together for the last one year. Have you noticed the number of colleagues who end up together? Marriage or an extra-marital affair. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week does that to you. You spend less time with your spouse or boyfriend than your oh-so-understanding colleague.
I dismissed Arjun's comment for mere competitiveness. For now.
Onyx orbs bore into me from across the room as Arjun chatted away. I couldn't manage more than the occasional grunts and nods as Aditya held my gaze. His gaze traveled up and down my body, and I could feel him undressing me. There was suddenly no one in the room but the two of us and I could tell that he wanted me to come to him - right now. I felt my body responding to his stare as he dragged his tongue against his lips. Abruptly his expression hardened and he stood up, buttoning his coat and approaching our table with purposeful strides.
"The point is moot now" Arjun murmured. What was he talking about? I lost my train of thought."I think that we should... "
"Arjun Mehta" Arjun stood up to shake hands.
"Aditya Hooda"
There was no question they were sizing each other up.
"I played at the Damone Golf Club last month. You nailed that one buddy. The eleventh hole with the sand trap and dense vegetation was especially challenging"Aditya's voice held appreciation while his eyes pinned Arjun down through sheer dominance.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. We'll do even better work in Aloha. Zoya specializes in golf courses."Arjun cocked his head towards me for emphasis.
"My apologies for not making introductions" Arjun was all manners and etiquettes.
And also full of shit!
"Zoya Siddiqui, Assistant Designer at Wave Designs" I stood up and introduced myself before the two neanderthals could continue their pissing contest.
"Aditya Hooda" his eyes twinkled mischievously. "I never vouched for your short-term memory Zoya"
"I do tend to overlook unimportant details and...people"
Amusement creased Aditya's cheek adding charm to the lethal angles of his face " Ah, I see, well maybe you need to be reacquainted with the un-im-port-ant details " He took my hand and kissed my knuckle, grazing it ever so slightly with his tongue.
I drew a deep breath in and suppressed an instinctive shiver.
Would his family miss him if he was found dead the next day?
Maybe.
Damn, but he made my blood boil.
Aditya didn't bother with the two other men and flashed a quick grin. "Good luck with your presentation." And he strode away to take his seat.
Naina waved and gave me thumbs up. Naina is Aditya's sister. She is everything he is not. Sweet, considerate and adorable. Sometimes I wonder whether they are truly related by blood.
Naina and his insufferable sibling could wait. I had more important matters to tend to. I tuned out the world and focussed my mind. Though I had assisted Arjun before in many projects, I had never taken the podium to describe my designs. This time due to Arjun's persistent nudging I had reluctantly agreed. I see his point - it is a sure shot case and will give me a safe environment to wet my feet. Moreover, I knew it was inevitable I couldn't clap from the sidelines forever.
I looked sideways and smiled at Arjun who reciprocated my smile.
This is what I like about Arjun. He has safety stamped on his face. Simple. Straightforward. No room for bullshit.
I can't thank my stars enough for having such a patient and supporting boss-cum-friend. He had held my hand while I navigated the dirty politics of Wave Designs. Arjun was straightforward but naive he was not. I need to explore the Aditya angle with him. What had Aditya done to piss him off ? The undercurrents were too strong to ignore. Weren't they meeting for the first time? I made a mental Post-It note to probe it later.
Three district commissioners entered through a side door. Neel took the podium after the introduction of the board members and declaration of the rules and regulations.
"He's good, isn't he?" Arjun murmured, about halfway through the presentation. I nodded. Snob, he might be but the man knew his craft.
Neel's lengthy PowerPoint presentation illustrated Aztec Group's other developments as well as the capital flow. He showed beautiful hotels, golf courses, and views. Finally, he turned the podium over to me. My knees wobbled. Taking a deep breath, I stood and maneuvered around chairs to the front of the room.
I placed exhibits that showed the layout of the golf course and the hotel on the easels behind the podium. I gave a quick speech, recapping what Neel had said and went on to explain my design in its itsy bitsy detail. I then answered the board's questions regarding land requirements, golf course maintenance, and preservation of indigenous trees.
My confidence increased with every word. I could feel the blood rush in my veins. I was spouting architectural jargon confidently while my insides quivered. I have always been hesitant about public speaking. I am not bad. Not by any measure. But, it always makes me squeamish.
"The golf course and the luxury hotel will draw tourists to the area, not only for day trips but for longer periods of time." I added.
"You have a valid point Ms. Siddiqui" Commissioner Manohar nodded in agreement. The district was located at a picturesque location nestled between two mountains and had a huge potential to create revenue through tourism.
I cleared my throat. "Commissioners, if there are no more questions about this design, I'll turn the podium over to the public" The board nodded, and I escaped back to my seat.
I wanted to jump and squeal with joy. Five rounds of whiskey neat held nothing over this rush.
Here comes Chief Architect Zoya Siddiqui. Assistant no more.
Finally, Aditya's name was called. He strolled like a lazy panther to the podium, all grace and confidence. "Commissioners, I'm Aditya Hooda, and I represent the local population of Aloha"
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