FF ON MEHRYA 'SOCHA NA THA'ch18 on pg 141dt 19/12 - Page 14

CHAPTER 6

I was driving my car in the fastest possible speed as the words of mehek Sharma to Abelard echoed in my ears "you wanted to hire me as a chef in your hotel then you should have merged with our company". seems like miss Sharma got lots of guts to say that . looks like she is very proud of her cooking talent , if that abelard would have not demanded for miss Sharma's presence, I would have not stand her moral ethics for even for a second . " bloody middle class. What a hippo she is , I will not cheat my company' like whole KD company runs on miss trp's talent . aane do ek bar ressetion . KD will be the first one to throw her as she is just a graduate in home science . she is stupid enough to reject abelards offer . its is golden opportunity for her . she should be lucky enough that without any proper culinary degree she is getting such an offer , but miss drama queen has to show her middle class stunts . bloody show off . I have to do something to make her join my team , but she is like so loyal to her boss , how will I make her to resign KD . I banged my right hand on the stearing wheel in angush . what she has landed me into . instead of focusing on interior and supply for my new project , I am wasting my mind on this all. Fish .

I entered my office parking area . came out my car . passing the car keys to velet .I dialed someone . "yeah I need the inside of kd office . every detail"

IN FOOD CASTLE

Sameer sir was addressing all the chef about careful use of flame cooking as two days back one of the junior chef was injured with this . we all were listening to him attententively . when ashima maam entered and excused sameer sir she was highly angry on something . sensing the urgency and her rage . sameer sir left his staff conference in middle , asking us all to resume our work . we all head towards our working station . I have already shared my phone conversation with mr Abelard to rahul and he has scolded me for declining the offer . I have already zipped him that I don't wanna have this convo anymore and he was angry on me for being impractical . I was preparing my order of "chilli chesse bun " and rahul was preparing his . usually when ever we have orders we talk and work but after our morning convo he was not taking to me . I looked at him two three times where we did glance at each other but he avoided . when we finished our dishes and handed over to waiter to take it to costumer . I came in front of him . "what "he asked . " tujhe pata hai , tu over react kar raha hai " I asked him. " tune hi kaha tha na lets not talk about it . I am just following it " he turned after saying this . I stoped him holding his arm and turned him back " tera yeh gubare wala muah dekh kar kam nahi kar sakti main , okay " I said with a liitle volume . he stood silent . I took a breath and continued " rahul I know money is a big thing for you , after loosing your parents so early and having no guardian , you know the importance of money , more than I do . having responsibility of your younger brother on your shoulders , earning earning money is atmost priority and I totally get it . but yaar I am different . I know you are thinking I m stupid and impractical but just think that KD sir was so nice to offer me job just with my home science degree and sameer sir , you and all you guys have taught me so much , how can I forget all this and cheat . he looked at me and holded me from my shoulder and spoke " mehek KD hired you as he knew you are talented . we all taught you , that's part of our job to teach new comers ,no need for being that grateful and you are not cheating , you are just accepting a better job which is no where wrong in working world , you have talent mehek, you don' t cook just for earning . its your passion and when we make our passion our work ,one should not limit it with any boundaries . one should embrace it and explore it . " he left my shoulder . he talked sense . " duffer you could have learned so much from accepting this job . you know " I smiled at him . he was so concerned for me. ' But tere samne practical hona is like bhesn ke aage been bajana " I opened my mouth on his statement " tune mujhe bhesn bola " I hit him hard on his shoulder. " ouch! nahi be, maine khud ko been bola , mr bean . tada " he acted like his favorite comic character mr bean . " ab I am sorry es processs main tu bhesn ho gayi , moti " he twiched my nose and ran , I followed him with big knife in my hand .

IN WHITE CHILLES

It was almost afternoon and I was waiting for the call of my source from KD office. I was working on the land papers of KHUBSURAT SPEISE (KS) . I have brought this property on 70 % of amount by paying 10% of the deal . all things comes with a price plus I have saved 20 % of my money which I have to give to that minister for issuing me the FDA lisence in just one month , otherwise this would have taken 3 months . time is money . and I know how to put all my deals . now only the security and safety , pollution and environment and lisence for bar section and few more details are left .i just wanna finish all this with in this month already the construction has started and will take 2 more months to complete . but the biggest of all hurdle is getting miss pumpkin on my team . that reminds me I should call that fellow again . I dialed a no "yes, what took you so long . looks like you don't want money in your account " I listened to the other side caller . what he told me next gave me a sweet shock . "what , they think this " I had a smirk on my face . I listened to further . " thanks you will get your share as soon as miss Sharma resigns " I cut the call . leaned back on my chair . "looks like things are in my court ". I said to myself

IN FOOD CASTLE

It was 5 pm my shift was just about to finish , today was a okay day . I just finished an other order and was waiting next when ashima ma'am came in . " mehek , don't take any further order and come to KD office ASAP " She said this in a plane tone and left . I just removed my apron and cap and left in my chefs dress only . I entered the office and found KD sir, sameer sir, vinay sir and ashima maam all present . I wished everyone and went to KD sir . " sir you called . yes mehek , sit" he told me . he looked at sameer sir and signed him something . " sameer sir who was sitting on sofa along with asima came forward and took the seat near me. " see mehek , we are gonna ask you few things reply honestly okay and don't get scared okay , just be calm and answer. " he said in an comforting voice but it instead it made me more nervous . "what happened sir" I asked in a low voice . he was looking for some words to start . ashima ma'am got up from behind and came forward and she placed few pictures on the desk and I was shocked to see those . " explain this mehek " she said with those accusing voice of her . those were my pictures with shaurya khanna .

pictures when I have met him in CP parking where when I was leaning on him to get his phone and he was looking at my face but the pictures were telling a different story only , they were just zoomed on our faces and we were close in them . I took the pictures in my hand and started checking it one by one. there were some more pictures from yesterday party where I was dancing with shaurya . I realized what they were asking me. my eyes got filled with tears while I was flipping the pictures and one of the tears rolled down my cheek and came on those pictures . sameer sir noticed that and placed his hand on my shoulder " see mehek , I know you. I am sure you have something to tells us about these". He said . " see mehek I am not blaming you for anything , what ever you do in your personel life is no my concerned , I have no right to question you but if anything affects my business I will not tolerate that " said KD firmly . " plus our conversation with mr gambhir and shaurya has raised more question in our head " I raised my head while tears were still flowing from my eyes . " you wanna hear it asked KD . I response nothing . he put his phone further and played the phone recording on speaker . first was of a person unknown to me .

KD - hello mr gambhir

Gambhir- hi KD, how are you .

KD -I m good , how are you .

Gambhir - so how you called . anything I can help.

KD- actually yes . you can help. You were hosting german for their project right . I just wanna know where my team lacked for future references . germans were quite impressed with our food. Then what happened ? we have been in this business from quite a time and I know being an old friend atleast you could help me with this.

Gambhir( the person took a pause and after letting out a breath ) see KD I m just telling you only this time for old sake and plus since now project is with shaurya .

KD- thanks yaar . how come shaurya presentation was better than us.

Gambhir- yaar , the better thing was shaurya business idea .. he had every thing planned already . the land deal , lisence supply , certification from different association , you know how sharp and cunning he is in all this plus his food presentation was also fine .

KD- But germans were very impressed with our food .

Gambhir- yes you are right, they were. Infact they told this thing to shaurya too but shaurya has given them assurance that he will get them the chef they want .

KD- what do you mean by that .

Gambhir- I don't know wheather I should say this or not . but be careful with your staff . may be shaurya has some associations plus we know he can do anything for his business . I think I have spill the bean . you have to collect it buddy . tc . see you .

The conversation ended . I was still a bit confuse that what all this means . how I am involve in this . seeing my confuse face . KD took his phone . started another recorded conversation and put it on speaker.

After two three rings finally the caller picked the phone it was shaurya

Shaurya- KD , my rival . aaj mujhe kaise call kar liya . wanna congratulate me for my winning .

KD- congratulations shaurya , I must say you are good . I mean mujhse kam experience hone ke bawajood bhi , you showed good business skills .

Shaurya - kya hai na sirf experience hone se kuch nahi hota , one need to have talent .

KD- talent for what . plotting .

Shaurya- what do you mean ?

KD- I mean tumne hamare chef ki created dish banwai and you promised german to give the same taste. How?

For few second I didn't heard any thing from the recording

Shaurya - keep mehek out of it okay . ( his voice has some sort of posseseviness in it . real or fake I didn't know ) and stop fussing now on the contract . I won accept it .

KD - why to keep mehek out of it . huh ! who is she to you .?

Shaurya - you are no one to ask that . ( he said instantly and with a rage in the voice)

With that he cut the call . the recording was off . my eyes were still on KD sir phone . I raised my head and I found all four of them with query eyes .

" I guess shaurya is just misleading us " said sameer sir . " why would he do that . plus what he will get out of this . he already has the contract . ashima ma'am argued . " see we all know shaurya is cunning may be he is using mehek . we all know how he is with girls . mehek is naIve , might she didn't judged his selfish intentions " vinay sir pointed . I shut my eyes with felling of hurt in my Chest . why this happened again . why shaurya is again being linked up with me . I didn't have any contact with him since so long then why again . why I always have to justify myself . I could hear them putting their views sameer sir still had faith in me . while ashima ma'am and vinay sir somewhere have concluded that I am having something to do with shaurya and I m helping him and frauding my team . I felt weak , I felt parlaysed in their thinking . I danced with shaurya khanna . some one just clicked my random picture with him and I am labeled as one of his fling . I could'nt take it any more . I needed air . I wiped my face . shut my eyes to gain some strength and I got up . "I just don't want this thing to be repeated again , mehek you have to prove that" asked KD sir in that typical bossy tone the second he saw me standing.

" I M RESIGNING" I said loud and clear . everyone was bit surprised . there was silence for few seconds which ashima ma'am broked " so that was your plan to make shaurya get the contract and then you to resign and join his team . brilliant mehek . I must say . nice played " she said in dounting tone . I didn't faced her . now it doesn't effect me . sameer sir holded me from my elbow and made me to face him . I looked at him " what are you doing mehek , this decision of your is making all these accusations true " he said in a low voice . but he was audable to everyone . I saw a geniuine concern in him. I smiled a little " sir , you asked me once why I left ISK in between , where I could have won and shown shaurya by winning on my talent . I didn't answer you that day . here it is .winning , showing people has never been my forte . I just wanna live sir . I wanna live happy with my family . when shaurya defamed me , I slapped him and left the contest as my self respect is very important to me . to win a competition I can't give anybody right and chance to spoil my and my family's name . same thing is happening today . I met shaurya alone once and somebody pictured us together , I danced with him and you people thought we are having something . ( I took a breath in between as my throat became dry after sobbing and speaking in a single go ) he won , we lose and you all concluded that I am working for him . while from the past 10 month I am working here not with him

"I am not here to listen your feminism thought mehek. We are at working place I am your employer and I want an explanation on something that happened related to an employee . I own that . don't threat with this resign thing " raged KD . I was bit shaken by his anger . I turned to him and with confidence I said " sir you want an explanation . here it is . I have nothing to do with shaurya khanna winning the german contract . I am chef who cooked for your branned . since my employer has accused me of cheating . I don't wanna work here any more as an employee . I will give you my resignation letter and will serve one month more for my notice period and believe me , shaurya khanna has nothing to do with my decision " I stress on my last line . I turned back to leave . " wait mehek I stoped on those words of KD sir . I turned . I saw him dialing on intercome . 'hello mayank , I want you to accept mehek Sharma's resignation letter and to clear her account including her this month salary with out any notice period ". He ended the call with that . " go to mayank in HR department . give your resignation letter and clear your account . complete all other formalities and leave . I don't want you here from tomorrow" . his wording pinched me more. " I think we are hasting this decision" said sameer sir . " I will do the need full sir " I said that and stormed out of his office . the moment I stepped out and haulted after few steps . I cry and I cry , my voice was numb but tears were continuously flowing . mob moving here and there were founding wired me crying like that . I didn't looked at any one . I found my myself cage in this crying . I gulped my sorrow and moved ahead I reached HR department and approached mayank , our HR head and asked him a pen and paper to write resignation letter . he seemed already confused with KD call and my crying puffed face puzzled him more . while he gave me stationary and I was writing the letter he asked me whats the matter . I replied nothing , after few failed attempt he asked the finance department to clear my account on phone . I finished the letter and handed him . he asked to wait . I sat on the sofa near his desk I was silent . was not crying anymore . flashback of what happened in KD office was running in my mind about half an hour has passed . I got few calls from rahul . I didn't answer . I was just waiting for the formalities to get done. About quarter an hour after mayank came to me . he handle me a copy of resignation letter along with no objection and clearance certificate . he gave me details of my account . I thanked him and went to changing room . after changing I handed over my locker key to maintenance department and without meeting rahul I approached parking area . he was calling me again and I received sameer sir call too . I didn't answer any . I didn't wanted to talk . I started my scooty and moved out of food castle .I stopped out side its gate and turn back to look at it . I was nostalgic .after all it was first proper job . with a heavy heart and moist eyes I was about to ride when I found shaurya khanna blocking my way with his car standing in front of my scooty . he looked right at me and I too didn't averted my eyes . he came out of his car and stood just right on my head . he was the last person I wanted to face right now

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