Thank you everyone for the lovely comments, here I post two more updates, there are more for fun, little less mystery in them. from chapter 23 onwards you get to hear more about the other Khuranas. But that doesn't mean I don't want likes and comments on these ones so plz, don't forget.

Chapter 21:

Gujarati Love Story

(Part 1)

 

Adi had arranged for Popat seth and his wife to come another day. As they entered he gave Pinky a quick glance remembering what had happened last time they were here. He could hear Pinky chuckle.

Maan, who did not want anymore drama in front of his clients, decided that Meera was to work as the architect. She had another, bigger project running and gave the responsibility to Sasha. Not that he liked to do it but Sasha at least knew her work and would not mess it up. Meera didn't know why MK took her project away so suddenly. She wanted to ask him but knew his temper. He didn't like being questioned about his decision making. Meera was going to ask Adi, who was at reception, when she bumped into someone and almost fell. The guy caught her at her waist and they had an eye lock. A song started to play:

"Yash ko Meera se pyaar hogaya, pehli nazar mein pehla pyaar hogaya, ek nazar dono o o o o o o…." It sounded as if the voice was stuck. Yash cursed his bad luck and tapped on his pocket, hoping the tape would play on. Meera came out of her trance when she heard Pinky laugh, even Adi let out his laughter which made Pinky laugh even more. Meera got up, red from embarrassment. She hoped MK was nowhere near as he did not tolerate such behaviour in KC.

"Excuse me mister, tum ho kaun aur kar kya rahe the?" Meera asked him angrily.

"Ek minute jaan-e-mann" Yash said removing the walkman from his pocket and checked the tape. He was engrossed in his work and did not notice Meera leave as she had been called to MK's office.

"Ok, the tape got stuck." He looked up to find Meera missing.

"Arre, kaha chali gayi?" turned to search and found Pinky.

"Excuse me, kya aap ne Meera koh kahin dekha hain?" He asked flashing a charming smile at her.

"Kyun, kya kaam tha Meera se?" Pinky asked as normally as possible. Being a receptionist at KC was a good but at times very dull job. Now this guy came out of nowhere and had made her day by his entertainment.

"Woh.." he said shying slightly. Pinky laughed.

"Waise, maine aap ko yaha pehle kabhi dekha nahin. Kya aap client ho?"

"Haan, aaj meri yaha ke MD ke saath meeting..." he bit his tongue as he remembered that his parents had asked him straight to come to the office.

"Oh no aaj mummy jaan lelegi. Yaha ke MD ki office kaha hain?" Pinky showed him directions and Yash left.

 

Maan was just talking to Popat and Ketki when Yash came in. He shook hands with Maan and introduced himself as their son. Ketki wanted to build an orphanage. She told them about how she and her husband had been childless till they saw Yash one day and brought him home. Even if he was not their real son they had never thought of him as less. The orphanage Yash used to be in was going to close due to bad conditions. Hence they had brought it and wanted a completely new building for all the children. Meera, who had been listening, was lost in thought when Yash gently tapped her on her shoulder. He pointed to MK who had raised his brow.

"Sorry sir, kuch nahin hain."

"Ok then Meera, I want you to take over this project. How about you take them to BG and talk everything through?" When he saw Meera's questioning look he added.

"All conference halls are booked out, that's why."

 

When they reached the lifts Yash made some gestures to his mother who got elated.

"Arre Meera beta, ek baat sun."

"Ji Ma'am"

"Mujhe haina abhi yaad aaya ke meri aaj bank me appointment hain woh bhi saruri. Main aur Popat nikalte hain, Yash tujhe sab kuch samjha dega theek hain?" But she didn't wait for a reply and took off with her husband who looked at her, confused. She didn't even bother explaining to him as he wouldn't understand anyways… husbands!

Meera was not pleased since she was stuck with Yash now, but she was professional enough not to mix her personal feelings with work.

"This way please". They reached BG and took a table.

"So Mr Patel, please do tell me what your requirements are?" Yash put his elbow on the table and supported his face with his hand.

"Not much. You must be Indian and be able to make Gujarati Khaman Dhokla"

"What?"

"Haan, mummy ne kaha hain, bahu aaegi to Indian aur Khaman Dhokla is my favourite."

"Mr Patel, mein aap ki shaadi ki nahin, is project ki baat karrahi hu."

"Please tum mujhe Yash buloa na, Mr Patel kitna unromantic lagta hain." Meera was loosing her patients. She cursed her stars for putting her in his situation.

 

Geet had woken up late. She had to be at work and it was almost lunch time already. Because she had slept through dinner and breakfast she was quite hungry, but work was more important. She had a shower, wore a churidar, make her hair into a messy bun and left. When she arrived at KC, Pinky told her about Yash and Meera. Geet laughed too and after hearing that both were in BG made her way up to meet them. She could see how lovingly Yash was looking at Meera and how annoyed she was. She decided to find out what exactly was going on and made a quick lunch for both.

"Good afternoon, I took liberty to make lunch" Geet told Yash and put down two plates in front of them.

"Meera tere liye bhi hain." Yash was excited thanked Geet.

"Waise Jaan-e-mann tumhe khaane me kya pasand hai?" Geet almost dropped the glass she was holding and looked at Meera asking her what was going on. Meera excused herself and pulled Geet into a deserted corner.

"Geet main tujhe kya batau, is client ne toh naak me damm kar rakha hai. Mein kab se project ke bareme pooch rahi hu aur yeh hai ke kya kya bole jaraha hai. MK ko yeh museebat mere hi sarr dalna tha." Geet laughed. Meera glared at her and Geet shut up.

"Meera, ladka inta burra bhi nahin lagte hain. Shayad sach mein tujhe pasand karre. Give him a chance. Waise bhi na tera boyfriend hain aur nahin tu kisi ko chahti hain. So how about him. Kabhi to tu apna ghar basaigi na?"

"Shaadi aur is languor ke saat? Dimaag kharab hain kya? Is ladke mein aisa kya hain keh mein isse pasand karun?"

"Well miss Meera, I am good looking, come from a good family, love you a lot and promise to stay faithful for the rest of me life." Yash spoke while folding his arms over his chest and looking at both girls. Meera had turned around feeling embarrassed and sorry for having said such a thing.

"Woh, I'm sorry, mujhe patta nahin tha keh aap yaha.." she stuttered.

"It is ok. Saruri yeh nahin keh hum kis ke baremein kahe, saruri hain yeh ke hum kya kahein. Ab lunch karren?" Meera felt even worse now and gave Geet a quick look before going back to her lunch.

After eating sometime she said:

"Sorry Yash, I didn't mean to hurt you, it is just…"

"Hai, finally you said Yash and not Mr Patel. Anyways it is ok. I know I advanced too quickly, I should have given you a proper introduction of who I am and so on."

"Firstly, how did you know my name, I mean, the tape..." she broke off when she realised she shouldn't have mentioned it, not now.

"Oh that, I had noticed you the first time my parents came to KC, I was to pick them up and saw you. It was love at first sight. I asked the watchman about your name."

Meera was silent at the mention of love at first sight. Yash continued:

"Well about me. I was an orphan; my dad was a single parent after mom died giving birth to me. He died, too and since I had no next of kin I landed in the orphanage. I loved it there to be honest but yes I had to admit I always hoped that the couple walking through the doors were my future parents. And see there, I got my wish. Even though I had to face some difficulties, you know with some conservative family members, my parents loved me always as their own. Mom pampers me a lot and dad never leaves a chance to point our how useless I am. This project is a gift from my parents to me. Not that it was necessary but they knew how attached I still am to the place and how it hurts me to see the old building deteriorate and close down. After all, I had found my happiness because of the orphanage and I find it my responsibility to make sure other children aren't deprived of their right for happiness and love, too." Yash who had been looking into his plate raised his head to find Meera gawping at him.

"Tumhari harkatoh se lagta hi nahin ke tum itne samajdar aur simmedar ho" she said realising a bit too late that this was maybe not an appropriate remark to make. But Yash just laughed and said:

"Yes I know I do a lot of masti and hence seem unreliable and so on but it is only because I am a psychiatrist from profession and have to be serious most of the time. That is why I have fun with people around me whenever I am free."

The finished and both didn't want this meeting to end. Geet, who had been watching both closely from behind the large plant which was between the counter and their table, was happy to see the situation lighten up. She had noticed both finish their meal and quickly made them her mocha special so both got more time to chat. Meera and Yash thanked Geet inwardly for this when she had delivered the drinks.

"Waise, it's on the house. Mein apno se kabhi paise nahin leti" Geet said when Yash was removing his wallet.   

"But I am a regular customer" Yash tried to reason.

"I don't think you are anymore" Geet said looking towards Meera and winking at her.