Chapter 4
Jo spent her entire day in bed. Somehow, all the strength had been drained out. She woke up with the shrill tone of her cell buzzing. It was Aditya..
Adi: Hey!I’m outside, you done for the day?
Jo:Oh! I’m sorry, I should have texted. I left early. I’m home.
Adi: Home?Is it all okay? Are you okay Jo?
Jo:Oh yea! No worries, I just sprained my ankle. Thought better, to take a day off?
Adi: Sprained your ankle? God! How many times do I have to tell you Jo, the way you run errands, you should be wearing sport shoes, instead of heels..
Jo: Hmm..
No retort received from her, that was unusual.That meant too upset to quarrel.
Adi: Hey!Stay in bed, I’ll bring over some take out.. Do you need any medicines, pain reliever or anything??
But Jo was not in a state of pretense. She knew, that she wouldn't be able to pretend in front of Adi, that everything was okay.Breaking down was the last thing she wanted for Adi to witness..Sometimes what you need is your own company to get a grip on your restless nerve..And today was that day.
Jo: Hey! Listen..I don’t want you coming over. I’ll be fine by tomorrow. Come pick me up tomorrow morning on your way to work. Will you?
Adi: But Jo…
Jo: Please…
There was nothing more Adi could say, the best he could do this minute was to abide by Jo’s wish. So he stepped back..
Adi: Okay,but drop me a msg if you need anything..and Jo, pls take care, or me n shibani wouldn't be able to sleep.
Jo: Hmm..n about that, don’t say anything to sis..I already dropped her a msg that I’m super tired and off to bed. No reason for us to worry her out. Okay? N I’ll take care, I promise..
Adi disconnected the call, sighed and drove back to his place.
Jo sulked back in bed, the flashes of Jalal wouldn’t stop haunting her exhausted mind. The surge of aromatic winter and mint that emanated from him, somehow was working as sedative for her chaotic nerves. She touched her left wrist, which had been held by Jalal, in his attempt to keep her upright. A sheer wave of stimulus rushed past her veins, leaving her all goosebumped. A single drop of tear rolled her lashes, and she gave a mild chuckle, “God! You’re so angry, that I actually saw the rage in your eyes..n bloody hell, you’re still so captivating, that I could feel my heart bouncing to moon and back..The push of your anger broke my heart, and yet I feel as if I’m being pulled in your vicinity with a force even stronger than planetary. Why do I feel that the anger of yours was draped in a melancholic yearning? Who should I pity more, “Me” or “You”??? What did I do that you despise me this much, and yet recognised me as if I was never forgotten??What should I do now?? Do I have the courage and time left to step forward towards you, or should I simply retreat, and save you from being hurt again???Is the truth worth it??What does it matter anymore even if, we were more than just friends- what can I offer you now, other than a sick me? Was I so selfish that I came all the way here to see you, without even thinking once about how you would feel?? n now that I know that you’re so hurt, what am I suppose to do????
Jo was immersed in these thoughts when suddenly her cell rang again. It was Mr. Batra’s call this time.
Jo: Hello Sir. Im sorry for having skipped the meeting. Wasn’t feeling that good..
Batra: Its okay Ms. Shekhawat. It went well. I called you to…(hesitant)
Jo: Yes??
Batra:Listen Heer, I tried to convince him but everyone knows how adamant he is..
Jo: What is it Mr. Batra? I’m not getting it..who is adamant??
Batra: The CEO!!. Mr. Mohd has somehow found out about the discrepancy in your years of experience, and he has asked you to provide a convincing reasoning for the same..in case you couldn’t, the company will terminate your appointment.
Jo kept silent.
Batra: But if you could, then he would reconsider hiring you at another position. Heer, I know what an amazing hire you’re, so please find the best possible reason to give him, as to why you would mellow down your experience, just to get recruited at a position way lower than what you’re fit for. I do not even want to know why you would do that, but please talk to him, the first thing in the morning, and please find a way to stay at COSMOS. All of us are rooting for you.
With this the manager disconnected the call.
Jo sighed a relief and couldn’t refrain a smile, “Were you always this way, Mr. Mohd. Offering me options when I needed them the most.You’ve actually made it so clear for me. If I quit you would let me retreat with no questions asked, but if I decide and muster up the courage to stay, you have the door ready that would lead me back on the path to you - a terrain that I want to step on, to know what the two of us mean to eachother..So, the only question I’m to ask myself here is,if I’m brave enough to go all the way- the way that leads to you..because if I do, there would be no going back..but the price that I’ll have to pay to step in your world, would not be mine alone to pay- you’ll have to share my fate, my ailment with me..Would that mean I would be too selfish, to drag you in??? God!What am I suppose to do??
When the night slipped by? Jo couldn’t know..She kept pondering over Jalal’s proposition and what best she could do?? When the first sunlight erupted, Jo had already made up her mind. She got up with a light heart, readied for work early, ate, and dropped a text to Adi to pick her up on his way to work..”
Adi, parking his car at COSMOS, “You should have taken a day more off..Doesn’t that brute boss of your know that one cannot walk with a swollen ankle?? Whats with this urgent meeting, you’re talking about??
Jo: Nothing for you to worry?? And how many times do I have to tell you,not to talk about my man that way??
Adi: Your man?? seriously?? You don’t even know whose man he might have become in these ten years..Stop hallucinating woman!
Jo (chuckled):Whatever..if that stops you from name-calling him, I’ve no issues calling him my man..and I know things change over years..and I don’t expect him to not have had a normal life…what I’m here to know is rather what has remained unchanged between the two of us..So, pls keep your nagging nose out of my affairs..
Adi: Affairs???Shibani is gonna kill you..
Jo: Oh! I doubt that..if one of us is going to die at her hands, it is probably you, for keeping her awaiting..
Adi (sighed):You’re right. I’m so dead..Here, give me your bag, lemme help you..
Jo smiled and Adi opened the car door for her, to limp out.. Jo rested her hands on Adi’s shoulder..
Adi: That ankle doesn’t look good..
Jo:I’m fine.. Just help me cross the staircase, and then I’ll be on my own..
Adi lifted Jo and in two strides move past the staircase placing her down, next to the entry door to the building..
Adi: God!Ur heavy..
Jo (winked and rolled her tongue out): You gotta practice man, I bet Shibani is heavier..
Adi (wrinkled his brows): Stop salting my wounds, would you??
Jo gave a hearty laugh..n Adi signalled her to go off..She entered the building, while Adi watched before she was out of sight,clueless that someone had his eyes on him..
Adi turned to leave, only to find Jalal right infront of him..
Adi (on a serious note): If you could pls step aside, You’re kind of in my way..
Jalal (stern): Well I think, I differ. Seems its you, who is always in my way..
Adi: I was here to drop off a friend. Hope you don’t mind..
Jalal: Ofcourse not, if only you showed the same dedication towards your bussiness, as you do to your friends, Singhaniyas would be fairing much better in the market..
Adi:That's not for you to worry, instead, if at all you’re capable of concerns, you should be showing them off to your sick employees..
Jalal:Exactly my point..you better spare your concern, for MY employee..will you??
Adi:What a jerk..
Jalal:Really?? The next time I see you around, I’m afraid, I might act like one..
Adi gave a deathly glare to Jalal and moved past him, cursing underneath his breath..
Jalal kept staring at leaving Adi, when suddenly Mirza accompanied with Abdul, called him out.
Mirza: Morning Boss!
Jalal(scoffed): I’m not sure of that, anymore..
Abdul(surprised): Is that Aditya Singhaniya in our parking lot??
Jalal remained silent, and moved past the two friends to enter COSMOS..Abdul and Mirza, still confused about Adi, later followed Jalal..
Abdul (while following Jalal): Have you decided on her yet?
Jalal (while on his way to elevator): There is nothing for me to decide here. Its all her call.
Abdul: When are you gonna see her?
Jalal: I told Batra to get this sorted first thing in the morning, so may be soon.
Abdul: Would you want me n Mirza to be there. We can always skip, you know..
Jalal:Why would you skip? Employess responding to notices always appear in front of all three of us. Same goes with her. I would want you two to be there.
Abdul (smiled): If you say so, we would join you later, like in ten minutes. You go ahead.
With this, Abdul and Mirza entered the other elevator, while Jalal was left in front of his personalized elevator to his office. He entered the same, and before the door could close completely,someone stuck a foot in there, to halt it.
Jalal hissed and turned to see the source of intrusion- Jo was standing there, with her coffee in one hand, and pile of documents in other, and a foot still on the elevator door..
Dumbstruck Jalal looked at her, speechless..
Jo: Morning Mr. Mohd..(Jalal silent)..I’don’t have an access card to this elevator, and I do not know any other way to reach your office..cant find Mr. Batra, you see (Jalal still silent)..I hope you don’t mind me coming along..you wanted to see me first thing in the morning, didn’t you??
Jalal still couldn’t find any words to respondher back. He scrunched his brows and simply retreated at the end of elevator to let Jo come in..Jo gave a polite nod and entered the elevator, filling it with her usual essence of jasmine and lily, and for a moment Jalal felt overwhelmed with the floral aroma and the memories clinged to it..Trying his very best to keep his composure intact with a straight face, he kept his back turned to Jo..But couldn’t stop himself from looking at the polished glass panes at the sidewall of elevator, that was reflecting Jo’s image, while she was scooped up in the corner opposite to where jalal stood..
She looked relaxed, unlike Jalal, and was staring at the digital panel that indicated the numbers of the floors that were passing by..Pretty and calm as ever, like a jasmine fluttering in a mild gust of spring breeze..That was a sight that Jalal could go so willingly addicted to..Jalal moved his gaze on her reflection down to her ankle, that was tightly wrapped up in a crepe, and a bluish tint of that sprain was peeping out of the bandage..
An irritated and inaudible scoff left Jalal’s lips, “Unbelievable!! clumsy, as ever”..
The moment words left off Jalal’s mouth, Jo turned her gaze to his back, confused, if at all he said something..and Jalal averted his gaze from her reflection to avoid meeting her line of sight. To Jalal’s relief the elevator made a ding and they were at his 30th floor office..Jalal hurriedly left off the elevator to get a gulp of plain air, while Jo made a slow limping exit..Jo looked around, it was a massive place, with a waiting lounge, that looked more like a living area, and a rounded staircase probably led to his office on terrace..
Jalal was already on his way to the staircase,when the flash of her bruised ankle, and that god forbidden image of Adi lifting Jo, to help her cross the stairs hit his mind, he halted and turned to look back, where Jo was still standing..
Jalal (sternly): You can wait here Ms. Shekhawat. Abdul and Mirza will arrive soon. I can listen to what you’ve to say in that waiting lounge itself..
Jo again nodded with a soft smile, and an agitated Jalal hurried up the stairs, leaving her alone, more like finding a place for himself away from her, to calm his nerves down..What was wrong with him, he had been hurt, angry for God knows how long, and here is she, back,spreading that infectious smile of hers, and why the hell he cant keep a grip??..why the hell cant he be resentful.?? How pathetic does that sound??While Jalal was still engrossed in his thoughts, he heard the commotion down in the waiting area, and figured that perhaps Mirza and Abdul had arrived.
At the waiting area,
Abdul (ToJo): Hi, I’m …
Jo:Oh! I know, Mr. Abdul, the co-director of the company and the Head of COSMOS’s Finance and Marketing division. Glad to meet you, Sir..I’m Heer..
Abdul: Good to see you too Ms. Heer, I couldn’t congratulate you on your project that day, that was a job brilliantly done..You should be proud of yourself..
Mirza (interrupting in): Oh, come now Abdul, tell the lady something that she already doesn’t know..
Jo gave a bright smile..
Jo:And what that might be, Mr. Mirza??
Mirza:That you’ve got a smile that should be declared technically illegal..You might give an infarction to some poor guy with that alluring smile of yours Ms.Heer..
Jo gave a mild chuckle,
Jo: Well that’s pretty cheeky, coming from the director of the company..But I must tell you, that is one of the most outdated lines in the history of compliments..
Mirza scrunched his brows, “Really?”
Jo laughingly nodded, and Abdul rolled his eyes at Mirza, “Pls Don’t get started”, leaving all three in laughter.
Jalal coughed, and suddenly the jolly air turned cold. Jalal gave a deathly glare to Mirza,
Jalal:Its an employee enquiry, not a reception, so can we be a bit more professional here??
Mirza and Abdul turned serious, while Jo spoke to break the ice, “I apologize Mr. Mohd”
Jalal (hissed): Well, you’ve already enough on your part to apologize for, Ms.Shekhawat, You better stick to that.
Jo went silent with a downcast eye..
Jalal (eyeing Mirza): Can we get started, if you two are done with your merry talks??
Abdul (on Mirza’s behalf too): Ofcourse..
Jalal took the front seat, and Mirza and Abdul sat on his either side. Jo stood opposite Jalal, farther from all three..
Jalal: There is a discrepancy in your years of experience, and I can not think of any reason, why you would take a lower position, when you could have interviewed for a managerial position at COSMOS?? This makes me pretty suspicious about your intent Ms. Shekhawat..Was your approach intentional??
Jo: Yes Sire…
Jalal (sarcasticly smirked): Really? So, please tell me, Ms. Shekhawat, why I shouldn’t fire you right away for forging your documents, hiding your information from the company when you would have taken the undertaking that all the info you provided was true to the best of your knowledge..Why on earth should I trust an employee that lied???
Jo (calm): Because my intent was never against the interest of my employer..
Jalal: Is that so?? Please, elighten me then, about that intent of yours..Why you did what you did??
Jo: Do you want an honest answer??
Jalal (scoffed in rage): Honesty?? I don’t even know if I should expect that from you..
Mirza loosened his tie, and wiped off the sweat from his brow. Things were getting heated up and jalal seemed awfully upset.Abdul interrupted jalal, realizing that the conversation was heading to a tadbit personal than professional..
Abdul: I think, I and Mirza should head off..
Jalal (fumed): And why would that be, is there something unusual going on that you haven’t seen before??
Abdul (calmly): Yes, I do think there is something different going on in here..Please Jalal, I insist..I’ll see you later.
With this Abdul left off his place, and Mirza hurriedly followed him, “Me too, see you later bro”..
Seeing Abdul retreating, Jalal snapped back into reality. Releasing a deep breath, he shook his head to get a grip on himself, and looked at Jo, who was still standing with down cast eyes. Embarrassed he left his seat, and walked to the nearest window keeping his back turned at Jo. Silence prevailed and Jalal cursed inaudibly at his inability to stay put. What was wrong with him, why was he getting this riled up??Why is he reacting beyond his capabilities to hold himself back..Exhaustion and guilt followed rage and embarrassment..
Jalal (hesitantly): It was so out of place..I..I’m ….
Jo interrupted in between..
Jo: Its okay! You don’t need to…I should be the one sorry, I think..
Jalal kept silent..
Jo (welled up with tears): I came back, because I couldn’t take it anymore.Your face had been haunting me, since past ten years and I needed to know why??I couldn’t muster up the courage to come face you directly, after I found out about you-some nagging guilt, I guess that I can’t point out..so I took up the position to stay out of your sight, while still being in the same space as you..Sounds cowardly, doesn’t it??I just thought it would buy me some time to harness that lacking courage..(Jo sighed), I cant leave until I get the closure I’ve been looking for or give you the answers that I think, you’ve been curious about..If I do, I’ll suffocate..So, I request the CEO, to please consider my predicament and spare me the fault..This is as much as honest, I can get..
Jalal who listened everything while being silent, turned to look at Jo..She was still standing with eyes downcast, and a dried patch of teary streak on her cheek..He kept silent, moved to his desk, took the suspension letter in his hands, tore it and threw the shredded pieces in his garbage bin.. He then forwarded the joining letter to Jo..
Jalal: That much honest is good for now..Please sign this..
Jo took the papers and the pen to sign it, when Jalal interrupted..
Jalal: Don’t you wanna read it..who knows what terms I might be luring you in..?
Jo (gave a faded smile): Terms don’t matter..I’m all in for a leap of faith..
Jo signed the joining letter and turned to leave..when Jalal’s voice halted her steps..
Jalal: Thankyou!
Jo turned to face Jalal.
Jo (a bit surprised): For??
Jalal: Not leaving..
Awestruck duo looked at eachother, when Jalal broke the gaze and turned his back again, away from Jo..A tear rolled off again Jo’s lashes, and she turned hurriedly to enter the elevator and make her quick exit..The sound of the receding elevator left Jalal with an immense sense of peace..As if a burden lifted off, he looked at his reflection in the window pane, and broke into a genuine smile..In a vague attempt to stop his smile, he bit his lip, but the euphoria refused to quit..As if the time took him back to his teens, a familiar sweet ache hit his heart. Jalal held the papers that Jo had signed. Traced her signatures, with his fingertips, (and said to himself), “There will be no turning back Jo, because closure is not what I’ve been looking for..Its YOU that I want. I gave you an opportunity to leave but you have decided to stay on your own accord, and no matter what, I wont let you off this time..I hope you’re prepared for me”..
With this Jalal,leaped up the stairs to get to his office.. It was indeed (as Mirza had said), the best of his mornings after all :)
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