Chapter 10
Another busy day of Mumbai Life , the couple who realized and declared their love for each other , resumed back into their professional life after a rejuvenating week end , spend together in the farm house , pune. Priya was known for her punctuality , she never ever comes a second late to the office. She used to say and follows , if you want your sub - ordinates to follow the hard and fast rules made by you , then don't be a rule maker , be a example setter, if they see their Boss to behave in the way , that their Boss wants from them , then they will behave in the demanded way without any complain.
She walked into the office. fresh Monday guys , let us hit it.. 30 mins , I need the HOD s in the conference room.' They employees have never seen their Boss so much happy in past , in minutes Miss. Priya Sharma became the most talked matter among the employees. It would not be surprising if they start talking about her over BBM and twitter.
Entering the cabin , she caressed her eyes on the empty table , which she hates, No work means devil's place to rule, she believes. She relaxed on the couch. Stretching her arms above her head , she yawned . Sleep deficiency , she thought these days they talked like teens without any topic. Sleepless nights doesn't man that they have to make love to have one. But they talked talked and talked more than that Ram made her laugh laugh and laugh . Her lips arched , she smiled .
When she was remembering her long weekend, and her face was plastered with almost a permanent smile , she didn't noticed that kartik was there. He was standing infront of his sister without speaking a single word. His mouth is open making a shape of O' and his eyes almost popped out of it's shell. Remembering such one of the incident when she was smiling , her eyes fail on Kartik. Spontaneously her smile evaporated and casual look came back. She uttered yes and asked her brother the motive of without permission visit.
Kartik collected himself from just noticed transition of his sister. He with much courage corrected Priya , and making her realize about the time , he said that priya is already 10 mins late for the meeting that she called up with the HODs. Her cheeks turned pink in embarrassment, she broke her know rule. She failed to maintain the time. She was courageous enough to accept her fault. She walked out with her brother to the conference room.
The employees stood up as she entered. Before starting the meeting , she looked for the head of the accounts department. She addressed him and instructed him to deduct the penalty for not reporting on time from her salary invariable. She looked around and said I am sorry for my negligence.' The employees looked around , they were astonished to see their Boss punishing herself. Some may have thought , what so ever a 1000 bucks will be deducted what so special in that , she owns a company. But Morales are Morales.
She asked the hods to report to her with an annual performance report of their respective departments to her . She want to acknowledge the achievers , performers personally , and it calls for a surprise appraisal for the employees. She asked the HODs to report directly to her. After a long meeting , she walked out of the conference . She asked kartik to bring some reports to her and walked to her cabin.
Unaware of the unexpected guest she pushed open the door of her cabin. Without getting a chance to react , the guest hugged her , and asked how are you baby?' Expressionless , shocked she stood for moment , her eye balls wanted to check if it is true. The guest pinched her and said that it was not a dream. She smiled and managed to say , you , I mean , it's a pleasant surprise.'
surprise ! you have surprised me baby , if Shikha wouldn't have called me , then I would have never be knowing then in two days you are going to get engaged with Ram Kapoor.' the unexpected guest spoke.
masi ..' she almost screamed . The unexpected guest is none other than priya's masi , Meenal , who came all the way from London. Priya gave a pause and asked her masi who has informed Priya about her engagement .
you are disappointing me darling , are you trying to show that I came uninvited?' meenal masi asked . she denied the fact and said that there is no such plans for the ring ceremony, adding to it she said , why I should refrain from inviting you Masi , but trust me I have n idea about such plans.'
Their conversation came to a halt as sudheer ji came inside , and acknowledged the news and it's completely planned and organized by Shikha ji , he added. Priya in her mind thought , when she would have planned all these. Ram's family is in Punjab , and he came back that very morning then how can be the .. she gave a pause to her thoughts and asked about Ram's family directly to sudheer ji .
where is kartik baby , you should owe him a thank you , as sudheer said me that Kartik took them back from Punjab in a very short notice period.' She called kartik. Priya felt trapped , though she wanted to marry Ram , but without letting her know anything about her engagement party , she couldn't digest the fact.
After few minutes , kartik came back . and before his return , Meenal Masi , was over phone only with the flower shopkeeper , with the caterer , with the jeweler. Meenal Masi welcomed kartik with a warm hug. Priya welcomed him with a cold look.
kartik baby , come with me , I have no we have lots to do , makeup artist , designers , everything , and priya do only one thing I will select some rings and send them to you , just pick the best one.' She said .
masi , let it be , I and Ram will select in together . you don't need to get tensed about that .' priya replied to her. She came and kissed priya and said that she is happy to see that priya is at last growing up and she is more happy to see her in love. Priya smiled back , Meenal Masi with excitement left the cabin .
full on energy still today hai na beta' Sudheer ji said.
papa , please ... just tell me when is darling coming to Mumbai , and others too.' Priya asked .
why you hate her so much she came in such a short notice only for you ...' she intervened her father , I am not interested in her papa , will you please tell me when everyone is coming and when the ceremony will take place, I have to re-schedule my appointments.'
Sudheerji said a day and two nights are away her engagement is there and Shikha ji with her extended family to arrive by the evening. Priya thanked her father for the news and also added to it that , she has won the case over the house at Durban , and she want to decide it's fate soon ... Sudheer ji asked her to do according to her , as he bought it for her only. He left her cabin little disturbed and sad.
Priya called Ram immediate , after she asked her secretary for a silence zone for next half an hour.
Ram was at his office in the mean time he was also aware of every thing . about their sudden engagement, about his family coming back suddenly from Punjab ; courtesy kartik. He received the call ...
R : yes sweetheart..
P : do you know anything what is going on ?
R: ya I know it very well , why are you not happy ?
P : I am happy but , with out any notice , if I would have fixed my appointment with the buyer over Durban , then?
R : arey hua toh ni na .
P : Ya I know that but , phir bhi I mean they should have informed us .
R : I second you , but let it be . I am just thrilled .
P : thrilled ? why ?
R : I am going to marry that girl who , made me learn about the importance of 2 minutes , though I was not late that day.
P: Ram you were late that day , I bet .
R : you bet ? think twice and then bet babes .
P : ya I bet , you were late that day.
R : ok tell me what I will get if I win.
P : what ever you want , will be granted sir .
R : Ok then , let me think ... hmmm.. hmmm.. okay , you have to take me to Durban too. I will come with you .
P : Okay , done and if I win , then ... (she gave a pause , a long pause which made ram tensed more and more .) then ... You have to gift me something completely unexpected , something I have never seen .
R : God priya , now I wish , I should lose , but you know I will win it's confirm .
P : oh !! really , and that exactly how ?
R : and it's exactly , my watch is GPS enabled , it changes time automatically with the time zones even and I have checked your watch , it's running slow baby .
P : No way , she looked into her watch , it's 11 : 34 now .
R : no its 11: 40 now just check the world clocks , and correct the time.
P : wait let me check , (she took out her Tab and enabled the GPS and how he was right she got it clearly . ) Oh !!! Okay you won my man , so what you want exactly to come with me to Durban , okay granted but may I know the reason.
R : I want to protect you from all the odds priya , I am sure Sameer will be there and he will surely not going to make your trip as smooth as silk . He will try to put every possible twist and turns to make you feel miserable.
P : and you think I will feel miserable .
R : I don't think so , but you will surely share all those with me , and I will not be able to take that , I will feel miserable baby . and I am very selfish person , I cannot see any one making any fun of you .
There came no reply from the other side. Ram even didn't replied .. they can feel the unsaid words of love for each other .
R : Priya ,can we meet for lunch ?
P : Yes sure , we even have to choose our rings . Masi is here , she is taking charge of everything , but I kept the choices of ring for us only.
R : oh !! great your Masi is also here , I want to meet her , call her over lunch.
P : Please Ram ... ( before she could say anything more ram intervened)
R : I insist Priya .
P : Okay I will call her over an evening meet today , can we have sometime together before that .
R : some ... my 24 hours are yours Priya , do I have to give you in written ?
Priya laughed ...
R : just like this , always be like this.
P : its upon you now , my smile my cry , my life is yours now , so it depends on you , how you will keep me .
R : I will protect my life in every means . I love my Life the MOST ...
Priya smiled ... Ram smiled too on the other side ...
P : okay then meet you at Taj in an hour from now , after lunch we will go for shopping ,I mean the rings. And I will call Masi at StarBucks at 7 in the evening , theek hai na schedule.
R : ya perfect. Now have to go , little things to wrap up and then will be catching you over lunch ..
P : see you .. and Love you ..
R : Love you more than you do ... I love my LIFE ...
Mumbai , Roads ...
Who will reach first ? both of them were thinking the same , It's not a fight , but it's for fun , it's for a moment to cherish , moment to say like a kid , I WON I WON' Paused in the traffic of Mumbai , she was thinking exactly his thoughts .
Priya took out her ringing phone , she got the call from her masi. Receiving the call , she came to know that her masi wants her to be in a boutique for the trail of her Lehenga for Engagement. She has to meet Ram , but can she afford to get late for the lunch . They have some plans . She didn't replied to her Masi , who was asking her repetitively to come to the boutique. Atlast she replied, she lied. She said that she has a prior appointment for the day , and she cannot afford to miss it. From the other side the lady asked her to visit once, but she lied and lied ... the lady knew how busy priya is, so she agreed.
After 5 minutes , from the stipulated time , Priya walked inside the dine arena of Taj Palace. The manager welcomed her , she is a well know person over there. Priya asked for Ram Kapoor , the manager escorted her to the Table. She found Ram waiting for her. Ram gave a smiled and looked down to his watch . After the manager left , Ram smiled and said that she is 9 minutes late.
She smiled.
" So , what your family said ? I mean suddenly they agreed to darling for engagement when you turned down the marriage." Priya asked.
" I have already told you Priya that , I have not said a single thing about Preeti to my Dadi , and I have already said you that , Dadi's first and final choice was is and will be You .. so can we put a full stop on this discussion please and please next time don't start this topic again , just after when we meet .' Ram replied , he sounded bit frustrated.
She looked up , and saw the clear sign of frustration on his face. She also realized that she is talking , or showing over-curiosity about Preeti. She felt bad , in her thought she realized , if Ram is saying that there is and will be no problem with preeti , then he should keep faith over him.'
now what you are thinking again?' Ram's frustration was still clear over his voice.
Ram , I ...' She has to stop , as Neha intervened , so you two are here , and me ... Ram , I hate you for this , everything got fixed then we are getting to know , this not done ...!' neha sounded annoyed . Ram stood up and tried to talk with her , she denied . Vikram came for rescue.
baby , he was at Pune , and he didn't get to inform you , kartik informed nah.' He said.
Still annoyed with Ram and Priya , Neha didn't looked at her husband either. Priya stood up and with a sweet smile stood infront of her , Neha cocked her from her. Priya said sorry to her , a numerous times. Already frustrated Ram , with priya stood up and asked neha why she was reacting so much. Neha looked back to her friend, she couldn't believe her ears , her best friend is saying all this to her . With watery eyes , she looked at him for the very last time , before she left the place . Neha ran out of the place.
Neha...' priya called her , but she didn't stopped , she looked round to her man , without wasting time priya ran after Neha. Ram settled back on the chair. Vikram can easily study the worry , frustration on his friend's face. He knew that priya will managed Neha well , so he sat back to have some words with Ram.
what happened ? why you are so frustrated ? and annoyed Ram?' he asked.
why I should not Vikram ? she hates lies like anything , and I have lied to her innumerous times , and ...' Ram stopped suddenly . Vikram wanted to know what he is hiding from him. Ram didn't wanted to share his worry with vikram even. But vikram knew very well that if his friend don't speak out his heart , he would not be able to come out of his frustration.
Ram tell me what happened ? why you are so much worried ? please do tell me , don't sit like this!' Vikram said .
At last , when neha stopped at the parking area , Priya got hold of her , stop , Neha!' priya at last stopped her . Neha was still crying , she was taken back , by her friend's reaction .
neha , he was angry over me , tum pe gussa nikal gaya ... please , Neha forgive him . I am saying sorry on his behalf.' Priya said , and tried to convince her. But neha didn't replied her . Priya continued , Neha , we even didn't know that day after tomorrow is our engagement. It happened all of a sudden.' For the first time , neha looked at priya ...
Inside the Taj
something happened that shouldn't have ... Vikram , if she comes to know my lie , she would definitely think , that I ...' Ram stopped he couldn't say any more.
Parking area...
" what such happened ?' neha asked.
Neha , wo , something happened between us , I mean , Ram and I ... we came closer ; eventually my darling came to know everything , and she did all this without even giving us a single hint.' Priya said .
priya , close you mean in the sense ... You know na , what I mean to say.' Neha asked .
hmmm... it's true.' Priya said ...
The Taj ...
Ram , if you have not done anything wrong then , why ? I mean to say pareshan kyun hai...' Vikram asked ram repetitively.
why I shouldn't vikram , tu bol if she comes to know she will hate me like anything , and I cant take that .. I can't..' Ram said , he almost held back his tears , the fear of losing his love.
ram go and tell her everything , we will see what ever will happen ... gussa karegi , karne de but tell her everything ... I beg to you , before anything happens tell her everything . please .' Vikram said , he convinced Ram , he gave a nod and called Priya ..
At the parking lot ...
" priya , but ..." neha wanted to say something to Priya , but priya's phone interrupted . Priya took the call , and ram asked her to come back with Neha , ASAP . It's urgent he added as he ended the call. Priya asked Neha to come with her , ram is also feeling sorry for his behavior . Neha agreed to come with her.
Inside the TAJ ...
Priya came with neha , Ram stood up and straight away hugged neha , Neha cupped Ram's face ad said that priya has cleared everything to her , but she wanted to know why he is angry with priya ?. Ram looked at Priya , he asked neha to sit by her husband , and he would like to sit by his would be wife. Neha winked at Priya . Priya blushed as she smiled.
Ram sat by her , Priya didn't looked anywhere. She was looking directly down to her knitted hands. Vikram asked ram to go ahead without any hesitation. Ram took a deep breath and took priya's hand on his. Priya looked at him .
Priya...' he said , Priya , I have lied to you.'
Priya sat straight , her face winced and she looked for answers , Ram added , priya , there is no preeti , when I realized my love for you , I didn't know how to express it to you .. I wanted to make you ...' ram was losing his breath , he was very much worried. He looked at priya for her reactions. She was looking keenly at him .
I know you hate lies , but , I didn't get anything better , I am sorry ...I am really sorry ...' Ram said ... , I wanted to make you jealous...' ram looked up as priya slipped out her hand from his grip , she stood up , Ram stood up next to her , She didn't say a single word to him , she walked out of the TAJ ... Ram leaned back . This time neha wanted to follow , priya , but she was stopped by Ram , Neha , let her stay alone . mein mana lunga.'
but what's happening , who is this preeti ...?' Neha asked ..
Vikram described everything to her , from the starting , ram and Shikha ji's plan , to call off the marriage and then how he built the story of Preeti . Neha after listening to the whole set up , she asked ram , to clarify everything to priya , before she comes to know about the whole thing. Ram promised Neha to confront priya , but he also asked for some time.
dekha na , how much she is angry with me , let the perfect come I promise neha I will say everything to her , everything little thing to her .. trust me ... just believe me ...' Ram said .
Neha came and sat by ram , I trust you , and I promise you that I will not tell her a single but I want you to tell everything to her. If this little thing can move her so much , then just think , how she will be taking the whole damn thing , you can handle her and her anger , right !' neha asked ...
yes ..' he said ...
He sat there thinking of priya , and his half truth to her , what she will do next , will she call off the engagement , will she talk ever to him ? will she forgive him ? will she ? Ram's brain stormed with loads of thoughts... while Priya in her car , drove back to her home , she dropped a message to her masi , that due to some urgent meetings she has to cancel their meeting over coffee that evening ...
Arjun
