Girl Friday

Anjali Morning in Malhotra Mansion never changed in the six months I began to work for a certain Malhotra. I reach for duty sharp at 7, greet my boss’ dad and uncle on their way back from walking. I then join the ladies of the Malhotra house for the usual morning prayer. Then, my boss’ sweet grandmother, formally called Daadi*, offers me morning coffee. I meet Yash, my boss’ younger brother, on my way to meet His Highness and if my stars are lucky then I even get to meet his elusive and handsome other brother. “Hey, Anji.” Called Yash when I was passing his room. “Hello to you too Yashu.” I greeted back with a smile. “Good morning.” He wished “You tell me will I have a good morning? How was your brother last night? Grumpy or moody?” I asked. “Well, good, I guess.” He said. “We three had couple of drinks and late night chat. So, he must just have a hangover if not anything.” “Okay, I will go check for myself then. Anyway, good morning to my favourite Malhotra.” I flirted before I carried on my way to my boss’ room. Knock. Knock.”Boss.” Knock. Knock. “Boss.” Knock. Knock.”Boss.” “Come in, Sheldon.” I heard him say and I mentally imagined him rolling his eyes. “Good Morning” I said smiling at him widely “What is for breakfast?” he asked looking at the mirror and adjusting the collar of his shirt. I was tempted to answer that I was not the cook, but few days into my job, I realized that personal secretaries are meant to act as all in all for bosses. “Aloo Parata, club cheese sandwich and juice.” I repeated the menu I learned from the kitchen this morning. “Good.” He said turning to me. “Go get corn flakes and coffee ready for me. I will be there in 5.” I went to the kitchen to carry out orders when I met Daadi. “Have breakfast with us.” She said sweetly “No, daadi. I had already. I am here to get boss’ breakfast ready.” I said. She smiled at me and left. As everyone settled for breakfast, I stood beside my boss doing nothing but shamelessly eavesdropping at the Malhotra’s conversation. When the morning routine was over, I sighed as I sat beside my boss in the passenger seat of his car. Now starts the actual day. “Agenda?” he asked driving “Meeting at 5 with Mr.Mehra. Nothing important before that. You have a party to attend in the evening in honour of a deal signed by Malhotra Industries.” “Okay, confirm meeting with Mr.Mehra. I will be working till then. Arrange the meeting at some place nearby.” I nodded. “And party, Boss?” I asked “Necessary?” he asked “Yes, your father personally requested...” “You know better, Anjali. Give me more valid reason.” He said “Well, your brother worked really hard for the deal. So, I think he will be happy if you attend the party.” “Fine.” He said. “Get my clothes from home in the evening. I will directly go to party venue after the meeting.” I sat in my desk reading the papers of the contract that my boss is going to sign with Mr.Mehra’s Art Gallery, when my eyes fell on my sombre boss concentrating on the sculpture he is working on keenly. Now, this is the only interesting part of my work, shamelessly gawking at my boss, Arav Malhotra. There is something magical about looking at him work on every art piece of his meticulously. Bespectacled, hair tied in bun, shirt sleeves pulled up, pupils dilated in concentration, lips pressed together. If I can be a little more preposterous then I would even admit that it is a bit of a turn on. I was hired by Rohan Malhotra right after college. I was ecstatic until he revealed that I was to be his brother’s secretary and not his. I tried arguing, even negotiated to try and work with Rohan or his father, Varun. I wanted to learn business by working along with those legends. But, I ended up with Arav, a creative outcast in a business family. Arav was as much my fan as I was his, note the sarcasm. Imagine my annoyance when he said on the first meeting, “Rohan, I don’t want a personal secretary. And look at her! Do you expect me to babysit?” How dare he! I know even at twenty three many mistake me for a teenager due to my height and cute face, but that doesn’t give him any right to him to insult me. To say that I hated him initially would be an understatement. However, things change with time, don’t they? Now, I enjoy working with this my boss. Arav is a multi layered man. The more I get to know him, the more I like to explore him. He has various shades to him. He is a very intelligent man. He has a perspective of his own on everything. He is caring even towards people who he doesn’t know. When my mother was sick, he came along with me all the way to my hometown to make sure that everything was fine. My mother is very impressed with him. Even now she enquires about him in every phone call. He values human more than money. He donates one fourth of his earnings to charity. Never till date have I seen him use money that belongs to his family for his personal. “I cannot be a hypocrite, you know. When I tell them I will not join business, then I have no rights to take money that the business yields. “ he told me once. A man of words, he is. He spent three sleepless nights in order to complete paintings for a gallery in accordance with their requirement. When I told him that he can slide in any of his old ones, he said, “Don’t you remember what they said? New, exclusive and aligned with their theme.” Arav Malhotra is a man out of books, impeccable. How he can be so perfect! However, I can never let him know that I think about him this way. No. That man is not really a fan of me. He only tolerates me because of his brother, who thinks that Arav is too naive to handle the business aspects of his art, wanted me to take care of it. I, so, am going to pretend that I hate him right back and I am tolerating him only for whatever reasons he thinks. I placed the coffee on the table beside where he was working and walked to my workplace. No, not the 10*10 glass room workplace where I do business related stuff. This is the workplace where I create art. Yes, I am an artist, though my boss vehemently denies it. It started casually when I was bored and had nothing to do. So, I helped myself with excess of my boss’ art supplies and created a master piece. “Can you stop doing that in front of me? It is killing my inspiration.” He said after I had put on my cover all and took a paint brush in my hand. “Excuse me! Stop being jealous of me, boss.” I said completely ignoring him. “For God’s sake that is not how you hold a brush.” He said almost shouting “And are you the one who wrote the book ‘How to hold paint brush’?” I asked pointing brush at him. “I am an internationally acclaimed artist for a reason.” He said now looking at me directly folding his arms. “That is because I discovered my hidden talent only late. Nevertheless, don’t forget that I sold my first painting for 25K.” I said flipping my hair “That bloody Prem Madan, completely art blind. He came to buy one of my works for his wife but ended up buying the disaster that you made. Miser wanted to save money, couldn’t afford six figure rates of my paintings.” “What do you mean by disaster?” I asked placing my hands on my hips. “What else was that?” he asked casually. “Three strokes of blue across five strokes of orange in a yellow background and child scribbles in red. Is that art?” “For someone who hates my painting you sure remember everything precisely.” “Yeah, Because I...” “Arav.” We both stopped glaring at each other and turned to the source of the voice. “Are you both fighting again?” asked Rohan Malhotra as he entered the studio in style. “No.” Answered my boss removing his cover all and walking towards his brother. “How come you are here at this hour?” “Well, I was going to Taj for a meeting and thought I should drop by to see you. All good?” asked Rohan “Yeah, just working on a sculpture for next month’s exhibition.” Said Arav shrugging “Can I see it?” “I will show you a painting that is completed.” Said my boss picking up a covered canvas and showing to his brother. He doesn’t like showing any incomplete work to anyone. “Marvellous!!” mumbled Rohan looking at colours sprawled on the sheet. “Thank you.” “Anyway, I got to go. I have a meeting. So, see you at the party tonight?” asked Rohan. Now, I know the reason for the visit. Rohan just wanted to make sure that his brother attends the party. “Ok.” Agreed Arav Rohan nodded bye at me and was walking to the door when his steps halted near my canvas. I jumped at the opportunity to flaunt my skills. “I am making a painting.” I said with a bright smile pointing at the white canvas with three concentric circles in pink colour. “Oh... Interesting. What is the theme?” asked Rohan looking at my painting intently Theme? Does paintings have theme? I looked at Arav who shrugged with a sly smile. What is the theme? “Arr.... Emmm.... Pink.... is the theme.” I said smiling “Pink?” asked Rohan turning to me “Yeah, Pink... Bollywood movie Pink. Starring Amitabh Batchan. Have you not watched it?” Both the brothers looked at each other. I don’t know what they were silently conversing through eyes but both chuckled. “Good. Keep it up.” Said Rohan with a smile as he walked away. “Hayyee!! How sweet he is!” I exclaimed looking at his retreating figure “For your information he is married.” Said Arav tapping my shoulder. ”..and don’t let Riya bhabhi* hear you call him sweet.” “All good looking men are taken.” I complained, “Only bad ones are left.” “Excuse me.” Arav said turning to look at me. “Boss, time for meeting. Let’s go.” ---- *Bhabhi : Brother’s wife *Daadi : Paternal grandmother