Girl Friday

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 20

Arav

I have never spent any day in my life unproductive. Well, perhaps completing a landscape painting, sculpturing a beautiful idol or capturing a striking picture is what I consider productive unlike many around me. But, sadly today I have done nothing except holding my phone close to me and clicking the power button intermittently to check for any messages or calls.

Last evening was such an eventful one for me. I loved spending time with my brothers, but club was not an idle place for me to hang out. However, I was ready to endure it for sake of Yash until he informed Anjali will be joining us. That definitely increased my enthusiasm about the outing. She looked extremely gorgeous in her blue ensemble, fortuitously colour coordinating with me. And her reaction to me was worth boosting my ego.Oblivious to how expressive her face is about her thoughts. However, what really gave away my effect on her was the dance. Undeniably affected. Her fluttering eyes, raged breath and pounding heart were the giveaway. Can I stand by my decision to take things slow and not let the caveman instincts in me get the better of me?

Well, now that is not the problem her, is it? Why hasn’t she even send single message or called me since morning. From her lucid expression, I was aware that she was confused by the attraction she felt yesterday. But no bewilderment made her stay away from contacting me ever. So, what happened now? To make matters even worse she didn’t reply to my ‘All good?’ message or a called back after my call went to voice mail. Is everything okay with her?

I clicked on the message app to send her another message when the door of my studio opened and an unexpected guest walked in.

“Rishab!!” I said surprised seeing my ex assistant’s brother

“Hey, boss.” He said waving at me with a grin suddenly remaining me of someone who looked equally vivacious with similar grin.

“Good to see you. How have you been?” I asked shaking my hands with him in a very boyish manner.

“’ve been good, boss. How are you, now with my sister gone and all?” he asked casually looking around the studio before pulling a one of the three legged stools and sitting on it.

“Good.” I answered. That is the most diplomatic answer I could have come up with. I can neither confess to a brother how much I am missing his sister nor can I tell him my life is better without her which will be absolute lie anyways. 

I sat on the edge of the cradle chair that Anjali fondly bought to take her occasional afternoon naps.

“What brings you here?” I asked hoping that I have not offended him with such a direct question.

“Well, boss, you see, I am opening a club with my friend in Mumbai. I don’t know if Anjali has told you about this?” Rishab paused to check my answer and when I nodded affirmatively he continued. “So, we got the place finalized and we are doing interiors now. We unanimously zeroed down to fancy arts in after life themes. I wanted to approach you before going to any artist.” Rishab finished with uncertainty.

Was he wondering if I would accept work on such a small project?

“Sure, will do it.” I agreed. He is Anjali’s brother; I ought to help him hands down. Moreover, it is his first attempt at doing something significant in life and I am happy to be helpful in any way possible. “Get your interior designers in loop with my assistant Anjali and I....” I paused for a minute as I realized what I said. I don’t have an assistant anymore. “I mean, ask the designers to set a meeting with me and I will start working on it.”

Rishab chuckled at my accidental mention of Anjali and looked at me with an ‘I caught you’ look that made me suddenly conscious.

“Are you sure you are not missing my sister...” he asked. “...as an assistant, of course.” He added after a deliberate pause.

Why is he suddenly sounding like the members of my family who are always hell bent on teasing Anjali with me in every farthing? Does Anjali also endure same teasing from her brother? How does she react to all this? Does she blush or she scolds or she ignores?

“Boss...” Rishab called seeing me lost in my own thoughts.

“So? Where is this place?” I asked trying to dodge his previous question

“It is near City mall. Actually, Yash helped with finding this place.” He said

“What? You know Yash?” I asked surprised.

 “Of course, I know him. He is the only Malhotra active in social media so we clicked very soon. Don’t you know I was the DJ for Yash’s college farewell party?”

Yash never mentioned that he is friends with Anjali’s brother. I was completely clueless.

“Yash was right, boss. You are clueless.” Rishab said shaking his head

“What do you mean?” I asked looking at him

“Well, I am not supposed to meddle with someone else’s love life and all, but since you are helping me I might as well return the favour.” He said making me look at him suspiciously. “My sister can be really a doltish when she wants to be. She will have thousand reasons to not acknowledge what we all easily see, so just give her only one valid reason to make her see and you have got yourself a girlfriend.”

I frowned not quiet grasping what he was trying to say initially. It took a minute or two, after Rishab walked away with a final handshake, for me to realize that I was in fact getting love advice from my prospective brother in law.

How long has everyone around us been trying to set us up?

*_*_*_*_*

After small revelation by Rishab yesterday, I fell more confident by own feelings and Anjali’s feelings as well. That is the reason I am in Malhotra industries main office early morning to attend another boring meeting of board members which I would have otherwise avoided.

“Arav, seems like you are earlier than me today.” Teased Rohan as he joined me with a cup of his coffee, we were both sitting in his cabin. “Are you expecting to see someone here?”

“Come one, Rohan. You only wanted me to attend this meeting.” I reminded

“Oh! Whatever makes you feel better brother.” He said hiding his teasing smile behind his coffee cup.

It was not difficult to spot her cubicle among other identical ones. Hers was brighter with colourful accessories, lots of sticky notes, a god’s idol and bowls of dry fruits. As I was approaching her cubicle, I saw her return to her place talking to herself looking at the papers in her hand.

A smile automatically formed on my lips as I saw this too-engrossed-in-work look of her after long time. With long strides I approached her and stood behind her.

“God! I hate my boss, I wish he...

“...was as sweet as your previous boss?”  I completed her sentence with a chuckle.

Anjali turned around to look at me with wide eyes astonished.

“Arav!!” she smiled as she stood up. “What a surprise! What are you doing at my office?”

“Erm... Anjali, this is also my brother’s office and I hold some shares here as well.”

“Oops!! Silly me.” She said thumping her head cutely. “Can I now rephrase the question and ask what are you doing here at this time instead of being in the studio?”

“For someone who claims to be sincere at work, you are very forgetful” I said

“Huh?”

“There is a board meeting today.”

“Damn!” she gasped. “I completely forgot I had to submit my report before today’s meeting. My boss is gonna kill me, now.”

“Anjali, relax...” I said trying to calm her.

“Meeting is at 11 and I have only two hours.” She panicked

“Let me give you an inside news.” I said in a low voice leaning towards her. “Meeting is postponed to 3. So, you have enough time.”

“Really!!” she asked with a huge smile.

I shrugged with a smile. “My uncle’s flight is delayed. He will land here only after lunch.”

“Thank god. Now I have enough time to complete the report.”

“And you have enough time for coffee?” I asked with a smile

Just coffee. Nothing that should alarm her or confuse her. And Anjali was even about to agree until someone, who I absolutely began to loath just from that moment popped up.

“Anjali..” I heard a man’s voice call her from behind. Anjali turned around and I looked over her shoulder at a young man probably not more than twenty five waving at her.

“What is it, Sandeep?” she asked

“Discussion about meeting with Mehtas over coffee, did you forget?”

“Oh Yeah!!” I heard Anjali say with a sigh. “Will be there.”

Anjali then turned to look at me and said, “I have become very forgetful only I guess.” She mumbled. “I have got work now, Okay? We will talk later.” With that she collected few files and highlighters before walking to a discussion room.

The glass walls of the room allowed me to witness how Sandeep pulled a chair for her, served her coffee, said something that made her giggle and then smile and then laugh. No file was touched for another five minutes when I stood there looking at them. Was it really only a discussion? Because, it kind of felt only like a date to me, under office roof.

BONUS

Whatsapp conversation between Yash and Rishab

-Really, dude, you told that to my brother? I thought you were against me trying to set up my brother with your sister.

- Well, Yash, my opinions changed after I saw your brother come home at the middle of the night to console my crying sister

-Did he? I didn’t know

-And surprisingly he did cheer her up after a small talk

-Why did they even fight in the first place for her to cry so much?

-No idea. Don’t care even. If he really likes her then I wanted him to know he has my blessings

-Oye, drama queen my brother wouldn’t have needed your approval, okay?

-Not approval, they just need brain to understand their heart

-It feels weird to discuss love with you bro. Can we just skip this part and discuss about Maria D’cruz from your sss friend list?

- Don’t even try bro she is super crazy.