Girl Friday

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Anjali

I literally ran inside the hall where auction was taking place; as I didn’t want to give my boss another reason to get angry at me.

“Good Morning, boss.” I wished and I saw him immediately look at his watch. “Ten minutes early, ain’t I?” I asked

He didn’t answer but started to walk inside. Huh, even if I am late he will not be able to tell, because I have changed time of his watch to fifteen minutes slow.

“Which one are you auctioning? The Pizza one or the horror one?” I asked as we settled in our allotted place.

“Pizza?” He asked looking at me bewildered

“Yeah, the one with all the colours under the sun.”

“Anjali, that one is a garden of flowers.” He said gritting his teeth

“Oh...” I said trying to recollect the flowers in the painting.

“And, which is the Horror one?” he asked

“The one with lots of black and brown.” I said looking at him

“That is a themed one. It’s theme is a woman breaking free from judgements of society.” He said then shook his head at me hopelessly

“Wow!!!” I said fake clapping. “What intensity, Boss. Genius.”

“You are Obtuse, Anjali Sharma. You can never understand art.” He said turning away from me.

“Stupid Malhotra.” I mumbled.

I can never understand people’s interest in buying art for so much money. But, considering I am an artist myself I should pay more attention to people’s choice and paint accordingly.

“Boss.” I called when he was looking at some pamphlet. “Do you think they will let me auction my work here?” I asked

Why is he looking at me like that? Is he glaring?

“Sure.” He said with (fake) smile

“Yeah?” I asked excited

“There is an auction to showcase works of kids. You can auction your work there.”

“What do you mean?” I asked narrowing my eyes at him

“Or even better auction for works of mentally retarded people.” He said with a fake smile

“How dare you?” I said raising my finger at him. But he bent my raised finger and said, “Shut up and let me concentrate.”

God! This man is impossible. No respect for an artist.

Once the auctions were over, he went to meet the organizer, an old man Mr.Yadav and I followed him.

“Thank you so much for auctioning in our gallery, especially when we are in such a low phase now.” Said the man folding his hands in front of Arav

“Sir, don’t mention. You were the first one to believe in my talent and let me exhibit in your gallery. I will always be grateful to you.” Said my boss

“As usual, your art is sold for the highest amount. We are very pleased.” He said handing Arav a cheque. I was about to get that from his hand when my boss closed the man’s hand over the cheque.

“Sir, this is for you from my side. Keep this as my contribution to take care of the gallery.” Said Arav

The old man’s eyes welled up and he looked at Arav thankfully. “But this.....”

“I insist.” Said Arav with a smile

“Thank you so much, son. It means a lot.” Said the old man. “Bless you.” He said placing his hand on Arav’s head.

Once the old man walked away I looked at my boss impressed with a wide smile.

“What?’ he asked looking at me

“Hail! Mr. Benevolent Malhotra.” I said lifting my hand

Arav put on his glass smiled mumbling a ‘i***t’ and left.

*_*_*

Now I know why I am hired to work for Arav Malhotra. How can this man be ignorant of such a big blunder? I collected the required papers and marched to my boss.

“Boss.” I called

“Hmm?” he hummed still working on his sculpture

“You have to look at this.”

“Look at what?” he asked

“These papers that Mr.Mehra has sent for you to sign.” I said waving the papers

“It is your job.” He said ignorantly

I marched towards him and stood between him and the canvas

“Move.” He commanded

“That man is trying to rob you. Look...” I said pointing at the paper. “It says any paintings displayed in their gallery if not sold will belong to them permanently.”

“So?” he asked

“What do you mean by that? What if he makes sure none of the painting is sold and takes all your paintings for free of cost?”

“How can he do that? And most importantly why would he do that?” he asked

“Arav Malhotra, are you innocent or stupid?”

“Excuse me!!”

“Of course he can do that. In fact he will do that to earn lots of money.” I shook my head disapprovingly. “If I was not here, you would have signed this, wouldn’t you?” I asked

“Perhaps.” He said pushing me aside to resume sculpturing.

“How can you be so cool about it? No doubt your brother wanted me to carefully look at your business deals.” I mumbled.

“Now, that you have found a loophole. I will not sign the contract. Happy?’” he asked coolly.

I held his hand and turned him to look at me.

“Doll, this world is a big bad place, you should be more carefully.” I said in a voice meant for babies

He removed my hand from his with a mock glare and said, “Grandma, now that you are here to take care of everything I don’t have to worry about things like this. Let me work in peace.”

“What happens when I am not here?” I asked placing my hand on my hips.

He looked at me with an expression hard to understand. Mixture of emotions played in his eyes before he froze for a fraction of second.

“Boss??” I called

“Go back to work, Anjali.” He said turning his back to me.

*_*_*

I walked inside the studio one late afternoon carrying hot vada pava* and coffee.

“You don’t have to thank me, boss. I am a considerate person and I bought snacks for you with my own hard earned money.” I said placing his share on the table. He looked at me rolling his eyes and continued checking his phone.

“Boss, can I take off tomorrow?” I asked sitting in the chair in front of him.

“Why?” he asked his eyes still on phone

“I am going on a date.” I said

His gaze immediately shifted to me form his phone and his eyes narrowed at me.

“Date?” he questioned

“Yes.” I said grinning

“Who are you going on a date with?” he asked in rather a suspicious tone

“Karthik.” I said with a frown wondering why he was curious, “My neighbour’s cousin’s best friend’s brother.”

Placing his phone aside he looked at me, “How are you acquainted with your neighbour’s cousin’s best friend’s brother?”

“Facebook.” I said shrugging.

“f*******:? Really! Anjali are you a teenager to go on date with someone you know through f*******:? Don’t you read newspaper?”

“Boss, but Chintu knows him.”

“Who is Chintu?” he asked irritated

“My neighbour.”

“And Chintu is not enough validation for your date, Anjali.” He said in a tone father uses on his teenage daughter.

“But, he seems like a nice guy?”

“And how do you know that?” he demanded

I looked down pouting. Now what am I supposed to answer to that?

“I already promised him.”

“So, what? Cancel it now.”

“Boss, I...”

“I said now, Anjali.”

I immediately took my phone and sent him a text cancelling the date cursing my boss under my breath.

“Done?” he asked now again looking down at his phone

“Umm...”

Minutes later, when I was still sulking, my boss stood in front of him folding his hands.

“Why are you quiet today? Because, of cancelling the date?”

I looked up at him with a frown. “I was hoping to go to that new Italian restaurant.” I complained

“That is why you are brooding?” he asked surprised

“All my friends have already visited that place and they say it is awesome.”

“So?”

“I want to go there.”

“Fine. I will take you.”

“What??” I asked shocked

“I said I will take you there tomorrow.”

“You? Me on a date?”

“Dinner.” He corrected

“Huh?”

“I will take you for dinner, not a date.”

Pricey much!

“I don’t want your favour.” I said turning away

“Suit yourself.” He said walking away when I called him. “Boss, if you are insisting so much, then we can go tomorrow, for ‘dinner’” I said hooking my hands at dinner “Whatever” he mumbled returning to his work.

-------

*Vada pav - Burger