Knowing each other more
1652 Words
21. Knowing each other more
“You already know many things about me from Dad.” He said.
“Dad???”
“Huh?”
I asked him getting confused.
‘How in this world I know his dad’
‘And when did he tell me about him?’
I don’t know what he was trying to say so I looked at him in deep confusion.
His eyes were moving here and there and he looked nervous. He uttered something under his breath, which I was not able to hear.
The question is still lingering in my mind. So the best option is to clear it.
“Sid?” I called his name.
“Yes” he said abruptly looking in my direction.
“You said I know many things about you from your DAD, but…” before I could complete what I was saying, I was cut off in between by him.
“Ummm…I was saying M.My Dad’s Friend… Mr…..Mr. Malhotra,” He Shuttered.
“Ohh….Okay” I said and he took a deep breath.
And after a while he continued, “But I don’t know anything about you.”
“So tell me about yourself.” He asked me with a small smile playing on his face.
From the morning till now, I got to know that he is very mischievous and naughty by nature.
I shook my head in disbelief on the playful smile he was giving me and thought to myself.
‘Ye nahi sudhrega ……phir shuru ho gya’
(He won’t improve…started again)
“Well, I am Rabnoor…Rabnoor Kaur, which you know. I have done my graduation in commerce and a 2 year diploma in office management. I am working in this company as an Executive Personnel in Administrative department from last 10 months officially and…”
I was telling about me but he cut me in between by saying…
“Officially???”
“What does that mean?” he asked me sounding confused.
“Officially means that I joined company officially around 10 months back but I worked earlier also under Mr. Thakur for my 6 months On-Job Training during my diploma.” I informed him.
“Ohh” he said.
“The moment I finished my On-Job Training, Mr. Thakur was quite impressed with my dedication for work so he offered me to join his team officially as soon as I complete my diploma”.
I paused a little and continued, “And that’s what happened.
After I completed my diploma I contacted Mr. Thakur and joined his team.”
“AND…. today I am here, .....sitting in front of you ....Mr. Sid…. in this café…. to help you out… for your very first… project.” I said emphasizing on each phrase.
“OKAY” he said.
The café boy came with our coffees on a tray. He placed my coffee in front of me and cappuccino in front of Sid. We both thanked him.
He slightly lifted his cap from his head and tilted his head slightly and placed it back on his head. It was a polite gesture for saying ‘You are welcome’ and after that he took his leave.
I looked back to Sid and he gestured me with his hand to start with my coffee.
‘Hmm …acting like a gentleman again’
I nodded my head in positive before picking up my big cup of coffee.
I inhaled the mouth-watering fragrance of my favorite coffee and took a small sip of my coffee carefully, as it may be too hot.
I savor its delicious flavor in my mouth and placed the cup back on table.
“I want to ask you something, may I?”
I asked him and waited for his response.
“Of course…go ahead.” he immediately said while putting his cappuccino back on table.
“You are not born and brought up in India?..Right?” I asked him.
He raised his eyebrows in amusement.
“Why you say so?” he asked back.
“I felt that from your accent.” I replied him while scratching the side of my neck.
“Yes you are right. Though I have good command on Hindi but sometimes this accent comes in unknowingly.
I was born in India but I have spent many years of my life in London.” He answered my question and averted his eyes to an empty chair and I noticed his smile faded away slowly. And he continued..
“I was ten, when my Mom took me to London as she doesn’t want to live with my dad anymore but it was for me they didn’t separate legally.
I really wished to live in a happy family, where my parents live together with me. I loved my parents too much.
But it never happened.
When I was fourteen, my mom died. And my father brought me back to India. After that I started living with my Dad again. I completed my schooling and college in India.
My Dad wanted me to do MBA and join his business. But I have some other passions that I wanted to follow.
So I ran back to London to follow my dreams. I was left with no option but to do MBA, so that I can stay in London. ” He clarified further it to me and sighed as he looked back to me.
“Ohh” I felt little bad for him but I don’t know why.
“Sorry for your mother” I consoled to him.
“It’s alright …no need to say sorry” he said twitching his lips a little.
He looked little upset by recalling all his memories from past. So I think its better to change the topic. Thinking of what to say suddenly I recalled something.
“Can I ask one more thing?”
I asked hesitantly picking up my coffee.
“Yes please”
He said and nodded his head.
“You aren’t doing any start up. Am I right?”
I inquired taking a sip from my coffee.
“Huh??”
He looked shocked. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it. It was quite funny.
‘He looked like a Fish’
‘Hehehe’ I chuckled internally.
He again opened his mouth, this time he finally made it.
“Umm..Actually” he hesitated a little.
“My Dad wants me to do this mentorship like he wanted me to do MBA.” He stated
“Oh”
“So you are doing this just because of your Dad?” I asked him.
“Yup” he said putting more pressure on ‘P.
“And that is why you looked upset when MR. CEO announced that you will be handling this project.”
“Yes” he said again putting more pressure on ‘S’.
“Hmmm” I hummed and took another sip from my cup.
“So if you are not happy in doing this project and mentorship, why don’t you deny it?” I suggested.
“See that is the main problem. I can't deny it.” He said.
“Why??”
I inquired again placing my cup back on the table.
“Oh…I can't tell you. You won’t understand.” He said.
“But I have to do this project as I have left with no option.” He said drinking his coffee.
“OKAY… as you wish. I will not ask you.”
I didn’t pushed further but I understood that he is not doing this project willingly.
After finishing our coffees and little series of our talking, we made our way back to our office.
This time I didn’t felt weird with him when we were alone in the lift. To my surprise, I felt little comfortable with him.
We reached to my desk in office.
As Mr. Thakur said that Pooja can also help us in this App-Launch Eventas she also have lot of experience in managing events, so I introduced her to sid.
“Pooja, this is Sid.” She looked really confused. So I continued…
“Sid and I are going to work on a new project together. And Sid this is Pooja, my friend and colleague. She works in the same department.”
“Hi”
He said and extended his hand for a handshake to Pooja. I was observing Sid closely so I missed how Pooja reacted. And after waiting for a while, when I felt that Pooja has not responded to Sid, I turned to look at her. But this…..this stupid friend of mine, she was standing there like a statue with her mouth and eyes wide open.
‘Argh’
‘Stupid Girl’
‘I know her very well. She must be fantasizing about Sid’
‘Hey Bhagwaan….Kya karoon mein iss ladki ka?’
(Oh God…What Should I do with this girl?)
As I turned toward Sid. He eyed me in suspicion like asking me ‘whats wrong with her?’
I bit my inner lip feeling out of words and nudged her with my elbow.
But to my surprise nothing happened. She is still literally gawking Sid.
‘Oh God ...this is so embarrassing......I want to kill my friend right now.’
‘I really want to say out loud to Sid that I don’t know her…But to my bad luck I introduced her as my friend just a minute ago.’
I looked toward Sid in embarrassment. And there he was ......standing ...and grinning widely to me.
Oh I can't take it any more. So I pinched Pooja on her arm.
“Ouch” She hissed loudly and eyed me in anger.
“What the hell is wrong with you Noor?” she said rubbing the place where I pinched her.
And I gestured her to look toward Sid who was still laughing on her stupidity.
“Oh Sorry…Hi I am Pooja.” She said with a sheepish smile.
She extended her hand in Sid’s direction which he took gladly.
“Okay, we are done with introductions so lets just settle down on our seats and make some outline for the event.”
I said to both crazy people around me and I pulled a chair for Sid to sit.
After settling on his chair Sid leaned forward and whispered in my ear,
“See how I spell bounded your friend with my charm.”
“Whatever” I said and rolled my eyes to him moving my chair little away from him.
“No but it’s true” he said grabbing my chair from its armrest and pulled it back to its earlier place.
“I always have this kind of effect on girls around me.”
He whispered again in my ear.
I moved my chair away from him again and narrowed my eyes on him and said,
“You started again..”
He didn’t say anything but smirked
‘Why this guy always smirks?’
The rest of whole day went like this - little joking, little teasing and of course lots of planning and work. I went to Mr. CEO’s office for our post lunch meeting but he was busy in some client meeting.
Radhika, Mr. Malhotra’s Secretary told me that she will contact me for meeting, when he is available.
After this Rollercoaster day….Time to go home.
****
- Writer
