The Logical (Wo)Man

The Meeting

Sia’s Point Of View

‘Work is Life’ that’s the baseline I have been following these days. It helps me cope with two main areas of Life : Finances and Emotions. Though there are creepy guys in my office checking me out as if they have seen an alien sitting in a cubicle, I sort of enjoyed it. It’s funny to watch how their jaws drop when they see me in a new dress.

Okay I am above average when it comes to looks but I hate that discrimination. I always believe in the phrase “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”.

I am happy, yes maybe a bit weak emotionally, yet happy!

“I saw this amazing looking guy on the third floor, break-out!” Sany , one of my colleague exclaimed.

“OMG did you see that? She is wearing the same dress that she had yesterday”

‘Oh God not again..’ I thought.. My new colleagues were more into gossip than work. Not all of them though! I didn’t pay much attention to them while I sipped my favourite Lemon tea, immersed in my own thoughts.

My family, my office, the work culture, compensation, perks and all were almost enough to keep me grounded to my birthplace.

But sometimes I felt this unquenched thirst of adventure, the urge to know the unknown, to travel, to explore which kept me going.

My friends had me set up with several dates in the meantime and none of them worked out. Honestly, I didn’t want them to succeed.

As I came back home from work on a Friday , I got a call from none other than my bestie.

“Hey! Any weekend plans babe?” Joey was all chirpy.

“Yeah, Netflix and chill” I said , “just like any other weekend” , I thought

“What are you like 80?” Joey smirked.

“And do you have any better ideas?”

“Yes babe. Shopping, eating and girls night” Joey was a darling .

“I m in” I said without a thought…

“Great! I ll see you at the Orbit Miranda mall tomorrow at 12 noon?”

“Got it babe.. cya.. love you .. “

“Love ya .. bye..” Joey hung up.

*****************************************************************************

Shouryajit came back to his hometown after 5 long years. It was Shouranya’s wedding. Shouranya the annoying, nagging and sweet little baby sister of his. He could stay aloof from everyone including his parents but only she had the power to bring him back to his social form. Well there was another reason to visit though, he had to wind up work with two of his Client’s Regional offices.

“It is great pleasure to meet you after a long time Mr Datta!” Mr Sen , the Regional Corporate Security Head of Sinclaire and Bart Consultancy said with a welcoming smile.

“Thank you and same here!” Shouryajit took his hand with a smile.

Shouryajit Datta, the Chief Consultant of the Department of Corporate and International Law, at Hastings and Ferguson Associates, one of the top rated Multinational Law firms, headquartered in London. He joined their Amsterdam office as an apprentice LLB graduate freshly recruited from Harvard Law School. Best words that described him was smart, focused, ethical, workaholic and most importantly “devoid” of any “emotions”. He preferred to stay away from hormones that clouded his “Logical Mind”. All that and a lot of hard work took him to the high altitude he is currently flying in.

As their meeting began, Shourya glanced at his Rolex to have a time check. It was 9 : 30 am in the morning. Two hours of his billable time was allotted to this meeting and he would like to maintain that. He was due to meet Shouranya at Orbit mall for shopping. He had to reach there by 12 noon, before her, so that his baby sister didn’t do a number on him with her sugar-coated sarcasm.

Once she had commented on his punctuality saying “I see the time zone difference is confusing you eh?”

Another one was “My watch is not that expensive but it shows the exact time you know?!”

“God, I fear this girl more than the judge giving Verdict on a Complicated Case till date” Shourya thought.

The meeting got over at 11 30 a.m. and there were a few paper work that needed his sign. As it got over, he booked a cab online. Shouranya took his car as she had to make few other stops before they meet. The mall was almost a 3 miles drive from his location, so it shouldn’t take much time.

He dialled Shouranya’s number as he got seated in the cab.

“Hey Sho , kothay tui? (where are you?)” He skipped the hi hello part. It was 5 minutes past noon.

“Oh! I am in a private yatcht having a gala time with Brad Pitt and some old Cabernet Sauvignon.” Shouranya smirked.

“Oh really? Then let’s not disturb you guys.. Have fun!” He gave it back with a smile.

He hated it but was equally amused when she mocked him. It reminded him of that 5 year old munchkin with flower clips on her ponytails, finishing off the high end makeover session of her Barbie while teaching him how to do it. He saw her growing up to become a young beautiful lady owning her own Successful Wedding Planning Business which she started from scratch. He was proud of his sister.

“Bhai(Brother).. enough.. I am waiting at Mahi’s for the last 10 minutes” She sounded serious.

“Sorry lil sis.. I ll be there in a jiffy” Shourya apologized. The only person that he would usually apologize to.

Mahi’s was an exclusive designer lehenga boutique of the one and only Harshish Manchanda, the famous fashion designer. Shourya ensured that his sister got what she wanted for her wedding. It should be a memorable day for her, unlike his.

As the cab entered the drop point of Orbit Miranda mall, Shourya jumped out of the cab handing a 500 buck note to the driver and ran like a rabbit chased by dogs.

He reached Mahi’s in almost a minute, and he was welcomed by a lady in her mid-fifties. He just rushed past her and went inside. As he scanned through the boutique, there was no sign of his sister. He feared that Sho may have left in anger. As he was just about to dial her number, he spotted her.

She was standing still in front of a huge mirror wearing a peach pink flowery gown and a light green floral printed blouse. Shourya could see her from the back.

“Ah … There you are!” he exclaimed as he got near her, placing both his hands on her shoulders.

“You look….”

As he looked into the mirror, he froze…

It was not her. But this woman had these enchanting wide long eyes which completely mesmerized him. It was like a spell that bound both of them tightly with each other.

“Beautiful…” He murmured. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

She was like a rare species of orchid blooming amidst a dense forest. And she smelled like soothing lavender with a drop of chamomile in it. She was almost 5’7’’(similar to his sis) with innocent eyes, small baby nose, full lips and a strand of hair kissing her left blushing cheek….

However , he could also see a glint of pain in those eyes…even a small drop of tear maybe.