He rushed inside the conference room. A girl was waiting for him back facing the door.

Shivaay: good morning Miss....

She turned only to shocked herself and Shivaay.

Shivika: tum/aap?

Anika: aap yahan?

Shivaay: Mera office hai

Anika: oh!! Toh aap ho Shivaay Singh Oberoi.

Shivaay: yes Miss Anika Modi.

Anika(forwarding her hand): nice to meet you again

Shivaay his hand with her.

Shivaay: same here. Shall we start?

Anika: yaa sure.

They started the meeting.

*****

Gauri was painting in her art gallery with earpods in her ears. Om came to her.

Om: gauri...

No respone.

He again called. But no response. He went closer. She turned. Suddenly seeing him she got scared and screamed

Gauri: ahhhhhh

He placed his hand on her mouth.

Om: main hun.

Gauri took out the earpods and Om took his hand back.

Gauri: aise kon darata hai?

Om: maine kya kiya? Do baar aawaz lagai tumne jawab hi nahi diya.

Gauri: acha sorry. Gaane sun rahi thi issiliye shayad.

Om: anyways. Coffee par chale?

Gauri: nahi pair jal gaye toh?

She laughed and Om rolled his eyes.

Om: tum aur tumhare PJs. Kuch nahi ho sakta tumhara pata hai?

Gauri: haan pata hai.

Om: chalogi?

Gauri: nahi abhi nahi. Bohat busy hun. Next week exhibition hai. Tum aa rahe ho na?

Om: actually main wahi batane aaya hun ke main nahi aa paunga.

Gauri(frowned): kyu??

Om: next week hum sab I mean meri puri family bahar ja rahi hai.

Gauri(little sad face): oh!! Okay.

Om(cupping her face): look aise sad mat ho please.

Gauri: nahi it's alright. Tum apni family ke saath ja rahe ho. Enjoy your family time.

Om: thanks for understanding.

Gauri: it's okay.

Om kissed her forehead and remove his hands.

Gauri: toh yeh week tum mere saath spend karoge. Okay?

Om: as you say.

Gauri: aaj hum lunch saath mein karenge.

Om: okay tum jaldi se apna kaam khatam karo. I am waiting

Gauri agreed and continued her work. While om sat and as a good listener he was listening to her talks.

******

Bela was getting bored so she decided to go to some mall and roam around.

She was walking idly and suddenly she bumped with a hard chest. She was about to fall but was held protectively by a pair of strong arms. She was lost in the dark brown orbs. While he was lost in hers. Bela was the first one to break the eyelock and stood properly

Bela: aa... I am sorry mera dhayan nahi tha.

Man: it's alright.

Bela(forewarding her hand): hi Bela Sharma

Man: Mahir Sehgal.

Off course he is Mahir. He shook his hand with hers.

Bela: nice to meet you Mr. Sehgal. Bye.

Mahir was lost in his thoughts by hearing her name. Bela turned to go only to stopped by him.

Mahir: excuse me.

Bela: yes.

Mahir: mujhe lagta hai hum ek dusre ko jante hai.

Bela: ji nahi. I don't know you

Mahir: aapke Jalandar mein koi relatives hai kya?

Bela: haan hai mere Nanu ka ghar tha. Par aap yeh kyu puch rahe hai?

Mahir: OMG Bela hii main Mahir

Bela(confused): haan woh toh abhi aapne bataya na.

Mahir: aree pehchana nahi mujhe.

Bela: nahi

Mahir: kaise yaad dilaun?....... haan uchi padhiyaan wale shri shri ek sau anth (108) baar shri ichha purti maharaj ji ko toh jaanti hona?

Bela was in utter shock. "Mahir" she exclaimed.

Mahir: finally yaad aa gaya. Dost to bhool gai yaar tu.

Bela: nahi aisa nahi bas..... kaisa hai tu?

She hugged him and he reciprocated.

Mahir: ek dum mast. Tu bata?

Bela: main bhi. Yahan kya kar raha hai?

Mahir: bas shopping kar ne aaya hun.

Bela: akele akele?

Mahir: haan tu bata? Tu kya kar rahi hai?

Bela: main bas aise hi ghoom rahi thi. Chal main tujhe company deti hun.

Mahir: haan theek hai. Chal.

Bela help Mahir in shopping and they talked alot.

********

Here in the office. It was lunch time.

Shivaay was discussing with Anika. Suddenly they heard a knock.

Shivaay: come in

It was Mishra

Mishra: sir it's lunch time

Shivaay: okay. You go

He left.

Anika: you have your lunch I'll wait here.

Shivaay: what about you?

Anika: woh subha jaldi nikal gai thi. Kyu ke agar bela ke uthne ke baad nikalti toh woh mujhe kabhi aane nahi deti. So issi chakkar mein lunch lana bhool gai.

Shivaay: oh okay. Shall I order for you? Kyu ke main apne liye order kar raha hun toh?

Anika: kyu aap bhi bhool gaye?

Shivaay: actually haan.

Anika: then let's go out

Shivaay: kya?

Anika: dekho aap bhi lunch nahi laaye aur main bhi. Toh aas pass kisi restaurant mein jaate hai. Aap kab order kerenge, kab aayega aur phir kab hum khayenge. Isse acha hum bahar hi chale jate hai.

She explained and Shivaay agreed shocking himself. They went to a restaurant nearby. Shivaay pulled a chair for Anika like a perfect gentleman. They ordered something for themselves and were waiting for it to come.

Anika: waise maine toh suna tha ke Shivaay Singh Oberoi is very rude arrogant. But aisa nahi you're a gentleman.

Shivaay smiled.

Shivaay: waise thanks tumne meri car theek kardi. Tabhi keh nahi paaya cause you left.

Anika: it's alright thanks ki zarrorat nahi hai. Mujhe aata tha toh maine kar diya.

Shivaay: par tumne yeh kiya kaise I mean...

Anika: woh kya hai na maine jab meri pehli car li thi woh second hand thi. Woh na baar baar aise hi bandh ho jati thi. Ab jitni baar bandh ho jae utni baar agar mechanic ke pass jayege. Utne paise mein toh brand new car aa jati. Toh maine khud seekh liya.

Shivaay: interesting. Matlab tumhare pass car hai?

Anika: haan hai. Par mujhe bike zyada pasand hai.

The food arrived. They were having the their lunch

Shivaay: isn't it strange?

Anika: kya? Yeh khana?

Shivaay: nahi. I mean hum aaj hi mile hai aur saath khana kha rahe hai

Anika: no. Not for me. I am more comfortable with strangers.

Shivaay: really?

Anika: yaa. Kyu ke kabhi kabhi jo baaten hum apno se nahi kar sakte woh ajnabiyon se kar sakte hai. Shayad koi solution mil jai.

Shivaay stared at her face for sometime and again continued his lunch. The rest conversation was causal. Paying the bill they left and continued their meeting.

*******
Oberoi Mansion.

Jhanvi Pinky and Dadi were sitting in th hall. Pinky was unusually slient.

Jhanvi: Pinky!!

Pinky: haan?

Jhanvi: kya hua? Itni chup chup kyu ho?

Pinky: main soch rahi thi ke Shivaay ko abhi shaadi kar leni chahiye. Umar ho gai hai.

Dadi: main kal hi usske samne yeh baat chedi thi par ussne saaf saaf mana kar diya.

Pinky: woh toh mujhe bhi pata hai mummy ji par kabhi na kabhi toh karni padegi na shaadi?

Jhanvi: I agree mahir ki bhi age ho gai hai. I think hume usse bhi baat karni chahiye.

Dadi: hume dono ke liye ladki dekhna shuru kar dena chahiye.

Pinky: haan mummy ji. Ek baar dekh lete hai Shivaay aur Mahir ko baad mein mana lenge.

Dadi: theek hai

*******

It was 5 : 30 in the evening. In Oberoi office.

Anika: so Mr. Oberoi what's your decision?

Shivaay: the deal is on.

They smiled at each other and signed the deal.

Shivaay: Yeh project hum dono ke company ke liye bohat important hai.

Anika: off course. Aap mujhe bata dena kab start karna hai

Shivaay: sure. Par mere pass tumara number nahi hai.

Anika: haan aapka phone dijiye.

He gave his phone and Anika entered her number and gave back his phone.

Anika: there you go. I may take your leave now

Shivaay: okay.

Anika turned to go. But stopped and turned again.

Shivaay: kya hua?

Anika: friends?

Shivaay: huh?

Anika: dosti karoge mujhse?

Shivaay: main?

Anika: nahi aapka bhoot.

Shivaay: kya?

Anika: off course aap. Aur koi hai yahan?

Shivaay(confused): aa.... okay? Friends.

Anika smiled and gave a small friendly hug. Shocking Shivaay.

Anika: bye

Shivaay(still in shock): ya

She left. But Shivaay was still registering what happened just now. Suddenly he jerked as the door closed. Shrugging off his thoughts he continued his work.

******

Here Bela and Mahir has their lunch together and Mahir dropped her to her home.

Anika reached home. All were present their in the hall except soumya .

Niranjan: lo aa gai Anika

Anika: yeh le meri jingle bells (bela) tera favourite ice cream.

She handed the bag to her and sat on the couch resting her head on the headrest.

Bela: thank you. Par itne sare?

Anika: sabke liye hai halkat.

Bela: oh.

Bela gave the cups to everyone and all were having their ice cream.

Geetanjali: Anika aisa raha aaj ka din?

Anika: acha tha. Maine deal crack kar di.

Niranjan: very good.

Anika: sumo kahan hai?

Gauri: woh so rahi hai.

Anika: kab aai woh?

Sahil: woh 4 baje aai thi.

Anika: acha. Uss ka ice fridge mein rakh dena (to bela) usska mat khana. Main bhi thodi der aaram karti hun.

Geetanjali: haan thak gai hona. So jao thodi der.

Anika: nind aayegi toh so jaungi.

She went to her room. She had a hot shower. All the while she was thinking about Shivaay.

Here Shivaay was driving back to home. His mind only occupied by Anika's thoughts and lips crept a small smile. Reaching home he saw all the members present in the hall.

Shivaay: good evening everyone.

All: good evening.

Shivaay: aap log bethiye main abhi fresh hoke aata hun.

He left to freshen up.

Pinky: mummy ji Shivaay ka mood thoda acha lag raha hai. Baat karen kya?

Mahir: massi please rehne dijiye warna gussa ho jayega.

Dadi: haan aaj nahi phir kabhi baat karenge.

All of them sat together and had some chats with each other.

********