November 2008

Mitali Jain

“Yes sir,  the list of all the paintings is ready, I have had a word with the organizers the hall will be set up by today evening, so I will look into it, and by 8 today itself the paintings will be up all ready for tomorrow’s show.”

Walking towards the dining table I quickly sat back and pointed my two fingers to my mom to signal her to give me 2 min to end the conversation.

While on the other hand, my boss kept on gushing how important this exhibition was for him and how it might as well be the passport for my future projects.

Like I didn’t even know about it after months of preparations.

This was my first freaking project!

Once done with the call I gave a big smile to my mom who was still glaring at me.

“Tell me something Mitali, do you do the same thing while you go on those dates of yours with Jai?” Naveen said and then turned towards my mom and continued, 

“actually, now that I think about it mom, may be these two would be talking on their respective phones than to each other.”

I so wanted to stab the fork that I held in my hand but took mercy on him all because even Dad was seated on the table. I smiled at him and said, “Mom don’t you think we should talk to Sheetal aunty, Bhai seems to be quite jobless and has a lot of time, we might as well get him hitched.”

My statement had different effects on all the three people in the room as I enjoyed my breakfast.

Dad tried to stifle his laughter, Mom seemed to be delighted by it, while my brother had that horrific look on his face.

It wasn’t a secret that sheetal aunty and her 'rishtas' for my brother were true nightmare.

I quickly finished my breakfast as my brother kept on glaring at me and once done I turned towards my mom and dad and said,

“Dad tomorrow please be there by 7:30?”

 It came out like that of a question. Dad never did really had enough time to excuse from his work or meetings and had almost never been on time for things that were important to me.

“I will, relax, I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow.” With a huge smile on my face I stood up and picked up my bag and phone and then faced my mom and brother and asked,

“Bhai, mom so shall we call sheetal aunty?”

It took just a blink of my eyes to find my brother standing up from his place and for me to turn around and leave the house, and lucky for Jai’s call to even ignore the curses that my brother threw at me.

“why is Naveen going ballistic early this morning?” Jai asked the first thing as soon as I was in listening ability.

“My brother was being an ass, I had to come with a bitch ass response, which was sheetal aunty- “ I heard jai laughing at the mention of sheetal Aunty, as I  continued, “so even if you know about sheetal aunty?”

“I do, that lady has given Naveen many sleepless nights.” The two of us laughed at it, and once sobered he said,

“So, I am waiting for you at the entrance,” and it seemed how perfectly it was timed as I walked out of my wing only to be surprised to see him standing there by his lavish Audi, his left leg behind his right, ray ban glasses of his dressed in his signature hot well tailored suit.

As soon as he saw me coming he hung up the phone as he said, “there you are… I thought Naveen would have got his hand on you.”

“I ran away and then you called, so somehow I was saved.” I said as he wrapped me into his arms.

This was the best thing that we had developed over the months. The way he would just come to my office or at my building to pick me up, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug.

“I had got a call from him last night, he said something down the line that he could get a better girl for me.”

“hmm, I knew he would do something of that sort… we had a turf last night nothing much to worry about, but…” I looked up at him, while he still had his hands around me and said, “I might love it if you could just ignore his offer.”

“I never planned on taking it.” He said as he let go off me and opened the door for me.

“How can I believe you when you are yet to propose to me?”

“all in right time Mitali.” As always he said and walked to the other side.

All through these few months we were still on the stage where we were tasting waters, we weren’t really into a real relationship, but have went on many dates, our parents had a fair enough idea what was happening between us and were happy with that much.

And as for us, I was happy with what we were, and now even more, that I would spend my time with him, I wished he would already propose the question for us to make it official.

It was time, I felt to let him know how much I loved him.

*****

Everything looked exotic as I had expected it to.

The exhibition hall of the Jahangir art gallery was filled with more number of people in the first hour itself that what we had expected.

The theme ‘ colors and emotions’ which was the second edition of our first exhibition that was conducted in monsoon had got us business more than the earlier one.

They had to. The reason being the artists though were new, unknown had raised an unkempt interest in the market, especially amongst the artists the regular art collectors and as well as certain new faces who were quite known to me.

As I made my way to look into the arrangements, I was yet again met with a very well known face.

“Mitali, this is really wonderful, though I don’t really understand much, but all these paintings are wonderful. I read the brochures you thoughts and explanations for them are wonderful good job my dear.” Pammy aunty, one of my mom’s friends said as she moved on to the next painting.

Somewhat a few percent of today’s crowd were my dad and mom's contact. And this knowledge gave me mixed feelings, I was giddy and nervous.

For , tomorrow morning itself I was going to be the talk of the town.

Wiping away the small beads of sweat on my forehead I was about to go into the crowd when I was once called by a familiar voice.

And as I saw him walking towards me I felt a bit relieved yet my eyebrows narrowed at him as he walked a bit closer to me.

“where have you been all these days?” I asked even before I would greet him.

He laughed with his head falling back as he gave me a hug and said, “thank you.”

“for what?” I asked, pretending to be unaware, while surely it had taken so much of pain and hard work for what he was thanking me for.

“when I first saw the brochure and invite I was a bit shocked, but then I saw the curator and I knew why you did this… I am sure mom would be happy.” Daksh said as he turned around and glanced at his mom's painting – rather one of his mom’s paintings that were there in this exhibition tonight.

“they are so beautiful to get unnoticed. I had to work so hard to get a hold of them… but it was worth it.”

The two of us walked towards other paintings as Daksh kept on throwing questions my way, about my job, mom, dad, and Jai.

It was almost after half an hour with my eyes still on the door that he called out my name and said,

“I am going abroad.”

“why?” the panic and surprise in my voice couldn’t go unnoticed. It was as it is difficult for me to not be able to be in contact with him and then he declares of going back abroad.

“there are few things that I have to take care of, and a few relatives that I have to work with.” He said. yet I didn’t want to agree to let him go.

Why don’t you stay for some more time, may be take someone with you…did you talked with Jai and Naveen about this?”

“Mitali, “ he took a step closer to me and held my cheeks in his hand as he said, “All you have to do is to hold on to the moment that I will be back, and for you I will. It's just a matter of sometime.”

I nodded my head at him as we moved ahead. We had almost reached the third section when I saw my mom, dad, Jai and Naveen walking inside the gates.

“come mom and dad are here.” we both walked quickly towards them. As soon as I reached them, my mom called out my name and hugged me.

“this seems like a great success, I am so proud of you.”

“you guys are late… dad?” though I wanted to try and complain I couldn’t as jay walked a bit closer to me and said ,

“sorry, but there was a lot of traffic. So shall we go inside?” I nodded my head and walked inside my eyes still on the door as I waited for one more person to come.

As the night progressed, and the huge smile that I saw on the directors and my bosses face I was sure that I could expect a few more projects in the upcoming year.

It was about 9:30 – 10:00 when mom, dad, Naveen and Daksh took a leave after a bit of drama as to why Daksh was leaving the very next day and with finally being decided that Jai would be the one to drop me, that I walked towards my boss once gain.

“sir, if it's okay than can I take your leave?” I asked. and it seemed it was a day filled with complete surprises for he smiled at me brightly and said,

“ohh, yes… well I must say Miss. Jain a very good job there.” I nodded my head and thanked him once again as I walked back to the person who waited patiently for me by one of the paintings.

“so where are you taking me for dinner?” I asked as soon as I reached him. jai turned towards me and wrapped his hand around my waist as he pulled me closer and said,

“I know you won’t say it, but Daksh will be fine, he might come back soon to us.”

“I just hope he does, I didn’t really realized how attached I was to him until today. It seems weird, he is going away, Shakti, Rey and Veer didn’t turned up today… everything is good, yet it isn’t.”

I felt Jai pulling me more towards him as he placed a small kiss on my forehead as he said, “its okay everything will be alright, how about we go for what I have planned for you?”

With a bright smile on my face I nodded my head as we walked out of the hall.

It took about an hour’s time to finally reach Dome international with the heavy traffic with it being the weekend. As we made our way to the open top bar of the restaurant cum bar, I was astonished with the cool air and the amazing view of the Arabian sea and the queen’s necklace.

“I think our dates always include the necklace.” I commented as the two of us sat down. Jai let out a nervous laugh and fidgeted with his fingers.

I let it slip as we ordered a few courses and made a talk about just random things. It was mid into the dinner when I had it the most when I called out to Jai and said, “if you have something to say, speak up… it's eating you already, and you haven’t eaten anything.” 

I saw him as he took a deep breath and took hold of my hand and said, “I am quite a proud person to just get down on my knees and say that I love you, but Mitali, if it means that my feelings would really reach you that way than so be it.” He went down on his knees by my side, my hand still in his, and my mouth wide open as he said,

“I was waiting for this moment, the moment when you will be at that place where you had always imagined to be, I know things are a bit patchy with Daksh and Shakti, but I don’t want to miss this chance… hence for the first and the last time I would like to ask you Mitali, will you be my girlfriend?”

The words that I had always expected him to say a much sooner did came up, and I really wanted to go back into that shock mode and relive that moment, but I quickly snapped out of it and said, “yes”

The way he stood up at the snap of my fingers and pulled me into a hug was unexpected… but as I cherish these feelings, I closed my eyes and said,

“I love you Jai.” And it was as if he as well treasured this moment as he tightened his hold on me and said, “I love you too Mitali

A/N
Hello everyone, I just hope you all are doing well??

The weather here in Bomaby is quite weird, it reminded me of the discription mitali had to give in the begining chapter!😂

Also,
If any of you would have noticed the small change in the description of the story... Than you might know its been a while that Enchanted pursual is now featured in the reading list of TheIndianCommunity and it makes me really thankful to them for accepting my application.

The books in the reading list 'kitabein hi kitabein'  are really nice do give them a glance you might get a good read.

Coming back to the story, what are your views who is crying out for Daksh ... And happy for our Jai and mitali.

A small request,
If you have any friends of yours on wattpad, please share this story with them... And now that I am back at writing you can expect the updates regularly.
Thank you very much foe staying with me and bearing the long wait.

Love you all

Yadni Bagwe

P.S do not forget to click on that tiny miny star button, commenting your views... notifications from you all obly make my day. So go ahead and bug me with them 😋😉