(Next morning)

Manorama- Meera bitiya aaiye. Nashta lagwa diya hein.

Meera- Thank you Manoramaji. Abb aapka beta kaise hai?

Manorama- Uski halat pehele se bohot behtar hein bitiya.. Sab aapki badolat.

Meera- Manoramaji pehele toh aap ye formality band kijiye. Maine kaha na, maine aisa koi ehsan nahi kiya.

(Manorama smiles and starts serving Meera the breakfast)

Manorama- Waise kal aap bohot pareshan lag rahi thi. Sab thik toh hein na?

Meera- Haan manoramaji. Sab thik hein. Kuch tanhaiyan aisi hoti hai jinse khud hi guzarna padta hein.

Manorama- Iss tanhai ko apne aandar dabba kar rakhogi toh kya ye kam hojayengi?

(Meera doesn't answer her question)

Meera- Mujhe der ho rahi hein Manoramaji. Ab mein office ke liye niklati hoon.

***

SANGEET

Mr Ahulia- Haider! boss ko tumse milna hein. In her cabin. Now!

Haider(in mind) - Accha hi hua... Mein Bani maam se issi bahane Veer ke bare mein bhi baat kar lunga.

Akash- Hey Haider. All the best.

Haider-All the best? Kis liye?

Aman- You are entering the lion's den aur pooch rahe ho kis liye.

(Zain as Aman)

Akash- Boss apne kaam ko lekar kafi strict hein isiliye. Btw hi. I am akash.

(extends his hand)

Aman- And I am Aman.

(Aman does the same. Haider shakes both their hands and continues)

Haider- I didn't think Bani mam itni strict hongi.

Aman- Bani mam!?

(Payal, another employee, enters)

Payal- Are you Mr. Haider?

Haider- Yes.

Payal -Hi. I am Payal, maam's secretary.

(She extends her hand while introducing herself. Haider reciprocates.)

Payal- Maam ke cabin mein jaldi jaiye. She is very particular when it comes to time.

(Haider leaves)

Aman- Sun Akash, Haider ne ye kyun kaha ki Bani maam uski boss hein??

Akaash- I think usse kuch confusion hua hoga. I hope woh jaldi clear hojaye.

(Harshad as Akash)

***

Haider knocks on the door. Meera is facing away from him, reading a file.

Haider- Hello mam.

(he says as he enters)

Meera- 4 mins 26 secs.

Haider- Maam?

Meera- You are late Mr Haider.

(Meera turns. Their eyes meet and there is a similar feeling of recognition and irritation in both their eyes)

Haider-Aap!? Aap yahan bani maam ki cabin mein kya kar rahi hein?!

Meera- You!? Tum hi ho woh new intern??

Haider- You didn't answer my question. Vaise lagta hein Bani maam ko pata nahi hein ki unke kuch employees kaise hein aur doosron se kaise baat karte hai. (Taunting Meera)

Meera- Mr Haider! Meri company main kon kya karta hein, mujhe aapko woh samjhane ki koi zarurat nahi hein.

Haider- Aapki company...

(Payal enters)

(Jennifer winget as payal)

Payal - Maam, Bani maam ne yeh files bheji hai. Bola hai aapke signatures chahiye inn par.

Meera- Table par rakh do Payal. So, Mr. Haider, where were we?

Haider- Mujhe nahi pata tha ki itni bade company ki owner ki soch itni choti hogi.

Meera- Mr. Haider aapko maine uss din bhi kaha tha aur aaj bhi keh rahi hu. Stay within your limits! Aur doosri baat. One of the things Sangeet is known for is its professionalism. Aap yahaan apne talent ke dum pe aaye hein, I appreciate it. Par agar aap apni internship pe zyaada dhyaan de toh behtar rahega.

(Meera walks and stops in front of Haider)

Meera -I hope I am clear Mr. Haider.

As soon as Meera turns, her foot slips on a paper bit lying on the floor. She falls but Haider catches her midway and she lands in his arms.

Haider(in mind) - Jiski aakhon mei itni masumiyat ho... Jiski baton mein itni sachai ho... Woh dusron ke jazzbaton ko itna nazarandaz kaise kar sakti hai... Ya mai inhe galat samjh raha hu...

Meera(in mind) - Pehli mulaqaat se isne mujh par bas jhute ilzam lagaye hein. Par inki aakhein... Baar baar inhe dekhkar aesa kyun lagta hein ki mein unn hi jazzbaton ko phir mehsus kar rahi hu. Wohi dard... Wohi tanhaiyan inn akhon mein mujhe kyun dikhti hein.

(Bani enters)

Bani- Meeraaa!!

(Meera and Haider come back to their senses as they hear Bani's voice. They rush up and stood as far as possible)

Bani- Meera ye...?

Meera- Ahem! Umm...He is our new intern. Mr Haider Ali khan.

Bani- Hello Mr. Haider. I am Bani Sharma. The CFO of Sangeet. Aur hamari CEO se toh I think aap acchi tarah se mil chuke hein

(Bani says teasing them)

Haider- Uhh... Thank you. I will leave now maam.

Meera- Also Mr. Haider. Sangeet's 25th anniversary is coming up and I would like you to lead the team of the interns and give out a performance.

(Haider wonders why Meera did that. Especially after his rude behavior towards her. Meera reads his thoughts through his facial expressions)

Meera- Meera Kapoor never mixes personal and professional issues Mr. Haider...if that is what you're wondering.

Haider- Yes maam. I will try my best.

Meera- Trying is not an option Mr. Haider. Your performance has to be the best.

Haider(in mind) - Khadus!

Meera- Anything else?

Haider- Nahi mam. I will take my leave now.

(Haider leaves)

Bani- Ahem ahem! New intern huh??!

(Bani winks)

Meera- Chup reh Bani! Tu pagal hogayi hein.

Bani- Pyaar mein padne par log aksar aesi batein karte hein. (Bani says as she chuckles)

Meera- Pyaar!? Tujhe lagta hai iss duniya aur meri zindagi mein uske liye koi bhi jagah hein! Aur dusri baat pyaar toh chodo... mein uss batameez ko pasand tak nahi karti.

Bani- Accha toh phir ye bata ki tune usse doosra mauka kyun diya? Sangeet ki anniversary tere liye kitna maine rakhti hein woh mujhe acchi tarah se pata hein. Toh phir kyun?

Meera- Woh apni personal life mein kaisa hai mujhe usse koi farak nahi padta. Par usmein talent hein. Isiliye ye chance maine uske sangeet ko diya hein.Usse nahi.

Bani- Thik hein Meera madam. You win.

Meera- Bani... Kal Mr. Singhania ke saath hamari meeting hein. I want you to be there.

Bani- Mr. Singhania?

(She immediately is reminded of Veer. She had not met Veer since the party neither did he try pestering her in any way. This was somehow affecting her. It was weird how she missed him being around her)

Meera-Bani?

Bani- (coming back to reality) - Haan Meera... I'll be there.

Meera- Great!

***

(Haider comes out of the cabin confused about Meera's behavior. That's when he recognizes someone. He sees a lady. The same one he saw at the party. Manoramaji! )

Haider- Manoramaji aap yahan??

Manorama- Haider beta... Tum yahan kam karte ho kya?

Haider - Haanji. Par aap yahaan? uss ladki ke office mein...

Manorama- Hum toh yahaan khana lekar aaye the Meera bitiya ke liye.

Haider - Meeraji ke liye...? Par aap uss ladki ke liye kyun kam kar rahi hein?? Usne aapke saath itni batmeezi ki thi party wali raat ko!

Manorama- Nahi beta aap galat samjh rahe hein. Uss raat Meera bitiya ne toh humari madad ki thi... Woh ladki toh koi aur hi thi. Yahi nahi Meera bitiya ne toh hume unke ghar par naukri bhi di aur humare bete ka ilaj bhi kar wa rahi hein woh. Bohot bhali ladki hai woh.

(It would be an understatement to say Haider was shocked. He felt extremely guilty about his behavior towards Meera. He could not believe that he had accused and misbehaved with a person who was so innocent and kind. He was embarrassed to even face her now.)

Manorama- kuch hua kya?(she said looking at his worried face)

Haider- Kuch nahi. Aap jaiye manoramaji. Mein aap se baad mein milta hoon.

Payal- Madam aapko maam ne ander bulaya hein.

(Manorama enters Meera's cabin and Haider peeps into her cabin. )

Meera- Manoramaji aap yahaan?

Manorama- Meera aapne aate waqt nashta bhi thik se nahi kiya tha... Toh humne socha ki aaj hum hi aapke liye khana le aaye.(Manorama's tone was very excited.)

Meera- Iski kya zarurat thi manoramaji.

Manorama- Aapne jo humare liye kiya hein... Uske samne toh ye kuch bhi nahi hein.

Meera- Manoramaji aap phir se...accha suniye, aapko mera karz utarna hein na?

Manorama- ji.

Meera- Toh phir aaj aap apne hathon se mujhe khana khilaiye.(Meera says smiling)

Manorama -zarur bitiya:)

(Haider sees manorama feeding Meera with a smile on her face and this makes him feel evem more guilty. He leaves)

***

Veer's mansion

Balwant Singhania- Veer! My boy! Tum aaj yahaan??

Veer- Dad... Mujhe aapse kuch zaruri baat karni thi.

Balwant- Haan bolo na beta.

Veer- Dad. Mujhe business join karna hein.

Balwant- Kya!? Sach mein!? I am really happy beta ki tumhe apni zimmedaariyon ka ehsaas hogaye hein. I can't tell you how happy I am.

Veer- Main kabse join kar sakta hu dad?

Balwant- Kal meri Sangeet Co. ke sath meeting hein. Tum wahaan hamari company ki taraf se head karna.

Veer- Sure dad.

(In mind) - Veer Singhania ka naya roop dekhne ke liye taiyar ho jao Bani Sharma;)

***
ye rasta hei pyar ka
Mohhabat sa lagta hein
Ye dil hein majboor sa
Sulagta hi rehta ha

I really want to thank all you guys for your precious votes and for adding my story🥺
I would also like to thank my editor ReemesM.

Thank you for all your love!

So how was the chapter guys?

Haider's misunderstanding is now finally cleared and Veer is coming to Sangeet.

Well it's gonna be really fun;) : Let's see how it all unfolds

Please do comment and share your views with me... It would mean a lot!

Stay tuned!