Start of another ordinary day. I was sitting by the window in the city bus, my ear phones plugged in, my favorite 5star chocolate in my hand and my foot tapping to the music. It is next to impossible to get such a peaceful seat in Mumbai buses. But as I board the bus in the first stop, luck favors me almost every day.
I am Nivedita, I go by Nivi. I work as a personal secretary for the renowned business person, Prithvi Kapoor, the chair person of Kapoor Industires.
It takes 40 minutes to reach my office by bus from my place. And only if I take the first bus, I will be able to reach my office before my boss comes. For everyone, he is a rich arrogant boss, but many a times I have seen the simple side of him too.
It was this on this day in the office when, I had to get some urgent signatures from him and went to his room. I have the special permission of entry without knocking the door. He was in the small balcony adjacent to his cabin, playing with bubbles, the ones with which children play by blowing air.
He was blowing the bubbles out and trying to catch them at the same time, which wasn't very easy. I walked into the balcony and extended my hand asking him to give me the bottle. First he was hesitant, as I was his secretary and he was The Boss, but he also knew, I have seen him doing many such childish acts. He gave me the botle and I started blowing the bubbles now. He was so ecstatic on seeing them and was trying hard to hold them, without popping.
"What brought you here?" he asked as I stopped blowing and put the cap back to the bottle.
"Sir I need your signatures on these pay checks, it's month end" I said and put the checks on the table. He cleaned his hands and came back, quickly signed the checks for me and got back to his work. That is his specialty, he can easily transform his moods.
He's lenient in everything but punctuality. He hates if people show up late, and especially me as he thinks he cannot start off his day without me, professionally.
Today we had a meeting at 10:30 and it is 9:15 already. And I don't know what's wrong with this bus, it is going unusually slow. Normally, in 10 more minutes I reach my office, but looks like today is not my day. I was scared, as I was getting late for work. And yes! The bus has stopped moving now.
Break down!
Not happening!
I called up a friend of mine who drives to office if he could pick me up, but he wasn't responding. Along with everyone, I got down the bus and was checking my watch constantly, looking for the next bus. And that's when I noticed, this big black shining Volvo. It was Prithvi's. That car kind of fascinates me, how I wish I could I get into it once.
I know he doesn't look on the road while he is in the car, he looks into a business magazine like every other business person. So I was not even expecting for the car to stop. But today, I must have woken up on the wrong side, everything is just happening the other way round. The car actually stopped a few steps away from me and He got down.
"Get in" he said. Just that much.
"Sir" I was about to speak,
"We have a meeting in an hour, and I want you to be there at the earliest. I need to discuss somethings before we get into the meeting. So will you" he said. I had no option but to agree.
Please don't open the door for me. Please don't. I will definitely not be able to take it. I was thinking, when he actually came across the other side and opened the door for me. Oh My God! Such a gentleman.
"Thankyou sir" I said and got in. he closed the door for me and got in from the other side. I could see other people at the bus stop ogling at me. Hehe. I was laughing in my mind thinking about their condition.
"Where do you come from?" he asked.
"Huh" I said as I was busy in convincing myself that I was really sitting in his car.
"Where do you come from?" he asked again.
"Bandra" I replied.
"Isn't that too far? Why don't you move to a closer place?" he asked.
"Well the place I stay is affordable and I am okay with travelling" I replied.
"By bus? Daily?" he asked.
"Yes sir. It's very rare for the bus to break down, at least in my case. That's why I am always on time, but today is one of those unusual days" I said looking at him.
Did I ever notice how breathe-takingly handsome he looked? No I didn't. Because I was never so close to him, at least not in person. We were always surrounded by many people in the office.
"Sir would you mind if I say something?" I asked. And he nodded his head in negative.
"White suits you" I said. I don't know how I dared to say that. He was wearing a plain white shirt and Black trousers. His black blazer was in the front seat.
"Would you mind if I say something too?" he asked. Oh God! Bouncer! Is he going to say that I am fired?
"White suits you too" he said and that's when I noticed, we actually match. I smiled faintly.
"I have never seen you in any other color but black and blue" I said, trying to know if there was any occasion today.
"Sir, pohonch gaye" the driver said.
I looked out the window. It wasn't our office, but an orphanage. Shantivan. What is he going to do here? Shantivan, my home! Yes I am an orphan and that's where I was brought up till my early teenage. After completing my graduation, I moved out into an apartment as there were not enough rooms to accommodate new kids, who were younger to me. I thought, now that I have stared earning, why not move out.
I am well aware of every corner of this place. Meena amma was our care taker here. But she resigned a few months back as she was very old to serve the job anymore. I never paid a visit after that.
"Want to come along?" sir asked.
"Sure" I said and got down.
I never told anyone about my life, as I never wanted sympathy, to be honest I had friends, who got jobs and placed in colleges with special consideration. No offence, but I wasn't one of them. So I was silent all along.
The driver followed us with two big bags. I don't know what they had, but they seemed to be pretty heavy.
"Thankyou" Prithvi said and the driver went away putting those bags on one of the tables.
The new caretaker was there, she greeted him and asked us to take a seat.
I was thinking about our meeting which just had 30 minutes to start now. We were never late for any meeting. Was this going to be a record?
"Happy birthday Prithvi Bhayya" I heard a boy's voice. I turned back to see Adi, the current oldest kid in our Home. He saw me and was about to say hello, when I signaled him to stay silent.
Its sir's birthday today?
"Sorry sir, I am a bad Secretary! I didn't know it was your birthday" I said and extended my hand for a shake. And that was the first time, at least the first time I paid so much attention to his touch. It felt different.
"That's alright. I never celebrated my birthday, except for here" he said.
"Is this place special?" I asked, considering if it was too personal.
"Well, Shantivan is run by our company. It is one of those hidden organizations owned by Kapoor industries. You know we don't publicize charity.
What? This is a shocker.
"Oh" was what I could say.
"Well, even I got to know about this three years back, when I took charge in the office. The donations and transfers led me to this discovery" he said.
"Adi, sab ko bulaake aao" he said to Adi.
"Bhayya 29" Adi said.
"29? Last time toh 30 the na" Prithvi said.
"Haan who, choti bachhi thi na Akanksha, koi use adopt karne aaye the, dho hafhte pehle. Achhe log hain, isliye akanksha ab yaha nai rehthi aur hum 30 se 29 ban gaye" Adi said.
"Yeh toh bohoth achhi baath hain. I am happy to know that" Prithvi said.
He opened the bags and there were goodies. He distributed them to the 29 kids there. I saw one of them opening it. it had chocolates, biscuits, a few stationary items and a beautiful white cap. During my days at Shantivan, we were so excited for such days when people used to come visit us, and give such goodies. Today again the child in me got up and I joined the line. Prithvi didn't notice until it was my turn to take the goody that I was in the line too.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"Because I am one of them" I said.
"I can get you chocolates, you need not stand in the line for that" he said, not getting what I said.
"Sir I am an orphan too, and this is where I spent my childhood" I said.
I could see that shock expression on his face.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Haan bhayya, Nivi didi yahee rehthi thi, theen saal pehle baahar ghar leke shift ho gayi. Bohoth bade company mein job karthee hain, mein bhi unke jaise banoonga" Adi said.
"Mere jaise nai Adi, tumhe Prithvi sir jaise banna hain" I said.
"Tum log ek dhoosre ko jaanthe ho?" Adi asked.
"Haan, mein jo bohoth bade company mein kaam karthee hoon na, wohh company Prithvi sir ki hi hain aur mein sir ki secretary hoon" I said.
"Yeh toh bohoth acchhi baath hain" Adi said.
Prithvi gave me the goody and that's when I noticed the time. It was almost about time for the meeting.
"Sir, we are getting late for the meeting" I said.
"Oh yes! Let's make a move" he said getting up.
"Adi, I will see you later, abhi ek meeting mein jaana hain" he said and Adi agreed with a smile.
"Bye bhayya! Bye Nivi didi" he said.
"Bye" we said together and got back into the car, not forgetting to mention, he opening the door for me.
Well well well! I know you must not have expected this from me! Another story! But this will be a short story 4-5 chapters.
It is kind of a micro love story. Let me know how it was through your comments!
Hope you enjoyed reading!
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