23rd June 2016

* * * * *   

Shree adjust the folds of her white shirt, standing outside the closed doors of Madhav's office room, holding a notebook in one hand. Her phone beeps inside her trouser pocket and she fishes it out. There's a new message, she smiles as she reads the name of the sender.

Just now landed in Mumbai! How about lunch together?

I have planned to have lunch with my friends from work :(

How about some ice cream after lunch?

K. See you at 2pm! I'm busy ATM!

Bye <3

Shree tries her best to hide the smile creeping on her face as she slips it into her trouser pocket. She clears her throat again, tucking the stray bits of hair behind her ear. Mr. Bijoy, the old janitor pass weird looks at me as he walks past the corridor near Madhav's room.

"Come in Ms. Prasad!" he says even before she knocks on the door, leaving her surprised at his supposed telepathy. She opens the door and walks in. He is wearing a denim and a grey shirt that's neatly tucked in- the same clothes he was wearing yesterday- she realizes.

"Good morning sir," she greets and he nods. He is sipping his Double Espresso while his deep black eyes remain glued to the flat screen monitor.

Shree opens the notebook in her hands "Sir, the CEO of British Cosmetics has agreed to send us their styling experts to do the hair and make up for the Demure and Blue Flame models at the Mumbai Fall Fashion Show. Mr. Eugene Wood, their chief stylist has requested to meet our models before the event."

His eyes are on her now. She gulps and turns over to the next page "Also, Mr. RK has decided to keep the company's AGM on the 19th of August and he wants you to double check on the report which will be prepared by him and Ms. Leila. He requests a summation of all income and expenditure of Blue Flame and Demure as soon as possible."

"Tell him that he shall get them soon!" he says tracing a finger around his Styrofoam cup "Let him also know that I'm planning to open another branch for Demure by the end of July in Goa. Apparently a block of land, owned by the Home Minister of Goa, is available for sale near a tourist beach. Many businessman want to acquire it, but he is planning to give it to the company which is not only welfare oriented but also to those quoting the least expensive tender. But before that you and I have to sort out some urgent matters. Inform the all General Managers of Demure in Venice, Paris, Mumbai and Bangalore to email in the forecasted balance sheets by next Friday 9pm. Keep on reminding them that I don't like delays. I need them before the deadline."

Shree nods as she jots them all into her notebook hoping dearly that she got them all penned down. "Is that it sir?"

"Yes, Ms. Prasad!" he says leaning back onto his leather bound chair. "Oh! Yes! It's good to know your mother's sari is as good as new. But will that make my car look as good as new?"

"I thought you forgave me for it the first day itself sir!"

He smirks to himself and the glint in his eyes fails to go unnoticed "No! I won't! Unless you do me a favor." Shree lets out a loud gasp and stare at him taken aback, realizing what that 'favor' might be. "No! No! It's not as you think it to be!"

Shree sighs back in relief, wiping the little beads of sweat on her temples. 

"I want you to come to work in sari for the rest of the week"

She stares at him, not being able to believe what he just now said and not understanding why he wants her to come dressed in sari. "You mean to say that, if I come to work in a sari for the rest of this week, you will forgive me for breaking- no denting your car?"

He nods. "Hopefully, yes!"

"Couldn't you think of something else? I rather sacrifice two seasons of Modern Family and Supernatural than show up to work in sari"

"What's wrong with a sari, Ms. Prasad?" Madhav asks, surprised at her counter.

"Sir how am I supposed to go home? You know how the trains and buses are packed like a can of sardines when office hours are over! Also every bus and train in the Mumbai city has at least one womaniser who can't keep their hands to themselves. They get turned on, so easily, upon seeing just one strand of hair from a woman's head! On the other hand I have to go home after six, all by myself, by train and bus, wearing a sari that will get me--"

"I'll drop you at home, Ms. Prasad!" He assures, interrupting her. Shree looks at him and he gives her an assuring smile. Madhav has been dropping her at home almost every day, ever since the day she joined. He doesn't drop her on Saturdays because they are off by 1 pm, but never fails to call once in every fifteen minutes to know where she was. 

She has even saved enough money to buy at least ten plates of her favorite roadside chaat for herself and all the children living in her apartment. 

She tries to say something but he holds his hand gesturing her to stop, smiling, and his forehead creased with concern. "Tomorrow. Sari. I'll drop you at home. Don't worry."

She nods.

* * * * *

Shree walks into Madhav's room during lunchtime with two Tupperware lunch boxes in her hands. The sound of her footwear's heel on the marbled floor drew his attention as he notices her walk in.

"Amma packed some Hyderabadi Biriyani for you." she says as Shree keeps one box on the table.

"For me?" he asks surprised, straightening himself on his seat as he takes the lunch box to his hand.

"Yes sir!" Shree says nodding "She wasn't feeling happy when you left without having dinner, so she packed an extra box of food today. For you."

"That's so sweet of her." He says smiling as he opens the box and the aromatic fragrance of the masala and the spicy gravy pierce his nostrils sending a sense of euphoria throughout his being. "Wonderful!" he remarks satisfied.

"You're welcome sir!" Shree adds smiling cheerfully.

"Well! Looks like I don't have to be surviving for the rest of the day on the canteen's short eats. It's been ages since I had homemade food! So tell Mrs. Prasad that I really appreciate her concern and thoughtfulness"

Shree nods. "May I go for lunch then? Leila and Shiv must be waiting for me in the canteen area."

Shree has two work buddies who are like her close friends. Leila Sharma, RK's secretary and Shiv, the chief fashion consultant of Blue Flame. They would meet every day during the lunch break at the canteen area to eat together while sharing their food, jokes and their thoughts about previous night's episode of Ishqbaaaz and Quantico.

"Won't you sit down and have lunch with your boss, Ms. Prasad?" he asks offering her the swivel chair opposite him. Shree becomes astounded for a moment. "By the way you always spend your lunch break with Ms. Sharma and Shiv. All I ask is for someone to sit beside me during today's lunch break and give me company. Even the most exquisite and delicious food turns out to be bland and tasteless when you dine alone."

Shree thinks about the ice cream date she had promised over the phone with her friend, and how excited she was. It was one of the few things she looked forward to every day. Her eyes fall on Madhav for a moment. His eyes genuinely demands a 'yes' from her. She nods and takes her seat opposite him. He smiles a tentative smile as she sits down and they start eating quietly.

Madhav notices Shree digging her lunchbox with her spoon, separating the capsicum, cardamom and the pieces of green chilly from the rice to the furthest corner of the box.

He decides to initiate the conversation. "The Head Mistress of Rainbow Valley Orphanage thanked you for all those books, Ms. Prasad.

"Actually it should be you who should be thanked for coming up with such an idea, sir! If it wasn't for you then that money would have been invested in some unworthy venture." she says gobbling down the food. "Also, you gave them a lot when compared to what I could give them."

He smiles as he takes a spoonful of rice.

"That little girl- Maya- she seems to be very fond of you." Shree says smiling.

"Of course she is! She's a very effervescent little girl. Full of life! She has so much to say to even the most random person she comes across, an Odyssey of tales if it is me. You won't believe it but she has made a reservation as the Flower Girl at my wedding!" Madhav says and notices Shree smile. "I wanted to adopt her as my own child but the Head Mistress told me that they can't give away the children to an unmarried man, like me. I need to be married for at least six months to be eligible to adopt."

"So what have you decided to do?" she asks as she takes in another spoonful. "Are you getting married then?"

"Yes, Ms. Prasad!" He nods and Shree blinks in surprise. His cheeks turn crimson "I met this lady recently and I believe she's the one. I don't know but every moment I spend with her I feel like I've found my old lost self and all the happiness has come back into my life. She too trusts and enjoys my company, I believe. Don't tell this to Mr. RK, but I'm planning to ask for her hand in marriage after a few more weeks of getting to know her."

Shree let's out a small squeak of excitement "She must be a lucky chiraiya. If she rejects this proposal then she'd be the idiot of the highest order! She's destined to be the future wife of a billionaire, who also happens to be the future CEO of an internationally recognized company. Not everyone gets a wealthy and caring husband. Famous exceptions would be Annika, Sonakshi Bose and Anastasia Steele. I tell you again, that girl must have done some mega sized good deed in her previous birth!"

Madhav nods as he takes another mouthful of rice "By the way who are those women? I've never heard of them."

"They are fictional people sir! Annika and Sonakshi are from my favorite TV show. You must watch them whenever you get time. Anastasia, the whole world knows her as the lover and wife of the famous and charming Mr. Christian Grey, CEO of Grey Holdings" she says moving her hands up in the air to exaggerate, like the conductor of an Orchestra.

"You watch too much TV I guess" he says looking at how beautifully she exaggerates even the smallest fact. A smile creeps on his face like a wave and he tries to hide his smile by looking into a far off object in his room.

Shree takes another spoonful of rice when she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket. It's from the same sender who messaged her in the morning.

What time shall I come over to pick you for our ice cream date?

Not today. Perhaps tomorrow?

Shree rests her phone on her lap and continues to eat. Within a few seconds her phone vibrates again.

I have other plans for tomorrow. Is Wednesday okay?

Done! See you on Wednesday!

Her phone vibrated even before a second had passed after sending her reply. She was surprised at how fast he could manage to type such a big paragraph in a flash of a second. Shree blushed reading the message, and tried to keep her face straight as she realized Madhav was seated opposite her. Thankfully he was enjoying his exquisite yet simple lunch, he had failed to notice his secretary's flushing face.

Can't wait to meet you on Wednesday! I brought you loads of chocolates and that one meter tall stuffed toy you wanted to have. Not to forget my handsome self ;) I missed you so badly, meri jaan!  <3

Aww! I missed you too!

To be continued

Glossary
Chaat- A roadside Indian food
Meri jaan- An expression equivalent to My love.

Express all your views and thoughts about this chapter through your comments. Also let me know the about following:

-How was this chapter?

-Who do you think that "lady" is? Can it be Shree? Or someone else?

-Who is that person who is messaging Shree?

-How might that sender be related to Shree?