Chaya- Playing Pratima

We packed for a few days and left for the Motel where I will stay with Pri's parents. Granny was silent and looked gloomy. Pri told me her mother and her granny shared a 'typical' tele-soap 'in law' bond. According to Pri, her mother was the one who was at fault. She was unreasonable and shrewd. In just a day, granny had secured a place in my heart. I will not let anyone make her life miserable.
There was a secret to unfold.
Nani's blackmail.
This 'mother of trouble' needs to be taught a lesson. I was still making plans when we reached a...
OH! MY GOD! What was this?
An old two-story building that looked like a typical cheap motel on the highway. We stepped out of Uday's car. He was another stupid. It's because of him my full-proof plan flopped. I know it wasn't his fault that he didn't know but he could have been a little smart and played along.

"Pri, Granny, welcome." A young boy I didn't know, gave us a warm welcome. He touched granny's feet and came to me.
I am screwed. I don't know who he was. Pri didn't tell me. But Uday saved me. He shook hands with the boy before he could reach for my hand.
Uday was a smart boy. Uh! I know I just wished for him to be a little smart and here he was behaving smartly.

"Hello, Badal. How are you?" Uday asked the boy. So that was his name.

"Uday, you got them here? Good. How are you, Pri?" Badal took me in a hug and smirked at Uday. I broke the hug quickly. I wasn't comfortable and Uday's expressions told me he didn't like it either.

"When did you come here, Badal?" Granny questioned him.

"After the misunderstanding with Aunty and Uncle cleared. I hope Pri and I can be friends again. After all, it's been almost seven years now?" Badal looked at me.
What was this new drama now? I think I need to be careful. This boy was giving negative vibes.

"That wasn't a misunderstanding Badal. If we stay here, you will have to leave." Granny asserted with determination.

"Ma, please reserve your decisions to your home. This is my Motel and I decide who stays here and who doesn't. Badal and his father have been very supportive. They bought the land adjoining the motel and have proposed an extension to the motel. We will have more rooms and can entertain more guests. Investment is their's, management is ours." Pri's father did not greet his mother or acknowledge my presence. He just stated his business proposal.

"Ashutosh, you know what happened last time," Granny warned my father.

"Please Ma. They were young then. We don't even know what exactly happened. Still, Badal was sent away for seven years. Now, he has returned and is helping his father in his business. He is here to see that the construction is going as per the plan. Besides, Pri is big enough to take care of herself." Pri's father was rude.
Granny was unhappy but she didn't say further.

Uday took me to a side and warned, "Pri, promise me you will not let that slimeball anywhere near you this time. Nymphomaniacs like him never change. As a boy, I can sense his intentions are evil and not good. Keep your guards on sister, and remember, I am just a call away."

I heard Uday, I saw his eyes, I observed his concern, I examined his tension, then I hugged him tightly. Ragini always told me about the bond between her brother and her. She said it was the best relation she has. I got a glimpse of that, today. Boys, like Uday, reinstate the fact that not all boys are nasty and vicious.

"I will miss you Uday." I didn't know the boy but I felt so sad that I will no longer see him.

My mini-adventurecation begins. Badal doesn't know how a princess avenges herself. He dare enter my domain.
I walked inside confidently and sat next to my granny where stood a coven of witches; Nani and her daughter.

"Pri, here is your schedule. While you are here no lurking around. Learn how a motel is run. So, when this is converted to a hotel you are trained well." Pri's mother gave me a paper and she expected me to do those tasks? I looked at her in anger but she thought I was confused.
So, she explained, "don't be confused Pri. After Badal's father proposed the extension this will not just be a motel but we will apply for it to be counted as a hotel. You will be the one running it and Badal will be handling legal and financial matters."

"You have my entire future planned? Amazing! I don't even have a say in it? I won't do any of these tasks. Hire someone who does these on regular basis. I can't do housekeeping for ten rooms and sit at the reception." It was so unfair. Why can't parents let their kids decide what they want to do?

My mother was about to counter me when Badal interfered. "Pardon me aunty, but Pri is correct. Look at her, she is so delicate. So fragile. She is not meant to pick up bed sheets and clean rooms. She is too pretty to sit as a receptionist as well. We don't want the vultures to eye our pretty girl."
My mother didn't look quite happy with Badal's support but he pressed her shoulder and suggested, "she can sit with me and share her valuable inputs about how we can make this project a success. She is studying business and preparing for Charted Accountant. Who better than she can do this? What say?"

Oh! This is his master plan?

"What a wonderful plan, Badal. Pri is brilliant in her studies. She has cleared her exams and is only left with the last stage of becoming a CA. She will help you. Look, Asha, you were disapproving of this boy who is helping 'our' granddaughter gain first-hand practical learning experience." Nani appreciated Badal and his terrible acting made him look like a fool.

Granny and I understood his actions. He didn't understand ours.

"Thank you, Badal. I didn't know you thought so well for me. I will be with you 24/7 and help you and learn from you as well. I am sure it will be a life-changing experience for us." I gave one of my prettiest smiles to the lusty boy and his eyes gave away his intentions.

God save you, Badal.
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Pratima- Playing Chaya

'Instructions' a word easier to use difficult to apply.

Since the breakfast my new parents were explaining to me what to do and what not to do at the office. It was a lengthy and boring conversation. I half heard them. I figured out why Chaya always said, "I do what I want to do." Her parents were monarchs, literally. They wanted to rule their daughter. They had already robbed her right to freedom and choose.
I sat in the car and left the palace. I had my own insecurities. Working in an office had been a horrible nightmare for me even though it was my parents working space but the incident still gave me shivers.

"Princess, we are here." The driver prompted and we entered the same building but from a different entrance. I stepped down and took a deep breath.
Why was I here?
What am I going to do?
If the prince and Chaya's father both want to do business with each other what's the problem? Why am I being sacrificed?
ARGH!
My mood was already sore and these thoughts worsened it.

As I walked towards the Prince's office, a peon gave me a bouquet of Easter lilies and escorted me to the building. The flowers were beautiful. When we entered the office building the entire staff of around 50-70 people were standing in a row with pleasant smiles to welcome me. I felt good and embarrassed at the same time. If things were reversed, I would have been the one standing in the row but today I was receiving a welcome from those in the rows. It wasn't out of achievement but because of a lie.

The Prince walked in style wearing a blue pant, ivory shirt and matching blue blazer, just like me? How do our clothes match? I wear what Garima suggests. Does she suggest him too?

The Prince gave me a bouquet of fresh yellow roses. It was one the most beautiful bouquets I have seen. It wasn't wrapped in a gelatine sheet but a thin paper, a recycled paper sheet, I realised. This was impressive.

"Welcome Princess. The premises and I am honoured by your presence." The Prince gave me one of his handsome smiles which charmed me until yesterday. I am not falling for it again.

I also gave him a faint smile. It wasn't out of rudeness but out of anxiety. We walked to his office with everyone greeting us. I tried my best to revert everyone's greetings but they were so many. Prince introduced me to a few employees of higher ranks in the organisational hierarchy.
One man particularly gave me a hand shake tighter than required. When I looked at him he smiled and I didn't like his grin.

"Princess, he is Azam, he is a family friend and interning with us." The Prince introduced the boy.
Interning? He looked over the age of an intern.

"It will be a pleasure to intern with a colleague as beautiful and privileged as the princess." Azam's comment didn't settle well with me and from my peripheral vision I could see the Prince disapproved him too. I just ignored his comment and moved forward. When we reached the Prince's cabin and I settled on the chair opposite to his work desk.

"Princess Chaya, I PRANEET KESARI welcome you on behalf of all the employees and staff of Kesari Industry." The prince forwarded his hand and I shook hands with him.

Is it a coincidence or fate? His name and mine mean the same... 'Likeable'. Though another meaning of my name was 'reflection', which I was of Chaya. That's for another day to analyse on. Right now, mission Prince.

"Are we under CCTV surveillance?" I questioned the Prince and he looked at me in confusion. "You are behaving quite well. Traded articles don't get that treatment, do they? Until someone is watching." I was angry with the plans and remarks he made yesterday on me and I made that clear to him.

"For your information, I love my work and all the 'articles' are treated and dealt with care and 'love'." The Prince was witty. He stressed the word love and I chuckled. He did not even understand the word. We both were silent for a while and I know he was observing my moves. I tried hard to pretend I was not nervous but I am not sure how much I could pretend.

"Alright, I will take you to your cabin." The prince and I walked up the stairs where several employees were working. It was a dream for me to visit a corporate enterprise. It should be a good working experience for me. A brilliant addition to my CV. I somehow forgot my parent's office.

A small room but with a great view. An old rusted personal computer. A table and a chair. A notepad and a pen.

"Chaya, all you have to do is frame some nice advertisements for the articles we manufacture. You are a literature graduate and it should not be a difficult task for you. You have an internet connection and details for all the articles. Nice creative advertisements to lure more customers is our aim. There is a brochure in the drawer which will give you more details about the company, it's goals and objectives.
I think the princess will not be stressed with this work." The Prince commented with a snigger.

I was immune to his taunts now. I just agreed to what he said quietly.
And... I was right.
He hated it.
He wanted to fight or wants me to at least revert to his taunts.
I won't. I don't care.
Granny always said, "The one who throws dirt on you is dirtying himself too."
Let the Prince be nasty, mean and arrogant. I won't leave my goodness.

'चंदन विश व्याप्त नहीं लिपटे रहत भुज़ंग'।

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Dear Readers,
Word meaning:
चंदन विश व्याप्त नहीं लिपटे रहत भुज़ंग'- (a Doha, by Rahim means) Bad company cannot spoil someone with excellent character. As snakes are always around the sandalwood tree but the tree never gets poisonous.

A new character Badal is introduced who has a bad past with Pratima.
What and why will be answered soon.
How many likes for Uday? Isn't he the best friend/ sibling we always desire?
How will Chaya deal with him?

Pratima has started working in a corporate office but as an advertisement drafter? Will she like and excel or fail?
A new charecter Azam shall also play an important part in the story.

Find out!

Stay hooked!
Lots of love.