CHAPTER 1
Grinning widely, a young man pushed through the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign.
"Would you like me to write the sign in some other language?" Daya, not bothering to look up from his file.
"Didn't know it applied to me."
"It's especially for you."
"Ouch!"
"What do you want fucker?"
"Some of your time."
"No seriously, what language can you read and understand?"
"If you really want to keep me out, you better get some hookers to stand at your door."
"Oh please!" this time he actually looked up at Abhijeet, "You don't even look at girls."
Abhijeet dismissed the former statement with a chuckle and then spoke after a brief pause.
"Let's hit the bar."
"I have work to do."
"Come on... loosen up a bit."
"Are you asking me as a friend?"
"Of course."
"Then as a friend," Daya spoke with a smile that almost looked genuine, "I'm telling you to get lost."
"Well, I now ask as your boss."
"Then as a good employee, let me tell you that the I am the company's accountant and it's very important that I do my job."
"The profits are soaring, the employees are happy, business is booming - aur kya chahiye tujhe?"
"If it has to keep going this way, I gotta do my thing."
"You're such a waste of my awesome-ness as a boss."
"Kisi aur ko le jaa."
"How long before you're done?"
"How long before you're out of business?"
Abhijeet just sighed and texted "Plan B" to his assistant. Almost immediately, the room went pitch dark. Daya was quick to turn his phone's flashlight on.
"Aren't you going to ask something like - How long before the electricity is back?"
"Unfortunately," Daya said, "I know the answer to that one."
"Then how long before you let the whole office stay in the dark?"
"You're impossible."
"Get changed. I'll be outside, in the car."
"As long as you're not in the driver's seat."
"Just because I ride her harder than you ever can," Abhijeet spoke on his way out.
As walked towards the car, he saw Sachin and Rajat already waiting.
"Boys, good to see you. Just remember, nobody mentions Shreya."
"You got it boss," Sachin said.
Four bottles and eight shots later:
As they sat talking on a square table, Abhijeet could see a girl past Rajat's shoulder. She had been looking at him, or at least his table, quite unapologetically, for a while now. Once he had seen her, he just couldn't unsee her. There was something about her which was extremely formidable. Perhaps it was her wild curly hair or may it was the way she sat, all alone like she owned the place.
"Mein abhi aaya" Abhijeet said, getting up.
As he made his way towards the washroom, someone brushed against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," a feminine voice claimed.
It was the same girl who had been looking at him.
"You… uh…you were…"
"I was just on my way outside."
Her eyes held his gaze for just over a few seconds, almost as though she was inviting him to go outside with her. And somehow, he felt compelled to oblige.
He followed her towards the parking lot, his eyes constantly looking for cues to talk. A few steps into the parking space, she turned around so abruptly that he had to rely on his reflexes to stop in order to stop a collision.
"Are you going to stalk me home?" She spoke with a teasing complacence lurking in her voice.
And all at once, Abhijeet felt unbelievably stupid. What the hell was he thinking, following a stranger like that?
"I'm sorry… I...I should just go back inside."
"Well that would be a shame," she said, walking till she reached a bench was about ten feet away from where Abhijeet stood.
"This bench has enough room for both of us," she added, sitting down.
Although bemused and slightly hesitant, he sat next to her.
"So is this meeting a coincidence or -"
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"Destiny?"
She looked at him and smiled, as though he had asked her if she believed in fairies.
"Well," he quickly altered his question, "What do you think it is, what do you believe in?"
"I believe that each of us get what we deserve."
"Do we always?"
"When you don't, you grab what you deserve."
"So what you are saying is that we deserve to be here, with each other. How is that any different from destiny?"
"Well…"
"Let me put it simply. Out of all the men in the bar, you picked me. Why is that ?"
"You reserved the table for the wrong price."
"The bar table? You're here just because I overpaid a table?"
"I know a few thousands here and there don't affect you, Abhijeet Srivastava."
"Don't panic," she added after observing his changing expressions, "I'm sure plenty of people know the owner and CEO of 'Woods and Metals' by name."
"Fair enough. But that doesn't answer my question. Why are you here?"
"I have a feeling that you'll know soon."
"Hmm."
"You know, the opposite of talking isn't listening. It is waiting."
"Fran Lebowitz!" Abhijeet looked at her, amazed, "So you read for pleasure too?"
"I read for staying relevant."
"So you don't find it fun?"
"Anything can be made fun."
"But isn't there something that you find fun naturally?"
"Winning."
Abhijeet chuckled.
"What do you do when you're not busy winning is what I meant," he added.
"I'm always busy winning. It's an addiction."
"A good one, unlike most addictions."
"Good and bad is merely perspective and circumstantial."
"I see."
"You clearly don't agree."
"You're right. Nonetheless, I am curious - Am I good or bad, from your perspective?"
"You're interessant," she smirked.
"Merci et toi aussi," he said, smirking back.
"And smart also, I figure."
"What about you - are you good or bad?"
"I'll let you figure that one on your own," she winked.
"So do you visit this club often?"
The girl shifted closer to him and kept her hand on his thigh, making him hold his breath. Her fingers moved inside his pocket.
"Wh-what are you?"
She took his vibrating phone from his pocket and held it in front of his face.
"Lagta hai aapke friends aapko yaad kar rahein hain."
He gave her an embarrassed smile. Why didn't he realize that his phone had been vibrating?
"Excuse me," he said, as he picked up the phone.
"Haan Rajat… mein bahar aaya tha… nahi wo aise hi. Acha, ek kaam karo, all of you take the morning off … Mein ab ghar jaunga, early morning meeting tomorrow. Yeah. Okay. Daya ko drop kar de na dhyaan se. Sachin ke saath jayega wo? Alright actually that's better. Hmm. Goodnight."
When he looked back at her, he found her standing, prepared to leave.
"Arrey aap jaa rahi hain?" he asked, as he kept his phone back.
Before she could answer, he found a note in his pocket. Of course, she had put it in there.
It contained all his competitors' quotes for a huge order for wooden tables. The lowest contender, Verma's, was lower than him by about a few thousands.
Reserved the table for the wrong price.
A few thousands here and there don't affect you.
Now he had perfectly understood what she meant.
"Who are you?"
"I am the girl who just landed you a 20 million order. You're welcome."
"What is your name and why would you help us?"
"Consider it me getting even."
"With… my company?"
"Oh we'll be even too, after you resend your quote with the right price."
Too. That meant she was getting even with Verma's or someone working there.
"This… this isn't...this is bad."
"From your perspective, perhaps. But good and bad is also circumstantial. Right now that 20 million looks really good for your company."
"My company is...doing just fine."
"You can lie to your accountant and pay people from your own pocket. But the question is - How long can you sustain that?"
Before he could formulate a reply, he saw her walking. As her silhouette disappeared into the darkness, she waved at him.
Abhijeet looked down, his integrity gnawing his resolve to use the new information that he had. But she was right too. He really needed that money.
A new story.
I hope you enjoy. Do review.