Chapter-5
It was her second day at her newly joined resort and she did not wish to go late. But then, she was late by three hours already. Lamenting for the same, she rushed towards the kitchen when she noticed the helper asking her "Madame, the breakfast for the day is ready. Should I serve now?"
"No. I'll take care. Well, have you got corn fields here?"
"Why not, Madame? We have got so many here!" he said, elated.
"Good. So where can I get the corn cobs?" she asked, transferring the food into the bowls.
"We have got a stock of some in the store room of the kitchen. Shall I get some?" he asked, his head bowed.
"That would be better. Can you?" she asked as he rushed in a swift, bringing two corn cobs, bright yellow in colour. Ishani loved to eat corn and she wished to have some today. Taste buds.
"Madame, should I grill some for you and Monsieur?"
"N-No. I can do that. You may leave now and don't forget to clean the room." Ishani alerted him as he bowed down slightly, smiling.
"Okay. So, I'll make him pleased today. He cooked for me yesterday and today, it's my turn. I'll grill some and we'll have them together. He was depressed yesterday and I hope everything's fine with him now. He's got his meeting with Mr. Dawson today and he should have been down by now. Wondering what's wrong with him." Ishani thought as she took one of the cobs for grill. Placing it on, she thought-
"Dream girl? Ha! He's too innocent! He's in love with his dream girl. But poor, he is searching for her for the past so many years. But I must admit. I have got so many similarities with her! Wondering how would she look! Yet, I am not keen for her. What bothers me?" she sighed when she noticed a burning smell. Getting back to reality, "Oh My! What have I done? This is of no use now!" She shouted, looking at the burnt corn cob which was now black in colour.
Cooking and Ishani are two different extremities that can never get attracted to each other. She never had the liking for cooking and today's experiment was another proof for it. Though she hated to cook, she loves to cook for her loved ones and ends up getting back fired, always.
Looking at the burnt, smoky corn cob, she felt dejected as she took the breakfast towards his room, thinking that he would like the rest of the breakfast, though it wasn't prepared by her. Sneaking inside the room, she found him, sleeping. Shocked, she went inside slowly, ensuring that he wasn't disturbed. Looking at him worried, she sat down, the plates on the mini desk. She wasn't troubled because of his sleep. She was perturbed because of his jabbers and the bottle.
"Where will I search for you? I'm sure you are here, somewhere...beside me. But how will I search for you?" she heard his detached blabbers. His words were detached from his voice. It sounded strange, for her. How she wished she could ask him the reason for his loneliness.
"Ranveer?"
He opened his chocolate ones slowly, the weak sun rays falling over his eyes which were trying to meet hers. His head ached, badly. He cursed the bottle and his brains as he got up, his hands catching hold of his head, tightly in pain.
"Morning!" Ishani diverted his thoughts at once as he gazed at her, smiling sleepily.
"Good Morning. Good to see you here, early in the morning." He chuckled, his eyes, rubbing and yawned.
"Early in the morning? Wow! It's past nine, Mr. RV. We have got our meeting at 10.30, remember? You have to leave for the resort already. It's late!"
"What?" he sprung up from the bed and shouted, "Ouch!"
"Oops! Is it painful?" she asked and got up, sheeting down water into the glass. Drinking it with his face creepy, he said "Well, it's okay. I mean we're late and we have to leave soon."
"I know. Get ready as I get the plates ready for the breakfast." she said, her face looking at the flooring.
"Yeah. That'll go good." Ranveer said, preparing himself for the day.
Entering the other side of the posh room, Ranveer stood beside a sitting Ishani who smiled at him, kindly.
"What's for the breakfast?" he asked her, his voice hesitant. He wanted to confront her regarding his dreams and that she was his love. But he was afraid to do the same.
"It's croissants and some fresh milk. And..."
"And?"
"Corn cobs" she sighed, hugely as he smiled at her. Sitting down, beside her, he held her hands into his and said, "Disaster?"
"Yeah, a deadly one. It's no more golden yellow. It's black!" she snorted.
"Black?" he chuckled, making sure that she wasn't hurt. "Why did you even try cooking when you knew it was going to be disastrous?"
"It wasn't meant to. Anyway, we're getting late and we should be present for the meeting by another half an hour. Make it quick!"
Having their breakfast in silence, both of them got up, clearing the plates. Rushing to the car garage, Ranveer started the car as they made way for their day.
"So, what's up?" Ranveer asked her, hoping that it would initiate some conversation between them. He badly wanted to ask her...about everything.
"Nothing much. What about you?"
"Em, well, nothing." he quipped, sighing.
Reaching the place by 10, Ranveer looked at the entrance which was ready to welcome their guest, may be their partner in a few hours.
"Good. How are the preparations going on?" Ranveer asked one of the staff members.
"It's perfect, sir. Please, it's time for the meeting."
"Yeah, why not?" Ranveer said as he looked at Ishani who was behind him.
"Well, I want to ask you something. Shall I?"
"Go ahead, sir."
Smiling to the sir reference, he asked "In case if the deal hit the bull's eye, which place do you want it to be?"
"Which place? Why do you ask me?" she asked, perplexed.
"Well, I have told you already. Before taking up any project, I ask her advice. So, there it goes, without any explanation." Ranveer dropped in inkling for her to realise.
"Paris? How about Paris? I've heard a lot about the place!"
"Okay, Paris." Ranveer said, smiling at her as he saw him confused.
"Why should I tell him? What is wrong with him?" she thought and left for her day, opening the ledgers for the day.
"Hello, Mr. Dawson, Welcome to the Loire Valley. We are glad to have you here" Ranveer took his strong hands forward for a formal handshake as his tan ones met with the other.
"Hello, Mr. RV. It's the same for us. We're happy to be a part of your group of resorts." Mr. Dawson said as they both shared a formal smile.
"So, what have you planned sir? We just met yesterday and you said you need time. What have you picked for the final call? A resort or a restaurant?"
"Um well, for now, we have planned it to a restaurant. I agree, the company's stocks and bonds are in a very good position now. But still, we have decided on for a restaurant as it is quicker and is economical." Dawson quipped.
Oakley's always had a special position in the Euronext. It was the stock exchange centre in France apart from the global London Stock Exchange. Right from its inception, it has stood as one of the top notch companies for investments.
"Good, sir. That's sounds practical. Since you said so, we'll make our ties stronger with our future projects. I'll ask my staff to prepare the bond and the agreement for the same."
"Thank you, Mr. RV. Nice meeting you" he stood up, his hands inside his grey pockets.
"Our pleasure, sir. Any plans to announce it publicly?"
"Well, how about this weekend? I'll sign on the dotted line the same day."
"Sure sir. I'll formally invite you in a day or two." Ranveer said, sending off his guests.
Minutes after their departure, he searched for her, everywhere. Spotting her at the Help Desk, he called out for her name.
"Miss Ishani." Ranveer called her, his tone as usual diplomatic. Ishani hated that tone of his. For her, he sounded better in his original voice than the diplomatic one.
"Sir!" she got up, waiting for the next statement.
"Inside my cabin, within ten minutes with the edited version of the design."
"Yes, sir. Sure." Ishani said as he left the place to his cabin.
"May I get in, sir?" Ishani said, the design close to her chest and her hands, holding them.
"Yeah, please." Ranveer hardly noticed her as she came in, placing the design on his table. Looking at the design, he realized and looked at her, awkwardly.
"Er, thank you. You may go now. And, are you being allotted with any division?"
"No, sir. I'm a trainee. I have not yet been allotted any." she said, with an instant.
"Okay" he said as though hearing it for the first time. Smiling, he continued, "Fine then, I'll get back to you after looking it over."
"Thank you, sir." Ishani turned back to leave his cabin when he stopped her "Ishani!"
"Yes, sir?" she asked him, again.
"Sit down" he gestured her to, looking at the chair.
"Are you sure, sir?" she asked, confused.
"Oh Ishani! It's not your boss, RV. Sit down" he clarified as she smiled beamingly and whispered "How did the meeting go?"
"It was awesome, Ishani! We are teaming up with their company now, for a restaurant!" he said, elated.
"That's great news, Ranveer!" she chuckled.
"I know and it is Paris, going by your choice" he said, now lovingly as she looked at him, "What happened to you, Ranveer? "
"Me? What happened?"
"I mean, do you have mood swings? Like, you sound depressed for a moment and smile the very next minute! You are a complex riddle, Ranveer." she admitted.
"Well, is that it? I don't know. But I am one such guy, Ishani. Get used to it."
"Okay. Now tell me, why did you have to ask me for the location of the restaurant?"
"I told you, I ask her for every single decision I take and it is always her decision in the end." Ranveer said, throwing a few more puzzles on her face. He always loved to pull her leg by flinging out puzzles.
"Don't throw random riddles, Ranveer!"
"Where am I throwing? It's something clear Ishani! I ask her for my every single decision and it is you!"
"What? What do you mean?" she looked at him curious.
"Well, nothing."
Done. Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos. :D