Chapter-7
"Ranveer! Are you ready? We must have left already!" he heard Ishani squeak at the top of her voice as he tried his tie for the seventh time the same evening. It was Sunday, finally. Getting ready for the party, he tried his tie hoping that some magic will happen at least that time.
"Coming Ishani!" he answered, trying for the eighth time now when his phone beeped. Petrified, he picked up the phone saying a lame hello.
"Sir, its almost time. Aren't you coming, sir? Caught up somewhere?" his personal assistant asked him concerned as he replied "Nah. I'll be there on time. Give me another half an hour." Keeping the phone aside, he came back to his main job for the evening: Tying a tie. He never wears coat-suits with a tie unless there was something really important. The last time he tied a tie was on a similar contract which was a year back.
"Where did I keep the paper?" he searched the drawers as he heard a knock at his door.
"Ranveer!" her voice was seemingly irked, assumed by him, "Boy, it's almost time for the evening!"
"Give me another fifteen minutes Ishani, I'll be there." Ranveer said, tired of tying it. He sat down on the bedstead, heaving out as he heard her "May I come in? I want to see your attire. What have you done for the past two hours? Even I got ready, chap."
Dejected, he got up uncomfortably and opened the door, reluctantly seeing her. She glared at him reprimanding as he saw her awestruck. Snapping her fingers at him, she adjusted her hip long tresses saying "What have you planned to do?"
"Uh? Well, I was just getting ready, Ishani." Ranveer said, ashamed of him as she rebuked him for being late every time.
"Ranveer, I'm warning you for the umpteenth time! We are late!" she screamed and shook at a still Ranveer who was still gazing her top to bottom.
"What are you looking at me, Ranveer? I asked you something!"
"Well, I was tying the tie." Ranveer said, showing her the tangled tie. It was an oxidized silver coloured tie which complimented his black suit.
"What?" she exclaimed, "Were you doing this for the past so many minutes, Mr. RV? I am surprised, if you wanted me to be so." Ishani said, folding her hands in surprise.
"Well, I don't get the hang of it, Ishani. I tried it so many times." he exhaled as she came inside the room. That was the first time she entered his room without his permission.
"Well, sit down." Ishani gazed at the settee, asking him to sit.
"Why?" he asked, involuntarily.
"You are lanky for me and I cannot stand with my toes, you see" Ishani said, her static lips turned back to a curve again as he saw her confused, Sitting down as per her command, he looked at her and asked "Done. What next?"
"Good. Give me the tie." Ishani said, as Ranveer gazed at her, his eyes transfixed at hers. Never has anyone taken so much of liberty over him. And he liked her taking that liberty from him. He gave her the tie, silently watching her like a weeny pup.
"Ranveer, this is very simple. Okay?" she said, untangling the tie as he listened back to her, nodding his head in understanding.
"The wide end of the tie should be hanging on the right, and the narrow end on the left. Adjust the tie so that the wider end is a few centimetres lengthier than the narrow end." Ishani said, making the tie for him.
"Cross the wide end under the narrow end. Bring the wide end over the loop around the neck. Pull the wide end under to complete the loop around the neck. Tighten. Bring the wide end over the narrow end, from left to right. Pull the wide end up through the loop. Bring the wide end down all the way through the knot in the front. Shape the knot into a triangle shape and pull on the narrow end to fasten the tie along the collar." She sighed out, completing the tie for him.
"Do you get..." she started. Placing his index finger over her lips, he said "You look gorgeous today, Ishani. Simply gorgeous!"
Slapping him on his shoulders lightly, she said "Don't distract me!" as her cheeks turned to the lightest shade of pink.
"Okay...and" he smiled, "Thanks for the help."
"Uh Huh! No thanks, Ranveer. Need any other help?" she winked as he said reluctant, "Well, not anything as of now."
"Okay! Do you know to tie the shoe lace?" she smirked at him as he said "Well, I learnt it after a long struggle, though. I am fine with the laces" he chuckled as he gave his hand to her and continued "Shall we?"
She smiled at him and gave back her hand as they left for the evening party.
"Welcome, sir!" the staff welcomed him as Ishani reluctantly let go off her hand from him, smiling diplomatically as he saw her, in question.
"Evening, sir." Ishani reminded him of what she was to the world as he smiled back, not so happily.
He smiled back at the rest of the employees as they proceeded to the centre of the stage, to the announcer's desk.
"Aren't they arrived yet?" Ranveer asked when his assistant answered him saying, "Sir, they are almost here. They'll be here by another few minutes."
Looking at the decorations which had beautiful wiring of colourful lights, he smiled contented as he noticed the dignitaries for the evening arrive in style. Smiling heartily, he walked forward swiftly as everyone in the hotel welcomed Mr. Dawson and his three staff members who accompanied him.
"Welcome, Mr. Dawson." Ranveer exclaimed and gave him a strong, confident hand to him as they smiled, in mutual understanding.
"Thank you, Mr. RV." Dawson replied back as they took their seats on the dais.
As the proceedings began, the speaker introduced both the companies and their reputations in the French society of how both the companies are right to be co-allied with each other.
"Mr. Dawson's company has always been known for its hospitality. With around two decades of sheer experience, the company has grown to be in one of the most important sectors of the hospitality sector. We, at the Oakley's are happy to be collaborated with their company. It is an honour for our company." Ranveer let out his speech as everyone applauded and appreciated them for the same.
"I hereby declare our new project: A Restaurant in Paris. The name will be decided shortly." he said, proudly as everyone stood up for the ceremony. As they clapped, the bond papers were signed by both the companies and greeted each other, congratulating themselves as Ishani saw the proceedings in glee.
"He looks really happy today. Guess he's in a good mood today. Sigh, yet his mood swings are scary. Hope everything's fine with him. His happiness and smile is all I need." Ishani thought when Ranveer snapped his fingers at her, showing the glass to her.
"Ranveer! Why do you drink so much? It's not good for health." Ishani presaged him, lovingly.
"Ishani, I rarely drink. I love its whiff, though." he sipped again, having some more of the strong whiskey.
"Oh My! Don't say that. I just saw you drinking three days before. Don't lie unnecessarily." Ishani hit him mockingly as he smiled at her saying "I drink only for two reasons: One, if I were sad, or if I am happy."
"Ha! That wasn't a nice one if you tell that to be a good joke." Ishani cocked her eyebrows and continued, "Well, then you drink every time, right?"
"Well, not exactly. I was really sad the other day. So I took the bottle. Now that I am happy, I wanted to have some."
"Throw it away! Now!" Ishani said, as Ranveer looked at her saying, "Don't you drink?"
"I do. But I am not one like you, Mr. Ranveer!" she mocked at him as she continued "Well then, I have to take back those lights. So, excuse me."
She left the place arrogantly as he saw himself in disgust.
"Well, I shouldn't have spoken too much. I should be away from pegs and bottles." Ranveer sighed and went ahead for checking on the dinner area as he accidently noticed a loose wire hanging from the top. Noticing that she was going to touch them, he screamed, "Ishani!" and ran to save her when she noticed him, frantic.
He pulled her back towards him as they fell down on the floor, she over him. Both of them saw each other in shock and fear as everyone's notice turned towards them. Both came in contact with each other for the first time physically though they had hugged twice, before.
"Ish...Ishani? Are you okay?" he caressed her cheeks as hot tears rolled down from his eyes. She was able to smell the slight whiskey from his mouth when she replied "Ranveer...are you okay? I was fine, already."
"No, Ishani. Look at the wiring! One is hanging out uselessly. What if something had happened to you? Where will I go?" he said frantically, the flashes of the last few seconds popping up, again.
"Ranveer!" she said loudly as he caught hold of his cheeks, "calm down, okay? Just stay calm. I am sorry I did not notice it. I am sorry that I made you scare away. But, I am fine. Do you see it? I am here, opposite to you." The heart beats of theirs paced rightly with rhythm when she smiled back, again.
He caressed her back and hugged her tightly saying "Don't leave me alone, Ishani. I can...cannot take that. You promised me that you'll not leave me. Remember?" She felt the boiling droplets on her fair skin when she replied back "I am not going anywhere. Stop being a baby."
All he did was to cry again.
"Er, well Ranveer?" she said when he whimpered, sniffing.
"If you don't mind, can you let go off me? Just for some more time? Everyone is seeing us and it's kinda awkward." Ishani said, breaking from the hug though she was still above him, her soft body in touch with his masculine, muscled one.
"Huh?" he looked at the surroundings and let go off her, ruffling his hair embarrassed when she smiled back at him.
"Sorry" he said, reluctant as everyone carried on with their work when Ishani got up and gave her hand to him.
"C'mon!" he gave his hand and got up when she said, "Do you know something Ranveer?"
"What?" he asked, nervously.
"I love children when crying and you are one child." Ishani said, smiling and continued with her work for the night.
Done :D Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D