*Usha Pov*
I started checking our presentation for today’s meeting. It has been already lunch time, and I want Mr.Raj to check it before we use it in the meeting.
“Finally!” I said at the end page of the presentation.
“Yeah, finally! Now will you go and have some lunch?” I heard Pallavi asking standing at the door.
“I am not hungry at all. This is my first presentation, and I just hope this will do good.” I replied looking at my system.
“Ok, I will go and present this to Mr.Raj so that he will check for any mistakes.” I added and got up with the pendrive.
I knocked on his cabin and entered to see him working seriously on something. He looked up when I placed the pen drive on his table.
“Sir! The presentation is on this drive. Will you check it for me please?” I asked him smiling.
“Ok! I will just correct the mistakes, but I will not adjust it. This is your first one so you need to experience how it is going to work out there. Is it ok?” he asked taking the drive.
“Sure sir!” I replied and left his cabin.
“I need coffee and that too right now.” I mumbled to myself and left the office to reach the café.
I don’t know why but the whole café is very busy, so I chose some corner table where one chair is already occupied by some guy. But I didn’t watch his face as it is covered by some newspaper.
“Your regular Maam?” the same boy to whom I am ordering everyday asked.
“Yeah! But little stronger please.” I replied and started checking for any messages from Deepu.
“Are you following me or something? Because if you are doing, then I am not at all happy about this.” I heard the voice which feels like most annoying one at present.
I groaned and looked up saying, “As if I am jumping up and down with the idea of following you.”
“You don’t have to hide it. I know I am handsome.” He said smirking.
“Sorry to burst your bubble Mr…Mr... Mr.Whatever. I already saw the most handsome man already, and you are nowhere near him. So please come out of your presumptions.” I said smirking back.
He looked annoyed and kept quiet for a few seconds. I thought today’s dose is over, but seems like it isn’t. Because he again opened his mouth saying, “I know! You are talking about your boss right.”
I looked at him in shock. What? How does he know that?
“Is there any problem with that?” I asked him irritated.
Seems like he got what he wanted because he got up and said, “Nope! But what will happen if he gets to know about your little crush?”
With that he paid his bill and left me alone fuming. This guy is really a torture. I shook my head and left the café after paying my bill, but didn’t have any coffee.
“Usha! We need to go.” Mr.Raj said in the evening.
“How is my presentation, sir?” I asked him when we got inside his car.
“It is good! I know it is your first presentation, but still you did good work.” He replied smiling.
I nodded smiling back and in a few minutes, we reached Sharma Industries. I looked at it in confusion.
“Did they choose their own company as a venue for the meeting?” I asked him confused.
“Yeah! Smart fellows.” He replied parking his car.
“Why, Sir?” I asked him more confused.
“Now the client will know how they work and everything. It is a double impression. We would have done the same, but the client chose to say about his work to this company first so these became the deciders of the venue.” He explained calmly when we reached the meeting room.
“There is so much going in this world more than we can see from outside.” I said shaking my head.
“That’s what you will feel for a few months and after that you will feel like you are part of this world.” He said when we entered the meeting room.
Our client is already there and two other people. Those three are talking to each other but looks like not about business.
“They are the third company which is involved in this meeting. Mr.Sharma is still not here.” Mr.Raj explained to me.
We both sat beside those two, and the lady in them smiled at me introducing herself. I introduced myself back.
Then we saw a girl entering the meeting room. She is quite beautiful and has that professional aura around her. She didn’t look at anyone of us except the client.
“She is Mr.Sharma’s P.A Ms.Shruthi. She is very good at this.” The lady beside me said.
“Yeah! Looks like that only.” I said and thought when I will reach that stage in this profession.
“She is on and off girlfriend of Mr.Sharma.” The lady mumbled beside me.
“What do you mean?” I asked her confused.
“When Mr.Sharma breaks up with any of his past four girlfriends then these will get together. From two years, we are seeing the same.” She replied.
“How do you know all this?” I asked her shocked.
“Gossip! It travels faster than a fire.” She replied shrugging.
I nodded and then felt my mobile vibrating. I looked at it to see mom calling me. I cut the call and felt it ringing again.
Mr.Raj saw this and said, “Go outside and take it. It must be important.”
I nodded and went outside lifting the phone saying, “Hello, Mom?”
“Usha! I am very angry at your dad, so I am not going to cook anything today.” She replied.
“Ok, Mom.” I said sighing.
“I already ordered pizza and ate it. You can bring anything you want while coming to home.” She said.
“Ok, bye.” I said trying to hang up.
“Your dad is really starting to kill me with all these quarrels.” she said, and I know this is not the end of her complaint.
“Mom! I am in a meeting, so I will talk to you when I come back.” I said and hung up the phone.
I rubbed my temple and started opening the doors at the same time another person opened it forcefully from beside me.
“What the…” I started to say, but stopped looking at the person.
He too looked very shocked seeing me. I closed my mouth and then opened it saying, “You!”
Nonetheless, he too said that at the same time. “What are you…” we both started to say it at the same time and stopped together.
“Abhay! What are you doing there? You are already late.” Ms.Shruthi said coming near us. Oh! So he is Mr.Sharma.
Then she saw me and said, “Designer shirt?”
I looked at him with a very strong glare, and he glared at her. I huffed and went inside to sit at my place.
I don’t know why it happened, but seems like his seat is in front of me. I looked at him wearing his sunglasses and smirked.
He looked at me confused, and I slowly mumbled “Ugly sunglasses.”
I think he heard that because he immediately removed the glasses and put them on the table.
“Mr.Sharma! When did you start not wearing your glasses in the meetings?” the lady beside me asked him shocked.
“Just now!” he mumbled, making me clear my throat so that I cannot laugh.
He glared at me and then said, “Let’s have some coffee.”
When the office boy placed the coffee at his side and started placing at my side, he mumbled “Designer shirt!”
I looked at him confused and then saw the cup in his hand. I looked down to find that I am wearing a white shirt. I glared at him with all the effort I can.
“Can I have some cold water?” I asked the office boy when he is placing the coffee.
He nodded and returned with one glass of cold water. I took it in my hands and spin it a little in my hands.
His expression was worth watching, and he immediately placed the cup on the table. I smirked and drank some water.
Then the meeting started with the lady beside me, and she was good. And then it was just my turn, which made me remember my nervousness.
But I took a deep breath and went in front of them to start my very first presentation.
*Abhay Pov*
I never thought that the designer shirt got the job at Raj industries. She must be more than nice to get a job there.
Now she looks like she wants to look anywhere but here. Nonetheless, then she took a deep breath and started her presentation.
By the time, she was finished, she was really good with all the material she gathered. It will really be a surprise to know that this is her first one.
After her Shruthi went and gave her best as usual. At the end of the meeting, we got the contract. They all clapped for us, and everyone came near me to congratulate us.
“I am so sorry, sir! I couldn’t do the good presentation.” I heard her saying to Raj.
“Usha! You did your best. Like I already told you this is your first one, and I just want you to get the experience how it works out here. And don’t forget one thing failure always makes you humble.” Raj said with a lot of patience and moved forward to talk to our client.
That’s what makes me want to overtake him as soon as possible. I mean he is like perfect in everything. He doesn’t even have a little disappointment that he lost a client.
I looked at her to see a big dreamy look on her face when she was looking at him. I went near her and cleared her throat.
She turned and looked straight at me in confusion. I gestured towards the client and said, “We got the client so will you not congratulate us?”
“Oh! Congratulations Mr.Sharma.” she said and turned to packing her things.
“So you are actually talking about Raj right? What will he say if he knows what you feel about him?” I asked her smirking and she immediately stopped whatever she is doing.
She turned towards me with a confused expression and asked, “Are you blackmailing me?”
“Nope! But just asking you what will happen.” I replied shrugging.
For a few seconds, she just looked at me and then walked towards Raj with a determined look and said, “Excuse me, sir?”
“Yes!” he said turning around and then we saw that client already left along with the third company.
“I think you are quite handsome man sir, and you are like the perfect person. Is that a wrong thing to think like that sir?” she asked him daringly.
Shruthi and I looked at her in shock. I mean she looks like she is newly employed, but she just told him all this directly. I never said that I would actually tell him.
To our surprise, he chuckled and said, “Not at all, Usha. I think you are a beautiful girl as well.”
With that, he left the room when she informed him that she will go to her home on her own. She turned towards us with a big grin and rushed towards us.
I thought she was going to slap me, but she again shocked me by hugging me tightly. I just stood there in a still position.
Leaving me, but still holding my shoulders, she said, “Thank you so much! If you didn’t say those words, then I wouldn’t have dared to talk to him like that.”
Saying that she again hugged me tightly, and then I hugged her back. When I did that I think she understands what she is doing because she suddenly left me and said, “I… I am sorry.”
With that she packed her things and left the room. I looked at the closed door in shock until Shruthi slapped me on my shoulder.
“Ow! She hugged me.” I said smiling.
“Yeah! She hugged you because some other person called her beautiful. That is so awesome moment.” she said, and I can hear the sarcasm in her words.
“I know that you must be feeling jealous right. That a beautiful girl hugged me and that too in front of you.” I said smirking.
“Oh please! Shall we go now?” she asked, holding her bag. I laughed at her but nodded, and we both left the office.
*Usha Pov* How stupid can I be? I thought looking at the mirror. I just hugged that rude person I mean Mr.Sharma, but I have another name in my mind, which suits him better than all these. Ok, Usha! Just shut up and focus on scolding yourself. I nodded and said, “Why did you hug him? Are you crazy? I mean, who hugs the other person when someone else gave you a compliment.” That would be you Usha! I heard someone saying in my mind. “This scolding is completely a waste of time.” I mumbled to myself and left the washroom. “Usha! Your breakfast is getting cold.” Mom shouted from downstairs. “She is just upstairs and not in another city. So you can reduce your tone.” Dad shouted back at her. I rushed towards the kitchen so that I can keep them from going through another quarrel. But it seems like I am already late looking at both who are standing in front of each other. “Sometimes you are such a hypocrite I tell you.” Mom said shaking her head. “Not more than you Mrs.Mehta.” Dad s
*Usha Pov* “Usha! Have your breakfast.” Mom called me when I started moving towards the door. “I am not hungry Mom.” I said, looking at her. “You didn’t even have dinner last night. So please for me have it.” she said smiling. I nodded and sat with them. After finishing I cleared my throat and said, “I am sorry about my shouting yesterday.” “Forget it, dear! We have a good news for you. We are going to search for some best matches for you.” Dad said smiling. “Actually, we already searched some matches for you.” Mom said smiling. “Mrs.Mehta! Those are bad for my daughter. I have some other perfect matches for her.” Dad said. “I am her mom and I know whom she will like. So I am going to select them.” Mom said and with that they both started fighting again. “I don’t think I want to get married now.” I shouted looking at them. “What? But last year, you told us that you want to get married that too arrange marriage.” He said in shock. “Exactly! I said those words last year, but
*Usha Pov* Next day, started as usual with their normal fighting’s and they didn’t even utter a single word about my marriage. Maybe they will forget about my marriage if I stay away from them and let them fight as much as they want. That’s what I decided and left the house feeling a little upset still about the way they talked about my marriage to some stranger. I reached the café to see Abhay sipping his coffee with a big frown on his face. I reached the table and sat in front of me. He didn’t acknowledge me at all. “What happened? Is your company in debts or something?” I asked him, snapping my fingers. “My company is more than fine than me.” he replied still not looking at me. “Ok then I will go and ask Mr.Raj for a date.” I said picking my bag. “What? Then what about me?” he asked holding my hand. “So you finally decided to look at me?” I asked back smirking and ordered some coffee. “Usha! My parents are behind me about my marriage. I don’t know what to do.” He replied.
*Usha Pov* I think I am about to faint, so I sat on the couch and took a few deep breaths. I put a very sweet smile on my face and looked up at them. “Mom! My answer is still ‘No’.” I said sweetly. “We will not hear your answer until you meet him. Tomorrow you can decide clearly after meeting him.” Mom said even more sweetly. “Ok! I will reject him when I meet him then.” I said getting up. “We even need the reason for your rejection.” Dad said making me flop on the couch. “But that’s unfair. This is my first proposal and you guys are acting like if I don’t get settled with this, then I will never get married in my life.” I said glaring at both. “That’s because this is the best proposal.” Dad said with a hard expression. “Maybe not best for me.” I said shrugging. “Usha! His father is our college best friend. We got together with him after so many years and that too for your proposal.” He said and I actually don’t understand what he is trying to tell me. “So?” I asked him conf
*Usha Pov* After the marriage date is fixed everyone started discussing what they are going to do except us. I looked at the corner of the room to see him leaning on the wall, but his gaze is on me. I sighed and turned to see Deepu rushing towards me excitingly. She turned towards Abhay and said, “Jiju! Come here, please.” We both looked straight at her shocked. Jiju! Seriously Deepu? He reluctantly walked towards us and stood beside me. “I actually thought you were going to be mad at me, but I am happy that you are not.” Deepu said smiling. “Why would I be mad at you?” I asked her confused. “I told you one month back right, I got a proposal, and he rejected me. Well, that person is none other than Jiju.” She replied. “What?” we both asked her shocked. “What Jiju? Didn’t you see my picture?” She asked him confused. “Uhmm... I didn’t even know your name. I just know your age when I got your proposal.” he replied rubbing his neck. “Oh! So this is your general forte then. Rejec
*Usha Pov* “Usha! Are you ready?” I heard Deepu asking me entering the allotted room. “No! I am not ready.” I replied, placing my head on the mirror. “I know! It must be the nerves right. Mom said that it happens for every bride.” She said holding my shoulders. I snorted and just wanted to shout that ‘No! These are not at all the nerves.’. But I didn't, and the reason for that is out of my mind. This one week passed like a one day. The same-day Mom, Deepu and her mom reached the house and started all the preparations. I waited for him to at least call me or at least cancel it if he is so unhappy with this idea just like me. But am I? Why am I even having this question? As it is in the village, all the rituals are conducted at separate places because of which I didn’t see him again. Is he going to elope? Or should I just elope? Then I felt someone shaking me, and I came out of my thoughts to see Deepu looking at me worriedly. “I am fine! So let’s just go.” I said and started w
*Abhay Pov* When I heard Raj’s voice I glared at the poor window in front of me. Then I heard her rambling continuously so I turned around to see her face with a frown, and she is rambling so cutely. I couldn’t help but laugh clutching my stomach. Then I heard him saying that he is going to miss her, and she laughed at him. Then she continued smiling at the mobile. She didn’t smile at me during the whole wedding, but now she is smiling for him. I turned around and hit the wall in front of me with my foot, making me shout with the pain. “What happened?” She asked, coming near me when I bend to hold my feet. “Nothing!” I replied groaning because my feet are throbbing badly. “What nothing? Just come and sit down.” She said and pulled me towards the couch holding my shirt with her fingers. When I sat down, she took the ice from the ice bucket on the table containing champagne and placed it on my feet. “Oh, God!” I said, closing my eyes. “Is it hurting?” she asked worriedly. “Yea
*Usha Pov* “Wake up!” I heard him, saying in my ear. “If you say that word again, I am going to run away from you.” I threatened him mumbling on his chest. “Where are you planning to? Just let me know I will come with you too.” He said hugging me tightly. “No way! I am getting bored by watching your face for these five days.” I said snuggling closer to him. “That’s why I am asking you to get up so that we can see some other persons face other than each other.” He said but not at all loosening his hold on me. “What are you saying? I saw other peoples’ faces in these five days.” I said, looking at him in shock. “Oh yeah! Who are they?” he asked smiling. “The people who are bringing our orders to our room. Did you forget that you too saw them?” I asked him again to lay my head on his chest. “You know what I am talking about right.” He asked, holding my one hand in his and kissed the knuckles. “I am a lazy person Abhay. Just deal with it.” I said yawning. “Why are you lying to