chapter 12

SerendipityEpisode-12After finally dropping everyone off at the airport for the 8 am - Mumbai - Dehradun flight, Megha had just entered the office when her two senior consultants, Siddharth and Aditya, burst into the room in a whirlwind, arguing vigorously.“Megha Ma’am!! Please tell us which of these two approaches is correct” said Aaditya.This was not a new occurrence. The door of Megha’s cabin was always open for everyone in the office. No one was forced to knock first because she had not made any such rules.If you have any problem, a discussion will surely provide a different viewpoint and a better understand. Important matters should always be discussed. You are always welcome here. That’s why the door of this cabin is always open. She had said to them on their first days in her team.The door was locked only if she was in an important conference call with someone and so , through this open door, her team members would often come and go. Her cabin was almost always filled with discussions about project management, arguments over whose approach was better, requests to learn something new and demands for further work. She used to welcome everyone with a bright, warm smile.Even today, Siddharth and Aditya had burst into her cabin with a similar argument. What a way to start the day off with a bang ! Without even acknowledging the fact that Megha ma’am was sitting in front of them, they continued arguing.After listening to it for a minute she shouted at both of them, “Enough, both of you! This is not a fish market , this is my cabin! Calm down.”“Only one person will speak at a time. If you don’t want a solution and want to continue merely arguing with each other, then please get out.” The spirit of a teacher suddenly awakened in her.Both of them quietened down and explained their points to each other turn by turn. Megha showed them how to calculate the cost saving for the current project. She remembered a similar case from three years back and opening her laptop, showed them the reports , explaining them in detail for a better understanding.This was her favourite aspect of her profession - mentoring the junior staff to prepare them for new projects and new challenges and she always fulfilled this role with pleasure. Everyone conclusively agreed that Aditya approach was correct and peace was restored, yet again.*@*@*@*@*“Megha ma’am is absolutely right yaar … how does she make everything so simple …. I don’t even feel as if we’re doing complicated calculations” Aditya said, chatting with his colleagues during the coffee break.“No , she has a very strict nature. She is way too strict. Last time she make me redo the XL sheet working in the report five times because there were ‘too many mistakes’ “ Mrinal countered, annoyance evident in her tone.“Then learn to do it right in the first go…. She is a perfectionist and completes everything faultlessly. She also has such a wonderful and knowledgeable personality… We have so much to learn for her” Siddharth echoed Aditya’s point of view.“Well, it must be because you both are her favourites!! She always targets me … Last Saturday, she asked me to make an entire presentation from scratch … my whole holiday was wasted … Merciless Megha ma’am… Ruthless !!! “ Mrinal’s complaints continued.“Firstly , we are not her ‘favourites’ , we have also been shouted at a lot by her but scolding us where we’re wrong isn’t bad… what’s right is right and what’s wrong is simply wrong” Siddharth advocated for Megha again, clearly presenting her side.“And secondly, what do you mean you were working alone on the presentation over the weekend? Didn’t Megha ma’am guide you from home?” Siddharth continued , knowing what Megha ma’am was like.“Yes , she was helping me from home … she was also working online until the presentation was completed.” Mrinal admitted hesitantly.“See… that’s Megha ma’am. She never leaves anyone to struggle on their own… she constantly helps and explains whatever we don’t understand.” Siddharth’s praises kept going on and on .“ Are yaar, she is such a sweet person .. so well- natured … and that beautiful , cute smile “ Aditya said in a reverie.“Adi … what is this sweet nature of Megha ma’am? Hmmm !!! Don’t forget that she is your boss!!” Mrinal teased him and everyone started laughing.*@*@*@*@*“Why are we here , Purab?” Megha asked him while driving the car directly through the entrance of Star Sahara Hotel, leaving the office as if he was leaving his home.“The presentation is here.” His usual sarcastic response.“Presentation? At 9:30 in the night?” She narrowed her eyes.“Normal people come to the restaurant at 9:30 for dinner” He said , getting out of the car and handing over the car Katy to the valet parking staff.“Ohhh normal people !! Normal people are supposed to plan first and then come to the restaurant …. we did not plan anything like that…. So again , why are we here?” Her questions knew no end.“You know, normal girls jump up in excitement and get ready when guys say let’s go to a restaurant … but this poor Purab has a long - term girlfriend who raises her eyebrows and glares at me when I say let’s go to a restaurant …. and doesn’t allow anything like that to be planned … so, surprise,” He explained , crossing the main lobby of the hotel with a smiling Megha.‘Yes, I can’t deny that what he says is true … if he had asked me to come for dinner in this five star hotel beforehand, I would have definitely refused ….It’s too difficult to actually relax in the sophisticated atmosphere of such restaurants … Looking at the plethora of options on show at the buffet , I don’t really know what to eat first …. More the options , more the confusion … but now that we are already here , I suppose there’s no choice’These thoughts swirled around in her mind as they both sat on the corner table. “But what is the purpose of this surprise? Neither is it your birthday nor is it mine …. we still haven’t got the Sehgal contract , so we can’t celebrate that either …. so , what’s the special occasion?” She tired to recall if today’s date was associated with any important event.“Madam , have you forgotten that you got the VP of the year award? We haven’t celebrated that yet, remember ?” He reminded her.“Ohhhh! Well , if you wanted a party from me , you should have just told me so!” She joked, a bright smile dancing on her lips.“Oh well !! This is my treat … for managing to actually miss an award ceremony … a surprise celebration for the best VP madam from my side ….. and there comes our favourite chaat platter,”He said as a big plate was placed in front of them with all with a variety of chaat delicacies from Shevpuri and Panipuri.“Ohh, but if you just wanted to eat chaat..” She was just about to finish her sentence when Purab cut her short.“Megha !!! Keep quiet yaar … otherwise now I’m sure you will say that if you just wanted to eat chaat , we could have just gone to Juhu Chowpatty,” He imitated her.Both filled their favourite dish , Panipuri, hit them against each another saying ‘cheers’ and savoured it slowly.“See, because of you I have to make a cheers with Panipuri” he said , filling  another puri.“This is better than any other cheers. If you want to have drinks with your friends, then you’re free to do it … I don’t have a say in it … but when you are with me , no drinks allowed”She replied , eating another pani puri. He followed Meghan’s rule strictly and she appreciated it.Even after finish the gigantic plate of chaat, Purab was still quite hungry and after inspecting the entire buffet , he brought back a plate filled with two- three types of sabzi roti and sweets and sat down in front of her.“Areee, are you just going to sit like this? Don’t you want to eat anything from the main course? Then later you spoil my name by telling others that I just gave you a chaat party!” He teased her.“Areee! I’m too full to eat anything right now!” She complained.“Aree, you idiot! Atleast , go eat dal and rice … otherwise , later, you will be hungry at night and Radha tai is not a home to make it for you … oh but he eat , have they all reached Mussoorie?” He asked.“Yes , Baba’s call had come a while back …. I’m sure they’re tired from the long journey … everyone would be sleeping by now …. and for your information , I can cook food. Haw many times have you eaten my food , huh? Oh that’s right , countless times. So , what if Radha tai isn’t there ?” She retorted , getting up in anger to go to the buffet.‘I’m not very hungry , what should I eat ? Pulao and dal will be enough … if I eat more , my stomach might just explode!’Thinking this , she picked up a plate and counted two - three spoonfuls of pulao putting them on her plate to make sure she didn’t go overboard.Then , she came and stood in front of the dal - counter.‘Dal makhani … Dal tadka … Dal panchamel .. which one is better ? Why would they give three different options?It’s just dal … Our Dal-rice, ghee and lemon combo is much better’ “Which one should I take?” She muttered to herself.“Confused!!! Try Daal Panchamel .. It’s tasty” Someone’s voice reached her ears, obviously aimed at her… it was a serious and slightly heavy voice accompanied with a tinge of sarcasm and humour.‘Why does this voice sound familiar’ she quickly turned again to come face-to-face with the one person she thought she would most probably never see again …shocked to see him, the spoon slipped from her hand and fell on the floor with a loud clang.For a moment, it was as if the world stopped and unable to process that he was actually standing in front of her , she debated whether she should pick the spoon from the floor or not.‘Should I bend to pick up the spoon … should I leave the plate aside … oh god , I must run away from here’ She thought.“Sorry !!! I didn’t mean to startle you … I did not think you would be this upset to see me again”He bent down with an aloof expression and picked up the fallen spoon, keeping it aside.Bringing a new spoon, he placed it in her plate. Watching him casually walk around , she wondered if this was all a dream.“Oh and by the way , you must try Dal Panchamel”Saying this, Rajeev Mehra took his own plate and went to his own table, a mischievous smile fixed on his face, leaving her in a wondrous haze.To be continued....© ®️ Meghna_Yadav 2021Special Thanks to friend Gayatri and my loving daughter, my buddy.Hello Readers,Illuminate the five stars of ratings with your gentle touch. Do let me know your thoughts via comments..Thanks and Regards,Meghana Yadav...