chapter 13

SerendipityEpisode-13‘How can Rajeev be here?? Megha , you idiot , this is a restaurant, anyone can come here … oh of course !!! He must have come to have dinner with someone. How long was I even standing there while making a choice?Was he waiting behind me? Did I stand by the daal section for a long time? Did he also want to eat dal? Was I standing in his way? But what was the need to stand behind me and talk instead of just merely talking face - to - face? What a great shock it was for me!! …. But why did I hesitate?Why do I always act like a crazy person?’ On that day , she had bumped into him both knowingly and unknowingly to some extent and today , suddenly seeing him standing there had caused the spoon in her hand to fall down .. ‘He must be wondering what a chaotic fool I am !’ Without paying much heed to the variety of the daal that was displayed in front of her, she mindlessly took two or three spoonfull, her mind still lost in the swirling thoughts. Sitting down on the table , she picked up a glass of water which refreshed and calmed her perturbed state of mind.“What is this!! Did you go around the buffet for so long just to bring Dal and Pulao? But, yaar, the Dal - Panchamel here is especially tasty.” Purab glanced at her plate as she sat down.She quickly turned towards her own plate. Unknowingly, see had taken the Dal Panchamel which Rajeev had recommended , his worlds ringing clearly in her ears ,”You must taste it.” Taking a deep breath, she tightly closed her eyes.  “Oh god!” Her heart echoed.Mixing the dal with rice , she took a small mouthful in a spoon. Unbeknownst to herself , she uttered “Wow” as she savoured the delicious taste of the Dal Panchamel , thinking ‘Yes, it is tasty after all’.Her eyes glanced at all the tables and chair. ‘Where is Rajeev sitting’ She thought.‘He’s not sitting around us , right?’ She turned back and inspected some of the tables behind them but he was nowhere to be found.‘Thank god !! There is no place anywhere near us. Otherwise he would have overheard our silly Panipuri cheers and nonsensical loud chats.’ “Megha , what is this ?? Who are you looking for?” Purab asked looking intently at her eyes.Shocked for a moment, she uttered ,”No, no one” directing her focus towards her plate but her eyes soon found their way diverted towards the front.She saw Rajeev sitting on the farthest table of the spacious restaurant. While gazing at him for a moment , she suddenly felt him looking back at her. Quickly turning her eyes towards her plate, she toyed with her food for a few seconds.After some time , she looked at him again …. He was with someone.She slowly finished her meal thinking,‘A woman wearing a chiffon maxi dress is seated with him .. she must be his wife .. or perhaps just a colleague… God , leave it, why does this even matter to me?’She even felt Rajeev looking towards them once in a while. She tried smiling and chatting freely with Purab but his occasional gaze directed in her direction made it seemingly difficult …She was uncomfortable just sitting there … Purab was still slowly relishing his dessert … She tried to focus on her mobile phone , but failing miserably , she finally picked up her purse and told Purab ,“Purab , I’ll be back in a minute” and went towards the restroom.*@*@*@*@*“Rajeev !!! Where is your attention?” Shweta said , snapping her fingers in front of his eyes in an attempt to catch his attention.“Why? What happened? I’m listening … keep speaking,” Rajeev turned his gaze from Megha’s table back to Shweta..“Listening? Are you sure? Your attention is somewhere ahead,” Shweta turned back … wondering what exactly Rajeev was looking at so keenly.“Are you done? … Are you going to have dessert?” He asked casually , seeing Megha get up from her table and walk towards the restroom.“My diet plan has already been butchered by this dinner and now you are asking for desert?” She replied with a small smile.“Okay …. Then , should we leave? … It’s late and I still have to attend a call with Mr. Singhal from he New York office at 12 o’clock” He got up after paying the bill.“At 12 o’clock in the night?? Are you going to sleep today or not? God , you are such a night owl !!!” She laughed loudly…After one final glance at Megha’s table , Rajeev left the restaurant, walking towards the main lobby.Megha lingered in the restroom for a long time… She immediately washed her face, fixing her hair which already looked perfect, thinking, “I should spend as much time as I can here .. It’s better if Rajeev is gone by the time I come out.” ‘For the first time today, I saw Rajeev walking around without a blazer…. the sleeves of his sky-blue shirt were folded upto the elbows…It’s probably because he was in a restaurant… Otherwise , the Supreme CFO could never go out without a blazer …. He wasn’t even wearing a tie …. Must have kept it aside …Blue colour suits him… his yellow - brown eyes seemed unnaturally tired today …. Maybe there were too many meeting …. If you sit in front of the laptop the whole day, it’s bound to happen …. Does he wear glasses?? … God , leave it!!! Why do I even care ??’She came out after a long time and unknowingly looked at Rajeev table , somewhat shocked to see it empty.After Purab had finally finished his dessert , the payment was made…“Let’s go , Purab … I want to work on the Sehgal report once I get home.” said Megha , reaching the table …“Madam !! Go home and sleep …. Don’t work so much otherwise Dad will scold me” Purab jokingly scoffed and walked to wards the main lobby. While waiting for the car to arrive from valet parking, Megha and Purab stood , chatting at the main gate.Two cars came out of the parking lot at the same time and a silver grey Mercedes Benz - S class arrived and stopped behind Purab’s car …. Megha looked at it curiously.‘Let’s go” Saying this, Purab started walking to wards the car..Just then, the click - clack sound of someone’s high heels reached Megha’s ears… She suddenly turned to look at her, transfixed at the sight‘Oh!! This is her …. Yes , it is the same dress … She was the woman who was with Rajeev .. She truly is beautiful … Rather extraordinarily beautiful … But God ! Her makeup … dark red lipstick … broke eye-shadow .. perfectly set hair-style .. red chiffon maxi dress … the perfect red carpet look … like she has just jumped right out of a fashion magazine … a super - model … of course she must suit the Supreme CFO after all ..But Rajeev is simple … She is also tall … Rajeev and her pair will look good together … They both are tall … and Punjabi , too … she is gorgeous and he is also pretty good - looking .. They have a pretty unconventional look … Megha , came down !! .. Don’t think too much .. He is married … his wife is with him But where is Rajeev?’ Shweta sat in the car … Engrossed in looking at her , Megha did not hear Purab’s repeated calls…“Megha do you want to stay here?” Finally , his loud shout reached Megha’s ears and she looked him with a bright smile on her face.Saying “Oh , come on , let’s go” She turned around and went to the car door to sit on the front seat.At the same time , she saw someone walking from the lawn in front of the hotel. Identifying him to be Rajeev , she gazed at him s she busily talked to someone on the phone.‘Constantly talking on the phone .. looking down as usual … invested in a maze of thoughts … walk while looking ahead.. otherwise , you will fall again , Rajeev’Laughing at her own thoughts , a slight smile settled on Megha’s face.As Rajeev got quite close to his car, he raised his head , feeling Megha’s gaze and looked back at her..As soon as he looked back , Megha quickly opened the car door and stumbled inside … Rajeev’s eyebrows which were raised in surprise and the ghost of a smile which had appeared on his lips did not escape her eyes.“Let’s go Purab , do you want to stay here?” She said , putting on her seat belt.“Ya ya , the pot calling the kettle black … I have called you two to three time since then … Where is your attention , Madam !! Ever since you ate that Dal Panchamel , you have been behaving strangely.” Purab started the car , laughing at her.“Yes, the Dal Panchamel was special after all … It was very tasty” She said with a smile … ‘Thanks , Mr. Mehra’ the thought echoes in her mind.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...