chapter 33

SerendipityEpisode-33Purab reluctantly ate the khichdi, only because Megha had insisted. Meanwhile, they wrapped up the meal while they discussed the project in detail.Gupta Sir, on the other hand, had gone out to celebrate SWC’s successful takeover of Shiraj Group of Companies. This acquisition was a monumental achievement for SWC.When Megha finally reached home, she tossed her bag onto the sofa and sank into it, closing her eyes to savor a rare moment of silence.Her phone buzzed, and she saw photos of Nainital from Arya, her daughter.The gallery was full of scenic pictures, and she couldn’t help but smile as she gazed at them. “Baby, come back soon…Mama misses you so much. Are you having fun there? This early trip will end tomorrow, and I’ll see you tomorrow evening!”With no one around to talk to, the loneliness settled in.Purab had asked her to stay and chat until his father returned, but it hadn’t felt right, so she’d left.Yet, her mind kept going back to their conversation. ‘Today, after so many years, he brought up the subject again… Did he speak to Gupta Sir? What if Gupta Sir asks me about it directly?Megha's heart sank at the thought. Gupta Sir had been her guiding light after Sameer’s death, helping her rebuild her life.He was the one who pushed her to believe in herself again, to keep fighting and to take on every challenge. How can I ever refuse him anything after all he’s done for me? she thought. Please, let Purab find the right girl soon, or maybe land the Supreme project to keep him busy.Her thoughts drifted to Rajeev. Did I overdo it today? He listened without saying much… maybe I should apologize. She hesitated. An email? No, that feels too formal. Should I ask to meet him? But that might give him the wrong idea. And just then, Rajeev’s words replayed in her mind: ‘Miss Joshi…I’ll try to be on time for your next presentation. I’ll definitely try. She smiled, recalling his slight smirk. ‘Next presentation?’ she mused. ‘What did he mean by that?*@*@*@*@*Suddenly, her phone rang—it was Priya, her only close friend outside of work.“VP madam, where have you disappeared? Not a single call or message! We talked on the day of the award ceremony, and then nothing!”Priya complained in her usual, playful tone.“It’s only been ten days since then, Priya! And I did message you once or twice,” Megha replied, smiling.“Yeah, sending a smiley emoji at my elephant-and-ant jokes doesn’t count!” Priya retorted, laughing.They continued joking, with Megha teasing Priya about her twins, Aarav and Arnav. “They’re going to be 12 soon,” Priya remarked.Megha laughed, “Then they must be making better jokes than you by now! You don’t even look like their mom. They’re so smart and mature.”“Oh, please!” Priya shot back. “Not everyone can be so serious and mature. Someone has to be a little crazy.”“True, you have full copyright on craziness!” Megha grinned. “How does Pradeep manage with you?”“He’s a heart doctor, and I’ve got his heart safe and secure… in my bank locker!” Priya joked, referring to her cardiologist husband.“Honey, I still wonder how you became the branch manager at ICI Bank,” Megha laughed.“Do you even work there? All you seem to do is forward jokes on WhatsApp!”“Excuse me, madam,” Priya retorted. “I work smart, not hard. It’s called the boss’s privilege!”“Yes, dear, I wouldn’t understand. This ‘smart work’ of yours is against all my principles,” Megha replied, amused.“Enough!” Priya exclaimed. “I’m done with lectures. I got one from Pradeep on ‘good parenting,’ and now you’re giving me another. Why is everyone lecturing me?”The two friends burst into laughter.Megha cherished these light-hearted moments with Priya, a rare oasis of joy and relaxation in her otherwise intense professional life.Five years ago, when Megha had applied for a housing loan, she had met Priya, then the manager of ICI Bank’s Andheri Branch.Priya, like Megha, held an MBA in Finance and was an NM College alum. The two had bonded over their shared college and career paths, quickly forming an unbreakable friendship.For Megha, Priya’s cheerful presence was a welcome escape from her demanding world, bringing laughter and warmth to her life.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... Â