chapter 44

SerendipityEpisode-44As Arya’s voice echoed through the house, reciting "Shubhankaroti Kalyanam... Arogyam Dhansampada," Megha put aside her laptop and stood behind Arya, gazing at the softly glowing Nandadeep lamp.Without realizing it, her hands came together in prayer, eyes closed, a single thought in her mind: Supreme. In her closed eyes, she saw Rajeev’s face, but when her eyes opened, her breath was unsteady. She looked at the calm, glowing lamp, feeling unsettled.The clock struck 7 p.m., and the Supreme press conference began.*@*@*@*@*Dinner was finished early. Megha’s father sat with his usual stock market updates.Having retired as a General Manager from the National Bank, he now spent his free time writing about investments on his blog and Facebook page, Guntavanuki Cha Kanmantra. Over the past three years, his advice had gained a dedicated following of middle-class families seeking sound investment strategies and retirement planning.Though Megha wasn’t active on social media, she was well aware of Baba’s Facebook fan base.“What’s this list, Mom? Dal, jaggery, cardamom, coconut… What’s it for?” Megha asked, picking up the list her mother had just written on a scrap of paper.“Oh, tomorrow is Holi. I thought we’d make Puranpoli. What else is on that list?”“Oh, right! With everything going on at work, I completely forgot,” Megha replied.“Which is why I keep telling you to take a break… or even get married. You’d remember all these festivals then,”her mother teased, broaching the topic of marriage yet again.Megha quickly looked around, relieved that Arya wasn’t nearby. Thankfully, Arya’s in her room, she thought.“Mom, please, let’s not discuss this. We agreed on that, remember? And don’t bring it up around Arya. She’s already got a lot on her plate with her new school,” Megha whispered firmly.“I know, Megha, but I also know that one decision could bring a lot of happiness into her life, too. Just think about it.”“What happiness? Whose happiness?” Arya’s voice startled them as she quietly approached the dining room, catching them off guard. Megha and her mother exchanged worried looks.“Oh! We were just talking about Rangpanchami—about getting a big water gun!” Megha answered quickly, her heart racing.“Yes, Mom! We’ve got big plans this time. I’ve organized everything with Sanvi, Shanaya, Ahana, Aditya, Shaurya, Dhruv, and Yuvika. We’re starting at 8 a.m. sharp!” Arya announced excitedly.“Alright, now off to bed, missy. And don’t forget to read for at least half an hour before you sleep. Don’t break your habit,” Megha said with a smile, sending Arya back to her room.As Arya left, her mother gently reminded, “Think about what I said, Megha.”“I’ve been thinking about it all day,” Megha replied.“But first, I need to get these supplies ordered so they’ll be delivered in the morning.” She picked up the landline, calling the local supermarket to place an order.“Should I get the usual brand of jaggery, Mom?” she called out from the sofa.“Yes, the usual,” her mother answered from the kitchen.As Megha spoke to the shopkeeper, she heard her father’s voice from across the room: “Supreme Supreme”“What? Supreme’s jaggery?” Megha asked, confused. “Is there a Supreme brand of jaggery I haven’t heard of?”Has Supreme been on my mind so much today that I’m hearing things?“No, ma’am. We only have the Vardhan brand,” the shopkeeper clarified.“Wait a moment, sir,” Megha said, muting the receiver and looking over at her father. “Dad, did you say ‘Supreme’?”“Yes! Supreme’s announcement about Technosis,” her father replied, holding up his phone to show her.Megha put down the landline and hurried to her father’s side. There, in the finance updates section, was the news:‘Supreme Group Appoints SWC & Co. as M&A Partners for Technosys Takeover.’Supreme Group has awarded the Technosys takeover project to SWC & Co., announced today at 7 p.m.This decision marks a shift from the last five years, during which Supreme worked exclusively with JPM.The reasons behind this shift remain unknown, but this decision is undoubtedly a golden opportunity for SWC.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