chapter 6

SerendipityEpisode-6“Radha tai... where is that grey linen saree of mine?” Megha was selecting a saree to wear to the office from the plethora of sarees neatly arranged in her closet...Yes.... just an entire closet of sarees ... Megha's mother called it a saree show-room.South Silk, Khadi, Batik Silk, Chikankari, Phulkari, Kalamkari, Kota Silk, Tassar Silk, Muga, Mal Silk, Jamdani, Paithani, Irkal .... Sarees collected from every corner of India ...Megha's only passion and priceless treasure... And the responsibility of taking care of it was with Radha Tai."Megha, put all those sarees in this bag and put the bag in the storeroom. Fill the closet with the office formals... It's high time ... You must change yourself..."Megha's mother was looking at the sarees in the closet with a concerned look...‘When will my daughter change herself? .. Other female executives wear nice business suits in the corporate office ... Why does she have to wear these silk sarees and look like an aunt ... Who will like her like that ... I am trying so hard to change her life but she is so adamant... still stuck somewhere in her old memories.’“Mum, saree is considered as one of the most accepted office formals in India... I have many examples but right now I am in a hurry... let's discuss whether saree is better or suit at night... I will keep special time free for this discussion ... but for now, please ask Radha tai to serve my breakfast ... I have only 10 minutes” Megha lovingly chased her mother out of her room ...She did not want to argue in the morning. She took out a pink khadi saree from the cupboard and started wearing it...Then suddenly, his face materialized in front of her eyes, hazy but somehow enough to feel his presence...*@*@*@*@*"Sameer!... Please come here.. Look, it's not going well” she called him as he was busy having breakfast.“Oh my God ... many people are going to get a heart attack today ... What is the occasion??...” Sameer hugged her from behind."Oh, it's a pre-Diwali celebration in the office...look how messed up these pleats are.. please help me! ... I am never going to wear a saree again” she looked at him with a cute face.“You should wear a saree every day... you look absolutely beautiful... and don’t worry about the sari... banda hajir he apke khidmat mein” He said, sitting down and straightening the pleats of the saree.“Really Sam.... Will you really help me everyday?” she asked fondly.“Yes ma'am ... I am at your service ... I am not going anywhere...“ He gently placed his lips on her cheek.“Promise Sameer! ... forever” she was looking at his reflection in the mirror.“Yes Megha ... forever” he hugged her tightly.*@*@*@*@*“Ouch” the pin of the saree pierced Megha's finger... the memories disappeared... the mirror now held only her own reflection... he was nowhere...she sucked the drop of blood on her finger and swallowed the lump in her throat with it.. closing her eyes, she tried to calm down...The saree had been successfully worn... a collar neck blouse with elbow length sleeves slightly folded, which she straightened... Her waist length hair was tucked into a cute low bun... The small black bindi adorned her forehead.Taking one last look in the mirror, she got ready to face a very busy day.She was replying to some mails on her I-phone while eating breakfast. She was completing all the reports, presentations and distribution of work required for the Sehgal proposal sitting here.Although the proposal had to be presented next week, the preparations would be starting from today.As the month of March and the end of the financial year was approaching, it was necessary to do whatever it took to get this project.JPM & CO, the rivals of SWC.... Megha wanted to win this project before JPM approached the Sehgals and she was ready to work day and night for it.“Megha, listen... a proposal has come” Maa started her most favourite topic..."Yes maa I know ... I am working on it ... I am going to close that account before the end of March" Megha took a sip of the tea in her hand.“What! Are you really ready to meet Mihir?”Watching Megha's nod, Maa was shocked for a moment.“What?... Who Mihir?... I am talking about the Sehgal project... Maa I am telling you this is the best opportunity, they are a very important client.. and I have promised Bhaskar sir... No matter what happens, we will get this project” Megha replied, confidence evident in her tone.“Oh Ganesha! Can't you talk about anything else other than office work? I'm talking about Mihir Vyas ... a neurologist .. coming from Los Angeles ...Mrs. Sinha has suggested him for you...he is 36 years old .. he is a divorcee and has no children ... Have you not seen the resume I sent you? … he is visiting Mumbai next week … I think you should meet him once”Maa was engrossed in praising yet another groom to be while Megha was busy typing an important mail completely ignoring Maa’s words.For the last five years Megha's maa had this new part-time job - finding a suitable groom for Megha ..Initially, she would suggest a groom every three months, but ever since she had retired one year ago, the marketing of new grooms took place once every fortnight.However, Megha remained firm on her decision...“Milind is in Atlanta...you will be in Los Angeles...good for us.” Maa was very happy as she had begun imagining Megha in the house of Mihir Vyas as his wife."Who will manage India's economy if everyone leaves for America?" Megha's counter question was ready...‘Milind Dada is settled in America for the last 10 years with no sign of coming back...I never said that he should leave his progress and come back, but should visit India at least once a year to meet maa and baba. However, in the last four years, he has been seen only on WhatsApp calls... and now day by day, frequency of the calls is also decreasing.'Guys I'm very busy here' ... the usual reason given by Milind dada.Madhura Bhabhi calls frequently, at least once a week for sure... On the night of award ceremony, Bhabhi called to congratulate me and Arjun, my sweet nephew, also spoke...but Dada was in a hurry to leave for the office...Aarya asked Bhabhi fondly when she and Arjun would be visiting Mumbai and Madhura Bhabhi promised to visit in August.. Let’s hope this time dada also joins them."Maa, if you both want to go to Atlanta, tell me, I will book the tickets immediately... There is no need for me to get married"Megha explained to her maa without looking up from her mobile phone."Are, I'm not saying that you get married right away...but what's wrong with meeting a guy...he seems good "“Maa, please tell him that I am going to be very busy till the end of March... and if he decides to change the date, tell him that I don't have time for the next 5 years”After saying this, without hearing anything further from maa, she picked up her laptop bag... she waved bye to baba, who was sitting in the balcony reading a newspaper...'Take care of maa' was the silent request in her eyes as she hurriedly went outside.Sitting in the office car, her thoughts suddenly floated up..‘Why does mom keep talking about my marriage?... Why doesn't she understand that I can't think of anyone else?… Why does she think my life is incomplete without a husband?...Why don't she trust me, that I alone can take care of Aarya?... Without a husband, is my life really worthless?… Why do I constantly have to endure strange looks from people?‘Forget him’... ‘Think ahead’... ‘Move on’ .... It’s all easier said than done...Why should I forget him? ... I can't forget him... His memory is ingrained in me... He is still with me.... in my breath... in my dreams.To be continued....© ®️ Meghana_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...