Chapter 34

Oh..my..god!!!!

I sit upright with a jolt, staring at the wall clock. It's ten minutes to seven.

Oh! thank goodness!!

When I first saw the time through my sleepy eyes, I thought it was thirty-five minutes past ten. Although I overslept by fifty minutes, I heave a sigh of relief that I still have time. Can't believe I slept through the annoying alarm sound on my phone.

I need to get ready quickly if I have to reach DeWorld by nine a.m. The event starts at eleven and I must make myself look presentable today.

I wear my one and only black pant suit over a soft off-white silk shirt. I love the way the suit fits me. It's a classic cut but it hugs my curves ever so slightly, giving a formal business, yet feminine feel. I style my hair in a chic, inside out ponytail and finish the look with black pumps. The outfit is accessorized by tiny teardrop rhinestone earrings and a matching silver necklace.

I look at my reflection, chewing my lower lip nervously. I have worn this outfit once before in college and had received many compliments, but that was two years ago. What if it looks odd now?

'Shut up!' inner voice screams. 'You look great. You are a smart, confident woman. What others think is not your concern. '

Yes! I nod resolutely at my reflection staring back at me. This is no time for indecision or insecurity. The outfit is perfect for the occasion and I should stop worrying unnecessarily.

A lot of dignitaries and VIPs will be arriving for the launch today. However, as I look over the scant makeup I own, debating if I should wear the nude pink or bright berry lipstick, I am thinking of one and one person only. I pick the nude pink.

He said we shall meet today.

How will Jeet look today? Has his beard grown longer? Will he wear those dowdy clothes, or would he be wearing something formal? While us girls had more leeway in what we could wear as long as it was appropriate for a business event, the men were instructed that they need to be dressed formally, preferably a business suit, or at least formal trousers, dress shirt and tie.

I try to envisage him in office wear. With his muscular body, I guess he could carry off business formal very well. He would look dapper if he would wear less ugly glasses and let his hair down, literally!

I also need to find out where he will be sitting, so I can catch up to him later. The Chairman, his family members and the high-level dignitaries will be seated in the first few rows in front of the stage, followed by the press. We, the PR and event management team, will sit at the last row, so that we can leave quickly from the back exit, in case of any emergency or issue that needs to be taken care of.

So, I assume Jeet will be seated in the row or two in front of us, with other management staff. It should be easy enough to spot him.

I can chat with him at lunch time. According to the schedule, the VIPs and guests will have lunch first and DeGlobal staff will have lunch after. The more I envision the scenario, the more confident I get, that Jeet will have no qualms admitting he likes me too.

I should get my mind off Jeet, if I need to get dressed and reach DeWorld on time. I turn on the TV to a music channel to distract my mind, as I concentrate on getting the eyeliner to look uniform on both eyes.

'Sajna hai hai mujhe, sajna ke liye' comes on TV, as if it too knows, what is going on in my mind.

I give a short laugh at the coincidence, but my heart is hammering in my chest. Today is going to be an eventful day, no pun intended. I can just feel it.

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At the hotel, there is a palpable buzz of excitement and anxiety in the air, among the flurry of activity that's going on. Only one hour for the program to begin. People are bustling and jostling as they hurry to finish last minute details, shouting orders and instructions to each other, making sure everything is perfect for the big event.

After checking Nivedita's notes, making sure there is a copy on the lectern, as well as a backup with me, I meet Purvi, who looks stunning in her slate grey pencil skirt and black satin top, paired with black stilettos. After mutually admiring and praising each other's outfits, she shows me the presentation and soft copy of Nivedita's notes that will be beamed on the teleprompter.

Once I am satisfied with the arrangements, I weave my way through the throng of hotel staff, technicians, and the event management team members zipping past me, trying to locate my team mates.

Simultaneously I also keep an eye out to see if I can spot Jeet, but so far, he has not arrived. The slight disappointment I have that he is not here already, is put aside when I notice Junaid, leaving surreptitiously from backstage. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him for almost a week when Khushboo informed him that he was called to the GM's office. Since then, he has been working alone on one of the top floors.

"Junaid! Junaid," I call out to him waving my hand vigorously above me to catch his attention. Junaid must have noticed, for he stops and looks in my direction. He waves back, motioning he will meet me later and hurries out.

Strange for Junaid to behave like this I think, though I don't ponder on it for long. All of us are harried and since Junaid is very talented, he has a lot more pressure making video animations for introduction of all speakers.

As the minutes count down, the guests and the press start arriving and taking their place. The ministers and VVIP guests have been taken through a special entrance and sequestered in a suite in the hotel, until the program begins, so that they can be formally introduced and welcomed.

Fifteen minutes before the start of the event, Nivedita arrives, looking dazzling and surreal. Every head in the room turned and every jaw dropped as she sashays down the hall in her stunning, off shoulder, dull gold gown.

She steps up on the stage, gracefully walking to the lectern like a royal feline, surveying the hall and seating in front of her and I notice, paying special attention to the seating area of the Chairman and CEO.

"Tarana," she calls, as she gives me a surprised once-over when I reach her. Perhaps it is the businesslike outfit that gives me the boost of confidence. I lift my chin defiantly, silently challenging her to say anything nasty.

She looks down, ruffling through the notes, "Let's do a quick run through with the background video and my speech."

"We have to go backstage for that," I reply, smiling internally at my little victory.

"Let's go then."

Backstage, Purvi plays the video for Nivedita as she practices her speech. Carol shuffles in, her voice a mix of urgency and excitement, "The chief guests and VIPs are all here. The program starts in 5 minutes. Nivedita you have to go on stage NOW!"

After adjusting her hair and checking her makeup through her phone camera and a final swish of her hair, Nivedita heads for the stage. I can hear a collective audible sound of appreciation as she enters the stage. From my position I can see Nivedita bobbing her head at the audience as a sign of acknowledgement.

I hurry back to the hall and take my seat in the last row, waiting like the others for the entrance of Dev Grewal, his wife Seema, and their two sons Akash and Vicky along with the VVIPs.

The lights in the hall are dimmed, the place now only illuminated by the stage lights and a massive screen onstage projecting the opening sequence of the animation. I have to squint in order to adjust my eyes to the low light, craning my neck to the rows in front of me if I can spot Jeet. I look over all the rows where I know our staff will be seated, but no silhouette matches Jeet.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is our pleasure and honour to welcome you all, to the grand relaunch of DeGlobal Corp.." Nivedita's sultry voice surrounds us.

"I would like to offer a warm and hearty welcome to our dynamic Chairman Mr. Dev Grewal, his lovely wife Mrs. Seema Grewal and their eldest son, the charming Mr. Akashdeep Grewal."

Everyone stands to applaud the Grewal family as they enter the hall. Their entry is displayed on the screen onstage.

Although I have seen photos of Mr. Dev Grewal, they have mostly been head shots. Today is the first time I have seen him in person. Mr. Grewal at around six feet is much taller than I expected him to be. His kind face and twinkling eyes hide an astute and sharp business mind. His thick hair is peppered with streaks of silver, but in younger days would have been a head of dark brown.

'Just like Jeet's,' inner voice observes. I sush it. In my fervour of meeting Jeet tonight, I am observing his traits in everyone else.

I notice that Mr. Grewal has tightly held his wife's hand as they make their entrance. Mrs. Grewal meekly follows her husband. She is dressed in a simple silk saree, with minimal jewellery, showing no trappings of the affluence, that she most certainly has. Yet even in her simple demeanour, she exudes the regal bearing of a woman of strength and confidence.

As she looks around to smile and greet the people around, I notice something that lands a punch to my gut. Her eyes. She has the most beautiful, warm, caramel eyes.

My mind instantly flies to Jeet. What a coincidence! The boss' wife to have same kind of eyes as Jeet. Again I look among the rows in front to see if I can spot him. Still, he's nowhere to be seen.

An unknown feeling of uneasiness starts slowly gnawing in the pit of my stomach. I can't pinpoint what it is. What is it that my gut is trying to tell me?

I turn my attention back to the Grewal family. Akashdeep Grewal aka Akash follows his parents. He is perhaps the same height as his father and has the same features, but better. It is a well-known fact that Akash is not interested in joining the family business. Rather, his passion lies in movies, having directed a couple of hit hindi movies. Recently, he has taken up acting and his first movie as the main lead, will be released later this year.

He has a well-built physique, no doubt, the result of hours spent at the gym. He is your classic tall and handsome guy with a roguish smile, and I can understand why he has women falling at his feet. Akash smiles to the crowd with a cocky self-assured smile, waving to everyone, one hand tucked casually in the side pocket of his pants.

Once the Grewals are seated, Nivedita continues introducing and welcoming the Deputy Chief Minister, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, a megastar of Bollywood, MDs and owners of the biggest conglomerates and business houses of India.

"Psst... Tarana!" I hear a whisper behind me.

I look behind to see Purvi and Junaid standing behind the exit door, urgently beckoning me to join them. Purvi seems so excited, she can hardly stand straight.

I am torn between waiting for the introductions to finish or joining Purvi and Junaid. Since I wrote the script, I know that our CEO will be the last to be introduced and I would like to see him enter. But looking at Purvi, it seems if she doesn't tell me the news that she is bursting to tell, right away, she may just pass out.

I get up and join them near the exit, just as Nivedita starts with the final introduction of the day. "And finally, ladies and gentlemen..."

"Tell me quick what it is," I urge them, "they are about to introduce the CEO."

"That's what we want to tell you," Purvi is literally jumping with excitement.

"I have the great pleasure to welcome on stage.."

"About our CEO?" I ask curiously.

"Dude! I was dying to tell you, but I had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement not to tell anyone till the event today." Junaid interjects.

An NDA? Another coincidence? The gnawing uneasiness grows some more, slowly creeping upwards, its cold clammy fingers reaching up to my chest.

All events from the last two months are replayed in my mind.

My heart starts thudding at breakneck speed as I hope I am wrong in assuming what seems to be pieces of puzzle falling in place. Like those dominoes that look randomly placed, but all it takes is a small nudge to one, to knock over the rest of the pieces revealing an image that was always there.

Right now I feel that the first domino has been pushed and the image is slowly revealing itself..

"Our new CEO.. Mr Vicky Grewal."

There is thunderous applause and an almost simultaneous burst of voices of incredulity and surprise.

"Tarana, you will never guess who is our CEO," Purvi squeals in a loud voice.

"Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen.."

I hear the voice. An extremely familiar, deep, rich, velvety male voice, the sound of which sends a tingle up my spine.

The uneasiness has now completely overtaken me, its creepy hands choking me, as realization hits me like a freight train. I am unable to breathe.

"My name is Vikramjeet Grewal, also known as Vicky. But many of my colleagues here know me as...."

I swivel my head towards the stage.

The dominoes have fallen, the picture is revealed.

OH.........

MY.......

GOD!!!!!!!!

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A/N :

Dear friends,

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