chapter 14

Chapter 14Something to hope forChintan stopped the car in front of her gate. She said, “Please give me my letter.”He smiled. “I am glad you have decided against resigning.”She shook her head. “I don’t want you to tear it up… I may still want to go through with it.”He opened his mouth to argue, but she put up a hand to stop him. “Please Chintan…thank you for your understanding and…guidance…”“You need the job, right? And he can make your life miserable if you cross him,” Chintan said with concern.She laughed wryly. “Not so desperately, Chintan. And then, will he chase me around the city? Let him, if he has the time and the will to do so. At some point, won’t he tire of it?”Chintan looked at her, the admiration evident in his eyes. Her hand was still stretched out, waiting for him to give her the letter. He took it in his and rubbed her palm gently, absent-mindedly as he said slowly, “I admire your courage.” He watched mesmerised the slow spread of colour on her face. His hand went to her cheek, his eyes unblinking, entranced. “Don’t get hurt,” he said softly.She did not want the moment to end. He leaned forward and she closed her eyes, her body eager for his touch. His lips grazed her forehead, and then he reached inside the glove compartment to take the letter out. Disappointed, she looked out. He took her palm in his again and placed the letter on it. “Anu, please don’t be in a hurry.”Their eyes met. The intense plea, and something more, in his eyes made her withdraw shyly. She nodded and quickly stepped out of the car.Seeing her home early, her mother was concerned. “Are you well? What happened?”Anu would have liked to be alone. She said briefly, “I don’t think I can continue there, ma.”“You walked out of a job without another in hand?” her mother asked, upset with her. But seeing Anu’s face, she said more softly. “You have been a pillar, Anu, how could you suddenly become irresponsible? Isn’t there anyway you can get the job back? Did they, that Arya…throw you out?” she asked hesitantly.Anu sighed and said, “No, ma. I haven’t resigned yet and I need some time to think. Please…?”Her mother paused. “Your father always put his family first,” she said before going to her room.Anu closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying not to feel overwhelmed by the burden of the decision that loomed large. Even doing mundane activities like making tea and cooking didn’t soothe her nerves. Finally, she closed her room door and called Ganesh.After pleasantries, Anu told him of her predicament. “Mr. Arya wants me to do advertorials. I am not ready, Ganesh…”“You have another offer in hand?” he asked.“Not yet. I got a job, but Mr. Arya spoke to that company and called it off…” she said.“Hmmm… So what do you plan to do?”“Chintan asked me to wait.”“Oh! So finally he arrived! What did he suggest?”Anu hesitated, then plunged on, “Told me to make the most of the situation.”There was a pregnant pause. Finally Ganesh said guardedly, “And what do you think?” “I don’t know, Ganesh…I feel revolted.”“Don’t do it then, you will never be happy,” he said with something like regret. Before she could react, he rattled off some company names and said, “Some of these are new companies, I have friends there. You could apply in one of them and leave Industry quietly. Work there till then. Don’t be hasty.”“Thanks, Ganesh,” Anu said. She was surprised at how relieved she felt.But by nightfall, doubts assailed her again. She spent a sleepless night, agonising over the moment of resigning. And yet, it was the thought of not meeting Chintan again that bothered her. She hugged herself, remembering how he had held her. Her hand involuntarily went to her cheek where he had touched her. She gently touched her forehead, where his lips had momentarily rested. She blushed at the memory, her heart fluttering, unable to think straight for a few minutes. She had to remind herself that it meant nothing – it could mean nothing.She tried to focus again on the job scene. First thing in the morning, she called the numbers Ganesh had given, spoke briefly, took their email IDs, and got to the office early to mail them her resumes, hoping for the best.