Hyatt Regency
3rd January 2011
6:22 PM
Bartender: Would you like another one of those sir?
Raghav: make it two........
The bartender lingers, Raghav just stares blankly.......
The man walks away
His phone beeps and pings periodically, he looks at it but doesnt answer or respond.
Just feels his chin and jaw........ he hears a rasp......... "I should grow one o those soul patches"
He smirks........ and plays with the snack bowl, rotates it like it was the roulette at las Vegas..........
He hears chatter, squealing and loud voices....... looks up to see, a bunch of 20 somethings were entering the bar
May be 7 may be 9 he was not sure, a few guys, but mostly girls
He notices a mass of curls on a tall curvaceous chick
He tries to recollect where he saw her before
His memory fails him, he just settles his eyes on her body, allowing his visual instincts to admire her.
She seems to be talking non stop.......in Hindi and in English
She gestures, she jumps, she giggles, she leans..........
She doesnt wait to be seated, just walks in and sits down, her guy friends and a couple of girls walk up to the bar and look around.....
She waves and jumps up
Raghav notices her chest bob, he feels slow heat crawl up his face for some reason
She has a perfect set of teeth
His phone rings.......... its Nayana......... he looks away from the phone....... at the more appealing sights in front
The puffed magenta sleeve blouse approaches him, and turns away
He can see almost all of her back of her thighs.......
He sips slowly....... pushing his glasses, in a OCD motion.........
Some girls look at him and comment amongst themselves
Radhika talks and talks.........,
the wine glasses hang upside down, forming a sparkling necklace around the bar
Its a busy evening, people are drinking to make resolutions, some are resolving never to drink again..........
Radhika: I DONT think we had it here!
Girl 1: I am not challenging you, mujhe haarna nahi hai, agar yaha nahi to, we had at the Bristol?
Guy 1: You girls are taking too long, we are just going to get our beer
Radhika walks up to Raghav again, she hasnt quit talking "Main aaj itna chali hoon, I need to bathe in that drink"
A quick image flashes through Raghav's brain, of her curling tresses bathed in wine or whatever she wanted
He looks at his phone again, its Nayana
He just spins it on the bar ..........
Radhika: I called my Mom and told her Rachu ke saath aap log karo dinner, I am not going home to that pig"
Girl 3: Radhikaaaaaaa Ek second chup hoyegi kya?
Radhika: ONLY when I find my drink, if we dont find it here, who wants to go with me to Bristol?
She manually lifts some reluctant arms "I got 5" she says smugly
She again walks up to him........
"Oh! BTW, Rachu brought iPhone 4 for me, I am driving myself sick playing angry birds"
She giggles......
Tugs at something, Raghav's elbow slides
He turns to find her an inch away
She is still talking........."I am going to play all the moronic games tonite, thats my plan, kaun hai mere saath"
"No excuse me" "No pardon me"
NOTHING
She just pulls the beverage list, his phone slides off the marbled counter, and dives........just as he catches it mid air.........
"I have been looking for this, if you were sitting on it, you could atleast tell us. Are you planning to drive home with it?? Not before I find that stinkin drink, then.......... (its) all yours!
Raghav: Hmmphhh!
As he watches her sit down next to him and begin scanning the list as she talked.............
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Scoop of Life Part 7
January 3rd 2011
4:14 PM
Kilokri Village
Radhika: Phir uske baad mera auto wallah ek dum khachar nikla. Mujhe bahut gussa aa ya Maa, aap believe nahi karogey. I ACTUALLY WALKED from Lady Shri Ram to ANDREWS GUNJ
Itna main kabhi nahi chali, Ma, aapko ek aur baat bataon
Sudha: I have to see the Vice Princi at 5 beta I DONT have the time
Radhika: You talk with Rit all day!!
Sudha: Kisne kaha tumse?
Radhika: I KNOW. I have eyes every where.
Sudha: Then why are you still wearing the mirror work sling bag?
Radhika quickly removes it from around her shoulder
Radhika:Aapko kaise maloom? Ma, one more thing
Sudha:Ghar par, shaam ko please beta. Tum ek baar shuru ho jaati ho to rukne ka naam nahi leti......
Radhika: You are not interested in my cause.. Nobody is, do you know the amount of contaminated water sources in India?
Sudha: Radhooooo, please beta
Radhika:I am hanging out with friends tonite, main raat ko khaane par nahi aaoongi.
Sudha is shocked, "your bro got home two nites ago, you cant do that"
Radhika: I can, because, when I ever I want to go some place, its always something with Rachu Bhayya or Rit. Aaaj main bilkul apni marzi
Sudha:Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Do what ever! See you tonite! Is there just no way to shut you up??? (exasperated)
Click!
----------------
5:14 PM
Bar
Hyatt Regency
Ring Road
Raghav: Yello!
Nayana: Hi!
Raghav: No! I dont want to know what the old man thinks
Nayana:How about what voluptuous 22 year old?
Raghav grunts
Nayana: Do you ever speak a full sentence
Raghav: When I want to.
Nayana: where are you?
Raghav: Getting a drink
Nayana: AT FIVE IN THE EVENING?
Raghav: Its 8 PM somewhere in the world (dry)
Nayana giggles "True"
Raghav, just sips, unmindful of the caller
Nayana: Hey, are you there?
Raghav: So far......
Nayana: needed a ride...... (softly)
Raghav: U do.......
Nayana: Dad has big plans (throwing the bait)
Raghav:The man is full of it.......
Nayana giggles
Pause
Nayana: Did you like my fish net today?
He grunts again........
Nayana: I looked for you every where at Noon, but you disappeared
Raghav: Oh!
Nayana: I was thinking of Neemrana this weekend.....
Raghav just breathes audibly
Nayana: What do you think?
Raghav: I dont.. much (think)
She giggles and lowers her tone.......... "Go with me"
Raghav: Hmmm
Nayana: How can I make you TALK? (exasperated)
4:14 PM
Kilokri Village
Radhika: Phir uske baad mera auto wallah ek dum khachar nikla. Mujhe bahut gussa aa ya Maa, aap believe nahi karogey. I ACTUALLY WALKED from Lady Shri Ram to ANDREWS GUNJ
Itna main kabhi nahi chali, Ma, aapko ek aur baat bataon
Sudha: I have to see the Vice Princi at 5 beta I DONT have the time
Radhika: You talk with Rit all day!!
Sudha: Kisne kaha tumse?
Radhika: I KNOW. I have eyes every where.
Sudha: Then why are you still wearing the mirror work sling bag?
Radhika quickly removes it from around her shoulder
Radhika:Aapko kaise maloom? Ma, one more thing
Sudha:Ghar par, shaam ko please beta. Tum ek baar shuru ho jaati ho to rukne ka naam nahi leti......
Radhika: You are not interested in my cause.. Nobody is, do you know the amount of contaminated water sources in India?
Sudha: Radhooooo, please beta
Radhika:I am hanging out with friends tonite, main raat ko khaane par nahi aaoongi.
Sudha is shocked, "your bro got home two nites ago, you cant do that"
Radhika: I can, because, when I ever I want to go some place, its always something with Rachu Bhayya or Rit. Aaaj main bilkul apni marzi
Sudha:Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Do what ever! See you tonite! Is there just no way to shut you up??? (exasperated)
Click!
----------------
5:14 PM
Bar
Hyatt Regency
Ring Road
Raghav: Yello!
Nayana: Hi!
Raghav: No! I dont want to know what the old man thinks
Nayana:How about what voluptuous 22 year old?
Raghav grunts
Nayana: Do you ever speak a full sentence
Raghav: When I want to.
Nayana: where are you?
Raghav: Getting a drink
Nayana: AT FIVE IN THE EVENING?
Raghav: Its 8 PM somewhere in the world (dry)
Nayana giggles "True"
Raghav, just sips, unmindful of the caller
Nayana: Hey, are you there?
Raghav: So far......
Nayana: needed a ride...... (softly)
Raghav: U do.......
Nayana: Dad has big plans (throwing the bait)
Raghav:The man is full of it.......
Nayana giggles
Pause
Nayana: Did you like my fish net today?
He grunts again........
Nayana: I looked for you every where at Noon, but you disappeared
Raghav: Oh!
Nayana: I was thinking of Neemrana this weekend.....
Raghav just breathes audibly
Nayana: What do you think?
Raghav: I dont.. much (think)
She giggles and lowers her tone.......... "Go with me"
Raghav: Hmmm
Nayana: How can I make you TALK? (exasperated)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Scoop of Life Part 6
Part 6
Kilokri Village
Near Malviya Nagar
3rd January 2011
Noonish
Radhika: Kitne saare UP ke files the, Govt aur NGO ke, resources, infrastructure, land quality statistics wagairah.......... Abhi kisi ko Lucknow bhejna padega? Ya Kanpur? Kahan se milenege yeh files, mujhe jaana hai waha, main kab research karoongi? Calculations karne hain, woh alag....... Aaj main late aayi but kal se 8 baje yaha rahoongi
She speaks NON STOP!
Poonam looks on flabbergasted, she has never worked with "Radhika ji" before as "Radhikaji had been working at the Clean Water Initiative Head Office in East of Kailash.
Clean Water Initiative is a NGO focussed on getting access to the resource in remote villages in India. From building water infrastructure, developing ways and means of water conservation to actively encouraging reforestation efforts. Efforts included assisting helping with making land more "cultivable", increase its ability to intercept and accept moisture. Funded my many prominent Dutch and US charities and philanthropists, the company is over a decade old but they had success stories in multiples of 10.......
Poonam: Woh! (stops)
Radhika is still rambling and looking, her chai arrives, Umesh has a sheepish "Dont ask me anything look"
radhika pauses to take her chai, gulps, makes a face and yet drinks it......... her phone rings under the pile of papers........ she pushes most of it down to the floor in an attempt to answer it. But it goes to voice mail.......
Poonam: Woh! Maam East of Kailash mein poochhen?
Radhika: KAL main wahan thi aur waha jitne UP ke files hain unme se koi hamare matlab ka hai nai... (and then starts to talk rapidly)'
Poonam's jaw drops wonders HOW she can talk so much......
She tries to sneak in a word or two every two seconds but fails, Radhika's rambling, her passionate rant make it awfully difficult..........
Radhika: Main East of Kailash jaakar khud laati hoon, (gets up and gulps the burning hot hot water masquerading as chai.)
Poonam: Main chaloon? (fearful, its going to start another two hour spiel)
Radhika: Nahi, aap Dehat Kanpur aur Jalaun ke maps nikalo aur Municipalities aur DM offices ke addresses mere liye ready rakho
Before she can ramble, Poonam vamooses
Umesh: Maam ek aur chai?
Radhika: Thanks, nahi......... yeh saare files tum baandhkar bahar tak lao, main auto lekar aati hoon
Umesh nods.......
She goes off to get an auto......... does not haggle just agrees to the 150 the guy asks for, Umesh loads the files, while she gives some last minute instructions to Poonam
The other employees look at her speaking, amused by the rapid fire style.........
A couple of men stare admiringly at her blouse........
She clumsily climbs in to the auto, and yells a "Chalo bhayya" shrilly
------------------------
Golf Links
3rd January 2011
Kapoors
C Block
Central Golf Links Road
Dadi: I just need some warm water with a dash of lemon and honey beta
Mridula Kapoor Mom, this is something i read on the web this morning
Dadi shakes her head in despair
Dadji: Try it Komal
Dadi: I am afraid to
Dadaji: Your bahu is going to be offended
Mridula: Dad.........
Dadaji:I was kidding beta
They are sitting out the huge Tuscan oak dining table in the ground floor......... the upper levels altogether had over 8 bedrooms and study spread over thhree floors, there was huge terrace garden with swings and a "walking path" as Dadi fondly described it. The house was bought by Dadaji over 40 years ago when his sons were in college, they lived in Panchsheel Park until then
Now Krishan lived her with his wife Mridula and Raghav and his two daughters
His older brother Pavan lived two blocks down in F, in his own house
His wife was a renowned pediatrician and he has two sons and a daughter, Ateendar, Anuttam and Anvita
Mridula: Will you be able to go to Bhayya's? tonite?
Dadi: I dont think so, ask Prakash to make something for me
Mridula looks worried.... none of her gourmet cooking skills or home remedies were working..........
She was a fabulous cook, some trained, some self taught, had half a dozen cook books to her credit, conducted shows, classes and was considering her own brand of ready to eat packaged food at this time
Dadaji: Is Raghav home?
Mridula: Nahi Dad, he went to work
Dadaji is stunned "Kahan? Connaught Place?"
Mridula: Yes.......
Dadaji smiles "Is he serious now?"
Mridula: I dont think so........ woh bus yoon hi Krishan ko pareshaan karne kabhi chala jaata hai
Dadi: Mujhe uski bahut chinta hai (gulping her tepid water)
Dadaji: Ati aur Anu to Yavatmal gaye hai na?
Mridu: Hmmm they are back tonite, I am told
Dadaji turns on the TV and starts watching news
Dadi: Talk to Raghav beta
Mridu: WE all do Ma, HE doesnt..... thats the problem
Dadi: Shud I talk Krishan into setting some IT thing up for him?
Mridu: He wont agree to anything.......
Dadi: May be he should do off beat cinema
Dadaji guffaws "Do we really need another KAPOOR in Hindi cinema?"
Dadi: He can out run all of them (smug)
Mridula watches a koel and a swallow fight for a spot on the tree outside.......
-----------------------------------------
Outer Ring Road
Lajpat Nagar
2:34 PM
Radhika was carrying three boxes of files in her auto. The auto was rickety and ready to break down at every traffic signal, this was another one, near Lady Shriram College, she wrapped her magenta scarf around her ears and head, the driver slanted his neck to look at the open neckline of her blouse
"Aap light ko dekhiye" she yells
A portion of her long silky scarf is carried by January winds............ the light takes forever, she scans the 200 plus friends on her phone list........ checks her texts and responds to a few..... the light turns green....... the auto wallah holds teh break and yanks, once, twice, thrice, four times?
Mmmm...hmmmm nope!
She steps off the auto and starts yelling hurriedly, people honk behind her, she jumps up on the median and looks around... the auto is still not budging........
A Toyota Sequoia slides past in the opposite direction, a man wearing red white and blue check shirt had just slid the window down..... a crack..........
A tall curvaceous gal was agitated......
He slides the window down further..... traffic is moving slow..........
"Mujhe Malviya Nagar chhodiye aap" she says and goes on to tell the auto wallah how important her work is, her life is and the mission of her company is.......... how important it is to mankind and to the planet
The man riding the Sequoia smirks..... as he admires the mass of curls every where on her shoulders, the dark pink scarf reaches and almost touches the shiny silver metal of the Sequoia.......
Kilokri Village
Near Malviya Nagar
3rd January 2011
Noonish
Radhika: Kitne saare UP ke files the, Govt aur NGO ke, resources, infrastructure, land quality statistics wagairah.......... Abhi kisi ko Lucknow bhejna padega? Ya Kanpur? Kahan se milenege yeh files, mujhe jaana hai waha, main kab research karoongi? Calculations karne hain, woh alag....... Aaj main late aayi but kal se 8 baje yaha rahoongi
She speaks NON STOP!
Poonam looks on flabbergasted, she has never worked with "Radhika ji" before as "Radhikaji had been working at the Clean Water Initiative Head Office in East of Kailash.
Clean Water Initiative is a NGO focussed on getting access to the resource in remote villages in India. From building water infrastructure, developing ways and means of water conservation to actively encouraging reforestation efforts. Efforts included assisting helping with making land more "cultivable", increase its ability to intercept and accept moisture. Funded my many prominent Dutch and US charities and philanthropists, the company is over a decade old but they had success stories in multiples of 10.......
Poonam: Woh! (stops)
Radhika is still rambling and looking, her chai arrives, Umesh has a sheepish "Dont ask me anything look"
radhika pauses to take her chai, gulps, makes a face and yet drinks it......... her phone rings under the pile of papers........ she pushes most of it down to the floor in an attempt to answer it. But it goes to voice mail.......
Poonam: Woh! Maam East of Kailash mein poochhen?
Radhika: KAL main wahan thi aur waha jitne UP ke files hain unme se koi hamare matlab ka hai nai... (and then starts to talk rapidly)'
Poonam's jaw drops wonders HOW she can talk so much......
She tries to sneak in a word or two every two seconds but fails, Radhika's rambling, her passionate rant make it awfully difficult..........
Radhika: Main East of Kailash jaakar khud laati hoon, (gets up and gulps the burning hot hot water masquerading as chai.)
Poonam: Main chaloon? (fearful, its going to start another two hour spiel)
Radhika: Nahi, aap Dehat Kanpur aur Jalaun ke maps nikalo aur Municipalities aur DM offices ke addresses mere liye ready rakho
Before she can ramble, Poonam vamooses
Umesh: Maam ek aur chai?
Radhika: Thanks, nahi......... yeh saare files tum baandhkar bahar tak lao, main auto lekar aati hoon
Umesh nods.......
She goes off to get an auto......... does not haggle just agrees to the 150 the guy asks for, Umesh loads the files, while she gives some last minute instructions to Poonam
The other employees look at her speaking, amused by the rapid fire style.........
A couple of men stare admiringly at her blouse........
She clumsily climbs in to the auto, and yells a "Chalo bhayya" shrilly
------------------------
Golf Links
3rd January 2011
Kapoors
C Block
Central Golf Links Road
Dadi: I just need some warm water with a dash of lemon and honey beta
Mridula Kapoor Mom, this is something i read on the web this morning
Dadi shakes her head in despair
Dadji: Try it Komal
Dadi: I am afraid to
Dadaji: Your bahu is going to be offended
Mridula: Dad.........
Dadaji:I was kidding beta
They are sitting out the huge Tuscan oak dining table in the ground floor......... the upper levels altogether had over 8 bedrooms and study spread over thhree floors, there was huge terrace garden with swings and a "walking path" as Dadi fondly described it. The house was bought by Dadaji over 40 years ago when his sons were in college, they lived in Panchsheel Park until then
Now Krishan lived her with his wife Mridula and Raghav and his two daughters
His older brother Pavan lived two blocks down in F, in his own house
His wife was a renowned pediatrician and he has two sons and a daughter, Ateendar, Anuttam and Anvita
Mridula: Will you be able to go to Bhayya's? tonite?
Dadi: I dont think so, ask Prakash to make something for me
Mridula looks worried.... none of her gourmet cooking skills or home remedies were working..........
She was a fabulous cook, some trained, some self taught, had half a dozen cook books to her credit, conducted shows, classes and was considering her own brand of ready to eat packaged food at this time
Dadaji: Is Raghav home?
Mridula: Nahi Dad, he went to work
Dadaji is stunned "Kahan? Connaught Place?"
Mridula: Yes.......
Dadaji smiles "Is he serious now?"
Mridula: I dont think so........ woh bus yoon hi Krishan ko pareshaan karne kabhi chala jaata hai
Dadi: Mujhe uski bahut chinta hai (gulping her tepid water)
Dadaji: Ati aur Anu to Yavatmal gaye hai na?
Mridu: Hmmm they are back tonite, I am told
Dadaji turns on the TV and starts watching news
Dadi: Talk to Raghav beta
Mridu: WE all do Ma, HE doesnt..... thats the problem
Dadi: Shud I talk Krishan into setting some IT thing up for him?
Mridu: He wont agree to anything.......
Dadi: May be he should do off beat cinema
Dadaji guffaws "Do we really need another KAPOOR in Hindi cinema?"
Dadi: He can out run all of them (smug)
Mridula watches a koel and a swallow fight for a spot on the tree outside.......
-----------------------------------------
Outer Ring Road
Lajpat Nagar
2:34 PM
Radhika was carrying three boxes of files in her auto. The auto was rickety and ready to break down at every traffic signal, this was another one, near Lady Shriram College, she wrapped her magenta scarf around her ears and head, the driver slanted his neck to look at the open neckline of her blouse
"Aap light ko dekhiye" she yells
A portion of her long silky scarf is carried by January winds............ the light takes forever, she scans the 200 plus friends on her phone list........ checks her texts and responds to a few..... the light turns green....... the auto wallah holds teh break and yanks, once, twice, thrice, four times?
Mmmm...hmmmm nope!
She steps off the auto and starts yelling hurriedly, people honk behind her, she jumps up on the median and looks around... the auto is still not budging........
A Toyota Sequoia slides past in the opposite direction, a man wearing red white and blue check shirt had just slid the window down..... a crack..........
A tall curvaceous gal was agitated......
He slides the window down further..... traffic is moving slow..........
"Mujhe Malviya Nagar chhodiye aap" she says and goes on to tell the auto wallah how important her work is, her life is and the mission of her company is.......... how important it is to mankind and to the planet
The man riding the Sequoia smirks..... as he admires the mass of curls every where on her shoulders, the dark pink scarf reaches and almost touches the shiny silver metal of the Sequoia.......
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Scoop of Life Part 5
Gopaldas Bhavan
Connaught Circus
3rd January 2011
11:45 AM
9th Floor
Monday
Nayana: You came to work today (smiles)
Raghav shrugs carelessly. He didnt care to speak unless it was utterly necessary. Lots can be achieved with body language and silence was his motto.
Krishan: Lots of documents to review........ (doesnt bother nodding at his son)
Pavan: Krishan, Anuttam and Ateendra (his sons) return tomorrow from the textile mill scouting trip. Wool is definitely not our strength. I am nervous, how is the collaboration talk coming along?
Krishan: I had a call last nite and have one later today Bhayya
Pavan is pleased, he turns to Raghav
Pavan: SO? What do you think Mr Kapoor?
Raghav: Am I supposed to? (shuffles his papers)
Nayana lingers, tucking her blouse in a affected manner.......... Krishan looks at her and says "More fresh coffee please Nayana?"
Nayana looks at the young kapoor who is now leaning on the window seat, gulping his coffee.
Nayana: For you? Raghav?
He just raises his cup to indicate he is good
Krishan rolls his eyes, he is fully aware of his son's cynicism AND charm.
Didnt care to deal with either this morning
Pavan: Just say something raghav
Raghav sets the papers on his Dad's huge shiny cherry wood desk, " Looks like the paper work is quite messy"
Krishan: WHY do you ask him Bhayya?
Pavan:Shhhh! Ek min (stops his brother)
Pavan: Good point Raghav, we are trying to buy it from the holding company, but the moment we pay the earnest money they will let us start operations at the tannery
Raghav: two businesses we have NO CLUE how to manage?
Krishan: thats enough Raghav
Raghav shrugs non chalantly and starts walking out of the room
Nayana follows him with the coffee pot........
Krishan: Shut the door behind you, thanks!
Raghav: 3 tanneries have been shut down in Jalaun and Dehat Kanpur by some lunatic Hindu fundamentalist org citing water pollution....... in the last year....... good luck
Lets himself out lazily, does NOT shut his dad's door
His Dad and Uncle exchange shocked looks, despite their rigorous research, and paying for the "consulting company, this fact, they had NO clue about...........
-------------------------------
Noon 3rd January 2011
Monday
Kilokri Village, near Malviya Nagar
Clean Water Initiative --Office
Radhika sifts through files stacked almost mile high on her desk. She looks up dismayed at Umesh the admin "Isme UP ke files kahan hai?
Umesh: yahi the Maam
Radhika: UP mein kitne saalon se kaam chal raha hai?
U,mesh fumbles, Poonam Research Coordinator, answers confiedently " Radhika Etawa aur Bojnor, Amroha, aur Jaunpur mein kam se kam 4 saal se
Radhia (frustrated) To ISME sab MP, maharashtra ke files hain?
She looks around her office, its a huge mess, the premises are dingy, musty and not fit to house more than 5, but over 20 are cramped into it..........
There are open shelves lining the walls, a old beat up Khaitan cooler, juts out of the window. The tube light is half dead, the room is pitch black without electricity.......
Radhika looks at Umesh: Ek chai mil sakti hai?
Umesh is happy he has been asked something that he KNOWS, he vamooses
Radhika picks up her curls and knots it high above her head...........
Looks at Poonam........ "Jalaun ke files ke liye kisko call karen?"
Connaught Circus
3rd January 2011
11:45 AM
9th Floor
Monday
Nayana: You came to work today (smiles)
Raghav shrugs carelessly. He didnt care to speak unless it was utterly necessary. Lots can be achieved with body language and silence was his motto.
Krishan: Lots of documents to review........ (doesnt bother nodding at his son)
Pavan: Krishan, Anuttam and Ateendra (his sons) return tomorrow from the textile mill scouting trip. Wool is definitely not our strength. I am nervous, how is the collaboration talk coming along?
Krishan: I had a call last nite and have one later today Bhayya
Pavan is pleased, he turns to Raghav
Pavan: SO? What do you think Mr Kapoor?
Raghav: Am I supposed to? (shuffles his papers)
Nayana lingers, tucking her blouse in a affected manner.......... Krishan looks at her and says "More fresh coffee please Nayana?"
Nayana looks at the young kapoor who is now leaning on the window seat, gulping his coffee.
Nayana: For you? Raghav?
He just raises his cup to indicate he is good
Krishan rolls his eyes, he is fully aware of his son's cynicism AND charm.
Didnt care to deal with either this morning
Pavan: Just say something raghav
Raghav sets the papers on his Dad's huge shiny cherry wood desk, " Looks like the paper work is quite messy"
Krishan: WHY do you ask him Bhayya?
Pavan:Shhhh! Ek min (stops his brother)
Pavan: Good point Raghav, we are trying to buy it from the holding company, but the moment we pay the earnest money they will let us start operations at the tannery
Raghav: two businesses we have NO CLUE how to manage?
Krishan: thats enough Raghav
Raghav shrugs non chalantly and starts walking out of the room
Nayana follows him with the coffee pot........
Krishan: Shut the door behind you, thanks!
Raghav: 3 tanneries have been shut down in Jalaun and Dehat Kanpur by some lunatic Hindu fundamentalist org citing water pollution....... in the last year....... good luck
Lets himself out lazily, does NOT shut his dad's door
His Dad and Uncle exchange shocked looks, despite their rigorous research, and paying for the "consulting company, this fact, they had NO clue about...........
-------------------------------
Noon 3rd January 2011
Monday
Kilokri Village, near Malviya Nagar
Clean Water Initiative --Office
Radhika sifts through files stacked almost mile high on her desk. She looks up dismayed at Umesh the admin "Isme UP ke files kahan hai?
Umesh: yahi the Maam
Radhika: UP mein kitne saalon se kaam chal raha hai?
U,mesh fumbles, Poonam Research Coordinator, answers confiedently " Radhika Etawa aur Bojnor, Amroha, aur Jaunpur mein kam se kam 4 saal se
Radhia (frustrated) To ISME sab MP, maharashtra ke files hain?
She looks around her office, its a huge mess, the premises are dingy, musty and not fit to house more than 5, but over 20 are cramped into it..........
There are open shelves lining the walls, a old beat up Khaitan cooler, juts out of the window. The tube light is half dead, the room is pitch black without electricity.......
Radhika looks at Umesh: Ek chai mil sakti hai?
Umesh is happy he has been asked something that he KNOWS, he vamooses
Radhika picks up her curls and knots it high above her head...........
Looks at Poonam........ "Jalaun ke files ke liye kisko call karen?"
Friday, October 28, 2011
Scoop of Life Part 4
January 3rd 2011
Monday
Gopal Das Bhavan
Connaught Place
New Delhi
11:01 AM
Raghav Kapoor punched the 11th floor key on the elevator on Gopaldas Bhavan in Barakhamba Rd. He was delayed because he stopped by at Scotia Bank on 5th floor to talk with the Relationship Manager. Kapoor Group's line of credit needed extending, they were looking at buying a site for tannery at Dehat Kanpur and also expanding the Yavatmal textile mills.
WORK by itself was the least of his concern, he couldnt care less for it. He was in it to please his Dad, his Dadi his Mom the extended family. He had gotten an MBA from CMU, and had spent a year travesring the length and breadth of United States before Dadaji's ultimatum had cut his adventure short and forced him to return.
The reflection in the morror inside the elevator displayed a TALL guy, over 6 may be, closer to 6'2" actually, neatly combed hair, parted sideways, the glasses gave him appear "psuedo intellectual".
He did not mind it at all.
Not that he needed the glasses to appear intelligent..........
He decided he could "use" it.
His features were really sharp, pointy nose, eyes that were supposed to be on a woman, lashes? the less said the better........ long side burns, a cleft on his chin seemed more like it was a dent due to an injury. He looked younger than 27 despite those glasses.....
Full lips...... complexion closer to wheatish......... atitude bordering on a combination of lazy and apathetic........
He was cynical, and careless, with a complete indifference to anything related to work.
There were a bunch of people, visually pushing the elevator up, "Sure! Thats going to work" he smirked
He tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned on the brass rail.
He wore navy cotton trousers and a red/white and blue check cotton shirt, tucked, untucked, not even ironed maybe?
His suede shoes looked expensive, so was his watch and glasses.......
The elevator comes to a shaky halt
The turbanned door man smiles, hurriedly jumps out of his stool and says "Morning Sir"
"Dad aa gaye?" (NOT bothering to smile or respond to the employee)
"Jee Sir" "Chhotey Badey dono"
Raghav realizes he is talking about his Dad's older brother Pavan Uncle and Dad, Krishan Kapoor
The joint directors in the family owned textile and tool and die companies part of Kapoor Group
They employed over 3000 across India, more like Maharashta, MP to be specific. The laether would be their first foray into UP.........
He saunters towards his Dad's window office........... with the expressionless look plastered on
His Dad ignores him and punches some keys. Pavan Uncle smiles warmly and pushes a chair towards him
Pavan K: Morning Raghav
R: Yep!
Pours himself coffee from his Dad's coffee maker, his assistant walks in with some copies of some documents, he checks her out, from her high pony tail to the pencil skirt to the ruffled blouse, pushes a chair to the side, to get a good view of the legs.
She is aware of teh attention, walks up to him to give him a full view and personally hands him his copies with a "Raghav!"
"Nayana" he responds in his signature deadbeat tone, pushing his frame up his nose as his Dad hangs up on the call
Monday
Gopal Das Bhavan
Connaught Place
New Delhi
11:01 AM
Raghav Kapoor punched the 11th floor key on the elevator on Gopaldas Bhavan in Barakhamba Rd. He was delayed because he stopped by at Scotia Bank on 5th floor to talk with the Relationship Manager. Kapoor Group's line of credit needed extending, they were looking at buying a site for tannery at Dehat Kanpur and also expanding the Yavatmal textile mills.
WORK by itself was the least of his concern, he couldnt care less for it. He was in it to please his Dad, his Dadi his Mom the extended family. He had gotten an MBA from CMU, and had spent a year travesring the length and breadth of United States before Dadaji's ultimatum had cut his adventure short and forced him to return.
The reflection in the morror inside the elevator displayed a TALL guy, over 6 may be, closer to 6'2" actually, neatly combed hair, parted sideways, the glasses gave him appear "psuedo intellectual".
He did not mind it at all.
Not that he needed the glasses to appear intelligent..........
He decided he could "use" it.
His features were really sharp, pointy nose, eyes that were supposed to be on a woman, lashes? the less said the better........ long side burns, a cleft on his chin seemed more like it was a dent due to an injury. He looked younger than 27 despite those glasses.....
Full lips...... complexion closer to wheatish......... atitude bordering on a combination of lazy and apathetic........
He was cynical, and careless, with a complete indifference to anything related to work.
There were a bunch of people, visually pushing the elevator up, "Sure! Thats going to work" he smirked
He tucked his hands in his pockets and leaned on the brass rail.
He wore navy cotton trousers and a red/white and blue check cotton shirt, tucked, untucked, not even ironed maybe?
His suede shoes looked expensive, so was his watch and glasses.......
The elevator comes to a shaky halt
The turbanned door man smiles, hurriedly jumps out of his stool and says "Morning Sir"
"Dad aa gaye?" (NOT bothering to smile or respond to the employee)
"Jee Sir" "Chhotey Badey dono"
Raghav realizes he is talking about his Dad's older brother Pavan Uncle and Dad, Krishan Kapoor
The joint directors in the family owned textile and tool and die companies part of Kapoor Group
They employed over 3000 across India, more like Maharashta, MP to be specific. The laether would be their first foray into UP.........
He saunters towards his Dad's window office........... with the expressionless look plastered on
His Dad ignores him and punches some keys. Pavan Uncle smiles warmly and pushes a chair towards him
Pavan K: Morning Raghav
R: Yep!
Pours himself coffee from his Dad's coffee maker, his assistant walks in with some copies of some documents, he checks her out, from her high pony tail to the pencil skirt to the ruffled blouse, pushes a chair to the side, to get a good view of the legs.
She is aware of teh attention, walks up to him to give him a full view and personally hands him his copies with a "Raghav!"
"Nayana" he responds in his signature deadbeat tone, pushing his frame up his nose as his Dad hangs up on the call
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Scoop of Life Part Three
Jan 3rd 2011
Saket, New Delhi
(Date change guys, Jan 3rd is a Monday)
Radhika: Maaaa
Sudha: Quit pulling her hair Rit
Ritwik: I got home at 3 this morning, NOT ONE sisterly hug! (grins)
Radhika sticks her tongue out
Ritwik: Did she crash her car again?
Sudha: Shubh shubh bol. This time, the "check engine" light came on
Ritwik: She managed to get under the hood and tear it up?
Radhika yells "Maaaaa"
Sudha: Abhi rehne de isko, tu jaakar so, you have the house to urself
Ritwik: When is Bhayya getting back?
Sudha: Ananya said 8 tonite?
Radhika: Bhabhi has no sense of time, once she said 3 and Dad waited at the airport at 3 AM, turned out it was PM
Radhika guffaws falling on the couch.........
Ritwik, is amused...... he sits by her
Ritwik: Send her to Sydney with me Ma?
Sudha: Papa will go into shock beta
Ritwik: He can go with me too
Bro and sis wrestle on the couch, Sudha's notes are done, she turns off her monitor.
The maid checks in, wants to know what to make for "Ritu" baba.
Radhika: Ritu madam ke liye aap zyaada mirchi waala khaana mat banao, unka eyeliner dissolve ho jaayega
Ritwik, strangles her
Sudha: Gopi tum bhindi banao aur pulao.
Gopi smiles looks at the bro sis duo
Sudha: I am off to work, Radhika tum, time se chaley jaana kaam par
She jumps up, as if she is stung
Radhika: Maaaaaaa please 10 min?
Ritwik, lays back on teh couch and turns on the TV in the study
She runs to her room........ showers in 5 minutes, ties a magenta scuncie in her hair wears a puffed magenta sleeve blouse with a tan A line skirt with a big slit at the back with strappy thongs.....
She doesnt wear any make up or perfume, just applies some lipstick
Runs out of the room, crashes into Gopi spilling Ritwik's tea, the cup crashes to the floor
Sudha is hopping mad but doesnt say anything
Rad: Oh! Sorry ssorry, gopiji, so sorry
Gopi: Koi baat nahi
Sudha: Woh mat balcony mein daalo Radhika dhoyegi shaam ko
Rad is apalled, "Main?" "Par mujhe to shaam ko funding ke liye jaana hai"
Sudha :Raat ko dhona
Ritwik takes the second cup of tea from Gopi, looks at his sister rolls hsi eyes
Rit: You go into work looking like THAT?
Rad:Haan!
She looks at her clothes
Rit: Maa havent you taught her anything?
Sudha looks lovely in a chanderi cotton in orange, a nice high pony tail, could pass off as a 40 year old instead of a 55 year old
Radhika: I have Dad's ugly hair, Mom has hair like Pantene ads
Rit: And you are 5'8" and too fair, and have cheekbones that could hurt people, not to mention that midriff showing blouse........ Delhi mein?
He is offended his sister would dress like that,
Rad:I do serious work. I cannot dress like a nun! I am sorry.... get your eyelids sewn.....
Rit: A nun would commit suicide if she looked at ur blouse's neckline
Sudha: Thats enough Rit
Rit: You are allowing her to leave the house like THIS?
Sudha: Radhika.........
Rad: i am not changing (smug)
She plonks herself on the couch and starts eating a parantha that Gopi just brought in, her hands are greasy, she reaches for her Mom;s pallu
Sudha smacks her..... "Tumhara kamra, tumhaare kapde, kab seekhogi beta" (pained)
Rad: Kabhi nahi! (chowing down on her food, totally blissfully without a worry that her Mom is getting delayed)
Riwtik rolls one parantha and starts eating too
Sudha: Now we have a house full of savages with no table manners
Rit: Your darling daughter started it!
Radhika: The darling is a pioneer! She sets trends, she paves the way, she walks on water!
Rit: My ass! (scoffs)
Smacking her shoulder, as her parantha falls on her skirt....
Saket, New Delhi
(Date change guys, Jan 3rd is a Monday)
Radhika: Maaaa
Sudha: Quit pulling her hair Rit
Ritwik: I got home at 3 this morning, NOT ONE sisterly hug! (grins)
Radhika sticks her tongue out
Ritwik: Did she crash her car again?
Sudha: Shubh shubh bol. This time, the "check engine" light came on
Ritwik: She managed to get under the hood and tear it up?
Radhika yells "Maaaaa"
Sudha: Abhi rehne de isko, tu jaakar so, you have the house to urself
Ritwik: When is Bhayya getting back?
Sudha: Ananya said 8 tonite?
Radhika: Bhabhi has no sense of time, once she said 3 and Dad waited at the airport at 3 AM, turned out it was PM
Radhika guffaws falling on the couch.........
Ritwik, is amused...... he sits by her
Ritwik: Send her to Sydney with me Ma?
Sudha: Papa will go into shock beta
Ritwik: He can go with me too
Bro and sis wrestle on the couch, Sudha's notes are done, she turns off her monitor.
The maid checks in, wants to know what to make for "Ritu" baba.
Radhika: Ritu madam ke liye aap zyaada mirchi waala khaana mat banao, unka eyeliner dissolve ho jaayega
Ritwik, strangles her
Sudha: Gopi tum bhindi banao aur pulao.
Gopi smiles looks at the bro sis duo
Sudha: I am off to work, Radhika tum, time se chaley jaana kaam par
She jumps up, as if she is stung
Radhika: Maaaaaaa please 10 min?
Ritwik, lays back on teh couch and turns on the TV in the study
She runs to her room........ showers in 5 minutes, ties a magenta scuncie in her hair wears a puffed magenta sleeve blouse with a tan A line skirt with a big slit at the back with strappy thongs.....
She doesnt wear any make up or perfume, just applies some lipstick
Runs out of the room, crashes into Gopi spilling Ritwik's tea, the cup crashes to the floor
Sudha is hopping mad but doesnt say anything
Rad: Oh! Sorry ssorry, gopiji, so sorry
Gopi: Koi baat nahi
Sudha: Woh mat balcony mein daalo Radhika dhoyegi shaam ko
Rad is apalled, "Main?" "Par mujhe to shaam ko funding ke liye jaana hai"
Sudha :Raat ko dhona
Ritwik takes the second cup of tea from Gopi, looks at his sister rolls hsi eyes
Rit: You go into work looking like THAT?
Rad:Haan!
She looks at her clothes
Rit: Maa havent you taught her anything?
Sudha looks lovely in a chanderi cotton in orange, a nice high pony tail, could pass off as a 40 year old instead of a 55 year old
Radhika: I have Dad's ugly hair, Mom has hair like Pantene ads
Rit: And you are 5'8" and too fair, and have cheekbones that could hurt people, not to mention that midriff showing blouse........ Delhi mein?
He is offended his sister would dress like that,
Rad:I do serious work. I cannot dress like a nun! I am sorry.... get your eyelids sewn.....
Rit: A nun would commit suicide if she looked at ur blouse's neckline
Sudha: Thats enough Rit
Rit: You are allowing her to leave the house like THIS?
Sudha: Radhika.........
Rad: i am not changing (smug)
She plonks herself on the couch and starts eating a parantha that Gopi just brought in, her hands are greasy, she reaches for her Mom;s pallu
Sudha smacks her..... "Tumhara kamra, tumhaare kapde, kab seekhogi beta" (pained)
Rad: Kabhi nahi! (chowing down on her food, totally blissfully without a worry that her Mom is getting delayed)
Riwtik rolls one parantha and starts eating too
Sudha: Now we have a house full of savages with no table manners
Rit: Your darling daughter started it!
Radhika: The darling is a pioneer! She sets trends, she paves the way, she walks on water!
Rit: My ass! (scoffs)
Smacking her shoulder, as her parantha falls on her skirt....
Scoop of Life Part Two
Sudha: I am thinking about it!
She walks away, the reference book she is golding must be atleast 500 pages. Radhika slowly sits up in bed. Looks at her room, its cluttered and messy, more messy now, since she was trying to find a journal article last nite. Her iPad and iPod lay on top of the paper heap on the rug, half her blanket had slid off the bed. She wore a purple stripe jammies and a mauve skinny tee, her hair was a few inches below her shoulders, a curling mass.
She was taller and skinnier than most girls her age, light skinned, with pointy high cheekbones and arched eyebrows. The eyebrows pleaded for attention from time to time, the girl they lived on didnt worry much about appearances unfortunately.
Her Mom peeked in "15 minutes Radhika"
"Aap mujhe Malviya Nagar chhod deejiye main DU apne aap chali jaaoongi" (pleads loudly)
Ritwik "Shut UPPPPPP"
Mom hisses "If you whine louder, I am not responsible Radhika"
R: Is he the ONLY guy that studies overseas? (disgusted)
M:I am not going to argue, I am half way done getting ready for my class
R:Get the idiot married like Rachit Bhayya, he can go live in Safdarjung or some place, outta THIS house
Ritwik: I heard that you twit!
Radhika: GOOD!
She meanders lazily across the room, trying to find something, a cooker whistle goes off at a distance
Ritwik groans
Sudha goes back to the study, to make her notes, she is the head of the math faculty at Gargi.
Sudha: Radhikaaaaaaaaa
Radhika: Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Sudha: Get here right now
Radhika stomps into the study
Sudha: Did you pick up your car from the service station?
Radhika: Nahi
Sudha: He is going to sell it I am telling you
Radhika: I can buy a new one
Sudha: Thats sheer arrogance (offended)
Ritwik pulls her hair "BRAT!" he says dismissively, satisfied at the sharp yelp of pain coming out of his sister
She walks away, the reference book she is golding must be atleast 500 pages. Radhika slowly sits up in bed. Looks at her room, its cluttered and messy, more messy now, since she was trying to find a journal article last nite. Her iPad and iPod lay on top of the paper heap on the rug, half her blanket had slid off the bed. She wore a purple stripe jammies and a mauve skinny tee, her hair was a few inches below her shoulders, a curling mass.
She was taller and skinnier than most girls her age, light skinned, with pointy high cheekbones and arched eyebrows. The eyebrows pleaded for attention from time to time, the girl they lived on didnt worry much about appearances unfortunately.
Her Mom peeked in "15 minutes Radhika"
"Aap mujhe Malviya Nagar chhod deejiye main DU apne aap chali jaaoongi" (pleads loudly)
Ritwik "Shut UPPPPPP"
Mom hisses "If you whine louder, I am not responsible Radhika"
R: Is he the ONLY guy that studies overseas? (disgusted)
M:I am not going to argue, I am half way done getting ready for my class
R:Get the idiot married like Rachit Bhayya, he can go live in Safdarjung or some place, outta THIS house
Ritwik: I heard that you twit!
Radhika: GOOD!
She meanders lazily across the room, trying to find something, a cooker whistle goes off at a distance
Ritwik groans
Sudha goes back to the study, to make her notes, she is the head of the math faculty at Gargi.
Sudha: Radhikaaaaaaaaa
Radhika: Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Sudha: Get here right now
Radhika stomps into the study
Sudha: Did you pick up your car from the service station?
Radhika: Nahi
Sudha: He is going to sell it I am telling you
Radhika: I can buy a new one
Sudha: Thats sheer arrogance (offended)
Ritwik pulls her hair "BRAT!" he says dismissively, satisfied at the sharp yelp of pain coming out of his sister
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Scoop of Life Part ONE
January 4th 2011
Part One
Scoop of Life
8:17 AM
Saket, New Delhi
Radhika Tripathi reached for her bedside clock..... the incessant buzz threatened to drill holes in her head, she turned the other way hoping to drown out the sound......... but it continued ringing, she peered at the clock, it showed 8:17 AM
She jumped out of bed screaming. The maid dropped the jharoo and ran from her room.
Her Mom peeked in, her glasses almost slipping off her nose
Sudha: IF you need a ride to work Radhika you have 15 minutes to be exact.
Soft and firm that voice rattled Radhika more than anything
Radhika: Isnt it Saturday?
Sudha: It WAS, a day ago, and will be after 5 days..........
Radhika screamed again
Ritwik: Will you shut up, you moron? (yells)
Sudha: Will you two knock it off
Ritwik: I AM JET LAGGED, ask this animal to quieten down! (barks)
Radhika goes back to bed
Sudha: 15 minutes
Ritwik: Throw her out of this house Mom!
Radhika: You WISH! (sulking)
Sudha: I am thinking abt it
Part One
Scoop of Life
8:17 AM
Saket, New Delhi
Radhika Tripathi reached for her bedside clock..... the incessant buzz threatened to drill holes in her head, she turned the other way hoping to drown out the sound......... but it continued ringing, she peered at the clock, it showed 8:17 AM
She jumped out of bed screaming. The maid dropped the jharoo and ran from her room.
Her Mom peeked in, her glasses almost slipping off her nose
Sudha: IF you need a ride to work Radhika you have 15 minutes to be exact.
Soft and firm that voice rattled Radhika more than anything
Radhika: Isnt it Saturday?
Sudha: It WAS, a day ago, and will be after 5 days..........
Radhika screamed again
Ritwik: Will you shut up, you moron? (yells)
Sudha: Will you two knock it off
Ritwik: I AM JET LAGGED, ask this animal to quieten down! (barks)
Radhika goes back to bed
Sudha: 15 minutes
Ritwik: Throw her out of this house Mom!
Radhika: You WISH! (sulking)
Sudha: I am thinking abt it
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)