Part 83

January 9^th 2012

Modi & Dastur

Worli

Mumbai

3:15 PM

Khanak and Ram stepped out of a marathon 4 hour meeting.

R:You must have ghar ka khaana with you, what a lucky girl.

K (smiling) I told Dadi not to pack me any since I was gone yesterday, but unhoney suna hi nahi

R:Whats for lunch?

K:Bite size sandwiches of various kind, and mango milk shake in a thermos (sheepish)

R: WHO did you marry again?

K:HE didn’t fix it (haughty)

R:Ab tumhe who bhi chahiye?

K:He can only make meat…

R:Khaana shuru kar do… he owes Renuka multiple meals

K:Keh doongi (shy)

R:If you talk that is…

K smiles

R:Good stuff back there Khanak… we can make our pitch for Lower Parel one more time between us tomorrow, Mr Dastur will be in an Noon kal, he talked about Ajmera hiring us for their Lonavla Project

Khanak looked surprised “Is there one now?”

R: Shaan tumhe kuch kehta nahi?

K thinks “We fight or make love” strangely that’s what we do best….

K:Ummm.. uhh

R:Ajmera apparently is in talks with some French Developer to join hands in Singapore and Hong Kong, big opportunity for Shaan

K’s face pales…

K:Hmmm… he likes it here…

R:All I care about is, we get Ulwe’s Casa de la… baaki baad mein, the builder we are dealing with for Lower Parel favors us, Ajmera is known to play dirty…

K:It’s a tight rope walk? (terrified)

R:More like a oily rope walk

K: Oh!(nervously clenching her hands over her laptop)

R:You have a team now, you are al charged up, if that was any indication (waving his hand towards the conf room) blaze away…

K:Thanks… I hope Tarapore Builders get their bid approved for Lower Parel and we get to work with them

R: You will have to sign a confidentiality clause, as you will be then married to the enemy..

K blushes involuntarily as if a jolt of electricity passed through her veins…..

R: We’ll just lock u up here (laughs, as his phone rings)

R:Save some sandwiches for me

K:Jee! Dadi sends 2 doz usually, I eat 6 or so…

R:Good then I wont let my admin order lunch (gleeful)

Khanak’s phone is ringing in her desk

She sprints, hair flying all over her face… she is wearing a pink kurta with pearl and bead work up front and a offwhite salwar, no dupatta… she is wearing a Tiffany’s pink diamond pendant and earrings, Nandu’s Maasi’s wedding gift…

There is a speck of a red bindi, microscopic…. Her kohl lined eyes shining bright on her pink glowing face….

K:Huhhh Hello? (soft)

Shiv Rao: Hi! Is this Mrs Gujral? (deep)

K:Umm.. ya? I am not sure…

Shiv Rao: Hi! Shiv Rao here…I am the Chief Financial Planner for BNY Group’s Wealth Management Team

K:Ummm.. maybe you…(must be looking for Khushboo or Madhavi?)

Shiv: I know who I am calling (smiles)

K:Oh! (embarrassed)

Shiv: Do you have a minute?

K:If you don’t mind my chewing…(opening her lunch case)

Shiv laughs out loud “I don’t” “Late lunch huh?”

K:A meeting

Shiv waits… and waits.. she is quiet

Shiv: He said you were very quiet

The sandwich slipped…. “Ummm” she said…

Shiv: Your husband recommended we meet.

K:Really? Are you looking to? We actually don’t do much (individual house plans)

Shiv laughed “No, luckily I bought from Gujral last year a penthouse at Casa di Sogni”

K:Oh!

Shiv: Khana… can I call you that?

K:Please…

Shiv: Can we meet?

K:Oh!

Shiv: I have no idea what my team will be looking at, so do you mind sending me your savings investments & plans?

K:Umm… its… oh! Its on my home PC…

Shiv waits

K:Is this to help me get organized (late bloomer)

Shiv:yes (grins)

K:Oh! I mean… I my… husband mentioned…(Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

Shiv waits

K:If you don’t mind may I ask you how much will the advice cost me?

Shiv:its Paid for… Gujral did…

K:But… how…mu..

Shiv:Its part of his package… you should not worry about it…

K:Umm.. if you don’t mind I would like to know…

S:Khanak its over 6 lakhs a year

The piece of sandwich she bit on falls off her lower lip

K:SIX LAKHS?

Shiv:Yes (confident)

K: I don’t even… I don’t… have 20%... I mean I don’t have anything close.. I

Shiv waits

K:I will just be wasting your time (apologetic)

Shiv:No! Not at all Mrs Gujral…

K:I have… I have some loans… many… I…

He waits

Shiv:Lets do lunch… tomorrow?

K:Ummm (flounders, trying to check her calendar)

Shiv: Noon at Taj Mahal?

K:Oh!

Shiv:I can give you a ride

K:I… My driver is usually here… (embarrassed to admit she lives in the lap of luxury)

Shiv:Great then?

K:Hmmm…

Shiv: Good to..

K:Shiv?

Shiva:Ya? (really quiet)

K:Th..thanks?

Shiv:You should thank Gujral! (warm)