| |
––––––––
Amit walked into the Managing Partner’s cabin after taking an appointment with his secretary. Despite Naina’s rather sensible advice, it had taken him nearly five months to gather enough courage to ask for a team change. It wasn’t an easy job for him.
Mr. Bhavesh Anand asked him to take his seat.
“Yes, Amit. What is it?” asked Mr. Anand. He wore rimmed glasses and had a perfect Brown Englishman’s look. Obviously the Oxford graduate degree in Law and ten years of experience working in Clifford Chance, London helped complete the persona.
“Sir, I thought, I needed more exposure in corporate work. I have already done a bit of Capital Markets work. So now I could try to gain some experience in Mergers & Acquisitions, if you’d approve that,” Amit replied.
“What experience do you have in Capital Markets? Have you ever negotiated an underwriting agreement?” asked Mr. Anand.
Amit froze, as he could sense the sarcasm in his tone.
“I have had no experience in negotiation, Sir, but in the past few months, I have reviewed litigation documents, environmental licenses and clearances, financial documents, potential risk factors, compliance with the Companies Act and the Stock Exchange Regulations and have also drafted my first underwriting agreement,” said Amit.
Mr. Bhavesh Anand’s eyes widened with amazement. Amit saw some level of appreciation finally in his eyes.
“Sir, I just want to experience the Mergers & Acquisitions side of things. The firm has a very strong M&A division and I think I should be exposed to some new roles and challenges, which may be good for my career growth,” said Amit.
“What do you want me to do?” asked Mr. Anand.
“Sir, please change my team,” blurted out Amit. He saw a look of surprise on Mr. Anand’s face. There was a pin-drop silence for a few moments.
“Okay, but in that case, I will have to first consult Mr. Ram Kapoor. If he agrees, you may join in,” said Mr. Anand.
“Thank you so much, Sir,” Amit said and left his cabin.
His job was done, the rest was left to the Management now.
It was already evening. Just then his BlackBerry beeped. He opened his phone’s lock to see a reminder on the calendar. It was 20 September. A day before Naina’s birthday. He knew he had to do something special for her.
***
The next day he pulled Naina out of her cubicle. They moved to the staircase. The Monsoon had retreated and the sky was clear. It was humid but not unbearable like in the summer days. Amit was wearing a white shirt and black trousers without any tie. His collar was unbuttoned. Naina was wearing a cream shirt and a knee length black skirt.
“Close your eyes,” Amit said.
“What for?” asked Naina.
“I’ll tell you once you do that?” Amit said.
“Alright,” said Naina and closed her eyes.
“Now open it,” said Amit.
She opened her eyes and saw that he was standing with a bouquet of white Gladioli flowers. He handed her the bouquet and said, “Happy Birthday!”
Naina’s eyes filled up with tears. Then she smiled.
“You scoundrel, you not only remembered my birthday but also my choice of flowers. Hey, that’s really very sweet of you,” said Naina hugging him.
“Yah, you should thank me for my good memory,” laughed Amit, and hugged her tightly.
“I was six years old when my father put me in a boarding school. He said that will teach me a lesson and cure me of my mischievousness. I craved for their love but never got it. Instead I learnt to be fiercely independent. There were so many birthdays that I had to celebrate with my friends away from my parents. So I had to have a blast. But I have never felt as cared for as on this birthday. Why do you care so much for such a social outcast as me?” said Naina with a lot of sadness in her tone.
“Hey now don’t make me cry, you naughty girl,” said Amit fighting off a lump in his throat.
“No, tell me. Why do you even care about me?” Naina was almost sobbing.
“Because I feel joy bringing a smile to your face,” said Amit and wiped her tears with his hands.
“By the way let’s celebrate your birthday in my style. Only you and me. What do you say?” Amit said.
She nodded.
“I hate giving surprises. I feel that sometimes they can really ruin relationships. How about a South Indian dinner then? What do you say?” asked Amit.
“That’s perfect. I didn’t know that you kept a track of my favourite cuisine as well,” said Naina.
“Great. Then let’s go to Naivedyam restaurant tonight,” said Amit.
She nodded her head.
“Be ready and we’ll leave in the evening together,” said Amit.
***
Naina and Amit could escape office only around 8 pm and went straight to the restaurant in Naina’s car. As both took their seats, Naina could smell the divine aroma of a dosa wafting in the air. Both being regulars didn’t even need to look at the menu. So the moment they noticed a waiter, they signalled him over and ordered a thali which was sufficient for both of them.
That was the best way to savour different items of South Indian cuisine. A typical mini or tiffin thali consisted of a dosa, idli, and vada each in the middle of a large steel plate, with the corners fillled with steel katoris or bowls containing sambar, curd rice, lemon rice, vegetables in grated coconut and saffron halwa as dessert.
The thali arrived soon. Amit asked for another plate and Naina served him half of almost every dish from her thali. Naina then pounced on the dosa on her plate, tearing it with her hands, dipping in coconut chutney and putting it in her mouth.
“Mmmm...the dosa is really nice,” she said.
Amit smiled. “You know I really love the way you eat with your hands. Always be like this.”
“Thanks. By the way what is your dream girl like?” asked Naina.
Amit almost choked on his idli. Naina looked surprised.
“I mean what’s your criteria,” Naina asked.
“There’s no criteria. I’m flexible,” Amit could manage only this much.
She was puzzled by his answer. Many people had asked Amit about his dream girl and they were surprised to find that he had no answer. His dream girl was beyond words. He couldn’t explain it to anyone else and even if he did, nobody would have understood it. He had once told others that he craved for a soul to soul connection. His friends looked in amazement. He was taunted. In which world he lives in, he was asked. So he had stopped speaking about it.
She noticed that Amit was being unusually quiet. Something was going through his mind.
“You never had a crush, I mean?” asked Naina. Now she could see Amit blushing.
“I had once, in my college days,” he replied.
“Then what happened?” asked Naina.
“We lost touch. After I graduated I tried to contact her but I think she didn’t want to. That was the end. I suppose, she outgrew me quickly and I also decided to move on,” said Amit.
“That’s sad. So what kind of a girl are you now looking for?” Naina asked.
Amit remained quiet.
“I can help you find one only if you tell me. I have a few friends who may interest you,” insisted Naina.
Amit didn’t still answer.
“Let me guess. You want a girl who is beautiful, smart and intelligent. Right?” asked Naina.
“Yah. You are right,” said Amit.
“Then believe me, you will never find that girl, because no girl can have all three qualities,” said Naina.
Amit nodded his head.
“Actually I prefer smart, intelligent and creative women more than beautiful women,” Amit said.
“Sir and Mam, are you done? Shall I remove the plates?” asked the waiter.
“Oh please. And please bring us the bill,” said Amit.
“Sure, sir,” the waiter said and disappeared immediately with the plates.
“I think you should come for parties with me. You never know you may find someone you like. But you are not a party animal, aren’t you?” asked Naina.
“Yes,” he said.
“Then what do you do after office hours?” asked Naina.
“Come with me and I’ll show you,” said Amit.
She agreed.
“By the way who is your dream guy?” asked Amit.
“Ummm...let me see. He should be fun loving. Very much like myself,” Naina said laughing.
Amit also smiled.
“Here’s your bill, Sir,” said the waiter.
Amit started pulling out his wallet from his coat pocket.
“Let me pay,” Naina said.
“Oh no no... you don’t need to. I’ll pay,” protested Amit.
Naina opened her purse and put some cash on the bill.
“50-50,” she said.
Amit realised that Naina was so different from Smriti. She wanted to share all burdens and responsibilities equally. She was earning as much as he was and didn’t believe that men should pay all the time. He liked her attitude, her sincerity and her non-exploitative behaviour.
“Okay. Should we leave?” said Amit and they both walked out of the restaurant.
