Jaivanta Songara was the heiress of her father’s property. She was a businesswoman and mother, wife and partner, and a kind-hearted NGO worker, all of the roles she played efficiently. But the one thing she hated, as an heiress, wife and mother were these corporate events. But given her husband being the CEO and her son running the company such events were unavoidable. She saw her reflection in the mirror and checked the diamond pendant that hung from her neck around which the laces of her black sari were visible. Her husband came up behind her to adjust his tie and looked at her reflection.
“You didn’t wear it?” made her frown at him through the mirror.
“What?” In a reflex, she checked her ears for the teardrop earrings that hang from them.
“Your smile. It is missing.” He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “It looks beautiful on you.” She gave him half a smile and turned to face him, holding his hand in hers.
“Udai.” She looked up at her husband “I am worried for Pratap. He can’t seem to forget whatever happened with the engagement. I mean it’s been a year and every time I want to fix him up with someone he avoids it.”
“Jaivanta.” Her husband shook his head rather casually “Everyone heals at their own pace. Maybe he is slow. He just needs some time. Not distraction. Let him be.” He walked up to the bedside table to take his phone. “Besides I think you should be more worried about the younger one. He has his exams soon and all I see him do is attend parties.” His words seemed to go unregistered with his wife. They had their clear favourites when it came to the children. Jaivanta was always more worried about Pratap and spoiling Shakti while Udai preferred Pratap as the responsible one. “Come. It's time.” He gave his wife his arm.
“Damn it!” Shakti slammed the brakes of his car and scratched it to a halt in the portico of the office building. “I am late.” He tossed the keys to the valet and ran to the elevator, tie in hand.
“Stop the elevator.” His shout prompted the lady inside to keep the door open as he rushed inside and stood breathless. She was about to press the button but he straightened himself to say “Allow me, Hall I assume?”
“Yes.” She smiled. For the next minute as the elevator went up, Ajabdeh Punwar watched Shakti Singh struggle with the knot of his tie. “Shit, I should have let Ranima...”
“Can I?” She offered as he happily handed it to her. They stepped out of the elevator and Shakti offered to hold her purse while she tied the knot of the tie.
“Employee?” He asked, trying to make polite small talk.
“Planner. Event Planner.” She handed the tie over to him “Ajabdeh Punwar.” “Shakti Singh Sisodia.” He extended his hand. She took it. “You are Mr Singh’s...”
“Younger brother, assuming you are asking about Dadabhai Pratap.” He smiled. Ajabdeh nodded. “Thanks for the tie.”
“You are welcome, sir.”
“Please, no. Call me Shakti, Miss Punwar.”
“Then it’s Ajabdeh to you.” She held open the glass door. “Come in. And feedback is welcome.”
“I have very keen eyes.” Shakti smiled looking around for familiar faces in the crowd that was seated.
“More the merrier. Have a good evening.” Ajabdeh walked up ahead, holding her black hourglass dress, slit slightly on the sides, with one hand and her purse in the other. Shakti spotted his mother and walked up to fill the empty seat in between his parents.
After the event and dinner went perfectly fine Rukaiya decided she should leave while Ajabdeh took charge of the party. It was going to be a long night ahead and Ajabdeh insisted she would do the job alongside the DJ Alia and Bartender Jacob. Rukaiya had done most of the work on the event and deserved a day off before the next wedding project. The poolside of the roof was well lit and a makeshift dance floor was made beside the DJ set and the bar set in a corner. The canopy was arranged with sofas and cushions as a resting area, and tables and chairs were put up as well. The employees looked forward to this party every year the talks of it. Ajabdeh sat behind the counter of the bar, as people crowded it and surveyed the area.
Jaivanta sat down under the canopy as her husband went to greet some people. Pratap walked up to his mother and sat down beside her asking, “You okay?”
“Yes. Just a little bored and tired. I will leave as soon as your father is done, meeting people.” She nodded “The event was well organised.”
“Yes.” Pratap’s eyes travelled to scrutinise the crowd as he spoke: “Excuse me.”
Jaivanta watched her firstborn push through the crowd and reach the bar. She then looked for her younger one, talking to the receptionist in a corner.
“Shakti?” She called on him.
“What should we serve you, sir?” Jacob asked Pratap ignoring the crowd. “Well my usual is Martini...” Pratap smiled as Ajabdeh looked up from her phone. “Jacob you handle the rest, I will serve him.” She got up and walked up to the counter. “So you can do this too?” Pratap sounded impressed watching her go about it.
“The first trick I learnt about Trade is that the boss should have an idea about how everything is done first-hand.” She smiled. “Here you go, enjoy your drink, sir.”
“I assume you don’t drink at work?” He asked to take it.
“Rightfully so.” She smiled. “But I converse.”
“Fair enough. Shall we talk about some business?” He asked, indicating a fairly emptier part of the rooftop. She followed him there to sit on a high chair across from him.
“So you are ready to do other corporate events as well?” He asked.
“I guess. I haven’t had a talk with my partner about it. But I think she will be fine with it.” Ajabdeh smiled. “So if you have work...”
“Do you arrange... umm... house parties?” He asked thoughtfully.
“Don’t you think those are too small an event for likes of this or weddings?” She asked with a frown. “I am a planner, not a decorator.”
“No, I mean... it’s my parent's anniversary and they wanted to keep it small...” He looked across at his father sharing a drink with a colleague and smiled. “So I wanted a party in our farmhouse and since you do weddings I...”
“Oh.” She chuckled slightly “You mean the Sisodiya kind of house parties. I see.” “Was that a taunt Miss Punwar?” He asked, raising his brows.
“Not at all, sir.” She shook her head “Just misunderstanding.”
“I’d prefer to be called Mr Singh, than Sir.”
“Mr Singh is your father here.” Ajabdeh spoke, “That will be confusing.”
“Pratap then?” He asked. The DJ changed the music to something louder making them look behind at the dance floor.
“That’s my younger brother Shakti.” He pointed with a shake of his head “He has no idea of the difference between his kind of parties and these.”
“Oh, I met him in the elevator. Tied the knot on his tie.” Ajabdeh smiled. “Reminded me of my college days.”
“You don’t seem like a messy child Miss Punwar.” Pratap looked at her surprised. “Well, I was more carefree.” Ajabdeh smiled.
“I will talk to my mother and if she agrees we will set up a meeting with them at the house. If that is okay with you?” He asked.
“I will talk to Rukaiya and let you know.” Ajabdeh agreed.
“Sure. Now excuse me.” Pratap got up to leave with his drink as she walked away towards the bar again.
“Shakti?” Jaivanta asked, nearly dragging her younger one to the seat. “What is it?” Shakti answered surprised.
“Who is that?” She asked looking away.
“Who?” Shakti asked cluelessly. “The girl on the dance floor?”
“The one at the bar counter.” She indicated with a roll of her eyes. Shakti looked around at the counter and spotted Ajabdeh and waved. She waved back with a nod.
“That’s Ajabdeh.” He said with a shrug.
“Yes, that helps. Out of the thousands of employees...” Jaivanta stared at him.
“She is the event planner. Remember Maan’s wedding planner whom Bela Mausi praised? That’s her. But why?” He questioned, scratching his head.
“I just saw Pratap talk to her for a really long time.” Jaivanta’s face lit up with hope. Shakti laughed.
“Probably about work, That’s all he talks about nowadays!” He shook his head and walked away. Jaivanta walked up to her husband and pulled him to the side.
“Are you done here? I was thinking of going home...” She said.
“Great, you two are here. Listen I was thinking...” Pratap interrupted his parents. “Why don’t we host a small anniversary party at the farmhouse and Miss Punwar can do it? They organised this party well.” Jaivanta and Udai shared a glance at each other.
“But...” Jaivanta spoke, “We were thinking...”
“Ranima...” Pratap stopped her and placed his hand on hers “Whatever happened has been a year. I am trying to forget it and you should too. Let’s not spoil our special days. Anyway, I have decided. I will fix an appointment and let you know.” As Pratap walked away his mother smiled.
“What?” Udai looked at his wife and frowned “Why do you look amused?”
“He said he is moving on.” She smiled as her husband shook his head. “Yes, but he didn’t say Ranima will find me a bride.”
“Oho! I can start looking, finding a perfect one will take time.” She said as her husband gave her a hopeless look “Let’s go home. Shall we?”
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