“Sir?” A man in his forties briskly walked into the furnished office room with a soft knock.
“Mr Jalaluddin is here to see you.” At his words, Pratap on the other side of the desk looked up from the file he was scrutinising and nodded affirmatively. The man nodded with a smile and showed another man, in his late twenties into the chamber and directed him towards the sofa. The man however waited for the secretary to leave and walked up to the desk where behind heaps of files, a desktop and a few papers, pens and paperweights sat his college friend.
“Mr Jalaluddin is here to see you.” At his words, Pratap on the other side of the desk looked up from the file he was scrutinising and nodded affirmatively. The man nodded with a smile and showed another man, in his late twenties into the chamber and directed him towards the sofa. The man however waited for the secretary to leave and walked up to the desk where behind heaps of files, a desktop and a few papers, pens and paperweights sat his college friend.
“I found a planner for the event.” Jalaluddin sat with a triumphant smile in front of his friend who looked up, a little surprised, his eyebrows shooting up.
Their annual office event was around the corner and their usual planner had ditched them last minute. Now they were in urgent need of someone who would be ready to plan something like the annual events within short notice. Pratap was sure they would have to cancel the event this year, however, Jalal insisted on taking charge and making it happen as soon as he heard of the mishap.
“But... there is a slight problem...” He cleared his throat. Pratap smiled. Of course, none of Jalal’s achievements was complete without the ifs and buts. “They... are wedding planners.” He looked up at a rather amused Pratap to add quickly “It will be their first corporate event and I am sure they won’t disappoint. They want to expand into...”
“Then how did you find them?” He closed the cap on his fountain pen, and looked at his friend intensely “The wedding planners who want to expand into corporate event planning?” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. That was Pratap. Jalal never expected something as simple as a thank you from him. He was far more complex than that.
“I... I know one of them... Khan Baba’s secretary’s daughter.” He said rather plainly. “The other one...” his voice trailed.
“Let me guess.” Pratap had a hint of amusement in his voice “It’s a she?”
“It is not like that. Khan Baba recommended them. I have known them for a long time. They are more family friends and less of ex-employees now. The wedding season hadn’t been at its best because of the Pandemic. They need the money so they are willing to go to corporate events. And let’s face it. Nobody will agree to take up the challenge in just ten days; you don’t have the reputation of being easily pleased. They may be aware of it too.”
“Hmm.” Pratap gave it a moment’s thought. “Fair enough. Let’s fix an appointment tomorrow, shall we?” Jalal smiled.
He called for his secretary who came in to fix an appointment for the day.
“What’s the name?” Pratap asked Jalal who had just taken a sip from the coffee he was offered.
“Oh... umm... here.” He held out a card from his purse and handed it over.
“Ajabdeh Punwar.” The man murmured. Pratap’s hand stopped at the cup of brewing hot coffee he was about to pick up.
“What’s the name again?” He asked.
“Her name is Ajabdeh Punwar. Her business partner’s name is Rukaiya Sultanam.” Jalal took a cookie as he spoke. Pratap Singh leaned back on his chair.
“What were you saying about... how do you know them?” He asked as Jalal looked up.
“Oh... that...” He finished his cookie as he spoke “Khan Baba’s secretary is her mother. Basically, Khan Baba knew her dad. After he passed away she was employed. She had been diagnosed with something a few years back and her treatments cost a fortune. Since she left work for her health issues, the family was going through a lot, financially. Both the daughters are brilliant. The elder one started working as a wedding planner at eighteen and now has her own business and the younger one is studying interior design. Ever since their father died...” Jalal stopped biting his lips. Not only was the information too personal to share but also he was unsure of Pratap’s interest in someone else’s personal matters.
Jalal looked up at his face.
“I think I met Miss Punwar last year at Manwati’s wedding.” He said.
“Oh yes. I forgot that. Yes, she is the one, she had recently partnered with Rukaiya to expand. The Pandemic hit such businesses hard.”
“Okay, I will see her tomorrow and let you know.” Pratap nodded.
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