Sunday, July 15, 2018

Crossed Wires: Part IV - A Short Romance

For earlier parts, click here:
Part I
Part II 
Part III
"Hey, it was great walking down the market road that evening. I never thought shopping could be fun. BTW, you haven't mailed me the details about the services you offer," Sumesh pinged Barkha.

Barkha was startled. She remembered his request well but had not taken it seriously. She did not want to take it seriously, in fact, fearing any unnecessary interactions with him. Thirdly, of course, she did not have his conact details and was above asking Amrita for it.

But now that he had messaged, she asked him for his email ID ignoring the personal part of his comment, and mailed the sales proposal a little later.

"Hey, don't treat me like business!" he messaged on Whatsapp though his email response was just as formal. Her heart in a flutter, she decided to delay responding and tried to focus on work. But she kept going back to the message. He would know that she had read it and maybe wonder why she was not responding. Let him stew!

But it was she who stewed and fretted and fumed till she heard from him again later this evening. She was disappointed at the formality of the tone as he requested a meeting with his boss the following day. She agreed and looked forward to seeing him again.

Hearing the phone ping, she looked at it to see Amrita's message, "Excited that you are going to be meeting Sum on work!" A reminder of where Sumesh's loyalty lay? A boundary being drawn? Rights being established?

Barkha shook her head to disperse the silly thoughts. The thief hid in her head, not Amrita's. Barkha realised she was obsessing about him.

"Let's see how it works out," she replied with apparent nonchalance. At home, she studiously avoided any discussion about Sumesh, lest she betray her eagerness. What struck her belatedly as she went to bed was that Amrita had not brought it up either.

Next morning, as Barkha got ready for work, Amrita saw her off with an excited whisper, "All the best."

"Thanks, will keep you posted," Barkha replied with a nervous smile, wondering if Amrita had noticed her taking extra care when getting ready.

"Don't worry, I will get to hear about it soon after," Amrita replied with a twinkle in her eyes and a laugh that drove knife through Barkha's heart. She patted her sister and left, her body trembling and mind blank.

She tried to maintain a professional calm when she met Sumesh and his marketing head, Prateek. Prateek was not much older than Sumesh, and quite friendly. She focused on him while making her presentation, blocking out Sumesh completely. And not realising the effect she was having on Prateek!

When she was done, she felt exhausted from the effort. But Prateek himself seemed refreshed and enthusiastic. "Sounds good! However, we have a couple of other quotes and were in the process of finalising one of them when Sumesh recommended you... You are quoting a higher price... Why should we give you the contract?" he asked.

Barkha's jaws tightened. "Not because Sumesh is recommending me," she said firmly. "Experience, quality and some of our value added services, mainly. But my team is also special," she replied cryptically.

"In what way?" Prateek asked with a raised eyebrow, his forehead creasing, making him look handsome.

She paused for a second before saying, "All my team members are physically or economically challenged. Their needs are special. But their work is extraordinary, sensitive to different needs as well as to aesthetics and functionality. They are also provided special training for soft skills and if you grant us the contract, then will service you beyond expectations," she replied with confidence.

With his eyes wide in awe, Prateek turned towards Sumesh. "Did you know about that?"

Sumesh, equally impressed, shook his head.

Barkha felt gratified and added with quiet dignity, "I am not using the word 'special' to evoke sympathy. I have given references to my earlier clients. You can speak to them and be satisfied of the quality yourself. Of course, you can visit the sites given at the end of the presentation as well," she added.

"We'll get back to you," Prateek said as he got up. She nodded and Sumesh escorted her out. "How about some coffee?" he asked. She was about to refuse but he just walked on, forcing her to follow.

They reached the cafe next door and he ordered two coffees. "Anything else?" he asked. She shook her head and looked at the time, "I have to..."

He raised his hand to stop her. "Leave, I know. Even I have to. I just wanted to tell you about the book you made me buy."

"You finished reading it already?" she asked incredulously.

"No! Not started yet. But I wondered why you have stopped talking."

She frowned. "Nothing of the sort! We haven't met since then."

"We don't have to meet, do we?"

"We don't have to talk, do we? You are marrying my sister, not me!" she said disdainfully.

"Is that bothering you?" he demanded.

Realising her blunder, she said, "I mean, there is nothing for us to talk."

"But are we bound by silence?"

Knowing she was losing, she said impatiently, "Look, I take my job seriously. I need to go." She got up.

"Prateek can be charming, but a pain in the wrong place too," he said.

"I know how to handle difficult clients," she said tersely.

"Make sure he remains a client," he said apropos of nothing.

Her eyes flashed, "When I need advice on any matter, business or otherwise, I will come to you."

"Whoa! Don't chew me, I am just being brotherly!"

She grimaced in pain. "I have lived all my life without one. Do me the kindness of not forcing one on me now."

She got up to leave but he caught up easily. "What did I do wrong?" he begged.

"Nothing... you did nothing wrong. Please, let me go," she replied hoarsely. Sumesh stood back, allowing her to leave.

"Sumesh told me Prateek was very impressed. Congrats Baru di! I am sure you will get the contract," Amrita pinged before Barkha had reached her office. Nothing more. "Thanks," she replied and wondered accepting this contract was wise.

Proceed to Part V

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