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Anupama's cubicle, AK Group Ahemdabad
16th July 2022, 7:00 pm
It was quiet. Everyone in the office has already left except Anupama who was still working.
It was last day of Anupama's internship. She was working in her cubicle trying to wrap up every important work that might need her to come to office from next month.She was completely engrossed in her files when someone knocked on her desk.
She looked up and saw Vikram casually leaning on her desk.
Anu:- Sir aap abhi tak ghar nhi gaye?
Vikram sighed expressing his disappointment at Anupama calling him sir.
Anu:- I mean Vikram...
She smiled.
Vikram:- Ghar to tum bhi nhi gayi abhi tak....
Anu:- Haan wo next month se college shuru ho rha to I thought ki jitna kaam ho sake is mahine hi finish kar lu....
Vikram chuckled at her innocence.
Vikram:- Umm...time for your first lesson....Ms. Anupama Joshi...
Anupama turned his chair to face him looking at him perplexed.
Vikram:- Job aur Business ka rule number one.....tum agr yeh soch rhi ho ki tum yeh sara kaam aaj khatam kar logi to baad me nhi karna padega....to yeh tumahri sabse badi galatfaimi hai.... chahe tum kitna bhi kaam kar lo kuch na kuch aa hi jata hai business me...samjhi?
Anupama nodded in a yes.
Vikram:- Isiliye hme utna hi kaam karna chaiye jitna zaruri ho...
Saying this he closed her laptop and started putting away her files in the drawer.
Anu:- Vikram yeh aap kya kar rhe hai...
Anupama looked at him in surprise.
Vikram:- Whi kar rha hoo jo tumhe do ghante pehle kar dena chaiye tha....
Anu:- But....
Vikram:- Susshh...kitna bolti ho yrr tum...aab apna bag uthao aur chalo....
Anu:- Kha?
Vikram:- Are kha kya....aaj tumahri internship ka last day.... Monday se tumahri job shuru ho rhi hai....we are going to celebrate...
Anu:- Are lekin kyu.....iski kya zarurat hai?
She said making face.
Vikram:- Zarurat mai tumhe sari car me bataunga....pehle chalo Devika ko call kar diya hai maine...wo pahuchti hi hogi....
Anu:- Bunty mujhe bahut kaam hai please....
Vikram:- Mai tumahra boss hoo na....mai bol rha hoo koi kaam nhi hai...let's go...
Anupama made a puppy face.
Vikram:- Anu chalo na please....nhi to Devu ko bolunga wo tumhe kheech ke le chalegi...
Anu:- Fine....chal rhi hoo mai...but meri ek shart hai...
Vikram:- Accha theek hai bolo....
Anu:- Nowhere expensive....
Vikram:- Accha baba theek hai....aab chalo...
He picked up her bag from the desk and gestured her to lead.
Anupama took the bag from his hand and both of them walked down to the parking and left.
There was no one in the office to witness the exchange except Vanraj who was standing in the corner looking at the two friends having fun.
Vanraj(to himself):- Don't worry Anupama...jo Vikram aaj tumahre saath itna has rha hai....whi kal tumhe is office se dhakke mar ke nikalega..
RAISE THE BAR, Ahemdabad
Both Anupama and Vikram reached a rooftop cafe named Raise the Bar where Devika was already waiting for them.
At the entrance,
Anu:- Maine bola tha na nowhere expensive....
Anupama looked at Vikram annoyed.
Vikram:- Are yrr Anu...yeh kha expensive hai....
Anu:- Really....mai apko bewakoof lagti hoo....
Vikram:- Nhi...bas thodi si kanjoos lagti ho...
Vikram bit his tongue.
Anu:- Bunty....
She looked at him irritated.
Vikram:- Accha sorry sorry...aab chale Devika humara wait kar rhi hogi...
Anu:- Hmm...
They went to the rooftop and found Devika already waiting for them.
Devika:- Yrr tum log kha reh gaye the....
Anu:- Traffic tha...
Vikram:- Ohh please...koi traffic nhi tha....madam ko mana ke yha lane me itna time lag gya
Both said taking their seats.
Devika:- Anu....tu bhi na?
Anu:- Mai kya....huh?
Vikram:- Kanjoos ho...
Vikram teased her.
Anu:- Bunty....mai na apko chodungi nhi....
Vikram:- Anu...yeh Bunty aur aap dono same sentence me acche nhi lagte...
Anu:- Ohh sorry Vikram....
She said thinking he doesn't like her calling him Bunty.
Vikram sighed....
Vikram:- Are yrr....mera mtlb hai ki tum mujhe please aap mat bolo....tum bolo....aur yeh Vikram aur sir kya laga rakkha hai....mai apne dosto ke liye Bunty hoo...aab kya mujhe har baar tumse Bunty sunne ke liye tumahri taang kheechni padegi...huh?
Anu:- Okay fine Bunty.....lekin mai tum nhi bol sakti...
Vikram sighed realising his defeat.
Devika:- Yrr Bunty...jaane de isse nhi hoga...
Vikram:- Accha accha theek hai....
Devika:- Please aab kuch order kare...bahut bhook lagi hai mujhe...
Anu:- Yrr Devu....kitni bhook lagti hai tujhe...
Vikram:- Khane do Anu....nhi to pata chala khi hme hi na kha jaye yeh moti...
Anupama chuckled.
Devika:- Agar tune chup chap order nhi kiya na.....to tujhe hi roast karke kha jaungi...
Anu:- Accha accha karte hai meri maa...
Vikram :- Pehle drinks se shuru kare....
Devika :- Haan haan....
Vikram called the waiter.
Waiter came with menus.
Waiter:- Yes sir....your order?
Vikram:- Anu....pehle tum order karo?
Anu:- Mai lekin....
Vikram:- Lekin and all kya.....hum tumahre achievements celebrate karne aaye hai na...to tum hi pehle order karogi....
Devika:- Yes....pehle tu order kar...
She said handing her over the menu.
Anupama was looking nervous and Vikram noticed it.
Vikram:- You have non-alcoholic drinks...right?
Vikram asked the waiter.
Waiter:- Yes sir...page 7.
Vikram:- Anu page 7 pe sare non-alcoholic drinks hai....
Devika:- Aur har drink ke neeche description me likha hoga ki usme kya hai...aur agar fir bhi kuch samjh nhi aaye to tu inse puch sakti hai....
She said indicating towards the waiter.
A memory flashed before Anupama's eyes.
Aap puch rhe the na bapuji ki ise mai bahar kyu nhi le jata....kyuki yeh khi le jane ke layak hi nhi hai....Are ise to kisi Indian dish ke alawa kuch pata hi nhi hota....galti se ise kisi aur cusine ke restaurant me le jaooo....to ise dishes ke naam tak bolne nhi aate...aur galti se naam bol bhi le....to puchti hai ki isme kya hota hai...are biwi nhi embarassment hai yeh....
She closed her eyes to avoid the tears to flow but a single tear slid down his cheeks.
She immediately wiped it and looked at her two friends who never think of her as an embarrassment.
Vikram:- Anu....kuch decide kiya?
Anu:- Haan....wo I will take a virgin pina colada....
Vikram:- Okay....Devika tu?
Devika:- virgin Cosmo...
Vikram:- Okay....
He looked at the waiter and spoke...
Vikram:- Please write one virgin pina colada, virgin Cosmo and a non-alcoholic mimosa...
Anu:- Wait....aap dono kyu non-alcoholic drinks le rhe hai... mujhe koi problem nhi hai...aap log kuch aur bhi le sakte hai....
Devika:- Anu...hm tera din celebrate karne aaye hai na...to aaj teri pasand ka sab kuch...
Vikram:- Haan aur waise bhi mera man nhi hai...agar hoga to we will order later..
Anu:- Okay...
Vikram:- That's all...aap itna hi leke aaiye..
Waiter:- Anything to eat sir?
Vikram:- We will order that later...
Waiter:- Okay...
Saying this the waiter left.
Devika:- Anu...to aab bata teri pehli internship kaisi rhi....is Bunty ne tujhse zada kaam to nhi karwaya....
Anu:- Zada.....mujhe to aur karna tha....lekin yeh mujhe yha kheech ke le aaye...
Vikram:- To aur kya karta din bhar kaam kaam kaam....are yrr thoda relax bhi to hona chaiye...
Devika:- Exactly Anu...tu office leke ghar tak sirf kaam karti hai....kbhi office...kbhi ghar...kbhi dance academy....aur aab to college bhi shuru ho jayega...Anu you need to take a break....
Anu:- Aisa kuch bhi nhi hai...mai sab handle kar lungi...infact mujhe kaam karne me sach me bahut maza aata hai....maine jo in do mahino me seekha hai...trust me yeh learning experience mai kabhi nhi bhulungi....I know college khulne ke baad thoda hectic hoga....but I will try my best to manage everything....
Vikram:- Yrr tumahara college khul jayega to tum work from home karne lagogi....meri office life fir se boring hone wali hai...
Anu:- Aap to aise bol rhe ho jaise mai kabhi office aaungi hi nahi...and btw abhi college do hafte baad khulenge...tab tak office aa rhi hoo mai....
Vikram:- Ohh thank God... actually tum aaj jitna kaam kar rhi thi na mujhe laga tum aane hi nhi wali wapas...
Anupama chuckled.
Devika:- Jane de Bunty...yeh aisi hi hai...ise kaam karne se koi nhi rok sakta...
Anu:- Tum dono kaamchor to bilkul nhi...
Anupama chuckled.
Vikram:- Haww tumne hme kaamchor kha...
Anu:- Haan bilkul...
Devika:- Anuuuu....Bunty to theek h.....tujhe kis angle se mai kamchor lagti hoo...
Anupama looked at her with a smirk.
Anu:- Har angle se...
Vikram:- Anu yrr.....tum na bahut bol rhi ho...mai kamchor lagta hoo tumhe...
Anu:- Haan to aapne bhi to thode der pehle mujhe kanjoos bola...
Vikram:-Kyuki tum ho...
Anu:- Haww....mai kanjoos hoo....to aap khadus hai...
Vikram:- Mai khadoos hoo...
Vikram made a annoyed face.
Devika:- Rehne de Bunty....tu isse nhi jeet payega...
Vikram:- Agar Anuj hota na to fir dekhta...hmse baato me kaun jetata...
Devika looked at him agitated and Vikram realised he shouldn't probably bring up Anuj. It wasn't because Anupama wouldn't like it but they didn't know if Anuj would.
Anu:- Ohh please....wo battery...unko maine literally baato me haraya hai...wo kya bachate aapko...
Devika and Vikram looked at Anupama with their jaws dropped surprised that Anupama remembers him and she called him battery.
Anu:- Aap dono mujhe aise kya dekh rhe hai....mera mtlb hai ki debate competition...college ke last year me jo debate competition hua tha usme wo mai aur Gunjan finalist the na... Remember?
She said in a low voice.
Devika and Vikram were still looking at her in surprise.
Anu:- Hello...kha kho gaye aap dono?
Anupama's words brought them back to the present.
Devika:- Anu tujhe wo yaad hai?
She asked still baffled.
Vikram:- Aur tumne use battery bola?
Anu:- Haan sorry mtlb wo to galti se muh se nikal gaya....I am sure battery nhi honge wo....
She said biting her tongue realising she shouldn't have said that.
Vikram chuckled.
Devika:- I thought tujhe wo yaad nhi hoga...
Anu:- Haan mtlb koi aur hota to yaad nhi hota...but aap teeno humesha saath me rehte the...to mujhe yaad hai...isiliye to mai Bunty ko bhi to pehchan gayi thi..
She said justifying her remembering him by a reason which was definitely not the case. She remembered him for a totally different reason.
Vikram:- Yeah....that makes sense....
Suddenly the waiter came back with their drinks and Anupama was saved from further questions.
The waiters put the drinks on the table and left.
Vikram:- Let me raise a toast...
He said lifting the glass and Devika and Anupama joined.
Vikram:- Let me raise a toast to the most hardworking, talented and sincere intern of the AK Group Ms Anupama Joshi...she is not only an honest employee...
Devika:- But also a wonderful friend....
Devika added.
Vikram:- And the sweetest human being I have ever met.
Anupama had tears in her eyes.
Anu:- Thank you...thank you....aap dono nhi hote to mai yha tak pahunchi hi nhi hoti...thank you Devu mujhe itna encourage karne ke liye...aur Bunty mujhe itna bada mauka dene ke liye...
Devika:- Tu jha hai wha apni mehnat ki wajah se hai aur kisi ki wajah se nhi...
Vikram:- And this is not the end...abhi to shuruaat hai...internship khatm hui hai...but job shuru hogi...and I am sure usme bhi tum nyi ucchaiya chuogi....
Devika:- To our rockstar...
Saying this she raised the glass.
Vikram:- To our rockstar....
Cheers....
Saying this their glasses clinked.
They were sipping drinks, chatting and sharing banters when Vikram's phone rang.
He picked up the call....
On the call
Hello...
Yess?
.
.
.
.
I will be there in an hour.
The call ends.
Vikram:- Guys...
Vikram sounded a little low.
Devika:- Kya hua...sab theek hai?
Vikram:- Haan haan....actually mujhe office ke liye nikalna hoga...thoda urgent hai...
Anu:- But kyu....abhi to koi hoga bhi nhi office me...is everything alright?
Vikram:- Yeah actually jo Govt project wala tender tha wo hme nhi mila....so usse related kuch hai...
Anu:- But uske results to Monday ko aane wale the na...
Vikram :- Haan but shayad jaldi aa gayee...I am not sure...mujhe office jana hoga...tum log enjoy karo....mai baad me milta hoo...
Devika:- Are but...tu theek hai na...koi problem hai aur?
Anu:- Mai bhi chalu kya saath me?
Vikram:- Nhi nhi Anu tum kya karogi chal ke...tumhe to pata bhi nhi hai kuch us project ke bare me....aur mai bilkul theek hoo
Devika:- Sure?
Vikram:- Haan tum log please apni evening meri wajah se spoil mat karo....mai milta hoo baad me...bye guys...
Anu:- Bye...
Devika:- Bye...aaram se jaana...
He waved a bye to Anu and hugged Devika and left.
Anupama and Devika went back to chit chatting about their day.
Anuj's Apartment, New York
17th July 2022, 4:00 am
Anuuu....
Anuuu...
ANUUUUUUUU.......
The whisper turned into a loud noise that echoed in the entire apartment as Anuj woke up with a jerk shouting her name and sat up on the bed.
Anuuu...Anuuu...Anuuu...
He was taking her name continuously and his breaths were getting heavy and out of control.
GK:- Anuj Anuj Anuj.....
GK ran to his room calling him. When he reached, he saw him sitting on his bed with his face turned white,drops of sweat formed on his forehead, and breaths that were getting heavy.
Anu...Anu..
GK saw Anuj continuously chanting her name in a low voice.
He immediately went by his side and started patting his back trying to comfort him and wiped the sweat formed on his face with the sleeves of his kurta.
Once Anuj calmed down a bit, GK asked...
GK:- Anuj kya hua tujhe...haan...kya hua tujhe beta..
Anuj:- GK wo Anu.....Anu....
GK:- Kya hua....koi bura sapna dekha...Anu ki yaad aa rhi hai?
Anuj:-Nhi....GK wo....Anu...theek nhi hai...
GK:- Anuj tune koi bura sapna dekha hoga.....
Anuj:- Nhi GK....mai janta hoo bura sapna tha...lekin kuch to hai GK...Meri Anu theek nhi hai....
Saying this he stood up and started walking back and forth.
GK:- Anuj beta...meri baat sun...kuch nhi hua hai...Anu bilkul theek hogi....
Anuj:- Nhi GK....mujhe pata hai meri Anu theek nhi hai....kuch to hua hai....
GK:- Meri baat sun....tu pehle baith...
Saying this GK led Anuj to the bed and sat him down but Anuj was still restless.
Anuj:- GK...
GK:- Anuj beta....tujhe peechle saal bhi to aisa hi laga tha na kuch...but jab tune Devika ko phone kiya to sab theek hi tha...to tujhe fir se aise hi laga hoga...bura sapna hai beta jane de....
Anuj:- Mujhe nhi pata GK.... mujhe kuch nhi pata....bas mujhe itna pata hai....ki meri Anu peechli baar bhi shayad theek nhi thi...aur shayad...is baar bhi...nhi nhi...
GK:- Anuj beta.....
GK didn't know how to calm him down. Anuj always have these dreams about Anupama but they never turn into a nightmare but when they do Anuj becomes restless for days worrying about her well being like it happened last year.
Anuj stood up from his bed and went to the side table.
Anuj:- Mai Devika ko call karne jaa rha hoo....
Saying this he picked up the phone to call her.
GK:- Anuj....tu use bhi pareshan kar dega....
Anuj:- I don't care GK...mera janna bahut zaroori hai...
Saying this he called her and Devika picked up.
On the call,
Anuj:- Hello
Devika:- Anuj tu subah ke 4 baje kyu phone kar rha hai?
She said looking at her watch and realising the time in US.
Anuj:- Devu....teri Anu se koi baat hui kya....wo theek to hai na?
Devika:- Anuj....wo bilkul theek hai...tujhe kya hua?
Anuj:- Devu....mujhe kuch theek nhi lag rha...tu uske ghar jaa ke dekh na...ya phone kar ke puch?
Devika:- Pehle mujhe tu batayega ki tujhe hua kya hai?
Anuj:- Mujhe bas ek bura sapna aaya tha....lekin Devu mujhe sach me lag rha Anu ke sath kuch galat hone wala hai...
Devika was in silence thinking that Anuj's intuitions about Anupama is always right.
Last year when Anupama found about EMA, she had breakdown and Anuj was restless the whole time constantly calling Devika to check on her but she had to lie for his sake.
This time Anupama was at home spending the day with Pakhi and she was okay but Anuj was restless.
Anuj:- Devu....kuch bol kyu nahi rhi...
This brought Devika back to the present.
Devika:- Anuj...please tu chill kar...mai abhi Anu se milkar hi aa rhi hoo....wo bilkul theek hai...
Anuj:- Pakka?
Devika:- Haan Anuj.... bilkul theek hai wo...
Anuj:- Okay....
Devika:- Anuj...tu chinta mat kar please...aur please aab iske baare me zada mat sochna...bas ek bura sapna hoga...relax...
Anuj:- Hmm...shayad....
Devika:- Chal rakhti hoo mai...bye....tu so jaa aab please..
Anuj:- Bye....
The call was cut.
Anuj took a deep breath.
GK:- Kya bola Devika ne?
Anuj:- Bola ki Anu ke pass hi thi wo...wo theek hai...
GK:- Dekh maine bola tha na...tu aise hi tension le rha...aab so jaa...maan....
Anuj:- Hmm...GK aap bhi so jaiye...sorry aapko itni subah pareshan kiya...
GK:- koi baat nhi Maan...
He put a hand on his shoulders and comforted him before leaving.
GK:- Good night Maan...
Anuj:- Good night GK...
Anuj walked up to his balcony and stood there in silence.
Anuj(to himself):- Pata nhi GK...abhi bhi mujhe kuch theek nhi lag rha...aisa lag rha kuch galat hone wala hai....
Vikram's Office, AK Group, India
17th July 2022, 10:00 am
Vikram was sitting on his chair in his office with a bunch of employees and his secretary Ishika standing in front of him.
Vikram:- What was so urgent that I had to come to office on a Sunday morning?
Employee 1:- Sir we lost our tender for the government project.
Vikram:- I know that....I was in office yesterday after the results were announced....I understand aap logo ne bahut mehnat ki thi wo bid decide karne me...but kabhi kabhi aisa ho jata hai...it's business...aap log abhi tak ki humari sabse efficient research team hai tender bids decide karne ke liye....chote mote losses ho jate hai...don't loose your heart over it....move onto the next....
Employee 2 :- Sir hume actually uske bare me hi kuch baat karni hai....
Vikram:- Haan please say....
Employee 1:- Sir mujhe...I mean hum sabko lagta hai ki humari tender bids leak ki gayi hai dusri company ko....
Vikram:- Do you realise what are you saying?
Employee 3:- Sir we understand....yeh ek bahut bada statement hai...but we have our reasons to believe that...
Vikram:- Reasons?
Employee 2 :- Sir jis company ko yeh project mila hai...uski bid hmse bahut different nhi thi....
Vikram:- Mtlb?
Employee 4:- Sir infact humari aur unki bid almost same hi thi...
Vikram:- Guys ho sakta hai na wo humse better rhe ho bid lagane me and coincidentally wo humare bid ke aas pass ho...
Employee 1:- Sir we understand coincidence....lekin itna bada...I mean unki aur humari bid me 1000s ya fir 1 lakh tak ka difference hota to samjhte...but difference sirf Rs. 100 ka hai.... that's too close.....we don't think it's a coincidence.
Vikram was silently listening.
Employee 4:- Sir even if it's a coincidence....it's worth a look...
Vikram:- Okay....let's just say it was leaked...if it did....who did it?...since you guys are the only people who knows about it apart from me....you guys decided and filed it....so the only person who could leak it would be someone from you....
Employee 2 :- Sir we are not the only person who knew about it...
Vikram:- Are you trying to say that I leaked it?
Employee 1:- Absolutely not sir....what he meant was....the bid was entered into our system...and it had a file trail...
Vikram:- Our system is digitally secured...surely no one can access that folder in which it is entered without my passcode.
Employee 3:- But we still had it in the blue file that we left for you to sign...
Vikram:- That file was only looked at by me....not even Ishika had a look at it...
Employee 1:- Sir what if someone came into your cabin?
Vikram:- Only Ishika has access to my cabin and the day you guys handed me the file, I had given her a off. The next day I personally handed it to you guys...
Employee 2 :- Sir we don't know how it's possible but we have this gut feeling that it was leaked....even if it was someone from us....we need to find out... it's important...
Vikram:- Okay...I will look into it then...
Ishika:- Sir I had to say something...
Vikram:- Yes Ishika....
Ishika:- Sir...the day you gave me off, Ms Joshi accessed your cabin for some file.
Vikram:- So...?
Ishika:- So she could have.....
Vikram:- Ishika....
Vikram stood up from his chair.
Vikram:- I trust her....she could never do something like that....
Employee 1:- Sir if that's the case, you should look into it.
Vikram was agitated at the allegations but tried to keep his calm.
Vikram:- Guys I am telling you...she won't ever do that...
Employee 4:- Sir what's the harm then...we can easily look at the security footage from your office and find out if she did it or not...if she didn't...that would be a good thing....
Vikram was annoyed.
Vikram:- Okay fine I will look into that....you guys please leave....I will inform you if something comes up....
Everyone left including Ishika.
Vikram sat on his chair worried about who could have leaked the bids.
A few moments later,he stood up and decided to look at the security footage.
It wasn't that he didn't believe in Anupama but it was just he didn't want anyone to doubt her and therefore wanted to clear her name from this once and for all. He knew she hasn't done anything and decided that there was no harm in taking a look at the footage.
He called Ishika in his cabin.
Vikram:- Ishika....please ask the security to bring the CCTV footage of my cabin from two weeks before.
Ishika and Security came back with the footage and loaded it in Vikram's computer.
He asked everyone to leave except Ishika.
Vikram:- Ishika....Rewind it to the evening of 4th of July.
Ishika rewinded and played the footage.
Both were taking a look at it when Vikram's face turned pale looking at the person in the footage taking a glance at the tender file.
He had no idea how he should react. He immediately closed the footage and said...
Vikram:- Ishika.....no one should know about this...did you get it?...I said no one...
Ishika nodded in reassurance looking at her boss.
Guys I tried my best for MaAn Milan today but couldn't complete it due to some work.
Will complete soon.
I don't have much idea about how bids work but tried to write this with whatever info I had.
So please bear with me if I had made any errors.
That's it for this part.
Hope you like it.....
The next part will be updated soon...
Please vote and share...and do leave your thoughts about the part in the comment section ❤️
Thank you ❤️