After giving some instructions to Tarun, Priya helped Pihu to take a shower and get ready.
She was doing Pihu's hair when Brinda entered the room.
Brinda: Wahhh...Pihu toh itni jaldi ready ho gayi.
Pihu: Main toh bullet train hoon. Meri speed bohot zyada hai.
Priya and Brinda both laughed listening to her.
Priya: Accha Pihu maine jo jo bataya tha yaad hai na?
Pihu: Haan. Papa ke Office jaake badmaashi nahi karni hai. Mujhe hamesha aap logon ke aas paas rehna hai. Mujhe koi bhi help chahiye toh main aap ko bol sakti hoon.
Priya: Right. Aur ek baat bataya tha.
Pihu: Haan wahan ek Minister uncle honge unse acche se baat karni hai.
Priya: That's right. Good girl. Now go play with Tarun. Main ready hoke aati hoon.
Pihu: Okay.
She pecked Priya's cheek and went downstairs.
Priya quickly came out wearing the green saree that Ram gifted her the other night and started combing through her hair.
Brinda: You know Ram won't be signing the deal today.
Priya(starting to panic): KYA? Kyun? Kuch hua hai? Mr. Kapoor thik hain na?
Brinda: Bapre! Relax Priya! He won't be signing the deal as he would be too busy checking you out.
Priya closed her eyes and laughed. Then threw a cushion at her.
Priya: Yeh bohot zyada ho gaya! Kuch bhi!
Brinda started laughing her heart out and then composed herself.
Brinda: No Priya I'm serious. You're looking very pretty.
Priya: Jo tum hamesha lagti ho Brinda.
Brinda: Woh toh main hoon hot & happening!
Priya(chuckling): Chalo. I'm ready.
Brinda: Haan haan let's go.
Soon they started the journey towards Kapoor Urbans.
Priya: Tarun tumne Flowers ka order place kar dia tha na?
Tarun: Haan Bhabhi. Ready karke rakkha bhi hai. Bass pick karna hai.
Priya: Accha thik hai.
She looked at her watch. It was already 10:45 and they needed to reach before 11:30 which seemed impossible.
Brinda: Relax Priya. 11:30 bola hai iska matlab yeh nahi ke ussi time hoga.
Priya: I just hate to be late Brinda. Also Mr. Kapoor ko kuch pata nahi hai na?
Brinda: Nahi baba. Kisiko nahi pata in fact. Tumhara surprise barkarar hai. I'll call Adi when we reach cause Media hogi. Aur peeche toh security team hai hi. Don't worry.
Priya nodded and stared at Pihu who was happily looking outside the window.
Tarun stopped the car and picked up the flowers from the florist and handed them to Priya.
Priya: Thank you Tarun.
Tarun gave her a warm smile and started driving again.
Kapoor Urbans:
Ram and his friends were in his cabin, doing some last minute preps for the deal signing event.
Kunal: Chal. Saare papers check ho gaye phir se. Sab thik thak hai. Bass sign hone ki deri.
Vikrant: Uff! Finally deal sign hogi Aaj.
Ram: 11:30 toh bajj gaya. Yeh Minister sahab kahan reh gaye?
Adi: Aa jayenge Ram. Tu tension mat le.
Ram nodded and let out a sigh.
Kunal: Priya aana nahi chahti thi na?
Ram shook her head.
Ram: I understand...uske liye bohot mushkil hai sab kuch. Aur stress nahi dena chahta main usse.
Adi: Thoda time de usko Ram. Sab thik ho jayega.
Ram again nodded.
Sometime later Ram's assistant informed that the minister has arrived so they all went to the Conference Hall where the event were to happen.
Adi suddenly got a call from Brinda so he went a little far from others.
Adi: Haan baby bolo.
Brinda: Adi listen main jo bhi bolungi sirf yes no mein jawab dena. Kuch aur bola toh pitoge.
Adi: Arreyyy hua kya hai? Tum thik ho na?
Brinda: Adi! Shut up! Listen to me! Minister aa gaye?
Adi: Haan matlab uper aa rahe hain.
Brinda: Accha. Keep him busy.
Adi: Why?
Brinda: Hum aa rahe hain. Priya, Pihu aur main. Kuch hi der mein aate hi honge. Toh Minister ko busy rakkho jab tak hum nahi aate.
Adi(happily): Oh accha. Thik hai. Thik hai.
Brinda: Adi! Itna nacho mat! Ram ko pata nahi chalna chahiye. Surprise hai!
Adi: Oh thik hai thik hai.
Brinda: Bass tum niche aao.
Adi: Haan. Thik hai.
He cut the call and looked at others with a huge smile.
Kunal: Kya hua tu aise hass kyun raha hai Adi?
Ram and Vikrant frowned looking at him.
Adi: kuch nahi. Minister aa gaye. Isliye...
Ram shook his head and stared at the door, waiting for the minister to enter.
And a minute later, the Minister entered with Sandy who went downstairs to welcome him. He straight walked up to Ram and shook hands with him.
Minister: Mr. Kapoor how are you?
Ram: Fine Sir. How are you?
Minister(with a smile): Healthy as a horse!
He shook hands with others and took a seat.
Adi(whispering to Kunal): Kunal Minister ko busy rakh. Main aata hoon. Don't let him sign the deal.
Kunal: Par kyun?
Adi: Ram ki boss aa rahi hai.
Kunal: Hein?
Then his mouth got opened as he realised that Priya was coming. He showed Adi a thumbs up. Adi excused himself and went to receive Priya.
The Minister started talking to Ram.
Minister: Aur aapki beti kaisi hai?
Ram was surprised that he remembered.
Ram: Thik hai. She's very accepting Sir. Mujhe apnane mein bilkul waqt nahi liya usne.
Minister gave a warm smile and nodded. Minister: And how's your wife?
Ram: She's fine. Thank you for asking. Mujhe nahi laga tha aapko yaad hoga.
Minister: Burha ho gaya hoon iska matlab yeh nahi ke sab bhul gaya hoon.
Ram: Arreyy mera yeh matlab nahi tha. I'm sorry.
Minister let out a laugh.
Minister: It's okay Mr. Kapoor. I'm just joking.
Ram let out a nervous laugh.
That's when they were served various kinds of refreshments.
Minister: Should we start? Khaate khaate deal bhi sign ho jayegi.
Kunal(with a huge smile): Sir aaj weather bohot accha hai na? Acchhi hawa beh Rahi hai.
Ram and Vikrant looked at him with a frown while he continued to describe how pleasant the weather was outside. The minister nodded with a smile but he was also astonished to see Kunal's behaviour.
Vikrant gave him a light push so that he stops his new found love for nature.
"Arreyy Priya jaldi aao. Yeh small talks mujhse handle nahi hote. Kahan fassa Diya iss Adi ne.", Kunal thought.
Kunal: Deal toh sign ho hi jayegi. Aap yeh Samosa aur Jalebi try kijiye bohot accha hai.
Ram couldn't take it anymore and excused himself and pulled Kunal with him.
Ram: Tune pee rakkhi hai kya Kunal? Kya bole jaa raha hai tab se. Thoda chup baithe reh. Minister chahte hain toh kar lete hai na sign.
Kunal: Na....nahi kar sakte. Abhi nahi kar sakte.
Ram: Kyun? Kya problem hai?
Kunal: Woh...woh Shubh muhurat...haan Shubh muhurat nahi aaya. Yeh dekh it's 11:50 na...bass 10min baad hi shubh muhurat start hoga. Tab khushi khushi sign kar lenge deal.
Ram: Aur yeh shubh muhurat kisne diya hai tujhe?
Kunal: Woh Pri...(he slightly bites his tongue) Woh mere mama hai na Priyansh mama unhone bola hai. Woh Astrologist hain na....
Ram: Kunal baat kya hai? Kyun jhooth bol raha hai! Tere mama ka textile ka business hai jitna mujhe yaad hai. Is there anything wrong?
Vikrant also joined them.
Vikrant: Kunal tujhe ho kya gaya hai? (He looks around him) Aur yeh Adi kahan chala gaya suddenly?
Ram and Vikrant realised that something was going on and they had no clue about it.
On the other side, Adi went to the ground floor to receive Priya, Pihu and Brinda. He stood at the main entrance of the Office waiting for them. Soon their car reached the entrance. Tarun picked Pihu up in his arms and almost ran inside so that the Media's questions doesn't reach her. The security team smoothly made Priya and Brinda enter the building. Priya let out a sigh of relief as she felt that she crossed at least one hurdle.
Adi: Sab thik hai na?
Priya: Haan thanks Adi. Sorry hume late ho gaya.
Adi: It's okay Priya chalo uper ab. Minister aa gaye hain.
Priya nodded.
And that's when they all heard Pihu sqeal in joy. All this while she was looking all around her with pure wonder in her eyes. She thought Office was a boring place but her belief got changed the moment she entered Kapoor Urbans. Her eyes met with some people who walking down the lobby and they all smiled at her. She also smiled back.
There were plants around her, so many pretty lights, the colours felt soothing to her eyes.
Pihu: Wow!
Tarun took her to the reception and others followed them.
The receptionist smiled at Pihu. Almost everyone in the office saw her on TV the last day with Ram so they pretty much knew who's she.
The Receptionist: Hello ma'am. Welcome to Kapoor Urban Industries.
Pihu gave a nervous smile to Priya and then turned to the receptionist.
Pihu(shyly): Hello.
The receptionist handed her some toffees which she gladly accepted.
The Receptionist: How may I help you today?
Pihu then looked at Tarun who encouraged her to say something.
Pihu: I want to meet Papa.
The Receptionist: Very well. Your name please.
Pihu: Pihu Kapoor.
Everyone else were trying their best to hold their laughs and not make Pihu conscious of what was happening. Priya was smiling widely.
The Receptionist: And your Papa's name?
Pihu: Ram Kapoor.
The Receptionist couldn't stop herself anymore and let out a small laugh.
The Receptionist: Okay ma'am. Ram Sir is in the Conference Hall, 15th floor. You can meet him now.
Pihu: Okay. Thank you. (Turning to Tarun): Tarun chalo. 15th floor.
Finally the receptionist turned to Priya.
The Receptionist(smiling): Welcome Ma'am.
Priya: Thank you Diya. How are you?
Diya: Fine. How are you?
Priya: I'm good.
Diya: Have a good day.
Priya: You too.
Diya nodded and they proceeded towards the elevator.
Adi started laughing his heart out and couldn't stop for a moment.
Pihu(frowning): Adi chachu aap hass kyun rahe ho?
Adi started laughing harder. Pihu turned to Tarun for explanation.
Tarun: Kuch nahi Pihu baby. Hum jaldi chalte hain.
Priya noticed that all the employees were smiling at her.
Priya: Yeh log itna smile kyun kar rahe hain mujhe dekhke?
Brinda: Kyunki tumhari wajah se aaj yeh log shanti se raat ko so paate hain Priya. Honestly they're thankful to you.
Priya just gave a small smile to Brinda.
They entered the elevator and Priya started remembering their past memories. How Ram stumbled upon her when he lift was about to close and he just wanted to slip through that little space. Idiot! She let out a laugh making others to look at her.
Priya: I'm okay. I'm okay.
She remembered how she used to come to this place every single week-day to take classes. Then she got married to Ram and sometimes they went home together and it felt good.
She remembered teaching her students, scolding them, spending time with Twinkle and sometimes with others. Her one decision ruined her entire career that she had built for herself with so much effort.
And the lift reached 15th floor and Adi gestured her to get out of the lift. They all got out of the lift and started walking towards the conference hall.
Ram and Vikrant were still asking Kunal about his sudden absurd behaviour.
Ram: Kunal Minister gussa ho jayega. What is this? We would look so unprofessional.
Kunal: Arreyyy shubh...
Ram: Tu aur ek baar Shubh muhurat bolke dekh! Chata khayega Kunal!
Vikrant was about to make a call when the door of the hall opened and Adi entered with a smile.
Ram: Adi tu kahan....
Even before Ram could complete his question, his eyes fell on her and he felt everything around him go silent. She was wearing that green saree he gifted her the other night. Her silky, beautiful hair was open as he loved it. The silver jhumkas she's wearing elicited a very faint clinking sound that felt like music to his ears. That thin line of kohl in her eyes just made them look more captivating and that sparkle she had in those beautiful chocolate brown eyes made his heartbeat go faster. And that smile, that enchanting smile of hers, just made everything around him better in an instant as always. Oh! That pretty bouquet of Pink lilies in her arms only enhanced her beauty.
But was he dreaming or his wife was really there?
On the other hand, Priya walking with her eyes fixed downwards and as she entered the room her eyes started started searching for him, her Mr. Kapoor. And there he was looking absolutely breathtaking as always. She noticed his eyes getting wide opened as he laid his eyes on her. His blue-blue-green-green eyes that always remind her of the gulf of Alaska where the glacier melt water and the salty sea water meet but do not mix with each other. She always found his eyes to be mysterious- sometimes they're more bluish, sometimes they're more greeenish or sometimes the color was hanging between blue and green and that mesmerized her. And she'd straight up lie if she said that she didn't enjoy it when he looked at her as if she's the most beautiful woman in the whole damn world. And that killer smile of his that reached his eyes as if announcing his happiness of seeing her, took her breath away.
Kunal gestured Vikrant to come closer.
Kunal(whispering to Vikrant): Vik! Ram ko pakad I really do feel that he's gonna faint.
Vikrant(whispering back): Yeh toh poora Om meets Shantipriya moment chal raha hai.
Kunal: Koi isko sapne se nikalo it's embarrassing.
Vikrant: Ab tak weather report de raha tha woh embarrassing nahi tha! Chup kar! Everyone is enjoying!
That's when Pihu completed scanning through the whole room and decided to call her Papa as he seemed not really okay to her.
Pihu: Papa!
And that made Ram get out of his la la land. He looked around her to process what was really happening and it took him a couple of seconds to grasp the fact that both of his favourite girls were really there to make his day a thousand times better.
He walked up to them and Tarun passed Pihu to him who embraced her close to his heart while smiling at Priya who smiled back at him. He made Pihu stand on the floor and gestured Priya to come with him.
The minister witnessed everything with eyes wide opened. He stood up as he saw them coming towards him.
Ram: Sir meet my wife Priya and this is my daughter Pihu.
One could easily sense the level of pride those words held that came out of Ram's mouth.
Priya shook hands with the Minister and gave him the flowers she brought for him.
Priya: Nice to meet you Sir.
Minister: Same here Mrs. Kapoor.
Then he shook hands with Pihu.
Pihu: Hello Minister Uncle!
Minister: Hello Pihu.
Pihu gave a toothy smile to him.
Minister(smiling): Aap toh bohot cute ho!
Pihu(giggling): Aap bhi.
Ram and Priya looked at each other and smiled.
Priya: I'm so sorry Sir hamari wajah se late ho gaya.
And that's when Ram realised the reason behind Kunal's weirdness earlier.
Minister(letting out a laugh): It's okay Mrs. Kapoor. Mr. Baweja kept us entertained with his weather prediction.
Kunal hid his face behind Brinda in embarrassment and everyone laughed looking at him.
Ram checked the time once.
Ram: I think we should start now.
Minister: Haan haan. Chaliye.
Adi went with the Minister and made him take a seat. Almost all the employees entered slowly gathered in the hall.
Priya nudged Ram and took him a little far from everyone. She pulled out a metal box from her bag and handed it to Ram.
Priya: Main aapko subah yeh dena bhul gayi thi.
Ram opened the box and there was a beautiful black Pen. His lips formed a huge smile.
Ram: Thank you Priya. This is beautiful.
He took out the pen from the box and tucked it in his blazer pocket. Priya smiled seeing him doing that.
Ram: Koi problem nahi hui na Priya aate waqt? Sach sach batao.
Priya shook her head with a gentle smile.
Priya: Kuch nahi hua. Relax. Aap jaiye.
Ram: Okay.....waise (he went close to her ear) mujhe ek heads up toh dena chahiye tha na Priya. Allowed hai kya itna khoobsurat dikhna?
Priya's eyes got bigger as she quickly scanned the room for a second. It was full of people and here her husband was flirting with her.
Ram chuckled as he saw her cheeks getting flushed.
Priya(glaring at him): Mr. Kapoor! Behave!
Ram sheepishly smiled and gestured her to sit. He first made sure she was sitting comfortably and then went to do the work.
Ram joined others and took out the Pen Priya gifted him from his pocket and started signing the papers. Pihu was watching everything very curiously sitting on her Mumma's lap. Suddenly she felt very concerned.
Pihu(whispering to Priya): Mumma! Mumma!
Priya: What? Washroom jaana hai? Pet main dard toh nahi?
Pihu(patting her forehead): Nahi nahi. Suno na...
Priya: Kya?
Pihu: Woh Papa ki handwriting itni kharab hai. Minister Uncle ko toh samajh hi nahi aayega kuch.
Priya silently laughed seeing how Pihu was roasting Ram.
Priya: Unko sirf aapna name sign karna hai. Don't worry Minister uncle samajh lenge.
Pihu: Oh okay.
Priya shook her head still laughing silently.
After sometime they got done with all the proceedings. Ram and others shook hands with the Minister congratulating each other and the whole hall burst into a round of applause.
Ram looked at Priya, Pihu and Brinda who were happily cheering for them. Priya's smile screamed how proud she was feeling.
Ram waved at them, telling them to come and stand with him. The trio joined Ram and others and saw four 5 tier cakes coming. Ram and Pihu looked at each other first and then at the cakes with shining eyes.
Ram insisted that the Minister cut the cake.
Minister gestured Pihu to come near him. Pihu looked at her parents who gave a smile so she went there.
Minister: Aap cake katoge mere saath?
Pihu nodded with a smile.
Minister held her hand gently and made her hold the knife with him and cut the cakes. He fed the first piece to Pihu and Pihu also fed him. Then Pihu fed some cake to Priya and Ram and then moved to others. Everyone was in awe of her.
Ram: Accha kiya tumne Pihu ko yahan laake.
Priya: Main nahi chahti thi ke woh yeh sab miss kare.
Ram nodded with a smile.
Ram: Thank you Priya yahan aane ke liye. Main jaanta hoon yeh aasaan nahi hua hoga tumhare liye.
Priya gave him a smile and looked at Pihu who was talking with the Minister moving her tiny hands.
Ram and Priya both went towards them. Pihu hugged Priya and sat on her lap.
Minister(smiling): Pihu ne bohot saari baatein ki mujhse. Bohot pyaari hai.
Priya smiled at him.
Minister: Mr. Kapoor main aap sabko mere Ghar par kal ek family dinner ke liye invite kar raha hoon. I hope aap log accept karenge.
Ram first looked at Priya and then his friends and then again at Priya who gave a little nod.
Ram: Hum zaroor aayenge Sir. Thank you so much for the invitation.
Minister: Thank you. Okay then I think I should leave now mujhe kuch kaam hai. (Caressing Pihu's hair) Bye bye Little Pihu. Kal milenge phir.
Pihu: Bye bye Minister Uncle.
Ram and his friends went to see off the minister.
When they all entered the hall, all they could hear were the sounds of party poppers bursting from different sides of the room. Ram, Adi, Kunal and Vikrant started laughing.
Adi: Yeh kisne kiya?
Sandy went towards them almost running.
Sandy: Maine ofc. Itna accha plan sirf Mera ho sakta hai.
Ram: Pehli baar kuch dimaag lagaya hai Sandy!
Sandy: Aap bahar milo mujhse....
Ram: Kyun?
Sandy: Boss hain na yahan thoda toh lihaaj rakhna padega.
Ram(a little loudly): Priya tumhari behen mujhe threat de rahi hai.
Priya came and stood beside Sandy.
Priya: Hua kya hai?
Ram: Tumhari behen threat de rahi hai mujhe.
Priya(with a sweet smile): Honestly Mr. Kapoor yahan hamare ass paas jitne log hai sab mann mein aapko threat de rahe hain. Because Sandy has the chance she's giving you open threats. Aap shukar manaiye meri aur do behene yahan kaam nahi karti.
Ram looked at her narrowing his eyes, pouting.
All the employees were happily talking to Pihu who's more than happy interact with everyone, also she got a lot of chocolates. Tarun didn't leave her for even a fraction of second, carried her all around, introduced her to everyone.
Ram and Priya saw that a little crowd was all around them. So they went there. Others also followed them.
Pihu: Sab toh dekha par Jokers toh nahi mile.
Tarun: Jokers? Jokers kahan hai Pihu baby?
Pihu: Hai na Jokers! Aapko nahi pata? Papa ne kaha mujhe aaj ke woh Jokers ke saath kaam karte hain.
It was enough loud for half of the people present in that hall to listen to what Pihu had just said. Ram and others also heard that as they were standing near them.
Ram saw all the eyes turning his way while he felt blood rushing to his cheeks being utterly embarrassed. Priya closed her eyes due the second hand embarrassment she was facing because of her darling husband and daughter. Pihu noticed her Papa standing right there.
Pihu: Papa Jokers kahan hai?
Priya: Pihu! (She shook her head looking at her)
Pihu looked at Tarun with a frown.
Tarun: Jokers toh nahi hai Pihu baby. Aapko chote chote building models dekhne hain?
Pihu nodded and Ram let out a sigh of relief.
They were about to go to the room where all the models were kept, that's when they heard a voice from behind.
"Priya?", The voice called.
Hope you all liked the chapter!