Part 1
Manager: Sir, there is a good news. We have got the contract.
Maan: I know but it will no longer be good news since I want you people to immediately start working on it- he said with a stern face.
Manager: Yes sir.
Maan: By the way where is Adi?
Manager: Actually he is having a departmental meeting with his staffs.
Maan: Ok. As soon as his meeting finishes, ask him to meet me in my cabin.
Maan marched towards his private office. He had taken his seat and was in the progress of making a call when he heard a knock at the door.
Maan: Come in.
It was his senior architect, Sasha. Sasha actually was the daughter of their retired manager and on his recommendations she got a job at Khurana's. However Maan checked her personal bio data and qualifications before giving her the job. She was qualified to be the senior architect of Khurana construction.
Sasha: May I come in Mk.
Maan: Ya sure. Any problem.
Sasha: No, I was just here to remind you that you have a meeting with Mr. Malhotra at 2 o'clock today.
Maan: Thanks Sasha. I completely forgot about it.
Sasha: MK, I think it's high time that you take a secretary now.
Maan: I know but with the workload I will not be able to take the interviews. Why don't you do a thing Sasha, put an advertisement in the journal and afterwards you and Adi can take the interviews in my place. I trust you people judgment, so I can guarantee that you will take on only the best.
Sasha: Thanks for the vote of confidence Mk.
Maan left his office to go for his meeting at the Malhotra's. The Malhotra family was actually friends of Maan's grandmother and also of his father before his death. Maan's grandmother always kept in touch with them but after her death the link was somewhat broken since Maan was in USA and has return only a year before, to take the reign of the business. Taking care of the business has not enabled him to maintain past relationships. The Malhotra wants Maan's company to take on a project for the construction of a new shopping mall for them and hence this meeting.
The meeting was scheduled at 2 p.m and Maan reached Malhotra's office at 1.55. "I still have 5 minutes, so I can reach on time" thought Maan. He rushed towards the elevator and pressed the floor number where the meeting was supposed to be. On reaching there he was greeted by a smiling receptionist who guided him to Rishab Malhotra's office. The secretary knocked at the door and opened it after having the permission from the person inside and announced his arrival.
Rishab: Come in Maan, I was just waiting for you.
Maan: Hello sir, how are you.
Rishab: Oh come on Maan, dispose of the formalities, you can call me uncle. It does not matter if we have not met each other for years but we were still friends of your grand mother till her death. Don't ever think that you have no one in this city. My family and I will always be there for you.
Maan: Thank you uncle
They spent a good two hours discussing business and when Maan was gathering his papers so that he could leave, Rishab stopped him to invite Maan to a party that was taking place at his house the same evening.
Rishab: Actually Maan today there is a party at my place, why don't you too come if you are not too busy. It will be a good opportunity to meet my family and maintain past relations. And it will also please me.
Maan: What's the occasion?
Rishab: Today is my 35th wedding anniversary.
Maan: Congratulation uncle. I sure will come.
Rishab: Thank you son.
Maan left the office for his house where only solitude awaited him. He changed his business attire for something light after having a shower and went for the party. The party was in full swing when he arrived. He recognized some big prominent as he entered the foyer where the party was being held. He searched for Rishab and found him talking to another businessman. He approached them with a bouquet in his hands.
Maan: Hello uncle. Happy anniversary once again.
Rishab: Thank you so much Maan. I appreciate your coming here. Come I will present you to my wife.
They moved towards a group of women who were giggling to some jokes made by one of them.
Rishab: Renu, come I'll introduce you to someone.
Renu: yes, coming.
Excuse me please, she said to the rest of the ladies.
Rishab: Here, Mr. Maan Singh Khurana.
Renu: You mean to say he is the grandson of Savitri aunty. Oh my god, how handsome and big he has grown to be. You were just a little kid when we last saw you. I am really sorry for your Dadi beta but if you ever need anything, anytime, you can come to us without any hesitation. We have always considered you as part of this family. You will be always welcomed here.
Maan: Thank you very much aunty and these bouquet is for you.
Roses for a lovely lady.
Hearing Maan words made Renuka blushed. Maan then moved towards the bar where he sat cradling a glass of wine in his hands when his gaze fell upon a girl who being in the party was still isolated. She was standing near the window and staring at the stars as if she was waiting for someone's arrival. The curtains were blowing with the force of the wind outside and therefore Maan was not able to see her face clearly. But what he saw was enough to mesmerize him. He could clearly see the lock of hair that was fanning her cheeks which he was desperately trying to put behind her ears but they had a will of their own. Her skin was milky white, her features flawless, a long earring dangling from her ear lope touching nearly her collar bone where her duppata lay. Her wrists were adorned by a few white bangles, her neck bare of any necklace and her feet were pushed into a simple high heel sandal and she herself was wearing a white salwar kameez. She looked totally angelic. If someone at that moment would have told Maan that angels do not exist, he would have shown them the lively epitome that was standing in front of him. It was her simplicity that made her more beautiful and shows her as an example of pure innocence. Maan was still taking in her beauty when he saw her turn to the other side and marching out leaving the party. Maan there and then realized that he was not ready to let her go. He had heard of love at first sight but never thought that he would fall victim to that expression. He rushed towards the path that the mystery girl had taken but she was nowhere to be seen. " was she a figment of my imagination or was she really here?" thought Maan who was still looking around in the hope that he will this time find the face of the person he is looking for in the crowd. But maybe he was in for a disappointment since she was nowhere to be seen. Even if Maan could not see her face properly, he was still vividly aware of her features and doubted if he could ever forget them.
Well guys this is the first part of this FF. I hope you people will like it and i also want to draw your attention to the fact that i will be able to give an update only once a week till the end of may as it will be then that my exams will end but in the meanwhile if possible i'll try to update whenever i have time, maybe then it will be more than one per week.