~10.07.2020

JINDAL RESTAURANT,

A girl gets out of the car and rushes through the gate pacing up her speed and almost stumbling all her way to reach a room. She finally reaches and stands out of the room making herself presentable by setting her messed up hair and taking deep breaths to control her uneven breathing because of the little marathon she had. She knocks on the door and asks for permission to get in.

Guddan: Excuse me sir, May I come in?

AJ: Come in!

He answered her even without glancing a look at her. She entered the cabin and stood infront of his desk facing him.

AJ: You are 6 minutes and 47 seconds late, Miss Gupta.

Guddan: Huh?

AJ: Yes, you heard it right.

Guddan (in her mind): Is Mishti ki bachhi ko to ham chhodenge nahi. Sab usi ki wajah se hua hai. Aise zid kar rahi thi jaise hamare haath ke bane huye muffins ke bina uski subah nahi hoti. Aur yahaan uske khadoos Dada hamari class lenge.

AJ: I forgive you as it's your first day.

Guddan(thinking): Did I even ask for an apology?
(To AJ): Sorry sir, It won't be repeated.

AJ: It would be better. So, get on to your work now. From this moment you are my PA.

Guddan: WHAAAT!!???

AJ: Yes, Ms. Gupta. 

Guddan: But sir I am here only for the company's.......

AJ: I know very well and that's what I am saying. You are my PA only for this project. You will be assisting me for the meetings, site works and all other stuffs related to this project and not for any other work related to my restaurant or something else. Is that clear?

Guddan: Yes sir.

Just then someone knocks on the door and AJ permits him.

AJ: Satish, I have asked to shift your things to Rajesh's cabin as he will not be here for few months. And Miss Gupta, your cabin is left to mine.

Satish: But sir,.....

AJ: Is there anything yet to be decided coz I have already decided everything.

Satish: No sir.

AJ: So, start your work.

He nods and leaves the cabin not before glancing towards Guddan which made her uncomfortable.

AJ: Miss Gupta, Make each and every file of this project ready.

Guddan: But....

AJ: I know you would say, "Ki aap ke paas to pehle se hi sab hai". I know all that. Saare files tumhare table par rakhe huye hai. Make sure the information which we have and which is with the other company is the same and correct.

Guddan (thinking): Ab jab inhe sab pata hi hai to ham kya kahein.
(To AJ): Ok sir.

She leaves to her cabin.

GUDDAN'S CABIN,

Guddan enters her cabin and goes to her desk. She sees everything present there. It was as if it was already kept prepared for her. And then her gaze falls on something which was shining. She picks it up and immediately a smile appears on her face. It was a mini idol of Lord Krishna. She took the blessings and kept it back on its place. She sat on her chair and prayed for a better day from today as she would be working without Vardaan and moreover that she has to work with AJ. She started doing all her work with complete concentration and dedication. Soon, it was break time but she didn't realised and continued doing her work but was disturbed by a knock on her cabin's door. He was AJ'S peon, she permitted him. He entered with a tray in his hands.

Guddan: Aap yahaan? Kuchh kaam hai kya?

Peon: Ye aapke liye.

He said placing the tray on her desk. It was a mug of coffee with french toast.

Guddan: Mere liye??

Peon: Break time hai, to sir ne bheja hai.

Guddan: Sir ne?? Sirf mere liye ya sab ke liye?

Peon: Sab to canteen ya restaurant se kha lete hai. Aap bahar bhi nahi aayi isiliye sir ne cabin me bhejne ke liye kaha.

Guddan: Achha, lekin agli baar se aapko takleef karne ki zarurat nahi hai, ham khud kar lenge.

Peon: Thik hai, lekin break aur lunch time par kaam mat kariye, Sir ko pasand nahi.

Guddan: Sir ko kaam karna pasand nahi??

Peon: Har kaam ko uske sahi waqt par karna chahiye, isiliye kaam karne ke waqt par kaam karna hai aur khane peene ke waqt khana peena chahiye.

Guddan: Ham is baat ka dhyaan rakhenge. Thankyou.

He simply nods and leaves from there.

She was busy in her work all day and then soon it was lunch time. She closed all her files and shut her laptop to take some rest. She leaned back on her chair, closing her eyes and massaging her temples with her fingers but was disturbed by a knock at the door.

Guddan: Come in!

She was surprised to see Keerthi coming in.

Keerthi: Hii Guddan!

Guddan: Hii, Tum yahaan?

Keerthi: Ha, kyun nahi aa sakti kya?

Guddan: Aisi baat nahi hai. Baitho na.

Keerthi: Sure! How was your first day?

Guddan: Abhi to poora din hua bhi nahi hai.

Keerthi: Ha. Maine socha ki tumhara first day hai to tumhare saath lunch karlun.

Guddan: It's so sweet of you.

They both were having their lunch speaking to each other when someone knocked on the door and opened it before Guddan can say something.

Angad: Guddan, Tum.....

He stops when he sees Keerthi with her having their lunch.

Keerthi: Kya hua Angad sir?

Angad: Kuchh nahi, mai to bas aise hi aa gaya. You both carry on.

He leaves.

Keerthi: He is Angad sir. AJ sir ke  Bhai hai.

Guddan: Oh!

She didn't say anything about her past or related to her life to her. They both completed their lunch and Keerthi offered for a round around the whole building including the restaurant which she gladly accepted.

They both were roaming all around and Keerthi was introducing her to everyone and vice versa.

Keerthi: Guddan, He is Satish sir!

She introduced him to Guddan. She remembered that she saw him in the morning in AJ'S cabin.

Guddan: Hamne inhe subah sir ke cabin me dekha tha.

Satish: Ha, mai hi tha wo.

He gaze at her with a different expression which she couldn't understand.

They both came to the restaurant and she was showing each and every corner of it to her.

Guddan (in her mind): Kitna badal gaya hai yahaan itne saalon me.

She came out of her trance because of Keerthi's voice.

Keerthi: Ye kitchen hai cooking ke liye aur wo wahan baking ke liye. Sir ne cooking aur baking ke liye alag alag kitchen banwaye hai.

Guddan: Ham yahaan aaye hai, sir kuchh kahenge to nahi na.

Keerthi: Lunch aur break time me ham aa sakte hai. Work time par aayenge to bohot kuchh sunna padega sir se.

Guddan: Oh!!

Keerthi: Waise ab to thoda better feel ho raha hai mujhe, ab tum jo unki PA ban gayi ho.

Guddan: Lekin mai to bas.....

Keerthi: Ha pata hai, tum sirf is naye project ke liye sir ki PA ho. Atleast, is project ke liye hi sahi mai to sir ke saath nahi rahungi. Unke daant se bachungi.

Guddan: Sach me khadoos hai kya wo?

She asked her even though she knew the answer very well.

Keerthi: Thode hai, un logon ke liye jo apna kaam thik se nahi karte. Sir, dil ke bohot achhe hai lekin unka gussa bas kisi se bardaasht nahi hota.

Guddan (mumbling): Ye baat to hai.

Keerthi: Kuchh kaha tumne??

Guddan: Nahi, kuchh nahi.

Keerthi: Ham kitchen ke andar nahi ja sakte bas bahar se dekh sakte hai. Wahaan chalo.

Guddan: Thik hai.

They both were going towards the corner of the corridor to get a better view of the kitchen when Guddan collides with a girl who was in a rush to enter the kitchen. They both stumbled but were quick to maintain their balance before they could fall.

Guddan: Sorry!!   Girl: Sorry!!!

They both said at once and looked at each other which made them shocked. The next moment they were having tears in their eyes but Guddan held them back to not show her weakness to anyone.

===========================