Anuj :- Bunty maine kha na....mai nahi aa rha....

Vikram:- Yrr tu meri baat kyu nhi samajh rha....tera yha aana bahut zaruri hai...

Anuj:- Tu sab kuch handle kar rha hai na....to fir meri kya zarurat hai...

Vikram:- Anuj tujhe pata hai na....yeh project Manish uncle ka sapna tha....tune isko pura karne me kitni mehnat ki hai....aur aab jab yeh sapna pura hone jaa rha hai...to tu iska hissa nhi banna chahta...

Anuj:- Bunty....mera farz tha ki mai apne papa ka har sapna pura karu....jo maine kar diya....uski kamyabi ka hissa banna na banna yeh meri marzi hai...

Vikram:- Theek hai tujhe uska hissa nhi na banna to mat ban.....but sapna pura karne to aa jaa....abhi launch me do mahine hai....tabtak koi gadbad ho gayi to...ek bar tu India aake sab ensure kar lega to theek rahega...

Vikram tried to pursuade Anuj...

Anuj sighed thinking that Vikram might be right but then he decided against it.

Anuj:- Tu hai na wha.....mujhe tujhpe pura bharosa hai ki tu kuch gadbad nahi hone dega....aur agar kuch gadbad hui to mai next flight leke aa jaunga....alright?

Vikram sighed in defeat thinking he might have to fly to US to tell Anuj the truth.

Vikram:- Fine.....tujhse koi nhi jeet sakta bhai...

Anuj chuckled.

Anuj :- I know....chal I have a meeting to baad me baat karta hoo...

Vikram :- Okay...Bye...

Saying this Anuj cuts the call.

At the same time, Donna comes in.

Anuj:- Donna, when is Mr. Denver coming for the meeting?

Donna:- Not today...

Anuj:- What do you mean not today?....you just said an hour ago there is a meeting scheduled with him..

Donna :- There was...but I called and cancelled.

Anuj:- What??....and When?

Donna:- Just when I heard you talking to Vikram over the phone...I called and cancelled.

Anuj:- Donna....Why would you do that?

Donna:- Because we need to talk....

Anuj :- Not again.....I don't want a lecture over how to face my fears...okay....now reschedule my meeting...

Donna sighed and took a seat opposite him.

Donna:- I am not rescheduling anything before we talk.

Anuj was annoyed.

Anuj:- I am your boss Donna.

He said coldly.

Donna:- I don't care.....we need to talk...

Anuj:- I know what you wanna talk about.....and what you wanna talk about is personal and this is my office...you can't keep cancelling on my important meetings just so that we can gossip about shit....

Anuj tried to act as stern as possible to avoid the conversation.

Donna :- Don't give me shit on what's personal and professional when you yourself cancelled a business trip because of personal reasons....

Anuj had no explanation as he did cancel his trip to India for personal reasons.

Anuj:- Donna...

Donna :- Anuj....If you want somebody to just sit at her desk,answer your phones and pickup your dry cleaning then put out a want ad because that's not me......I am gonna tell you what I think...and what I think is that the thing you just did is wrong both on personal and professional grounds.....

Anuj sighed realising his defeat..

Anuj :- Donna....I thought you of all people understand....why I don't want to visit India....

Donna was torn between love for his friend and the promise she made to Vikram a week before.

A week before....

Donna was sitting on her desk working when her phone rang.

It was Vikram.

She picked up the call wondering why would Vikram call on her personal cell.

Donna :- Hello

Vikram :- Hi Donna.....how are you?

Donna:- I am good.....How is everything in India?

Vikram :- Just the usual....

Donna :- So tell me to what do I owe the pleasure?

Vikram :- Come on Donna....can't I call a friend just to ask how she is doing?

Donna:- You can.....but you haven't today.....have you?

Vikram :- Ummm...

Donna :- Let me guess.....you need me to convince Anuj for something that you know he won't agree to.....

Vikram :- A little bit......I want you to convince him to come to India for the Manish uncle's project launch...

Donna:- No way.....I am not going to do that....

Vikram :- Please understand Donna.....it's important....I wouldn't have asked you if it wasn't....

Donna :- Is something wrong with the project?

Vikram :- No but....

Donna :- Then I am out....I am not going to convince him for anything.....

Vikram:- But why?

Donna:- Because everytime we talk about him going to India....we just end up arguing....and he never agrees...

Vikram :- Donna please....I am begging you....it's very important....we screwed up big...and we need to tell Anuj but can't over the phone....

Donna :- Vikram.... what's going on?

Donna asked realising it's not about the project anymore.

Vikram :- It's about Anupama.....please don't ask what it is.....just convince him to come to India for the launch....

Donna :- okay fine....I will try my best....but is everything alright with Anupama?

Vikram :- Yeah it is....I mean it's a little bit complicated..... promise you won't tell him that it's about her...

Donna :- okay I won't.....I will talk to him.... don't worry...

Vikram :- Thankyou Donna....it means a lot....

Donna:- It's alright Vikram.... anything for you...

Saying this she cut the call

Anuj :- Donna....

He snapped his fingers before her seeing her lost in thought.

Donna :- Yeah...sorry....I...

She paused.

Donna:- Anuj I understand you have your reasons for not going back but this time it's important....

Anuj :- Don't worry Vikram has everything handled....

Donna :- Even if he does....it's a billion dollar project..... don't you wanna make sure everything is upto the mark?.....I know you are gonna reason that you have various billion dollar projects in different countries and you can't visit all of them....but you very well know..... it's different....it's not for some big multinational conglomerates......you are building those houses and schools for the workers of your factory and their families who can't afford a living space or other amenities of life.... don't you wanna make sure it lives upto Manish uncle's expectations?......afterall it was his dream Anuj....

Anuj sighed realising Donna was right. Afterall he would never want to let down his dad and his expectations.

After thinking for a while,Anuj spoke....

Anuj:- Fine Donna...give me some time I will think about it....

Donna :- That's all I wanted to hear.....

Saying this she gave him a warm smile and left.

Vikram was sitting wondering if he should go to US as soon as possible or wait for Donna to talk to Anuj when his landline buzzed...

He picked up the receiver...

Vikram :- Yes...

Secretary:- Sir, Mr. Shah is here.

Vikram:- Please send him in.

He put down the receiver when Vanraj knocked.

Vikram:- Please come in Mr. Shah.

Vanraj came in and shook hands with him.

Vanraj :- You called me sir...

Vikram:- Please take a seat....we need to talk about the marketing plans of your project....

Hearing this Vanraj took the seat opposite him.

Vanraj :- What about it?

Vikram:- Mr. Shah....there are a few additional pointers that needs to be included in the marketing plan of almost all our projects to which they are applicable....and yours is one of them...

Vanraj:- Sure sir....please do tell...

Vikram :- Just a second...

He buzzed his secretary.

Vikram :- Please ask Ms Joshi to come into my office with the file I asked her to prepare this morning.

Secretary :- Sure sir...

He put the receiver down....

Vanraj was furious seeing Anupama working directly with Vikram when he himself never got the chance to work with him.

Khi bhi kisike sath bhi kaam kar le,rahegi to wo ganwar

He thought to himself trying to satisfy his ego.

Anupama has been working on Vikram's marketing team for a month and already has created a name for herself in the office.

Since the project was fairly new,there wasn't much of a marketing team yet other than Anupama and a new employee named Kiara. Vikram wanted a fresh approach to his project so he insisted on hiring new talents which was taking quite a time. It was mostly Anupama and Kiara devising marketing plans and discussing it with Vikram.

Anupama and Vikram have got quite comfortable working with each other. Initially both were hesitant awkward hiding the fact they knew each other.

But one fine day.....

Anupama and Vikram were working in the conference room when his phone rang...

He picked up the call...

It was Rittika.

Vikram:- Yes....

Rittika:- Yeh kya yes yes laga rakkha hai....

Vikram gulped trying to keep a straight face.

Vikram :- Kya hua Ritu ?

Rittika :- Kya hua....tum puch rhe ho kya hua....ek to kal raat tum late se aaye.....upr se dinner bhi nhi kiya...aur subah breakfast kiye bina chale gye.....how irresponsible of you...Vikram?

She said rebuffing him for his eating habits while Anupama could hear everything as his phone's volume was quite high.

She bit her cheeks trying hard not to laugh at his boss's situation.

Vikram saw the look on Anupama's face. So he stood up and went near the window whispering...

Vikram:- Baby.....mai kha lunga...plus breakfast me apple khaya tha maine yrr...

Rittika :- Waah...bas apple khaya h...is it supposed to make me less angry?... bas apple kha ke dawai kaise lene wale ho tum?

Vikram:- Mai bas abhi kha lunga.... don't worry.... promise

Rittika:- Irresponsible hone ki bhi hadd hoti hai......

Saying this she cut the call.

Vikram was embarassed so he went back to his seat quietly burrying himself in files without looking at Anupama.

Suddenly he saw a tiffin slid upto him on the table.

He looked up and found her grinning.

He realised she was offering him food....afterall she heard everything.

Vikram:- It's okay Ms Joshi. I will eat later....

He said embarassed.

Anupama knew he won't.....so she took the tiffin and opened the lid and offered again....

There were dhoklas in the tiffin and they smelled way too delicious for Vikram to resist...

For a moment Vikram forgot everything and instantly took the tiffin from her hand and started eating eagerly....

Anupama looked at him all surprised seeing his all so sophisticated boss behaving like a child and smiled a little.

She went back to her work files giving her boss the much needed alone time with his favourite food.

After finishing almost all the tiffin with only one dhokla left, Vikram realised that he didn't leave anything for Anupama to eat.

He looked up at her embarassed when she caught his stare and looked back at the tiffin.

There was only one dhokla left.

Vikram:- Sorry....

He whispered and Anupama could no more control herself.

She burst into laughter seeing her boss's face who was behaving as if he was a kid who was caught eating lunch during a class....

Seeing her laugh....he let his inhibitions go and too burst into a laughter realising he was behaving like a kid right now.

He offered her the tiffin back still chucking a little bit.

Vikram:- Sorry....khane se khusbhu itni acchi aa rhi thi ki mai khud ko rok nhi paya....

Anupama smiled trying to control her laughter.

Anu :- It's okay sir....aap khaiye...mere pass aur bhi hai...

Vikram:- Are you sure?

Anu:- Very sure....

She smiled.

Vikram paused a bit and then asked....

Vikram:- Anupama....wo.....

Anu:- Hmm...

Vikram :- Kal aur laogi kya tiffin me....I mean it's very tasty......if it's not too much trouble...

He said making a puppy face.

Anupama smiled.

Anu :-okay sir...pakka

Vikram:- Sir nahi....Vikram...

He said smiling.

Anu :- But sir how can I...?

Vikram:- It's alright....mai bhi to tumhe Anupama hi bulata hoo...

Anu :- But sir you are my boss.....aur yha office me...

She hesitated a bit

Vikram realised her dilemma.

Vikram:- Okay fine....but office ke bahar tum mujhe Vikram hi bulaogi....and that includes cafeteria and lunch time...

Anu agreed.

Anu :- Okay sir....done...

Vikram:- It's still lunch...I haven't finished the dhoklas yet...

Vikram complained...

Anu :- Okay Vikram....Done!!!

Anu chuckled.

And that was the day when all the awkwardness went out the window.

Since then Anupama brought him home cooked food everyday and they had lunch together in his office sharing banters gossiping about their colleagues except on few days when Vikram had some other meetings or commitments. Sometimes, Vikram would get so lost in their banters that an occasional bhabhi started slipping from his mouth but he always managed to control the situation. He used to share all their experiences with Devika and Rittika and both of them were ecstatic. Devika was glad that her two friends were hitting it off and Rittika was finally satisfied that she no more has to fuss over his husband's eating habits.

Vikram found out that various pointers that Anupama has used in their marketing plan to cut cost and give better results can be also applied to various other projects. So he had a meeting with all the project heads individually asking them to take care of those pointers while formulating a plan.

He has called up Vanraj in his office for the same reason.

Anupama knocked on the door.

Vikram :- Come in.....

Anupama came in with a file in her hand.

She saw Vanraj sitting there and sighed a little.

Vikram noticed it.

Vikram :- Ms Joshi.....did you formulate the pointers I asked you to specific to Mr. Shah's project?

Anu :- Yes sir I did....all the pointers are in this file.....and those which needs special attention has been highlighted.

She said handing him over the file.

Vikram took a glance at the file and spoke...

Vikram :- Mr. Shah....we need you to look at this file and make some changes in your marketing plan as per the pointers that are mentioned in here....

Vanraj was infuriated that he has to make changes in his marketing plans on the orders of Anupama.

Vanraj :- But sir....our plan is perfect....we don't need to make any changes to it....

Vikram:- Are you talking about Mrs. Shah marketing plan?....if you are....I have already studied it while she gave the presentation....and in my opinion of all the projects....your project needs to make the most changes as it is costing us way more than required in marketing...

Anupama knew Vanraj was annoyed. She could see the rage in his eyes.

Vanraj:- Sir are you asking me to make changes on the basis of opinions given by an inexperienced 45 year old intern?

Vikram was annoyed now.

Anupama asked Vikram if she should leave but he gestured her to stay.

Vikram:- Mr. Shah....are you related to Kavya Shah somehow?

Vanraj:- Yes sir.....she is my wife...

Vikram:- Explains the constant age shaming....

He murmured under his breath.

Vanraj :- Did you say something?

Vikram cleared his throat.

Vikram:- Seems like Mr. Shah you and your wife have this constant habit of forming opinions without learning facts....so let me suggest something that will work for both of us....why don't you take this file and read it out once and if you find any mistakes or a better alternative to this....you can come back to me with it...we can always discuss...

Vanraj was irked but he had no other option. So he took the file and spoke....

Vanraj:- Sure sir....and I am sure I will get back to you with a better alternative...

He smirked.

Vikram:- I will be waiting Mr. Shah....

Vanraj nodded and left.

Anu:- Sir...

Vikram:- Yes...

Anu:- Thank you for standing up for me....

Vikram:- It's alright Anupama....I would have done the same for all my employees...

Anu smiled and was about to leave when Vikram spoke....

Vikram :- Anupama wait.....I need to discuss some of our plans before implementing them...please take a seat...

Anu took a seat opposite him.

Vikram :- Anupama I need you to take a look at this file and make sure that everything is as per the standards before we proceede to advertising....

He said handing her over the file.

Anu :- Okay sir....give me 10 minutes...I will be back after reading this file...

She said standing up from his seat.

Vikram:- You can do it here... it's just a matter of 10 minutes...you don't need to do this back and forth everytime for such small things...

Anu:- Okay sir...

She said taking her seat back and started with her file while Vikram got busy in his laptop checking over some mails.

After a while, Vikram chuckled a bit still looking at his laptop.

Anupama asked still looking at her file...

Anu:- Kya hua aap....has kyu rhe hai?

Vikram:- Wo tumhe yaad hai college me ek baar tumne humari khadus maths teacher ke solution me ek galti nikal di thi....

Vikram said still looking at his laptop not realising what he just said.

Anu:- Haan aur fir wo mere peeche hi pad gayi thi.....jab dekhi tab meri notebook me jhakti thi galti nikalne ke liye...

Vikram:- Aur jab use nhi milti thi to kitna frustrate ho jati thi.... mujhe realise hua jab Vanraj wo file padega to uska bhi haal kuch us khadus Moti jaisa hoga....

They were so burried in their files that they didn't realise they were blabbing their secrets now....

Anu:- I just hope ki uski tarah....wo bhi pure office ko extra assignments na de de frustration me.....

Vikram:- Haan nhi to us khadoos ke table ke neeche jaise maine aur Anuj ne soothly bomb lagaya tha waise hi khi iske table ke neeche bhi na lagana pade.....

Both chuckled and glanced up at each other.

As soon as they saw each other,they realised what they have been doing this whole time.

Both sprung from their seats and said at once......

Mai apko yaad hoo....

Mai tumhe yaad hoo....

And they both bit their tongue.

Vikram :- Tumhe mai yaad hoo?

Anu:- Haan ofcourse.....aap mujhe yaad hai...aap Devika ke best friend hai mai apko kaise bhul sakti hoo....Bunty...