MR. RAISINGHANIA AND MS. SHAH

1.

As soon as the last lecture ended for the day, our batch mentor, Mr. John entered the class.

"Students, I am happy to announce that you all have six months left before you will be holding your precious degrees." He stated in an enthusiastic voice even though the students openly grunted their disapproval at being held behind after the official working hours.

"Now, I want you all to listen up carefully." He grabbed out attention with his no nonsense tone.

"For the next six months, you will have lots of assignments to do and your classes will be fewer as the days pass." This statement of his earned a few hoots from students. He smiled at them and waited patiently for the excited students to settle down.

"The assignments that you will get are all segments of a dummy business setup. The ideas have already been formed and I take much pleasure in informing you that they are quiet a handful so you will have to partner up with your classmates and have them completed before the deadline of your submissions." He gave a wicked smile as he heard some students cursing under their breath.

I sighed as I saw that the others started pairing up quickly. I looked ahead of me as I thought that maybe I would be the lucky one who could do the assignments alone as everyone will be paired except me. I smiled as I entertained the merits of doing the assignments alone over doing it with someone. The list of advantages that I was mentally jotting down suddenly evaporated into thin air as someone cleared their throat to gain everyone's attention.

Mr. John was leaning against the table placed near the screen. He smiled as he saw that everyone was paired and were already seated together.

"Ms. Shah and Mr. Rai Singhania, I believe that the two of you are without any partners. So you both will be paired with each other for the remaining time." His words shocked me to the core. How could I forget that Mr. Rai Singhania would be likely of being alone? I now regretted my decision of not approaching someone with the offer of partnership. I would now have to work with an ill-natured person for the next six months!

I was startled when I heard the sound of shifting beside me. Soon enough I saw Mr. Rai Singhania sit down next to me. I turned my attention back to Mr. John as he started distributing the list of assignments to every pair. Since we were on the first bench, we got our paper of instructions first. I placed it on the center of the desk so that we could both read at the same time. We were finished going through the freshly printed paper, when Mr. John returned to his addressing place.

"Very well. Now the real work starts from tomorrow. You may discuss the plans today with your partners. You are free to go." He exited the classroom leaving it into total chaos as almost everyone started speaking at the same time. I glanced down at my watch and my eyes widened when I saw that it was 2:30 already. I had to reach the school by 3. I started packing all my stuff as I spoke to the person next to me.

"I have to go now. We can meet here tomorrow at 11 and then decide where to head off to for the investor search if that is okay with you?" I asked as I looked up at his face. He nodded and I got up to walk out of the room with the paper in my hand when I remembered that may be he wanted to keep the paper. So I turned around to ask if he wanted the paper but before I could ask anything, I heard him answer my question with his rough voice. 

"Keep the paper."

I stood still wondering for a minute as to how he would have known what I was about to ask? I then shook my head and hurried out of the university.

**********

Later that evening when I was about to leave the place where we all volunteers gather to teach the students, I was stopped by a man clad in suit. He looked like he was in his forties and he was a wealthy man if the watch on his wrist was any indication. I raised my eyebrows as though silently asking why he had stopped me. He smiled down at me and answered my question in his American accent.

"Ms. Shah if you could please spare a few minutes, I would like to buy you a cup of coffee." He said and the way he knew my name, I got a wary feeling. I did not hesitate to show my suspicion on my face. He laughed and shook his head. "Ms. I possess no danger to you. Be assured. I just want to talk to you about a student that I would like for you to tutor."

"Well I want you to know that I am no professional. I teach for my own satisfaction." I said using it as my excuse to get out of this weird situation. "I am very well aware of your preferences Ms. now if you would please accompany me, I would be glad." I contemplated my options for a few seconds and then decided to go with him. He did not seem to give any dangerous vibes plus we would be in public so the chances of him hurting me were nil. We went to a nearby café and took a seat.

"Thank you so much for accepting my proposal. I am glad that you decided to hear me." He said as we sat there waiting for our orders to arrive. "Let me get straight to the point." He said while straitening up and smoothening his hands over his suit. I leaned back in my chair and waited for him to explain.

"I am Ben Williams, the personnel manager of Eccellenza Company. The grandson of our owner is in dire need of a tutor. We are ready to pay you as much as you want..." He stopped when the waiter came over with our orders. After the waiter left and before he could start with his explanation again, I interrupted him.

"You can hire any professional who is excellent at their job. Why would you want me?" I said the question that bugged me since the time he stated that he wanted to talk to me about tutoring a child. 

"Nathaniel, one of your students, he is the son of one of our maids. She was praising your teaching skills and how you personally nurture the students. Aahan is in need of personal care. He has had a rough few years in the past." The man sitting in front of me tried to reason out. My heart melted and I was about to say yes but then I remembered my assignments and my busy schedule. 

"I don't think I would be able to spare a lot of time for him. I am on a tight schedule since my education is nearing its end."

"That won't be a problem. We can always adjust the classes on Saturday and Sunday. We will also pay the double of regular wages for your out of the way contribution if you were to agree." He said as he took the last few sips of his coffee.

I thought for a few moments. I always had some extra hours in the weekends that I would spend lying around and sleeping. I sighed as I made the final decision. "Okay but I have one condition." He nodded his head for me to continue. "I work in one of the book shops on weekends so I will be conducting some of his classes in the book shop." 

He gave me a confused look and I took that as a queue to explain further. "I will not jeopardize his studies with anything but this job is the one that I love. I do not plan on quitting it, though the overlap will be of half an hour only." He thought for a few moments and then nodded.

"Should I consider this deal finalized?" I nodded.

"Bring him over to my residence, which I can assume you already know just like my name, tomorrow at 4. We will be continuing up till 6 in the evening. You can pick him up from the book store I work in and about the wages; I will first have to interact with Aahan. I will tell you my decision by the next weekend." I said and he nodded along the whole time chucking when I taunted him.

After saying goodbye we went to our separate ways.

**********

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