A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Big or Small Event

An unexpected jolt of sunlight startled Annika awake at 10:00 am. Disbelief washed over her - she'd slept in far later than usual. Panic surged as she rushed out of her room, searching for Rohan. The house was empty. A pang of guilt stabbed at her. He must've gone to school on an empty stomach, without his lunch. Why hadn't he woken her up? Was he still upset about her questions regarding the money?

A whirlwind of emotions - worry, frustration, and a touch of self-blame - swirled within her as she made her way to the bathroom. Emerging refreshed, she headed for the fridge, a routine she had recently adopted to jot down reminders on sticky notes. On the familiar surface, a bright note caught her eye.
As she read Rohan's message, a smile bloomed on her face. "Don't worry," it read, "I didn't leave hungry. Made myself some Maggi. There's a party at school today, so I'll have lunch there. Don't be mad I didn't wake you up. You looked exhausted yesterday, so you needed the sleep. Take care and cook something proper for yourself, not Maggi!"

Annika's heart swelled. The anger she'd harbored seemed unfounded. Here was her little brother, young as he was, displaying a maturity that surprised her. He was looking out for her.

After whipping up some Aloo Paratha for breakfast, Annika was left with a question - what to do with the rest of the day? Her event calendar was looking clear for the foreseeable future. Just then, her phone rang. It was the priest from yesterday's event.

"Annika," he said, "someone is interested in your event planning services. They'd like to meet with you to discuss their upcoming event."

Annika's interest piqued. Was it a VIP guest from yesterday's event? The priest's answer was a disappointing no. A flicker of hesitation crossed her mind - should she accept a non-VIP client? But then, logic intervened. Her schedule was free, and the opportunity couldn't hurt.

"Sure," she agreed, "let's meet at my office at noon."

A glance at the clock revealed it was already 11:00 am. Time to get ready for her new potential client.

Annika scurried back to her room, a mental checklist running through her mind. Today demanded a professional look. She opted for a crisp pink kurti paired with blue jeans. A touch of makeup - powder, kajal, mascara, lipstick - and a pair of stud earrings completed the transformation. Time to meet the client!

With a quick lock on the front door, she dashed to the veranda where her trusty scooty awaited. Fifteen minutes on two wheels brought her to the office complex, a familiar hive of activity. Annika parked her scooty, a friendly greeting spilling from her lips to everyone she encountered - the guard, the sweeper, the shopkeeper, anyone who crossed her path. Her vibrant personality and infectious smile were her trademarks.

Finally, she reached her haven - 'RIA Event Company,' the inscription on the door proclaiming her small but ambitious venture. Deciding on the name had been the biggest hurdle when she'd embarked on this journey. Countless brainstorming sessions later, they'd settled on the initials of their little team - Rohan, Ishita (their sister), and Annika.

Unlocking the door, Annika took a deep breath and stepped inside. A quick adjustment of the curtains, a pat on the sofa to smooth out any wrinkles, a refill of the water purifier - she transformed the space into a welcoming environment for her upcoming meeting. A glance at the clock confirmed it - 11:45 am. Just fifteen minutes until her client arrived.

Prinku gazed out the car window, a frown creasing her brow. Unlike the usual route leading to high-end event management companies, Dadi's chosen path weaved through bustling local streets. "Dadi," she finally voiced her concern, "where are we going? I thought we were meeting an event manager. This area doesn't seem to have any fancy companies."