The Wedding Whisperer

Chapter 7 : Surprises

"I'm not happy with the menu for the outdoor camping. This food can get cold very fast. Switch to items that can be made quickly on order."

Akshara looked at one of the shortlisted food vendors for the event coming up in a few weeks.

"Okay, I will update the plan and send it to you."

"By the end of tomorrow, please. I have another vendor who has a plan my team likes, but I want to see yours as I think you can do better."

The woman who owned the catering service smiled. "Thank you for the opportunity. I will send you an updated menu soon."

"Thank you." Akshara looked at her phone after the woman left and noticed that Anisha had messaged and called her.

She called Anisha back and said when her client answered, "Sorry Anisha, I was in a meeting."

"No problem. Are you free to meet me now?"

"Like now? Where are you?"

Anisha let out a laugh. "I'm not taking no for an answer. The car is on the way to pick you up. Meet me at Neeraj's boutique. I need your help. I'll text you when the car arrives."

Before Akshara could ask if anything was wrong, Anisha ended the call. Akshara messaged Aarohi about her leaving the office to meet Anisha and waited for her ride to arrive. She was in the middle of reviewing the prop options for the reception that was six weeks away when her phone buzzed with a notification.

She picked up her purse and her computer and headed downstairs to the lobby. As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw a car waiting right outside the main doors to the building. She took out her phone to ask Anisha the make and color of the car, and just then another message showed up.

Her lips curved up inadvertently when she saw the message.

**Abhimanyu**: Ms. Akshara Kumar. Don't look at your ride suspiciously.

She bit her lip as she stepped out of the lobby and walked toward the car. She smiled at Abhimanyu as he looked at her, his eyes hidden behind dark aviator sunglasses.

"Hello, thank you for being my ride."

"Sure."

Akshara noticed a few moments later that Abhimanyu was not in his usual suit and tie attire. He had on what looked like a uniform—an olive-colored shirt with matching trousers with a logo stitched on the pocket. She noticed how his sleeves were rolled up and swore she saw grease stains on his arm.

"What's with the Top Gun Tom Cruise look?" The words rolled off her lips before she could contain her curiosity.

He chuckled. "I had a factory visit today."

"Is everything okay from the fire accident?" she asked, remembering the phone conversation he was on the day of the program.

"You remember?"

She nodded, smiling in response to the surprise in his tone. "How is your dance practice coming along?"

He let out a laugh. "Anisha almost caught me practicing one of the steps."

"I doubt she would ever expect you to dance. Her exact words were, 'don't even bother asking my brother to dance, he won't.'"

"She was right about that. I don't know how I ended up agreeing."

"Because you want to surprise your sister."

"Right."

"Does Mrs. Sharma know you are practicing?"