ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 14

Nishtha

"Excuse me, what?" I asked him.
Did I hear him right? They want me there?
"Yes you heard it right. Come." He said, with an expressionless face.
How did he hear what I was thinking?
Can he still do that?
Don't think about it, Nishtha.
"Yeah it's better you don't think about it. Won't end well for you." He said, walking ahead.

What the heck?

I followed him into the swarm of our families. My fingers played with the pallu of my saree as I gulped in nervousness.
"Hi aunty. Hi uncle, Hi Vami.. Vamika." I said.
I was talking to them after years.
"Beta, what are we hearing? You were in the hospital for the last two days?"
I looked up, How do they know?
"I... I'm fine now. I didn't drink water so..."
"How many times have we all told you to drink water? You saw what happened now?"
I felt small tearing starting to pool in my eyes as I looked down.
I wasn't sad that she was yelling at me.
I was happy. It was after years that she yelled at me. She used to always yell at me for water.
"Sorry Aunty."
"You better finish 3 of these bottles everyday." She said and handed me a water bottle.
I chuckled slowly, "I will. Promise."
"Yuvaan, make sure she does." His mom said.
"Aunty... I'm not working in the same company."
"What?"
"What do you mean Beta?" His mom asked.
"I'm... I'm moving back to IBM." I said.
"Oh. Why?" Aunty asked.
Because Aunty, your son tried to kill me.
"Because, I... I don't think I have it in me to lead two roles. So I'm going to focus on IBM only, and I... I'm planning to help Dad out."
"It was your dream to work at IBM, right?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder I thought YuBM had a meaning behind the same. I remembered your business pitch!" Aunty laughed.
Why is she adding salt to the wound?
I can't stay here anymore.
"What work do you have Alok Ji?" Uncle asked Dad, "New business?"
"Yes, I'm planning to venture into buying a food franchise somewhere. I want to explore the food service industry."
"Wow. Nishtha can help you then."
"Yeah." I said, "I... I need to meet my team."

I smiled and walked away. I can't stay here.
What is happening to me?

Next Day.

"Are you ready Baba?" I asked him, grabbing my duppata from the chair.
"I am, let's go." He said.

We're meeting the investor today. Manoj Verma.
As a way to thank him, we wanted to meet him before we started to work on the franchise.

We got into the cab and drove to Verma Ind. It was right next to my office. That whole area is the office complex.
"Baba, I work here." I pointed to my office.
He smiled.

We got down and walked into the Verma office and made our way upstairs. We knocked.
"Ah! Mr Yadav. Come in!" Manoj Verma said.
He was a man in his 60s, with a suit and Tom Ford glasses. Near him was a man around my age, same style.
"This is my son Manish." He introduced us.
"This is my daughter Nishtha." Baba said.
"Hi." I smiled and folded my hands.
We sat down and got to talking, "Firstly, thank you so much for this opportunity. I promise you wont regret it. Now I'm aware that you have given us 20cr. So within 5 years, we'll repay it with interest, so according to my calculations, we'll be paying you a total of 25cr, by 5 years."
"Sounds good." Manoj Verma said.
"Okay, so we'll leave you to it. We just need a basic plan of yours."
"I'll email it to you." I said and he nodded.

We got down the building.
"Time to start Baba!" I said, hugging him.
"Beta, are you sure you aren't going to lose focus from your own work?"
"I won't. Relax! Now come!"

We drove to a range of places to explore locations, joints and cuisine and eventually we had a whole plan ready. It was 9pm when we got back home.
"Where have you two been? The whole day?"
"We had everything decided. We just need to find the location and the chef. Budget is done!"
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed.
"What happened?"
"I know the place and our chef!" I exclaimed.
"Where?"
"Come. I'll show you. Let's go!"

We got into the cab and drove to the one place that has been special to me since day 1. Mandir.
"This is our place Baba!" I said, pointing to the area near the mandir. "It's a good area. It is always crowded because of the offices, malls and temples. Plus, it'll always be at a peak!"
"Won't rent be expensive here?"
"It will be, but I'm sure it'll fit the given budget."
"Okay then, let's go inquire."

We walked into the free area and were delighted to know that it had a rent of 4cr per month or a permanent buy of 10cr. We decided to buy it.
"Nishtha. Out of 20, if 10 go in this, then how can we manage the rest?"
"We will manage everything Baba! My salary is there too!"
We confirmed the payment for the location and soon, it was ours!
"Time to find our chef now!"
"I already have it. Come."

We entered the mandir and found Aaji. "Hi!"
Aaji came to us, "Long time everyone!"
"Aaji, come with us, we need to talk."
We sat with Aaji in our new restaurant. I started, "Okay so, Aaji we need to talk to you about a new job."
"A new job, for who?"
"You Aaji."
"Me?"
"Aaji, Baba just got this new restaurant where we are sitting, we are planning to launch it as a warm home food kinda restaurant. We want you to be the head chef. Your hand is amazing!"
"Beta I haven't cooked so much in so long, plus I have a job here now."
"Exactly why we located it here and asked you. Your bhajan timings are every 4 hours, correct?"
Aaji nodded.
"So, you can take a leave in those times you need to, and you'll be working here, right next to the mandir. Secondly, you'll be earning more here. Your salary will be 20 lakhs."
"20 lakhs?!" Aaji said.
"Yep. 20 lakhs plus the 50,000 you earn in the temple."
"Wow."
"Your accommodation is already sorted but if you want to change I'll check if I can get you something on the floor above. Everyone will work for you in the restaurant. You train them as per your interest."
"This is amazing. I would love to." Aaji said.
"Amazing! I'll get the papers ready and give them to you tommorow!"
"Thank you beta!" Aaji said, "Really!"
"Don't thank me Aaji."

We got back home, satisfied by everything.
Tomorrow, it's time to paint!

✨