A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 60- Stepping Stones

''Hello Navya! I got it, I've got it!'' Nandini screamed in happiness. ''What happened? What did you get?'' Navya showed equal enthusiasm. ''I found a way to restart my career again'' Nandini beamed. ''Did you get any loan?'' Navya asked. ''I still didn't get money, sirf idea sorted hai'' Nandini said. ''Come straight to the point'' Navya demanded. ''Do you remember when I said I met a guy in the joggers park, he gave me an offer. I hope this would help in building my career again'' Nandini said excited. ''Par ye itna easy bhi nahi hai, maine isse pehle aisa kuch kiya bhi nahi'' she said feeling nervous at the same time. ''Koi event hai?'' Navya enquired. 

''No Navya, event hota tho mai manage kar deti but this is something new for me. He wants me to supply gifts for this Valentine's party for his office colleagues. You know corporate gifting, this is of same kind'' Nandini explained. ''But you've never had any experience in this field'' Navya expressed her doubt. ''I know but Daksh ne mujhe ache se samjhaya, all I have to do is go and meet the HR and explain about my gifting options'' Nandini sounded quite confident to Navya. ''I have a few things on my mind, let's just brainstorm a few more things'' Nandini asked her help. After an elaborate discussion, Nandini gathered her courage to go and meet Daksh at the office.

2 hours earlier:

Nandini went to joggers park as usual to escape talking to Manik. She stood at a place where she used to meet Daksh every morning. As expected she saw him in some time. Nandini greeted him with a smile. ''Good morning'' he reciprocated.  ''I wish humans have no filters and calculators while sharing their emotions'' he said. ''What do you mean?'' she asked. ''I can clearly see that you're upset with something, but as usual you won't say anything because we don't know each other'' Daksh said in a flow. ''How do you know that I'm upset?'' Nandini asked him. ''You'd always a cheerful smile on your face but its missing today'' he said. Nandini realized it. ''You're right'' she accepted. ''Tell me if you have any problem, I might be of some help'' he offered. Nandini stopped for a minute. ''We're not even friends, technically strangers'' Nandini said. ''Phir tho koi problem hi nahi hai, I don't even judge you'' Daksh said. ''Everyone on this planet will judge me knowing my relation with Manik'' she thought and gave a sheepish smile. ''I've a problem with someone I stay with'' Nandini said. 

''Oh someone you stay with, so your roommate, that shouldn't be a problem'' Daksh said. ''No not my roommate'' Nandini tried to explain but she didn't want him to know about her marital status. ''I mean I stay with my cousin'' she said. ''If you have a problem, ask her to get out of your room, simple'' he advised. Nandini conveniently lied about Manik as her cousin. ''It's her flat, not mine'' she said. ''Then you should move out from there, maybe try a PG'' he said. ''Wahi tho. I should have my finances sorted to get out from there. I'm trying for a bank loan'' Nandini said. ''Oh, it's really hard to get a loan for those who need it'' he said. ''Really! aaj kal tho loans easily mil raha hai na, even without paperwork and all'' Nandini said. ''That is all for those who don't really need it, high interest rates and all'' Daksh said. ''Not just loans, vendors, events and all, they need to be sorted too'' Nandini didn't knew where to start. ''And existing event management companies ka kya, you don't even knew people here'' he pointed out. ''True, Hyderabad mein sirf weddings karte the hum'' she said. 

''I think I have a suggestion for you'' he said thinking. ''What?'' she asked. ''Ek event management company ke liye chahiye hoga bahut saare contacts, first you try to build a circle around you. Like in the community you live, for suppose in this park, yoga clubs, temples, social welfare societies, NGOs, marathons'' he suggested. ''Get people acquainted to you and your business, slowly ek contact base build ho jayega'' he said. ''Iske liye tumhe sirf ek nahi bahut saare roles play karna padega, kabhi host, kabhi guest, kabhi service karna padega. Why don't you try organizing few small gatherings'' he said. ''I hardly know any people here'' Nandini's face hung down. Daksh got a call and he couldn't take it seeing her face. His phone continuous rang, Nandini asked him to  answer the call. He went aside and came back like a lightning.