FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 8

I am at office and going through the project files, someone knocks at the door. I asked them to enter.

'Hello!' a girl says. I turn around and find a young girl, probably in late twenties standing in front of me. She has a very fair complexion and wavy shoulder length hair; she has a familiar pair of black eyes. She is clad in blue long Kurthi and white churidar. She smiles at me and I smile back politely.

'I am Liqa, Mr. Kumar has suggested you as my wedding planner. I have gone through your work and I am really impressed.' She says, her tone very business-like. At first, I thought she is some easy going and those chota-mota projects that my minions will handle but what she said next blew my mind

'I want exotic locations for my engagement which is two days from today and we will pay you 1crore for it and if we like your work we will hire you for our wedding and money is no object for that' she says, pride dripping from her tone.

Who is this biggie? And she is ready to pay so much money, letting it flow like its water. I quickly wiped the smile from my face and nod my head. I take out a magazine and forward it to her. She takes it

'Here Liqa, these are the locations...exotic...you choose whatever fancies you' I say. I am unable hold my excitement. 1crore for engagement, Wow! I have to do extra effort. I need to impress them, only then they will hire me for the wedding. If they are ready to pay so much surely they will be hard to impress. I have mentally pulled up my sleeves.

Liqa goes through the magazine with a bored expression, why is she looking so bored? I am not liking this look. I glanced at the back of the magazine, it is best of the magazine with best exotic locations, if this doesn't impress her what will I fear.

'Don't you do abroad?' she asks after flipping through more pages. I opened my mouth when she interrupts me 'I guess I will have my engagement in the Lakshadweep islands'

My mouth opens slightly more, Lakshadweep islands? I have never been there; I have just put it up in the company's magazine but never has any client asked for this. This woman is advance level of Kiran Kumar. And why Lakshedeep, it isn't even abroad? I glanced at the wall behind her, there is a poster with a logo

"Customer is always right", "Customer is the king", I sigh and nod my head.

'Lakshadweep islands' Ruchi says surprised. She is equally surprised as me, No one has ever chosen these islands. No doubt they are beautiful but they hardly famous for marriage. I tried to bring out the bright side to Ruchi, at least we will get to site-see there, it is pretty exotic place after all. Ruchi smiles when I add she can pack her bikinis and we can enjoy the beaches. More than enjoying the beaches she is more excited for site-seeing, exotic men in Bermuda at beaches.

I came home and started to pack, I and Ruchi are going to the islands tomorrow morning. Adnan isn't at home yet and I am dying to tell him this. I get a call from Ruchi and she sounded worried. I frown, she asked me to meet at a CCD outlet, I nod. I wonder what happened to her all off sudden. I quickly freshened up and changed into a pink ruffle top and white culottes, I slipped into white thong slippers. Applied lip gloss and kohl (I never leave home without it) I wore a wrist watch in one and left other bare.

I combed my hair and informed Vimala that I am going to meet Ruchi and be back in one hour. She nods and I leave.

I parked my scooty, since the café isn't too far I didn't think it to be wise to take the car. I looked around and find Ruchi sitting at a small table sipping her coffee and going through the mobile. She looked relaxed, I walk towards her.

'Why did you call?' I asked, I was packing clothes and she disturbed me, I hate being disturbed it destroys the flow. She nods as I take a seat opposite her. She forwards me a check, she says its advance Liqa has given. I had been so excited that I didn't think of seeing the check, I had absent mindlessly handed Ruchi the check. She forwards me the check, the first thing I saw was the amount

15lakhs! Wow

'See the sign' Ruchi says pointing towards the name, I frown. It is signed as Liqa Nawab Ali. I wondered if she is related to that champu, but then what are the odds. Maybe she is not, there might be so many people with Nawab Ali as their surname, right?

I say the same to Ruchi and she looks disappointed. She then goes to tell she wanted to meet Riad.

'Never in my wildest dream I want to meet that champu.' I say placing my elbows on the table. Ruchi shakes her head.

I excused myself as I needed to pee, as I get up I dashed to a waiter. He spilled some juice on my pants. Haww!

The waiter panics, he apologizes frantically. I said never mind and rushed to the bathroom, not before shooting a deadly glare at Ruchi who seemed to find this funny and is giggling.

After I washed the stain (Gosh! My white culottes) and used the loo, I come out and dashed to someone. Why am I dashing into people? I look up and I am glad I dashed to him. I stare into the dark black orbs; I had seen in the pub a week ago. Finally, I am meeting the stranger again.