Meera

Episode 07

Not all badasses get things right and even if they find chances to do so, not all things go right for them. Goodness still prevails and that's why Earth is still alive.

Delhi, April 2001

It was a great meeting and Raghav was extremely delighted. They had got a bonus element in the foreign assignment, and they had come to Delhi for meeting the branch manager. Raghav Sundar had thought he'd get the papers signed in Delhi as Raghav wouldn't be asking questions while in a hurry to complete the agreement work and would sign any piece of paper inserted in between the agreement papers.

But what happened next wasn't something that Raghav Sundar expected. The client had decided to make a visit to their firm at Chennai (by that time Madras had become Chennai for almost 5 years) and have the papers signed. They wanted to have some clauses amended in the agreement. So Raghav Sundar's plan was temporarily aborted. He was enraged and at the same time making his plans to get the papers signed without creating an iota of doubt in Raghav's mind. And they agreed and returned back to Chennai to commence their work on making the audit plan and arranging for the resources. They'd turned busier than before as they had to concentrate on both the Indian and the foreign counterparts at the same time. Raghav believed that good times were ahead.

Yes, his intentions did happen!

***

They had decided to recruit a new audit manager for the Delhi assignment. They were in search of a talented person. They'd even interviewed people but couldn't find a person of Raghav's liking, as it was a tax assignment and Raghav was the concerned partner in-charge.

For a week's time, Raghav had kept his work aside as it was his CA batchmate and close friend Suraj's wedding. Raghav Sundar wasn't familiar with Suraj and so he decided not to accompany Raghav. Raghav felt not to force him. So only Raghav was there at the wedding. It was a simple yet a typical 3 days TamBrahm wedding. Raghav was invited to be Suraj's maapillai thozhan.

It's believed that whoever is made maapillai thozhan would be the next to get married. And it happens in 90% of the cases. And it's also believed that marriages, though said to be fixed in the Heaven, are always fixed in someone else's marriages.

And even if a marriage doesn't get fixed, love happens.  As Kambar says, "Annalum nokkinaar, avalum nokkinaal", love could blossom even without you knowing it has knocked your doors, Love at mutual first sight!

All through the wedding, Raghav's eyes were on one woman and she was also glancing by his side often and their eyes seemed to have met each other atleast one hundred times. That may be exaggerating, but it did happen. They felt they had met each other before but weren't sure of initiating a conversation.

Raghav felt hungry, so he went up to the dining to have lunch. To his surprise, she was also there and adding to his surprise, she sat besides him as it was the only place available. He felt happy and at the same time shy to sit besides her. She too was feeling the same. Their intuitions met at a point that they had their first talk, a talk that was spontaneous from both the sides!

"Hi! I've seen you somewhere before!" (Both spoke at the same time)
"Yes (chuckling), by the way, Raghav here, CA Raghav Chakrapani, partner in RR & Co. Suraj's batchmate and best friend"
"Hi, Mr. Raghav, if you don't mind me calling you by your name!"
"Absolutely no problem, which man would not like to listen to a gorgeous woman call him by his name!?  Hey, am sorry if you feel uncomfortable. Generally I never hesitate to speak out the truth!"
"It's absolutely ok Mr. Raghav! Thank you, I'd take that as a compliment!"
"Thank God! I thought I had landed myself into trouble. I'm relieved. By the way, you haven't told me your name! How do I call you? Miss..."
"Meera, Meera Venkatraman Iyer. I'm a MBA graduate from the IIM and I specialise in tax assignments as I hold a Diploma in International Taxation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Am Suraj's distant cousin"
"Nice to know that Miss Meera. By the way, I am an international taxation expert and I am in need of a person to handle our firm's new assignments. Are you in any way interested in joining me, ahm I'm sorry, I mean, our firm?"
"Well. I think I should be joining you, ahm I mean, your firm. But anyway, give me some time so that I think about this and give you a call. I'll have to deal with my current assignments."
"Its ok Miss Meera."
"Meera would be better"
"Ok. Meera, this is my card. Do think over and give me an update. By the way, nice meeting you, let's stay friends. And I would be happy if you call me just Raghav. I'd be waiting for you... I mean, your call!"
"Ha ha (blushing) Ok Raghav. We'll stay in touch. See you."

Their dialogues felt a bit orchestrated as they ran out of words to speak to each other. They had some sort of a unique feel which couldn't be put down in words. Though they had parted ways, their heart were resonating the thoughts of their meeting at Suraj's marriage. They started feeling they wanted each other by their side. They felt they'd been together for years before. They started feeling the days they seldom spoke go long. They'd fallen for each other. Love started blossoming in their hearts.

It was a Sunday and Raghav was alone in his mansion. His servant had finished off his morning work and left for his home to be back in the night for work. That was how Raghav had appointed an assistant to be at home in the night. The calling bell rang. Raghav walked to the main door...

"Who is this at this point of time? Should be my buddy Raghav!"
(Opens the door)
"Hey. What a surprise! Meera! I never expected you to be here. Come inside."
"Hi Raghav! I knew I've come without an appointment. But I wanted to talk to you about that assignment you were discussing with me at Suraj's wedding"
"Please have your seat. I'll get you something to drink. What would you like to have? What do you prefer? A cold one or a hot one?"
"Raghav! Would you mind me coming all the way to your kitchen to speak to you?"
"Certainly not. Come. I'll get you something to eat along with a nice cup of adhrak chai"
"Tumko hindi aathi hai!?"
"Why not? Meine hindi seekhi hai!"
"Tho bahut khush hua!"
"Bahut shukriya! And here's your chai. I'll make some pakoras for you. In the mean time, you tell me what have you decided about taking up the assignment?"
"Raghav! I think... I think I'll take up your offer! When do you want me to join you?"
"At any time! You're always welcome by my side! Ahm, I meant, as my aide in the assignment!"
"Don't try to hide your mind Raghav! I know what is going on in your mind!"
"Hey nothing of that sort Meera! Well let's talk business!"
"Enough Rags!"
(Her way of speaking had seen a paradigm shift! She spoke in a husky tone!)
"Meera! What did you just call me?"
"Rags! Enough of this game. I know you are in love with me. So am I. We met first at the Delhi Airport. I was travelling in the same connecting flight as yours to Bangalore for a conference. You got down at Chennai. Right from the day we met at the Delhi Airport, I always wanted to meet you again. And when I met you at Suraj anna's wedding, I wanted to tell you my feelings. But as you proposed me an assignment of my liking, I felt I should tell you when we are in a place with no one around. Yes, in a place with only us. I love you Rags. I want to share my life with you. Will you accept me?"
"Meera! I never dreamt about this to happen! I'm blessed indeed! I... I love you Meera! I love you!"

For the first time in his life, he had hugged a woman. His mind was filled with joy. He prayed to God that this should be his life and Meera his life partner. He didn't want this to meet the fate of his liking on Sahana.

The heroine has arrived for the story to take its plot of uniting them in life. Well, what sort of a person is Meera? How did they end up uniting twice in life?

Coming soon...