THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

"Yes Maam, and please make sure that there are a minimum of 4 new librarians interviewed by the end of this week. The next session starts in a few Days and we need them acquainted with everything before..."

"Uh, Maanvi?"

Maanvi moved her phone away as she turned to see Bharat at the door to their room, looking at her expectantly.

Maanvi quickly finished her call as she came and stood next to him.

"Hey, what happened?"

Bharat smiled softly as small beads of sweat tried to hide themselves on his forehead.

"Why are you sweating Bharat, are you feeling well?"

"Y..Yeah, sure." Bharat replied as Maanvi ran her handkerchief over the drops, somehow making his cheeks run redder and making him sweat even more.

"Um, Maanvi," Bharat quickly said, holding her hands in his to stop her failing efforts to stop him from blushing. "I need you help with something... can you, come with me to the Art Store now?"

"Now?!" Maanvi hasted. "Its almost 8.30 Bharat, by the time we reach the shop will close.. And, we can go tomorrow morning. "

"No, actually..."

'Its your birthday tomorrow Maanvi, we have better plans for that,' Bharat thought to himself.

"What?" She asked, brining him out of his thoughts.

"Its urgent Maanvi, I need them now. Come with me, please."

Before she could reply, Bharat held her as he quickly led her out of the room and within moments to his car.

"Kaka, keys please," he said painting to his driver.

"Sir... at this time?" The driver was taken back at this sudden wish of his.

"Y..Yes. Keys please."

The driver quickly handed him the keys as Bharat made Maanvi sit, settling himself into the drivers seat.

"Bharat, are we doing this seriously? The place you're talking about is 40 minutes from here, and that too without traffic. We haven't told anyone at home..Cant we wait till tomorrow?"

"No, sorry.." Bharat said gulping, both in an unusual fear and a new found excitement. "We'll reach in time. Promise."

As Bharat revved up the engines, he glanced at the sideview mirror, and on the smallest corner, near the garage door, he could see two figures looking back at him and giving him the thumbs up.

"These two!"

"Who?" Maanvi asked to which he looked back at her expressionless.

"Nothing, nobody. Lets go."

Maanvi shook her head at this strange behaviour of his as she couldnt help but carry on with him as the car sped off.

"Chalo, I hope she doesn't doubt anything. Im surprised Bharat Bhaiyya pulled that off so quickly." Shatrughan said to Lakshman as he dusted off his T shirt from having hid in the dirt of the garage for a while.