The Promise (7 page)

'I drew those myself.'

'Yes, you put it on paper, but from where did you copy the designs?

'Why? Aren't they good?' Shambhavi asked, taking her folder back and browsing the pages to look at her designs.

'They are. I didn't know you were so good at this. I can see a lot of change since Nakul Verma's suite, and even that was pretty remarkable work you'd done.'

'Oh. I guess experience does account for something. I've worked on several projects since Nakul's, mostly since the last one year. I'll show you my portfolio, someday. Now, tell me-do you like it? I drew all of them myself. Had seen some of Mr Datta's pieces that day and designed these to fit Mrs Ahluwalia's needs and also to get the most of Mr Datta's talent. I hope he likes them. I mean-she. I hope she likes them. What do you think?'

'I think he will like it.'

'You mean she.'

'I mean he, Tutul said, tongue-in-cheek.'Ooooh! Someone likes someone.'

'Whatever. I don't want to know about those two someones. Just tell me what you really think of the designs.'

'I like them. They're good. Really good.'

'Really good as per my standards? Have I just superseded myself or do I stand somewhere in the real market, too?' Shambhavi asked, almost panicking.

'Whoa! For someone who once used to be so carefree and careless, you, girl, are awfully insecure.'

'Cut it, Tutul. Just tell me. You know about these things. Tell me what you really think of them.'

'I think,' Tutul began, sounding sincere this time, 'that you have not only overtaken your own good work, you have done an amazing job as compared to the professionals in the area, too. It's a good thing you don't have a degree in this-it basically ruins originality in thought. And that's your forte.'

Shambhavi nodded thoughtfully and asked, 'Do you think he will like it?'

'I'm sure he will.'

As soon as Tutul left to meet with the Ahluwalias and get the designs approved, Shambhavi felt sleep tugging at her rather fiercely. She picked up the basket of assorted fruits Tutul had brought for her father and made her way to his room. He had just been discharged from the hospital that morning and was resting in his bed.

'Dad?' she whispered softly to check if he was up.

'Mmmm?' he answered in a coarse voice.

'Oh. Go back to sleep. I'm keeping this fruit basket here. Tutul got it for you.'

'Are there oranges in there?'

'Yes.'

'Do you think they are sour?'

Shambhavi peeked at the oranges. They were yellowish. 'I guess.'

'Perfect,' her father smiled in his half-sleep.

'Wait. Don't go back to sleep yet. I forgot your afternoon medicine. Which one is it?'

'I've taken it.'

'Have you really? Or are you just fooling me again? Because if you are-be warned-next time you need me to call you an ambulance, I won't,' Shambhavi threatened.

'Got it.'

'Good. Now I'm going to sleep in my room. Buzz me if you need me,' she slid the remote of the intercom under his pillow, kissed him softly on the cheek and made her way to her room. She had been spending her nights at the hospital with her father ever since he was admitted there. That, along with the hard work on the designs, was taking its toll on her. She knew she had only a couple of hours before she needed to head to DE to show Mr Datta her designs. By that time, the designs would be approved by the Ahluwalias and Tutul would bring them over to DE with her.

She was excited about the Ahluwalias and Mr Datta seeing her designs. She was excited about meeting Mr Datta. But most of all-she was tired and just wanted to sleep. She went into her dreamland as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Jealousy is sometimes the first indication of love brewing between two people. Envy might be one of the seven deadly sins, but it's also one beautiful emotion to see.

his time when the girls met the secretary at Datta Enterprises, they were both invited inside Mr Datta's office. Shambhavi was grateful about that. No matter how excited she was at the prospect of being face to face again with the man who ruled her dreams, and to show him her designs, she was not sure she could face him again without Tutul. 'Terrified' was the word that most perfectly put across what she was really feeling.

Till that point, things had turned out considerably smooth. Mr Ahluwalia had loved the designs and even Mrs Ahluwalia had grudgingly approved of them. (Tutul said she knew that Mrs Ahluwalia had another designer in mind-one who furnished some movie star's place-and that's why she shot down everything Shambhavi proposed. But this time, her designs were too good to be rejected and poor Mrs Ahluwalia had no other option.) Tutul had corrected some technical flaws in the designs and some concerning the dimensions. So they were officially set to meet Mr Datta and blow his mind, that's how Tutul put it.

But the problem was that Shambhavi realized that he was not the kind of man who was blown away so easily. What if he hated her designs? The thought crossed her head more than once. For all the confidence she had in her work, she was almost shaking out of fear, as they made their way to his office. The secretary knocked on the door twice and pushed it open.

There he was.

Once she set her eyes on him, she could not look away. She was stumped. She had prepared herself for the man dressed in a sharp suit and crisp shirt waiting for her, but his casual demeanour gave her a pause, big time. He was dressed in a worn out grey tee, which was faded and scuffed at the edges and collar, with a barely visible label printed on his left chest. His jeans were dull, spoiled and cut at places. At first glance, she thought they were bought in that condition, but it slowly dawned upon her that they had become so over time. Those were obviously his work outfit; he seemed to have been building something.

'Hi,' Shambhavi whispered, when she found her power of speech back. She looked around the office to see what he had been working on, but there was nothing. He must have been working elsewhere, and had returned to the office to meet them.

He looked up at her.

'Hi. Tutul Jain. It's a pleasure to meet you,' Tutul introduced herself swiftly and held out her hand for him to shake.

'Hello,' he drawled.

As soon as he let go of Tutul's hand, Shambhavi put hers forward. She did not want to miss any chance to get closer to him than normal.

'Didn't I ask you to call me?' he shot at Shambhavi.

'What? Oh, I thought talking to your secretary about an appointment first seemed more appropriate,' she replied. Her breath was erratic, for some reason. Maybe because of the slightly dangerous sounding tone of his voice.

'Did you?' he raised his eyebrow. She kept silent, not knowing how to respond to that. He continued, 'So, are you done with the sample designs?' he asked once they took their seats.

'Yes, we are. The living space, one bedroom and the hallway. Since it's a bed-and-breakfast, all the rooms will be more or less of the same design. Take a look.' Shambhavi immediately took the folder from Tutul's grip and shoved it towards him. She was getting impatient and was really, really nervous. Her fingers shook, when his hand moved forward to take the folder from her. As soon as he gripped it, she shoved her hands into her pockets; she did not want to let her fear show through.

'Let me see,' he mumbled, more to himself, as he opened the folder and took in the first page. He poured over the designs half- curiously and half-surprised-he clearly had not expected what he was getting. In a good way, though. He turned page after page, carefully scrutinizing the designs she had been so confident about, when she had first drawn them. But when she saw him inspecting them, she did not feel a single shred of that confidence from before.

There was a long, scary silence, during which time Shambhavi's heart jumped up to her throat and threatened to choke her. She could barely breathe. Everything depended on what Mr Datta thought of her designs. If he hated them, she did not know where she would be able to find another firm with artists who could do that level of carving. She needed a certain gracefulness and perfection that she had seen in Arjun Datta's work. She wanted no one else working on turning her designs from paper to wood. But that was not the only reason why she was so nervous.

For some indecipherable reason, that man had an unexplained impact on her. She cared about the Ahluwalia mansion assignment, but not more than she cared about what Mr Datta thought of her designs. She did not even want to think of the reason why. It was silly to use the word 'love' so prematurely. After all, she barely knew him. She had met him just once, and love-at-first-sight did not really work in real life. This was hardly a Bollywood movie.

She tried to gauge his expression, but his face was oddly impassive. It made her realize that she had not seen his face give away any emotion the last time she met him either. Maybe he was always like that-expressionless, blank. She felt like shaking him and asking him to come back to life.

After what seemed like two lifetimes, he finally looked up. He met her eyes and ... just that. He did not say anything.

What the heck? Does that look mean he wants me to get out of here? she shouted in her head, but maintained her outward calm. She met his eyes and stared right back at him, equally coolly.

Finally, he said, 'When can I get the complete set?'

'Does that mean you like these?' Shambhavi asked slowly, letting her hopes soar. Her heart did a backflip and she already started to feel excited about working with him, even though he still hadn't said any such thing. But the implication that he would like to see the rest of her idea was enough to put her back at ease. She was herself again.

'They are interesting,' he replied shortly.

'Interesting, eh?'

'Very.'

'Great. So what's the game plan from here on?' Shambhavi asked, failing to hide her excitement.

'Game plan? Interesting choice of words, Ms Sen, but this is not a game. Now, if we can get back to business-since we have reached the conclusion that I approve of your sample, I will need you to get back to me when you have completed your designs,' Mr Datta said curtly.

'I can complete them in about three weeks, but I think I have a better game pl-I mean-suggestion.'