You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

ALMOST IN Love…

{2}

‘Good morning, Sir. How can I help you?’ asked the receptionist smiling pleasantly. Jacob flashed one of his charming smiles in return.

‘I am here to meet the General Manager, Dhwani Radhakrishna.’

‘Who should I say is here to meet her?’

He handed her his visiting card and she requested him to be seated in the waiting lounge. He politely thanked her and went to sit on the sofa. Dhwani was working in a fast growing start up and risen to the top position within a matter of few years. She was the youngest General Manager to have achieved that feat and commanded respect and admiration from both her superiors and her subordinates. Jacob had got all the information he could about her from Ashok but he knew nothing about her personal life. He also inquired about her on Facebook from one of his seniors who was her classmate, but that did not help him in any way. Nobody knew what happened to her after she graduated. All they knew was that she got married shortly after college and later completely vanished.

Jacob did not think much before deciding to visit her. The way she had pretended to be a stranger did not let him rest in peace. Ten minutes passed, still there was no sign of Dhwani. He half hoped that the receptionist would come and give some excuse for her inability to meet him. He was almost certain that she would not come to see him. Picking up the newspaper from the table, he began reading it. Suddenly, he heard approaching footsteps and looked up expecting the receptionist. But he was in for a surprise and shock. Dhwani entered the waiting lounge dressed in formals. Her black blazer fit her perfectly and she walked with confidence bordering casual indifference.

Has it really been nine years since I last saw her???

Jacob stood up when she came to him and outstretched his hand. She shook his hand formally for a brief moment.

‘Hello Mr. Jacob Williams. I am indeed surprised to see you here. What can I do for you?’ she asked him flatly. He was really disappointed that she showed no signs of remembering him.

‘Senior, don’t you remember me? I was your junior at IEE. When you were in your final semester, I was in 4^th semester and organised the farewell party for your class,’ he persisted. But she remained unperturbed.

‘I finished college long ago Mr. Jacob. Times have changed a lot and I have moved on. Anyway it was good to meet you. Now could you kindly excuse me, I have a meeting in twenty minutes,’ she was polite but her words sounded rude to him.

‘Are you asking me to get out, senior?’ he asked defiantly.

‘Well, please don’t get me wrong, but I really have to leave now.’

‘Alright, I will go right away but only on one condition. You should promise to meet me after work today,’ he said firmly. He was surprised at his own words.

Where did that come from? Did I really ask her to meet me later? Anyway there is nothing to lose!

Dhwani frowned at his sudden request.

‘Why should I? I am sorry Mr. Jacob but I won’t be able to meet you. I wish you all the best for your future,’ she said brusquely and turned around to walk out.

‘Senior, I am not leaving until you agree. Otherwise I will be coming here every day,’ he said crossing his arms over his chest. She was angered by his display of defiance.

Who is he to blackmail me in my office? This guy is crazy!

‘My answer is a big NO. I think you should leave,’ she said trying to reign in her temper.

‘I am not leaving until you say yes,’ he said shrugging. Dhwani held her head in irritation.

‘You are crossing your limits, Jake! Why are you being so stubborn?’

Jacob’s face lit up with a knowing smile.

‘You do remember my popular name at college. Are you still going to pretend that you no longer remember me?’

She cursed herself for making that silly mistake. At last she sighed in defeat.

‘What do you want?’

‘Meet me after work,’ he said pleased with himself.

‘Okay. I will see you in Costa Coffee at 6.30.’

‘Thank you, senior.’

‘Call me Dhwani,’ she said nodding her head.

‘Nice meeting you, Dhwani,’ he said and bid her fare well. She let out a long drawn breath and watched him go out of the office.

***

Jacob was restlessly tapping his fingers on the table when Dhwani entered the café. She was still dressed in formals but her hair was tied into a ponytail unlike the bun in the morning. He waved at her with a smile while she sat down. Inevitably she gave him a reluctant smile. They placed their orders and settled down. She was desperate to get over with it as soon as possible.

‘Why did you want to meet me?’ she asked coming straight to the point.

‘Well, had you recognized me at the seminar that day, there would have been no need for me to trouble you so much. But your claim of complete ignorance fired my curiosity. So tell me, why you have snapped all ties with your past,’ he asked without making any eye contact with her.

‘Jacob, I have moved away to build my life. I have my own personal reasons and I am not comfortable sharing it with others. I am sorry if I have hurt you,’ she said sincerely.

‘You don’t have to apologize, sen—Dhwani. If you don’t want to tell, it’s okay. I am glad that at least now you spoke to me. I am quite impressed by your achievements and it is not a joke to be the General Manager of a company so early in your career. Ashok keeps praising you and you truly deserve it,’ he said earnestly. Her smile broadened.

‘Thank you. I am really amazed that you have become a director. Yet it should come as no surprise because you were meant for extra-curricular activities at college. Although I am sure that the journey was not easy for you. Congratulations Jacob, for the success of your first short film.’

‘Thank you so much,’ he said pleased with her words. Sipping coffee, they spoke about his career and his present assignment in Mangalore. Suddenly, Jacob noticed a teenager walking towards their table. He was dressed in a sweatshirt and shorts, carrying a back pack. Clearly he was returning from sports practice. The boy walked straight to their table and smiled at Dhwani.

‘Hi mom!’

Dhwani beamed looking at him.

‘Hey, you are early today. I thought I would pick you up once your practice was over.’

‘Coach had some important work, so he let us go home early. I went to your office but Rakesh uncle said that you were here.’

‘Alright. Meet Mr. Jacob Williams, my college junior now a director.’

‘Hello sir,’ said the boy cheerfully and shook hands with him.

Jacob looked at him bewildered.

‘Jacob, this is Ahan, my son.’

He was stunned. Quickly he did the math in his mind but drew blank on how she could have a teenage son.

Son? Really?? Was she a teenage mother???

                                   To be continued...