Chapter 63: chapter 63

SHIVAA man and a woman both in their late twenties are standing in the room. The man is in a black suit and smiles warmly at me and the woman is a perfect contrast to the man. She is in a white suit with a blank expression on her face. I am spellbound as I take in the woman. She is the Icy Queen and every rumour I have heard of her fits her appearance very well. She gives me a once-over look with no smile. Then she turns to the man next to her and gives him a look. Their eyes meet for a second and the man nods his head and leaves the room.“Hello madam,” I finally get my mouth to speak. She only gives a brief nod of acknowledgement before sitting in one of the chairs and motioning me to do the same.I am not sure what I should say. I have prepared a speech to greet her but no words come to my mind as I look at the cold-hearted woman who is assessing me with her cool gaze.She says, “You don’t look like your company is on the brink of   destruction.”Maybe it was the banter I had with Gowri because I am feeling a little nervous and light-headed. Before I could stop myself I laugh at the question and ask, “Should that mean I must wear tattered clothes and put on a whiny and gloomy face?”Her cold look turns amused for a second and then the coldness resurfaces again. “That is what most men do. But I see you have a job lined up if this interview doesn’t go the way you want. So from CEO to househusband?”I turn red as I realise that they have heard that last bit of my conversation. I recover myself and shrug, “Fate is cruel,” I tell quoting Gowri.“So, what does your wife do?” “She is a counsellor.”Savitha frowns and then asks with a slight edge to her voice, “Why does she go to work? Before your investors withdrew, you were earning more than enough to support a family of ten?”WHOA! How did she know about my previous turnover? A shiver runs through me as I realize that this woman had done research on me before coming here. But why is she asking about my wife? Shouldn't this be strictly professional? Anyway, I answer her because she creates a sense of fear in me and I don't want to ruin the last chance of saving the company.“My wife wants to be self-reliant. She wants to earn her own money. Besides, I don’t have any say in her career.”She nods like that makes sense. “How do feel about doing business with me?”“Terrified and maybe nervous,” I blurt out before I could stop myself.UGH. Why did I say that? I should have said that I am happy and pleased to do business with her. Probably added some more sugar-coated words to make her invest in my company.She narrows her eyes, “Why?”I would as well confess the truth, “Because, you are rumoured to be a cold-hearted person who can destroy the careers of businessmen with a blink of your eyes. I am frightened that you would ruin my career if I make any mistakes.”“That is a pretty honest answer,” she tells but the rigidity of her tone has gone down a bit.🍀🍀🍀🍀Two hours have passed and the interview with Savitha Gopinath is nearly over. This woman is more strict than the interviewers I met during my college days. She has vast knowledge in the business field and has got me blank a couple of times with her tricky questions.“The meeting is over,” she announces in a final tone.I sigh and hold my breath for her to tell me if my company has a second chance or not. But she raises and I follow suit.“Thank you,” I say not sure what else to say. She has not yet told me how satisfied she is with my answers.“Good Bye,” she says in the same rigid tone and her face is stone with no emotions. She walks out of the room without another word.WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED NOW?? I am still surprised that I have met one of my role models. Meeting Savitha is not an easy job. She never does interviews and in reality, only a few people have met her. Most still believe she is a myth in the industry but I am lucky enough to have met her.Uncle Bala rushes in. His face is curious and worried. “Doom or Bloom?” he asks.“Uncle, you should become a poet with those rhyming words of yours,” I tell.“Shiva, tell me,” he presses. “I don’t know. She just left telling the meeting was over.”“Doom,” Bala uncle tells sitting in the chair nearby. He puts his hand on his forehead and is a perfect picture of the man who is going to lose everything. Maybe I should have sat like that. So, Savitha would have been persuaded.I sit next to his chair as the awe of seeing my role model vanishes and the reality hits me. WE ARE DOOMED!Savitha wasn’t satisfied with my interview. GV Industries will not invest in our company. The last straw of hope is gone. No hope for the company now.My shoulders slump and I try to blink away the tears. This is not happening. My five years of hard work in bringing this company from a nameless one to a distinguished one is all gone. I hear a sob and look towards my side to see Bala uncle in tears. OH MY GOD!Bala uncle has been maintaining this company for years. This company’s doom is more heartbreaking to him than to me.I rub his back and try comforting him but my voice is raw, “Uncle, it is fine. We will find some other way. We can’t give up yet. They were one of the companies I sent the mail to. There are still many companies. We will find a way.”Bala uncle looks through his teas and tells in a shaking voice, “You sound like your father. But, Shiva, this has more effect on your career-”We are interrupted by a knock. I look up to find the man who had come with Savita standing with the same warm smile. I don’t feel like returning the smile. Not even for courtesy.“Did you leave something here?” I ask looking at the table and checking if Savita had missed any of her pens. But no except for my things the whole table is empty.The man’s smile only widens when he sees Bala uncle who is still in tears. Seriously? Why are people so cold-hearted?“I am Abinav. Personal Secretary of Miss. Savita Gopinath,” he tells.Is his name really important now?“That doesn’t answer my question. Did your boss miss anything here?” I ask again in a cold tone. What the hell? Did the man lose his brain? Because his smile only grows bigger. I am about to snap at him when he says, “Congratulations, GV Industries has decided to invest in your company.”HOLY FREAKING HEAVENS!THAT IS AMAZING!!!He grins at us as our faces change from sad and gloomy to shocked and astonished to happiness and joy.Bala uncle is the first one to recover from the surprise. He jumps, yes you read that right, he jumps from his seat like a kid and rushes to Abinav. Before I or Abinav could process what is happening, Bala uncle throws his hand around Abinav in a bear hug and kisses him on the cheek. Abinav's face widens in horror as Bala uncle runs away from the room like a kid shouting ‘Bloom’.“Who is that?” Abinav asks wiping his cheek with his handkerchief. Now, I am the one who is trying to suppress my grin as I reply, “My secretary.”“You don’t have the habit of having young, pretty girls as your secretary?” 🍀🍀🍀🍀GOWRII tap my foot as I wait for Shiva to pick up his call. It is six in the evening. The meeting would have been over and I want to know how he did it.The anticipation of the situation kills me. For the tenth time, I try again but he is not picking up. No, his phone is not switched off, either it is on silent or he is ignoring my calls. I hope it is the former.Maybe he didn’t do well or that investor lady wasn’t impressed with him. If that is the case then I very badly want to be with him and support him during his hard time. But if his company is saved, then I would be the happiest person in the whole world. I will congratulate him with a handshake. No more hugs. Because, when I am with him, I don't think twice about losing control and becoming reckless. I don't want to get any closer to him as it will not lead to anything. So, yes, I should maintain distance.I dial his number for the thirteenth time. But I hang off as soon as I hear a car pulling in. I open the door and run to the car shed in record time.Shiva exits the car and is startled to see me. I try catching my breath as I look at him. He has a blank expression. That means he has lost the interview. “Hey,” a breath, “how di-” another breath in an attempt to catch my breath, “d it go?”He gives me a sad smile. OH NO!“Hey, it is fine,” I tell finally catching my breath. “Can we go inside?” he asks. I nod and we go to the house. Shiva enters the house and I follow him. I close the door and lock it. I am about to turn-OH MY GOD!Shiva wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me closer to him. My back is flushed against his front. My heart races and my whole body comes alive with awareness. The memory of today morning teases me. Why is it becoming impossible for me to put distance between us? Why do I get attracted to him like we are opposite poles of magnets? I tell myself to breathe as Shiva puts his chin on my shoulder and slowly whispers, “Thank you, love, for being there with me at the hardest point of my life. If it hadn’t for you that day, I wouldn’t have had the gut to send that mail.” I shake my head but he is not finished. This has nothing to do with me. It is his hard work. “The company is saved from the crisis.”WHAT? HOLY GOD!THAT IS AWESOME.I gasp and Shiva turns me around so that I am facing him. Today, I understand what it really means when people say that ‘your heart is bursting with joy.’ Because I feel like I am on a cloud. I must congratulate him in his success.Ok, remember, only a handshake.But I ignore the warning and throw my hands around him in a bear hug. He doesn't hesitate a second to return the hug.“Congratulations! Shiva, I am so happy for you. You are the best,” I say as a grin stretches from ear to ear. His hands are on my hips and he pulls me closer. Every other thought leaves my brain. I relax against his touch. The familiar smell of him hits me and I smile despite myself as I lay my head on his chest. I will start maintaining distance from tomorrow. Today is going to be a cheat day.I could hear his heart beating. Wildly and loudly. We stand like that none of us is willing to break the embrace. I oddly feel safe and secure in his arms.A feeling that I have never felt with anyone else.🍀🍀🍀🍀