chapter 22

Jay and Mita went to meet Mr. John for the leave discussion.“Good morning Mr. John!!”“Hey morning guys, what a coincidence. I was about to call you for a meeting and here you are,” Mr. John.Jay and Mita looked at each other.“Really?” Jay.“Yes. Please have a sit,” Mr. John opened some documents on his laptop, turned it to both of them,“Look guys, we have delivered pilot phase successfully and even the phase 1 is going great and will be delivered soon. Customer is really happy with us. So now as Rajan and I had planned, 4 more people will be joining here soon,” Mr. John.Mita and Jay remembered the old days at offshore when Rajan, their offshore manager had explained about the entire project plan.“Yeah, right!!” both said.“So, this week they will be joining here and Mita,” Mr. John turned to Mita.“Yeah,” Mita.“I want you to train these new folks so that they can start contributing to the project faster. But make sure, along with training, you finish your work.”“Ok sure!!” Mita.“And Jay, you will continue dealing with the customer and take care of Phase 1 delivery,”“yeah sure!!” Jay.“I am going to call for a team meeting today later in the afternoon. I will explain other team members about their responsibilities as well. Ok??” Mr. John.“Okay,” Jay and Mita.“Fine then guys, see you in the meeting,” Mr. John was about to leave but then he remembered,“hey, wait.. Did you guys want to talk to me for something else??”Jay and Mita again looked at each other. Mita told Jay to initiate the conversation.“Yeah.. actually Mr. John, we are here to tell you something….” Jay.“yeah..go ahead,” Mr. JohnJay again looked at Mita. She nodded her head. Mr. John was confused and waiting.“Actually, we are here to inform you that…I and Mita getting married next month,” Jay.“Whatt??? Oh my God!! When did this happen?? Are you serious?” Mr. John did not expect this news. He looked at Mita.“Yes, Mr. John,” she said.“Ohh..that’s great!! Congratulations guys!! So, what’s the date??”“7th September,” both said together.Mr. John started laughing at their synchronicity.“Nice!! Thank God it is after our phase 1 delivery!!”“Yes, Mr. John that’s why we chose the date in September, we would like to take leave from 1st September, so that….” Jay.“yeah yeah.. I understand completely. I am really happy for you guys. Let me talk to Rajan and then will get back to you guys. Does he know already??” Mr. John.“No,” Jay.“Well, then I will be the first one to break the news to him. Anyways Congratulations again. Now you guys will have to prepare for two things,”Mita and Jay did not understand, “What’s that??”“Phase1 delivery and your marriage preparation,” John started laughing again. “This is cool your story is progressing. Now you guys got leave approval also,” Prachi.“We haven’t got the approval yet Prach, he said he will get back to us,” Mita.“Of course, they will approve. Come on, your marriage date is fixed. It is just that they would need to do certain formalities and some changes in project plan,” Nitin.“That’s right. But Mita, I don’t think we will get 4 weeks leave. Two resources from same project that too from onsite, not only for project delivery but billing is also important,” Jay.“You are right Jay. I am ok with 3 weeks leave also. Remember we discussed the plan for 3 weeks?”Jay was disappointed that the 4th week he may not get which was reserved for their so-called honeymoon.“Really?? What plan you guys made for 3 weeks? Tell me naa,” Prachi.Mita was smiling.“ye lo…aa gayi…tell me also naa… it is their wedding plan.. must be something secret..something private..mmmmmm” Nitin.“Ohh really?” Prachi.“Nothing like that Prachi. After marriage, Appa has planned reception in Chennai, so we were discussing about all those things..that’s it,” Mita.“Hmmmmmmm,” Nitin.That’s when Mita’s phone rang.“Hello Di,”“Yeah Pihu, what’s up, didn’t sleep yet??”“Di, as you know we are in Mumbai, tomorrow we are going to Dadar for your wedding sarees shopping,” Pihu.“Ohh wow..but why so early??” Mita.“Early?? Di…it’s just one month for your wedding. Don’t you know there are so many things we need to do. Once we buy sarees, we can keep your blouses ready. You don’t know, these tailors take too much time for stitching. And you are not here, so mumma and I only will have to take care of all those things,” Pihu.“O Pihu, you are right!!! But what about the measurements??” Mita.“Di, I have your old blouse here, the one you wore in Bhaiyya’s marriage. I will give that for measurement and ask tailor to keep some margin for alterations. I am sure there won’t be much change unless you gain too much wait..hehehe,” Pihu.“hehehe…you are so smart my sistra….” Mita.“Beta, one more thing..please be available for video call tomorrow, we will show you sarees from there so that you can choose, Pihu will send you pics also,” Mom.“That’s great mom..I love you both!!!!” Mita was super excited for her online wedding shopping.She told Jay about Pihu’s call.“Jay, why don’t you also tell Amma Appa to start shopping for you,” Mita.“For me?? Now??” Jay was enjoying the excitement in Mita’s eyes.“Yeah,” Mita.“My darling, for boys, shopping and all will not take much time. It will be done in a day. We don’t have to buy so many things like you girls,” Jay.“yeah..but still, you can make some plans, some list, what to buy and all,” Mita.“My dear planning queen, I don’t have to do all that now. I will do all that after reaching India,” Jay pulled her nose.“hmmm Ok...as you wish.” Next day everybody was so busy at work. Mita had back-to-back meetings so she kept her phone on silent mode. They couldn’t even have their lunch on time. After a tiresome day, they all were on the way back home, sitting peacefully in the train. Mita took her mobile out from her bag.“Oh my God, Oh my God,”“Kya hua, kyun bhagvan ko pareshaan kar rahi ho??,” Nitin.“hehehehe,” Prachi.“15 missed calls???” Mita looked at Jay.“from whom??” Jay.“Pihu, Mom, Papa all kept calling me and I completely forgot that phone was on silent mode,” Mita.“Ohh no, they had gone for your saree shopping right??” Prachi.“Yeah,” Mita was sad.“ab??” Nitin.“ab kya, let her call them back and check,” Prachi.Mita called Pihu as soon as she reached home.“What is this Di??? I had told you that we are going for shopping and be available for call,” Pihu was upset.“I am so sorry darling. I had back to back meetings and I completely forgot that..” Mita.“You completely forgot about your wedding shopping??” Pihu.“yeah…sorry,” Mita.There was a pin drop silence for a minute.“hmmmmmmm… ok Di, did you check the photos I sent?” Pihu.“Ohh you did that??” Mita.“See, you haven’t even checked that,” Pihu was upset again.“No, I immediately called you after seeing your missed calls,” Mita.“Ok check it then and call me back. Bye now!!” Pihu disconnected the call.Mita immediately checked the pics:Her phone gallery was filled with so many pics:1.      Bottle green saree – Di, this one I chose for your Mehendi ceremony2.      Yellow saree with red border -> For Haldi ceremony.3.      Orange- Blue colour lehenga -> For Sangeet ceremony.4.      And this one for the day….maroon colour saree with full heavy work with white color stones on that. -> And you know Di, this is Mumma’s choice. I know you will love it.5.      There were few more sarees and chudidar pics . Mita was overwhelmed to see those beautiful sarees and dresses chosen by her sister and mother. Her eyes filled with tears…She immediately called Pihu,“Yes my dear Di, I hope you liked our shopping…see Mumma, papa are here too. I have put phone on speaker”Mita couldn’t speak a work. She was crying. Mom and Pihu understood that and they too became so emotional!Nobody spoke for a minute.“Is our dear daughter crying because she didn’t like the shopping at all??” Papa said in his soft voice.The heavy emotions turned into laughter…..!!!!Mita said,“Pihu, Mumma, Pappa,I am so lucky to have you all. My lovely sister and Mommy, you know me so well. Each saree and dress is beautiful. You know, even I wouldn’t have done such beautiful shopping for myself. Love you all…!!!!”“Di, are, hum hai to kya gam hai…you don’t worry at all. I was damn sure you will love it. But still if you want any changes, tomorrow we can go there for exchange. And if all is good then, we are planning to buy matching accessories, some other items like handbags, chappals, and ….please take tomorrow’s call  . Because after that we are leaving back for Kolhapur.”“Pihu, after seeing today’s pics, now I can blindly trust yours and mom’s choice. Please buy whatever you like. No need to check with me. Ok???”“Ok Di.. Then you can come here directly on your wedding day, directly in mandap…..we will set everything for you….!!!” Pihu.The room was filled with laughter and joy…!!! To be continued……