At The Right Time

Thanks Rajeni

 

Chapter-19


Jai was feeling brisk as he slept during the day. Somehow his mind was not in office work. He took out his jogging shoes and started to jog around the gated community.


There were almost no activities in most of the villa houses. He passed through Priya’s house and noted that lights were on. Wasn’t Srikanth talking about both of them being sick? Since time was close to eleven he hesitated to check.. He saw some action in front door only to find Priya checking on the doors. Priya noticed Jai and smiled.


‘I received your message Priya. Sorry yet to reply.’ He said.


‘Yeah wanted to talk about a particular thing…’


‘I think sleep ditched me today.. We can talk now if you are free.’


‘Oh sure..Please come in. House is in a messy state, please excuse.’ She told him after clearing a place in sofa.


House was in utter messy state. Books scattered around, toys and clothes in all unexpected places. Jai laughed and asked


‘What happened? Vivaan is upset over something?’


‘No he is sick. So lot of tantrums added to that even I’m not feeling well. Maid on holiday, you get the picture right’ Priya was doing a quick clean while talking to Jai.

'Your parent's used to stay around here right?

' They have gone abroad to visit my brother.. will be back after few months only'

‘ Where’s Vivaan? Shall I help you?…’ Jai got up from Sofa.

‘He just slept. Please sit. I’ll manage…’ she pleaded.

‘Would you like to have some coffee? My throat is dry I’m going to make a cup’ Priya asked.


‘Yes make it strong’ he said.


Priya made coffee and they sat in garden. Jai was greeted with fragrance of fresh flowers and he admired different varieties of flowers. That reminded him of his childhood days where his mom maintained a garden.


‘Coffee is fantastic.. ‘ Jai told sipping his cup.


‘Would you like another cup?’ she asked


‘I’m tempted to say yes but..’


‘Reserve your reasons while I make another cup.’ She came back with some more coffee and biscuits.


‘Shouldn’t you sleep now? Especially you are not well…’ Jai asked her.


‘Sleep has ditched me these days Jai’ she replied.


Jai didn’t fail to notice she addressed him as Jai not as Mr.Jai as she used to. He noticed there was some change in Priya.


‘Tell me Priya..what you wanted to talk about?’


Priya hesitated in spelling out the real reason. She felt like a teenager struggling to talk to her love. It was easy to talk with Srikanth as they were close. But talking to Jai was proving difficult than planned. Words failed her.


Jai sipped coffee and helped himself with biscuits. He was watching her out of corner of eyes and waited for her to talk. He noted that her calm face was disturbed.


When she didn’t talk for next few minutes, ‘I think you wanted to talk about something. So open up..’


She looked at Jai and said’ Vivaan thinks you and boys as his family. He misses you when you are not around…’ Jai smiled hearing this and said ‘ I too miss him at times’


‘ Look Priya that will not be a problem. I’m relocating to Europe for next six months, post that I’ll not spend much time around here. He will soon forget me.’ Jai replied without missing a beat.


‘Does this apply to me as well?’ Priya asked.


‘What?? ’ Jai looked at her eyes for clarity.


Before Priya could reply he said ‘ You appear much disturbed today Priya. Take a deep breath. We all have some moments where we are not clear…’


‘I’m more than clear Jai. Both me and Vivaan are looking for same things.’ Priya looked into Jai’s eyes and replied.


Jai’s heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t an hour before his boys asked a question about his remarriage and his mind went to Priya then…Does she mean what I think…


‘Do you understand what it means Priya?’


‘I completely understand Jai’ Priya replied. She was still looking into Jai’s eyes. Jai couldn’t face the gaze and looked at the flowers instead. He was silently savoring the moment.


Priya remembered that she is yet to mention him about her decision to quit Evolution. ‘I have also planned to…’. Priya’s sentence was interrupted by a phone call.


Jai received a call from his assistant which he immediately picked up, ‘No didn’t check my mails since evening. What? Seriously? No not an option. I’ll call you back in five minutes.’


He got up from chair and said, ‘ Sorry Priya. I have to get back to work. Something critical has come up...‘ That time he got another call from his counterpart in African region…’Yes just got to know. Just a minute..’


He waved to Priya and rushed to his villa. A critical incident has happened in Africa region which immediately demanded his attention.


Priya sat in the same place for next hour wondering what to do next.

 

Sure in next few chapters..I will post next chapter tomorrow..

 

Glad I made your day Bravo.. I hope Priya will live up to expectations of many who had set high standards for her.

 

Chapter-20


Jai was in a telephonic conference next couple of hours where it was finally decided that he had to fly there in next available flight. He didn’t know when he crashed out in sofa. It was Sriram who came down for jogging saw his dad in sofa.


‘Dad.. What happened? Why are you sleeping in Sofa?’ Jai woke up startled and looked at the time.


‘I have to catch the flight in another two hours….’ Jai started towards his room.


‘Sriram I forgot to inform chauffeur, can you drive me to airport? I’ll get ready in fifteen minutes.’ He freshened up and added few things to his travel ready suitcase.


‘Dad coffee’ Sriram had prepared coffee for Jai by the time he got ready. Jai remembered the coffee prepared by Priya and it reminded him that he is yet to respond to her.


On the way to airport he wrote her a note


‘I too want Vivaan’s wish come true.


Let’s work out things once I’m back. –J’


‘Can you give this to Priya once you get home?’ Jai handed the note to Sriram.


‘Can I get to read the contents dad?’ he asked in a mocking tone. Sriram was happy as this mean there is some progress.


‘No way…. I will talk to you both once things take a shape.’


‘You look happy despite your tiredness dad’. Jai smiled as that was true.


‘We are heading to college this afternoon. Will meet you once you are back’


‘Sure. There are only intermittent phone connections in the areas I’m supposed to visit. So I might not be available on phone most of the time. I will call you guys whenever possible. Study well. Bye’ He patted Sriram on shoulders and proceeded to check-in.


It was still early morning hours when Sriram was returning from airport. Sriram was driving in high speed and he didn’t notice a dog crossing the road. He hit the dog but still managed to keep the car in control. Traffic police who witnessed the scene stopped the car. Sriram not only went over speed but didn’t have license with him. Traffic police detained him and seized the car.


It took Sriram several calls to wake up Srikanth and convey the message. It took them several hours to produce the relevant documents, pay the fine and rescue the car. They rushed to catch the train back to college. Sriram completely forgot about the note his dad asked him to handover. When he remembered that later, he dialed Priya’s number which remained unreachable.


It became a long trip for Jai. He had to visit many African countries to finalize on the deal. He spoke to his boys after few days during that time Sriram mentioned that he missed delivering the note to Priya. Jai dialed Priya’s number and found that it was not reachable. Jai decided against sending a mail to Priya as his mail box is accessible by his assistant. He decided to try her number later when time permits.


It was almost twenty days after Jai’s departure to Africa, Sriram came to Srikanth’s hostel room.


‘How was your trip?’ Srikanth who was in final year went for a long vacation trip with his class mates and was just back.


‘Fantastic..fun times… ‘


When Sriram was saying Dad said he will call in five minutes, Jai rang and spoke to them.


‘ I will come back in another ten days. By the way any of you spoke with Priya recently? Her number seems not reachable.’


‘ So dad what’s the matter? Why are you trying her number?’ Srikanth asked.


‘Say official’


‘So Evolution doesn’t have work phones or mail id’s to discuss official matters is it?’ Srikanth started laughing while questioning Jai.


‘Not handy considering the time difference and my mail box is handled by my assistants..’


‘So What’s happening Dad?’


‘ Will tell you in person.. For now if you reach her, ask her to contact me.’


‘ Okay dad. See you soon.’


Srikanth was unable to reach her again. He assumed she must have lost the mobile or something. Few days later he rang housekeeper number in Chennai and asked them to check on Priya.


Jai landed in Chennai along with Chairman. He was surprised to see Srikanth came to pick him up instead of his chauffeur. Chairman was very close to Jai’s family well and congratulated Srikanth for his entry into IIM.


‘Where’s Sriram? Where is our Chauffeur? ‘ Jai questioned


‘He is in Coimbatore still. His exams are yet to get over. Dad….’


‘Yes’


‘Priya and Vivaan are missing……’

 

Yes yes