The staff room

“Mam, when are we going to get the coffee? It is already 4. Where is the peon?” Vivek Sir was fanning himself to drive away the heat which was circulating the staff room.

The lady professors smiled at his antics. One of the professors spoke

“Arrey! Did you forget! Today they are all busy with the Orientation program in the seminar hall! We will be lucky if we get our coffee,”

Vivek Sir felt sad and went back on his chair glancing at the wall clock which threatened to stop at 3 not moving towards 4 for their freedom.

“Has all the arrangements been made? I don’t want any last moment rush? She has come only with the special request from the Chancellor, so we should be vigilant! Hurry! bring the green tea to his cabin with some snacks, not the cookies, but some dry fruits,”

Saying so, Sonia went to the Chancellor’s cabin to welcome the guest of the hour,

Sonia approached the Chancellor’s seat and saw Sharanya who gave her a professional smile getting up.

“Hello, it is an honour to have you here as our guest speaker for the orientation program, Mam” Sonia shaked her hand upon which Sharanya spoke

“Please, it is my pleasure to come to such a prestigious university. I could meet such wonderful mentors.”

Sonia seated herself besides her and offered her the refreshments bought in by the peon.

The Principal talked about the college achievements bought in by the students and the professors. He explained to her the nature of the students and their interaction with the staff and non-staff members.

Sonia supported the thought which was equally praised by Sharanya.

They then proceeded towards the seminar hall, where the guests were seated in their honourable seats.

Sonia introduced the guests and welcomed them with the bouquet praising each and every one of them.

Sonia was in charge of the guest from the Arts and Aesthetics department where she was the dean.

Sharanya observed the persona that Sonia presented in front of her and the other on the podium. She was amazed by her professionalism and imagined how her family would be.

“Hello, yes dear, I told you I will be in your college, today. Well, I am in the seminar hall in the east I think. You can meet me here,” Sharanya told her daughter on the phone, who wanted to meet her mother and was proud to have her in her college.

She wanted her friends to meet her successful but humble mother.

Sharanya was called upon the podium to deliver her speech for the orientation program.

After the end of the program, Sonia welcomed Sharanya in her cabin for some rest. On which Sharanya told her that she wanted to meet her daughter who happens to study MBA in the same college.

Sonia was excited to meet the daughter of the well-known counsellor. But to her luck, she had other works which needed her attention.

Just like that they conversed about their family and their wellbeing. Sharanya was astonished that Sonia had two grown up children and both of them excelled in their respectable field.

She also mentioned her husband who was the proud owner of the Sovin Industries Pvt. Ltd. which garnered in the field of furniture industry, hotel management, resorts and tourism. An overall achiever in the field of hospitality.

At last, Sonia invited her for her son’s birthday party which was on this Friday. Sharanya was a busy mother and professional who found it quite difficult to accept the invite.

Sonia understood her dilemma and told her that they might meet in some other casual time.

Varma Hotels Ltd.

The front desk

“Mam, please try to understand! We can’t let you inside! The Chairman is busy in a meeting with our international clients. Please come later,” Saying so the receptionist went back to attend to her call making the helpless lady sad of not meeting the chairman.

The lady sat on the sofa in the lounge clutching her bag with dried tears in her eyes.

At around 4 pm in the evening,

“And remember to call my wife to make time for the dinner reservations at 9 pm in the Grand plaza tomorrow,” Pradeep Varma strode through the corridor to exit the building.

At the waiting lounge, he saw a stranger sitting on the sofa gazing at nowhere without blinking. He asked his secretary who was busy scheduling his meeting for tomorrow in the iPad.

The secretary shaked his head at not recognising the said person.

However, Pradeep was not satisfied with his answer, he went towards the lady and asked her the reason.

The lady slowly looked up and cried inaudibly with folded hands in front of her saviour.

Pradeep got tensed at her aura and tried to grab her hands when she suddenly fainted.

Pradeep told his secretary to attend to her health by taking her to the nearby hospital.

However, some of the employees were able to retrieve her from her unconsciousness. She jolted up calling out ‘Dev’

Pradeep clutched her hands and tried to ask her the reason for her ill health.

She cried and tried to speak her trouble.

Pradeep called out his secretary and told him to give all the necessary help to the lady with no questions asked.

The lady fell down on his knees to which Pradeep caught her shoulders making her get up and spoke

“I understand the pain of a mother for her child. Don’t worry. Your son will be alright. Your husband was a respectable and loyal employee of our company. I will always help you whenever you want…hm?”

Pradeep left for his home leaving a happy mother who blessed him with all the happiness in the world.

Sovin Industries Pvt. Ltd.

“Oh Sh*t! not again! Ahh!” Vinay came inside his cabin to listen to a certain human moving his limbs across the chair like a cockatoo!

“Who are you?! And what are you doing in my cabin?” Vinay took the creature’s mobile phone and threw it on the table. He caught his hips and looked at him with predatory eyes.

“Uncle! Don’t you remember me? I am Dino!” The eyes widened with the slight pat on his chest which didn’t move a single hair on Vinay’s head.

“…”

“As far as I know dinosaurs are extinct. How did you survive the fire? Did you fly, hm?? Get out of my room, before I throw you out!” Vinay widened his eyes and signalled him to move out of the cabin.

The creature however remained in his position with a pouted look.

Vinay busied himself by working on the documents in front of him.

“V! I thought we would have the meeting in the conference room. Why here?” Sameer entered the cabin alongwith his secretary who glanced at the creature looking at Vinay with a sorry pout.

“Dino! What are you doing here? where is Sanal? And how come you people are always late, huh? I told you to reach the office in the afternoon? It is 5 now! No sense of timing!” Sameer sat in front of Vinay who paid zero attention to the Dino.

“Dad! Sorry I was late because of this Dino! He wandered off in the wilds taking shots of birds and cows?!!” Sanal went to sit beside his dad and snickered at his bestie who glared at him.

“I knew it! Dino! I am telling you the last time! Don’t ruin my son! Next time, be there with him all the time, got that?!” Sameer scolded Dino who slumped on the sofa in the cabin with a sad face.

They discussed the new project in the suburbs of the city to build a homestay for the tourist who want to spend a quiet time among the wilderness.

After some time, Vinay and Sameer went outside the cabin to discuss about the expansion of the building which would be the combined efforts of the two bestie to help them achieve new heights in the field of hospitality training for new aspirants.

Sanal sat on his seat and called his sweetheart who refused to pick his call.

Spat!

“Ow!” Dino moved in front of him, after hitting his arm and spoke

“Why do you let me take the scolding for your wrong doings, huh? I am telling you, Sunny. This is the last time I am taking this shit from everyone. Especially your dad and stonehearted uncle!”

Sanal got up and grabbed his shoulders with a smirk and spoke

“Well, I can’t help it if you turn mute in front of them. Especially my uncle. Who by the way is the most perfect human being, got that?”

Sanal took his bag and moved out of the cabin followed by Dino who twisted his face at the truthful words.

Well, Vinay did have that aura of a mafia don which he was, unknown to the children.

Vinay and his family members made a pact that they would not disclose of him being in the mafia as it would harm their children’s future.

Varma Residence

Sharanya was instructing the maids to prepare for the table for the dinner before the family members could arrive.

Prisha jogged to the table and kissed her mother’s cheeks who patted her cheeks lovingly.

“Mom, don’t we have potato fritters today?” Sharanya smiled at her and spoke

“Did you forget? You are being told to avoid fritters. It is not good for your vocals. So, only rice and sautéed veggies for you, hm?”

Prisha pouted saying “But, Momma, only 2 pieces, please!!!”

Sharanya tilted her head at her acts. Prisha pursed her lips nodding to her mother’s advice.

Prisha was good in singing. And when her parents knew her talent, they hired a guru for her who would make her exercise her vocals to improve her singing.

Pradeep approached the table to be greeted by his lovely family.

Previn was busy texting his fiancé when he sat on the chair to take the salad.

He spat it out and looked here and there to find the culprit.

Prisha controlled her laughter and looked down pretending to eat her soup when she saw her brother glaring at her.

“What!!”

“Did you put this chilli in my plate, pigtails!” Prisha got angry at his call and went to snatch his hair.

Sharanya came to rescue her son and told Prisha to sit quietly on her seat.

Both of them teased each other to get Sharanya loose her calmness.

Pradeep finally cleared his throat making both his children silent in their seat.

The family then continued to have their dinner peacefully.

In Pradeep’s room

Sharanya came out of the washroom to see her husband resting on the couch glancing at nowhere.

She went near him and caressed his hairs to which he glanced at her smilingly.

Sharanya asked him for his tensed mood to which he got up and walked towards the balcony.

Sharanya followed him and stood near the door folding her hands.

“I am thinking about our Isha,” Sharanya smiled at his worry and stood near him putting her hands on the railing of the balcony.

“What is there to worry? She is exceling in her academics. She is also following her passion for singing. And should I even mention her humble nature. Our Isha is a gem,” Sharanya convinced him at his unnecessary worry.

Pradeep tsked and looked at her saying “That’s the worry, Sharu! I want to find the perfect partner for my Isha who will look after her like a princess, not less,”

Sharanya caressed his arms and told him that they would look for prospectus groom for her once she completes her studies within 5 months.

Pradeep gave her a satisfied smile at her assurance.