Part 5: Mistakes, Coincidences......and they meet!!

WHAT THE HELL Mrs WILSON??? I guess its time you retire and sit back at home……you have made a complete mess of my appointments!!! [Abhay was spitting fire over the phone......mistakes were one thing he couldnt tolerate at any cost....]

But Mr…..[she could hear only the phone being slammed down……of course he was right in scolding her…..She had messed it all up for the first time.....but she was still wondering where did it go wrong? wasnt it Flamingoes that her boss said?? Or did she hear it wrong? either way, the damage was already done.....Mr Chaitanya was waiting at Flamingoes and her boss was at Hilton......]

Abhay's POV:
He wanted everything to be perfect.....such a mess up was happening for the first time.....He was fuming....there was no way he could reach the place on time for his appointment with Chaitanya......

He always kept business meetings at Hilton........he never liked mixing business with anything else....He still didnt understand how his secretary had heard it as Flamingoes?? or was he the one who made the mistake? he wasnt sure....He didnt want to call up and make excuses to Chaitanya......Sorry was the word he hated to say.......He never apologized because he believed that he could do no mistakes....and to an extent, he was right in believing so too.......

He hated his marriage alliances or anything related to it becoming a topic at his office.....and that was the reason he himself had booked Flamingoes for his meeting with the girl his parents chose for him..........He had seen her photo and quite liked her........She was good looking and smart.....confident and intelligent enough to become his wife.....She would fit the bill as Mrs  Raghuvendra.......It wasnt that he was dying to get married........His family felt that it was high time he gets married and he was beginning to feel the same way too......A high profile wedding and then a wife would be an additional asset to his social status as well as business image......and that was all what marriage meant to him.....atleast at this point!

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Two hours before.......
Abhi was ready to leave......Her mom made a strange face when she saw Abhi.....She didnt approve of Abhi's dressing style any day......but today, wasnt it special and yet she was dressed in a casual wear.....a black jeans and a light cream top......but her mom didnt utter a word.......She didnt want to upset Abhi at this time......it would only ruin her meeting with Abhay......her mom wanted this alliance to get set somehow....She had liked Abhay's profile instantly and she felt Abhay was just perfect for her daughter......Rich, smart, handsome and most important, despite all these, there wasnt a scar on his character........She felt Abhi's life wouldnt be anything less than heaven with Abhay.......

Though rough and tough outside, she loved Abhi dearly and she wanted nothing but the best for her.....She didnt want Abhi to blindly follow the dreams and fantasy about love.......She believed that all those fantasies would only ruin Abhi's life.......She knew that Abhi would never understand her concern and love for her.....
It would take more than a lifetime to understand the mother's love for a daughter.....

With a deep sigh, Abhi's mom quickly prayed and wished her luck

Abhi left for Flamingoes early just to ensure that she wasnt late......When she does something, she does it the perfect way......She didnt want to give a bad impression in the very first meeting.....not that she wanted this to work out but still, she wanted to give it a honest try as per her father's wishes!

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Chaitanya had been waiting at table number 7 for the past 45 minutes and there was no sign of Mr Abhay......7 seemed to be Abhay's lucky number and this table was permanently booked in his name....

Chaitanya had decided to leave after waiting for 20-30 minutes but he remembered Sanjay's words......The boss had the right to come late, postpone meetings at the last moment or do whatever he wishes..........
there were no wrongs in his dictionary and for Chaitanya, he had to crack this deal at any cost......So he waited..........and waited impatiently.........

Abhi reached the place around 5:15 and she was pointed to the table number 7 booked in the name of Mr Abhay...........She saw him from behind.....he was dressed very formally as if it were some business meeting........Abhi was laughing at their contradicting styles but then, she knew that big business tycoons like Abhay wouldnt sport any other look..........

She judged his looks from the side as she neared the table.....She hated to admit but she was a bit tense....it was the first time she was meeting a guy like this....a prospective groom...........He looked smart.......above average in his looks......very casual in his mannerisms and attitude....He didnt seem to have an air of the wealth he possessed.......Abhi was truly impressed with the first look....
He was busy with his laptop.....She wondered if he was always this busy in his work......so busy that he couldnt let go of his work even during such a meeting........

Chaitanya didnt notice Abhi as she occupied the chair opposite to him.....Abhi cleared her throat to catch his attention......It was then that he looked up from his laptop.......

Chaitanya's mind voice: Who is she??? is she Abhay's representative???? I hoped to meet him personally....and thats what he proposed to me too....but now, he has sent this girl instead......big people and their ways! no one could question them......

Chaitanya smiled as she closed the laptop.....their eyes meet for a short time before Abhi smiles back and extends her hand......"Hi.......Abhilasha....."

Chaitanya shakes his hand when his phone buzzes........He pulls back his hand instantaneously.....
"Excuse me....I have to take this call"

"yeah sure.....go on......" Abhi was surprised by his weird behavior

It was a call from Abhay's office informing him about the mess up....Chaitanya is furious but he decided not to react.......he just says "OK" and disconnected the call.....he wasnt sure if he wanted to meet Abhay
after this......

He came back to the table cursing the day and Abhay under his breath..."this is just ridiculous......do whatever and then a plain sorry.....everything is fine for them....what happens to the time and effort I put in?"........

he was too occupied in his own thoughts to notice Abhi's presence.....he completely forgot about her.......he packed his laptop and other papers he had spread out for the meeting........he left without a word.......Abhi first felt that he was packing up to make himself free to talk to her but then she was totally puzzled when he left in a hurry......It took a minute for her to understand what was going on.......Just as she realized, she called out to him.....

"Hello......Mr Abhay.....Hello....." [but he didnt reply or even look back.....instead, someone else responded from behind her.....]

Hello.......Abhilasha??

Abhi turned to face the voice that called out her name.......Smart and dashing Abhay  stood right in front of her....He held out his hand and introduced himself  "I am Abhay"
She was perplexed again........"then who was he?"

[To be continued]