The traffic was maddening. Ishani had to attend a client meeting and she was gravely late for the office. In her 30 years of life she has never been late anywhere, but today, she was. That's the irony.
Her phone rang, it was her manager.
She picked it up, "Ishani, the clients are on there way, will reach in another 10 minutes, where the hell are you?"
"I will be there in 5.", she stepped on the gas and took a U-turn to take a different route.
But God had some other plans.
The traffic on that route was severe too.
Finally! After a long 30 minutes she reached office, running, gasping, and sweaty.
The conference hall was already full and an unknown guy, in his 20s was presenting already.
Ishani adjusted her hair and clothing and knocked the door.
Her manager looked furious.
She entered the room, looked at the guy, signalled him to carry on with the presentation and silently sat on her designated seat.
"Sorry for being late", she whispered to her manager who was sitting beside her.
"Listen to the presentation first", he murmured.
After the meeting was over, which seemed to be successful Ishani went to the cafeteria for a break.
There, the guy who had been presenting was having refreshments.
"Your presentation was really good.", Ishani spoke to him.
He smiled, "Well, thank you. By the way you looked very flustered and out of breath. Was everything alright?"
Ishani smiled awkwardly, "Haha, yeah, just got in traffic."
"I am Dhiraj", He invited her to shake hands.
"Ishani", she shook his hand with a smile, "Pleasure to meet you".
"Ishani, meet our senior director", Ishani's manager, Atul, called her to make acquaintance with some senior officials.
"Excuse me", she crunched her nose and excused herself from Dhiraj.
Dhiraj nodded with a smile.
The day went by. Ishani and her roommate, who is also her best friend, Koyel were chatting at the cafeteria.
"It was so embarrasing ya. In my life I've never been this late.", Ishani chuckled.
"Well, that intern guy, what's his name? He was awestruck when he saw you enter the conference room", Koyel said while sipping on her coffee.
"Eh! He is not intern. He is an assosciate. ", Ishani said.
"Well, he really looks young. But you must focus on my word, 'awestruck'", Koyel giggled.
"Stop ya. He is younger than me, and you know that I don't date younger guys", Ishani took her last sip of the coffee.
"Never say never my girl", Koyel teased her when both of them left the cafeteria.
"Ok, see you at home. I have a meeting now. Will be late", Koyel bid her good bye, while Ishani was ready to go home.
It started raining.
"What a timing! Hyderabad and rain doesn't go well.", Ishani murmured.
She was going to the basement parking lot to take her car. Meanwhile in the elevator there were lots of people already.
"Oh, Miss Ishani", a familiar voice came from behind. She turned around.
"Mr. Dhiraj? You are still here?", she was taken by surprise.
"Actually I forgot a personal item here. The security called me to take it back after they came to know that it's mine. Clumsy me. Haha", Dhiraj smiled awkwardly.
"I see, hmm", Ishani lowered her glance. The man was too handsome, especially when he smiles.
"Did you bring a car?", Ishani asked out of courtesy.
"Uh no, I don't own one yet", he replied.
"Ok, let me drop you. It's raining and it will be difficult for you to find an uber.", Ishani said.
Dhiraj nodded in agreement, "Thanks a lot."
Dhiraj sat on the passenger seat of the car.
"It's a beasty car. I didn't know that girls like these.", Dhiraj said while looking at the sophisticated interior of the German car.
"Well, I borrowed it from my brother. He is crazy rich.", Ishani chuckled, "Do you like it?", She said.
"Who doesn't?", Dhiraj's eyes were glittering.
Ishani smiled and started the engine, "Put your house location in the navigation", she said.
"Yeah", Dhiraj put his location in the GPS.
"So how long are you working for Amethyst enterprise?", Ishani asked.
"It's gonna be 2 years this June", he said.
They crossed the beautiful hitech city bridge. The lights were dazzling, and was making Ishani look really beautiful.
Dhiraj was gazing at her as if she is a star, sparkling in the sky.
As soon as Ishani looked at him, he shifted his gaze.
"The bridge is .....very pretty", he said awkwardly.
"Yeah, it is.", Ishani felt the silence piercing.
"Ummm do you like to have a coffee? I know a nice place over there", Ishani broke the silence.
A wide smile spread through Dhiraj's face, "Yeah sure. Today was tiresome, coffee is perfect in that situation, that too in this rainy weather."
As they entered the café, a group of girls were staring at Dhiraj.
The 6 feet something guy was making his mark.
"You must have been popular in college I guess.", Ishani added a sarcastic tone.
Suddenly Dhiraj's gaze turned playful with a slight smirk on his face.
"Why do you think so?", he asked.
"Ummm nothing, just saying", Ishani took the menu card in her hands.
"Do you think that I am worthy of being popular?", Dhiraj asked, almost unapologetically.
Taken by surprise to his question Ishani defended herself, "Well no need to be so serious Mr. Dhiraj. I was just being, you know, sarcastic".
"Well, there is some honesty in your sarcasm I feel. Anyway, Latte for me.", he said to her.
"2 iced latte please",Ishani called the waiter and ordered.
After finishing the coffee, they were back in the car.
"You stay at Jubilee hills, I stay in at area too. What a coincidence.", Ishani said after looking precisely at the location.
"Oh, is it? Then we are practically neighbors", Dhiraj said in a playful tone.
"Yeah, seems like it.", Ishani smiled at him.
"Here, we reached your place.", Ishani stopped her car near a society entrance.
"Thanks for dropping me. Had a wonderful evening. Good night", Dhiraj waved her goodbye.