OFFICE MEETING

OFFICE MEETING
After returning home, Avani went upstairs to her room and attempted to call Rishabh once more, but his number remained switched off. Frustrated, she placed her phone on the table and went into the bathroom to change into her nightwear.

She felt exhausted, yet sleep eluded her. Rishabh's face kept appearing in front of her closed eyes, making it impossible to sleep.

"Ughhh!" She groaned in frustration and covered her eyes with her palms, sitting on her bed. Something didn't feel right, and restlessness overcame her. She picked up her phone once more and attempted to call Rishabh, only to find his number was still switched off.

She reached to her bag which was on side table and searched for a bottle of sleeping pills. She took one, and gulped it down with water. Placing the glass back on the table, she turned off the lights, lay down, and closed her eyes. Sleep slowly overtook her.

The next morning, sitting on the living room couch, she was sipping tea on the cold Diwali morning. Her phone blinked and it was from office. It was her Team Manager Tushar's call.

"Hello, Tushar. Good morning," she said after answering the call. "Hey Avani, Good Morning. Sorry to disturb you on your vacation. I

just called you to inform that you have to come to the office for a day, to attend one important client meeting day after tomorrow, we need every team member's presence in the office." he explained.

"Okay, Tushar. I will be there. At what time is the meeting scheduled?" she inquired.

"The meeting is at 6.30 pm in the evening," he replied.

Avani felt bit suspicious about the evening meeting however she couldn't question her Team Manager. "Okay, I will be there," she said before disconnecting the call.

At the breakfast table, she informed her mother about the meeting and the need to go to Delhi for two days.

“Avani so many preparations, shopping is remaining and now you must go to Delhi again. How will I manage everything alone?” Her mother asked in a state of panic and expressed her concerns.

“Mom, it's just a matter of 2 days, I can come back the same day, but it will be too hectic for me. I will take a flight next evening. Please, it's an office meeting I need to go.” Avani requested her mother. After some persuasion, her mother reluctantly agreed. After breakfast, she went Upstairs and booked her two-way flight tickets to Delhi.

In the evening, Avani went shopping with her mother, Shreya, and Siya, who was there to choose her bridal dress. They entered a shop and began exploring the collection of beautiful lehengas (Indian traditional dress with a blouse, long skirt, and drape). Avani's eyes were drawn to a blood-red lehenga with exquisite work that captured her admiration. Shreya also expressed her admiration for the lehenga and encouraged Avani to try it on.

"No, Shreya, I'm not going to try it. But it’s beautiful; I was looking at this one for Siya," Avani replied.

"Mom, please ask Di to try this lehenga. It’s so beautiful; just try it once," Shreya pleaded with her puppy eyes.

"Avani, go and try once. Let me see how my daughter looks in it," Ma encouraged her.

Shreya gave her a pleading look, and Avani, shaking her head, took the lehenga and headed towards the changing room. However, a sudden sadness overcame her as reality struck. She had pushed Rishabh away, and he wasn't even answering her calls. The hurt in her heart was palpable, but she pushed those thoughts aside and shifted her focus on dress in her hand.

Siya was still inside the changing room, exploring another lehenga. As Avani emerged, her mother and Shreya looked at her in shock. The people in the shop couldn't help but stare, making Avani feel a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh my God! It looks so beautiful on you. It's like it is made for you," Shreya exclaimed, winking at Avani, who smiled and shook her head.

"Di, let me take just one picture, please," Shreya pleaded, and before Avani could respond, she clicked a photo immediately.

"Shreya, I'm warning you. Don't you dare send this picture anywhere," Avani cautioned, well aware of Shreya's intentions behind taking these pictures. Shreya grinned and showed Avani her phone screen, revealing that she had already sent the picture to Kriti.

"Shreya, are you serious?" Avani looked at her with wide eyes.

"You'll thank me later for this," Shreya said, winking at Avani and throwing a kiss in the air. Siya joined them, coming out in her chosen bridal lehenga, and the both of them stood together.

"Look at my daughters; you both are looking so beautiful," Avani's mother exclaimed, admiring them.

Siya looked at Avani, bumping her shoulder playfully. "Avani, what do you say? Should I ask Choti Mom (Neetu Aunty) to arrange the same date for your and Rishi's marriage?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows. Avani, in response, placed her hand on Siya's shoulder, and played along.

"Well, on that thought, should I send your picture to Anish in a bridal lehenga?" Avani asked with a smirk, and Siya turned deepest shade of red, a hearty giggle left Avani's lips.

After finalizing Siya's bridal attire, Anjali, Avani's mother started searching for another one. Confused, Avani questioned, "Mom, we are done, right? What are you looking for?"

"Siya, please help me select a dress for Avani," Her mother said, signalling something to Siya, leaving Avani puzzled about her mother's intentions.

"Ma, is it really needed right now?" Avani questioned her mother's sudden choice.

"Yes, show me that pastel red lehenga. Yes...that one," Her mother instructed the shopkeeper, pointing to the second compartment and seemingly avoiding Avani's objections.

"Avani, go try this one. Pastel shades suit you well, and this will look beautiful on you. Isn't it, Siya?" Anjali said, glancing at Siya , who nodded in agreement. Shreya was engrossed in her cell phone, and Avani couldn't help but admire the intricate work on the pastel red lehenga.

"Mom, it’s not my wedding, and red is not my colour. I don’t need a red lehenga," Avani expressed herself, looking at her mother.

"It’s not even red; it's pastel red, and it's beautiful. Go, hurry up and try it on," Her mother insisted, avoiding further arguments. Avani wondered why her mother was insisting on her wearing a red lehenga.

Glancing at Siya, who avoided her gaze, and Shreya, who remained absorbed in her cell phone, Avani pondered, 'What is going on?'

She eventually tried on the lehenga, and her mother decided to buy it along with more dresses for the upcoming wedding ceremonies.

Avani was worn out after a long day of shopping and preparations. Late at night, in her room, she tried Rishabh’s number again, but it was still switched off. Worry began to cloud her thoughts. Placing her phone on the table and her handbag in the cupboard, she changed into her nightwear and headed to the washroom.

After lot of thoughts, she decided to call Kriti, hoping for any news about Rishabh.

"Hello, Kriti," Avani greeted.

"Hi, Bhabhi... You called at this time. Is everything okay?" Kriti inquired.

“Actually... umm... okay, Kriti, did you receive any call from Rishabh? I have been trying to call him for the last so many days, but his phone is switched off,” Avani expressed in one breath.

“Oh, my god... slow down... take a deep breath. Are you missing him? (Giggling). Jokes apart, he called yesterday to Mom and told her, he will need 2 more days to come back as his work is yet to be finished,” Kriti reassured her.

"Okay... Thanks, Kriti. Good night," Avani said and disconnected the call. She closed her eyes and, after hearing that Rishabh was safe and would be back in a couple of days, she thanked God. Placing her phone on the side table, she settled in her bed and drifted into a peaceful sleep.