Gift of God

Nervousness occupied Varun’s heart. Today, Anaya Gupta was going to join his company. A contract would be signed with her.

He was going to accept all of her requirements because Mr. Kashyap required him to work with her, at least for a while.

At first, he hadn’t liked her approach because she raised her hand at a man who was an ad agency owner. Being in the business himself, he could not justify her action.

Now, he had no choice but to work with her.

To his surprise, she didn’t seem arrogant like he’d thought. She looked simple, and her way of talking was also fun-filled and soothing. So he supposed it wouldn’t hurt to give her a chance.

Varun saw Aman rushing to the office in his steel-blue blazers. He stepped back, seeing Aman’s excitement.

“What’s wrong?” Varun asked Aman.

“Nothing is wrong. In fact, I’m going to sort out all my previous mistakes.”

“What do you mean?” Varun asked with his trademark frown.

“I’m going to get into Anaya Gupta’s good book.”

“Why?” Again the same frown.

“She seems a nice girl.”

“So?”

“I thought about my future all last night, without sleeping.”

“Mmhmm…”

“Finally, I came to a conclusion.”

“What conclusion?”

“I decided to marry Anaya Gupta.”

“…What?” Varun asked skeptically.

“Look, don’t underestimate me. I’m not less than you.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You are going to see her long for me.”

Varun chuckled.

“Wanna bet?”

Varun shook his head.

“Why? Are you scared?”

“I don’t want to be your competitor. Go ahead… All the best.”

“Why? I saw her looking at you so lovingly. Why don’t you want to compete?”

“If you want to marry her, do it. No questions, please.”

“Why do you dodge the conversation whenever I talk about marriage? Is it because of your father?”

“Shut up, Aman. I don’t want to think about that arrogant man. I’m not afraid of him nor do I want to remember him. Understand?”

“Why do you get so worked up whenever you think about your father?”

“Because he is not a human. According to me, he doesn’t deserve to be called a father. That’s all.”

“What about your mother? It’s been seven years since you’ve seen her. They don’t even know whether you are alive or—”

Cutting him, Varun yelled, “According to them, I’m dead. I don’t want them to know I’m alive.”

“Will you be like this...away from them?”

“Yes... I don’t want to lose my peace of mind. They won’t let me be peaceful. They will torture me like hell, Aman.”

“You defended them when we were in college, but now you are a businessman who doesn’t need anyone’s help. Why are you reacting this way?”

“You can’t understand... Just leave it. I don’t want you to talk about them. Understand?”

Aman sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” Aman mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing…”

“Thinking about getting married to Anaya Gupta?” Varun sat in his chair.

“Yeah...my mind is full of plans to trap her.” Aman sat on Varun’s desk, one foot on the ground and the other one hanging.

“She is not a mouse to trap, but a girl.”

“I’m not going to trap her using a mouse trap but a master plan.”

“All the best.”

“Thank you.”

They heard a knock on the door. Before Varun could say anything, Aman called, “Come in!”

Opening the door slightly, Anaya peeped in. Aman jumped down from the desk and stood on his feet.

“May I come in?” Anaya asked.

“Please,” Aman said politely.

Varun watched Anaya closely as she entered his room with a warm smile. A powder blue, crepe knee-length gown with wing sleeves looked so appropriate on Anaya.

He averted his gaze from her when she looked at him with a soft gaze.

“What would you like to drink?” Aman asked.

“Anything.”

“Brandy, whiskey, beer…”

Varun was shocked, but Anaya leaned her back on the chair, narrowing her eyes.

“I—I mean, you won’t get them here.” Aman grinned.

“Do you guys have them during office hours too?” Anaya asked.

“Nope. We are teetotalers, we don’t even touch them. Am I right, Varun?”

“I won’t touch them, but I don’t know about you,” Varun said, controlling his laughter.

Aman dropped his jaw. “You don’t know about me?”

“Leave it, Aman. I don’t want to reveal your secrets in front of…” Varun looked at Anaya, who understood he was purposely pulling Aman’s leg.

“Anaya, I’m sorry, I’m just kidding.”

Anaya sighed.

“Tell her, Varun.”

Varun started to speak.

“No, you don’t have to say anything… Leave it.”

Varun shrugged.

“Could you please come to the point?” Anaya asked.

Aman waved his hand toward Varun, sighing. Varun pulled open his desk drawer and removed the contract papers from it. He placed them in front of Anaya.

Taking it, Anaya read it. A smile crept on her lips. Varun so wanted not to admire her smile, so he switched his gaze to somewhere else.

“Thank you for this offer.” Anaya signed it and gave it back to Varun. He also signed the contract.

“So?” Aman asked.

“So?” Anaya raised her brows.

“We are going to work together… I think we should clear something up,” Aman said, looking at Varun.

“What?”

“Why are you so rigid?”

“Why should I not be rigid?”

“Is it not necessary to be friendly with your coworkers?”

“Am I not friendly?”

“Hitting someone doesn’t come across as friendly.”

“I don’t want to be friendly with a rogue who misbehaved with me.”

“This is the modeling field. People in this field have to be flexible. I hope you know that.”

“This is my life, Mr. Mathur. I want to live it with dignity. I don’t need to compromise myself to earn money for my survival. I can earn money at a waitressing job too.

“I just did my first ad for Kashyap. I will continue only if I can be dignified in this field. Otherwise, I will quit.”

“You know what, Anaya?” Aman said.

“What?”

“The thing you are talking about has become so common in this field—”

“What do you mean common?”

“Common means…normal…”

“Do you have diabetes?” Anaya asked.

Aman frowned. “Diabetes? No way… I’m fit and fine.”

“You mean, diabetics can’t be fit and fine?”

“How could they be? It’s not a normal state.”

“But nowadays, diabetes has become common. Why do you not accept it as ~normal~?”

Aman was speechless, but Varun was impressed.

“Just because diabetes has become common it can’t be ~normal~. There is a difference between the two. Likewise, Anaya Gupta would like to be ~normal~. I can never be ~common~.

“I’m not a public property that can be used commonly. Understand?”

“Yes, madam,” Aman said, bowing down.

Varun smiled.

“When will you start the shoot?” Anaya asked.

“In two days,” Varun said.

“Yes, I have a very good concept for the jewelry ad,” Aman said.

“Really?” Varun asked.

“Yeah. The boy didn’t want to get married, but he agrees to marry.”

“Oh… Why?” Anaya asked excitedly.

“Because he gets captivated by the jewelry the girl is wearing.”

Anaya’s facial expression changed. She frowned at Aman.

“Don’t you like it?” he asked hesitantly.

“No one will like this,” she said.

“Why?”

“The guy wanting to marry because he likes the jewelry is completely pathetic,” she said.

Aman looked at Varun, who nodded in agreement.

“The ad should be catchy and simple, just like the recent ad in which a little boy breaks his piggy bank to buy a gift on his mother’s birthday. Is it not so cute and lovely?” Anaya said excitedly.

Aman glanced at Varun, who looked thoughtful.

“And, in another one, a father didn’t want to take his finger from his cute little baby’s clutch. That is also so touching.” She leaned forward. “Ads should be like that…”

“You sure scold me loudly,” Aman said.

“I said you have very poor creativity,” Anaya said.

Aman sighed, clutching his nose bone.

Anaya stood up. “I’m leaving. Call me if you get a good idea,” she said.

Varun nodded. Anaya started to leave.

“One minute,” Aman called, stopping her.

“Yes?”

“The day after tomorrow is our company’s second anniversary. We are going to celebrate it at our office. You are invited.”

Anaya looked at Varun and sighed. “I’m not coming.”

Varun’s facial expression changed.

“Why?” Aman asked.

“It seems your friend doesn’t want to invite me.”

Varun rolled his eyes. Anaya walked to the exit.

“Anaya!” Varun called.

Anaya stopped, not looking at him.

“I thought you wouldn’t like to come to the party. That’s why I didn’t invite you. Come to the party.”

Anaya looked at him.

“Please.”

She nodded, smiling.

“Day after tomorrow, six o’clock,” Varun said.

Anaya nodded again and left. Varun smiled, but stopped when he saw Aman looking at him contently.