The cubicle romance - lady luck or lady love?!

Eshwar was fidgeting in his seat as he spoke in a low voice.

"Oh my God! What am I to do?!"

"Should I stay or not?! am so confused.. I better toss a coin - that will ease my way out.

Pause…

Jeez, man - what will the coin know what I want?

(taking a deep breath) OK., leme stay... (Pause)

Noooo, I will go... No, I'll stay... or go??!"

Phone rings...

"Hello, this is Eshwar...”

"Hey Eshwar its Priya... what are you still doing in the cabin? Aren’t you coming for lunch? Myself n stephanie are waiting for you...”

"Oops.. sorry! I was held up with something; will be there in a minute.."

Still looking at the phone – gosh! Priya… if not for you – my decision would have been easier…

An year back…

Peon: Sir, Mr. Jayaram has asked you to come to the meeting room

Vijay: What?! The CEO..?! Hey, Eshwar good luck man –

Eshwar: Thanks Vijay, I wonder why an abrupt call..

Vijay: Cool it Man – will be fine.

Eshwar: I sure hope so.

In the meeting room –

Eshwar: Excuse me Sir, I was told that you had called me.

Jayaram: Oh yes Eshwar, have a seat.
I hope you know that our branch at Chennai is in an expansion mode.

E: Oh yes Sir.

J: We have new projects – new recruits taking over several things; so your MD & I were having a word about re-locating you there for sometime. And wanted to know your opinion on the same..

E: errr - Sir..

J: Before you come to any conclusions, Eshwar the mgmt is proud to have you as an Operations Manager here; your contribution to the company’s growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. That is why we want you there to lead the juniors in their projects that would begin next month. What do you say?

E: Sir, if I may - its not that am looking to negate your plan right away – I have had a break in my career right under this roof n I still have so many plans to take it further. As you know we are 5% away from our previous best and still we have 3 more months; we are all looking to deliver more to beat that mark.

J: Ha ha! Eshwar! We know what your vision will always be – you have put so much of your time into building this team and now your team juniors reflect your perfection. You don’t worry about that, even if you go to Chennai this will still be your team n they will achieve what you want them to achieve. Don’t you think so?

E: (after a pause) Well, yeah – they will.

J: There you go. You know it, don’t you? And if it would bring any cheer to you, we haven’t planned to relocate you there forever. Just for six months n after that you can decide where you wanna be. God knows, by then you might change your plans.

E: (smiling) Oh no Sir – Bangalore is my lady luck. I will never leave this place.

J: So, you mean to say…

E: Well - Yes, Sir I will take over my position in Chennai for the 6 months as scheduled.

J: Thank you, Eshwar.

E: My Pleasure Sir, Good day!

Now - In the lunch room:

Steph: Hey heard that your long-awaited day has come. MD had called you, rt?

Eshwar: Yeah, Steph. He had given me a green signal and was sorry that my 6 month plan had changed to an year..

Priya: So, Esh are you going back to Bangalore?

Eshwar: Well… not decided yet..

Steph: What?! How come?! I thought you would have already booked your tickets… all these months you used to speak a lot about your Bangalore team n now you are hesitating… (raising her collars) Well, you know…

The group laughs..

Priay: Chennai team is grt too you know… you better miss us.. actually you will… rt?! (chuckles)

Eshwar: (smiling) yeah both are two great teams.

Steph: Eshwar, is it really you?! Am overwhelmed… ha ha!

Later in the evening –

Eshwar returns after meeting one of the clients..

Priya! Havent you left for the day?

No, Esh – the CLC project should be completed by Tuesday; Ashwin n Pooja wouldn’t join us till late next week. We are already out of two minds on the issue - before tension fills me n I lose my mind – I wanu finish the project.

What happened to Steph?

Hey, she has to leave her mom in Punjab for the ceremony – forgot?!

Oh yeah… hmmm.. So, you want me to give a hand.

If its not a trouble… Would love that…

Eshwar: (smiling) will do.. but not today. We will meet at 10 - my place tomorrow. Enjoy Friday night Man.

Priya: Thanks Eshwar – that’s very kind of you.

(Just before swiping out)

Priay: You haven’t arrived at a decision as yet, aint I right Esh?

Esh: You have no idea…

Priya: ha ha! See you tomo…

Next day –

4’ O Clock in the evening –

P: Wow! Modules are all done; charts are ready – just two more PPs to go.

E: See – I told ya, sit for a day at a stretch – you wont even know how much charge you get on weekends.

P: Oh yes, Esh – gotta thank you. Am relieved…

E: (smiling) enough of your thanks – we both did it.

P: Okay Manager – enough of business talks. Shall we go out for dinner – am very hungry.

E: eating out?!

P: unless, you are planning to cook.

E: Ha ha! Very well than – lets go for a ride.

P: N Mr. no idli, dosas like last time – I wanna have any yummy Italian Cuisine.

E: Man, u r a cheeky lil gal…

P: I like that

So they went – Priya n Eshwar – on a date as Eshwar thinks.
First, to Textile India where Priya helped Esh in making a sane purchase - As Priya would like to say, “ Esh, you gotto throw away all those garb stacked in your rack n take few of those which I will buy.”

Followed by dinner at Ratiif’s corner - where Priya enjoyed her favourite Italian Cuisine n Eshwar, her company.

9 in the night –
(Outside Priya’s apartment)

E: K Priya – I gotta go.

P: Yeah – bye! Good night!

Just before the car swiftly hits the road..

P: And Esh…

E: Yeah?!

P: Had a great time – thanks…

E: Pleasure – see you on Monday.

P: You aren’t goin to Bangalore are you –

Eshwar Smiles…

“The smile on your face lets me know that you need me

the truth in your eyes says you will never leave me

the touch of your hands says you will catch me

whenever I fall – you say it best –

when you say nothing at all…”