Yakshagni - An odyssey of unbroken devotion - II

 2) Art takes courage

The hum of the phone broke Dharma's concentration on the notes she was making for her meeting with Maurya that afternoon.

"Hello!"

"Dharma!" the panic in Kamya's voice drew her attention and she asked worriedly, "Kamya, what is it? You sound alarmed."

"It is Chaitanya. I think he knows that you are in Delhi," Kamya blurted out.

Unbidden, the image of a figure standing opposite her hostel last evening, came to her mind but Dharma did not mention it to her friend, not wanting to cause more panic. Instead, she asked, "How are you so certain about him knowing?"

"I heard from Seema that he visited Mohandham a week ago and he left for Delhi the day before yesterday."

"He could be visiting Delhi for other reasons. Why should it be connected to me?"

"Why did he visit our office then? I am sure that he took your address on some pretext."

"Relax Kamya. This is a big city and he can't find the address so quickly," Dharma assured her friend although she was perturbed over the news.

"Why don't you shift to Brahim's house for a few days? That way, he won't be able to find you."

"Have you gone nuts? Just because some idiot is here, I can't barge into Brahim's house and force myself on him. If you are here, we can move in together," Dharma murmured thoughtfully.

"It might happen soon..." Kamya replied enigmatically but Dharma caught the essence of it and she squealed in excitement, "You found a job?"

"Chill! No, I haven't found one yet but I have been called for an interview and group discussion."

"Wow, Kamya! Which school?"

The school that her friend named was one of the leading schools in the city, "This is so awesome. When are you coming?"

"Friday!" Kamya sounded pleased with Dharma's excitement.

"Oh my god! That is just two days away!"

"Yes! See you then but Dharma be careful! Be alert and don't wander alone. I don't want to scare you but Chaitanya is a creep."

"I know dear! I will be careful."

Dharma pondered about the figure she noticed opposite her hostel last night.

The pattern maker arrived, and together, they began to discuss the bulk orders. Dharma had a meeting with Maurya in his office at three. She had made an appointment with his secretary the previous evening and this morning, she had spent half an hour deciding the outfit. Finally, she had chosen simple white trousers and a blue formal shirt. She didn't want to appear too dressed up. She had a light breakfast and munched on peanuts on the bus. Some of the regular passengers and the driver had enquired about Mrs. Singh. She had also come to know then that the conductor had visited Mrs. Singh at the hospital the previous evening, reckoning that such sweet gestures made the world a brighter place.

Lekha wandered into the room and after tossing a baleful glance at her, she resumed her daily ritual of taking stock of things in the store. Ignoring her, Dharma continued with her task. She learnt from the office gossip that Rashika was on leave for a couple of days. Apparently, she had gone on a trip to her native village.

Sonia, just then, sauntered in and asked casually, "Hey Dharma, I believe you have an appointment with Maurya at three?"

"Yes!"

"I have one at two. I am taking the office cab. Why don't we go together and you can catch up with Tapan?"

"Tapan?" Dharma asked remembering the young designer from Krishna Industries.

"Yeah, he called me just now. He said he wanted to discuss something with you."

"Oh ok! I will see him then," Dharma wished he had talked to her directly.

*************

Maurya did not want to admit but he was relieved that Rashika had left for the annual festival with her family. From somewhere, like a whiff of unpleasant odour, a dash of guilt assailed him. But it was accompanied by a rush of thrill that followed the announcement of Rita who usually apprised him of the day's meetings and appointments. And since then, his thoughts veered around an appointment that was scheduled for three that evening. There was a knock on the door and swiftly, he checked the time. It was only two. The door opened tentatively and Sonia peeped questioningly. In that tiny space of a moment, he went through a batter of emotions; relief, disappointment, guilt, anticipation, and some self-reproach.

************

Dharma met Tapan before her appointment with Maurya. She was taken aback by the décor in Tapan’s room. One side of the wall was covered with a picture of a ferocious-looking tiger in a leaping movement. Against the dark background, the picture looked dramatic. Dharma glanced at the other side of the wall, only to be disconcerted by the giant-sized picture of a female vampire holding a black cat. There was blood dripping from the woman's mouth.

Dharma's eyes shifted to Tapan. He was just ending a phone conversation. Dharma couldn't prevent herself from muttering aloud, "Horror seems to be your forte..."

Grinning wide with glee, Tapan flopped himself on the revolving chair. His oversized table was strewn with sketches, pencils, and swatches of fabric.

"I love blood-curdling art!"

"This is ghoulish!"

"Lol..." Tapan's eyes scanned the room. With a broad smile, he said, "It took your breath away, right? That is the reaction I want for my art!"

"Yeah?" Dharma asked dubiously. She could not, for the life of her, understand how anyone could call this bizarre and what seemed to her, hideous décor an art.

"Yep, and oh, by the way, congratulations! I hear you had a successful showing last evening. The hearsay is that the buyers just grabbed your designs without batting an eyelid."

Somehow, the words sounded more like ridicule than compliments from him. Dharma shot a quick look at him but he was busily trying to organize the mess on his table.

"So why did you want to see me?"

"Oh yes, Dharma...Since you are new, Maurya and I thought you might need my guidance on executing the bulk orders that Index Fashion landed yesterday."

Dharma swallowed the surge of anger that rose at her throat by his patronizing tone but her anger was directed more at Maurya than at Tapan. How could Maurya decide that she was incapable of handling such bulk orders? Tapan looked at her with a sardonic smile and added, "I am at your service if you need me."

"Thanks! I will let you know if I need one."

Dharma rose and with a curt nod at him, she left the ghastly room. Outside Maurya's cabin, Dharma gritted her teeth and forced her attention on the magazine she was leafing through.

"Care for a cup of coffee?" Rita asked politely. Dharma was too wound up to sip coffee or make small talk with Rita. The confidence she had acquired after last evening's showing had taken a hit after her chat with Tapan. Didn't Maurya trust her to carry out the assignment? Is that why he called her for a meeting so that she could share her project with Tapan?

**************

Sonia had made her complaints to Maurya about the mistreatment meted out to her in her office. He had listened quietly; however, he had not given any solution. She had hoped that he would comfort her by saying that he would look into the matter. Damn, she would have been happy if he had just looked at her with sympathy. One look from those gorgeous eyes would have been enough. Sighing, Sonia waited for him to finish his call. Gazing at him, she wondered if he was aware of her feelings for him, which had only grown more intense, she realized.  Sighing wistfully, her eyes roamed over his features and stayed on his pursed lips. He had a chiselled jaw and she wished she could run her fingers over it. His glance moved to her and she lowered her eyes, her cheeks turning crimson over her thoughts. Maurya ended his call and checked the time for the umpteenth time. Then, remembering that Sonia was still waiting, he said "I will try to look into the matter Sonia. I would advise you to have a heart-to-heart chat with Lekha. If that does not work, take the matter to Rashika. She is your MD after all. Try to resolve the issue with her."

Sonia wanted to argue that Rashika would not listen to her but Maurya looked impatient so she stood up jerkily and nodding at him, she left the room in a hurry. Disappointed that she could not convince him of her troubles, she met Dharma with a frown.

"You spoke to him?" Dharma asked with concern

"Hmm… but he asked me to resolve it with Rashika."

"Oh!"

"Yeah... I will grab a coffee at the shop down. You meet me there."

Dharma watched Sonia take the stairs with a downcast face.

"Dharma, you can go in," Rita called out. Dharma knocked on the door twice before entering. She was reminded of the first time she had barged into that room.

There was no one inside. Frowning, she hesitated. Then, she heard the sound of a door opening and closing. Her eyes darted toward the sound and she saw Maurya come out of another room, wiping his hands with a towel.

"Hi..." he greeted her softly and strode towards his table. He gestured for her to take the seat.

Dharma walked slowly to the table; her eyes drawn to the sight of the minarets of the Red Fort outside the window. Taking the chair opposite him, Dharma observed the slight hue of brown on his head. The sunlight behind him was fading and his face was partly hidden from her view.

"Let me congratulate you first for last evening's show. The team was impressed with the detailing you had done on the designs."

"Thanks!"

"Have you got the sketches with you?"

Nodding, Dharma took the bunch of sheets from her folder and handed them to him, all the time aware of his eyes on her. When he began to peruse the designs, Dharma squirmed restlessly in her seat. She wanted to challenge him for not expecting her to be capable of executing the bulk order but better sense prevailed and she held back.

"You want to say something, say it, don't fidget in the chair," Maurya stated, without looking up from the sheet. Embarrassment flooded her face and her body went still, wishing she could flee from the room. His face shot up and she avoided his eyes. She stared at the sketches resolutely. He leaned back and regarded her quietly for some moments, "So, do you have something to say to me?"

Facing him bravely, she demanded in a low voice, "You don't think I am capable of executing this assignment?"

His eyebrows went a notch up, "Did I say so?"

"No, but you implied."

Maurya drew his brows together, "When did I imply? Can you explain how you came to the conclusion?"

Dharma faltered. She rummaged around for answers in her head, "I mean I thought you implied."

"Do you always imagine people saying things that are actually unsaid?"

Expressed like that, it sounded as if she was a nutcase. Deciding to be honest with him, she explained, "Actually, Tapan suggested that since I was new to the firm, I should take his advice in executing the bulk order."

"And you thought that it was me who asked him to give you the advice."

Taken aback, she asked," You didn't?"

"Whether I did or not is not the point. The point is about how you grasp the intentions of others. Instead of complaining about it, you should have taken it as part of your learning curve."

With just a few words, he had put her in her place but this time she did not feel bad. Somehow, his words made sense to her. Indeed, it had been arrogant of her to think that Tapan's advice was unwarranted. And even if she disagreed with him, she could have taken his words for what they were and then forgotten about them. Instead, she had made it an issue and here she was, admonished rightly for it.

"You are right. I am sorry. I should have taken it in the right sense."

Maurya did not answer but he started to discuss the orders and the next half an hour passed quickly. He relayed the buyers' demands to do a minor alteration in one design. She made note of every little thing he said. An hour later, Maurya stretched his arms tiredly. Dharma gathered the sheets and arranged them in her folder primly. The lights were switched on in the building and she stole a glance at him. Startled to find his eyes on her, she averted her gaze quickly and stood up.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?" he asked

She eyed him in surprise. There was an indolent look on his face, also a tiny smile playing on his lips.

"No, thank you. Sonia is waiting for me."

He nodded thoughtfully and she turned away. Then, as an afterthought, she swivelled around and added, "About that thing regarding Tapan, I think it was his love for felines that made me edgy. I guess I lost it when I left that room."

A slow smile spread on Maurya's face as the meaning of her words sunk, "Bravo! No one has come out of his room unscathed. I guess it is his art..."

Dharma chuckled softly, grateful that the effect of her initial goof-up had smoothed over. With a mellowed warmth lingering between them, Dharma left the room hastily.