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Short Story Showcase #4 |
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DEAL They were alone that night and the inevitable happened. They made love. * * * They were sitting at their regular table in the open-air restaurant near Itihas, the contemporary art gallery on Linking road, Bandra. Anita was talking in her usual animated style waving her arms and making gestures, a habit acquired by trying to dress up mannequins and explaining the elaborateness of the garment to the audience at the same time. "Suraj, I want to train under Jojo, " said Anita, sliding her arm as if to show a well embroidered pallav of a Banarasi sari. Suraj took another swipe at the noodles in the sizzler. "So." "So what?" "Jojo must be having apprentices already," retorted Suraj. "But, I am one of the best." * * * Anita had graduated with honours in the Apparel and Garment Design course from S.N.D.T University that year. To start her career as a fashion designer, she wanted to train under a well-known designer to master the ropes. Ambitious by nature, she wanted to grow fast in a field where futures could be made or broken by one nod or a shake of the head. Suraj was a young and handsome man. With a pleasing personality and a deep voice, few could imagine that he was a shy person. He worked as a computer professional in an international consulting firm and was slated to rise very fast in the organization due to hard work and perseverance. He ran 6 kms and exercised for an hour daily. He enjoyed listening to Anita making plans and dreaming about their future. They were to get married next year and Anita had already decided their wedding dresses. He was not at all dress conscious till he met Anita. She made sure that every piece of cloth in Suraj's life was of her choice. Jojo was one of India's leading fashion designers. His creations were lapped up by the noveau riche. His garments donned the shelves of a few exclusive stores all over India. His designs dictated the fashion trends in the country. He was rich and powerful. He was of short stature and piercing eyes. His dark hair flopped about in every direction giving him a very unruly look. His head was one of those, whose direction could alter fates. * * * In Suraj's apartment on Hill Road, the double bed was adorned with a white satin sheet, selected by Anita. She lay curled up on the bed, resting her head on Suraj's left shoulder. "Do you know somebody who can help me to work under Jojo?" "No." "Suraj, why don't you think and answer?" quipped Anita, turning a little sour. "Ok." "Do something. I want to learn under Jojo," was the last statement of the day. * * * Janardhan Pande, better known as Jojo was standing in his design studio on the top floor of his penthouse. He was sketching the last ensemble of his fall collection. Around him two girls stood, watching him raptly as he scribbled vigorously. Various fabrics and textile materials of different colours and textures lay in small heaps all around the studio. "This fall, the colours of India will be earthy browns and beige," confirmed Jojo. * * * Suraj dialed the number of the owner of Tinsel Town, the exclusive clothes boutique at Breach Candy. After the discussion with Anita, he remembered Rupesh. It was well known that Jojo's creations were sold only through Tinsel Town in Mumbai. When Rupesh Shah came on the line, he did not immediately recognize Suraj. Reminding him of the class at National College was not an easy task for Suraj but managed to convince Rupesh that they really were classmates not very long ago. "I need a favour," said Suraj and told him the case. "I'll do whatever I can," promised Rupesh. A week later, Rupesh called up to tell that Jojo wanted to speak with Suraj and that he should confirm an appointment with Jojo's secretary. After two days, Suraj presented himself at the gates of Sea Queen Apartments where an uniformed guard confirmed his appointment with Jojo over the intercom. The ride to the tenth floor took less than a minute and he found himself staring at a door bearing the name JOJO in a bold bright calligraphed script, which was one of the most copied logo around the city. Suraj showed Anita's portfolio and felt that Jojo was only half listening to what he was saying and was consistently staring at his body. "I can take her as my apprentice, but what do I get in return?" "What can I possible give you?" asked a puzzled Suraj. "Let's make a deal...." * * * Anita was very excited that day. She could not believe that Suraj had managed to meet Jojo was on the edge of her short patience when Suraj told her that Jojo had kept her portfolio and would let them know his decision in a couple of days. That night Suraj tossed in his bed. He could not make up his mind. He recollected the dialog of the morning. He took the decision in the early morning hours and went out to jog. He made the phone call from a booth on his way to office. * * * "I will be back on Monday morning," said Suraj to Anita on Friday evening as they were having coffee at their favourite coffee shop. Anita was more animated than usual and was very happy that she was starting to work with Jojo on Monday. Suraj was withdrawn but made a feeble effort to look happy and cheerful. He told her that he was visiting one of his aunts over the weekend who was not keeping well. When Anita also wanted to come along, he curtly told her to get prepared for Monday. The taxi dropped him in front of the palatial bungalow on the outskirts of Lonavala. The bold logo stared at him as he rang the bell. The man who opened the door smiled and led Suraj inside the tastefully furnished house. The door of the house did not open again till Monday morning when the taxi came to pick Suraj up for the journey back to Mumbai. * * * Anita opened her boutique and named it "Sunny Nights" fondly remembering Suraj on that day. Jojo smiled at her and cut the ribbon of the boutique. Anita missed Suraj. She never could understand as to what happened to Suraj after she started working with Jojo. They just drifted apart and slowly their relationship deteriorated. She tried her best to sustain but one day Suraj called up to say that he did not want to meet her again and that made her adamant too. She thought if he did not need her, neither did she. After working under Jojo for two years, she had finally found her own style and Jojo himself encouraged her to open up a boutique and create her own line of fashion wears. She secretly kept a watch on Suraj and knew that he had been promoted and was doing very well in his profession. * * * The secretary ushered the next candidate for the job interview. The post was a sought after and offered offshore software development assignments all over the world with a very good salary in dollars. The young soft spoken man who sat across the interviewer had good software development skills and his Resume indicated an excellent academic record. The interview lasted for almost an hour. The candidate started to get a little fidgety under the stare of his interviewer but answered all the questions correctly. "Do you really want the job ?" inquired the man across the table. "Yes," came the eager reply. "Let's make a deal......" Suraj said finally. THE END |