MONEY EATERS - II

ONE MONTH BACK…

“I’m a loser” Naren said to Anu as the waiter of his coffee shop came over with two cups of coffee. “Why say that? Darling, pretty chicks like me never fall for a loser” she said sipping the coffee. “Then, why did you fall for me?” asked Naren.

“I don’t know and I don’t care of those stuffs, but I’m damn sure that you aren’t a loser” Anu said.

“How say that? It has been one year since my dad’s death, and ever since the M&M constructions have been declining” Naren said bowing his head down.

“Okay, now look at my face and answer my questions” Anu said. Naren nodded. “Have you missed out any opportunities ever since you took over the company?” Anu asked. “Shit, come on, I haven’t got any projects (or) any opportunities, that’s what am saying” Naren said. Anu clapped her hands. “Darling, then give some space & time, I assure you, something big is gonna knock you door” Anu said when the waiter interrupted them with the bill. Naren paid, tipped and the couple left the coffee shop.

It was 10 ‘o’ clock in the night when Naren reached his house.

Naren didn’t have any appetite, but he didn’t want to sleep empty stomach rather. He stuffed a couple of bread pieces in his mouth and left to sleep.

He spent a sleepless night and finally fell asleep by 4 in the morning.

The next morning Naren was awoken by his P.A.

“What’s the matter?” Naren asked. “Sorry to disturb sir, you’ve got an important call” his P.A said handing over a cell phone.

Naren spoke in the phone for five minutes and hung up. He jumped in the air in excitement.

He quickly contacted his girlfriend. “Hey, tell me” Anu answered.

“Guess what? Opportunity have kicked open my door” Naren said. “I’m leaving North tonight” Naren added. “That’s great, Okay, tonight? Through Air?” Anu asked.

“Nope, in car, just 500 miles” Naren said. “Okay careful ride, I’m stuck here in traffic, will call you back, bye” she said and hung up.

Naren quickly got dressed and reached his office. He had some minor works which he completed before lunch and left to north early in the evening.

After a couple of hours of journey, Naren found a few members selling cucumbers by the roadside.

Naren half opened his window to hear the prices of each vendor’s cucumber.

All the prices were more or less the same, but to his surprise, one of them was selling at a price far lower than the others. Naren stopped his car near him.

“What’s your name? Why do you sell at this much lower price?” enquired Naren.

“Sir, I just don’t sell for profit, I want to have any sum of money, I just don’t want to go back empty handed” he replied.

“Hmm, that’s interesting, what’s your name?” Naren asked.

“I’m Anand sir” Anand replied.

“Could I buy all the cucumbers? How much do I have to pay?” Naren asked. “150 bucks sir” Anand said. Naren paid 200 bucks. “Keep the change” Naren said and took leave.

“It seems, you are done with your business today” one of the vendors asked Anand after Naren took leave.

“Yup, God, I don’t know what perfume he uses, it’s just awesome, the odour is still in my nostrils” Anand said.

“It’s the smell of the rich” the vendor said.

“Did you take a look at his chain? That weighs almost 6 pounds I guess, pray for him to die in this highway in front of us, we will have a feast” Anand said, when the vendor took leave smiling.

The next day morning was considered as one of the best mornings by Naren as he tasted his first success after a year. He was signed in for the construction of a mall.

Naren contacted Anu and promised her a treat. He started from north that evening.

Naren reached his home the next morning, took a couple of hours to freshen up and drove out to meet Anu. In the next half an hour, he was waiting at the parking lot of a restaurant for Anu.

She came after a few minutes. They kissed each other and walked inside the hotel.

“Started your new project?” Anu was asking. “Yup, design process is going on” Naren said. “Superb, look, all happened as I said in the last date, you owe me something big” Anu said smiling.

“Yeah, sure, I consider this opportunity as something special in my life, and, I got something to say, this project gets over by an year from now according to the estimates” Naren said. “So?” Anu asked, urging him to complete the sentence.

“Let’s get married; you must be with me at the opening ceremony of the mall as my wife” Naren said.

“Sounds great, but I don’t want you to confuse yourself with our personal stuffs, get going with the project, you know my family is pretty okay with you, I’ll just have a chat with dad about this and will update you” Anu said.

“Okay, let’s leave, got some work” Naren said. “Happy to hear it after a year” Anu said and the both left the hotel.

The next day Naren mailed the completed design of the project to his client and he received a call from him in the next hour.

“I’m impressed Mr Naren” his client spoke on the other end. “Do you like it sir?” Naren asked again.

“Of course, you already know this mall is going to be at the heart of the city, and you also may have noticed a hell lot of malls in this city, it’s not just the quality of products that attracts customers, people get more attracted to the view of the shop, and your design is like that of an ancient art gallery which is quite unorthodox and fresh, that’s awesome” the client said, excited. “Thank you sir” Naren said.

“I’ve displayed the design to many, you know what? All are impressed, you may get great number of project calls” the client said and hung up.

Naren felt happy and as his client had said he received a call the next day.

This was a fairly biggest project and Naren left north the same day.

He met Anand on his way.

“Hey sir, you’re back” Anand said.

“Yeah, Anand, am having regular meetings in the north nowadays” Naren said.

“Happy to know, you still remember my name, sir” Anand said. “People say, I’ve good memory right from my childhood, and also you were interesting that day, so it was quite easy for me to remember” Naren said.

“People call me a symbol of bad luck from my childhood and you call me interesting” Anand said.

“There is no such thing called bad luck, okay, I think am getting late, give me all of your cucumbers, as usual” Naren said paying 200 bucks. “Keep the change” he ordered and left.

This time Naren got signed for a university construction in his home town.

Naren felt overjoyed and left to his town. He quickly initiated the design process. The design was sent to the client and he was satisfied. Naren wanted to initiate the construction. He ordered all the materials and paid them.

The materials reached their office in the next three days. Naren was about to initiate the construction when he was called again to north for a meeting.

He left that evening and stopped to meet Anand.

“It seems you’re going for another meeting sir” Anand said.

“Yeah, I hope it’s my next project” Naren said.

“Actually, you’ve been my symbol of luck; I am getting lots of success after I met you” Naren added smiling.

“Oh, is it? Then best wishes for the job you are going now, sir” Anand said.

“Yeah, thank you” Naren said. “Cucumbers, sir?” Anand asked.

“No, not today, actually I’ve got to eat, are there any hotels here? “ Naren asked.

“Nothing in the highway till one hour of drive sir, but if you take the coming left you will end in a city where you may find some hotels” Anand said.

“Okay, are you coming with me?” Naren asked.

“No sir, that’s ok” Anand said. “Oh come on, I must not lose my way, please guide me” Naren said.

“Are you serious? I think…” Anand said when Naren interrupted. “Get in, get in, let’s go” Naren ordered opening the door. Anand got in as Naren insisted.

They reached the hotel in the next ten minutes and ordered their foods.

“Okay Anand, let me know something about you? You married?” Naren asked.

“Ya sir, but my wife is no more, she died at childbirth” Anand said.

“Oh sorry, so you have a kid?” Naren asked.

“No sir, the child was taken out of my wife’s body, dead” Anand said.

“Sorry again, let’s just eat” Naren said.

“That’s okay sir” Anand said. They had their meals and Naren dropped him back at the highway.

“Wish me luck” Naren said smiling.

“Best wishes sir” Anand said.

Naren started his journey.

“That brainless bastard made me to think of my past again shutting down my mood, I gotta booze to forget this” Anand thought after Naren left.