Beyond forty – part II , Reality bites.

Narrated till now …

Pramod gets the contact details of Vandana Joshi (his first crush) during college reunion. He is saddened to know the hardships she had to face in the earlier part of her life after engineering.

Narration continues….

“I am now in Hyderabad. First half I have some meetings and will go to Vandana’s office in the second half. I have spoken to her” Pramod told me. “All the best bro and have a good time with her” I replied.

It was around 4 PM, the taxi driver stopped the car and said “This is the office you are looking for”. Pramod got out of the taxi and told the driver to wait for him  and walked into the office.

 The thoughts that she had to go through a bad patch in her life and had to marry a person much elder to her made him feel sad. Sporting a pale face he walked to the reception. The office was a very good one with centralized air conditioning and well made interiors. He stopped at the table of the receptionist and waited as she was attending a call. He saw the name of the company “Naidu Rail Sleepers Pvt Ltd” written on the wall behind her.

She finished her call, smiled at him and asked politely “How can I help you sir?”

Pramod smiled back and said “I have come here to meet Mrs. Joshi.”

She gave a strange look and replied “There is no Mrs.Joshi working here.”

“Vandana Joshi”

“Oh you mean Vandana madam. Her name is Vandana Naidu. Please take your seat.”

She went inside the office and came back in few minutes and asked “Mr. Pramod?”

“Yes”

“Please come with me “she said.

He walked with her and found that it was a big office with more than 100 employees working.

The lady stopped in front of a cabin, opened the door and gestured Pramod to enter. He walked into the cabin. The lady sitting inside got up and with a huge smile on her face said “Pramod how are you?”

 “Vandana it is my pleasure to meet you after so many years” he said.

" Do you recollect our days during engineering?” Pramod asked.

“I have to recollect only if I forget. I have not forgotten you” Vandana replied.

She looked very beautiful and was almost of Zero size. She was draped in a sober colored cotton saree duly starched, with minimum make up on the face, well set long hair and looked very attractive.

They sat  on the chairs ,the office boy came in and offered water and hot coffee.

“Looks like you are in a senior position in this company” Pramod said.

Vandana smiled and replied “It is indeed a very responsible position. I am the Managing Director.”

There was a look of disbelief on his face. Few minutes earlier he had a perception about her as a struggling woman fighting to make both ends meet. Now he was sitting in front of MD of a big company.

He got back to his senses and asked “What do you manufacture? How could you get till here?”

She replied “Let me tell you the full story. The few years after engineering was a big struggle as dad passed away and I had to support the family. I joined Mr. Ramesh Naidu as a design assistant in Hubli. He was a railway contractor from Hyderabad and had started manufacturing of Railway sleepers (concrete blocks that are placed between the rails). After one year of association the chemistry between us became favorable. I was 22 years old and he was 34 years old. He had lost his wife and was having a 5 year old son. We decided to get married. Some resistance came from my family side as we are orthodox Kannada Brahmins and Ramesh is a Telugu Naidu and a non vegetarian but things fell in place with due course of time.

We built the company from scratch and today we employ more than 1000 employees and have three factories spread over 3 states.”

Pramod was listening to her with a blank face with his mouth wide open. It was like a story from a novel to him. He looked at her and said “You have grown really big in your life. Hope you do not have any problems now.”

Vandana looked at him and said “you thought that I would cry and you would lend you shoulder?”

Pramod smiled and said “You have not changed in this aspect. You are the same harsh Vandana, the girl who rejected my love proposal during engineering days.”

“It is not like that” Vandana continued “I was never harsh . I have huge respect for you and Susan. I always speak straight without adding any drama and that’s why am able to manage this big work force of 1000 people.”

Pramod clapped in appreciation and continued “How does your husband look?”

She took one framed photo in her hand and showing it to Pramod said “He is Mr. Ramesh Naidu, my husband and Chairman of our group.”

Vandana looked at Pramod and said “He is about 10 years elder to you and is a fitness maniac. He keeps himself very fit.”

They spoke for about an hour laughing heartily in-between.

Pramod got up from his chair and said “It is 6 PM now. I have return flight to Bangalore at 10 pm. I have to rush to the airport.”

Vandana walked up to him and stood closer to him and looking over his shoulder said “One selfie please.”

He smiled and she took few selfies.

 She escorted him to reception and as he was getting down the steps at the entrance he stumbled. Vandana held him tight and pulled him back. A jolt sort of feeling was sensed by both of them. She left his hand and stepped back. Pramod smiled at her and went towards the taxi. Vandana stood at the entrance of the office, watched him get into the taxi, waved at him and looked very satisfied having met him.