RagLak – Old School Love (Episode 2)

Hello, there guys.You, probably, must have forgotten me and also my FF. I don’t blame you, it’s been two months now. I am really sorry, got stuck with work and then some personal stuff. Finally i was able to write my 2nd chapter for the FF. I hope you like this and i promise this time i will not go on such a long hiatus (pinky promise :D)

PS : I guess you should read the first chapter again to recap the story 😀

Lots of Love,
Anvita
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Link to previous chapter : Episode 1
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Now, when you hear a lawyer’s office, you immediately make a mental picture of gloomy souls stuck in a bunch of paperwork. Dhruv’s office was anything but that. Hell, his office was livelier than mine. There were days when I would just come by and laze around in his cabin, because even doing just that was fun here.

As I entered his office, I noticed a familiar short stocky- framed body, speaking animatedly to his colleagues around. That would be Aman Kalra. He is one crazy person and a frequent weekend comrade, it’s been six years since he joined Dhruv’s firm, and he is the one who takes care of our account. I walk towards him and greet him. I hated him in the beginning, but then he started coming out with us often and we got to bond well.

“Hey there, stud. I see you’ve had a good weekend”

“Lakshya, my man. How come you’re here today? He asked while giving a hug.

“I’m here to see that you don’t screw me over in paperwork”

“Ah, Mr Maheshwari, you wound me with you words” he said with a laugh

“Anyway, I’ll let you continue with your work. Dhruv’s in his cabin?”

“Yeah, go ahead. Let’s catch up over a drink this weekend?”

“Sure” I say and move towards Dhruv’s cabin.

When you’re a businessman, competition for clients is fierce. We always need to be aware of what’s going on in the corporate world; we should know and what’s the status of which company, which CEO is in deep shit, which company has good funding. Usually I am the one with the insider information about every biggie in the corporate world. Well, all this information helps me entice my clients, make them feel safe, make them feel like no one else can do for them what you can.

And hey, the payoff at the end feels good. I make good money, not just for me but also for my clients. So, when you’re a businessman, you need to make sure all your bases are covered and that no one can touch you and that is why, I trust Dhruv, because he will make sure and do whatever it takes to keep me and my company safe.

“Looks who’s here” I announce as I enter into the cabin.

Dhruv signs me towards the couch, while he’s arguing away over the phone with someone. I pick up the file with “MW Group” label on it and start going through the contents, Dhruv is so finicky about the paperwork.

You would say why not, he’s a lawyer after all. It’s not just the being-finicky-about paperwork; it’s the fact that he’s so precise about every document. That’s what I call, is good risk mitigation. And that is exactly the reason, why he charges clients a bomb for a few minutes of appearance in the court.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Some idiot intern made a goof up, almost cost me my client” Dhruv said as he settled beside me rubbing his forehead

“You want me to punch that intern for you? Lead the way” I said patting his back

“You do that and then I will have to take your case for physically assaulting a child, so no thanks” he said with a laugh “Anyway, Ragini should be here, soon. Trust me; she’s the best in business. You wouldn’t even miss me”

“Dude, I still think you’re trying to blow me off” I say to him “I’m not even interested in having another lawyer. I don’t know why you’re dumping this chick on me”

“I told you, she’s really good with arbitration and she is the best” he says.

“I am not going to travel to some “arbitrator’s” daily for a few minutes of work” I said as he made coffee for both of us

“You don’t have to go to her office. She’ll be working in your office.” He said while handing me the coffee
“And let me tell you, she usually deploys her junior associate in her client’s office. This is the first time; she herself will be there and that too on my insistence. So, I request you to keep your high and mighty attitude to yourself”

“Hey, when have I ever acted high and mighty with my colleagues?” I retort

“Lakshya, have you ever met you? The moment there is someone new entering your life, personally or professionally, you make their life hell till you’re satisfied about their loyalty and honestly, that’s scary as hell”

“You just made me sound like a devil. And how can you say all this anyway. I never did anything of the sort with you”

“I’m lucky; I was never on your receiving end. But, that doesn’t change the fact. And how do I know all this. For his first six months, I saw Aman physically shaking during every interaction with you, to the point that once, I actually saw him hiding from you” he said with a laugh

“That’s bullshit” I say “Now you’re just making things up to prove your point”

“Deny all you want Maheshwari. I really wish that, one day, you meet an exact replica of you. I would love to see how it all goes down”

“I’m sure, the day I meet my exact replica, you will no longer remain my best friend”

Just then he looks over my shoulder and smiles at someone and goes to greet that person, while I continue to check out the papers in my hand

“I am so sorry. I had an early morning meeting that ran late” a woman’s voice came from behind me

“No worries, we just settled anyway. You didn’t miss a thing” Dhruv said to her.

Now, usually I don’t remember my flings, the morning after. But this voice struck me. I knew this voice from somewhere, and then I realised. This is the same voice that gave me a sleepless night, last night. The face associated with this voice hasn’t left my head since, she rejected me. I quickly turn around and see that my guess was correct. It was her. The girl from the pub. The one who rejected me.

The smile on her face broadens as her eyes meet mine. Endless, shining eyes that I didn’t remember dreaming about till just now. She raises a brow of recognition and holds out her hand “Mr Maheshwari”

I feel my mouth open and close, but no words come out. The shock of seeing her again – and in Dhruv’s office of all places – must have momentarily frozen that part of the brain that controls speech. As my functions start to function once more, I hear Dhruv saying, “….Ragini Gadodia. The best arbitrator and my best friend since law school”

Ragini Gadodia.

The girl from the pub. The girl who I let get away. The girl whose eyes gave me a sleepless night.

And she is now going to work with me. She is Dhruv’s best friend, whom I promised I wouldn’t try with her and she will be working in my office, where I have sworn to never…ever screw around. Hew warm soft hand slides perfectly into mine, and two thoughts enter my head simultaneously.

First is: God Hates Me. The second is: I have been an ass of a person for most of my life and this is my payback.

“Have you guys met before?” Dhruv said with a suspicious look.

“We had a brief encounter once” I said quickly. It would wound my ego if she told him the details of our ‘brief’ encounter. You can judge me all you want, but no guy would ever want to disclose something that would wound his image and ego.

She lifted one brow questioningly and played along with a smile. Oh, that smile. I have never been mesmerised by a smile and she manages to do that too. What is this sorcery?

“So, Mr Maheshwari. What can I do for you?” she asked in a balanced tone.

There was a knock on the door and Aman popped his head in “Dhruv, Pai associates are here for the meeting”

He looks at Ragini and his face breaks into a smile “Look who’s here to grace us with her presence” and walks towards her for a hug

“Have you been working out, Aman?” she says as they hug

“Rags, don’t try and fake compliment me, doesn’t suit you” and she laughs at that.

“It’s been a while Aman. How have you been?”

“All good.” Just then Dhruv interrupts them

“Let’s go Aman.” He then turns to her “And I shall see you in a while” and kisses her on the cheek, and just that little gesture of his, makes me want to punch him

“And you Maheshwari, better behave” Dhruv warns me “I’ll see you guys in while and if you need anything, call sally”

With that being said both Aman and Dhruv left for their meeting, leaving just the two of us in the cabin. She turns to me and smiles “Shall we start, Mr Maheshwari?”

Again, God really hates me.