step towards passion

There is already a huge crowd at the bus stop the time I reach. There is no chance that I am going to get in the bus. I think of taking a metro instead. But I can imagine the same scenario there. But I think I can manage with it as a train is not as mini as a bus. I leave the place and head towards the metro. The crowd is just as I predict and I somehow able to catch the train and get into it. Having been in a city like Mumbai for two years, it has become a common thing for me to deal with such crowd.

              I reach my flat (of course rented) and my head aches, my body urges for a strong coffee. I drag myself to the kitchen and make a big mug of coffee. I have never taken coffee as much as now. But it is worthy. It has been a very long day at office and I am neck-deep into the work till evening. I also didn’t have my lunch today. I feel so weak.

              I sit in my balcony of my flat which is on the seventh floor of the apartment. The view of the city from my balcony is picturesque and I made it look like a little garden as per my taste. Not only the balcony, even I have designed some of the areas of living room and drawing rooms. The owners are pleased with my work as it brings the additional beauty to their house. I love keeping home beautiful.

             I design well. Many, who saw my work at our own home, praised me and said that I was blessed with the art. Even I think to do the course in interior designing but my parents’ wish to see my as engineer dragged me into the engineering course and eventually I got stuck in this job and had no opportunity to go back to my passion. I am just going with the flow now. 

             I sip my coffee and every sip makes my nerves and muscles relax and active as it goes in. I feel less weak now. After the completion of coffee, I sit there in calm watching the beauty of the city. It feels really great to be in such a peace phase after a long hectic day at work and the high decibel sounds of the horns and crowd make me really cynic.

             I am in a good mood. I rush into the home and bring my easel stand, sketches, brushes, sheets to the balcony and start drawing. I think sometime what I should draw. I decide to sketch the design of my future own home. I start sketching. I finish the sketching of my dream home and am satisfied with the final output. Then I take out my mobile. I got a mail. That is from the client company of the project we are currently working on. They have sent the requirements of the project. ”Oh Gosh! How could I forget that? I get lost in the sketch that I completely forgot about the client meeting tomorrow. ”

           My boss had told me that once I received their mail, I had to provide the documentation of and also the power point on what we are going to do to meet their requirements and how we work on the project with the services and he said that it was the great opportunity for me to work on this project and my career would be at peaks if I get succeed in it. For your information, our boss is a lady and she is very kind.

           I open my laptop and start working. I complete the documentation and ppt and check time. It’s almost 1:00 AM. I don’t have my dinner yet. I rush to my kitchen and there is nothing read-made food. So, I make instant Maggie and eat. I set the alarm and collapse on the bed.

           I wake up by the buzzing of alarm and check out my mobile. There are few whats app chats from old friends. I have no interest in them as there are all some kind of good morning messages or some forwards. I check my email and there are some spam messages. There is a message from Jeena. (yeah! It’s the name of my boss.). It reads

From jeenathakur@gmail.com

To ananyasharma@gmail.com

Sub: Regarding the client meeting.

   Ananya, the client company wants this meeting to be held private. So they chose the cafeteria at the Junction Mall. Please report at 10 AM.

Regards,

Jeena.

“Client meeting in cafeteria! They are crazy!” I think. Our client company is famous ASP Designs. I hear from the sources that theirs was a unique company in all the ways. I have just come to know how unique they are.

        I take shower and select the most formal dress. I et ready and rush to metro. I reach the junction mall at around 9:50. I enter the cafeteria and there is a guy in his mid-twenties in formal suit and I guess he is the one from the client company. He seems to have very expensive dressing, accessories. It is hard to believe that he works for a company. His physique and attitude are in that way that he happens to be the owner of the company (and he is very handsome. Okay I know this is nonsense now). I make my way to him and before I introduce myself, he says “So, you must be Ms. Ananya Sharma. Am I Right?”.

“yeah, you are right. And you must be the employee of ASP Designs.” I say extending my hand. He smiles. We shake hands and he says “As you think. Please take your seat”. First of all, I don’t understand his smile. It’s somewhat like “Oh! Are you that intelligent?” kinda smile. And what he meant by are you think so. “This guy is weird as so his company” I think and I smile taking my seat.

“Do you like to have something?” he asks.

“No. I am fine. May I start my presentation”. I really want to end this meeting as soon as possible. I can’t be with people whom I don’t know and understand.

“Oh! You are so professional. Okay. You may start”

       I explain the documentation and presentation to him. He listens with keen interest. He seems so professional when it comes to work. I complete the presentation.

“It’s really impressive and we will announce the decision in tomorrow meeting”

“Yeah sure” I say.

       I open my laptop bag and my few earlier sketches fall out of them. I curse myself. One sheet flies and sticks to his face. “Why the hell I kept them in this? What he may think now?”

“Sorry for that. They fell off by mistake.” I say as I stand up from the chair and remove the sheet off his face.

“Hey it’s okay. It happens”

“It’s so kind of you to say that. But I am really really sorry.” I say with panicked face.

“There are really too may sorrys. It’s okay. It happens Ananya. I think you need some strong coffee now.” he says so casually.

“You draw nice sketches. Can I have a look at them?” He asks.

“Oh, yeah sure”. I hand over my sketches to him.

He takes and start looking at them. He turns the sketch after sketch and his expressions really make me happy. “Oh, wow Ananya. These are fabulous. Actually, you should do this work.” He says with eyes full of appreciation.

“Thank you so much. It’s my passion. But I had to do engineering to fulfill my parents’ wish and then I get stuck in my job.”

“So what? You can quit the job and you can do this. Your sketches are really very accurate. You have the bright future in this field” he says.

“But how can I quit my job? And also I have no degree in that field. It’s impossible to get a job in that field.” I say. He nods in agreement.

“You can start on your own. Yes. You can do that. Right?”

“What! No. I can’t. I don’t have money to start on my own.” I say.

“You don’t need money. You can have the sponsors and investors.” He says.

“Are you kidding me? Who will invest for me? I am no one.”

“I will.” He says firmly. I am shocked. What?? He? Who is he? An employee of the design company. How can he have that much to invest in my company? If he has money to do so, then why can’t he make his own company? He is definitely joking and making fun of me. This is so insane.

“You? I mean … you …. How … ” I feel difficult to find words.

He laughs. Again! This man!! Why he is so weird?

“I understand what you must be thinking. For your information, I am the owner of ASP Designs. Arjun Sinha Parah” He says.

What!! He is the ARJUN SINHA PARAH.

“Oh my god! You are the ASP. But why you have to attend the client meeting instead of any of your employees?”

“Oh that, this is very important project for me. That is the reason. That’s another thing. What about the idea?” he asks.

“He is not joking. He is darn serious. I can see this in his eyes. ASP, himself is ready to invest for me. Do I have that talent?” I think.

“Hello? What are you thinking? Are you okay with it or not?”

This is really an excellent opportunity. He is ready to set me a path towards my passion which I have always dreamt of.

“The idea is too good. But can I do that? I mean I have this project in my hand” I say.

“You can. And we can start after the completion of this project.” He says.

“Thank you so much for this. But why are you helping me in this?” I ask ou of enthusiasm.

“I got no support when I first started my company. I had to work really hard to develop this. Once I succeed, I decided that I support who are talent and worthy. And you are one of them. You are really talented. You will definitely get succeed in that and I will support you through this.”

“Oh my god! He is so supportive and so kind. He is my WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY towards my dream. I am forever indebt him” I think. I am on cloud nine now. Is this opportunity true? Oh yes. I am really finally gonna do what I always wanted to do. I thank god and I thank more him for this.