In my Devil's Arms

Vicky meanwhile was on the edge. He was not sure why she suddenly went away.

" DID I GET TOO AGRESSIVE IN MY APPROACH WITH HER"? This was the thought that plagued him.

And Grumpy Bear was back. He would shout everyone for no reason at all.

" He is getting on my nerves", said Vinod.

He, Gaurav and Dipti were sitting in a meeting room to avoid him.

" Think of those poor girls he roams with", complained Dipti. " He finds a unique insult to break their hearts. One day a girl should slap him. I will do a cheer dance."

" Couple that with project delays", said an exasperated Gaurav. " Man I am getting a good f*ck tonight".

" Good luck with that as your mother and sister are back", sneered Vinod.

" What are you guys doing here", Vikram came inside suddenly.

" Bitching about you", Dipti whispered.

" Umm discussing the delay in that office project", said Gaurav.

" Already we are down twenty thosand dollars", said Vinod opening a report on Tab.

" The resources assigned list I have", said Dipti showing her laptop. " The interior designing team does not have many days to spare".

" We are around a month late there. We were trying to salvage what we can", said Gaurav.

Saved by a delaying project they all thought.

" Its that moron again", screamed Vicky. " This is it. I am replacing him".

" But the minister", said Gaurav.

" Do hell with him. Dipti call Manav Deshmukh to my office. You both come too", said Vikram.

" Yes Vicky", they said.

" Dipti", said Gaurav.

" Yes sir".

" Get Tarun Wadhwani and Sonia Pradhan too".

" Okay".

" Tarun was the lead Civil engineer and Sonia interior decorator.

Vikram was an angry and determined man as he walked in his office.

Tarun and Sonia came but Manav was on sight of mall discussing key points with some shop owners and engineers there. He has already submitted first blueprint of the design. And was currently discussing yes and no's with shop owners.

" Thats how a work is done you moron", scolded Tarun to a young lad. " You made me dig out the entire foundation my workers did and redo it."

" Even if you pay me double I won't work with him. I am a top designer. I have other work commitments. "

" Mr. Oberoi, you called me", said Manav entering the room.

" Yes Mr. Deshmukh please we need you. We are in a soup", said Gaurav.

" What happened "?

" We promised a three storey office structure to one of our client but this moron here can't handle anything", Vicky pointed to a lad. " You are fired. Leave", he said.

The lad walked away in an attitude.

" Shameless", said Vinod.

" So can someone show me what's happening", asked Manav.

" I will", came a female voice.

He looked up and his mouth fell open

She was about 24-25 years in age around 5'5. Tight grey midi, black stockings and heels. Wow he thought.

An oval face and hairs just below shoulders in a neat layer cut. What a girl!

Get a grip Manav. Your boss is here.

" Yes please explain Ms...", he wanted her name. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY ATTRACTED.

" Sonia..Sonia Pradhan"

" I am Manav Deshmukh, carry on", he said.

She explained the problem.

Tarun came forward.

" I dug out my first foundation", he said.

" A shame", said Manav. " Okay I have a basic idea".

Then facing Vikram he asked, " What do you want me to do"?

" You are way ahead on Mall work. Send your deputy for suggestions. You can collaborate on weekends. Take the office as your first priority", said Vicky.

" I can spare only fifteeen dedicated days", said Sonia. " Then a month more from where I squeeze time from other commitments ".

" I'll cope", said Manav. " But give me a detail of any permanant fixtures you need inside building".

" Will do".

" Mr. Oberoi", he said to Vicky. " I won't let you down".

" I am counting on it Mr. Deshmukh ", he said.

" The site ", he said to Tarun. " Lets visit it".

Sonia was impressed by his commitment to work.

" I am Tarun, civil engineer", a man of 30 said. " Lets take my car".

The three of them left.

" Boy if anyone can get this done its Deshmukh ", said Vinod.

" If he stops staring Ms Pradhan ", joked Gaurav.

" He was staring", Vicky was so wound up he did not realise.

" Of course he was", said Vinod ." Like this",

he widened his eyes and put tongue out.

The three men laughed.

" Love at first sight", said Gaurav.

EXCELLENT THOUGHT VICKY.

If Sonia can enchant Manav Riya is his. He should find ways to keep them together. His tension eased out a bit and he relaxed.

Meanwhile

Manav, Sonia and Tarun reached the site.

" Disaster", said Manav looking at it.

" I can't disagree", said Sonia.

" Show me the vision and original designs", he said.

After an hour of hard work they came to an agreement.

" You are an angel", said Sonia to Manav. He felt happy.

" Where are you from", he asked her.

" Army brat", she said. " So all over India".

He found out she was the only daughter of retired colonel B.K. Pradhan. His wife was dead. Currently he lived in Pune.

" So do you like Mumbai", he asked.

" I like vada pav", she said but my judgement on Mumbai rain is the one same when I came here".

" And that would be", he asked.

" Nasty", she replied.

Manav laughed heartily.

Sonia noticed he did not look her creepily or tried to accidentally touch her. In fact he genuinely took interest in her work and appreciated it unlike her father who considered it a mere hobby. He had a good sense of humour and was excellent at his work. Her father wanted her to marry her to an army personnel but she gound most of them chauvinist and egoist. Manav Deshmukh on the other hand was down to earth person with high morals and work ethics. The girl who marries him will be so lucky she thought.

About Sonia Manav was thinking along same lines. But a beauty like her will not be single. He could ask but that would be creepy. They have just met. Besides he was engaged. HELL. Riya is a nice girl but now he cannot carry along with the wishes of his mother. He will annul his engagement. Because whatever it brings about or wherever it goes. He will date Sonia Pradhan.