Chapter 5

Khushi reaches NIFT Delhi Campus around 9 a.m. and meets her friends, Arjun Rai Singhania (AJ), Mazhar Javed Khan (Maze), Krishna Talwar (KT) and Jignesh Patel (Jiggy). These five friends have been together since first grade when Khushi punched AJ for teasing KT. Since then they were best friends. They call Khushi, Khush.

AJ, the dude: The cool dude of the campus... All girls love him. He is a confused soul, does not know what he wants from life. Loves basketball.

AJ:

Maze, the poet: A calm, quiet soul in this crazy group. Loves to write poetry, songs and plays amazing guitar...

Maze:

KT, the tomboy: She is a tomboy, more interested in wrestling, motorbikes, sports than being a girl and thus a constant source of heartburn for her traditional mother.

KT:

Jiggy, the romantic: He falls in love every day with different girls and gets his heart broken the next day.

Jiggy:

They got started with the preparation for the workshop when Khushi noticed she had printed out the direction to the workshop and left it in the printer room. So she leaves to get them.

She picks up the directions and about to get out of the room when she bumps into someone and her papers go flying everywhere. She was about to open her mouth to strip a piece from his behind when a soft, gentle voice said: I'm sorry miss. I did not see you. Are you okay?

Khushi looks up and sees a handsome face wearing a pair of rimless glasses with the sweetest smile extending his hand for help.

Khushi forgot her anger and gave him her hand to pull her up and smiled back. She said: I'm sorry. I should have been looking where I was going too.

The man smiles and extends his hand and says: No problem. I'm Aakash Singh Raizada.

Khushi beams back her million watt smile: I'm Khushi. Khushi Kumari Gupta. Nice to meet you. Are you here for the workshop?

Aakash was amazed that this girl does not know who he is. It was a refreshing change. He smiled and said: No, I'm here to...

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiggy comes running: Khush, Khush... hurry up... KT is ready to punch AJ... You gotta stop her...

Khushi paniced: Listen, I gotta go... See you around...

And she runs...

Aakash's suit without the hat:

Aakash smiles and shakes his head at the whirlwind which is Khushi and puts on his shade and leaves the campus...

After having a late lunch with her friends, Khushi gets her work done and leaves to pick up Payal. She asks KT to come along, but she said she has to attend a lecture.

Khushi picks up Payal and drops her off at ASR Designs.

Payal's suit:

Khushi: Jiji, all the best. Call me after you are done and I will pick you up.

Payal: Tu kahan jayegi tab tak? Kam se kam ek ghanta to lagega humme.

(Where would you go until then? It will take at least one hour for the interview to be over.)

Khushi beamed: Don't worry jiji... I am heading off to the DLF mall. I will hang out there, do some window shopping, and have some coffee... You go and rock those corporate sharks...

Payal smiled: Okay. Have fun. I will call you when I am done.

They hug and Khushi leaves.

RM:

Manorama picks up Naniji.

Naniji asks: Manorama, hum kaun se mall mein jaa rahe hain?

(Manorama, which mall are we going?)

Mamiji: DLF mall, sasu maa. Oo pass mein hi hain aur bahut achcha designers shopwa bhi hain us mein.

(DLF Mall, mother-in-law. It's closer and has a lot of good designer shops)

Naniji: Thik hain. Chaliye.

(Okay, let's go..)

ASR Designs:

Payal walks in and informs the receptionist that she is there for an interview with Mr. Aakash Singh Raizada.

The receptionist, Sarah, directs her to one of the boardroom.

Boardroom:

Sarah: Ms. Gupta, please have a sit. Aakash sir will be here shortly. Please have your resume ready.

Payal thanks her and takes a seat.

A few minutes later Aakash walks in and sees a young girl sitting in one of the chair gazing out the window.

Aakash calls out: Ms. Gupta?

Payal turns and sees a very handsome man in a beige suit with sky blue shirt is smiling at her.

She smiles back: It's Miss Gupta. You must be Mr. Singh Raizada.

Aakash takes the chair beside her.

[Note: Interview Technique 101 > If you want to intimidate the interviewee or want to make him/her take a formal approach with you, sit opposite from him/her. Preferably in a chair bigger than the interviewee's chair with a table in the middle. Example: This is how ASR takes interview

If you want to make the interviewee more comfortable and at ease and have a friendly conversation instead, sit beside him/her. Table is optional but if there is one it should be on the side, not between you. Example: This is how Aakash takes interview]

Aakash: Oh please, call me Aakash. Mr. Singh Raizada sounds like my father. Actually, Ms. Gupta, your resume gave me an impression of an older woman. It was very impressive. You have accomplished quite a lot at a very early age.

Payal: Please call me Payal. Thank you for the compliment.

Aakash: So Payal, what made you choose ASR Designs?

Payal: I wanted to work for a company which challenges my skills as a Financial Analyst as well as is progressive and innovative. ASR Designs is all these. Since the last five years when it started initially, ASR has a progressive growth curve; however, it took a lot of risky financial decisions over the years. But they all paid off in doubles, triples and sometimes in quadruples. Today, just after five years, ASR Designs is a market leader in fashion both nationally and internationally. I find this very fascinating and would love to analyze this business further.

Aakash was impressed by her answer. Not only she is very pretty but she is also extremely smart.

The interview went on and Aakash and Payal realized they liked talking to each other. They both have similar views when it comes to business and both are very smart and educated people. It certainly helped that both found each other quite attractive.

DLF Emporio:

Mamiji and Naniji arrived at DLF Emporio. They decided to buy jewellery set for Mrs. Ahluwalia's daughter-in-law.

So they decided to go to Harry Winston, one of the most exclusive jewellery brands.

After looking at various sets, they settled on a gold necklace set with diamonds and sapphire.

The set:

Manorama mami wanted to buy something too. So she bought a Gucci purse to match her car.

Gucci Purse:

Then it was time to go home. They decided to grab a coffee from Caf E and call their driver to pick them up from the front entrance.