proposed and there were nods all around. She started walking towards the foyer and everyone followed. Once inside, she turned her work-mode on full time. She walked from room to room, speaking aloud what she had in mind for where, looking mostly towards Faisal, as she figured that the other two weren't people who liked conversation. She kept shooting ideas around and everyone listened. She had been there before the previous day and explained it to Tutul, so she knew she had the technicalities covered. That gave her confidence an extra boost.
Mr Datta pointed out some flaws and put forward some suggestions, all of which Shambhavi agreed with. The man really was a genius. She got even more excited about the successful completion of the assignment, which she could easily picture happening in the next couple of months. The best thing was that Mrs Ahluwalia did not seem to have regained her power of speech as of yet. That let Shambhavi concentrate on the task at hand, without having to think of immediate alternatives for the options Mrs Ahluwalia generally would not have approved of. But the poor lady kept a nervous smile on her face and nodded her approval at everything.
'So, what do you suggest would be better?' she turned to Mr Datta and asked when they reached the porch. 'Three sides of lawn chairs and recliners and one with a swing? Or all four sides of chairs?'
'Two sides of chairs, here,' Mr Datta motioned with his arms. 'The third a swing. Let's keep the opposite end of the swing open, shall we? It has a great view of the garden downstairs?'
Shambhavi nodded thoughtfully. 'Yeah, that makes sense. Plus we do not want a terrace garden; we have a huge lawn downstairs, so there's no need. I was thinking, maybe cover this porch with half a shed, leaving the front part open for sunlight? The shed will also add to the beauty of the place. It'll be a nice spot for people to relax.'
They kept on like that for the next one hour-throwing around suggestions, agreeing, thinking of alternatives and planning a final layout. Faisal recorded the entire conversation, to sort later and generate a list of the pieces of furniture they would require. They were going to look through the catalogues of all the designs DE had built in the past and select the ones they wanted for the mansion. (Upon choosing from there, they would put the workers at DE on the job of replicating the designs, since the company did not have anything in the inventory.) The rest of the articles would need to be designed and built, later.
By the time they reached the second and the last floor of the building, Mrs Ahluwalia took her leave, muttering something about an appointment at a spa. Shambhavi happily bid her a goodbye.
Since the second floor was built in only one fourth of the total space, they were done in less than fifteen minutes. Faisal reminded Mr Datta about his meeting with some associate and they made their way outside, finalizing their own meeting for the next day.
'Why is 10 am not working for you?' Mr Datta asked Shambhavi, as if it was a crime to ask for a meeting at 12:30 pm.
'I have some personal obligations to deal with,' she replied shortly.
'What kind of personal obligations?'
She wanted to tell him that it was none of his business, but stopped herself at the last moment. Maybe he is just asking because 12:30 doesn't work for him. He is not checking to see if I am in a relationship with someone. Why would he? He clearly has no interest in me. I do not have any in him either.
'I think we can make 12:30 pm work, Mr Datta. We have cancelled your meeting for that slot since the last shipment has not gone through quality check yet,' Faisal intervened, sensing the tensed air between the two.
'Is that so?' Mr Datta glared at his assistant, who looked away and nodded silently. He turned to Shambhavi and said, 'See you at 12:30 then, Ms Sen.'
Shambhavi and Faisal watched as Arjun Datta walked away, towards his car. After exchanging a he's-crazy
Mr Datta pointed out some flaws and put forward some suggestions, all of which Shambhavi agreed with. The man really was a genius. She got even more excited about the successful completion of the assignment, which she could easily picture happening in the next couple of months. The best thing was that Mrs Ahluwalia did not seem to have regained her power of speech as of yet. That let Shambhavi concentrate on the task at hand, without having to think of immediate alternatives for the options Mrs Ahluwalia generally would not have approved of. But the poor lady kept a nervous smile on her face and nodded her approval at everything.
'So, what do you suggest would be better?' she turned to Mr Datta and asked when they reached the porch. 'Three sides of lawn chairs and recliners and one with a swing? Or all four sides of chairs?'
'Two sides of chairs, here,' Mr Datta motioned with his arms. 'The third a swing. Let's keep the opposite end of the swing open, shall we? It has a great view of the garden downstairs?'
Shambhavi nodded thoughtfully. 'Yeah, that makes sense. Plus we do not want a terrace garden; we have a huge lawn downstairs, so there's no need. I was thinking, maybe cover this porch with half a shed, leaving the front part open for sunlight? The shed will also add to the beauty of the place. It'll be a nice spot for people to relax.'
They kept on like that for the next one hour-throwing around suggestions, agreeing, thinking of alternatives and planning a final layout. Faisal recorded the entire conversation, to sort later and generate a list of the pieces of furniture they would require. They were going to look through the catalogues of all the designs DE had built in the past and select the ones they wanted for the mansion. (Upon choosing from there, they would put the workers at DE on the job of replicating the designs, since the company did not have anything in the inventory.) The rest of the articles would need to be designed and built, later.
By the time they reached the second and the last floor of the building, Mrs Ahluwalia took her leave, muttering something about an appointment at a spa. Shambhavi happily bid her a goodbye.
Since the second floor was built in only one fourth of the total space, they were done in less than fifteen minutes. Faisal reminded Mr Datta about his meeting with some associate and they made their way outside, finalizing their own meeting for the next day.
'Why is 10 am not working for you?' Mr Datta asked Shambhavi, as if it was a crime to ask for a meeting at 12:30 pm.
'I have some personal obligations to deal with,' she replied shortly.
'What kind of personal obligations?'
She wanted to tell him that it was none of his business, but stopped herself at the last moment. Maybe he is just asking because 12:30 doesn't work for him. He is not checking to see if I am in a relationship with someone. Why would he? He clearly has no interest in me. I do not have any in him either.
'I think we can make 12:30 pm work, Mr Datta. We have cancelled your meeting for that slot since the last shipment has not gone through quality check yet,' Faisal intervened, sensing the tensed air between the two.
'Is that so?' Mr Datta glared at his assistant, who looked away and nodded silently. He turned to Shambhavi and said, 'See you at 12:30 then, Ms Sen.'
Shambhavi and Faisal watched as Arjun Datta walked away, towards his car. After exchanging a he's-crazy
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