Siva - Gayatri Raj

[venkujkc1984]

5. Rising Ambitions: 
Raj's Promotion and the Shift in Power

It was a big day for Raj as news of his promotion spread throughout the office. Siva congratulated him warmly and suggested a celebration. Raj eagerly agreed and extended an invitation to Siva's family for a party over the weekend, promising to pick them up himself. Siva later shared this news with Gayatri and both felt really happy about Raj's achievement.

On the appointed Saturday, Raj arrived at Siva's home to take them to the party venue. As he turned to open the car door, he caught sight of Siva and immediately hugged him, expressing his gratitude for his promotion. Gayatri, along with Chintu, looked on with a slightly surprised and perhaps reserved expression.

Approaching Gayatri, Raj exclaimed, "Bhabhi, I'm so thrilled about my achievement!" He handed a chocolate to Chintu, who eagerly unwrapped it. Gayatri, although seemingly pleased, maintained a hint of coolness in her tone as she congratulated Raj. Sensing an underlying tension, Raj thought to himself, "There seems to be something bothering her that I need to understand." His smile wavered slightly as he processed the situation.

Siva then prompted Raj to share how he achieved the promotion, but Raj preferred to discuss it later and focused on the upcoming celebration. He invited them into the car and drove them to the Taj Krishna Hotel for lunch.

During the journey, Siva praised Raj, calling him a hero at the office. Raj, in turn, credited his success to Siva's guidance, their business discussions, and Gayatri's delicious food. He looked at Gayatri, their eyes meeting briefly, but she maintained a composed demeanor.

Upon reaching the hotel, Raj parked the car, opened the door for Gayatri and Chintu, and led them to the lunch table in the five-star setting. Siva and Gayatri sat together, while Raj and Chintu took their seats opposite them. Raj couldn't help but smile at Gayatri, noticing her poised presence in the luxurious hotel surroundings, an experience she had not encountered before.

Raj warmly suggested, "Bhayya and bhabhi, please order whatever you like. Chintu, would you like some ice cream?"

Siva agreed, "Sure, Raj, we'll order. Please come to our home after this; we can spend time together until evening."

Raj replied, "No, I have to go to my hometown and share this promotion news with my parents. But it's been a fantastic day for me, meeting both of you and sharing my joy." He glanced at Gayatri, who managed to offer him a smile this time.

Gayatri then spoke firmly, "It's funny, Raj, that you shared this news with your bhayya on the day you got the promotion and not with me. Now you say you got the promotion because of both me and your bhayya, and you're happy meeting us."

Understanding her perspective, Raj apologized, "Bhabhi, I owe you an explanation. I didn't have your contact number to share this news directly. So, I asked Bhayya to convey it to you. Otherwise, I would have shared it with you immediately. I'm really sorry. I could have come home and shared the news with you. Please forgive me, bhabhi…"

His explanation moved Gayatri and accepted his apology with a happy smile. Siva added, "Ah, Raj, I could have shared her contact with you earlier. It's okay, let me share it with you now," as he forwarded Gayatri's contact to Raj.

With light-hearted conversations and laughter, they enjoyed a pleasant lunch. Raj and Gayatri both felt relaxed now. They exchanged glances, and Raj conveyed his apology with his eyes, which Gayatri accepted.

As they wrapped up, Siva wished Raj good luck once again, expressing their happiness about his promotion. Raj expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Bhayya. You both are special to me. I am grateful to both of you. As I mentioned before, I owe this promotion to you."

Siva extended an invitation once more, "Come home this weekend, Raj. We will spend time together." Gayatri nodded in agreement.

Raj nodded in acknowledgment and bid them farewell, heading to his hometown. Siva and Gayatri returned home, both full of praise for Raj. They spent the evening discussing Raj's promotion, wondering if he had shared the news with Rani and how she had reacted to it.

Siva called Raj in the evening and had a chat with him and invited him on Saturday evening at 6 pm. Gayatri finished the housework that day. Just then she heard a message on her mobile. It was a message from an unknown number. She opened it. 

“Hi bhabhi Raj here”. she saw the whatsapp msg and smiled to herself. She instantly replied 

Gayatri: “Hi Raj whats up”

Raj: “Fine bhabhi …. So I hope you are not angry with me”.

Gayatri: “I was but you made it. So happy to see you like that”.

Raj: “Bhabhi a lot of credit goes to you.” 

Gayatri: “How come? You said your bhayya helped you a lot”.

Raj: “But the success credit goes to you, you are my sweet angel who supported me a lot even though I took the time from bhayya and your lovely food and taste”.

Gayatri: “Thanks Raj. It’s ok. I have done nothing anyway. And now you have a better role than your bhayya in the office”.

Raj: “Bhabhi it's ok. Bhayya has his own way of life and me my way. But still Bhayya has the best with him.”

Gayatri: “Is it? And what is it? That he has the best ? It’s ok, I am not jealous that you are covering up.”

Raj: “No bhabhi, I am telling the truth. Bhayya has the best.”

Gayatri: “How come Raj.. It’s ok.”

Raj: “Bhabhi… It's you bhabhi. You are the best and beautiful thing bhayya has. What is there in my promotion?”

Gayatri: “oho!!! You have learned to play with words now. Are you practicing with me to play before your dream lady? Btw did you share this with Rani.”

He got surprised by controlled himself and said

Raj: “I swear bhabhi… Nothing like that.”

Gayatri: “Ok, come this weekend to our home. We will spend some time and have nice food.” 

Raj: “Bhabhi you stole my words, I wanted to eat your hand made food. I was coming for that only actually.”

Gayatri: “Bye. Pls come on the weekend.”

Raj: “Bye for now”

Days turned into weeks, and before Raj knew it, visiting Siva and Gayatri had become part of his routine. Each visit felt more intimate, as if something unspoken passed between him and Gayatri, though he couldn’t be sure. He told himself it was nothing—that she was simply being kind—but there was no denying the flutter of excitement he felt each time he saw her. One evening, as he arrived for tea, he couldn’t shake the feeling that these casual visits had begun to mean something more.