NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE (Completed)
43 Contract
Part 43 Contract
"I'm Shashi Gupta. What can I do for you?" Shashi asked.
"My friend recently started a canteen service in her company, and she decided to provide sweets for the workers daily. She asked me to search for a good and experienced sweet master, and that was when I heard about you."
Shashi and Garima exchanged a quick glance.
"I want you to provide sweets for the canteen."
"But I'm working in a sweet shop. I won't have time for the canteen."
"I inquired about that, too. Even though the sweet shop depends on you, you're earning only fifteen thousand for your hard work. You are a loyal servant, no doubt. But starting a new business is not deception; it's an improvement. You should understand that."
Shashi hesitated.
"I'm offering you a contract and showing you a path to becoming an owner. We need a thousand pieces of sweets every day. We're ready to sign a two-year contract, so you don't need to worry about whether this will work."
She took out a bundle of five hundred rupee notes.
"Keep this as an advance. Opportunity is knocking on your door; don't miss it, Bhai Sab."
Shashi looked at Garima, who took the lead.
"Please wait for a moment."
Radha nodded.
Garima walked to the backyard, and Shashi followed her.
"Why are you hesitating? We want to start a business but have been unable to due to a lack of financial strength. Now, she is ready to make an advance payment to us. We should seize this opportunity."
"But, my sweet shop owner Lalaram will think I deceived him."
"Why? Did you sign a lifetime contract with him?"
"He might think so..."
"That's not our concern. We have a daughter, and we haven't saved anything for her. Don't you want her to be happy? We don't even have a single gram of gold. We need to prepare her for marriage with a nice man. Think about her future."
Shashi was silent.
"We erik so this. I will talk to her. Come on..." Garima moved towards Radha.
Radha smiled at them.
"We will go ahead if the contract is in writing," Garima said.
"Sure, I'll bring the documents this evening. Today is the twenty-second January, so be ready to start working from the first of February."
Garima nodded. Radha extended the money.
"We'll receive it after signing the document," Shashi said.
"No problem. However, we are going to sign the contract today..."
"Then why the hurry?" Shashi asked.
"I want you to know I trust you, which is why." Radha said.
"How could you trust us without knowing anything about us?"
"Who said I don't know about you? Do you think I'm suggesting this contract without inquiring about you? I know how hardworking and reliable you are."
"I'm glad to hear that, but how did you think I would accept your offer and leave my job behind?" Shashi asked.
"I didn't expect you would accept it, but I wanted to make you consider it. You've lived your life on a small income so far. Why continue when you have talent? You made your owner a millionaire yet want to remain loyal, but he hasn't considered your basic needs..."
"You're right. We will do it," Garima assured.
Radha nodded and stood up.
"I'll come with the documents in the evening!" She left.
"Do you think it will work?" Shashi asked Garima.
"Without trying, we can't achieve anything. You make thousands of sweets every day. Why can't you do it for their canteen?"
"We need to buy the necessary supplies. Our house is very small; this place isn't enough."
"She will give us fifty thousand as an advance. We can find a house for rent. We saved money from Khushi's stipend. We will use that money to buy the stove and vessels. Please, do it, Shashiji. We may never get such a chance again."
Shashi nodded, signing in agreement, and Garima sighed in relief.
...
Khushi came home after finishing her regular practice. Arnav dropped her off. She saw Shashi and Garima making a list of the needed vessels, and they smiled at her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We got a contract," Garima replied.
"What contract?" Khushi inquired with excitement.
Garima explained the situation to her, and Khushi's face lit up in excitement.
"Really?"
Garima nodded.
"But how did Babuji agree to it? He always wants to be his owner's man!" Khushi said with a smile.
"Yes, but now he wants to be a reasonable father," Garima replied, leaving Khushi momentarily speechless.
"Babuji, you don't have to do anything you don't like. Do what gives you satisfaction," Khushi encouraged.
"I have been satisfying my owner so far. I think it's time to satisfy my wife and daughter," Shashi responded, smiling at Garima.
Khushi beamed at her parents.
"Go and freshen up," Shashi said.
Khushi nodded and stood up.
"Shashiji, if you have any doubts, get them clarified when Radhaji comes here," Garima advised.
Khushi frowned hearing the name Radha and asked,
"Amma, who is Radhaji?"
"She is the one who brought this contract to us. She wants Shashiji to provide sweets for her friend's company's canteen," Garima explained.
"Oh..." Khushi said, heading to the washroom, deep in thought.
When she finished getting freshened up, she noticed a woman in her late forties sitting with her parents.
"Radhaji, this is our daughter, Khushi," Garima introduced them.
Radha smiled at Khushi.
"Namaste," Khushi greeted.
"How are you, beta?"
"I'm fine," Khushi replied with a smile.
Radha handed the contract papers to Shashi, who read them before signing. Radha noticed Khushi's constant gaze. Khushi began to suspect that she was the same woman who had helped by calling Arnav.
Garima served tea to Radha. After finishing it, Radha stood up to leave. Khushi followed her outside. Radha paused when she heard Khushi say,
"Where are you from, aunty?"
"I'm from Rajiv Gandhi Nagar," Radha replied.
"Do I know you?" Khushi asked curiously.
"Means?" Radha responded.
"It feels like you're someone I know."
"Really? That's great!" Radha said, smiling as she got into her car. She lowered the window and added,
"You are very beautiful," before driving away.
Khushi watched the car leave, feeling intrigued.
"We need to find a house," Garima said when Khushi stepped in.
That night, Khushi went to bed thinking about Radha. She had no doubt that the opportunity Radha presented was valuable, but she wondered about her motives. Did Radha expect something in return? Did she have another reason for approaching her? Should she tell Arnav about it? How could she keep it from him? Whatever it was, it felt essential to inform Arnav. She resolved to do so.
The following day, Arnav picked Khushi up for their usual trip to the stadium.
"Babuji got a contract," Khushi said.
"What contract?" Arnav looked at her and then back at the road.
"A company needs a supplier for sweets for its workers..."
"Oh..." He became happy.
"They want Babuji to take on the project. They approached him today and signed a contract for two years."
"Wow, that's a great opportunity."
"Mmm... They gave him fifty thousand as an advance payment."
"That means your father is free from his old owner, it seems."
"Mmm. Amma wants to search for a rental house since our current home isn't spacious enough."
"Don't worry, I'll help you find a bigger house."
"Are you okay with this contract?" Khushi asked.
Arnav looked at her, puzzled.
"Why are you asking me? This is about your father; he should be the one to decide."
"Won't you feel bad if he accepts a contract from someone you don't like?"
Arnav furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Do you want me to know something?"
Khushi nodded.
"Tell me, Khushi."
"I'm unsure if my guess is correct," she admitted.
"What did you guess?"
"The woman who signed the contract in my Babuji's name is Radha," Khushi said, reading his expression.
Arnav hit the brakes, looking at Khushi in shock. She nodded in affirmation.
"I'm not certain she's the same Radha, but my instinct tells me it's likely."
Arnav was at a loss; his perception of Radha had been changing recently.
"I don't believe she has bad intentions. I just wanted you to know about this, so I told you."
"Is the contract signed?" Arnav asked.
Khushi nodded.
"For two years"
"Go ahead... We will face whatever comes."
Khushi nodded again.
Arnav started the car, thinking deeply.
To be continued...
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