Our
company’s product stall at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan’s Hall no. 18 was in the
centre and the foot falling was excessive. It was an international building
material exhibition where our company has also participated in the said trade
fare. It was mid-January and the outside temperature was quite cool but still
the crowd was not reducing. I was standing with my colleague at one corner of
the stall when I saw one very beautiful and gorgeous woman entering our stall
accompanied by an equally handsome and smart gentleman who was carrying lots of
product literatures in his hands.
After
thoroughly looking at displayed products she started asking questions about the
product’s features and benefits to one of our team members. Since she was
asking probing questions, I decided to join the conversation and gradually
started answering her questions supported with relevant data. After satisfying
herself with all details, she wanted us to visit her office at Karnal where she
would like to use our products.
At the
end, I offered her our product literature along with my visiting card and she
also gave me her business card and also introduced the gentleman standing next
to her as her husband: “Mr. Raman Kapoor” and she were: ‘Ms. Shushmita Kapoor’
both were Architects by profession.
Almost
a week later I got a call from Shushmita madam and she wanted to know the date
of my visit to her office for further discussions on our products. After due
approval of my tour I decided to visit her office and I drove down to Karnal
town for our second meeting. We had long discussions and question answer
session on our proposal and at the end she decided to give us an order with due
advance along with an immediate delivery request. I collected the order with
advance cheque in the very first sales-call itself, which is not a done thing
in our profession. We had not only delivered our product on time but it was
also installed within specified period. She was very happy with our product and
after-sales-service.
Thereafter,
she started recommending our products to many of her friends and clients. Since
then I was in touch with her family. She was very kind and helpful person. In
between I have changed my job but still we remained in touch with each other
through phone calls and emails. Ten years later, suddenly, one fine morning I
got a call from her, enquiring about my present Company. After greetings, I
told her about my present job, company, product details and job profile. She
wanted me to help her in finalizing building materials required for her own
house which is being constructed at her home town.
Therefore,
the very next morning I left by car around seven so that I could reach Karnal
town by noon and return home by late/same evening. Since the highway road was
clear smooth and traffic free, I reached her office around one o’-clock in the
afternoon. I parked my car in front of the office building and rushed towards
her 1st floor office
but to my utmost surprised instead of Shushmita madam I saw her husband: Raman
sir welcoming me at the entrance gate, after offering my greetings
I straight-away asked him: “Where is madam?” He gave me a broad
smile and offered me a chair first and said: “Please relax Mr. Singh, first sit
down and have a glass of water, Shushmita is not in the office right now and
she has told me to show you the construction site first and later we will come
back to office and meet with her, al-right?” But somehow I was not
satisfied with his answer.
We both
proceeded towards the destination after spending five minutes in the office and
I followed Raman sir’s BMW black sedan car. It was a short drive of 10 minutes
and we both entered one posh colony near civil lines area and his car stopped
in front of one vacant plot where land digging work was going on; my searching
eyes were still looking for Shushmita madam but somehow she was not seen
around.
I saw
one worker came rushing towards us with two folded chairs in his hands; he
first put both the chairs on the ground and later greeted us with folded hands.
Once seated on the chairs, Raman sir started explaining about this site. It was
amalgamation of two plots of 600 square feet each merged together and made one
on which Kapoor family will be constructing their big Bungalow.
I was
called by Shushmita madam to advise them on building materials to be used in
this bungalow which includes: Air-conditioning plant, Architecture
glasses/fittings, Bathroom fittings, Cement, CP fittings, Electrical fittings,
Elevator, Fire fighting and safety equipments, Garage equipment, Lightings,
Paint, Sanitary-wares, Steel wire rods, Tiles, UPVC windows/pipes and Wooden
Doors/flooring.
I was
literally feeling very hesitant/shy to know about their opinion and trust on my
capabilities and knowledge on civil construction products. It’s true that I
have been in the profession of selling and marketing building materials
throughout my career and I can propose multiple brand options of building
materials and its sources but the final decision would be of Kapoor family.
Moreover, Shushmita madam herself is very famous and renowned Architect of
India then why I was called in a hurry? It still remained a big mystery and
unless and until I speak with her this puzzle will not be solved, till then, I
have to bear with Raman Sir.
Today
afternoon, instead of Madam I was sitting with her husband and having a hot cup
of tea. But there was no news of Shushmita Madam as yet. I again asked about
her and in reply Raman sir said to wait for some more time and very carefully
he diverted the topic on their proposed bungalow plan.
After
spending half an hour at the site one worker informed us that the lunch is
ready and we both started walking towards the dining table temporarily arranged
for us. Raman sir said: “The lunch was planned by Shushmita and she wanted us
to have the lunch on the open ground under the sky, which will be a great fun
and also give you immense satisfaction.” The food was prepared from the grain,
green salad and vegetables grown up in their own farm house. I was having
home-made food and was also wondering about the whole day’s activities; somehow
I was not comfortable with the way things were happening around me but at the
same time I was not in a position to find out the real root cause of her
absence.
Raman
sir sat down with me in my car and instructed his driver to follow us. On
arrival at his office he took me straight to his chamber and first shared with me
the structural drawings of the bungalow and later showed me the prototype
sample of the bungalow which was kept next to his table. Thereafter, he started
discussing about the construction plan, materials and finishing schedules of
the building. Meanwhile, he also started asking for the names of the best
brands of building materials available in the country and simultaneously noting
down the details against each question written in his file. Although all the
big brands were now available in the country but he was very keen to import
system aluminium slider doors from Italy for all the bed rooms
and balconies of their bungalow.
By the
time we finished our long exhaustive and thorough discussions it was 5.00: PM
but there was no trace of Shushmita madam till then. The office boy brought
evening tea and snacks for us. After hurriedly drinking hot cup of tea I tried
to leave his chamber without actually meeting with madam. However, it was not a
very happy moment to leave without meeting her but there was no choice left for
me accepts to leave without asking any more questions about her whereabouts’.
Raman
sir walked down along with me near my car and very warmly hugged me with
both his hands, thanked me and wished me a safe journey; he very politely
instructed me to drive slowly/safely and also requested me to call him back
after reaching my home at Gurgaon. I left Raman sir’s office with a very heavy
heart without meeting Shushmita madam and knowing the main objective/purpose of
my visit. I was very worried about her, where was she, why was she hiding and
not coming in front me and meeting with me; whereas it was she who had actually
invited me to visit her today then why was she not there. All these and many
more questions kept coming to my mind.
I left
Karnal within half an hour and was approaching Panipat toll plaza on NH-1 when
my mobile phone started ringing; I read the name of the caller: ‘Shushmita
Kapoor’, I immediately parked my car at the roadside and connected the call.
Indeed it was Shushmita madam’s voice, after wishing her good evening I asked
about her well being. She first offered her sincere apology for not being able
to meet with me today in-person; but she said she had seen me and also listened
to my views and suggestions very tentatively which I offered to Raman sir
today. I interrupted her in between: “But you were not there madam so how come
you know?” She replied in her soft/silky voice: “I watched you on my
laptop screen because our office is connected with CCTV cameras.” In fact she had
watched and listened to our conversation and in-between has also raised many
questions which were sent to Raman sir through SMS.
Thereafter,
she said: “I am sorry; I could not meet with you personally simply because I
was not well and our Doctor had strictly advised me not to meet with any
visitors for some more days. I am admitted in the ICU of a private nursing home
in Karnal due to serious infection of H1N1 virus called Swine-flu”. Although
Raman ji wanted to tell me about her problem but she requested him not to
disclose her problem because she herself wanted to convey about her dreaded
disease and also wanted to submit her apology for not being able to meet with
me. Since the work must go on; that’s why she had invited me to have a detailed
discussions with her husband on building materials requirement of their
bungalow, hence she proposed this plan.
I didn't know
when my eyes started flowing with tears and I came to know only when my fingers
touched my face and it became wet with my tears. Within few seconds the
whole thing was clear to me, she wanted to meet with me but at the same time
she was worried about my health and safety that’s why she stayed away from me
and not came forward because she was afraid of my getting infected with the deadly
virus which kills people.
Although
I don’t have any blood relationship with Shushmita madam but her graceful and
kind act had deeply touched my heart and brought me very close to her as if she
is part of my own family. I kept quiet for few seconds and she enquired
in-between if I am still there.
After a
long pause I spoke with her with a very heavy heart and hesitant voice and
asked about the name and location of her nursing home but she refused to answer
my question. I offered my well wishes and told her to get well soon and I again
repeated my question with humble request but without any success; with my
repeated request she finally disclosed the name of her nursing home, but she
also informed me that the visiting hours are over for the day and they will not
allow me to meet with her. Therefore, I should not insist visiting her tonight
instead I must go back home and should not worry about her. She also promised that we will meet again soon in a very near future.
Meanwhile,
I wished her fast recovery, disconnected my mobile, turned my car back and
proceeded towards Karnal nursing home where my well wisher and a good soul was
lying alone and fighting with the dreaded virus. I offered my prayers to God
Almighty to protect and save her so that she could get well soon and join with
her family in healthy mind, body and soul, Amen!
With Prayers
Gurcharan
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