I have reached the pinnacle of success the hard way. This position as the CEO of Gold Coin was not an easy option for me in India. It was sheer work and only work. I had to somehow reach the skies I was not an MBA from B Schools but a graduate in economics from a city college.

Starting to work as a trainee in the sales department of the company I slowly started inching to my goal. I was ever on reaching my targets. I was the butt joke of my colleagues.

“Shekar will you will come for a new picture release “ My best friend came storming into my room as a deputy sales manager “it is long since we painted the town red”

“You will not succeed, tell him that you will have a new client and within a few seconds he will be ready” butt in my colleague sarcastically.

I was never hurt by this criticism. I was like a horse saddled with a blinkers. I only looked to the day when I reached my pinnacle.
I dreamt nay I thought only about success nothing but success.
I would try to improve my contracts with the upper hierarchy of the company. I made myself an indispensable person to the topmost brass of the company and one thing I never forgot is that I never got embroiled myself in the politics of the company. All this helped me to become the CEO of the company.

It was quite an exhilarating feeling, thinking about my success, as I leaned forward from the window of the topmost floor of my office building. I think probably this is the feeling which Edmund Hillary had when he reached the Everest along with Sherpa Tenzing. The view from the window was kaleidoscope. It was a wondrous sight to see people like Lilliputians.

I caught my breadth when I saw a lonely figure among the scores of people walking in the street. I reached for my binoculars which was always in my drawer and looked again.

It was a girl who will be probably in her mid twenties. She was wearing the latest fusion clothes jeans and a top with a duppatta on it. Something attracted my eye and I followed the figure till she disappeared. It was 4 pm and probably she was returning from the college

It was again by accident that I caught her while I was watching the landscape from the windows of my office. I started looking forward at the window exactly at that time and my heart gave a beat when the familiar figure came into sight. It became a ritual for me

I gradually became more and more eager to meet her, so while I saw her one day I gathered courage to meet her. I cannot say that she was like Cleopatra, Helen of troy or like our own apasaras but she was alluring. Her doe like eyes attracted like a magnet and her Mona Lisa smile captured my heart,

She smiled at me as my eyes met hers. I tried to speak but I could not. For the next three days things continued like this finally I gather courage and opened my mouth than I heard a soft voice. It was quite musical that of the stringing of the veena.

“Hello are you staying here. I am meeting you everyday so only I thought you are close by”

“Well I am not staying but I am working here. I am a CEO of GOLD Coin I proudly told her “.

“Oh is it “

My confidence took low ebb. While I was thinking so high and mighty of myself she shrugged it as if it was of no importance. I told myself probably she has no idea about my post. I nonchalantly spoke

“Are you from nearby areas”. “No I am a bit far from here I am working in an office next street. It is a part-time job”

I was eager to keep my acquaintance. I wanted to know all about her
“How about a cup of coffee in Barista” I asked
“Well I am quite free we will meet tomorrow at the same time “
She flashed me her Mona Lisa alluring smile and left

I had fixed an important meeting with my boys so as to give a prep talk so as to boost the tea sales. I had fixed the meeting a week before, but now I had no heart for it. My meeting with her was fixed so I send a memo to the boys that the meting was cancelled as I had another unforeseen engagement

I went to Barista and waited for her impatiently wondering why my heart was beating like a moonstruck teenager. She came smiling at me looking chic and proper. “I am sorry I am a bit late. My boss wanted me to attend some urgent work today itself so I was held up “ she added. ” it is ok “ I lied

“Can we order coffee …….hm “ I hesitated wanting to know her name?
“It is Mariam “she smiled and supplied
“ I am shekhar can we have espresso coffee “
“No plain coffee will do “
“Waiter bring two cup coffees “ I ordered
We started talking about everything. We talked about Bollywood, kollywood and Hollywood. We talked about politics about the latest fashion and fads.
It became a bit dark and I thought Mariam will be in a scrap “It is a bit late can we can make a move I will drop you wherever you are residing “

“I am residing in Arcot street in T. Nagar. If it is not a bother please come and drop me “
“it is a pleasure “

I sat I front of my wheel with her at my side. Her presence so close made me want to kiss those sweet lips but I put myself under control. Such erotic thoughts never disturbed me. I was just wondering why I who prided myself as the most practical man was feeling so romantic.

Bu the time I got the answer I found myself in her apartments. The apartments consisted of six buildings. It was constructed in a circular manner and in the front there was a lawn and some kitchen gardens. Each building boasted of a garden. There was a swimming pool and a badminton court

Mariam took me to her apartment and opened the door. I thought that mariam invited me to her apartment to meet her parents but here she was opening the door.

“Please come in shekhar “ Mariam called me.

I went inside pleasantly surprised. Mariam changed herself into a transparent nightgown and began showing me the rooms. As she approached her bedroom she gave a meaningful and sexy smile.

My heart wanted me to go the bedroom. I was very much in love with Mariam but was she in love with me. I expected to marry her but now I was perplexed

“Mariam I am in love with you and I want to marry you . I expected you to be with your parents but now I find you are alone. where are your parents”

She gave a laugh “Shekhar I am a married woman. Just like you were attracted to me I am attracted to you so only I brought you to my apartment”

I gave her a harsh laugh. My whole world has stopped. “ Mariam I loved you and wanted to marry you but now you are telling me that you are married. I can’t understand. Will you leave your husband and come with me.”

“Look who is talking, my husband is working in Dubai for a long time. Within three years his contract is over. He will return to India quite a rich man. I loved him but I am feeling lonely so I wanted your company. I am attracted to you but not in love with you.

I now understood everything. for Mariam I was just a plaything but I loved her. But now my love slowly ebbed away. I came rushing out of the room as if the house as on fire. Just as I loved Mariam I hated her now

“Please stop Shekhar” cried Mariam

” Love is just not passion for me “ I cried and banged the door.

Soundari's father was bemused at the arrival of a covering letter addressed to her.with a Demand draft for Rs2000..He could make neither the head or tail out of it.A sweet puzzle donned his face.

"Pappa you have ad/d for Rs2000/from Sukanya from Rajapalayam"—Sundaram,yelled from his phone to his daughter soundari at Madras

'Puppa,no money is due from sukanya to me,send it back

Probably by mistake she had sent the money,forgetting the fact that she had already repaid the loan she got from me"—Soundari from the other end

' I am forwarding it to you,you decide" Sundaram closed the phone reluctantly.

A shower ,and soundari was emerging like a washed Ruby and was drying her black fertile hair .The wing hungrily swallowed the aroma of her hair and made a sprint ,freely wafting the heady

enroute.

The post man knocked and handed over the cover.

Soundari reminisced her college days.

On a fine morning she realised that her two costly sarees and a pair of shoes presented to her by her Brother pandian in Brunii were stolen away by some one in her dormitory.She and her bosom friend Sukanya searched every one's box and to their dismay ,they could not trace the lost properties.

Finally they concluded that the thief had stealthily moved the stolen goods in the night itself and thrown them away –to be picked up later-- beyond the compound wall of the hostel.

But how is it possible .The gates are closed and the keys are with the warden!.

So they wondered and finally came to the conclusion that the thief would have thrown them over the walls of the compound.The whole episode was forgotten and now when Soundari saw the letter from her friend she remembered all.

The letter read,' My dear Soundari,I got married in the same year of your marriage and also got a son as you were blessed.'

"But',the letter continued' my son became deaf and dumb and all my expenditure on medicine, astrologists and prayers and all munificient acts yielded no fruit..it is all because it is I who stole your sarees and shoes.The greatest crime is I too searched the boxes of all the inmates

bringing them under cloud and I acted as the most innocent.As I was considered your own selfI am ashamed of my acts.God has punished me.Pleaseforgive me Soundari.

".I have sent the cost of the stolen goods.may be they are costlier than the meager amount.Yet kindly pardon me whole heartedly ,so that I will be cleansed of my sin" Soundari could not believe her eyes that read the letter.

A sudden flash back,The words opf Sukanya's father to his daughter,"My dear daughter you can survivw]e in the world only if you deal every thing as a business.Money decides every thing"

(As Retold By Rani)