I was really nervous yet, I presented to be confident up there. Selling my designs is the first thing I learned before my college. I just hope my ideologies reach everyone there.
Since it's a joint venture, and I did work under my company, there are 4 people with me there to present. Aayushi, the co-CEO of our small company compared to Sohit's started it, and looking at everyone's expressions, I can't tell. How do they keep such a straight face when such cute things are in front of them? I don't get it.
My dad, bhai, uncle, him. All are staring at the board and now, I fucking feeling really nervous but, once my friends were done, it was my chance and everyone knew it.
So, without reluctance and fake confidence plastered on my face, I walked forward to deliver my part of the presentation.
They shifted when they saw me, all of them.
I still remember my friend saying
" Why do you need to be worried? They're your entire family. They'll approve everything you do,"
That's what I'm worried about. I got this contract because my dad wanted to involve me in his business and Bhai wanted to keep me close too but if even he and his dad agree to my designs because I am going to marry him, I'll lose my pride as a designer. I want him to acknowledge me for my work, not because I am marrying him and I really hope he understood it...
" Can you not change the marketing style to match both the company's style?" He asked and I nodded. Yes, this is what I wanted... More work. Perfect.
" Of course. But if you keep going with the same style, it might get boring and you are starting something new. So trying something new wouldn't be bad either," I answered and he tapped his fingers on the presentation
" And why is the popcorn this cute? Aren't mascots supposed to be a depiction?" He asked me and I opened the slide
" Like my friend explained. Mascots are supposed to be cute so that they attract people and children. They are supposed to be considered friendly but if you want, we can try making a serious mascot too," I told him and I nodded
" Then bring a new advertising plan and bring both the mascots next time. We'll decide then," he completed and I nodded.
I was relieved and happy by the time it was done. Really very happy...
He understood it.
" That fiance of yours is pretty strict," Aayushi hung her hand around my neck and I smiled
" Exactly," my tone had a lot of happiness and she stopped walking. She looked at me skeptically and squinted her eyes
" Why are you so happy with that?" She asked me and I smiled at her, very beautifully
" Don't tell me," she said and Kartik hung his hands around her neck
" Yeah. Shut up. We still have work," he told us and I nodded. Aayushi though got his hands off him and stuck to me
" Go away BTS hater," she told him and he just stood there, in disbelief.
So, there's this strangely cute chemistry between those two... He kind of has a huge crush on her, but she can't see it. She's only stuck on BTS that's why he hates that band. Plus, she's a possessive fan. They bicker all day long but, as soon as it comes to work, those 2 are best kept together. They're cute.
" Aayu, Kat. Let's just let it be. No BTS talk here. We still have work like Kat said," she frowned and was going to say something but, she just didn't say it and went back to walking while holding my neck
" I don't know how you will survive with that strict man," she told me after our deal was given back to be redone by him and I smiled.
" I think I can do it," I told them and they looked at me with skeptical looks
" How? By giving up your wings?" She asked me and I giggled at that. It was funny they even thought like that now...
" I saw it the first time," I started while drawing, " he liked the idea the very first time," I told them and Aayushi threw her pencil at me
" Then why the hell are we going around and doing reworks for the last 2 months!?" She asked in anger and I looked at Kartik who was looking at me for an answer too.
So, in all that I had understood from reading my fiance, I kept my pencil down and crossed my hands. I was going to spill out all the things I could decipher from his face
" I didn't want him to approve in one go," I told them and they glared at me
" Because then, we would just be known as a company working because of my family. It'll have no worth to it. He wants me to give him all kinds of options and then, decide the best one, myself because he wants to prove that to the workers there too," I explained and they sighed
" You're complicated and he just joined that place," Aayushi said while sighing
" All the best," Kartik added, " to us," he completed and Aayushi nodded
" I would kiss you if you were V right now," she said immediately and he sulked again. This is what she does, always but his comebacks are cute.
" Why not when I am me?" He asked and she turned to look at him. Then, she scowled and started writing something
" Since I know this," she started and gave a paper to him
" If that happens, I'll kiss you and go on a date too," she told him and I stood up.
" What?" I asked and snatched the paper from his hand. I guess he hadn't done reading it because he scowled but when I read it, I knew why the scowl was there.
My eyes widened as I read it
" If she ever kisses in the public, I'll kiss you too," I looked at her immediately and slammed the paper on the table
" What the fuck was that!?" I asked in anger
" We all know that that isn't happening so, this is my condition. I'll even stop listening to BTS," ok. I'm done.
I don't do any PDA because I'm not comfortable kissing at least in the public. College time was different. My dad and Bhai weren't there but they're there now. Bhai doesn't care about kissing suha in front of me now because I'm used to it but I don't get why I need to kiss someone in public to get those 2 together?!
" You put impossible conditions! This isn't fair!" Kartik shouted and she threw an eraser at him
" Everything's fair in love and war. I declare war against her fiance," she said in determination and made a quick sketch
" This time, no redos," she showed me a drawing. Her eyes were sparkling with inspiration and after I saw it, my eyes widened
" So?" She asked
" Make a little bigger with smaller eyebrows," I told her and she continued
After she was done, we put the caricature on the soft board and Kartik put a pin on its face, in anger. It was the best inspiration we could get... His face was there, haunting us. For sure now, we would be able to do it.
" Now that Mr. Strict boss is watching us, no one slacks off! Keep thinking even during BTS concerts!" Aayushi shouted and everyone nodded as if they were in a battle while I giggled
" He isn't that strict but yeah. We have to make this effort count!" I shouted and they stood up
" Yes ma'am," they saluted and I seriously started laughing
" Nice inspiration," someone said as I kept my head on my screen and I nodded
" Right? I've never seen these guys work so hard before," I mumbled. It was a woman's voice and I honestly hadn't seen her face till she started laughing and patted my back a few times
" I think I should insta this," she said and I looked up because there was only one person who could say that.
There she was, my going-to-be mother-in-law, smiling and laughing as she clicked a picture of the caricature that was now painted over our wall. I was dumbfounded when I saw her. I mean, she met me a few times. We did go shopping together and decided on the wedding clothes together but Suha was there with us. She did come home for a few days and stayed with us after mom or, her best friend died but; coming to my office?! When it was a mess!!! Plus no one in the office even warned me!!!! I am killing them later!
" Aunty," I stood up and she raised an eyebrow. Right. Now, she wants me to call her
" Ma," she nodded and showed me the photo
" Who drew that?" she asked and everyone in the office ducked under their tables. Of course! I'm left!!
" Uh..." I looked at Aayushi and saw her shaking her head. She was begging me, with her eyes, hoping I would save her but, I AM NOT TAKING THE BLAME!!
" We just thought of drawing it because he is so focused on his work... We wanted to incorporate that into our lifestyle too," I told her and she giggled again
" I'm not going to kill you. Plus, it's done well... I want one in my room," she said and I bit my lower lip.
" Uh..."
" Don't be shy. It's really done well, whoever did it. Perfectly depicts his cold personality," she told us and Aayushi coughed. I guess she choked on air after hearing that...
" She did it, ma'am," Kartik jumped in and Aayushi glared at him. Then, ma walked to her, very slowly as I tried to keep my cool there. I was down there, on the floor in my eyes. I don't think I should've allowed these guys to paint it all over the walls now... He is going to be my husband after all...
" It's really well. Do one on a canvas and sell it to me," she told Aayushi and I sighed. A huge problem just got off my head as I saw Aayushi smile in fear and nodded while shaking her hand and waiting. Wait. One second... Shit.
" Guys!" I shouted and everyone looked at me
" Caricatures!!" I shouted and they nodded. I thought they understood it because we all started drawing caricatures of all the executives there. I know that it was lame but still...
" What happened?" she asked me and I hugged her
" You're a genius, ma," I told her and she patted my back
" Got a new idea?" she asked me and I nodded
It went well after that. Although I'm sure that most people there wouldn't like it, I know that it will fit his taste. I know that this is the best idea for this product. I was 100% sure till I saw their faces after the presentation. Everyone including him was speechless. Even my dad and bhai, even uncle...
His secretary's jaw dropped because my proposal was very inappropriate. It wasn't something anyone in the world would've ever thought of and that is why I knew that was going to stand out even if the caricatures were ugly. Even if it was showing how bad they were, I knew that it was what they needed for their company.
" Sir?" I asked and he cleared his throat. The caricatures weren't actual representations... They weren't derived from the board members... It was the common people who would want the product
" That is very," he didn't have a word for a long time because he frowned and kept staring at the screen for a long time as his pointer finger stayed pointed at me
" Unique," he completed, took his hand back, and banged the table with his fist lightly. I guess he got what he wanted and my guess was confirmed when he told me to sign the deal with him for that advertisement.
I hoped that he really was impressed...