A Day With Anjali Chapter 17

Vijay started his day with breakfast with his mother, Puja. They sat together at the dining table, enjoying the simple meal Puja had prepared. The aroma of freshly made parathas and a steaming cup of tea filled the room. Puja watched her son eat, her eyes filled with pride and affection.

"Vijay, you look tired," she remarked, concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine, Ma," Vijay replied with a reassuring smile. "Just a lot on my plate right now."

"You're doing great, beta. Just remember to take care of yourself," Puja advised, patting his hand gently.

"I will, Ma. Don't worry," Vijay assured her, finishing his tea. "I should get going. There's a lot to do today."

Puja nodded, watching him gather his things and head out. She couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her son, who had taken on so much responsibility. But she also knew he was driven and determined, traits he had inherited from his father.

Vijay arrived at the university, greeted by the usual hustle and bustle of students and faculty members. He spent the morning in his office, reviewing documents and planning for the upcoming academic year. There were meetings with faculty, discussions about research projects, and endless paperwork to be signed. Time flew by, and before he knew it, the afternoon had turned into evening.

Feeling the need for a break, Vijay decided to visit the market on his way home. He wanted to see Anjali, the vegetable shop owner he had helped a few days ago. Since that encounter, they had become friends, and Vijay found himself looking forward to their chats.

As he approached Anjali's shop, he spotted her arranging fresh produce. Her face lit up with a warm smile when she saw him.

"Hello, Vijay! How are you today?" she greeted him cheerfully.

"Hi, Anjali. I'm good, just busy as usual," Vijay replied, returning her smile. "How about you?"

"Same here. Business is good, but it keeps me on my toes," she said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

They chatted casually about their days. Anjali knew Vijay worked in a pharmaceutical company, but she had no idea about his real identity or the vast responsibilities he carried. For Vijay, these moments with Anjali were a breath of fresh air. He enjoyed the simplicity of their conversations, unburdened by his title or status.

"So, what can I get for you today?" Anjali asked, looking at him expectantly.

"I need some tomatoes, onions, and maybe a few green chilies," Vijay said, glancing at the neatly arranged vegetables.

"Coming right up," Anjali said, swiftly gathering the items and placing them in a bag. "Here you go."

"Thanks, Anjali," Vijay said, handing her the money. "You always have the best produce."

"Only the best for my customers," she replied with a wink.

As Vijay said goodbye and started to leave, he noticed a subtle sadness in Anjali's eyes. It was fleeting, but it tugged at his heart. He paused, turning back to her.

"Is everything okay?" he asked gently.

Anjali blinked, her smile returning. "Yes, everything's fine. Just a bit tired, I guess."

"If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask," Vijay said sincerely.

"Thank you, Vijay. That means a lot," Anjali said, her smile genuine this time.

With that, Vijay waved and walked away, the bag of vegetables swinging by his side. As he left, Anjali watched his retreating figure, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She felt a strange sense of sadness and longing, wondering why this man she barely knew had such an effect on her. Before she could dwell on it, another customer called out, snapping her back to reality. She greeted them with her usual smile, though her thoughts lingered on Vijay.

Vijay returned home, his mind occupied with thoughts of Anjali. He entered the kitchen and placed the vegetables on the counter. Puja looked at the assortment and raised an eyebrow.

"You bought more than I asked for," she remarked with a hint of amusement.

"Yeah, I thought we might need extra," Vijay said vaguely, not wanting to reveal the real reason for his purchases.

Puja didn't press further. She knew her son well enough to recognize when he was being evasive, but she trusted him to open up in his own time.

The next few days followed a similar pattern. Vijay balanced his duties at the university with his visits to Anjali's shop. Each evening, they would talk and laugh, and Vijay found himself growing more attached to her. Anjali, too, looked forward to their interactions, though she kept her feelings guarded.

One evening, as Vijay was about to leave the shop, he noticed a small cut on Anjali's hand.

"Hey, what happened here?" he asked, gently taking her hand to inspect the cut.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a small accident while chopping vegetables," Anjali said dismissively.

"Let me take a look," Vijay insisted. He pulled out a small first-aid kit he always carried in his bag and carefully cleaned the wound before applying a bandage.

"There, all better," he said, looking up at her with a smile.

"Thank you, Vijay. You didn't have to do that," Anjali said, touched by his concern.

"It's no trouble at all. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Vijay said.

As Vijay walked away that evening, Anjali felt a warmth spread through her chest. She realized that Vijay was becoming more than just a friend to her. She didn't know much about his life outside the market, but she knew he was kind, caring, and someone she could rely on.

For Vijay, these moments with Anjali were becoming the highlights of his day. He cherished their time together and found himself looking forward to each visit.

Vijay continued to manage his responsibilities at the university and Roy Pharmaceuticals. The clinical trials for Ivacaftor were progressing well, and the licensing agreements with Pfizer and Roche were bringing in significant revenue. The implementation of UPI in Roy Bank was also moving forward smoothly, with plans to expand it nationwide.