Chapter-1
Sharanya's POV-
" Sharanya, please leave for film city now. You're shooting with Ranveer Singh today. I'm sorry, last minute replacement but Tarun had to leave for Delhi because of some family emergency." Monika, my boss addressed me.
" Right away Monika. It this that wafers ad?" I asked, to make sure.
" Yes, now leave soon or else you'll end up getting late!" She exclaimed, pushing me out of the chair.
We share a very informal relationship, actually, everyone in the office do. Monika doesn't believe in pulling up ranks to get work done and she absolutely hates when someone calls her ma'am.
" Yes ma'am!" I did a mock salute, just to file her up.
" You know I hate that." She remarked, rolling her eyes and walked away.
" Maybe that's why I do it!" I called out for her.
Then I collected everything that I needed and accompanied Ritik, the cameraman and Malini who is the beauty artist to film city.
" Your first time shooting with Ranveer?" Ritik asked.
" Yeah! I'm going to meet him for the first time." I told him as I read the script of the ad.
" Don't worry. He's a wonderful person with no arrogance. You'll like him." Malini said.
" Well he is my favourite actor!" I exclaimed, smiling at both of them.
In the next fifteen minutes, I was standing in from of RS.
" Hello sir. I'm Sharanya from Song Bird." I was spellbound, seeing him.
" Hii. Pleasure to meet you but wasn't Tarun going to be here today?" He asked, confusion evident on his face.
" The pleasure is all mine sir! And yes, Tarun was supposed to be here today but because of some emergency, he had to fly to Delhi today morning so I'm filling in for him." I told him and he nodded.
" Okay. The script?" He asked.
" Right here sir." I said, handing it over to him.
" Thank you and please call me Ranveer. Sir sounds odd, don't you think?" He asked.
" Sure Ranveer." I agreed with him.
In the next twenty minutes, I explained the script and the scene to him and then he went to get ready.
While I was waiting with Ritik for him to come out, my phone went off. It was Monika.
" Yes Monika." I said.
" Sharanya, as soon as you are done with this shoot, come to the office because a few members from the BCCI are going to be here to officially give us the advertisement and marketing contract to our company for the next two years. Since Tarun is already tied up with Ranveer's and other grade A companies, I want you to lead this one. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and it's huge for anyone's career and also I don't exactly trust Naishi to not flirt with the cricketers." She said and I could practically feel her eye roll.
" Thank you so much Monika. I'll be there as soon as possible." I said and she hung up.
Wow! This is going to be a huge news! My family is a big time cricket fan....I mean, most of the Indian families are and I've grown up to see elders fighting over cricketers and their shot selections, so yeah, it's going to be one hell of a news to pass on.
Ranveer was here within the next ten minutes and the shoot was over in half an hour. He really is a one take artist... Brilliant!!
" And cut!" I said and it was all done.
" Thank you so very much sir." I said.
He gave a small smile and a nod.
" Also, your cheque has been handed over to your manager. We'll take our leave now. It was nice working with you!" I said.
" I'll see you soon." He replied and walked away.
" Can this day get any better!!" I happily sighed and we started back for office after packing up.
We were at the office in about forty five minutes.
" Sharanya, Monika wants you in conference room C right now." Tarini said, coming to me.
She is Monika's PA.
" Just one minute Tarini. I'll keep my bag at the cubicle and go." I said but she grabbed the bag from me.
" Now go." She hushed and I walked in.
" Monika." I grabbed her attention, entering the room.
" Ah, here she is. Mr. Goswami, she will be the project manager for the contract in these two years. Meet Sharanya Patel." She said, introducing me and I shook hands with the panel sitting.
" Good afternoon gentlemen. Since I've just got to know about me heading your contract, just give me one day and I'll come up with a few ideas and get a presentation ready by tomorrow if that works for you all?" I asked, clearing my stance.
" We would like you to join us at the BCCI headquarters tomorrow post lunch if it fits your schedule? I'd like the players to get acquainted with you since they will be working on first hand basis with you." Mr Goswami addressed me and I looked at Monika.
" Of course. She will be there at 2 with her presentation and take my word for it, you are getting one of the best we have got." She told them and I gave her a small, appreciative smile.
" It's settled then, I'll see you tomorrow at 2 in your office. If I may now, I need to get back to work." I said and Monika nodded and I went out.
" God! Sharanya...what are you doing here? You need to be at the studio for that body wash shoot!" Ishaan sir said, he is my commanding officer.
" Oh shit! I'm so sorry sir. I'll just leave." I said, running down for my cubicle, picked my back and rushed to the studio.
That damn shoot lasted for five hours, leaving me totally exhausted.
" Now all I need is food in my system or I'll die!" I talked to myself.
" I think you should leave for today. As it is, everything is done." Tarini said, standing in front of me.
She has been my closest friend since I've started working here.
" Yeahh....I probably should. I need to come up with a few ideas for the BCCI and make presentation." I told her and she nodded.
" I'll see you tomorrow then and since it's Friday, we are going out for drinks. Get your dress here." She ordered.
" Yes boss." I saluted her and then started for home.
As I reached home and informed my family about the contract, they were thrilled and excited.
Now Sharanya, you have two options. Cook food and get terribly tired or just order a pizza and get started with the presentation.
Obviously, I chose option 2.
By the time it was two, I was done and so was the presentation and crashed on the couch while FRIENDS was still going on.
The next morning, it was a phone which woke me up. To be specific, my mom's.
" Good morning Chinki. Now get up and get ready or else you'll be late for work. I'll talk to you in the evening. Love you." She said.
" love you too mumma and I'll call you as soon as I'm back from work. Bye!" I replied, getting up and went to freshen up.
Sharanya's Look-
Having coffee and a few cookies, I was ready to roll.
Coming to office, Monika got hold of me.
" I need you to tell my husband that I want you back as my reporting junior. He just stole you away and now I'm only left with those stupids.
Yes, Ishaan and Monika are man and wife who own the agency. So in love and yet, they fight like there is no tomorrow.
" You guys are fighting again I see!" I whispered to her.
" It's his fault this time." She muttered to me and I rolled my eyes.
" Isn't is always?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
" You on his side or mine?" She asked.
" Never mind, right now the only side you should be on is on your way to the BCCI headquarters because they called up and asked if we could pull up the presentation from 11 and I said yes." She added and I gave her the look.
" Now, now...have you? What if I say that I am not done with the ppt yet?" I asked her.
" I'd say that it's full of crap because you never show up on work unprepared." She replied.
" You caught me." I said, scratching the back of my neck.
" I did. Now quick, leave and knock 'em dead!" She motivated and I walked towards the exit once again.
Luck was with me and I was on time.
" Hello. I am here from Song Bird." I told the receptionist.
" Oh...this way ma'am, please. Sir has asked me to direct you towards the conference room." She said politely and asked me to follow her and so I did.
The room was full of filthy popular people and I was intimidated.
The room was full of the male as well as female cricketers along with all high ranking officials.
" Relax Sharanya. You have given presentations in front of many popular people. What's with the anxiety now?" I pep talked to myself.
" Ms. Patel, we are ready when you are." One of the officials said and I nodded my head.
Okay Sharanya, no time to think about anything. It's work and you need to knock 'em dead!
I connected my laptop to the projector and took a deep breath.
" I hope you all are having a good morning ladies and gentlemen...." I started with the presentation.
" And over the next two years, my team along with me and going to make sure that we get you confident, witty and yet a humble content advertisement approach. Now if you are satisfied with the plans of the agency, the contract is laid out here for the BCCI as well as individual players to sign. I'd request all of you to go through it well and let me know if something is not clear or you want some negotiable changes and I'll take it over with my seniors." I told everyone, sitting on one of the chairs.
" Sure Ms. Patel. Can we offer you anything? Tea perhaps?" Mr. Goswami asked.
" Thank you so much sir but I'm good." I politely rejected while smiling.
Luckily, there was no problem with the contract. No one except for one.
" Ms. Patel, there is one clause that I want your agency to add in this contract. No disturbing the boys while at practice before the matches." The captain of the men's cricket team, Hridansh Singh said, addressing me.
" Oh..well, rest assured sir. We will definitely not be troubling any of you just before the matches. All shoots will be done in your off season time." I told him politely.
" Yeah, I am sure you won't but It'd be still better if that clause is added in the contract just to be very clear and to avoid any sort of future confusions." He replied, being equally polite.
Now...now, had he not been so polite, I wold have tried to argue with him on it but since he was, I couldn't do a thing about it.
" Okay sir....if that is what you wish then I'll definitely take it up with the agency and fresh contracts will be ready by tomorrow and someone will drop them off here for all of you to be signed." I addressed everyone.
" That works." The captain of the women's cricket team, Anjali Kumar said.
I gave her a smile.
" So now, I'll be taking your leave and get the fresh contracts drafted. Also, we have our first shoot scheduled with eight players on the coming Wednesday. An official mail will be out to those who are expected to report and please don't worry, we have fixed the time after talking to all of your managers so that should not be a problem." I said and then reached for my bag.
I kept all the contracts and my laptop back in the bag and walked out.
" Let me take this." A voice said and suddenly, the bag in my hand was gone.
I looked around to see the captain, Hridansh Singh holding it.
" No sir, I like to do my work on my own. Thank you so much for your help." I told him, smiling.
" It's no trouble. And also, I wanted to make sure that you didn't take any offence back in there about the contract." He said.
" Oh! That's not a problem sir. It's my job to make sure everyone agrees to it and since it's not that major of an issue, I'm sure the agency will have no issues." I replied, giving him a little smile.
" Please don't call me sir. Hridansh it is." He asked.
" Now you are embarrassing me. Of course I know your name." I exclaimed.
" Sharanya here." I told him mine.
He walked me till my car, which I have to admit that is a very gentlemanly thing to do and also carried the bag of contracts to which I was thankful for.
" Thank you Hridansh." I said as I started to leave.
" I'll be seeing you soon Sharanya." He replied and I started driving back to the office.
Well, people are not wrong about him. He indeed is a true gentleman!
So guys, this is the first chapter. Did you all like it? Please drop your comments and help me improve. Thank you for reading this.
THIS IS NOT EDITED.
Thank you so much for the cover Hermione_fray
I'm in love with it♥️
