Priya reached the place and looked ahead. She verified the name plate and nodded. She was at the right place.

She paid the auto driver and moved towards the main gate. 

“Jee madam? Kya kaam hai?”

(Yes madam? What do you want?)

The guard asked and Priya looked at the house in front of her.

“Mr. Atharva Sehgal ne bulaya tha. I’m his nutritionist and yoga instructor.”

(Mr. Atharva Sehgal called.)

“Mujhe ek baar confirm krne dijiye madam.”

(Let me confirm once madam.)

Priya nodded and the guard made a quick call. He confirmed her visit and allowed her inside.

Priya rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. It was opened by a middle aged lady who looked like she worked there.

“Namaste. Mai Priya hu. Mujhe Mr. Sehgal ne bulaya tha. Unki nayi yoga instructor aur nutritionist.”

(Namaste. I am Priya. Mr. Sehgal called me. His new yoga instructor and nutritionist.)

The lady nodded and welcomed Priya inside. She got water for Priya and asked her to wait while she called Mr. Sehgal.

Priya looked around the house and made an expression of appreciation. It wasn’t too big but screamed luxury. Whoever did the interiors had a very classy and luxurious taste.

“Ms. Ahuja. I’m Atharva Sehgal.”

Priya saw a young, handsome man, almost her age, forward his hand towards her. She promptly shook his hand and smiled.

“Hello Mr. Sehgal. Nice to meet you. And please call me Priya.”

Atharva nodded and forwarded the file he was carrying to her. Priya frowned and took the file from him.

“These are my reports. In case you’d need them. I’ll be in my office. You can take the details of the food being made from the cook. Feel free to meet me if you require anything.”

With that Atharva left the hall, leaving Priya stunned. Feel free to meet if require something? How is she supposed to be his yoga instructor if not meet him?

She shook her head and opened the reports he gave her. It was his medical report. She had no idea how to read one but she could see the high level of cholesterol and the risk of heart diseases being mentioned. 

She knew about this. She also knew that the reason for his high level of cholesterol was not the food alone. 

She decided to meet the cook to inquire about the food. The cook was a sweet middle aged man who Priya learned was also the husband of the woman she met earlier.

“Aap khaana kaise banate hai uncle? Matlab kitna oil use krte hai aur kitne masale use krte hai?”

(How do you make the food uncle? I mean how much oil and spices do you use?)

“Sahab ke checkup ke baad se toh tel bilkul band kr dia unhone. Sirf salaad (salad) khaate hai. Aur usme ye wala tel dalwate hai upar se. Lekin usse pehle ghar mai sirf desi khaana banta tha. Paranthe, sabji, puri, toh tel toh dalta hi tha beta. Aur masale bhi sahab tez hi khaate the.”

(After sir’s checkup he stopped using oil. He eats only salad. And he takes this oil on top of it. But before that only Indian food was made. Paranthas, curry, puri, toh oil was used. And sir also had spicy food.)

Priya nodded and thanked the cook.

“Thik hai uncle. Ye Mr. Sehgal ka office kaha hai? Milna hai mujhe unse.”

(Ok uncle. Where is Mr. Sehgal’s office? I want to meet him.)

“Wo pehle floor pr hai beta. Likha hai darwaze pr.”

(On the first floor. It is written on the door.)

Priya nodded and went in the direction the cook had guided. She found his office and knocked once. His loud, authoritative voice came, giving her the permission to enter.

“Good morning again, Mr. Sehgal. Do you have some time to spare?”

Atharva looked at her for a moment before nodding. Priya smiled and entered, taking her seat in front of him. She opened her notebook that she carried and smiled at him.

Atharva raised his eyebrow wanting to know the reason for her visit.

“I had a word with your cook. Unhone bataya mujhe ki aap reports aane se pehle kya khaate the. Honestly, I don’t think it’s just the food which is the cause of your health risk.”

(He told me what you ate before your reports came.)

Atharva frowned and leaned forward, keeping his hands on the table.

“What do you mean? Isn’t oil supposed to be responsible for high levels of cholesterol?”

“It is. But it is not the only factor. Our daily routine, stress, exercise schedule, everything matters.”

Atharva stayed quiet. Letting her continue. She picked her pen and began scribbling.

“Would you mind telling me your daily schedule? Reports aane se pehle kya tha?”

(What was it like before the reports came?)

Atharva was surprised.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes Mr. Sehgal.”

“Why do you want to know my schedule? Just give me a diet chart and some yoga exercises.”

Priya restrained rolling her eyes and plastered a smile on her face.

“I’m afraid that’s not how it is done. Aapka diet chart banane ke liye bhi I have to know some things about you. So, if you will please entertain me for some time.”

(I have to know some things about you before making your diet chart.)

Atharva looked at her as if trying to make himself believe that she wasn’t joking. When he realised she was waiting for him to start, he cleared his throat.

“Ummm…I usually woke up by 4 in the morning…”

He started and Priya raised her eyebrow, first in surprise and then in appreciation.

“...I did some office work, prepared for the upcoming day…”

“Excuse me? Aap 4 bje uthke office ka kaam krte hai?”

(You did office work after waking up at 4 in the morning?)

She cut off and he blinked. Nodded and looked at her confused. Her impressed look changed to a disappointed one and he frowned but continued nonetheless.

“Ummm…I got ready by 8 and left for my office. I reached my office by 9 and then worked. Phir around 2 bje I have my lunch and-”

(Then around 2 PM I have my lunch and-)

“Hold on! What about breakfast?”

She cut him off again and he shrugged.

“I don’t like having breakfast.”

Priya nodded in disappointment again and continued scribbling in her diary.

“Umm…lunch ke baad, I continued my work and got home by 11. Phir ghar aake dinner and-”

(Ummm…after lunch, I continued my work and got home by 11. Then dinner after coming home and-)

“11 bje dinner? Aur kya khaate the aap dinner mai?”

(Dinner at 11 PM? And what did you have in dinner?)

Atharva stumbled and tried to recall. She looked like a teacher admonishing a child for his mistakes.

“Reports se pehle, proper khaana. Parantha, sabji, rice or whatever was made. But now I eat salad.”

(Before the reports came, proper food. Paranthas, curry, rice or whatever was made.)

He said the last part a little proudly. Priya gave him a deadpan look and asked him to continue.

“Aur dinner ke baad, I usually went to bed. Agar kuch aur kaam nhi bacha hota tha toh.”

(And after dinner, I usually went to bed. If there was no other work.)

“Aur Sundays? Ya chhuti wale din? Wo kaise spend krte hai?”

(And Sundays? Or on holidays? How did you spend them?)

“Aise hi. I work on Sundays also.”

(Same way.)

Priya blinked. In surprise and shock.

“You…you work like this on Sundays also? Kyu?”

(Why?)

“I have a company to run.”

She sighed and realised where the problem lay. He was putting too much stress on his body and brain.