Chapter 101

Thanks & a Thanks

“I cant pick him up this afternoon” he texted her one Wed afternoon

“If u are going to be unreliable I need to know” she scowled

“Sorryy” he was a bit irritated

“U lead 500 people cant u delegate?”

“That’s not how it works”

“So I don’t know these things?”

“No, I cannot delegate my job Mrunalini”

“U know what? I am going to pick him up from now”

“U were letting him be in after school care!!!!!!”

“Because I don’t make Rs. 180 lakhs a year”

“WHOAAA!! That’s absurd… I don’t make that kind of money, uve seen my paycheck”

“I DIDN’T open it”

“Its 47.5”

“Well its 7 years of pay for me”

“Mrunalini I am not going to pitch a fight over who is right, I cannot pick up I am sorry something unexpected came up I apologize truly, this wont happen again, if I could take the call in the car I would, my secretary is not authorized for pick up so I cannot send her”

“Don’t u dare have a stranger pick up my Dhru”

“K u are pitching for a fight”

“I will not ask u to pick him up”

“We can pay for after school care even when its my turn to pick him up? You already pay for half? How about that?”

“Just throw money away? Why? Pay for the whole year though he goes home with u? at 3?”

“We have to have a solution”

“I wont expect u to do pick up”

“When ur anger subsides text me”

“No I wont”

At 7 there was a knock on the door

A delivery guy from East Asian Spice Trail Thai restaurant stood with a large brown bag of food

“Me jayvana order kele nahi, chukicha pata” (Wrong address, I did not order any food)

Dhru had turned on loud sound as he played Mario Kart

“Aapana Mrunalini Ghatge aahet?” he read of a receipt”

“Hoo”

He handed her the bag with a big smile

“Thambane” she mumbled

She wondered if Sai was coming

Sai could never afford such an expensive place

Shaurya? Hemang?

Hmm

She didn’t know where her phone was

“Dhruuuu game band karaa” she yelled

“Mala paise nakko aahet” (Don’t give me money) he nodded and flew down the stairs

Sahasre peeked thru a crack

ALWAYS nosy… she thought

She hut the door

Found her phone and texted all her friends

Some didn’t respond, some said it was not him/her

She had had a terrible afternoon, Sen was mad at her, one of her direct reports just got up and left and told sen “Ms Ghatge makes me work 20 hour days”

She was no CEO she barely had 3 directs and one quit after tattling

This was not her week for pick up so there was no after school care arrangement

But lo and behold Dhru had to be picked up anyway

She took a shower after opening and tasting everything, it was DELICIOUS

There was even prawns and chicken

As she stood in the shower she realized who it could be, she wrapped a towel stormed out and called him

FT accidentally

“YOU HAVE THE NERVE” she shouted shutting the bathroom door as the shower ran

“Are u in the SHOWER?” he gasped

She pulled the phone off her ear and put it face to face

Red face I mean…

She shut off the shower and wiped the phone on her towel

“U sent me food to butter me up?” she hissed leaning on the bathroom door

“Are u in the shower?” he questioned

He looked like he had just woken up froma NAP

“So u couldn’t go bring ur SON from school but could take a early evening nap?”

He had to laugh for that one

The FIRST time ever Jaidrith was referred to as HIS son

“I worked almost 18 hours straight”

“OH PLEEZ, like banks are open at MIDNIGHT” she scoffed

“I told u I work with all of  Asia and Europe and occasionally US” he was enjoying this

“Did u lose someone’s social security check?” she made up some gibberish

He laughed again

“U look great”

“YOU don’t”

“I haven’t shaved today”

Rasp rasp rasp

“Thank me Mrunalini” he said huskily

She hung up and shut her eyes and cringed

“Oh god!! What have I done?”

Calling this man while in the bathroom

Two hours later he called her

“Hmm”

“Just called to ask for a thank u”

“The food was great” she mumbled

Dhru had absolutely loved it, it was his only favorite place, and upon being interrogated by Atty he had spilled the beans one day

Every morsel of it

“How did u know?”

“Jaidrith said he loved Ashiam Spice Train”

She laughed reluctantly “He sometimes talks like a 5 year old” “Just to get under my skin” “Thanks” she sighed

“Am I still in the dog house?”

“Umm.. no”

“Thanks” he whispered

“Good night” she mumbled distractedly

“For YOU perhaps” he sighed

Envisioning the image of her soaking wet in the shower