Excitement mounted in Suman's heart as lunch time drew close. Shravan's office was just few steps away now. She had been pleasantly surprised to see there was no change of plans in that regard, in spite of everything else having changed. It would be so cool to have him as her neighbour during the working hours too. She was dying to have a look at his office , since she was taking their lunch there.
No pattern had been established to their morning routine yet. Today being the first day, Shravan had dropped her to PCT. She would probably have to get her Ambassador parked near PCT so she can run around for her chores the whole day.
"Arrey dekho, kisiki nazar clock se hatthi hi nahi hai. Kyun Sumo? Bahut bhookh lagi hai kya?", Preetha was at it again. The girls were so excited for her too.
"Chhup! Tu Zyada baat mat karna. Tiffin ready hai toh de dena"- Suman donned her Sumo avtar.
She was at his place some two minutes later. She had been dying to catch a glimpse of him, and she found him buried in a fat book, talking over the phone. (Was he already getting clients?)
"Haan Pushkar. Arrey main kal se tujhse consultation fees loonga, aaj ke liye maaf kiya. Bahut busy jo hoon main yahan"- she didn't miss the self mockery in his tone.
She left the lunch on the small tepoy near the chairs in the waiting area. He had done up the place nicely and neatly. It was small, but it meant business. She went near the book case and ran her hands over the fat books. Her Bookworm of a husband! Looked like he chose the right profession, getting wedded to these law books.
She was so proud of him. Suddenly she missed those ten years when he had gone to London. They should have been together. Ten years of precious togetherness that could have been...how painful each day without him had been.
But he had made the maximum out of those ten years...worked hard...become so successful..Tears of pride welled up in her eyes.
"Did you come to see me, or did you come to spend some quality time with my books, Mrs. Malhotra?", he whispered into her ear, landing a quick kiss on the back of her head. She blushed and turned around. He could see she was having an emotional moment. He raised his eyes quizzically at her and she shook her head in denial. He guided her towards the tiffin box.
She served out the lunch and waited for him to take the first bite. She loved watching him enjoy the food she cooked.
"So, how is it going?", she started out.
"Hmm..It will take some time, building up a profession brick by brick, as a very learned friend of mine told me just few days back."- There was no sarcasm or sadness. Plenty of confidence and humility.
She smiled.
"I am sorry, Shravan. I...I mean it is OK. You can always go back to Ramnath Uncle- I know you dad needs you, more than the other way around. This had been..I don't know... I don't know if this is the right place for you."
"Hmm...I do know this is the right place for me right now, Sumo. You see I am very conveniently placed near my favourite caterer and I even get free lunch with my better half every single day of my life...Until.."
"Until?"
"Until it is time for me to move out to a bigger office, by which time you would move out next to me as well, if you don't terribly mind..." He had already started planning for the future.
She smiled.
"You are serious?"
"Of course, Sumo. I had my own successful law firm back in London...and it had been my dream to start out from the scratch here too. Do a little bit of social service, as well as make a good living milking the rich. It is a challenge. I know it is a long way ahead, But I am loving this. I am on my own. It seems like a break now, But people do know me already. And when they know I am not as expensive as my dad yet..it's only a matter of time. And if it doesn't click, we always have your PCT." He winked.
"By the way, you must be under a lot of stress too, right? You have a deadline to meet now as you are expanding." She nodded her head.
"So we are both one busy married couple", he winked.
She smiled sadly. How she would have loved to spend more time with him like this, but it was going to be difficult squeezing in these extra minutes when she would be getting busier soon. But she was going to do it.
"So, any tips from the successful Woman Entrepreneur of the Year?", His voice was soft and loving.
She blushed.
A few seconds of silence.
"Sumo?"
"Hmmm..."
"It must have been difficult for you, na. Starting PCT with no support whatsoever. I can appreciate it so much more better now!".
She was silent. She was remembering the early struggling days. She nodded her head pensively.
"Hoye, no business tips?".
She looked towards PCT.
"It's like a baby, Shravan. PCT is all I had at one point in time. I needed it at that time so much. I would have been lost without it. It was my baby. I spent hours building up my reputation, churning up new recipes to keep everyone happy..Really, It's my baby. And you know..when you have a baby, you give it something, it gives you back something too. PCT has given me everything I thought I would never be able to achieve at one point in time. So...I think whatever obstacles may come, if you put your heart and mind into it, it will reward you. I can assure you that."
She started clearing up the plates and washed up. He hovered around her till she reached the door.
He stood there until she had reached PCT and waved at him.
This would be such a nice routine if they could keep it up.
Was that just a business pep talk or had she meant something more? She had been so emotional. He would have to bring this up again sometime later when they both had some free time.
Just a regular update, guys. Its a little longer than usual- going by drabble standard. Hope you could find something special about it.š³ It is special. š
Previous ones:
1. From Besties to Life Partners- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ek-duje-ke-vaaste/4729463/from-besties-to-life-partners-season-2-drabbles-08-10-16
2. Blending In. https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ek-duje-ke-vaaste/4729872/blending-in-season-2-drabbles-09-10-16
3. Bedtime Rules- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ek-duje-ke-vaaste/4730505/bedtime-rules-season-2-drabbles-10-10-16
Jhanak
