# Venice Diaries-6
"When a No means a "Yes"
The third day was mostly Venice "sight seeing".Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Piazza San Marco,Saint Mark's Basilica, Ca d'Oro, he had arranged for fluent English speaking guide that could answer all her questions
"I am not a celebrity" "I dont need a guide"
"I have a plan I am going to test u after we go back home" he chuckled
"Whatever, we dont need a guide" she convinced him with difficulty
"There is a lot to see and do" he promised
"About that... I might.. will it be bad if I went back on Thursday?, left Venice Tuesday night and I left Paris Wed?" she asked softly
He didnt respond...
"I cant stay here indefinitely, u knew that" she said sprinting after him
"We agreed until Thursday, u checked with Bally I thought?" he asked confused
"U are able to take calls on the go... I am incharge of deployment, what can I talk on the phone about, it just wastes Ashwini's time... i also have a new boss"
"Another new one?" he asked sarcastically
"Umm... no... u know Ritu" she found herself unable to say her name comfortably any more, she said it as if it was a grudge
"U spoke to her as well didnt u?" he asked
"Oh ya ya" "I did" she lied
"II" he pressed
"Things are always up in the air... she feels we didnt do a good job with Gurgaon showroom and workshop"
Trying to brainwash husband? II?
NOOO UMM... OFCOURSE NOT
NO NO WHY WOULD I DO THAT?
I AM JUST TELLING HIM IT WAS DONE BADLY
"We shudnt be talking about the product or how it fits our needs" he said
"Its not YOUR needs any more" "Remember" she jabbed with a sharp object
"Thanks for that sarcastic reminder he said, his face, suddenly cold
"U cud have stayed.. U DIDNT" she brought back her pet peeve to the forefront
"U cud have approved the HW upgrade and be done with it, but u held on and didnt do until u were in charge"
"U got rid of me, yet your boss is not pleased?" he shot back
"Maybe u shud get together with her you two can tell Bally and I what a terrible product we tried to peddle?" she was deeply hurt
"She doesnt need me she probably already knows" he said
That was the last thing she spoke to him... all morning
He held her hand... they did the "audio device" tour at every attraction... they walked over 7 miles... he held doors open, he shut doors behind her, he let her get on the water taxi, he pushed her scarf off the water as it fell over the side of the boat
But they didnt say anything to each other
"Around 6 ish she yawned...
"Shud we go back?" he asked
She nodded
When they got back to the hotel... she took a shower, he checked email
Called Manya... she didnt answer, called Sam. She told her they went to the Doc apptt together and also about how they may have "broken up"
"Its a good thing" he said gleefully
"Aise mat bol R&B" she begged
"Hes a free loader" R&B said dismissively
"She doesnt need the guy's money no?" Sam reminded
"But looks like he has many get rich quick schemes, off her" he said smoothly
"did he ask u for any more?" Sam panicked
"Nope... not more, but we are still exchanging emails over the petrol pump in Kufri and the apple sauce deal, most equipment according to the pictures is rusted and non functional... even before the guy decided to sell it, it was non functional" he said firmly
"U know how she is NAIVE"Sam begged
"She has a temper" he chuckled
"I forced her to go home and take a shower, she wouldnt ,because he was home" Sam whispered
"So?" R&B was confused
"She expected him to leave"
R&B shrugged "Whatever"
"Tu us se koi baat mat poochh please" Sam whispered
"I wont" he said
"Does II know?"
"Whats with u two?" he asked startled
"shes ashamed R&B" Sam sounded dejected
"Whattt?" R&B asked incredulously... "WHYYY?"
"U know... shes been living there with him the last couple months and now if she finds out he wants her money" Sam explained
"When did she start worrying abt social norms?" R&B twirled his hair
"i dont know... dont act like u have all the answers... u abandoned everything here and ran away... give her a break" Sam reminded
"I didnt run away... i was doing u a favor by working for Excelsior"
"U sound like a arrogant ass... aise baat karni ho to mujhe call mat karo" she ordered angrily
There was a longish pause
"Sam" he begged
"I cannot forever be the conduit between every goddamn person in this family" she hissed
"I dont think anyone expects u to" he said bluntly
"Ofcourse not... we could all be orphans" she shot back
"We just live in different continents, we talk every day"
"U and ur wife live in diff continents... I havent met Mr Iyer, (when I do)he will SHRED me" she sounded agonized
"Its none of his business" he said
"It is... because UNLIKE OUR FAMILY... un logon ko ek doosre ki fiqar HAI" she said sadly
"Its not a race" he muttered
"Keep her there" she said "I feel terrible asking u to" she cried softly "seeing Dad be alone" "But she is not Dad's guardian, sooner or later Mr Iyer will get on my case, and tell me that" Sam said fearfully
"He needs to mind his own business" he said
"He would you see... if his daughter minded her own... since she is minding Dad's he has to intervene" she explained coldly
"I moved here less than a month ago" (DONt expect me to return) tone
"I am done talking then" she said hanging up
II stepped out... "U think we are incompatible?" she asked directly
"Why?" he asked... he was tired, hungry... and frustrated after sparring with Sam
"Nahi mujhe lagta hai hum dono mein shaayad hi banegi" she said leaning on the doorway to the plush bathroom
"I dont want to talk about it II" he said
"Why? We are not sight seeing? or eating dinner or in cooking class" she pressed
"Is this because u want to make a case for returning Wed?" he asked piercingly
"Tumhe meri fiqar nahi hai" she accused and began to cry
He got up immediately quit twirling his hair, set his laptop on the side
"Why are u so upset?"
"U have everything here, ur life, ur past (SHITTT!!!) ur favorite things, ur job, ur outdoors, ur memories" she whispered
"U are here too" he whispered hands in pockets, standing an inch in front
"Nee think pannave maateya? (dont u worry?) " she asked her eyes big pools
"I came here with a goal"
"Job, and the outdoors" she said
"Are u trying to get me to say something?" he asked deeply
"If u hadnt married the SW provider, u would have dragged KMPG through dirt wudnt u?" she asked
"I am not going to answer that" he said
"Will u tell me... are we incompatible?" she asked looking up
"No I wont" he said
"U didnt say no, so it must be a yes" she said, letting her shoulders slump
He gathered her gently...
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