Intelligence... Business & Otherwise
Barely five days after Nandu was dropped off at Munirka, II got a call from Bally
"Just checkin on you, we were talking in our monthly leadership meeting about aligning resources with need and wondered when your return date was" he said cheerfully
II panicked she didnt know if R&B had told Bally the reason for extending her 3 or so week vacation to a 6 week of (3 week vacation+three week work remotely) It was almost the beginning of September
She would have gone back to work if it was just a vacation
"U must have hated the progress report I sent" she chuckled
"Aisa nahi hai, the team feels we must extend our system offerings, customize it for every Customer Account and deploy seamlessly"
"Are we still talking about the unmentionable tool? " II asked cautiously
"Dekh Iyer... Transpro has been BOUGHT, we have a biggest worst case install at Excelsior, we have a smalest best case install at Tughlaq Woods ( a green/nursery/high end plant landscaping company)
II groaned...
Bally stopped
"U know I dont want to be fixing bugs, trying to heal wounds, and taping up solutions, I dont even want to be a programmer anymore" she said out loud
"Well... I am not your direct boss so u must talk with Ritu about it" he silkily distanced himself from her work woes
"If thats the case, aap kyon call kar rahe ho mujhe?" "I have two direct reports left.. maybe I shud ask them to look for other jobs" she said bluntly
"Like I said" Bally interrupted
"Sorry, go ahead"
"KMPG has a BI team do u want to work for them?" he asked abruptly
II knew of biz intelligence within KMPG they created inhouse tools and solutions to answer key business questions"
Something about using systems and tools and enhancing user experience seemed very depressing to her
She didnt respond
"Never mind think it through" he said
"Umm.. I am almost done with my vacation shud be back soon" she said quietly
"Nahi nahi... I know uve been working" he mellowed "Agar mujhe har teen mahiney koi Paris bulaye main bhi aisach sound karta" he laughed
She smiled weakly
"Kaisa hai tera?" he asked
"Umm... hes at work"
"Abey?"
"We didnt venture out much" she said
"Kyon? Vandita bhi hai na?" he asked confused
II nodded tearing up
"I had a umm... surprise... kya kehte hain usko... umm... surprise miscarriage" she said eventually
He exhaled audibly
"I am sorry Iyer" he said gently
She nodded as she wept
"No... its no one's fault... except mine... if I had known I wud have never sat on a turbulent flight for 9 hours" she said
"Aisa mat bol" he said
She cleared her throat, sniffled and groaned and grunted
"I am sorry... so any way, I should be back soon"
"Do u want..." he paused
She waited
"It will be good to see u back Iyer" he said quietly
She hung up and went to the kitchen, and made herself some chocolate mint tea... and sipped quietly
He returned from work and lingered by the doorway
Ranjan had taken Sam and the girls shopping
"hey" he muttered
She turned partially
"Chai?" he asked
"Nooo" she said shaking her head "I found chocolate mint TEA" she said quietly
He bend down and inhaled her cup
"Smells awful" he said
"Thanks" she nodded
He gently felt her cheek with his thumb
The tears had left a cool moist imprint
"Why didnt u go?" he asked
"Kidhar?" she asked
"Out?" he asked
"Tumhe ghar khaali chahiye na?" she chuckled "U are a loner" she smiled weakly
"No I am not" he shook his head
"Koi baat na karey, ek book ho music ho, aur khaali ghar" she smiled
She leaned on the glass door, he placed his hands on the either side of her head
"U look nice" he muttered bending down
She gently turned her face away
He was OK... he hungered for every inch of her
He let his lips stroll the ear, chin, cheek
Cool stubble-y and raspy
She groaned stiffening
He opened his mouth getting bolder... nibbling sucking and then let out a steamy curse
Taking her free hand and about to show her what she did to him
She turned crimson... shutting her eyes
"II" he said hoarsely
"I cant" she said softly
He wanted to treat carefully
He wanted her like crazy, he had denied himself, he was being compassionate and thoughtful
It was getting harder
He was intelligent and shrewd, he knew how to wear her down.
He was going to do exactly that
He plundered her ear lobe, and neck, leaving hickeys
Dub-dub-dub-dub-dub-dub-DUB-DUB-DUBBB-DUBBB
Her heart rate intensified, achingly
"Dear God" she whispered
He took her tea and set it on the tall breakfast nook
And held both her hands in his
"U can..." he whispered
"Bally called" she said cutting him off
He stiffened and waited
"He wanted to know if I want to work for BI at KMPG
"Whattt?" he said raising his head from her neck
"He wants me to move to BI... the fact that he called and not Ritu tells me its restructuring" she said quietly
He stepped back tucked his hands in his pockets... and assessed her expression
"I better go back... nahi?" she said making peace with her tattered career
"Nahi..." he said in Hindi...
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
