Pathology of Prosperity
After the golf game the Bhalla siblings had congregated on the terrace. News media had moved on to the next big scandal. An occasional news truck cruised outside hoping for a tid bit.
Ranjan sat in a corner, letting Nivi eat grapes out of his palm, she tried to stuff more than two at a time, fearing Ranjan would eat them
He laughed, his old body shaking in amusement at the child's fear
Mahavir always chopped those giant fruits into threes, but yet she was fearful.
"Sambhalke gudiya" "Naa mere raja" "na puttar" he scolded her every now and then
She danced and sat on the rug, she jumped up on his lap "Aaadooo?" aadooo?" she cooed to him
"Haanjee, aadooo" he smiled joyously
His kids sat on the far right, on one of the many sets of rattan sofas. The glass coffee tables glimmered under the tiki torch flames
The gas dome like fireplace surrounded by a steel cage of sorts protecting Nivi.
"Are u settling out of court?" Tan enquired
"Dont know" R&B muttered
"Tan" Sam signaled
"Yaar poochh raha hoon" Tan was irritated
"Sam, its fine. I am not made of jello" R&B chuckled
"How many layers there are?" Sam asked
"Ab tu kyon uska sar kha rahi hai?" Tan scolded
"I dont under the process or structure of financing" Sam said
"U shudnt have to worry about it unless u are willing to help Tan full time" R&B chuckled
"Dushman ho mere" Sam scolded
"Daddd aidar aa jao" Manny yelled
"Naa betaji, yeh yaha masttt" Ranjan gathered her and hugged Nivi
"Tha tha tha tha tha" (give give give) Nivi screamed at Manny
"U have to come here. Bua wont get up" Manny laughed at the fat toddler
Nivi looked at Ranjan's face "aaadooo?"
"Na gudiya bua beer pee rahi hai" Ranjan shook his head
Nivi imitated and they both got a good laugh out of it for a good 20 minutes
"Sun... gudiya kithey?" he hollered to his son
"Vandita's" he said
"Is waqt?" he asked
R&b nodded
"think about it. He cud use you. You could use some geting out of the house" R&B reminded
Tan's face fell
His parents were still here. Unwilling to get along. Unwilling to go back to the US
"I havent worked... EVER" Sam muttered
"Start going to Spectrum na?" Manny urged
"Aur TUUU?" "Shaadi hai teen mahiney mein" Sam teased
"I dont have to be employed. I am marrying a fauji" Manny blushed
"Look at her... puppy love"
Tan gently kicked her toes
"Jeej.. does she ever blush for u?" Manny asked
"Only in bed beta" Tan winked
"TANNN" sam shouted
"TMI" "Time out" R&B gesticulated
"Baat sun saale" Tan stopped R&B as he atempted to get up
"Umm?" he paused
"OK Jeej does she blush EVERY nite?" Manny laughed hysterically
"Abhi 4 mahiney se weekly, waise mostly every nite" Tan spilled the beans (his parents were the cause of the slow down)
"OK Ive had it" R&B gently knocked Manya's head with his bottle
Pulling his phone out of his pocket and texting II
"Hey"
"Enna venum? u cant be missing ME?" she goaded
"I think Nivi and her Dadu miss you" he texted
"Tell them I might stay the night here" she texted
"Her Dad says you are in trouble" he texted
"Tell her Dad "I cause" trouble I am never IN trouble" II responded
He chuckled wandering over to the fiberglass rail and leaning
Facing inward and texting, his feet crossed at the ankle
"Her Dad will then go off to play poker"
"You WOULDNT" she was furious
"See you in 10"
"rakshasaney!!!" she cursed
He smiled
As Manny approached
"Does she talk to this cousin of hers?" she asked
"Who?" he asked preoccupied
"Wohi... banda... u know.. Venkat ka saala? cousin?" she said
"Its his brother" he said quietly gazing at Manny's face intently.
"How did the guy get approval for so many millions in funding?" Manny asked
"Umm... its a long process" he said shortly
"Matlab?" she was poking
"Do u want to work at Argent?" he asked
"Tu sabko jobs de raha hai?" Manya laughed not amused
"Umm... no... but u asked" he said
"I am not asking about the process, I mean I am... but mujhe yeh baat samajh nahi aayi, how did the whole thing go unnoticed" she was relentless
"It didnt... we have checkpoints every 6 weeks" he said
"When the lab tests were not revealing satisfactory results at Hema Health why did u approve the 5th round of funding?" she was upset
"Are u curious about the pathology? or about the funding?" he was being very guarded
"Pathology to I read dimpal, they were a disaster" she was furious
He exhaled
"I read everything" she muttered
"thats why Sam says u shud get a job" he tried to laugh it off politely.
Twilight was turning into a clear night... a few stars could be spotted
"Because main idhar udhar mooh maar rahi hoon? unable to get off my bio tech high horse?" she laughed
"Umm... maybe" he nodded
"I am just not getting the whole thing"
"Why the sudden curiosity in a venture argent has funded? We have many busts, in fact twice as many as hits" he said
She looked unconvinced
"How can u settle out of court, you wont get anything" she was livid
"U shud let the attorneys investigate first" he was exasperated
"I am just not getting it... millions paid to a family member and the money vanishes before the promised product is delivered?"
"Hes not exactly family"
"To YOu hes not dimpal... II ka to hai na?" she said it FINALLLY. "Hes trying to get rich because" Manny swallowed ("II married you")
He exhaled and clenched his jaw.
"Its her family" she said
"So? she plotted the embezzelment?" he asked calmly
Manya couldnt meet his gaze
Ranjan pointed them to Nivi, she looked at his pointed index finger and did the same
He laughed and hugged her
He looked up at the sky wondering which one was Savvy
Nivi finally put Ranjan's lesson into practice, a grape was still joined, she split it into three...
He rewarded her with a big hug...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
