Bright Minds
she lay on the sun room bed on her belly her laptop propped up on a pillow
Running tests for the Lajpat Nagar and Uttam Nagar and Rohini showrooms
Went down to get herself some snack... searched the frig for mithai... or chocolate
He came in to grab a beer...
"Did u eat yet?" she asked
"Umm.. no... " he shook his head
She headed to make pooris for him, but kept looking for sweets
"Kuch bhi nahi hai meetha?" she said horrified
"What do u want?" he asked
"We dont even have any ice cream, or chocolate" "Or mithai" she mumbled
Mahavir came in "Sir lunch bana de?"
"Just a turkey sandwich Mahavir, thanks" he smiled
"Kyon u dont want pooris? He made chholey like the street food kulchey chholey" she was in awe
"He makes good food" he admitted..
"Then why wont u eat?" she was offended
"I ate a big breakfast
"Theek hai aap turkey sandwich bana do please?" she said
"I promise I will eat for dinner" he said feeling her despair
"Do u find it silly I force u to eat?" she asked
"No I dont" he said looking into her eyes
"Uh... oh? hmm" she nodded
He waved for Mahavir, "Santram ko kahenge, Modern Bazaar se woh candy assortment laayenge?"
He grabbed a post it by the phone and wrote down a name
Mahavair smiled
"Some garam jalebi would be good too" she smiled
"Haan haan bhabhiji woh bhi... aur kuch?"
"Samosa..." she smiled
"U want to go" R&B mocked
"Vendaam pinne vidu" she sulked (dont need nothing)
He smiled handing the paper
He didnt hand money, she wondered if the help had their own Master or Visa cards
Mahavir made his sandwich, they took it to the lounge
Ranjan returned... paused seeing his son and DIL chatting cheerfully
"Poori khaayenge?" she asked
"Kha lenge puttar, saath mein ek thandi lassi pilao TO" he smiled
"Yeh kya kha raha hai?" he asked
"Turkey" she said ashamed
"Kahan poori, kahan turkey" Ranjan chuckled
R&B half smiled...
"Aapne kal raat ko mere pair ke neeche stool lagayi puttar?" he asked warmly
She looked at him confused
"I dont remember" she mumbled
"Chashma utaara hua tha, aur stool bhi..." he smiled smiling wistfully
R&B ate without looking up
II went in...
Ranjan: So will u be attending all the meetings?
R&B: I hope to
Ranjan: I can give u a copy of the financials if u want to go over and take a look
Ranjan opened his cavernous laptop bag and produced two slickly published Annual Reports
He handed one to R&B, he set his sandwich aside, took a sip of his beer, and wiped his fingers before politely accepting it
Great values imparted by Savvy and Ranjan, all three kids never forgot to be respectful
R&B didnt care for Ranjan as a Dad but never forgot his manners.
Excelsior was registered after Baisakhi over 30 years ago... the Ambassador dealership
The financial year went from May to April
The AGMs always happened end of May
"Whats the big story?" he asked curiously
"Well... we sold more cars, and made more profit"
"With fewer people?" R&B asked
"No... with more people and more showrooms" Ranjan responded
R&B carefully began to read
She returned with two puffy discs, crispy on one side and moist on the other with both subzis and the curried chicken
He jumped up to go wash his hands, removing his glasses
"Ur copy is on that table auditor" he smiled
She smiled, reaching for it, he returned and brought his copy out of the bag...
"Dad, eat first"
"Yes Maam" he nodded
Beginning to eat
"It wud have been good to show what % of Excelsior growth came from existing showrooms vs new"
Existing Maruti brands vs new brands introduced in 2014" R&B said
"Good point... but too late" Ranjan said chewing
"U need another wedge? (sandwich?) she asked her husband...
"More beer maybe... I can page him" he reached
"I am bringing chai for myself" she smiled
"Meetha hai puttar?" Ranjan asked
As Mahavir brought more pooris, II brought his beer and her own chai
"None Dad... he sent SantRamji to Modern Bazaar..." "I sent him for jalebis" she smiled
"Vaddiya" Ranjan smiled...
II scanned it quietly...
"What is this one time charge of Rs. 18.8 lakhs?" she asked showing Ranjan the fine print of a certain footnote
"Its 13.3" Ranjan said
"No Dad its an 8" II said softly
Ranjan did not believe her he peered multiple times and checked his glasses
"I might need a new pair" he smiled derisively
"U can be my glasses puttar" he said softly
She nodded dazed... she wondered if he was aging too
"What was ur question?" he asked
"What is that charge?"
"Oh it was some building code violation or something Haryana Govt charged us, for at Rohtak showroom...
sarkar apna kaam nahi karti hamara karne mein utavli rehti hai" he mocked
"Oh" she nodded
"What do u think of the way its published?" he asked
"It looks great" she smiled sincerely
"Is this ur first copy of a automobile dealership annual report?" Ranjan asked
"I guess so" II said kindly
"I try to do things differently betaji. I treat it like a corporation" he smiled proudly
"U shud... u built it" she smiled fondly
"I try to do something different each year" he smiled
they all read quietly
R&B:The third risk u have under Opportunities & Risks section? (pausing)
Ranjan: Lawyers felt I should mention plans for the Mercedes dealership, since we (huh!, always said "we")
may go with a "Public Lts" model on that one,(selling shares to the general public, trading stock in stock exchange etc)
he said I shud list the proposed Merc dealership as a risk on this Maruti annual report
Since my attention will definitely be divided between the two when we start that one...
R&B: U are sure about that one?
Ranjan:I am...
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