The art of giving up
Ranjan ate first, when R&B walked down the back steps in his Alex Wang sweats and yellow tee checking his messages, almost bumping into a help that cleaned nearby
He wore navy sweats, "Where is my grey sweats?" he asked her
"Which one?" she said preoccupied pouring chutney out of one larger bowl into a smaller one
"I cant find any of them" he was frustrated
She turned to look at him, his eyes still looked droopy, his hair was neatly combed
His face still moist, he smiled at her a FULL SMILE😳
"I will have to check, he did two load he said of ur clothes, pehle kha lo kuch" she ordered
"Mahavir aap inke liye eggs bana dogey" she asked
"Abhi" he dropped what he was doing and went to wash his hands
"My closet's a mess since I looked" he mumbled
"yenna kekka maateya? First? (wont u ask first) she accused😳
"umm.. I shud have"😳
"Eat first"
"I can eat idlis" he offered
"I know u can hes making ur eggs and bacon" she mumbledðŸ˜
"Puttarji ek aur chai ho jaaye"
"Yes Dad"
"Ur coffee is ready" she said pointing him to the massive restaurant style machine
"She began to make Ranjan's chai"
R&B went to sit down
"Umm.. I have tickets" he said
"Kidhar ke puttar?" he asked preoccupied looking up from Economic Times
the dozen or so newspapers lay in a stack on his side, his son picked up Financial Times
"Paris"
II's stomach churned but her heart skipped a beat when she heard the Plural for ticket
"Oh! changa" Ranjan nodded
EVEN RANJAN DID NOT ASK WHEN
R&B kept looking for the question
"Did u see NASDAQ article?" Ranjan asked
"No I am sorry I didnt" R&B said politely
Ranjan shared, the men read quietly
"Heres chai..." "Inda onnoda coffee" (heres ur coffee) II said handing him his cup
"NASDAQ article" Ranjan pointed to her'
'"Mornings are for Bollywood gossip, mujhe bus Metro section deejiye"
"Where is Sam?" R&B asked
"Asleep, they went to a movie last nite so shes tired"
"Lasya?" he said
"Woh bhi" II smiled for the first time since morning AT HIM
She pulled the stack towards her and took out the gossip pages and leaned, he gently touched her choora.. playingon it like piano keys
She withdrew her hand... Ranjan noticed
"Umm... I am going to check on Sam" she said
And left, turning to look at him from the doorway
Sam was up, she had also changed the tyke into lil orange shorts and a flowery halter neck backless blouse
II picked her up her back felt cool and squishy under II's firm warm kitchen hands
Lasya gurgled and hugged her kicking her fat feet
"Polama?, Uncle R, thatha they are all asking for u" she whispered
"Look who's here" she said cheerily
R&B gave one of his rare toothy grins
"Gudiya" Ranjan cooed, she started telling him a story stretching her fat fists at him
"Phir aage ki hoya?" "Tey phir?" he asked
"Do u want to hold?" she asked R&B politely
"Umm... no... I have to eat" he pretended as if he never did both together before
He was giving the baby up for her sake, to cheer her up
She wanted him to hold Lasya as he would be gone soon
"Peanut?" II said Lasya smiled and looked everywhere
"Paar she is looking for u" she pointed to her husband
"II" he grabbed her wrist and held it
"I have to go eat too" II struggled
He held her anyway... II let him
"Arey wah happy family?" Sam chuckled
Tan walked in too with Nandu
"Chithi can u call Shravu?" he asked
"Sure raja, eat first"
"I already had frosted flakes and peanut butter toast" he nodded "I HATE BACON UGHHH" he yelled
"shhh" "No kanna" she coaxed
"Kai vidu" she whispered to her husband
(Let go of my hand)
Tan walked up to R&B after touching Ranjan's feet "Aur boss kee haal chaal"
"Puttarji ik rasmalai khilayin" Ranjan begged
II laughed hysterically "Dad has to have rasmalai when he is too happy or too sad"
"Uve figured him out" Sam clapped
Ranjan nodded ashamed, Mahavir brought some out in a large bowl and set it in the center
"Kai vidu please"
"Kya hai yeh code language?" Tan asked
"Kuch bhi nahi, main keh rahi hoon mera haath chhodo" II squealed
Sending everyone into laughter
"Arey kaise chhodega, abhi to pakda hai 3 mahiney bhi nahi hue" Tan winked
"I meant" II stopped
HE IS... IN OTHER WAYS
"Kya khila rahe ho aap bhabhiji" Tan asked
II giggled "Thats so cliched"
"IKR"
They ate laughing and chatting about everything
R&B held Lasya while she ate, but hovered around her
"U shud go change Mahavir said he put a basket of folded laundry in my closet, ur AW's in there" she pointed
"Umm.. no... my closet's a mess"
"I am not doing it"
He so wished she would
He wished he could take her upstairs and have her to himself from now until the fight of why "she cant go with him"
He knew she wouldnt, he bought her a ticket...
"Aur tickets kab ke hain boss?" Tan asked
"Morning of 15th Monday, 2 AM?" he said
Ranjan politely got up
"Khao puttar hunney aaya main" (BRB) he mumbled
"Dad chai aur bhejoon?"
Nandu was upstairs playing video games
"Na puttar... Chache nu milan waaste jaana haiga (I have to go meet Harish)" he said
"Oh!" II nodded cluless
Tan stared at Ranjan sadly... "what a life" he thought
Ek game 8 or 16 holes take a pick" Ranjan said turning to R&B
"Umm sure... oh yes" he said unable to decline
Sam was surprised her Dad would offer such a thing and more surprised her bro would accept it
"WHY are u doing this?" Sam asked when Dad left
"I cant work here forever" he said bluntly
"Samyukta, oopar jaane to se unko phir ladna shuru"
II walked in the back sun room with Lasya...
R&B repeatedly looked at her
"Say something no Tan" she begged
"Dekho usne becha, he quit his job he wound up he cleaned his office got himself a ticket, and now u want him to change his mind?" Tan asked logically
"How can I give up?" Sam asked tearily
"Like he is" Tan said softly
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