On site Labor
She woke up around 4 not knowing where she was, only to see she was on the 1st floor lounge's day bed
She went up, she was hungry and nauseaus at the same time, she didnt throw up in the 2nd floor bathroom, just went down to the ground floor
did her biz, made herself hot chocolate
and picked up a couple cookies, did a balancing act with the flowing chiffon saree's pallu held in one had,
her hot chocolate mug held in the other and the cookie held between the teeth
Ate in her sun room after brushing her teeth, and changed and stared at the bed, he was fast asleep
She felt like running over and hugging him tight, instead she slid by him and curled up
He woke instantly checking his watch... and peering down at her
They exchanged a long quiet look, he pulled her firmly into his embrace
She didnt protest, she closed her eyes on his neck and exhaled, sighing
He was asleep when she woke up at 8, her arms and legs tangled with his
She was at work in an hour and a half
Work was a mess, between daily reports and fixing bugs on a parts pricing tool and wrestling with Ritu her time flew
She had invited Ritu to Diwali as a courtesy, and ofcourse Bally
But neither came
Slowly and subtly things with Bally were changing, she hated it but was helpless
She would have preferred to have Bally as a friend atleast but it was not to be, they werent enemies or strangers but werent the "first go to" people in each others' lives
She no longer heard about Suman's brother's in-laws in Jaipur and how Suman wanted this or that, or how frustrated he was with one of his Vasant Kunj neighbors
II sipped her warm orange pekoe tea, her cold was bad, she had texted the doctor about what she could take
She hadnt heard back
An email from Ritu popped with the link to yet another new sub site, where she wanted install reports and daily status reports archived, Ritu was a data wh**e
She saved every key stroke, she carried an array of external hard drives from every job she ever held... every email that was sent to her and every email Ritu herself ever sent out to people
II decided she was a klutz in comparison, yet another area where Ritu made her feel insecure
I NEED A BOSS WHO IS JUST ABOUT GOOD AT EVERYTHING
I ALREADY FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT THE WAY MY CAREER IS SHAPING UP
I NEEDED TO REALIZED SHE LOVES DATA AND EMAILS
II chuckled cynically
"Coffee Iyer?" Bally knocked
II turned startled
He held a box in his hand
"Mere liye?" she asked
"Nahi... I was just going to go give it to the new girl in Mergers & Acq" Bally mocked
II made a face
"Ghar ki mithai hai?" she asked
"Main to gareeb aadmi hai boss I cant employ chefs for making mithai"
II had brought handmade pottery containers with diya theme filled with mithai and dry fruits
Ranjan commissioned a self employed women's group every year for the project
He didnt wear his "giving back" on his sleeve like many South Delhi-ites but did many things in his own quiet way much like his son
The top container had a dozen besan laddoos, II's fave she inhaled and inhaled and inhaled
"Kya kar rahi hai yaar, vaporize ho jaayega" II laughed hysterically
She ate one slowly...
The other box was two silk scarves, hand painted, Suman was great with silai kadhai and bunai... she always crafted things
"How lovely" II smiled
She took one and knotted it up around her neck
It was purple with a white bird motif, with glittery paint on it
"Chal coffee pilata hoon kiddo"
"Is there some bad or good news, itna kheech kyon rahe ho"
"Darpok" he bonked her head with his knuckle
II rubbed it pretending to hurt
"Deployment should be over in March, mere jaane se pehle"
"Kidhar ja rahi hai?" Bally asked
"I cant deliver at my desk" II chuckled
"Arey Mr B ne ek maternity ward ki baat ki hai" Bally said with a serious face
II punched him soundly
"Group head kya ho gaye aap, u have started "leader speak"
"Nahi soch na, since its KMPG u wud get world class post natal care, we can do on site day care, even nanny, phir traffic, running home" Bally said
II wasnt sure if Mr B was piloting some sick program like that using HER as an example
"I LOVE my house" II spoke grumpily
Bells tolled, and earth split spewing colored water in fountain shapes
SHUT UP
OH WE SO WISH HE HAD HEARD THAT
"How was Diwali?" he asked paying for coffee
II gobbled the last of the laddoo piece and grabbe dher coffee
"Rich and famous" she chuckled
"I saw, who is that rey some Bhalla... rishtedaar hai kya?"
"Ballly!!! Chachu's wife" II explained
"Oh shit, kaise bhool sakta hoon main unko, "Bahar ke system vaddiya hondey ne" (he mimicked Chachu's derogatory dismissal of KMPG's Transpro)"
"Dont worry you are not alone" II mumbled
"Why?"
"Umm... he thinks I am not up to the mark either" II said softly
"Kaun TOOO?" he asked
II nodded sitting down and chewing on her cookie
HOW MUCH SWEET WILL THIS GIRL EAT
UR DAUGHTER IS GOING TO SEE U WEARING DENTURES
SHUT UP
ITS NOT A DAUGHTER, ITS A SON
SO U AGREE U WILL BE WEARING DENTURES WHEN U GREET HIM?
AYYYO!!!!
I NEED TO FUMIGATE MY HEAD
"Koi baat hui kya?"
"Umm... u know" II sneezed loudly
"door reh meri ma, no hugging or fondling today, u will infect me" Bally whispered, turning away
She smacked him with her phone
"Aapparently he gives rolex to every new family member, he gave me a saree" II said
"Anddd?" Bally waited
"Ballly... U know... I am humiliated that he doesnt think I am worthy of being a Bhalla" II mumbled
"So?" Bally sniggered
"Ab sabko pata chal gaya hai I will never be Chachu's choice... sab ne mere baare mein baat ki hogi"
"Sabne se tera matlab?"
"U know" II lowered her head
"Oh! teri... tujhe lagta hai R&B agrees with Chachu?"
"He knows I am middle class no?" II argued
"Tu pagal hai kya?" Bally asked
"I am just hurt" II choked... "I am not ashamed to be middle class, but"
Bally was quiet
"each time his circle doesnt think I pass muster, he must be reminded of who he married" II explained
"Dont over think this kiddo" he said quietly
"Uske ghar waale bhi sochte hain" II said
"U told me abt Chachu" he dismissed
"Umm... he doesnt defend me" II sulked
"To?" Bally asked
"I am going to Akka's tonight" II said
"Bechari, what will Vandita do yaar, tu to bheja kha jaayegi" "Ek do din ruk ja waha beshaq but permanently nahi yaar, bechari Vandita" Bally said seriously
II was crying, and chuckling and furious and frustrated "Balllyyy"
"Shittt I cant believe Vandu's luck yaar" Bally shook his head shuddering
"Sick man" II cursed Bally
"Rehem kar yaar" Bally warned
"There is a 2 BHK in pocket C empty, waha baat karoon?" Bally asked
"Not funny" II cried softly
"KYA sun na chahti hai Iyer?" Bally was losing it
"Nothing" II said unable to articulate
"Mad woman... ek suman kaafi hai boss" Bally shook his head
She made dosa for all of Akka's family, Amma Appa were at Munirka this evening to get Thatha Paati's blessings for Diwali
II changed into Akka's nightie and was churning out restaurant quality dosas
Frequently stopping to think about if or not R&B defended her with Manya
If he did how must he have done it
OR NOT?
The door bell rang
"Ishita, please kanna if its the presswala, dont pay him yet, I have to talk about Shravu's navy jeans, count kar le"
II turned off the gas and opened the door
And there stood her 6'4" object of her thoughts
He walked in she leaned on the wall as he crowded her
with the steel spatula in hand...
"Not a word" he ordered, scanning her puffy "cold" face
Akka came out pausing Shravu's home work
amma Appa and Kamakshi Athai and Thatha Paati were in Shravu's room with the baby laughing and chatting
"arey" Akka smiled joyously
And then noticed he was trying to kill his wife, Akka's sister
So she went in to finish up home work
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