Kitten and socks
"This is just too much work. I dont think I have the energy to learn the
western way of serving food and talk in English etc" Prakash Shanbag spooned out a big ladle of "egg curry" for his daughter for breakfast
"Mr Pai did not make it no?" she made a face
He nodded "Its 6 AM, he doesnt come in until 9, but you know..." he looked away
"When is he coming back?" she asked
"Umm.. dont know" he said quietly
"If we did nothing then what will happen Aanu?" she challenged
He looked at her curiously
"the bank will acquire the restaurant, we are so heavily in debt, 7 store fronts to our left the Fancy Store has been torn down and they are building a AC boutique" she said longingly
"You cannot end studies.. on hold and attend seminars learn the training, learn the food cooking steps..." he waved his arms in despair trying to speak in broken English.
She nodded... she was afraid, she didnt have the business acumen or the fire power to be a "entreprenuer"
"Umm.. they will do everything." she promised in Konkani about franchising
"60 lakhs? 70 lakhs?" "we dont have money" he reminded
She nodded... she was unable to promise help confidently yet the thought of shuttering it bothered her
Jayadev had come to the train station and rode with her on the bus to Ullal, and gone back to his room.
They held hands in the bus and walking to the restaurant, from the bus stop
It was good to be back in Ullal, big cities intimidated her
She was already convincing Jayadev that they need to stay put in Ullal or Mangalore after marriage
She reached and squeezed her father's limp hand, she wished she had the the drive... the fire inside her to do amazing things.
She didnt...
she was too talentless...
She had stacks and stacks of papers to parse through before college started Monday.
She did not have any understanding of setting up a business or operating a restaurant
She didnt know if she took it on, then would she have to give up her Ph D.
She wasnt exceling in it anyway.. she was quite mediocre in that too.
"I am thinking I should sell and get whatever I can from it, get your marriage done... and spend retirement" he said eagerly
The fight had long left him.
There wasnt much to begin with
Sanchet was the hustler... he was gone now.
Maybe Mrs Shanbag sensed her daughter was a timid gullible inexperienced soul, thats why she was steered into academia?
"If thats what you want... we can do that" she said quietly
She had a bunch of papers from the bank visit in Hyderabad
She had to go over them now to see what could be gained from selling
"You do good math I know you will come up with favorable numbers" he smiled displaying a gap in his upper teeth
"And I argue well" she smiled sheepishly
"I know... Jayadev was telling me how you do it" he whispered
She was self conscious
"You are supposed to take my side" she punched him playfully
"He said she is like a angry kitten when she wants to win a argument" Mr Shanbag used rare Konkani proverb to describe her
"I am not a business person but I am plucky" she said cheerfully
"He brought you a new saree did u see?" he asked in awe
She shook her head
"Aanu u spolied his surprise" she sulked
"Sshhh shhh shhh" he placed a finger on his lips and nodded innocently and winked, smoothing his daughter's hair
She went home to sleep and spent all day Saturday cleaning up and doing college homework and catching up on loan paper review.
Jayadev came at Noon Sunday and they made out in the living room quitting only when Mr Shanbagh's waiter showed up to take some pomfret from the frig for the restaurant.
He gave her the saree, and they walked to the restaurant... holding hands as they crossed the street...
A white Toyota Corolla rental passed by.. she froze when she realized who was sitting by the driver... the silky haired man that didnt like to wear socks!!😳
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