Seconds, hours, minutes and weeks
"first it was only Chinese fast food, then it was Thai, and then Vietnamese and then Filipino... then it was coffee then juice" Ashvin said flatly
Dadu sipped his chai quietly
"I can have my lawyer talk to your Jade Garden threat"
"Its not MY Jade Garden threat its yours I am serving my notice period if u remember" Ashvin dug into his eggs
He was polite and compassionate, he had made his grandpa eggs and toast just as he did for himself
"As long as you work there, problems are yours" Sharanbir cleared his throat
"OK fine... lets do it your way... In that case I am going to step back and start being faithful to the name from here on... ONLY Cuisine, nomore protien shake franchises and Jamba Juice stores" he said
Sharanbir loved where this was going he wanted involvement
He wanted his grandson to plant a stake in the ground
He wanted his grandson to MAKE DECISIONS
He was certain much of the losing streak at Cuisine was because of Ashvin's negligence
"Ummm" Sharanbir pretended to protest
"You cant have it both ways you see... you cannot have me deal with a jerk in Taipei but not allow me to strategize how I want" he said stopping chewing
Sharan's cup was empty
Ashvin got up to go grab the thermal vacuum carafe, where he had poured out the extra two cups of tea
He poured a steaming cupful for Sharan
Sharanbir's hand trembled as he reached for the crystal sugar bowl
"One? two?" Ashvin asked knowing he usually drank his second cup with no sugar usually
"Two" Sharanbir said like a petulant child
Ashvin served "two" acc to his measurements
"Concerned for my health?" Sharanbir mocked him
"Umm.. no actually... I am worried Leela and Ma will be devastated if you ruin your health" he lied
"Oh" Sharanbir nodded
"No juice, no shake franchise, we are already losing money so where will revenue come from?" Sharanbir leaned and looked at him thru his lashes
"Revenue alone is of no use, weve been spending too much money acquiring licensing for every goddamn franchise the last 3.5 years,
if we quit buying new and just SOLD more of the existing we cud turn a profit" he said bluntly
"Ha... new plans... all your plans thus far hasnt worked" Sharanbir mocked
"So maybe it IS agood idea I am quitting" Ashvin reminded him
Checkmate!!
Trisha wandered in her eyes crinkling without glasses
Self conscious when she realized Sharanbir was there... she wore a sleeveless skinny tee and pink lounge pants with cats wearing glasses.
Leela had left a grey velor hoodie on a bar stool last night, she zipped it up quickly
"Breakfast?" Sharanbir raised his cup in toast toward her, smiling happily
"U ate already?" she asked in a sleep drugged voice
"I can eat more if u make" he kissed up to his grand DIL
She smiled shyly
"Nobody says like that" she giggled
"I just did" he grinned
"Ashwinnn?" she asked her husband
"He is not even eating what he served himself first" Sharanbir mocked
"If I could have quit talking then I could have eaten" Ashvin mocked his Dadu back
"He started talking about his work... I am still hungry" Sharanbir blamed Ashvin
Trisha laughed her eyes sparkling
"Too much talk about profits loss, depreciation and working capital" Sharanbir sighed
"I dont like those... I dont understand" she nodded
"I dont either" Sharanbir gently ganged up with his grand DIL
"Aanu is talking like that means... I can call Lissie" she encouraged him
"I didnt say much last night" Ashvin bristled
"Umm.. not.. lotss" she nodded and blushed
He had plundered her using that one word last night... they ached to go all the way
He promised her he will make it up... make every second up... compensate every second with many hours
They had slept in each others' arms..unsatiated but content
"What will you make Ms Shanbag?" Dadu brought her back to earth
She smiled instead of correcting him
"Nothing?" Sharanbir asked
"My name is Trisha no?" she reminded
"U dont like Shanbag?" he put her in a spot
"I like... but" Trisha struggled tucking a lock back behind her ear... he calls me Trish, Leela calls me Tri.. " she smiled
"I shud call u T" Sharanbir joked raising his tea cup
She laughed...
Ashvin was delighted... his wife had achieved in a minute... what he had fought for weeks...
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