Part 11
As per her ritual, every Monday morning, Vani phoned home. As she waited for her call to go through, she could picture the scene. The tall trees, the heat, her father spending his lunch break outside the foreman's office as he anxiously waited for her call. Maybe, Rajan would be waiting with him too. "Can I speak to Ganesh Perumal?", asked Vani, once the foreman answered the phone. The foreman merely grunted but it didn't take long for her father to get on the line. "Vani, is that you? How are you?", asked her father. Thousand of miles away but Vani could still hear the worry in his voice. Vani wondered when her father would be convinced that, there wasn't danger lurking in every corner of Mumbai. But Vani understood, that it was difficult for her father to accept her being so far away, especially since there was a vast difference between Mumbai and the rubber plantation outside Kuala Lumpur where he had spent most of his life. Her father had been fine with her studying in Kuala Lumpur as it was a place he knew and understood. But Mumbai was a place, he had never been to and he harbored several strong misconceptions about it.
"Appa (Father), I'm fine.", said Vani reassuringly, "How are you and Anna (big brother)?". "We're okay. Is work fine and how are those people treating you?", asked Ganesh. Vani smiled. Her father was convinced that everyone in Mumbai was cold and heartless, who was going to be mean to her because of her background. "Appa, there are very nice people here.", replied Vani sincerely, thinking of Dr Sinha and then immediately of Riley. Vani smiled even more broadly. She couldn't remember the last time she had met anyone as nice as Riley. "Can I speak to Anna?", asked Vani. "He is the field.", replied Ganesh hastily. "Oh, tell him I said hello.", said Vani, a bit disappointed. She had wanted to tell him about the pictures of Old Trafford, she had seen in a soccer magazine, Riley had shown her. The closest Rajan got to Old Trafford was watching matches on the TV, the estate manager set up in the yard, for the workers to see. "Vani, I got to go. Lunch is over. Take care, okay.", said Ganesh. "Okay, Appa. And don't work too much in the sun and tell Anna, I'm going to mail him something.", said Vani before putting the phone down.
Karan came down the stairs whistling, before joining his father at the breakfast table. "Wonderful! I sent my son to America to become an actuary and he returned back a fashion model.", said Neev. "Ha! Just because I can still pull it off!", replied Karan good naturedly. "How much did this cost anyway?", asked Neev as he tried to look at the label at the back of Karan's designer suit coat. "Neev, leave him alone. He has to look the part for his first day of work.", said Ayesha, as she joined them at the table. "That's not all he is trying to look the part for.", muttered Neev. Luckily, Ayesha didn't hear him and Karan just grinned at his father.
"Karan, tell Milind I'll be in to see him about the factory in Pune later today.", said Neev. "Okay.", said Karan. "So, are you going to tell us about this proposal, you have been working on?", asked Neev, referring to a proposal that Karan had spent most of the weekend laboring on. "That's between me and my new boss.", replied Karan with a smile. "Great, make the Mishras millions and leave your family out in the cold.", said Neev grumpily. Karan looked at his father concerned, "Dad, you don't have a problem with me working for Shah Enterprises, do you?". "No, I don't.", said Neev quickly with a smile, "Just a bit surprised. You haven't even started work there and you're already putting in so much effort." Karan didn't say anything and though Neev had his suspicions, he didn't say anything either.
"So, are you at least going tell us how the party was on Saturday night?", asked Ayesha. "It was okay.", shrugged Karan. After leaving the party, he had driven Nisha straight home, spent ten minutes admiring her father's car and then bolted from there. He had his fill of Nishas in New York. Unfortunately the girl he couldn't get enough of, would also bolt if she suspected his feelings. Karan knew it was wrong of him to use Nisha to mislead Payal but right now, he didn't see any other way.
Prachi was surprised to see the table already laid out for breakfast. "You didn't have do this.", said Prachi as Payal came out the kitchen with a stack of toast. "Yes, I did. I'm sorry for what happened on Saturday night. It was ridiculously irresponsible and I shouldn't have allowed it.", said Payal. Prachi smiled at her sometimes over serious daughter. Just then her never serious son, stumbled into the room. Struggling as he tried to pull his sneakers on with one hand and grab a piece of toast with his other hand, he said, "Got to go. I'm late for a meeting with Dr Singh. Old coot will have my head if I don't pitch up on time.". "Riley, he is your boss. And have something more than just toast.", said Prachi. "Don't have time. See your'll.", replied Riley as he rushed out.
"Riley, leaving already?", asked Milind as he sat down and they heard Riley drive away. "He had a meeting.", replied Prachi as she took a sip of her tea. "Milind, don't forget to make a cheque out for the caterers before you leave.", said Prachi. "Please explain to me why we're having this party again?", asked Milind. "Because you only turn sixty once.", replied Prachi with a wide smile. "Hmmmph.", said Milind grumpily. "Payal, leave the dishes. You're going to be late." said Prachi, when she saw Payal starting to clear the table. "Payal, are you driving in with me?", asked Milind. "No, I'm using my own car.", replied Payal. "Okay, then I'll see you at the meeting.", said Milind. A meeting, Payal was dreading.
