Chocolate, Turkey & Woody Allen
He didnt get a memo on Ranjan's decision about Patna, when Samar
showed for the poker game at 9 on Saturday and tried to conceal his disappointment unsuccessfully he realized
Ranjan had "withdrawn" from finalizing deals with Jha or Chaubey, he had seen some emails in his Excelsior in box regarding "Locations" in Patna he hadnt read it
"I had even spoken with my college buddy dude he has that architecture firm in GK 1 "Brick & mortar" u know right he designed that farm house for that A lister Bollywood guy
"U told me" "yes" R&B nodded
"I had it all planned out in fact I wud have skipped poker if Tayaji had finalized the land, we could have begun construction starting May
R&B did not ask WHY they needed a A lister type architect/builder for a CAR SHOWROOM in Patna.
Trehaan was starting Monday at Spectrum, for now "responsible for day to day management" whatever that meant according to Ranjan
He will start seeing more of Chachu, it meant..
He had also seen emails from KMPG "Program team" about Ghaziabad and Dilshad Garden showrooms.
The Gurgaon showroom "fallout" list was shrinking but not at the rate he wanted it to. By giving into Bansal's whims and agreeing to buy the SW Ranjan had dug himself a hole
After the "official support" as part of installation ended, Excelsior was pretty much on its own, like any PC Support, KMPG was willing to sell them "priced service contracts"
which would obviously be a revenue generator for KMPG but will burn a hole in Excelsior's pockets
No "managed service contracts" delivered service to the level they usually charged for it.
Ranjan had taken him off the team before the weeding on KMPG (read II) insistence.
Now he was on his own, it would be interesting to see how Ranjan handles crashes at more more workshops starting monday
It was not a matter of spite, the SW clearly was not robust enough to handle 100 "vehicle-model" combos
Between cars and vans and SUVs Maruti sold over 69 different models, Diesel petrol AC and Non AC automatic and stick shift, and commercial and forex pricing
Either way Ranjan seemed to be heeding his advice though not explicitly
He did not approve a HW upgrade, the deployment seemed to be working without one
He advised reassessing Patna land deals and Ranjan seems to have told Samar he wouldnt "buy immediately"
He wondered if it was an attempt to approach him to be forgiven, he didnt think Ranjan was that naive.
They both realized the scandal and Ma's passing was bigger than anything that had ever happened at Malcha Marg
Mihir was going to be late, he had texted him, Naina and him were returning from a week long trip to Darjeeling.
"Whose side will u be on?" II quizzed him
"If Naina marries Mihir?" he chuckled
"Haan... I will choose Naina.. " she said smugly
"U are sure they will get married?"
"Hey Naina is in love... its true true eternal love" II giggled
"What is that?" he asked lazily, teasing her toes with his
"Its like having chocolate ice cream with hot fudge syrup everyday" she said leaning back, as he lay on her chest
"Or a turkey sandwich u think?" he asked softly
She looked at him deeply trying not to chuckle "Ummm ... ya... sure... turkey sandwich"
They were curled up in bed after Appa left, he had ambushed her when she was about to go take a shower,
the boys had gone to McDonalds' with Ranjan despite II's protests
She took them to a movie at 3 and promised to stop by at "D II" afterwards to check on Akka
"Stop by?" he muttered, twirling his hair as he read on the swing
"Ummm ya... possibly 4 hours" she smiled softly
"In that case define a "stay over"" he goaded
"Most likely a week's stay" she giggled
"Come here" he reached
"No da" "the boys are clamoring to go, I am just unable to get anything done today" saying so she walked towards him
He gave her the book, and held her like a baby...
"What time's your game?"
"10, maybe even midnite"
"First floor? ground?"
"Used to be just here" he said inhaling her spicy neck
"Oh so I ruined your poker paradise?"
"Pretty much" he kissed her on the lips... a long hungry, deep one that sent her insides spinning...
She freed herself with a moan and rested on his chest
"So u guys patched up?" he teased (about Appa)
"None of your business" she muttered "Athim has let her stay home for a week"
"Thats all you got a week?" he mocked
"Thats cruel" she said stiffening, he wouldnt let her go
"Why not go all the way II?" he coaxed (and convince Athim to let her take a year off)
"mentioning the fact that i even SPOKE to Athim resulted in Appa and I not talking for 2.5 days" II complained
"he came looking for you"
"I tend to do that, I get under people's skin" she said lacing her fingers through his hair drawing his head closer
He let go of her and ended the kiss when he heard the boys in the 2nd floor lounge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When she returned from work Monday after being stuck in the ITO traffic jam, for an hour and a half, returning from the Dilshad Garden showroom
it was close to 9:30, Ashwini was in her car, she dropped her off at home, her husband and father in law were as usual as far away from each other as possible.
She went to the kitchen to check if they had eaten, Minion shook his head... "Badey Sir ke liye Kashmiri duck hai aur
chhotey ke liye lamb, aapke liye cauliflower aur moong dal... dono nahi aaye neeche"
"badey sir ne to chai bhi nahi peeya" "na drink" he added
They didnt attempt to connect in any way in her absence... she could see hope in Ranjan's eyes, that her presence would somehow help bridge the gap, but none in R&B
He lived like he rented the top floor at Malcha Marg. It was not under duress, he could very well move out but it was Sam's mandate he not do that
Ranjan was in the first floor talking on the phone in his office...
he sat down wearily when he couldnt explain any more, she wondered who he spoke with Chachu? Because it was in Punjabi, he didnt notice her observing him
She went up, found her husband on the swing reading... drinking water actually...
"Hey he said, getting up, letting his ear phones fall to the floor
"Did u go in today?" she asked leaning on the door jamb
He stood in front bending down to claim his first kiss for the evening... and nodded
"I havent even showered" she said embarrassed fighting his roving hands... her Loft pants and shirt grimy and crushed
He groaned disagreeing, his tongue stroking the inside of her lower lip
"Nope not before dinner" she ordered huskily
He flirted some more...
"No da" "Let me shower" she begged
Most of her buttons were undone, she clutched the edges and ran to the bath/closet area
He followed and watched her strip "that shud be enough titillation for now" she winked
He pinned her on the bathroom wall by a tall cupboard of rolled up towels
"I could use some more" he said letting his hand stray under her lacy bralette
She walked having him cling to her... into the shower and hit the water...
"Maybe this?" she asked chuckling
Soaking him with the dozen jets... he let go of her immediately
But leaned on the wall and watched her shower... she hummed...
"U dont know ANY" she said of the Tamil ones
He nodded
They got out dressed
"Ummm... did u see Dad this evening at all?"
"Nope"
"Mahavir said he didnt have chai?"
"Umm..." he looked at her like "WHERE ARE U GOING WITH THIS?"
"Or his evening drink" she supplied
He shrugged
"I went up to his floor to check on him
"Oh!" he said
"He seems stressed" she muttered
He walked out towelling his hair
"Do u want to ask him?" she offered
"Nope" he said bluntly
"I think something's bothering him" she muttered
"U could ask" he mocked
"He was on the phone" she was beginning to be irritated at his crisp blunt, uncaring responses
"Wait" (until he is done with the call? maybe?) he offered sarcastically
"bas***d!!" she hissed, realizing he was being difficult
"Are u just being dense for a reason or are you innocently unaware of whats going on with Dad?" she asked caustically
He shrugged
"Kuch KAHO" she yelled
"A" he bit out (he meant he was "dense for a reason") and began walking out of the closet area without giving her a second look
He was just refusing to offer any support to HER in trying to understand more, and to his own Dad's woes
" Thats just fantastic then. Walk away!!!! you dont have to EVER deal with it" she yelled clapping her hands
He stopped TURNED WALKED UP TO AN INCH FROM HER AND SPOKE INTO HER FACE😲
"No please Ms Freud where is the couch, let me lay down and open up and bare it all for you in Woody
Allenesque psycho babble" (Reference: Annie Hall) he bit out in razor sharp words😡
Fan Fictions
Anupamaa
