After Tan texted her he went back in, and they finished up for the day with a motion to hold Savita's shares with her nominee, Ranjan
The afternoon began with the son and ended with the mother.
Ranjan was surrounded by people, R&B went back to his room, he had left his coffee mug behind,
Emad ran up to him to return it... R&B half smiled as he said thanks but Emad didnt he noticed
Ranjan didnt look up at him, or engage in conversation with him... he noticed his son leave the room though
When R&B walked up to his window and looked out he was reminded of the first day he walked in home from college after finishing early with Bachelors
Ma had brought him here to show him the "window view"
"Do u like it?" she had asked
He had nodded indulgently, happy about her enthusiasm and fervor
"U would scale this building if u had the gear wudnt u?" she asked of her rock climber son
He nodded, hugging her at that childish comment...The title, the role was a mere decoration in the initial years
They all knew of his lack of initiative to sell cars. But it was something he was "entitled" to
Sam was married then, Manya wasnt...
He even rented space close by for Argent later, but would occasionally stop by
After Ma's passing Samyukta wanted him there.
And today he had renounced it
He pinged Mrs Sagar
"How much time do I have to wrap up?"
She composed herself quickly
Cleared her throat... a lump?
"How ever long u want... R&B" she smiled warmly
"Does the two week notice work?" he asked
"Ur Da... I mean Mr Bhalla expects a one month notice" she said softly
"Oh! umm... Oh!! OK" he he nodded
He wore formals two days in a row... today he wore navy pin stripe trousers and a crisp white shirt... black leather shoes..
He looked taller, unemotional and intimidating... not to mention OLDER...
Mrs Sagar stared at that image for a while and walked out
Came back in "Dinner?" she asked
"Umm.. no I will grab something from Perk?"
"It closes at 6" "i will order
"Oh... thanks... umm never mind.. I will grab something" he said softly
"Dad" she texted Ranjan
"Puttarji" he greeted
"Ghar kab aayenge" she asked
"Kya khilaogey?" he asked
"Aap kya khaayenge?"
"Dosa khilao to maza aa jaaye" he wrote with a emoticon of something steamy on a plate
"Vada bhi?" she asked
"Kya baat hai" he smiled
"Hey" she texted R&B
"are u home?" he said accidentally
Using the word after it lost its meaning
She was startled to see the text with that word
"Not"
she sent too soon
"Not yet" she said again with trembling fingers
"are u at" she sent too soon again, thankfully before repeating the word "home"
"Ar" she said again... hitting send
"Have u left work?" she asked implying STARTED DRIVING HOME?
"I am told its a one month notice" he said assuming, she knew he sold and what he had been told about winding up
An anguished "ayyoyo" echoed across the meat locker like chilled server room, dashing the sliver of faint hope that he will continue working even if he shed ownership๐ญ
She leaned on the server room door at Uttam Nagar showroom and sobbed uncontrollably
(Author's Note: I have the R&B-II conversation at the end of this chapter PURELY for literary impact of the last exchange.
I am not trying to imply II cares more for Ranjan etc. Please dont draw conclusions akin to "II is selfish" "She only cares about her FIL's feelings"
It would be unfair to her because the author cheated her๐)
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