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George
George took extra special care this morning to prepare breakfast. He placed Rishabhs toast carefully on the plate and wiped off speckles of bread crum from the sides of the plate . He then checked to see if he had his letter safe in his uniform pocket. “Here goes he said to himself” hoping for the best.
...
The aroma of coffee passed through Bajaj house and it was more to Rishabhs liking than anyone’s. As he glanced through the morning paper sat at the head of the table he glanced towards Prerna intimately as she walked in and took a seat beside him. “Good morning” she said once again and Mr Bajaj replied “Good morning”
“Good morning George” prerna said seeing George.
“Good morning sir, ma’am” replied George putting down breakfast on the table.
“Sir there’s something I would like to ask of you” said George. Rishabh raised his eyes warmly to ask what it was.
Rishabh watched George reach to his pocket and take out a envelope and hand it over.
Mr Bajaj opened the envelope and unfolded the note. The note was written one crisp paper in blue ink written in fine English.
Rishabh took a moment and then put the note down
“No, that will be all thank you George.”
Sharply and smoothly disapproving of George’s request Prerna looks towards her husband who has a very stern focus on his breakfast now and then later looks upon George who seemed disheartened.
Prerna didn’t know what was in that note all she knew was she wanted to help George who against Mr Bajaj was a little fragile in standing his ground. In fact there weren’t many who could stand their ground before him. “Leave it to me” said Prernas eyes to George with silent reassurance and George nodded walking away into the kitchen.
Prerna reached for the letter that sat by Rishabhs breakfast plate whilst he went on a eating.
It read formally It’s contents, Georges request for leave - retirement.
Prerna glanced up at her husband she knew now wasn’t the time.
...
Mr Mehra shielded Rishabh from the rain with his umbrella, well just enough for him to be able to light his cigar.
A graveyard was a destination that called for a steady heart and mind. This was the one time Mehra wondered whether Rishabhs Tabaco might have been a necessity rather than a indulgence.
Rishabh discarded it and very quickly walked out to his parents tomb stones
Not a care in the world for the bitterness of the wind or the rain George’s talk of leave had made Rishabh nostalgic for his parents.
...
“Kuki go and fetch a towel for your Pa”
Said Prerna when she saw Rishabh walk into the house having been in the rain.
Not that it made him look any less gentlemanly of course.
..
Approaching his chair in the lounge he took away his blazer unbutton his collar and pulled at the stands of his tie to put them a side on the coffee table and sank into his chair for a moment of rest.
Just as he ran his hand through his hair he felt a towel being thrown around his neck.
“Barish mein bhighne ki Umar nahin hai aap ki” said Prernas voice from above his head. Lightening his mood.
“What gives you that idea? ” he said softly at her teasing
After a moment of comfortable quietness between them Prerna decided to break the silence on the matter that had been untouched since this morning.
“Mr Bajaj ..About George, woh..”
“I’ve made my mind up on that matter that Prerna.” Rishabh was quick to interject her words and stern too.
As much as Prerna respected him she also believed in the life lessons he’d given her one of which was independent thought.
“He’s our George too..You should let him go, He deserves to spend time with his family, do more of the things he enjoys.”
Rishabh had a different stance on the matter.
“Retirement isn’t just all the nice things ! it comes with loneliness and illness and trouble. He has no one to look after him Prerna, no children that really care, no one.” His voice getting firmer and louder towards the end.
Putting her hands to his shoulders looking down at her husband in his chair she replies softly.
“He’ll always have you”
Rishabh staring into oblivion can feel his wife’s ways begin to impede on his thinking.
“Im interviewing a replacement first tomorrow morning” Prerna adds as she breaks away from him taking the towel and walking away.
“You’re treading a fine line Mrs Bajaj” Groans Rishabh at the challenge
“I know” replies Prerna sounding unphased by her husbands aloofness on the matter.
...
Next morning the rivalry on the matter between the couple was apparent to all the candidates. Rishabh Bajaj made for a mean interviewer and perspective boss scaring many and offending some whilst Prerna sat beside him trying to be a voice of reason and the only smile in the room it seemed.
“No”
“No”
No
“That will be all thank you” said Rishabh to every single candidate even the one or two Prerna thought might be great for the job.
“Please leave”- he said cutting through the conversation between Prerna and the male candidate who had his eye on Mrs Bajaj , something Prerna failed to notice. Rishabh throwing the last portfolio with a thud walks off with a glare at Prerna who’s heart beats rather fast at her husbands temper.
Walking into the kitchen for a water break hoping Mr Bajaj would do the same with a cigar she imagined, her mother in the kitchen felt like a sight for sore eyes.
Prerna wrapped her self around her mother who was stood at the kitchen counter preparing something or the other delicious. Prernas sigh spoke of how horrible the day had been so far.
“Maybe you should have married someone a little more like your father joked Veena”
“it’s too late Ma ..too late” - replied Prerna in a humorous sigh..
..
Elsewhere Rishabh who was heading to his study in a distasteful mood passed Kuki’s bedroom and naturally the sight of his girls made him smile.
“Come here, he said to them both..” perching on his knees they both gave him a cuddle as soon he was reachable.
After a moment or two his mind went to work.
…
As George walked one of the corridors in Bajaj house. Kuki and Sneha blocked his way. Not long after their father had left.
“Georgee.” mumbled little Sneha adorably looking up at him which made George him smile happily.
Please stay”.. said Kuki cutely
George didn’t know what to say to these adorable faces
“Until Sneha Is this much taller??” added Kuki showing him how much more Sneha needed him.
“Please please” .. pretty please with a cherry on top!”
The conversation went on this way for a while with the girls following George around the house everywhere.
…
Elsewhere with some breathing space Rishabh and Prerna reunited in the lounge.
There’s one more candidate said Prerna gently wary of his previous outburst.
Rishabh nodded but before they could sit down George and the girls walked into the room.
“Actually I’ve decided I’ll stay a little bit longer if that’s okay?” said George with Sneha on one side and Kuki on the other.
George’s decision bought a smile to all faces. Prerna gave Rishabh a glance knowing that this was his work.
jagrutid2020-10-08 17:48:04
Comments (3)
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coderlady @coderlady
+ 9
27 days ago
The girls got him to stay. Eventually he needs his retirement, but for now he is there.
Waqt Zaya @WaqtZaya
+ 7
3 years ago
You have to update the next chapter. ( ◜‿◝ )♡