Enquiries
"Dad that was sneaky and underhanded of you to go to his OFFICE today to talk about an alliance" Mandira was deeply distraught
"I asked you to request him to call me. I still own Cuisine Craft so I think I am entitled beta"
"But he has repented, he has done his penance. To force him to marry someone you like is cruel and unusual"
"Rajat is a business partner and friend, Vishwas knew him well, you do too, in fact you threw the god bharai for Aanya's Mom"
She was silent, she hadnt "thrown" a baby shower. Her FIL was on an unrelenting mission.
"I am trying to restablish connections, what better way to do it?"
"Does this mean you are willing to view him in a better light?" she was furious
"Umm.. only time will tell" he said
"Until then he should try to make a business alliance/marriage work?"
"He is smart, he is handsome, he is educated. I am setting him on the right path"
"You canot make emotional decisions on trade dealings"
"All decisions at the end of the day happen because of the mind. Only a fool follows the heart"
"thats not true I love my husband and I did not marry him for his wealth" Mandira broke down
Sharanbir whimpered too
He sniffled and cleared his throat
"You have changed... over time" he said punishingly
"And?" she sniffled
"No I am not punishing him for how you have changed"
"He is so disturbed he is unable to work today"
"When he meets Aanya and and chats with her he will be enthusiastic"
"I doubt it Dad. He will constantly be reminded that she is someone that was forced on him"
"In those days only parents picked for us"
"I am not going to pick for him. you shouldnt either"
"I have listened to this thing many times" he said impatiently
"I am not going to force him to meet her tomorrow"
"He is a grown, adult. He will do it" Sharanbir declared with smugness
"You are overestimating his desire to reinstated in the Narang enterprise"
"No I am not"
"I dont think Mummy would have agreed" she pulled the MIL card
"Mummy would not have agreed to many things Ashvin has done"
"I have to go Dad" Mandira hung up semi politely
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Why do you love the restaurant so much Aanu?" she asked her Dad
"Because thats all I know my dear" Mr Shanbag was stretched out in his easy chair in the dimly lit red sandstone tiled front patio
An occasional cycle rickshaw passed by ringing the bell
The last town bus crawled by
Theirs was the oldest house still in its original form on the street
There was a open field with a compound wall all around in front. It had turned into a hang out for teen boys, who hung out late into the night texting and giggling looking at po*n
Mr Shanbagh was insisting they needed to place steel grill all around
"Or you get married and Jayadev can come live with us" he would say worrying for her safety.
"Can we try a new bank for a loan?" she asked breaking into his thoughts
He smiled at her innocence
"You are so guileless... I worry how you will manage in the real world" he said startled
"I am not very smart in business and money"
"Amen!!" he sighed and leaned and yawned
The house desperately needed repairs and renewal, it was solid and old but... even the lamp shades were over 60 years old. The wiring was exposed on a wooden frame all around
There was a small hall walkway after the front verandah, and then a big square room, on both sides of the big square center room was a bedroom. She used one her Dad used the other
and then a kitchen in the back, and a store room that held some restaurant supplies
and then 5 steps led to the backyard with a 100 year old jackfruit tree, an old fruitless mango tree a wood shed, and two cement water tanks.
The bathroom and toilet were by the back compound wall
Konkan monsoons would soak them every time they had to use the bathroom.
"Can I ask my HOD on Monday if he knows a bank?" she persisted
"His bank, our bank, they are all the same my child" he advised
"You need to stop feeding hungry people for free" she mumbled
"Uh oh I will have to stop feeding Jayadev then" he smiled sweetly
"He is going to be a auditor he says. He needs to pay" she said fiercely
"Oh boy, you are ferocious... angry kitten"
"I dont want you to lose your love" she said
"I have you" he promised "You are my blessing"
She nodded unconvinced
Another sleepless night of agonizing, she woke up half way through and went online using the choppy dial up internet, and went to her email, looked through her paper work and found Cuisine Craft's generic email ID
"Enquiries @Cuisine Craft. com
Dear Sir/Madam,
I visited two weeks ago to understand about franchises. I have a question
Does your company offer loans to restaurants in need?
Thanks for a quick response
Trisha Shanbag
Gazed at that question for a good 20 minutes and hit send
And went back to lay awake again as it rained horrendously
"We do" Ashvin responded in two words when he saw her email... he too was laying awake agonizing... over something unrelated...
Edited by Nisha0604 - 8 years ago
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