Part 98

February 1^ST 2012

Wednesday

2 PM

Khanak made notes in her laptop. Mr Dastur spoke animatedly. The ads from the Sunday newspaper was displayed on the screen, every inch was grabbed by M&D employees

The biggest conference room at M&D Worli Seaface was PACKED!

Mr D: I think he will be a great fit! I am happy he will be in charge of the Esteem Project from now until the first load of laundry gets done at the resident's house
They all laughed and clapped

Ram met her gaze

Mr D: Ram Menon!

Ram stood up confidently, checked his phone as if recording the time in memory, the biggest career move… or one of the biggest of his lifetime

And he spoke… softly, firmly… with no accent, fluent in Hindi and Marathi

Mr Modi: Gujarati mein kab baat karoge?

Ram responded cheerily

Khanak valiantly tried to stay upbeat…

Ram spoke some more… and then introduced his replacement for the Marine Drive project

R: I am confident and happy he is taking over the Marine Drive project, (extending his arm)

R:Sanjay Tiwari …

Sanjay stood up… Khanak “knew” of his existence but never worked with him, he travelled a lot, overseeing M&D’s Goa and Kolkotta projects

Sanjay was eager to speak, he shut Ram up quickly

Ram smiled and looked on…

Sanjay: Salaam!

Ram smiled

Khanak stared…

Sanjay: My first Mumbai project and I am happy and upbeat… I hate to maintain status quo so you should see some changes soon!

Mr D: Itni jaldi?

Sanjay:I was drafting some plans last nite

Khanak’s heart sank for some unknown reason

Mr D: Mrs Gujral… as we like to call her Khanak has been doing a splendid job

Sanjay completely ignored the endorsement and began talking about what they should do for their next “core team” meeting. The Middle Eastern investors were arriving Saturday… they would be here the next month or so

Sanjay: I guess I can take this offline with Khanak.. (dismissive)

Ram squirmed… as much as he could considering he was standing in front of the people

Sanjay: I looked at the milestones and the delivery date… we will make some good changes

Khanak was livid “GOOD” changes?

Her phone beeped, it was a text from Kaka in Gujarati “ They say I have gall stones”

She responded with a “jee”

Her husband had sent a picture of Serendipity after the new paint job… the deck sparkled………. She could see the sail flutter in the breeze….. as he made love to her on the deck chair…… she had given him many a chase, he usually picked her up at the end and took her to the deck and made love under the blue skies or the glittering stars………..and looked at her…….. drinking in the sight of her satiated face, her full bruised lips, her flushed face… her quenched body…………

She didn’t say much afterwards……….anyway………

He would fiddle with her burgundy wedding bangles, trace her henna………toy with her anklet or the black bead strung around her neck………..

Khanak looked up at Sanjay, he wont quit talking……..

Ram and Mr Modi were chatting by the door

People reviewed the massive Esteem model on the table… looked at the Marine Drive progress sheets…… Sanjay made his way towards her

Sanjay:Can you copy me on the mails you send to Ram?

K:Hmmm

NO introduction, no nothing

S:I was trying to find a time on your calendar looks like you are all booked so I went ahead and blocked out your Sat and Sunday

K:Umm.. but I.. don’t…(think I can work this weekend)

S: I understand about the family thing Khanak… but since Mr Mahmoud and Mr Sulieman will be here on Sat… we need to be on site

Khanak had already told Ram she would not be around for the ceremonial tours etc

K:I

S: I will see you at the meeting at 4 (dismissive)

As he walked away to kiss up to Mr Modi....

Khanak sensed her work life and work-life balance had just about undergone a tectonic shift.........