When Eyes Speak - Part 2: And the story begins….

“Hello”…..it was mom on the other side…she was furious, deadly furious since I hadn’t been home for the past few months and havent even called her up for the past few days….She had been giving me missed calls and I havent returned the call….It wasn’t intentional…I was working day and night on the research….It was some of those hectic horrid weeks and I had no knowledge of the time……Her stern “hello” was a clear indication of the anger boiling within her…..i tried a quick fix by apologizing before she could begin but it was of no use…..”Hello mom….sorry, couldn’t pick ur calls that day”

Do you even know how worried we are Abhi??? No calls, no mails….If you hadn’t picked up this call, we would have come there directly……You cant be so irresponsible Abhi!!!
You don’t care a bit for us!!!

Mom, chill ok…..you are getting hyper for a small thing…..I know I should have called you but you cant even imagine what I was going through…..

Mom was reiterating her good old advices…..”Sweetheart, why are you struggling so hard then??? Come back home and I am sure you will get some good job here……”

It kind of irked me that she was saying this for the 100th time after I chose to join this job……its not like she didn’t like this job but she was upset that I would be living away from home…..Though she had been living in London for quite a long time, her heart was still orthodox in some matters…..a girl living alone was the last thing she could imagine…..added to that was a heart of a loving, caring mom….…..So she used every possible opportunity to take me back home…..

but I couldn’t back track at any cost…..I tried to explain my reasons again…..

“That’s not what I dreamt na Mom??? This is my dream career and I am enjoying it….yeah it’s a bit tiring at the moment but I like it this way……and mom, its not gonna be like this forever……Things will certainly get better soon!! And I am sure I am gonna make you proud someday!!!”

Mom wasn’t going to get convinced so soon….She was still adamant at her stand……”I am not going to take any of this as an excuse Abhi…..Your Dad and brothers are angry too…..…..we all miss you so much Abhi”

“DAD!!!!...From when did dad begin all these drama programs mom??? He understands me well….he is aware of what my job demands……I am sure you must be the mastermind behind his anger…..

Mom was quick to reply back…..”But this time, you have really tested his patience!!!”

Now she was testing my patience…….I didn’t want the conversation to move in this direction……usually, such talks end up in my marriage talks….so I decided to quit and escape from her……”Ok forget it…..i promise that I wont do such mistakes hereafter……I will come home as soon as I get free from here…..does that solve your problems???”
She didn’t quit though…..”No, it doesn’t…..i want you here this weekend…..whether you get free from work or now….You should come”

I was irritated by her stubborn response….”.That’s not done mom…..I cant assure you that…..moreover its such a short notice….I cant afford to leave everything here in a mess and go on a holiday……”

She tried reasoning “Its not a holiday Abhi…you are coming home to your family……its over 6 months since you visited us……provided, it’s a long weekend and I don’t see a reason for your work or your boss getting upset with it…”

I didn’t want to upset mom totally….”Ok…let me see if I can come…..”

I wont take ‘no’ for an answer….So long, we havent forced you for anything…we have given in to all your wishes….this is one thing from our side which you will have to obey....You have to come and that’s final Abhi….[She hung up before ABhi could reply….Now it was Abhi’s choice to obey her parents or not……]

Her Mom calls up her dad immediately “look, I have done my part well and my sixth sense tells me that she will definitely come home….now its your turn…..do whatever it takes and get her to meet him”….

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{Chennai…..Chaitanya’s office}

“Chaitanya….” It was his friend and colleague Sanjay…..that deal is getting delayed yaar….i suppose, you should talk to that fellow….

Chaitanya: I talked to him today morning also….he says, he will decide soon….i wonder whats going on in his head…..He is a crazy fellow…..nobody can predict what he thinks or does the next second…..we need to be doubly careful while dealing with him….

Sanjay: I know…but you know, how important this deal is to us…..

Chaitanya: hmmm….let me call him up tonight again…..[he checks the mail simultaneously…..there is a mail from the same guy…..] now whats this???? Its from Abhay…..

The mail reads…..

Chaitanya,
I find your proposed plans for our new project in India promising. I must say that your company has some immense background work….I appreciate that...Before we zero down on this, I would like to meet you personally…It would be great if you can come down here for the meeting….Looking forward to meeting you…
-Abhay


A mail from Abhay Raghuvendra…….MD of Skyline group of Industries….
Sanjay was excited about the mail…..but Chaitanya was in deep thoughts….

Sanjay: what are you thinking da??

Chaitanya: I am trying to understand this mail yaar….why does he want a meet now??? We have done ample video Conferences and phone calls….we have sent plans, presentations and its all been going on for about 3 months and after all that, he wants a personal meeting…….does he even bother about the costs we are incurring??? We are running on losses due to this one project man…..

Sanjay: don’t be silly……this one project can make our company big….really big yaar!!! If we get this deal, we wont have to look back ever!!

Chaitanya: all that is fine….but what happens if he doesn’t give us the deal at the end of this??? He is such a crazy guy and we never know what he does next or what his intentions are……….We are totally doomed if he decides otherwise!!

Sanjay: think positive…..and I am very confident that you will come back with the deal….do whatever that takes to get this done….Get it and we are all set yaar!!! Our lives will be set forever!!!

Chaitanya: but….
Sanjay: no iffs and buts, I am calling the travel agent right away and getting your tickets to London booked….

Chaitanya isnt convinced fully but he has to do it for his company, his friends and his own life…..

[To be continued]