Chapter 4 – Mahe’s Men
All the characters in this series are fictional. Any resemblance whatsoever is purely incidental/unintentional.
“What are you saying Suz? Are you out of your mind? We’ve booked the tickets, everything is planned and you back out at the last moment. What’s wrong?” Neelima screamed on hearing Suzanne saying that she was backing out of the trip.
“Neels listen. Do you think I would just run away from the trip when I was the one who did all the planning? There is a reason and it’s quite a valid and sane reason. And it is something that I cannot avoid. So please try and understand.”
Neelima realized that she had been a little too harsh in her choice of words. “Okay. Tell me now. What is the reason.” She asked Suzanne.
“Hmmm. It’s this. I’ve been asked to travel to Sweden in another week and a half. Everything has been arranged and it is a short trip for about a month and I would be insane to refuse this offer. Am sure you would concur with me on this. Don’t you?”
“Oh. Wow. That’s great news dear. I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier. But this is amazing. Well shouldn’t you be treating us for this?” Neelima exclaimed as she sounded ecstatic.
“Oh yes. But let me get settled with all the formalities and we can go out after that. What do you say?”
“Sure darls. We can do that. Don’t worry about the trip. I’m pretty sure the other girls would be able to understand as well.”
“And regarding the expenses don’t worry about them. I’ll pay them all.”
Neelima heaved a sigh of relief as she was pondering as to how she should ask her about the expenses.
“Ah. You don’t have to worry about it Suz. We can talk about all that later.”
“Thanks Neels. Fine could you please inform Revathy and Suchi about the plan change? I’ll need to go to office now. My manager can’t live without me I think. He called me and asked me to come right away.”
“Sure. Take care.” And they both hung up. Suzanne was on cloud nine but tried not to sound too excited over the phone. She knew her friends would be upset but this was definitely more important for her. An onsite offer after 4 years wasn’t something she could let go of so easily. She always thought she deserved something more than what was offered to her but never really complained. And now here she was to travel onsite in less than 10 days. She had told Neelima that it was for a month but she was sure that it would get extended. There was no way her work there was going to get over so early.
She had to leave to office quickly. So she changed and even after repeated requests by her mother she refused to have breakfast and left the house.
“I am going to Sweden. Sweden, here I come.” She kept singing as she drove her vehicle to office. She reached office after terrible journey amidst the maddening traffic and thought that it was going to be one amazing day ahead. But little did she realize what exactly was in store for her.
“Hi Samir. Good morning.” She wished her manager with a wide grin.
“Hi Suzanne. Very good morning. You seem all excited and chirpy today. What’s up?” Samir responded.
“Don’t you know why? Isn’t it obvious Samir?” and she winked at her manager.
“Well Suzanne. It might be a little harsh on you but didn’t you realize what day it is today?” and he sported a smile on his face.
“Today. Eh…Saturday. What’s wrong or special about it? And what was harsh on me? I don’t get it.”
“Hmmmm.”
“Eh…Wait…Now…hmmm. Did you mean?
“Yes. Exactly what I meant.”
“Damn you Samir, damn you. I don’t think even the meanest guy would do this. What the hell do you think of yourself? You think am stupid? Or look like a bloody clown? I’ve respected you right from the day I had known you and you play the fool on me? This is not right Samir. Trust me; you’ll pay for this.”
Saying so, she left the place in a fit of rage. Only 2 or 3 more people other than Samir were there in her bay and she felt extremely embarrassed at being made a joker in front of them.
It was the 1st of April and she had been fooled.
“What a rascal he is.” She thought. “I’ll pay him back with the same coin one day.”
Samir kept calling for her from behind but she didn’t pay heed to it.
“Hey Suzanne. I’m very sorry. It was just a joke. Please don’t take it seriously.” Samir kept shouting but in vain. She was least bothered now. She kept thinking about how she would tell Neelima about what happened.
“Damn you Samir. I’ll definitely kick your a** one day. Trust me I will do it.” She kept talking to herself as she drove back home.
She reached home in no time and decided not to talk about anything of what happened to her mom. She went straight into her room and took her mobile to call Neelima.
“Hey Neels. Another change in plan da.”
“Kya hua?” (meaning what happened in Hindi)
“The original plan stays good. I’m coming too.”
“Hmm. Okay. But there is a change in plan at my end. Suchi and I aren’t coming.”
“What? Don’t tell me you cancelled the tickets just because I wasn’t coming.”
“No.it’s not because of that. It’s something else.”
“What is it?”
To be continued……
Comments and criticisms are welcome to my inbox J
No comments:
Post a Comment