Part-87

Talking to Harsh was never tough for Sanyukta. In fact he was one of the easiest person to talk but for then she was not sure how to initiate a conversation like this. Walking towards his room, Sanyukta thought of all possible ways to start a conversion. 'Hey dad, how's the day?' Or 'hello dad, how are you?' Awkward much because this was not some normal day to day talk. It was something important. Darn important for her. First she was about to has this talk with Randhir but something he said back in the evening made Sanyukta change her decision. 'In the end dad is still the CEO and he makes all the decision.' Those were Randhir exact words. If Harsh was the boss so why not talk to him directly. She know his decisions are never questioned and Randhir will respect her decision too. Her husband always wish to see her happy and apart from him her happiness lies in something else too. Taking a deep breath Sanyukta fisted her palm to knock on the door. Lights were still on, giving her the clue that her in-laws were still awake. "Dad?" Sanyukta called knocking the door. "Yes?" Came Harsh calm reply from the other side. Twisting the door knob Sanyukta peeked inside a little. "Are you free?" She asked. "Yes I'm. Now come on in." He smiled gesturing Sanyukta to come inside. Sanyukta returned the smile as she walked inside. Harsh was sitting on the bed with his legs crossed. "Where is mom?" Sanyukta asked sitting on the edge of the bed. "Outside." He pointed towards the balcony. "Talking to Parth's mother. Most probably making plans for weekend for both families." Harsh chuckled. "So what made you visit your old man?" Harsh asked coming back to the topic. "You are not old." She protested with a pout. True that. Harsh might be old but he doesn't look like one. He still have that charm and aura. He was a little older version of Randhir. Still handsome and energetic. Age was just a number. "Come on sweetheart you don't need to sugar coat things. I know I'm old man now." This was one more thing common about Randhir and Harsh, they like use endearments and show their affection through words. Like father, like son. "I'm not sugarcoating things dad, I'm just telling the truth." Sanyukta shrugged. "You still look handsome enough to make women drool over you. I'm a woman, I'm telling you." "Only if you say so dear but don't let your Mom hear this." Harsh said and both of them chuckled. "So now tell me should I be concerned that you are here so late? Is every thing OK? Did you and Randhir had a fight?" Harsh asked. When Sanyukta knocked the door then only Harsh knew she was there for something important and later the crease lines on her forehead just made things confirm. "It nothing you should be worried about, dad. Randhir and me are fine." She licked her lips nervously before continuing further. "It's just that I want to talk about something." "OK." Harsh nodded his head. "Go on, speak." He encouraged Sanyukta to speak "Before I say something first you promise me that you will not get angry or anything. If you disagree with me you will simply say no." Sanyukta never thought that she will have such conversation with Harsh making her completely clueless how he will react. "Why will I get angry, dear." Harsh tone was evident of his confuse state. He was not a man to easily loose his temper no matter what the situation be. He was always the one to think and calculate before doing or saying anything. And loosing his temper against his family and friends was last thing in his nature. "Dad, just promise me. Please." "Fine. I promise that I'll not get angry no matter what you say." Harsh agreed reluctantly. "I was thinking that.." Sanyukta shifted making herself comfortable on the bed before continuing further. "Can I also join the company. Is there any vacancy in the company. I know basic and rest I can learn. I promise I will not be the liability to the company." She spoke meekly, all the while not meeting Harsh gaze. "Sanyukta." Harsh voice was stern. "Look at me." "Dad, are you angry?" She asked still not meeting his gaze. "No I'm not angry now look at me Sanyukta." He sighed scooting closer to her. He knew that the stern voice will not make him get his answers. "Hmm." She answered looking at him. "Why you thought that I will get angry?" Of all the things she said, this was bothering him the most. "I don't know. I just thought." "Of course you know. Tell me now?" "It may sound stupid but I thought may be you don't like woman working in office." "And again I'll ask why you thought so? Did any of my actions or words made you believe so?" Harsh frowned. "I have female employees in our company. Randhir told me about your sight involvement in business these days and your little input too. Did I ever stopped you?" "No." Sanyukta shook her head. "It was just that I never saw Mom, Vidhushi or even intact Parth's mom taking interest in business or working." "Sanyukta assuming things is fine but getting all judgemental without knowing things properly is not a good habit." He shook his head, taking Sanyukta palm in his. "You want to work you work, don't think what other women in the family did. Your choice should not be the result of someone else actions. But just inform you Renuka was part of the company once after Randhir and Parth joined the company she decided to sit at home enjoy her life but again it doesn't mean she don't know what is happening and I know where to knock if I have some issues in decision making. Vidhushi after completing her fashion designing got many offers from various famous fashion house as intern but for now she wants to enjoy the current phase of her life and somewhere in future she had planned to open her own fashion line. About Kaustuki she will join us as intern after completing her graduation." He explained. "Oh!" Sanyukta said not knowing what else to say. "Everybody had their life planned. It is just about the priorities. For somebody something comes first and something later." "Sorry dad." Sanyukta apologized. She herself knew she had a very bad habit of being judgmental. Consequences of which she had already suffered. She was working on his habit of hers but some things take time to go. "But does this means that I can join the company?" "Does Randhir know about this?" He asked. "No. I thought if you will say yes than there will be no space for argument with anybody." "Go talk to him first Sanyukta. He is your husband." "You want me to ask for his permission?" She accused him. That was something she didn't liked. "Few minutes back you said we should make our own choice and right now you are asking me to ask his permission." "Did I said anything about the permission? No. Again you are being judgmental sweetheart." "Sorry." She again apologized. "I said talk to him. He is your husband may be he has planned something for you and talking to him or taking his advice is not taking permission." "Okay." "In the end it is you who has to make a decision. Remember I'll support you no matter what you choose but for now talk to him. Tell him what you want and ask him what he think." Harsh patted her head. Sanyukta nodded before walking out of the room. ----------------------------------- Entering the bedroom, Sanyukta saw Randhir laying on the bed with his eyes closed. He must be tired. Today was hectic day for him. Sanyukta thought. Walking towards the bed she adjusted herself in between his arms. "Good night." She kissed is cheek. "Good night." He replied pulling her closer. "You are awake?" She murmured "It's hard to sleep without you by my side. Habit you see." He kissed her hair. "Sleepy?" She ran her fingers through his hair. "Nah! Just tired." "Oh!" Randhir and his health was more important to her than the conversation she was going to have. That can wait for one more day. "You want to say something?" He asked. He could feel she wanted to talk about something. "Nothing important. We will talk tomorrow." She smiled against his chest. "Sanyukta.." He shifted a little and opened his eyes to look at her for the first time since she entered the room. "You went to talk something with Dad and now for some reason you are nor telling me what is bothering you." By now he know her too well to tell that something was up with her. "It's nothing Randhir." "Stop lying." He sat up making her sit up with him. "It's nothing important." Randhir was about to interrupt her again but let her continue. "I just went to ask dad that could I join the company?" "What was Dad's reply? "He asked me to talk to you." "Oh!" Randhir simply replied. "What do you mean by 'oh!' You I asked me and I told you and all you have to say is oh." Sanyukta scowled. First he was being persistent to tell him and after she told him, he replies nothing else but oh. "We will talk about this some other day." "You.. You don't want me to work?" His ignorance towards her question was not something she was liking. "It is not that princess." He cupped her face. He could she how upset she looked but he had his own reason to behave like this. "Are you doubting my capabilities? I know I'm not the best but I can learn." Her voice chocked. Almost on the verged of breaking, eyes filled with tears. "Did I ever said that?" He asked "No." She shook her head. Yes, it's true that he never doubted her capabilities and always welcome her ideas then why was he ignoring her question. "Then what made you think so?" "Because you are ignoring my question." "I'm not ignoring it. I said we will talk later." "Why later? Why not now?" "Because I said." He replied with authority. "I want to talk now." "Don't be stubborn sweetheart." "I'm not being stubborn. I'm just asking to talk. When I said we will talk later you said no talk now. Now when I'm telling you, you are saying we will talk later." "So you will not give up until we talk?" He asked. "Nope." "Fine." He sighed. He knew how stubborn his wife can get at times and there was no way to end this topic now since he was the one to bring up. He should have listened to her when she said to talk later. Now suffer the consequences. He chided himself. "Come to the office tomorrow, we will talk there." "OK." She nodded. "Good. Let's sleep now." "Are you angry?" She asked resting her head on his chest. "No more." He replied. "Are you upset." He asked her this time. "No more." She smiled. "Good." He said pulling her in him arms and kissing her forehead. "Good night." She kisses his chest. "Good night, love."