Comedy of Confusions

5. Krish: A Wild Ride

"Yes Nandini " Krish checked time on his wrist watch. It was an unusual hour to be receiving a call from Nandini.

"Err. Krish, this is Neil." 

Krish was rattled. In all their years of association, Nandini's husband Neil rarely ever called him. On the few occasions he had, it was never from Nandini's phone. His heart started racing.

"Is ..is alright?" panic tumbled out without a thought. Krish bit his tongue for his poor etiquette, lack of plesantaries and cursed himself for jumping the gun. All is well, He told himself in the brief minute or two, only his self assurance crumbled like a cookie.

"I hope so." Neil did not sound good either. "Listen, Nandini wanted me to convey this message. She is hospitalized right now and we don't know when she will be able to resume. There is some important meeting tomorrow she won't be able to attend. She is asking if you could take care of it. I believe you know the details. " Neil paused.

"Forget the meeting Neil. Is Nandini ok? Why is she hospitalized and the bab..?"  Krish's voice broke.

"Don't know. Doctors are running a battery of tests. " Neil, almost on the verge of tears, coughed to hide his tears.

"All will be well. Ask her not to worry about work. She is more important than any meeting, everything else." Krish meant it.

"Pray for us. Will you?" Neil choked up. Krish nodded with a lump in his throat, unaware that Neil could not see him nod over the long distance phone call.

***********************************************************************************

"You really don't have to do it, Nandini." Krish protested.

"The least I can do is ease your transition. I am so sorry you had to fly here at such short notice.I wish .." Nandini's breathing was labored and despite her obvious discomfort, she had taken the time to show him around and help him with the transition. She went through everything methodically. She had introduced most of those that held leadership positions. They all knew him, just that many of them were meeting him in person for the first time. It was a long session and Krish, anxious about Nandini's condition, kept his interaction as brief as possible given that he was going to be there at least till a team to cover Nandini was in place.

Nandini shifted uncomfortably in her seat while she managed to give some insights into their individual working styles and personalities soon after the newly introduced team members left.

Krish patted Nandini's hand, his concern very natural and his feelings genuine.

"You don't have to do this Nandini. Nothing matters more than you... As long as you take good care of yourself, all will be well"

Only one team remained to be introduced, not those who held leadership positions but a bunch of youngsters who Nandini had carefully taken under wings to groom them. But now the would be bearing Krish's fury in the next few weeks, or months perhaps. The WIP team was summoned to Nandini's erstwhile cabin that Krish was soon to inherit.

Nandini smiled. "Finally in flesh and blood, our boss man Krish. You all will report directly to him since you are working on his dream project" Nandini paused to catch her breath. "This is Mani."

"Mani." Krish nodded at the lanky small bespectacled man who could barely speak otherwise and was completely tongue tied in front of his big boss.

"This is Priya"  Nandini continued. Priya smiled at Krish

"Priya" Krish acknowledged Priya with a nod, a pretty young woman in cotton salwar.

"This is Suha" Nandini continued her round of introduction.