The shark and the saint

14. Kis Naam Ka

Mr. Shekhar, aap office mein aa sakte hain kya?" Shekhar's manager called him.

Shekhar turned off his computer and went to his manager.

"Close the door and have a seat," the manager said as he tapped his files.

Shekhar closed the door and sat across him. "Anything wrong, sir?"

"Aapne akele kuch nahi kiya. Baat yeh hai, ki hamari company loss mein jaa rahi hai. Aur hamare board ne company ko sell kiya hai, Bajaj group ko."

"Sir, main..."

"BG ki taraf se directives aye hain ki hamain downsize karna hai."

Shekhar was slowly understanding what was about to come.

"Aur iski wajah se hamein kuch logon ko let go karna par raha hai. Unfortunately, next week aapka last hoga."

"Lekin sir, aise hi? Bina warning ke? Abhi mein aur naukri kahan se dhundun ga?"

"Please Shekhar. Don't make this personal. Sirf aap hi nahi hai iss list mein. Hamain thore aur logon ko bhi let go karna hai. Agar aapko recommendations chahiye to woh aap maang sakte hai. That is all for today."

Shekhar quietly stood up and went back to his desk. His manager picked up the phone. "Ji, Mr. Basu. Aap ka kaam ho gaya."
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Prerna woke up lazily in her own home; no kids or responsibilities to tend to. She took her time going downstairs and made her own breakfast and tea. Sometime later, Suman joined her.

"Accha sun, Prerna. Kuch dino mein karwa chaut hai. Toh main soch rahi thi kyun na hum dono shopping kar ayein?"

Prerna was stunned as she listened. She couldn't fast in pregnancy, could she? But then, if she didn't, then people would ask her why.

"J..."

"Kaise rakhe gi?" Shivani butt in as she came in from outside. "Kis ke liye rakhe gi? Apne woh, zabardasti wale husband ke liye? Ya Anurag, jisne iske liye, hamare liye apni hi family se fight ki. Jo isse pyaar karta hai?"

"Iski marzi kis ke liye karna hai. Lekin rakhna to parhe ga na? Abh shadi ho gayi hai iski. Nahi rakhe gi toh log kya kahein ge?"

Prerna secretly caressed her belly. "Aap theek keh rahi ho, bhabhi. Main vrat rakh loon gi."

"Theek hai. Phir hum shaam ko shopping jate hain."

In the evening, Shekhar came home early. Suman didn't notice his bad mood.

"Pata hai, parso karwa chaut hai. Uske liye main aur Prerna shopping ja rahe hain."

"Jao," Shekhar said as he sat on the bed, distracted.

"Aap, saath nahi aayein ge? Main aapko pehen ke dikhaungi..." Suman went on about how she would shop for them, but Shekhar ultimately snapped.

"Nahi jana mujhe! Waise bhi mere paas fazool ke paise nahi hai. Tumne jana hai, jao. Main nahi aasakta!" Shekhar stormed off.

Suman, embarrassed, slowly went to the door after him, and bumped into Prerna. Suman smiled and wiped her tears, heading back inside.

Prerna followed. "Bhai ne nahi jaana, toh koi baat nahi. Hum dono to jaa rahe hain na? Hum shopping karlein ge."

"Lekin, Prerna. Paise..."

"Aap paison ki fikr nahi karo. Mr. Bajaj mujhe emergency ke liye de kar gaye hain. Abh iss se badi emergency kya ho sakti hai?"

Later in the day, Suman, Prerna, and a reluctant Shivani went to the mall to get their shopping done. Mahesh went with them too. They were going down an escalator when they saw Anurag on the top floor. Anurag saw them too, and made a dangerous stunt to join them.