A Hundred Flukes

Yesterday Was Smoke

Yesterday Was Smoke - Chapter 29

Nothing beyond the usual happened at AR headquarters but then how it would be when the creature that caused all the unusual was no longer running in the long corridors. ASR remained occupied with meetings and conferences but in between his eyes would often; involuntarily dart towards an unoccupied desk at the right most corner, just below the stairs. What was it, was he expecting her to spring suddenly from there? Wasn't it her habit to appear out of the blue at the most unusual places? He recalled how he had found her crouched under his table on her first day in his office. He had been startled beyond his senses, and then her head had hit the back of the table, she had gotten up and asked him what he was doing in ASR's cabin, only to realize her faux pas next moment that ASR were the initials of the very same man. How naive. He shook his head, how long would this go on? Why couldn't he accept that she had gone and move on. "Good riddance" he muttered and absorbed himself in bringing the final touches to the designs kept on his table. Much to his chagrin, he was free by six in the evening; there was hardly anything for him to do in the office. He wasn't going home so early anyway, what if Nani was waiting for to deliver him an earful? Why the hell was she being such a nag? He spent the next hour with Lavanya in a posh suburban cafe, from the corner of his eyes he had seen a few photos of his being clicked. Not that he cared.

It was around seven thirty that Akash called him to join for golf. The brothers shared a peculiar fixation of enthusing over golf amidst floodlights instead of day light. Lavanya too had joined.

It was a high short, the ball sailed beautifully till it seemed to be just a tiny speck of white in the dark sky, then it came down touching the green turf, glowing fluorescent in the flood lamps, it rolled on as if caressing the grass, till it slowed near the hole with precision and spiraled around it before dropping into the earth.

"Stroke." Akash called out as a compliment. Arnav returned the gesture with a nod, he was an expert, like he was with everything he did. The caddie returned with another ball placing it on the grove, as ASR got ready for another stroke.

"You play splendid son, just like your grandfather." said an unwelcome voice from behind him. He turned to be faced with a man he wasn't particularly fond of. Ramesh Chandra Singhania the recognition settled in.

"Sorry, I hope my intrusion has not disrupted the game." he said warmly.

"Cut the pleasantries." ASR replied curtly.

Singhania's face stiffened for a fraction of a second but soon he plastered another big smile looking at Akash. "Good evening Mr. Singhania, how come we see you here in our private golf course?" there was nothing offending in Akash's casual statement but somehow he had managed to make it clear to the man that he wasn't quite welcome here.

"I visited your office son and found that Arnav had gone golfing. It has been long since we have spoken to each other, I mean things turned rather unfortunate at our last meet, I wondered if I could have a word with you." He said looking straight at ASR.

"We have had enough words Singhania, stop beating around the bush. Come to the point." he snapped.

Singhania continued to smile warmly, "Why do you think that I should approach you only looking for a favor?"

"Now that you have said it." ASR replied with a smirk.

"Son your grandmother wanted us to renew our family ties. Even though I understand that you are not interested in marrying my daughter and to some extent I also understand your reasons behind the rejection, but that doesn't mean we can't be civil with each other."

"I haven't asked my guards to throw you out of here. Have I?" he bit sarcastically.

"Thanks that's pretty civil, I shouldn't expect more from you."