Silently Falling in Love: Race - #Wattys2017

Chapter 42 - June 1997

This is a very long chapter.  Maybe it should have been split into two but hopefully it flows together.  So grab a glass of wine or a cup of tea and get into your favorite comfy spot.  And please vote and comment once you've read it.  I really appreciate the feedback.  Only two more chapters left!!!  I hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Alex

"Hello, Alex Shergill speaking," I answered my new Nokia mobile phone.

"Well aren't you sounding professional today," Tarun cha cha mocked.

"Hello to you too cha cha. How are you? You know that's how people start a phone call off," I said cheekily.

"Well, it would be nice if my nephew once in a while called me to see how this old man was doing. Do you even remember me? Remember your commitment to Tarun Jewelers?"

"Oh so this is about business; and here you are trying to make me feel guilty about not calling my cha cha."

"Fine, lets talk shop since you don't seem in such a social mood," Tarun cha cha added ignoring my comment.

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me. I could tell he wanted to talk work.

"So, when are you going to pull your weight on Tarun Jewelers? Both you and Anjali abandoned me at the same time. When are you coming to visit? There are a few things we need to discuss in terms of the direction of the business."

I held my breath when I heard Anjali's name, "I'm going to California in a couple of weeks to visit mom and dad if you want to meet me in California."

"Yes why don't I do that. Send me your itinerary and I'll arrive a few days afterwards after your jetlag has worn off. I need you at your fullest to work."

"Nice to see you missed me too," I said rubbing my neck. I sure could use a massage. Maybe I would go to one of the many massage parlors near me.

"I do miss you. When are you coming back to New York?"

"I'm not planning on coming back. I'm hoping to move to California. While I'm out there visiting mom and dad I'm going to check out my job prospects."

"Why aren't you coming back?" Tarun cha cha asked while sounding like he was distracted by something else.

"I've been on the East Coast since I was eighteen, it's been ten years, it's time for a change. Maybe I'm going through a mid-life crisis."

"But you're not married, have no kids, no mortgage; it's a little early for a mid-life crisis. You haven't even started life and you have a crisis?"

"Just thought I'd get a head start on it."

"Is this because of Anna?"

"NO."

"Someone else than?"

"No one else in my life since Anna."

"So when are you buying the fancy sports car; you know that's part of the mid-life crisis."

"We'll go shopping when I see you in California."

"Well you must have made a lot of money in China because I can assure you that the extra cash is not coming from Tarun Jewelers."

"I thought you were buying it for me as a bonus for all of the hard work I've put in?"

"What hard work? You've been MIA for months and now you want a bonus! What the hell kind of business skills are they teaching you in China?"