Foresight

Chapter XXV

"Tarun we need to talk. Are you free today?" Jenny bombards out as soon as Tarun picks up his phone. "Can't guarantee anything today baby. Lot of work. But I will see what I can manage ok baby?" Tarun answers, holding his phone with his head and shoulder's, not taking his eyes away from the screen even for a minute. Last week has been very busy for the trio. They were able to bag another client, 'Aventura Solutions' which was outsourcing its projects. Adding to that they were getting requests from a good number of people to provide an update for their game which they launched for free. Cherry on the cake was they were still low on budget to hire an extra programmer. So they had to manage all the work on their own, as they didn't want to disappoint their client and their loyal fans too. They came up kind of brilliant solution. They decided that since Tarun is their coding wizard he will handle the game update. Neeraj took up the 'Sun software' project to his hand. Since 'Aventura Solutions' were a new client, Rajesh took their project, for Rajesh was the best among the trio to impress people. Three people, three individual projects. Work is up-to their necks.

"Jenny calling up for a date?" Neeraj asks sarcastically.

"Naah. She wants to 'talk'" Tarun replies, with the bunny ear effect with his two finger, propping up from his desk for a minute.

"Ohhhh. Doesn't sound all good for lover boy here" Rajesh mocks from the other side of the office.

"Well she has been asking me to meet up with her mother." Tarun replies as he lights up his first cigarette for the day, which is kind of late for him.

"To cushion the blow you guys will give her later?" Neeraj asks as he lights up his cigarette.

"Yeah. But I am not ready for it. I mean we haven't even got a good foothold in our start-up yet. Look at us. 3 pathetic college graduates racking their brains off in three different projects, smoking their life away." Tarun points out the sarcasm of their situation, with a smirk on his face.

"That's us. no doubt in that." Rajesh points out the irony as he takes a drag from his cigarette.

"So you are serious with Jenny it seems? Will it work out? Being from two different religious backgrounds and all." Neeraj asks, with genuine concern.

"Well I do love her. I want us to be together. I have to talk to mom about it a little. But that's after returning the money I borrowed from her." Tarun replies, muttering the last part.

"What you borrowed? We borrowed it collectively. and we will return it the moment the 'Sun Softwares' payment clears up. have to get on their back again about the previous project payment. We still haven't received it yet." Neeraj mutters as he makes his way back to his desk, to call up his client.

"Yeah man" Tarun replies, throwing his butt down through the window, flashing a nervous smile to Rajesh, who was quick to notice.

'He muttered about the money borrowed from his mother. Now a nervous smile. Something is wrong. Need to ask him about it separately.' Rajesh makes a mental note to himself, as he throws his cigarette butt out and returns back to his desk. For the next four hours, just the constant typing sound interspersed with some curse words fills their office.

At 6'o in the evening, Neeraj receives a call he was not expecting. The call just lasts for 2-3 minutes, with Neeraj barely talking over a whisper. Lucky for him, Tarun is having his headphones up and Rajesh just went to the washroom.

"Dude, I need to go. Urgent work man." Neeraj announces and heads for the door.

"All ok and how are you going?" Tarun asks him, removing his headphones.