Foresight

Chapter LV

"I am pregnant" Pallavi lets the cat out of the bag as Rajesh was rubbing her hand  under the running water. Turning towards her, Rajesh flashes a smile towards her and proceeds to lift her and spins her around the kitchen, causing her squeal in joy and a little bit in fear.
"Let me down Rajesh. You might lose your balance, she request's him in between her squeals. Listening to her words, Rajesh brings her down and goes for a deep passionate kiss, lifting her in the process and taking her to their living room. Planting her in his lap, he lets go of their kiss.
"When did you know?"
"Today noon. I had missed my periods last week. I was feeling nauseous the whole morning. so I got a pregnancy test and checked while I was in the office. It came out positive." she replies gleefully.
"That is amazing. We have to take a bit more care this time." Rajesh comes to the point, without beating around the bush. Listening to his point, the smile on Pallavi's face fades a little and she looks down. Seeing her getting gloomy, Rajesh lifts her chin and nibbles on her nose, knowing for sure that will cheer her up, and it does. She pushes him off with a smile and playfully wipes her nose on his shirt.
"I will ask Ma and Pa to shift here for a while. Ateast in the starting months. that way she wil be able to take over half your load and your stress level will reduce." Rajesh suggests.
"Will it be ok? Will it be comfortable for Pa, as his office is farther from here." Pallavi frowns a little.
"Ok? Knowning them, I guess they will be here first thing tommorow morning. Probably even before we wake up" Rajesh chuckles, which brings Pallavi's smile back.
"Well they are going to become grandparents. They will be enthusiastic for sure" Pallavi replies, getiing down from his lap and sitting beside him.
"That is normal parents. my parents are one level above thta. if my mother comes to know if you are pregnant, she might actually forget abut my existence" Rajesh chuckles more.
"I won't. I will always remember you and love you" Pallavi replies, resting her head on his shoulders.
"Of course you will remember honey. I love you" RAjesh kisses her forehead, as he loosens his tie and opens a couple buttons of his shirt.
"Fresh up Rajesh. Come inside and help me in making dinner once you are fresh." Pallavi orders him, getting up and heading to the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later as Rajesh is chopping veggies, Pallavi tries to pick up the topic, but finds herself devoid of words.
"What is the matter Pallavi? You are disturbed." Rajesh asks her, putting the veggies in the dicer and slamming down the lid.
"Rajesh, you were telling about the financial crunch at work. I am just a little tensed about that, as to how we are going to manage at home." she replies.
"We will. I will cut down on bike. I guess I can take the bus. Or better my old bicylce. Just need to get it repaired. Will get exercise done too." Rajesh chuckles up. Getting up, he holds her shoulders and assure her.
"We will get through. I trust Tarun with his finanacial strategies. He will definitely have 'The Matrix' back to its full fledged condition in no time. If it comes to worst, we will ask help from my father. He will help for sure" he assures her, before emptying the vegetables into the pan. Pallavi nods along. The dinner at the young khurana's transpires as silent affaur and they turn in for the day.
The next day, as Rajesh enters the office, he finds Tarun and Jenny brainstroming in front of the whiteboard, with Neeraj nowhere to be seen. Heading towards them, he finds thier current financials been presented and future growth projected with couple of options and thier possible outcomes. Ligjting up a cigarette he taps on Tarun's shoulder, who turns, nods and then turns back towards the board.
"Morning Rajesh. We have been discussing our current situation and how we can come out of it, without getting any more financial shocks." Jenny fills him up.
"My idea was to ask our guys to work one hour extra, for the company. And that one hour over time pay, we will reimburse in the quarter, as bonus. Jenny has the idea that we should designate them with positions like team leader and stuff like that." tarun explains their progress.
"i gave that idea because, that we will be motivating them to work better, without haing to shell out any extra money any time soon. Also with positions, their work efficieny will increase automatically and they will get the feel that they are working for a genuine organization." Jenny explains. Rajesh nods along, analyzing the ideas.
"I think we should go with Jenny's ideas. Its time we shape up properly as a formal organization. That way we will also gain more popularity, professionalism." Rajesh gives his explanation and they agree to go ahead with Jenny's plan, with announcing the plan to their interns in the evening.
"Where is Neeraj by the way?" Rajesh asks, as he sits on his desk.
"i don't know dude. He popped me a message today morning that he will be taking an urgent leave for  couple days. Four days maximum. Some family issue came up. I guess we can ask him once he gets back" Tarun explains, putting on his headphones and gettiing into his work. They keep themselves busy the entire day, trying to keep up the work with one guy less. As the evening rolls, Tarun announces the change in organizaton and hierarchy, which gets received warmly by the interns. Jenny takes and early leave, on the pretext of taking her son for a small outing. Tarun volunteers to take them and starts winding u his work as Jenny waits for him by the car.
"Dude. How is it going with you and Jenny?" Rajesh asks, stopping him midway.
"I don't know for sure man. I mean, we are in the perfect place now. I do have normal level attachment with her and her son. My mom is also supporting her me. I think, maybe someday I will talk with her and come to an informed decision." Tarun answers.
"Whatever man. Just take an informed decision." Rajesh agrees with him.
"You are little off. Everything okay?" Tarun asks.
"Pallavi is pregnant. I should be happy, but I am little tensed with our financial situation" Rajesh explains.
"That is a happy news man. As for our financial situation, we have taken steps to improvise. so we will improvise. Come on lets get a move on" Tarun puts his hand over, as they call it a day and head to the exit.