It wasn't more than 5 seconds - His phone started ringing "Pappu can't dance saalaa...". Oops, what he didn't want to happen finally happened - The Nokia was flashing "Abhishek Nayar". He was in two minds - "Should I pick it up or not?" He built up his courage to shift the phone from his left side pocket to right side without answering the call. Mr. Saturday would never satisfy with a single attempt - "Pappu can't dance saalaa.." again - Ranjan felt like shouting "This Nayar saalaa can't let me be in peace!"
Nayar was blaring from the other side "Ranjan.. Toot gaya.. laptop chaalu nahi kartha hai yaar... this bloody thing is not booting up again.. I told nah - you didnt fix this f***ing thing properly - the all important presentation with Mr. Ratan Tata is in the laptop.. I need to present it today.. Come right now!" Call was disconnected. Ranjan felt helpless. He told himself "I shouldn't have joined this stupid job - IT support in a world famous Investment Bank - All these dumb-a**es call themselves intelligent, but can't fix a simple thing with their laptops"
5 years back, Ranjan shifted to Mumbai after he married Nandita. Aruna, their lovely kid, is one of the smartest kids Ranjan has ever seen. In fact, he believed that Aruna has more computer knowledge than the i-bankers in his office. He loved his family so much. The only complaint the family had about him was his punctuality. "The little one" at home had been pestering him to take her to "Kungfu Panda" - He had managed to say "next week" for 5 weeks. Today morning, the little one, being smart said "I know you. You won't book tickets. And even if you book, you won't come on time. Myself and Mommy going. You just sit with your computer and manager - both of which don't have any brain." Finally, Ranjan was moved - He told Nandita "Let's not disappoint Aruna once again - book the ticket for evening show today - I will be at home by 6 PM" - Nandita laughed "Don't make false promises! It's fine if you dont take her to movie. I don't want yet another story of booking and not making for the movie." Ranjan said in Super star Rajini style "Book pannu. Naan oru thadava sonna, nooru thadava sonna maari" ("Just book - My one-time-telling means 100-times-telling" ;))
As Ranjan was rushing back to office, the above scene flashed in his mind. He thought "Yes, today story over. Little one will behave like a big mother. Wife would wait with a knife. Yes, everything is over!" It was already 5:30 PM. Evening show is at 6:30 PM. Chiding the fate & fat (Nayar), he reached office at 5:45 PM. Nayar was typing something in his laptop while happily munching Domino's pizza with double cheese . Ranjan thought "what the hell is this?" Seeing Ranjan, Nayar said "Oh, I forgot that I had called you. I solved the problem". Ranjan "Oh, what was the problem?" Nayar laughed and said "I went to my neighbors room and tried to boot a laptop there!" Ranjan wanted to kick the sick Nayar. He told silently "Nayar.. Real jackass you are! Thank God you didn't go to your neighbor's house and tried to .....
His Sonata watch was showing 7.17 pm when he entered the house. TV was on - Cartoon Network channel - Tom was getting it left, right and center from little Jerry. He thought "Don't worry, Tom.. you are still better than Ranjan" He sat on the sofa silently. Nandita was cooking and happily singing "Vaseegara.. " ("Zara zara.." in hindi!) He didn't have the guts to talk to her now. He started shouting "Aruna Kannu.. where are you?" - Came the immediate reply "Daddy, dont disturb me.. I am playing in computer - will talk to you later." Ranjan was baffled by the behavior of the 2 girls at home. Came the sweet voice of Nandita with hot filter coffee and aromatic samosas, "Have these.. you deserve them. Don't panic - haven't added anything mischievious in food!" Ranjan didnt know what to do - He started gulping the coffee and stuffing his mouth with a samosa. She said "Slow, no hurry! The movie is only at 9:30 PM"
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