Next day, in the morning Ashutosh sits in his office, with a cup of coffee in his hand. Working on some files his father has left in his care.
Rekha comes in looking at him engrossed in work , she sits in front of him. Ashutosh, noticing her presence smiled at her and then focused back in the file.
"How long are you going to stay this time?"
"I still have three days left, maa."
"Beta, why don't you stay a little longer."
Ashutosh looked up at her, " I have to go maa, then I will come back before the wedding."he continued "Besides, I need to change some things in the house."
"Beta, the whole family is going to be living together and only you won't be there."
"Maa, I'll come back in a few years."
"Beta, why don't you stay this time, you have enough experience of business, you always agree to your grandfather's wishes, can't you fill my one wish, I can't stay away from you."
She grabbed his hands continuing,
"...and you have your father's business, why work for others, if it's for experience you have enough of that now."
"Maa…., listen let me think about it then I'll decide , okay?"
Rekha happily nodded tears glistening her eyes Ashutosh too sighed understanding his mother's emotions, internally he decided to resign but before doing that he wants to discuss it with Nalina.
—--
After breakfast Nalina came to Ashutosh's House, as she have already informed them about her arrival, thay were waiting for her.
"Namaste aunty, uncle." She greeted and touched their feet for blessing.
"Khush raho beta( stay happy) and no need for this all just behave the way you used to be with us. We are all family afterall" Rekha happily added. Whenever she sees Nalina her face lit ups.
Nalina too noded in understanding. They sat in the leaving room, she showed them the 3d plan of the house and explained everything details one by one,
" I haven't designed Mandir ( temple) , because I thought of discussing it with you aunty." Saying that showed Rekha some of her previous designs on Mandir, from time to time she patiently listened to her and showd her ideas.
" So let's finalize this compact pooja unit with intricate jaali work and a traditional dome." She talked with Rekha naturally, showing her the design on her laptop.
They finalize everything and then Nalina decides to take her leave, as she has other project on hand to complete and she has to talk with the dealers about this new project and order the appropriate amount of material after calculating.
Ashutosh decided to go with her, together they drove off to the dealer's shop, on the way discussing little things and then Nalina talked about how she arranged another batch of workers.
"I have talked to my about this, right now she's out of town so we can borrow her whole team, they have the same salary as my team and as they are very work efficient we don't have to worry about anything."Nalina looked outside while talking to him.
Ashutosh looked at her thoughts disturbing his mind about his earlier talk with maa. After hesitating a little Nalina noticed it, she turned to him asking,
"What is it?You seem distracted."
Ashutosh looked at her, " I'll ask you a question you have to answer with honesty okay?"
She was confused at his behaviour and still nodded yes in agreement.
"Mumbai or Jodhpur, where would you like to settle down?"
Shocked by his sudden question she asked, " why ask this out of sudden."
"First answer the question then I'll tell you the reason."
"No, first you have to tell me the reason then I'll answer."Ashutosh met her eyes trying to understand her but she continued " just say it okay, then I'll answer I promise."
" Maa wants me to stay here and to join the family business."
"..and what do you want?" Nalina slightly leaned her head to one side with an eyebrow raised.
"That is not the answer."
She hesitated a little, biting her lip before answering,
" Honestly speaking I love jodhpur, though I don't have any problem living in Mumbai but I like Jodhpur more."
"So, you won't mind if I resign my job and settle down here, right?" Ashutosh sighed in relief.
'Ofcourse not."she frowned a little "Why would I?"
Ashutosh smiled shaking his head,
" Alright, then I'll resign today then , Maa will be very happy about it."
"Hmm." she smiled in return.
____
They Reached the dealers office and it took them around a hour to calculate the approximate amount of material in need, they placed the order and asked for delivery of some of them by tonight. They leave the address of haveli and paid some advance.
Then they drove to the furniture shop, discussing in detail about every furniture and how they want it to be, Nalina give them the list of every furniture they need and asked them visit the site by tonight to take measurements, she then added,
" Like always you guys will create furniture here before deadline and install them on the site when I asked you to okay?."
"Yes , Madam, it'll be ready by the time just there will be some extra charges for urgent order."
Ashutosh said to him, " No problem, just don't miss the deadline."
"Rest assured sir, we never delay our customers."
They talked, paid some advance and then took their leave.
" Drive to market side, we'll have to buy some puja materials for muhurat." Nalina told to Ashutosh while she was talking with her team instructing them to reach the location within time and what they will do today and all.
"Yes, Ma'am." Ashutosh smiled at the way she talks, Like ordering him.
She too realising at what he was hinting finished the call and turned towards him with resting her face on her hands.
"Hey, don't get me wrong, I didn't ordered you around, okay." She said with unknowingly her finger pointed at him .
Ashutosh noticing nodded with mischievous smile, "Oh, ofcourse, ofcourse Ma'am."
Realising how he makes fun of her ,she smiled gently slapping his hand, " Oh, stop it, I didn't ordered youuuu."
"Yes, yes you didn't."Ashutosh laughing at her drove off to Market.