“…...you have the most beautiful eyes in the world,” Manish said looking at Nandini as they lay on the bed cuddling each other.
“…aww come on…for the last 18 years I have been hearing this one line, for once say something else” Nandini giggled caressing Manish’s face with her long fingers.
She loved hearing it every time though.
“…it hasn’t changed a wee bit, is the best part in you” Manish replied, carefully placing a lock of hair behind her ear which was falling on her face and coming in between his gaze of those mesmerizing eyes.
“…. naughty boy, it was something else a few minutes back” Nandini teased him. He gave her a peck on her forehead. Both of them loved these intermittent but passionate mornings, holding each other, loving each other.
The Whatsapp notification from Manish’s mobile broke their reverie.
“…Dean’s text, it’s about your today’s meeting with him…you and Gauri better reach there on time, he has sent the location, I have forwarded it to you” Manish reminded her.
Nandini reached out for her mobile kept on the table on her side of the bed. Manish had explained to her a thousand times already about Gauri’s admission formalities at Loughborough University, England for her Masters. Dean was the head coordinator of their India office and his dear friend.
“That’s a cute DP of you and Gauri, as she is growing, she looks just like you” Manish was checking Nandini’s new DP on Whatsapp while forwarding the location sent by Dean.
“No, she resembles her father, look at the cleft chin...?” Gauri replied while checking her phone.
Manish smiled.
“Gauri is a genius, I bet she will be brilliant at the University, like her mother, you can’t deny this one, can you,” Manish said looking at her.
“For once, I agree,” she said, both of them laughed.
“Coffee….?” Manish asked her while getting up from the bed and headed towards the coffee machine. Nandini couldn’t but admire the well-chiseled, fully ripped athletic body of Manish, at fifty he could still pass on for a youngster.
“Sure….” Nandini loved the Americano coffee he brewed, and the mornings when they slowly sipped it while watching the Mumbai skyline, the rains today made it more romantic, she thought.
“Hope the rains don’t delay Dhruv’s flight back home” Manish sounded worried as he sat down on the cushioned armchair beside her, enjoying the frothy hot cup of coffee and staring out of the French windows which were being lashed by breeze and rain.
“Don’t stress about him, he will be fine, and trust me he will return winning the tournament for his school this time too and make his soccer dad proud” Nandini assured him.
“I really don’t have a handle on him yet, hope he at least does well in something” He wanted to believe her words.
Lately, their conversation circled around the kids.
“Ohhh… it's already 10:30 am, come on man, go get clothed…you have to reach the office and then to Dean’s place also, don’t forget…long day ahead” though their offices weren’t far away, Manish reminded her again and both hurried out soon.
The glass elevator always fascinated Nandini, she loved looking down as it descended from the clouds to the ground, it was like a spacecraft landing, albeit this one to the building lobby.
“Sir, yours and madam’s cars are waiting at the entrance, the valet has already got it” The over-familiarity in the tone of the receptionist at The Grand Hyatt was not missed by Manish when he handed over the room keys to her, Nandini was on the phone talking agitatedly.
“Mr. Dean has asked both the parents to be present for the meeting, Raj…. Why don’t you understand…how can you prioritise anything over her going to the UK…. Gauri is your daughter too……do whatever you want, Man” Nandini disconnected her phone fuming with rage.
“Hmmm…Raj, huh…. don’t, worry, I will accompany you” Manish tried to pacify her.
“Hey…pick up Dhruv from the Airport, got an urgent meeting, can’t leave office…let him be happy to see his mom for a change some days” Manish texted Swati.
