Previous - "A Unique Owner-Builder Relation"
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Solanki stared at the big stack of files piled up on his desk. They were the documents for his transactions with his business partners. He took each of them one by one and went through them slowly. He made sure to separate the unimportant ones from those with top priority and began to sign them individually.
"Damn it!" Solanki exclaimed as he sipped his coffee. It had grown cold with the passing minutes, and he would need another one because he loved his coffee hot. It was almost as if his day wouldn't start without hot coffee.
He picked up his telephone and punched a few numbers, putting the receiver in his ear.
"Yes, Mr Solanki?" His secretary, Anya, picked up the call.
"What's wrong with the beverage guy? How often do I tell him I want my coffee hotter? The one I have here has grown cold now. Get me a new one quickly," Solanki ordered.
"Yes, Mr Solanki. I will do that immediately," Anya responded.
"Good. Thank you, Anya," said Solanki as he dropped the phone.
He heaved a heavy sigh as he spun around in his office chair. He stood up and walked around his office. The walls were filled with awards and portrait paintings of himself and other art forms. Solanki was a very successful man. He had won many business awards among his contemporaries. He even had his learning institute.
The paintings were some of the gifts he had gotten from various women he had helped get successful careers. He took pride in having women under him. The fact that he could amass them in his possession so quickly with his financial influence gave him earnest satisfaction. It was his ego. The other day, he wasn't candid with his wife, Payal. He didn't just love to help young women. He loved to be in control of them. One of his many feats made his employees and colleagues wonder about him.
The telephone rang suddenly. Solanki went to his desk and picked up the call. "Hello, Solanki," said a voice in a nervous tone.
"Binita?" Solanki answered.
"Yes, it's me," the voice answered.
"Binita, you know I don't take personal calls on my office telephone. What's the matter? How's the family?" Solanki asked.
"Bad, sir. Very bad. That's why I'm calling you at this time. There's been an emergency-like condition. Gorakhpur is hotting up." Binita broke a piece of sensational news on the call.
"Okay, okay. There's no need to get tense. How much does the operation cost?".
"Two million rupees," she replied in sobs.
"Wow. Okay, give me a few minutes. I'll send the payment to your account," assured Solanki.
"Oh, my God. Thank you so much, sir. This could be a goldmine", Binita said, sounding excited.
"Don't worry, Binita. It's nothing," Solanki said.
Binita thanked him several times for a few more minutes, then ended the call. Just as it ended, Anya walked in with his cup of coffee. It was steaming hot, and even the scent filled the office.
"Your coffee, sir," she said as she placed it on his table.
"Thank you very much, Anya." Solanki nodded at her.
Anya bowed and was about to leave.
"Anya, wait.", Solanki called after her.
She turned back and approached his desk. "Sir?".
"Take these account details. I need you to send two million rupees to it," Solanki said as he handed her a piece of paper.
"Two million? What for, sir?" Anya asked, surprised at such a vast request.
"Just do it. Don't ask," Solanki said.
"Okay, Mr Solanki." She nodded and quickly approached the exit. Solanki kept his fingers intertwined and observed her from behind as she left. Anya was wearing a tight red sleeveless gown, and her backside wobbled temptingly in it as she approached the door. Solanki grabbed his coffee and took a tiny sip.
"Hmm, which is hotter? You or her?" Solanki smiled and whispered to himself as he gazed at his mug.
*******
Solanki arrived home later in the evening. He was so exhausted from the day's work. He dragged his feet as he got down from his Jeep. His hands were weak from the paper signing he had done at the office.
He reached the door of his mansion and pressed the bell multiple times. He stared at his wristwatch.
"Wow. It's 11:00 PM!" Solanki exclaimed. He pressed the bell again.
"Who's there?" grumbled a sleepy woman's voice from inside.
.
"Honey, it's me," Solanki answered.
There was silence for a few minutes. Then the door opened.
"Payal!" Solanki smiled as his wife stood in front of the door. She had a scowl on her face.
"Why are you so late today?" she demanded.