"You must be the weirdest girl in the world," Jacqueline said "who looks forward to the end of her vacation and going back to work."
"What can I say," Parineeti said "I love my work. Come on, they are boarding." She picked up her bag.
Jacqueline picked up her bag and followed her "What you love, darling, is not the work, but your hunky boss."
Parineeti smiled "Is there a law against it?"
"There should be," Jacqueline said "you worship the ground he walks on."
"No, I just love how hot and sexy he is. I lust after him." Parineeti said.
"Er...no! That would be me? I am the who just wants to ride that big cock of his." Jacqueline pointed to herself "You, you want to have him put a collar around your neck and keep you as a pet."
"Mmmmm, wouldn't that be wonderful?" Parineeti grinned and handed her passport to the ground staff.
Jacqueline waited until her own passport was checked then joined Parineeti on the other side "Do you have no shame? The man is married now."
"So?" Parineeti said as she started walking down the air tunnel towards the plane "I am not looking to become his wife."
"No, no, you just want to be his pet bitch, right?" Jacqueline fell in step with her.
"I don't mind." Parineeti said "Listen, when it comes to Vikas Malhotra I have no shame, no pride, no ego, no dignity, just love, and a very, very strong desire to belong to him."
"And are you going to keep this burning desire inside you as before or tell him this time?"
"Oh, I am going to tell him." Parineeti said.
"When is he coming back?"
"Tomorrow. Good afternoon." Parineeti replied to the airhostess' greeting.
Jacqueline followed through behind her "And when will you tell him?"
"Why, tomorrow, of course." Parineeti grinned "Wasn't it nice of boss to get us business class travel? He is so thoughtful."
"He is a classy guy, no doubt about that." Jacqueline agreed "Not many bosses who would have thought of giving their secretary the month off when they were going for a trip."
"See, you are also falling in love with him." Parineeti said. She found space for her stuff, took out her book and sat down.
"Oh, please! Spare me the love nonsense." Jacqueline looked back from where she was stuffing her bag between two bags and not succeeding. An airhostess came over and helped her. She made space by turning one bag and Jacqueline's bag easily fit in the locker.
Jacqueline sat down next to Parineeti.
"Just think," Parineeti said "tomorrow this time I would be sitting in boss' lap showing him my bikini photos. He asked me to bring bikini photos of myself, you know? Why would he do that if he didn't find me sexy?"
"I was saying, I don't love him. I just think he's a hunk and I would love it if he nailed me on his desk some time."
"You know, you do protest a lot any time I say you love my boss." Parineeti pointed out "Is there something...?"
"Oh Jesus! You are so annoying."
Parineeti burst into laughter.
======================================
Rhea brushed her teeth and walked back to her room. She closed the door and got in bed. She picked up her phone. The lock screen wallpaper was a photo of Vikas. She unlocked the phone and changed the wallpaper to another photo of Vikas.
"Mmmmmm, love you, Jiju." She kissed her phone.
Sonali pushed open the door "Rhea, you didn't pick up your milk from the kitchen, honey."
Quickly pushing her phone under the pillow, Rhea sat up "Oh, thanks mom. I forgot."
"Here." Sonali handed her the glass.
"Mom, why did jiju have to go so soon? You could have stopped him for tonight, no?"
"Darling, he has to go to his office tomorrow." Sonali said.
"He could go from here, he has done that before. "
"Yes, but he has been away for a month. He would have things to sort out at home tonight, to be ready for tomorrow."
Rhea sipped her milk then said "But he promised to come tomorrow."
"If he did then he will, he never breaks his promise." Sonali said.
"What was he saying in your ear earlier mom?" Rhea asked "I saw you two whispering before he left."
Sonali smiled. She had raised these children, they could not faze her.
"He was telling me to quit my job. He said I should stop working and take care of the house and you kids."
"Oh, that would be nice." Rhea said "You hate that job."
"Well, I don't hate it, but well, it's a bit boring and menial."
"So, would you leave it?"
"Have you ever seen anything that Vikas says and it is not followed in this house?" Sonali said "I will resign tomorrow."
"You are resigning, mom?" Hemant stopped on his way from the bathroom. He had been sleeping off the booze all afternoon and finally was feeling human.
Sonali nodded "Yes, Damad ji has told me to resign."
"Oh, then yes, but have you thought --"
"Hemant, are you ok?" Shriya said coming out of her room.
"Yes, yes, of course, I am ok." He said a bit irritated.
"Don't be angry, dear, you fell this afternoon coming from the bathroom, so I was worried."
"Shriya, don't be dramatic, I just stumbled, the floor was slippery."
Both he and Shriya knew that that was not true, but Shriya didn't press the matter.
"Come and sleep then, honey." Shriya said.
"Yes, yes, in a minute. I am just talking to mother, she is leaving her job."
"Oh, did something happen, mummy ji?"
"No, bahu, nothing happened, but Damad Ji doesn't want me to work any more." Sonali said "He told me to quit the job and focus on the house and kids."
"He's not wrong, mummy ji, and you also wanted to give more time at home, didn't you?"
"Yes, I am not saying he is wrong. He is never wrong, he makes decisions with a lot of poise and thought."
Shriya agreed "He is a big businessman and a good one. I know he helps out with the expenses when we need and Hemant is also working."
Hemant looked at Shriya like he was wondering why he didn't leave her in Thailand "We can hardly make ends meet in our household, Shriya."
"Don't worry, Hemu," Sonali said "I won't be a burden on you. Damad ji has told me discuss any expenses with him."
"Mummy ji, he is so gracious, for his engagement and wedding, he bought several dresses for me and Amisha, and he didn't even mention it. He did it through Kajal."
"Aww!" Rhea said from inside the room "I thought he only did that for me because I am his favourite saali."
"Well, of course, you are his favourite, Rhea," Shriya peeked into the room "we all know that."
Rhea beamed.
"So, when are you going to quit your job, mummy ji?" Shriya asked.
"I will do it tomorrow, I had taken a month's unpaid leave for the trip, I just won't join back. I will go tomorrow and give my resignation."
"Yes, that sounds perfect." Shriya agreed "And Vikas will be pleased to see how quickly you followed his instructions."
Sonali nodded "Alright, kids, go and sleep. You also have work tomorrow."
Rhea waited until everybody was gone then pulled out her phone again for her last chat with Vikas' photo before sleeping.
======================================
"Mmmm, that was so good, baby." Rashmika said as Ravi got off of her.
Ravi only nodded, he was still winded. He looked for the water.
"Baby..." Rashmika said softly as Ravi was drinking. She waited like wives do when they know the topic is sensitive and they need their husband's focus.
"Yes, jaan?" Ravi came back to the bed.
"When will you talk to your boss?"
"About the loan?"
"Mhmm." She nodded "This house is really not an option for long, you know that."
"I know. But he's just coming back tomorrow from his honeymoon." Ravi said "I can't bother him right away."
"Then when will you talk to him?" Rashmika prompted.
"Look, honey, we need to get our own house in the worst way, I know that. But we both know how big an expense that is. We don't have that much money, and we can't borrow that much from the bank. I can borrow from the company but that big an amount, even they won't approve. I know, because I work in Accounts. The kind of assets you need for a good loan application, we don't have any of that."
"I know all that, baby." Rashmika said patiently "That's why we had decided that you should talk to the boss, right?"
"Rashi, I have doubts about that. He is the big boss, he's the CEO," Ravi said "I have seen him only in a few meetings with our department. Why would he go out of his way to help us, he doesn't even know my name -- "