Manish was working in his office when Pavan approached him. The latter was disturbed about the previous night. He was the one who always got pretty girls to party around. But Neeta didn't give him any personal attention. He was miffed that Manish was the preferred one.
He said, 'hi Manish'
'Hey Pavan, how are you, man?'
'Fine, but what is this I hear? You have been doing the shittiest work around here. I mean the presentations and everything.'
Manish was taken aback. He knew that Pavan was a pain the ass, but not his ass. Though he was a bully for all his friends, he never tried anything funny with him. Because, as much as Manish was a friendly person to hang around, he was also a wrong person to mess with. He had been involved in many fights during his college life and always came out a winner. Pavan knew the fact and avoided confrontations with him. But now, Manish felt that the other was inviting a quarrel.
He kept his cool and asked, 'what do you mean, Pavan?'
'That's the talk of the place, man. I don't know for sure, just hearsay, you know.'
'Who said anything ill about my work? They have the right to. But just tell them to say it to my face. So that, I may correct my mistakes.'
Pavan chuckled, 'oh! Just easy going type of saint, aren't you, Manish? I like that. But, don't go covering your ineptitudes with that happy go lucky face. Sometimes, you have to be brave enough to face challenges.'
Manish didn't understand what the other was talking about. 'If you have anything to say, just tell it. Don't go beating the bush, all right, Pavan.'
'Cool it, man. I just heard what I said. Your pathetic work is the talk of the town. The way you handled the Mithra agencies is still lingering in everyone's minds.'
'Tell me, who said it, damn it.'
'One hears you know.'
Manish shot up from his seat, seething with anger. 'What is it, Pavan? What is your problem with me?'
Pavan said, 'nothing, Manish. Just do your work, properly. Or tell guys like us handle the tough ventures. You think working in an MNC is as easy as bagging a girl from one's own family. Or bagging an old hag, if you come down to that.'
Now, Manish understood. He knew that Pavan was hurt by his aunt's affection for him. He thought, being a hunk, he would be shown a special concern. Pavan had been successful with every girl he had ever met. In their own company, he had bedded seven different women. Pavan had many times recited his sexual prowess to his friends, in an offhand way. Manish heard some stories, but he quickly got bored whenever Pavan was starting his tale about the recent girl he had conquered. Not that, Manish doubted Pavan's achievements. But the latter exaggerated a lot. And Manish also guessed Pavan was careful to cover his tracks when his tryst with a girl backfired. He felt like laughing, at the present moment. But he didn't like his family pulled into the confrontation. And he specifically hated the way he mentioned his aunt, 'an old hag'.
He said, 'Pavan, you have a perfect facial bone structure. But don't be so sure about it. You won't be looking the same if you lose some teeth and have a cracked jaw.'
Pavan's anger emerged. 'And you think you have the guts to go one-on-one on me.'
'Just tell me the place,' Manish thundered. Before, Manish could say anything more, Vinith intervened. They were starting to get a little louder and a few people looked their way. Vinith pulled Manish aside, while Pavan glowered behind. He led Manish to the canteen.
He said, 'leave that asshole, Manish. You know better than that. He has been griping since we left your place last night.'
'What about?' Manish asked.
'Well, you might have hazarded a guess.'
Manish guessed. But he wasn't sure. 'What is it, Vinith?'
'You know Pavan, Manish. He is always after the girls and fancies himself as a womanizer. He even tried some flirting with your aunt, too. But, your aunt was a respectable woman, and just didn't encourage him.'
Manish felt chuckling to himself as Vinith said that his aunt was a respectable woman. After the last night's tryst, he couldn't say that. But she was the most reserved and dignified lady to the outside world.
Vinith carried on. 'He was moaning all the way back last night. He said your aunt was blinded that you are a family member and so couldn't see faults and shit like that. But we knew he was desperate. He was like he can make your aunt his lover but that he wasn't really interested.'
Manish replied, 'just tell him that if he involves any member of my family, in his idiotic flirting thing and sexual prowess bullshit, I am going to kick his ass. I don't give a damn whatever he can do to come back at me. I can teach him a lesson he would never forget in his life.'
'Just forget about him, man'
Manish remained silent. Vinith ordered tea for them as he watched his friend, seething in anger and slowly climbing off it. After ten minutes and some desultory conversation, Vinith noted that his friend was back to his old self. He said, 'man, I didn't know that you could get so angry.'
'I didn't like the way he talked, Vinith.'
'He is an ass, Manish. Forget it. But you must admit one thing, though.'
'What?'
'Your aunt is hot.'
'Hey??' Manish said with some heat, but at the same time he knew that his friend was pulling his leg.
'Relax, Manish, I am just kidding. But, seriously, she is very beautiful.'
'I know.'
'You mentioned her many times, but I thought you were just exaggerating. She was almost the most beautiful woman, I ever saw.'
Manish smiled at him, 'yeah, yeah, thanks.'
'And she is very affectionate of you, it seemed. You are a very lucky guy.'
'Thank you, Vinith'
'Does she have kids? I mean, girls.'
Manish said, 'yeah, she does. Two very beautiful girls and I will kill anybody who will approach them, alright. They are my family and my family is my weak point.'
Vinith said, 'why, you lucky bastard. Are your cousins into you? My God, I would cut my left nut, to be in your position. Have you worked anything with them?'
Manish smiled. He knew Vinith. He was a very good guy. Fun to be with. Not at all manipulative. He said, 'Vinith, my dear friend. I am not into them. Nor I think they are into me. We are just good friends. All right? I love my aunt and her family. She loves me, too. That's the end of the story. If you want to use me as a ladder to get close to my cousins, I am sure you will lose your left nut and the right one too, if I am at it.'
Vinith said, 'hey dude, I am kidding.'
'I know.'
'But your aunt is very beautiful. And honestly, you are a very lucky man, to get the love of the two most beautiful women, I have met.'
'Two?? Oh, you have included my mother, too. Haven't you?'
Vinith just bit his tongue. Manish said but with a mock anger, 'you bastard, you are sure keeping your left nut in jeopardy.'
Vinith smiled, in a relaxed fashion. He just let about his mother accidentally and he didn't want to see his friend in anger. He said, 'I am sorry, man. I just let that out, accidentally.'