Chapter 3: Arjun Has a Great Idea

Arjun’s wife Deepika was an extremely beautiful girl who had been a beauty queen before marriage. Arjun had had to work very hard to get her interested in him. But such is a race of men that just a few years after marriage, Arjun didn’t even notice how beautiful she looked in a thin saree and sleeveless blouse this evening when he got home. She usually didn’t dress up that fancy at home but she had just had her hair coloured with copper highlights and she wanted to give Arjun the full effect. Her face fell when he didn’t even notice. She didn’t bring it up.

“What’s wrong, honey?” She brought him water “Is it the merger?”

“No, it’s this guy, ok yes, it’s the merger.” Arjun said “Douglas is sending this guy to check things out here.”

Deepika started taking his shoes off “What will he do?”

“He will observe everything and say if merger should go ahead or not.”

“Oh, if he says no then it won’t go ahead?” Deepika stayed on her knees and took his socks off.

“Yes, then EG will go under. Company will close and so many people will lose their jobs.” Arjun said.

“Oh no!” Deepika got up and sat next to him “But why would he do that, baby? He will see how hard you work and will want to have that.”

“Not that simple, Deepu, he’s an outsider, he might not see that.” Arjun continued worrying “We need to make sure that we keep him happy otherwise, he just might take a rash decision. He can fire anybody he wants, you know.”

“Even you?”

“Yes, even me.”

“Then you need to keep him happy.” Deepika said “Give him five-star treatment.”

“Of course. Shriya has actually booked him in a five-star hotel.”

“Good. How long will he be here?”

“At least for two months. He will look at every single department.”

“Two months in a hotel?” Deepika said.

“No?” Arjun looked instantly worried.

“Baby, hotels get boring after a few days. At least I feel so.”

“Hmmm.” Arjun thought “What if I invite him to stay here with us?”

Deepika looked at him “Here?”

“Well, we have a big guest room, we have a gym, swimming pool, you make great food ... he will be comfortable, I am sure.”

“Ummm, baby, will he want to?”

“Babe, who doesn’t like home comfort? You said yourself hotel will get boring.” Arjun said.

“And if he is here, you already make points with him,” Deepika said “he will see how hard you work. Anything he needs, you will be the one to provide.”

“Exactly!”

“I think you may be right, Arjun,” Deepika said “and if he doesn’t like it, he can always go to a hotel after a few days. But we can try and make him comfortable here.”

“Once he is here, he won’t go anywhere.” Arjun declared “I am sure of it. Rhea! Rhea!”

“Ji, bhaiya!” Rhea came to the living room.

“Listen, a very important officer of the US company is coming to India tomorrow. I am going to invite him to stay with us for a couple of months.” Arjun told her “I want you on your best behaviour. If this guy is not happy, I could lose my job and the whole company could close.”