London:
The next full week, Sofia didn't show up. Akshay visited the hotel for dinner but after enquiring about her, he learned that she had gone on emergency leave.
He also had messaged her but none of his messages were read yet. He became uneasy and restless with all of her in his mind. Unrest enveloped in him.
Every time he thought of her, he remembered the exchange of kisses between them in the swimming pool.
He became so anxious that he couldn't eat properly that night. He drove home in frustration.
Only one question was bothering his mind: "How can she go suddenly without even informing me?"
The next moment a voice representing his inner soul warned him:
"Beware! Just recently you started a relationship with her, and you can't expect her to tell you everything. Remember what she told you if anyone of them encroaches on the freedom of the other, then the relationship will end. There must be some reason. Otherwise, why would she go on leave suddenly?"
Akshay said to the voice:
"Okay, so I will have to wait until she reads my message!"
"Yes", the voice said, "Otherwise you will lose her if you take such hasty steps!"
He even cursed himself for not even taking a single photograph of her. Once he insisted but she denied, and he had respected her decision.
He was alone for dinner on that day. His frequent dinners in hotels instead of preparing food at home had cost him a lot of money in pounds. Indian food comes for at least 7 to 10 pounds which was equivalent to around 1000 rupees.
While driving, Akshay called Rebecca thinking at least by any chance she might know where Sofia was.
Rebecca was on leave on that day and was sitting with her live-in partner Watson on the bed wearing only a bra and panty. Watson was admiring her bra and panty design which was blue with red and yellow flowers on it. Watson was eager to unhook her bra when Rebecca's phone started vibrating.
Watson's attention diverted as he saw her phone vibrating.
Looking at her screen window he asked, "Hey darling who is that idiot calling you at this time? I think someone "Akshay Office". Knowing that you are on leave, how can they call you? At this time?"
Rebecca was surprised as her face was opposite the table on which her phone was kept. She turned her head back and cut the call by extending one of her hands. Then she smiled and looked back at Watson and went on kissing Watson.
He now unhooked her bra and started admiring the beauty of her fully rounded twin assets. Rebecca looked in his eyes while he was looking at her breasts.
And then the phone rang again. "Akshay office" calling.
This time Watson picked it up in frustration and switched off her phone.
Akshay had experienced great satisfaction after kissing Sofia like never before. And he was now looking forward to having sex with her soon. He was sure she would give him immense pleasure in bed which he felt he was lacking to date. But now Sofia suddenly was out of sight.
Late at night, when Akshay reached home, he got a call from his customer Jeff Bennet, who was an important stakeholder without whom no decision could be taken regarding the set of projects Akshay was handling.
Akshay immediately came out from the never-ending thoughts of Sofia and got alerted to see a customer calling at this time.
He answered quickly the call in just three rings and greeted Jeff, "Hello Jeff?"
"Yes Akshay," I have an important thing to convey to you!" he spoke in a British accent.
"Yes, please. Tell me, Jeff. We are here for you."
"We had an internal meeting late evening in which we are planning to create an onsite-offshore model for our project."
This was something very unexpected.
Even before he could respond with astonishment, Jeff continued, "Basically we have made this decision to save costs. Instead of reducing resources, moving fifty percent of them offshore in India will save a lot of costs. And we have chosen you to arrange the offshore team, as now things are quite streamlined here at onsite location. Our project financers have suffered a loss recently and they want to cover it up in the best possible ways like the one I told you just now! "
"How soon are we planning this?"
"You will have to go back to India in the next couple of weeks once formalities and arrangements at our on-site location are completed!"
"So, Jeff. What about my chances of coming back here?"
There was a silence for a while at Jeff's end when Akshay asked the above question.
And then a reply came from Jeff: "As you are a critical and important resource to us, we will think of calling you back again, once things get settled and streamlined at offshore location. Though I can't guarantee you anything immediately and concretely, I will definitely try my best to bring you back here."
Akshay listened to Jeff in silence. He was the program manager, a senior to all the project managers. His responsibility was more.
As a program manager, he could not oppose this decision as it was taken at a high level with an agreement between important stakeholders from both sides including the department of sales. Akshay's work permit was expiring after six months but now he would have to go back to India 6 months earlier. So with this, his earnings would be reduced.
Jeff ended his call by saying, "We will have an important meeting tomorrow at sharp 10 am, with all the project managers and you. Be there! Cheers! Good night!"
Britishers say cheers at the end of the conversation, which is an old-fashioned way of saying goodbye but still used by many.
"Cheers Jeff!", Akshay said and the call ended.
That night Akshay could sleep only at 3 am.
Many issues were bothering his mind before sleep.
Going back to India early unwillingly, his recent mentality which was urging him to somehow stay away from Richa, recent petty spats between them and her recent detachment from him, his brother's irresponsible behavior, and his mother's support to his brother despite his stupidity, the disappearance of Sofia without informing him, broken friendship with Raghav over Sofia and many more.
He thought of calling Richa once his tomorrow's meeting was over to inform her about his early arrival in India.
