7 Day Writing Challenge: Whose Call To Take : Work or Goa?

Suru decided to go on a weekend getaway with her husband, Tanay. But her work commitments did not allow her to spend her weekends in leisure, and this long weekend was one such. They planned their trip long back, making all the bookings, and did not feel like canceling it due to mere work stuff that never ends, coming at the last minute.

(Flashback to the scene where this condition arose.)

While Suru was packing up for the day on Thursday evening, she received an email from his annoying boss, Raghu, who would nag during work hours and choose to trouble his subordinates at odd hours. After thinking for a few minutes, she decided to check the mail due to her habit of being more productive than required, which usually led her to problems. As she opened the mail, she saw his boss addressed the mail to fifteen more people, equivalent to entire team members. Before even reading the subject line, she guessed what it would be about.

She dropped herself on the chair, holding her head with her palms in agitation. Raghu's team status showed Out of Office that day, but as Suru started to pack, she saw him online. It made her even more angry as it became her manager's routine.

Left with no other choice, Suru went home with a low face. Tanay was home before her and greeted her as she opened the front door with her key. She did not respond and moved straight to the couch in the drawing hall of their 3-BHK apartment. Tanay tried to ask her, "What happened? In the morning, you were bubbly and planning about our trip, and now you are sulking like a baby." Suru frowned, alarming Tanay about the graveness of the situation.

He rushed to the kitchen and brought two cups of coffee to lighten her mood and discuss what disturbed her. While sipping her coffee, Suru told him about the email received from her annoying boss to be available on weekends to meet work deadlines. Tanay raised his eyebrow and whispered, "Not again." Soon, he realized Suru was already upset. He should not act like this.

The couple discussing their plan for a Goa weekend getaway in the morning was looking for ways to get Suru out of this trouble of the weekend deadline. After much thought, both simultaneously spoke, sick leave. The only weapon that works when nothing works in a workplace to avail a leave. Suru's eyes were glittering, and both got up from the couch in energy to start packing for their trip.

(Fast forward to the current situation.)

It took them two hours to pack stuff, delaying their dinner. So, they agreed to order from outside, but Suru interrupted, only if it was Chinese, her favorite. Tanay nodded. It took forty-five minutes for the food to get delivered. They decided to scroll through Goa vlogs and blogs to identify places they could spend time when they reach Goa. While they were busy chatting and laughing about their plan, the doorbell rang. Tanay rushed to the door, saying, "Let me collect the food. You lay the dishes for us."

Fried rice and manchurian's aroma filled the hall, appetizing the two hungry souls. Both ate their food and went to bed. The next day, as the couple decided, Suru had to fake illness in her office and return home after the second half. The task was not as easy as they thought because her boss did not spare any chance of annoying his subordinates, and Suru, one of the extraordinary performers, had to face it most of the time.

Suru knew all the tactics, so she was ready to oppose every move of his boss carefully. As she went to the office, she convinced every colleague that she was unwell and fragile due to food poisoning last night. She was finding it challenging to sit before the screen, and her colleagues would find her with her head between her palms resting on her work desk. One of her colleague-cum-friends, informed HR about her condition. HR inquired Suru about her condition and asked her to take a leave. Suru said she could not take leave as they had work deadlines this weekend. However, HR did not listen to her and informed Suru to pack up for the day. HR would talk to her boss.

Suru messaged Tanay to meet him at the airport with all his luggage. She left the office. Tanay sent her heart emoji. Suru controlled her excitement as she was still passing through the office campus. She drove to the airport in a cab and found Tanay waiting for him at the entrance. She ran towards him and hugged him, saying, "I made it." Both giggled ear-to-ear.

They reached Goa at midnight and checked into the resort they had booked. They chose to sleep and start the next day from the nearby beach, Baga Beach. 

They woke up and dressed in their beach attires, Suru in a dazzling pink bikini and Tanay in his navy blue shorts and white printed shirt. They walked to the beach and lay on the deckchairs under an umbrella, sipping their coolers of matching colors with their apparel. While they were having a merry time, Suru's phone rang, and she went numb. Tanay saw her and noticed her phone ringing. It was her manager calling her. Traumatized, they saw each other finding it challenging to decide on what they could do.  

Gulping in her fear, wearing her acting hat, Suru picked up the call, and before her manager could say anything, she asked him if they could connect once she got well. Without a word, the manager disconnected the call. Suru took a sigh of relief. Tanay applauded her for her acting and inquired about her manager's response. She smiled and said, "He was speechless and disconnected the call."

They spent the next two days exploring cafes and soaking in the sun on the beaches.