A Meeting with Mr. Peter

<p>One day, Romanov was busy as usual in his documentation work. A commanding yet subtle presence crossed his cubicle. It was an unusual presence in the office, it was a high ranking politician. And no high ranking politician has set his foot in the office till now. Romanov closed the large binder and stood up. And Strangely Peter turned around and looked back at him. Romanov averted his gaze, but Peter kept on looking at him. 
"Romanov?" he called out. 
"Yes sir," Replied Romanov. 
"Do you know who I'm?" asked Peter. 
"Everyone in Moscow does sir," replied Romanov. 
"That's good to know, that you know who i'am," said Peter as he approached the desk of Romanov. 
"Are you here for the colonel?" asked Peter. 
"No," replied Peter. And Mr. Peter took a seat and he said to Romanov. 
"No , I'm here for someone greater.I'm here for a soldier. Romanov was shocked that the politician was here looking for him. Romanov was nicknamed the soldier even though he was a colonel once. 
"Sir, me?" Replied Romanov, "How may I be of help Sir," he asked him. "I'm just a simple officer living in obscurity."
Peter laughed, and said to Romanov, "Then we are alike," Romanov whose face was serious up until now started to laugh. A lifelong friendship was formed in an instant. Peter without any further hesitation took a letter form his pocket and handed it over to Romanov. Romanov put on his glasses and took a good look at the document. It was an offer letter to be his deputy in the nuclear power plant at Minsk. Peter was sitting casually so as to not pressurize him in any manner. Romanov went through the letter carefully.
"Minsk, Sir," Asked Romanov. Before Peter could say reply to him. Romanov insisted, "Sir," he said. "Do not take it in the wrong manner. I'm honored a man of your stature would even consider me to to be his deputy. Romanov kept the letter down.
"The honors all mine," replied Peter and yes, Minsk. They want me gone from here and be far away from them as possible. 
Romanov gave a puzzled look. And he said, "isn't that strange sir," he said. "They want me gone from here too. Far away from them. 
"Well," laughed Peter. "Then everything works out well doesn't it," he said. 
"Yes sir," said Romanov. "But my family, I do not think my wife would be happy about me leaving." 
Peter took a hard look at Romanov and he said, "Think it over, I leave in a weeks time."
Romanov went home later that day in the evening. He had the offer letter with him in his hand. He had it in his hand in such a manner that it was visible for his wife to see. "What is that?" she asked him. 
"Oh its nothing dear." said Romanov. "It is just an offer letter." 
"An offer letter," she said. 
"From whom is the offer letter," she asked him. "Its from a politician," replied Romanov. 
"That's great," she said. "Are you being promoted, and after all these days," a sigh of relief. His wife started to smile uncontrollably, "this is such a happy day."
"Yes, I'm being promoted," he said. "If I chose to accept the offer, I would become the deputy,"
"A deputy! that is wonderful," she said. 
"But like all good offers," there is a downside to this as well , said Romanov as he sat down. 
So did his wife take a seat. "What is it?" she asked him. 
"We are going to Minsk, I join in as a deputy at the Nuclear plant over there." 
"Over at Minsk," said his wife. "Are we not happy here at Moscow. And not even St Petersburg, it is Minsk of all places," she complained.
"I have a weeks time time decide dear," said Romanov. "As of now nothing is certain and that is known to Mr. Peter, my employer," he added.
"For a second there, I thought our fortunes were going to change, but no, not this time," she replied.
Romanov did not say anything. He just sat there in the couch holding on to his letter. His wife looked at him, and "Rome," she said. "Maybe I think you do not want it to change, our fortunes. I think you like to be down and think all of this as a divine punishment for a crime. And for what crime Rome?" his wife started sobbing. "For a crime, you did not even commit. You are punishing yourselves and us along with it. I think this is enough Rome, she said. We do not want to be in your life anymore, me and the kids. You pack your bags and go to Minsk, but we stay here. We stay here in Moscow where it makes sense for us. And Rome, I sincerely hope that life makes sense one day to you, that one day it is worth to start living again. One day , you can see that life can be happy too , sometimes , even if it is for only a very brief moment," she said.</p>