#Partnership deed

[licit360]

A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Partnership Deeds

When venturing into a business with a partner, it is essential to establish a clear understanding of roles, responsibilities, and profit-sharing arrangements. A partnership deed, also known as a partnership agreement, serves as the foundation of such an arrangement. For businesses in India, the partnership deed is not just a legal necessity but also a document that ensures transparency and smooth operations.

What is a Partnership Deed ?

A partnership deed is a legally binding document that outlines the terms and conditions agreed upon by partners in a partnership firm. It governs the relationship among partners and defines their duties, rights, and obligations. A well-drafted partnership deed can help prevent disputes and foster a strong, long-term business relationship.

Key Features of a Partnership Deed

Mutual Agreement: The deed is drafted based on mutual consent among all partners.

Legal Validity: Though registration of a partnership deed is not mandatory, registering it provides legal backing under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932.

Flexibility: The terms can be customized to meet the specific needs of the business and its partners.

Why is a Partnership Deed Important?

Clarity in Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defines the contribution, duties, and authority of each partner.

Profit and Loss Sharing: Establishes how profits and losses will be distributed.

Dispute Resolution: Acts as a reference point in case of disagreements.

Legal Protection In India : Provides evidence in legal disputes and helps avoid litigation.

Essential Clauses in a Partnership Deed

A comprehensive partnership deed typically includes:

General Details: Name of the firm, business address, and details of partners.

Capital Contribution: The amount each partner contributes to the business.

Profit and Loss Sharing Ratio: Defines the proportion in which partners share profits and losses.

Roles and Responsibilities: Specifies each partner’s role and authority.

Admission or Retirement of Partners: Conditions for adding or removing partners.

Dissolution Clause: Procedure for dissolving the partnership.

Interest and Salary: Terms for interest on capital, loans, and partner’s salary.

Dispute Resolution: Mechanism for settling disputes among partners.

Steps to Draft and Register a Partnership Deed

Draft the Deed: Consult a legal expert to draft a partnership deed tailored to your business needs.

Stamp Paper: Print the deed on appropriate non-judicial stamp paper as per the state’s stamp duty laws.

Signatures: Get the deed signed by all partners in the presence of witnesses.

Registration: Submit the deed to the Registrar of Firms along with the required documents and fee.

Benefits of Registering a Partnership Deed

Enhances credibility with banks and investors.

Provides legal protection to the firm and its partners.

Enables the firm to file suits against third parties.

Offers tax benefits under certain conditions.

How Licit360 Can Help

At Licit360, we specialize in drafting and registering partnership deeds that align with your business goals. Our team of experts ensures that all legal formalities in India   are met efficiently, providing you with a hassle-free experience.

Visit Licit360  to learn more about how we can assist you in creating a robust Partnership deed . Let us help you establish a strong foundation for your partnership firm!

Ensure your business starts on the right note with a comprehensive partnership deed. Reach out to Licit360 today and safeguard your business partnership for the future!

[solubiliss]

Company registered pan proof

To submit income tax returns, partnership firms must obtain a PAN (Permanent Account Number) card, which validates their legal status. Partners need to submit Form 49A along with essential documentation to apply for the PAN card.

Documentation Checklist for Partnership Firm's PAN Application:

A valid partnership agreement document

An authorized partner's Digital Signature Certificate

Business location verification (Choose one):

Current utility bills (within 3 months)

Rental contract

Property purchase documents

Property owner's No Objection Certificate

For each partner:

Personal identification documents

Proof of residential address

Official partnership firm registration document

To know about Partnership firm, its registration & compliance related, contact Solubilis.

[ebizfilingindia-blog]

The Importance of Partnership Deed for Taxation and Regulatory Compliance

A properly-drafted partnership deed is a cornerstone for any partnership business, as it governs the connection among partners and establishes clean terms for the enterprise's operations. One of the most critical components of a partnership deed is its function in making sure taxation and regulatory compliance. Without it, corporations may additionally face prison headaches and monetary losses.

This article explores the importance of partnership deeds, especially about taxation and regulatory necessities.

What is a Partnership Deed?

A partnership deed is a written agreement between companions in a business, outlining their roles, obligations, and the phrases of the partnership. This prison file covers essential factors, which include earnings sharing, capital contributions, and dispute resolution.

Importantly, it additionally sets the inspiration for compliance with various tax and regulatory norms, which can be key to going for walks a successful partnership commercial enterprise.

The Importance of Partnership Deeds for Taxation

1. Clear Profit and Loss Distribution

One of the primary reasons for the importance of partnership deed in taxation is the clear distribution of profits and losses among companions. The deed specifies how earnings and losses are to be shared, making sure that all partners are taxed in step with their respective stocks. Without a partnership deed, the tax government may expect equal distribution, which will be misguided and cause tax disputes.

2. Deduction of Salaries and Interest Paid to Partners

The importance of partnership deed will become evident when thinking about deductions for salaries, commissions, and hobbies paid to partners. For those deductions to be identified underneath the Income Tax Act, they need to be explicitly referred to within the partnership deed. Without such provisions, those payments can be disallowed, leading to higher taxable profits and capability tax liabilities for the enterprise.

3. Tax Benefits and Exemptions

A properly-structured partnership deed permits groups to avail themselves of numerous tax advantages. For example, partnership corporations that have a legitimate deed in place can be eligible for decrease tax charges or other exemptions. The deed serves as legal proof that the corporation exists and operates in line with the agreed phrases, which is critical for claiming any tax comfort or incentives under applicable laws.

The Role of Partnership Deeds in Regulatory Compliance

1. Compliance with the Partnership Act, 1932

The importance of partnership deed is underscored by using its role in making sure compliance with the Partnership Act, 1932. Although the Act does not mandate a written partnership agreement, it strongly recommends one for the smooth functioning of the commercial enterprise.

2. Meeting Registration Requirements

While now not all partnerships are required to check in, it's beneficial for groups to do so for prison popularity and safety. A registered partnership deed is a critical record in this procedure. It additionally simplifies compliance with diverse authorities government, which include registering for Goods and Services Tax (GST) or acquiring licenses.

3. Simplified Regulatory Filings and Documentation

The importance of partnership deed also extends to streamlining regulatory filings and documentation. Authorities together with the Income Tax Department, Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities, and different regulatory bodies often require corporations to furnish their partnership deeds to confirm the legitimacy of the organization.

Consequences of Not Having a Partnership Deed

Without a partnership deed, the business faces enormous challenges in each taxation and regulatory compliance. The absence of a deed means that there's no formal agreement to prove how the profits or losses have to be disbursed.

From a regulatory point of view, not having a partnership deed can complicate topics while registering the corporation or renewing licenses. It can also cause delays in getting approvals from various government departments, as they require formal documentation to ensure compliance with legal norms.

Conclusion

The importance of partnership deed cannot be overstated about taxation and regulatory compliance. It serves as a essential report that not only effective helps smooth enterprise operations but additionally guarantees that the enterprise adheres to legal and tax necessities.

[splashdict]

Partnership Deed

[homeremodelingcontractorsworld]

Discovering the Fundamental Aspects of Partnership Deed that Govern Business Partnerships

Launching a business is a significant decision requiring extensive planning. The partnership ensures support from partners to boost the prospects and scope of the business. Several entrepreneurs consider entering a general partnership deed to share liabilities and ensure equal distribution of responsibilities. 

[vaxxildamn]

very happy Matt decided to clarify his stance on the genocide of the Palestinian people rn. Pretty unhappy with the way he worded it, who he centered in his video, and disappointed to see the responses to it on Twitter.

kinda scared to even post about it bc CR fans can get so defensive about their favorite white people that they can often leave little room for criticism or nuance. but man I have thoughts.

[introvert-celeste]

Oh boy, it's time for my monthly bout of existential dread! 😃

[eazystartups]

Although it is not a compulsion for partnership firms to get registered, however, you may choose to get registered in order to enjoy various government benefits.

[irndad]

won't you be my sunshine-a.h.

a/n: runner!hotch x sunshine!reader !! sooooo fluffy, first hotch fic of mine so be gentle with me! lots of pining and happy end <3 happy to continue with these two in an au!

Aaron Hotchner is not a particularly emotive man. 

This is a skill he has honed, a cherished quality that was not born of luck or of natural ability, but a skill that he has honed down to a fine tip point. He needs to be, in this job. It’s cost him things, of course, but for the most part, Aaron is happy with his choices. He takes a firm line with people he works with, and does not always let up in his personal life.

The only time this sometimes causes a hitch, is in his romantic life.

Which isn’t to say that he has one. 

There is a woman who reads in the park every morning. Aaron affectionately thinks of this bench as her bench, as it is marked by wisterias and hyacinths on either end of it. It’s something of a ritual, after his runs, that they talk. 

It’s fun. He doesn’t have a lot of space for fun. He’d collapsed on the bench one day after siphoning his anger at a particular case into a difficult run. He’d crashed onto the bench, sweaty and exhausted and hadn’t even seen her there. Which is a bit impressive, as she’s hard to miss the sight of. It is also in equal measure embarrassing. It’s not every day you collapse in front of a gorgeous woman, disturbing her from what is likely a lovely afternoon in the park.

That’s how it started, anyway. She doesn’t run, so each break is punctuated by her company. He’s actually not sure if they’re flirting. He’s not very good at that- the last time he has to he was 17 and so full of unearned confidence, he lucked into a partnership. 

Now, he’s a bit older and a lot more scarred. She’s younger than him, not by much. She laughs with her whole chest at his dry, glib humor- and this is something Aaron had forgotten. The joy of a beautiful, wonderful woman’s company beside you. 

He feels a little out of place next to her. Romance is not something he does. Ever thought he’d do again, really. That’s not to say that this is romance. Their romance is almost entirely hypothetical. He thinks of her at work, which is a monumental development in and of itself. 

“So, how was the paperwork? I know you’ve been taking a little more on since your colleague had a baby. It’s so kind of you to do it.” She asks him on a beautiful August morning. 

He fights off a blush that she remembers what he’s done for JJ. He’s not big on mentioning his own good deeds. Aaron believes that this would cancel it out. Still, her praise is a warm balm to the exhaustion that plagues him. It’s hedonistic, the way he wants her to say more about him. He wonders absentmindedly if she knew everything about him that’s hard to love, she’d still paint him with such a light and warm glance. She’s bright enough, he’s tempted to tell her everything about him just because she asks. 

“It was…alright. My team is excellent. I’m lucky to work with people like them, it makes the process better. I couldn’t ask for more.”

She giggles a little at this, and there’s that roar of affection. 

He feels a sense of ease around her, one that is suspicious for him. He tries not to romanticize, but this connection is hard not to. She’s beautiful- this is obvious to anyone who meets her, a simple truth of her. But Aaron is trained to notice things little factors that show the truth of someone. 

He likes to watch her- it’s a pleasant thing, getting to be in her presence. It’s a little addicting, the way she looks at him. It makes him feel like all of the things he knows to be true of himself- his relative failures, the closed-off nature of his demeanor- are things that not only can be overlooked, but don’t seem to be in her line of sight at all. It’s an honor, to have her doe eyes rake over the sight of him, to meet him with gentle conversation. 

He tries not to notice that she is gorgeous. Aaron has been around beautiful women, of course- this is not something that should surprise him. But there’s something effervescent about her, something that his him wondering if it’s possible that she might feel the same way about him. He knows that he used to be a more attractive man, but now. Well, he’s a bit bruised, both metaphorically and physically. 

It feels odd to even think of this happening. She’s just got a warm, sweet tone and he replays what it’s like when she greets him. She smiles her brilliant grin and sometimes hugs him. It’s embarrassing how much he likes the feeling of it- soft curves against hard muscle and scarred skin. She always smells wonderful, and he wonders how nice it would be to have more of this. 

“I like your new shirt, by the way.” She smiles at him, and his heart jumps. It feels juvenile, but- she’s wearing a new lipstick, it seems. Her beautiful pout looks awfully tempting. 

“I like the lip color,” he tries to compliment back amenably, but that doesn’t stick. Instead, it comes out too earnest. He’s hyper aware of the fact that she’s right by him. She flushes, and Aaron feels a surge of pride. 

“Thank you,” she says, voice softer and flattered, and isn’t that a pretty sound? He’d love to do that for her, make her feel seen, make her feel like she’s as beautiful as she is, “I thought you might like it.”

It’s her directiveness that breaks the seal, he supposes looking back. Because she wore the lipstick for him. That’s just about the only thing it can mean, and he is struck with a particularly sensory fantasy of what it would be like to slot his mouth against hers- he gets the feeling it might be worth it even if he gets the color on his mouth. 

He’s a gentleman, though, he decides after a decidedly ungentlemanly amount of time spend staring at the gorgeous curve of her lips. 

“Would you want to get dinner with me?” He hears himself say it before he’s processed it, and then it’s out into the world. His heart is hammering and he’s blaming on the run, when god, it’s absolutely about how breathtaking she looks, the sunlight reflecting off her hair like a halo. When she beams back at him, she looks particularly angelic. 

It’s then, she leans over and kisses him on the cheek. 

“I thought you’d never ask.”

(Months later, when she is sitting on his kitchen counter and he is standing between her legs, gazing down at her with unabated fondness because he is entitled to that, he reflects on this moment and thinks god, how lucky am I, that I ran past that bench?) 

[thejewitches]

The Tzedakah box of my childhood home still lives on a shelf, perpetually filling with coins. I remember many from my time growing up: ironic piggy bank ones, ones made of ornate filigree, those made of classic tin, ones created by community members to raise money for insulin — Tzedakah is a mainstay of Jewish life because we recognize that Tzedakah is life affirming work.

People often ask, what’s the difference between Tzedakah and charity? Charity is a choice; one often made out of pity. Tzedakah is a moral imperative. An easily recognizable definition of a Mitzvah: it is both a commandment and a good deed.

Taking care of one another is required of us.

If you want to the TV show the Good Place, you might have seen Jewish philosophy spoken to you when Chidi gave his speech, “What do we owe to each other?” His work is based on that of TM Scanlon, an ethical philosopher who has a book by the same question. Fictional Chidi comes to the conclusion, “to put it simply: we are not in this alone.”

Tzedakah is physical manifestation of the idea that we owe to each other care, love, and humanity. While this post focuses on monetary aspects, they also aspects like hiring another person, teaching, training, entering into partnerships.

It is our duty to care for one another and expect nothing in return, for it is our duty.

As such, you can go to link in my bio to find literal life saving opportunities. We are so close to reaching the goals of these 3 families.

HERE IS THE LINK

[aaradhyassociaties]

Partnership Company Registration Services in Bangalore:9844713239

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[justblades]

⌕ BUSINESS PARTNERS WITH BENEFITS, 18+

⟢ CHARACTER : sampo koski x afab! reader WC : 1.3k

⟢ WARNINGS : MDNI. public teasing, oral (male receiving), throat f, finger f.

everyone gets to witness sampo's absurdity. from his ludicrous backhanded methods whether to be of aid or to fool— that's how they perceive sampo koski. little do they know, among the many 'partnerships' he formed to which he singlehandedly decides, he actually has a business partner, a mutual connection. almost anyone who comes across him etch on their minds he's either to be trusted or disregarded. the two sides tiptoeing upon the boundaries every single time.

it's not just that. he oftentimes gets sidetracked whenever the dyad is commencing a dangerous operation. be it gathering intel from the enemies hideout, he'd still have the time to gawk over your body like he was to descend into insanity if he wasn't given a chance to douse the flames of his lustful tendencies.

and that's how you ended up in this bizarre situation. sampo laps your sprawled out mounds, gloved hands fiddling with your hardened nipples. you bite your lip in an attempt to stifle the moans threatening to slip out, as comical sampo appears from his choice of words and personality— he still manages to pleasure you in all kinds of ways, all for the sake of quenching his thirst for intimacies.

your breath hitches, and as bad as it can get, a soldier whips his head to the source of the weak noises, following his intuition. you knew full well being in cramped up spaces with sampo can be a handful to manage, among the many times you reminded him to focus on your jobs, he shrugs it off and proudly proclaims he'll still get it done in spite of you doing it in the middle of an operation.

and he always does. sampo may be deceving at times but his words never fall on his back. sampo's lush green eyes fixate on your expressions, finding enjoyment at how your eyes squint from the jolts of pleasure he sends into your system. he inches forward your face, tip of your noses just a hair's breadth away. "i can't get enough of this."

your eyebrows furrow in exchange, "i thought it'd be just this?" you ask, irritation seethes through your teeth. "when have we ever been caught whenever we do it? come on, we've been partners for years already. is sampo koski really that much of a doubtful figure?" his usual cocky, teasing tone laces his words, beaming you a sheepish smile right after.

in a sense, he's right. and that's exactly how you fall prey on his words. lastly, it's not bad, it is always a great past time when the intel hasn't been leaked yet to the other side. that was exactly it - you two have been business partners with benefits since long ago, making it a hobby to do the deed regardless of time and place, all for the sake of fun, cooperation, and lastly, money.

you slowly rid yourself of clothes, being careful not to draw much attention. meanwhile the bi-haired male basks in his momentary victory, reveling in the moment he won over your rationality.

sampo glides his gloved hand to your inner thighs, a sinister smirk plastered on his lips— with no hesitation lingering in his mind, he rubs viscules on your slit with his thumb finger swiftly, finding your region at such a fast rate, taking into account that he can't see nothing but pitch black darkness and the way you look underneath him.

he has your body memorized as if it was the back of his hand, one of the many things he's skilled at, although it's uncertain whether he should be proud of that. the corners of his lips tug further upwards as soon as he feels the liquids come in contact with his skin, dampening his onyx gloves.

with a rapid thrust, he pumps his digits in and out of your hole. you melt into pleasures, mind starting to be clouded with nothing but sampo's shit eating grins. perhaps you were more sensitive to his touches today since the teasing was too prolonged, and of course, it was intentional, all planned out by the master in control.

his bashful smile never ceases, a rapid rush of determination gushes through his veins. "if only you weren't appealing and so good at this, i would've gone for your neck a long time ago." fortunately, your words were muddled with the soldiers' fancy stories that they were unable to hear your threats.

sampo, as if it was engraved in his soul, replies with the same attitude as usual. "why thank you for the compliment." you scoff, but the huff of breath you heaved immediately got followed by a soft mewl, the navy haired curls his fingers inside your walls as he could feel you squeezing him tight.

"ahh, i wish i were inside you right now." he muses and proceeds to rest his head on the soft beds of your chest. a crease forms between your brows for the nth time, not until he had something up his sleeve once again. it only made sense when a surprising warm feeling slicks on your skin, in stark contrast to the chilling temperature deep inside this spacious building.

a realization dawns on your perturbed mind, maybe it would be easier if you part your lips open and let the breathing noises erupt, rather than trying to hold them back which could lead to your cover being blown. and finally, "dismissed." the soldiers say and leave the room in unison, and you could feel the heavy weight on your chest instantly dissipate into the air.

the two of you scoot out of the small cabinet and immediately locked the metal doors. "i've been in the receiving end for way too long." your eyes spark with hopes of revenge for sampo teasing you like that to which he promptly notices. "no, i—" you push him on the tabletop and hold him down with a hand on his sculpted pecs. as your other free hand travel down to his bulge, you were caught in surprise once you felt a particular spot wet.

you've known him for too long, the same goes for his clothing. if it got this damp despite the thick pants he's wearing, it is no doubt: he came from teasing you alone. you click your tongue in annoyance but proceed to kneel in front of him anyway, still set out on making him whimper and plead for mercy.

if anything, it's better he already came, this way, you could make use of his heightened sensitivity to your advantage. his cock grows hard again and you coil your hands around its body. it throbs from the slightest, feather touches - and you did not dawdle any further. enveloping the margins of your lips from the head of his dick, you try your best to provide more space.

skillfully brushing your sultry tongue from his cock's small folds, sampo throws his head back in pleasure. "h-hey, i'm still sensitive, i just came—" you gobble all his length, proceeding to bob your head up and down, building momentum while finding the right timing to quicken the pace as well.

he whimpers as he feels the crown of his dick hit the farthest back of your throat, "e-eno—" you fiddle with his ballsacks as well, gripping on them tightly, playing around to see what kind of play sampo would like today. with no forewarnings, strings of milky white liquids sprawl into your mouth, a hint of sourness and sweetness breaks through your tastebuds.

as a perfect business partner you were, you gulp all of it down, your mouth perfectly clean of any evidences from sampo's satisfaction. you watch on sampo's lifeless body, appearing like the soul was sucked out of him. fatigue gnaws at his bones meanwhile you chortle - one that was of a mocking tone. "a well deserved defeat."

my masterlist !

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Study Buddy 2

Warnings: this series will include dark elements which may include bullying, noncon or dubcon, or violent behaviour. Mind the warnings.

Summary: a group project leads to a tense partnership.

Character: Walter Marshall

Big thanks to those who read! Feedback always helps inspire and you know I’m always happy to chat about possibilities! Please reblog and comment ❤️

You breeze through the book to your own surprise. Between your other classes and your part-time gig down at the shop, you make quick work of it. You sit to transcribe the notes you made by hand into the doc as your phone buzzes.

‘Should start writing. I can meet tomorrow.’

The message is as blunt as anything else he’s said to you. Your brief first meeting with Walter still sticks in your head. You look back to the document and see another cursor in the doc. Your words are backspaced and reworded before you. You sigh. It’s going to be one of those projects.

‘Sure. I work til 2. Library?’

You put your phone down again and ignore the edits as you continue to input your notes. You don’t know why you’re doing any of it. He seems intent on doing it all himself.

Buzz. You flip your cell and cup your chin as you read the screen. ‘Can’t make it there. Daughter’s sick. Meet me here.’

Here? As in his home? That’s a lot.

You don't get it. He suggested tomorrow then just as quickly pulls the rug out. It's like every answer you have is wrong.

‘Don't work day after.’

‘Tomorrow after 2 is fine. I'll send address.’

That's it. Even via text, you hear his unbending tone. How can you argue with that punctuation?

You just type OK and leave it be. Maybe you'll get murdered. It would at least be the end of your problems. Of all the group work you’ve ever done, he’s the least compromising person you’ve ever encountered. Usually you’d be happy to let someone else take the lead but something about his demeanour just comes off condescending.

Or maybe that’s your insecurity talking.

You continue your notes in the doc. You notice the other cursor, highlighted green, moving around the page. You try to ignore the changes in real-time being made to your own thoughts. This isn’t going to be easy. At least you’ll be able to say you earned your grade.

💻

It seems a bit reckless to be walking up to stranger’s house. In fact, after reading a thriller about murder, it rings in your head as a very unwise decision. That being said, you have to get this assignment done. It might not be worth your life but what choice do you have?

You compare the house number with the address in your phone. That’s the one. One-half of a faded old duplex. You stride up the narrow walk beside the bushes and climb up the concrete steps. You knock and wait.

You’re exhausted already. You don’t know if you’re ready for this. Work was no fun. It never is. Sorting packages is no glorious deed but it pays.

You wait and go to knock again. The door opens before your knuckles can meet the wood and you nearly rap against the chest of the man behind it. You give a sheepish cringe and rescind your hand.

“Uh, hi,” you utter awkwardly.

“Mm, hey,” Walter responds, “come on.”

He checks his watch as he backs up. It’s almost three. The buses were clogged down in the city’s core and you missed your connection to his neighbourhood. He probably wouldn’t care that you walked two blocks just to make up for the change in commute.

You step inside as he stands against the door. It’s a tight squeeze. You can smell the woodsy hint of his cologne as you brush by him. You stay on the mat and lift your foot to untie your boot with one hand. You waver as he sidles by you and switch feet. You leave the worn treads by the door.

He looks to his left and you see the hooks mounted on the wall, jackets already hung there. You take the hint and put yours with them. You swipe your bag back up and follow him down the entryway and through the second door on your left.

The kitchen is lit with an amber hue, the glass shade of the ceiling light lending a soft tint to the space. He points you to the round table across from the apron of the counter and you claim a chair quietly. You peer around curiously as he marches to the counter.

He doesn’t say a word as he fills a navy blue mug. You bop your foot under the table. You feel like you’re disturbing him but this was his idea.

“Coffee?” He asks. At least he’s kind enough to ask.

“Um, no, thanks,” you wilt out, “I’m all good.”

You reach to your bag to distract yourself. You open up your laptop as you put it on the table. He sits heavily to your right, his cup clunking down onto the wood. He drags over the notebook with loose leaves tucked between the pages.

“You mind typing?” He asks, “I’m no good with the small keys.”

“Sure, uh, let me just open up the notes...” you swirl your fingers around the touchpad as he exhales. Each breath sounds exasperated.

“You’re not one of those,” he wonders, “no coffee? What, you don’t like caffeine?”

“Um, well, I have one coffee in the morning but I don’t drink it after noon or my head hurts.”

“Mmm,” he hums flatly, “too bad.”

He lifts his cup and gulps again, elbows on the table as he hovers the mug between his hands. He seems like that type. No sleep, only coffee. It might explain his general demeanour.

“So, I’ll just make a second doc where we can put our draft,” you explain to another one of his rocky grumbles.

You hear something hoarser from down the hall. Coughing followed by horrid hacking. Then a moan as a door opens.

“Dad,” the thin voice wafts down ahead of the girl. She’s maybe fifteen, a blanket around her shoulders, as her reddened nose offers the only colour in her drawn face, “I need more cough syrup.”

“Faye,” he stands, his cup hitting the table just as harshly as before. “Go back to bed.”

“My head hurts,” she whimpers.

He stalks over to meet her by the fridge, “I know, sweetheart,” his softened tone surprises you, “go lay down and I’ll bring you some tea.” He opens the fridge and takes out a dark brown bottle, “here.” He hands her the syrup and she sniffles. He pats her arm gently, “don’t get me sick, kid.”

Her glazes eyes flit towards you as you sit with your hands over the keyboard. You look away meekly, caught.

“Who’s that, dad?” She asks.

“Schoolwork,” he gives the terse answer, “group project.”

“Oh,” she lets out the single syllable before she devolves back into a coughing fit.

“Lay down,” he demands.

As she retreats, he turns back and crosses to the counter. He flicks on the kettle and faces you, glaring over at you.

“Just a minute,” he says.

“Take your time,” you return gently, “she’s in rough shape.”

“Mm,” he rumbles, “I’m sure she doesn’t mind the time off school.”