Part 52

Arnav was irritated with himself. Khushi had sensed his inner feelings. 

 
He was in a very good mood in the morning and was sure that nothing would go wrong from now on and his stars were shining brighter. But when he came to the office and saw the pathetic situation in the conference room, he thought otherwise.  His stars were gloomy. He never wanted his systems to fail at this crucial juncture. He had asked his person to set it right. But fortunately everything was settled since he had plan B ready for backup.

He mused on his own vulnerability in front of Khushi. “She always catches me on wrong foot.. However I try to hide my feelings, she always exposes me and every time I feel swayed away by her. I will get back, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada…. “ He thought resolutely.

Aakash called him up. “Bhai… I casually asked Di about her accident. She said she tripped over the small stool which the new maid had kept it there and had forgot to keep it back at its place.”

“See.. I knew it. Its him. She must have kept it on purpose. We did right in ousting her out of our house. “ He said in a rage. “Aakash we have to do something without wasting time.” He said worriedly.

“Bhai…. Thats why I called you. Di has called back the maid, saying its not her fault. It seems the made had brought the stool for Di to tighten up her braces. Di said she wants that maid back in the house as she is needy and we have to help her.” Said Aakash seriously.

“Humm!” Arnav was deep in thoughts.

“Bhai… I told Di and offered that maid, a job in our office. Bhai… Di refused to send her saying she is illiterate and it would be difficult for her to work in the public place like offices. Bhai… she is not ready..” Aakash said.
Arnav banged his fist on the table in frustration. Things were not going his way. Or were they?
All the satisfaction he had with the outcome of the meeting vanished. He decided to go home for lunch.

He went home only to find out that Sham was still at home having lunch with all the family members. “Hello Saale Saab. It’s a pleasure to have you for lunch with us after a very long time.” He said silkily. Arnav did not respond. He silently started having his lunch.

“How was the conference call Saale Saab?” Arnav was shocked at this question. “OK” he said curtly hinting that he did not wish to answer any further questions on this.

“Anyway, I have an interview with Mr. Banerjee at 4.00 and I think I should leave now. I need to abreast myself for this meeting” Said Sham smirking.
“Yeah ok” said Arnav. He was relieved that finally sham was going out leaving his Di alone at least for some time.

** ***
“Di, I will get another maid for you, may be more experienced and qualified. I cannot take chances with this one, Di… Please listen to me..” Arnav pleaded helplessly. He wanted to drive the maid out of the house.

“Chote… Don’t bother yourself with these domestic issues. I have decided that she will stay here and that’s final. I have promised your jijaji. So she stays. Look at her, poor girl, having a child to bring up with no family backing…! Widowed at such an young age….” Anjali said looking at the maid who had come out to clean the table. Arnav glanced at the maid and was shocked to see tears in her eyes. “Crocodile tears…!” he thought.

Sham was on his way to the office. He called his aide again. “Keep the CD ready. I am coming to the office in a few minutes.” He ordered.
“Sir, we have a situation. There is problem. Our Lease line failed and I could not connect to the wireless router initially. But when I set it right, he had already started his con call using his USB Internet Dongle on his laptop. He refused to connect his laptop to our office LAN and used it as stand alone system. I could not record the meeting…”

“What? Damn it! “ Sham was visibly frustrated. Nothing was going right for him.
“Sir, He used his laptop for the con call. But we can always sync his laptop with our servers…” the aide said hopefully.
“What are you waiting for?” Asked sham angrily.
“Yes Sir, I will go, get his laptop and will call you back once it is done…” Said the aide.
Arnav decided to work from home and went to his room. Opened his laptop and started downloading his mails…..

Sham was all set for his interview. It was a big day for him. He had an initial set back as he could not get the recording of the meeting of ASR and the CEO. He wanted to know more about this CEO to tackle him.

He sat nervously in the conference room and waited for the screen in front to glow. Exactly at 4.00 it glowed. Mr Shondeep Banerjee greeted him. He kicked off the meeting and asked Sham to elaborate on his profile. Sham started off politely gauging the other person. "He seems to be sober and straight forward, averse of politics. He can be easily managed. Does not know much about legal politics... I think I can pocket him" thought sham while he was talking on his own profile.
"Mr Sham Zaa, you seem to have experience in handling the government officials but you have no experience in handling the complex issues like privatization of co-op units and handling the Industrial relations." Mr. Banerjee asked him cutting off his elaborate talks.

"Mr. Banerjee, I am a lawyer by profession and know all the legal implications of such privatization. I may not have prior experience, but there is always a first time. And I am sure with my contacts I will handle such cases." Said Sham confidently.

"There can be issues of labor union and also political vested interests..." Said Mr. Banerjee.
"Politicians can be managed. I have done that before. They can be handled on their weak links..." Sham said.
"What is your philosophy in handling these critical issues? How would you prepare yourself?" Asked Mr. Banerjee.

"Get it done by any means should be the approach. Any document can be doctored to our advantage..." He said looking at Banerjee to read his mind. Mr. Banerjee had no expression on his face. Sham was unable to get the reaction.
The interview went on for more than two hours. Sham seemed to be exhausted with the detailed questions. He had prepared well. His person from Sahakaar coop spinning mill had already briefed him about what to say and what to hide. According to him, he had done well. He was welversed with all the legal complicatins about the union, the compensation issues, about Labour Tribunals, about filing the papers and also on the implication on the members of coop. Societies.

The only hitch was he could not gauge Mr. Shondeep Banerjee. He seemed to know nothing initially but as the interview progressed, Sham was shocked with his thorough knowledge about the co-operative manufacturing societies and the problems faced by such units. Sham had to change his stance frequently and had to go on back foot every time Mr. Banerjee encountered him on issues of ethics and motives.
Sham came out wiping sweat on his forehead. He dialed a number and talked to the other person with a glint of pride. He had done well. Now he will have the Raizadas dancing to his tune. The person on the other side seemed satisfied. He congratulated him on his success.

Arnav went out in the evening alone. No one knew where he went. Late in the evening, Arnav, Shondeep and Mr. Balwindar Singh had a telephonic con call. Mr. Banerjee gave his report on Mr. Sham Zaa.

"Sir, Arnav... this is my first hand report on this lawyer. Oh Boy! He knows his domain. He had done his homework well. He knew all about the co-op. spinning mill we are considering to take over. He knew about the process and the government agencies involved. He seems to be thorough about what he was talking over. I feel he could be the right person for this take over.

Arnav was shocked at this. How can Shondeep be so impressed by this conman? He didn’t react. He just kept listening to what they were talking.
Mr. Balwindar Singh on the other hand reacted. "Oh! Ok. We will consider him after some more investigation about this person."

"Sir, but before we go ahead with this person, I would like to place before you some of my readings about this person. He seems to be a dicey person. He tends to ignore the rules and get the work through back door entry. He has no inhibitions about bribe and thinks its one of the method of getting the things done. He is of the opinion that nothing can happen if we abide by the rules. Though he is a lawyer he has no respect for laws and rules." Shondeep said gravely.
"Then, why are we considering him? I have never done any illegal thing in my life. Though I am of the opinion that power and money can mend and bend people, I will never do any illegal thing.. forget about bribing." Arnav was furious about this discussion. He wanted this person out.

Balwindar Singh did not react initially and after a long pause he spoke. "We need to meet again before we take any decision. But prima facie, he seems to be ok for this position. I will let you know in the next meeting." He concluded the con call.
Arnav waited for some time and then called papaji. "Arnav I was waiting for your call. Puttar, before you say something, listen to me carefully." Said papaji and started off his analysis.

"Puttar, I had not given any background of this entire exercise of trapping Sham to Shondeep. I wanted his honest, unbiased opinion and I got one. Shondeep is very good at judging people and putting them in the right quadrant. Puttar, knowledgeable wicked persons are more dangerous. We have to handle them carefully and use their brains to our advantage. He is a lawyer with a criminal mind... these people are a danger to the society. They get away with everything. They can be trapped only by patience. We have to wait for the time when they err on their confidence.... Puttar, do you understand what I mean?" Papaji asked him kindly.

Arnav forgot to react, his head spinning. He was thinking about sham and his ulterior motives. "Puttar, I request you think about it rationally and ponder. You will realize what I mean. I will talk to you tomorrow. And if you trust me... leave this issue to me to handle. "

"Yes. Papaji... uncle.. I leave it to you! Good night" Arnav hung up. He came home.

He called Khushi in the night. "Khushi....".
"dwaad? Adnaajwee! DwaeD!" there was noise from the other end and a silence for a while... He heard coughing and then hiccups and a big gulping sound. He was flabbergasted.
"Sorry! Arnavji... I was eating and I had swallowed hard and chocked up...!" She said still coughing.
"Oh! Are you ok now?" He asked. He could hear voices in the background. Lot of kids and a loud music! There seemed to be commotion all around.

"Khushi... what is going on?" He asked.
"Oh! Nothing. The kids got bored so I gathered some more kids from the neighborhood and we are having a party here..." She said.
"Ok. Khushi. I will call you later." He said frustrated and hung up. He knew there is no point talking to her at this point of time.

*** ***
It was an overcast Friday. It was drizzling the whole day. Monsoon had set in. Lot of things happened in these days after the meetings on Tuesday. He had instructed his Company Secretaries to go ahead with floating a new company with a five crore corpus fund. The office bearers were yet to be decided. He had a feeling that the things are going his way. He was watering his plants before going to the office.
He saw Aakash and Payal sitting on sofa. He headed straight towards his room. He overheard them talking. "No Aakash ji.. please..Its 28th ...not on 28th... Its Khushi's birthday...." Payal was saying seriously.

Arnav stopped dead in his tracks. "Khushi's Birthday? When? This month? Next month?" He turned back.
"Aakash, what is it?" He asked looking at Payal. She had stopped talking.

"Nothing Bhai... we were planning for rain picnic, both the families to a resort, like we used to go when we were kids." Aakash said excitedly.
Arnav paid no attention to what Aakash was planning. He kept looking at Payal.
"Which 28th?" He asked.
"This 28th....." Said payal confused.
"That's tomorrow... Saturday, july 28." Arnav thought.
"Khushi's birthday!! And I don't even know about it..." He thought. "Why did she not tell me before?" he mused. He had heard her talking about celebrating everybody's birthday but never about her own birthday. He turned to leave.

"Payalji, we will celebrate her birthday in the picnic". Aakash was not ready to give up his picnic plans.
"No Aakash ji. We do not celebrate her birthday". She said almost sobbing.
"Why?" Aakash asked.
"It's a long story. We just do not talk about it at all." She said. "Ok. Aakashji, we have to leave for shopping. We will plan out our picnic on some other day. Please?"
They both got up to leave.
"wait a minute, payal... I want to talk to you" Arnav said seriously.
"Ok. Bhai... I am waiting in the car" Said Aakash and left.
"Payal... tell me what is it that you do not want to talk about?" He asked.
"Arnavji... I really do not want to talk about it and Khushi will also not talk about it. In face she will not talk to anyone tomorrow." Payal had tears in her eyes.

"Payal... I am asking you this for the last time. Tell me.." He asked threateningly.
"Arnavji ..."She started off in a small voice.
Arnav stood there thunder struck... gaping.
"Poor Khushi.... She thinks she is responsible..." Payal could not say anything more and left.
Arnav came to his room like a sleep walker totally dejected with a heavy heart!