Part 96

ASR's trick paid off. The sale was put off. The pressure on Sham mounted exponentially. His desperation was on the verge of explosion.

Next day morning, the invitation cards packet with the neatly decorated dry fruits packets with each invitation arrived. Arnav took the parcel to his room. Nani had the invitees' list. It was decided between Nani and Mummiji that only select members like relatives would attend the wedding and there would be a grand reception in Delhi. The Roshan Aara Club was booked for the reception. Everybody was eager to see the invitation card. Nani came to Arnav's room. He gave her the first card. She asked him to keep it before God and take the blessings. Arnav reluctantly did that thinking about Khushi. Nani took the second card at the table to show it to the other members of the family.
A beautifully designed card with handmade paper and golden calligraphic lettering  was folded in equally artistically designed envelop with brush stroked golden Lord Ganesha on it. Nani looked satisfied with the elaborate arrangements done by Mummiji. She asked Arnav to take a set to Guptas. He nodded.

Everybody else gaped at the card's classy beauty. Sham waited eagerly for his turn to see the card. But somehow people missed on him and did not pass the card to him. Aakash returned the card to Nani. Sham could not resist. He bent forward stretching out his hand to pick up the card.

"Wait! Jijaji! I will give you the card! You must be eager to see it!" said Aakash and gave the card. He opened it and hurriedly scanned through it. There was no Venue written. There was a note below stating "The invitees will be taken to the wedding venue in private vehicles!"
"What? No venue?" Sham asked in surprise.
"No need, damadji. They are taking us to the venue!" said Nani looking at him suspiciously. Sham frowned. "So the wedding is in Delhi!" Sham thought deducing from the note. "But where?" He got up hurriedly and went to his room forgetting to keep the card on the table.

He looked at the reception details and dialled the Club's number only to know that the arrangements would be done only for the reception and not wedding. He was disappointed.

"Jijaji, you forgot to give back the invitation card! "Aaksh was at the door. Sham turned startled. "Aakash took the card from his hand and turned. "By the way, Jijaji, did you find the venue?" asked Aakash moving out of the room. Sham frowned. Pacing the length, he racked his brain to find a way out. He needed to know the whereabouts of Khushi. Kolkata was too big to find her out without any clue.

Arnav came back to his room (still a study room) he sat on his favourite chair and opened the card. He gazed at the names Arnav and Khushi for a long time unblinkingly. He slowly turned it over and saw the program. It was a full packed five days program starting from December 26 to December 30. And then the Reception in Delhi, the next day!. He smiled and closed his eyes.

** ***
He opened his eyes and got up with a jerk. There was a commotion downstairs. He hurriedly descended the stairs. Sham had lost his control. Apparently, the maid had made some mistake and Sham abused her. She could not bear it anymore and retorted back. Sham lost control and slapped her in Nani's presence. Nani called Anjali and in front of her reprimanded Sham saying this will not be tolerated in Raizada House. Sham was furious but had no other option than to apologize to the maid. Ajnali got upset with him.

"Why did you do that?? What’s wrong with you?" she asked him irritatingly raising her voice.

"Raani Saheba!" he started off in his silky tone.. "Please stop this! And stay away from me! I am fed up of this daily drama!!" Anjali had become touchy too.

"And Please don't create a scene!" she said and went to her room. Sham looked around and saw Arnav staring at him from the bottom of the stairs. Both gauged each other and then Arnav shrugged and turned to leave. Sham was enraged at his own vulnerability. He was losing patience.

Arnav came back smirking. This was working. His desperation would lead him to confess...!
"Bhai !" Aakash came in. It was five in the evening. "Bhai there is a problem. Aman has resigned!" said Aakash.

"What?" Arnav got up!
"Yes, Bhai .. I saw his mail now. He has put down his papers and requested us to relieve him immediately." said Aakash gravely.

"No! That is not possible!" blurted Arnav. He thought over the problem for a while. He had a policy not to try and stop anyone who has resigned, though exit interview would reveal the cause of resignation. But Aman was his right hand man. Arnav could not afford to lose Aman at this point of time.

"Ok! Aakash, you stay here. I will go talk to Aman! If he really wants to go, no one can stop him!" He said and opened his laptop to read Aman's mail. He stared at the mail. And then getting up said "Aakash, this is strange! He is on leave for a couple of days, right? He wanted to meet his parents! So he is not in the office. Then how come?" Arnav stopped in the middle.

"There is something wrong Aakash. Call the HR guy immediately!" ordered Arnav.
The HR person was on the line.
"When did you receive his resignation?" barked Arnav.
"In the morning!" Said the HR manager.
"And what did you do to it?" asked Arnav.
"I forwarded it to you and waited for your response till evening and then accepted his resignation, per our company policy" Said the HR manager.
"What? With whose permission, did you do that?" Arnav screamed.

"Sir, I am out of the office now since my duty hours are over. I will talk to you tomorrow!"said the HR manager and hung up.

Arnav was shocked. "Aakash, we need to talk to Aman" he said dialling the number. The call could not get through.

"Think, Aakash! Think! Worst case scenario!" Arnav looked at Aakash. "I have to talk to him! Get his employee information, Aakash, find out his parents address." Aakash went out. Arnav was left speechless. What was going on? Three key people leaving a couple of weeks back and now Aman? At his point of time...?

Aakash came in with the details. Arnav noted down his address, desperately trying to reach him on phone! He looked at the details taking the final decision.

"Aakash, you stay here and take care. I am going to meet him. Its a three hour drive and i will come back in the night. I will keep in touch! Don't worry! And don’t tell anyone!" instructed Arnav and left. It was almost 5.30 in the evening.

*** ***

Aman was sitting in his house with his parents watching some Hindi Serial. It was almost dinner time. His parents were happy to see him. They tried to talk to him. But Aman was unable to take part in the conversation. He was thinking about his resignation and its impact. He felt bad about it. He never wanted to leave like this.

The doorbell rang of his small three room house. His brother came out to open the door. ASR was at the door. Aman was shocked. He hurriedly came out putting on his shirt.

"Sir?Here?" he was shocked to see ASR at his door.
"Aman, we need to talk!" he said authoritatively. Aman came out. They went out on the road leaving the family members puzzled.

"Aman! I need to talk to you about your resignation!" ASR came to the point directly.
Aman had no answer, He stared at the road unfocused.
"Answer me, Goddamn it, Aman!" screamed Arnav his rage going out of his control.

Aman looked at him startled. "I had no other option!" he said mustering up his courage.
"What do you mean no other option? Why didn't you tell me before?" barked ASR.

"Sorry sir! But my resignation is accepted now. I received an email" said Aman feeling hurt.

"To hell with the acceptance, damn it!" Arnav raised his voice stopping in the middle of their walk.

Aman looked frightened. Arnav stared at his frightened look. His anger subsided. He thought of papaji and recollected how he handled his people. Papaji knew all his nearby employees by their first name and knew all their family members. He always talked to them kindly and friendly. Papaji's employees thought him to be a fatherly person and would discuss anything with him, even their family problems, as if he was one among them.

"Aman! Look, if you have got a better opportunity and going for a greener pasture, its fine with me!" said Arnav softly placing his hand on Aman's shoulder. Aman shuddered.

"Aman, I want to know the reason. You are my right hand man and are doing a great job. If you have any problem, we can discuss!" said Arnav. Aman was shocked at this softness of ASR.

"No, sir!" said Aman getting little emotional. "I mean.. I never wanted to leave!" said Aman stuttering.

"Then why are you leaving?" asked ASR puzzled. Aman did not answer.
"Answer me goddamn it, Aman!" shouted ASR. Aman took a step backwards at this outburst!

'Look Aman, I need to know! I need to know the reason!" ASR said looking at Aman.
"Sir, I mean... I feel my services are not required !" Aman said sounding frightened.
"What? Have you lost it, Aman? Your services are not required? What am I going to do then? Who told you this?" Arnav almost screamed!

"But then... I thought the new management may not need us!" said Aman.
"What? New management? Aman how could you believe in these things?" ASR was shocked.

"And you? Why didn't you talk to me about this?" he asked.
"Sir, its been done methodically. There are rumours that the management soon is going to change!" said Aman.
"What?" Shouted ASR.

Aman gaped at him. ASR came forward and putting his hand on Aman's shoulder, said "Aman, tell me what you heard!"

"Sir, I heard, Anjali madam sold all her shares and the new member Mr. sham will work as CEO" Aman said this is one breath.

"What? and you did not check it with me?" asked ASR.

"Sir.." Aman did not speak. ASR understood! Aman would not dare asking him about all this. He understood, how people were scared of him which led to this confusion.

"Aman, I am sorry for taking you for granted! But can you rethink on your decision?" asked Arnav. Aman looked at him in surprise. "Sir, as I said I never wanted to leave!" he said.

"Ok! That’s great! so we are together, right?" asked Aranv holding his hand out. Aman held out his hand too. Arnav pulled his hand and gave him a light hug. Aman could not control his emotions. He was overwhelmed. A small gesture had played the magic. He started pouring out his heart and the things that were happening in the office.

They came back. "Ok! Aman, I should leave!" Arnav turned.
"um.. Sir? would you like to come in?" asked Aman.
ASR wouldn't have, but Aranv said "why not?" he went in with Aman. Aman introduced him with his family. Aman's mother took Aman aside and asked about dinner. Aman whispered, "No, amma, he won't have it here!" But Arnav said loudly "Oh! Yes! its dinner time.."

Aman's mother came forward and said "would you like to have dinner with us, Sir?"
"Yes, Thank you and its Arnav, aunty ji!!" he said smiling at her.

*** *** ***

It was almost 2:00 in the night when Arnav came back with Aman and dropped him at his room in the city.. He knew what to do the next day! Lot of reshuffling was coming around in the company. Fourteen days left!!