Chapter 3 Truth Or Dare

4 years ago

Tardis

@DreamOfEndless

This chapter is dedicated to all my friends for making me smile on my birthday. Thank you so much!

And my fellow Scorpio, Sana (Tulips123), who always encourages me to write. Happy birthday to you!  

Hope you enjoy reading the chapter. 

Chapter 3    Truth Or Dare

Maya leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes. It was a new day and she was sitting inside the CEO cabin. Yet yesterday's words continued to linger.

"You still have to prove your marriage with Mr. Roy."

It is said that truth is liberating, yet truth itself is imprisoned by proof. If a poor proof happens to die an unfortunate death, then even blood and tears fall short in bringing the fallen truth back to life.

Yes, she had been at fault too, in moments of solitude she admitted being too naïve and foolish in love. But she thought she could trust him blindly because their love was true. Her naivety shattered everything that she held dear. Only if she knew then that anything true is also saddled with proof.

It felt like yesterday when she met MJ for the first time in a café and got infatuated by him. MJ knew exactly how to charm women. It was a blind date, Maya had expected to meet someone younger. She was momentarily disturbed on seeing a married man opposite her. The entire country knew who Mrityunjay Roy was. But slowly he sucked her into his charm and she marveled at the happy coincidence of seeing him; she was already impressed by his publication house. She wondered now, if MJ had somewhat engineered their first meeting. Her initial dilemma never really went away. After a whirlwind of unofficial romance, when he proclaimed his love and proposed to marry her, she rejected him.

"MJ, it’s almost impossible to not fall in love with you. But I can't marry you."

"Please don’t be so tough on me Maya.” MJ cooed in his honey dripped voice, ”You can love me, you can be mine, but you can't marry me. Why?"

Maya moved away, "You are a married man MJ, this is all wrong. My love for you, your love for me, everything is wrong."

“Then why do you come running towards me, like we were always meant to be?”

“Kyunki.. dil koi hadh nahi pehchanta.”

Maya looked away, her eyes filled with tears and agony. MJ cupped her face.

"Listen sweetheart, nothing is wrong. I am filing for a divorce so that we can always be together."

MJ showed her the divorce papers already signed by him. Maya was stunned that MJ could do so much for her. She squealed with joy. But..

"What about your kids MJ? Would I become the reason for distance between you?" She asked although she never met them.

"Everything will be sorted, don't worry. Because I need only you."

Maya blushed at his touch. How she fell for his sweet lies and honey trap, how she made the biggest mistake of her life.

Maya’s phone beeped with a message. Time to go ahead with their plans, Rajeev would be reaching there any minute. She gave a twisted smile and dived into her files humming a faint lullaby that seemed to put an invisible baby into deep sleep. She kept repeating the lines till they became dangerously haunted with grief.

"Baby is drowsing, cosy and fair

Mother sits near in her rocking chair

Forward and back the cradle she swings

And though baby sleeps, he hears what she sings" *

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz4K4tkE1T8)

Damn! Rudra punched the sofa and looked across the hall towards the CEO office where Maya was sitting. He was so frustrated that he could do nothing to stop her. He was always known for his cool and calm nature, but ever since Maya Jaisingh had come, there were major upheavals in his life. First, she spoiled his auction event and humiliated his mother, then she took over his company as the CEO based on her claim of being Mrs. Roy. Now she was acting as if nothing had happened and wanted to discuss the new project for the company.

If Maya wanted to work with Roy Publications, there were many other ways than what she did. But she didn’t. What the hell did she want? Was she really.. Did his father really.. Then his mom would at least know something. Rudra had reasons for distancing from his father, but he had no reasons for trusting Maya. Ghanshyam and Rishi went to look into further legalities of the matter. Hopefully they would find something. Meanwhile Rudra had ordered his staff to not let anyone meet Maya without Rudra’s permission. After all he was the COO.

Rudra’s intercom telephone rang, a certain gentleman in colorful clothing wanted to see Maya. He asked the receptionist to send him to his office instead.

Colorful would be a dull word in front of all the shades he wore. Gelled hair, green suit, pink trousers, multicolor shirt, it was quite contrasting with Maya's monochromatic dressing style. The guy blushed seeing Rudra noticing his attire. Rudra thought he must be Maya's ally; he had seen him before, at the auction.

"Please be seated. Rudra Roy. I am sorry ma’am is a bit busy, you can speak to me instead.”

“Nice to meet you, Rudra Mrityunjay Roy. I am Rajeev, Maya’s manager. I know exactly when ma’am is busy and when she is not.”

Rudra came to the point,  “Well, I can’t send you in without knowing why you have come.”

"I have come here to discuss about the new project."

"That is only for the Publication House to discuss. Why have you come Rajeev?"

“Why don’t you speak with your ma’am and ask why she has called me?”

Rudra was stumped. Rajeev smirked. Ye wow ki dukaan gusse mein aur bhi hot lagta hai.

“Mr. Rajeev, I know that there is more than what meets the eye. Your ma'am seems half-psycho. I want to tell you that I am a straightforward guy, without any secrets, and whatever it is you both are cooking, I won’t let it succeed. " Rudra paused. "You may visit Maya.”

Rajeev's smirk vanished as he left. He had to caution Maya against Rudra, they had to be more careful.

Ghanshyam and Rishi rang up Rudra, Ghanshyam was panting.

“Sir, the divorce papers and both signatures are genuine, we verified them at the court. But the divorce was never filed, at least in Bombay.”

“Which means Maya made false claim of being Mrs. Roy, and had no right over Roy Publications.” Rudra said.

“No, Maya still has claims,” Rishi said, " She has a power of attorney for RP in her name from the Goa branch.”

“Which makes me think if the divorce was also filed from a different court, there are so many courts in India." said Ghanshyam.

"How come mom never mentioned signing any divorce papers." Rudra said.

"Maybe things aren't as simple as  they look." said Rishi.

 I am afraid we can’t prove anything today. We are returning back.” Ghanshyam said.

Rudra disconnected the phone. Sometimes the answers are not easy to find, but Rudra needed his answers as soon as possible. One thing was clear, Maya did not come randomly, she had come there for some purpose. But why? The matter needed to be investigated.