Chapter 8
Chapter #34
More than satisfied, the senior manager closed the file with relish and grinned. The contents of the folder went a long way to make up for the ulcer he was convinced he had developed over the last ten days. He tapped on the file. "You do indeed have the Midas touch, Shaurya. What you have executed in less than two weeks is remarkable," the man stated, effusively commending the hotelier. "One could almost be tempted to send you away for a little while longer to see what more you could achieve," he added, chuckling at his own attempt at humor.
"Perhaps after this season of ISC concludes," Shaurya indicated with a careless smile.
"Perhaps: nahi definitely," the executive corrected, with a gleam in his eyes. His mind was already flooded with thoughts of the benefits the partnership with the globally recognized corporation could bring. Shaurya Khanna's success would result in immeasurable exposure for both the series and the network.
"I will take that under advisement. However, for now, just as Rajiv bhai assured you previously, I am here: back on time, and my focus shall be exactly where it needs to be. There will be no loss in the show's momentum, therefore no need to deviate from what is working for us: agreed," Shaurya affirmed.
"Naturally. You are steering the ship, Shaurya: you solely. It was our mistake, jumping the gun and we categorically won't be doing that again, will we Uday?"
Shaurya's eyes slid to the man who was seated across the table. The fact that he could wrest an admission that he had been wrong, from the highest-ranking person in the room, should have been notice enough to the producer that Shaurya Khanna was not a man to be trifled with. One arched eyebrow was all it took to push the man to speak.
"Haan...I get it. ICS is absolutely your baby; Shaurya."
"I'm glad you understand that Uday. But just soften the blow, why don't we work out an one-time appearance for your Chef...what's her name again... ah yes Chef Julia, for her troubles," Shaurya offered magnanimously.
"I think that is more than generous, don't you Uday?"
Refusing to even look at the man who had thwarted his plans, the producer directed his answer to the Station Manager "More than, he gritted out. He began to rise out of his seat. "As a matter of fact, I will get on that straight away. I'll..."
"Actually: I'd rather you didn't," Shaurya interjected. He smiled effortlessly. "What I mean to say :not right at this moment." He glanced at his watch. "Could we have the room for another ten to fifteen minutes? There are just one or two points I wanted to go over with Uday, bhai before the shoots recommence in two days."
Anxious to examine more closely the specifics of the windfall that had Shaurya had come back with, the executive nodded before standing to leave, taking copies of the draft agreement with him to study. He welcomed Rajiv to join him for a cup of coffee, who declined, owing to the need to make a few phone calls. Catching Shaurya's attention, Rajiv glared at his partner, and shook his head in warning to the younger impetuous man. The smile he got back did nothing to reassure him, but he figured that nothing he could say would make any difference. Better to let the two men have this confrontation in the relative seclusion of the boardroom than in a more public domain.
"Don't forget we have a full schedule for the remainder of the day, Shaurya," Rajiv muttered, hoping that the hotheaded man would show some level of restraint for the next quarter of an hour.
********
"You know if you really consider things, you probably should be thanking me, Shaurya."
"Aacha?"
"Definitely," Uday answered keeping a close eye on the man who had gotten up from his chair and walked around the table carrying his coffee cup. He pushed his own seat back from the table so that he could afford himself some measure of defense if necessary. Trying to appear nonchalant, the man continued speaking. "A brand-new enterprise in one of the most marketable locations in the US, a major in-road into the North American television market; complete with a partnership with one of the world's most renowned corporations. You should be well pleased Shaurya. Had I not prompted your little bird Mehek to fly away..."
Shaurya was far quicker than even Uday could imagine when a sudden move from the man had his face slamming against the edge of the boardroom table. Immediately blood spurt from his nose onto the polished wood surface. The hand that had propelled him there remained, tight around the back of his neck.
"Since you are a little slow of the mark, let me explain things to you in a way you may better understand. As far as you are concerned, Mehek Sharma is persona non-grata. The very thought of her should remind you of the pain that could be inflicted on you, at any time of the day or night: from anyone, from any corner. You don't know when it will come, you don't know who will inflict it, just that it's a guarantee. From today onwards, Uday bhai, you are not allowed to even refer to Mehek, let alone come anywhere near her. And that, my friend, leaves you in a bit of a quandary, since it is my intention that she return, back to ISC for a couple more appearances before the show wraps up. I'm afraid, bhai, you have no choice but to tender your notice: the sooner the better."
Thrusting his hands on the forward, Uday pushed up in the effort to dislodge the man who kept a vice-like grip on him. He managed to lift himself halfway before he was smashed down once more. This time he had the foresight to turn his head and, his less fragile jaw took the brunt of the blow this time. Not that it mattered as he swore against the blinding pain radiating up his cheek.
"I wasn't finished." Shaurya stated.
"f**k you."
Shaurya sighed, and pulled the stunned man back into an upright position and sat him back into his chair properly. He delivered a slap to the man's face for good measure. "C'mon bhai, I'm only trying to help you out here. Do you really want to live your life perpetually on edge? Not knowing if and when some mishap will befall you; when some ill-will be directed towards you? Save yourself the trouble and move on. No one will think less of you: believe me."
He let the man go and observed his condition. Little did the man now that his was to be only the beginning of his problems. In a calculated move, Shaurya threw his handkerchief to the man, whose face was complete a mess.
The man ignored the linen square at first, before thinking better of it. In a voice distorted by the cloth he was obliged to press to his nose, Uday finally responded. "You fool: have you never heard of CCTV? You've just prepared and signed your own arrest warrant, Shaurya Khanna." He stood unsteadily before crumpling back into his seat, aided by a painful grip on his shoulder from man next to him. Purposively swinging Uday's chair to the small wall mounted camera, Shaurya smiled and waved at the device.
"Aacha, you mean the CCTV footage that has the most peculiar tendency of going missing here at the studio?" Shaurya shrugged. "Can't say that I'm too concerned."
"You should be, you bas***d. You're not the only one who holds influence around here Shaurya. Footage or no I have every right to file a F.I.R. and get your ass put away."
Shaurya smirked and leaned forward, towards the man. "You do that, Uday," he taunted, smiling when his adversary automatically shied away. Leaving him alone, Shaurya instead picked up the file the producer had left on the table, and opened it to the headshot of Chef Julia. "I would think some charge under section 509 of the penal code should suffice," he muttered. He raised his eyes to the man, "Oh wait, that's not right: 509 covers sexual harassment in the workplace; something that's more your thing right Uday?"
"She doesn't work for us."
"Chef Julia: no, she doesn't, but under the circumstances our young Esha would technically qualify."
"Two consenting adults one known in her circles for her liberal lifestyle. The charges would never stick."
"No, in all likelihood; they wouldn't," Shaurya conceded, "Still, it was a worth a try. To tell the truth, bhai I've heard that about you: that somehow the charges; no matter what they are, never seem to stick. They have gotten worse over the years, but somehow not one of them ever came to fruition. 509, 354, oh and let's not forget the last accusations: sections 366A and 376. If I understand properly, that was when you were producing that youth talent show for another network right? A vile, sordid affair involving a minor female under the influence of alcohol... you and a friend, if I'm recalling the details relayed to me correctly. And even then, somehow the charges just didn't stick... I mean, you did have to leave your position in the end, but your former employers did back you up. Your poor victim didn't stand a chance against the influence of station."
Uday's venomous stare deepened. So, the man had investigated him, he thought. It wouldn't get him anywhere... all the cases against him had been legally dismissed. Now, all Shaurya had done was to piss him off and fuelled his desire for payback. The pain he was feeling would be worth it when Shaurya Khanna was led away in handcuffs today. That errant belief made him careless, and his next words sealed his fate
"Ah Shaurya, you are making me regret that all I did was talk to the lovely Mehek...I should have done so much more. No matter. Since you are insistent on presenting me another opportunity, I'll make sure to this time around."
*******
"The man at the very least has a severe concussion, Shaurya. Do you really believe that your story of him slipping on spilled coffee and striking the table is going to hold water?"
His arms crossed, Shaurya watched the gurney carrying the semi-lucid producer being loaded into the waiting ambulance. "What's the status of the security footage," he asked Rajiv.
"There has been a complete system failure since this morning, apparently."
"Then yes, my version will do."
Rajiv stared at his business partner and shook his head. As per usual, the younger man was steps ahead. He had realized this after he had left Shaurya in the conference room, when he had headed for the Security department, figuring that preventative measures may be in order. He needn't have worry, it turned out with the CCTV to the entire building offline.
"At least he will be out of the way for a while," Rajiv stated, as the pair got into their car.
"Oh, he will be gone longer than that," Shaurya insisted. He would make certain of it. By targeting Mehek the man had automatically put a target on himself, but the discovery of Uday's perversions had riled Shaurya to the extent, that he had been spurred into taking action that months prior would not have entered his mind. He handed over the dossier that he had kept with him for Rajiv to study.
"This was hardly the sort of information I expected to be uncovered when I got an investigator to look into his past. The girl... the child he raped was barely fifteen," Shaurya said, "And she and her family never stood chance. To save face, his employers supported him completely, and most likely paid off everyone in authority, so that no legal action proceeded. And then they let that bas***d resign with no blemish to his character to become to Zee and become ICS's problem."
Grieved by what he was hearing, Rajiv sat silently, flipping through details that Shaurya's detective had uncovered.
"She prompted me back then, when I warned her about him, you know."
"What's that Shaurya?"
"Mehek. When I had warned her to stay away from Uday, she asked me if I had warned my contestants. I should have heeded her words, and had him investigated right there and then. Had I learned any of this, the man would have been given the boot weeks ago. But now I have taken things farther and will ensure the man receives the punishment he should have for his crime."
He noticed that Rajeev had reached the last page: the correspondence Shaurya had initiated with the NGO who, now with the aid of an anonymous benefactor would take up the case of the young victim, who deserved justice.
"I will spare nothing to have this wrong righted. They have already retained the best lawyers. I expect the warrant to take him into custody, will be ready before he is ready to be discharged. Trust me we have seen the last of Uday."
"And now we are minus a producer."
"Not so bhai. Before you, you have a man of many talents."
Rajiv shook his head. "Is there anything you aren't capable of, Shaurya?"
Shaurya reached into his inner coat pocket. He had yet to relinquish possession of the ring, and now that he had taken care of the most pressing issue affecting his show, it was now time to move on to his personal matters. He flipped the top of the ornate box open and displayed the exquisite piece that lay within. "We shall soon see Bhai. So, any advices as to how to go about transforming myself from a complete villain to their choice of a future son-in-law to Mehek's family?"
**********
"Here you are: your order, and one rose for the beautiful bride. I wish you both a happy married life, and magical stay here at Disney."
Melissa turned to her friend. "And we are done. Everything taken care of and there are 15 guests who have had an extra bit of pixie dust added to their time at Disney today."
Mehek shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe Mel had actually done what she had. She had officially taken her indignation to ridiculous heights. "Do you know the strings Malik had to pull to have those flowers delivered here in the park? How could you have given then away?"
"And I suppose I was expected to be so impressed? Roses: really that is such a typical man move. Send her some flowers and all is forgiven. Oh, and let's make sure that you prove that you are a really big man, and send more than the usual dozen. A dozen roses are so passe, so send her 15."
"Well actually there was significance to there being 15 roses, Mel. That is the number one usually sends when they want to apologize. The red roses mean affection, while the white ones are meant to convey sincerity and innocence. They were a clear message from him. And you gave them away."
Melissa swallowed...hard. If Mehek was not mistaken, her eyes had softened just a bit.
"He's trying, Mel. Can you not see it in you to give him a chance: to at least speak to him; to hear him out? Call him tonight, he will take the call even you telephone him at the restaurant."
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
"Can't...I have a date. With Dev."
"Dev," Mehek asked.
"Dr. Dev from the Diwali party," her friend confessed.
"Malik's neighbor, Dr. Dev? Oh Melissa, what are you doing? You weren't interested in him a few days ago and now you are?"
"He's a nice guy. I need...I deserve a nice guy. Ayway it's just dinner and a movie."
Mehek didn't even bother to hide her exasperation. "And the fact that he's Malik's neighbor has nothing to do with your decision, right? How do you think he is going to feel when he hears about this? Maybe you should think about why you are so intent on making the man jealous and stop being deliberately cruel."
******
**PING**
...It's not a matter of being unwell, Shaurya, I'm just worn out from my day in general...and dealing with Mel specifically. Tomorrow doesn't look to be much better as I will be with Malik first thing in the morning, when we meet to discuss the special project we have been assigned to.
...You are right to turn in early then. There is bound to be a lot to focus on.
...Not the least being Malik's frustrations when he hears the fate of the flowers he sent her.
...You are being a good friend, Mehek. To both of them.
...As are you my KK...being the best dost I could ever ask for. Thank you for letting me vent.
... I miss you.
...Do you Dost?
...You know I do. So, what's the plan for you? What is the great Shaurya Khanna accomplishing today: world domination?
... A quiet morning, but then some lunch time negotiations; the first round of probably the second most important discussions I've ever been involved in. Only convincing the incomparable Mehek Sharma that I love her was more significant to me.
...And look how that worked out...perfectly. Is your meeting at White Chili's?
...Haan
...Great: you have home court advantage. Between that, my love and best wishes, everything will work out just as you wish. I promise.
Assured of her affections, a warm smile encompassed Shaurya's face. He reached again for his keyboard.
...Have I told you how much I love you Mehek Sharma?
...Today or in general? Because I will never tire of the words Shaurya.
... Aacha?
...I love you...
...I love you
...I love you
...I love you
...I love you
... Stop you moron will you let me get a word in LOL
...Bolo
...I love you too Shaurya...All the best for your lunch meeting.
[NOCOPY]
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