The dimly lit cafe in Delhi did not look like the ideal setting for a business meeting, even though that, in essence, was what this was. A business meeting. The candles glimmered in small niches along the wall, the ambience looked romantic, inviting, the scent of white lilies wafted in the cool air. The man sitting on the table drinking an iced mocha had been waiting impatiently, and his source was already an hour late. His floppy dark hair was dishevelled, and he looked too young to be the famed reporter that he was. His wore a perfectly cut Armani suit. He looked stressed, and he had every reason to be--he had postponed an interview with the biggest superstar in Indian cinema for this meeting.
Wearing a pale yellow translucent sari, her slender, elegant body decked in diamonds, gorgeous jhumke on her ears, Saanchi Shekhar walked in, well aware of being late to her meeting in this coffee shop and clearly not giving a damn. Rohan Malik watched the sister of one of the most powerful men in Delhi enter, and sit across from him. Rohan was obsessed with her of late, and today she looked just as composed as she had looked over the past month, during which the two of them had met frequently, always in this cafe, to plan the exposes, one after the other.
Including the preparation and execution time for such a big story, Rohan had known and worked closely with Saanchi, under conditions of total confidentiality, under frenzied media spotlight and pressure, for more than a month----and still she was a mystery. Other than the relationship of source and reporter, Rohan had nothing in common with this beautiful woman. He was a workaholic who had worked his way up the ladder to run one of India's premiere tv channels, while she was a pampered rich aristocrat who had never had to work a day in her life. He came from a cheerful, comfortable middle class family, teeming with relatives and cousins. The Maliks were a rowdy, loud, loving, Punjabi joint family, all settled in a sprawling compound in Ludhiana, who Rohan visited whenever he could get away from Delhi. Saanchi, aside from her ferocious devotion to her brother and bhabhi, seemed to really not give a damn about anyone else.
But in one respect, Rohan had come to realize they were identical--he was a merciless entrepreneur, whose brilliant mind, courage and valour enabled him to thrive in a cutthroat world. And Saanchi Shekhar? She, who was in fact the mysterious source who had orchestrated this whole thing, the information leaked to NDTV. She had provided the details about Shiv and Anandi, lured the totally clueless Ashima, exposed the villainous and evil Jagdish, and who had decided on the content of each episode.
This woman had, the entire Indian media eating out of her hand and dancing to her tune. She had evaded being caught out by Shiv himself, and had shaped the story of her brother's romance on her own terms. She had kept a watch on Anandi for three months, and made sure her brother and bhabhi would be together when the time came. Without once revealing who she was, or what she was doing. And no one had known -- other than Rohan. Rohan Malik didn't know much about Saanchi Shekhar but he knew that she was the most scheming, conniving and intelligent woman he had encountered in his fifteen years of journalism.
Today was to be their last briefing. The hysterical idolization and analysis of "The Love Story of the Century," as her brother and sister in law's romance was now being dubbed in all the papers and media outlets, was finally dying out. It had been a month since the fabled wedding had splashed its colors all over the front pages of newspapers and magazines, had been telecast on TV channels and streamed on live internet feeds.
NDTV had made history. Rohan Malik had the TRPs and the sponsors he had always wanted. He had pulled off the decade's most elusive coup--- combining insatiable demand for scandal with investigative reporting, all of it hyped up with brilliant marketing. He had guaranteed, with the Shiv-Anandi blockbuster story, that the news cycle belonged to him, and him alone. The NDTV story and the hysteria surrounding this story ensured the channel would remain in the top position in India for years
All because of an idea, a proposition, a burst of brilliance rather, by this serene beautiful woman in a coffee shop in Delhi, one month ago. He had not known her, but had gone along because it was such a eccentric, mad, brilliant plan. A plan to help him win the ratings war, and help her win a war of her own. All this, the entire drama pulled off by just --the two of them. Reporter. Source.
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"How are they?" Rohan asked Saanchi as she handed him her final notes, and returned the private, untraceable cell phone that had been their primary means of communication . Aside from their meetings in this caf to discuss strategy, plan the articles, the leaks.
"Bhai and Bhabhi? Happy! So happy, Mr Malik, they make you almost afraid to not believe in love, they glow with such happiness. Thank you Mr Malik, now my bhabhi knows just how important she is to my brother. I could not have done this without your help."
Rohan, taking off his jacket and loosening his tie, would not have been human had he not prodded-- just a little. Once a reporter, always a reporter. Of course, none of what she might reveal about herself, about her own motives would ever leave this room. The story, their purpose for the story, was done. It was over.
"Saanchi, why did you do it? Admitted, it was noble of you to bring your brother and sister-in-law together--but the scandal of being exposed as the source would have torn your family apart!! From what I know of your brother, he would never have forgiven you, he is an intensely private man. What could your reason, you motives possibly be? Why would a woman like you take such a risk?"
Saanchi looked up at the powerful, mysterious man who did not look like the power journalist he was, whose boyish charm had melted her heart, whom she had a huge crush on and who had helped the brother who was the only person she had left after the terrible car crash her family had been killed in.
She answered him, wanting to tell him the truth at last.
" Mr Malik, we had a deal. You were never to ask me this question. But this will be the last time we meet, so here is my answer. I was the only person who could do this considering the risk, the planning, and the manipulation of the news. My brother is the only person I have left. And my bhabhi is the only person who makes him happy. He lost everyone and everything in that terrible accident. He alienated himself from my bhabhi, with the idea that he was no longer worthy of her love. He felt he had let her down. They were supposed to be married that day but the accident happened. He lay in a hospital bed, in a coma and my bhabhi thought he had abandoned her. I could not let that happen. Anandi was miserable without him. She cried, thinking she had faced betrayal once again, and my brother when he had gained consciousness refused physiotherapy because he did not want a life without her. I had to make sure they met. I would have it no other way. "
Saanchi took a deep breath and went on, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
"Anandi had to come back and bhai had to realize what he needed to do to keep her.
I am not mahaan, or good, or pure, Mr. Malik. Bhai thinks so, and I let him think it, He needs to believe it. He is my older brother. But I am only human.
I did it because my ex-husband was the reason that accident happened. I had to expose him; he had to pay for what he did to my family. I knew he was evil and I let him loose on my family. I am a lawyer too, even though I never practiced law, even though I got married to Jagdish right after law-school. I know about crime, and criminals, and I knew what he was like. And I married him anyways, because I liked the lies he made up to make me feel special. I fell in love, and I didn't care-- I lied to bhai so he wouldn't do a background check on Jagdish. I lied to bhai even when I knew Jagdish was with other women--and there were others-- or cheating his clients-and he did cheat. Steal.
Believe me, we women---we always know our husbands. If he is an honorable man, a good man, like bhai--- we will know it in our hearts, no matter how much he hides it. If he is rotten to the core, like Jagdish---we will know that too. Instinct.
I saw through all the lies, but I liked the ones he told me. I liked how those lies made me feel. So for three years, I let my selfishness rule my life. I lived for the fantasy of pretending to be a queen with Jagdish as my adoring servant-I played that game, that role. I always knew Jagdish was a villain. I knew he wanted our property, our money. The money that my brother and my father worked so hard for; the money that is my grandfather's legacy
I broke down when my brother gave up hope. He is the most selfless man in the world. He may seem like a ruthless businessman on the outside but he is a great man. He only desired one thing: Anandi and they were separated because of me. I kept the truth from him. And for what? A game. A mistake I made three years ago, with my marriage.
I had to expose Jagdish and get my bhai and bhabhi together. It was only fair. Why would the two people I loved the most, my only family pay the most for my stupid mistake.
And as for bhai finding out...He may by the great Shivraj Shekhar, Mr Malik. But I? --I am THE SAANCHI SHEKHAR. He is still MY older brother. You know the saying, don't you?- The female of the species is more dangerous than the male' and I am the female Shekhar, Mr. Malik.
People always seem to forget that, somehow.
As for you, are you going to kiss me now or will you keep staring at me with your mouth half open."
Rohan then smiled at Saanchi; a tender smile, a smile filled with love, with humor, an expression that no one who knew this driven, merciless man would have thought he was capable of.
Rohan realized with total shock that he was completely, irrevocably in love with Saanchi. He was already treating her family, like they were his own. It was a revelation, to say the least, to realize that he was so besotted by this aristocratic, pampered woman-- someone he would never have imagined as his bride. Someone who's powerful brother would kill him if he found out that some reporter had dared to touch his sister let alone kiss her.
So Rohan promised himself that he would not let this woman go, no matter what the obstacle, no matter who stood in the way. Saanchi was flawed, she was wounded and scarred--she was a manipulative, dangerous, brilliant woman. But she was his.
Convincing Shiv would be another matter altogether.
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Indias Got Talent 11
Cricket
