Chapter 5 ~ The Death of Hope The chill of the ensuing night pervaded the lingering warmth in the air as the sun went down in the Delhi skies. It had been a long and taxing day for Jaidev with a line up of back-to-back, exhaustive meetings. He still had a couple of reports to prepare on the projects that he was financial advisor for in the HRD ministry. As he slipped the sheets, on which he'd scribbled some notes through the day, into his bag, he noticed the folder that Jaya had left for him this morning with the divorce papers. She hadn't called on reaching Mumbai, nor later in the day and he couldn't care less.
As he got into his car and revved up the engine, his thoughts continued to linger on the thought of divorce with Jaya and what it meant. Relief was the most overwhelming emotion that he felt associated with it. He didn't feel any joy or happiness, neither did sadness, sorrow or grief wreak havoc in his thoughts. No. His relationship with Jaya was an unwanted, constant irritation that he had to put up with every single day of his life, and every waking moment spent with her reminded him of what a spineless fool he'd been four years ago. Rage, hatred, anger towards Jaya was what kept him going everyday. He often wished that a life of loneliness would be better than the grief of the married state. Now that the elusive dream seemed to be within reach, he couldn't wait to reach out and grab it. But Jaya wasn't returning until a week, as his mother had informed him when she'd called earlier to check with him about his necessities for the upcoming two-day trip to Bangalore, which meant that Jaidev would have to wait a bit before obtaining his access to freedom. He would happily strike off the days to the big day. Hopefully, Adarsh's big day would coincide with Jaidev's, if Jaya kept her promise.
The next morning, as Jaidev browsed through the newspaper before heading for breakfast, a tiny story in the top corner of the second page caught his eye. On closer scrutiny, he learnt that advocate Sinhaal Vardhan Singh had signed up as the legal counsel for Cherish, as informed by Jaya Sinha, the new Marketing and PR head for Cherish, to the newspaper. Jaidev's thoughts wandered to his recent conversation with Adarsh where he'd learnt of the trouble Cherish was facing with it's employees and the incidents with the lawyers. He wondered whether Jaya was aware of the risk involved in being associated with Cherish at a time like this, but then shrugged it off thinking that she was a grown woman, responsible for her own decisions.
*
"Mumbai?"
That afternoon, an incredulous Jaidev looked at his father, as he stood at the airport with the ticket that had just been dumped into his hand.
"Why didn't you tell me that Jaya had decided to join Cherish?" Manohar demanded with narrowed eyes.
"But Dad, how does it matter? I'm supposed to accompany you to Bangalore for the Prime Minister's Conference. What do Jaya or Cherish have to do with it?"
"Cherish's entanglement with Subhash Lal is not something that the CM approves of. Jaya joining Cherish at this moment will not garner the Sinhas any goodwill. The CM is disappointed that Jaya is involved with an organisation that is seeking publicity through cheap tactics and maligning the name of a respectable politician," Manohar explained, his pursued lips a clear indicator of his annoyance.
Jaidev was well aware of the high regard that his father had for the Chief Minister of Delhi and how the CM, in turn, favoured his father with opportunities that helped further his political aspirations. However, today he was in no mood to let his father's dictates impact his plans.
"Jaya decided to pursue a career and made her choice. If Subhash Lal is innocent, the courts will not punish him unjustly. I don't see why we should concern ourselves with it, Dad," Jaidev responded, trying in vain to make his father see reason.
"The CM's displeasure is not worth it, Jaidev," Manohar bit out. "I want you to fly to Mumbai and convince Jaya to resign from Cherish. She will find plenty of good options elsewhere for her career."
His father couldn't be serious. He had better things to do!
"Dad, the conference - "
"Jaidev," Manohar cut him off. "Your flight leaves in 30 minutes. I will brook no arguments."
***
"Good Lord, Sin! Hair dye for holi?" Jaya asked aghast.
Jaya and Sinhaal were sitting in her room at the Diamonds Azure hotel, going through the background of the case for the past three hours. Various sheets of papers, a notepad, newpapers clippings, a couple of laptops and an iPad lay scattered on the bed. They had decided to take a break for a quick snack before resuming their research and Sinhaal now sat across from her, sipping coffee as he regaled her with tales of their escapades from the university. The current one being of three seniors who believed ragging juniors to be their birthright.
"They were notorious for making the juniors miserable. It was about time they had a taste of their own medicine," Sinhaal shrugged nonchalantly.
"How did they get the colour off?" Jaya asked, incredulous.
"They didn't. Not until a week, at least," he replied.
At Jaya's semi-horrified, semi-amused expression, he whispered with a conspiratorial wink, "The best part was, they missed graduation."
Jaya broke out into peals of laughter, her infectious chuckles resonating around the room.
"I'm glad you approve," Sinhaal grinned.
A knock sounded on the door and Sinhaal offered to answer it, as Jaya was still doubled over with laughter.
"Jaidev, what a pleasant surprise!"
Sinhaal's words broke the spell and Jaya spun to look at the door, too stunned to believe her eyes. Jaidev was here! His unexpected presence in Mumbai speared her heart with such joy, releasing a sliver of hope that her mind didn't register the annoyance evident on his face.
Directing a cursory glance towards Sinhaal as he introduced himself, Jaidev walked straight to Jaya.
"Jaidev, how - "
"We need to talk," he snapped curtly, cutting her off.
"Yes, but you could have waited till I returned to Delhi, after wrapping work here," Jaya replied.
"Jaya," he stressed each syllable like he did when he was annoyed with her and wanted to put across his point. "You can't be doing this!"
Of its own accord and against her better judgement, hope started blossoming within her heart at his words.
"What made you change your mind, Jaidev?" She asked, unable to keep the traces of hope from creeping into her voice. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sinhaal silently sneaking out of the room.
"Change my mind?" He asked, confused.
"About... about... Us," she whispered.
"Us? There is no us. I'm talking about this job that you've taken up with Cherish," he snapped, annoyed with her for being naive. Her hopeless optimism only served to spike his anger further and his voice a notch louder.
"You need to quit. Dad is irritated that you will be going against Subhash Lal, much to the annoyance and dismay of the CM. You can choose another job to pursue your career, one that doesn't involve political connections, but you need to quit this one. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes I do."
His words brought her crashing back to reality from another universe that she had travelled to, on the wings of hope, fired by his earlier words that she had foolishly misinterpreted. Jaya didn't want to analyse her thoughts any further. She was an asinine idiot. Or rather, she had been one for the last four years of her life. But she wouldn't be one anymore. Hope was futile. Hope was a deception, a lie that people loved to believe in, just so that they didn't have to accept the bitter truth of life. But she was done hoping. Tonight, fuelled by the words of the man she had foolishly come to love, she cremated the last of her hope. In its ashes, she saw reality for what it was - cold, bitter, harsh.
"We have a flight at noon, tomorrow. Be ready on time," Jaidev tossed before walking out of her room.
***
At the end of an exasperating day, Jaidev wanted nothing but a tranquil night but fate had something else in store for him. As he freshened up and hit the bed that night, for the first time in his life, he couldn't command his body to easily succumb to sleep. To his utter vexation, when he did manage to gain some shut-eye, a mellifluous laugh kept dancing at the fringes of his sleep.
*****
A/N: Hi to everyone and a warm welcome to the new readers! 🤗I have replied to everyone's comments, and sending out the PMs shortly. Looking forward to hear everyone's thoughts on this chapter. Hopefully, the next update will be up sooner.
Edited by -Sarcy- - 9 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Debate Mansion
