Hey, guys! First of all, sorry for my late update. Had my exams that's why the delay. And please don't throw your valuable shoes on me as this chapter might be bit 'off'. Rest upto your judgement.
Ranveer, after a couple of days, seemed to recover from the effects caused by the nasty turn of events. However, short the span was of Ranveer's misery, Ishani found each day of hers being in the same anguish as he. They both had spent their entire lives sharing each others' happiness, sorrows and dreams and there were promises that were made between the two. Ishani had always tried to fulfill them as much as possible but she knew she had failed in many ways. "I will be by your side, Ranveer, whenever you are in pain," she had said to him years ago, because she had felt her own heart aching seeing him hurt. Ishani had to keep her mouth shut whenever Ranveer was punished for the mistakes he did not make because that would mean more troubles for him since her family had only person, Baa, who would take such tyrant decisions for others. Ranveer, to save her, always ended up bringing the wrath of her on himself but this time it was her turn, and she knew what she had to do.
Luck did more than a good favor to her when the news of the announcement of Annual Business Awards came out and Ishani was certain that Ranveer would bag this for sure but he was not ready to attend the function as he said he doesn't work to collect awards but working for him is a passion which does not need any external motivations from some unknown people.
"If going there is so much important, Puneet will do it," he said when Ishani insisted him. "I have other important things to do."
Ishani could not deny how irritating he really looked sometimes with his attitude but she knew this was what had protected him from the flings of the cruelties of the people around him for two years now. This time Ishani made sure that Ranveer knows his own worth very well and does not blame himself anymore because of the people who had no importance in his life.
Puneet along with Rishi agreed to go to the award function, and Ishani also was invited there. Although she hated to be in public but this time she had to make it there and surprisingly she found strength to do so.
The award function was to be held on 15th of December, and most of the businessmen and politicians of the country were invited. This certainly was one of the most awaited events of the year and for Ranveer was the one being considered for the Best Businessman Of The year Award for his growth had been excellent in one year and he was one of the pioneers who had played prominent role in country's economic growth as well.
"I'm sure you will win this year," Ishani said to Ranveer on the Award evening.
"Oh, okay," he replied, not caring much about the topic Ishani was bringing in.
"Don't you think it's cool?"
"Ishani, when I was a servant no one cared to give me any award and when I became RV no one presented an award me to do so. I respect their sentiments but I just do not have the same opinions about them like everyone else does. And as far as I remember you never were interested in them either why this excitement now?" Ranveer said earnestly.
Ishani was surprised to see that Ranveer still remembered her dislike for them but there was no time to ponder over them as she had other things to focus on.
"Alright, then. I'm leaving now. I'll pray it's you," she said and left, not answering his questions.
*
After Ishani left Ranveer gave a sigh. He never craved for attention or special honor from the authority, for it never mattered to him. He tried avoiding all such things and hoped he had not been rude to Ishani, and Puneet and Rishi would handle everything.
Ranveer remained lost in his reverie when a familiar voice reached his ears.
"How're you, RV?"
Ranveer turned around to see Mr. Zaveri was standing there with a worried look on his face.
"Zaveri sir!" Ranveer said. "It's good to see you here."
Mr. Zaveri smiled a worried smile and said, "RV, there is a problem that I have come to know just now. Do you know there have been some troubles in the shares for last couple of weeks?"
Ranveer nodded, "And I still have not been able to understand who it is."
"I also have no confirmation but there is a thought that this person belongs to your company only who has a wide knowledge of it too. No outsider can do this," Mr. Zaveri said.
"That's right. But is there anything you know that I don't?"
"No, RV. Nothing has been cleared since our last discussion last month; and the problem occurs that even my own company has not been spared by this person. He has caused some problems in my financial department."
"I understand this, sir, and the problem is that he has been very careful in his plans because never once we have doubted anyone," Ranveer said with a concern in his voice.
Mr. Zaveri nodded.
"Apart from this there is something else, RV, that you should know," Mr. Zaveri said. "Do you remember Ralph?"
"Of course I do. How can I forget that wretch?"
"Very fine. He has been seen here, near your office, several times and I fear he is not upto any good."
"Even though he is upto any wrong I will handle him," Ranveer said.
"Are you sure?"
"You doubt me?"
"No, no. No doubt on you. I'm worried that you already have so much going on; how will you manage all this?"
"I'll take care of this all, sir," Ranveer said, with a weird emphasis on sir'.
"Alright then, RV, it's time to leave. There are some clients I'm supposed to meet at 10 pm, and it's only 15 minutes left. See you soon," Mr. Zaveri said and left.
*
Ishani knocked Ranveer's cabin door as she looked pleased, a smile on her face. Ranveer looked at surprised her for he was not expecting her to be there at this moment. It was past midnight now and the temperature went down due to continuously snowing around the country.
"Hey, congrats!" Ishani smiled broadly as she entered the cabin.
Ranveer looked confused for the moment but changed his expressions when he realized what Ishani meant. Before Ranveer said anything Ishani came closer and looked at him happily, her eyes expressing a happiness that was never seen before, but suppressed beneath her confused smiles.
"They declared you the winner, Ranveer," Ishani said in excitement.
"Thanks," was all Ranveer said, not getting what he should be saying.
"See, didn't I say people do respect you? Today this honor to you proved this as well and now no one...I say no one can mean anything wrong to you. Mark my words," Ishani said.
Ranveer's face fell as he did not want to be reminded of such things. Ishani noticed this and said, "Ranveer, do you know what people think of you? They think there's no one like you out there in the whole market of UK. There's no one who has such deep understanding of their business and there's no one who really works the way you do. Do you understand this?"
"Why didn't you go home? It's midnight already and you're here," Ranveer said, trying to drift the conversation to something else.
"Don't change the topic, Ranveer. It's not going to make any difference," Ishani replied, imitating the rude voice of Ranveer in which he asked her to leave.
"Look, I don't need to know what people think of me, or if they think good or ill of me. I just don't care. I don't work for others to please but earn money and for myself," Ranveer said curtly.
"Really? You don't care? But there's someone who does," and with this Ishani switched on the TV which was showing the highlights of the award function. Ranveer's gaze stopped at the moment he was announced the businessman of the year by Mr. Peter Shackleford, the ex-chairman of the Paramount Group, and his parents proceeding towards the stage to receive the award. Ranveer looked at Ishani.
"Yes, Puneet and Rishi convinced them both to attend the ceremony since you had refused to, and they agreed," Ishani said softly.
Ranveer nodded and looked back at the TV screen and saw his parents' faces illuminated with deep smiles.
"Thank you. It's an honor for us," Ranveer's mother said and the tears of happiness streamed out of her eyes. She could say nothing further and looked at her husband with a proud smile on her face.
Ranveer's father smiled back and happiness was explicitly visible on his face.
"I'm glad that our son has been awarded with this honour. He started where he was regarded to be of no importance, but his dedication, hard work and sacrifice has paid off," he said. "I always knew my son would reach on the heights of the success one day and then the whole world would be by his side. It is amazing to see this happening today. Today a father's dream has come true."
And with this the news channel continued to show the further details of the function and Ishani switched off the TV.
"You saw?" she asked.
Ranveer nodded. "Yeah."
"Don't you think you should be thinking about these people rather than the ones who hold no value in your life? Look at you. What you have made of yourself in these days. Ranveer, didn't you once say Ishani, give yourself a chance, get out of your little world and see it from others point of views not even you will feel like to be sad'? Just see it from your parents' point of views and let me know what you feel. Sometimes it just takes nothing more than following your own advice," Ishani said.
Ranveer gave out a sigh and looked at her helplessly.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, making Ishani feel awkward as she turned her eyes away from his.
Ishani did not realize herself the cause of her worry towards Ranveer, and all she thought throughout the while was how to make him feel better. There used to be certain emotions that hit her everytime she saw him happy or in pain. The feelings were like she had never felt before and their presence was like swimming in a swirling ocean of unknown flurry that would take her to an unknown destination ultimately.
"I asked something, Ishani," Ranveer said gently when Ishani did not answer.
Ishani still did not have any answer and kept quiet. After some time she spoke, "I was talking about something else, Ranveer, and why do you always have to change the subject?"
There was a tension in her voice that could be noticed in the silence of the dark night. She looked nervous and scared. Scared because she herself feared to admit the emotions that would be exposed in front of the man she least wanted to. She saw Ranveer, still not convinced and a broken look in his eyes.
Ishani swallowed. "Please try to understand, Ranveer. I...I don't know why I'm doing this but I don't want you to let go of Ranveer," she said.
Ranveer did not blink, but stared at her continuously, hoping against hope if he saw a glint of hope in what he just saw in Ishani's eyes. They were burning with pain yet had that serene comfort in them that had always been there when he needed her. For the first time he found himself unable to look into them, for they gave him a hope but the fear of it getting shattered again crushed his heart.
"Let's go. I'll drop you home," he said, ultimately.
"But, Ranveer..."
"I'm tired, Ishani. I cannot talk about anything now. Please."
Ishani understood his gesture and agreed.
*
"It was amazing. The whole function," Rishi said to Puneet after Ishani and Ranveer left.
"Yeah, it was," Puneet returned.
"But I noticed something, Puneet. Don't know if you think the same way. It's about RV sir and Ms. Parekh," Rishi said.
Puneet raised his eyebrows, "Never knew you were interested in any gossip of this kind."
"It's not like that. I just think something becomes very different the moment these two stand together. The air, the atmosphere, the meaning of the whole situation alters. Only because of them. I guess I don't sound too cheesy but it's something I have always come to feel," Rishi said rather hesitantly.
"No, you don't sound cheesy. RV sir's story is complicated, very complicated. Few chapters of his life are like an open book that are read by everyone and rest are like an untold mystery that are disguised somewhere never to be reopened again. I feel the same way as you do, and I don't know what's there that makes the things different; but I hope. I really do whatever it is comes out to be positive. I feel they have seen a lot," Puneet said.
Cricket
