||ManYa FF - Against all odds|| Epilogue Pg 45 Updated-12.10.15 - Page 19

Chapter 20

"What?!!" Mantu asked as he shot up from where he sat. "Yes Mantu! This was my exact same reaction. But it seems that after whatever happened with Rachi di and me, Nanaji wanted to be extra cautious with Neeti, so he appointed Rudra her bodyguard. And she says, somehow, they fell in love. Apparently, Rudra loves her too. And now that she is in her final year of college, Nanaji and Dimple Bua have started an active groom hunt for her. In fact, some boy and his family are coming to see her this weekend. And Neeti does not want to see anyone. Rudra suggested that they get married in secret so that our family has no choice but to accept their relationship. Neeti does not have the guts to even present this in front of any of her family but she is scared to get married in secret. She told me that she really wants this marriage to happen with the blessings of the family but she can't think of a way out and doesn't know what to do," Amaya filled Mantu in on the conversation she had had with Neeti in the temple this morning. "She wants me to help her Mantu. She wants me to either help her run away or present this in front of the family, because she has no one else to turn to and she doesn't have the guts to do either of those on her own."

Mantu ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Is she sure that he loves her?" he asked. "The way she said it, that's what she believes. But honestly, when it comes to Rudra, I don't think I can be really sure," Amaya admitted. "That was exactly my thought too. Rudra has a reputation here in Banaras, Amaya. I am not sure if you or Sneha Aunty are aware of it, but he is a gunda here. I know he is your Hari Chachu's son and Hari Chachu has been your family's biggest support in your worst times but that does not change the fact that the kind of work Rudra does or has been associated with, till he started working for your Nanaji, has been questionable," Mantu explained. "I can see that. Its not as if he is doing anything different working for Nanaji either," Amaya thought, reminiscing the way he had beaten up Rama jiju and the sickening way in which Nanaji had ordered him to beat up Mantu too. "I would've given him the benefit of doubt that he has changed but like I said, its not as if he is doing any less gundagardi working for Nanaji. Just that he has Nanaji's blessings for it."

"But Neeti probably doesn't see it that way," Mantu said. "I bet she doesn't," Amaya agreed, "But what do we do now? How do we convince her?" "We will need to find out if Rudra has indeed changed and if he genuinely has feelings for Neeti first," Mantu commented. "I don't see a lot of chance for that, but you are right. We shouldn't have to break Neeti's heart if there was no need to," Amaya replied. "Don't worry about it. I'll keep an eye on Rudra. In the meantime, convince Neeti that she shouldn't take any drastic measures and should wait for the right time. Let's just hope and pray we'll be able to do what is right by her," Mantu said.

***

"20 designs Rachi di and so far, we've only found 18 models. How do I tell Barfi miyaan what measurements to make the outfits in when I don't even know how the models will look? Even our budget is running low because we have that one model from Mumbai who we are paying an exorbitant amount to fly in for exactly 4 hours. And that just makes me super nervous the way her manager was so adamant that she wouldn't stay for a minute longer than 4 hours. I don't know Rachi di.. I am getting so worried. Maybe I shouldn't have taken this up. This is Mantu's dream project Rachi di. I am afraid I am going to let him down," Amaya buried her face in her hands as she sat down.

"Amu.. Calm down. We'll figure it out. We still have a couple of weeks before the event. I am sure we can do it," Rachita said as she comforted Amaya. Amaya lifted her head and looked at Rachita for a minute. "Rachi di! I am such a stupid female! You are sitting right in front of me and I am searching the whole city for another model! You'd make a perfect model! You are tall, you have a stunning figure and your face is so model-esque with those high cheek bones and almond shaped eyes! You'll be perfect! Will you please please please be my model?" she pleaded. "Me? Amu are you out of your mind? I can't be a model! I don't know, I'll probably fall flat on my face doing a catwalk in one of those traditional outfits. I can manage a salwar but I don't think I can manage a catwalk in a lehenga or a saree," Rachita protested. "No! You know that's not going to happen! Done deal! You are my 19^th model and that's it!" Amaya announced happily, "Now just one more to go."

"If you are going to arm twist me into being a model for this fashion show, you should be one too," Rachita said. "Rachi di, if I sit there getting my hair and make up done, who is going to oversee all this? I can't do that. You think I hadn't thought of that possibility? Its just too big a risk Rachi di to hand all of this over to someone else.. It's a risk I am not willing to take. Especially not with Mantu's dream project," Amaya reasoned and Rachita had to give in.

***

"May I come in Sir?" Mantu knocked on the door to Dev Agnihotri's cabin. "Come in!" Dev answered. The smile on his face seemed rather fake to Mantu. Maybe he was being way too cynical, Mantu chided himself. "Mukherjee dada told me that you were asking for me," Mantu stated. "Yes! Yes! Come, have a seat. Would you like some tea or coffee?" Dev asked, with just a little extra sugary sweetness to pull Mantu's defenses up. "I am good. If you don't mind, can we get to the point please? I have a rather busy day ahead of me," Mantu replied. "Oh yes! Yes! You are in charge of the Tourism Festival, aren't you?" Dev asked, "How are things coming along for that?"

Mantu curbed the urge to tap his fingers impatiently. He had so much work to get done and Dev Agnihotri seemed intent on wasting his time in idle chatter. "Things are coming together. There isn't a lot of time left so there are a lot of nitty gritty details to work on. Thank you, for being our title sponsor." "Not a problem," Dev gave a dismissive wave of his hand as if the amount was worth pennies to him. "Now, let me get to the point," Dev said, clasping his hands together on the large mahogany desk in front of him and leaning forward, a stance that Mantu recognized, meant business. Mantu nodded his head. "Remember that contract you were wanting to sign with us a couple of months ago?" Dev asked. Mantu nodded his head again but more cautiously this time. "I looked over your CV and I must say, I am impressed. How about, instead of employing you on a contractual basis, after you are done with organizing this Tourism Festival, I offer you a permanent position with my company? As the head of the Tech Department?" Dev Agnihotri's eyes glinted with a certain kind of devious merriment as he spoke.

Had he gotten this offer a couple of months ago, Mantu knew, without any doubt, he would have accepted it in a fraction of a second, without a second thought. But now, there was so much going on, so many doubts that plagued his mind regarding Dev Agnihotri that his first instinct had been to flatly refuse. Instead, he forced himself to think rationally and not make any hasty decisions. "And what's the catch?" he asked, leaning forward in his chair and looking Dev Agnihotri in the eye. "Catch? There is no catch," Dev's cool composure seemed to slip for a fraction of a second at Mantu's question. "When there is a statutory 3 year bond that goes with the post of Personal Secretary to Dev Agnihotri, are you telling me that the post of Technical Head of Dev Enterprises comes with no strings attached?" Mantu asked, his tone and composure perfectly cool.

"You have a very sharp mind, Mantu. Very sharp. I like that. But trust me, this post comes with no strings attached. I only want to help you," Dev Agnihotri said. Mantu quirked an eyebrow at that, "Help me?" "Yes. Look, I know you are organizing this Tourism Festival to prove a point to Gajanand Chaubey. I know how bad he treats you. I have seen how he tramples on your self-respect. I only want to help you in this fight of yours against him. Trust me, together, you and I, we can show him his place. We can cut him to size, even better, cut him at his roots so he can never stand tall enough to disrespect or insult anyone ever again," the venom in Dev Agnihotri's tone, the hatred flaming in his eyes were plain for Mantu to see. Mantu felt his heart race. He was right. This wasn't just some business rivalry. There was way more to it. Way, way more. But he'd be damned if he sided with Dev Agnihotri against his own family.

"Why Dev Babu? Why do you have so much vengeance against Chaubeyji?" Mantu asked, still calm and collected. Dev realized that he might have gotten just a little carried away and quickly slipped back on his mask of cool composure. "I don't take too kindly to people who do not know to respect others," he said. Mantu could have laughed out loud at that. Wasn't this the very same man who had refused to give him a contract a couple of months ago because he thought Mantu was a roadside hooligan who toyed with computer parts in his free time? Mantu smirked as he responded, "Oh really? You had me fooled the last time we met."

Dev Agnihotri felt the embers of anger being raked at Mantu's cockiness. Who the hell did this Banarasi fool think he was? No. He was no fool, Dev corrected himself. Mantu was definitely not a fool. And he would have to be extra cautious in dealing with him. "Tell me Dev Babu. Why do you have such a single minded vengeance against the Chaubeys? Is it just towards the Chaubeys or towards both the Chaubeys and Mathurs? The whole office knows what you think about Rishi Mathur. But why just Rishi Mathur? If we are talking unscrupulous business practices, open the newspaper and you find them by the dozen on a daily basis. Then why is Mr. Dev Agnihotri, the owner of a huge, successful international business empire, interested in one Rishi Mathur?" Mantu asked.

The raked embers of fury, started to turn into a simmering fire within Dev as Mantu questioned him. "What are you getting at?" he asked from between clenched teeth. "I am not getting at anything Mr. Dev Agnihotri. I am simply asking questions. You have the answers to them. You have to admit, its intriguing, isn't it? What connection could you have with the Mathurs and the Chaubeys? Does it have something to do with your past? Before you became the successful businessman you are now? Or when you set up a namesake head office in Mumbai? Mumbai, where Rishi Mathur had based his business too?" Mantu continued. "Get out!" Dev snarled at Mantu, his tone low and menacing. Mantu seemed unaffected, "You know what I think? I think it has something to do with both. One led to the other." "GET OUT!" Dev Agnihotri yelled as he shot up from his chair and banged his hands against the desk in rage.

Mantu did not even flinch as he smoothly stood up from his chair and fixed a knowing glare on Dev Agnihotri, "You have me wrong, Mr. Dev Agnihotri. You had me wrong the last time and you have me wrong this time too. I am not doing any of this to show Chaubeyji his place. Irrespective of how he treats me, what he thinks of me, he is Amaya's Nanaji, he is part of our family. And while I am explaining all of this to you Mr. Dev Agnihotri, let me also tell you that anyone who messes with my family in any way has to deal with me first and I promise you, I won't be easy to deal with." The silent simmering rage and determination in Mantu's eyes almost singed Dev Agnihotri. With that, he turned on his heel and headed out the office. At the door of the cabin though, he paused and turned back, "I hope you understand that this means I have absolutely no interest in your offer whatsoever. Have a good day." And he was gone.

Dev Agnihotri slammed his fists against the desk again before he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "We need to meet!" he barked into the phone.

***

Uma clutched the flyer in her hand tightly as she knocked on the door to Mantu's house. She'd never really had to knock on this door before entering. She had always had free access to this house. But now, things were different. All because of that firangi chudail. No! No! Uma forced herself to calm down. She couldn't get worked up right now or her plan would fail in its very first step. It was really very very important that she remain calm. She took a deep breath and was about to knock a second time when the door opened.

Amaya had to blink a couple of times to make sure that it was really Uma. All these months since Mantu and she had gotten married and Uma had never once called, spoken or acknowledged them. Amaya scanned Uma's face to try and read her mind. Was she here to yell and scream and fight? What did she have in mind? But Uma's face was blank and was that a spark of remorse or guilt or sorrow that she saw in her eyes?

"Can I come in?" Uma asked, trying to make her voice falter just a little for effect. Amaya nodded her head and stepped aside to let Uma in. "Is Mantu at home?" Uma asked. She already knew the answer to that question. She had waited till Mantu had left to make sure Amaya was alone at home. "No. Mantu has gone out for some work. Come, sit. How are you Uma?" Amaya asked as she led Uma towards the charpaayi in the courtyard. Uma cast a glance around the house as she walked in. It looked neat and clean. The arrangements had changed around some. Among the clothes that were hung out to dry, it wasn't just Mantu's and Chiklu's clothes as it had always been. There were Amaya's clothes too. She glanced quickly towards the bedroom. There were definite touches of Amaya in that bedroom now. From her stuff gathered on the dresser to the new bedspread and pillows. Uma quickly tore her gaze away from the room as her mind started conjuring images of Mantu and Amaya in there and started to make her feel sick in her stomach. "I am okay.. I.. I was actually hoping to speak to both Mantu and you," Uma lied. She'd made sure that her first move would be when Amaya was alone. It would be easier for her to convince Amaya than to convince Mantu. Mantu knew her a little too well. The only way he would ever forgive her, was if Amaya forced him to. Uma hated it, that she now had to go through Amaya to get to her Mantu but she was willing to do whatever it took to get back to Mantu.

***