Hullo, everyone! Here is the next chapter. And please don't kill me after reading this if it turns out to be, well, horrible.
Chapter 34
6 in the morning saw Ranveer scuttling the cabin of his office hastily, his voice, grim, yelling at everyone who came his way and his eyes expressing the fury no one had seen before. By the morning the news of the incident had spread all over the market in the town and Ishani's statements were released in the local media. Many articulated she was framed, but most agreed she was indeed the culprit who they could not trust anymore. Many considered she was the vivid example of how some failing people can stoop low enough and cannot be trusted. Ranveer, hearing the summary of all the explanations from Mr. Zaveri, gave a deep sigh.
"I cannot believe Ishani can do this," Mr. Zaveri remarked, his tone sulky. "She was my friend's daughter, Harshad's, who was infamous for his honesty more than his success and this girl has absolutely slaughtered away his faith." Mr. Zaveri shook his head various times in disappointment and looked at Ranveer.
"And why you might think so, sir? Just because Ishani said she stole the papers does not mean she has done," Ranveer said, rather calmly. Mr. Zaveri looked slightly terrified at him as Ranveer spoke.
"Why, why else would she admit it to the world? RV, how can you even think of defending her?"
"Where is Rishi?" Ranveer shouted, cutting in between Mr. Zaveri's statement.
"He is in police station, sir," Puneet said. "He has been there to make sure they don't hurt Ms. Parekh; but without any evidences proving she's innocent we can't get her out."
"RV, you want Ishani to get out? Don't you know she has all the papers of your own company? The police just found that...you can go to check on them right now. She was the one betraying you ever since she became the part of our company. She was the one who secretly transferred your money to her accounts right after she was in here," Mr. Zaveri waved his fingers in the air, making the traces of his statements.
"I gave her that money," Ranveer clamored again. "I told Rishi already he was mistaken, Zaveri sir. But wait! We, you and I, never discussed over this matter. How come you know this?"
Mr. Zaveri for a moment looked crestfallen before he picked up again and whispered nervously, "Rishi had told me. He was suspicious of something wrong happening in the company long before you were aware of the matter and he came to my counsel but we both shrugged off the idea that Ishani could ever do such a thing. Yet today I feel there was much more than you transferring the money to her account. She did a lot more than just being your childhood friend turned business partner. She betrayed you."
Ranveer looked at the old man, surprised, at his revelations of the past that he seemed to be aware of suddenly.
"I know your past, RV, and I'm surprised you did not bother to mention it to me so far. You worked for Harshad, you loved his daughter, you were betrayed...and you still think Ishani cannot do what she has done? It is not for me, RV, you are like a son to me, and I'm disgusted at Ishani. How can she even..."
Before Mr. Zaveri could say anything else Ranveer yelled in, "How can she steal the papers? What if I say no papers are stolen? They are safe in the hands of Mr. Williamson, right in the place they were meant to be. What next?"
Mr. Zaveri looked at Ranveer, terrified, his face now sweating and his voice husky in fear.
"What?" he managed to say in a low tone.
Ranveer smiled slightly and saw Mr. Zaveri slowly tapping his fingers on the desk, nervously.
"Yes."
"What were you mad for so far?" Mr. Zaveri's voice not going beyond a whisper.
"I'll explain that later, Mr. Zaveri. Now, I need to ask you something. Cops might not be interested in it, but I am."
Mr. Zaveri stood up. "Please be seated," Ranveer interposed. "You can answer me when seated too. You ready?"
Mr. Zaveri nodded, unable to look into his eyes.
"So, tell me the why did you come to my cabin without my permission? You know no one is allowed."
"As I told already: to take a final look in case something was needed in your absence."
"And what made you think any files were missing?"
"I went ahead to check inside the cabin, the vault, and peeping in realized the papers were just...gone."
"Well," said Ranveer quietly, "who told you there was a vault? Certainly not me."
"It was Rishi...no, no...Puneet who told me. Yes, it was him," Mr. Zaveri said, confused. "This old age, I tell you. I have begun to forget the random things." He laughed nervously.
"And you were sure there was one?"
"How could I be not? Why would your employee lie to me?"
"He cannot, certainly. But let me make something very clear that there is no vault in my cabin, and there was none. Never."
"How could it be?" Mr. Zaveri wailed aloud. "I...I just..."
"You were lied," Ranveer said, smiling, and saw Mr. Zaveri staring at the ground in sheer disappointment. He looked back at Ranveer as if unable to fathom the facts he was suddenly presented with and was being forced to believe.
"C'mon, Zaveri sir, now speak up the truth," Ranveer said, as calmly as ever.
Mr. Zaveri kept quiet.
"Let me tell you, if you are not in mood," Ranveer said. "It was neither Rishi nor Puneet transferring the information from this place to you as you have just professed, it was someone else. Ralph did this for you. Am I right?"
Ranveer saw Mr. Zaveri's face turning white, his eyes losing their remaining glint.
"How...how...no," he fumbled. "It was Rishi, I mean Puneet."
"Who?" Ranveer said, staring into straight Mr. Zaveri's eyes who again dropped his head towards the white floor glistening in the radiance of the morning sun.
"You wanted Ralph to spy on me ever since he joined here, didn't you?" Ranveer continued. "You wanted him to use against me but your plan failed when he was fired. And the truth is that he was not fired. He was working under my orders and gathering all the information against the man playing with my shares. The data he presented me with indicated towards only you and we realized nothing more could be done except catching you red handed."
Mr. Zaveri looked sideways. "No, you're lying," he cried.
"Lying?" Ranveer repeated. "Would you yourself do the honors of speaking the truth?"
"You are framing me to save Ishani. You love her," Mr. Zaveri said desperately.
"Are you sure?"
Ranveer's gaze again made Mr. Zaveri subside on his chair as the old man now wiped the sweat on his white face madly.
"You're sweating! It's not that hot, sir," Ranveer smiled.
Mr. Zaveri blinked frantically at Ranveer as no words came out of his dry mouth.
"I'm waiting. Come on, sir. You must be confessing it yourself or cops know how to do it very well, and they will do it once they are told."
Ranveer's words went unaffected as Mr. Zaveri did not let himself utter a word, instead a drop of tear appeared on his old face.
"Should I narrate the story myself?" Ranveer said, while Mr. Zaveri wiped his sweaty face once again.
"Very well," Ranveer said coldly. "The whole episode began the day Ishani and I finalized our partnership and you invited us to your party. It was all cool and there was nothing to worry about but your tone while talking to or about Ishani always had a very mysterious and unpleasant approach which made me cringe everytime I heard you talking about her. Yet that could be an imagination of my part so it was nothing more than that until now.
Later Rishi came up with the troubles in accounts which showed some sturdy amount out of our hands and he accused Ishani. Surely he had no evidence. I am assuming it was you who confirmed him so (being in the same department it was not very hard for you) although not directly, that Ishani had taken our money. But you failed again. She was already bright in business, when we were together, and I saw no way why she cannot do well, especially when someone like you is with her. How could she? You were the cause she could not rise up because you always pulled her down and Ishani having trusted you never doubted your choices and assumed it was her own bad luck which cost her opportunities."
Ranveer could see a wave of understanding crossing Mr. Zaveri's face as his eyes moved in a weird way everytime Ranveer revealed his points.
"Coming further," Ranveer spoke again, while Mr. Zaveri heard intently, "Ishani's cafe was taken over as well as her company"almost entirely"and it was clear that someone very trustworthy led Watson to the core of her company. I'm afraid to say, Mr. Zaveri, the traitor was you. When all of your plans failed miserably you wanted to take advantage of my anger, or should I say, my love for Ishani; and you waited for a chance and assumed what Ralph told you was truth. I sent him to you last night, to tell you that he could betray me and relay you the most important part of my partnership with one of the biggest names in the country. He told you what I asked him to: There is a vault that I have found out recently in RV's office, below the stairs going upwards, and they possess his life in it. Grab the chance and destroy him.' And you already being destroyed by the financial loss ordered him to fetch the papers. But you failed again. You believed your own facts, truths and your over confidence led you to your end. My loyalty to my Mota Babuji is still intact, safe in here." Ranveer pointed towards his heart and added, "And so is my love for Ishani."
Mr. Zaveri looked at Ranveer, looking completely dumbfounded, unable to comprehend anything as only three words escaped his dry mouth:
"You knew everything?"
Ranveer continued to look at his old, savage face which showed no sign of regret as if he was innocent and had heard the story of someone else so far.
"You have to admit it, sir. It's over."
The finality in Ranveer's tone melted the frosted ice on Mr. Zaveri's face as he dropped to the ground screaming loudly, his head in his hands, shaking frantically as tears fell uncontrollably from his eyes.
"I did," he cried. "I did."
"Why?" Ranveer said, rather indifferently.
"I wanted Harshad to know how it feels to lose something."
"You wanted him to know that by destroying Ishani?"
Mr. Zaveri nodded his head with the same intensity as few minutes back.
"Harshad was the cause my wife died."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ranveer asked sternly.
"She was hit by his car 15 years ago and he left her there to die. She could have been saved had he taken her to the hospital," Mr. Zaveri answered, resentfully.
Ranveer could not recall any such incident, but before he could say another word a realization hit upon him.
"That was an accident," he said, suddenly. "Mota Babuji realized very late someone was hit by his car and he regretted that bitterly. You must have known that. He often told me how out of his ignorance in that evening he smashed someone but could not realize until it was too late. He wanted to apologize to her family but no one showed up when he tried finding about her family members."
"Yes, because we took her away, home, the moment she was declared dead. We didn't have enough money to spend on investigation therefore kept away from it until one day Harshad met me the first time. We became friends and he helped me financially. Soon he confessed to me his crime which he regarded as his life's biggest mistake'. I did not have enough money or power to fight against him, since no one would believe whatever I'd say; and it took me years to reach to his level and be as big as he was. But by then he had someone brighter than himself by his side. I never realized who could that be until he fell again two years ago. He never mentioned you to me and nor did I show any interest. In fact someone being better than him in Dalal Street was a daydream to any man alive in the market. Perhaps he was aware of that. After his fall, I was glad but within months his family had everything back. Thanks to his infallible reputation and Ishani's spirits. After getting everything back, Ishani moved to London, and I thought destiny was going to work in my own favor but here I had you," Mr. Zaveri's finished bitterly. "If not for you I would have my revenge on him years ago. The brighter than him that someone told me was you. Most of the times I couldn't get my desired deals, partnerships because of you; and funny...I found it all out few days ago." He gritted his teeth in resentment.
Ranveer did not say anything for few moments and stared out of the room towards the sun which clambered up from tall buildings, exploding its ebullient rays inside the cabin.
"I wish you understand that was an accident. That was a stormy night and it was impossible for anyone to see through anything or feel anything beyond the blows of the violent wind." Ranveer looked back at Mr. Zaveri whose face had its color back but now a bitter resentment clad on its features.
"I don't regret anything," Mr. Zaveri whispered in an injured but defiant tone.
"You've destroyed yourself," Ranveer said.
"RV, could you answer my one last question?"
Ranveer looked at him, without saying anything, but Mr. Zaveri understood the gesture.
"Who was the one bankrupting me all this time? Who has taken away my entire property?"
"You still need a confirmation to know who it was?"
Mr. Zaveri looked at Ranveer, shocked, as realization dawned upon him as a result of Ranveer's conceited tone. "You?" he said, amazed.
Ranveer nodded, lightly.
"How could you think I was being fooled by you all the time? How can you think I can let you escape unscathed after trying to ruin my Mota Babuji's life and his company? You tried your best and always left clues to let me follow them to get yourself destroyed. But I'm not like you. Here are your company's documents and whenever you come back from jail, you can resume your work again."
"Why are you returning them to me?"
"My intention was not to destroy you, but to make you feel the gravity of your own mistakes. My task is done and I hold no more grudges to harm you anymore. Only Law does and now you are all theirs."
Mr. Zaveri looked penitently at Ranveer who showed no sign of pity on the old man.
"You needed this, if not deserved," he whispered slowly. "They'll be arriving soon to get you. Be ready."
In 10 minutes the entire scenario of the situation and its truths and lies changed considerably as media had the different air around them. Mr. Zaveri's arrest brought out new theories and many other ideas among people. However some believed he was innocent for his helping and jovial nature whereas many supported the otherwise. However, no media person was allowed at the time of arrest and Ranveer saw the old man off, but he could feel no pity anymore. With the evidences being found against Mr. Zaveri by now and having confessed his misdeeds Ishani was released within hours of her arrest.
_______________
"You should be back home right now," Rishi said to Ishani who at Ranveer's orders had Ishani out of police station right after Mr. Zaveri's arrest.
"No, I want to talk to Ranveer," she said.
"This is not the right time for you to talk to him. He is angry and wouldn't listen to anyone, so it's better if you see him later," Rishi said.
"But Zaveri uncle," Ishani began, but was cut short by Rishi again.
"He is at his right place. I don't think you should worry about him at the moment. He's been too dangerous for you and it's better you stay away from him."
Ishani did not say anything as Rishi dropped her home.
"Take care, Miss Parekh, and I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier," Rishi said while Ishani came out of the car.
"It's alright, Rishi. Good night."
Ishani knew something had changed forever as the night did no more appear as ordinary as it always used to be. Mr. Zaveri's betrayal for some reasons did not have any effect on her as her heart lay in something else tonight. She wanted to see Ranveer as soon as possible but felt ashamed with the thought of seeing him again; of facing him after telling those painful lies. She felt he would have heard and known everything she said, but hoped he could understand her as she never meant a single word she had uttered. Ishani slowly entered her house as myriad of thoughts kept crossing her mind again and again, often frightening her, often encouraging her and many a times making her feel numb as if she could not feel anything in her heart: intensity of the feelings was too great to comprehend anything.
The silence of her grey room welcomed her like it always had but tonight it did not seem as horrifying as before. Cold did not appear as cold tonight. The warmth of the fire seemed more appealing but along with it lingered a fear. It was not long when she had come to her house, her phone rang loudly in the dead silence of the house. She picked it up as her mother spoke anxiously from the other side.
"Ishani, I heard...are you alright? What is it? What happened?"
Ishani understood the meaning of her mother's broken words. "I'm alright, Maa," she said quietly. "Don't worry."
"What are they accusing you for and why? You did nothing wrong, I know that. Tell them, Ishani," Falguni said, still as frantically.
"Maa, I'm safe and nothing has happened to me." Ishani gulped.
"What is this Mr. Zaveri's case? Why is he arrested? Why don't you say anything? Would you help him?"
"I don't know what should I help him for. He betrayed us; he cheated on Papa. He doesn't deserve anything more than he has received," Ishani answered bitterly.
"I'm coming. I'm coming to you," Falguni said, and Ishani heard a sound as if her mother threw things away as she spoke.
"Maa, it's alright. You don't have to. I'll be okay," she said, consoling her mother. "It'll all be fine. And here is..." Ishani's words again paused at the name of Ranveer's. She knew this was the most inappropriate moment to mention his presence to her and once she arrived she would panic intensely for no reason and would refuse to understand anything. It was no good.
However Falguni did not calm down as she still kept repeating herself, now almost shouting as tears appeared in Ishani's eyes.
"Maa, please," she pleaded. "Don't come. I will come to you in few days. I promise."
"You will? Should I send Chirag to get you?"
"No. I will come myself," Ishani said. "I miss you, Maa."
"I miss you, too, Ishani," Falguni said. "Come back soon. I will be waiting for you."
Ishani disconnected the call and felt a light in her heart, but having made the promise she had to leave and quickly so, or her mother would keep panicking until she had seen her. Ishani gave a sigh as a part of her was not ready to leave the town yet.
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