First of all, thank you all for the overwhelming response to the last part😃 And I hope, I will be able to keep you all hooked. So here goes!
Part 3
As Anuj saw Anupama and Kinjal disappear into the terminal, his hands ceased waving as his phone came alive with a series of successive pings.
Taking a look at his watch first, he took a look at his phone. And as his eyes scanned across the screen,he nodded. About time.
Next day
“What is this, Mr.Kapadia?!”
The door to his cabin was thrown open rather unceremoniously, but when Anuj looked up from his files, his manners only exuded leisure.
He leaned back in his chair, ghost of a smile playing on his face.
“Mrs. Dave! What a pleasant surprise!” He greeted the grey eyed woman, whose face was devoid of the arrogance he had last seen her with.
“Why must you do this to us?” Rakhi asked, her eyes simmering.
Anuj’s brows furrowed questioningly in response at this, before he leaned forward and spoke, “It’s imported”.
“W-What?!” Rakhi asked baffled as Anuj nodded.
“The door, Mrs. Dave”, Anuj pointed towards the door she had stepped in through.
While Rakhi was still perplexed, Anuj slid his seat back and stood up, “I’m rich….agreed! But unlike someone, I am not rich enough to buy silence”.
Rakhi’s eyes widened as Anuj said those words and she looked at him. But what made the color drain from her face was the smirk on his face as he adjusted his glasses.
“What will you gain from doing this? As far as I see, you will not profit from this in any way”, Rakhi asked.
Anuj’s expression changed as he gave her a confused stare, “Somehow it feels like we are not on the same page,Mrs. Dave. But I will answer you nonetheless. Some covet money, some honor and then there are some who-“ Anuj had moved across his desk by then, as he stepped past Rakhi.
“-who live for amusement”.
“So Mrs. Dave, what brings you here?” Anuj asked then, turning on his feet, as if he wasn’t mocking her a second ago and his smile was as welcoming as a snake’s.
Rakhi felt her anger burst through, as she waved the envelope in her hand across his face. “You should stop pretending, Mr Kapadia. It’s disgusting!”
The lips that were smiling till now fell straight, as Anuj’s face hardened, and Rakhi had to take a stepback as the man took a step forward and towered over her. Anuj looked down at Rakhi his eyes cold, as he replied to her flatly.
“And you should tone down your voice, Mrs. Dave. It’s infuriating”.
Anuj took a step back then,as he scoffed at her surprised look. “If someone was to walk in right now,they’d think you have the upper hand. That’s clearly not the case though. As someone in the position of disadvantage, how about you rephrase your question,in a tone that appeals to my taste?”
Rakhi bit her lips as she tried to rein in her anger, while Anuj picked an apple from the fruit basket on his desk, and started to munch on it.
“What do you want, Mr.Kapadia?” She asked in a civil manner this time.
Anuj snorted as he wiped his lips, “It’s funny how you think you can give me anything. I was jesting when I said I can’t buy silence. I have what you don’t even dream of”. The derision in his voice was unparalleled.
Rakhi clenched her fist,feeling humiliated while Anuj nodded, “Now I see why you do what you do. Having fun at the expense of other’s misery is an amusing sport indeed.”
“I don’t recall having fun at the cost of any—
Rakhi paused as the realization dawned on her. She recalled all those times; she had laughed at a certain someone’s plight and bad luck.
“This is about Anup—
“Hold it, Mrs. Dave. Say her name NO MORE!” Anuj warned as he cut Rakhi off and snatched the envelope from her hands.
Flicking through the papers, Anuj only shook his head. “To think that someone famed as a visionary in the education sector of Gujarat would resort to leaking papers. How disappointing!” Anuj clicked his tongue as Rakhi defended herself.
“I did not L.E.A.K the papers. It was that stupid Sudeep who wanted to further his reputation as a teacher and resorted to bribes, to get his students selected”.
Anuj shrugged as he dumped the papers into dustbin. “The fact remains! Rather than exposing the man, you bribed the higher ups to settle the matter. And to think that 3 of the Top 10 of 20XX State bank exams are actually cheaters. I wonder what will happen if this scandal breaks through?!”
Rakhi stood tall then, “If money can buy silence, than it can easily overpower proofs too”.
Anuj raised his hands then,thoroughly amused. “Not one to back down, huh. I like it! Then it will be about who’s more rich, you or me? I’d warn you though, contrary to my prim appearance, I’m quite a gambler. I will risk it all without a second thought.Are you capable of same? Once the news breaks out, damage will be done. Do you think anyone will be concerned with what happens after?”
Rakhi looked away as she acknowledged the truth of his words. If he wanted, he would’ve exposed her. But here he was provoking her and grating on her nerves.
“What should I do so that this truth never comes to light?”
Finally, Anuj looked up;his eyes alit with a feral glint. “Two things! You do them and this matter is history”.
Anuj finally settled down and urged Rakhi to take her seat too. Once seated, his fingers found the magnets and he started to twirl them.
“First and FOREMOST, NEVER CROSS Anu!” Anuj stressed while Rakhi rolled her eyes at this, “And here I was thinking, you were smart Mr. Kapadia. Love makes people foolish”, Rakhi remarked as Anuj chuckled.
“Indeed! And I’m quite the dangerous fool so you’d better heed my words”.
And this threat effectively zipped Rakhi’s lips. Anupama was already weird, her lover had to be a maniac too!
“I don’t care how you belittle or trouble shahs. Seriously do whatever you want to. But don’t drag Anu into your ploys”.
“And what if she comes running to jump in? She loves being in the muddy puddle!”
“Then you withdraw!” Anuj tilted his head.
As Anuj looked at her intently, Rakhi crinkled her nose and grumbled a ‘fine’. Even though she was itching to get back at her for the insult from last time, unlike a hot headed someone, she knew to choose her battles wisely. And why jump into one that could be avoided.
“Second, Fire Paritosh. Cut him off entirely!”
Rakhi was stunned to silence as she heard Anuj’s second term. “He is my son-in-law!”
Anuj rolled his eyes at that, “He is your puppet, which you instigate whenever, to stir up trouble with Shah’s and Anu. You don’t really care about him. Do drop the charade”.
“And Mrs Dave, you are aware that Kinjal has accompanied Anu to US? I assure you that if you abide by my terms, I will offer Kinjal the best she deserves. She is a talented individual so she can make it big. But trust me, if she gets the right kind of support, she’ll go far higher, far too quicker”.
That put Rakhi in a spot. Kinjal was her Achilles heel.
“So, will you do it?”
While Rakhi took another beat to think, Anuj slammed the table and got up. “Alright! Time’s up! The deal’s over! See you on the news!” And he was literally disappearing out of the room as Rakhi caved in.
“Alright! Fine! It’s a deal! You have your deal, Mr. Kapadia!! So just slow down!”
Anuj stopped, turned around and beamed, “Excellent! Now shall we sign the contract?!”
Rakhi gaped as he opened his desk and pulled out a set of legal papers.
“You—
“—exceptionally talented and exceedingly conniving businessman?! That’s me!” Anuj completed for her, and Rakhi just gave up, fed up.
As she was about to sign it, she gave a long sigh. “It’s practically impossible to uphold your first term. Your ‘oh-so-revered-beloved ‘—
Rakhi air quoted and then deadpanned, “just looooves poking her nose where it is not needed!”
“Mrs. Dave?” Anuj smiled as Rakhi raised her eyebrow at him.
“Please sign”, He signaled towards the papers and she smiled back at him too. Stuck up b*stard.
Leaving Anuj's office, Rakhi couldn't help but ponder. Why did Mr. Kapadia sound so detached from the shahs? What new shit had the shahs invited this time over?!
As Anuj watched Rakhi walk out, he patted his back satisfied. “Stage2, success!” And then he unlocked his phone, as he stared longingly at Anu's picture from the bhumi pujan.
"I miss you already! Come back soo--
Anuj paused as he nodded in negative, "No...just enjoy your self-time".
He smiled than, "Yes, that will be more than enough for me".
So how was it? 😃
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