FF: Pyaar in the Pink City Pt32/Pg106(Concluded) - Page 57

Part 25

(ASR)²

'I think that there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge.' ~ Sherlock Holmes Quote

Ajay semi-groaned-semi-growled in protest against an incessant buzz-vibrate motion somewhere near his left hip-bone, even as some instinct prodded his muddled brain to wake up and triggered his eye lids open. The next instant, events from last night flooded his mind pumping up the adrenaline in his blood yet again. He shot a quick glance at Anjali who was curled up in deep sleep thanks to the sleeping pill he had persuaded her to take. Propping himself up, he unfolded his long legs from their cramped up position in the love seat against the window.

He had refused to leave her room last night and had stationed himself in the couch across; watching her till fatigue had gotten the better of him sometime during the wee hours prior to daybreak. There it was again, that buzz-vibrate. He swore softly as realization dawned that it was his cell phone. The flashing LCD declared the call was from Radhika.

"Hey there, what's up?" he asked in a low voice, quietly exiting the room lest he wake Anjali up. His now fully alert mind correctly concluded that it had to be about the photographer. Why else would Radhika call him at six in the morning?

"Are you serious? You are sure about this?" he repeated again, his face darkening with fury.

"Rathod I would have never told you if I were not sure. Check your email, I have sent you proof. Now it's all up to you. Call me if you need anything. I'll swing by a little later," Radhika's voice crackled with tension. She paused for a full minute and continued in a softer voice when her words met absolute silence at the other end. "Rathod are you ok?"

"I am fine. Thank you Radhika; Thanks to both you and Nitin for everything. I'll be seeing you," responded Ajay, his voice dangerously calm.

"What the----" began Arnav , "F*** is she up to?" Ajay finished for him as he unzipped the email attachment and they browsed through the contents together. Crimson haze tinged their vision as image after image of Anjali in Sanjay's arms popped up on screen along with the accompanying write-up. Anyone who had not witnessed what actually transpired last night would lap up the bull crap story of how Anjali Raizada's insatiable appetite for men had her romancing Sanjay in the shadows, while a hopeful Rathod was waiting for her at the party.

"KETKI, WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU UP TO?" he thundered in the phone.

"Tsk, tsk. Such temper Rathod and this early in the day? Is it the temperamental artist or the jilted lover that is speaking to me right now?" Came Ketki's velvety voice over the speaker.

"Cool it Rathod. She has the upper hand. Negotiate" prompted his brain.

"Why are you doing this Ketki? What do you want?" Ajay asked taming his tone down a notch.

"Oh! I get it now. You have seen the pictures. Not bad. Radhika is actually smarter than she looks. What do I want? Hmmm, let's see. What can you offer Rathod?" she purred, running her fingers down her throat and letting them dip in the valley between her breasts.

His jaw tightened and fists clenched in disgust as he heard the purr in her tone, but he kept his voice smooth, "Meet me at my place at ten with all the soft and hard copies including the master-copy and we will talk" Ajay conceded.

Smothering an expletive at the suggestive sigh that floated over the line, he hung up and swiveled in his chair to face Arnav. No words were needed. Arnav had understood what Ketki sugggested and had reached the exact conclusion that he had.

Several minutes of absolute silence passed before Arnav's voice cut through his thoughts "She means business and that's a language I understand very well. Ajay let us talk about the dealings of our mutual companies with the Malhotras and Aroras, shall we?"

Now this was home ground. In an instant the hot headed impassioned brother had switched to a cool and collected business man. He was nothing if not a master at this game and this was one deal where the pay-off would be extremely gratifying.

Just as Ajay and Arnav settled on a strategy, Akash and NK walked into the library in response to Arnav's text. After assuring them that Di was fine, they caught the two up with the latest developments.

"We have not one, but two people to deal with, who in all likelihood have been in cohorts with each other. And we have a plan of attack. But first," Began Arnav as he turned to Akash, who was the CFO for AR group and asked," Akash, how much of Malhotra & Malhotra's stock do we own and how much of their quarterly business comes from us?"

Akash quickly pulled up his spreadsheet and filled his bhai in on the details. AR owned a little over thirty percent of their stock which they had held for over three years and they sourced about forty percent of their raw material per quarter from Malhotra & Malhotra.

"And Bhai we have enough inventory to tide us over the quarter" he added.

Arnav felt a familiar electrifying energy humming through his system. He was going for the kill. He gave his brother a slow lop-sided smile and declared "So we lose nothing by dumping their stock and we will make Sanjay Malhotra bleed."

Akash nodded, an answering smile lighting up his face as his bhai's intentions became apparent to him.

Arnav quickly punched Aman's number and issued precise orders, "Aman, I want you to do the following four tasks in the order in which I am stating them. First, I want you to place a sell order on all of our Malhotra & Malhotra shares at opening bell, priced at ten percent below their closing price yesterday. We have recovered enough on our investment over the past three years.

Second, I want to release an official press statement to the media today. Have the following statement ready for my review within the next thirty minutes- AR group prides itself on making sound business decisions and increasing stakeholder wealth. At the same time we are a company that believes in doing what is right and that includes decisions on who we choose to invest with amongst our ecosystem partners; and their senior managements integrity and values are major deciding factors. Owing to several controversies over a period of time regarding the questionable conduct of Sanjay Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra & Malhotra, AR chooses to withdraw our investments with them. We believe that a leader of questionable ethical and moral values cannot lead a company towards success. Further more AR will be terminating their ongoing procurement from this company effective immediately. We believe in doing the right thing as a company. This will no have any detrimental effect on AR's upcoming Quartely results.

Thirdly, Aman, dig up all the gory details of Sanjay Malhotra's debaucherous ways and send me the data by noon.

Finally, dispatch an official requisition inviting quotations from our preferred suppliers across the nation. We are taking our current business with the Malhotras elsewhere."

"Wow! Nannav, Sanjay Malhotra will never touch another woman with a ten-foot pole" hooted NK in jubilation while Akash grinned

"Nannav nahin NK Bhai, ASR kaho, ASR."

It was not by accident that this man's name was spoken with such respect in business circles mused Ajay reaching out for the phone to set the second part of their plan into motion.

"Radhika, it's me Rathod. I want you to pull together all of our financial information involving our dealings with Arora's flagship company - The Jaipur Herald. Meet me with the file at the haveli by nine and also bring along with you, your video camera..."

He looked up with a jubiliant half-smile, that was met with a full blown laughter from Arnav.

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"Mine. It'll all be mine some day" chanted Ketki in her mind, as her car swept into the drive way of Malhar. "Ofcourse, she had expected Rathod to call. Hadn't that been her sole purpose in feeding this information to Rathod's mole? She had known for months now about Savitha. She had served her purpose and would no longer be needed in her office anymore. So Rathod is desperate to save the damsel in distress eh? He could have all the copies save the master. That was something she would never relinquish. Oh no, no. Getting Rathod in bed,however pleasurable, was only the first step to where she wanted to go. And she would need the master in her backpocket. Every girl needs a back-up." Ketki smiled arching a well shaped brow at Ramu kaka as he opened the door to the library and stepped aside for her to enter.

"Rathod in battle armor and just as hot as ever" she thought taking in a calm and composed Ajay in a formal business suit.

"Ouch darling, you hurt my feelings. Is it all business then?" she pouted mockingly.

"It's what you intended to talk about. Business, isn't it? Sit down Ketki." He said, gesturing to the chair. He did not miss the brief flash of anger in her eyes. "Do you have all the photographs? What is it you want Ketki? Is it still about painting you in the nude?" he asked in a seemingly reasonable tone.

"You cut to the chase and that's what I like about you. But honey now it's going to be more than just painting me on canvas," she rose and slithered towards him leaning forward seductively, "I want more. I want you to paint me with your fingers" she drawled running her finger along his jaw.

Ajay moved her hand away and continued. "How did you get the pictures Ketki? How did you know Sanjay was with her? Unless... " his voice trailed off, his eyes hardening.

Ketki flinched and backed out as he rose from his chair "unless you had sent him after her in the first place."

Her eyes wavered and he found his answer. "So what if I did Rathod, all is fair in love and war".

Rathod's brittle laughter bounced off the walls of the room, and his voice sounded like ground glass as he spoke"You have no love Ketki. I have got to hand it to you though; this is a new low even for you. Now that you have had your say, sit down and look at this." He pushed a leather dossier towards her.

Ketki's confidence slipped for a second as she opened the folder and her face turned pale once she flipped through the contents. " What is the meaning---"

Ajay replied in a detached tone, "it means that your fathers company and its flagship newspaper - The Jaipur Herald has been afloat for the past year and a half largely due to my financial backing. The minute I let the news out to the media that I intend to withdraw my support, all his business interests including your glossy little magazine will be torn apart and swallowed by the sharks in the field. Now, it's up to you to decide where your priority lies. You asked me what I can offer, here's my offer, your company and your father's with my financial backing intact, in return for all of the compromising photographs. As for your accomplice, " he flicked the television on in a quick move and Ketki crumpled in her chair as she heard the financial analysts' comments on the plummeting shares of Malhotra and Malhotra.

The analyst went on to say, "The spiraling downturn that is spelling doom for the textile company is a ripple effect of AR group selling their interests in Malhotra & Malhotra and cutting their business dealings with them. AR's CEO - Arnav Singh Raizada's official press statement has spurred like minded companies to follow suit. Mr Sanjay Malhotra who is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital for a dislocated shoulder and facial injuries, a consequence of his drunken driving last night, is unavailable for comments."

"Ahan - the master too.I would not try any more tricks if I were you Ketki. I have this little meeting of ours on tape." He warned amusement coloring his features and voice while her's contorted in impotent rage as she slapped the manila envelope with the master in his upturned palm.

"One more thing, Ketki" said Ajay as he took the packet she had handed him.

Ketki spun around like a wounded tigress eyes flashing and spewing venom "What now?" she ground.

Ajay calmly walked over and pulled back the drapes revealing an ante-chamber from where stepped out Anjali, her face set in unyielding lines and eyes sparkling with anger. She moved forward slowly and struck Ketki across the cheek in one swift motion. "Now, we are done. Don't. You. Ever. Cross my path again" she hissed.

The minute Ketki left, Ajay wrapped his arms around Anjali drawing her in a tight hug and stroked her back as much to soothe himself as her. His throat constricted painfully as he felt her warm tears wet his chest and her delicate arms encircle his neck. They simply stood intertwined in the middle of the library, seeking and offering silent comfort to each other. After what seemed eons, she lifted her gaze and tilted her head lifting her lips in a silent offering of love.

Anjali smiled when she heard his sharp intake of breath and lowered her eyes to his lips when he raised a questioning eyebrow at her unexpected move. Desire punched him in the gut and in the next instant he crushed her lips in an explosive kiss. Anjali sighed against his lips parting hers to offer everything that his errant tongue sought. She tasted sweet and spicy and a million flavors in between was his last thought before his brain shutdown and the rest of his body parts powered up. Anjali 's heart soared as she finally gave in to her long denied emotions.

The blood throbbed in his veins as her hands stroked his shoulders and curled in his hair while her teeth nipped his lips. Egged on by her response, Ajay deepend his kiss, molding her body to his unyielding form, taking her on a whirlwind ride of floating sensations.

A sudden buzz-vibrate against her pelvic bone caused Anjali to gasp and pull back from his passionate embrace. Ajay bit back the creative cuss words that rose to his lips and reached for his cell.

"Well done Rathod! All you have left to do is get Di to say yes, so I can officially call you Jijaji. And now, you have exactly two minutes to become presentable before we crash your little private party".

Ajay grinned at the text and pressing a soft kiss to her lips said, "Sugar Queen, Arnav ka message tha. The gang is on its way up." ("Sugar Queen, It's Arnav's text. The gang is on its way up")

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PS: Me nervous for the first time in a long time. How was it? Appreciate your comments😊