Chapter 11 - Fulfilling Promises
The seconds ticked by and shadows grew long on the walls of Satyam Creations, as the sun set into the horizon. Yet, Saakshi sat behind her desk pouring over AR Design's annual reports, projections and plans. She found her mind unable to concentrate and slipping into past memories. She heard the girlish giggle of a child, and quickly shook herself to rid her head of the sound. "Focus, Saakshi, focus" she told herself. "Think ASR, roaring flaming dragon, find his weak spot, and chinks in his armor, there's got to be something in here that you can send back for reconsideration." She forced her mind back to the reports, and for a while, there was silence. She leaned back and closed her eyes, and a beautiful face, eyes pooling with tears, flashed in her mind's eye. She sat up with a thump. It's no use, she thought. I should just quit for the day. Her cell phone rang, interrupting her dull thoughts. "Saakshi, why are you not home yet," she heard her mother's best friend, Tara, screeching into the phone. "I'm at work Tara aunty." She suddenly felt weary. "You missed the Pooja. Your mother was waiting for you. At-least today you should have come home in time." Saakshi felt irritation rise up in her, uncoiling from the pits of her belly. "I never attend the Pooja, mom knows that. Just because I'm in the country this year doesn't change anything." She placed the phone away from her ear as Tara started her lecture on family duties and responsibilities, one that Saakshi was fairly familiar with. She didn't have much affection for Tara, but tolerated her because she recognized that the love and concern Tara had for her mother was genuine. "Tara aunty," she interrupted her. "I really am busy. Tell mom I'm sorry, and let her know that I won't be home tonight either." She heard a soft sigh, as suddenly her mother's voice transmitted through the waves. "Your father is here, Saakshi." She stilled. "I know," she replied. "Please pass on my regards to him, and my apologies. I have some important meetings to prepare for, and don't have the time to meet him." She hung up before her mother could respond.
Restless energy filled her as she paced back and forth the length of the tiny office, memories flowing through her. She paused as she noticed Abhi at the door. He looked at her calmly, all the while knowing that she needed a distraction. Why, he had his suspicions, but as always he reigned in his curiosity and focused on the job at hand. "I've been digging, on the Raizadas. If you have time, I can update you." She sighed in relief. Yes, focusing on someone else's tragedies would help her forget her own. More information on Arnav Singh Raizada would be good, help her focus. She nodded and went back to her chair. Abhi strode forward and handed her a cup of coffee, which she gratefully took. "How many years back do you want to go? There's a lot on this guy from four years ago, but a surprising drought in the past four odd years," he said looking down at his files. "Give me the Coles notes versions from pre four years," she commanded.
So Abhi told her about Arnav Singh Raizada. The Harvard educated MBA that shot to the top of the business world in a short time, who was also ferociously private about his family and his personal life. He was declared as India's most eligible bachelor, but announced his engagement to his personal assistant Lavanya Kashyap, in late 2011. That relationship didn't last long and restrained news of the break-up was released through the media. He got married soon after that, but the details were blurry. When he got married, why it wasn't announced for almost a year, was not apparent through the news reports. "Who is his wife," asked Saakshi. "I know he's married, but I've never heard much about her." Abhi looked up at her. "Her name is Khushi. Khushi Singh Raizada. Her sister is married to Aakash. Maybe that's how they met? Anyway, there are snippets here and there. She participated in a beauty pageant show and won about a year into the marriage. That's how his marriage was announced actually, publically. It was supposed to be a high coverage event, but AR Corporations restricted the media rights on the event, and there's very little about it in the press. She apparently was a designer with AR Designs after the competition. I believe she designed the collection that we're going to be launching." Saakshi was surprised. "His wife? But I haven't heard mention of his wife in any of the conversations we've had." Abhi looked at her, his face all wrinkled up. "That's the odd part. So upto about two years ago, there were snippets here and there about his wife, but in the past two years, no news at all. There's been a lot of business reports on the mishandling of AR Designs. Apparently, they've lost a lot of clients, he's been MIA quite a bit, also a bit of a blurb on his sister, who at one point was the new up and coming talent at AR before she stopped working there. But nothing on his wife." She looked at him with speculation, but before she could jump to any conclusions, he jumped to clarify and continued on. "But that doesn't mean anything, there wasn't much to begin with. I really would love to meet the guy in charge of AR's PR and media relations. The guy is bloody brilliant at suppressing news." She laughed. "You, praising someone else?" He flushed and hid a grin. "Not praising. But you have no idea how hard it was to dig up even this much. Oh, and yes, something else. Not really news, but I did find a public intention to adopt documents." She stilled. "Adopt? He adopted? Adopted what?" He looked at her a smile on his face. "A child of-course. They adopted a child, four years ago. There's no news on that, but I found the public adoption papers on some obscure NGO website. All the personal information is withheld of-course, but if you really want, I can contact the agency that was involved and see what I can find." She sighed, suddenly feeling guilty. "No, there's no need. It's not really my business anyway." Abhi looked at her again, curiosity rising again. "It never really was, to being with." She didn't react to his veiled jibe, and so he pushed further. "Saakshi, why exactly are you so interested in Arnav Singh Raizada?"
Saakshi was suddenly lost in memories, different from the ones plaguing her earlier, but equally intense. Visions of pale skin, big round eyes, and a soft uncertain voice flooded her, and she imagined a waft of jasmine in the air. She looked up at Abhi with uncertainty. Abhi was the closest thing to a friend she had, and yet, she had never shared the intimate details of her life with him. And he had never asked her. Until now.
Abhi could feel Saakshi's hesitance, and it was more concern for the girl he considered a friend than curiosity, that made him push her. "Saakshi, two years ago, partnering with AR made a lot of sense. They were doing really well, we could have benefited from the partnership, the collection was new and fresh. We didn't really have any other offers on the table. Today, that's not true. Going with AR, is almost suicidal. The collection is now two years old, the company is surviving at best. We have many other options, yet you're not willing to even consider them. Why only AR? You're not one to be ruled by emotions. I know that this is not part of a grand revenge strategy. You don't care that much to want revenge. So what is it?"
Saakshi somehow felt that she wanted to unburden her heart. This day, every year, was hard for her. Memories of things that were, that could have been, for one day a year, ruled over her sensibilities. And she was tired. She closed her eyes, and let herself go back two years ago. She slowly found herself experiencing a different environment, the sights, sounds and smells of the crowded train station permeating her mind. She could hear the yells of coolies and vendors as they jogged alongside the slowly chugging train. She could smell the comforting aroma of hot chai, the pungent sweetness of roses and marigolds, and a mixture of human sweat, urine and cheap perfume. But all she registered was the slim form of the girl sitting on the berth across from her. She was staring broodingly outside the window of the train, tears pouring down her cheeks, her eyes unfocused not seeing anything. Saakshi could feel her heart constrict, and a strange lightness seeping through her blood. Looking at the girl again, she felt a strange tug of protectiveness for the frail creature in front of her.
"Saakshi?" Abhi's voice brought Saakshi crashing back to the present. She looked at him and saw that he was still expecting an answer. She frowned, expecting to want to tell him, but the heaviness from a few minutes ago was gone, and her heart felt light. She smiled at him, realizing, gladly, that her day was almost over. "I made a promise once to someone." She didn't elaborate further, and Abhi realized that the moment was almost gone. "A promise to work with ASR?" he asked. "Something like that," she answered, almost nonchalantly. He had thought of many possible scenarios, but this one he did not expect. Who could possibly arm wrestle Saakshi into making such a promise? And then, the answer came to him. "It was her, wasn't it?" She wasn't surprised. Her Abhi was perceptive yet discrete. "Yes, it was her." She stilled. "It's for both of them." She smiled wistfully, and Abhi, caught up in the tenderness on her face, thought it best not to question her. "It's time to pay up, Abhi." She suddenly felt overwhelmed, and leaned over and grabbed his hand. "And I really want her to know Abhi. Please help me find her. Let's just find her." Abhi placed his hands over hers. "We'll find her, Saakshi. I promise, we'll find her." Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and smiled with real joy. She leaned back and grinned at him. "But I still really want to show ASR who's boss. Don't think I'm not keen on showing him his place, Abhi, because I really am." He chuckled and got up to leave. "Oh, I believe you Saakshi. He won't know what's hit him." She grinned saucily, anticipating the victory of beating ASR at his own games. But as Abhi exited her cabin, the grin left her face, replaced again with the soft smile of before, the smile that indicated a heart clinging to the hope that Abhi had left her with. The hope of finding her again.
Millions of miles away, Arnav sat at the poolside in Shantivan. Two years ago, exactly on this day, his world had been torn apart. He glanced up at the stars, relieved to see that all looked as it always did. He placed his hand on his heart and whispered out loud in the early morning air, "Khushi, sun sakti ho tum mujhe?" A light wind was his answering call. "Arnav aur Khushi, kabhi juda nahi ho sakte. Arnav aur Khushi hamesha saath rahenge." A lone tear made its way down his cheek. "I promise I will find you, Khushi. I promise I will bring you back home."
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Thoughts? 😊 Lots of Love, Shy
Chapter 12 here
Edited by st03im - 11 years ago
Ganesh Kartikeya
330