Anjali surprised even me! I'm loving writing this!
Part 9
"Hum Anjali Singh Raizada bol rahe hain..." the soft voice had the
reverberating effect of a cannonball.
The stunned look on the anchor's face would have made Anjali laugh if the
situation hadn't been so very dire. Watching the show on mute on the TV
Screen in her room, she sat down on her favourite armchair.
Switching to English out of respect of the national channel status, she
continued,"I apologize, gentlemen and ladies, for interrupting your discussion,
but in light of my family's name continuously coming up for discussion in
this programme, I believe it is only fair that our views too be heard."
The anchor cast a quick glance at his boss, and at Raghuveer's almost
imperceptible nod, he replied, "Of course, Ma'am! We would have called
you for your version anyway, thank you for taking interest proactively. "
"Of course you would have, but by then, quite a few lives would have been
disrupted, and endless pain caused to unsuspecting souls who have found
a livelihood through a small initiative founded by my sister-in-law, with whom we work on a regular basis. Hence this call." Anjali stated,
her soft voice an effective foil for the sharp admonishment her words
formed.
The social worker, whose face had acquired an impressive pallor, at Anjali's
words, had just opened her mouth, no doubt to make an insensitive and
inopportune retort, when Raghuveer cut in, "We welcome you as a member
to this discussion, Ms. Raizada, the floor is yours."
"Thank you, Mr. Singhania. My responses, categorically, to the questions
raised by the eminent panelists are these. Firstly, let me give a summary of
how our Event Management Company works. It is not a division of AR,
it is owned and operated by my sister-in-law and I. We have a catering division, headed by her, that is
Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, who is also part owner of the
Gupta Sweets Chain, and a daughter of the family, so no one in the country
can question her familiarity with the field of catering, I believe?", Anjali
paused a moment.
"I handle the Event Management part, which I believe I am qualified to do
with my educational as well as my professional background, which you are
welcome to verify, along with the help of an organization called "Prateeksha"
and its sub-division "Abhilaasha" managed by my second sister-in-law. While the company has stayed within the family, I believe I have
addressed any questions that might have arisen with the passing remark
made about the lack of experiece part of our catering division."
A pin would have been heard dropping on the studio floor as Anjali paused
after her statement. Back home, Payal stopped Manorama and Khushi
who had jumped up to rush to Anjali's side, "Nahi, Maaji. Khushi, Di ko bolne
do, yeh zaroori hain. Aur woh jaanti hai ki hum sab usske saath hain."
Sitting back down reluctantly beside Dhruv, Khushi's fidgeting hands were
grabbed by him. "Bhabi, this is the Anjali Singh Raizada who I knew! The
gentlest of souls, but uncompromising when it came to her work. In the
initial days of AR, hers used to be a velvet-sheathed iron fist, as Bhaiyya was wont to say. Once she got going, no one
would realize what hit them before that gentle demeanor had them
wherever she wanted them to be. Aap pareshaan mat huyiye, she will
handle it."
Smiling at his Bhabi, he turned back to the TV, eager to hear his Di's next
words.
Taking a deep breath, Anjali continued, "Agar koi sawal nahi hain toh hum
agale prashn ka jawab dein?"
At the silence that reigned still, she smiled,"The remark that 'Prateeksha'
and 'Abhilaasha' are a bluff of AR's CSR initiative is not only blatantly
insensitive, it is also a totally un_researched, irresponsible and unbecoming
remark made on your channel. The details of its operations are available
for public perusal on AR's website as well as their own websites. "
Trying to reign in her fury at the helpless innocents targeted with total
disregard, Anjali continued,"Belittling the voiceless, marginalized victims of
a harsh, judgmental society is something unexpected of social workers,
Madam Panelist," Anjali paused and completed,"whoever you are."
The blanched face of the panelist filling the screen, Khushi and Dhruv let
out a hearty cheer. Grabbing his Bhabi in a tight hug, Dhruv shouted,
"Kaha tha naah, maine? Dekha, Anjali Singha Raizada ko? In all her
fearsome glory?"
Leaping up and twirling a teary_eyed but smiling Payal around, he shouted,
"Way to go, Di! Oh Bhaiyya and Bhai missed this!"
While the family was celebrating her spot_on responses, Anjali surged
ahead, "As for the forgery and false documents you accused us of, I will
let it pass, and let the concerned authorities decide on due course of action
on the accusations raised against their work ethics, Madam. But regarding
the food served last night, our samples are already being tested in the
National Laboratory at our express request. The results will be available
tomorrow, at a press conference we will call to clear our name which has
been tarnished badly by the media over the past few days. And then, we,
at Annapoorna, will decide on who all to be included in a defamation suit."
Staring at the TV screen, which was now showcasing a slightly smiling
Raghuveer Singhania, Anjali too smiled grimly, "Thank you, Mr. Singhania,
even though you will receive an official invitation to the press conference,
this my personal invitation to your channel. As this has been televised
nationally, and internationally, I would expect that the code of ethics that
you follow will demand that the conclusion of the scandal and our acquittal
by the media also be televised by you. At the very least, I hope your
conscience will demand it. Thank you again for the time, Good Night."
As Anjali disconnected as unexpectedly as she had called, furor erupted
on the channel floor, and each panelist scrambling to excuse themselves
from any remark that may have potential to trigger a defamation suit, the
camera focused on a smiling Raghuveer, that enigmatic smile that normally
sent goosebumps over those at its receiving end. But having researched
on Anjali the night of the dinner, and familiar with all the tragedy she had
suffered and emerged stronger from, Raghuveer was giving her a mental
salute, "What a woman!"
A drained Anjali, was just heading out of her room after taking a calming
breath when she was accosted by her exuberant family. After the impromptu
celebration, Dhruv was on the phone, arranging the press conference, and
Payal was double_checking with Gautamji about the status of the lab reports
when Khushi's phone rang.
The familiar ring_tone sending a jolt of joy through her, she answered,
"Arnavji! Phone lines theek ho gaya?"
His voice showing all the frustration of being stuck so far from home at
such a critical time, Arnav said, "Just the phone lines, Khushi. Everything
else is still down. What is happening there?"
At her update, his increasingly frantic voice flowed over the line,"What?She is facing the media all on her own? Let me try and find some way to
get down there! God Dammit! Why did we choose to fly out here, Di ko
meri zaroorat hai aur main wahan nahi hoon!"
Soothing her husband in the way only she could, Khushi smiled, gazing
fondly at her Di, who was laughing at Dhruv's re_enactment of the
expressions of the panelists, "Shh...shh... shanth ho jaayiye, Arnavji. Di ko
toh aapki zaroorat hamesha rahegi, lekin Anjali Singh Raizada toh
situtation ko achche se handle kar rahi hain, aap chaain se rahiye..."
Author's Note:
Happy? 😳
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