Part 6C
Meeting Ashok
It was now 8.00pm.
Raman, Mihir and Neel were in a boardroom at the Oberoi with Shagun.
"Shagun are you sure you want to do this?" Mihir asked for the second time.
"Mihir, I know what I'm doing. Leave me alone" Shagun said impatiently, pacing up and down her translucent blue chiffon sari billowing around her svelte figure.
Raman stood up impatiently, irritated at Shagun's behaviour with Mihir. "Why the hell are we wasting our time here?" He snarled. "Let's go Mihir"
"Bhai please .." Mihir said soothingly as Neel also laid a placating hand on Ramans shoulder. "Raman Bhai" Neel chimed in. "Aap ko Ashok yahan dekhe ga toh woh jaane ga that Shagun has support, so please stay around."
A knock on the door interrupted them. Ashok strode in, accompanied by Suraj and Param. He stopped short as he saw Raman and Mihir.
"Well" he drawled, walking up to Neel. "Tum ne mujhe yahan bulaya hai, ab bolo kya baat karni hai?"
"Thank you for coming Mr Khanna" Neel was polite, but cool. "My client, Ms Shagun Arora, aap se ek proposal karna chahti hai."
"Proposal?" Ashok lifted an eyebrow and sneered, while his two side kicks chuckled beside him. "Mein ne toh keh diya mujhe isse Shaadi nahi karni hai, toh proposal kaisi?"
"Woh mein batati hoon Ashok" Shagun spoke up for the first time since Ashok's entry."But are you sure that you want your chamcha Param to hear this? Or even Suraj?"
"Kyon?" Ashok sneered again. "Jab tumhara ex-husband aur us ka chamcha yahan sun rahe hai, toh Param aur Suraj kyon nahi?"
"Mein ne Raman aur Mihir ko abhi tak yeh nahi bataya ki is me..." Shagun brandished an envelope towards Ashok "...kya hai. Lekin agar tum ne aaj meri baat nahi suni, toh Raman kya, bahut saare log yeh jaan jayenge. The choice is yours, I just thought ki tum apne is naukar ko apne secrets batana pasand nahi karoge."
"Kya hai isme Shagun?" Ashok suddenly looked a tad nervous before the unmistakeable confidence in Shaguns eyes.
"Mr Khanna, meri client ki proposal yeh hai ki agar aap nahi chahte ki us envelope mein joh information hai woh public jo jaaye, toh aap saat dinon mein us se Shaadi karenge, in a very public ceremony, aur is prenuptial agreement par sign karna hoga" Neel now joined into the conversation.
Ashok grabbed the pre-nuptial agreement, his face settling into a frown as he read through it.
"Why the hell would I agree to this?" He snarled at Shagun. In response, she handed him the thick envelope she held. "Padh lo" she sneered at her estranged lover.
Ashok grabbed the envelope from Shagun - he tore open the flap and took out the contents, his face growing a deeper red, convoluted with rage, as he proceeded to go through the papers he took out.
"You bloody bitch" he yelled at Shagun, lunging at her even as Mihir pushed him back and Raman stood in front of Shagun, a smile escaping his face. He wondered for a fleeting second just what information Shagun had on Ashok, but truth be told, he was not interested in Ashok's dirty deals. What he wanted was for Shagun to marry Ashok, for his son to start coming home to him and Ishita and for his new life to begin in earnest without the never ending dramas of Shagun.
Ashok had moved back now, his face still distorted in rage. "Param, Suraj, wait outside" he barked.
"Lekin Bhai" Suraj began, then shutting up at the look on Ashok's face, he followed the retreating Param outside.
"In kutton ko bhi bahar nikal" Ashok snarled at Shagun.
Raman chuckled and sat down on the board table, crossing his legs leisurely. "Tu humse baat kar raha hai kameena? He asked pleasantly. "Kyon Mihir, what do you think, yeh humko kya keh raha hai?"
"Shagun, I swear" Ashok's voice was riding hysterically. "Agar tum ne inko yeh dikhaya hai toh"
"Abhi tak nahi Ashok. You know I love you baby, I had to do this kyunki tum us Suraj ki baaton me aa kar hamaare pyar ko bhul gaye. Mein ne sirf Neel ko bataya, aur woh toh lawyer hai, woh kuch nahi keh sakta. Toh, kya ab hum Shaadi kar rahe hai?"
"Give me that Agreement" He grabbed the document again from Neel and went through it quickly.
"Ten crore alimony" he shouted.
"But baby, that's only if you divorce me. But you won't, will you?"
Ashok glared at Shagun, but a defeated look had come into his eyes. 'Sirf tum mujhe meri ghutno pe laa sakti ho' he had told Shagun when he had mock proposed to her at their cocktail party. And she had indeed brought him to his knees. He hated giving in to her demands, hated letting her have the upper hand, but he had no choice. The information she held could destroy him, destroy his career, and she knew it, damn her. No, he would have to marry her now, but he would find a way to get even, he would find a way to destroy her one day.
"No, Yes" he snarled. "No, I won't divorce you, and yes, I will marry you."
Shagun gave a laugh of triumph and threw herself at Ashok as Raman uncoiled himself from his seat on the table.
"Acha Bhai" he drawled at Mihir as he headed to the door. "Ram milaye jodi, ab Raavan chala apne ghar"
Part 7 - Page 41
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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