Chapter 14

Jigar picked up the paperweight and threw it in anger.

"To hell with Jaideep Sahni. I don't know what tricks he is up to. Abhi is an idiot. I told her to stay away from him and his corrupted world. She downright refused to pay heed to me." Jigar gritted his teeth and fisted his hands in complete fury. If only he could kill Jaideep, he would.

He kept pacing his office with no idea of a solution. He had promised Abhi of working something out, but the cost of wriggling her out of this situation could scar him for life. He simply had no solution but to call Jaideep and negotiate a deal with him. If, only if Abhilasha knew what it had cost him to get her a recommendation letter, perhaps, she would have never dreamt of fulfilling her dreams. Would she have sacrificed her dreams for him? He had no idea because he had never tested their relationship.

First things first he decided to call Kiara and ask for an appointment to meet Jaideep. Kiara was sceptical about finding a slot to fit him in but the moment he mentioned it would be of interest to Jaideep, she knew Jigar would never pester her for a meeting if it hadn't been important. She was aware of the strained relationship between the father and son duo and could feel the hostility that Jigar harboured for his father right through; in his eyes and his actions.

She asked him to join him for tea and she would take care of the rest. Jigar snorted mockingly at the word tea. He braced himself for the worst. If this requires manipulation then be it, but he wasn't going to be out of the door so easily.

Jigar in his anger didn't even notice that his mother was sitting right in front of him while he was on the phone with Kiara.

"So, she screwed it up." She spoke but that did not startle him even for a second.

"No, he screwed it up."

"I would have loved to have her back in this city but for..."

"You know your reasons are pretty fucked up.'

"Er tu Brutus". And she started laughing.

"Come I will teach you a trick or two to trap your father in the game of negotiations."

Jigar smiled, the heartwarmingly, genuine one that he had reserved only for Abhilasha.

"I need it and thank you for helping out."

"Anything for my son and daughter-in-law."

The word daughter-in-law that too from his mother's mouth made him open his own mouth in awe.

"In any other circumstances I am sure you would have defended your stance but I know you wouldn't now, so let's keep the pretences behind and for once help ourselves out of this mess that the dick of that stupid man has created."

He shook his head in regret and internalized all his feelings for Abhilasha, his parents and the rest of the world. What mattered at the moment was doing something to ensure Abhi was always safe and in her cocoon.

_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x

Abhilasha had no heart to go back to her bua's place and answer her questions. She had no place to go to, no friends to lean on. Not even in her wildest dreams, she had thought of a situation like this arising at the beginning of her career. Should she call her mother and talk to her? She would ask her to come back home from the very next train and that would be the end of all her dreams. She decided to stick awhile and wait for Jigar to come back to her. She was placing all her faith in that man and he better live up to it.

She strolled back to the bus stop. She found numerous restaurants that could fill her tummy happily but she saw the sorry state her pockets were in and decided to come back when she was loaded. Perhaps some years later when she was making a pot of money.

Dreams- they have an uncanny way of filling your stomach with such excess of hope that food is never a necessity. The hungry stomach growled but Abhilasha made it understand the situation with a vada pav from a roadside stall. She saw in it a story that would be narrated someday, on-screen or in books. Young minds are so besotted and full of themselves and their impending success.

Abhilasha had never strolled alone anywhere let alone in another city, so the idea of exploring the city on her own was alien to her. Her sense of righteousness kept goading her to tell the truth to her parents. It was a constant tug and pull between right and wrong. She finally decided she would let the cat out of the bag if they enquired. The day was long but it did end. She went back home and acted out like she was too tired to even speak. She wanted to avoid any forthcoming questions from her bua, about her workplace or colleagues. She didn't want to lie to her. She quickly finished her meal and changed into her pyjamas and went off to sleep. There was no privacy of a room for her to cry her heart out. She had passed the majority of her day thinking, how she would get out of the black hole.

Jigar was upset, his wildest fear about Abhilasha in Mumbai, alone, had come true. She had barely been there for 24 hours and was struggling with the ways of life in that fast-paced cruel city. He was of no help to her. Being new in the industry, he hadn't built the kind of rapport where he would go asking for favours. Also, the chance of getting embroiled in a favour game so early in his career was a huge risk. He would take a gamble only if he knew who to engage within this sort of a gamble. There was only one hope for Abhilasha - Jaideep Sahani.

I had an uncanny feeling that he was the sole creator of this entire trouble. I just could not pin where he had a role to play. The game of chess that he played with people's lives was nothing new. I had been a witness to many such games and he came out victorious in all of them.

I took a look at my watch. The time freaked me out. I had been sitting in my office for long enough contemplating how to face Jaideep. Ma had given me some tips but I wasn't confident in pulling them out of my sleeves I was wary but I braced myself for the worst.

I reached late. Kiara was waiting for me and stressing out over my non-punctuality. The moment she saw me, she heaved a sigh of relief.

"You're just on time. His meeting got over a few minutes back and he walked out for a smoke. Let me warn you." And my eyes popped out and just not my ears. "He is in a foul mood, the interview with the Defense Minister did not go well and he is mighty pissed. So, salvage yourself."

She seemed to be more scared than me.

"Kiara, thanks and you need not worry. I won't tell him you helped me. I would say I walked in."

Kiara nodded in agreement and I could see pity for me in her eyes. She perhaps knew I was getting myself killed. And that thought made me laugh inwardly.

I walked into his office and plopped myself on the couch adjacent to his table. Jaideep kept his space neat and clean with no files or things without order. Kiara took care of it, I suppose. The furniture was bare minimum and so was the artwork. But there were multiple pictures of his meetings with renowned politicians. I glanced at his wall of honour. How gallantly he had displayed all his awards and certificates. Total showoff! There was nothing in his office that speak for his true taste. He hadn't taken the pains to decorate and everything screamed off to him being phoney.

He walked in a huff without noticing me. And even if he did notice me, he did not show it on his face. I cleared my throat to start the conversation. He perked up his eyes and was amused to see me.

"Hi!" I said, as cordially as it was possible.

"Any important work?"

"Umm...yes." I nodded my head in effect.

"Tea?"

"Yes, please." He made me tea and I was surprised he knew my taste in sugar and the choice of tea.

"Twining for you and masala chai for me." He took his cup in his hand and took a sip. I was just observing him, avoiding any chance of missing a trace of hint that could show that he was aware of what had happened with Abhilasha in Mumbai. "So, what's the work that got you here?" He came straight to the point and I was happy, I was in no mood to beat around the bush and make small talk with him.

I opened my mouth albeit reluctantly. "Abhilasha..." and his ears perked up at the mere mention of her name. Suddenly, he was all ears but he did not show his interest clearly. He disguised his nonchalance well but not well enough to give me an idea that he would help. He raised his eyes to ask me to continue speaking without hesitation.

"FMN asked her to wait for some time as there is no vacancy for an intern at the office currently."

"So..." He looked at me questioningly. How do I phrase this? How would it matter to him that she had no money and no place to survive in that city for too long?

"So, I was hoping if you could pull a few strings and get her placed."

"I see. And what makes you think..."

"Dad, she cannot stay in Mumbai without work. She might have to come back and not take that position at all."

"Okay, I will see what I can do."

This was easy. He agreed immediately and did not even ask me and there my train of thoughts were halted by the man speaking himself and proving my very first intuitions about him correct.

"I want you to not come out, so soon. Perhaps never."

I stared at him in disbelief. "How is this two connected?"

"You asked me for a favour, I am asking one in return. I am flying to Delhi tonight for a meeting with the Defense Minister. Let me know your answer by tonight if you want everything to fall into place."

"Fine." I managed to say it as calmly as possible.

"No one. Not your mom, not your girlfriend..." he clucked his tongue in mockery, "sorry your best friend."

I nodded and went straight to the door. Before I could pull open Kiara walked in with a trolley of food behind her with the peon. She gave me a small understanding smile, searching for any trace of anger. I was seething but I could never show. I curved my lips forcefully to make her believe all was well.

She gestured me to sit and have snacks with my father but I politely refused. I had enough to chew and his cunningness would not be easily swallowed by me for a long time. It would hurt my throat for a long time to come.

Before I left Jaideep Sahani shouted at my back, "Interview tomorrow at two. Don't forget. I will send my reporter. Notify everyone and please don't waste his time."

I walked out without an answer. What was there to answer? I just had to agree to his commands. I decided not to call Abhi immediately and raise her hopes. I had to wait for confirmation from the man himself before I gave a green signal to her.