96

"Sir...." Called Aman on the intercom...

"Yes.." Arnav said still engrossed in reading the file.

"Mr. Rattan Singh is here..." he said and Arnav closed the file staring down.  He could see a heafty figure in the launge.  Looking at the time, he instructed...!

"Keep him comfortable for another hour..." he disconnected and picked up the intercom...
"Aakash... in my cabin... right now... request Mamaji..." he said and turning to his private room disappeared in no time...!

Rattan Singh gazed around at the plaush, modern office...! "Not less than 5000 Sq. Feet...! Four floors... Good..." he wiped his lips looking at the infrastructure hungrily. 

"One chance... and you are gone... Chote..." he smiled contemptuously.  The offer had surprised him... He was out of the jail, plus got a foot in the company, which he had tried several times to sabotage and take over... He was shockingly surprised.  The reason given was... his grandmother...!

"This much for the old witch... that's nice... I can squeeze in more..." he thought sipping the tea, picking up the fashion magazine... watching the pictures of the models lustfully.  Aman gazed him with curiosity.  Why is he here? Aman didn't know but he wouldn't ask.  ASR would disclose in due course of time...!

"Di... come to the office with Mami and Nani..." he said on phone.  Anjali was puzzled.  She went to Nani.  Nani thought for a while and said... "Ok.  Let us go...!"

"Payal bitiya..." Nani entered the kitchen.  Payal turned. 
"Chote nay bulaya hain... We have to go.." Payal just nodded glancing at Khushi who was at the table reading something...!

"Yeah.. Dadiji.. I will take care..." she assured and Khushi looked up. 

"Woh... They are going to the office..." Payal said coming to Khushi and Khushi nodded grinning... "Finally... this husband of mine is considering the family members worth considering...hehehe...Love you Das uncle..." She nodded happily....

"Haan Naniji... Aap log Jaiye.. hum hain na ghar main!" she said smiling sweetly.  Nani sighed relieved.  Khushi winked at Payal.

"Jiji... Ab agala vaar..." she said wickedly.  Now it was Papaji's turn...!  Khushi looked at the time and picked up the phone...!

"Hello... Raj bhaiyya...." she said brightly and Payal gaped...! Khushi went into her room to talk to her Raj Bhayya....!
"What is she up to...?" Nobody knew....!! Now Papaji was under the radar...!

*******  *******  *****

"Where is he?" A rough voice asked the receptionist.  She looked up smiling..
"He is busy with another meeting, Sir.  Please be seated.  Your appointment is at 5:00 in the evening.." she said sweetly.

"Don't you have a better place to wait?" he asked looking around.  His two bodyguards with machine guns stood in attention. 

"Please be seated sir.." The receptionist said picking up the intercom.  Within a couple of minutes, Aman appeared. 

"Sir... you can wait in my cabin..." he said pointing at the lavish cabin.  Rattan seemed satisfied.  His bodyguards took over.  Aman went out locking his Cabinet. 

ASR's phone buzzed.  "Aman..." he responded. 
"Sir, he is in my cabin.." Arnav thought for a second and said... "Aman I want you to be present with me in this meeting...." Aman agreed, a little surprised.  It was a board meeting and he was only an employee.

"Aman... Nani and Di are coming.  I want them to be brought in directly to the conference room..." Aman understood...!

"Yes Sir...." he said.  He waited at the entrance of the office.  Nobody knew what was he upto.

******  ******  *******

Mami held Anjali's hand as Anjali panicked seeing Rattan Singh sitting infront of her.  She looked at her Chote who was sitting on the chair, laid back. 

Nani on the other side was sitting upright with a straight face ignoring that unwanted person.  Aakash looked little nervous and Aman stood beside ASR watching all of them.  The other board members started filing in and were little surprised to see a stranger in the board meeting.

ASR welcomed everyone introducing each one with their position in the company and finally gesturing at Rattan Singh said... "He is our special guest, soon will be a part of this company..." Everyone looked at Rattan Singh with surprise, suspicion, amazement...! A politician on board? That was new in this company.  ASR began his opening speech with the agenda...! He talked about the growth of the company and the minor problems it faced during the year...!  And then introduced the purpose of the meeting.

"I wish to propose a addition of two persons on board.  One Mr. Rattan Singh Thakur..." he started off introducing Rattan and highlighted his influence on the Uttar Pradesh Politics.  The other members seemed to be excited to have him on board... There was visible restlessness in the Raizada Clan... ASR tried to guage the inclination of the members and introduced the other proposed member on board.

"Mr. Aman... My second person..." he said and Aman's heart jumped out of his skin. 

"Me? On board?" he gaped in disbelief.  Arnav introduced him as an able, smart, prominent executive of the company, deserving to be the part owner.  Nani had a broad smile nodding in acceptance.  The modalities of the share holding was discussed at length.  Mamaji nodded with satisfaction.  Aakash gaped at his bhai with astonishment.
"What is he planning to do?" he just couldn't comprehend.
"The vesting period will be two years and the shares would be transferred after the completion of two years.... Both of them will have the right to sell the shares after the completion of vesting period..." He had shrewdly locked them both.  Aman had no issues what so ever.  However, Rattan Singh hesitated. 
"Two years? Who is going to wait for two years?" Rattan was ready to crush this empire under his heels right at that point of time...

"The resolution to add two more members was passed unanimously...!" Rattan looked around victoriously. 

"The second point on agenda is... the Funds embusselment we faced three years back and this year we have made a headway.  He said to everyone's shock.

"The theft and fund siphonage had percolated from the warehouse into the clients and vendors accounts... Mr. Sham Manohar was involved and soon we will trace back to the mastermind.  Mr. Sham Manohar Zaa was a close associate of Rattan Singh.  So now Mr. Rattan Singh will help us in reaching the mastermind.  We are on the verge of arresting the suspect and soon will recover all the money...!" he said smiling at Rattan's ashen face.

"If he traces that scam ... !" Rattan shudderred. 
"The Accident case of Mr. Prashand during this period, is reopened for the possibilities of murder.  The case will be reinvestigated as a murder case..." ASR dropped another silent bomb.  Rattan  fidgeted.  He was trapped sweetly.  He was made the member and the cases in which he was involved were reopened. 

"Yes.  We all agree that the cases must be reinvestigated and the real culprit be nabbed." Everyone said.  The resolutions were passed after the scripted discussions and a dinner was arranged after the meeting.

"Khushi...?" he suddenly remembered and dialed her number.  Payal picked up.  He frowned.
"Payal, there is a dinner party... I will send the car..." he said and Payal responded.

"Umm.. Arnav ji we just now had our food.  Khushi needs some rest...I mean.. is it ok, if I stay with Khushi and not come there?" she asked politely.

"What happened? Is she ok?" he asked concerned.

"Oh yes.. She is fine.. just felt hungry early so we had our food and now she is taking rest..." Payal said sweetly and Arnav disconnected losing his apetite and interest in the dinner.

"What does he think? He will just call us and we will oblige?" Payal frowned.

"Who was it Jiji?" Khushi asked switching the channel of her TV set. 
"Arnav ji.  He was inviting us for the dinner after the board meeting..." she said sarcastically.

"Oh is it? What is the menu?" Khushi asked smacking her lips.

"Khushi...!" Payal rolled her eyes.  Khushi sniggered.
"Aray... menu toh puchh liya hota..." she said nudging Payal.  Payal looked at her angrily.

"Aray, Jiji... Hamain toh Khane se matalab hain...!" Khushi grinned and payal responded.
"Yeah.. Khana toh hain... but not with them.." she spat angrily.

"Humm... Chalo lets make something..." Khushi got up only to be pulled back by Payal.

"No.. You are not entering the kitchen.  I will prepare something.  You sit here..." Payal went into the kitchen.  Khushi sat humming and shaking her leg. 

They both had a quiet dinner.  "Jiji.. Amma Babuji ki yaad aati hain..." Khushi said . 
"Haan Khushi... Hamain bhi aati hain...! Let us call Amma..." she said excitedly and moved towards the telephone.  And the door flung open.  Payal dropped her receiver, startled. 

"KHUSHI..." he screamed entering the house ready to pounce on her...! Khushi turned off the TV hurriedly. 

"Arnav ji?" she was surprised and then she saw the other family members.  Arnav clenched his fists trying to control his temper.  Nani, sensing the danger tried the damage control desperately.
"Khushi bitiya, how are you now? Payal told me you had a headache..." Nani said holding Khushi's hand.  Khushi grinned.

"Haan... Naniji I am alright now..." she said squenting at Arnav. 

"Did you call Raj?" Arnav barked a question and Khushi shuddered.  Sidelining the question, she hurriedly went inside to help Payal.
"Khushi... Answer me..." he was at the kitchen door.
"What? No!" she said frowning.  He turned and went to his room without a word....! Khushi sighed.  Payal was worried...!

"Khushi... he is upset.." Khushi looked at her and smiled sweetly... Payal grinned...

"He is Like that only...!" they both said at once and the tension released...!