#RIANSH – SCAR ON SOUL# – #Part – 13#

6 am, Kabir’s House,

Riddhima’s happy dreams broke with the buzzing sound of her alarm bringing her back to bitter reality. Getting off the bed, she rushed to the washroom to freshen up. Reaching the washroom, she saw her reflection in the mirror and she could clearly see her bruises of the previous night and the older ones too on her delicate skin. Wiping the silent tears, she had her bath and wearing a saree, she rushed into the kitchen to cook for Kabir and herself. She was packing their lunch boxes when Kabir entered the kitchen, realizing his presence Riddhima didn’t even bother to look at him and continued her work.

Kabir: Seems like you are so enthusiastic to go to your office

Riddhima understood his hidden intention behind his that statement and instantly nodded her head in disapproval but he being a beast, cupped her chin harshly with his hand and twisting her hand behind her, he pulled her towards himself

Kabir: Bolo, why so enthusiastic to go? Did you meet someone better than me?

Riddhima (crying): NO Kabir!!! You…. you are misunders….tanding!!!

Kabir: So, now that you got a job and are earning you’ll tell me what I have to understand!! Huh???

Riddhima nodded her head in disapproval

Kabir: Now tell me whom did you meet yesterday in the office?

Riddhima: No…ne!!!!

Kabir: Good!! Good for your health. And dare you to speak to anyone about anything!! Am I Clear???

Riddhima nodded her head in agreement when he left her to fall and he himself left the kitchen to get ready for his work. She wiped her tears and caressed her hand which was twisted and got back to her work suppressing the pain behind her tears. Arranged breakfast for Kabir and as he came she served him and they had their breakfast and Riddhima rushed to get ready not before washing the dishes and packing her bag. Wearing a simple pastel-colored full hands kurta with palazzo. She made sure all the bruises and injuries are hidden behind her clothes, she came into the living room to see Kabir tying his shoelaces. She picked her bag and that’s when she heard the sound of the horn. Picking her bag, she reached the door and was about to leave when Kabir came from behind and caught her arm shocking Riddhima,

Kabir: Behave well and dare you to open your mouth

Riddhima with fear clearly evident in her eyes and actions nodded her head and as soon as he left her arm she rushed to the cab and took her seat. As the cab moved its way she heard Kabir’s voice behind, sneaking out of the window she saw Kabir waving bye to her with a fake smile on his lips and hatred and warning in his eyes. She breathed a sigh, once the cab was out of the lane.

Sejal: Riddhu!!!

Riddhima turned to her left to find Sejal in her scarf and goggles trying to cover her identity. As soon as she saw her Riddhima hugged her to soothe her heart.

Sejal (worried): Are you ok?

Riddhima broke the hug and nodded her head in approval.

Sejal: Then why are you nervous and shivering? Did he….. ?

Riddhima: Nothing much Sejal…. Everything’s Normal as usual (broken smile)

Sejal though understood her lies, just shrugged her those thoughts as she didn’t want Riddhima to reminisce those haunting memories related to Kabir and so diverted the topic and started speaking of her dad and his regular banters. They soon reached the office and Sejal instructed Riddhima about Vansh’s routine

Sejal: Riddhu, Vansh sir would like to have espresso as soon as he comes, followed by having a view of his schedule for the day. And if he is stressed he’d like to have green tea and at times even espresso once again. It depends on the type and number of meetings he is going through for the day. So, I’d be helping you with the schedule

They sat and Sejal explained to her the meetings and other works of Vansh and Riddhima keenly noted everything and they were discussing the meeting of Mehra’s when Sejal received a call on the intercom

Sejal: Hello

Sejal: Okay!!

Sejal: Riddhima, Vansh, and Angre sir are here, can you take sir’s espresso to his cabin while I look after Angre sir’s schedule and meeting with Mehra’s

Riddhima nodded and went towards the espresso machine in their cabin and making one for Vansh she once again checked the schedule and left towards his cabin. Taking a long breath, she knocked on his door

Vansh: Come in

Riddhima entered and her fragrance filled his cabin and he was wondering who could the fragrance belong to when he heard a familiar voice

Riddhima: Good Morning … sir

Vansh saw Riddhima standing nervously…. He wonders why She is still afraid and of what!!!! He passes a smile to her and wish

Vansh (smiling): Good Morning Riddhima

She hands him his espresso and taking a sip of it his expressions change instantly. He tasted such a tasty soothing espresso for the first time and he enjoys every sip of it as if it is Amrut (elixir). Breaking his thoughts Riddhima spoke

Riddhima: Sir, today you have a meeting with Mehra’s at 11:30 am, followed by a launch program of our equipment’s and for that, you have to reach the cruise by 1 pm. After that, you have another meeting with Oberoi’s at 4 pm.

Vansh: Umm…okay!! And what about the Mehra’s T&C’s, did you go through it?

Riddhima: Yes sir am almost done and I’d give you an update in half an hour.

Vansh: Okay, you may leave!!

Riddhima reached her cabin and was going through the file and was asking some doubts and Sejal was clarifying them. Meanwhile, Angre called Sejal to discuss something when Riddhima was reading the file. Once she was done and noted the doubtful conditions, she wanted to clarify them with Sejal and was waiting for her but she wasn’t returning and Riddhima was confused if she has to go to Vansh’s cabin or not to discuss the doubtful T&C’s.

Riddhima (thinking): C’mon Riddhu, you are his PA and you have to inform him of these T&C’s as they aren’t right as per their clause. But how do I go!!!! (nervous) Will he scold me if I go instead of Sejal? But why will he when I am his PA!! Riddhima!!! You are overthinking, you can’t stay put, you need to discuss these with him to avoid loss, so better go to his cabin and speak to him directly and inform him

Making her mind she reached his cabin but was still hesitant to even knock, after a lot of confusion, she finally knocked it and waited for his response. Vansh was reading something facing his back towards the door when he heard a knock on his cabin,

Vansh: Come in

Riddhima taking a long breath and composing herself entered the cabin and saw Vansh facing the other side. Vansh didn’t even turn around and started speaking something

Vansh: Angre, is it you? Acha did you speak with Mehta’s? Did they agree?

Riddhima (thinking): Oh God!!! He is assuming to be Angre sir, what do I do now!!! Shall I cough! Or shall I make any other sound to intimate him of my presence!!!

Vansh: And what about the submission of our quotes for tender? Did you ask Harish if he has done that?

Riddhima was fidgeting her fingers nervous of how to tell him it’s she and not Angre.

Vansh: Once I check the Mehra’s file, we shall proceed towards the meeting

Riddhima (thinking): He’s waiting for me… Riddhima speak something. Tell him it’s you

Vansh was confused by the silence

Vansh: Speak something (a bit high voice)

Riddhima jerked listening to his voice and her phobia was creating nervousness in her and she started fidgeting with her fingers

Vansh (thinking): Why is Angre silent!! Is everything ok!!! Or is it not Angre!!! Haa, why didn’t I think of that… Why will Angre knock on my door!!! If it’s not Angre then who can it be!!

Before he could react, he heard a feeble voice

Riddhima: S….ir!!!

Vansh’s eyes widened in shock as he recognized the owner of the voice.

Vansh (thinking): Riddhima!!!

He swiftly turned around to find a scared and nervous Riddhima fidgeting with her fingers with a file in her hand. Her eyes had a fear… fear of being scolded! Her lips were shivering and her eyes lashes were fluttering rapidly trying to avoid fear. He understood his voice of how he spoke a few seconds back, mentally banging his head, he composed himself before speaking

Vansh: Yes Riddhima

Riddhima (taking a long breath): Si…r!! I have gone … through the T&C’s of Mehra’s and…

Vansh: Riddhima, first calm down. There isn’t any need to be nervous. Take your seat, relax and then speak

Riddhima: I… I am …. fine sir

Vansh: I can see that. First, sit down and then you can inform me whatever you want to

Riddhima: Si…r

Vansh: Riddhima!!! Sit down

Riddhima politely sat on the chair in front of him and was checking her notes trying not to look up being nervous and afraid. Vansh was observing her mannerisms

Vansh: Riddhima drink some water

Riddhima: Am… am fine sir

Vansh: Riddhima!!!

Riddhima took the glass he passed and gulping it, she took a long breath before getting herself back to her notes

Vansh: Umm… now tell me

Riddhima: Sir, I … I have gone through T&C’s of Mehra’s and I found some faults in few clauses

Vansh: And what are they?

Riddhima forwarded the file towards Vansh and he was going through it when she started speaking looking at her notepad

Riddhima: Sir, as per clause 18B the contract of the project is between VRS Industries and Mehra’s

Vansh: Hmm yes… so?

Riddhima: Sir, if clause 34C is observed then in a small size text they have mentioned that the Mehra’s are in Joint Venture with some Verma’s, and this information is hidden from us

Vansh: Interesting….. Very Interesting… But how did you find this text? I mean, it’s in a miniature text

Riddhima: Vo… actually I have a habit to read everything in detail and I saw this text in…. miniature size so due to curiosity I used Magnifying Glass and this caught my attention

Vansh: Impressive… So, technically Mehra’s are trying to misguide us?

Riddhima: Absolutely sir and there is one more clause too which caught my attention

Vansh: And what’s that?

Riddhima: Sir, as per our policy, before completing any project we have an agreement where we clearly state that 20% of the earned income would go to charity.

Vansh: Yes…

Riddhima: Sir, if you check the clause 56, they are stating that they have an NGO running and they’d like us to give that 20% of that income to them so that it can be used for the welfare of destitute

Vansh: Not a bad idea…

Riddhima: IT IS SIR!!!! (Instantly spoke)

Vansh glared her confused and raised his eyebrows

Riddhima: Am…. Am …. Sorr…y sir!!!

Vansh: It’s totally okay! You wanted to say something just say it

Riddhima: Sir…. It’s… that…. That NGO is fake

Vansh: What!!!! But how do you know?

Riddhima: Actually, I enquired…. I mean, when I read the name of the NGO mentioned – Rising Sun NGO, I thought of enquiring of its work and when I contacted at the given number previous evening, the person who answered was PA of Mehra’s and he didn’t take the name of Rising Sun NGO instead when I asked him he totally disagreed saying there isn’t any NGO such.

Vansh: Interesting….. Very Interesting

Riddhima: And sir as we are working on this project along with Mehra’s we are investing 50% and they 50% but as per clause 65A, they stated that the % of the investment as 75 & 25 respectively which means they are looting us and the profit % should be 50 – 50 but as per their clause 68B, the profit is going to be 20 – 80%, which is a loss for us. So,…… technically….. all their clauses have some hidden motive and…

Vansh: And they assumed that we might not go through everything and made sure faulty clauses are given in a miniature text. Am I Right?

Riddhima nodded her head in approval.

Vansh: How did you know about our policies and previous works?

Riddhima (nervous): I was reading the previous project file and I even spoke ….. to Sejal!!!

Vansh (thinking): She is marvelous!!!! The faults which I never observed in this file when I went through it 2 days back, she caught very specifically. She is impressive. Am damn confident that my decision to recruit her wasn’t just any random thought seeing her suffering but she deserved this position. She unknowingly saved hundreds of crores for the company. She has talent and is very particular about her work.

Vansh: Great work Riddhima,

Riddhima (not meeting his eyes): Th…ank you si…r!!!

Vansh: Give me a moment

Riddhima nodded while Vansh dialed some number and connected the call

Vansh: Angre come to my cabin

Angre was in his cabin with Sejal discussing about meeting with Mehra’s when Vansh called him to come into his cabin. He along with Sejal reached Vansh’s cabin to find Vansh stern and looking into a file while Riddhima was opposite him fidgeting her fingers, nervous. Sejal freaked if something happened

Angre: Yes Vansh!

Vansh: Angre, the previous morning Mehra called you right!

Angre (casually): Yes

Vansh: What exactly he spoke?

Angre: He said he wants the contract to be signed immediately so that the project can move further asap

Vansh (smirk): That Mehra assumed us to be fools

Angre: I didn’t get you

Vansh: He is fooling us and on the pretext of this project he was expecting to loot us

Angre & Sejal (shocked): WHAT!!!!!

Angre: What!! But how!!!

Vansh explains them all that Riddhima discovered while Angre was impressed and also shocked by the backstabbing while Sejal was the happiest

Sejal (thinking): Am finally at peace Riddhima, you have started concentrating totally on your work, and that idiot Kabir didn’t cross your mind now. You started showing your talent where applicable. I am seeing the old talented, passionate, and career-oriented Riddhima in front of me now. Only if Vansh & Angre sir weren’t here, I would have squeezed you hard into a bone-crushing hug.

Angre: What the hell!!! That Mehra has such audacity to betray us!!!

Vansh (smirk): We’ll show him what’s VR in the meeting!

Vansh: Sejal, did you inform the meeting timing to them?

Sejal: Yes sir, they’ll be here by 11:30 am.

Vansh: Better…. Angre, prepare some grand welcome for them and make sure nothing is left off in their hospitality (smirk)

Angre (smiling): Sure!!!

Vansh: Thank you Riddhima, your timely acknowledgment saved the company from fraud of hundreds of crores

Riddhima (nervous): N…. o Menti…on si…r!!! It’s my du..ty

Angre: Vansh, can’t we take any legal action against the fraud they tried to do with us?

Vansh: I was wondering the same… Once speak to our advocate

Riddhima (absent-mindedly): Section 447 of Companies Act, 2013 (CORPORATE FRAUDS) states that any act, omission, concealment of any fact or abuse of position committed by any person with the connivance in any manner, with intent to deceive, to gain undue advantage from, or to injure the interests of the company or its shareholders or its creditors or any other person, whether or not there is any wrongful gain or wrongful loss is a crime and the punishment for such crime according to Indian Law is – who is found guilty of fraud shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six (06) months but which may extend to ten (10) years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than the amount involved in the fraud, but which may extend to three (03) times the amount involved in the fraud.

Ange & Vansh (shock): WHAT!!!!!