In the Chairman's office

Harshvardhan Joshi was seated in his chair looking angry, tensed and thinking deeply.

Harish was seated beside his Dadu looking equally tensed making the people entering the cabin confused.

When all the members got seated, Dadu told his assistant to show the clip on the monitor.

All were curious to know what the fuss about.

Nithya relaxed on her seat twirling her pen over the nuisance caused by the grandfather and his grandson which ruined her perfect chitchat with her friends.

Hemant wanted to know why his father preferred to inform Harish than his son about the office incomings.

The clip moved one by one, wherein Dadu was explaining the person shown in the slides.

"He is the spy who had been passing the info to our client over a decade. He managed to share the major part of our deals with our competitors," Harish spoke signalling the man on the clip.

"So, we had our eyes on him for a long time and...we were finally able to track him. Thanks to...our loyal employee. Who diligently took care to keep a watch on him without his knowledge," Harish continued trying to make the people in the room take a note of the upcoming tension.

Just like that Harish was introducing the various persons shown in the screen and their role in the dismissal of their orders from their potential clients. Some of their clients were so shrewd that they used to even send hate mails calling their company a fraud under the pretext of serving their precious clients.

The board members were feeling sad at how they had started losing their reputation and clients because of unknown reasons which were not specifically told by their clients who opted to stay silence or some even backlashed at them.

The Joshi family members and their friends were worried at how would they bring their beloved company back on track, which was built on the trust and love of their clients and how they would be to survive the evil effects that had been caused by them in the market.

All, but one person was feeling internally happy and dancing with joy at the crash of the Joshi family empire which was her agenda from the start. She was enjoying so much that at one point she gave deaf ears to the next slides which were revealed by her 'son' and joyfully playing her mobile games ignoring their talks.

The next slide moved making the most least interested person take a back seat. She dropped her mobile on the desk and was wide mouthed at why this particular person's face was shown on the screen.

She looked at Harish who smirked at her reaction continuing to explain.

"And this, my dear friends is the main lead to all this drama that has been happening in our company. He is the reason why we lost the deals from most of our clients," Harshvardhan came forward to his seat and looked at his daughter-in-law who was still in shock and angry seeing the screen.

She looked at her husband who was equally shocked and low screamed at Harish who coolly answered.

"Dad, let me finish my presentation. You are ruining the flow. Just relax, everything will be revealed...in a few minutes," he said the last statement, looking at his 'mother' who couldn't take her eyes off from the screen.

She looked down and thought to interrupt the presentation somehow so as to not ruin her 12-year plan, with the click of the computer buttons.

She sneakily pulled her phone down and clicked some buttons. She hoped that her plan would work and closed her eyes counting till 10.

At her count of 10, the power went off, shutting all the systems making her heave a sigh of relief. The white screen went blank at the lack of power supply making everyone tensed except one.

Harish told Sanya to look into the problem who had already called the office technician to check the mains.

Harshvardhan was cursing the person who managed to ruin their plan to catch the person red handed who had hidden behind the curtains for so long.

He angrily looked at his daughter-in-law who was wiping the sweats from her forehead and understood that it was her doing.

But now it was not too late, he waited for the power to come which Sanya said would return within 10 minutes.

Everyone waited for the power supply to return making one person restless.

"Ahh!"

Hemant looked at the call of the person and got tensed.

"Neetu! What is it?! Are you ok? what happened, huh? Tell me," Hemant caught hold of her who was breathing for air clutching her right chest area.

"Hemant! My chest is...paining...badly...I-I can-can't breathe! Please do something, please!!" Nithya managed to speak between her immense pain looking helplessly at her husband.

Hemant shouted for the medical help and told his assistant to call for an ambulance to take his wife to the hospital for her sudden health condition.

After the much drama, Nithya was taken to the emergency room in the City hospital where Hemant and his assistance were keeping her company calling Hardik in between to convey about her health.

Harshvardhan banged his office desk with a jolt scaring Sanya who rushed to him grabbing his shoulders.

"Dadu! Don't! you will increase you Bp! Please calm down! For my sake!" Sanya started crying seeing her Dadu tensed.

Harish was looking outside the cabin window and trying to figure out the sudden power cut that had occurred in the conference room.

Dadu approached him and spoke

"Don't worry, tiger! We will get them next time," Harish smiled at his Dadu's words and nodded his head.

Dadu headed outside to get some fresh air accompanied by his right hand who would never even leave his shadow.

Harish was happy that Jay was always at an arm's length to protect his Dadu. So, he trusted him more than his own family members.

Jay would take a bullet for Harshvardhan, who knew about his nature when he made him as his right hand.

Harish told Sanya to give him the list of people who had the access to the main access room of the company building including Dadu.

Sanya went to get the printout as instructed by Harish.

Ring! Ring!

Harish smiled at the name displayed on his phone screen.

"Yes,"

"I wanted to meet you. Um...Wanted to talk to you about something serious," The other line said.

Harish spoke with a concerned tone "What is it, Pia? Everything alright? Please tell me...?"

"Everything is fine. I-I just wanted to tell you something," Pia said in a hesitant voice to which Harish told her that he would be free in the evening and they can meet in the house.

"No, not home! We can meet in a café. The one nearby to the bus stop. I will meet you at 4. See you then," Saying so, Pia kept the call.

Harish was worried as to what was the important thing that Pia wanted to discuss that she can't tell him on the phone nor at home.

Joshi Residence

Nithya kept the call and got relaxed as she could handle the office situation which could have given away the true identity of the person whom she had managed to keep hidden for a long time.

She sensed Hemant enter the room and immediately began to sob sitting on the bed.

"Neetu, what is it?" Hemant tried to caress the arms of his depressed wife who snubbed from his touch.

"What do you mean? Today, the entire office had planned to tarnish the name of my dear friend, Sumati. What was the need to show his face in the meeting, huh?" Nithya kept crying while stating her words.

"Neetu, for that we need to clear it from Dad. I am sure that he would have all the answer. And regarding the mention of Sanjay. There should be some reason behind it," At his words, Nithya looked at him in anger and walked towards the couch.

She slumped on it and clutched her mouth with her hand mumbling "Of course, your dad. He is just finding ways to insult me,"

Hemant moved towards her and tried to pacify her.

"You knew this would happen when you decided to help your friend's son, which would profit his company. But you should have mentioned it to Dad. So, that we could have avoided this..." Nithya was astonished at how her husband started to side with his father.

"I was favouring him because he was enduring losses and I wanted to help my friend! Is that a crime, huh?" Nithya got furious and went to do her night routine leaving a sad Hemant behind.

Nithya very well knew the reason behind helping her friend which would in turn benefit her.

Sanjay actually helped her to supply low grade iron sheets to their client under the name of Kansya Steel Industries Ltd.

The disappointed client would then look for good graded iron sheets from the company which would supply them at a short notice, where Sanjay's company would benefit out of it by selling his product to the desperate clients.

This act was happening for a long time under the pretext of helping her friend. But somehow with the entry of Harish and his habit of looking for evidences, had made Nithya's plan take a back seat.

She cursed him to the extent to ruin his life by doing what a perfect 'step mom' would do.

She thought 'time to increase your dose'

Harshvardhan's cabin

Harish looked at his Dadu who was speaking with his subordinate on making changes in the technical aspect of their company's power supply.

"Dadu, we have to reveal the true face of this Sanjay and his plan," Dadu nodded his head and spoke

"You are right. I couldn't believe by lovestruck son would allow the major part of our company orders to this Sanjay and for whom...humph!" Harshvardhan was getting angrier by the minute at the fragile condition of his company's financial status which was depleting day by day.

"It's ok, Dadu. At least now we know how to put an end to this. Don't worry. We will bring back Kansya Steel Industries back in its tracks. I promise you," Harish knelt in front of his Dadu who caressed his face revealing a tiny tear from his aged eyes.

At the café

Pia was impatiently waiting for Harish to tell him her biggest decision that would change their life forever.

Harish came towards her table with a smile and went for a bear hug which she gladly accepted.

After they settled in their seats, Pia looked at him and tried to speak.

Harish saw her hesitation and caught hold of her hand encouraging her to speak her heart out.

"Abhishek proposed to me and...I said yes," Harish left her hand and was mute for a whole minute. His eyes shaked trying to process the news that she gave him.

Pia got worried at his silence and tried to get up when

"Congratulations! I am so happy for you," Harish got up and took her in a hug tearing up.

He backed her a little and ordered her favourite pastries.

Pia was still perplexed at his behaviour and asked him if he was alright.

"Why would I not be? I mean my...my...friend is getting married! Which is big...huge...actually! Why would I not be happy? You know I am happiest man in the world right now? And...*huff*" Harish couldn't control his tears looking at her pretty face. He so, wanted to cup her face and kiss her tears away. But he knew that he had lost that chance. He turned his back to her trying to control his cries.

Pia saw her Shri walk away from her like he had, 10 years back. 

💞💞💞💞💞
Hello my dear Readers

Hope you are liking the story so far❤️

Do Support me with your precious comments ❤️

Lots of love 💖

Take care 💖

If you liked the chapter, kindly click the star ⭐ button below to show your support ❤️