'Who the hell is he? Why should I meet him?'

Chandrakanth was already agitated with Padmini ignoring him, now adding fuel to fire was the truth of how the labour strike had ended; with Padmini's intervention. This was infuriating him even more. He was still perplexed as to how she managed to convince Kayla to apologise when she had refused his request. The mere thought that Padmini went to the factory and spoke to the staff without his knowledge or permission was angering him even more. He was worried that it might put him in a tight spot amongst the shareholders and investors.

'You will get your answers but, when the time is right. I have lived by your rules all these years, not any more.

Padmini's words kept ringing in his ears making him apprehensive and furious by the minute. He felt the man who accompanied her had to do something with her newfound courage. He was dying to throw that guy out, but the rest of the family insisted he should be their guest for a while.

'Was there something going on between him and Padmini? Was she with him all these days, when she went missing?'
The possibility terrified him.

'What the hell! How dare she? Wait until I get my hands on you ungrateful bitch!'

To his utter disappointment, she was always accompanied by either Parul or Aparna or Paarth; and never alone. Once, just once he was dying to get his hands on her, to show her who runs the family and put her back where she belongs.

"Dad"

Chandrakanth gritted his teeth narrowing his eyes, as Paarth's loud voice broke his train of thoughts. He glanced at Paarth who stood at the door of his office with Kabeer. He nodded his head and gestured them both towards the plush seaters in his office.

Chandrakanth was flabbergasted. Normally people who meet him try to idolise him or act graciously with him aiming for mutual benefits, given his status. This man who was a nonentity had an assertive demeanour about himself which was intriguing and irritating nevertheless, which hurt his ego.

"And what's the story you've been spinning?"
Chandrakanth's arrogance took the driver's seat, gesturing Paarth to stay quiet.
"Go ahead! What's your name again?"

Kabeer crossed his legs and relaxed back on the sofa.
"Well, a thorough investigation would reveal who is spinning a story, Mr Malhotra." He sat there with an unreadable expression. "While inquiring on your wife's mysterious disappearance and why no complaint was filed by the family would probably spill more interesting facts about this benevolent industrialist", gesturing towards Chandrakanth.

Chandrakanth's annoyance was tipping towards the edge while Paarth seemed calm. Paarth had forced him to meet and talk with Kabeer when all he wanted was the man out of his sight and life.

A guilt-tripped Chandrakanth reacted in fury as expected,
"and who the hell are you exactly? Why are you interested in my family affairs? Paarth, send him out now."

"Dad this is not right." Paarth raised his voice, surprising Chandrakanth "he rescued Mumma when she was kidnapped and is this how you treat him?"

Chandrakanth was astonished at the new piece of information. Even though he had counted kidnapping as one of the possibilities, to learn that it was not a mere theory anymore, rattled him, surprisingly.

"Says who?" Chandrakanth barked at his son, not admitting to his lapse of judgement.
"He or your mother? How sure are you about the credibility of the story? It could be a scheme to extort money" Chandrakanth scowled.

Kabeer cut him short.
"Any fool could see from miles afar, that you wouldn't spare a single penny on your wife Chandrakanth."

"What the fuck! How dare you talk to me like that?" Chandrakanth slammed his palms on his table, rattling the contents and sprang out of his seat in anger.

Kabeer seemed very calm and unperturbed.

"Chuck that attitude in the bin for your own good Chandrakanth." Kabeer sounded grim. "Paarth, I just came to warn your family regarding your mother's safety. If you are concerned about her, I'm willing to share the information. I'll leave now. Remember the threat still stands, and the culprit is very much free."

Throwing a challenging glance at Chandrakanth he was about to walk away when Paarth held his arm and stopped him.

"Mr Kabeer, Sorry! please sit down" Paarth glanced between Kabeer and his father pleadingly "Pa please, hear him out".

~~~~

Distress and anger filled Paarth's mind, after hearing Kabeer narrate a summary of what had transpired. He was shuddering in fear and rage and had asked Kabeer that he give them a few minutes alone. He broke down as if on cue, he partly blamed himself for failing as a son.

"Shit... Shit... Shit..." He punched his fist on the wall bruising his knuckles, repeatedly in frustration, he felt he deserved punishment.

"Paarth" an alarmed Chandrakanth ran to his son's side, pulling his hand away.

Paarth's eyes were red, filled with tears.  "Ughhh..." he yanked his hand away from his father in disgust, tears flowing freely down his face.

"You're crying? For what son?"

Unwilling to answer, Paarth moved to the other end of the massive office room, where the family portrait of the Malhotra family hung alongside his deceased grandparents, Jagannath and Ambika Malhotra. He broke down when he saw the photograph of his grandfather.

Low sniffles were heard,

"I failed you, Mumma, I failed to protect you! Sorry, Ma..."
he leaned forward resting his head on the wall sobbing. Guilt tore through him recollecting the countless instances when she had protected him from his father's anger or some imminent danger he would have fallen into as a mischievous kid. He failed to keep the promise he made to his grandfather, to protect and take care of his mother.

Paarth assumed his father would be serious at least now regarding his mother's safety.

"Dad, I think he should be around her for safety, as her bodyguard."

Chandrakanth dismissed Paarth's anxiety sarcastically.
"bodyguard.... for your mother?" His face bore an amused smile, "I think you are going overboard now Paarth. It was probably a one-off instance, we can take care of her. Just pay this guy something and send him off".

He gestured towards the door, while Kabeer sat outside waiting for the father-son duo to have their private time.

"Are you serious Dad? How can you be so insensitive?" Paarth was getting impatient.

"Paarth, do as I say. Don't keep him waiting there..."

"No, I insist that he stay here. Your recklessness has resulted in this delay. You were stubborn about not filing a police complaint when she went missing and if not for Kabeer, God knows what could have happened to her! I'm not willing to endanger her life again. She is my mother and I have all the right to worry about her and do the needful to take care of her, unlike you".

Paarth finished in a firm and harsh tone. He couldn't believe how rude and insensitive his father was.

Chandrakanth let out a contemptuous laugh, his hands in his pockets he stood relaxed like he had no care in the world.

"Are you serious? Do you believe that guy's story? How trustworthy is he? Paarth are you that naive to believe some random guy's story? I'm truly worried son! How will you manage this empire? Maybe he was the one who kidnapped her and now posing..."

"I don't give a flying fuck about this empire..."
Paarth stepped close to Chandrakanth and ground out in fury, his lips quivered, eyes bore into his father's, in rage like they would drill a hole into him.

"Chandrakanth I seldom hate how predictable you are!"

The all too familiar voice drew gasps from both the men, their eyes darted towards the door from where the voice emerged.

"Trying to drive some sense into his muddled brain are we, Paarth?"

Mr Bhatia stood at the door, his hand around Kabeer's shoulder. His calculative gaze rested on Chandrakanth way too long, who realised it meant trouble.

Mr Bhatia strolled casually into the room and dragged Kabeer and Paarth to sit beside him on either side of the couch.

"You know Chandrakanth, degrees, acquired wealth and cutthroat business tactics are not the only things in life. A man without an ounce of compassion and humanity in him is as good as dead".

With a flick of his hand, he signalled Chandrakanth to sit, who reluctantly obeyed.

Padmini knew if there was anyone who could help Kabeer and her reach Delhi safely without the knowledge of Kayla's team, it was Mr Bhatia.

Being her father-in-law Jagannath Malhotra's trusted friend and their company's major investor; his support was an integral aspect to executing her future plans.

"Kabeer is an old acquaintance of mine, a few weeks back we met in Bengaluru when he approached me for a personal favour. While talking, he mentioned a lady whom he had rescued. He was not aware who she was, but had rescued her from her kidnappers, and had been taking care of her for the past few months. It was your wife. Before you interrupt!  Padmini wasn't able to speak and was in a state of shock, due to a head injury, and various other bruises. The medical team was suspecting a memory loss or neural damage."

Stillness fell upon the room when Bhatia paused, gauging the father and son's thoughtful faces. Panic and shock were evident on Paarth's face. Chandrakanth was frozen too, but what ran in his mind was indecipherable. Kabeer placed Padmini's medical file in Paarth's hands.

"Now gentlemen, for the formal introduction.
Mr Malhotra, meet Mr Kabeer Pratap Rana, Mumbai's former Deputy Commissioner of Police and currently a CBI officer."

Chandrakanth and Paarth were dumbfounded at Kabeer's true identity, both of their heads turned towards Kabeer automatically. Kabeer was eyeing Chandrakanth curiously.

"Well, I insisted that Kabeer stay with Padmini after her arrival here, as a personal favour. I have a few questions that need to be answered and only you can do that. You know where I'm getting with this, don't you? You cannot dodge me. Paarth take Kabeer home with you, we old men need some private time."

Kabeer and Paarth left promptly.

Chandrakanth's throat ran dry, he paled.

'If Kabeer is a cop as Bhatia claims, that means... Did Padmini tell him anything? Does he know about our private life? Will I be implicated? No... No... I  can coax Padmini, plead with her, or threaten her to not file a case. Yeah, she would agree. She loves me, worships me. Doesn't she? Why is this old man always supervising me? Am I a kid?'

"You are not a kid, but an indulger! A womaniser! That's even more dangerous! Don't you think!"

Bhatia relaxed on the couch and cast his cold calculative eyes on Chandrakanth.

"The investors are displeased with you and have called for an emergency meeting. They want the Board members and major shareholders also to be present."

"What? Why?" Chandrakanth panicked, he knew it was bad news.

"The news of Padmini's... Let's say disappearance had leaked out despite your efforts. Everybody wondered about your inaction. They wanted to use that opportunity to destabilise you, and I had pacified them upon your request. Now, the professionalism with which you handled the Labour strike has drawn flak from them. Why them? Even I'm beginning to question your capability to manage this corporation now."

"Bhatiaji you cannot be serious. One small issue.."

The demeanour of the old man swiftly changed to intimidating.

"You call this small Chandrakanth? Labour strike for a month? Production being stopped, orders delayed and displeased customers threatening to break ties with the company, is small? People laughed at your father when he started this, they said he would just lose money, make a joke out of himself and return to farming. He showed them that a farmer's son can dream and achieve too.

Don't you remember the days when you restlessly travelled to and fro to these foreign companies to gain their trust and procure their order? It was right after you joined the company after your marriage. You were gone for months leaving your wife here. Initially, your father and I both were angry. But when you convinced these automobile giants and signed dealerships with them, our joy knew no bounds. Now, you almost lost these two valuable clients. And for what may I ask?"

He scrutinised Chandrakanth keenly, who avoided meeting his eyes.

"Your wayward behaviour is no secret"

Chandrakanth gazed at the man who was a father figure to him.

Bhatia rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together in front of him and leaned forward, sighing.

"Chandra, your father warned you several times discreetly. I have been outspoken always. This indulgent behaviour is dangerous, it will lead you to your doom. It's not normal to be sleeping around with all the women you see. Why the hell don't you understand? You have ruined that poor girl's life. If there was another woman in her position, she would have sued you long back and driven you out like a beggar or have you jailed. You are way too fortunate, that Padmini is still living with you and hasn't done either of that."

He stood up, "well, this time I can't do anything in the Board meeting. Pray for luck to be on your side".

Chandrakanth slumped in his seat. His head throbbed. He runner his eyes anxiously trying to think of a solution, when he heard a knock.

"sir.." His secretary tried to get his attention. "Your lawyer called a couple of times."

"Just take a message" Chandrakanth stood up to leave.

"Sir... This was delivered some time back" he handed a sealed envelope.

Chandrakanth ripped open the cover, marked confidential and official.

"What the hell..." He gaped at the paper in his hand and looked at his secretary.
"Divorce hearing? In two days?"

Date published: 25th Feb, 2022
Word count: 2348