Namrata settled in her hotel room in Pune after a hectic preparation on Friday evening.

They had barely reached Pune when they had to scramble around with the allotted staff for the event preparation. A political scion was launching his son. Their company was one of the three event management companies hired to do the job for the launch event which was spread over the weekend. Namrata’s company was signed the food and logistics. Namrata and James got busy with the former while Jatin and the other subordinates were immersed in the latter.

By the time the preparations were half way through, it was 1AM. Jatin asked them to retire for the night as they had to be up and bright with the remaining preparations before the event started by 10AM on Saturday morning.

Namrata freshened up and changed into her nightgown. Before crashing out she checked her messages. Her mother had sent pictures from where she was visiting. Her brother had also reached the location safely. But there was no message from him…. He had looked extremely tired and worn out last night… was he alright? She was getting increasingly concerned as the time went by. Sleep eluded her because of worry…

She called him but his phone was unavailable…She started getting paranoid about what must be happening to him….. She just hated the uncertainty. He was still a closed book to her…a mystery. He was a Giant eagle who had her in his talons…she already felt ripped apart… her emotions were all over the floor…

The next couple of days went in a total blur. Namrata was physically present but mentally she was a wreck. There was no message from him. She had messaged him couple more times but there was no reply. She couldn’t even make out if he had read her messages. She was worried sick. They had to stay back Sunday night because it was too late at 2AM for them to drive back. She couldn’t sleep and kept pacing her room…

The formalities took a while in the morning and by the time they left it was 11AM. Something or the other kept coming up and they were getting delayed.

Namrata  was extremely uneasy. Something was troubling her at the back of her mind. It was as if he was still a stranger… an enigma… as if she never knew him at all. Then what was all that about proclamation of love?  Was he so busy that he couldn’t even message her? Was she only a means to satisfy his physical craving? Her heart was breaking with every such thought. Before she realised tears fell down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away before James or anyone else could see her. She decided to have a talk with him… give him an ultimatum that she couldn’t continue like this… him going off the radar every time… and she under perennial turmoil waiting for him.

They faced heavy traffic snarl on their way back and it was 9PM in the evening when she reached home. She was a bundle of nerves and before she got in and locked the door, she was sobbing. She was so depressed and for the first time in over six years she had nothing to do… She felt extremely lonely. She decided to watch TV… it was 11PM and sleep was still miles away.

As she switched channels, she stopped on a business news channel because she thought she saw him. Yes… It was him. She unmuted the volume and heard the news.

…. Scion of RM industries Ranvijay Mehrotra has stepped down as the director….

……following heavy losses incurred…… mortgaged….. May have to file for bankruptcy…

…shareholders in panic…. You can see the crowds outside RM Tech park….. police bandobast….

…PC infotech takes over the functioning from today…

Namrata had turned a statue with the remote in her hands as she saw the news unfold. The visuals were from daytime which meant this was hours ago… She had overheard him talk about the tender opening today… he had said something about things being at stake…

Her phone rang jarring her out of her thoughts. It was her mom. She didn’t want to take it but her mother would get worried or in case there was an emergency… she answered it.

“Yes ma?”

“Namu did you see the news today?”

Why was her mother asking about the news…?

“Yes ma… why what is it?”

“Did you hear about RM industries…? Namu that was Ranvijay….” Her mother sounded anxious.

Namrata was puzzled. How did her mother know him?

“Ma… do you know him?”

“Namu he is the client for whom your father had free-lanced that last investment project… The one which caused…. Everything…” Her mother said frantically.

Namrata stood paralysed with the phone in her hand.

“Namu… are you there? “

Ye..yes ma… so he is the c…c…cause of our troubles….?”

“It’s not that simple Namu… I will explain when I get back… network bad….” And her call was disconnected.

Namrata had totally blanked out what her mother spoke last. Ranvijay was connected to her father?

Suddenly her doorbell rang and along with that someone was banging her door. She rushed to open the door before her neighbours gathered.

As soon as she opened a little, he pushed the door along with her and barged in. He kicked the door shut behind him. She was thrown behind with the impact and fell flat on the floor.

He looked furious. She saw him looking down at her with fire in his eyes… he looked like a raging bull. His beard was grown, his eyes bloodshot. His shirt was dirty… he looked horrible and unkept.  His hair was a mess showing he had drawn his hand through it many times….

Suddenly he was out of his apparent daze… He held her arms and drew her up against his. She had to keep her palm on his chest to steady herself… She tried to push him away. But he held the back of her head and held her hair in his hand. Pulling her head behind he spoke through clenched teeth, “you knew … all this while you knew…” He was breathing heavily on her face. She closed her eyes as she cried… he released her hair as if woken from a trance and moved back dropping his hands by his sides… he looked defeated.  “Just… Just tell me one thing Namrata…” He didn’t call her his little sparrow “…Why… WHY DID YOU DO IT?”

Her head was reeling. What the hell was he talking about? She wiped her eyes and when her vision cleared she saw he had tears in his eyes as well… he looked totally shattered. She understood that but…

He continued his tirade. “Was this all about money? How much… how much did they give you?”

She couldn’t follow anything that was going on. First her mother, and now him. She sobbed, “What are you talking about?”

“Stop the farce Namrata… it doesn’t suit you… the innocent looks…. They don’t match your conniving self. So tell me… how much you traded me off for…” He looked away and mocked laughter. “… Here I thought I was a trader but you my dear, you have surpassed me… congratulations…” He looked back at her and raised his voice. “… why Namrata…?WHY?… all this to avenge your father? You don’t even know the truth Goddamnit…”

Namrata kept crying… not knowing what was going on… why was he behaving like that? Why was he being so hurtful?

She tried to speak with her clogged throat, “Why are you talking about… my father? Why get him into all… this? What truth…? I have no clue… Wait… I saw the news … you…lo…lost…the tender…” she added the last part softly.

Meanwhile few kilometres away…

The old man and his protégé were playing bluff… as always he won. He always won except that one time years ago. But now he got everything that was his. The eagle was destroyed… almost… and if his protégé was to be believed the rest of the plan was also in place. As his beautiful late wife had always said, ‘Do or die was getting old… do before you die was the new concept’

He was doing it now… before he died. His daughter…his protégé had to have the legacy…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author

Chapter 15

Namrata was in high spirits as she sat on the passenger side of his car. It was 4AM. He was dropping her home… He loved her.… She had a perennial smile on her face ever since he declared his feelings.

After he had said he loved her. She had pushed him on the bed and climbed on top of him. She had kissed him pouring out the passion and love from within. Then… she had been adventurous. She had held him from behind and placing herself on his tip had slid down his length. It was a different feeling. She had ridden him… his eyes had widened but she knew he loved it. She had collapsed on him as soon as she came. He had caught her hips and had thrust inside her till he released explosively inside her taking her to another pinnacle along with him…

After the euphoria had subsided they both had fallen asleep entwined in each other’s arms. But she had to reach home early morning to help her mother finish packing for her trip. So they were on their way. He held her hand throughout the ride to her place. When he stopped the car at the usual place, he took her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers one by one. It was so sensual she was igniting from inside. If this continued she wouldn’t be able to go home…

He released her hand and turned to look at her. His face had so much emotion written on it, she fell in love all the more…

“You know…little sparrow? Monday is a make or break day for me… for my company… I have made some vital decisions…. It’s either do…or die… And trust me sweetheart, for both our sakes…I want this to materialise. I must have that contract… I can’t lose…” He took a deep breath and held her and again. “… Will you …. You know … if I lose this tender… I will lose… a lot of … I may touch bankruptcy… A lot is at stake. But… will you…” He looked away.

She kept her hand on their joined palms and said, “look at me darling…” when he did she continued softly, “You are more valuable to me than all the money in the world put together. No one can understand this better than me… My family…We lost everything like this…” She snapped her fingers. “…Overnight we were left with nothing. I know how it is. But Trust me when I say I am with you… Always…in thick and thin.”

He pulled her head towards him and kissed her hard and deep… He touched her forehead with his. He whispered, “I love you so much my little sparrow….I love you…” He sighed as he released her. “Look…” He moved back she looked into her eyes and said, “… I will be staying in my office… till Monday. So maybe… we won’t be able to meet…”

“…Hey it’s fine… I will miss you but … its ok… really”. She smiled biting back tears. “We will directly meet on Monday to celebrate.”

He gave her a tight hug and then she stepped out of the car.

Namrata went to work after her mother left for her outing. It was a tearful moment for the mother-daughter duo…  Her mother looked very confident considering her ordeal in the last few years. The NGO volunteers assured her they would watch over her mother. Her brother was to leave next day early morning. So he wanted to sleepover at his friend’s house. The friend’s father was to drop them to school early morning. Namrata spoke with him and once she was convinced she permitted her brother for the sleepover. That meant she would be alone that night…

Once in Office work kept her on her toes. She had to assist Jatin on a gig and since James was there too, she had to be extra careful so as to not reveal her secret rendezvous. They were managing a terrace party even where she had to mainly handle food and the welcome table. Cakewalk for her considering she had independently handled her earlier gigs.

As the party was in full swing, Jatin called her aside and gave her an envelope, “Smriti ma’am has given this to you. I got one too. Can you beat that? We made record profits man!!” She took the envelope and peeked in. There was a wad of notes… again.  She was perplexed… why was Smriti being so generous to all of them? Did they really make that kind of money? She decided to take his help when he got free from his tender.

It was past 2AM when James dropped her home. Since it was a late gig, they could report late tomorrow morning. That relieved her. She was bone tired…

As she was about to hit the sack, her doorbell rang. She was scared… who could it be at this hour?

She checked through the peephole and her heart skipped a beat. She opened the door and let him in. Ranvijay looked terrible… She was saddened by his haggard appearance.

He walked in as she locked her door and flopped down on her small sofa. He was in his work clothes. She offered him water. He drank and rubbed a hand over his face.

“Did you eat dinner?” she asked

“No…” he shook his head. “…not hungry…”

“… Just freshen up a bit. I will fix you something…”

Before he could answer she rushed to her kitchen. Her emotions were paradoxical. She was thrilled he was here… in her house but at the same time her heart was breaking seeing him in this state. She had to be strong for him. Steadying herself, she prepared scrambled eggs with buttered bread. She also heated milk and placed it in a glass along with the eggs. When she took the tray outside, he was leaning on her sofa with his eyes closed… she kept the tray on the stool nearby and touched his shoulders to wake him. He opened his tired eyes and smiled. She brought the plate to him and he finished the eggs and bread in record time! He drowned them down with the glass of hot milk. She then dragged him to her room and made the bed. She made him lie on the single bed and before she could say anything he was fast asleep. She smiled and covered him with a blanket. She went to her mother’s room and slept off immediately.

The next morning when she woke up he was gone… But this time there was a note in his beautiful handwriting,

Had to leave. Urgent meeting today with shareholders. Need to prepare….

Cu soon…

Love you…

Namrata took in a breath of satisfaction and hugged the note. She liked that he was opening up to her. Soon she would find out about his family. She needed something to tell her mother when she finally revealed about Ranvijay to her.

After finishing her morning chores she left for work.

Today she was entrusted an outstation gig. She had to go to Pune with Jatin and two other subordinates. This was huge because of the local political involvement. That meant absolutely no room for mistakes. At one end she was thrilled at been given the opportunity of such a scale while at the other end she would miss him…She had to leave in the afternoon itself…

She went home to pack a bag. James was to pick her up in an hour. She finished winding up everything and messaged him as she waited for James to arrive.

Hi…

Off to Pune for a gig…

Don’t skip dinner..

Love you…miss you…

After waiting for some time when she got no reply, she kept the phone away and focussed on gathering her stuff. Her heart sank as she thought about him overworking himself.

Soon she was on her way to Pune

Meanwhile few kilometres away…

The old man got off the phone with his CEO. PC Infotech was going to touch great heights. But even more than that, the Giant Eagle was going to be destroyed. The eagle would now understand his pain… The pain of losing all that you have earned the pain of losing someone you love…. Now that was going to be a bonus he hadn’t counted upon getting. Lady luck was in his favour after all. Everything was in position. The ball was ready to strike. His intelligent ex-wife always said, ‘it’s not how you bowl, its how you roll.’

He had already set the ball rolling…. It was time to hit the pins within the next two strikes.

 Monday again would be….his.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author

Chapter 14

Namrata was relaxed when he dropped her home next morning by 6AM. They could barely sleep but she felt fresh. She had the off at work and she told him about it.

He had said, “I wish I could spend the entire day with you… you know… go on a movie date, lunch… but sorry darling… I have work to finish. There is a new tender for this line of diamond jewellery. My companies can’t take another setback…” She had understood and smiled. Though she was breaking from within, she didn’t want to show her emotions to him. He had promised to meet her at night. So… it always came down to sex… not that she complained. She loved every moment spent with him especially where she could speak her heart out and he could easily gauge her mood. But that’s how he was and he had not committed anything to her. She knew it so she couldn’t complain.

She slept for an hour after her mother left for her NGO. Tomorrow, Thursday her mother was leaving for her first trip after six years. Independently for a week. She was now confidently handling her wheel chair. Her mother too had fought odds and was now getting self-reliant. She had been appointed supervisor for the kitchen services by the NGO. She was now very confident. Namrata was happy because it gave her more time to pursue her work and for herself. Then on Friday her brother was to leave for his field trip for four days. He would be back on Wednesday .Till then she had few days for herself. Guilt ran through her for being happy about it but she had wanted some time for herself since ages…

After waking up she finished her household chores which were pending. Though she was supposed to be relaxed, she was far from it. She knew the reason too. She wanted to meet him… this kind of craving for him was dangerous … but she couldn’t help it. She barely got time with him but whenever she was with him, she felt wanted and cherished. She was hopelessly in love with him… She had little doubt he felt the same for her, but unless he said it she couldn’t be sure.

But… what did she know about him? Only his name… now that sounded familiar… where had she heard that name before?

She took out her laptop and googled him. She shook her head thinking, she should have done this last week when they had first met…  Nonetheless it was better late than never. She typed his name in the search engine and got a page full of links. All mentioning his businesses and mergers… There was nothing about his personal life at all. There was no mention of parents, siblings…. girlfriend  the last sent a pang of jealousy through her. After an hour of trying she was bored and gave it up.

She decided to message him. He could reply whenever he got the time. But at the same time she didn’t want to sound clingy. She typed.

                             Hi. Hope all’s going well at work…

Now that was a safe area. Immediately her phone buzzed with an incoming text.

All ok. What’s my little sparrow doing?

That got a smile on her lips. She messaged back.

Waiting to hear from her Giant Eagle

There was a pause and then the next message came in

Come home at 6PM. We can have an early dinner. I have to work… Ok with U?

She shook her head. He worked all the time. But she couldn’t miss a chance of seeing him. She smiled as she typed,

Done. Will be there. I will cook… Ok with U?

Her phone buzzed almost immediately after she had sent her message. It was laughing emoji…

She typed

C ya at 6

Namrata was walking on air… humming her favourite tune as she got ready that evening. She wanted to feel comfortable. So she wore her favourite grey office suit. She didn’t possess any jewellery except for those gold studs in her ears. She preferred to leave them on and left for his home. She was there by 5.50PM… he was already at home. She had purchased paneer on her way. She knew what else was stocked in his refrigerator. As soon as he answered her knock, he pulled her in and closed the door. She saw he was on a call. Giving her an intense look he blurted into the phone, “I…I will get back….”

 He kept the phone in his pocket and pulled her to him. He buried his head in her hair and held her tight. She dropped her bags and hugged him back. She longed to smell his cologne. She took in a deep breath and felt as though transported straight to heaven…

Today his hug had a different emotion… he released her and gave her a peck on her lips. He held her face in his palms and stared down at her. There was some kind of longing in his look… she yearned to know. She touched his cheek and smiled as he leaned into it.

“What’s it my Giant eagle?” she asked in a voice barely audible…

The expression was gone. He shook his head and said, “I… have to make an important call…you want to order something? I have given an off to my cook for a couple of days”

“No… As promised I am going to cook… you carry on…” She gave her handbag to him.

She picked up the market bag and went to his kitchen. She found an apron which she wore and started dinner. Within an hour she had prepared an elaborate meal of Kadhai Paneer, Rotis, Jeera rice and Daal tadka. For desert she prepared rawa kheer, her mom’s secret recipe. She was pumped up to see his reaction… would he like it?

She arranged the food on the dining table, as she heard him rattle away figures on the phone.

She waved to him… but he ignored her. He was totally engrossed in his conversation. She served food for him on a plate and took it to him. He cut the call and sighed leaning behind on his chair with his eyes closed. He looked extremely troubled and miserable. Her heart was crumbling seeing him so desolate…

She touched him on his hand and he opened his tires eyes.

“You have to eat… common. Work will happen, but now you need to have this.”

He looked up at the ceiling. His eyes were shining with unshed emotions, “You know little sparrow?  Everything I have is at stake for this tender. It is important for me… my company…” Then looking back at her he continued, “… for us.”

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. She pressed his palm and he looked at her again as a drop of tear fell from his eye. She kept the plate on the centre table and went close to him. She took his hand and made him sit on the seater comfortably.

“Just breathe…” she said.

She took the plate again and took a spoonful of rice. She took it near him mouth and fed him. Slowly she fed him the complete plate of food. Finally she served him a bowl of kheer which he relished. He immediately got another call and got busy. She cleared the kitchen and came back to the drawing room. She wasn’t much hungry so she just had a bowl of sweet.

He was still on the phone…

She sat next to him and rubbed his back. He moved and put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him even as he spoke.

“…tomorrow we go with the quotes I gave you Viraj… that’s the only option we have…”

Pause…

“…No Viraj, make that the final draft. I am confident about this quotation. Tomorrow is the last day. We send the quotation along with the deposit. I have arranged for the money. ”

Pause…

“… I know… it’s a huge trade… RM industry is at stake here… No Viraj. I have to take this chance… yes… go ahead and do as I have told.”

Pause…

“By the way did you find out who was so close to our quotation last time? Who is PC infotech? Never heard of him before. I have asked Prasad to check him out. Strange that he didn’t turn up for the tender opening, but sent his department head….” He rubbed his tired eyes and continued, “…anyway…You concentrate on this tender. We will see about that guy later.”

He ended the call.

He stood taking her along with him. He turned her to face him. He held her face and said, “Thank you my little sparrow…” he kissed her forehead.

“Hey… why are you thanking me?”

“Actually… no one…NO ONE ever has cared for me like….” His voice choked. He took in a deep breath and smile down at her. He put an arm around her shoulder and took her to the bedroom.

Their union that night surpassed all the passion from before. It was not just a physical coupling but a union of their emotions, feelings and desires… it was a union of hearts.

As they lay staring into oblivion… she lying on his chest and he cuddling her, he asked, “Can I… ask you something my little sparrow?”

“Hmm…”

“If you know… I mean … if you… If I reveal my past to you… will you still… actually my past is not… you know…. Will you…feel the same for me?”

She went up on his chest and smiled into his eyes. She kissed him deeply with all she had and whispered, “I hope… you like my answer.”

He hugged her tightly as if his life depended on her words…

He pulled her beneath him and raised himself on his elbows. He touched his forehead to hers and said,

 “My little sparrow… I … I love you…”

Meanwhile few kilometres away…

He finished his third bottle for the evening. He replayed the audio clip,

‘Everything I have is at stake for this tender. It is important for me… my company…

…Who is PC info tech?’

  He laughed loudly and coughed as he wheezed… he took the inhaler from his pocket and took a puff in. The wheezing stopped. He craved a cigarette but was warned by the doctor this time strictly against it. Normally he wouldn’t listen but now he was so close to victory he couldn’t risk his health further.

The Eagle was in love… that made things all the more better.

Now he had to be quick. His late wife always said, ‘a speedy execution gives birth to good fortune’

The giant eagle was playing right into his hands…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author