Opposite Poles..Part 17

Part 17

“Jiji… Why didn’t you wake me up?’ Khushi was furious.  “I told you, I wanted to work extra … “ she said sulking. 

“Khushi… its only 5:30 in the morning.  You still have time!” Payal said equally sulkily.

Khushi was already in the bathroom to get ready.  She had to reach the office by 7:30 so that she would get at least an hour extra.  But by the time she reached office it was already 8:00 in the morning.  She prayed her devi mayya and started working.   

She took out the Delivery Note books  and started comparing with Proforma invoices and cross checking the material quantity.  She was so engrossed she did not notice that other people walked in, had tea and went back to their places.  

“Bhook Lagi hai!” she murmured placing her palm on her stomach.  She looked up.  “What?” she almost screamed.  It was already eleven in the morning. 

“Mishra Sir.. I mean.. I missed my breakfast… “ she contorted her face in hunger.  The elderly Mishra had a smile on his face.  He took out a plate with a single Samosa and placed it before her.

“Tumhare liye bachake rakkha tha! Had saved one for you!” he said.   She thanked him smiling and took the plate going back to her place.   She again got engrossed in work and forgot the world around.

“This is strange…! How it is possible?” she muttered wondering.  “Am I Making a mistake? “ she flipped the book several times to check whether it was the right book she was handling.

“Prashant ji..” she was standing at his table.  He looked up with a question mark on his face. 

“Um.. I mean,  I am not sure… but I think there is something wrong with this book…!” she said holding out the DC book.  He flipped it through cursorily and thrust it back in her hand.

“Nothing is wrong.. do the entry as it is… Its simple…!”  She still looked confused.  He was irritated at her dumbness and snapped..

“If you can’t do it, someone else will do it!” he buried his head in his file again.  She came back to her place disappointed.  She continued working…! 

“No… !” she murmured getting up.  “Umm.. Sir.. I have a doubt…!” she said standing in front of Mishra’s table.  He looked up and said.. “Later, Ms. Gupta!”  She again came back to her place.

***********     ********    ****

“I want full investigation into this, Aakash.  I need to know, who is doing all this!” ASR and Aakash had a closed door meeting. 

“Bhai…  We have lost three containers in this quarter.  The item is listed in packing list but it does not get delivered .. and the entire consignment is sealed and never opened in transit!”  Aakash was really confused.

“That means… someone is siphoning out the boxes…!” concluded ASR.  He was upset.  The missing consignments were bothering him. 

“But how is it possible?” Aakash was still puzzled.  That’s because we have a disconnect somewhere.  It is not a fool proof system. ..! “  He said. 

“Aakash, interim audit should be done…! I will ask Aman to arrange…! We need a thorough check this time…!  Call all the agencies involved…!” he started strategizing.  He wanted to keep the culprit in dark and find out discretely. 

“Let us have a meeting, next week, Aakash.  Till then don’t discuss this with anyone…!” said ASR gravely.  His brother nodded and went out.

***********    **********    ***********

“Lavanya, I want the design files in my cabin in five minutes…!” ASR almost ordered her.  She nodded.

“I have asked Smits to get it …!” said Lavanya settling herself in the lavish leather chair opposite ASR.  He gazed at her for a second and busied himself with his work.  Lavanya sat there aimlessly looking at her handsome boyfriend.   She blinked fondly enjoying gazing at him while he was busy working.  

There was infiltration in his fort.   Someone was taking him for a ride…. Something was wrong… though the loss was very minor, it had exposed  vulnerability of the system!  Arnav was furious.  He needed to know.

He looked up and gazed unfocused.  Lavanya had a smile on her face.

“What?” he asked raising his eyebrow.  “Nothing !” she said smiling again.

“Go back to your work, Lavanya!” he ordered her sternly.  She went out sulkily.

Sense of being fooled annoyed him.  “Damn it!” he blurted racking his brain in search of a loop hole in the system.

Growling and barking sound transported him to Gomati Ghat… Two green eyes were gazing with bewilderment when the dog jumped on him merrily.    

He did not understand.  “who could it be?” he tried to assimilate.  The growling became louder and echoed in his mind. 

A beautiful face with tightly braided hair turned to glare at him.  “Don’t meet me selling yourself..!” his own voice echoed… Two tearful eyes blinked.. Something shattered in his heart! 

“No!” he said clenching his fists.  “Why am I distracted… I have much more pressing matter to solve!” he turned gazed at his laptop.  

"I am not an earthen pot, Mamma... Kid Arnav was sleeping on his mother's laps... !! Yes chote... you are the golden one..!" her voice echoed.  Chote smiled garlanding his mamma with his tiny hands.  .."

The growling had reduced to a murmur…!  

**********    *********   ********

“Jiji… Garma garam chai…!” Khushi ordered from the entrance completely drenched in rains.  The pre monsoon  showers had hit Delhi and the atmosphere had suddenly became clean and cool.  

“Hi re NandKishore…! Can you not carry an umbrella with you?” Asked Buwaji wiping her face and hair with towel.

“Yeah Buwaji.. Varun Bhagavan had come in my dreams yesterday and had told me that there was going to be showers…!” she said sarcastically .. only to get a slap on her head from Buwaji.  She giggled.

“Ab Chai to Peenne Dijiye! Let me have tea!” she pleaded getting up from the chair and sitting on her bed.

“Jiji.. you know?  I found some discrepancies in the consolidation statements.  But No body seemed to have bothered.  But you know after the office hours I went to Mishra Sir and asked him my doubts.   I don’t know Jiji but he said he will take it up with his higher ups!”  She was still confused.

“But jiji, everybody said these things keep happening and we should ignore them  The year end consolidation manages everything.  

“Payal had not responded at all….” She was sitting on the chair playing with her dupatta.

“Jiji….. I am talking to you…!” Khushi yelled.

“Haan? Yeah! What happened?’ Asked Payal coming out of the trance.

She had gone out with the chikenkaari Kurtis to a shop and a person there had bought all her patterns.  He had praised her designs and workmanship.   Payal had this experience for the first time that someone had praised her skill.   She had always remained at the background, being timid and shy person.   Coming to Delhi had made her little bold.   

“Jiji…!” Khushi shook her vigorously. 

“I am listening to you, Khushi!” she said little irritably.  Khushi gaped at her elder sister.

“Come on Khushi, let us have dinner!” Payal pulled Khushi’s hand.

Sham had appeared at the door.  We was welcomed wholeheartedly.  His visit had become a daily affair. 

“so Khushi ji, What happened at the office, today?” he asked casually.

“Nothing much.. routine…!” Khushi gave a short answer.

“Khushi… you were telling me something about some record book…tell him.  He will help you!” Payal whispered.  A dog was hauling outside…

“Which book? What happened?” Sham had sharp years..  He asked smiling.

“No.. Nothing Shamji… Its just that I didn’t understand some technical things.  Mishra Sir will educate me tomorrow..!” Khushi said smiling. 

The haul became louder and shrill.  Sham frowned.  “Oh! These dogs… I just wish they vanished from this city…!”   Khushi tried hard to send back her tears.   

“Kutte ji!” she blurted.

“Hi re NandKishore… Khushi, Ab Bas Karo… Stop mourning for your dog…!  Kutte ji!! Kuch naam Nahi Rakh Sakati Thi? Could you not name that dead dog properly?  Kutte ji! What kind of name is this?” Buwaji was really annoyed that Khushi had tears while having dinner.  

“Don’t cry in the evening…!” she scolded Khushi.  

“You know what Sham ji? Khushi’s kutte ji died … Babuji told her the other day… She is missing her dog… That’s why!” Payal said apologetically.   Sham gazed at Khushi stroking his left fist with his right hand.  Smirk appeared on his face for a fraction of second.  

Khushi got up from the chair and went into her room.  Sham had already lost interest in the conversation.

“Ok Buwaji.  I take your leave.  I have sent your papers to treasury for scrutiny.   They will process your pension documents soon.  I have some acquaintenance there.” He said politely and moved out of the house.