Cabir's words make me ball my fingers at once.

"Take it easy, Mr Cabir Murthy. You will definitely come to know about my family. About me and most importantly about my sister. But not now. First, let me weaken your base a bit more. Let me shake your beloved sister's life a little more. Then you will see my real face. You will see the consequences of your sins. But not so soon."

I mutter in my mind. Although I plaster the grin on my lips throughout the time.

"Umm...Cabir I love to introduce you to my sister. But unfortunately, she is not at home right now. For counselling she is staying with her Dr. As soon as she returns, I will introduce her to you. I hope it won't be a problem."

I continue with my honey-coated voice.

"Not at all. Don't be so formal. It is just my request. Nothing immediate requirement. By the way, Manik you are from Mumbai only? Your parents and other relatives...?"

I know Cabir is trying to enquire about my background. He wants to be sure before giving full consent to this relationship. But he doesn't know that relationship of hatred and revenge don't need any consent. It comes with our past sins.

"It's too late to be concerned about it, Mr Cabir. You can't save your sister and you from my hatred."

My bitter mind utters silently.

"Yes...I am from Mumbai only. I and my sister lost our parents at a very tender age. You can say we both are our parents to each other. In this case, we were just like both of you. But unfortunately, we didn't have any Ajja to take care of ourselves. Harsh life taught us everything. We stumble and then we rise again. We are each other's strength as well as weakness."

I sound a bit emotional because I state the truth.

"You love your sister a lot...right?"

Cabir asks with a smile. My eyes flicker.

"As you love yours. One scratch on her....I can burn the world."

My voice shivers. Thankfully Nandini intervenes otherwise I would have busted out.

"Manik, you need my signatures...right? Give me the papers. Because I have to go with Bhai after that. Murthy Creations is going to organize a fashion show and Bhai needs my help...for the first time. Bro, honestly tell....is it a kind of boost up to my low esteem?"

Nandini frowns at her brother. Cabir wobbles in denial.

"Not at all. I have no doubt on your talent and I know how ELYSIAN is gradually growing high. I really need your advice on this. And I am ready to hire you professionally with all procedures if you want."

He raises his hands in defeat. Nandini giggles.

"This is for the first time I am giving you 100% rebate. But for the next time, I will demand my fees for sure. No bro-sis consideration."

She giggles out and Cabir shows thumps up. In between, I push the papers to her and she keeps on signing it without checking the papers. She signs on the power of attorney paper too. My work is done.

"Congratulations, Nandini. You just hammered the last nail in your coffin."

My evil mind congratulates her.

........................................................

A week past. In between, I couldn't concentrate on my work and office fully because of Bhai's fashion show. However, I know Manik is there to take care of everything. Presently I am sitting in Bhai's cabin and he is very conveniently vanished from there putting all the burdens on my tender shoulder. I purse my lips while shading the drawing. Bhai wants me to design the show stopper's dress and I am doing the same. Suddenly my mobile rang. Unmindfully I pick it up.

"Hello! Ms Murthy?"

My old client almost yells on the line. With an annoyed expression, I reply,

"Yes, Mrs Shivdasani. Sorry, I am a bit busy nowadays. I won't be able to take any urgent request right now. But you can contact with my chief architect Mr Manik and tell him your requirements. He will tell you the exact tenure to deliver the order."

"To hell with your new order! I am done with your company, Ms Murthy. It was my decency that I kept quiet so long even after that blunder your company has done with my contract. I want my money back, Ms Murthy. Otherwise, I will have to suit a file against you."

Mrs Shivdasani's words pour molten lead in my ears. No client has ever talked to me like this. I sit on the chair squarely and ask with the equal stern.

"Hold no, Mrs Shivdasani. Mind your words. What are you talking about? Your contract, blunder? As per my knowledge, your previous order has been fulfilled in time with your satisfaction. We have no other contract pending. So, there is no question of money back."

"Oh really? Then check this screenshot of this contract paper and let me know what is your decision. Because my decision will depend on that and it won't be any good for your company and you."

Before I can say anything, she hangs up the call. With a perplexed mind, I keep on staring at my mobile screen until a WhatsApp message flashes on it. I open it. It's a screenshot of a contract and it says that ELYSIAN has signed a contract with her last month regarding her new home furnishing. And the time limit has been expired long back. But the main point is, there is a clause in the contract that if ELYSIAN can't complete the work in the mentioned time we will be bounded to compensate the client by giving the double amount of their advance payment. And in this case, Mrs Shivdasani has given Elysian all the amount in advance only and the figure is half of a crore.

"That means we have to give her almost a crore. Rubbish."

I mutter in annoyance.

"Manik didn't mention about this contract to me. Wait, if Mrs Shivdasani did the payment it should be in the company's bank account. God, in these days I didn't even check the accounts."

I utter in mind and open my bank statement and get to know that Mrs Shivdasani is right. The full amount is there. And not only that, there are 11 such amounts, that have been transferred to Elysian's account which are near about crores and I had no idea about it. I lift my phone and tapped a number. I have to clear my doubt whether the other clients have the same complaint because as per my knowledge no such work has been done in these past days.

"Hello, Mr Kapoor! Sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to check...did you sign any contract with ELYSIAN recently?"

I ask with a shaky voice and the answer is predictable. Mr Kapoor has the same complaint and more of that he was about to send a notice to me if I haven't called him right now. I pacify her somehow by saying that it might be a big mistake. For the sake of my past reputation, Mr Kapoor agrees to give me a week time. With a sigh of relief, I cut the call.

"What the hell is going on? Is someone playing a game with me? I am sure, that person has taken the advantage of my absence and easily fooled Manik. God...Manik must be very disappointed to hear it."

My mind calculates and I decide that before letting him know, I have to enquire to my other clients too. In the next half an hour, I call each and every client who has transferred a big amount to Elysian's account and shockingly everybody has the same story. In an hour, I realise where my company is now standing. My speedy calculation says to me that My ELYSIAN and I have almost 17 crores debt and threats of legal harassment. I press my temples and keep on sitting quietly on my chair.

"No...Manik doesn't know it. Otherwise, he would never let it happen."

My inner Goddess whispers in my ear. Suddenly the cabin door opens and Bhai enters.

"Nandi...Finally I have chosen my show stopper. Guess who. I think she should be as confident and beautiful as the dress and in my opinion, who would be better than you for it? So, get ready. You will be my show stopper."

He sits on the opposite chair while tattling. I lift my face and pass a pale smile. Bhai's smile evanesces.

"Hey, Nandi! What happened sis? Don't worry if you are not being able to design the dress. We will hire some other. But you shouldn't sulk like this...You shouldn't...."

I snatch his words and bust out,

"Bhai...ELYSIAN is in big trouble. My company will be shattered, Bhai..."

My voice gets choked. Bhai leaps up and nears to me.

"What happened?"

His tone is grave yet timid. I state him everything with every detail. Till that time, my limbs become numb.

"Did you call Manik? What did he say?"

Bhai's obvious question comes.

"I am sure he doesn't know anything, Bhai. It's my fault. I only shouldn't have put all responsibility on him. It's must be someone's conspiracy."

I say with conviction but Bhai's next words shake me to the core.

"How can you be so sure that someone is not Manik?"

I keep on staring at him, vacantly.

"But why? Why would he do this?"

I utter in a broken tone.

"He only can answer that. Money can be a big reason. But in this case, the whole amount is in your account only. Then why? Nandi, we have to meet him. Is he in the office?"

Bhai asks desperately.

"I think so..."

I meek out. Bhai grabs my hand and pulls me out of his cabin. Within thirty minutes, we reach my office.

................................................

I am sitting in the conference room. I know whom am I waiting for and for what. At last, it's time to unveil the nasty truth. I keep my legs crossed on the table and keep on staring at Mr Maniraj Murthy's picture. Within a minute the door barges open and Nandini and Cabir enter. A sinister smile creeps on my lips.

"Welcome Murthys. I was waiting for you."

I address the bro-sis duo with a killer smile. The show has just begun.

Author's note: The drama finally begins. More twists and turns are going to come. So, stay tuned. 😊❤❤❤