Abhira Off-Tracks: Short Stories

The Loss - Part 2

The Loss

"Yeh Abhimanyu ka phone kyun nahi lag raha???" Harsh shouted in the car frantically. "Aur yeh commissioner sahab ko bhi isi waqt busy hona tha?"

"Tum toh shant raho Harsh!" Anant scolded him, "Aur pray karo tumhare bete ne waha gusse mein sab kuch bigad na diya ho ab tak."

Harsh rubbed his forehead. His son had a history of volcanoes erupting exactly in the worst moments. And today, he wouldn't be surprised if Abhimanyu burns down the entire Police Station with his fury, for he was being convicted of a crime he never committed. Anant asked Neil to ring up Akshara.

Akshara stopped him the moment they stepped out of the officer's cabin.
"Abhi, Neil ka call!" 

 Abhi took the phone and put it on speaker.

"Hello Akshara!" Neil spoke in panic, "Bhai kahan hai? Tum kahan ho? Bhai arrest toh-"

"Relax Neil," Abhimanyu spoke up, making Neil sigh in relief, "mujhe arrest nahi kiya. Bade Papa ne apni complaint wapis le li hai. Maa theek toh haina?"

Harsh heaved a sigh. His actions would've cost him the biggest loss of his life had he not confessed to the Chairman of his intentions and requested him to revive the deal with the Goenkas. If him eating a humble pie meant saving his son's career, reputation and respect, he'd do it a thousand times over.

"Thank God, bhai!" Neil heaved an audible sigh, "Haan, Ma theek hai. Hum raste mein hai, aapko lene aa rahe hain."

"Koi zarurat nahi hai Neil, main Akshu ko ghar chhod kar aa jaunga."

Harsh snatched the phone from Neil and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Pagal ho gaya hai yeh ladka poora ka poora!!"

Abhimanyu rolled his eyes and covered the speaker.

"Dekho Abhimanyu," Harsh gulped his anger down his throat, "main jaanta hoon tum iss janam mein meri koi bhi baat nahi maan ne wale. Lekin please, for God's sake jab tak hum log na pohonche wahin raho. Media walon se sambhalke rehna."

Abhi sighed. "Sir main-"

"Uss Manish Goenka ne bhale hi complaint wapis le li ho, lekin Media toh uske bhi control mein nahi hai na?" Harsh spoke with slight tremble in his voice, "Tumhara career... aur Birlas ki reputation ko bahot bada dhakka lagega, agar zara bhi news faili ke tumhare khilaf arrest warrant nikala gaya tha."

"Sir," Abhi spoke as calmly as he could, "mujhse koi lukka chhupi ki umeed mat rakhiyega. Choro ki tarha woh log ghoomte hain jinhone koi galti ki ho." He glanced at a now-worried Akshara, "Mere khilaf saare complaints bilkul be-buniyad the, and I'm sure Bade Papa ne mujhe nahi aapko sabak sikhane ke liye yeh sab kiya."

"Haan haan, meri toh kismat hi kharab hai," Harsh hit his forehead, "beta mera apne baap ko chhod uss ladki ke baap ke gunn gaane laga hai."

"Uss ladki iss ladki yeh ladki woh ladki kya laga rakha hai haan?" Abhi gritted his teeth, "Akshara naam hai uska. Izzat se lijiye warna zikr bhi mat kijiye."

Akshara tried to calm him down but he was in no mood today.

"Ab aap seedhe-seedhe batayenge ki aapne aisa kya karnama kiya tha?" Abhi clenched his fist, "Aapko pata bhi hai Bade Papa kitne stressed rehte hain aapki wajah se?"

"Tumse na baat karne ka koi fayda nahi hai." Harsh replied, "Woh Akshara tumhare saath haina? Akshara please, mere pagal bete ko samjhao zara, tumhare Bade Papa ne waise hi Abhimanyu ki kam insult nahi ki hai jo ab uske career aur doctorate ki band bajane nikla hai."