Heartless

33.

Mehra's mansion:
Ranbir joined the other family members and noticed that the client was saying bye to everyone. The latter approached him as well and forwarded his hand.

Suspiciously, Ranbir did shake his hands but his thoughts were troubling him.
He didn't voice any of it though.

He waited for him to leave because he had to talk with his father-in-law first.
Prachi noticed her husband's changed demeanor and signed him; asking what happened.
Ranbir just nodded no and smiled a bit at her in reassurance but his wife knew that something was wrong.
She left this discussion for later though.

Her gesture of acknowledging his mood change made him smile genuinely.

As soon as Abhi's client left, Ranbir approached the latter. Prachi too stepped closer fearing the situation which may arose.

Instinctively, she held her husband's arm. Abhi looked at their entwined hands and then his gaze shifted to Ranbir's.

Ranbir, sternly: 'I need to speak to you.'
Prachi couldn't help but squeeze his arm to stop him but he wasn't backing off. There were too many things going on in his mind and he needed some answers.

Abhi, unbothered: 'You realise that you almost made me lose a contract just by your presence. I told her to come alone. I should have known that she will mess it up again.'

His angry eyes turned to Prachi who unknowingly looked down.

Ranbir, more strictly: 'I need to speak to you alone and URGENTLY.'
His tone of voice was so strict that he left no room for discussion and it left his father-in-law also confused. So confused, that Abhi only nodded to his words.

Abhi: 'In my study room then...'
Ranbir nodded back and Abhi signed him to follow him. As Abhi walked away, Prachi turned to Ranbir worriedly.
'Don't say anything to him, Ranbir...'

He, reassuringly held her hands: 'Don't worry, I am just going to have a little chat with him. Nothing more.'

She was still worried about their upcoming conversation but Ranbir only reassured her and released their hands unwillingly. He had certain things to clarify.

He walked to his father-in-law's study and began questioning him as soon as the door was locked.
'Who is your client's boss who didn't come because of my presence?' His first question came up.

Abhi looked at him weirdly and took a second to process his out of the blue question.
'You should know that confidentiality is a must in business. We cannot reveal too much.' Abhi answered simply.

Ranbir: 'Why did you call Prachi here to meet him?'
Abhi: 'They wanted to meet my daughter... why does it concern you?' He asked in an unbothered tone of voice.

Ranbir: 'Didn't you think to increase your house security? If I could get in, anyone can.'
Abhi: 'There are cameras, those are enough. And we haven't encountered any problem.'
Ranbir, noting that point: 'Cameras? Where?'
Abhi: 'They are hidden, outside the house and in common areas of the house.'

Ranbir: 'Can I see them?'
Abhi, confused as hell: 'Why?'

Ranbir hesitated for a bit... Was he going to divulge the whole matter to his father-in-law? The same person who in a way hurts Prachi: verbally and physically as well.
Ranbir: 'I am requesting you. Can you give it to me?'
This brought a smirk on Abhi's face. 'So much for not saying please...'

Ranbir knew that the man in front of him would not give him anything so easily. 'What do you want in exchange of those footages?'
Abhi: 'Nothing... I won't give it to you, simple...'
Ranbir clenched his fists in order to keep him in check because if it was someone else, he wouldn't have to think twice before destroying the person.