Chapter 2 Mrs. Roy

4 years ago

Tardis

@DreamOfEndless

Chapter 2   Mrs. ROY

On first sight it looked like an artistic wallpaper, only when one looked at it close enough would one notice twisted ferns crawling all over the wall. There was a translucent dome roof, supported by three pillars, that the office wore like an angel's halo in sunlight and a devil's hat in the night. This was Rishi's first time inside the Roy Publications. Like everyone else he had seen it only in pictures.

There were two good reasons for this. First, he was not interested in visiting the office, especially if they are filled with books. Second: His association with the Roys began when he was 6 years old and he had walked inside the Roy mansion with his father. His father, Amir Siddiqui, was MJ's trusted employee and friend. With time and boyish games, Rudra and Rishi formed a similar bond of trust and friendship. But Mrs. Roy's attitude towards him became frigid and distant with time. As Rishi grew up, he figured money and class could make simple things complicated, so knowingly he kept himself away from the Roy Publications.

Today, however, Rishi stood inside as a newly appointed intern. He pushed open the meeting room's door, the chill of the AC jumped into his face. Rudra was already there with his lawyer discussing a file. Mrs. Roy and her attorney were yet to arrive. So was Maya. Maya Jaisingh, the woman who almost crushed Rishi under her car and then saved his life, like a dark angel who had stepped out of the shadows for his salvation. The same Maya who ruined Rudra's auction event by claiming she was Mrs. Roy.

In the meeting room, Rudra appeared worried reading a certain clause in a legal document. He gave Rishi  a smile and invited him to join the discussion. He knew that he was not experienced enough to deal with few technicalities. Rudra had said, when Rishi pointed that out,

"Rish, I don't know how to explain this, but I feel your presence would turn out to be a positive influence. Please don't refuse if you have as much confidence in my gut feeling."

Mrs. Roy protested, "But what is the need for this meeting? Why can't we just do away with some money? I am sure such people are only after wealth."  She looked at Rishi. She didn't want any outsiders infiltrating their business.

Rudra made no comment on her last lines.

"I do not want to bribe unnecessarily, and look like a culprit without any wrong doing. We need to find out why Maya stopped our public event. Who sent her or what was her agenda. If she had no proof to her claim, then that would be enough to sue her with defamation charges." Rudra said. If.

"I thought you wanted to auction Roy Publications," said Rishi.

"Yes, I still want to, but not like this. Not at this cost." Rudra said.

Rishi understood how much Rudra trusted him. He wanted his only aide by his side in this meeting.

He had agreed to join his company. Mrs. Roy was certainly not happy about it.

"Excellent! That's how I like. Since everyone is already up and about, can we discuss our future agenda?"

Maya walked in the meeting room with her file, as they were debating on the clause. She was formally dressed in black from top to bottom. She looked surprised for a moment on seeing Rishi there. Calm and unperturbed, she looked like an approaching storm who doesn't care what stood in her way.

Dissipated anger from the auction day reappeared in Rudra's fiery eyes.

Her one claim, and the public humiliation he had to face. His mother's credibility of being his father's wife was questioned. Now that she had arrived, he was determined to have all the answers.

Rishi felt somewhat nervous seeing Rudra's anger and Maya's determination.

Rudra left his seat and pulled out a chair for her.

"Ms. Jaisingh, what is there to hurry? You are our guest. Please be seated, and accept our hospitality."

Maya glared back,

"It's a pity Mr. Rudra that you had to organize auction for the Roy Publications because of your lack of sense of timing. But don't you worry," Maya sat on the chair, " the right CEO is here to bring things on track."

How did she know about that debatable clause from the company papers? They were strictly confidential. The meeting had hardly started and they already received another shock.

Clause no. 444: After Mr. Mrityunjay Roy's death, the company would be formally headed by Mrs. Mrityunjay Roy as the CEO, before getting formally transferred to their future children.

It was written by Mr. Radhanath Bakshi, the principal investor of the company and Rudra's nanu, at the time of inception of the company to protect the future rights of his daughter. With her claim, Maya had put to use that very clause.

Mrs. Antara Roy and her attorney Mr. Abner Dabiri, arrived as if on a cue.

"How dare you!" She said, "How dare you call yourself Mrs. Roy or the CEO! Who do you think you are?"

"Antara, sweetie, long time! How are you?" Maya hugged her, Rudra and Rishi looked on awkwardly,

"Sorry, we couldn't properly meet at the auction because you had a panic attack. Because of me. But look at you, thank God you are absolutely fine. And now we meet.. but honey, could you please wait outside? I am in middle of a meeting, members only."

Rishi guiltily broke into a smile at the last line. Mrs. Roy treated him exactly like this when Rudra wanted Rishi to be a part of this meeting, and then Rudra hired him. Although Rishi loved and respected both Rudra and MJ, he doesn't know why he felt like siding with Maya. His cheeks grew warmer watching Maya's confident self.

The usually calm and cautious Rudra, however, was in full blown anger. His lawyer, Mr. Ghanshyam, and Rishi tried their best to control him. He said,

"Chahti kya ho tum, Maya Jaisingh? Ho kaun?? How dare you speak to my mom like that!!"

Not losing her temper, Maya tilted her head and gave Rudra a dangerous smile that carried no mirth or emotion, only darkness. She looked fatally beautiful in her dark glory.

"Apna haq." She paused and continued, "Truth is bitter, and tastes even more bitter when replaced by sweet habitual lies. If Maya wanted, she could build elaborate castles of lie. But this Maya is fearless, and my truth is even more fearless. Be my guest."

She handed over an envelope to Mr. Ghanshyam. It contained signed divorce papers by Mr. Mrityunjay Roy, and Mrs. Antara Roy. The papers looked genuine. They reeled with shock at the revelation. Antara was on the verge of another panic attack. Only Mr. Abner Dabiri seemed to be unperturbed. He said,

"You still have to prove your marriage with Mr. Roy."

P.S. Thanks for reading. I hope I didn't bore you. Would love to know your thoughts.

Although I had reasons for writing from Rishi's pov in Ch-1 and Ch-2, do you think I should continue to do so in future chapters? 🤔

P.P.S. I went through chapter 1 and 2 and changed them into third person pov. That would make more sense for future chapters. Rishi is still an important part.