February’
2003,
Midtown, Manhattan Borough, NY.
It had been one and half months since then the demise of Dayanand. Aryan and the family missed him as the days went by. Not much had changed with the ménage. Aryan was resting on settee; Shekar and Vivek were sitting on the studio couch while Rekha stood near the sofa couch, all of them gazing towards the bifurcated staircase inside the foyer. The staircase was built by a wide flight of stairs at the start which bisects into narrow flights at the mid-landing. The two narrow flights starts from either side of the mid-landing leading their way into the top floor. A colossal sized portrait of him was installed on the wall ahead of narrow flights at the mid-landing.
“Good god,” Shekar puffed air out, “His elegance will live forever,” he said as they continued to look over Dayanand in the portrait.
“Rightly said,” Vivek joined with Shekar’s remarks, “and he will be with us forever”
“Vivek, I understand this is not the right time to talk but as a board member,” he made a quick look at Rekha and continued, “I am under legal obligation to bring it your notice. We should continue the works of your father to keep up with his good name and only then his soul will rest in peace” he said displaying a docket containing several printed loose sheets, “We have got a new contract, sort of a business venture worth $50 million. There is demand in the market and there is also lack of supply for the product. The need of the customers is known, we have the idea. We will develop, market it and sell. I believe we should take up this venture. It’s gonna help us in the horizontal business expansion but before to sign the contract, we need an authorizer, Vivek.”
It was a bolt from the blue to Rekha and Aryan. While he got up and sat with his back erected on the settee, Rekha descended on to the sofa couch going sick in the head but Shekar continued, “Yes! Vivek. I am considering you. With the demise of Dayanand the chairman rank has been void till today. The board has decided to hand over the charge to the patriarch. Accept the status as a patrimonial bestowal from your father. I hope he will be happy after you choose to lead JAPMI”
“Uncle Shekar, I am happy that you choose me to take over but truth is, I consider myself to be unfit for this. I never did any business infact I never went to college as you knew it. I was taught to be a spendthrift”
“True Vivek. You were a spendthrift and an investor does the same job but in a wise manner. You know how to spend, let me teach you how to be wise. You will gradually become an epitome in the investment management, your strategies will be the references for the grads at Harvard. I know your capabilities, and you are not alone in the journey. I will always be there for you, you are like my son dear. That is the bond me and your father shared. I will guide you and teach you to do some real business” Shekar grabbed the veen 5 bottle of water.
“Papa, you want the industry to face bankruptcy? It seem you do,” Rekha had an objection with the board’s decision, “My husband is not going to be entrusted with the JAPMI and I am least bothered if somebody is offended” she exclaimed her disapproval.
“meine liebe Tochter, don’t you trust your daddy?” Shekar looked at Rekha, “We need somebody from the family to carry out the business. Dayanand holds sixty percent ownership of the industry and Vivek can have the right ownership in his father’s absence. Dayanand had bequeathed the shares under the name of Vivek and he is the only son who can inherit the ownership” Shekar presented the facts to Rekha
Shekar intervened and took the lead, “let there not be contention. The heated disagreement is gonna rupture the bond,” he got up from the studio couch and walked towards Rekha. He wrapped his arms partially around her shoulder, “Look up,” he said, “If that displeases you then I will find no interest in the consignment”
“I beg your pardon,” Rekha mumbled. “you don’t have to,” he whispered in her ears and turned to face Shekar.
“Uncle, I have no concern in the operations of the industry,” he said, “Look for a new chairman among the board until then I would be willing to take charges, maybe just to take part in the meeting to cast my vote on behalf of father”. He made it plain to Shekar terminating any remote discussion from the central point in the subject. Shekar sauntered towards the bifurcated staircase rasping until he was abandoned by an abstraction, “and for now, I would sign the deal for you. You are the outside director of the board, I reckon you will have an unequivocal picture in a blanket of the industry operations than what the insider board has,” he cast his eyes on Rekha for a second and said, “I would rather respect that outlook than being embarrassed by shrugging it off”
Shekar was delighted to hear on Vivek’s tidings, “Great Vivek. Thank you for your understanding over the issue. We would like to finish the procedures by next week preferably on Wednesday at the JAPMI’s guest house during brunch,” he dictated, “would that be good for you?” he enquired.
“Absolutely fine by me,” Shekar raised his chin with his fingers slithered on his throat. Rekha perceived that something’s wrong with Vivek.
“Alright! I will pick you up. See you sweet pea. Take good care of your husband, he is going to be a Businessman, real soon” he said. Rekha could only feel embarrassed of the family’s situation in the absence of Dayanand, It has changed in a few months and change? It is temporary she thought to herself, but not for the Hadars’
Rekha never liked Shekar venturing for a business. She didn’t like her husband to be one among those who does business. Primarily she believed that he was unfit for the job and secondarily she believed that it changes person’s subjective feelings killing any trace of compassion and only leaving them to act rationally.
“Vivek,” She called him as he was climbing up the staircase, “Is something wrong?” She asked. Vivek visibly looked gloomy although he was engaged in the conservation on a firm voice few
minutes ago. “Not really. I am having the commotion, as a flare from the throat runs into the chest. Maybe I should get some rest,” he said.
“I am just wanting to know inside out. Are you sure you wanna go ahead with dad’s proposal? We both know well how capable you are. Don’t we? It’s a venture. Neither you foreknow nor do you know no details of the venture,” She asked wryly.
Aryan approached her mom who was standing still at her spot, “You have always shot them at dad. Those would only cast aspersions, why take a challenge and put him at the unease. Why do you even wanna play with him?” he flopped on the sofa couch.
“Aryan… your father doesn’t feel responsible. I wonder if he is aware of my presence as his wife in his world. He needs only the wine,”
Rekha walked away into attic room with tears in her eyes. In spite of the fact that Vivek took notice of Rekha being ripped off in her heart he only disregarded the moment. That was the very first time in the conjugal life that Rekha had sounded out acerbic words. Never had ever Aryan had seen Rekha being outrageously sober at something. While Vivek treaded upstairs into his room Aryan followed Rekha in a trice.
“So…” Aryan cleared his throat walking towards an altar located at the end of the room, “why did you marry him in the first place when you know what kind of a man he is” he questioned her gazing into a portrait in the predella.
“Aryan, that should not be your concern. Why do you care to ask on the forefront, you better let it go except that you should learn a thing. My life was not in my hands. I am the daughter of a business magnet. These ruthless businessmen do anything with their daughters’ lives, in fact any women lives to blend and win deals for money. My life had been traded to indirectly strengthen the business between the families” She spill the beans.
Aryan took a gander at Rekha and said, “So, is that it? You say you had been traded,”
Rekha kept looking vacantly over the Mannington flooring, “Yes, that’s the truth but Nemo had always been a nice person to be with. He was my next father. With the death of his wife, there were no women in this family. I’ve come here as his daughter to look after him and not just to carry the name of a Hadar. To say nothing of, I was and will be worried for your father” She paused and breathed out heavily, “Son,” She called Aryan and he looked at her, “money changes people,” She casted her eyes on Aryan, “Yes, it did change your father. He was the same man before I got into his life as he is the man till today. In due course of time, I only realized to know that his change will never ever happen, not at the least my death will cost it. I gave up on him and the little hope that I had he would transmute.”
“Well mom. What was with Nemo? He had got enough of spondulicks and there were no signs of change. Why did only dad become different?”
“Aryan, it is not always the one who enjoys what they earn. It’s always the one who enjoys the inheritance. Nemo hailed from a typical middle-class family, the fortune we are living through is his exude perspiration. He had to swedge with the fate. Well, I could go on telling you all day and
Nemo’s personal diary is such substantial,” She said drawing herself close to him, “The self-made man entrenched himself into a classy businessman. He knew the value of money as he earned it hustling through his life. Your father relishes in what his father has raked in for him. A father makes money for his precedes’ happy life and this is very plain in any family. I have no time to discuss things with you right now but when the right time comes you will find answers to your questions”
“Alright mom, No pressure” he said coyly.
“Aryan,” Rekha installed herself by a whisker distance from him. She cupped his face with her hands and patiently gazed into his eyes, “would you promise me a thing?” She asked.
“Mom, I love you ever since you brought me into this world. There should never be a choice for me to make when you ask something. I am your son, you say and I do,” He pecked on her forehead.
She took a step back, “Come here,” She beseeched, “hug me,” She said and Aryan assented. “I agree that we have money but that should never let you down as a person. I would never like it to see you being the one as your dad. You should learn how to live on your own and take good care of yourself. I wanted to see you as an established individual without embezzling your inheritance” She said and wrapped him in her arms.
“I will sure keep up with your words darling. Consider it’s done,” He said, “Ah!! I would let this fly off before we be domiciled in sober. Why don’t we go out? Only you and me. We had made plans some time ago but hadn’t been fruitful lately. Let’s make it this time, Lovely mom with her lovable son. Perfect, isn’t it?” Aryan’s all smiles.
“Do you really think we should go out? The patriarch might just need assistance, he looked somber just before” she said wryly.
“Hahahaha! Mom. You are a crazy woman, aren’t you? You play the odds against him and suddenly you care,”
“Idiot! He is my husband, remember?” She winked at her son.
“Alright, I saw that coming. I will probably do a check on him if it’s okay to take you out. He should comply with his son most likely. You knew, he never said no to me, had he? So you better be prepared, we should be leaving in half hour”
Aryan entered the bedroom and found Vivek lying on his bed watching a competition on the TV catching glimpses of the women in their swim suits, “Hey, dad” He intervened incising Vivek’s sight, “you seem to be busy ogling at the female of the species on the show. How is it going? Need some drinks to compliment the ambience?” he asked attempting a flout at him.
“You got be kidding me. I am not actually ogling at the women but I am literally lost in my thoughts for other reasons. By the by, what brings you here?”
“Oh! Seriously? I am sorry for being disgraceful. Are your thoughts have been wandering over the ownership and the contract?”
“Hmm,” He moved his head up and down, “kind of” he replied.
“Well you did decide on it dad. You can’t get bogged down, don’t think too much. You may not want the outcome to take a toll on your health, do you? You should get some sleep now, I see the puffiness over the lower lids.”
“You are right, I should” he said and recollected the question he asked him, “what brings you here, you don’t want to leave it unanswered”
“Mom and I would like to go out. Little prime time, maybe on a lunch. Will return soon.” He informed him.
“Have a nice time both of you. See you again,”
“That’s awesome. Have a good sleep not a bit of a shut-eye,” he said as he walked out of the bed room.
Power and Pelf 