Madhu worked at the Timber Estate, a small property firm that would sell flats which were located in the NCR. She worked as one of the agents, getting contacts of the buyers from the brokers and then getting them on board with the Estate. With each flat bought, she would get a commission. She would mostly operate at the Saket office, which was a little far from her flat in Dwarka.
Biswajeet Pradhan, the manager of the Delhi office, walked up to her cubicle and leaned over her desk. Looking at her boss, one would get hesitant but Madhu didn't. He had always been informal with her, talking about her life and passion and how long he would have to stay in this rotten job.
"I like it," she answered when she had been asked.
"You bring customers. It sucks," Biswa had said.
But now he had a very thin smile on his face. His face was a bit cherub like, with round eyes and curly hair that went all over the place. For a manager, he was a bit shabby but he liked it that way. She had read it somewhere. Genius men don't have time for themselves.
Today, surprisingly, he was wearing a brown suit with a white shirt, looking more attractive than usual.
She pulled back her chair. "So then, who are you going on a date with?"
He lowered his brows. "Well, what makes you think I'm going for a date?"
"You look smart."
"Oh," he hid a playful grin, "thank you. And you look ravishing as well."
"I am exhausted," she sighed.
"I wanted to ask you," his tone grew gravelly, "how are you now? I heard about the death in the family."
"There's no family anymore."
"What are you saying?" he patted her shoulders. "You have me and you have your flat-mate that uh girl..."
"Vijaya," she pursed her lips. She recalled what had happened. Madhu had held a party at her place for all the workers after a big assignment had been signed with her suggestions. She even called Biswa, who with his relaxed mien had found an admirer in Vijaya. Vijaya had been complimenting him and when she got drunk, she began to get closer to him. Madhu had tried to stop her but Vijaya hadn't, and she had puked all over him in the process. It was one of the most awkward party moments for Madhu. After that, she had made sure never to hold a party for anything, not even her birthday.
"Yes," he shrugged his shoulders. "The reason I'm here is because Mr. Saxena is coming in an hour. You must've heard of it, right? Uh Dilip Saxena."
She had heard about the deal that Biswa was making with Mr. Saxena, who was an industrialist. He had mills and textile factories over five states in India. He had liked the penthouse offered by Timber Estates and a deal was to be finalized.
"How can I help?"
"His uh daughter is missing," he said, pulling out a piece of paper that was a cut out from the newspaper. It was a photograph of Richa Saxena, with her long black hair, posing with a smile. "It's been three months since she's gone missing. No one knows where she is. Dilip had to buy the penthouse from us five months back, but he has been stalling after this incident. I've called him back for just a brief, formal meeting. But I want you to persuade him in buying this today."
"But his daughter...
"It's a brief from the seniors, Madhu." His voice and face had seriousness etched on it. "They want this deal to be sealed. You are great at talking and the fact that you are pretty helps. For all we know, the daughter is gone and we need to seize the opportunity of this vulnerable moment." There was disheartening passion in Biswa's tone.
Madhu glumly nodded.
*
Madhu had been waiting close to the window of Biswa's lavish office that had a concrete table, over a Spartan and rugged industrial floor. She had always envied Biswa, who despite being only a few years older than her, was given an office replete with ornate statues, bookshelves and curtains that afforded a modicum of privacy.
She didn't like being here in spite of the room's splendour. Watching Biswa waiting at the gate as Saxena and his lawyer were entering, and Biswa greeting them with utmost respect and courtesy, made her think that she was in a world of deceit, greed and callousness.
Dilip Saxena was a man in his fifties with gray hair, a tummy that was the size of a football and eyes that were sunk inside his heavyset face. He looked almost dead, but still managed to shake Biswa's hand with a smile, which Madhu could tell was forced.
They all sat with, Madhu standing in the corner. Biswa introduced her and for a moment Dilip and his lawyer just watched her.
"You have a beautiful lady in your department, Mr. Pradhan," a quaint smile slashed across Dilip's face.
"Well she isn't just pretty but the brains behind everything in the office," Biswa said.
Madhu could sense the pride in Biswa's tone.
"How is the search by the Delhi Police proceeding?" Biswa asked.
Dilip shook his head. "They are on it. They think she ran away from her house," his eyes dilated. "I don't know what to do. I gave her everything."
"We know and we understand but you know the problem is..." Biswa looked up at Madhu, with his brows quirked.
It was her cue now. With a heavy breath, she began: "Mr. Saxena, I should say you look devastated. And I am truly sorry for what happened with your daughter but there are things we needed to discuss. We called you here specifically to confide in you that the penthouse you had booked is going for sale in a week, as the booking date is going to end and there's another party interested."
He glanced to and fro, from Biswa to her. "Who?"
"Kanu Roy," she said and horror washed over Saxena's face.
Biswa's face was apologetic but she knew that he was just acting. Kanu Roy was another industrialist who initially worked for Saxena, before coming up with his own company by taking valuable workers from Saxena and installing them in cushier jobs in his own company. There was some media attention to this and things had gone bad.
"You can't just give..." he began.
"In fact, we can," Biswa nodded. "See, we will try to hold it for you as long as we can but we don't have the power. We work for the..." he pointed up, "the ones who own Timber Estates. I don't mean to pressurize in such a difficult time but we just wanted to inform you about this."
Dilip Saxena's face had gone red and Madhu knew he was going to grab Biswa's neck and choke him at any moment. She added, "Mr. Pradhan was telling me how your daughter Richa had loved the penthouse. If not for yourself, then at least for her, go for it. If she comes back..." I have to speak positive. "Won't she like that you have bought it and reserved it for her?"
"If she comes back," Dilip muttered, "but she's gone and this penthouse doesn't hold any significance anymore."
Madhu was losing. She walked slowly towards Dilip's side, brushing her hand on top of his. "It's all right. She will return, Mr. Saxena." And then she just pulled up her red lips on one side, a smirk she would rarely bestow.
Dilip glanced at Biswa and then came on to his feet with his lawyer. "I think we should leave."
Madhu's heart sunk. Damn! It didn't work.
"But my lawyer will be in touch with you to carry on the proceedings of buying the penthouse." He gazed at Madhu. "And I hope to see you more often, ma'm," he winked and she felt utter disgust, but displaced it with a fake smile until the men left the room.
Biswa dropped them till the door and then turned to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "You did it yet again. I don't know what it is...but you did it."
She did feel proud for a moment.
"You know what this means; this means a party."
"No, no," she waves her arms as she walked to the door herself now.
"Why?" he narrowed his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Because," she swallowed a hard lump down her throat, "I quit."
NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE POSTED - TUESDAY NIGHT. LIKE, COMMENT AND VOTE EVERYONE.