CHAPTER - 17

Singhania's Mansion

Mumbai

Sanjana's POV:

Its about time for Akshay to return from his business trip and I don't have a single clue on who stole Singhania Corporation's financial record and Why?

Every single lead from my office has come to a dead end. First, I thought it might be my Assitant but she was not invited to the engagement. And entering to the mention without an invitation was next to impossible because of the extra security line.

This lead to me in thinking that maybe the insider has somehow managed to get invitation but it was personally handled by Alex, so its not possible.

Then, how? I am still stuck on this how. What happens when financial records of a company are stolen?

There future investment plans, projects and biddings everything is in wrong hands.

This means that I can find out the suspect, if I come across any such dealings which are exactly the same as planned by Singhania's financial analysts and accountants.

I stormed from my room to Alex's office and knocked frantically. Alex has not gone on this trip with Akshay which is unusual because he almost all the time accompanies him. When a faint sound of come in was heard, I entered.

"Ma'am, you needed something?" He asked standing up from his chair.

"Call me Sanjana and please sit down." I said myself taking a seat.

"Where will I find a copy of the stolen financial records?" I asked after we were both settled.

"There is no such copy." He sighed and answered.

"Who are you trying to fool?- I asked him raising a brow like Akshay does when he wants to  intimidate someone (not that he needed to, as everyone is enough terrorized in front of him)- You are telling me that a multi-billion dollar corporation does not have a back up file of his fiancial records. Interesting." I said musing to myself.

"Sanjana, I don't have any information regarding this matter." He replied keeping his stoic face on.

"Your emotionless face is not gonna hide the fact that Akshay has ordered you not to let anyone have access to the backup." I said scoffing more to myself than him.

"No comments." He replied non-chalantly and get back to his work.

"I am not some media reporter for you to shoo away with No comments. Okay, why don't you ask him to let me have a copy?" I asked wiggling my brows at him.

"I am not letting you fire your shots using me and get burnt." He replied without even glancing at me.

"So, you are saying that you can't get your hands on Singhania's financial record." I stated trying to goad him.

"I know what you are trying to do." He  said while typing away on his Mac.

"Do pray and tell."

"Trying to find out if I have papers or not." He said while gazing into my eyes. "Anyway, what are you going to do with those papers?"

"I am going to make planes with them and play. Duh! Ofcourse, I am going to find out who stole the papers." This seems to shock him.

"And how?" He asked intrigued.

"First, promise me you will get papers for us, then I can try to think what I was planning." I coax him while pretending to check my nails.

"Only when I can know that you have a solid theory, I can try." He replied folding his arms on his chest.

"Theory is solid, we can match the recent market investments to the ones on the records." I briefly explained.

"Nice, I will see what I can do."

"You do that and I will arrange a date for you with Miss. Vashist." I said, throwing my trump card.

"What?" He said satnding up and shouting a little. When I gazed at him indifferently he composed himself a little.

"If I get copy, you get your date. Choice is yours." With that I left closing the door on my back.

If this does not get successful, I need to have a Plan B. And I have a very dangerous one. I am hoping with my almight that Paln A gets successful otherwise, I have no other option than to enter Devil's lair as its prey.

3:00 P.M

Akshay is about to reach and I am making his favourite food as usual. But my mind is on something else and that is financial records. I don't know why they are more important to me than even Akshay?

Maybe because I can't see his hardwork to be used by others. I can't see anyone trying to harm his company.

There was a commotion in hall signalling his arrival. I put a glass of water in tray for him when Milapriya Bhabhi came in kitchen.

"Sanjana, take two." She said pointing to glasses.

"Why two? Is someone with Akshay?" I asked.

"His college friend, Nivaana." I was about to ask about her when I remembered Akshay's warning.

"Okay." I put two and left for living room.

As always, Akshay's head was resting in Mummy ji's lap and he was sprawled on sofa on his front. I noticed a classy and beautiful girl dressed in formal dress sitting with Kirti di and Avantika.

"Sanjana, come meet Akshay's friend Nivaana." Mummy ji said.

"Yeah, sure." I put tray on the table. We both muttered a quite hello to each other and after that I started sorting out Akshay's stuff which he has randomly dropped on the table. After that I left for Kitchen and guess who followed me.

"I did not catch what you do Sanjana?" Nivaana asked.

"I am an I.A.S officer." I replied. Kitchen was empty.

"Well, you are wearing a saree, so I thought you might be a housewife and after getting married to The Akshay Singhania who needs to work." She offered her not so needed opinion. Who the hell is she trying to get scores with?

"I see, you are implying that my clothes define me and my husband's name determine my need to work." I asked her sarcastically.

"I did not mean to offend you but I was stating my opinion." She cautiously replied.

"Well you did offend me because neither my clothes define me or my identity as a woman, even though, I don't have a problem with housewives because my mother-in-law is one and I am proud to be her daughter-in-law and The Akshay Singhania as you stated is my husband not my bank account and I like to be financially independent." I said turning around and answering her in her own language.

"Good." She replied with fake smile and left from there.

After a few minutes, Akshay came when I was making Chapatis.

"What happened here around few minutes ago?" He asked me and he was angry.

"Why you think something happened?" I asked. He snaked his hand around my waist and forcefully turned me around making me hit his chest.

He glared at me. "Now, what happened?

"No-Nothing, just two women interacting." I breathlessly replied.

"And it did not included clashes of opinion and war of words?" He asked.

"Maybe?" But it came out as a question and almost a whispher when I gazed into his angry eyes.

"What else have you done in my absence other than bribing my employee with date?" He gritted out.

Oh no! How the hell did he find out what is happening here sitting in America?

"I-I.."

"Yes, You?"

Today, no one can save me from this devil. He is going to chew me alive. When suddenly my eyes fell on a devil more terrifying than Akshay.

"Aah!" I screamed and hugged Akshay out of fear.

Akshay's POV:

Sanjana screamed suddenly and hugged me thight in fear. I glanced around to see what has terrified her but found nothing.

"Sanjana, there is nothing here." I helplessly tried prying her clutches from myself.

By now, everyone was in kitchen.

"What happened?" "Why she shouted?" "Did something happen?" Everyone was shouting out their questions at me. "Did you do something to her?" And that was my Mum.

"Shutup!" I shouted and that when everyone calmed down but Sanjana was still sticking to me.

"Sanjana, what happened?" I asked calmly while rubbing her back. I pried her off myself and cupped her face, her cheeks gleaming with tears.

"What happened, Baby?" I asked.

"Ch-Chuha (Rat)." She whisphered.

"Seriously, Chuha?" I frustatedly shouted.

"Dramabaaz bahu!" Dadi taunted.

"Akshay, take her to you room, she seems to be on verge of fainting and Kirti I want that rat out of my house, now. Meri bahu ka kya haal ho gaya hain (Look at her Condition)." No guessing there that was my mother.

I scooped her in my arms and smirked to myself thinking that the strong, independent woman is afraid of Rat.

*