The Next Day
I returned from Goa the following day after my chat with Ileana. Tara and Disha were planning to return in a later flight the same day. Things were finally in motion for my final revenge to begin IF I could turn Nora over to my side. I had been listening to her calls and watching her affairs with Ravi and Kishore on my spycam for weeks. I knew exactly which buttons to push to make her do what I wanted.
My entire plan was laid out; I just needed the players to come on board. However, things are never as easy as what one plans out. I had boarded the 8 a.m. flight back home from Goa, and the plane had just landed when my phone blew up with dozens of notifications as I turned off aeroplane mode.
There were a dozen messages from Pooja Didi and Jhanvi, but a push notification from a news app caught my eye before I could open them.
Breaking News: Pankaj Kapoor Found Dead! Heart Attack Kills Kapoor Empire CEO!
I froze in shock as I read the headline again and again. Dad had passed away! My face was pale as I clicked on the article and began to read more details.
The article stated that Dad had a massive heart attack at home and was rushed to the hospital. Speculation was that Dad's longtime stress had taken a toll on his body and caused his heart to give out.
I was stunned as I stumbled off the plane and out of the airport, my head spinning. Dad couldn't be dead... I never had a chance to prove myself to him. Tears stung my eyes as I opened the messages and began to scroll through them.
Jhanvi: Suraj! Babuji is in the hospital! He had a heart attack! We've been trying to reach you!
Pooja Didi: Suraj! What happened to your phone?! Babuji is in the hospital! Where are you?!
I couldn't think of anything as I dialled Pooja Didi's number. She picked up immediately.
"Suraj! Thank god! Suraj! Babuji had a heart attack! They took him to the hospital... Nora called us when she found him! They think it was a heart attack!" Pooja Didi sobbed as she spoke to me.
"Pooja Didi... I-I just landed in Mumbai... Is he... Is he..." I stammered, unable to form words.
"Suraj... they are operating on him now... Jhanvi and I are at the hospital... we've been trying to reach you!" Pooja Didi gasped in relief as she finished.
"Operating... you mean he is still alive?!" I gasped as Pooja Didi confirmed, "Suraj... hurry to the hospital! We're at Nair Hospital... I'll call you later; the doctor is calling up over!" Pooja didi stated as she hung up.
I didn't waste any time as I flagged a cab and gave the driver instructions to the hospital. Pooja Didi and Jhanvi were seated outside the emergency room as I arrived at the hospital. Pooja Didi and Jhanvi were in tears as I hugged both of them.
"H-how is he?!" I asked Jhanvi as Pooja Didi wiped her eyes as she composed herself.
"They are operating on him, Suraj... Nora found babuji unconscious in his bed and called the ambulance..." Jhanvi informed me as we gazed at the closed door of the operation theatre.
"The news reports... they said that dad's longtime stress..." I asked as Pooja Didi sighed, "One of the reporters got a hold of a false rumour and published it..."
I spotted Kishore and Nora emerge from one of the elevators and immediately walked up to him. Kishore looked at me, and before I could ask, he replied, "It's OK. He's out of danger. It was just a mild heart attack."
I sighed in relief as Kishore stated, "He'll be out of the OT in a while and will be shifted to the ICU. Thankfully, it was a minor attack, and he is stable now."
***
The next few days were a blur. Dad recovered in the ICU, and the family breathed a sigh of relief as we watched over him. The doctors reassured us that Dad was out of danger and would be fine in a few days. However, he was asked to cut back on work and reduce his stress.
Dad had to remain in the hospital for 2 days before he was discharged. Tara had returned home, and she and Pooja Didi were the ones who were taking care of Dad and ensuring that he followed the doctor's instructions; "No Shock or Stress." They fussed over Dad constantly as he recovered.
Dad was allowed to come home a week later, but he usually stayed in his room recovering as things around the family started to settle back to normal.
Two weeks on, Nora, Kishore and Ravi handled most of Dad's responsibilities on his behalf until he was declared fit to resume office duties. Nora was the acting CEO during this time until Dad resumed his work. Kishore promptly used this opportunity to shut down the marketing project I was assigned to, ensuring that my access to the office was cut off.
Ravi smirked at me whenever we crossed paths; he knew I was blocked at the bottom of the company totem pole. Nora ignored me, but I noticed her talking with Kishore and Ravi a few times, and I was sure that as the shock of the heart attack was over, they had returned to plotting against the family business.
I was still tracking Nora, Kishore and Ravi's activities, and I could see that Nora and Kishore had begun their affair again despite Dad's condition. With Kishore distracted and Dad no longer around, Ravi could siphon the funds even faster. At this rate, our working capital would go below critical levels in a few months. Things were not going good for my family.
***
The following Monday, Kishore, Nora and Ravi had all gone to the office as usual while Tara had taken Dad over for a routine checkup at the Cardiologist.
I had locked my room and was alone in it as usual, monitoring Nora and Ravi's chats and files. My plan of blackmailing Nora using Ileana was no longer an option. Ileana was safe but in Peter's custody until I could figure out how to use her. I had initially planned to blackmail Nora so that I would reveal her secret past to Dad if she did not work with me against Ravi and Kishore.
However, with Dad's recent diagnosis, this was a hollow threat. I knew this shock would hurt Dad, and we couldn't risk that. I was at my wit's end and had shut myself off from everyone in frustration, even Pooja Didi and Jhanvi. I had promised them freedom from their cheating husband, and I could no longer see a way to ruin them in a way that would not hurt Dad. I avoided spending time alone with them and hadn't answered their calls and messages in days.
I was frustrated as I scrolled through Ravi's and Nora's chats. Ravi and Nora discussed how Ravi had transferred even more money from the company. I was furious; I was losing Everything.
*Knock Knock*
I looked up, annoyed, as someone knocked on my bedroom door. I cursed under my breath; I didn't want to meet anyone and ignore it.
*Knock, Knock! *
I frowned as the knocking continued. Whoever was at the door was really persistent. I rose, opened the door, and froze as Pooja Didi and Jhanvi stood outside. I gazed at Pooja Didi and Jhanvi guiltily; I had been ignoring the sisters for days. I knew I would have to confront them eventually and had planned to just be strong and face them when the time came. However, one look at their concerned faces and I immediately pulled both of them into a hug.
Pooja Didi and Jhanvi gladly reciprocated as they held me. I had missed these two so much, and I didn't realize that until I had my arms wrapped around both sisters. I broke the hug and gazed at them as they smiled at me.
"Suraj... Are you OK?!" Pooja Didi whispered as she patted my cheek while Jhanvi looked at me with concern.
"I'm sorry I haven't talked to you both..." I started, but Jhanvi interrupted me, "We were worried about you!"
"I'm fine..." I whispered as Jhanvi gazed at me angrily, "You can't lie to us, Suraj... you haven't eaten in days! You are shutting yourself out..."
I led both sisters into my room and closed the door behind me as I walked to the bed and sat at the edge; Pooja Didi and Jhanvi quickly took seats beside me.
"Suraj... talk to us..." Jhanvi whispered as she took my hand in hers.
"I-I don't know where to begin..." I whispered as both sisters smiled as they gazed at me.
"How about beginning with why you've been avoiding us?" Pooja Didi asked as she sat by my side.
"I'm sorry... I just don't know what to do now! Everything is falling apart! I can't ruin Kishore without hurting Dad... I can't expose Nora or Ravi without ruining the company's reputation, which will again hurt Dad! "I stated as both sisters looked at me puzzled.
"Suraj... whatever you decide, you know that Jhanvi and I are with you 100%! Right?" Pooja Didi whispered as Jhanvi nodded and gazed at me.
"But the risks are too big now... I can't afford to hurt Dad... I don't know what to do!" I groaned as I buried my head in my hands in shame.
Pooja Didi and Jhanvi looked at each other, worried as they gazed at me. Jhanvi cupped my cheeks, and I gazed at her as she leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I hadn't kissed Jhanvi in days, and I melted into the kiss as Jhanvi wrapped her arms around me. Jhanvi broke the kiss, and Pooja Didi leaned in and kissed me as well; she pressed her lips to mine as I held her by her waist.
"Suraj... we know you're upset... we miss you!" Jhanvi whispered as she gazed at me.
"Jhanvi is right, Suraj... we've missed you..." Pooja Didi stated as she smiled at me.
"I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to hurt either of you... I've just been so lost..." I stated as I tried to apologize, but Pooja Didi interrupted me. "It's OK, Suraj!"
Jhanvi nodded, "Suraj, we understand! Just tell us what is bothering you, and we can figure it out together..."
I looked at both sisters; they truly cared for me, and I felt guilty for pushing them away. I took a deep breath and told them how my original plan had failed, and now I couldn't find a way to expose Nora and Ravi's affair.