11. Crisis Dealt

They soon reached the office amongst their banter. Seeing the huge crowd of press at the entrance, Aryaman asked the driver to stop at a distance where they wouldn't be spotted by anyone.

"We can use the back exit to enter inside" Maitri suggested pointing towards the road on to their left. He nodded at the driver to follow her idea.

True to her words the back exit was silent and not many people were wandering around it. They quickly stepped inside the company and asked the guard to keep the doors shut incase anything happens from outside. Maitri passed him the important files as he walked into the meeting room as she waited outside for him.

Both knew that they might be each other's partners in life, but they wanted to keep their personal and professional life as separate as possible. Hours passed by and yet there was no voice that was heard from inside.

When she just thought she had enough, she stood up to knock on the door but before her hand reached the door, a large group of board members walked out shocking her. Feeling that everyone was out she stepped in to talk to Aryaman.

"Pick up the damn phone" Her feet halted at the door hearing Aryaman's loud voice. She gulped down her saliva fearfully and was to take a step back when Aryaman caught her gaze.

"Sorry" She quickly turned around to leave realising that probably the meeting wasn't over yet. Aryaman let her walk out before turning his attention back to a man almost Aryaman's age. She sat down on the chairs outside the hall waiting for him to finish. All of sudden she started feeling bad for identifying the fraudster listening to the loud shouts from the meeting room.

Whereas inside, Aryaman had discarded his blazer and rolled his shirt up with the collars open.

"Search for my fucking name" Aryaman walked to the man and placed his hands on the either side of him on the chair. With trembling hands he picked his phone and searched for Aryaman's name in his contact list.

"Found it?" Aryaman's stern voice almost made the man shit his pants.  Straightening his back, he pushed himself further into the chair and looked up at Aryaman's angry eyes upon finding the contact.

"Call" Soon Aryaman's phone started ringing and he removed his phone from the pocket of his pants.

"How fucking hard was it to call me??" Aryaman left the chair and punched the desk angrily.

"Raj how dare you couldn't call me when you needed me? You could have just asked me once" Aryaman walked away and stood infront of the long glass windows that ran from ceiling to ground, angry at his C.A cum friend.

"Its a huge amount Arya" Raj stood up from the chair swallowing his pride and ego.

"I don't want to listen to your fucking excuses Raj. My only focus right now is that child, do you understand me?" Aryaman turned around at the speed of lightening pinning Raj with his gaze. Aryaman picked his phone and group called all his family members.

"Send me the best pediatric cardiologists contacts. Nitya needs them" All his cousins who were chilling around were suddenly upright and got down to business.

Raj...Raj was one of Aryaman's best friend other than Manav. They were the trio that ruled their school and university. Upon completion of their degrees, Rishav saw potential in Raj and hired in his firm, giving him the chance to grow. Proving Rishav true, Raj managed to make his way to senior accountant in the firm, handling the New York business where as Manav handled the interior designing area. He was the head of his department not because of favouritism but because of his hard work. Raj had got married to Yukti earlier last year and the couple were blessed with a beautiful baby girl who they all named Nitya. Being the first child in the friends group she was the most loved amongst her uncles, one sneeze and both Aryaman and Manav were ready to go through hell to bring her cure.

The small soul had not just bewitched the trio but their families too. She had everyone wrapped around her little finger. Hearing the reason for Raj's fraud in the company made Aryaman lose his patience.

Initially when they found out the name, all sort of wrong ideas started forming in his mind as though his heart refused to believe that his best friend would cheat him in this manner.

"Arya..."

"Shut up Raj, be glad dad doesn't about this or else he wouldn't wait before snapping your neck" Aryaman said angrily making Raj zip his mouth shut.

Aryaman was scrolling through his contacts to check whether he knew anyone who knows a doctor who can help his niece.

"Fuck this shit. Am tired with the suspense. I understand it sir that what Raj bhai did is unacceptable, but I've known him for years now. He must have some good reason to do this. I believe in Raj bhai, he won't do an infidelity with this company" Maitri entered the room keeping her eyes connected with Aryaman. The men turned around shocked at the intrusion.

"Mayu" Raj called her out confused.

"Don't stare at me Bhai, tell him that you have some solid reason to do what you did. I've always seen you as my role model and I know my role model would never do such...Mere muh kya dekh rahe ho, kuch kahiye unhe" Maitri took a step towards Raj which confused Aryaman as to how she was so connected with his friend.

"You were on holidays until next month" Raj said shocked at seeing her in person. Maitri looked at him dumbfound.

"Are you serious? Am trying to take your side here and all you care about is why I've ditched my holidays for you" She crossed her arms at her chest and gave him a stink eye. Raj turned towards Aryaman for explanation.

"She's the one mum and dad co-jointly set me up with. She's Akshit uncle's daughter" Aryaman said pinching his eyebrows and removing his spectacles.

"FUCK NO!" Raj looked at Aryaman as if someone attacked his life. Aryaman looked at Raj with raised eyebrows proving that he was still angry with him and was not going to let go of the topic that easily.

"Tell me he's lying Mayu. You can't be Akshit uncle's daughter" He held Maitri's hands pleadingly.

"I wish he was. I am the one and only angrezon ke zaamane ke jailor ki beti. And what was the other thing that you said, 21st century ka Changez Khan. Yes. Am his daughter" Maitri said enjoying on the expense of Raj's horrified face. Raj started taking a step behind near Aryaman as she looked at him with a smirk.

"I never said anything such..." Once Raj was behind Aryaman he leaned on to his ear.

"Yaar I've said alot of funny thing about Hitler to her. Meri shauk sabha na nikal de ye (I hope she won't lead me to my death)" Raj whispered scared of Akshit's reaction when he gets to know the wonderful things he had to say for him.

Aryaman pulled away Raj from him and walked to Maitri.

"I know him more than you Maitri. He's my friend from all the way childhood to now" His few words made her thought process change.

"Ohh" She looked between the men.

"Now if you both are done with your childishness it would be better if you could come up with an excuse of what to say to the press waiting for me downstairs it would be great" Aryaman said sitting on his chair.

"But what was the reason of the money laundering? Am good with excuses but until I don't know the reason how will I make an excuse that looks real" Maitri took a seat beside him.

"Ask him, don't ask me" Aryaman looked at Raj angrily. Maitri sensed the change in atmosphere. She looked at Raj for reason.

"Nitya has a hole in her heart. Her post-surgery treatment costs more than what I earn. Whatever I had, my house, car everything, I used it for her surgery. The surgery wasn't a successful one and hence I did what I did" Raj said looking at the floor in embarrassment. Maitri didn't waste even one second and jumped on him, hugging him tightly.

"You didn't think it was necessary to at least inform that she has a hole in her heart. I would have been of some help to you if not in monetary terms. How is Yukti coping up? Is she fine? How is Niyu, that small kid, how is she?" Maitri asked all the questions hugging him tightly. Raj wrapped his arms around her back and felt a little nice since he needed that hug from a very long time. Aryaman's eyes drifted to them and saw the way Raj relaxed in her embrace.

A wave of guilt rushed through him as he realized that probably in the fear of Nitya, he forgot that Raj was her father and he felt more helpless than he was feeling.

"Raj" Aryaman stood up and walked upto them. He stood behind Maitri who broke the hug and cupped Raj's face.

"Everything is going to be fine" She gave him an encouraging smile before moving away. Once she was away, Aryaman launched himself on Raj taking him in a man hug. Raj visibly relaxed in Aryaman's arms and soon the wall of strength he was holding for the world broke down and the father whose daughter was not responding to the treatment showed up.

Maitri slowly slid out of the room leaving the two friends to themselves.

"She's just 3 months old Arya" Raj slid down on the floor crying hysterically. Aryaman held Raj close and shed a few tears as if the pain the small baby was experiencing was felt by him.

"Its going to be fine. Everything will be fine Raj. I've asked everyone to send me contacts am sure someone will have the contact for the best" Aryaman said pulling Raj up and wiping his and his friend's tears.

Raj was to respond when Aryaman's phone rang indicating Aviraj is calling.

"Have you tried Nidhi's contact?" Aviraj skipped the formalities and jumped to the point.

"She disappeared dude. No one knows where she is yaar" Aryaman said pulling onto his hair.

"Let me ask her dorm mate maybe if she has her number or something. Do you remember if she had friends other than us?" Aviraj asked pacing back and forth checking on google and social media sites for Nidhi's contact number.

"The only friends she had was us guys. She never talked to anyone other than us. We had to roam behind her to get her to talk to us. All she had was us" Aryaman looked at Raj to ask if he had tried contacting Nidhi.

"Hmm true. I'll try my best to find her and if not her than to get someone better" Aviraj cut the call saying that.

"Okay guys, time's up. If you both are still a little bit emo then wipe your tears and save them for some other time, for now we have this script ready for you to say to the press" Maitri entered the room with eyes closed as she found her way to the table by touching the surroundings. Raj and Aryaman laughed at her antics.

"You can see us cry, we won't take it to our ego" Both the men said wiping their tears.

"Hayee my green flags" She rounded her fingers around the two and cracked her knuckles on the sides of her head.

"I'll compliment you baad mein right now we really need to address the press" She said walking to them to explain them the plan.

Aryaman walked down the company and stood at the entrance. His bodyguards help keep the media people away from him.

"Before anyone of you throw the questions at me, I'd like to clear the air. The reason why my employees went on a strike is true. The salaries were reflecting on the accounts of our main branch but as my employees said that they were not receiving it. I went through the matter till its depth and realized that there was some foul play going on. I can't reveal much details about it as it is a business matter and the competitors might benefit from it but I can promise to all my employees that by tomorrow midnight they'll receive their salaries and an added bonus too for remaining loyal to us for a long time.

Along with this I'd like to make another announcement that Ranawat enterprises is now going to provide a health insurance to all of its employees and their family members. It will cover costs for problems until a few kind of surgeries. Recently I've come across a small girl who's heart has a hole and might I add she's just a 3 months old. We are planning to join a few NGOs to support such lives" Aryaman explained his side of the story cutting down most of the questions that the press had in their minds to ask. The question and answers rounds played along for a long time until they were satisfied with his answers.

Raj and Maitri who were staring at him from within were proud of the way he answered the questions without revealing Raj's name but also holding onto the point that whatever the employees were saying were true. He had managed to find a middle ground.

"Pasand karti hai usse? (Do you like him?)" Raj asked hitting his elbow to her shoulder.

"Pata nahi. Banda acha hai, full green flag vibes, his favourite show is Aahat. We have our differences but we are matching. Just one doubt left" She looked at Raj.

"I don't want to move away from U.S.A. I've settled my life here and am not ready to move out of it" She looked back at Aryaman who was very cleverly answering the questions.

"I wish I could say something but am not in the right position to do so. This is a decision between you two" Raj said following her gaze.

"Hmm" She nodded her head and breathed out deeply.

_____________________________