chapter 6

Chapter 6Caught in a webOne of the first tasks on hand was to get a replacement. She spread the word, and also thought advertising would be a good idea. She met the HR executive, Ajay, about this. Ajay promised to do so after checking with Arya, but nothing moved. No advertisements were released, no word was spread.“But why!” she exclaimed one evening, frustrated that the week was coming to an end and nothing had happened. She felt her resolve to leave weakening as Arya Sr. remained absent and Arya Jr. took a stronger hold on her heart and mind.“Well,” Ajay shrugged helplessly. “We are waiting for the other requirements from Mr. Arya. It may take another week,” he said.“Does Mr. Arya know I have resigned?” she asked.He looked at her surprised. “Have you?”It was her turn to be surprised. “What do you mean, have you? I told you to advertise for a person in editorial!”“I thought that was for your team!”“But Chintan must have given you my resignation letter?”The man looked at her puzzled. “Mr. Chintan said to advertise for a team member for you. He said you are short staffed.”“What!” She was upset. She got up and said, “I gave him my resignation letter a week ago! How can he do this!”She stormed into Chintan’s office. He looked at her unexpected entry in surprise, then said smoothly, “Come in, Anuradha. Just the person I wanted to meet.”“Why have you not advertised for my replacement?” she demanded.“We want to release one ad for all requirements,” he said, repeating what the HR person had said.“But you have not even passed on my resignation to HR! They can start processing the papers at least, right?”He looked sheepish. “An oversight… sorry.”“Then do it now!” she demanded.He sat back and looked at her appraisingly, making her blush. “Really, now, why are you getting so worked up?”“Look, Chintan, I want to be out by this Friday, which is tomorrow.”“Give me some more time.”“No,” she said, fearing what that would mean to her emotions. They met only on work, strictly only if necessary. And yet, the man had been growing on her steadily, and the reason was not far to seek. He was calm in the storm, coolly smoothening out problems at work – and being everything no son of Arya could be expected to be. The man she was beginning to trust, sometimes even more than Ganesh, for he was very grounded where Ganesh had been flamboyant. That scared her. His just being there made all the difference, and yet, he seemed oblivious of her or the effect he had on her. “I have to quit,” she said flatly.“To join where?”“How does it matter to you?”“Since you don’t have another job lined up, what is your hurry to leave?” he demanded angrily.“How do you know I don’t have an offer in hand?” she was shaken at his guessing the truth.He laughed. “I didn’t, but now I know.”She pulled a chair back and slumped into it. Sullenly, she said, “That doesn’t change a thing. I have resigned, and whether it is for personal reasons, or professional, what does it matter?”He leaned forward and said quietly, “I know why you want to leave. I promise, just let me find my feet, and you can be on your way out. I will make sure you never have to deal with my father again.”She got up abruptly, her hackles raised, “I am not running away from your father, Chintan. I hope I am capable enough to deal with him! But that doesn’t mean I have to tolerate his insults.”He held her angry gaze steadily and said, “No, and I know when you are facing him, there is no way you can sidestep his insults or deal with him. Anu – can I call you that? – you haven’t seen the worst yet. Believe me when I say, he likes you for whatever reason – maybe your great English, because he sets score by that. But that alone won’t save you. He likes complete obedience. And you are anything but, though you try your best to be. You will regret the day he acknowledges your independence. I will see to it that you leave before you get there. Just trust me on this.”Anu stared at him, surprised at his frankness. “And you? How do you get out?” The question tumbled out without her realising.He frowned without rancour, and watched her closely. “I will find my way out too,” he said unexpectedly. Anu looked away awkwardly, as if she had peeped into some secret grief. He cleared his throat and smiled. She noticed the melancholy and instantly was touched. She heard him say, “See you tomorrow then.”She nodded and stepped out of his room, uncertain how this was going to end.