CHAPTER 5 #2
Saxena’s nostrils flared. “How dare you speak to me like this? What did I say wrong? I merely advised you—”
“Advised me?” Karan cut him off sharply. “Nobody gets to advise me on my marriage. Or my wife. You get that?”
He released Saxena with a sharp shove. The older man staggered backwards, his pride wounded more than his balance.
“You’ll regret this, Karan,” Saxena hissed, adjusting his tie. “I won’t stay quiet after this humiliation.”
Karan’s gaze hardened. “Get out of my company.”
Saxena froze for a second, saw that unmistakable rage in Karan’s eyes, and turned on his heel. Rajat, who was also part of this meeting, immediately spoke up.
“Karan, calm down. I know Saxena shouldn’t have talked about your personal life. But removing him from the company? What the hell was that about?”
Karan sank into his chair, running a hand through his hair.
“Terminate all deals with Saxena Holdings. Effective immediately. Freeze every ongoing transaction until the audit team gives me a clean report.”
Rajat blinked. “Karan, Saxena’s been with us since the beginning. He’s on the board. He brought in the SRT Infra project just last quarter!”
“And siphoned fifteen percent of that investment into a shell company under his cousin’s name,” Karan revealed. “The internal audit caught it last night. He’s been bleeding this company for months.”
Rajat was shocked.
“You’re sure?” he finally asked.
Karan’s eyes lifted to meet his. “I don’t accuse without proof. Every document is right here. He thought I wouldn’t find out.” He leaned back in his chair again. “But I don’t tolerate betrayal…not in business, not in my personal life.”
He pressed the intercom button. “Call our legal team,” he ordered the secretary.
“Prepare the notice for the immediate suspension of Mr Saxena from the board. Schedule an emergency board meeting in two days. I want a resolution passed to remove him from the directors’ registry and an official notice sent to the Registrar of Companies. Understood?”
A quiet “Yes, sir” came through the speaker.
Rajat watched him with admiration. “You are moving too fast. At least let the dust settle.”
Karan didn’t look up. “Loyalty isn’t a negotiation,” he said. “It’s a line. Once crossed, there’s no coming back.”
Rajat exhaled, sinking into the chair opposite him. “I still think we could have given a notice to Saxena instead of terminating him from the board. Have you ever thought who will fill his place? You’re burning bridges one by one, Karan. You’ll be standing alone at this rate.”
Karan’s gaze drifted to the massive window overlooking Mumbai’s skyline.
“Only those who can survive the fire can stay,” he murmured. “I don’t care about the rest.”
Rajat knew that tone…the one that meant Karan’s decision was final. “We’ll need someone we can trust to fill it.”
Karan nodded, staring back at his own reflection in the glass. Trust was the one thing he was done giving.
*****************
Later that Afternoon
Rajat strolled into Karan’s office, humming like he had no care in the world, with a bowl in his hand.
Karan was on a call, barking instructions to legal about drafting Saxena’s removal notice. When he hung up, Rajat was already making himself comfortable on the visitor’s couch.
“What’s that?” Karan asked, eyeing the bowl suspiciously.
“Celebration.” Rajat grinned and pushed the bowl to Karan. The rich, warm aroma of gajar halwa filled the room. “Saxena is officially out. His reputation just took the elevator down fifteen floors. I say this calls for dessert.”
Karan frowned, glancing between Rajat and the halwa. “Where did this come from? Looks homemade.”
“Of course not,” Rajat said too quickly. “I ordered it from one of the best chefs in town. Cost me more than my gym membership.”
Karan narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. “You’re lying.”
Rajat put a hand on his chest, mock-offended. “I would never lie to you, buddy. Just eat. You’ll thank me later.”
Karan hesitated but finally took a spoonful. The taste was unexpectedly perfect. It was sweet, warm and nostalgic. He didn’t even realise he’d gone in for another bite until Rajat’s grin widened.
“Good, isn’t it?” Rajat leaned back in his chair, enjoying himself. “That powdered sugar fiasco this morning at your home, remember that? All that chaos in your kitchen was apparently worth it. Mishti made this. I’d asked her to send some to the office.”
Karan froze mid-bite. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rajat laughed. “Oh, come on. It’s just halwa.”
Karan set the bowl down with a thud. “Don’t do this again, Rajat. I don’t want anything from the Goels.”
Rajat raised an eyebrow. “You can marry a Goel, but can’t eat her halwa? Not fair.”
Karan shot him a warning look.
“Fine,” Rajat said, sighing dramatically. “Then I’ll have the rest. It’s from Mishti after all. How can I possibly ignore it?”
Before he could reach for the bowl, Karan snatched it back. “I told you I don’t like this friendship of yours with her. Either she’s your friend or I am. Decide.”
Rajat’s mouth curved into a mischievous smile. “Decision made. Mishti, it is.”
Karan glared at him, stood up, and started walking toward the door.
“Okay, okay—sorry!” Rajat jumped up, following him out. “Don’t ever give me such an option again. You know it’ll always be you.”
Karan didn’t respond, but Rajat caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his friend’s mouth before the office door swung shut behind them.