Chapter 45
Author's Pov
The files struck the floor with a sharp crack as Zaviyar flung them aside.
"What is this?", The room fell deathly silent. The man standing before him froze, his throat bobbing as he struggled to speak.
"S-sir, I-", Zaviyar not being in the mood to hear explanations snapped at him.
"Get out.", his voice was sharp, yet calm. And that was even more scary then his usual anger. He was a ticking bomb.
The man stumbled out immediately, nearly tripping over his own feet. Then Nizam entered, bowing his head low.
"Sir... there seems to be a problem at the factory.", Zaviyar did not look up, already fed up with cleaning the message created by his men. First the issue with the farmers market, then the tax office and now this.
"What problem?", he asked looking at Nizam just slightly through the bridge of his nose.
Before his eyes went back to the papers he was reading or more like trying to read.
His mind refused to process the words on the paper as he already read the same sentence several times and then realised that his mind wasn't registering it at all.
"The dealers... they've refused our shipment.", That got his attention. His dark gaze lifted slowly, cold enough to drain the blood from the nizam's face.
"And why, exactly?", he asked closing the file and removing his glasses.
"They said another company offered them a more profitable arrangement, sir.", Zaviyar's jaw tightened.
"And who?", The servant hesitated. Zaviyar knew the name would anger him more but he needed to hear it.
"Sir... it is the Sisodia company."
For a moment, the room seemed to stop breathing. Then Zaviyar leaned back in his chair, his voice calm enough to make the servant tremble.
"What reason did they give for rejecting our material?", Zaviyar asked calmly.
"The trucks arrived late, sir. There was... contamination in the shipment.", Nizam said, sweat beads forming on his forehead as he watched Zaviyar's serene expression which was only a mask to the lava burning inside him.
"And was it true?", he asked, calmly once again. Nizam swallowed hard.
"Yes, sir."
A long pause. Then Zaviyar stopped scribbling on the file. The movement alone made the Nizam flinch.
"You stand before me," he said softly, "and admit your incompetence as though it is a weather report?"
"S-sir-"
"You were assigned that territory because I believed you were capable.", His voice lowered further.
"Was I mistaken?", Zaviyar tilted his head, his face void of any expression. The only part that seemed human about the man infront of nizam right now was the pink, glittery, hello kitty lighter than Zaviyar was flickering.
"Then fix it.", Nizam nodded. "And do not show me your face again until every dealer is back under our contract."
"Yes, sir.", Nizam nodded.
" they first started with industrial machinery supply, then approached towards technology... and now back to construction raw materials?", Zaviyar clicked his tongue. Knowing that they were trying to rival the Rathods.
"Any insider on why they are doing this?", he asked turning to nizam.
" in their recent meeting, it was concluded that there is much more profit in this business, sir...", zaviyar covked a brow, " The mole we planted told you that ?"
Nizam instantly replied, " Yes. "
"Hmm. I guess that man was only supposed to live this long.", Nizam at once understood what Zaviyar was implying at.
" But sir, he is one of the best moles we have planted in the company who is close to the board of directors. Killing him would cut all our connections... ", Nizam reasoned.
" What's the use of keeping him alive if he is of no work to us? ", a dark shadow looked over Zaviyar's face as he said, " No don't kill him yet. Keep him alive and use his disloyalty in our benefit. ", Zaviyar said.
Nizam nodded understanding Zaviyar's implications nodded.
" Are you sure he is a mole sir. "
" The Sisodias are in competition with the Rathods.
And the Rathods are in alliance with us.
The Rathods' business model was planning to include us in it as the primary suppliers for the building materials.
The Rathods would get high quality materials from us at a reasonable price.
We would be able to reach out to more number of clients.
", Zaviyar said, again flickering the lighter between his fingers.
" But the Sisodias want to cut off all business possibilities for the Rathods. Before Akshat could start joining hands with us, the Sisodias have found out about it and stepped into the market... to block our entry. Already created a bad name about our materials ", Waqas nodded.
" So now if Mr Rathod joins hands with us he won't get clients.
And if he doesn't join hands with us, he would not profit as he would have to get the materials from the market which the Sisodias are dominating because they have bribed the upper panel people.
..", Zaviyar nodded as Waqas finally joined the dots.
" But sir how did they infiltrate the village.
No one would be able to get inside the village without you knowing.
And getting exact details of our shipments and then creating problems in the road so that our shipments reach late.
They would need the entire schedule of our shipment.
.. " , Waqas added, the exact question which Zaviyar was thinking about.
"Which means we have a mole giving them insider information.", Zaviyar clicked his tongue as Waqas voiced his thoughts.
" Any suspects... ", He asked turning to Waqas. " A few sir... "
" Investigate and inform me... ", Zaviyar said.
" But are we not going to retaliate... ", Waqas questioned, because zaviyar had instructed nizam to get back the client and handle the mole they had sent. And only told him to investigate the mole within their system.
" I already have... ", he said closing the lighter, " In the same way they have done to me.", Waqas looked at Zaviyar shocked.
" You knew about their interference, Sir? ", Zaviyar simply nodded. " Then why didn't you stop them... "
" I wanted them to be over confident. To keep them oblivious that we had already infiltrated their goods and let their reputation collapse in the market.
Our name was only partially ruined but theirs, will be ruined once the work starts.
And you know how quickly that spreads. ", Waqas smirked, already saluting Zaviyar.
" but nizam doesn't know it... "
" he doesn't need to... Let him figure out how to get the client back. If he is unable then he isnt worthy of being in charge. ", Waqas nodded and just then his phone alarm went off.
"Sir, it is time for the meeting.", Zaviyar adjusted his cuffs and walked downstairs followed by Waqas who walked ahead to to get the cars ready.
Just then Riffat looked up from the dining table.
"Zaviyar, have lunch before you leave.", She called out, but he simply refused. Safiya hadn't called him since morning so he had woken up grumpy.
"I'm not hungry, Ammi.", he denied.
"At least have some kheer.", She gestured for the bowl to be served. A servant placed it before him.
Zaviyar unwillingly ate a spoonful but his expression changed instantly. His gaze sharpened.
"What is this?", The servant froze at the sudden growl.
"Kheer, sir-", her voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Are you out of your mind?", Zaviyar got up from the table, still angry. Everyone at the table stiffened stiffened.
His father frowned. "Zaviyar?", He turned toward the trembling servant.
"Why are there cashews in this?", Zaviyar asked pointing at the bowl on the table.
"S-sir... Begum Sahiba is not home, so we thought-", The servant's words died under Zaviyar's stare. Hearing the explanation, Zaviyar's voice dropped to something lethal.
"whi permitted cashews inside this house?", the servant was on the verge of crying, and was shaking hystercually.
"N-no one sir.", she muttered.
"Then why are they here?"
Zaviyar stepped closer. Even the air seemed to recoil. Riffat seeing the situation escalate walked in between.
"If by mistake this had entered her food... and she had eaten it without knowing?", The servant looked ready to collapse.
"I-I'm sorry, sir-", the servant apologized trembling.
"Sorry would not revive her.", The room fell utterly silent. Zaviyar exhaled sharply and stepped back.
"Zaviyar, it's okay. Safiya is not here so they probably added cashews. I will make sure mistakes like these are never repeated again. ", Riffat said.
"I will not take risks with her life.", Without another word, he turned and walked out.
"I'm leaving for the meeting."
One by one all the people from the table disappeared, one servant whispered shakily, " I wish bibi-ji was here... "
" Are you crazy? Thank god that bibi-ji is not here. If she even by chance would have eaten cashews, and got sick. This would probably be the last day for you on earth. ", Shabana reprimanded the servant.
" You all should take care of the ingredients. He was not wrong, Safiya is deadly allergic to cashews. ", Riffat added, " Meenu is not here for one day to handle the chores and you all are already messing up everything. "
All of them muttered apologies in chorus.
" Since Safiya bibi left, sahab's temper has reached the heavens." , Shabana added, and riffat could only nodded.
"Her presence was the only thing that softened him.", Another servant said, who was now cleaning the table. The older maid shook her head.
"we should call her back. Only she can calm him.", Shabana said.
From a distance Riffat who was listening to all this sighed. Just then one of the male staff walked to her and said, " This letter was delivered this week, bibi-jaan. "
Then her eyes flew to the letter in his hand. Her face morphing into a scared expression as she snatched the letter from his hand, " Okay. Go now."
She quickly went to her room and opened an old chest and placed the letter in that chest, along with the other like of letters stored there.