Hard Drive
Jai
The Mumbai skyline shimmered under the late afternoon sunlight. This view was one of the main reasons I bought this apartment. And yet, as I stood before it, only one image looped behind my eyes: Rekha sneaking in, rummaging through the office, stealing the file.
I’d turned it over in my mind for two days straight, until my fury settled into something colder, more exact. My thoughts had aligned, like a sniper’s aim.
All her life, she had done as she pleased without giving a second thought to who it might harm. Ananya. The Mahalas. The company. I wasn’t going to let her get away with it. Not anymore.
I knew I needed hard proof before I took any step – proof connecting Rekha to Lehenga Bazaar. In a normal scenario, there was no way I would get my hands on it. But having a morally grey best friend had its perks.
A knock, followed by the sound of the door opening.
I turned.
Arjun, dressed in his usual black suit, stepped inside my home office. An older man with a moustache wearing a plain white shirt and black pants followed. He seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him.
‘This is Raghu Singh,’ Arjun introduced. ‘Rekha’s ex-driver.’
‘Namaste.’ He nodded in respect.
Memory snapped in place. I’d seen him around the Advani house. ‘Namaste.’
‘Raghu, tell Jai about Rekha,’ Arjun said as he placed his briefcase on my desk and began opening it.
‘I’ve been Rekha ma’am’s driver for the past ten years,’ he started. ‘And a few times, she has picked people up and talked to them while I drive them around. Then she drops them off.’
‘Do you recognise the name Ananya Tripathi?’
‘Yes. I picked her up from Americano and dropped her off in front of the office. Rekha ma’am has also met her at the Peshwa House once.’
‘What did they speak about?’
‘I only know what they spoke about in the car. Ananya ma’am seemed upset because she lost a job.
Rekha ma’am told her Jai sir had already given it to a friend of his.
Then she offered her a different job – Jai sir’s assistant.
Said he was new, and she was worried about him and the company.
Wanted Ananya ma’am to keep an eye on things, report to her about what was happening at the office,’ Raghu paused.
‘She also made it clear that the job came with that condition. And that in a few months, she’d get the position she had always wanted. ’
‘Ananya’s story checks out,’ Arjun said. ‘Rekha lied to her.’
I swallowed, forcing down the bitter taste. I’d suspected it and pieced it together from Ananya’s fractured confession. But hearing it from Raghu confirmed it all – the calculated manipulation, the false concern. A chill crept through me.
Rekha had exploited Ananya’s desperation, twisted it into compliance.
And she was going to pay for it.
‘What about Keshav Seth?’ Arjun asked.
I recognised the name immediately. He was the vice president of Lehenga Bazaar.
‘We have a source at Lehenga Bazaar. Word is, they gave the Mahalas money to hand over our plans to them,’ Dad had said. It was a bald-faced lie, so I knew Rekha was behind it. It was also enough to tip me off – her connection to Lehenga Bazaar was internal, not third-party.
That was all the information I could give Arjun. And he’d managed to find the man.
Raghu nodded. ‘Picked him up near Horniman Café, dropped him off at the same place. They spoke about business the whole time. Some line Jai sir was working on. Mentioned “kauseya” a few times. Towards the end, Rekha ma’am handed him a dark blue file.
Told him to release it before Jai sir launches his collection.
He said the payment will be in her account by morning. ’
The Mahalas’ centuries of tradition. My months of hard work. Dadaji’s legacy. She’d handed it over like it was collateral damage in the game she was playing.
It made my hands itch. To act. To exact revenge.
‘Anything else?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Thank you. That will be all,’ Arjun said.
Raghu nodded gratefully and left.
I stared at the closed door. My fingers curled into fists. She hadn’t just sabotaged me. She’d sold the whole family out.
‘If you can confirm the colour of that file—’
‘It was navy,’ I said flatly.
‘Then we have our witness.’ Arjun pulled out a piece of paper from his briefcase. ‘And his sworn testimony.’
I looked at the document. Raghu’s detailed statement. His signature. The notary seal and stamp. It was airtight.
Only one question remained.
‘What did you tell him?’ I asked. ‘Why would he reveal his boss’ secrets?’
‘Offered both his children full scholarships to Singhania Academy.’ A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. ‘Loyalty towards your employer is no match for love for family.’
When Arjun wanted something, nothing and no one could stop him. It was a skill I respected him for.
I placed the paper carefully in my desk drawer. ‘Thank you.’
‘There is more.’ He pulled out a hard drive.
I connected it to my computer and opened it. Inside were two folders, one labelled J. Advani, the other named LB. I clicked on mine.
Two documents.
I opened the first document. It was an email thread between Keshav and his CEO, Manoj Savla. Plans to launch before us. Boasting about finally one-upping us. Counting profits before they even stole our work.
My jaw tightened. They weren’t just thieves; they were proud of it.
The real shocker was the last document.
Rekha told Keshav which karigars to poach from the Hyderabad workshop. How much to pay them. Attached were Meera’s sketches.
Rekha was behind it all.
My anger tightened its grip.
The karigars had been poached before Ananya even joined the company. How long had Rekha been sabotaging us? Sabotaging me?
Were any of the problems we faced even real? Or did she manufacture them all? She did not need money. It had to be out of spite. I wouldn’t put it past her.
My fury didn’t flare; it calcified. It demanded blood.
‘The other folder has enough dirt on Lehenga Bazaar to make sure it stops bothering you.’
In Arjun’s language, that meant the end of the company.
He was a real estate developer, but had his hands in lots of jars.
He also had a ‘guy’ for everything. That, and the fact that getting this proof wasn’t going to be above board, was why I sought his help.
I didn’t ask how or where he got all this information, and he didn’t say.
It was the one unsaid condition he had for all favours.
‘Thank you,’ I replied, my voice calm, almost detached.
Lehenga Bazaar’s pot of bad deeds was full. It deserved the wrecking ball coming its way. I didn’t like the idea of destroying the livelihood of its unwitting employees, but if they refused to accept my deal, I’d have no choice.
‘And I thought my family was dysfunctional,’ he said, then his granite-like expression cracked, softness peeking through. ‘If you want to talk about it …’
My eyebrows shot up. ‘Arjun Singhania offering emotional support? Let me mark my calendar.’
The scowl on his face was instant. ‘I was going to say, I don’t have the time for it. Go to Yuv,’ he said.
A smile formed on my face, and he mirrored it.
I exhaled. ‘I’m okay. Well, I will be. I just …’ Silence stretched inside me. The life I’d built had come apart in my hands.
The woman I love was gone. The people I’d considered family didn’t know the meaning of the word. The company I’d poured my heart and soul into for the last eight years had lost the values it was built upon.
And the cherry on top, I’d completely humiliated myself in front of Rhea. Going to their flat drunk, talking to her like that was unacceptable.
A firm hand clasped my shoulder. ‘The only way out of a difficult situation is through. You’re on your way out, Jai. It can only get better.’
I had said these exact words to him a few years ago. He was going through a rough patch and just needed help and some perspective.
I lowered my head in a nod.
‘I have another meeting,’ Arjun said, grabbing his briefcase.
‘Thank you for this again,’ I said, gesturing towards the hard drive. ‘Have a good day.’
‘Don’t mention it.’
Once he left, I sat behind my desk and copied the contents of the hard drive onto my computer and the cloud.
Rekha had made her move. Now, it was my turn.
I composed an email.
From: Jai Advani
To: Vikram Advani
Subject: I quit.
Please find attached.
Expect a lawsuit from the Mahalas and me on Monday.
Thank you,
Jai Advani
I attached the video from Harish uncle’s study, a scan of Raghu’s testimony and my letter of resignation. I pressed send.
The weight didn’t magically lift off my shoulders. I didn’t feel any sudden relief. Nor did I feel any happier.
I rubbed my temple. I had ruminated over my decision to quit for the past two days. It was something I’d thought hard about. It was not an impulsive decision, and I knew it was the right thing to do. But I’d expected … more. Something – anything, but this emptiness.
Ananya’s face popped into my mind. I wondered what she would think of this. Would she want me to fight for what I’d earned and deserved, or would she support me? I think she would be happy that Rekha was going to get what she deserved.
But there was no way to know for sure.
I’d debated calling her or just showing up in Banaras. But I needed to get my shit together before I spoke to her. I still hadn’t figured out what exactly I was going to say. All I knew was that we needed to talk.
Sighing, I composed another email.
Pritesh was one of the best lawyers in India, but since his firm was on House of Advani’s payroll, it would be a conflict of interest. So, I hired Dharmesh Poddar from Poddar and Dalmia – their biggest competitor – as my personal counsel. I had already met with him yesterday.
Turned out, with the video from Harish uncle’s office and Raghu’s testimony, I had a hell of a case. Sharanji was over the moon when I gave him the news.
I excluded the email threads between Keshav and Manoj, as they were likely obtained illegally, but I pointed him in the right direction. I was sure he would find a legal way to obtain that proof.
My phone flashed with a text from an unknown number.
Something in me lit up.
I instinctively knew it was Rhea talking about Ananya.
Energy zapped through my body. Fuck being in a better place. I wanted to see her now. I texted back.
Three dots danced on the screen.
She was typing, but then stopped.
My patience snapped. I called her.
‘Where is she going?’ I asked the moment she answered.
‘It’s a work meeting; it’s not a good idea for you to just show up there. And she got back an hour ago, give her some time to settle down.’
‘I need to talk to her, Rhea. Please. I’ll wait until she’s done.’
She sighed. ‘The Daily Grind.’
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘And I’m sorry for that night,’ I added softly. ‘I shouldn’t have shown up at your house at that hour or spoken to you that way.’
She paused. ‘I’m sorry too. I was upset that Ananya had left. I didn’t think she was coming back and … blamed you for it.’
‘Let’s call it even.’
‘Patch things up with her, and then we’ll talk.’
A rush of hope flooded through me. Had Ananya said something to her? They were best friends. Rhea would know what Ananya wanted, right?
I texted Dilip to meet me at the entrance, then grabbed my wallet and bolted down to the elevator. I slid into the car’s backseat and gave him the address.
The Daily Grind, in the back alleys of Bandra, was a hotspot for celebs and influencers. Anyone who wanted to see or be seen frequented it. If Ananya was there for a business meeting, it was about fashion.
I was so proud. She was finally taking a step towards doing what she loved.
The closer we got to the café, the more doubt and apprehension tempered my anticipation.
It had been twelve days since we broke up. A lot could have changed.
She could be unwilling to even talk to me, much less agree to try to resolve our issues. She could think our differences were irreconcilable.
Was I even ready to forgive her? Was she willing to forgive me?
The car rolled to a stop.
‘Thanks,’ I told Dilip as I opened the door and stepped out.
I looked at the café’s glass walls and realised something. I was wrong to think the meeting with the Mahalas would be the most important meeting of my life.
This was. The life that I wanted could be mine if this went well.
I walked inside.
Cool air blasted from the ACs. The place was nearly full. Conversations drowned out the light music playing in the background. Servers bused the tables.
I looked around.
She’s not here.
I climbed the stairs to the section on the first floor. It was a small area with four tables, and only one was occupied.
My breath hitched when my eyes landed on her.
Bright eyes. Dazzling smile. Luscious, long hair. Ananya shone so brightly that everything else paled in comparison.
I took a seat in an empty booth by the window, which gave me a perfect view of their table. She sat across from Naina Kashyap, a famous fashion influencer, and Dipti, her shark of a manager. They seemed deep in their conversation.
I waited.