Chereads / Reliving Connected Hearts / Chapter 6 - Chapter 4

Chapter 6 - Chapter 4

⚠Warning:- This part may contain mentioning of sexual violence and use of strong language. Readers are advised to read the chapter mentally prepared or they can avoid reading those portions.

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"E-A-S-Y, E-A-S-Y... A-A-A... H-M-M... yeah, take it easy. Nuska? You okay no? Good, yeah... Come on have it slowly okay.", said Zaid while trying to make Nuska eat a grilled cheese sandwich with his hands. It was obviously not his job but it was most probably due to the compulsiveness imposed by his heart over his conscience that he found himself responsible for her discomfort.

Hearts in fascination, no matter how unfamiliar they are, disable the reasoning acumen. That scene was a perfect example of this.

Her parted juicy lips that were trembling a little while opening the mouth appeared pale to Zaid. He was as if feeling guilty to see her in a vulnerable condition.

"No sir, I can't have it more. I pray you don't bother yourself.", she said making a pity face.

"Why so? You had so less of it. And by the way girl, you're at KSE. We're not the ones who let our visitors suffer alone. Your problem is our problem. Trust me, you need to have more of it.", said Zaid while trying to insert a big chunk of bread into her mouth that her eyes popped out while chewing it.

"Brave girl.", Zaid smiled at her and was feeling satisfaction in his heart.

The time when Nuska opened her eyes and found Zaid, Zaid Khan, the CFO of the company she wanted to work in she was literally awestruck and could not comprehend how to behave in front of him while undergoing through weakness and nausea. But Zaid was so hospitable towards her that she too found denying his request bad.

"Enough sir, please", she requested and tried to stop him but he didn't pay heed to whatever she appealed.

"Enough? You still seem weak. You need to eat more" Zaid insisted her to eat.

He again cut out a bigger portion from the cupcake and tried to insert it into her mouth but Nuska didn't open her mouth that made the scene ridiculous and they both pressed their laughter.

It appeared to nothingness that they both knew each since long but ironically it was their first meeting. Isn't it what that's called connection of hearts?

While rubbing her tongue horizontally over her teeth something very important struck her mind and she turned to Zaid only to speak, "Sir, what about my interview?"

"Don't worry about it at least for now", he smiled while picking a glass of water to make her drink it.

"Sir it is so important business that brought me here, can you please tell me what is going to happen next?" She asked, her lips parted lightly with worry.

"Don't worry Nuska. You will be given an optimum opportunity that you lost because of inconvenience from our side.", he assured her but not revealing about her selection without the interview decision.

"Thank you so much, Sir, I'm so happy that the company I've applied for is this much obliged inspite of being superior."

Zaid only smiled at the compliment he received by her. And his eyes were enough to command the attendant what to do next - Making Nuska reach her place where she was staying in Goa.

That night. 10 pm.

"Yes sir what was that you called me here for?", said Varun as he had no idea of why Zaid asked him in the interview room for a private conversation.

"Hahn, oh, yeah. Varun...", said Zaid bothering his glance to shift to Varun's face from the laptop screen.

There was a complete silence in Zaid's cabin except for the sound of clicking on the laptop's keypad. There was a nonchalant expression on Zaid's face and with every passing second Varun's thought was anticipating Zaid as a probable menace for it was for the very first time he was feeling uncomfortable before his boss.

"Sir, if you don't mind can we talk about the matter of this concern tomorrow if it takes more time for you to initiate it..."

Zaid raised one of his eyebrows while typing which made Varun hesitant,"Okay sir, we may talk at this moment. No problem."

"Are you sure you're okay with the waiting?"

"Yes sir I'm completely fine.", said Varun. "By the way what's the subject of our conversation, sir?", he added.

"Your dismissal from this job.", said Zaid calmly and turned the screen of the laptop towards the employee that contained his firing epistle.

"Sir? What is this for sir?",Varun was indefensibly shocked and he dropped his jaw.

"You're terminated from this position is all I can tell you firstly. Secondly, the reason is very simple."

"Sir please, don't fire me sir. Please sir. I'm newly married and I've bought a new house and a car, loans of which are yet to be paid.", said Varun sobbing even though Zaid didn't mention the reason Varun found begging for his livelihood more important than knowing the reason behind his termination.

"This letter has already decided your fate, what I wanna ask you is don't you want to know the reason behind such a harsh step?", asked Zaid shrugging and furrowing his forehead.

"What is the reason sir?"

"You may have done your duty perfectly as a manager that also in our eyes but you've failed in that, as a human and as a man too.", said Zaid with last part of the sentence in a bitter tone.

"I don't get you sir. I pray be comprehensible.", said Varun calming himself.

"You have failed to provide care, comfort, security, assurance, moreover you've been negligent to a respectful lady in the premises of Khan's & Sarkar's Estate.", roared Zaid.

"Sir, sir. It was something unpredictable sir. Please sir don't be so cruel on me. Where will I go if you fire me?", he couldn't stop reiterating.

Zaid gave him a ghastly glare, "Unpredictable no? Okay. What about the deliberate one?"

"Deliberate one? I don't get you sir.", he purred wiping sweat from his forehead.

Zaid immediately got up from his chair only to hold Varun by his neck, "Do not act innocent in front of me when I know your deeds and I've even caught you this time!"

Varun was horrified to witness the anger of Zaid on him and couldn't speak anything now, even he couldn't request to cancel his termination. Both of his legs were trembling with fear and his eyes were widened in astonishment. Only after he was left to breath freely, he somehow managed to open his mouth, "Why have you called me sir, could you tell me directly?"

"Yes Varun, why not? I'd not let you go until I expose you this time."

Varun then became silent and tear occupied his fearful eyes. His head bent down in humility and he was sobbing inside.

"Will you now come out and get this matter cleared?", asked Zaid turning towards the huge window curtain.

There came Sarkar duo from behind of the curtain. Varun's expression went worse and he was pleading from Zaid with his eyes as he as an employee was assigned to Bhushan for supervision and it was Bhushan only who was his incharge.

Came out Bhushan and with his hands crossed he stood in front of Varun who was intimidated to the extent he was unable to meet his glance with his boss.

"Tell me Varun, whatever Zaid has informed me about you is correct or not. I don't want to hear any explanation from you, but only truth. Tell me the truth for this way we'll not hand you over to the police. If you want your penalty to be reduced then you've to cooperate with us."

"Sss...sir, ww...what's mm...my fff..fault?", asked Varun stammering and rubbing his palms in nervousness.

"Fault? Fault, huh? You are a bloody informer of Oberois! Aren't you? Huh.", barked Zaid in a loud voice that both Varishth and Bhushan were set aback.

Varun couldn't resist this time and he broke out to everyone prepared themselves to hear the truth from his mouth. Although he worked under the guardianship of Bhushan and was mostly responsible to him but Zaid's intrepidity had its own way to paramount over everyone in the company.

"So, are you telling us everything Varun or we should call the cops?", asked Varishth patiently.

"Sir, sir please don't call the police. I'm surrendering.", said Varun hesitatingly to which Bhushan's eyes widened and he looked at Zaid to confirm the aforesaid statement of Varun.

"Go ahead.", said Bhushan with a disdainful expression on his face.

•Since Bhushan seems to have become a topic among readers, so here we introduce Arunoday Singh as Bhushan Sarkar.

How many of you have thought of Bhushan to be like him?

Varun's narration

"It was almost six months ago when we were approached by Randheer Oberoi, his wife- Sunaina Oberoi and their agents who offered us a good rental contract for a week in which they were supposed to entertain their guests from UK.

Sir, I was really sorry about that incident when some of his guests molested one of our lady staff. But somehow they manipulated me to hide their crime. I'm really ashamed to have hidden that CCTV footage that recorded the video of three blond men trying to make our staff, Sanaya, drink drugged beverage after which they stripped her."

Zaid started breathing fire hearing this from Varun's mouth.

"Sir, they firstly tried to bribe me but when I denied then they warned me of maligning my status and getting me fired from this job."

"Tell us next.", said Bhushan gulping.

"Then I anyhow removed that CCTV footage from the scrutiny department without anyone's help and they bought it for a handsome sum. I thought the issue was over and it wouldn't disturb us again but I was wrong. When Sanaya complained against them to Bhushan sir and he said to investigate into her matter, I informed about this to Oberoi and he asked me to manipulate Bhushan sir for which I was forced to add a certain hallucinogen into his drink and made him understand the matter was too insensitive to be examined and Sanaya should be fired for blaming their guests."

Hearing this Bhushan was fumed and he held Varun by his neck,"Mother*ucker! You swine mother*ucker! How dare you being a cheater to me, you snake!"

Varun's breath started ceasing when Zaid and Varishth intervened to save him from Bhushan's wrath.

After much toil Zaid caught Bhushan by twisting both of his hands backwards and Varishth gave him a slap to break his emotional escalation.

"Stop it! Let him speak. We want to know everything from him. Ravi has fixed an ongoing voice recorder in this room to record his statement from the monitoring room that you're spoiling with your insanity."

"Keep quiet and let him complete his statement.", said Zaid leaving his hands pushing him back.

"Yeah you go ahead.", ordered Varishth.

"Sir then I manipulated Bhushan sir until he fired Sanaya from the job on pretence of poor performance and slandering nature. After that I didn't know Oberois would do this. They filed a complaint in trade union of Goa that you all directors of KSE were rude and partial to their staff and your personal guests only harass and molest women and accuse your visitors."

Zaid clenched his jaw hearing this statement. And Bhushan again went to strangulate him.

"Stop it!", shouted Zaid at Bhushan. "Let him complete speaking then do whatever you want to do to him."

Varun was trembling in fear when Varishth came forward and said,"If you want to avoid the severity of the punishment then you've to tell us everything. Otherwise police know very well how to extract truth from their captives. If you tell us then we can say at least you surrendered and cooperated with us. So, without wasting a single second you continue."

Varun gulped in terror and with his fearful voice he began,"Then after that by force of Trade Union and print and social media we were slammed for our irresponsibility, impartiality and disrespect towards staff and women. And this way they managed to get their due of 35 Lacs to KSE for rental service forgiven and we had to give a compensation of 50 Lacs distributively to Sanaya and some other staff who resigned from their jobs following her citing your impartiality and injustice done to Sanaya. Actually sir, they also forced me to manipulate Sanaya against Bhushan sir's principles and actions. I'm very guilty sir! Please save me from all these."

Varun again broke down to which Zaid came forward and said to him," So we've confirmed it from you how Oberois were unfair to us till now. But I want to confirm one more thing."

"What is that sir?"

"What was wrong with the food offered to the candidates of second panel.", said Zaid dropping his eyebrows.

"Ssir that I don't... I can't say... I don't get you..."

"Don't circumvent around my head! Be clear and specific!", roared Zaid.

"I'm telling you sir. I'm telling you everything.", Varun begged which Varishth and Bhushan were astonished thinking was there anything worse left to hear.

"What's wrong about today Zaid?", asked Varishth totally perplexed.

"Ah okay uncle let me tell you everything and this culprit will just have to admit whatever I say.", Zaid hinting towards Varun.

"Varun was the one who arranged and allotted interview slots to the candidates that was supposed to take place at Grand Hyatt. Those swine, Oberois, had set 32 out of 40 Goa's local candidates to apply for KSE in order to intrude into our business and take out necessary information to gain advantage to their favour. I had that anticipation that's why I didn't do anything other than shifting the venue to our premises in the very end of the hour. That was because I didn't want to give them any chance to harm our private functions and conducts. Those people were actually agents of Oberois that I came to know later here after all the interviews were over.

It was I who interviewed the candidates of other states in the second panel. I had a doubt on why even the most qualified and advanced people performed very bad in the interview. And why on Earth they seemed lethargic. I learned about the last candidate who refused to eat anything and fainted but it was due to weakness. And those except for her almost all the Non residents of Goa performed very poor. Do you want to know why?"

Everyone nodded at Zaid to continue so he did.

"That's because Oberoi had set Varun in Grand Hyatt according to his knowledge of the venue. His plan was to manipulate Bhushan by adding those addictive into his drink and letting Varun brainwash him to reject all candidates from outside of Goa. But since the venue changed and this Varun informed Oberois about it, he then out his wickedness decided to spoil the performance of outsiders by wronging their attitude through drugged refreshments that was done under the supervision of this snake.", said Zaid and each and everyone in the room were awestruck of Zaid's perspicacity and perspicuity during the whole scenario.

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