"First of all I'm on vacation so I am not accepting any cases or new work during this time. Secondly, I prefer working independently. As you might know, I'm quite reckless. I don't care who my client or my opponent is and neither do I care for my reputation. I take up a case if I think it needs justice and no one can force me to fight for them by threat or with money. And if I suppose Jet wants me to win a case unethically for their profits, which is not uncommon in the business world then I'll be torn between my morality and my responsibility to the company that feeds me. And I don't want that to happen." Tanmoy said.
Mr Chauhan noticed that he did not feel hesitant while saying something bad about the company in front of him, its worker.
"Are you doubting my work ethic Mr Chakraborty?" he said in a seemingly displeased tone.
"I dare not Mr Chauhan," Tanmoy said with a slight smile.
"You're a reputable person. I don't think you're stupid enough to do unethical things openly for people to tarnish the reputation that you built for so many years." He said calmly. Mr Chauhan narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean nothing, Sir. I'm just stating facts. You and I are not close enough to know each other's characters that is what we truly are. We only know what we are showing each other. Based on that it's not wrong for me to think good Or bad of you. I don't your priorities too. You have your work ethic and benefits in your mind and you decide to place what first. You may have your benefits as a priority than your morality. It need not mean you're a bad person, you're just looking out for yourself. You can be merciful to your opponents while taking them down the same way you can be ruthless to them. You have your reasons for being loyal to Jet. I'm just talking about myself here Sir. I don't want to choose between my goal and my responsibility. I want to bring a change to society and for that, I often go against influential people. This may be harmful to the company. It might also be the case that while I work for the company I won't be allowed to take any case on my own. I don't want to be controlled by anyone Sir. What if someday I see innocent people being tortured by a bigshot and I choose to file a case in the court regarding that incident? And coincidentally I'm also handling a case for the company. Now this definitely will create an inner conflict about who should be my priority, right? I cannot give my best to both sides. I have to compromise one for the other. Therefore, you see Sir, I'll be in constant mental conflict if I take this job which will disrupt my mental peace. And as lawyers, I think you know we need to keep our minds clear all the time." Tanmoy said solemnly.
Mr Chauhan stared at him in the eye for a while. Then his pursed lips slowly curled up.
He got up. "It was a pleasure to know you, Mr Chakraborty. And I am certain you'll make an excellent leader for our company's legal department. This is my suggestion, as an elder or senior, whatever you think of me as. Go there, once. I promise you won't regret it. And there's a one-month trial period. You can decide after that. I've omitted many terms and conditions, I want you to see it for yourself." He said.
Tanmoy got up too.
"Your reputation of being stubborn is true Sir. Okay. I'll go. But know that it will just be out of respect for you." Tanmoy said with a sigh.
"Didn't you just doubt my morality? How come you're going out of respect for me now?" Mr Chauhan said sarcastically.
Chuckling Tanmay said "That is why I said "suppose" at the beginning Sir. Do you think I would have listened to you at all if I didn't have any respect for you?"
He threw a question.
Mr Chauhan laughed. "Now I know why Brinda took you in as her student. Let's meet at Jet then. Goodbye." He said smiling mysteriously.
Tanmoy stared at his departing back.
After a while Tanmoy and Anulekha came outside.
"You're so brave Sir." She said. "Why?" Tanmoy asked.
"You spoke so fearlessly in front of Mr Chauhan. The Mr Chauhan." She said with her voice full of admiration.
"Why should I be afraid? Did I commit a crime? And are you forgetting that I'm also The Tanmoy Chakraborty?" he chuckled.
Anulekha looked at his face and whispered smiling "Right."
He was Tanmoy Chakraborty. The Tanmoy Chakraborty.
On the other side.
Ankita was about to get inside the house when she heard a melodious voice. She looked up surprised because the sound was very familiar. A tall and handsome boy was humming a tune while watering the flowers in the garden. The sun was glaring down so Ankita shielded her eyes with her palm and looked closely. He was wearing a sea green-shirt with brown cargo pants. His messy curly hair covered his forehead and sometimes prickled his eyes for which he shook his head to shake them away. His fair slender fingers tapped on the watering can rhythmically.
"Hi, what brought you hear?" Ankita called out.