Chapter : 45; Rajni Calculations
Time went back to 8:00 AM , 26/01/1997
The morning sun was laid-back, slowly rising over Delhi, tucking the city with an aura of warmth in a golden hue. Vanshika opened her eyes and found herself sleeping alone in Animesh's room; his fragrance was still engraved on the sheet. Her mind was foggy from last night's happenings. She felt a sense of embarrassment and warmth by how Animesh had been teasingly after her and respecting her bounds.
She looked at the alarm on the side of her bed it was already 8:30 a.m. She had overslept. Groaning, she sat up, pushing the blanket aside, and then found a neatly folded note on the bedside table. It was from Animesh.
"Vanshika, I have gone for an urgent meeting. You overexert yourself. Stay here and rest. In case you need anything, the guards will help. The keys are kept on the dresser. – Animesh"
A small smile tugged at her lips. Touched she was by his consideration, yet a wee bit guilty that she had overslept and not woken up in time to bid goodbye. Freshened up quickly, she picked up the key and decided to leave discreetly from the residence. She did not want to draw unnecessary attention to herself, knowing how much scrutiny Animesh faced being the Prime Minister.
Vanshika came out of the modest quarters that Animesh used in the Parliament premises. The guards at the entrance looked curious but did not hinder her as she moved towards the gate that led her out of the high-security area.
As she approached the exit, two guards stopped her.
"Ma'am, may we see your identification?" one of them said, his voice was polite.
Vanshika froze; this was not what she had expected. "I… I have my ID on me right now, after that's he showed her the voter ID card she had." she fumbled, clutching the key in her hand.
The second guard took the voter ID card and frowned. "Ma'am, you are leaving the Prime Minister's personal residence. Without identification, we cannot let you leave. Please prove your relation to Mr. Animesh.
"I… I'm his…., "Vanshika stammered. How was she going to explain this without creating a storm? She was neither married to him nor did she come in his family category.
"Ma'am, this is a high-security zone. We need to identify you, " insisted the first guard as he eyed her suspiciously once more.
The hysteria reached Vanshika's chest as the man spoke again, "Listen, I mean no trouble. Animesh knows me. He...!"
"Please step aside, ma'am," the second guard interrupted, one hand already on his radio. "We need to verify your identity with higher authorities."
Given no further chance to protest, Vanshika saw the arrival of two senior security officers, summoned by the alert the guards had issued. They were accompanied by a woman she did not know- Rajni.
Rajni, in her mind 40's, tall and immaculately attired with the sharp look of a senior administrator, eyed Vanshika from top to toe before whirling toward the guards. "What's all this?"
"She says she knows the Prime Minister but won't show her card," one replied.
Rajni's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. "Miss, if you really have a relationship with the Prime Minister, then you should have some sort of identification or at least a way of contacting him. And without that, we shall have to consider you trespassing."
"I am not trespassing!" Vanshika screamed, shaking. "Animesh gave me the key to the house. Ask him."
Rajni raised an eyebrow. "The Prime Minister is in the middle of a high-level conference. We can't disturb him for a personal matter." Rajni motioned to the guards. "Take her into custody until we verify her story."
It was not an accident; all this had been brewing for months as Rajni and Manohar plotted against Animesh to see him weakened at the leadership level and public mistrust created in his judgments. Vanshika was soft prey - an outsider who had not been given any official status in the life of Animesh.
As the guards escorted her to a holding area within the complex, Rajni whipped out her landline and dialed Monah.
"Donе," she replied briefly. "She's been detained. Now we just have to make sure Animesh can't intervene before the media gets wind of this."
Manohar's baritone voice crackled over the line. "Good. Make sure the story leaks strategically. A scandal involving an unidentified woman leaving the Prime Minister's residence will be enough to raise an uproar. The opposition will have a field day.
Rajni smiled wryly. "Don't worry. By the time Animesh gets out of his meeting, the damage will be done."
.
The wheels in Vanshika's head ran as she sat in the holding area. She felt so humiliated, dejected, and powerless. The guards had confiscated her even identity card. She had no way of informing Animesh or any other person who could vouch for her.
"Please, you have to believe me," she pleaded with one of them. "I'm not lying. Animesh himself gave me the key. I'm not some intruder."
The guard yielded; his face relaxed a bit. "Ma'am, I do understand your frustration, but we're following the rules. Without proper identification, we can't take that risk."
"I'll prove it!" exclaimed Vanshika. "Just let me talk with him, and he will confirm all that I say.".
The guard now turned to Rajni, who was standing close by, observing the whole drama with an evaluating glint in her eyes. Rajni came forward, oozing sham sympathy with every word.
"Miss, I understand your predicament, but the Prime Minister is a busy man. We can't disturb him for every claim someone makes. If your story checks out, you'll be free to go. Until then, please cooperate."
Vanshika clenched her fists, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. "This is a mistake. You're making a mistake."
Rajni's smile widened. "We'll see."
.
.
Meanwhile, Animesh was in the middle of a meeting with key members of his cabinet after the talking with french and japnese minster, when Mahesh leaned over and whispered in his ear.
Sir, there's a problem," Mahesh whispered. "A lady coming out of your house has been arrested by the security team. She claims to know you but couldn't provide any identification."
In less than one second, the color of Animesh's face had darkened. "What woman?" he asked in a low tone, laced with anger.
Mahesh stammered, "It's Miss Vanshika."
Animesh suddenly stood up, and this was like a bombshell to the rest present in the room. "This meeting is adjourned. Mahesh, come with me.
After that both Mahesh and Animesh left from there.
.
.
.
As Animesh entered the holding area, he saw Vanshika haggard and disheartened, sitting on a chair. The moment their eyes met, however, relief cascaded across her face.
"Animesh!" she yelled, getting up.
"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Animesh cut through the cold tension in the room with sharp words.
Rajni stepped forward, her voice and expression measured. "Sir, this woman was found leaving your residence without any identification. As per procedure—
"She's with me," Animesh cut in, his voice cold. "I don't care about your protocol. You detained her without consulting me?"
"Sir, we were only-"
"Enough!" Animesh snapped. "Release her at once. And I want a full report on who gave the order for this."
For one moment Rajni's poise broke, before she nodded. "Of course, sir."
With one quick move, the guards moved aside, and Vanshika flung herself at Animesh, wetting his shirt with her tears. He laid an assuring hand on her shoulder; his eyes had softened.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you," he said in hushed tones. "You are safe now."
-
As Animesh escorted Vanshika out of the holding area, he turned to Mahesh. "Investigate this. I want to know who was behind it."
Mahesh nodded, his face grim. "Yes, sir."
He knew very well that there wasn't any small misunderstanding. Somebody was trying to bring him down and had used Vanshika to do so. But he just would not let that happen. Whoever was behind this would sooner or later understand that Animesh was no piece of cake to play games with.
A/N
[Do you guys, want single heroine or double or triple?]