With you Forever

CHAPTER - 31

Ishita's question had changed people's perception towards her. The people who considered her to be an attention seeker were now sure that she holds proof and she was seeking justice here. They were scared to question her now, because her face clearly show how fearlessly she was here to get what she thinks should be served rightfully to one of her team members.

She was here creating an ideal image of a team leader.

Her stand in front of a senior board member, Mr. Chaurasiya, was now the matter of interest for everyone. Ignoring the buzzing conversation among other members, Mr. Chaurasiya decided to carry on his quest.

"Now that's because I was not careful enough while dealing online with a scammer." Mr. Chaurasiya replied, still playing with his words. He was actually amused with Ishita's audacity of replying back to him. One thing was clear that she was speaking truth and that's what is making her so fearless. And, he was astonished to see her level of information. He had already guessed that she was being mentored by someone influential. It was a combination of a great teacher and good learner.

Now he was actually excited to witness her proving the points right that she was arguing about. And he was going to make It hard for her.

"In the same way as you have said, I was not careful enough to keep the design safe. I was not careful enough dealing with a snake around me. For sure it has taken form of a human with an innocent face and sweet tongue." She replied. While she look straight at Mr. Chaurasiya's face, but her last few words make everyone in the room to look towards Abhay Basu's face.

Damn... Her sarcasm!

It amused him more. She was playing with words like an experienced diplomat.

"Whom are you referring as a snake here?" He again asked, trying to provoke her.

"The one who stole the design from my computer." She replied, clearing the fact that she knew his game. Her composure was making him troubled. She couldn't be a mere woman in her early twenties who was just a team leader in this company. Because her posture here screamed authority.

On the other hand, Ishita was trying hard to stand still and face the people who were obstacles in the way Aahan would be proven innocent.

"Even if every inch of your body is fighting in chaos, always maintain a composed face. Because that's what is going to deceive people." - when her father advised her this last night, she felt that it was unworthy. Why do she need to deceive people, when she was on the side of truth. But, now she knows. For sure, she was aware that it was not only truth that wins, even the truth needs to be proven. And on the process, she had to possess her wit and chose every word carefully. It shouldn't come back to her neither it should give the opposition a chance to file a defamation case against her.

"Who is the one?" Mr. Chourasia again asked. His tricky smile had started to irk Ishita now.

She clenched her fist and took a breath. Her mind need to stay relaxed and focused.

Mr. Chourasia was not just another board member but a cunning lawyer too, who was also the chief legal advisor and one among the closest friends of Rudra Verma. His favorite hobby was to teach law student in leisure. Now what would you expect from a person, who had done his graduation in integrated law from a reputed institute - NLU, Bengaluru. (PS:- NLU here stands for National Law Universities of India. There are 14 institute all over the country running by Government of India and there is one in Bengaluru too.

"Now who's the one here? How would I know this? Am I a super cop or famous detective?" Ishita asked sarcastically.

"You are fighting for a mere employee, risking your whole career. So he must be special enough for you to find the real culprit like a super cop or famous detective." Mr. Chourasia replied. He had to tighten his lips in order to suppress his smile that threatened to come out seeing the expression on Ishita's face. That girl has a bad temper, or should he say that the worst temper.

While Abhay was now a bit relaxed. Everything was going good. The questions were turning towards Ishita. As much as he knows Mr. Chourasia, he was a cunning man, who can manipulate and fabricate the truth as per his liking. Though that man was a tough nut to c***k and too much loyal to Mr. Verma, but today indirectly he was helpful. He was cornering Ishita and that's what Abhay wants. Now that the audia clip is public, the only way he had, was to divert everyone's attention to something unnecessary - like Ishita's relation with Aahan.

These days office atmosphere definitely need new gossips. He smirked. However Ishita's next sentence was enough to wipe out that smirk from his face.

"I am not me, when it comes to the matter related to company's reputation. It's us v/s the one who is trying to steal our data. And the betrayer is not harming me or Aahan but is deceiving the company. About Aahan being special for me to find the culprit, then it should be the company finding the truth - because as we promised during hiring, each and every employee is precious to us. For them we complete orders on time, for them we get new orders, new achievements and new height. Injustice to them will cause our downfall, Sir. So I request you all to look into the truth instead of accusing someone's character or dragging any personal relation. Trust me, that's the worst way."

Her voice was firm and damn that authority. Mr. Chourasia had to stop his interrogation. After all she managed to make this a matter of employees' now. And opposing her mean earning his colleagues' distrust.

"Miss Ishita!" Rudra Verma called for her and immediately the whole hall was silent. He was a man of few words. He won't speak unless its necessary to interrupt. Everyone was eager to hear him. For sure Ishita had already triggered the employees' nerve. Now everyone was excited to hear their boss' reaction to the matter.

"Employees are still precious to me, to my company. For sure they are the reason why we are leading in the competing field of business. And Aahan Choudhry is one of them. He is a young mind with a promising career. It will be our fault if we will do any injustice to his career. So I assure you that justice will be delivered." He stated looking at his daughter's eyes. "A proper investigation will be set. Till then Mr. Aahan Choudhry is suspended to do anything here."

Everyone was relaxed hearing him. Finally the matter ended here. Abhay was preparing to go outside and correct the loopholes he missed to clear. Others nodded in approval to Rudra's decision.

"But justice delayed is equal to injustice. If he is innocent then your decision won't do any better." Ishita replied in a challenging voice. She was still at the same place, standing firm to her root.

Some gasped at her audacity. Picking a fight with Abhay was different, but challenging the MD! Is she mad or what?

"That's the best I could thought of. If you have a better solution, then we are always open." Sarcasm was clearly evident in his voice. Ishita was angered.

She had made a deal with this man. But he was now playing with words. Her stand was clear - Aahan is innocent and she will prove it right here and right now. While Rudra Verma want to dismiss the meeting. He was a patient man, but not now, not when everyone is interested to define Ishita's relationship with Aahan. He wanted to stand beside her and shouted to the rest of the world that they had no right to utter a single world against his princess. However he is helpless, all thanks to his princess.

So he did what he thought was best. Let the matter end for now. But his daughter definitely was not an easy nut to c***k. But he had to challenge her.

When he asked her for better solution, he expected her to back out. She will be angry at him later. But who cares? She has always misunderstood him, his love. But he never stopped to love her, to care for her, to protect her. She was the last sign of his lovely dead wife.

But, all his assumption died the moment Ishita changed the screen and he heard a loud gasp from everyone.

It was a recording footage of that night when the fraud occured. But how did she get the video?

Rudra watched the video carefully. It was inside her cabin. But who planted a camera there?

The recording started. It was Ishita inside her cabin. Gathering her things, she switched off the computer and locked her cabin. Then she left. For a few moment, there was no movement. Everyone watching the screen were now bored. How would you feel watching a movie with no progress in plot?

However the boredom was replaced with curiosity, when the door opened few minutes after. Someone entered inside. It was not Ishita but a man, to be particular Abhay Basu.

The next few minutes was like c****x of an intriguing crime thriller. And everything was crystal clear in the footage. It was clearly visible how Abhay Basu unlocked her computer and stole the design. The question that was lingering in everyone's mind was that how did he know her password. It's not a case of hacking because Abhay unlocked the computer as if it was his own.

Their question was answered when Abhay closed the computer screen and went behind the chair. His face become closer to the camera as he untie it from the shelf.

The video ended there only.

Everyone was shocked, but one person was raging in anger. Yes, it was none other than Rudra Verma. After all the matter was related to two of his pride - his company and his daughter.

To be continued...