D’s PoV
I got up from sleep when I heard the door-bell. With the sound of it, I guess someone has been ringing the door-bell for a long time now. Because they are ringing it continuously. I looked at the time. It's 6.30 in the evening already? OMG, if mom finds out that I slept this long in the evening she would taunt me with loads of advice! She says it’s the time GODDESS LAKSHMI visits every home. If we are gloomy and sleepy she will not enter our house. But I can’t get up. My whole body aches like hell. The door-bell just won't stop ringing. I got up from the bed reluctantly and went down. There is no one downstairs. Lights are yet to turn on. The whole place looks dark and gloomy.
Hey D! You are the daughter-in-law remember. It’s your duty from now to keep this home lively. Chase your stupid sleep away. Now switch on all the lights and go attend the door D.
Where the hell is Ravi? Looks like uncle and Rishi are not home yet. Gosh! I switched on all the lights and corrected myself to open the door. There are 2 people standing on the door-step. 2 men to be exact. One should be around 50 years and the other should be like Rishi's age.
"Hello! I am Ramakrishnan. I am here to see Raja."
"Sorry sir! There is no one home right now. Please wait here. Let me call Shekar uncle."
I closed the door and ran upstairs to fetch my phone. I called my uncle and heard his phone ringing outside the door. I opened the door to see my uncle laughing with that Ramakrishnan.
"Hi uncle! He just came asking for you."
"Come in da! Kanna, call Chinna and ask him to make 3 cups of coffee."
They are still smiling at me. Like all 3 of them? But why? I got a little self-conscious. "Um.. uncle I can make coffee. Chinna Anna has caught a cold. I asked him to go to the outhouse in the afternoon."
"Ok kanna! But sit here. You can make coffee a little later. He is Ramakrishnan, our lawyer. He is our auditor too. He keeps everything under check. He is Dhiwakar. His son. He practices as a lawyer too."
"Hello sir! I'm sorry I kept you waiting outside." They all laughed. Seriously? What's so funny?
"It’s ok ma. You can call me uncle too. No one has ever made me wait outside the door. You hold the record for it."
They all started laughing again. It’s so embarrassing! This day is full of embarrassment.
"Dad, you are making her uncomfortable! Hi Danya. You can call me by my name. So,how's life?" I like this guy. He talks so easily.
"Hi Dhiwakar! I’m still getting used to this new life. Thanks for asking. And thanks for stopping them from laughing all day."
Now we are all laughing. I went to make coffee. When I came in with coffee they were all talking with serious faces and stopped abruptly seeing me. I felt uncomfortable yet again. I am not wanted here. I kept the tray on the tea table and turned to leave.
"Danya! You have to be here. We are waiting for Rishi to come. We have something to tell you guys." Dhiwakar said.
I nodded my head and sat there fumbling with my fingers. I have no idea on what they are going to talk about. Before they finished their coffee, Rishi came in.
"Hello, uncle. Hi, Dhiwakar. What's up uncle? you wanted to talk to me in person?"
He talks to them in a hurry. Looks like he has come in the middle of his work. Uncle and Lawyer uncle looked at each other.
"I have to go again uncle. What's this all about?" See I knew from his face. He came in the middle of his work. But he didn’t see me once. He behaves like I'm invisible to his eyes. He kissed me like there is no tomorrow almost choking me to death knocking all the air out of my lungs. Now he acts as if I'm no one!
D he must be embarrassed also! GIVE HIM TIME GOD DAMN IT!
"Rishi, I need you to sit and listen to me. I’m not going to tell you if you are not patient!"
Krishnan uncle said sternly. Rishi huffed and sat on the couch. He looks tired. I went into the kitchen to make him coffee. I gave him his coffee and he muttered a thanks without looking up at me. Shekar uncle took my hands and made me sit beside him.
"Rishi! Smirthi has called my office number on your reception day very late in the night. I attended your reception and went home to sleep. Dhiwa went straight to our office from your reception as he had some work to finish."
So that Smirthi is not over yet. My stomach does weird things to me. I'm getting scared of what is to come.
"I picked up the call as dad left his work cell phone on his desk. She asked for dad." Dhiwakar continued.
(The phone call between Dhiwakar and Smirthi)
"Hello, can I speak to Mr. Ramakrishnan."
"It’s his office madam. He is not here. You can tell me or call in the morning"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Mr. Ramakrishnan's son. My name is Dhiwakar. I know all of Dad's case if you need
something."
"I’m Smirthi. Rishi's bride. Rishi from FIRM FORT CONSTRUCTIONS. "
"Oh you. I just came from your reception madam. Is everything alright?"
"Um...yes! I just want some information."
"I’m glad to help madam. What can I do for you?"
"Is Firm Fort constructions facing losses? I mean, is the company in debt..?"
"Sorry madam. That’s classified information. I cannot reveal it to you without their
permission."
"Please help me! I really need that information. Never in my life I will tell anyone that
you told me this info! Please, I'm in a bad state. Tell me please!"
"huh! Please don’t cry madam! I don’t understand why you need that construction
company details. But yes, they are facing tough times now. If they can’t rebuild their
trust and get some contracts within next year, they will go bankrupt."
"Thanks."
(end of conversation)
I really don’t understand what is going on. It all doesn't add up. I don’t know but this family is into the textile business. Rishi is also into Constructions? Whoa, I literally don’t know anything about this family. I even don’t know their shop's name. Rishi had this confused look on his face first and that turned into fuming rage in no time. He is looking furious. I clutch uncle's hand tightly and he pats on my hand. Rishi didn’t say anything. He just left for his room.
"um...Uncle! I don’t understand any of this. You guys are into textiles, right?" With a small smile uncle starts speaking.
"Kanna, you don’t know anything about us! Do you?" He asked me for which I shook my head in a No.
"Yes kanna! We are into textile. We do wholesale as a major. That means we are not into advertising. That means no popularity."
"I don’t get it uncle"
"You will! We have 3 mills here in Coimbatore. That’s our major source of income. Rishi has a Designing sector where he has 300 techies work on the dress models and design. He has a Masters degree in that!"
"Oh!"
"Yes! We make our own models and weave the material and outsource them for stitching. We distribute our clothes throughout India. We get patent rights on our models and give credits to the big showrooms like Chennai silks, RMKV , Sreedevi silks and so on! So basically, they will advertise our models on their brand. We get a share of profit from every showroom."
Wow! So that is why they are filthy rich! Imagine how many showrooms across India?! How much profit!?
"So, what's with that construction company!? Rishi is into construction as well?" I asked him.
He smiles at me lovingly and pats my head.
"No! Rishi or should I say your Rishi has small boutiques in 5 cities in Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore, Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Salem. He personally designs the models that sells in those showrooms! He doesn't advertise it though! Only rich people go to that boutique. He does that for his love for designing. It doesn’t give him any profit though!"
"Thanks for the light on what you guys do for a living uncle! But I literally don’t understand the connection."
"That construction company is Your Rishi's friend Karthik's company! Rishi holds a little share in that! No other connection."
I blushed looking down when uncle said Your Rishi! I must have mentioned him by his name accidentally and uncle got it.
D stop blushing! It’s time to listen to facts and clear your doubts.
"Um...uncle this doesn’t make any sense! Why would she call up your lawyer to learn about some company where your son holds shares? That too at the late hours of her wedding day?"
"Danya, your questions are exactly what's pestering my mind too! She was talking like she had cried so much. She even cried on the phone. Only after that I gave her that info. I mean there must be some connection to her sudden disappearance and this information she needed." Dhiwakar told me.
"Rishi has all the answers. By his reaction and anger I can say he must have figured out what exactly happened." Krishnan uncle said.
"Talk to him kanna! He needs someone now and that someone is you. You are destined for him kanna." He wants me to go and talk to Rishi? Now? He looked like he would kill anyone who goes near him.
I gulped down that ball of fear in my throat and nodded my head. I took their leave and started climbing the stairs to YAMA LOGAM!