Ryan walked out of the real estate office and felt confident about the meeting that had just taken place for almost an hour. He was to live in Bangalore as the company he worked in, Pharmact, decided to expand its business in various parts of the country. He had graduated college four years ago and he never anticipated that he would be the Sales manager of such a prestigious multinational corporation. He was twenty six years old and had the body of an athlete. His eyes were dark brown and some people would take a second look at him in any public place.
Two weeks later, he signed the necessary documents for the new bungalow he had rented till the time he was in Bangalore. He looked at his fiancé who was unpacking the boxes as they couldn't wait to start a new chapter in their lives. His mind drifted off to years ago when he had first met his fiancé, Nandini.
"May I sit here?" she had asked.
"Yes, sure, suit yourself," Ryan was in awe and he didn't realise he was staring at the girl sitting beside him for a little too long. They were at Pharmact's waiting room as everyone around the room waited patiently for their names to be called out. The silver lining for Nandini that day was that she met the love of her life on the day she didn't get the job at Pharmact.
They had been together ever since and Ryan was grateful for how things had worked out and he looked admiringly again at his fiancé who struggled with one of the boxes. "Here, let me help you with that," Ryan knelt down to help. Nandini got up to make coffee for herself. "Thank you love," she smiled lovingly at her fiancé who didn't know she had just pawned off all the work on him.
Ten minutes later, Ryan's phone beeped. It was a text message from an anonymous number. 'You are a fraud.' Ryan read the text again and cursed himself for giving out his contact information for the company's website. He pretended to be oblivious when it came to the rumours regarding one of the drugs that his company sold. It didn't help that he was the head of the Sales team. Fidgeting with his phone, he got up and joined Nandini in the kitchen.
"What happened?" she asked just when Ryan took a seat.
"Nothing, just one of those random text messages again." Ryan looked crestfallen.
Nandini offered her own cup of coffee and hugged him from the back. "Don't be dejected, they don't know the whole story."
"We both know they are right, Nandini."
"Yes but they don't have any proof of that. Everything they are saying is just speculation."
"That might be true but I feel so guilty. I signed up for it because I thought the drug's side effects weren't that severe. Now years later everyone is falling sick but our company doesn't give a damn because that drug sells itself and it is too late for me back off now because of the by-laws." Ryan started to feel frustrated.
"Rivazir might be harmful but it treats diabetes too. There is a reason they are still in the market Ryan you are just overthinking."
"Yes, treats diabetes but harms the liver. Might as well start selling alcohol too," Ryan shot back.
Nandini looked into her fiancé's eyes and hugged him tightly. "We are in this together, nothing happened yet. We should be grateful, okay?" Ryan hugged her back and sighed. At that moment nothing mattered except for the fact Nandini was there for him no matter what.
The next day when he reached his office, he was filled with trepidation and he started sweating profusely when he saw his boss being dragged out and getting arrested. A moment later, he was asked to surrender too and a few minutes later he was in the police vehicle. What had started as a promising day for Ryan just went downhill.
"You get one phone call," one of the police officers offered the telephone to Ryan.
Ryan immediately dialled the one number he knew by heart. Pick up Nandini. After what felt like eternity, he heard a click. "Hello?" a familiar voice answered.
"They have arrested me. I don't know who tipped them off but I am sure it was the one who had sent me a text message. Please come and help me. I am scared," Ryan was trembling.
"I am sorry, but why should I help you?" Nandini replied coolly as if she wasn't talking to her fiancé who was in trouble. Ryan couldn't believe his ears when Nandini continued, "you remember when we first met? I didn't get the job. You know why I applied in the first place?"
Ryan was too stunned to say anything while Nandini went on, "I applied because the drug your company was selling killed my father and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. I have all the proof I need because of how hard you had fallen for me. Goodbye and see you and your filthy company in court." Nandini hung up. She hated to admit that she did love Ryan despite all that but she remembered what her father used to say, "Family comes first, always."
