The Way We Were

Chapter 26

(Yellow Tape)

"In a startling way as never before, the Central Bureau of Investigation has seized multiple estates and businesses across the nation overnight."

Payal watched the news, hand to her heart. Thankfully, Shivaay had returned overnight to take care of things in Mumbai on Shyam's quick thinking.

"In what is believed to be the first of its kind of equality 200 years ago, the Nawab of Lucknow gave half his lands to Srini Oberoi, who married his only sister. Spread across the Northern Plateau of India, twenty seven estates were given to the Oberoi bloodline, alongside an estate in the Maratha region, where Oberoi himself had but a house of three rooms, where the Malik princess wished to settle. Being an active rebel in the Mughal-Maratha rivalry, Oberoi survived with his connections and started a business on female education and empowerment.

"It was Srini Oberoi who drafted the first paper for ensuring trust funds for all his female descendants. It is this document that is in question today by our government. As per our sources, this document has caused deaths of countless innocents over the last five decades, including the current Malik descendant, Arvind Malik. His son, Arnav Malik had to permanently shift his life, and leave his family, to be alive today."

The TV blacked out. "Do we really need to watch this?" Akash groaned.

Payal snatched the remote from his hands. "Yes. Khushi is marrying Arnav. We need to know what is going on out there to be prepared." She switched the TV back on.

"-and businesses across India that have used multiple trust funds to establish themselves are in question today. Over to our anchor in Ahmedabad..."

"Hello everyone. This is Akshit reporting live from Ahmedabad. As you can-"

"Is that Maheshwari Industries?" Akash perked up.

"You see my point, Akash?"

"Mr Sameer Maheshwari, will you tell us how you feel about this? Maheshwari Industries was Jai Prakash Maheswari's blood and sweat."

"It's my husband's too." Naina Maheshwari, his wife, and Payal's acquaintance- for she was a writer of many Bollywood movies over the past few years- spoke. "It doesn't matter if we once used a loan to start our business. It matters that it stands."

Her words resonated with Akash. Raizada Industries was facing much the same. AR Designs was, thankfully, safe only for the fact that his mother had sold her wedding jewelry for it. Or maybe because it was started by Bhai, Akash thought.

"So what is your strategy? Do you think your business will survive such a fall, Mr Maheshwari?"

Sameer was tight lipped, as he always was in public. Payal sighed. "I see the point Srini Oberoi wanted to make. Men don't have all the answers."

"Be glad this house is still standing. How could Mrs Malik do this? These businesses provide livelihoods to lakhs."

"So she shouldn't have stopped this? Her son died because of this!"

"Bua and Fufaji... It was an Oberoi, didn't you hear him?"

"I heard him loud and clear, Akash. It was one fish in the ocean who ate the rest."

"Payal-"

"You'll never know. You'll never understand the dread." She shook her head.

"I was there."

"You were there at the end of the line, Akash. Tucked away safely in the helicopter."

"I would have come down if you hadn't turned up."