Tu Zakhm Hai (On Paused)

Chapter - 14

Viraj's POV

Me, Jaggi and my uncle are talking about business work. I am sitting on the couch. Jaggi was standing near me but few inches away. And uncle is standing behind my couch. At that time Jahaan comes there.

"Bhai, as you told me, I have made all the arrangements for the party and both the girls are on their way and will come before the party by evening." Jahaan said.

"Good. Thank you.." I said.

"Boss, I think someone has decoded the black book. It contained information about all are routes. But, why isn't the person who got his hand on the black book coming out in open? He could blackmail us and make money." Jaggi said.

"I don't know about decoding but we're incurring huge losses with black book gone." Uncle said and continue--
"We received information that two of our clients had a meeting with Rana in Canada."

"We know that the black book is lost. We know that the business is incurring losses. No one on the outside must know of it, Jaggi. Finish off anybody who is suspicious." I said getting up from the couch and walking towards him.

"The entire family must attend 'Ghazal Night' in celebration of dad's birthday tonight. And everyone should be wearing a smile on face." I said.
"The smile on one's face doesn't let others know of the chaos within." I said.

"And Rana? What do we do about Rana?" Uncle asked.
"He has become active after a long time." Uncle said.

"Snakes like Rana keep hiding in their holes. They wait for the right weather to come out. He can't do anything on his own. Surely an insider is giving him information." I said playing with my fingers.

"If that's what you think, bhai then we should track Rana and his communication network. If we backtrack, we will know if someone is giving him information or not and if he has the black book or not." Jahaan said interrupting.

"Did your University have a chapter on money laundering dealings?" I said walking towards him.
"The London School of Economies doesn't offer the training needed to run the black money economy.
You don't earn a degree in it by studying books, but by getting your hands dirty." I said with a rough tone.

"Bhai, if l start working--" Jahaan tried to speak but I interrupted him.

"Ideally, The king should run his kingdom. And a Prince should enjoy parties. Go on. Go and get ready." I said patting his shoulder.

"Let me at least--" Jahaan again tried to speak but I ingored him.

"Show him out, Jaggi." I said and walking towards couch.

Jaggi takes Jahaan with him and both left. I sat on the couch rubbing my palms together. And uncle walks there and sat near me on the other couch.

"Jahaan's idea wasn't so bad." Uncle said.

"Of course. He's a Trehan. How could his idea be bad?" I said looking at him.

"Then why did you have to outright discourage him, Viraj?"
"He's your younger brother, Viraj."

"If children head on the wrong path, they ought to be discouraged. You don't encourage them." I said and continue.
"I agree this is what we do, but it is disgraceful. And I don't want..."
"I don't want my younger brother to dirty his hands."
"Do you really want Jahaan to join our business? Raids, murder... Enemies like Rana? Do you want that life for him?" I asked.

"NO.." Uncle said simply without speaking anything further.

"Sometimes, I wish I was thrown out of the room or discouraged during childhood. But I guess no one loved me that much." I said.
"By the time I understood what are business entailed, I had already gotten in my hands dirty." I said looking at my palms.
"But Jahaan can still have a clean life, a good life. My wish has remained unfulfilled. But I don't want my brother's wishes to remain unfulfilled too. That's it." I said getting up from the couch and left from there getting a nod from uncle.