Forsaken Melody

Part 1

"The company called back," said Abhay. He did not have to verbalize the verdict for his father to understand what was evident from his slouched shoulders and weary eyes. Yet another door had closed itself, leaving them out in the cold, free for the ravenous loansharks to prey on and harrowing darkness to haunt.

The furrows on Rishi's forehead deepened. "B-but, I thought you said the interview went well, beta. Then..."

Abhay let out a heavy sigh, the weight of disappointment pressing down on him like a mountain. "They liked my qualifications and vision," he began slowly, choosing his words with care. "But when they didn't... they said they couldn't trust me to not embezzle funds given... given the history."

Rishi's heart sank at the words, his mind flashing back to the day their world had crumbled under the weight of his own arrogance and the resulting fraud. His addiction to gambling after the death of his wife and Abhay's mother had left him in perpetual want of additional funds and he had taken to embezzlement of funds from the company he had given his everything over the years.

Abhay clenched his fists, frustration and indignation warring within him. "It's unfair," he lamented, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I've worked so hard to prove myself, to build trust. But they refuse to see beyond the past. A past that is not even mine."

Rishi's chest tightened with shame and regret as he watched the turmoil consuming his son. The pain reflected in Abhay's eyes mirrored the anguish that gnawed at his own soul, a constant reminder of the irreversible damage his actions had wrought upon their lives. The shadows of the past loomed large, threatening to eclipse any glimmer of hope for a better future.

But as Rishi looked at Abhay, he saw not just the disappointment and bitterness, but also a flicker of determination that refused to be extinguished. A spark of resilience that mirrored the strength his son had always possessed, even in the face of adversity. With a sudden clarity, Rishi knew what needed to be done.

"Abhay," Rishi began, his voice firm with resolve. "I may not be able to change the past, but I can certainly shape the future. It's time for me to make amends for my mistakes and help you build a new path forward."

Abhay looked up, surprise and uncertainty mingling in his eyes. "What do you mean, Dad?" he asked, searching his father's gaze for answers.

"I mean that I will do whatever it takes to support you, Abhay," Rishi declared, his words infused with a newfound sense of purpose. "I will reach out to our contacts, leverage our network, and beg for them to vouch for your integrity and dedication. "

Abhay's eyes widened in disbelief, a glimmer of hope kindling within their depths. "But Papa..."

Rishi placed a reassuring hand on Abhay's shoulder, his gaze unwavering. "There is nothing more important to me than your happiness and success, Abhay. I may have faltered in the past, but this is my chance to make things right, to support you in realizing your dreams."

****

The dim light of the conference room cast a warm glow on Avantika's face as she stood in front of the panel of investors, her heart pounding with hope and anticipation. Her dark, wavy hair framed her piercing brown eyes that darted from one investor to another, scanning their faces for any sign of approval or interest.

The air was thick with tension, each passing moment both an eternity and an instant as she awaited their decision. She could feel the weight of her dreams hanging in the balance, her ambition and resilience driving her forward despite the uncertainty that loomed ahead.

"Miss Sharma," one of the investors began, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation as he interrupted her moment of anticipation. "We admire your passion and determination, but we have some concerns about InnoVault's financial expertise since Rahul Parmar's exit. He has joined a rival startup, and we want to ensure that your company can handle the situation."

Avantika's breath hitched, her mind racing to process the condition that had been placed upon her. She clenched her fists tightly, the nails digging into her palms as she struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. The investors' words hung in the air like a heavy cloud of uncertainty, casting a shadow over her excitement and forcing her to confront the difficult choice that lay ahead.

"I understand your concerns," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "But I assure you, InnoVault is more than capable of tackling this challenge. Our team is strong, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed."

"Miss Sharma," the investor persisted, "we believe that bringing someone with financial expertise aboard would be beneficial for your startup."

As Avantika listened to their words, she couldn't help but feel a spark of anger igniting within her. She had worked tirelessly to build InnoVault from the ground up, overcoming countless obstacles and proving herself time and time again. And now, in this moment of truth, she was faced with yet another hurdle that threatened to derail her dreams.

"And we have the name of the man we want on this team - Abhay Malhotra."

Under the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights, Avantika's eyes widened as if they could somehow swallow the reality of the condition laid before her. Each heartbeat hammered relentlessly against her chest, a cacophony of hope and fear that threatened to shatter her composure. Abhay Malhotra – the name echoed through her thoughts, dredging up memories she had long sought to bury.

"Miss Sharma?" one of the investors prompted, his expression expectant.

Avantika blinked, forcing herself back into the present moment. "I understand your concerns," she began, carefully choosing her words. "However, I must point out that we are currently engaged in a legal battle with Mr. Parmar due to his breach of trust and non-compete clauses. And we have signed NDAs before discussing any intellectual property of the startup."

"Be that as it may," another investor interjected, "we've consulted our legal team, and they believe the non-compete cannot be legally enforced. Moreover, while the IP cannot be plagiarized, they can always reverse engineer it, or deploy your processes and SOPs to streamline their processes. As it stands, InnoVault is at a disadvantage."

"But—" Avantika protested, her fingers curling into fists at her side.

"Miss Sharma," the first investor said gently, "we recognize your dedication and the hard work you've put into InnoVault. However, we need to ensure its stability and future growth. Bringing Abhay on board would provide us with the assurance we require."

In the oppressive silence that followed, Avantika grappled with her own tempestuous thoughts. Working with Abhay—the man who had once been the center of her universe, only to tear her world apart—seemed an insurmountable task. Could she truly set aside the jagged shards of her past and collaborate with him for the sake of InnoVault?

"Please," she implored the investors, her voice barely audible, "consider the fact that our company has thrived despite the setbacks. We have managed without Rahul, and we can continue to do so. I am confident in my capabilities and those of my team."

"Your resilience is commendable," the investors conceded, their expressions softening with empathy. "However, our decision remains unchanged. Please take some time to think it over and let us know your final decision."

As they filed out of the room, Avantika felt the weight of her past and present converging upon her, each memory and emotion demanding attention, threatening to suffocate her. With a deep, steadying breath, she prepared to face the storm within, knowing that whatever choice she made would irrevocably alter the course of her life.