The Valley of Storms - A Love Story

Sweet Baby

Nigaar Khan ran across the street, apparently late, for what she believed to be a blind date arranged by one of her friends, Dave, to a classy restaurant.

Hi. Am sorry, I made you waiting. The fact is that I was not going to come. I came only because Dave told me I had to. I can, but won’t stay for long. I am not interested in this date. So, now if you want to pursue me you can in the following 40 seconds till I decide to go.

This is not a date.

I know, it is more of the beginning of one. And since, am not allowing you to do anything, it is not…

It is a job interview.

Now, you are saying thing to make me stay!

I am serious.

I have not even applied for any interview.

You did. You would not ask me this question had you known for whom I do work.

And for whom do you work?

Sagarika Singh!

The Sagarika Singh? Are you serious?

I am. I told you. You are joining right now. Come along!

In the elevator, Nigaar was astonished to see the splendour if the location they were heading to.

Is this where you work?

It is more where we stay. I’ll introduce you to everyone around.

Start with yourself, would be nice!

I’ll keep that for the last. Here, on the laptop, it is Adi, our hacker with a secret past.

My goodness! The office is beautiful. It feels special here.

It is.

She is Debina.

You can call me Deby.

And she is…

The Sagarika Singh! It is an honour to work with you.

It is more a task to handle all that we handle, more than an honour.

Still, it is an honour.

We need to get to work. Mr Pratap is needs our help.

You mean because of the news?

Yes! I need every detail about that girl, Shruti. Every single detail that I can get is important. At work! Back here in thirty minutes! Nigaar, prepare the defense. Ravi, help her out. Deby!

Got it!

They exited from the room, one after the other. Adi was the only one left.

Adi, I want to look for everything about Balbir Sharma. What, when, where and how!

Balbir Sharma, isn’t he Sakseria’s campaign manager?

He was. He has just become the campaign manager for Samar Pratap.

Understood! One hour!

As the clock ticks down, Deby is busy looking for concrete evidence for Samar’s alibi, eventually finding security cameras that reveal Shruti kissing another man and Samar kissing another woman simultaneously.

Sagarika! I have the alibi.

Great!

Not exactly!

What do you mean?

Look at that!

Deby said, switching on the large plasma screen fixed perpendicular to the oval shaped conference table.

Here, this is Shruti with a man, there, it is Samar with Riya.

Isn’t she?

Yes, the cousin of Chandra Sakseria.

She gasped, thinking about what she could do.

Where’s Nigaar?

Are you sure?

No choice.

She walked to Ravi’s office where Nigaar was learning her new job.

It is time for you to be officially in the ugly world. Come with me.

Yeah, sure!

Hurry up (she paused) and Nigaar, too much cleavage.

Sorry, I did not know I would have to come here (she said where tying up her blouse’s buttons)

Ravi!

Will be done!

Sagarika went to her house with Nigaar. Indu Pratap was worried and walking round the living room.

Mom?

Sagarika! You’re back!

Where is he?

In his room, he has not even eaten.

Mom, he has other things that eating to do. You eat. I’ll see what I can do for him.

Is he?

Not exactly! Nigaar, come with me.

Mr Pratap, may we come in?

Sagarika! My sweet baby, come in!

What were you doing with Riya?

Who, Riya?

Don’t lie to me! Both of us know exactly what I am saying!

She is a friend. I was with her.

Why were you in the same building as Shruti? What the two of you do is none of my concern. Whether you kiss her or sleep with her is your life, only think to do it in private! If you are still sitting in this room, at this moment, it is all thanks to my team. It would be intelligent for you to think before you act.

Sweet baby, you should mind your language! You are talking to your father.

I am only talking to my client, who despite everything I need to protect.

Do what you have to do.

Nigaar will ask you some questions; you answer her correctly and truly. Can I expect this from you?

She indicated to Nigaar what she had to do and tapped her shoulder, before leaving the room.

I will manage with him.

I’ll meet you in the office. I have some work to do.

Sometime later, Nigaar was back. She was determined, excited and anxious to enter Sagarika’s office. She first headed to Ravi.

Hey! Do I have to talk to you about it, first?

Sagarika is waiting for you. GO!

Breathing in loudly, she entered her recent employer’s office.

Ma’am!

It is Sagarika. No need for that. What you have?

Shruti is not lying. She may not have been raped, but she did had sex with Mr Pratap.

How can you be sure of that?

The DNA test being carrying out on Shruti is going to be positive. He knows it. He was with both Riya and Shruti. When talking about her, he referred to her the ‘sweet girl’, the same name…

He used to call me.

Hope you guys like it and the pace is not too slow.  :)

What should Sagarika be doing next? 

Dont forget to give your views and comments!!