Deviant (A Kabir/Pooja FF)

Chapter twenty one

"What the hell?" Jai, closely followed by Sonali, entered Rani's cabin, in their office. 

Rani's immediate reaction would've been to shout back at him, but she remembered what her sister taught her. 

'Don't create a scene, always appear calm before your staff'

"Malik, I will discuss this with you later. Will you tell the rest of the staff not to disturb the three of us for the next half an hour?" she said politely, indicating Jai and Sonali.

The employee nodded, and left the cabin, giving Jai and Sonali a curious glance. 

"Now, why did you two just barge in my office? You should be at work, not gallivanting around" commented Rani.

"Forget work. We have been looking for my mother the entire night, yesterday, and now we find out that she went to our old mansion, and for that you put her in prison" complained Jai.

"Not yours, mine. And my sister's. As for your dear mother, I think you've got the facts wrong. Your mother came to our mansion, fell at our feet, begged forgiveness, and a place to stay. No doubt she felt no guilt, but came there only out of greed. My sister, out of the magnanimity of her heart, gave her shelter. And what does she do? She tries to drug my sister this very morning. This is how she repents for her past crimes, for siding with your evil uncle, this is how she shows gratitude for my sister's generosity. Pooja di was going to let her out of jail tomorrow, but seeing how she lied again to you people, I think she should stay there longer. She just doesn't seem to learn her lesson, does she?" said Rani, breathing  out. 

Angry by nature, it was getting difficult to contain her fury. 

Jai and Sonali looked at each other. 

On one hand, they didn't want to believe Rani and felt righteous anger, due to her insulting remarks on their mother, but on the other hand they knew their mother well, and her greed and dissatisfaction in their present humble circumstances was evident. 

"What? Why are you guys so stupefied now?" mocked Rani.

Jai cleared his throat.

"Maybe we should've met our mother in person before charging up here on her rambling on the phone. Maybe we heard her wrong. I won't be in office today, I'll go and look up on my mother" said Jai.

"Whatever, but you are just an intern, so your stipend for today will be deducted" said Rani, in an offhand manner.

Sonali narrowed her eyes at her former friend, but Jai, held her hand and shook his head.

Outside the office, Sonali couldn't restrain herself, "Why didn't you let me give her a piece of my mind?"

"Why? Because I happen to like my internship, and wish to get a job there" said Jai simply.

"So, you would nod your head to anything that Rani says?" asked Sonali.

"No. We have had our share of arguments, I have humiliated her and then realized my mistake, and I don't want to repeat that cycle again. And why are you so angry? You always keep telling me to keep calm?" Jai questioned her back.

Sonali thought for a moment, and said slowly, "Maybe more than Rani, I am angry at our mother for embarrassing herself, and us, like this."

Jai patted Sonali on the shoulder, and shrugged. They better go and see their mother.

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Kabir was at the police station before them.

"Kabir ji, we can't do anything here. Pooja madam filed the complaint and unless she takes it back, our hands our tied" said the station officer, in an exhausted manner. "But the police haven't started the investigation because Pooja ji assured us that she would withdraw the complaint tomorrow. She just wants to teach this woman a lesson I suppose, although why do rich people think the police is a device for their personal games, I would want to know."