"People say various things." Sighed Ranveer shaking his head. "When she herself lied and framed an innocent man do you'll as intelligent reporters not understand that she could frame anybody?"
The reporters nodded at Ranveer who stood with a rather calm face and smiled looking straight into the camera saying, "One mustn't count their chickens before they hatch."
Pratap narrowed his eyes at the TV and Siddharth immediately exclaimed, "He just taunted you that from the news."
"I don't care." Mumbled Pratap. "I have to take him down."
"But how?" Asked Yukti. "He has the people's sympathy. If you do anything to him the people will go nuts!"
"Yes... possibly you will be considered the bad guy." Warned Bhagwant with a slight shrug.
Anjali looked at her husband for a moment and then suggested, "I believe you should give this some time. As in....remain a little dormant for some time."
Pratap nodded thoughtfully and said, "That maybe a good idea!"
"Hmm...I think you should give off the impression that you are gloating and basking in your glory of having solved Mukesh's case." Suggested commissioner Khan.
"Hmm..." Nodded Pratap. "That will enable Ranveer to make some mistake. Nobody is perfect and no crime is a perfect crime. Somewhere there'll always be some evidence, some clue..."
"I'll begin investigating on him." Offered Yukti.
"Better be under cover for that." Said the commissioner.
"I'll help as much as I can...." Said Bhagwant.
Few months whizzed by with not much happening. It looked like both Ranveer and Pratap were testing each other before the real face off.
Anjali gave birth to a baby boy, Siddharth and Yukti got married soon after followed by Shivendra and his wife expecting twins. Everything was strangely magical and blissful. Life went on without the slightest of hitch.
Until one fine day Shivendra rang the door bell of Pratap's house.
Getting up from his sleep, he walked languidly yawning and pandiculating as he opened the door.
He gaped at his friend who looked like a ghost in the black suit he was wearing.
"What brings you here at 2 AM?" Asked Pratap rubbing the sleep in his eyes.
Shivendra simply walked into the house and sat down on the couch. Pratap immediately shut the door and sat beside Shivendra exclaiming, "What's wrong!"
"I've been framed for.... embezzling the company insurance money and now the board of directors want to put Vinayak in my place."
Pratap's sleep immediately seemed to vanish as soon as he heard that. He blinked for a moment or so and then asked, "And it happened at 2 AM?"
"No...it happened at 9 PM, after which I went to her drunk but I couldn't." Groaned Shivendra.
"Wh...what about Siddharth?" Asked Pratap immediately.
"His jobs on the line as well since he's the CFO and....all the financial matters are dealt by him."
"Is...is he convicted of...but what sort of fraud is this?" Asked Pratap trying to talk in whispers.
"Embezzlement of company money. So...umm...there were separate funds alloted for the payment and the closure of deals with companies...but....that money has vanished."
"Where?" Asked Pratap giving a puzzled look at his friend.
"I don't know!" He exclaimed aloud.
"Hey..." Came Anjali's groggy voice making both of them look up at her. "I'll make you'll some..."
"No...it's alright...you should sleep I apologize for the disturbance." Sighed Shivendra.
But both Pratap and Anjali said, "It's fine!" In unison and Anjali left the living room to make them coffee.
"I...think I should flee this country and..."
"If you flee the country you are going to prove yourself a criminal by running away." Warned Pratap. "Just stay put."
"Tomorrow there'll be a raid at my house because everyone thinks I and Sid took the money." Said Shivendra groaning in frustration.
"Why did that idiot not tell me anything?" Wondered Pratap and immediately rang up Siddharth.
"What....?" Yawned Siddharth over the phone.
"Why didn't you tell me you and Shiv are suspected of embezzlement?" Asked Pratap trying not to lose his cool.
"I didn't want to bother you with all that! You've just become a father for goodness sake!" Exclaimed Siddharth. "Just go to sleep. I'm hanging up."
"If you hang up on me I'll kill you." Warned Pratap. "I'll deal with this case but first I need to know everything about the company funds. So you better get here right now."
"It's 3 AM! I'm sleep..."
"Get your butt moving." Snapped Pratap and cut the call.
Anjali came with the cups of coffee and handed one to Shiv and the other to Pratap asking, "What's...wrong?"
"Shiv and Sid are...being framed for embezzling money." Replied Pratap.
"Why will they embezzle their own money?" Asked a rather confused Anjali.
"When you are robbed, you get an insurance which...umm...for a company comes up to....How much is the insurance money?" Asked Pratap narrowing his eyes at Shivendra.
"Fifty million...." Replied Shivendra promptly.
"And...why exactly are they suspecting you and Sid?" Asked Anjali once more, frowning at both, Shivendra and Pratap.
"Because only Sid and I know where the funds are kept and the amount of money allotted for each dealership with companies." Replied Shivendra.
Just then the door bell rang and Anjali opened the door exclaiming, "Sid!"
"Sorry about this..." Muttered a flustered Siddharth. He detested disturbing anyone at night and here was doing the same.
"When's Shiv's told you everything why do you need me to tell you?" Asked Siddharth sitting down on one of the armchairs.
"Because unfortunately both of you'll are trapped." Replied Pratap. "First tell me, how exactly does this entire transaction go on? I thought it happens from one bank account to another."
"You can't deal deals with bank transfers." Replied Siddharth shaking his head. "Cheques must be given in person. The embezzlement amount in 50 billion."
Pratap left an audible groan while Anjali gasped in horror. Shivendra immediately said, "That's the reason we are so screwed."
"Are you'll suspecting anybody?" Asked Pratap.
"C'mon," snapped Siddharth rolling his eyes, "other than me and Shiv no one knows where the safe is, no one knows the password either."
"Yes...I know Sid." Replied Pratap shaking his head. "What I mean is, when you or Shiv were operating the safe was there anybody in the room?"
Siddharth and Shivendra looked at each other for a moment or two and then back at Pratap saying, "No."
"Are...they...umm...going to raid your home as well?" Asked Pratap looking at Siddharth who nodded without a word.
"Raid....for what?" Mumbled Pratap under his breath. "Do you'll have anything fraudulent at home?"
"Yes...bags and bags of money." Taunted Shivendra rolling his eyes. "My toilet seat is made of gold and my villa build of bank notes!"
Pratap rolled his eyes wondering, why suggest an incompetent CEO when Shiv's in trouble? What's going on?
YOU ARE READING
CHECKMATE
قصص عامةThe game of chess is like a reality check. You never know who strikes and when they strike. Either you die, or you win! Life, as harsh as it may sound is the same battle. Neither is anything wrong nor is anything absolutely right. CHECKMATE, is t...
