Shivaay's office

Shivaay: Have you heard of the rumors flying around lately?

Om: What rumors?

Shivaay: Kapoors are trying to make a move. A strategic one at that. They are trying to form an alliance with Sharma Industries by marriage.

Om: Is that of any importance to us.

Shivaay: Om...I know you think we are invincible right now but we should not underestimate Tej Sharma. He has been in the game longer then we have. And besides...I've seen what Gauri Sharma is capable of. It's just till date we haven't had any business endeavors that would collide with theirs. If we did I'm not sure we would have the upper hand.

Om: Do you think Tej Sharma would agree to the marriage?

Shivaay: Tej Sharma is no fool. He only makes deals that benefits him. If the Kapoors doesn't make it worth while Tej Sharma will not give up his daughter because Gauri Kumari Sharma is more than just a trophy wife. She is the sole reason that Sharma Industries is considered number 2 in Mumbai. Seeing the progress in a span of 2 years since Gauri Kumari Sharma's debut was enough to get SSO's attention. I've heard that Tej Sharma will only give her the big contracts to close and that is only if he has doubts with his own staff's ability to succeed. It seems he puts limits on her for some unknown reason. I have also asked Bhavya to investigate on Miss Sharma and it seems she's a hermit with a strained relationship with her father. Here...this is her file..when you have time take a look at it and see if you can find anything else on her.

Om: What is the point Shivaay. We can tackle them if they form an alliance. Everyone has a secret that they try to hide..and surely Sharma Industries is no different.

Shivaay: I know we can overcome whatever may come but Om...this is the first time that I am not 100% sure we would come out victorious if these two companies joined hands. And as of right now Gauri Kumari Sharma is the deciding factor if we will remain on top.

Om: ...but if Bhavya is only able to get this much on her what makes you think I can get anymore info on her. I mean Bhavya works for me..I get most of my information by sending her to collect it.

Shivaay: Om...no need to hide it from me. You should contact her.

Om: ...I will reach out to her but she only replies if she is interested. She has her rules.

Shivaay: She has been able to get crucial information that others has failed to get. I know her price tag is high but luckily for us that is not a problem.

Om: If she responds I will let you know.

*************

At a coffee shop sits a petite woman with her baggy jeans and a oversize gray hoodie. Even though Gauri tries hard to dress down and disguise herself with a pair of specs her waiter could not help himself but stare. Her honey brown eyes were enough to captivate any man and her sweet voice when ordering her cup of black coffee put him in a trance. But then his trance broke when another woman came running in and just plopped herself across from the petite woman.

Bhavya: Wow! if only the social elite circle can see you now they would have a field day.

Gauri: It's my day off.

Bhavya: You think no one will recognize you in that getup?

Gauri: Pretty sure no one has. If they did I would blame you.

Bhavya: Me?...You know I would never right?...

Gauri gives Bhavya a slight smile. They had went to the same college and Bhavya was the only friend that Gauri ever allowed herself to make. Bhavya was there for Gauri during her darkest times in college where her home life was made into her own hell. But no one knew these two were best friends because Gauri would always meet Bhavya away from prying eyes. That has always been one of her rules for Bhavya. Because Gauri was no ordinary woman. She was the daughter of Tej Sharma. Gauri knew the dangers of having any close relations with anyone and she did not want to endanger Bhavya's life. Gauri had good reason too.When she was 10 she had formed a really close relationship to her personal maid Nandi. Nandi was caring and reminded Gauri of her late mother. Nandi would prepare breakfast for Gauri every morning and read her bedtime stories every night. Even though Nandi was Gauri's personal maid she also had a daughter of her own. Aastha was her name. They were the same age. Gauri remembered the short happy times when she played with Aastha. They played with dolls and hide-n-seek. But then one day everything changed. The day that Gauri..realized that being a Sharma has its consequences. Bhavya seeing Gauri's solemn face knew she was thinking of her dark times.

Bhavya: Gauri...just stop. It's the past. You were only 10.

Gauri: I know.

Gauri then takes a big sip of her black coffee.

Gauri: So..why did you call me all of a sudden for coffee. You know I don't like to go out on my day off.

Bhavya: yea yea..we both know how much you enjoy your side job.

Gauri: You mean my side job that helped you get the position of being Omkara's Singh Oberoi's Intel collector?...

Bhavya gave Gauri a big grin. Gauri AKA "Nightsky Intel collector for hire on the black market. You could say Gauri was the most sought after for intel on the black market. Nightsky was well known in this trade and her price tag was high. There wasn't anything that she couldn't find. If it was traceable she traced it..if you left crumbs she found it. Big companies used Nightsky to find corruption or " dirty laundry to eliminate competition. But she had three rules: No names. No questions. And lastly, payment must be direct deposit before info exchange. If she is interested in what you're asking she will make contact.

Bhavya: Who would of thought that you would use your second degree in computers for this line of work.

Gauri takes another sip of her coffee. When people said Gauri Kumari Sharma was smart that was clearly an understatement. She was a Genius with an IQ of 190. Nightsky was nothing more than a hobby. Plus the money was good and it gave her satisfaction of being able use her own money. When Gauri turned 18 Svetlana had stop all her allowance and fired all of her maids. So for spending money Nightsky was born. Tej knew what was happening but he turned a blind eye. He knew Gauri was smart and that Svetlana's attempts were futile. Even though he doesn't love his daughter he knew her well. Just because she doesn't fight back doesn't mean she is weak. Gauri is far from weak. As long as Gauri kept up her image during social gatherings Tej could care less what was going on in her life. And Tej has made it clear to Svetlana " as long as no physical harm is done I don't need to know...stay within your limits.

Gauri: So...are you going to tell me what is so important?

Bhavya: Guess who Shivaay Singh Oberoi ask me to investigate

Gauri heaves a sigh..it doesn't take much to guess since she knew the rumors floating around.

Gauri: And did you give him the info he asked for?

Bhavya: What is there to give. You hardly make an appearance in social gatherings let alone being able to find dirt on you.

Gauri smiles. " was he not happy that Gauri Kumari Sharma was just a harmless hermit?

Bhavya: You? harmless!!! Don't make me laugh! Don't underestimate SSO. He goes with his intuition and he doesn't trust my file on you at all. He has asked my boss to get more info on you.

Gauri continues to sip on her coffee..acting as if whatever Bhavya was worried about was just a minor problem.

Gauri: For this you called me out on my day off?

Bhavya: What do you mean? Its the Oberois ! and right now they have their sights on you.

Gauri laughs at Bhavya. What can the Oberois do. There was nothing for the Oberois to discover. Whatever that was in that file was actually accurate. Except for her alias Nightsky.

Gauri: It doesn't matter what they find. I have no dirty laundry to be exposed. I am an open book... But this is actually good news to me.

Bhavya: How is this good news!

Gauri: That if Gauri Kumari Sharma marries Abay Kapoor it would be disastrous for Oberois Corp. This makes things much easier for me.

Bhavya was now really concerned for Gauri. She was sometimes too smart for her own good. Bhavya knew that Gauri was always 10 steps ahead of her rivals. Her calculations were always on point. Her deductions were scary to the point Bhavya was happy that Sharma Industries and Oberois Corps hasn't bumped heads. In their college days Gauri would play chess with herself because there was no worthy opponent on campus.

Bhavya: Gauri I just don't get it. You are the smartest person I know. Why can't you just leave home and start your own company.

Gauri just takes another sip of her coffee.

Gauri: It's complicated. You should know that no matter how smart a person is..if she has no power she will be easily crushed. So to free myself I have to rely on someone more powerful than my father. And I in turn will use that power to strip him of what he loves most. His greed for money and power will be his undoing. Mom was the light in his life but he was the devil in hers. I will never forget or forgive.

Bhavya: And how are you planning to get this "power

Gauri looks straight at Bhavya and smiles "Omkara Singh Oberoi. The powerful force behind SSO. "

Bhavya looks at Gauri with her mouth wide open.

Gauri smiles even wider at Bhavya and says sarcastically " so should I make the first move? 

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