Jhanvi Gupta returned home after a busy day at work. Technically, she wasn't working today. The Blue Lake Residences were being launched and she was personally overseeing the show flat for last minute set-ups and tagging. This was the latest addition to her portfolio as an interior designer. Smaller than her previous projects in the likes of hotels and resorts, Blue Lake show flat came with a promise of designing the five thirty-storey condominium towers housing up to 1000 units. The offer sounded lucrative every time she thought how close she was to bag it. Lucrative not just in terms of income, but as a distraction from her daughter's absence.

Jhanvi played her voicemail as she relaxed on the recliner sofa, still in her beige pantsuit, with thick black hair released from the ponytail she had been sporting for the launch event. The first message was from her office colleague congratulating her on the launch. After a few more congratulatory messages, came a voice which made her sit up straight and listen intently.

"Mamma, Batra Pharmaceuticals entered the licensing agreement within 11 days of AMC registration. Patents were jointly owned, but the charges emerged only in the last few years of the patent term. I feel this is linked with what transpired before Papa came on board. Could it be that what happened with Papa was only a curveball in the scheme of Agnihotris?"

Ishika took after her mother when it came to pessimism. Both shared a tendency to foresee the worst possible outcome and strongly believe that it shall come true. However, what worried Jhanvi the most were the impulses Ishika inherited from her father. It had cost Vipul his life and it kept her up at night that she would lose Ishika in the same way.

She called Ishika thinking of what she could advise on the question from the voicemail. The possibility of a deeper trench was evident. Vipul worked for the Agnihotris at Batra Pharmaceuticals, then where did AMC come into the picture? The dial tone sounded only briefly as the call was picked up and without giving her the time to speak, Ishika said, "Aakriti aunty expired -  just received the info!"

"Get to Mahanidhi, fast! You must reach her room before the other Agnihotris. Take Ayaan's help but send him to check on Aakriti." She disconnected the call and sat back into the recliner.

---

Ishika had just turned two when Vipul received Aakriti's offer to join Batra Pharmaceuticals. He took up the job as a personal lawyer to the chairperson and shifted to Mumbai. Within seven weeks, Jhanvi received the call that he was found dead in her employer's home. As the bearer of the news, Aakriti showed no emotion towards the incident and sided with the Agnihotris to close it as a suicide attempt in the police records. She particularly asked her to stay away from the case and in return, she could claim Vipul's body for a proper funeral.

No strong headed woman would accept such a cold deal. The deal itself spoke of dark motives of the Agnihotris. Jhanvi agreed to the deal, deciding to gather the pieces of evidence by herself. Two months later, she took up the project of redesigning Mahanidhi, which was being bought over by the Agnihotris. Over the year-long project, she had to deal with the newly married Chhaya Luthra whose demands drove her crazy every single day. Towards the end of the project, Chhaya was heavily pregnant yet insisted on personally overseeing the works on the top floors and at the roof garden. Walking on the newly installed marble flooring in heels was not very safe. So, Jhanvi stayed behind her, holding her when she slipped, supporting her back as she scrutinised low height areas; all while Chhaya mouthed more demands and pointed out flaws in Jhanvi's designs.

On the day of Chhaya's delivery, she received access to Aashayein. Chhaya had decided her child shall put their first step in Mahanidhi, not Aashayein. That meant, the Agnihotris were at the hospital while the staff were busy with arrangements at Mahanidhi leaving the bungalow shrouded in solitary darkness, perfect for her search.

Jhanvi was looking through every possible place for some evidence. In the master bedroom, she was searching for the key to the cupboard when she heard footsteps. She dismissed them as an echo of her own and continued the search. In a moment, the door opened with a thud, hitting the wall and closing in rebound. Aakriti pressed her palm onto the wooden sheet, stopping the door from hitting her. "What are you doing here?"

Jhanvi stumbled, unsure of revealing her intentions. However, she didn't have to worry. Aakriti knew who she was and her purpose in that room. "Jhanvi, you will not find anything here. I know why you are here. Don't worry as I'm the only one who knows your identity as Vipul's wife. Vipul was a good friend. I really thought I could stop the happenings but the stakes have changed now. Chhaya took over both office and this house. I completely lost my brother." Aakriti sat on the end of the bed, crying out over her loss. Jhanvi looked around the room, not knowing what to say.

But Aakriti recovered after a while and asked for her hand in her plan. It was Aakriti's suggestion that she leave the country with her daughter. Since then, Jhanvi had started placing her trust in her, carrying out multiple transactions according to her instructions.

---

Without Aakriti in the picture, the person who would gain maximum benefit was Chhaya. If Jhanvi knew the woman well, she would surely check through Aakriti's room and destroy the canon she was building over the years inch by inch. Any evidence that might lead Chhaya to believe that Aakriti was a double agent could spoil their efforts over the past two decades.

Only then she realised Ishika said "Aakriti aunty" which suggested an audience, presumably Ayaan. If the phone was on speaker, Ayaan heard her words too.

###

Pursuit has hit 450 reads. Please keep your feedback coming as that is what fuels me to write.

What's your first impression of Jhanvi?

Will she continue Aakriti's plan? Do you think she has it in her to replace Aakriti in the whole game?

Let me know through inline comments. I am eager to read your perspectives.