“Hello”, Adhyayan spoke receiving the call without even glancing at the caller ID. He was busy preparing a new dish in the kitchen of his restaurant. Determined to face the upcoming challenges, he was working in his workplace with lot many thoughts in his mind. He knew the officer would definitely play a dirty game and he was ready to face everything.

“Hello….o, Mr. Joshi”, a manly voice spoke in a shrewd manner annoying Adhyayan.

“Who is it?” Adhyayan asked as his hands stopped chopping the vegetables.

“Ah! How can you forget me so soon, Mr. Joshi?” the man spoke on the other side.

“Who are you?” Adhyayan spoke loudly for the last time. His eyes were bloodshot red and he was beyond angry.

“Well! Enough of introduction sessions. Mr. Joshi, I am Mr. Kamlesh Kaushik. Hopefully, you remember me.” Adhyayan heard Mr. Kaushik, the food inspector saying in an unprofessional manner. For once, Adhyayan checked the caller ID and realized the officer was calling from his personal ‘Private Number’.

Getting disgusted to the core, Adhyayan took a deep breath and said, “Yes, sir”.

“This sounds better”, Mr. Kaushik said and chuckled as Adhyayan tolerated his dirty laughter. The corrupt food officer continued, “So, I personally called you to tell that I conducted tests on the food samples to your restaurant and you know, they don’t meet the quality standards. I can send the report and you will be asked to shut down your restaurants for ten days to maintain the quality as per the rule. Now, Mr. Joshi, you are a celebrity chef and if this thing leaks in media, your career and your TV show, both are, …………, you know!”.

Adhyayan, at once, could not realize how people could so stoop low for getting a bribe. He took a deep breath and tried to find the words to speak, when Mr. Kaushik said, “So, now Mr. Joshi, twenty lakhs is my price. You can hand me over the cash tomorrow in the evening at Kalakaji Temple.”

Adding a dramatic effect, the food inspector chuckled as he said, “Is 5 o’ clock okay for you?”

Adhyayan realized the irony. A corrupt officer was ready to accept the bribe at one of the revered temples of Delhi. He wondered if the shrewd man who was speaking to him was even afraid of the God or not. He thought the food inspector was indeed, a shrewd officer as he had chosen a very crowded place for the deal to ensure he is not at any risk.
Adhyayan was puzzled. On the other hand, without even hearing the reply, Mr. Kaushik disconnected the phone.

Instructing Praveen to manage everything, Adhyayan left his workplace. His eyes were bloodshot but his face was pale. The manager had never seen his boss in such a worried state. Praveen was visibly afraid looking the blood-drained face of the celebrity chef, Adhyayan Joshi.

Driving rashly, Adhyayan reached his home and slumped on his tanned brown leather couch. He called his advocate friend, Ranjeet Wadhwa who crushed his hopes. His friend suggested him to make the payment let things go.

Annoyed and disappointed, Adhyayan threw his phone on the sofa and closed his eyes as he collapsed further stretching his legs. Trying to think the solution, he was wondering what to do, sleep embraced him. His sleepy eyes fluttered open when his phone rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, he realized he was not in a position to call so he disconnected the phone.

Getting up from the couch, he walked to the washroom to freshen himself and checked the time. He realized it was nine at the night. He smiled as he understood Anvesha was calling him at the end of the day to say a sweet ‘Good night’ to him. This was their daily ritual since a month they proposed each other.

He smiled at the irony as he realized his life was perhaps drowned in the darkness for a while. He had taken a decision. He planned not to pay the bribe and challenge the reports of food samples in the court. With all the negative publicity and bashing he would get, he hoped for justice too. Being a man of principles, paying the bribe was something he could not even think in his dreams.

On the other hand, Anvesha was calling him continuously not because he did not receive her call but because Praveen had called her few minutes ago. She was worried as Praveen had told her that the boss was not picking up calls and had gone away with a tensed face at afternoon. She had bashed Praveen for informing him lately.

She wondered what was wrong. Tired of making calls continuously and sending messages in the voicemail, she called Praveen, the manager.

As Praveen received the call in the second ring, Anvesha spoke hurriedly, “Do you have any idea where he could be?”

“At home, probably” Praveen said. He was in the restaurant fulfilling his duties when Anvesha called him.

“Hopefully he is okay. Please if possible send someone to his place to check on him”, Anvesha said in a convincing manner as she thought this was the only way to quench her curiosity and check on the well-being of Adhyayan.

“Ummm…. Madam, I was thinking the same and asked the employees to go but you know, no one agreed. Everyone is afraid of the boss”, Praveen said as a matter of fact. Over time, he had built up the rapport with his boss and his friend thus, he had realized Adhyayan was not as arrogant as he perceived to be.

“Ma’am, I will be free around eleven. I can go then”, Praveen said and Anvesha sighed. She wondered it was not right to send him so late. After all, Praveen had a hectic job and he deserved some peace too.

“I will keep calling him and text you if I get to talk to him. For the visit, let’s wait till tomorrow.” Anvesha said realizing she was not in a position to visit him at late night and sending Praveen after eleven was not ethically and morally correct. She wondered why the miser celebrity chef had not appointed two managers for his restaurant at Connaught Palace despite it had maximum rush and longest opening hours.

She also wondered that being a sensible guy, Adhyayan would never do anything stupid. Moreover, she understood being a grown-up man perhaps, he needed some break from things, may be, he was worried for something, family, home, work or anything.

Trying to keep away negative thoughts, she tried to explain herself that everything was okay as she twisted and turned on her bed. She was worried for him. She tried to calm herself closing her eyes, when her phone rang.

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