"How dared she slap me? A small, petty teacher. She should be obliged to be my bed partner, even for once. Or I thought in a total wrong way. Wait...she wants to titillate me more by her ignorance and denial. Because when I offered it to the HM Prasad; he told me to approach her. If she is not that kind of girl, why did he bloody agree? I make my theory."

Aditya growls inwardly.

"Sir...did you call me?"

Ayan enters Aditya's room. Aditya lifts his head from the recline position and beckons him to sit.

"I want some information about a girl. Nandana Basu. A teacher in that school where I went this morning. Find out every small detail about her. Her family background, family members, liabilities, financial condition, salary… everything. Within 24 hours I need every bloody detail of her."

Aditya's clenched jaw shows his tenacity.

"Okay, Sir... you will get by tomorrow."

Ayan gets up to leave but again asks,

"Sir...any decision about the donation? Mr Narayan Prasad called me to ask you."

"Hold it... I will decide after this information."

Aditya's tone is deep. He clicks the lighter and brings it near to the cigarette pressed between his lips. He lights it and again reclines puffing some rings of smoke. His eyes become dark in desire.

...................

Nandana is lying on her bed cuddling the side pillow. Her head is throbbing. The pungent smell of the balm burns her eyes and nostrils. She can't get over the incident that happened in the morning. Aditya's words are still resonating in her ear. Bile rises in her throat with revulsion at the thought.

"Nandu... what happened, Dear? Manvi said that you have been lying since returned from school. Aren't you feeling well? How was the program? Heard that some Aditya Oberoi came to survey the school?"

Nandana's father Vivek Basu moves the curtain and enters. The name 'Aditya Oberoi' pours like molten lead in Nandana's ear. She stiffens her body. Mr Basu perches on her bed and places his hand on her head caressing affectionately.

"Hmmm...this kind of rich politicians do these surveys to maintain their image. They don't have any genuine intention to help the underprivileged schools like ours."

The bitterness of Nandana's tone doesn't get unnoticed by Vivek.

"What happened? Are you upset about anything?"
He calmly questions. For a moment, Nandana thinks if it would be wise to tell everything to her father. Headmaster Prasad's question about her ability, their differences of opinion and lastly Aditya's indecent proposal and his revelation about HM's consent. She slowly gets up and sits holding her knees to the chest.

"Papa, did you recommend my name to Mr Prasad for this job? Did he give me this job because of your friendship with him?"

Her voice is arctic. Vivek looks at her for a while and wobbles in denial.

"Never. In fact, he only asked me if I convince you to join his school. And one more thing, Mr Narayan Prasad is not my friend. I know him because our printing press often prints pamphlets and other things for his school. Why? Did he say this?"

He frowns at the thought. Nandana thinks not to stretch the matter. She was upset only about the thought that she might get this job out of favouritism. She was unrest about the thought that she might snatch someone's genuine chance. Otherwise, she doesn't have any intention to defame The HM.

"No, nothing like that. It's just I am a bit upset about the current condition of our school. We really need donation, Papa."

She mouths concerningly. Vivek side hugs her and pecks her temple.

"Don't worry, Dear. I have an intuition that this Aditya Oberoi will do something for the school. He has a good reputation for philanthropy."

Nandana purses her lips ruefully to hear the word philanthropy.

"You don't know Papa, what is he demanding for this philanthropy."

She mutters in mind.

.....................

"Sir, her name is Nandana Basu. Her father Mr Vivek Basu works in a printing press which is running in a continuous loss for the last 2 years. Her mother Jaya Basu is a housewife. She has a younger sister Manvi, who studies in the 11th class. She has a younger brother too. Rishi Basu. However, he is an autistic child. The financial condition of this family is not good. As Mr Vivek Basu hasn't got any salary for the last month and it happens quite often. Most of the burden is on Ms Nandana's low salary. Here is her salary slip."

Ayan forwards a paper. Aditya takes it and gives a glance. The salary amount is lesser than his driver. A lopsided smile appears on his lips.

"Is she involved with someone? I mean any boyfriend or fiancé?"

Aditya looks up.

"No Sir, she is single. Actually, according to my find outs, she has been a studious person throughout her student life. She's always been a topper in her class. Although couldn't study more after her graduation because of their financial condition."

Ayan informs professionally.

"Hmmm...look Ayan. Let's come to the point. I want this girl...for a night. I offered her money but she refused. Now I want to know if it is her pretence. If she wants more money or something else let me know that. I am ready to give. But I want her. So, meet her and again convey my offer. If she refuses again then approach his father."

Aditya taps his finger on the table showing his determination.

"Sure, Sir. But one thing I want to say."

Ayan looks at Aditya for permission. Aditya nods.

"Mr Basu is an honest and a man of principle kind of person. He values morals more than money. I think Ms Basu acquires his gens. It would be tough to break their ethics"

Ayan opines.

"Then we have to take the crooked path. You know, what I want...I get. By hook or by crook."

Aditya's eyes blaze with desire.

.....................

24 hours passed. Ayan informs Aditya that he met Nandana. However, she not only turned down the proposal but also bid him adieu with a tight slap. She even threatened him to complain to the police and spoil Aditya's flawless public facade. After that, Ayan dropped his plan to meet Vivek Basu. Because he doesn’t want to risk Aditya's reputation. Aditya is sitting at his bar counter and sipping on his favourite Scotch. Unlike other mansions, this bar corner is made in the isolated private room of Aditya. This room has a home theatre, a king-size bed, a small refrigerator, an electric guitar and an attached bathroom with all facilities. This room is totally secluded from the main Mansion. This is Aditya's den. His relaxation and meditation place. Don't take it otherwise. He doesn't meditate in any spiritual way. His meditation is music. In childhood, he always used to become a musician. His mother was a singer. Her voice used to give him peace. The only difference is now her voice haunts him in dreams and then he comes here to heal that wound by playing the guitar. It makes him forget everything. Though he is a hardcore philanderer he never brings any girl into this room. This place is his hideout from his nightmares.

"Nandana Basu...you left me with no other option. Generally, I don't like to force myself on any female. Because I believe, Sex is pleasurable when both participate with equal consent. Both are equal recipients of equal satisfaction. But I like your attitude. For the first time, a girl makes me hard by mere the thought of hers. You have that fire that can melt my ice. It will be fun to dominate you in my bed. I will love to force myself on you."

Aditya's devil mind roars. He gulps the last drop and taps Ayan's number.

"Ayan, fix a meeting with that MH...what's the name? Yeah, Narayan Prasad. Tell him to bring the file of last year's expenditure of his school. And one more thing...make it very clear to him that he doesn't tell anybody about this meeting. Make it today only."

He cuts the call and smirks.

"Nandana...money can buy anything. If it's not in the right way then let me take the wrong way, Baby..."