The Underestimated Genius

Chapter 6

Akash's car swirled in front of the Maratha Industries building, and at the same time hit a scooter in front of it, as the owner of it, which turned out to be Arjun, turned around to find the scooter he had just parked by the side on the floor, almost shattered into pieces. He immediately rushed to pick it up while cursing under his breath. He looked up to find the BMW that had hit his scooter. He was more angered that the driver didn’t bother to come out to say his apologies.

“Are you blind?! What the hell were you thinking when you hit my scooter?!” Arjun snapped angrily as Akash, dressed in a sleek tuxedo, a sharp contrast to what Arjun was wearing – a casual long-sleeved shirt that was rumpled and blue pants that looked worn out. At the sight of Akash, Arjun almost formed his mouth into a grin. The email Rohan had sent him last night was true. Today was the day he would be meeting Rohan for the acquisition of Maratha Industries. He had intentionally come to the company today, dressed like this, to see for himself how shrewd this particular man was.

“Babe, what’s with the….” Meera came out of the passenger side and paused when her eyes met Arjun's. She looked stunned at first, then the next second, she started to advance towards Akash and slipped her hand into his arm as if it had always meant to be there.

“What are you doing talking to people like him, Babe?” Meera asked again, giving Arjun a condescending look. Arjun's hand formed a fist by his side as he forced himself not to look pained with Meera's hand slipped into another man’s. But the pain of her betrayal was more stinging and he would never forget that.

“It seems I ruined his bloody scooter,” Akash had a displeased look on his face as he peered forward to look at the scooter which was in a bad shape now.

“How do you drive that around? That scrap?” Akash questioned Arjun who forced his gaze away from Meera.

“And stop staring at my woman like some glutton eyeing a piece of steak,” Akash snapped in anger as he approached Arjun, glaring dangerously at him.

“You should apologize for ruining my scooter instead of trying to look like a man in front of your dumb girlfriend,” Arjun said mockingly, which made Akash effortlessly mad with rage.

“How dare you?!” Akash reverberated as he grabbed Arjun’s collar. “You know I could kill you right here and now without anybody lifting a brow. Do you know who I am?” Akash asked with a playful tone that hid malice, but Arjun wasn’t moved as his eyes held Akash’s, bold and glaring which did nothing but irritate Akash.

“Stop glaring at me, you piece of trash!” Akash flung him away angrily as Arjun staggered backwards. Meera walked up to Akash and placed a hand on his shoulder, in a bid to make Arjun more angry. “Let it go, babe. These lowlifes are all the same. How about you fling a dollar bill to him? Get himself sorted out?” She asked with a coy tone and turned to look at Arjun who just watched them calmly, to give them the satisfaction they yearned to see when they trampled on those lesser than them.

Enjoy while you can. I will make you both wish you are dead. Arjun thought silently as a dollar bill was flung to his face. “Go get a new scooter, bitch!” Akash’s voice reverberated in his ear drums as he walked past him and brushed shoulders with him at the same time.

“You are still as miserable as ever,” Meera moved close to him to whisper in his ears and giggled as she rushed to join Akash. Arjun swallowed hard as he remembered how Meera had hurt him. He adjusted himself and walked into the building and took the elevator, which is reserved for only the chairman of the company, to go have a talk with Rohan about what he would say to Akash but was shocked to find Akash and Meera on the floor, now heading to the office.

Damn it! Those dumb fools. He had texted Vinod to make them wait at the lobby but it seemed Vinod didn’t see his text on time.

“What the hell is he doing here again?” Akash asked, a distasteful look on his face as Meera eyed him dangerously.

“Are you obsessed with me?” Meera asked with a cocky tone as Arjun scoffed.

“You wish,” he replied, not willing to hide his anger again.

“What’s that about babe?” Akash asked as Meera cleared her throat and started to speak. “He is my ex. I can’t believe I dated someone like him. I feel angry where I think about it. Now I feel like he is not over me yet. We have met two times already, now I feel like he is following me around. I mean he used to be head over heels in love with me, you know.” She placed a dramatic hand on Akash’s chest while pouting.

“No wonder I hate the bastard.” Akash seethed at Arjun who was glaring at him.

“And that look of his. As if he has some secret power he would unleash soon.” Akash said to Meera while eyeing Arjun momentarily.

“Hey! Are you some sort of cleaner?! Then get to work instead of going around and sneaking in the presidential hallway!” Akash berated as if Arjun was a dog.

“Mr Arjun!” A familiar voice interrupted as they all turned to see Vinod rushing towards them. When Vinod made to approach Arjun, he shook his head and Vinod immediately understood that he didn’t want to reveal his identity.

“When did you get here?” Vinod shifted his gaze to Akash, a not so good looking expression on his face.

“Ah. Mr Vinod. Sorry for coming a bit earlier. But we were too eager to meet Mr Maratha.” Akash’s voice went lower than what he used on Arjun as Vinod’s face formed a frown.

“The acquisition is off. Mr Maratha will no longer do business with losers.” Vinod said with a stern tone.

Perfect. Arjun watched from behind. Raise their hope high and squash it. This is just the beginning, Akash and you, Meera. Arjun thought inwardly.