Mésalliance (Completed)

Prologue

Rati, a woman of fragile appearance but challenging character, stood with an air of royalty amidst her employees in the meeting room. While they waited for the impending meeting, she positioned herself near the grand Roman windows, glancing at the view outside. The gentle breeze entering the room through those windows provided a temporary solace to her, something she needed before the torrent of events about to unfurl.

Events she could neither control nor anticipate.

With closed eyes, she delved into reflection, weighing the heavy responsibilities her late husband had endowed upon her. A silence of introspection enveloped her, and her staff respectfully allowed her the moment.

At the age of eighty, Rati retained her commanding presence and power. She was indeed a brilliant lady who managed the trustee for fifteen years alone from the hands of two-faced employees and cutting-edge competitors.

Her hired lawyer in the room lowered his head, aware of his perceived inadequacies in that situation. Rati took a deep breath before addressing them, "You have, at last, proven your worth."

Even as she spoke to him, her gaze remained locked on the world outside. She casually wiped the window sill and added, "This legal notice serves a purpose."

In a somewhat defensive tone, the lawyer retorted, "I was never without purpose in your service, mam." His initial confidence eroded as words fell out and his voice wavered with vulnerability.

Rati turned her gaze toward him with a hint of a sardonic smile playing on her lips. She subtly inferred a past incident, "Can I elaborate on how you broke down during our previous case?"

She emphasised his importance and stated firmly, "I decided to grant you a second chance with this task. Use it to your advantage."

Her words were steeped in confidence, the one she was famous for.

The lawyer stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment, "Certainly, ma'am, I... will..."

Rati dismissed his verbal assurances with a wave of her hand, "Show me through your actions."

In her world of mind games, mere words held no value; results were the only currency.

The lawyer observed that the legal notice presented a formidable challenge, and Rati concurred, expressing her exasperation, "My late husband made a hasty decision with that will. Despite his education, he drafted a childish document."

She looked up at the ceiling, reflecting on her past, and continued, "He acted impulsively, which brings us to this predicament."

Her sudden change in demeanour drew the attention of everyone in the room, who eagerly anticipated her revelations. She never shared her past with anyone, a secretive woman for a dangerous corporate world.

As if surrendering to nostalgia, Rati chuckled wistfully, "My husband had a dear friend, Krishna." The curiosity of her assistant prompted further storytelling.

"We used to meet Krishna's family at a park for picnics, and our children became close friends." Her late husband and Krishna had been inseparable in their younger days.

She continued, "My husband cherished his friendship with Krishna, but when Krishna was transferred from his job, it shattered him." The lawyer and the personal assistant couldn't help but sympathize with the deceased.

Rati's recounts of happier days brought a smile to her face. "Krishna was also a lawyer, but the kind who never shed a tear in the courtroom." Her deliberate comment didn't go unnoticed by the lawyer, who chose to remain silent, knowing that Rati had a penchant for sassy remarks.

"Krishna had a family to support, which prevented him from quitting his job," she explained logically, "So, we wracked our brains to find a way to keep our friendship alive."

Her assistant, however, blurted out his honest thoughts, "But arranging marriages for your heirs seems rather foolish." Rati nodded, her mind elsewhere, "It was my husband's brainchild, and he didn't consult me about the will."

This was the only occasion her husband had kept her in the dark, setting off a chain of complications many years later. Her anger grew as she examined the wording of the original will.

The will read: "We, Krishnaraja Hegde and Rajeev Kumar Rao, accept this arrangement of a wedding between our heirs. This wedding is to commemorate our decades-long friendship. Any violation of these rules will result in serious legal consequences. The rules must be adhered to by our heirs. One: Their wedding must occur within a month of receiving a legal notice. Two: The inheritance will pass to the next generation if one generation fails to meet the marriage conditions. Three: Separation is not permitted by this will. We anticipate a harmonious relationship between our families. Act accordingly."

Rati initially thought it an easy task when her husband shared these rules, but as she revisited them fifty years later, she seethed with frustration. She began to comprehend the complexities of forcing an unforeseen marriage arrangement upon heirs in the modern age. Her initial reluctance to accept the will had been overcome by her husband's persistent pleas.

However, a quirk of fate had led to subsequent generations being of the same gender, halting the intended marriage proceedings. She had almost forgotten about the will until the lawyer handed her the recent legal notice.

"Krishna has a granddaughter in Bangalore, and you have a grandson," the lawyer informed her, ushering in the next phase of action. "It's time for them to fulfil this commitment."

Rati dreaded her grandson, Vikram, who would undoubtedly resent her for his involvement in this predicament. She strained to relax her facial muscles but found no solace.

The past could not be undone.