Chapter 4: Public Scandal and Consequences

She turned to me and warned, “Badla lene ka sochna bhi mat. Woh vice president hai, headquarters se transfer hua hai. Uske jaise logo se mat panga lena.”

Her warning was sharp, filled with fear and bravado. She’d chosen her side, and it wasn’t mine. I felt a deep sadness, knowing there was nothing left to fight for.

I was stunned.

The word ‘vice president’ echoed in my mind. It sounded impressive, intimidating, but in that moment, it meant nothing. Power, money, connections—they couldn’t fix what was already broken.

I wasn’t afraid of some so-called vice president’s connections, but some of my girlfriend’s coworkers had also witnessed the livestream.

The thought struck me—this wasn’t just about us anymore. The whole office, maybe even the headquarters, had seen everything. There would be consequences, no matter what anyone said.

Judging by how her colleagues had snuck down to watch, and the ridiculous number of viewers, probably both the branch and headquarters had seen the stream.

The rumour mill would churn, stories would spread. Even if I stayed silent, the damage was done. In the corporate world, nothing stayed hidden for long.

This guy’s vice president job probably wouldn’t last much longer.

A scandal like this could ruin anyone, no matter how high they’d climbed. I wondered if he realized just how precarious his position was now.

Even if I kept quiet, this would definitely reach his wife—maybe she was even watching the livestream herself.

The thought brought a bitter smile to my lips. Karma, as they say, never forgets an address. The truth had a way of coming out, no matter how well you hid it.

Come on, that’s the vice president’s wife. With so many company employees, how could they not have her contact info?

In every Indian office, everyone knows everyone’s family. The news would spread like wildfire, carried by whispers in the pantry and forwarded messages on WhatsApp.

Sure enough, just then, the guy’s phone started ringing.

The ringtone was loud, insistent. He fumbled with his phone, hands shaking. The screen lit up with a familiar name.

He glanced at the screen: the caller was labelled ‘Wife.’

The word was stark, undeniable. He hesitated, unsure of what to do. I watched, almost detached, as the drama unfolded.

He quickly declined the call and sent a quick text: “Busy abhi, baad mein baat karo.”

His fingers moved fast, desperate to control the narrative. But it was already too late.

But as soon as he hung up, another call came in—this time labelled ‘Chairman.’

The stakes had just gone up. The chairman—his boss, his future—calling in the middle of a scandal. I almost felt sorry for him.

He clearly didn’t dare ignore the chairman, but hesitated.

He looked at me, then at my girlfriend, sweat beading on his forehead. The power he’d flaunted moments ago was gone, replaced by fear.

My girlfriend urged nervously, “Chairman ka call hai. Kaam ka ho sakta hai, utha lo.”

Her voice was shaky, her confidence slipping. She clung to him, as if hoping he could still fix everything.

He glared at me, gritted his teeth, and said, “Rehne do, risk nahi le sakta. Pata nahi kya bol dega.”

His voice was low, almost pleading. The mask of arrogance had cracked, revealing the panic underneath.

He declined the chairman’s call too, sending the same quick reply.

I watched, almost numb, as he tried to maintain control. But the world had already shifted, and there was no going back.

No doubt, both his wife and the chairman were watching the livestream.

The realization settled in, heavy and final. Whatever happened next, nothing would ever be the same for any of us.

He quickly turned off his phone, saying, “Baad mein call kar lunga, bol dunga phone dead tha, abhi hi recharge kiya.”

His excuses sounded weak, desperate. In the age of 24/7 connectivity, everyone knew the truth already. But he clung to the hope that a simple lie could undo the damage.

My girlfriend nodded. “Haan, sahi hai. Achha excuse hai.”

She tried to smile, but her lips trembled. The bravado was gone, replaced by fear and uncertainty. For the first time, I saw her as just another person caught in a mess too big to escape.