Author: Shreya

In the beautiful shore of River Danube in Budapest, something terrible happened which people had
never witnessed before. Ashes from fire in cruise covered the otherwise serene atmosphere. Only cries could be heard from the cruise.

One week ago,
Businesses successes were in limelight of every newspaper. One of the major
businesswoman who was the highlight almost every week was Eszter Kovacs. A perfect example of beauty with brains. Under her leadership, Kovacs empire multiplied in growth. Her brother Roland Kovacs owned one- fifth of shares. Remaining share of company was owned by Eszter.
She was engaged to Burak Nasit. He was blue eyed, blonde Turkish origin economist settled in Hungary.

Burak called Eszter in Avory gardens to discuss about marriage plans. He was quite invested in the marriage planning.
“Burak it’s been long time since we actually got to sit peacefully. I remain so busy in meetings that I hardly can take off time,” Eszter said softly but seemed tired from work overload.
” Hey Esz , relax. You have exhausted yourself from work. Our wedding is going to be happen soon. I don’t want to bride to look exhausted,”Burak said in soothing voice.
” I totally forgot about marriage preparations. Did you decide the venue and date for it?,” inquired Eszter.
” That’s what I called for you today. It’s not just my wedding it’s yours too,” told Burak in sarcastic way.
“I know Burak. By far I have decided Martina will be my bridesmaid. And I give full authority to bridesmaid to decide everything. My choice in venues is not that good anyways,” Eszter said but her mind still invested in upcoming meetings and eyes glued to tablet.
” Your bridesmaid is more busy than you. She is cracking new deals about cruise dealerships. Let’s just divert from business talk to more important topic. You will help me decide the venue and date. And I won’t take a no Esz,” Burak told as if it was ultimatum from his side. Eszter couldn’t resist disagreeing because she loved Burak sweet persuasion tactics.
” Esz I have something for you. I won’t give it then if you keep disagreeing with me,” said Burak in relaxed tone with a soft smile.
” Okay fine. I will help you out. Now don’t keep me waiting for the thing,” Eszter said impatiently with curiosity about the thing.
” Close your eyes first,” instructed Burak softly. Eszter closed her eyes. Burak moved her hair from back to her shoulders. He softly kissed her
neck and locked the chain of beautiful pendant. It was beautiful platinum pendant with locket as a star made out of sapphire.
Eszter opened her eyes. She could not resist adoring this simple yet beautiful locket.
” Esz you are like a star in darkness. Keep shining just like the star in the locket,” Burak said while glancing at how stunning locket looked on her neck.
” This gift means a lot to me. I promise you till the end I will wear this beautiful locket which reminds of you,” said Eszter but she got lost in some deep thought.
” Esz my love for you will remain till the end. Since we talking about death, I never told you about my last wish. Let me share it with you today. My last wish is to have a company named
after me and to hear your voice in my last breath,” said Burak emotionally.
” You are going to make me cry Burak. I can’t go with sad face to the company. So just leave these death talks. And I am going to help with the preparations. But at this moment , I have to leave for the company. We can discuss about wedding plan this weekend with
mother in law and my brother Roland,” said Eszter.
“My mother has some sort of party in cruise this weekend. I know it does not sound busy thing but I can assure you she is busy,” said Burak trying not to laugh.
“I completely forgot. Roland left for Berlin and he won’t be back until two weeks. So we will plan it out later I suppose,” said Eszter while handling tablet and business files for the
meeting.
” Okay fine , Esz. Enjoy your business and attend meetings. I am not that important to you,” said Burak teasing Eszter.
” Burak don’t make me late again for meeting with this emotional manipulative techniques. I sometimes doubt you are an economist or a psychologist. Bye love. It’s urgent that’s why I am leaving and I love you a lot,” said Eszter and pegged on Burak’s lips and left the gardens to
reach company.
When she reached the company, she came to know that the meeting was delayed. Disappointment on her face was visible to much extent. She regretted that coming early was
indeed in vain. She was about to leave the company when she is stopped by Liza. Liza, legal advisor as well as personal secretary, called Eszter to urgently tell about the opinion regarding an interesting proposal. This proposal was risky yet profitable if successful.
” Are you aware of the proposal that Marens Associates have kept forward,” enquired Liza.
To which Eszter replied,”No,I am not.”
” Marens Associates want to sign a contract with us to provide cruise ships for their business
meetings. This contract is currently of two years. This deal if sealed would bring €10 million monthly revenue from contract. But the major problem is we are not the owners of any cruise
ships,” Liza explained. “Don’t worry about showing cruise ships ownership. One of my business friend Martina has cruise dealership. I will crack a deal with her first and preparing documents accordingly.
Finalise the deal with Marens associates Liza,” Eszter said in confident tone.
” But Eszter for that we need to forge the documents. We can’t buy cruise ships from the current profits. We need to ask Roland too about that ,” said Liza who was still sceptical about
Eszter’s plan.
“I will handle it. And don’t tell Roland. He will deny it because he is not ready to take risks. This deal will take place within one week. It’s easy to hide from Roland since he is in Berlin. For
the time being,inform the Marens associates and prepare the contract,” Eszter instructed.
Eszter left the company to talk with Martina. Martina was the owner of Danube Cruise dealerships.
“Martina , I have to crack an important business deal. For that I need cruise ships to sign the
contract. You have to prepare documents confirming that I am the owner of cruise ships,” said
Eszter.
“I can get forged documents of ownership prepared. But risk is all yours,” said Martina.
“They won’t know about it. I will assure you that. Are there any conditions from your side?” Eszter said.
“No, I won’t lay any conditions. I am just returning the favor that you did to me months ago,” said Martina.
“I kept talking about business. I forgot to tell you about wedding. Burak and I are planning wedding,” said Eszter while showing her some ideas. One of the ideas suggested by her was
wedding post party hosted in company. Martina couldn’t resist laughing at her formal ideas.
“Your ideas sound like a contractual marriage. How about some royal wedding in beautiful
Luxembourg or Denmark,”suggested Martina and she felt pride in how creative her mind was.
” I will take your royal ideas for the wedding maam,” said Eszter in sarcastic way. “Your wedding will be so magnificent. Just leave it to the hands of your skillful bridesmaid,” said Martina with confidence and a smirk.
“Yes everything is in your hand my creative friend,” said Eszter in quirky way. Eszter recieved a call from the company. She hugged Martina and left the cafe.
Eszter’s current focus was dealing with Marens Associates as it would bring huge revenue to the company.
Within 2 days, Martina prepared the contract. Liza verified the contract and ownership papers.
This deal felt like an easy deal with no visible risk. Eszter decided to finalise the deal this weekend. On Martina’s recommendation,she arranged meeting in Sabora Cruise.
On the weekend ,Maren Associates and Kovacs Company meeting was arranged in the Sabora
Cruise.Party was going on in the cruise.With champagnes, loud music , enthusiastic crowd, party was perfect in every way. Eszter whispered in Liza’s ear inquiring,”Martina didn’t tell me that party would be going on
simultaneously.”
To which Liza replied,” Just act like it’s your party. Party lightens the serious mood so it’s a good thing indeed.” Champagnes were served to the guests. They were negotiating away from party hall to avoid loud music.
” You chose a very unique place and setting for contract. But i must appreciate your creativity.
With your reputation and success, I am obliged to sign a deal with you.,” said Mr. Maren while signing the cruise contract. Eszter signed the contract and shoke hands with Mr. Maren.
“Thank you for dealing with Kovacs Company. It is a pleasure doing business with you,” said
Eszter.
Eszter raised a toast to succesful business deal. All were enjoying the party by cruise side.
Suddenly fire fumes was rising from the party hall in cruise. Marens’ and Eszter were standing away from party hall so they didn’t notice. Soon fire started spreading. It spread in entire party hall. Everybody started running in panic. All those loud cheers suddenly turned into cries for
help.
” Someone use fire extinguisher and contact fire department,” she instructed the employees.
“There are no fire extinguishers and firemen cannot arrive early as it’s away from land,” said Lazlow ,employee in Sabora Cruise.
” We can do one thing. Pour waters from seas. It will help reduce fire. We need to try rescue every person,” instructed Eszter.
Eszter told cruise controller to reach the shore as early as possible. Fire to such an extent that pouring water didn’t help.
There was no fire extinguisher and no safety measures on cruise. Some people jumped into water to avoid getting burnt. Cruise was driven near to shore. It took fire officers two hours to extinguish and rescue people. Some people were suffered burns while some succumbed to injuries. People away from party halls got away with no major damage.
Reported death toll reached twenty people. And many other suffered burns. An emergency inquiry was set up. They asked for owner of cruise ship. Marens’ took the name of Eszter
Kovacs by citing contract as proof. Eszter had to make a choice whether to speak the truth that Martina is the owner of Sabora Cruise or continue with the lie in order to achieve the deal which could save the company’s shares from dropping.
” From the documents yet to be verified,it is quite apparent that you Ms. Eszter Kovacs is the
owner of Sabora Cruise. Where are the basic fire safety tools which every Cruise is supposed to provide and your Cruise is lacking in fire safety,” asked police officer and he further added,” Mam your cruise is not registered in Hungary since it’s bought from Portugal. So you don’t even have any license to hold parties.”
“I won’t speak anything without my lawyers present,” said Eszter. Eszter and Liza left the scene. Eszter couldn’t believe what did she just witnessed. She saw people burning alive and their crying voices echoed in her ears. Eszter thought this was the only thing she need to deal with.Little did she know it was just the beginning.
Roland came back from Berlin after hearing about the incident.
Burak entered Eszter’s cabin. It seemed like something went wrong. ” Eszter, I cannot believe
you did this. What was about trust and those promises,” said Burak.
“Don’t worry. I will get it out of situation. Give it some time,” said Eszter in assuring tone.
“You see it as a situation ,Eszter. Atleast think about the people that died. My mother was in
that cruise. And she died because of your negligence. I can still cannot forget the site of her
burnt body,” said Burak in an emotional state.
“I am sorry, Burak. You are not in good state right now. I promise you I am not involved in this,”
assured Eszter while hugging Burak. Burak pushes her away.
“You still continue to do fake promises. Eszter my mom is dead. She won’t come back. If immediate fire help was there in cruise, she could have been saved. It is your fault still you continue to deny it.I am done with you,” said Burak and stormed out of the company.
Eszter couldn’t figure out what was going on. She called Martina to figure something out. But Martina was not picking up the call. Finally after few hours Martina called back.But it was
someone else speaking on phone, “Ms. Eszter , Martina met with a car accident yesterday evening. She succumbed to injuries this morning. May God bless her soul.” Then the phone cut off.
Eszter was stuck in middle of crossroads of life. At this moment, she couldn’t interpret what was happening in her life. Eszter first had to figure out whether all these were coincidences or a series of well planned deceit played by someone close to her. What if there was enemy in her home…