A glimpse of Serenity

9 months ago

Mikky

@MidnightLibrary

A glimpse of Serenity

Prithvi's motorcade glided through the city streets, comprising three sleek black Mercedes, with his entourage in tow. The billionaire entrepreneur sat within the luxurious confines of the lead vehicle, surrounded by, his imposing bodyguards, astute business supervisor, efficient executive assistant, skilled translator/interpreter, Dr. Patel, renowned industry expert and a marketing/PR specialist.

As Prithvi's fingers danced across his laptop keyboard, Sanyogita's enchanting melody echoed in his mind. Her sitar's soothing notes and Lata Mangeshkar's timeless classic had mesmerised him earlier. The serenity of her voice still lingered, a gentle breeze on a summer's day.

Prithvi's gaze drifted, his eyes losing focus on the screen. Sanyogita's image materialised, her slender fingers moving deftly over the sitar's strings. The song's haunting beauty had captivated him, and he couldn't shake off the memory.

Rehan , his bodyguard's subtle clearing of his throat, broke the spell.

"Sir, we're approaching the airport." Prithvi nodded, refocusing on the task at hand, but Sanyogita's presence lingered, an unsettling yet pleasant distraction.

Stuck in the crawl of Bangalore's notorious traffic, Prithvi's motorcade idled, its sleek black Mercedes enveloped in the cacophony of honking horns and revving engines. The city's lush greenery and towering skyscrapers blurred together as they inched forward.

Inside, Prithvi's gaze drifted, his mind still entranced by Sanyogita's melodic voice. Yuvraaj, his perceptive executive assistant, noticed the far-off look and teased, 'Lost in thought, Boss? Missing your bride-to-be, perhaps?'

Prithvi's eyes snapped back to the present, his face pivoting toward Yuvraaj, who sat beside him in the spacious backseat. Yuvraj's mischievous grin faltered for an instant as he met Prithvi's piercing stare.

"Yuvi?" Prithvi's deep voice held a hint of surprise, his eyebrows arched in inquiry.

Yuvraaj chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 'Your mother shared some intel this morning. She threatened to rearrange your schedule, didn't she?' His voice dripped with amusement.

Prithvi's expression transformed from introspection to mild annoyance, a subtle crease forming between his brows. 'What exactly did she say?' His tone held a hint of warning.

Yuvraj's grin widened. "Just that you're not focusing on the task at hand, and she's worried about the merger."

He leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. 'But I think there's more to it, Boss. You've been... distracted lately."

Prithvi's gaze lingered on Yuvraaj, his thoughts hidden behind an inscrutable mask. The silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken understanding.

Prithvi exhaled a hopeless sigh, his frustration palpable. Just then, his mobile rang, shrill in the confines of the Mercedes. Pranali's warm smile flashed on the screen, and he couldn't help but smile.

He connected the call via Bluetooth, and Pranali's voice filled the car, rich with maternal concern. 'Beta, have you reached the airport?'

Prithvi's grin faltered. 'Mom, you're impossible.' His voice held a mix of affection and exasperation.

'What's impossible, beta?' Pranali's tone turned playful.

"You told everyone about Goel Villa, didn't you?" Prithvi's accusation was laced with amusement.

Pranali's chuckle filled the speaker. 'Haye Ram, kis kis ko bataya meine? I only shared it with Sujoy and Yuvraj, beta.' Her maternal accent wrapped around him like a warm hug.

Prithvi shook his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. "That's everyone, Mom."

Pranali's laughter tinkled through the speaker. 'Arre, they're family, beta! And Yuvraj needed to know your schedule.'

Prithvi's sigh was theatrical. "You're a master of manipulation, Mom."

Pranali's voice took on a mock-offended tone. 'Manipulation? Me? Never, beta!"

Prithvi chuckled, shaking his head. 'You're something else, Mom.'

Pranali's laughter filled the speaker again. 'I just want what's best for you, beta. Now, focus on your meeting. And don't forget to eat something.'

'Yes, Mom."' Prithvi's voice was laced with affection.

"And, beta?" Pranali's tone turned serious.

'Yes?' Prithvi's curiosity piqued.

Don't think about Sanyogita too much, beta,' Pranali's voice held a gentle warning, laced with a playful tease. 'You need to prioritise your work.'

Prithvi's gaze drifted, his mind succumbing to Sanyogita's haunting melody. He shook his head, incredulous. 'Mom…I didn't give my consent..., he began, his tone tinged with irritation.

But before he could continue, a high-pitched scream pierced the air, shattering the calm atmosphere within the Mercedes. Prithvi's words caught in his throat as he turned toward the sound.

Prithvi's world froze, his surroundings fading into the background as his gaze locked onto a vision of pure joy. He forgot to respond to his mother's concerned voice still echoing through the Bluetooth speaker.

Before him, Sanyogita laughed and played with a group of children, their ages ranging from 7 to 11. Her radiant smile and carefree demeanour transformed her into a vibrant, youthful version of herself. Prithvi's eyes drank in every detail, preserving the scene in his mind like a precious snapshot.

Sanyogita's eyes sparkled as she handed out ice cream cones to the delighted children, her gestures effortless and warm. The nearby vendor's cart, colourful with stacked ice cream boxes, added a whimsical touch to the scene.

Prithvi's gaze lingered on Sanyogita's innocence, his heart skipping a beat. He felt like an intruder, witnessing a private moment of unguarded happiness.

Suddenly, his eyes shifted to two familiar figures standing discreetly nearby: Nishtha, Sanyogita's nanny, and Meeraj, her own bodyguard. Prithvi's thoughts whirled with questions.

Yuvraj, seated adjacent to Prithvi, exchanged a knowing glance with Rehaan, Prithvi's other bodyguard. The unspoken message passed between them: this chance encounter was more than coincidental.

Prithvi's mother's voice, still on the line, grew distant, a gentle reminder of the world outside this frozen moment.

For the first time, Prithvi saw his future wife not just as a suitable match but as an individual, multifaceted and intriguing. His curiosity was piqued, he wanted to unravel the layers of Sanyogita's personality.

"'Hello... Hello... Prithvi, are you there?' Pranali's voice, laced with concern, pierced the silence, shattering the spell that held Prithvi captive.

Prithvi blinked, his gaze reluctantly tearing away from Sanyogita's enchanting smile. 'Ha... yes, Mom,' he replied, his voice distant, still entranced by the vision.

Pranali's impatient tone snapped him back to reality. "Sure you agree to this marriage? I've given my word to Rishabh ji. I'll let him know everything tonight.' Her words hung in the air, expecting a response.

But Prithvi's mind lingered with Sanyogita, his thoughts tangled in the contrasts of her personality: mesmerising beauty, intriguing character, and an innocence that touched his heart.

The silence stretched, and Pranali's expectant pause grew heavier. 'Prithvi?' she prompted, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Prithvi's eyes refocused on the present, his thoughts racing. He couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was happening with him today. He felt calmness in the newly built-up aching of his heart.

'Prithvi, beta?' Pranali's tone softened, concern seeping in.

Prithvi's hesitation was palpable. He couldn't bring himself to respond, his heart no longer in alignment with the arranged marriage.

"'Beta, tell me, do you agree?' Pranali asked again, her voice infused with solemnity.

Prithvi's response was unexpected. 'Mom, do you agree?' He turned the tables, his tone laced with subtle defiance.

Pranali's chuckle filled the speaker. 'What, beta? It will be you who'll spend your life with her, not I.' Her amusement was palpable.

Prithvi's lips curled into a delicious smile, his eyes still drifting toward the scene that had captivated him moments ago. 'Yes, I'm...,' he began, his voice measured.

Pranali's excitement was contained, but barely. 'Are you sure, beta?' Her tone betrayed her eagerness as she couldn't believe her ears. Her obstinate son finally agrees to marry, albeit in an arranged marriage.

Prithvi's confirmation sealed the deal. "Yes, I agree." The words escaped his lips as the red light turned green, and the cars around him roared back to life.

As the Mercedes moved forward, Prithvi's gaze lingered on the receding figure of Sanyogita, her laughter and smile etched in his mind. The contrast between his arranged marriage and the chance encounter left him perplexed.

Pranali's squeal of delight pierced the speaker, shattering Prithvi's reverie. "Thank you, beta! I'll inform , this to Rishabh ji tonight!"

Prithvi's gaze lingered, his vision drifting back to the enchanting scene that had captivated him moments ago. He stole one last glimpse of Sanyogita, now surrounded by the children, her face aglow with joy.

A tiny girl, no more than seven or eight years old, stood on tiptoes, planting a tender kiss on Sanyogita's cheek. As Sanyogita bent to kneel beside her, she reciprocate the gesture, her lips brushing against the child's soft skin.

The smiles on the children's faces were priceless, their eyes sparkling with delight. Prithvi's heart swelled, a mix of love and frustration swirling within him.

He forced his attention back to the call, his voice low and affectionate. 'Love you, Mom.'

Pranali's response was warm, her voice fading as the call ended. 'Love you too, beta.'

The silence that followed was filled by the hum of the engine and the gentle rustle of the wind outside. Prithvi's thoughts, however, remained with Sanyogita, the image of her surrounded by children seared into his mind.