before you can read, a] i love you hershi cuz u read this like five thousand times to assure me i should post, [this woman is epic ppl]
b] naina u read it like two thousand times so thanks for that 😆
i loveeeddd all the comments! you ppl rock yo! and when i get the time, i'll reply to all of them, or should i do an aknwoledemtn one like everyone else 🤔
either way, please hit like and comment!
Chapter 2: The Catalyst
He'd seen the moment she'd slipped away. He remembered it clearly, he'd felt it in his heart. The instant she'd turned around without answering even one of his questions and walked- no ran away. He'd seen it in her eyes, he had noticed his one question hitting the mark, it was him, her fianc, he had done something. That man had hurt his Khushi, Arnav's Khushi.
He had never questioned why her's were the only eyes he could read, why those tear filled orbs had been the ones to stop his heart. But he had brushed it off that day, easily distracted by business as usual. Even as his curiosity played in the back of the mind, he'd managed to talk himself out of his concern; she had, after all, meant nothing.
How he wished he'd persisted, begged her to tell him like his heart had wanted him to. But since when did Arnav Singh Raizada listen to his heart? No his brain, his stupid misguided brain, his damn brain that managed to connect all the wrong dots, conjure up all the wrong clues, point fingers in all the wrong directions, his idiotic brain that ceased to function correctly when he had needed it the most.
It had been muddled, muddled by the very things he had steered clear of- emotions. Like a bad chemistry experiment he had managed to add the wrong amounts of everything, not enough logic where needed, not enough feeling and trust where he should have put it, not enough reasoning, but mostly, thinking in a direction the opposite of right.
That day many years ago, when she had run away, if only he hadn't let his ego get in the way of what he had wanted to do. If only. If only he had been willing to admit that he had changed, that he couldn't keep willingly being the ASR he'd built around Arnav.
He had screwed up, and its consequences- he shuddered as the unrestrained tears fell from his upturned eyes. His eyes stared at the twinkling stars which reminded him of her eyes, "how did this all go so wrong ma?" he whispered, "what have I done?"
"Mr. Nigam, if you want this deal can be finalized within this week. AR Designs is quite impressed with how you've handled the business since your father's demise. In fact we've been waiting for the right time to approach you with a proposal."
"That's great Mr. Raizada, it would be an honor for Anagh to work with AR Designs..."
Arnav perched on his lounge, eyebrows furrowing as he heard the hesitance in the young tycoon's voice, "but?" he questioned.
"I can't give you an official word on this yet Mr. Raizada." Karan said, "see, I know technically I'm the sole owner of this operation, as President and CEO I have the right to do whatever I want with it and sign a deal with whomever, but since the day I took over this company I have never taken a step without asking my Vice President for guidance. Whatever Anagh is today, it's because of his hard work and determination towards this company. He wouldn't mind, but I couldn't give you even a promise without at least talking it over with Akash," Karan completed.
Arnav's breath hitched, could it be? "Akash?" he questioned softly.
"Yes, Akash, my Vice President, but more than that he's my best friend. Akash Mehta has to be the best thing that happened to Anagh since it began."
Arnav's tense shoulders relaxed, partly in relief, partly in disappointment. "That's alright Mr. Nigam, I understand completely, please discuss this with your Vice President. But I must remind you, you have a deadline by the end of this week." Arnav waited patiently as Karan seemed to mull it over, the businessman in him could feel the wheels turning in the young man's head. A deal with AR Designs was too much for anyone to throw away.
"Look Mr. Raizada, either way, I will have to get back to you in three days. Akash and his family are on vacation, as soon as he's back I'll present your proposal to him and after we come to a conclusion I'll let you know how things lie."
Arnav sat in contemplation, two men seemed to have quite a bond, the type of relationship he himself had never managed to develop with anyone, not even his own brother. "Mr. Nigam," he responded, "I'd like to meet this Mr. Mehta, if you don't mind. I'll be in Mumbai this week for a meeting, how about I stop by and meet both of you then?"
"When would this be, Mr. Raizada? Anagh is going on a three day break for Diwali in two days." Karan said hesitantly.
Arnav's eyebrows perked, three day vacation and they got the weekends off too? When did these people work? He let out a long suffering sigh, "the meeting is in four days Mr. Nigam, it seems we'll have to hold off meeting ourselves for the time being."
"Mr. Raizada why don't you come a day earlier," Karan suggested. "If you don't have any plans for Diwali that is. We're having our annual Diwali party, Akash will be there with his family, along with pretty much the whole company. Along with meeting Akash you can see how we run things here at Anagh, plus, seeing each other in a semi casual setting will help us get to assess each other better."
Arnav mulled over Karan's proposal, the man had a point, "I suppose," he drawled, "If we are to sign a deal together in the hopes of a long partnership we should get to know each other better."
Karan sounded jovial as he replied, "Plus if you make a good impression on Akash or better yet bhabi, I promise you not only will we be working together in no time, but we could do it over some of the best homemade food you've ever eaten during the transition, complete with handmade jalebis!"
"I'm diabetic."
"Oh...well actually 3K makes them sugar free too, so Mr. Raizada, will we be seeing you later this week?"
"3K?" Arnav questioned curiously, he distinctly remembered someone else who have not one but two K's in their name.
"Yes," Karan said, "Akash's sister in law, she makes the best original Lucknow jalebis if I say so myself," Arnav could hear the smile in Karan's voice, he sounded quite fond of the whole family.
"Alright Mr. Nigam, see you in three days at the party then, my secretary will be in touch."
" Of course, I'll have my assistant send you guys all the details for the party, we'll be glad to sponsor the hotel as well, seeing as to you're going through so much trouble for us."
"No, that's fine, I'm there for more than this, I'll see you then Mr. Nigam."
Arnav slid the Bluetooth out of his ear, head resting back as he stared into oblivion. Another deal precariously close to going just his way- again.
That was the only thing that hadn't changed in the last few years, AR Designs was still the top contender in the business. As a fashion house they were unparalleled in their new and streamlined designs, their clothes were what every young person considered the epitome of office apparel, sleek, streamlined, sensible, fashionable. Now if this deal went through and they managed to seal Anagh as their exclusive textile provider, they would be unbeatable, just they'd always been.
Business was the only thing that was going right in Arnav Singh Raizada's life, everything else...well why waste time on things that couldn't be fixed?
Edited by malluangel - 13 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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