Part - 3
The night had brought lots of shocks, accusations and confrontations to the Raizada and Singhania families. While on one hand the Singhania family was feeling gleeful, since their daughter had come back home to live with them, as their Aahat, on the other hand, gloom took over the Raizada family. No one could believe that such a secret could exist and prevail. But they knew that the strings of the past were to blame. Only Arnav was not ready to accept his defeat and the fact that he was to be blamed too. Time waits for none, time was a healer that healed all wounds but gave new wounds too, as was in this case. Although Arnav hadn't arrived, Aahat had faithfully waited for him, ignoring the cries of others, ignoring their pleas to get up from the mandap, but alas! Time had flown, taking with it her patience and Arnav's love.
...
The car rolled into the driveway of the Singhania mansion and pulled over. Just as it stopped Aahat hastily walked into 'her' home. As she walked in through the huge double door, the whole family greeted her, but anticipation and worry was evident on their faces. Dadi came ahead and took her in a loving embrace, "Mera puttar, tu teh theek hai na? Camera de utte sab vekha meine, koi load nahi hai tension laen di! Aaja mera puttar," she finished with the clicking of her tongue in a sympathetic way and led Aahat to the sofa. (Punjabi for "My child, are you okay? I saw everything on the camera that had been installed for us to witness the wedding. No need to take any tension or feel sad! Come sit down"). After a whole lot of discussion ,the emotional turmoil that she had been through reflected on Aahat's face and the family urged her to go upstairs in her room. Ehsaas led her into the room carefully and tucked her into bed before leaving the room.
Just as Aahat heard the door click indicating that Ehsaas had left, her eyes flung open and the tears that she had controlled throughout the day started flowing down her cheeks. She got up and moved towards the teak finished French windows that overlooked the huge gardens and poured some water for herself. The moonlight decorated the room and in the presence of that full moon she made a promise to herself, a promise that would divert her mind from her past and help her cling to her future and make it even the more bright, a promise that would enhance her life for good.
...
Arnav couldn't sleep as he lay in his bed. His mind was continuously recalling the events that occurred earlier that night. Khushi, no matter Aahat or anyone was only his; they had vowed to love each other and that vow couldn't be broken easily, he reasoned out. Tears of anguish and pain clouded his dark brown eyes. He clenched his fist and sent a vase crashing on the floor that was placed on the side table in his anger. "You can't do this to me Aahat, you can't do this to me, I am Arnav Singh Raizada", thought Arnav in his mind. These thoughts kept him awake all night and sleep only crept in his eyes unknowingly, just two hours before sunrays made their way into the room.
...
A MONTH AND A HALF LATER...
The rays of the sun danced their way into an elegantly decorated room. The rays made her face look extremely serene and beautiful. A few strands of hair fell on her face and slowly, she awoke from her sleep, stretching to awaken her body, taking her time when the alarm rang. An innocent smile decorated her lovely face and she laid aside the crisp white covers, got up from her soft bed and rushed inside the washroom. "Miss sleepy, get up! Don't you remember we have to go for our race in which I will defeat you as usual!" called out Ehem entering the room and mistaking the piled up covers for a sleeping Aahat. "Oh, really?" called out Aahat's voice from behind to Ehem, standing near the door, her arms folded across her chest, "Let's see loser!" she continued and with a mutual wink both of them started running down the stairs, up the hall and, into the garden and onto their racing 'track', while both were competing in the race to win, they almost dropped Eshani's juice that Ramu kaka was carrying in his hands, tore the newspaper in Rohit's hand and pushed the gardener Ram Singh to the ground and finally, just as the finish line neared them Aahat took the lead that she had lost and won yet again!
An hour later, everyone was waiting for Aahat on the breakfast table and she suddenly came down running, wearing a peach tube blouse and a royal blue pencil skirt complete with a sleek belt, a Dolce and Gabbana elbow bag and black high heels with a tint of peach on them. "Ready for work beta?" said Taya ji cheerfully. "Haanji taya ji!" replied Aahat with the same zest. She went and pecked Dadi on the cheek and wished everyone Good Morning before seating herself for quick breakfast. All of them had light breakfast with fresh juice, fruits, some imported bread, peanut butter, Danish pastry, milk and coffee. Just as they had finished Aahat, Ehem and Taya ji left for office, Arav left fo his own photography related work, Rohit left for his own office while Dadi, Ehsaas and Tayi ji waited for Aahat's surprise to come in from the airport.
"I will drive SD!" exclaimed Ehem. "Come on cho cho, grow up! It's my beauty!" retorted Aahat claiming her right on her car and pointing towards a shining grey Audi R8,"Also, I won the race today, so it's my ride! You wanna drive take your own car out of the garage. Idiot", completed Aahat while moving towards her car and opening it with the key sensor.
...
"Arnav!!!" cried nani and Anjali in horror and in unison. "What is all this?" exclaimed nani while pitying her grandson's behaviour. A servant had broken a flower pot on the poolside and because the noise had disturbed Arnav he had pushed the servant into the pool in his anger. Arnav absolutely ignored their questions, took his blazer and went down the stairs on his way to the fashion house.
After the incident that night, Arnav had become the same person he was before Khushi had entered into his life. The only difference was that then he was haunted by the death of his parents, the past that he had wanted to erase and now he was haunted by the visions of that night, the night which took away his happiness, the night which took the love of his life away from him.
As Arnav reached his office, the same dread took over the employees as it had earlier. Just as they heard the brakes of his car screech, files were organised, reports collected, tables were organised and phone settings turned to silent. His rapid footsteps were heard and as he entered orders were blurted out. "Saniya! The files for the Milan Fashion Week designs, report of the meeting with Mr. Sharma, a cup of black coffee and the progress on the deal with Mr. Sengupta, all in my cabin...NOW!!!" came out the orders rapidly, and then Arnav rushed into his cabin ordering Aman to follow him.
"Aman, what is the progress on the deals with Asad Khan, you know it's important for AR fashion house". "Actually sir..." started Aman. "What?" "...umm...they have called off the meeting. They liked the work of another fashion house better...umm...the Singh.." just then Saniya walked in, "Sir here are the details you asked for and the coffee", amidst the chaos Arnav roared, "What the! Fix a meeting with that fashion house then, let's show them who Arnav Singh Raizada is", he gritted his teeth.
...
"So, you liked our designs huh Mr. Khan? Well, you must know that we are venturing further into modern techniques, experiment with new fashion machinery and establishing our connections further in the foreign market also. As you may have heard that our stocks have risen at almost 7% in the past week and a further rise is expected as the domestic exchange of designs is on the rise and most of the top fashion houses are coming on board with our team. Well, we cannot reveal our designs to you before you sign a legal deal but here are some samples", said Aahat while passing some papers into the hands of Mr. Khan and continued, " I assure you that you won't regret joining hands with us. Singhania designs, as you know from our previous records and your "research work", Aahat quoted with her fingers, "which I have heard you do before attending any meetings or signing deals has never disappointed any of its clients and never will. The rest I leave to you".
In response Aahat got a big round of applause and a "Very impressive Ms. Singhania", from Asad Khan. "Well, mostly I don't sign deals so soon but today all I have to say is...The deal is on Miss Singhania", smiled Asad Khan.
A shaking of hands followed and an extravagant lunch between the owners of the two firms which marked the sealing of the deal. "Alright then, I'll take your leave", said Mr. Khan leaving the place. "Ma'am ma'am!" came Aahat's assistant running. "Calm down! What happened?" "Ma'am someone wants to hold a meeting with..." just as she was about to finish Aahat remembered that she had to go home early as tayi ji had called and said panicking and in a hurry, "Fine arrange it, we'll go into the details later I gotta go, bye!"
As she reached home Aahat's eyes were covered by little hands, "Kaun hai yeh", (who is it?) asked Aahat playfully. "Hum hain massi", (it's us massi/aunt) came three innocent voices in unison and just as her eyes were opened she turned around and hugged the little ones who were held in the air by Arav, Ehem and Rohit. They were Ehsaas and Rohit's children, Reyhansh and Rhea the twins who were nine years old and Rehaan who was four years old. "Aww, I missed you mere bacchaas, come we have lots to play!" exclaimed Aahat joyfully and their fun went on for the rest of the evening.
Hope you like it!!
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Edited by 8520NK - 10 years ago
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