Love: Predestined || A Ramayana FF, Chapter 3- 24/9, [On Hold] - Page 4

CHAPTER 1

Kirti sat at her computer, editing her article for the next day. She was the youngest, but one of the frequently called writers in her journal. Her family's encouragement got her a long way into her career. They never judged her for being who she wanted to be. Her family's basic policy was to accept people the way they were. One of the reasons for this was the fact that her uncle, who was also like a father to her, was someone who believed in a person's individuality.

You have to be who you want to be, not who others want you to be!'

This was one of the most famous phrases her uncle had told her. This encouraged her to do her MA in journalism, and start a job at a magazine. And here she was, six months into her job, one of the most wanted writers in the magazine.

"Kirti, the boss wants you", said Anurag, one of her co-workers.

"Coming", said Kirti, getting up and walking happily to her boss' office. This means that she was going to get a new subject to write on.

She entered her boss' room, after politely requesting for permission.

"Come in Kirti", said Mr. Deepak Sharma, her boss.

"Sir, Anurag said you called me", said Kirti.

"Yes yes I did", said Deepak. "I want you to do an interview"

"Of course sir. On who will it be?", asked an excited Kirti.

"Do your research on them before you go. You will be interviewing a group together. Brothers actually", said her boss.

Bharat Suryavanshi sat at a table, painting, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. This painting was to be presented in a few days for the next exhibition, but he didn't seem to have inspiration. Bharat felt like he was being forced into painting, and he didn't like doing it, no matter how great he was. When you are inspired, and in a mood to do something, you do it extremely well.

"Art, Bharat, is a beautiful thing. But an artist must always be given a free reign and allowed to do their art as and when they get inspired. It is then that the art is exhibited perfectly and depicted well", said his mother Sumitra, stroking his hair, when he had told her that he wanted to be an artist as well.

Bharat put all his brushes and his easel back into his bag. Carefully folding the painting, he placed it in his bag. Looking around the book store, he felt satisfied. This book store was started by Lakshman and himself. And now, it is the most popular bookstore in the entirety of Bangalore. Ikshvakus', their mother had named the store. And popular had the store become. Anything a mother chooses is always perfect. And his mother was something else.

Bharat got up, and went around the book store, proudly, like a father would look at his sons. These books were chosen by Lakshman and him for this store. The two of them, along with their mother Sumitra sat down to figure out the book list, and made sure all the books arrived. The books had become their thing.

Lakshman was very close to Raghav Bhaiya, the eldest, while Shravan was close to himself. But Lakshman and Bharat understood each other at a different level. Both of them may have different opinions, but will always be the same at heart, for both love their Raghav Bhaiya that much, and they love Shravan that much. Both of them were blessed with an incredible capacity to love. The only difference is Lakshman is more bold, while he was reserved.

His musings were interrupted by the customary ringing of the bell, and a customer coming in.

Kirti bounced into the bookstore Ikshvakus. She had to find books for her entire family. She was going to do her first interview. Hopefully, she can meet one of the Suryavanshi brothers here, who coincidentially she was interviewing. Additionally, Bharat and Lakshman Suryavanshi owned this book store as well. The best bookstore in all of Bangalore. These brothers were something. Each with a side profession added to their main professions. All four successful. How they were so successful was what she had to find out. Kirti would be bad with gossip columns though. She didn't approve of going behind people's backs and find information.

She stopped her thought process, knowing she could think forever. She looked around the bookstore, not knowing what to get. Her uncle Janaka loved books on philosophy, her father on history, her aunt and mother loved cook books and mysteries. The four sisters read anything and everything.

Filtering all this, Kirti quickly went around the book store, picking books for her family. After getting the books, she turned, and bumped into someone.

"Sorry!"

Manasi's hands flew over the paper, her pencil making changes here and there, as she pored over sketches of some designs of clothes. Her forehead creased in concentration, at the cash counter of the caf she and her sisters ran.

The opening of the door made Manasi look up. It was unusual that the cafe was having customers at a half past two in the afternoon. Even lunch stragglers didn't come at this time. Two men walked into the cafe, deep in conversation. The business kind, thought Manasi, standing and walking over to them.

They ordered a cup of coffee, each, and fell back into conversation. Manasi went back to her designs. A frown of concentration formed on her forehead as she looked at the designs. Dissatisfied, she reworked them, one eye on the people who had entered.

Thanks to her multitasking abilities, she was able to observe the men, do her designing and mind the cafe, all together. She noticed one man leaving, though the other was still seated. They didn't appear to have had an altercation, so maybe he was waiting for someone? She noticed him looking around, and went up to him.

"Sir?"
"Hi, can I have another coffee, please? I am waiting for someone," he said, looking up at her.
"Sure, sir," Manasi said, and left the table, to place his order.

She watched from behind the counter, as he sipped his coffee, and glanced frequently at his watch. He didn't have to wait too long, as another man joined him. He quickly finished his coffee, stood and walked to the counter.

"Your bill, sir." Manasi handed it to him.
"Thank you," he said, paying the bill, and quickly making his way out of the cafe. The two men were more comfortable and in sync with each other, she noticed. Maybe they were brothers or friends?

"Didiii!" Kirti's voice broke through her thoughts. Her sister came waltzing in from the back of the cafe. "Didi, we have to go, comeee."
"Kirti! Wait, I will just.."
"Didi, everything is under control comeee!" Kirti dragged Manasi out of the caf and into the waiting car. Shaking her head, she got in to head home.

"Badi Maaa!" Kirti bounced about the house, calling for her aunt, Sunaina.
"Manasi? Kirti?"
"Hi, Badi Ma," said Manasi, smiling at her aunt.
"Ma, who is it?" Urmila came almost running down the stairs, with Prithvi following more sedately.
"Us, Didi," said Kirti, smiling.
"Hi, you both," said Prithvi, smiling. "What were the collections like today?"
"Decent, Didi," said Manasi, smiling. "Doing pretty well, I would say."
"Good, then we.."
"Oh, you four!" interrupted Sunaina. "When you start talking about the cafe, then everything becomes secondary. Go, wash up, your food is ready."
"But but!" Three voices protested.
"Ma, please?" asked Prithvi, in a much calmer voice.
"Absolutely not. Eat, and then." The instruction was firm, but gentle. All four girls smiled, and hastened to obey. No one could, after all, resist the affection of Sunaina Nimi.