The Raging Storm (ARVI) - Chpt 22 - Page 98 - Page 12

Originally posted by: Axiom123

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. And now without further adieu ...

Chapter 4 - Confession [Arjun]

London - England- One month ago

A loud knock on the door woke him up on a dreary Saturday morning. Arjun groaned and rolled over in bed. He wanted whoever it was to go away. He wanted to be alone. Alone. His destiny was to be alone.

The knock persisted. He then remembered that he gave the wait staff the night off. Muttering curses under his breath, he got up, dressed and went downstairs of his flat to open the door. To his surprise, his father and Manav were standing on his doorstep.

"Dad! Manav Uncle! What a pleasant surprise! It's so good to see you both!" Arjun exclaimed as he reached around to give them both great big hugs. "Come in. Come in. What brings you both here?"

DK stepped in and hugged Arjun again. "My boy! I've missed seeing your face. How is everything?"

Arjun rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and said, "Dad, things are going really well for AK Industries. We were able to bag some really profitable contracts over the last month and I stayed back to make sure everything went over smoothly."

Manav gave Arjun a once over and said, "You look like you have been pushing yourself too hard beta. Have you been taking care of yourself? You look like you've lost some weight."

"You know how it is Manav Uncle when you get wrapped up in your work. Sometimes you forget to eat. But, I have been taking care for the most part. You both sit and I'll arrange for tea."

DK and Manav sat in the small bachelor pad and passed a knowing look between them. Arjun came back and said, "I just rang down. The tea should be here in a few minutes" He sat down beside his father, looked at both men and calculatingly asked, "Now will you both tell me exactly why you are here?"

"We are here about Ovi." Manav started roughly. "A month ago she called us up to tell us that you broke off your engagement and came to London. She said you told her that you couldn't cheat her and that you were in love with someone else. We tried to reach you but your office kept saying you were busy and you were not picking up our calls. What the hell is going on Arjun? Why did you do this to Ovi?"

"Calm down Manav" DK soothed, "Let the boy explain himself."

"Manav Uncle, I never meant to hurt Ovi. I told you all before that she was my best friend and I still consider as such. I only agreed to this engagement for her happiness. I know she's been in love with me for a long time but I never felt that way for her. I tried to be who she wanted me to be Uncle, I really did but I just couldn't do it. I went to India to make something of myself but I guess Bappa had other plans for me"

Arjun breathed a deep sigh and got up. He walked towards the window and looked out on the morning. "I always thought the most important things in my life were business and winning. I had no time for love or even understood its meaning in life until I met a girl there who showed me the true meaning of it all."

He turned around to face the two most important men in his life. Nervously he continued, "She woke me up. She touched something in me I never knew existed. She changed me with her goodness. Me! Arjun Kirloskar! The one, who only thought about profits and bottom lines, was now thinking about the welfare of his employees! How was that even possible? But she did it. She made me realize that the important in life is goodness, treating people with respect and caring about others."

"I don't know when it happened or how but I woke up with the realization that I could not imagine my life without her. I never wanted to cheat Ovi so when I understood what was happening I tried to tell her right away. I called her so many times but we were always interrupted and I didn't get the chance to explain myself."

"Then you all came to India and threw that surprise engagement party. I didn't get a say in what was happening and I could not embarrass you both or Ovi in front of all those guests. I went along with it when I should have stopped it. Ovi's happiness was at stake too and I thought I could not be so selfish."

"Everything just started to get worse and I couldn't continue with the charade. I wanted to tell you all at your party, uncle, but then Ovi learned about the lawsuit filed against her and that took precedence. One thing came up after another and when we both came back to Canada I realized that I had to do something before it was too late." Arjun sat down, raked a hand through his hair and looked down at the floor, "I never intended for any of this to happen."

After a few minutes of silence Arjun felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Manav standing in front of him. In a calmer tone Manav remarked, "Thank you beta for trying to do the right thing by Ovi. I understood you before when you told me about our feelings for Ovi but I thought things had changed when you agreed to the engagement. I realized something was wrong on the day of the surprise but I couldn't put my finger on it and when Ovi called up last month to say that the engagement was off I put two and two together. Ovi has had time to accept this and she has moved on. She knows you broke off the engagement for her sake and she wants to make the most of the second chance she has been given. She has rededicated herself to her modeling is currently working on a few shows."

Arjun let out the sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding in. "Manav uncle, I am so happy to hear you say that about Ovi. She truly means a lot to me and all I wanted was her happiness."

DK, who up until now had just sat back to watch the exchange, interjected, "Now that's all settled, there's just one more piece of business we have here." DK pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and gave it to Arjun. "I just need your signature on this and we'll be on our way."

"What is this dad?" Arjun unfolded the paper and looked at its contents. All the color drained from his face. It was Purvi's resignation letter along with a request to DK to have Arjun revoke the Power of Attorney status.

"This letter is effective two months ago. I have been trying to get in touch with you to let you know that Purvi received another job offer with Karma Industries and she accepted the position. In her absence I have been overseeing things but I have a few other projects that I need to take care of and I need you to come back to appoint another in charge."

Arjun did not hear a word DK said. He sat frozen looking at Purvi's signature on her resignation letter. "She left me" was all that echoed through is mind. Arjun muttered, "She left me?"

Manav looked up sharply at Arjun as the fog lifted from his mind. He recalled Purvi's behavior after Arjun left. She was quiet, withdrawn and seemed to have lost her fire. She appeared to be functioning on auto pilot and now, looking at Arjun he saw a mirror image of her.

"Oh my god! The girl that you're in love with - it's Purvi, isn't it?" Manav exclaimed.

Arjun looked over at Manav with unshed tears in his eyes. "Yes uncle. It's Purvi. The girl that captured my heart and brought me to life is Puvi. She is the one who has taught me to love and to believe in the goodness of others. She is the only one for me."

"But she was at the engagement and saw you get engaged to Ovi! She would have been devastated!" Manav's heart ached for Purvi as he thought of her reaction at the party.

"Yes uncle. I couldn't do anything to stop it then and I watched her shatter into a million pieces when Ovi put that ring on my finger. It was the most horrible moment of my life. She never wanted to see me again after that. But I persisted. I couldn't let go of her. I didn't realize how bad a shape she was in until she told me to accompany Ovi to Canada to get this lawsuit sorted out. I did it for her - for her wellbeing. I thought some time apart would give her the space she needed to sort things out for herself and once she got to know that I broke off the engagement with Ovi she would reach out to me."

DK then said, "She doesn't know that you broke up with Ovi son. She left the company soon after and no one had a chance to communicate that to her. Things at her home were strained due to Manav's situation but now that's all sorted out. Manav and Archana are not going through with the divorce and they are working on moving into a new home together with their family. Purvi included."

Untold joy spread across Arjun's face. "Thank you, Manav uncle. That's all she's ever wanted. All she wanted was for her aai and baba to get back together and for her family to be complete. Thank you for giving her the best present ever." Tears flowed freely down Arjun's face as he thought about his love's happiness. His heart ached for her, for one look at her beautiful face, for one soft touch of her hand.

DK walked over to his son, drew him out of the chair and took him into his arms. "I know you are hurting son but you cannot give up. If you truly love Purvi, you must fight for her. Remember what I told you, if you don't take a risk how can you expect any magic?"

"She hates me dad. She hates me for what I did to her. She has every right to never want to see me again. If my staying away from her makes her happy then it's what I will do."

Arjun stepped back from DK and looked at Manav, "Uncle I'm sorry I lied to you and it looked like I cheated both sisters. I want you to know that my intentions were always honorable. One is my best friend and the other is my life. You are the person I respect most next to my dad and I could not come to you with this because of the situation I would have put you in at the time. Please forgive me for that."

"It's alright beta. I forgive you. I know you meant well but DK Sir is right. You need to go after Purvi. Tell her everything that happened and how you feel. She needs you just as much as you need her." A flicker of hope danced across Arjun's heart. 'She needs you' Manav uncle had said. He wiped his face and thought of the information he had just learned.

"Karma Industries you said? That's who recruited her? They are our rivals in business. I've been trying to get information on the owner but it's as though he does not want to be known. There is a conference here in a couple months and I saw their name listed under the attendees. Do you think Purvi will be here?"

"Given her position as managing director there I am sure she will be." DK agreed. "Manav, if it's ok with you I will be her chaperon if she decides to come. It will give me time to get to know her"

"I am absolutely fine with that sir and I'm sure Tej will come along too." Manav agreed.

"Ok. Then it's settled. I will wait for her here. If she doesn't come I will come for her."

Manav looked at the boy who grew into a man right in front of his eyes. In that moment her knew that his daughter would always be loved and cared for, "I give you my blessings Arjun. Go get your Purvi!"

Arjun touched Manav's feet to take his blessings. A knock on the door alerted them that the tea was there. Arjun grinned at both of them and walked over to the door.