Arshi FF: A Hundred Flukes. CHAPTER 37; See note pg 82 - Page 26

For sleepless Arnav and Khushi in chapter 26-

Jab kabhi tera naam lete hai,
Khud se hum Intequam lete hai,
Hum bhatak kar Junoon ki rahon mein,
Aqal se Intequam lete hai.

Originally posted by: amus5

no, no, no just influenced by the various conversations regarding the goodness of homeopathy 😉

wow one more homeo believer here!

Originally posted by: shree10

For sleepless Arnav and Khushi in chapter 26-

Jab kabhi tera naam lete hai,
Khud se hum Intequam lete hai,
Hum bhatak kar Junoon ki rahon mein,
Aqal se Intequam lete hai.

Fellowmen, here's a short update with serious consequences. A few more revelations. Love you all. And yeah, once again thank you so much for your lovely comments. They make my day. 😃

Yesterday Was Smoke - Chapter 29

Nothing beyond the usual happened at AR headquarters but then how it when the creature that caused all the unusual was no longer running in the long corridors. ASR remained occupied with meetings and conferences but in between his eyes would often, involuntarily dart towards an unoccupied desk at the right most corner, just below the stairs. What was it, was he expecting her to spring suddenly from there? He recalled how he had found her crouched under his table on her first day in his office. He had been startled beyond his senses, and then her head had hit the back of the table, she had gotten up and asked him what he was doing in ASR's cabin, only to realize her faux pas next moment that ASR were the initials of the very same man. How naive. He shook his head, how long would this go on? Why couldn't he accept that she had gone and move on. "Good riddance" he muttered and absorbed himself in bringing the final touches to the designs kept on his table. Much to his chagrin, he was free by six in the evening; there was hardly anything for him to do in the office. He wasn't going home so early anyway, what if Nani was waiting for to deliver him an earful? Why the hell was she being such a nag? He spent the next hour with Lavanya in a posh suburban cafe, from the corner of his eyes he had caught the sight of a tabloid photographer clicking him. Not that he cared.

It was around seven thirty that Akash called him to join for golf. The brothers shared a peculiar fixation of enthusing over golf amidst floodlights instead of day light. Lavanya too had joined.

The shot was high, the ball sailed beautifully till it seemed to become just a tiny speck of white in the dark sky, then it came down touching the green turf, glowing fluorescent in the flood lamps, it rolled on as if caressing the grass, till it slowed near the hole with precision and spiraled around it before dropping into earth.

"Stroke." Akash called out as a compliment. Arnav returned the gesture with a nod, he was an expert, like he was with everything he did. The caddie returned with another ball placing it on the grove, as ASR got ready for another stroke.

"You play splendid son, just like your grandfather." said an unwelcome voice from behind him. He turned to be faced with a man he wasn't particularly fond of. Ramesh Chandra Singhania the recognition settled in.

"Sorry, I hope my intrusion has not disrupted the game." he said warmly.

"Cut the pleasantries." ASR replied curtly.

Singhania's face stiffened for a fraction of a second but soon he plastered another big smile looking at Akash. "Good evening Mr. Singhania, how come we see you here in our private golf course?" there was nothing offending in Akash's casual statement but somehow he had managed to make it clear to the man that he wasn't quite welcome here.

"I visited your office son and found that Arnav had gone golfing. It has been long since we have spoken to each other, I mean things turned rather unfortunate at our last meet, I wondered if I could have a word with you." He said looking straight at ASR.

"We have had enough words Singhania, stop beating around the bush. Come to the point." he snapped.

Singhania continued to smile warmly, "Why do you think that I should approach you only looking for a favor?"

"Now that you have said it." ASR replied with a smirk.

"Son your grandmother wanted us to renew our family ties. Even though I understand that you are not interested in marrying my daughter and to some extent I also understand your reasons behind the rejection, but that doesn't mean we can't be civil with each other."

"I haven't asked my guards to throw you out of here. Have I?" he bit sarcastically.

"Thanks that's pretty civil, I shouldn't expect more from you."

"Then talk business."

Singhania straightened his tie, "You see, Uttarakhand will hold the state elections early next year, and if you read the newspapers than you might be aware that Rahul is the shinning face of his party. We'd be winning anyway, and who wouldn't want to be on the winner's side. You ASR I understand have a knack of smelling a profitable situation. So you might understand that it would help both of us if we cooperate."

"I am not making donations for your son's campaign." came ASR's flinty response.

Singhania's shoulders drooped for a moment but then he resumed, "Think business son, I am well aware that you have a massive project in Nanital that needs the State Government's approval, if the government is of your friends' than things would only be easier for you. This is a golden opportunity for us, don't let your judgment be clouded by the personal grudges you hold against Rahul."

ASR's jaw turned into a hard line, "You got me right Singhania, I can smell what's profitable. And I'd invest my resources only where promised a fair return. And I am well aware of Uttarakhand's political scenario, there is not going to be an anti-incumbency vote, Rahul will fall flat on his face."

Singhania sighed, "That's not you son, that's your bloated ego talking. Just because Rahul was not willing to marry your sister, you said no to my daughter. And now you choose to be blind to his shining political career ahead."

The younger man grinned sardonically, "Unlike you Singhania I do not count on fantastic optimism. I see facts and figures which unfortunately go against your son. But I am amused that you believe I rejected your daughter's proposal because of Rahul? Contrary to that you must be thankful that I spared her, and as far as Rahul is concerned, well I am glad he and Anjali Di were not tied, my sister deserved much better."

"I expected more professionalism from you Arnav. You are acting like your father right now." said Singhania grimly.

"Knock some other door Singhania." he scoffed at the older man turning his attention back to the club in hand and ball under, indicating that the conversation was over. Singhania shrugged and walked away.

The stroke wasn't high, it was a ground kissing one that went straight and smooth into the second hole.

"Stroke." Akash called out as a complement. Watching the older man move out of the exit he looked at his brother, "Bhai why didn't you tell him that we already have the government's approval. His brother smiled dryly, "Let him live in dreamland."

Arnav Singh Raizada, mused Ramesh Singhania, had he ever thought he'd approach him for financial favors to further his political interests? A name that was as nonexistent as the man it belonged to.

May 2005

Sleepy eyes were glued to the television screen in front of them. He lightly smoked a cigar, apathy settled over his face that scrunched for unknown reasons. "Rahul." Ramesh Singhania called from the door of his son's bedroom almost in a reprimanding tone that he had never used on his son before. "We need to talk." he said this time using a softer tone.

Rahul turned one eye up at his father, "If it's about Anjali Mallik then we are done talking." he said taking a puff from his cigar.

"You are behaving like a teenager, son and that attitude won't help. In our circles, marital alliances are always to further business interests, so get the romantic ideas out of your head and marry Anjali. She is a lovely girl."

"She is a lovely cripple." he spat back in a mocking tone. "You can't trade me to a cripple Dad."

"You had no problems with her disability six years ago. She would have been your wife today if that night..."

"She had a huge share in the Mallik inheritance then. Don't forget that Dad, it was a profitable alliance six years ago. What does she have now apart from one and a half legs. And the Raizadas, quintessence upper middle class family, they don't even have a hundredth of what the Malliks owned." he barked.

"Have patience my boy. People die, their fortune doesn't. The Mallik fortune is still there and Arnav and Anjali are still the real owners. I only wonder whether the poor kids understand how much the worth of it all is."

"And that the poor kids will never understand."

"Why? You think Arnav will not lay his hands on what is his once he returns from the States. He was a shrewd child."

"Arnav Mallik will lay hands on it if he returns from the States alive." sneered Rahul.

"What do you mean?"

Rahul stifled a yawn while turning the volume of the TV down. "A little birdie chirps."

"What does he say?"

"Ahem. Correction. What does she say." he said slyly.

"All right, what does she say." muttered Ramesh impatiently.

"That Arnav Mallik is no better than his lecherous father. Heard that he's down in the dumps in company of s**ts and dope. Last he was thrown to rot in some rehab with copious amounts of cocaine in his blood. He's supposed to rot there till he dies as the poor lost soul happy at last."

****

September 2003

A dim lit room in a dark corner of suburban Boston, U.S.A

Swirls of smoke rise, colored at some point, ghastly at other, dancing to some eerie, depressing tune. A lump rises in his throat, his eyes burn. He turns up the volume of his stereo set a notch higher to weaken the voices in his head.

There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell

And I was thinking to myself

"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"

Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way

There were voices down the corridor,

I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face

Plenty of room at the Hotel California

Any time of year (Any time of year)

You can find it here

The images return again. Blood smeared body of his mother. Wails. A parchment carrying the message "DEAL WITH IT."

He turns the volume to a blaring high.

Last thing I remember, I was

Running for the door

I had to find the passage back

To the place I was before

"Relax, " said the night man,

"We are programmed to receive.

You can check-out any time you like,

But you can never leave! "

****

Thanks to amus5, it happened finally!!

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0G1Ucw5HDg[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0G1Ucw5HDg[/YOUTUBE]

quite a tricky chapter indeed...

sorry double posting 😃

Originally posted by: amus5

quite a tricky chapter indeed...

According to the little birdie arnav was on the high and it seems to be true but what when and how did the turnaround happen ...

from the convo between the father and the son it is quite obvious that till the time arnav was put in the rehab they were having a tab on him,but after that they didnt bother and looks like ASR did throw a shocker on their face. But this RCS has not tried all the while to confront or become pally with ASR but now - why and it clearly shows that he is clueless about AR and ASR.

Does arnav realise the worth of his Mallik title or has it been reduced to a mere title by his chacha...

thanx for the pm...pls continue soon 😃

ps check your scrapbook 😉

I am loving this insight story of evolution of ASR..
So Arnav was definately under rehab...but something did happened to change his prospectus regarding the same...and he did emerge as winner..
PS : I imagined Barun playing golf :P

So far Story is interesting and I am sure you have been keeping so many secrets for us. but don't tell you too end up with the misunderstanding and hate marriage kind of thing. I am fed up with such kind of track.