Arshi FF: Jeene Laga Hoon (NOTE pg. 68) - Page 15

Eight years had passed, and in that time so much had changed. Arnav left in the blink of an eye. He came back to Delhi once, and it was in the summer after his first semester at Harvard. The reason was Anjali and Aman's wedding. Arnav knew that he could not miss the most important day of his sister's life. He would have never heard the end of it. However, after the wedding, he had left to go back to Harvard, and he didn't return. He chased after his dreams so quickly that he didn't look back. He quickly lost touch with his friends, and rarely called. Arnav became fully invested in becoming a successful businessman. He took up multiple part-time jobs, internships, and even took extra classes during the semester. It was a wonder if the man ever slept! After graduating with full honors, Arnav worked at a small design company. It took him two years to turn that failing business into an international success. He had bought the company, which was now a multi-million dollar industry, and renamed it AR Designs. It became one of the most recognized names across the world. AR Designs became the place all designers wanted to work. The popularity sparked from the collections of Indian traditional attire. Although he expanded his warehouses all over the world, including Delhi, Arnav worked from his building in Boston. In eight years, he did fulfill his goal. Arnav Singh Raizada became known as the Great ASR, CEO of AR Designs, the international, multi-million dollar Fashion Company.

Eight years not only changed him, but also the rest of the gang. When Khushi returned from the Manali trip, she retained her carefree, optimistic attitude. She stopped hiding behind her glasses (which she got rid of) and became more outspoken and spirited. Khushi continued to devote herself to her studies, but she made time to live her life and not regret keeping her head in the books all the time. She, too, had to work in order to pay off school. She still managed to graduate at the top of her class, with honors. Khushi began working at Desai Hospital, where she had initially done her internship during her final year. She became a highly-known Residential Surgeon. She had plans for opening her own practice, but needed more experience before she went out on her own. Despite working at the hospital, she still managed to volunteer at the local sweetshop that had given her her first job, because Khushi knew that she should never take her past opportunities for granted.

NK had left for Australia a few weeks after Arnav had left for Harvard. Unlike his bhai, NK made a point to come to Delhi every year to visit family and friends. He made sure that everyone hung out together to keep the bond strong, and he was the one who introduced Nani, Anjali, and Aman to Lavanya, Khushi, and Payal. Despite his life being full of masti, NK was deep in his studies. He worked hard and graduated with a degree in Business. NK began working more as his investments in multiple companies began thriving. He owned a marketing company, which was fairly well-known, but not as large and expansive as Arnav's business. Still, NK managed to run the company as a fairly disciplined businessman. It was quite shocking for his friends and family to see him transform from the carefree spirit dressed in jeans and sneakers to the serious man in suits and ties. However, when NK came to visit, he was still the same NK that they knew and loved.

Akash had kept his head in the books after Anjali's wedding. After Aman had moved into Shantivan, he didn't want his brother-in-law to have to take care of all the responsibilities on his own. Even though Arnav sent a cut of his salary home to take care of household needs, Akash still felt that he had to put in his share of work. Therefore, Akash studied and managed to graduate very, very early with honors and a degree in Law. Thanks to some connections from Aman, he managed to start small at a local law firm. Later, he opened his own practice and obtained quite a strong, long list of clients ranging from businessmen to celebrities to athletes. Akash remained quiet and reserved much of the time, but no one expected such a strong side until they saw him in court. The passion with which he spoke took everyone by surprise. He was aggressive, yet firm, but never resorted to dirty tricks like many other attorneys had done. It was no wonder he had one of the highest winning rates with his cases. Raizada Law Firm became one of the most talked about firms in the courthouse.

Payal had managed to graduate without any difficulties with her Business degree. After graduation, she experimented with many different jobs in order to find her place. Although she jumped from job to job, Payal had managed to obtain a list of references and a lot of experience under her belt. This was not a big deal to her because she simply was searching for something that she had a passion for. What came as a shock was the job she ended up choosing. Payal had taken up a job as a professor at a university. She began teaching business courses, ranging from Accounting to Statistics to Calculus. No doubt she was very good at her job, and surprisingly, she loved teaching. She loved meeting new people and conversing with the many students she came across. Her passion for teaching was as strong as Akash's passion for being a lawyer.

The success and good times of the group came to an abrupt halt three years after they had returned from the Manali trip. Tragedy had struck. Lavanya had been accepted into a program that allowed her to study Fashion abroad, specifically in New York during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. She even got to walk down the runway, which was a dream come true for her. After her three-month program had ended, Lavanya decided to finish her studies in Delhi, where she felt most at home. No one had expected the plane to suffer engine failure. No one had expected the plane to take a nose-dive and crash into an empty field just moments before it was going to land. Lavanya Kashyap had died in that plane crash, at the age of twenty-two. The event had shaken the friends terribly. Months had passed before they were able to think about Lavanya without crying. Even Nani, Anjali, and Aman were distraught by the news. They had met her many times before, and found her to be a lovely human being with a head filled with big dreams. Sadly, her dreams remained unfulfilled. Everyone had gone to her funeral in order to pay their final respects to Lavanya and give their condolences to her family...everyone except Arnav.

Everyone had tried to get in contact with him after the accident to tell him about Lavanya. He had called back once to confirm if the news was true, and upon learning that it was, he hung up and didn't call back. Voicemails were left, text messages and emails were sent, but he never came to Delhi, nor did he come to her funeral. No one knew why, nor did anyone understand...except Khushi. She knew that he wouldn't come because death was not something he was particularly fond of talking about or seeing. Even though he didn't come, she knew that he was just as upset about the loss of Lavanya as the rest of them were. As time faded, so did Arnav. His presence became less and less, and many of them wondered if he would ever return.

~

Arnav sat on the couch in the living room of his loft in Boston, going through his emails on his laptop. It was mid-morning, and he was still dressed in his black track pants and sweater. He had planned to take the day off from work, but judging by the amount of emails in his inbox he would have to go in for a few hours. He moved his laptop to the coffee table in front of him. He was about to get up to get a cup of coffee, when he noticed a new email in his inbox. Arnav saw that it was from Akash. That was unusual. Akash never sent him emails. If he wanted to talk he would just call or leave a voicemail, and Arnav had a bad habit of not calling back. Curiosity struck Arnav as he adjusted himself in front of his laptop again and clicked on the email. Inside was a video clip. He raised an eyebrow and clicked play'.

What popped up stunned Arnav completely. It was a video message from Akash. But the man before him looked nothing like the Akash he had grown up with. Gone were the glasses and the child-like features. Arnav wasn't staring at Akash, but Akash Singh Raizada. The chiseled features had finally set in, along with a subtle stubble that made him look much older than twenty-seven. He was smiling in the video and speaking, but because his laptop's volume wasn't on it just looked like Akash's lips were moving. Arnav paused the clip before he turned the volume on and pressed play' again to listen to the pre-recorded message.

"Hi Bhai," Akash grinned. "In case you can't recognize me, yes, it's me. Akash. Shocking right? Eight years does change you."

Arnav grinned hearing Akash's humor.

"Anyways, you're probably wondering why I'm sending you a video message. Well, I've been trying to call you to tell you, but you never answer my phone calls! Come on, Bhai!"

Arnav ran a hand through his hair.

"So I decided to send you this because I know you check your emails everyday, being the businessman that you are. Anyways, I'm sending you this video message to tell you to forget about your work for a little while and come to my wedding!"

Arnav's eyes widened and jaw dropped to the floor.

Akash laughed before his facial expressions softened, "Yeah Bhai, I'm getting married. Me. Akash Singh Raizada. And you are not going to believe to who. Do you remember Payal Sharma from our Manali trip eight years ago?"

"No...way..." Arnav muttered in shock.

As if Akash had heard, he nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm marrying her. And listen, it's not just a casual wedding. Oh no, Nani and Di are pulling out all the stops. The wedding is in Udaipur, in this hotel that looks like a palace. It is going to be crazy. We still have a month and they're preparing as if I'm getting married tomorrow!"

Arnav smiled at the screen.

"Listen, I know you're very busy. You're living your awesome life in America, and you have no time for the little people of Delhi," Akash laughed before he pleaded with his eyes. "But please come. I'm going crazy here with all these girls, and NK isn't helping either. It's been eight years, and we all miss you."

Arnav could feel his chest tighten at his younger brother's plea. He hadn't realized how much his departure had affected him until now. Akash had never said anything, so for him to ask for Arnav to come was a big deal.

"I attached all the details in this email with the video message. I hope you come," Akash waved. "Bye Bhai."

The video ended, but Arnav continued to stare at his laptop screen. He sat in that position for a good ten minutes before he came out of his thoughts. Arnav was still trying to comprehend that Akash was getting married...to Payal! Clearly he had missed a lot in his absence. Arnav opened the attachment with Akash's email and read all the details about the wedding. His brother wasn't lying, Nani and Anjali were pulling out all the stops. The location was beautiful. Akash wasn't joking, The Mahal, which was the name of the venue, looked just like a palace. The festivities looked like they were going to be grand, and the pictures of Akash and Payal for the wedding card were amazing. Arnav smiled as he looked at the picture of them. The two of them looked really good together.

Arnav picked up his cellphone and called his PA, Rehaan. It rang twice before he heard a voice on the other end.

"Yeah ASR," Rehaan said. "What do you need?"

"What's my schedule like for December?" Arnav asked in a serious tone.

"Hold on let me check," there was a pregnant pause before Rehaan came back on the line. "You just have a couple meetings. Nothing major, except for the clients from Spain. You have a meeting with them on the 11th."

"I want you to move all appointments and meetings I have scheduled. I also need you to book a flight to Delhi as soon as possible. Any important calls and meetings will be transferred to the Delhi branch for the next month or so."

"Okay, I'm on it. But may I ask why the sudden shift?"

Arnav grinned, "My younger brother is getting married, and I am going to go help out."

"Oh, well congratulations to him. I'll book the flight as soon as possible and get back to you."

"Alright."

Arnav hung up the phone. He sighed as he stood up and went to the window. He gazed at the city view of Boston. The city just seemed to be waking up. The hustle and bustle would soon begin once again. But that didn't matter to Arnav because he was used to it by now. He couldn't help but think at how he had watched the city change in his eight years there. He wondered how much his hometown had changed. Akash was definitely different, and Payal looked different based on the photos. Arnav wondered what else was not the same. He folded his arms across his chest and smirked, knowing that he would find out soon enough.

After eight long years, Arnav Singh Raizada was going back home.

**********

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Next update: ASR is back in Delhi!

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