Akdha FF: Feast of Memories (On Hold) - Page 2

Originally posted by: eshalli

Awesome update dear

It's was really interesting...

Continue soom

Thxv 4r pm

Thanks 😊

Originally posted by: divyadaya13

Interesting story . Wondering about jo's entry😊

Thanks 😊

Originally posted by: sajwan07

What an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G comeback buddy!!!👏

the narrative is so intriguing.. i got hooked from the first few lines only.. you really have evolved as a writer..

Really looking forward for this modern spin off..

keeping shinning..❤️

Thank you so much.

I hoped everyone will enjoy it.

Congratulations for new story.....🤗

Welcome back dear😊

Congratulations for new story🥳

What an Awesom Start!!

This one is going to be interesting past mixed with present.

And you already discribed the Jalal's part beautifully, now waiting to know Jodha's story.

Looking forward to read more of this wonderful story

Chapter 3: Agra, City of my Heart

This was craziest idea that had ever come to my folks. To bring me here. To Agra.

“I don’t understand this intense excitement of yours, Samaira.” I said irritated.

“Come on,bhaijaan. Not everyone has previous memories of a place so beautiful. This place breathes the air of love.” She exclaimed excitedly. How is that a twin sister can be so annoying? Oh, right, siblings are generally annoying.

“What? All that is exciting you is Taj Mahal.” I answered irately.

“Can you get out of the car, Jalal?” Ammi asked. I groaned in complaint and got out.

“Bhai,you’re just getting messy because it is going to remind you of Shah Jahan.” She teased me.

“Probably, Mumtaz.” I commented. She just gave a grin.

“This is rather unfair, you know. The great stories of her I hear and you won’t even tell me how she looks.” She complained.

“Sam, Arjumand Banu was pretty. She had dark brown hair, greyish eyes, and a rather charming appearance. I keep telling you that. Also, there are portraits of her at home. Why bother me?” I told her.

She jogged up to me and pledged to irritate me throughout the trip. 17 years with her and I still am not immune to her irritating me. I mean, it should have been enough to make me immune to her.

Agra.

Agra

1554

At first sight, I fell in love with the city. The beautiful city that seemed like Baghdad of my dreams. Small alleys and large streets. Two girls sitting on the railing of their own roofs and chatting away. The rather busy city was built in love and general acceptance. The constant appearance of Muslim rulers had made it used to the mix of Hindu-Muslim culture. Although the Ulemma was orthodox,the people of the city were quite accepting. They just wanted people who cared for them and gave them love.

Abdul and I sat and ate kebab on a nearby dhaba. The first trip we ever made from Kabul was to Agra and I had fallen in love with how warming the city was.Bullock carts running ahead in the business area to deliver the goods. We had stolen a few fruits from a nearby farm. Kabul had the relative lack of such mix culture. It felt home in a way that no other place did. I assume it is the air of Hindustan.

Being an Ali Sheikh meant that we never had to pay our ticket. Our family helped the maintenance of several such monuments.

“Uff… it is so beautiful.” Sam exclaimed.

“It just a graveyard.” I commented. She gave me a look.

“You’re so annoying at times. I mean, look at how beautiful. If only someone would build me such a beautiful monument. So white. Almost like an angel. No wonder it is the symbol of love.” She exclaimed, twirling around with her arms open.

“Sam, why are you troubling him like that? Let him be.” Ammi told her.

“Maa, let’s be honest. It is my birthright to irritate him to the point of madness. It is his birthright to suffer this irritation because he was born before me.” She insisted.

“Shazia,let them be. They’ll handle things on their own.” Abbu told ammi.

“See, theplace itself is so romantic that even he wants to spend time with her.” Samteased.

“If youkeep your mouth shut, they will.” I pointed out. She rolled her eyes at me andexcitedly looked at ammi and abbu.

“Both of you sit here. I’ll take a picture of you.” She insisted. The two posed. “What is that boring pose. It is the Taj Mahal, can you two be a little more romantic? As such you’re both always doing romance in the kitchen while cooking breakfast but now you’re being boring.”

“You’re a terrible photographer. Give it to me.” I told her taking the camera from her. I took the water bottle to drink a little water.

“He’s so bossy.” Sam complained. She smiled. “How about putting a Shah Jahan and Mumtaz costume?”

I almost choked on water I was drinking at that thought.

“Definitely not.” I made it clear. Ammi and abbu laughed at that. I stood and thought for awhile. The art was about the lighting and angle. I then took a photograph. “There.”

“It is really beautiful.” Ammi said. I just smiled at her.

“You’re pretty. The photo is meant to come pretty.” I said. She laughed.

“This is how he fools all the girls in my class. He just makes them think he is so charming, only I know he can be difficult and bossy.” Sam insisted. “Mom, stop being impressed by him. You are genetically bound to like him.”

“What’s next?” Abbu asked on the map. We had already gone to the Agra Fort. It was not my idea to bring here to Agra for vacation. Why are they asked me? The things left in Agra was Akbar’s tomb and Heer's. Going to both of them is odd.

“You all can go and see. I don’t mind.” I assured. It was odd for all of us to go to the first one considering they all knew. The latter would almost make me odd. Although her name would often come up in my memories, I never had a full-fleged memory of her. I guess nothing really triggered it. I read about the eldest Princess of Amber but never had a sharp memory of it till now. I didn’t know why myself. Considering there is so much claim about her. She had made her a name but yet had an air of mystery about her. I had often people in my memories speaking of her and I could recognize the fondness that would fill my heart when they said her name.

Mariam uz zamani. Mary of the Age.

“Bhai, come on. You can’t avoid it forever. You don’t speak about her, fine but don’t ignore it.” Sam forced me. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay right here with you. You can cry on my shoulder. I’ll be nice and not make fun of you.”

“Don’t say something you can’t guarantee. You’ll probably take a photograph of me when I cry and put up a poster of it to make yourself feel happy.” I commented. She laughed.

I begrudgingly got out of the car. The garden was nice enough.Considering the story went widespread, it had become a couple spot. It wasgetting slowly darker and people were gone. Sam forced me to go with her. I was a little uneasy with the place.

"Bhai, what are you so uneasy about? It is not like she will haunt you for coming here." She asked.

"It isn't that, Sam. Of everything I know about her, it is that she is someone I'm quite fond of but the whole problem is that I have no memories of us together. It seems rather disrespectful that I have come here but I have no memories of her. She had held such an important place and she rather deserves that I have memories of her when I have come to visit her mausoleum." I explained.

"Bhai, everyone who is born has to die." She commented.

Of course,I knew that a person who is born has to die.

No idea where ammi and abbu had gone but we were here near the grave. Suddenly, we heard sounds of anklets. Sam instantly jumped up close to me.

“Hello…Don’t mind me. I’m his sister. Don’t hurt me. We’re both twin siblings.” Sam said in a squeaky voice. The light was so less. And hence it was a little scary to be honest.

“Bhai, tell her to calm down. She’s scaring the hell out of me.” Sam said.

“Shut up,Sam. It possibly can’t be her. Someone’s playing a joke.” I said. I started walking out.

“Jab tum humare peeche aye toh Mohobbat ka saleeka hume nahi tha aata. Ab jab ishq ka khumar hum par bhi barsa hai toh janab begane ho chale?" A voice came. So familiar. I couldn’t ignore it. I went up and tried to look around the place. All I heard was the sound of anklets which were ringing as the feet ran. I could feel it triggering something. I felt desperate. That voice had almost woken up my soul.

“Bhai, I’ll have a panic attack. Don’t leave me alone. Your wife is haunting us.” Sam said squeakily. The sound of anklets still rang around. I tried to follow the sounds. Sam was internally cursing me. We were on the roof. There was a dark silhouette.

“Aaaahhh…ghost.” Sam shouted and ran off but I just froze. Long hair, that chunari over her head, her dupatta trailing behind. It was like a dark silhouette. Yet, I had one single glance as the sun was setting. Was I dreaming? Was it my hallucination?

I think I’d have to visit Dr Ira Kapoor again.

The sound of anklets rang, catching my attention. A smile came to my face. Right behind the jharokha, she was staring at me.

“Staring at your husband is no crime, Princess. Though, I would suggest you come around here and stare at me.” I told her. That was it and she started to take off. I dropped my sword and ran up behind her.

She was fast. I would’ve almost lost her trail if not for her long dupatta trailing behind her. I went around the other hoping to catch her but she caught sight of it and took the other way. Her laughter rang around with the sound of her anklets. I could never get over how she always made me feel around her.

“Stop running.” I told her.

“You’re the one running behind me. I suggest you stop running behind me.” She answered. Her voice was like wild honey sweetened. She laughed as she ran ahead.

“I suggest you surrender because when I catch you, it will be difficult to get away from me.” I tried to threaten her playfully. She laughed.

“Dream on, your majesty. If I may be bold enough, which I am, I would say that you’re too slow.” She retorted playfully herself. She ran around the jharokhs, making it slightly difficult to actually see her face. It felt like hide and seek in my heart rather than in the palace. I felt the soft fluttering of love. She ran left and right while teasing me. We had always played aankh micholi here. She was rather talented at it, only aggravating my torment.

“You wait when I get my hands on you, thief.”

“That is a serious offense you’re accusing me of, your majesty. As the Emperor, you should know to have proof of accusing anyone of thievery.”

“Trust me. The whole of ulemma will stand as witness that you stole my heart, princess.” I just missed catching her. She laughed. She hid behind the jharokha and stopped. I stopped on the other side of jharokha too. I sighed loudly to give a dramatic effect as I ran my hands over the silhouette of her over the jharokha. “Ab apne deedar ke liye itna bhi na tadpaiye, Malika. Yeh aapki shaan mein nahi ki apne deewane to is qadar pareshaan karen.”

“Zara khayal karen, huzoor. Galati aapki aankhon ka hai jisne deewane ko yeh khawab banane ki ijazat di hai ki who Malika ke ho sakte hai.”

I laughed at that.

“Wallah. Seems that your urdu has gotten better. I'll take credit to that.”

“Or maybe give it to Amir Khusro’s poetry.”

Her eyes were a beautiful brown decorated with black of kohl, bringing out the brown in her eyes. Her hair was long and came till her waist. Her eyes almost felt as beautiful as the sufi songs that touch hearts and souls.

“Heer…” I said like it was the name of the Holy Lord himself.

She had shot off. I couldn’t believe it. The sound of anklets followed her. I couldn’t help but run behind her. By the time I reached there, it was gone. I looked around.

“Heer…” I tried to call out.

“Jodha…” A group of girls showed up. I saw her appear out of the shadows. She was running off with the group of girls. When she was finally out of the shadows, the doubt if it was real was now vanished.

“I’m so sorry.” She apologized while laughing and running off. She was almost angelic. My heart felt the same fluttering. It was like my heart was beating for the first after seeing her. She took away my breath. Everything stopped when it came to her. Beautiful turquoise lehenga, blouse and dupatta. It had nice embroidery on the blouse and soft small prints on the skirt. The traditional dressing was what made her so surreal.

I just stood there surprised looking at her as she was being taken off by her brothers.She was looking back at me while being taking off by them. A curious look on her face. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Every inch of her face had perfect symmetry. Might as well be the most perfect face I had ever seen. She must be something akin to maidens in heaven that Quran speaks about. Something that even Amir Khusro would write poems about.

I had never assumed that a small hunting trip to the grounds of Mathura would show me the most beautiful sights in the world. The first sight of the girl who was going to be the Queen of my heart and my kingdom. The first flutterings of love. I stood rooted to the sight.

“Wait…” I tried to stop her but she was taking off. She was running off thinking I’d report her to the cops. All that was left was one shoe of her as a reminder that she was really here.

Typical Cinderella style.

It was traditional shoe to match with her outfit. She sat in one of the cabs and it went off. I just stood there watching the cab disappear.

“Jalal… Sam is screaming ghost. What happened?” Abbu asked me. I showed him the shoe.

“No, ghost, abbu. It is her.” I said.

“What doyou mean? I swear I saw that silhouette moving with that shadow.” Sam said.

“It was her, abbu.” I told him. I touched my chest. My heart was still feeling the aftermath of the first glimpse of the one I had eternally been in love with. No wonder her name kept coming up in my memories. So many of them talking to me about her.

“Jalal, what are you saying? You’re saying it is not a ghost but then you’re saying it is her.” Ammi said holding Sam.

“You can have mistaken some other girl for her, Jalal. Out of all places in the world, you’ve come across her here?” Abbu said.

“I can mistake anyone but not her. There has been no moment that I could mistake her anywhere, abbu. I can swear on God that down right to every detail it was her. The way she laughed, her voice, her appearance. Everything.” I explained.

“You mean to say that the figure I saw was her in flesh? Mariam uz zamani?” Sam asked.

I sat down at a place nearby. I took a deep breath. I knew she was someone I had loved in my previous life. A lot of memories were a proof that there was love for her that I held for no one. I was not prepared for the intensity. I had not been prepared for what she made me feel or how powerful those memories were. The problem is that all my memories open with a trigger. I could remember how the forts looked in their glory because the place itself were like certain triggers. Like the attack that happened when I was young was a trigger for the attack of the similar kind that happened in my previous life at that age. When I started to learn fencing, it was trigger to the wars that I was a part of. Horse riding was a trigger to those hunting games.

Similarly, I knew from a few memories that the woman who was beloved to me in previous life was Heer Kunwar. Her official records say Harka bai, it was how the people called her. Although the intensity of her presence wasn’t something I had an idea about.

I knew I was going to have to start visiting Dr Ira Kapoor again because from this day forth, she was going to haunt my heart, soul and nights with memories of her.

Chapter 4: It Is Exhausting

“For the fifth time, dad. It is not going to work as your whole plan is flawed.” I tried to explain. Of course, why would he listen to me?

I put the papers and drew out the sketch of what I was trying to explain to him.

“Take a look at this and then decide.” I told him.

“Nonsense,Jodha. I have thought well through this. The company needs an investor like him. We are already working over the whole thing.” Dad insisted. I took a deep breath.

“Fine then. I can’t explain things to someone who is believing a person with zero experience with business so blindly. We’re all here idiots for getting an MBA and having a degree in business management.” I commented, slightly angry. 14 years of being trained in business management and he still treats me like an amateur. I threw the papers in the bin and left the board room. It was a waste of breath trying to explain to him. Out of all people, he believes Daisy who has zero experience in business about a certain investor.

How can you possibly see him as a possible investor seeing how the previous companies that he’s been an investor in had fallen and they kicked him out? How blind is he? Of course, so blind with Rhea, his wife that he doesn’t even consider that others can be right.

“Jodha…” Jatin Sharma, the President of Singh Corporation stopped me. I was the Vice-president of the company. My grandfather was the Chairman of the company with my father being the Vice Chairman and CEO. While technically, Jatin was my boss, he was also one of my best friends. Considering his dad my dad’s best friend, we were friends since high school. Jatin had full knowledge that soon I’ll takeover my dad. Jatin, Sakshi and I are best friends. Sakshi and I were best friends since the first day of nursery. Sakshi took on her dream and became a chef. Now, she’s a celebrity chef and has partnerships in four restaurants.

“Jatin, I am having enough of all this nonsense. I feel like wanting to quit. I have worked and ruined all of my teenage years not doing what other girls did for this company. I have been learning and helping since I turned 13 on my father’s orders. I never went against him while all he did as a father was telling me that I had to later lead the company as the CEO. Now, he doesn’t even want to consider my points.” I said angrily. He moved out of the way when I threw the I pen stand.

“I agree with you hundred percent, Jodha. Of course, we all agree to your point. We spent five weeks to get all the proof to not have Arjun Khanna on the board of directors or as an investor.” He tried to tell me. “Yet, you quitting isn’t going to help us at all. Don’t mind me saying this but your father’s ambitious nature brought him to think he is the best and no one knows better than him. Your grandfather is getting old and is thinking to hand over his duties to someone but he isn’t giving it to you at all. He himself knows that even your father isn’t a rightful candidate. I suggest you convince your grandfather to give you the position. That will outweigh your vote against his.”

“If you think that Aakash Singh is like this, you might not sit well with Aditya Singh. He is even more stubborn. If he has decided that he isn’t going to give it tome. I don’t think there is a chance he will give it to me.” I exclaimed.

I wasn’t brought up like other girls. Since the moment I had handled consciousness, I had only heard my father say that I had to be his heir to the company after him. I was his only child and hence he had always done everything with respect to the fact that I was supposed to be his heir. When I started learning how to read and write English, he had me specially taught four more languages at the same time. While school was busy teaching Math, Science, Geography, History, Civics, English, Hindi and Marathi, my father was having tutors arranged for me to deal with 4 more languages. Spanish, French, Japanese and Arabic. All this was decided according to how business was to be done. Most of it came from Spain, France, Japan and UAE. They were hubs for the most investors. Then later on being taught details of business until I reached 11th and 12th grade. Of course, I had to choose commerce. While learning Finance and Business Management officially, I was taught some marketing and HR by my father’s tutors. His entire focus was set to make me his heir. I don’t ever remember having a regular conversation with him about Disney Movies or dolls or anything regular girls talk with their fathers about.

Although I held slight resentment, I never worked on it because he was after all my dad. I also had that soft corner for him. My mom always kept telling me to never hold hatred for him because in the end he was my dad.

“My baby.” I turned around and saw mom. I looked at Jatin.

“I called her and asked her to come.” Jatin confirmed.

“Why bother her?” I asked him.

“Don’t be silly, Jodha. You are my child why would it be a bother to come for you.” She said. My mom was lovely mother. She gave me all her love. Mom and Dad were young when I was born to them. Since the moment I was born, it was always about being his heir. It had irked my mom. After a certain point, she couldn’t bear him and took a divorce but she couldn’t get my custody because of her financial status at that time. Dad wasn’t ready to let me go because I was his only child. My mom then worked like other people and kept visiting me. They were only spots of normalcy for me. She’d take me out to lunch and dinners sometimes.

Later, she got married again to Sanjay Sharma. He was a wonderful husband to her and I was happy for mom. Sanjay loved me exactly as if I was his own daughter and my dad didn’t like that. I had always done things that girls do with their father with Sanjay. Amusement park rides, going to McDonald's, movies and all. He had once threatened to sue the entire school if I was scolded again. Well, the teacher had gotten really angry because I had corrected him one instance. Yet, Sanjay's reaction was extreme. I guess I was in 7th class at that time.

“Superstar, you’ve never been the one to give up either. If they two are Singh then so are you. Show the old man that you are his own granddaughter.” Sanjay suggested standing behind mom.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Jo, it is quite clear. Although your dadu loves you immensely he is also slightly orthodox. He wants a son to lead. He doesn’t have any boy. You’re a girl.” Sanjay tried to tell me.

“Sanjay, don’t go there. Dadu loves me and in no place does his find me incompetent. He always says that I am the only one who is good enough in this position.” I defended dadu. Sanjay sighed but said nothing more.

“All he is trying to say is that don’t give up, Jodha. At least try speaking to your dadu. Maybe you’ll get some idea. If you really want to stop whoever this new investor is, you need to gear up your game. Getting angry like this and throwing stuff is not going to help.” She explained. Mom was right. I can’t give up like this.

“What are you doing here?” Dad showed up and saw Sanjay.

“I came to see Jo.” Sanjay replied with a grin. Sanjay wasn’t some simple man dad could try to scare off. He was every inch a dominant alpha himself. Sanjay simply leaned against the door of my office.

“She is not your daughter, Mr Sharma. You do not have to worry about her. I am there to see that.” Dad said. It isn’t really difficult to notice the whole game of men between them.

“I know.Not everyone is as lucky as you to have a daughter. I wish I had a daughter.Sadly though, I don’t have a daughter.” Sanjay said with fake sadness. “So, I fulfill my wish with this gorgeous lady who is the sweetest daughter in the world. After all, Sanjana gave birth to her.”

“She is my daughter.” Dad stressed. “My heir. Don’t try to get all friendly with her.”

“Aakash, why don’t you relax a bit? Go stroll outside or something.” Sanjay commented. He walked to me. “Milady, you seem quite stressed. How about a lovely lunch? Its anyways lunch time. Let us three have a lovely lunch together and then you can get back to your stressful day with some good break.” He offered me his hand. I smiled and took it.

“Why, thank you, Sanjay.” I said.

“Seldom does a man get chance to have lunch with two beautiful ladies.” He added. No wonder why all women like him. He’s just naturally charming.

“Then I’ll go have lunch with my girlfriend. She is going to kill me if I’m late.” Jatin told me.

“Sure. Take flowers. You forgot last time.” I suggested because I knew he was going to be late for his lunch.

“Good call,I’ll remember.” He assured. Mom, Sanjay and I had lunch in a good restaurant nearby. The lunch was good. I had to admit that somewhere I did feel a little less stressed after spending time with them. Sanjay leaned against his car when he dropped me.

“Just remember, superstar. Don’t give up. You’ll come across several problems when you start working but it is more important to get over the stress and find away through. If not by hook then by crook.” He said.

“Sanjay, seriously? You’re asking her to be a little cunning? Don’t ruin my daughter to be like you.” Mom told him. I chuckled looking at them. They were the perfect couple.

“What? Just a suggestion. Business doesn’t work simply with innocence, sweetheart.” Sanjay insisted.

“Of course, you call for crook. You’re a lawyer.” Mom commented.

“You still like me. Isn’t that enough to say crook works?” Sanjay asked.

“Anyway, lovebirds. I’ll take off.” I told him. I waved at them and returned to my office and work.

Although I did my work, it did keep bugging me that soon, Rhea and Daisy were going to bring Arjun Khanna as an investor to our company and there is a hundred percent chance that he’ll ruin the company. My father’s wife Rhea and her daughter Daisy were in the company because Rhea was my dad’s wife. My relationship with Rhea was so superficial that it was only name sake. We only lived civil with each other because we didn’t want to disturb dad. Daisy worked as a model. Although she’ll make it sound to people like she’s a famous model, she’s not that well known.

Any case, I had decided that they will not ruin my company. After all, if dad brought up with a reminder everyday that I was his heir, I will not they them drown what is supposed to be mine. I would be willing to do everything to do everything for the sake of my company.

I checked the time when I finished the work. It was already 9. I quickly picked up my stuff and saw the car waiting for me outside. Raju, our family driver stood there.

“Dadu already sent you?” I asked with a smile.

“When you didn’t return with Aakash sir, he sent me to pick you up. Knowing how particular you are about work, I waited here.” He answered. I sat in the car.

“How’s Karishma?” I asked. Karishma was his daughter. She was probably in 8th grade right now.

“She’s doing fine. Like all the girls, she keeps asking for new things that her friends have.” He answered chuckling.

“Did she like the watch I sent her for her birthday?” I asked her.

“Oh, she loved it. She even asked me to thank you for it. Although, I still think you shouldn’t have brought such an expensive watch for her. I don’t let her wear it though out of fear that she’ll break it.” He told me.

“Raju, the watch was given to her so she could wear it not to put it as a decorative piece at home. I sent her an expensive watch to tell her that time is also as expensive as that watch. I wear expensive watch to remind myself how expensive my time really is.” I explained.

“She’s a child, Jodha. I don’t think she understands all that deep words. She is as of now more interested in having friends and going around with them. All I want for her is to be hard working as you. You were such a hard working child.” He said.

“Raju, I understand. I too agree that working hard is important but so is living life.You can’t skip one for the other. The thing is to prioritize time. When she does that, she’ll know automatically.” I assured him. We finally reached home.

I quickly walked up.

“You’re late.” Like she actually cares about me.

“I work. I get late.” I pointed out to Rhea.

“Acha, fine. Go freshen up quickly.” Dadi told me with a smile. “Shanti, put up a plate for her and serve food in a few moments.”

“Yes, dadi.” I answered and quickly jogged up. I took a quick bath and dashed down for dinner.

I looked at the dinner. Oh, lovely. Paneer and roti. Best.

“Shanti, please remove all this from my side. Urgh….” Daisy made her face. Of course, her only protein and light diet. “Makes me all weird. There's so much damn ghee on that roti.”

“Jodha, I think you should diet too. Look at Daisy. How well she maintains her figure, you should do it too. How will you find a boy to marry you if you grow more fat?” Rhea pointed out. Shanti and I looked at each other. ‘She’s calling me fat?’ We both had the same look.

“Sure…” I added dryly.

“Nonsense. All I see is stick in her. All of her bones will start showing very soon if she eats the things your daughter eats.” Dadu argued giving a look. “Shanti, put some more food to Jodha. God knows soon she’ll look like those coat hangers.” Dadu shuddered slightly to give dramatic effect. “Give me nightmares.”

“Dad, you don’t know of today’s fashion yet. Rhea and Daisy know better.” Dad told him.

“Aakash,you do not need to worry about this child. The man who is meant for her will like her for who she is rather than bother about how she looks.” Dadi defended me. I smiled at her.

“You’re the best, dadi.” I said to her.

“Mummy, the boy is not going to like her if she is fat.” Rhea argued. “I have met so many potential bachelors in the town. They all like girls who have a good and pleasing figure. She will also soon be the face of the company. We need someone who looks good.”

“As if I need a man to help me run the company, Rhea. I am well prepared to run the company. I don’t need a husband to run the company.” I commented.

“You say all this but when you face the truth, you will know.” Rhea said. “Tell her, Aakash. How will it work this way?”

I finished dinner without further arguments. I don’t want her to ruin my paneer masala and ghee roti. A human who doesn’t appreciate food is not worthy to have good food. After all, the whole sign that someone is rich is that they can afford good food every day.

Soon, dadu had called everyone in his study.

“I was thinking about retiring. It is my age to rest and enjoy. Now, the question arises as to who will take over my position in the company.” Dadu announced.

It was the topic which had been wondered by everyone but everyone kept their mouths closed on the questioned.

“Rightfully as your son, Aakash should have the position.” Rhea commented with a chuckle.“What is the huge need to call everyone and announce him as the successor?Everyone knows it. It’s the thing going on for ages. Sons get the right of the family throne.”

Dad smiled at her.

“That isyour assumption, Rhea.” Dadu said. “Aakash is already on the throne as the CEO and Vice Chairman. I don’t want to burden him much. My father gave me this throne when I married my beautiful wife. I will give it to my son in law.”

“Dad, you have no daughter. I’m your only child.” Dad said.

“I have granddaughters, Aakash.” He pointed out.

“What?” I asked in shock. “Dadu, please be logical. I can’t believe this. You’re going to have some random man sit on the company’s board of directors as the Chairman? You must be joking.”

“Do you mean that you’re counting me in too?” Daisy asked.

“Of course. Although you are not my blood, I was made to accept you when my son married your mother. Hence, I am forced to consider you too.” Dadu answered.

“You mean to say that stupid oaf of her boyfriend could possibly become the chairman? Excuse my language but you seem to have lost it, dadu. I can’t believe you’re considering that idiot Tarun. I did not waste 14 years of my life for this day.I worked my backside off for this company and I am not going to see some dumbhead become the chairman and ruin it.”

“Then you find someone who is better than him, Jodha.” Dadu answered like it was such a simple solution.

“So, everything comes down to a man? How stupid is this? Dadu, please be serious. It has to be either dad or me. Don’t throw these stupid conditions. You want me to suddenly spin some man to save this company. Even if I agree it, you must be really crazy to think that a man will love the company and care for it like you, dad or I do. A perfect man doesn’t exist. You are actually speaking of a son in law and not a boyfriend so very naturally, you’re expecting to have us married or engaged. That is a serious decision. You are assuming that there is a man who will be a good leader to the company and be a good husband to me? You are seriously not in your senses.” I said in irritation. First dad was being so stupid today morning and now dadu. What is wrong with men in this family?

“Bete, when you find a man who truly loves you, he will care for what you love dearly.”Dadu said.

"Oh, please, dadu. Go tell these fairy tales to Karishma. I’m not a child. I understand the realities of life. To assume that a man will love me and understand my ambitions is stupid. You’re genetically obliged to support me. A man who is not related to me is not obliged to support and understand my ambitions. Prince Charming doesn’t exist. Also, it is rather disgusting to think that you, out of all people, are being so orthodox that there should only be a man as the head of company? In what world are you living in? This is actually very disappointing to me.” I answered.

I don’t care I sounded rude but this was my 14 years of hard work and dadu is putting it up in a gold tray and giving it to some stranger.

Originally posted by: kriya_12

Congratulations for new story.....🤗

Thanks ❤️

Originally posted by: Aishu.R

What an Awesom Start!!

This one is going to be interesting past mixed with present.

And you already discribed the Jalal's part beautifully, now waiting to know Jodha's story.

Looking forward to read more of this wonderful story

I'm glad you're liking it.

Keep enjoying. 😉