And then there is you. (Abhiya ff) chp 5 updated.6.10.2016 - Page 4

Chapter 3.

"Someday, we'll run into each other again, I know it.
Maybe I'll be older and smarter and just plain better. If that happens,
that's when I'll deserve you. But now, at this moment, you can't hook
your boat to mine, because I'm liable to sink us both."
Gabrielle Zevin, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

Abhay cast a bored look around the auditorium he hated it all the facade the fake smiles plastered on hypocrite faces, he just couldn't bear it anymore. And to think that not too long ago he had admired all of this, yearned for the success he had now achieved, life was inexplicable in his opinion. "Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the most deserving win of tonight, Mr Abhay Raichand CEO of Raichand group of companies" Arnab Dobriyal smiled beckoning Abhay to the podium and Abhay sighed inwardly. He weaved his way to the dais and received his award thanking Mr Dobriyal perfunctorily. In the audience he could see his entire family his parents, his brother Sid and Panchi, his heart had thumped guiltily in his rib cage. Why was he doing this to them, pushing them away from him. What happened was destiny not his family's doing they did not deserve this alienation but his heart had stopped beating for such trivial reasons now. Wins and losses he believed were just colors in the large canopy of a visage called life.

Chand Raichand relaxed on the crimson oversized couch at Raichand Mansion, he was a man of principles a strict individual who had chiseled away the imperfections in his life to turn it into a masterpiece. At forty eight he was the President of Raichand group of companies. His legacy included a real Estate Empire, one that had earned him immense fame and monetary assets. He had done well on his home front too, his wife Haseena had initially been a business deal a step towards his future success but he had been lucky enough for that calculated step to result in a lifelong companionship. Haseena Sahay was daughter to Arvind Sahay a well-known business magnate, smart, educated and witty she had been a good match for the charismatic entrepreneur. Her father had been shrewd enough to gauge Chand's interest in her and had offered him her hand provided he remain in their household and pledge his eternal loyalty to Arvind and Haseena. Haseena being his only offspring Arvind had found it best to train and mold Chand into the successful Real Estate mogul he had now become. Over the years love had blossomed between them and a quiet understanding had come with the birth of their sons.

"Papa I think the property near Pacific Mall is worth looking into" Siddharth opined sitting opposite his father on the comfy loveseat. The family had been overjoyed by Abhay's win of Most Talented Entrepreneur for the Year Award. Chand had had no qualms about either of his sons winning the award he knew they were perfect but Haseena like any mother had been a nervous wreck and afterwards a proud parent. Dinner being over Haseena and Panchi had taken to the kitchen to clean up while the men had gathered around the massive stone fireplace in the living room to discuss business. Abhay had entered the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee when he heard his mother talk to Panchi in hushed tones. It wasn't that she would have hidden any conversation from him but she knew the topic was sensitive to him and so refrained. "Mom don't you think it's time we start looking for a girl for Abhay?" Panchi's voice floated. "I want to beta you know that" Haseena's weary voice followed "but he won't consent to anyone of our choice." "But Mom how long do you think this is going to go on?" Panchi was now irritated; Abhay could see her take out his coffee beans from the kitchen cabinet and put them in the grinder. "He doesn't sleep, doesn't go out, doesn't even eat properly Mom... I can't see him like this" she was close to tears now and Abhay's heart had filled with love for her. He had never had a sister but with Panchi that void had been filled forever.

Abhay suddenly felt claustrophobic, true he had every luxury at the bat of an eyelid but some things could not be bought in life, they had to be sought. "Mom I'll be home soon" he had informed Haseena from the kitchen doorway retreating his steps to his own room. Lacing his Skechers he walked into the misty night, it had been exceptionally cool since the past few days in Dehradoon. Cutting through the billowing wisps of fog he had tread his familiar path again, the one that wound through the woods adjacent to their house. Raichand Mansion was built to impress, the colossal columned structure appeared to be crafted after ancient Roman edifices. At Haseena's insistence Chand had hired the country's top architects and the result was a massive Napolean marble and granite extravaganza, complete with an orchard, three gardens, a tennis court, an olympic size pool and water fountains. The cherry red dome visible from the valley below, it was a landmark in itself. Haseena had inherited an impeccable taste from her mother and had left no stone unturned to make her abode comfortable, elegant and classic, a feat she prided herself on.

As Abhay jogged he felt his anxiety recede into nothingness, the cool wind blew through his silken hair as he picked up speed. Nights, he loved them free of the noise, pollution and disturbance. He liked to have the world to himself. The forest was silent apart from the occasional howling of a distant wolf. He would have carried on had he not heard a faint whimper; his legs had stopped on their own volition. Was it an animal or human? This neck of the woods was often known to harbor lost travelers, maybe someone had lost their way or some animal was in peril. He made his way carefully to the edge of the lake that stood in the middle of the forest. His eyes had picked out a huddled form perched atop a large rock not far away. "Hello! Are you hurt?" he asked the shadow, the form had raised its head then and turned his way. From the dim moonlight he could see it was a woman, frightened too as she scrambled to get her footing and subsequently failing to do so. Abhay had rushed forward to help but the girl seemed in a great hurry. She whimpered yet again clutching her foot in agony. "Are you ok?" Abhay had neared her cautiously; he could see she had long curly hair that curtained her face. "Please!" she whispered choking on sobs "don't come near me" her soft voice was comparable to the babble of a running stream. For a moment Abhay stood mesmerized, was she a dream or a reality, the forest was known to harbor many dangers as well as secrets. Taking advantage of his momentary lapse she had picked up her skirt and limped away disappearing in the thick foliage leaving Abhay to watch silently at her retreating figure.

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panchi is sad for abhay nd wants his happiness. lovely bonding between abhay-panchi. abhay met a girl in forest .is this pia?

lovely update.. If the girl is pia then its awesome meeting but abhay couldnt see her face but he is mesmerized by her.

lovely update
like the bond between panchi & abhay
that girl was piya ? the forest one

Originally posted by: Supervampire

panchi is sad for abhay nd wants his happiness. lovely bonding between abhay-panchi. abhay met a girl in forest .is this pia?

Originally posted by: --Evil_Angel--

lovely update.. If the girl is pia then its awesome meeting but abhay couldnt see her face but he is mesmerized by her.

Originally posted by: bellaaa

lovely update
like the bond between panchi & abhay
that girl was piya ? the forest one

Chapter 4

"It is often in the darkest
skies that we see the
brightest stars."
Richard Evans

Piya had changed the cold compress on her ankle pushing a pillow underneath it for elevation, she had twisted her ankle badly scrambling down the rock and the walk home hadn't helped her case at all. Moreover the fact that she would have to come up with a lie to explain it to her uncle made her restless, she despised falseness to the core but it had become a need for survival. She had hated her life in that moment; her entire existence was a fruitless exercise in her opinion. A slow tear had trickled down her cheek which she had wiped away mercilessly. The October wind had found its way through her shuttered windows making it all the more cold.

She had observed her cramped quarters grimly; there was nothing that belonged to her apart from her books and her trophies. Nothing that was a token of love given by someone who actually cared about her presence, true she had friends specially Misha but that was all that she was, a friend. Someone who had no idea of her life inside these walls, despite her anguish Piya had never let anyone decipher the real her. To the world she was a cheerful college going teen that lived a somewhat happy life at her uncle's the reality was rather different. Her uncle and his family had made it a point to distance themselves and her from the society making it all the more difficult for Piya to have someone to talk to. Even Misha did not know that she was starved for trivial errors and whipped for breaking rules the reason her nightly excursions were so precious to her.

She wished for the millionth time that her parents hadn't abandoned her and left her to rot at her uncle's. She had no recollection of them; it was if the eight years of her life prior to Dehradoon were erased from existence. She only knew what her uncle had claimed to have happened, her being abandoned by her parents and being dumped at his doorstep. Her uncle had reminded her on countless occasions how he had reached the zenith of generosity by taking her in. True she was luckier than most orphans who were more often than not left to fend for themselves but life had not been kind to her too. Her earliest memories were of Praveen Jaiswal making it clear that she was unwanted, a burden that he had been forced to accept as her mother was his sister. Her room was a dingy, small space that comprised of a bed and a wardrobe; there was no place for anything else in it. The three meals she was fed each day were hard earned by her; she helped with the household chores and tutored her younger cousin Pooja. Over the years the members of the family had come to treat her like a servant , one who was available at their beck and call. Maybe, Piya thought she could have borne all this too but her uncle's behavior towards her made her feel like a vile creature someone he couldn't wait to dispose of.

Laying her book on her chest she had closed her wet eyes. Her peculiar meeting with the stranger in the woods had left her distressed and angry. That was her sanctuary, her part of the woods where no one bothered her, where she was free to be herself. She had stumbled upon the lake trekking on her own one evening and had fallen in love with it in an instant. Be it any hour she could go there and find peace but the stranger had found her there, disturbed the tranquility with his curiosity now she would have to avoid it for a couple of days. Thumping her pillow in despair she had tried to make herself comfortable but alas tonight was a night like many others spent by her in Jaiswal House, devoid of any comfort.

"Tanushree Ambolker, " Abhay had lifted his cold grey eyes to meet his assistant's frightened gaze who stood shivering in her heels, today was her last day at the office she was sure of it. "I had asked you to prepare these expense reports last week" he had admonished her, his voice low yet menacing "what have you been doing all this while?" It was a simple enough task in his view, one that an assistant should be able to handle. "S-S-Sir ... I-I-I was going to complete them today" she had tried to explain biting on her freshly manicured nails. "Get . Out. Ambolker, and type your resignation before 5:00pm. I hope you'll be able to manage that" Abhay spat throwing her file at her feet. "Sir please Sir..." Tanushree had pleaded wringing her hands in dismay. "I SAID OUT!!!" Abhay had roared flinging the glass door to his office open he had held Tanushree by her arm and pushed her in the hallway. A hush had fallen over the otherwise buzzing office as the other employees watched the drama unfold before their eyes.

"Your. Resignation. On. My. Table... Now!" he had emphasized each word through gritted teeth his flint eyes ablaze, he had closed the door on her face her tears making him loathe her all the more. "Damn it!" he had fumed pacing his expansive cabin angrily this was the third assistant he had sacked in two months his father would definitely be on his case now. He wondered why girls like Tanushree even bothered to apply for a job in the first place when all they cared for were the newest Prada heels for their Dior dress. "Malhotra, come in my cabin" he had mouthed in the phone before cutting the call. Enough was enough Siddharth had done his share of hiring for him, yes he knew being Vice President meant Siddharth overlooking the HR department but he could not bear to be tortured in the name of another intern. Aakash had tapped on the door requesting permission to enter and Abhay had nodded curtly at him. "Malhotra get me an assistant who can finish these reports" he had barked at him "and in the meantime get me the minutes for our last Board meeting." Taking off his coat he had flung it on his Ergonomic swivel chair, followed by his tie, unbuttoning his shirt front he had stood near the open bow windows letting the cool breeze thaw his bubbling ire, he knew it would be a long day today.

Aakash had heaved a sigh of relief on escaping from the lion's headquarters unscathed, it was a well-known fact that Abhay's employees had nicknamed him the "Winter Lion" owing to his tempestuous deportment and flint grey eyes. Pushing a set of numbers he had quickly dialed the woman who knew how to handle Abhay Raichand. "You'd better come soon, Tanushree got fired and I can't find anything on her computer, I wonder if she even knew how to take notes during a business meeting." Cutting the call he had clutched his hair in despair, how was he to recover the minutes now, he was just a junior accountant. An hour later Maya had strolled in the silent office while some had smiled at her others had felt relief course through their veins, now maybe the boss could calm down. Putting her files on her desk Maya had proceeded to make a cup of coffee for her temperamental boss and tapped on his door to grant him knowledge of her presence.

Minutes later Abhay sat sipping the coffee as if it were elixir itself, Maya had chuckled then "Why so glum?" she had chirped taking a seat opposite him. "I'll make the expense reports don't worry. We don't balance the ledgers till Friday and till then I can get Aakash to help me with the payroll. Siddhant Sir can handle the budget with the Accounts department" she had tried to assuage him. "That idiot woman didn't know s**t. Why did Sid have to hire her in the first place? You're his personal assistant damn it you're supposed to advise him on these hires" he was in no mood to forgive anyone this evening. "Language Abhay..." Maya had admonished him gently, knowing full well the only reason he wasn't ripping her head off was because they had been classmates and good friends prior to her joining the Raichand Group of companies. "Abhay she was an intern, you cannot expect them to know everything" she had continued in the same strain. "Shouldn't they at least try to learn something?" he had scoffed, he was right she admitted Raichand group of Companies was hailed the best in the country for the standards they had set something Siddharth had been continually overlooking while hiring assistants for Abhay.

"Maya you know I'm not going to get involved with any of them" he had murmured softly, and Maya had averted her guilt ridden eyes he wasn't as dumb as Siddharth considered him to be. He knew Panchi and Siddharth had been on a mission to find a suitable partner for him and he did not hold it against them but his office was his refuge, the only place he could forget her and Siddharth was hell bent on destroying the few remnants of sanity he had in his life. "Just find someone like you to take over, I can't have all my work pending because my family wants a toy to play with" his tone had hardened now and Maya understood the message she would have to relay to Siddharth - to let him be.

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nyc update...T is out then who is in? hope for pia

i didnt want this update to end.. It was so nice.. A proper insight into everythng.. And abhay.. I can see an excellent story coming ahead..!!