OS - MY SINCERE APOLOGIES - Part 6 Page 21 - Page 13

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Life in Bombay was very different from the mundane life of Rajkot. There was some party or another to attend. It was in one of these parties that she met Kunal Ahuja. Kunal was standing in one corner away from the noisy crowd. Smoking, one cigarette after another, deep in thought. Kunal , looked out of place in that party.

It was impossible not to notice Kunal, one would be attracted to him even without him saying a word. It was not his looks that attracted people to him. He was very averaging looking. He was about five feet eight inches tall. So it was not his overbearing height that brought him into notice. It was his body language that one could not ignore. The message he was giving was very clear – "Don't come bother me. I have a lot on my mind than to small talk with any of you here. Stay away and if I insult you, you have no right to hold it against me."

Kunal Ahuja certainly had a lot going on in his mind. He had stopped living for himself a long time ago. He was raised in a middle class family. Father was a bank manager in a local bank in Bombay and mother was a school teacher. Since both his parents were working and Kunal being the only child, the family could indulge in lot more luxuries, than a family with the same income having more kids or responsibilities of grandparents. He completed his MBA finance at the age of twenty four and started working for an international bank. He was brilliant at work. At the age of thirty he was the vice president of the investment banking division for the whole of India. He moved with the rich and famous. He was on first name basis with many big wigs of the Bollywood film industry advising them how to invest their hard earned money. Life was certainly good.

When he first noticed he was losing interest in his job, he thought he was overworked and took a one month break. He went to Australia and New Zealand. It was a great holiday. When he returned he still lacked the enthusiasm and vigor that he previously had towards his work. To add to that he felt a pang of guilt every time he drove through Bombay city and saw kids sleeping on pavements or begging for food or selling magazines and flowers at traffic light. This guilt started haunting him day and night. He could not bring himself to eat at fancy restaurants; he ended up remaining hungry when he entertained clients. He gave a huge donation to an orphanage, but he still could not find the peace.

He was laughed at when he discussed his dilemma with friends and colleagues. He was advised to be practical and remember he had a successful life ahead of him. He should not throw it all way. Kunal was at the crossroad of his life. His work was not giving him satisfaction and he did not understand why he felt suddenly felt guilty all the time when he saw underprivileged kids. Kunal finally turned to his mother for guidance. Kunal's mother had always been his spiritual guru. He always turned to her when he could not find practical answers elsewhere. It was after days of discussion with his mother that Kunal came to a conclusion that he was being directed into another life. It was a spiritual calling that he works for the benefit of underprivileged children.

The path ahead was clear and without confusion. Kunal's parents were financially independent and did not need him to support them. Kunal had made very sensible investments in the six years of his working life. Those investments would give him a sustained income to live a simple life. He had bought a lavish home in a posh locality. He sold that house and shifted in with his parents once again. The profit from the sale of his house gave him capital to start his work for the children that he felt so passionately about.

All this happened five years ago before the day Rashi and Kunal met. Kunal seldom attended parties. He was at the party that day, on the insistence of his best friend Rahul. Kunal could refuse anyone but Rahul. Rahul would do anything for Kunal and vice versa. Kunal was deep in thought as usual again that night about some kid or the other. He was in the party in body, but the mind was with his kids in the various slums around Bombay

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I have introduced Kunal Ahuja's character. This whole part is dedicated to him. Next part will be about his and Rashi's journed toghather. Pls pls pls tell me if you like it or not? Your feedback is really appreciated.

do continue really very soon