Chapter 2
He was standing near the lobby waiting for her. Though he appeared
calm, he was boiling with anger from inside. How could that little chit dare to
lie to him? What made her so desperate to take such a drastic step? Since last
five months she had never taken any extra leave, she had always been sincere
and efficient in her work. Now what could be the reason for being so desperate
to lie! When he saw her near the pool earlier he could not believe his eyes for
a moment. He was shocked to see her in a completely different attire. Now that
he had time to clear his mind, he cannot help but noticed her beauty. Ofcourse
she was beautiful, he knew that the day she had joined his office. But now it
felt different to him and he could not reason with it.
He spiraled back into his past where it all begin……He grew up in a
joint family of royals which hailed from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He had a
family filled with every other honourable profession; his grandparents were
both doctors and had continued to serve the royalty for generations. His father
and uncles though opted to stand out and become Engineer’s and MBA’s the first
their family ever produced. Their eldest sister had choosed to be a doctor but
a veterinarian much to her grandparent’s resentment, but they eventually
reconciled and accepted her. The youngest of the generation was Aditya’s father
who became Engineer had worked at Kirloskar’s before starting up his own
start-up of manufacture and export at young age of 30. Everything had been
smooth but for the untimely accident of their grandparents which broke havoc in
there jubilant lives. There started the struggles for the Estate and 4 brothers
and a sister couldn’t bear anyone getting the other thing and soon things were
turning malicious.
Things went in so sour between the blood brothers that his dad had
no other option but to move on with his family and they soon moved to Mumbai,
taking his business along with him. It took nearly 3 years for the business to
recover and the loan had snowballed. Aditya was 10 when his mother passed away
with cancer. His father had been very sunny and gleeful all for the sake of
Aditya and his younger brother ever since he became a widower. He managed his
business and brought up his children at the cost of his own joy. He had to play
a part of both the parents for the two and he did it so passionately that he
neglected his own happiness. Being widowed at late 30’s and not remarring is as
uncommon in India as Parsi getting married before 30. He put both his children
through school in I.E.S. or then called as king George School, Dadar. They
lived in a Bungalow in Girgaun then a very prosperous locality
post-Independence. His father was an atheist but insisted on Aditya and his
brother Suraj to follow their own heart. He would take them to all Ganpati
Festivals especially Girgaun-cha-raja. During Visarjan they would end up
sitting on the terrace and paying respect to every other Idol that would pass
there house. Weekend would be dedicated to family time at-times girgaun
chowpatty or Juhu or a drive to marine drive for getting desserts from
Bachelors or eating out at Bademiyas. His dad made it a point to not getting
his work at home so the brothers won’t know his agony.
Aditya was admitted to B. Com. and he graduated at tender age of
22. He soon took up to become MBA from Sydenham College and outclassed everyone
. His brother Suraj a year younger to him had done his 12th and
had given up on studies. He choosed to loaf around for a year with friends as
before and soon his dad had to straighten him out and secure him through
engineering degree at Belgaun, a place out of Maharshtra far from his friends.
May be that’s what was required because soon his interest started coming back
and his grades improved. He topped since his second year till completion.
Aditya was 24 and in UK attending company placement at ICICI when
he got a phonecall saying his father had met with an accident. He had fallen of
their bunglows balcony and no one knew why and what he was doing up there. Back
in 1991 there was major economic crisis that hit India and Aditya’s dad had his
investments crashed around him. A moderate occasional drinker had taken to
heavy drinking and had tried to end his life. Aditya’s world started to
collapse around itself, he cancelled the interview took the earliest flight
back to Bombay. His father had been confirmed paraplegic and was lying
unconscious back in K.E.M. Hospital when he reached. His brother was there
sitting next to him and sobbing his heart out. The doctor said there's internal
injury to the brain. They have relieved the hematoma but the treatment was
delayed and prognosis was guarded till his father had full consciousness. It
took 5 days for him to open his eyes. He had lost his speech and his
memory to the extent he didn’t recognize his sons.
Eversince then it was Aditya who jumped into his dads business and
revived it. He forsake his own life, abandoned all his desires and dreams he
ever had and endeavored through last 6 years years. Those 8
years he had his bedridden-dad to take care off and weren’t smooth either.
Bombay Riots in 1993 had claimed their beloved bungalow to fascism of regional
party. They survived and now lived in 2BHK flat in Colaba ever since. Now at 33
he was finally gaining success and momentum back in his business. All these
years just passed without him indulging in friends, it would be business
meeting, corporate presentations, targets, achievements for him. He thought to
himself of going back to his ambitions to live in UK and USA; going solo bike
expedition across India; starting back Photography his precious hobby; Visiting
Srilanka, Andamans, Lakshwadeep, Mauritius, South pole; doing adventure sports,
but it all ended up on a shelve of to-do-things. He had fallen in love once
back in college days she ran out on him with his best friend, he had been
betrayed now too often by his faith and god that he felt so let down that he
had promised himself he won’t let anyone into his life ever again not even god.
He thought he understood his father why he choose to be an aethist, after all
he had seen in his lifetime. He thought he would be happier alone for now and
he continued to think d same till date. He hardly had time to spare for
anyone as he prioritized his work and it did win him all the prosperity and the
awards he would get as young entrepreneur from various organization. He
featured in Forbes, Business today atleast once a year mostly for his
contributions to philanthropy which he often requested for alias names for
reasons unknown to even him. He preferred giving away donations was easier than
giving anyone his time. He would end up putting 365 days of the year in his
work. Even on Sundays he would sit at his office and go through each exchange
details to cross examine them thoroughly. He found a way of getting things done
from his employees and often in disagreement or incompletion they would be
politely asked to leave the office. He had grown cold to his employees for he
wanted them target oriented like him. Delay was met with iciness at first,
dressing-down the second time and ended up with a pink slip at the third. Same
had happened to his last secretary within a month she joined and to 20 other
before her. They all lasted maximum of 3 months. He needed someone to type his
letters, attend his calls, arrange his meeting, serve him basically 9-6
otherwise he would have done past without a secretary. In the office he would
give away huge bonus at Diwali to everyone, and everyone would receive their
payslips on time; above that they hardly ever had indulged in office trips or
any functions. There was no Laxmi-Puja neither Dasera celebrations nor
Christmas trees ever seen in corridors for the past 8 years now.
His father occupied his remainder of time whatever he could
dedicate to. He would Shave, Bathe, comb and dress his father everyday early
morning. Over the past 8 years his father had gained his motor functions but
remembered hardly anything. He would stare blankly at his son, take whatever
was offered to him by his hired attendant and not speak a word. Aditya tried
teaching him writing to communicate with him but in vain. His father a jolly
person was lost and no one knew how and why they ended up onto this stage.
Undefeated Aditya would try and communicate with his dad for he was the only
person he could talk it out too. He received no advice nor did he need one, his
heart knew what was necessary, he just wanted someone hear him out, run finger
along his hair tell him it’s gonna be all right soon or hug him.
His Brother on the other hand had moved on, he got married and
worked his way up in Reliance, had roamed half the world on his companies
money, had social life on weekends, was blessed with a babygirl all that Aditya
could only aspire for. His brothers choose to believe his father had tried to end
his life and leave the two brothers on their own and he had no obligation to
serve him all through his bedridden life. Even Adi would never ask for any such
help over the years and they grew distant with each being involved in their own
life. It had been 2 years since they saw each other now and last they remember
meeting was for Suraj’s wedding. Suraj had a love marriage with a middle class
girl and he choose to be on his own soon after his dad’s incident. He worked
around a lot of places before he choose to settle and then lived in outskirts
of Mumbai in Belapur. He indulged in being a family man and off recent had
developed vices no one knew. He would go drinking and tank out with his
friends, and would end up sobering up all Sundays at their bachelor pad. His
marriage was running into a rough patch with his new found love for alcohol.
His wife found out and had asked Aditya for little help straightening him out,
although Aditya never promised anything to her and how could he make a blank
promise.
As he was thinking all this pacing the floor, he saw Sara walking
towards him near the lobby. Something about her whole appearance startled him.
Her gracious, yet dignified walk surprised him but pleasantly. Though her eyes
were moving around him nervously, he could sense that she was scared and she
should be because of what she had done, he thought. She was wearing a bright
yellow dress knee length and a elegant pair of sandals with a yellow bow on it.
Alongwith her she was carrying envy. She was envied by the fact that her boss
had to show up right at the place where she choose to relax herself and he had
to spoil it for her. He could have let go for it was her first time, but here
he was yelling at her and demanding to serve him out of all. What kind of person
can be so ignorant? She knew from her looks the other day even he felt she
needed a break and time to unwind, what could drive a person to do so
misjudgemental.
As soon as they meet Aditya asked her to start up his laptop and
type in a few mails as dictated and these were urgent. He could have done it
himself he knew so why was the sense of domination that took over him all of a
sudden. Those mails could have waited over the weekend too, and maybe it was
just the lust for control over people got the better of him. The mails were
standard on delivery and payment issues and had a standard format so it hardly
took them an hour to get done with it. He had ordered a coffee for both of them
by the time they finished. Sara hadn’t collected herself completely from what
happened and was hoping it to end soon. She was thinking of going back home and
crying her heart out. For all she knew she could be fired this monday. Soon it
was lunch time, Aditya asked if she wanted to have lunch with him out of
nowhere? She declined politely; she said Kamya’s would be waiting for her
wherein she actually didn’t want to spend any more time with her devil of a
boss. Aditya got up all of a sudden went to reception and seemed to dial some
no and speak over the phone. He was back in a minute and told Sara, Kamya would
be joining them soon. He had called her up and had asked her to come down for
lunch. When Kamya walked in she was in a tank top and a skirt and pair of
flipflops making noise all over the floor. Kamya knew how to be carefree even
if her best friend’s boss was the one inviting her. If possible she would have
given it to him for being this rude and self-obsessed, but she knew her
friend’s job was in jeopardy so she choose to irate him as little as she could.
They had a very silent lunch with Kamya giving cold stares to Aditya discretly
and fiddling with her fork on her empty plate to annoy him. The trick worked
and soon they landed up in their respective rooms for the afternoon. Aditya had
insisted on paying the bills but Kamya had to stick it to him by sharing the
amount.
Back in the room Kamya had already made plans to drive down to
Lonavala a short drive from there resort and spend their evening watching
sunset from the Tiger point. Sara was sobbing like a child and kamya knew
keeping her accessible to her boss would make it even worse. Kamya knew a lot
of places from her earlier outings with all her college friends and could have
been a great travel guide to her folks. Kamya drove all the way while Sara
slept on the passenger seat. They had Maggi and drank hot cuppa tea at the
point. Brought 2 quarters of old monk for the night from a liquor store in
Lonavala. Kamya had to shop for her favorite chocolate fudge and Lonavala
Chikki and tried to get Sara involved too. They had little time to go to Bushi
dam as it was nearing dark so they choosed to drive back. On her way back Sara
drove and was feeling a little better putting behind all the misfortune of the
morning.
They had reach their resort at around 8 and decided to grab a lit
lunch before they downed there alcohol. Aditya was sitting there on a table all
alone fiddling with his laptop and phone by his ear. His food was getting cold
and had to be slid behind to accommodate his laptop. Both the girls felt sad
for him for a moment, they had never seen someone so lonely and
surrounded by couples or family having a roar over their table, cracking jokes,
sharing food. Across his table sat a group of 5 friends doing cheers
occasionally clinching there beer mugs. He saw them across the hall and
signaled Sara to come to his table with his fingers, and all their feeling went
down the drain, replaced with what the hell. At 8 it wasn’t office hours either
to be at his command, but Sara had to walk mutely over to his table. She pulled
a chair and asked Kamya also to join. Aditya explained he was in a conference
call with his clients in US and was finding it very difficult to note down
their requirements. He basically needed help and could have asked it politely
but then him being whatever he was he had to command it out of his secretary.
Sara obliged and what other option she had after the morning threat that she
had received. It was over in a while and they had finally put the phone down
and closed the laptop of his. For the first time in last 5 months Aditya
uttered ‘Thanks’ to Sara and seemed to have forgotten about the early morning
incident. One look over his food and he gave up on it, signaled a waiter to
take it away. Kamya had never seen a person so impolite who would get things
done at the swish of his hand, she felt sorry for Sara.
Just when everything it seemed to end with the girls getting up to
go to their room, Aditya announced dinner’s on him. He had already called for
the waiter who stood mutely by their table. Kamya was beginning to argue saying
they had their plans for dinner when he simply waved her to stop it. He ordered
a full butter chicken and roti’s for the table and waved at kamya for anything
else she wanted. She was too blown away to respond while Sara said nothing else
to the waiter. Kamya couldn’t take it lying down as Sara was, so she decided to
irritate Aditya with questions he had never been asked before. And she had to
start with questions on his family his mom, dad whether any siblings he had,
about his passions, future plans.
“So where do u live?”
“Colaba…”
“Tell us about ur parents”
“There is nothing left to tell…mom passed away when I was 10, dads
been bedridden since I was 24”
Kamya for the first time felt sorry for him but she had only
revenge on her mind.
“what u do on weekends. Is it only office or have a private life
besides it??”
“Not much of private life…. Days are the same for me…be it weekday
or weekend… I have neither family to eat away my time nor any friends”
“So why no friends …. why such a loner all this while. Sara tells
me u never attend dinner or any meeting other than office work”
“Never felt the need to…. I don’t want to keep unnecessary
distractions”
“What about siblings, cousins?”
“I have a younger brother otherwise no family”
“So what about him. U meet him”
“Havent of late”
“Whar are ur passions…when u get married….what u wanna do in life”
“Get married sometime when it feels right. Earn enough to retire
in another 15 years and then roam around the world”
“Why not now?”
“No one capable to replace me!! ”
“So u will need 15 years to find someone?”
“Hopefully. World can’t be so hopeless” he didn’t say it for Sara
as a taunt but it was understood otherwise by both the girls.
“What are u doing here at this resort…. Any meeting ”
“Yes…. But its tomorrow… was gonna leave for office when I saw my
secretary here and the work could just be completed here so stayed back…..”
This was meant for Sara…. Kamya saw her shifting uncomfortably in her seat and
knew she had to take a time out. More questions would have just burdened her
friend’s despair.
Aditya was trying his best to be polite all the time keeping his
replies to bare minimum as he munched on his food, he couldn’t show he was
uncomfortable especially to a no one like Kamya but in the back of his mind he
never wanted to tell anything to either of the girls.Sara kept mum all this
while secretly listening to all their talk and she was finally having some
office gossip to share on him. Aditya for once felt nervous on topics of love
and marriage to them both and before Kamya could get more on his nerves he had
waived to the waiter for a check.
Chapter 3
It was an early morning call that woke up Kamya. She answered it
and to her disbelief it was Sara’s boss calling up at 7 in the morning. He
wanted them to join him for breakfast by 8 and he quoted “In decent clothes”.
What would he want that for she wondered. She woke up Sara who for a change had
a very peaceful sleep and didn’t look all gloomy. They were both invited so
they got ready with Kamya choosing a Purple salwar kamiz and jeans whereas Sara
borrowed Kamya’s yellow kurta and leggings to go along with her sandals. They had
reached the cafeteria 10 mins earlier and Aditya sitting with another gentleman
casually dressed in 3/4th and a T-shirt. As they reached Aditya got up to
introduce them and so did the other guy. Look on Sara’s face changed in a flash
like she had received a lighting jolt, Kamya had the same look on hers.
There he standing at a handshake distance with his piercing green
eyes…….
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