Chapter 1
“Yes. The deal is final and my office will handle the last bit of paperwork and inform your office in the next couple of days. Thanks.” Rudra hung up and took a deep breath. He had successfully closed this important business deal and felt a sense of accomplishment. It was his third year working with his brothers and he had slowly learned the process of the business, starting at the bottom.
Unlike Shivaay and Tej, Om and Jhanvi had supported his decision to slowly move up the ranks so that he understood the functioning and challenges of each rank before he sat at the top making decisions. The successful completion of this deal, in a way, marked his graduation from what he had considered to be an informal business school. He had studied hard for three years and now felt ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brothers without feeling guilty that he had just been handed over a privilege.
“Who would have believed I could be this serious…Including me!” Rudra thought.
” I always hid behind levity to avoid facing the seriousness that I knew life carried. Now I know that seriousness and light-heartedness can co-exist.” He felt satisfied with his accomplishment but the sense of happiness he was looking for was missing. And he knew why. He slowly got up and went over to Om’s cabin.
” The deal is done O. ” Rudra informed simply.
Om looked up from his computer screen and grinned widely. He still had medium length hair and a light stubble. “I knew you could do it Rudra.” I’m said as he closed his laptop and got up. He walked over to where Rudra was standing and gave him a big hug. ” Let’s go home and share this wonderful news with Shivaay. He will be so proud of you. Now you must listen to him Rudra, and take the position he wants you to take. You have earned it with your hard work in the last three years.”
Rudra nodded as they left the office.
At Oberoi mansion, Shivaay sat in his office deep into thought as he looked through some papers. His concentration was broken by the entrance of his brothers. “Rudra has some news for you Shivaay.” Om said with excitement.
Shivaay looked carefully at the duo for a brief second. Then a big smile broke out on his face. He got up and went up to them. “Rudra, successfully closed the deal with the Mehra group of hotels.”
“How did you know bhaiya?” Rudra said taken aback.
Shivaay laughed as he gave Rudra a big bear hug. ” Instinct and more than twenty years of having studied various expressions of the two of you.”
There was a sense of celebration in Oberoi mansion. Everyone was super excited about Rudra’s success as it meant the next step in his life.
“This is a big day for us Rudy!” Anika chirped as they sat in the living area having tea.
“Bidday Oody” said the tiny creature sitting in Rudra’s lap as she planted a kiss on his right arm that encircled her cute little belly.
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Anya! Say Chachu.” Anika reprimanded mildly.
“Ooody” the imp repeated defiantly eliciting even more laughter from everyone.
“Leave it bhabhi!” Rudra said laughing. “It’s between me and her. And I like Oody.”
Rudra and Saahil played with Anya while others chatted casually.
“Who is he?” asked Rudra pointing at Saahil.
Anya kissed Saahil randomly on his hand. ” Baya”
Both Rudra and Saahil chuckled. “And Anya, who is he?” asked Saahil, pointing at Om who was looking at them with amusement.
“O” Anya said smiling and looked at Saahil expecting appreciation from him.
“Once an O, always an O.” Rudra said laughing.
They continued the game making Anya say everyone’s name and laughing hysterically at her unique pronunciation for each person. Amidst all of this chatter, pinky said all of a sudden,
” Now Rudra has shown he is responsible and all grown-up. I think we should start looking for a pretty bride for him.”
Rudra felt all blood drain his face as he felt a strange hollowness in his head. Shivaay, Anika, Om, Aashi, and Priyanka shifted uncomfortably in their seats as they looked nervously at Rudra.
” Yes, of course we will but there is no rush.” said Jhanvi breaking the awkward silence.
Aashi, looked at Rudra with worry and casually walked over to him, taking Anya from his lap. ” Rudra. You have had a big day and you look drained. Why don’t you go and relax for some time before dinner.”
Rudra looked at Aashi gratefully. “Thanks bhabhi.” he said in a low voice , gave Anya quick kiss and left for his room.
“Oody go.” Anya said mournfully.
Aashi smiled at her. ” Yes, Oody go. But who am I?”
Anya smiled widely at Aashi. ” Aachi” she said mixing up Aashi’s name with her relationship with Anya.
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Hello Everyone. Thanks for reading. I have a few confessions so this note may get a little lengthy. Sorry about that. I did not think I could write this FF and even now have serious doubts about it. I lost all inspiration for this story after a series of tracks in IB and DBO that are utterly opposite to my taste, to put it mildly. But the fact that I had promised my readers this FF kept nagging my mind. I had some kind inquiries about when I would write this FF from Awestruck and NitaD. If anyone else inquired as well, and I have forgotten about it, I am very sorry. Please forgive me. I kept postponing writing this since my work has gotten busy, and I told myself that I’ll write when I have a concrete storyline in my mind. Until I realized, that’s not happening unless I just start writing. So here I am, very apprehensive about the future, yet giving this FF a try. I don’t know how often I will update but I’ll try my best not to disappear for too long. I also promise not to abandon it and to wrap-up the FF properly if I feel I have no idea how to go on. I hope my old readers will read and comment whether the start seems appealing. And I hope to gain a few new readers to encourage me through this new phase of an old journey. Thanks all.?
Link to my related previous story, ” Serendipity”
http://www.tellyupdates.com/?s=Diyaa