ONCE IN A LIFETIME

24. THE 'NOT-SO-SUBTLE' CHANGES

Hello...

I'm overwhelmed by a few messages I received and I'm glad that you guys are liking the story.

But, all I ask of you is comment on the chapter. Not with one word, but what you actually feel.

Give me a genuine answer to this. Did anyone miss the story?

Anyways, hoping all of you and your loved ones are doing just fabulous....

Enjoy reading!

Akki sat on the stool beside AD. He had literally begged Naina to let him stay for just a few minutes with him. Naina was vehemently about to deny but something in Akki's eyes stopped her. She allowed him for 10 minutes.

AD had always been special to Akki. Aakanksh was always a wall to them all. He was ever ready to take the hit to protect them all. Especially Aru. But, AD treated him like a kid most of the times.... a little brother. AD took all his tantrums. Something his biological parents never did.

Aakanksh's childhood was scarred permanently. Maybe that was the reason AD was more pampering towards him.

Now after five years, when he saw Tej calling him Bhaiyya and roaming around actively bonding with his little sister and his best friends, he felt left out. He was not insecure, but just scared. Frightened that he didn't know his best friends anymore as he had.

He didn't know how to get out of the mess he created... well, partly. If AD knows everything, how'd he react? Would he stop talking to them? Would he want not to see them again? Not disturb his peaceful life? Or just like the old AD would he understand and welcome them with open arms?

Akki didn't know. He didn't know anything anymore. Ash said they changed a lot. True. Akki never knew of any Pratej before five years, he never knew an AD that was an IPS officer and most importantly, he never knew an AD that'd marry without his best friends.

What had these five years done to them?

He had to do the damage control. He needs to get back the former Ace 5. But, the fact that he missed out is that time changes everything.

Dhruti walked to Ashwadh who was on an official call.

I want all the details by evening. Mail it to me. I don't damn care if you have any other work or not, this work should be a priority.

Oh, yes, I am ordering you because I still hold the power and you are still liable to attend my every order. Get it?

Good... I want it by 6 sharp, if you know what's good for you.

As he hung up, he turned around to see a bewildered Dhruti standing behind him. He smiled widely and asked her to come forward.

Who was that? She asked still with the same expression.

Head of Finance of the company I work in. Why do you ask? He frowned again.

Not him... who was the guy on the other side? She questioned.

Are you ok? He asked when she asked him stupid questions. Obviously, the guy on the other side was himself, isn't it?

The Ash that I knew was so shy that he had only 4 friends and no potential friends at all, never raised his voice if not against injustice, had taken a year to just gather courage to propose his love and got beaten up by Arya without a protest. Now, tell me who was on the other side? She clarified his unasked doubt.