Rudra's POV
Gazing up at the stars, I often find myself lost in contemplation, pondering the life I might have led had I been with my biological parents. Faint memories linger, haunting and elusive, shrouded in confusion and danger. The goosebumps that rise on my skin serve as a chilling reminder of the mysteries that lie within.
No one else in this world knows of these secrets, save for her, my Nimi. That's what I call her since my childhood . To me, she is not merely human but an angel, a divine presence who has bestowed upon me shelter, sustenance, education, and most importantly, love. With her by my side, I lack for nothing; not even the parents who abandoned me to an uncertain fate. Without her, I would not have survived, let alone thrived. For this reason, she is my deity, my cherished love, my family, my everything.
My full name is Rudra Awasthi. Shocked right! Why am I not Shastri? Hmmm this is because when my biological mother brought me home, some demons followed her and tried to attack her. So she left everything in Delhi and went to Banglore. And left me on some street and ran away. Rudra Awasthi, this name was given to my biological parents. I got to know this from Nimi, would got to know this from a letter which my hand held,the time when she found me. The letter said I was a big threat to lives who would keep me. But still Nimi took me to her home. She wanted to adopt me, but couldn't risk her daughter's life whom she loves dearly.
Separated from Nimi's embrace, I tread a path divergent from the one she meticulously paved for me. Her selfless devotion, an unspoken covenant, sustained me through the years, nurturing not just my body but also my spirit with unwavering love and wisdom. Yet, as adolescence beckoned, I felt the weight of indebtedness heavy upon my shoulders. With a heavy heart, I resolved to carve my own destiny, to alleviate the burden I perceived myself to be on her. Despite Nimi's protests, I sought solace in the proximity of a rented abode, a mere stone's throw from the sanctuary of her home.
"Vishu, a whirlwind of joy, is my other lifeline. She embodies a rare blend of eccentricity, humility, and grace. It's as if she's inherited every captivating trait from mother; beauty, intelligence, character, and innocence. Our bond, forged in the crucible of time, is unyielding. This intimate circle, this small family, is not just my life but my very essence.".
Faced with the exigencies of survival, I embarked on a journey of part-time employment, my aspirations tethered to the relentless pursuit of education. Though Nimi's lips remained sealed, her eyes betrayed a silent gratitude, acknowledging the subtle contribution I made to her well-being. In this symbiotic dance of independence and interdependence, I found solace, knowing that even in separation, the bonds of love and filial duty endure, a testament to the unbreakable ties that bind us together.
Talking about my profession, I am an IT engineer and currently working for MM groups of companies. I work under Mr Satish Nagar, the head of Board Directors of MM groups. I and Vishu always wanted to be entrepreneurs and start our own startups but it requires lots of funds and skills. Thus we always work at Nimi's home at weekends to design our own programs and looking forward for success. Oh it's midnight I should sleep 😴 , coz need to wake up early tomorrow morning......
I was somewhere in the deserts and suddenly I felt all wet. Wait, what was it? Tsunami! In this desert.
Tsunami...
Tsunami...
Tsunami...
I shouted on top of my lungs . I could hear soft giggles of Vishu. What the hell is going on? I looked in my vicinity and now it was clear . I was dreaming and Vishu emptied an entire bucket of water over me to wake me up. What is she doing here this early and that too completely ready in her professional attire? Am I late? Nimi has spare keys of my apartment so she must have taken them to irritate me. What do I do of this girl? I am not going to leave her today.
'Vishu'
I yelled and with this starts our tom and jerry war. We were so engrossed in the fight that we didn't notice when Riddhi was watching us from doorsteps.
''Ridhu'" , Vishu jumped over her and engulfed her in a bear hug. I too joined them in the hug.
"We missed you so much," we said to her in unison. Riddhi went to the same school as us but left for USA for her further studies. We were the best trio in our school and even the entire neighborhood.
"I missed you two even more but for now spare my poor neck or I will die out of suffocation". She struggled speaking .
" When did you return, how was USA, how many boyfriends, how was Harvad, did you miss us? " Vishu shot all her questions to Ri. Calm Down Vishu. At Least let her breathe. I spoke, putting a much needed break to this useless mouth of hers.Then we settled on the couch & began with our gossip. Office was forgotten long back. "So I returned last night, USA was fun but nothing like India, & I made zero boyfriends, & about missing you two. I missed you both as hell but I missed Neelima Massi's food the most."
Since her parents are always out for business therefore she spent almost all her time in Nimi's home with us during our childhood. We all are a family including her parents. .We were still busy in our discussion when suddenly Vishu got a call and she excused herself.
Vishu's POV
"Why didn't you both come to office till now, Mr Malhotra is extremely furious. Reach here within an hour or no one will be able to save from his wreath. Be quick please." Spoke Samarth in a panicked tone. He is one of my colleagues at the office. We both were called office an hour earlier today. I rushed to the living room and told Rudra the entire matter. After bidding bye to Riddhi we left for the office in 10 minutes . We were late by half an hour and today nobody could save us from Mr Malhotra.
Rudra rushed towards his cabin and I towards canteen. Come on food is my first priority. Moreover there was still half an hour for office real time to start as we were called early. I would anyway meet boss and persuade him my reasons. I lost count of time while standing in the long queue. Moreover I forgot my phone at Rudra's home and there was no clock in canteen. My inner conscience said I was way too late but still I drank my coffee slowly. I was habitual of lectures on punctuality from boss. So this would definitely not hurt. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice Samarth tapping my shoulder. He said loud and I shrieked. "Mr Malhotra has asked for your presence in the meeting room. Hurry up everyone is searching for you, you are late by half an hour." Meeting? Wtf! I never knew about this or I would have skipped my coffee. With this thoughts I rushed towards the meeting room. As soon as I entered Miss Lavanya taunted "Welcome Miss Shastri, we were waiting for you." Sorry Sir, was all I could mutter. My face was all red due to embarrassment. Without glancing at anyone I took my seat. Rudra's seat was next to me and he was looked at me with compassion. I kept my head down during the entire meeting. I never knew that it was a metting scheduled, so technically it's not my fault but.... I know I messed up really bad. During entire meeting I kept mum. Meeting was all about history , achievements of firm and goals for upcoming years . It finally came to an end after an hour, and we heard Mr Malhotra speak due to which the rug swept from under my feet.
"Attention please. It's an important announcement. Meet him every one, he is my son Aryan Malhotra and the new CEO of MM GROUPS. Well he was going to join us after a week as I announced yesterday. But aren't surprises always better? And here after I am signing my retirement. The welcome party for him is tomorrow evening. So please Grace us with your presence." A wave of whispers surrounded the entire meeting room as soon as Mr Malhotra spoke. That's when I looked at the stranger, who is our new boss. He exuded the mesmerizing charm of a deity from ancient mythology, each feature sculpted with divine precision. His towering height of 6.4 feet rendered him a captivating giant, overwhelming the senses of petite souls like mine. With a complexion fairer than the moon and hair darker than the night, he stood as a striking contrast to my own modest appearance. Draped in the elegance of black attire, he seemed to embody the very essence of mystery and allure. His presence, a potent blend of strength and enigma, stirred within me a mixture of fascination and trepidation, weaving an irresistible spell that left me spellbound. Sensing my eyes upon him, he met my gaze head-on, causing my heart to skip a beat. His eyes, a deep abyss of darkness, were framed by lashes longer and more captivating than any falsies. The intensity of his stare awakened a whirlwind of emotions within me, prompting me to hastily redirect my attention towards Mr. Malhotra. It then dawned on me that Mr. Malhotra had retired, leaving this imposing figure as our new boss. The revelation struck me like a thunderbolt. Was this some sort of punishment for my tardiness? But deep down, I knew I wasn't significant enough in Mr. Malhotra's life to warrant such attention. So why this sudden change? I had never heard of any son of Mr. Malhotra, nor had he ever visited the office before. The situation was shrouded in mystery, leaving me utterly perplexed and scrambling for answers amidst the chaos. Desperate for relief, I craved the familiar comfort of my Americano, fearing my head might explode without its caffeine fix. As the meeting adjourned and colleagues began to file out, I hastened towards the door, yearning for escape. But then, amidst the commotion, a hoarse and deeply resonant voice pierced through the cacophony, arresting my attention. Its timbre, like a melodious symphony, echoed through the chaos, momentarily captivating my senses.
Not you Miss Shastri. There is something important I need to discuss with you. I shifted my gaze towards the origin of the resonant voice, and there stood Aryan, our newly appointed boss, his features twisted in a mask of barely-contained rage. The intensity of his glare sent a chill down my spine, a silent warning of the tempest brewing beneath his composed exterior. In that instant, I sensed a palpable threat looming in his presence, a harbinger of impending turbulence in the days to come.
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Author: I understand if it seems like just another cliché romantic tale at first glance, but trust me, there's more to this story than meets the eye. Beneath the surface lies a tapestry of mysteries waiting to unravel, each thread weaving a complex and intriguing narrative. So, I urge you to give it a chance. You might just be surprised by what unfolds.
Till then bubyeeee....
Yours author,
thegirlAshi
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