Kesh Pov:
I waited till her figure faded before driving to my house. I parked my car, moving inside just when I was at the door step I heard my Grandma voice. I wasn't close with her, so I took her blessings and without saying anything, I went upstairs to my room. I heard Ma, scolding me for being rude to her but I as usual ignored her with an excuse of work.
I didn't like being around grandma, she is manipulative. She hates if someone didn't listen to her and since, she takes decision in this family we are forced to listen to her. She enjoyed the power, she had over each one of us in this family. She despised people outshining her, the only reason I wasn't me inside this house.
My mom choose to work after marriage, going against her decision so grandma played tricks to prove her wrong in every chance she would get. Finally after years when she got successful, she brought Trilekha Ma with an intention to control her and destroy Mom (Raagavi).
Dadi (Grandma) was favoured by Ma(Trilekha) but when she understood the real motive of Dadi she stopped blindly trusting her. Ma and Mom still have problems between them but for me and my siblings they made sure to keep us above anything. They respect each other inspite of everything and makes sure everyone does that.
They faced many challenges in their relationship but Dad made sure to develop an understanding between three of them. Both of them, have a great bonding because they realized they need to accept each other to have peace in the family. Nothing was perfect when Ma married my father, Dad wasn't ready to accept her because he loved mom but Ma wasn't a typical girl. She understood their position, and choose to give time on her work. Over the years Ma and Mom, started getting close to each other and decided to remains friends rather than love rivals. Basically now my parents are best friends and not couples. It sounds weird but for them it works in each other favour. Dadi was responsible for everything just because Dad hurt her ego and got married to the girl he chose, she destroyed this family.
"Aakesh," I hear Tanmay Chachu knock outside my room
"Yes chachu, please come inside," I reply
"How is work going?," Chachu ask
"Chachu get to the point, it isn't like you don't know," I say and he nods.
"I want you to head the deals with Italians," he says nervously
"Isn't that your project?," I ask confused and he nods.
"It's time for you to take responsibility Aakesh," Chachu says
"If by responsibilities you mean taking charge of your projects then no," I say
"It's my decision son," he says firmly
"Chachu It's your dream project, you have been working on that for years, I can't take credits when you finally got this," I say
"Aakesh you are my son, it's nothing wrong with taking credits anyhow at the end of the day that will be profitable to our company," he says smiling
"But chachu---" I try to say but I get cut of with a glare so I nod.
After I agreed, chachu discuss the leads and after what feels like an hour or something a maid let's us know that breakfast is ready. So we both go downstairs, Dad and Chachu discuss about their new project, occasionally asking for my opinions. Now, I understand why chachu has to step out of his Italy project because Dad didn't like the idea for foreign investment but chachu wanted to take risk, so inspite of Dad being against Italy project chachu wasn't giving up. However, now that the current situation demanded attention, chachu had to give me responsibilities.
Nia was obsessed with Italy, she often dreamt of visiting Italy atleast once in her life. I wonder how would she react when I share this news with her.
"Aaki beta (son) why are you smiling, share with us we would love to know," chachi (Samira) says bringing me out of my thoughts. I shake my head telling her she might have mistaken.
"Aakesh we might have a good news soon," Dadi says catching our attention.
"What news Dadi?" Akshita says and I already got a hint about her good news.
"We sent a proposal for Aakesh marriage," Dadi say
"I thought bride side sent proposal first," Kaya says curious
"They do but we decided to initiate first and she is Doctor, you would love her Aakesh," Dadi says
"But Dadi I thought you hated working women," Kaya says
"I do but since it is about Aakesh wife, everything should be perfect," Dadi say excited and I mentally roll my eyes. This isn't about my wife being perfect but Dadi wanted a puppet. After my marriage I will be taking all the decision in this house and dadi isn't ready to give up her position so she wants to control my wife. In her eyes, I am too weak for even taking a stand for myself but that isn't true. All this years I have waited for that power to fix everything in this family that is why it is important for me.
"Dadi that isn't fair, I had to quit my job" Kaya says upset but dadi glares at her. She isn't easy to be pleased, Kaya is like a shadow to Dadi but still she wouldn't have any freedom.
After breakfast, I and Ashish drive to our office. When we reached, I park my car taking the elevator and going directly inside my cabin. Joden passes me my morning schedule, giving me updates on all other work. I check everything and at the end of the day I have to update everything to Dad and for him work is worship, and he hates when anyone who isn't serious about work. Since I am his son, he believes that I must follow his footsteps and If I make mistakes then Dad makes me do that work again and again until I perfect it. When it comes to work, he is obsessed with perfection and nothing even close to it.
After completing all my work I email it to my Dad, president of Ananth's groups of companies. We have many branches with different names registered under Ananth group of companies. Our main profitable business is real estate, we buys land and construct building, selling it at a higher prices with designing them into a fashionable interior. We also design and makes dream homes for clients.
When I was done with my work at evening I drive back, calling Nia on my way. She picks it up on my first ring.
"Hey Kesh," she says
"Hey baby, how was your day?" I ask
"I went on a lunch with Di," she says in a small voice
"Did you have fun?" I ask
"Hmm...she wanted me to meet someone but turns out she invited all her friends," she says
"And," I say
"Everyone was nice but I guess she has a crush on one of her collegue," she says
"Isn't that nice love? So what is bothering you," I ask
"I don't feel right about him," she says
"You want a background check on him," I say
"Hm...anyway you tell me how was your day," she says changing topic.
"The usual work, work and work," I say
"Oh Kesh when are you going to learn manners," she says and I chuckle
"What is wrong with my manners love?" I ask
"You aren't supposed to answer like that," she says softly scolding me
"Okay baby got you," I say and she giggles
"Chachu offered me to visit Italy, in place of him," I say
"Really I wish someone could take me too," she says dreamingly
"And what will that someone get?," I ask playing along
"Anything they want," she says
"Okay so how about a honeymoon in Italy?" I say teasing her
"Done," She says and I chuckle at her childishness
"Since you are this desperate I will take you without anything in return, but not this time maybe some other time," I say
"No I want to go, you can't just say next time," she says
"Baby I promise next time I will take you, you can't go, this is a business trip not a family trip," I say
"I know that is why I want to go, if it would have been family trip I would have never asked," she says
"I am not sure about this Nia, dadi must not know about us," I say
"Kesh please I really want to go," she says
"Fine, I will make arrangements," I say and she gets excited. It wasn't an easy task to get Nia excited but it was always a matter of little extra efforts.
Dadi has eyes over all of us and I always have to keep my guards when I am around her. I can't risk Nia and my relationship, if she knows about us she wouldn't hesitate in destroying us.
"Hey...it's okay, You don't have to take me I was just messing around love," she says
"No, if you want to go I will take you," I say
"I wanted to but we are at a very sensitive point," she says
"Okay," I say sighing
"Gotta go mom is here, LOVE YOU muahh," she says and I chuckle
"Bye LOVE YOU TOO," I say and she ends the call.
I reach home parking my car and going inside my house.