BEYOND THE CLOUDS (Completed)

Chapter 48

Date: 27th Sept, 2020

My Dear Sidharth,

Hope this letter finds you well and I know you are taking care of Jubilee holdings just like I did.

Don’t be so shocked, I had planned for this letter to reach you at the right time. I never told you this, but when I saw your smooth transitioning from a boy to a responsible man, I was relieved that I can die peacefully now, leaving my baby Jubilee in safe hands.

I did a grave mistake with Ajay handing him everything on a platter and saw him crumble down in front of my eyes. I didn’t want to repeat the same thing with you and because of which I made you slog and made sure you ate, drank and slept business. I was strict with you all along, chastising you for every little mistake you made, putting you through long stressful hours, making you travel endlessly to handle the global operations leaving you with no time for yourself. I know I was hard on you at times my son, but I only hope you understand why I did that. I just didn’t want to create another Ajay.

When I saw you dealing with Monsanto Pharma, pulling them down to work on our conditions, When I saw that you were not just running the business I handed you, but also adding extra efforts to multiply the operations, I cant tell you how stoked I was.

Every hurdle, every test I put you through, you have only come out shining at the end of it. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you and how much I love you. I just wanted a good life for you, for Ajay and for Sarika too. But they both were nothing but disappointments.

Ajay is my only son, my only memory of your grandmother. No matter how much I decide to hate him, I cannot. Same goes with Sarika, even though she never really connected with me, but I loved her like the daughter I always wanted.

Now....you must be wondering what is your old man upto, why this letter now? So here goes. Sidharth I know you have longed to be loved by your parents. I always saw that flicker of pain in your young eyes when you asked me during my visits to Boston, trying to know if they were thinking of you.

And when you returned home from Yale, I saw that pain transform into a hatred. You had hardened yourself into a rock, which showed no emotion and was unaffected by anyone or anything that came its way. You know I have always believed in giving everyone a fair chance, since Ajay is my son I have to give him a benefit of that this time as well. You will know that when KK reads out my will to you all in the next two days, on your 35th birthday.

Although my love for Ajay and Sarika has made me include them in the will too, you are a tad bit more precious to me than both of them put together. Just like the video games we enjoyed playing together, I want to give you a one up to settle your scores and beat them fair and square.

I want you to take a wise decision and make sure, that my hard earned money doesn’t end up in the pockets of escort services and drug peddlers that Ajay and Sarika are patrons of.

When you returned to India, all grown up and wise, I felt an immense support backing up. Like my old bones had suddenly been injected with a new life. Working with a smart cookie like you was always a pleasure and seeing you always step ahead of my expectations made my heart swell with pride. Agreed that I kept pushing you, but it was all in the hope of shaping you right. At the end of it all, I hope you do not have any malice in your heart against me.

I have done only what I feel is right for you.

Happy Birthday in advance my son.

Love Badepapa.

Sidharth’ eyes welled up as he re-read the letter once again. Badepapa had been appreciative but never this vocal. He wished he could turn back time and crawl into his grandfathers arms just like he did during his childhood.