Invisible String

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'How many nights does it take to count the stars?
That's the time it would take to fix my heart."

•••••

Avni hurried through the corridor of Mehta Mansion, a few packets of chips in her hand, she walked upstairs. It was afternoon, she was on her way to watch some American show since she had completed her college work and there was still two hours for Neil to come and for them to work together on the project.

She hummed slightly to herself as she walked past Mr Mehta and Mrs Mehta's room, she stopped in front of Mr Mehta's study when she heard some noise from it and saw the door ajar. She knew Mr Mehta and Mrs Mehta were both out and Aman was in his room considering when she was listening to a song loudly he had come into her room took her sound system away. She wasn't that annoyed by that considering how it was now a daily routine for him to annoy her.

She had learned to keep her chill now.

She moved towards the brown door, it was slightly open, her frown widened when she Mr Mehta standing between the study and a man stood in front of him in a navy blue suit, his back against the door, so Avni could not see his face.

Had Mr Mehta lied to Mrs Mehta and Aman about being busy today and being out the whole day? He had lied to them she was sure if he informed Mrs Mehta at the last minute too that he will be home, she would have stayed home and not gone to meet her friend. Maybe he didn't inform her because of that? But imagining Mr Mehta as the considerate person didn't sit well with her.

She didn't care that she was at the breakfast table too in the morning and that he had lied to her too. She was used to it.

She shook her head in disappointment the first time he was doing everything right, the first time he was actually being a decent husband and father. Mrs Mehta seemed happy with him, Aman saw him as his real father. And now he was screwing up that too? Fantastic.

She was very close to opening the door and telling him to stop screwing things up now when he had everything sorted out unlike when he was father to her and husband to her mother. Just as she was about to leave, the other man spoke, her steps halted.

"Everyone believes our story, Ashish. Now just transfer the remaining part of the shares under your name or have her join the organization, if she is anything like you are saying, she is a asset." the man said, his hoarse and rough voice filled the study.

Avni stopped, story? She has come across a story was it that story the man was talking about, the story which made her mother villain. She shook her head she could not conclude so soon, yes she was desperate for her mother to be a good person in the end but coming up with a theory won't get her anywhere.

"I know that!" Mr Mehta exclaimed, he sounded angry. "I had always wanted her to lead this organization, I wanted her to take my place, she has it in her, I saw it in her but she won't. I know she won't."

"Ashish if you know she has it in her, you don't need her consent for her to lead this organization-- do what you do best and then watch her do what you want her to do."

"You are right Prakash." Mr Mehta smirked, she frowned this was not heading anywhere good, "I hope you have all the papers ready."

The other man-- Prakash laughed "I have all the papers ready in my study."

Avni hurried away from the door as they looked towards the door, it seemed like conversation was over, she skipped away from the corridor towards her room, she shut the door behind her softly and dropped her chips on the bed.