Air Beneath My Wings(On Hold)

Obstacles

Arnav had come to the Aspire office to clear out his desk. It was his one opportunity to see his colleagues for the last time, before they would discover who he really was, or so he thought.

"Arnav," he heard the familiar voice of Jeff Brady.

"Hey Jeff," Arnav smiled at him as he pulled out the second drawer.

"Did I hear right from Arthur? You're leaving us?"

"That's right, Jeff."

"But, why? You're so good at what you do. If you want a promotion, you only need ask Arthur."

"He's made some commitments." Arnav heard Arthur Stanley.

"But surely, Arthur. We can talk about this. Arnav is one of our best."

Arnav didn't comment. Arthur's body language told him that he knew.

"Mr Raizada, can I see you in my office a moment?"

"I'm sorry, Mr Stanley, but I'm on a time crunch." Arnav pulled out the third and last drawer.

"I will not be belittled by the likes of you. My office, Mr Raizada."

Arnav saw red. "Yes, you know right. Now, there's no need of further discussion."

Arthur looked like someone had slapped him across the face.

"Know? Know what?" Jeff asked, confused.

Arthur seemed to find his voice after moments of silence.

Arnav grabbed his bag of personal items and turned.

"That he is ASR."

"What?" Jeff was shocked. "You can't mean-"

"The man who left his empire at it's worst, and now that it's back on top, he's going back." Arthur's voice was malicious.

Arnav turned, his ASR showing.

Arthur's voice and decibel had attracted a lot of attention now. People were looking at Arnav, in surprise and confusion..

"I'm sorry to report Mr Stanley, but ASR didn't leave AR. ASR isn't a part of AR. ASR is AR." And with that, he made his exit.

*****

"How did they even find out?" Akash was asking, as he drove Arnav over to the flat where his escapist life was wrapping up, box by box.

"Who knows, probably they always knew."

"Can't be Bhai. Arthur's reaction, as you put it, was completely different. You told me he's always liked you."

"He has. But this is like treason. Leaving my own empire for being a pauper in another."

"Bhai-"

"He's right, you know. I did leave AR."

"You didn't-"

"Not like he thinks, but I did leave."

Akash killed the engine, parking along the apartment entrance. "Listen, Bhai. People will always have something to say. Consider Garima Aunty, do you think people never talk about her being Armaan's mistress? But that doesn't matter in front of the fact that she's an amazing mother of our wives. So let Arthur speak, it doesn't matter because you are ASR."

Arnav nodded, the guilt in the bottom of his stomach dissipating a little.

"Come on, you need to put these in a box, too."

Inside the flat, it seemed a hurricane had hit.

"Nancy, not those! They go with me. I'm not having the movers break my china!" Khushi was yelling.