Kismet...

Ch 04|Autumn

"Why are you not going on your honeymoon to Paris?" Tej yelled over the phone.

"Papa something came up...I..." Shiv mumbled.

"No excuses! You want me to die without an heir to pass all of this on to? Don't you get that this is your responsibility for the family being the eldest?"

"Papa I understand my responsibility...I always have...we just need time..."

"You have been married for three months! You and Tia knew each other since you were children! What more time do you want?"

"Shiv do you mind if I speak to Papa?" Tia placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

He nodded and passed the phone to her. He could never win with his father. Deep inside he knew that. All he wanted was to make his father proud but how on earth he was going to tell him that he has fathered a son on a one night stand he had with a woman he just met on vacation. He wasn't even suppose to be in Amsterdam that weekend! How was he going to explain that?

Tia, always had a way with her words. Especially with Tej. She was respectful but direct. He was awed at how she breezily pointed out that it would be the benefit of the company that they should postpone their honeymoon for another month.

Shiv sighed and slumped on the edge of the bed. He raked his fingers through his hair. Tia sat beside him.

"Shiv it's fine!"

"Nothing is fine Tia! My whole life has turned upside down! Papa is just going to be so disappointed in me!"

"So?"

"You'd never understand...No one ever understands how important his happiness is to me! I feel like I am failing him!"

"Shiv I do...I know how much it matters to you...We both agreed to this because of our family and the business...but now..."

"But now?"

"Now things have changed. You have a son! That changes everything!"

"It does...doesn't it? Where does this leave us Tia?"

"I'd say right where we are for now? Let's take things as it comes?"

"Thank you for being there for me!"

"Always...we haven't been friends for this long, If we didn't now...You were there for me too..."

"So how was the meeting with Ansh go?"

"It was..It was good...At first I just wanted to run away...but then I couldn't..he's amazing you know?" Shiv's eyes sparkled when he spoke about his offspring.

" I am glad you decided to let him know that your his dad but when are you going to tell Papa?"

"Not yet...now is not the right time...and Annika she's very protective of him. I will have to talk to her before I tell him. She has lived for Ansh all these years. She has given up a lot to raise him. Her family basically disowned her...Now she's engaged to that arrogant Vikram Thaper...I don't know if I would have been that brave...She's..."

"Ah...So you got to know about Ansh's mom too? Rather a lot?" She gave him a lopsided smile.

"Sorry...I...I was just blabbering.." he scratched the back of his head.

"No...I want to know...I am even surprised that you had a girlfriend!" Tia poked him with her elbow.

"Girlfriend?" He raised on eyebrow.

"I think that's better than calling her your fiery hot flame for one night?"

"Okay...Whatever..."

"So tell me..."