Kaira ff: Unconditional Love

Chapter 8

IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ BEFORE READING THE CHAPTER:

I changed Kartik and Shaurya's company from Goenka Skylink to Ajmera Hotels. The reason is that it's unrealistic for them to own a mall and many hotels, so they only have 2 hotels. They don't work in the hotel; they have a space booked for where behind-the-back stuff happens.

Also, y'all can start reading the book from here because from now on I'll be changing the chapters for a lot of scenes. Though I barely changed this chapter.

Happy reading <3

Kartik

I enter the restaurant with Shaurya and our PAs, sitting at the table reserved for us. We have a meeting with the Khurannas. I look at my Rolex watch; it's 2:03 pm. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2:10. They should have arrived by now.

After a few minutes, the Khurannas arrive with their team. "Sorry for the delay. We were stuck in traffic," Miss Khurana says.

"No problem. Should we start the meeting?" I respond.

"Yes. Before that, can we get refreshments?" she asks.

I nod and call the waiter. We order, and our food arrives after a few minutes. The meeting commences, ideas are discussed, and final touches are made. We conclude the meeting.

I get out of my seat and start packing my laptop.

"Mr. Goenka," I hear.

I look up and say, "Yes," answering Sohail.

"Me and my sister would like to invite you and your family for a gathering to celebrate our partnership. Are you guys willing to come?" Sohail asks.

"Sure. What time do you prefer?"

"Perhaps, Saturday?" Sohail suggests.

"Is it okay with you, Bhai?" I ask my brother. Shaurya nods, and I respond, "Works fine for us."

We bid each other goodbye, and I head to Ajmera Hotel.

Sohail

I take a sip of water and select all the spam messages in my mail to read later, then mindlessly scroll through my Instagram feed. A knock interrupts me, I look up and see Myra.

"Am I late?" Myra asks.

"Not at all. I was a bit early," I tell her.

I pull out a chair for her, and she takes a seat, saying, "Thank you."

"Shall we order?" I ask, sitting back.

"Yeah, sure," Myra replies.

We give our order and wait for the food to arrive. Out of curiosity, I ask, "You wanted to become a lawyer. Then why are you working as a PA for Mr. Ruhan?"

"I'm still studying law. Actually, Mom, Dad, my brothers, Bhabhi, and my sister are usually out working, and I was free studying to clear my entrance exam. I got bored at home and needed a new environment, so I decided to work," she explains.

"Oh."

Soon our order arrives, and we start eating. After finishing, I say, "Myra, I have no right to justify my actions. I was with the wrong group of people, trying to fit in with them, which I later realized is not who I am. I can't be a person without feelings. Drinking, and smoking, I never liked it. My habits were not masculine enough. That's why I got influenced by them and adopted bad habits. You even told me that my group of friends was wrong. I didn't understand it back then. A few months after you broke our friendship, my di found out about my bad habit. She didn't scold me. She politely explained that what I was doing was wrong. That was an eye-opener for me. I realized if my friends were true friends, they would have prevented me from getting into these habits instead of encouraging me... You being a true friend warned me, and I took you for granted..."

I realized I love her. Her absence in my life made me feel that something was missing.

She listens attentively and says, "Do you have any friends?"

I smile and reply, "Luckily, I found an amazing friend, Natesh. Other than him and my sister, I have no friends."

"Who said you only have two friends? Who am I?" She says and bites her tongue.

I grin. "You forgave me?"

"I forgave you a long time back. I was disappointed in you, angry at you. But I never hated you enough not to forgive. When you apologized, I saw guilt and genuineness in your eyes. Hence, I had no point in staying angry at you," she replies.

I get out of my seat and go to hug her.

She wraps her arms around my torso, and whispers, "Everyone's looking."

I get out of the hug and scratch the back of my neck, chuckling nervously. I sit back down, and we catch up on life.

A few days later,

Mumma, Didi, Papa, and I are in the kitchen preparing some delicacies at home and ordering some food. Something I admire about my family is how everyone does the kitchen and household work regardless of gender. My parents brought us up, saying we must know these basic life skills to survive. After everything is cooked, I take the fancy dishes out and clean them before we use them. Everything is ready, and the house is looking spic and span.

Soon, the Goenkas arrive. Di and I go outside to welcome them.

When they enter, "Akshita," Swarna Aunty says, she looks shocked.

"Swarna Di," Mom says.