Whispers of the Heart

Chapter 5

Kiara's POV

The next morning, I woke up early, took a shower, and walked to the closet to select a simple saree for myself. I draped it within ten minutes, wore my favorite jhumkas and usual jewelry, and departed for the temple. 

The temple was beautiful and brought a sense of tranquility to me. It was a place I had been frequenting a lot in the past days. I offered my prayers, bowing my head in reverence and closing my eyes to absorb the peaceful ambiance. The gentle chime of the temple bells and the faint aroma of incense filled the air, adding to the serene atmosphere. After spending some quiet moments in reflection and prayer, I felt a renewed sense of calm and purpose. The temple's serenity always had a way of grounding me, making me feel connected to something greater than myself. As I left the temple, I carried this sense of peace with me.

After the visit to the temple, I decided to shop for some groceries and then went home. I quickly organized the groceries, putting everything in it's place. At precisely 10 AM, a sleek black car arrived to pick me up.

I stepped out of my house, the sun just beginning to warm the day, and walked towards the car. The driver, a courteous young man, opened the door for me. Settling into the plush seat, I couldn't help but wonder what the day had in store. The car smoothly pulled away from the curb, heading towards the destination. The drive to the Aarya mansion was smooth, and as we approached, I couldn't help but be awed by the grandeur of the huge estate. 

Upon arrival, Aditya greeted me warmly at the entrance. "Thank you for coming, it means a lot. and you look really beautiful in a saree miss Kiara" he said with a bright smile. 

I returned the smile with the same intensity and said, "Thank you, Aditya. You can call me Kiara or di." He gave me a grin and led me inside the Aarya mansion. Though the mansion was huge, it still had the homely feeling that most large palaces and extravagant mansions lacked. It exuded a sense of warmth, instantly putting me at ease. I found myself at the entry of the expansive living room, where it seemed like most of the Aarya family members were gathered. 

Aditya asked me to follow him and said, "Dadu, this is Kiara di." The head of the Aarya family cast a loving glance toward me. I walked up to him and bowed down to touch his feet, a gesture of deep respect. He placed his hand on my head gently. I looked up to find him smiling. I genuinely hadn't expected that from him; from what I had heard, he was the rich, powerful head of the family. In the next moment, a younger girl approached me with the same excitement as Aditya and introduced herself as Ruhanika, Kian's sister. 

Then I met Vaishnav bhai, the head of security for the Aarya family; Rudransh bhai, Kian's legal advisor; Rian bhai, Kian's close confidant; and Armaan bhai, another close associate of Kian. Lastly, I was introduced to Rishav bhai, who was none other than Rishav Oberoi, the multi-billionaire and Kian's best friend.

I didn't know why, but I felt like calling them bhaiya. Maybe it was the soft glances, small smiles they had towards me, despite their well-built frames, which conveyed that they considered me their sister instantly, making me feel privileged. I loved being there at the moment and i couldn't be more grateful. 

At last, Aditya declared, "This is the Aarya family, and the only member missing at the moment is Kian bhaiya. All of us are pleased to have you here, Kiara di," with a smile that could light up an entire place filled with darkness. I felt so loved. I could feel it—they had welcomed me into their family with open arms, even if I was merely an employee.

After having a conversation, I learned that apart from Rishav bhai, the rest didn't have families of their own. Still, the best part was that they were all considered a part of the Aarya family. The sense of unity and warmth among them was palpable. The love and respect they had for one another were so evident, making me feel even more welcome and comfortable in their midst. I learned that it was all because of Kian and that he was the center around whom the whole family revolved. That's when I realized he was not as bad as I had made him out to be in my mind.