In the heart of Mumbai's Vibrant chaous, Rhishav Shekhawat, 30-year-old CEO, strode in his Skyscraper office,a fortess build on ambition.
''Another deal, another victory,'' he muttered to himself,masking the emptiness dawing at his insides.
Meanwhil...
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Kaira's Outfit
Finally, the day had come—bhaiya was coming back. Not to forget, he was bringing his someone special. I stood outside the airport, my eyes scanning the bustling crowd eagerly. The air was filled with the hum of conversations and the sound of rolling suitcases. I hadn't seen him in almost five years, and the anticipation made my heart race. As I was lost in my thoughts, I saw my brother walking towards me. I waved enthusiastically.
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Varun's Outfit
"Hi bhaiya!" I called out, my voice filled with excitement.
"Ye kya hai bhaiya... bada bhi aya hai, pair vair chu," he teased, shaking his head.
"Ha, ha, bilkul aap ho uske layak," I retorted playfully while glancing behind him.
"Tu ye bar bar mere piche kyu dekh rahi hai?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Woh... aap ki someone special nahi aai?" I asked, trying to hide my curiosity.
He looked at me and smiled. "Lo, aa gai."
I turned to see a tall, beautiful woman walking towards us. She looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine, exuding confidence and grace. It wasn't that I was short or not beautiful, but she had an aura about her.
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Aradhya's Outfit
"Hi," she greeted warmly.
"Hello," I replied, trying to match her friendliness.
"Kia, ye hai Aradhya. Bataya tha na maine?" Varun introduced. "Aru, Kaira meri behen."
"Varun kaafi baatein karta hai tumhare baare mein," Aradhya said with a smile.
"Par bhaiya aapke baare mein to nahi karte," I blurted out, then laughed nervously.
There was an awkward silence for a moment. I quickly tried to move past it.
"Leave it, let's go. Mom and Dad might be waiting for you both."
At the mention of our parents, I noticed a fleeting change in my brother's expression, but he quickly masked it. I saw it, though. With that, Varun placed their luggage in the car, and I drove them to Singh Mansion.
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After almost thirty minutes, we reached the mansion. The grand, sprawling estate stood majestically, with its manicured gardens and towering columns. The mansion was a symbol of our family's wealth and status, but to me, it felt more like a gilded cage. I pulled up in front of the entrance gate. Bhaiya and Aradhya got out of the car.
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"Chal, Kia... tu kyu nahi utar rahi hai?" Bhaiya asked, looking puzzled.
"Aap jao, mera iss ghar se koi rishta nahi hai," I said firmly.
"Kai..." He started, but I cut him off.
"Bhaiya, please." He didn't push further.
"Raat ki welcome party mein aa rahi hai na?" he insisted.
"Aur ha, main bata raha hoon, pooch nahi raha," he said, smiling.
"Ha, aa rahi hoon... ab khush?"
"Chal thik hai, phir bye... achhe se drive karna."
"Hmm... bye."
I drove off, hearing him call out, "Kisi ko maar mat daalna." I laughed lightly, feeling a sense of warmth at the playful exchange. My brother's return brought a bittersweet mixture of emotions. As I drove back to my apartment, I reflected on our brief reunion. Today was a holiday since it was Sunday, and I thought I might complete my beauty sleep as I probably wouldn't get much rest later.
Once I settled into the comfort of my bed, my mind started to wander. Meeting bhaiya after so many years felt surreal. There was a familiarity in his presence, but also a sense of distance that time had created. His smile, his jokes—they all reminded me of the good times we shared. But there was also a lingering tension, an unspoken understanding that our family dynamics had changed.
I knew our parents would be less than thrilled about my presence at the welcome party. They always found a way to criticize me, to remind me of the opportunities I had supposedly wasted. I could already hear their voices in my head:
"Why aren't you the COO of Singh Enterprises, Kaira?"
"You could have done so much more with your life."
But their words didn't sting as much as they used to. I had built a life of my own, one that I was proud of. Being a designer might not have been their dream for me, but it was my dream, and I had achieved it on my terms.
As my thoughts drifted, they inevitably landed on Rishav Shekhawat. It had been almost six or seven years since I last saw him. He was my brother's best friend, but to me, he was so much more. He was my crush, my unattainable love. Even after all these years, I couldn't deny my feelings for him. But Rishav saw me only as his friend's sister, oblivious to my affection.
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what do you all think ? what will happen in the welcome party?
do share your thoughts....on this chapter or character.
