It's been half an hour since I landed in Bangalore. Right after I exited the airport, a guy in formals received me. "Excuse me, Mr. Karanveer. I'm Amar, your personal bodyguard." A bodyguard. I'm sure he's from Pramay's prime securities. Pramay, Vaidik and I've been close friends since our school days. They know everything about me. All my flaws, talents, and personal issues.
Amar took the luggage from my hands and guided me to the car waiting for us. I've never had a bodyguard to protect me. My grandfather trained me in the hardest ways possible to make sure I didn't need to be protected by others. He personally monitored my training and even taught me about business. It's been a while since I've seen him. I bet he's pissed on me. I never once attended his calls or replied to his messages since I left the country.
I got into the car and switched on my mobile. I dialed Pramay's mobile number and waited for him to lift the call as it was ringing. After a couple of rings, he lifted the call. "Hey, I understand that you don't like to have security, but it's been seven long years, nothing will be the same." he said without even letting me speak. "You have enemies all over the city. It's better to be careful than dead." He's not going to listen to whatever the excuse i was about to give. I don't have any other option than accepting what he did. "Fine." I said as curtly as possible. "Where am i going to stay?"
There was a brief moment of silence before he spoke again. " Well, considering that we have less men in the city, and rethinking the security issues, I thought it would be better for you to stay in grandpa's mansion. " He said hastily. Well of course, I figured as much on my own. "I understand, but isn't there any other place where I could work without having to face grandpa? " I asked doubtfully.
"There are some other places that are suitable for it, but none of them are secured enough to stop grandpa from meeting you." he said. "So, I thought it's the best for you to stay with grandpa and it would even make him feel better."
He got a point there. "Okay, I'll manage." I said before hanging the call. I knew that it's useless to argue with him about my security. Being the CEO of a top-class Security Company, he knows exactly how to keep his clients unharmed without much effort. But when it comes to the people close to him, his calm posture comes off and he becomes overprotective and puts in the maximum efforts possible for him. Especially when it comes to me and Vaidik.
After a few minutes, we reached my grandpa's mansion. The large iron gates block the entrance, with two guards guarding them. They walked up to our car right after it stopped in front of the gates and asked our driver for the details. I opened the door and got down the car, their shoulders tensed the moment they saw me. One of them took a step back and rushed to the camera installed at the gate and communicated something. After a few minutes a group of guards followed by a familiar man in his fifties wearing a customized charcoal suit walked out of the gates. The guards stood before the gates blocking our way while the man walked forward giving his full view. Ravinder uncle! he is the personal security chief of my grandpa. He closed the distance between us and held my soldiers looking at me. "It's you, It's really you. I thought you would never come back, Karan." he said with a heavy voice. I can tell that he's holding himself from crying.
"I understand. ” I said with a smile. “But you know that this city reminds me of them. I can't stay here and stay calm without creating commotion. So it's better for me to stay away from the city as much as possible.”
“If that's what you want, I won't ask any other questions.” he said in a serious tone. “We should get inside, I'm sure all your enemies might have been notified about your arrival.”
“Okay, let's go.” I said. All the guards moved out of my way and opened the gates as I walked forward and made way for our car to follow me. I gestured at Amar and the driver to go ahead which they did. The mansion was at least a hundred meters away from the gates. I walked slowly into the property with a mixture of feelings rolling through my chest. All the joyful moments, the games I played in this place, the precious childhood and my training with grandpa. Everything glimpsed in my mind for a moment with each step I took towards the mansion.
