"I Do"

Chapter 21

Akira tried to settle her mind, feeling the familiar tug of anxiety that came as Vasco was on his way home and will be here tomorrow.

strained terms, that had left both of them unsettled. Tomorrow's arrival loomed, filling her with a blend of hope and apprehension. Would they find common ground this time? Or would they, once again, clash and fall silent?

She sighed, deciding to bury herself in unfinished work instead of allowing herself to overthink. "Focusing on the tasks at hand is the best I can do for now," she muttered to herself, looking over the notes and ideas she'd drafted for the upcoming months.

Fravashis, the sacred day to honor their ancestors, was approaching, and a vision had begun to form in her mind. This year, she wanted to do something different, something that would leave a lasting mark on both the family and their business.

Both Vasco's and her ancestors had devoted their lives to building something larger than themselves.

They had transformed dreams into legacy, all while ensuring that the Parsi community held an enduring place in India's vast tapestry.

To Akira, these founders were more than names on a lineage; they were the reason she and Vasco were here, the reason this sprawling conglomerate existed.

And as a family-and as a corporation-she felt it was their duty to honor these pillars of their shared history.

This year, she wanted to introduce a unique day in their conglomerates-a Founder's Day that would pay homage to these ancestors in a way that went beyond words, beyond the usual silent gratitude.

"They deserve more than just a day of remembrance. They deserve a celebration of their lives, their sacrifices, their victories," she thought, her heart swelling with purpose.

In Zoroastrianism, Fravashis, the guardian spirits, were revered as the soul's protectors and guides.

These divine entities watched over the living and the departed, bridging this world with the spiritual realm.

As she reflected on the ancient prayers and hymns she had grown up hearing, Akira could almost feel the presence of these spirits around her, lending her the strength to carry on.

When a person's soul unites with their Fravashi at death, the ancient texts tell us, it's like a homecoming, a fulfillment of their life's journey.

She found comfort in this idea: that when they passed, the souls of their loved ones were not lost but instead joined a higher plane of existence, watching over them all, guiding them. "We adore the souls of the dead who are the Fravashis of the holy," she whispered, letting the words settle in the air around her, as if invoking the spirits of those long gone.

Honoring the Fravashis had been a sacred custom among the ancient Persians, a tradition that stretched across centuries.

This tradition wasn't just about remembering; it was about ensuring the legacy and sacrifices of these souls were never forgotten.

In that spirit, Akira wanted to weave this custom into the fabric of their family's conglomerate-a living testament to the values and beliefs they shared.

By dedicating a day to honor these spirits, she knew they could reinforce the narrative of their brand as one deeply rooted in respect, tradition, and strength. A tribute to the guardians, to the ones who had led them to where they were now.

She could already picture it: a day filled with reverent tributes, stories, and perhaps even a prayer ceremony.

The PR team would surely see its value as a recall strategy-an act of reverence that would resonate with the community and make their brand image stand out in a world obsessed with the new.