Pride vs Prejudice

Chapter 3

Shiv entered the house, still jogging, with a smile on his face. As had been his ritual every morning, he had just beaten Sam, Arvind and Rohan at a jogging competition. It was the best way to start a day. Though if he was honest with himself, he had only beaten Sam and Arvind. Rohan was never in the race. He was busy gobbling down street food while the other three jogged. Sam and Arvind lived in delusion of beating him every day, only to fail miserably, Shiv thought with a smile, shaking his head.

He made to climb up the stairs to his room, when his mom called "Shivu! You are home! Come have breakfast. You must be hungry" she said

Shiv looked at the table once, deciding whether to join the family right away or freshen up first. If he was in Chicago, he wouldn't have bothered, but back home, his dad made him think twice about these things. He glanced at his father, his back facing Shiv as he sat at the head of the table. Deepak Kapoor was a man of few words, but when he spoke, everyone listened. The only one who managed to get any word, edgewise into him, was his wife and Shiv's mother, Aarti.

"Shivu! Come baby" His mom called again

Shiv sighed and walked over to the table, nodding as his elder brother, Arun, who was already dressed and ready for work. Shiv was just sitting down when his father spoke.

"Your brother is already dressed for work and you!" he said firmly, titling his head only slightly to look at Shiv.

Shiv stopped his action of sitting down

"Papa, it is okay" his brother told their father calmly "He has been doing things right and winning all the contracts since he has joined"

His mother walked over and pushed him into the seat as she turned to her husband, frowing, as she commented "Don't start this early in the morning. Why cannot you let him be? He is winning all contracts as Arun said. What more do you want?"

His father looked at him sternly before glancing at his mother "He is not a kid anymore. This is not competition. This is life. It is not about winning small contracts. It is about taking responsibility of running the business and his life, just like Arun has been doing" he told his wife as he got up, having finished his breakfast.

It was routine for his father to have early breakfast, then get ready and head to work along with Arun.

"He has just come back home a month back. He is still young" Aarti told her husband "Stop harassing him"

His father shook his head but didn't counter his wife any more. He knew there was no winning against her. He went up to his room.

"You don't pay any attention to him" his mother told him, patting his head lovingly "He isn't allowed to shout at anyone at office, because they will quit, so he is taking it out at home" she added shaking her head

Shiv made a face but smiled at her

"Maa!" Arun said shaking his head "Dad isn't going to like hearing that!"

"Keep quiet! I know you are your daddy's boy!" his mother said teasingly "Don't assume Shivu is alone and gang up on him!". She served Shiv with some muesli, him being health conscious about what he ate "You eat your breakfast" she said kissing Shiv's head

Shiv loved being pampered by his mom. It wasn't that his dad didn't love him. He did. But it was just rare for Deepak Kapoor to show the affection openly. He was an old school father who believed that he had only done his job, as a father, right, if his children were completely lost in their work, shouldering the responsibility of life ahead. Shiv on the other hand was one of those who worked hard when needed, but only when needed. Otherwise, he felt there was more to life, like his competitions with his friends, which he loved to win.