FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 2

I come home around, 1am. Receptions are wrapped up earlier than wedding, two days ago with Kiran's wedding I had returned around 3am. Luckily, for now I don't have any new project. My minions will be taking care of the chota mota projects. As I removed my heels I noticed the lights of Adnan's study room on. I sigh, he over works himself so much at times. I am worried for his health. Lifting my heavy lehengha I walked into the study. I find him going through some files, and his laptop opened to a worksheet.

'Bhai' I say sounding terribly tried, I wrapped my arms around his neck. I touched my cheeks with his.

'Hey, how was the wedding?' he asks. I tilt my head and look at him, I frown when I looked at his black thick framed spectacles. I sigh in defeat and take a step back.

'Bhai' I say placing my hands on my hips. He looks at me and acts innocent, pretending not knowing why I am miffed. I gesture towards his glasses and he smiles.

I don't like glasses, so many times I have asked him to get contacts but in his defense, he says that he has problem only reading and doesn't need contacts. I am left to just glare at him.

Adnan forwards me a chair and I take a seat next to him, he asks me about the reception and I narrate everything to him. All the minute details from the scratch. I also mention what a pain in the...neck Kiran is, and about the Veg and Chicken mess up and now the wedding and the reception was utter bore. Kiran was so fussy that I didn't even get to enjoy the little food that I have, I was from start to stop on my toes. Ruchi, didn't give a damn about it and happily ate her food.

'Aww...mera bacha. Kitna hard work kartha hai' Adnan says pinching my cheek. I wince and move his hand. I frown at him and he smiles wider.

'I have to work else how will I become rich and famous' I say leaning against the arm chair. Adnan smiles sadly. 'I wish I can make you understand that being rich and famous isn't everything' he says sadly.

I look at him, of course it's everything. But then whatever he speaks from experience. He has everything, money and fame. But then he is always sad, trying to immerse himself into work and only work. I feel guilty.

It is because of me; Bhai has become an emotionless workaholic. Apart from our family there were only two relationship that mattered to him, his friendship and his one true love. I haven't seen Bhai truly happy after that heartbreak and the broken friendship. But my case is different, my happiness lies in being rich and famous.

*

I yawned and rubbing my eyes I sit up on the bed. For how long have I been sleeping? For split seconds, I wondered which century I am in. I climbed down my bed. I quickly tied my hair in a messy bun and still clad in loose winne the pooh Tee and polka dotted shorts I climbed downstairs.

I see Vimala arranging the cushions in the living room, I yawned 'Where is Bhai?' I ask her taking a seat on the sofa, stretching my legs one over the other on the table in front of the sofa. Vimala groans as I just spoiled the cushion she had made. Vimala shrugs and still eyeing the cushion I am leaning against she says he left early, I was so fast asleep that is why he didn't wake me up and asked her also not to wake me up.

'Oh!' I say throwing my head back against the sofa, I close my eyes.

'You want lunch?' Vimala asks

I didn't bother opening my eyes and asked what time it is, I am stunned to find out its 3pm. Holy crap! I slept so much.

I asked Vimala to prepare lunch and I go to take bath and freshen up.

'Babes, till one week we have no work. Want to go out somewhere?' Ruchi asks me on call. I sigh! I wish I could, but then I can't leave my agency to only my minions. I like calling my employees as minions, it sounds fun.

Ruchi calls me mini-version of Bhai, I smile. I too am turning into a workaholic. I don't remember when was the last time I took a long break. I scrunched my nose at the oily lunch Vimala has prepared. Nevertheless, I ate it mentally deciding to hit the indoor gym. I have to work extra hours because of this woman, I think bitterly.

I spend rest of the day cycling around the quiet suburb, by evening when I returned I am greeted by Adnan's happy smile.

'Bhai' I hugged him

I am amazed he is back so soon, I glance at the wall clock, its 7pm and its really unlike him to come at this hour. When I enquired, Adnan informed me that he has meeting around 8pm in the study room. I sensed something is bothering him, he looked tensed. I called Vimala and asked her to get water for him, I scolded her for being so irresponsible. Adnan asked me to relax

'Alu! Relax Bacha' he says as I sit beside him on the sofa. I smack his arm gently and glared at him. I hate it when he calls me Alu, but he loves calling me so for his happiness it is worth it. Around 7.55pm, I hear the door-bell. Adnan goes to the door; he announces his employees are here. I and Vimala get busy with snacks and coffee.

Vimala gets the tray, I held the tray from her. She is really clumsy and I don't want her to mess up in the room, as it is Adnan is tensed. I don't want to annoy him further.

I walked towards the door, 'WHAT THE HELL!' I trembled as I hear my brother thunder at his employees. I wondered if I should go in, maybe I should postpone the snacks, he sound so angry.

'We can't lag behind him; this deal was so important for us.' He says frustrated.

'Sir, we must launch better house plans...' one of his employee suggested. There is silence. I knocked the door, and after a while I am asked to enter. I kicked the door with my hip and entered in.

Adnan is sitting in the center sofa with the others besides him, they form a circle. I feel nervous with all gaze on me. Adnan is sitting there massaging his forehead. He looks worried. I placed the tray on the center table and smile at everyone.

They didn't smile back but had a grimace expression plastered on their face.

Oh-Okay!

Much after we had dinner I dressed in my gym clothes, a pink tank top and black track pants, tied my hair in a high pony and walked in the gym area. I find Adnan already working out on the treadmill, I pout, I wanted to use that. I walked up to him. He is having earphones stuck to his ears so I poked his arm. He turns his head; he tugs the earphones down and nods his head.

'I want to use that' I say. He suggests me to use some other machine. I pout shaking my head. Adnan sighs and gets down the treadmill. I clap happily.

'Bhai! Is everything alright. you all looked so tensed' I ask after a while. Adnan doesn't reply for few minutes; he concretes on the dumbbells he is excising with.

'We were looking for Gupta's project but we lost it to him.' He says bitterly.

I wondered who is this "He" Adnan is so bitter about. Adnan goes on to say that "He" has launched affordable housings and is attracting many clients including Gupta. Loosing Gupta is a big loss for our company. It will affect the profit as well as the ranking and ultimately our reputation.

'Who is he?' I ask after a while, more than this property non-sense I am interested in this mystery man. I wonder who this rival is, there has been only rival for Adnan. I hope he is not the same.

'Riad Nawab Ali' Adnan says bitterly

I stiffened. So, my guess was right.

Riad and Adnan were once die-hard friends, people used to give examples of their friendship. They were like 17-year-old version of "Jai and Veeru", they were inseparable. Everyone in our locality knew of their bromance. But now the equations have changed, once inseparable friends are now bitter rivals. In this ruthless world, of real estate business they strive to outrun each other. I don't care about that Riad anyways, but I am worried for my brother. Because of this stupid rivalry Adnan is suffering, he is turning into a workaholic zombie.