Desire ✔️

Part 1 : Prologue - Raman

West Coast, South Island
New Zealand
7 August 2014

"Damn it Mihir, what are we doing in this god forsaken place anyway?"

"Bhai, you said yourself that you wanted to get away from everything and everyone for a while, that you needed a break."

"Yes, a break from that mad madrassan' Raman mumbled under his breath.

"What did you say Bhai?" Mihir asked innocently

"We could have had a break in India couldn't we? Or somewhere close by, like Singapore or Dubai or even the UK. Why the hell did we have to come to the ends of the earth?"

"Because the client was here and he wanted us to come here. And you must admit bhai, that we have been able to land a huge contract. This will really change things for you, put you in the big league. And to think bhai, that we won this contract against Khanna Inc, against Ashok Khanna."

Raman smiled back at the elation in his young friends voice, his annoyance temporarily forgotten. Ashok Khanna , his nemesis. His ex employer, his mentor, who 5 years ago had stolen Raman Kumar Bhalla's wife away from him, had robbed his six month old daughter of a mother and a family, had destroyed his happiness, his content existence. Yes, he, Raman Kumar Bhalla, had now entered the big league, was now finally in the position when he could face Ashok Khanna on his own terms.

The past 5 years since Shagun left him had been spent in a fuge of hard work and the sheer determination to succeed. He had separated himself from his family, had left his child, his Ruhi in the care of his parents as he and Mihir had burnt the midnight oil in making their start up advertising and public relations company a success. Slowly but steadily, they had made inroads into the market, had landed some decent contracts and his name had started to be taken amongst those who mattered. And now this - a multi year contract with a multi national, a company that all other PR firms in India had been angling to land. And none more so than Khanna Inc.

"Kya soch rahe ho Bhai? ( What are you thinking bhai?)" Mihir's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Raman turned and clasped Mihir's hands warmly.

"Just that I could never have done this without you Mihir. Never. If you hadn't stood by me, if you hadn't ..."

"Kya bhai, senti kyun kar rahe ho ( What bhai, why are you making me sentimental?) Mihir tried to brush aside Raman's gratitude, his eyes filling up with unbidden tears.

"Kuch bhi keh lo (Say what you will) you know that what you did for me was truly remarkable." Raman persisted.

"And what about what you did for me bhai? Was that any less important? Aap ne meri life sambhal li, mujhe ek pariwar diya. ( You gave me a life, a family) I've done nothing in comparision bhai, nothing."

Raman brushed aside his own tears. The bond between him and his younger friend was truly remarkable. For Mihir was Shaguns younger brother, his ex wife's brother.

Mihir Arora was only 13 when the 23 year old Raman Bhalla had married his 21 year old sister, Shagun, after a month long engagement. He had been present at Raman and Shagun's first meeting, when his mother had brought Shagun along to the Bhalla residence to introduce her.

Raman had hardly been the catch that his widowed mother had been angling for, for her beautiful daughter.

Of average height, plump with a developing embonpoint, his hair somewhat unkempt, face covered in fuzz, his fierce intellect and thick glasses giving him a nerdy air. Shagun had already rejected far more handsome and wealthier men, so he had not expected that his sister or his mother would ever say yes to this middle class young man just starting out in his career.