An Aesthetic Love: A Collection Of Shivika Short Stories

27| bonds and misunderstandings.

It was a good day in the interiors of Oberoi Mansion. The everyday regulars of the brothers in the kitchen and their wives helping them, and the seniors busy doing nothing was going on.

Sometime later, the entire family finished breakfast, and are in the final talks about random stuff before they disperse for their works.

Shivaay is just about to get up from the table when Tej stops him.
"Shivaay," he says, and Shivaay looks at him, "maine ek bahut important deal sign ki hai. Lekin client humare office nahi aa sakte, so humein hi wahan jaana padega. Mai tumhe address bhej dunga, tum 12 baje tak wahan pahunch jaana."

Shivaay nods at him, and both of them leave.

At around 12, Shivaay reaches the place where Tej wanted him to. It is a forest area with a cottage nearby, and Shivaay is obviously surprised.

"Bade papa ne mujhe yahan kyu bulaya hai?" He asks himself, before turning around to look for him.
"Bade papa? Aap kahan hain?" He asks, looking around.
When he stands back at his original position, he is taken by surprise when Tej appears in front of him.

"Bade papa!" He says, astonished, "aapne toh mujhe dara hi diya."
He looks back at him, "hum yahan kyu hain? Yahan kaunse client se milna hai?"
He asks him, but Tej is silent.
"Bataiye na bade papa! Aap mujhe yahan kyu laaye hain?"

Tej smiles.
"Badle ki aag kuch bhi karne pe majbur kar deti hai Shivaay..." He says, and Shivaay looks at him seriously.
"B-badla? Yeh kaisi baatein kar rahe hain aap bade papa? Kaisa badla?" He asks him, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"Shivaay," Tej says, keeping a hand on his shoulder, "dekho. Yeh toh tumhe bhi pata hai aur mujhe bhi pata ki aaj meri jo haalat hai uske zimmedaar tum ho."
Shivaay looks at him in confusion.
"Nahi samjhe? Dekho mai samjhata hu. Aaj mere hi ghar me meri koi izzat hi nahi bachi hai. Aur kisi se toh mai ummeed hi nahi karta, par mere apne bete mujhe aise treat karte hain jaise mai unka baap nahi, koi stranger hu. Omkara toh mujhe dad tak nahi bulata."

Shivaay had a tinge of "yeh sab aap hi ki wajah se hua hai" in his thoughts, but decided to let it go.

"Aur yeh sab tumhari wajah se hua hai. Tum ne hi mere beton ke mann me mere khilaf zeher bhara hai. Tumne hi bachpan se unki zindagi me meri jagah lene ki koshish ki hai. Unhe yeh dikhane ki koshish ki hai ki unka baap kisi kaam ka nahi hai."
Shivaay looks at him directly, shock evident on his face. How can he even think-?

"Aisa nahi hai bade papa..." He says, but Tej stops him.
"Meri baat abhi khatam nahi hui hai Shivaay. Tumne hi ek bhai ho kar ek baap banne ki koshish ki hai, mere beton ke liye. Aur kuch din pehle jo hua, woh bhi tumhari hi wajah se hua."
Shivaay's mind drifts back to the business awards a few days ago.

Rudra had, since 1 year ago, finally followed Shivaay's footsteps and taken a leap into the business field. So, in this year's business awards, the entire family was taken by surprise.
They had expected Shivaay to win an 'entrepreneur of the year' award, which he did, but never in their wildest dreams had anyone thought that Rudra would end up winning the 'Rising Entrepreneur Of The Year' award.

It was an overwhelming day for Shivaay.

*Flashback begins*

"And the 'rising entrepreneur of the year' award goes to......" The host announced, as everyone looked on expectantly.

"Rudra Singh Oberoi!"

Rudra stands up listening to it, obviously surprised, as Shivaay, sitting beside him, encourages him to go ahead and accept his award, assuring him that all of this was real.
He goes onto the stage, accepts his awards and says his 'thank you's before doing the most important thing.