Alfaaz

Chapter 43: Aks

Hello, everyone!

Every now and then, you guys have to ask me, "When are you updating?" My answer has seldom been uplifting. Try as I may, I practically can't find time to sleep, forget chalking up a decent update for you'll. This may sound like an excuse but it is far from one. More than anyone of you, I want to see this story across the finish line. Anyway, no matter what I say, the fact still remains, I am not updating as quickly as I wish to. I am trying, and I hope this time, my jaded, low-on-sleep brain can conjure up something worth everyone's while.

With that, here's presenting Aks or as I like to call it, countdown #3.

No matter who we are, what we have achieved, or where we set out to be - deep down in our souls, we all feel a little incomplete. It is this gnawing emotion of emptiness that makes us scour the earth to fill our voided chalices. It is as though we have lost something dear to us and if that remains unfound, we remain unnerved. Exactly what that something is, remains unknown to most of us. But, a few souls find that elusive peace only to realize that soon there would appear another void that would require filling. They would scourge the earth again and possibly fill the new void. This cycle, however, is incessant, ceaseless, and unforgiving. It is up to us then, to realize that voids are as much a part of as us their absence. We need only make peace with it, accept it as a figment of our souls. That is where the search for the unknown on the outside will end, birthing a deeper quest of self.

"Sumo, I miss you." Shravan pouted with mock tears.

"Drama Queen." Suman smiled looking at him on her laptop screen. This is how they managed to get past the hurdles of a long-distance relationship. While they both traveled between the continents, there were months when neither could ignore their respective businesses.

Shravan was finalizing the power move of his stake at his law firm. Having married Kiara, Pushkar had decided to move to London to support his beloved's dreams of working and establishing herself in London.

This decision came as a relief to Shravan who wanted to return home. With Pushkar's training now complete, he was sure that his cousin and Eric would handle the firm even better than he had.

"The farewell will be watery," Suman smiled emphatically.

Shravan let out a breath and nodded. He wasn't sure if he could completely fit into his role as the lead of Malhotra and Associates and a major reason for his indecisiveness was the fact that he loved London, it was more a home to him than Delhi had ever been. His magnanimous decision found roots in the solace that his family was complete, finally – the only person missing was he, himself.

"I don't know, Sumo. I'm happy, I want to be with all of you. Find the elusive family I have always been waiting for. But I would be lying if I said I do not have a family here. I understand that I can't have my cake and eat it too, but I want the best of both worlds - one world that I was born into and the other that I have made for myself here." He sighed and this time the tears forming in his eyes were far from mock.