The next day was Saturday Naira was ready to go meet Gauri she grabbed her phone and finds an sms..
'I know its your day off but can you please meet me today at home I would say somewhere else but I have a few video conferences today..ok let me know'
she replied back to his sms.. he was running untill his phone beeped.. stopping midway of his jog he checked it..
*
"Thank you very much Mr Chopra" he saw Naira waiting outside his office, she saw him in smart wear again, looking ever so handsome in a shirt and blazer, this was normal sir he must be over his issue. finishing his conversation he hanged up. He got up from his seat and opened the door.
"Let's go to the garden and talk there.." she nodded. As they walked he asked
"how is your new place do you like it?" He asked
"yeah its great sir, you should come see when you have a chance.." she replied..
"yeah I just might take you up on that.. They came into the garden, it was huge, a lot of flowers surrounding it, a cute little fountain and a cosy swing, which is where he led her to come and have a seat.
"take a seat" she sat down with her hands in her lap, he sat next to her, his feet apart and his hands by his side gripping the material of the swing.
"Um.. yesterday my behaviour was unexceptable, this whole Preeti thing and then I lost out to another tender because of personal issues were messing with me" I'm quite embarrassed actually" he couldn't meet her eyes he kept talking and looking ahead.
"Sir don't apologise please its.." he turned to her, she was making excuses for him and she should never have been put in that postion in the first place.
"no Naira, I.. I have to otherwise I just.. please" he held her hands.. "forgive me?"
"of course" she replied..
"thank you" he replied letting go..
"so I want to share something with you its about my past, as you know Siya isn't my biological daughter, and um..." he was struggling talking about his feelings..
"ok I'm going to get up its easier for me to get my thoughts out.." he got up from the swing.. Naira wanted to tell him its fine he doesn't have to re-live everything again its not her business to know.. but a part of her wanted to know his troubles and thoughts and she couldn't believe that he was sharing this with her finally. She kept quiet and listened as he spoke.
"I graduated from Harvard after doing my mba, it was a great night I was with my girlfriend Elena nothing serious really I wasn't in love with her or anything but my life in US was fab you know I'm in my mid 20's having fun" he turned around facing her again she was listening intently .
"Ahem anyway everything was perfect, then I got a call from my Girdhar chacha to come to India immediately and I did I was excited to see bhai and bhabhi and little Siya, that time I had only seen her in photos" He sat down again next to her
"I came back and saw they were no more, and that my shaadi had been fixed with Preeti.. you see Girdhar chacha and Preeti's dad are fast friends and once I landed off the plane I was told about my wedding and brother's news all at the same time, not only that I was told about Preeti, she was all prepared to be a mother to Siya. Naira looked as he went on..
'he is not much elder than me and he was forced to grow up so quickly' she sighed feeling his pain.
"Preeti I knew her I had met her a few times i was actually fond of her, so to marry her I was not hesistant she had a sweet nature and she was great with Siya. Anyway it was on my wedding night I found out her true colours, I found her talking on the phone to Sanjay, its who she has gone off with now, She was only with me for the money.! Dadi came to meet me and let's just say Girdhar chacha and dadi don't have a relationship anymore.. he sold out to Preeti and her father that's how she has 20 % share in my company. Slowly slowly I realised that she needed to be out.. but oh no you know Preeti everyone loves her, and because I'm a father to see Siya I am that much more respected in the businesses and this ideal family is a respected status that has come out of this..
"if anyone found out that this is all a sham and I don't even have a kid, I will lose a lot of business.. you know last year we even did a photoshoot and an article came in the newspaper praising our personal and professional lives.. so its complicated even if I want to tell the world the truth I can't..There now you know everything, my past."
He shifted on the chair "You know till this day I can not believe my chacha betrayed us like this.. after such betrayal I decided that the only thing that matters in the world is money, that's why day and night I keep to my business" He sighed..
"sir I'm so sorry I thought I had a bad life, but you have been through such tough times" this time she places her hand on his.. he turned to her.
"It's ok.. well after all this talking I sure need a drink. you?"
"um.. ok" he got up and called to their gardener Madan "tell Girja to bring 2 fruit juices outside!" he yelled.
"Yes malik" said the gardener. He walked back to Naira and sat down again.
"Sir money is good but, people you can't put a price on it.. life is too short, enjoy it to the fullest" Grija came and placed the plate of juices on the table in front of them.
" enjoy it to the fullest I can't remember the last time I did that" he handed her a glass, also taking a sip from his own.
"you should sir, give your self a break you are still young and I think worries are unnessary" she said
"wow check you out, a few days back you were all against that and now..
"Life's very importanted.. you taught me that" she looked at him then took a sip of her juice.
"your right, actually after meeting you I realise money isn't everything people are far more priceless" he said taking a final sip and placing the glass back on the plate. He turned to her and they exchanged a mutual smile of understanding.
"finished?" he asked, she nodded, he placed her glass on the plate.
"come" he said,they walked back to the house.
"but now Preeti is gone so its good right?"
"hmm.. he chuckled " I wish I could believe that but she will be back once she runs out of money, and she is 20% shareholder she will back with her drama it's a pattern with her." He went ahead and she followed. Both were greeted by dadi and Siya.
*
Kartik sat in his office, he was just having a good think, "enjoy life to the fullest, people are priceless" Naira's words kept ringing in his ears.. "she's right" He got up from his office and close the door, "Mona I'm heading home" he said to his pa. "Listen cancel all my meetings for the next 2 months..
"2 months! sir are you feeling alright?" she couldn't believe workaholic Kartik was saying this!
"Yes I'm taking leave for a bit, obviously I will want an update but I won't be doing any meetings re-schedule them all for 2 months later.
"Sir that is a huge risk are you sure"
" Maybe it is, but money is money, you can't put a price on people." He smiled and left from there.
Precap: Kartik does something sweet for Naira
Tbc
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