♔Aarav ♔

-Years Later-

          ❛ ❛ Family.

The word itself means everything to me. They are my strength and my weakness. 

For them, no rules that cannot be broken, no lines that cannot be crossed, and no sacrifice that cannot be made. 

Because family, it is where everything begins and ends. And, my family? It isn't family because of blood. It is my family because of loyalty and where there is loyalty, there is respect and joy. Love and happiness. And stories that never end.

This, this is a story of an heir and an heiress that finally dared to be who they were born to be. - Aarav Singh Raizada.   ❜ ❜

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          I glance away from the window overlooking the clouds and towards the flight attendant, "Mr. Raizada, can I get you anything else before we prepare for landing?"

I shake my head and politely refuse, "No, thank you."

She leaves at once, knowing not to bother me after that. I check the time on my wristwatch and decide I am going to have to go straight to the office instead of stopping home first. Dad will give me quite a lecture if I am tardy – even if it is no fault of mine. I do not control flight delays, after all.

A fleet of guards awaits at the airstrip when I arrive. Dad and his security. He will never stop with it, but by now I have become habitual to it. Half the time, I do not even notice their presence.

One of them opens the car door for me and without a word to him, I sit inside the limo. I take off my black shades and stare across the seat as the female hands me a glass of scotch on the rocks. "Hello, Ms. Arora."

"Hello, Mr. Raizada." She replies back with a poise and I raise a brow at her. A smile forms its way on her lips and dropping the pretense, she squeals and moves to sit beside me, throwing her arms around my neck at once.

A chuckle escapes my lips as I warmly embrace her. "I should've known you'd come to pick me up."

As she pulls back, she replies in an obvious tone, "Uh, duh! It's your birthday. Ofcourse I would be here. Happy birthday, Junior!" She exclaims at the end and once again hugs me, this time pressing her head against my chest as I pull her to my side.

"Thank you, Eva." I cheekily respond placing a kiss to her temple. Not many people get me to bring out my care-free and loving persona – smiles and all. And Eva, she is family and a close friend since my childhood days.

"Straight to the office, I presume?"

"Ofcourse."

She passes the message forward to the driver opening the screen door before closing it again for privacy. "I can't wait to see chachu." She comments referring to my step-dad and her uncle. "Tell me, has he started growing white hair yet?"

I place the scotch glass on the table in front of us, "He likes to deny it, but he's getting old."

She smiles and indulges me in a conversation but it doesn't last long. It never does with her, not when she has more important things to ask. "So, big day today, huh?"

I take in a deep breath and let it out through my mouth. "Something like that."

"I can't believe she'll finally be back."

I respond mimicking her structure, "I can't believe she doesn't remember anything."

"We'll figure it out." She comforts me taking my hand and squeezing it, "Don't worry."

"Yeah," I whisper and look out as we enter the premises of AR Designs headquarters. This space has expanded in the last 20 years for sure. Sometimes, I can't believe the amount of work my entire family has put in it to bring it to the heights it is today.

"Showtime," She announces just as the door to my side opens.

I put my glasses on again and so does she. We both know better than to go bare outside where we are likely to meet the cameras. I step up, buttoning the middle button of my suit coat and then turn around to offer her my hand. She takes it and steps out as well, her own business casual dress looking chic and classy paired with her heels and purse hanging off her folded-up elbow.

Looking at her, no one will say she's gone through army training and now works in army sector. They would rather take her to be one of the models or fashion icon here at AR Fashion House.

Security paves way for us to enter the building and we get inside the elevator to take us to the floor where our offices are. The entire building of 32 floors is ours, but the corporate offices are on the 28th floor, which is where I am often found.

The elevator dings and a second later, the door slides open. I have only taken one step out of it when my vision is crowded by a female crashing into me and my fingers instantly wrapping around the full coffee mug. Salvaging option is out of the question due to the proximity. Even as I step back at once, it still splashes on my clothes and shoes.

My jaw clenches in instant anger. Who doesn't wait for a second to check if someone is stepping out of the elevator before barging in themselves? It's just common sense! I have all intentions of scolding the person when my gaze travels up to her face.

Jhanvi.

Even if I haven't seen her in years, I could never forget that face or her eyes. For a second, I am mesmerized at how beautiful she has grown into.

Eva breaks our little eye lock clearing her throat and offering me a clean and crisp handkerchief. I accept it and wipe my burning hands. Luckily, none of it got on her skin, though I do see it stained her blouse as well.

Forcing my eyes back to her face, I give her a light warning. "Careful where you walk."

It seems to blink her out of her daze and her eyes widen as she eyes my wiping my hands which have turned red due to the steaming hot coffee. She gasps in an apology, "I am so sorry!"

She really looks guilt-ridden. "Don't worry, a cup of coffee isn't enough to harm me," I say to ease her guilt, but I realize it comes off as arrogant.

I am glad for Eva's interruption again, "We're getting late for the meeting." I nod and walk off with her before I say anything else to give her a bad impression of myself. As we round the corner, Eva teases in a quiet voice, "Really, Aarav?"

"Let's not," I mutter, already embarrassed. I couldn't believe that for the smallest few seconds, I had checked her out and then come off as smug.

"One," She says informing me this is my one free pass. As my older half-cousin, she takes it upon herself to keep me in check when it comes to treating ladies respectfully. "I'm going to go find your dad." She parts ways towards his office.

I push the door open to my cabin to find Mr. Sheikh already waiting inside. Seeing me, he informs. "ASR said I could wait in here."

"Ofcourse," I wave at him to keep seated and getting to the other side of the desk, I take off my suit coat and hang it on my chair.

He eyes my clothes, "A little coffee accident from a certain Ms. Raichand?" My brows knit together and he explains himself, "In the last two days, I may have noticed just how much her coffee intake is."

"Well, if you don't mind waiting for a second, may I go change?"

"Oh yes, go ahead. I believe your dad will be here by then too and then we can start the meeting."

I raise my brow, "Are you saying the great ASR is tardy and I am on time for once?"

He laughs at my teasing, knowing I will hold this over my dad's head for some time to come. Smiling myself, I retreat behind a door that leads to a private washroom to change. It is exactly for accidents like this that I keep a few pair of clothes to change into.

Minutes later when I return, dad is waiting as assumed. "You need to learn to be on time, Aarav."

"You need to learn to properly greet your son you haven't seen in five months." I scold him right back and yes, I have a habit of mimicking others sentence structure style.

He rolls his eyes in a huff but knows I am making a very legit point. He stands up and meets me halfway for a hug and pat on the back. "Welcome home, son."

I grin back having missed his friendly and warm hugs, "It's good to be home, dad."

He nods for me to sit, "Now, let's get down to business." After he sits, he leans back into the chair. As always, he oozes of confidence and it is from him I learn my best practices. "I want Jhanvi to work with you."

"Dad." I say in a warning right away, "That is not a good idea."

"Why is that?"

I open my mouth to counter with a valid point, but the only thing I can come up with is a lame, "Because!"

He chuckles, and that man very well knows why it's a bad idea. He is doing this on purpose because he knows I have been trying to keep myself away from her.

"Unless you come up with a better excuse, teach her everything she needs to know, Aarav. Help her adjust to our world. No one here is more capable of it than you are."

This time, I do have an argument. "Not true. You are."

"And pray tell, where in my schedule do you see a free spot to give her that training?"

Okay, he makes a valid point. His schedule is filled even as he is trying to lessen his workload as Khushi keeps scolding him to be home more and at work less. So, I try to negotiate. "I can look after the calendar project."

He laughs, "I love how you think I wouldn't have already passed it over to you."

I bob my head to the side with a slight glare. He may be my dad but I still glare at him when he does things like this. "Do you not love your only son or what?"

"Aarav Singh Raizada, stop cribbing or do I need to get Eva on your case again?" He threatens, leaning in and placing his elbows on the desk in a warning.

I frown even as Mr. Sheikh takes that to be the end of that argument and moves on to the next matter at hand: explaining to me how this is going to work. At the end, he steps out to fetch Jhanvi.

I use that time to ask dad, "Do we have to tell her everything?"

He points out as he has many times, "Nothing good comes out of hiding or lying, Aarav. Also, she deserves to know," and then leaves the cabin.

I twirl the chair around to face the wall behind me with my credentials. I let my head fall back and eyes close for a second to compose myself and to convince myself this was happening. I cannot run from it anymore. Upon learning she was returning, I thought dad would be training her. I did not plan on staying for long but now it looks like I may have to.

Dad is doing this on purpose, that is the only conclusion left to make.

I tell myself. I need a game plan – and fast.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

          There is a knock on my door. It can't be anyone but Jhanvi and Mr. Sheikh. "Come in," I answer and on hearing the two pair of footsteps, turn the chair back around to face them.

Jhanvi catches on that the person she had spilled coffee on 45 minutes ago is the same person sitting in front of her. She leans towards Mr. Sheikh to whisper, "Isn't he too young to be my guardian?" but I hear it loud and clear.

"I'm not your guardian, Ms. Raichand," I say trying to build a professional relationship. I wave at her to sit as I continue, "But, I am the next best thing that you get."

She speaks, again looking towards Mr. Sheikh instead of me, "I was told I'd meet my guardian here."

I look at him and he instantly looks away to explain and clear the air, "Oh no, Ms. Raichand. I never said you'd meet him. I simply said he wanted you to return to learn the ropes of the business."

Her shoulder sags a little as she asks in disappointment, "Will I ever meet him or is he going to keep sending his employees?"

I clear my throat and finally, she looks back at him. I have my finger over my lips trying to keep my amusement at bay for she thinks I am an employee. Do I look like an employee?

"You will meet him one day, yes." I lean forward with my elbows on the table and that seems to intimidate her, "And I assure you, Ms. Raichand, I am not his employee. Did you not read the name plaque on the door when you entered?"

She is quiet for a second, thinking. Then, her eyes widen. Yes, she does remember reading it. A. Raizada, CEO.

Mr. Sheikh breaks our eye-lock by clearing his throat. I blink to shift my gaze to him, all other parts of my body still and composed as ever. "Ms. Raichand, let me explain how this will work. For the next year, you will train under Mr. Raizada."

"So I am to be his assistant, is that it? Free labor?"

I do not understand why I catch a flare of anger in her eyes, and so I beat Mr. Sheikh to a response. "Ms. Raichand, you are born to be much more than an assistant." I help break it down further, "Think of me as your supervisor. I'll train you for the job first and then you go from there as you see fit. At first, I'll prefer that you run your decisions by me given this is my company but once I see I am not needed anymore, you make your own decisions. I'll only intervene if I think I can offer a better way to handle something."

She starts to nod and I notice it on her face and entire demeanor. She is a lot calmer now. Unfortunately, I know nothing about her to understand her behavior.

"You will have an assistant who will better help you catch up with the current projects and a few upcoming ones," I inform as I reach towards the dial phone on the desk and picking up the receiver, dial an extension to reach my assistant. "Send her in."

Seconds later, Eva knocks on the door and because it is translucent, she can see it when I wave at her to come inside. "Ms. Raichand, this is Ms. Arora. She will show you to your desk. I have a meeting to go to, so meanwhile, she'll help you settle in."

She surprises me with asking for permission, "May I accompany you to this meeting?"

"It's good to be enthusiastic to start already, but not this one. There are things you need to be briefed on first that Ms. Arora can help you with."

"Okay."

I give a brief nod in response and Mr. Sheikh stands up. "Well, I'll take my leave. Ms. Raichand, good luck," he shakes her hand before turning to me and shaking mine as well, "and Mr. Raizada, it was nice to see you again."

"Likewise," I formally answer keeping up with his pretense simply because Jhanvi is here. Else, Mr. Sheikh has been working with us for years that I wouldn't have the need to be so uptight.

I check the message on my phone when the screen lights up. I stand up and reach for my suit coat from behind my chair. I simply hang it over my arm as I reach for my personal car keys from my top left side drawer desk. My phone starts to vibrate. I reach for it and sliding the bar over, answer it. I keep it between my ear and use my shoulder to support it as I push my chair in. Momentarily, I forget that Jhanvi is there observing every movement of mine.

Before Arshiya can say anything, I speak into the phone, "Yes Dove, I'm aware of our lunch date. I'm on my way."

My 17-year-old sister questions, "Are you lying, because until two minutes ago, Eva said you were still in the office."

As I walk past Eva, I glare at her for telling Arshiya I was still at the office. "No, I swear I am heading out the door. If I am late, you can blame dad for dropping last minute stuff on me." I nod towards Jhanvi and in a side conversation, bid her for the day, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Who are you talking to? See, you still haven't left the office."

I chuckle as I reach the door the walk out. "I have, Dove. I'll see you in twenty minutes."

"You're on a timer," She informs before ending the call. Shaking my head, I press the elevator button and slip my phone into my dress pant pockets. Sometimes it's hard for me to tell if she is more like her dad or her mom. She has her impatience and his sense of punctuality.

Seconds later, another person comes to stand beside me to wait for the elevator as well. "Aman." I give him a little nod of the head to acknowledge his presence.

"Aarav." He nods back staring straight ahead.

I haven't forgotten that Dad didn't wish me earlier, and now even Aman is being all coy and professional. I shake my head understanding they all have some plan cooked up, and no doubt Arshiya is at the center of it, probably took the task on herself to keep me occupied for the rest of the day. It's why I told Jhanvi I'd see her tomorrow. I'm certain my family isn't going to let me come back to the office.

The door dings open and he waves at me to go in first. He follows and once the door closes and I have pressed the button for basement, he speaks. "See what I have to do to get two minutes with you? Ride elevators with you."

"You could be like the rest of the family members and just barge into my cabin," I suggest though know him better to know he wouldn't ever do that. He may be married to Anjali Raizada but has the most composed personality still. How he has managed to hold on to it is beyond my understanding.

He counters, "If you're forgetting, I work here. I can't just barge into the CEO's cabin and get fired."

"If you're forgetting, your wife is the reason this place is named AR Designs. By default, you can barge into my cabin and I so do not own the right to fire you."

He matches my smirk at our playful and mindless banter.

Why do we act professionally where our interactions will be witnessed by others? Everyone does know who he is married to and hence, my familial relationship to him.

Answer: it's fun. When surrounded by work all day, one needs these light moments for a good balance.

"Anyway, I'll catch you later before your dearest niece loses her patience and decides to serve my head on a silver platter for dinner."

He laughs at my exaggerated response. He says and remains in the elevator – no doubt to ride it back upstairs. "That girl loves you to death to kill you herself."

It may well be true - Arshiya's love for her older brother. Yet, best not to test her patience.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

∞ author note ∞

And it begins! So many more characters that need to be introduced and they will as the story progresses. I hope this is a good starting chapter though. I must have rewritten it at least 10 times, removed, changed, and added so many things on how best to introduce grown-up Aarav. I've tried to make the narrative of this a bit mature. Tell me, was I successful?

Thoughts, comments, criticism, all welcome! 

Question of the chapter (QOTC): What purpose does Arnav have to make Aarav and Jhanvi work together?

I'll try to include one of those QOTCs each chapter to help you write a comment ;) Please answer as it'll let us interact!

If you haven't already, add this book to your library and reading lists!