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"Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change." 

– Martin Luther 

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Outside the conference room

"...what?!!...but...this is totally foolproof!!...I mean free meal to the school kids is an ongoing CSR activity in our country...and many companies have opted to it...then why doesn't your CEO approve of it...and finance us...we have given our take on the SDG guidelines and many of our own country shareholders are interested to pool in their hard-earned money in our company...then why?..." Shivaay busted out at the secretary who tried to calm the hot-headed young blood, who caught hold of his hip.

Shivaay saw Kim Seokjin move out of the conference room with his assistant in a hurry and thought to talk eye to eye on his abrupt refusal to their social scheme.

"...why?...because it didn't match your thinking...huh?...is that it?!!" the strong words made the CEO halt in his long stride. The assistant moved to answer but Seokjin showed him the palm and straightened his suit.

He turned around to see the one person who had the audacity to stop the CEO and talk so harshly.

"...first – the idea sucks!!!...and second...I am not going to waste my money to feed the unfed...okay?!!..."

"...Unfed?!!...seriously!!...do you have any idea how many malnourished kids are being send out of the school because they are being slaved to hunger and poverty!!...and our company is helping them...to gain their nourishment and even help them in education!!...how can it be a waste of money?!!" Shivaay low screamed at him who scoffed at him.

"...is it my company's fault that your country kids are always hungry and poor, huh?...instead of giving the young employees a decent job?...you are trying to hover over me with your unidentified statistics, huh?...me nor my company are interested to help those who can't even help themselves!!...so Mr. Shivaay Pratap Singh...get me a reason to invest in your company with my money...and I will think about....two days?...get me the idea...If I like it...I will think about it...if not...don't even think to contact us in the future...get that?!!" saying his final decision the CEO moved out of the young one's sight who was in a fix.

Two days? A single new idea...and the million-dollar deal is theirs...Singh Medicals can step into the next instalment in its growth – Singh Hospital.

Pratap saw the sweat beads on his son's forehead making him proud of his attempt to bring out the best in his adamant son. Shivaay would never give up this easily. He would try till the end.

The hotel suite

Shivaay tossed and turned on his bed with Pratap messaging his worried wife the nth time. Karthika was always worried about the most resolute son of the Singh family – Shivaay and his hot-headed nature. She knew for one that only Pratap would at times not be able to handle the anger streak of his son.

Shivaay would need his mother to calm him with her famous gatte ki sabzi and sweet parathas. But alas the foreign land would not have them and moreover, Shivaay only loved his mother's recipe which were out of this world (as spelled by the ardent son).

"...Arrey, yes!...he ate his food...he is just worried with the deal...you know how stubborn he is...he will not give up...hm...two days...that's what the kid said...*exhales*...I don't know...I told him to not think too much about this deal...but...your son is so rigid!!..."

"...Rocky?!!..." Pratap called his son who had a creased sad look. Getting up Shivaay held his father's hand and spoke "...Dad...I don't know whether I will be able to get this deal...but I don't want you to get disappointed in me...please Dad!..."

Hearing the genuine words of his son, Pratap caressed his hairs and replied "...I could never get disappointed with you, Rocky...you are my pride...to hell with the deal!!...the smile on my son's face is much more precious than this silly deal...tell you what...tomorrow we will go to the park...have a nice outings and explore the city...what say, hm?!!"

At this Shivaay shaked his head and told him about his new presentation to which Pratap negated with his strict words. Getting a little emotional, Rocky aka Shivaay hugged his father tightly with not letting go of how to conquer the tough CEO Kim.

The next day as planned, the father and son moved in and around the city. Shivaay had never known that his father was so jovial and surely would tell his mother about the way Pratap was busy sweet talking with the ladies on the street.

He took many pics of his father with his wide smile on roaming the city with his son. However, Shivaay was little sad on not able to think of a new idea for the social scheme in their company.

"...Sir...would you help me with the swing...I can't reach the ends..." a little boy came to Shivaay who was sipping on his lemonade as Pratap was asking for directions to the passerby.

Yes, they lost their way to the hotel, with their over the counter exploring.

Shivaay helped the boy who thanked him with his wide smile. The park had a lot of kids coming in the early evening with most of them with their parents and the others alone.

He didn't fail to notice that the lone kids where in their uniform and thought to enquire.

Upon asking, Shivaay came to know that the said park was built by a millionaire who had a liking towards children, especially orphan kids.

The side smile crept on his face and the frequency on his brain acted upon hearing the name of the millionaire – Kim Namjoon.

The day of the meeting

Pratap noticed a changed persona of his son who seems to not relax his now confident smile.

As the secretary called, the father and son moved inside the room.

After an hour of Shivaay explaining his new presentation with Pratap not taking his concerned look from the poker faced Kim Seokjin.

"...I hope you have a valid reason to change the agenda to ...um...this...and also the amount of loss you may incur if at all you don't finish this construction on time...hm?" Kim Seokjin closed his hands together and smirked at the young man who smiled looking down.

At this Shivaay moved the slide and saw the way Seokjin's smile vanished with a known look.

"...Maiden Garden...the simple park...with simple playthings designed especially for small kids...the kids who previously had to travel almost a mile to reach the municipal park to have some relax time after the gruesome school hours...but after this park was constructed...it created not only happy kids but content parents too...the happy bear swing...the kangaroo slide...and let's not forget the famous ice lollies and jelly bean cart being specially kept for the kids...free of charge...and who would be credited for this?...the government...social workers...hm?" as the slide moved to the person who built the park, Kim Seokjin fisted his hands at pricking his weak link – his family. 

(Kim Namjoon)

"...Kim Namjoon...my brother...the owner of Kim Brothers..." Kim Seokjin replied with a straight face and found Shivaay look at him with a calm gaze explaining.

"...three orphans...raised each other...with no support whatsoever...fought the lone world with their belief, trust in each other...their sole purpose was to bring joy to all those who were deprived of it...the Kim Brothers...separate by blood but bound by trust..." the words made Kim Seokjin gulp his throat and shift his glare at Shivaay who didn't stray away his calm eyes.

"...and you think that your idea of building an orphanage for the kids would make me change my opinion about your so-called social scheme...hm?" Kim Seokjin was a man of his words who always treated profession separate from family.

Shivaay knew this fact about him when he had explored the Kim Brothers and their inspiring story.

"...yes..." the confident answer made Kim Seokjin smile at the resolute that the young man exuberated.

The extended handshake made Pratap surprised as he had his own doubts at getting the deal. Shivaay gave a professional handshake with the Kim Brother CEO who promised to help the company if the construction is being completed on time and as per the schedule being designed by Shivaay.

Shivaay called Karthika after coming out of the conference room to express his win.

"...I knew it...that Mahadev will always support my child...do come fast...your favourite parathas are waiting for you, Rocky...bless you my son...Hare Shambho...!!" hearing his mother's sweet voice made Shivaay breath a relaxer on feeling that his family was always with him.

"...this calls for a celebration my boy!..." Pratap patted his shoulders who was overwhelmed with emotions and just hugged his father. Pratap was taken aback by Shivaay's gesture who would was very professional with his father. It was only Karthika who had the power to melt the hot headed Shivaay with her unwearied love and support.

"...I need to...I will be back, Dad..."

"..go ahead..." his father knew his anticipation to call him and share his joy with his true friend – Shekar.

Mumbai

Singh Mansion

"..." Karthika was rushing outside to visit the temple to get the blessings for her son and his achievement.

"...Mam?!.." the maid called her from behind, making her tsk. "...haven't I told you to not call from behind when someone is leaving the house...huh?" Karthika low screamed at the silent maid who expressed about a phone call.

"...whoever it is...tell them to call me after I come back...ok?" saying so the lady of the house moved in the car.

Pune

"..." Rakesh eyed his wife who was clutching the phone twisting it in her shivering hands. She glanced at her fire breathing husband who threw the report on the floor and walked out of the room.

Sandhya could only slump on the bed with her helplessness and cry at not able to share her misfortune with her only solace – her mother.

Rose apartment

"..." as Vyjanthi packed the last carton box, her eyes roamed around the empty house which had given some sweet and sour memories to the Ahuja family.

'...Ma...look! a small bird!...wow its feathers are so shiny!!...'

'...No, Ma!...not this one!...we will paint this color for my Rose!...Blue!...'

'...Oho!...Bhai-sa has got first rank!...yah!!!!...party!!!...'

'...Ma...why did Baba threw my dolly away?!!...I loved her...*sniff*...'

'...No!!...Baba!! I will not make this mistake again!!...Please don't hit me!!!.... No!!!'

Vyjanthi bought the dolly closer to her heart as she remembered her daughter whom she had not seen for the months together.

Gauri's voice had changed drastically. She sounded more mature than what she was. More meek perhaps.

'Was she tormented there too?'

'No, Bhai-sa won't let even a scratch on my Bunki!'

'...Maybe she is missing us all...'

'...I will call her...once I...'

Her thoughts were interrupted when Vashishth called her to accompany the car to their new mansion in southern side of the city. The most posh and exclusive area housing mostly wealthy and rich family.

Something that was preferred by Siddarth for his changed prospective and class. The wealthy class.

Mumbai

The southern suburbs

As Vashishth helped the serviceman to shift the last set of baggage in the mansion, he saw his dad look around the house with pride and happiness.

With a side smile, he approached his father and hugged his shoulders to which Siddarth glanced at his son.

Vashishth had really grown up into a young man who would now release the aging father's stress with his excellent work ethics.

"...Baba...lets go out and celebrate our little win!...we need to!!..." Siddarth was waiting for the request laid down by his sincere child and told Vyjanthi to get ready for a celebration.

As the mother kept the call with her brother, who told the news of excellent grades being attained by Gauri, Vyjanthi could only shed the silent happy tears. She thought that if not physically, Gauri would always be a part of their celebrations. Today's celebrations will be for her Gauri and her achievements. 

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Hello my dear Readers❤️

Presenting to you 'The Gifted Wife' - a hate-love-hate story with a twist.❤️

I hope to give a side of the story that is very close to my heart. ❤️

A glimpse of the reality on how a heartbroken child is given the endearing love that she truly deserves from her enemy. ❤️

Do give your support and love for 'His' efforts to win 'Her' smile which he desires ❤️

Lots of love 💖

Take care 💖