"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." 

— NASA astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

The College football ground

"...go for it, Rocky !!!" Rex shouted from across the field as their ace was smirking near the opponent who had tremor in his eyes.

It was evident when you have the best goalie in the university to tackle the novice kids from the neighbouring college.

Rocky gave his side smile and winked at the opponent who gritted his teeth at the way the Rocky was teasing the man-boy.

'...dumbass!...think he can beat us!!...humph!!'

'...ok?...you want to confuse the Rocky ...well...give your best, idiot!!'

Thinking positively, the hefty 19-year-old jumped from across the left side of the goal post and blocked the incoming ball out of the post.

Tring!!

"...the winner JNM University champions...Rockfellers!!!!" the announcer cheered the loudest when the team picked up their hero for their win.

In the corner of the corridor, the girl was mewling on the way the boy was snuggling in her neck.

".... Sunny?!!.... what if Rocky sees us like this!!!" the girl tried to move the boy who was not budging from his place and wanted to devour the girl before her boyfriend would catch them red handed.

In the canteen, the Rockfellers boys were celebrating their win with the usual samosas and kadak chai. 

Rocky aka Shivaay was chuckling at the way his best friend was howling on their win over and over again.

Ring! Ring!

"...yes Papa?...yes Papa...um...around 2...Ok Papa...bye..." Shivaay kept the call from his dad who wanted him to report to the office to discuss the new deal.

Pratap Singh wanted the best for his family of a loving wife and three kids – two boys and one daughter.

Shivaay, Akash and Sandhya were his strength and weakness which bound him and his family together for so long. The reason would also be his wife Karthika who supported him in all his good and bad times.

His turmoil, his office stress, his loss, the way he burned the midnight oil to complete the deal with the abroad client, his anxiety attacks, all in all – Karthika was always there for him and his growing success.

She was also careful enough to instil the importance of Pratap in the life of their kids who watched their parents and their struggle.

The most affected being the middle child – Shivaay who worshipped his parents and would never go against their even whimsical request and wishes.

Their one command was the blessings for him who was equally pampered in the family by his parents and his siblings.

"...Babe?!! Where are you going?...I just came and you are going?!!" Gayatri eyed Sunny while speaking to her boyfriend Shivaay who kissed her forehead stating his reason to rush office to help out his father. 

(Gayatri)

"...hm... *sigh*...why don't you tell him about us, hm?...I mean he needs to know...about...you know...we canoodling..." saying so Sunny got close to Gayatri trying to kiss her earlobes. But she retracted with a glare at him looking around and warned him to stay in his limits when in the open.

"...Sunny, please!!...not here!...and moreover, I am not going to let go of a golden egg laying rooster...for a fox like you!...I mean...we can have fun...albeit you...stay in your limits...*sigh*...I don't wanna lose him...he is precious to me...for my family...*exhales deeply*...for our survival..." Gayatri was adamant in not getting away from the filthy rich Shivaay Singh. The upcoming business tycoon who would turn the pharma business upside down with his wits and endurance.

She got up from her seat and spelled her plan to trap the future multi billionaire and breed his offsprings to capture him in her hold forever.

"...just marriage...a kid...and his loving, supporting wife tag...*chuckles*...my life is settled...*turns around*...and about us?...well, we can always fuck around as much as you want...with of course precautions...coz, I don't want to breed any of yours...*exhales* well...see you tomorrow...at our usual spot, hm?...toodles!!!" saying so the smart bimbo strode away from the scene leaving a grinning Sunny shaking his head at her amazing future.

Singh Medicals Pvt. Ltd.

Chairman Cabin

"...so, any ideas why the article was not released, hm?...when I specifically told all of you to do so.... huh?" Pratap was low screaming at his team during the sudden meeting being called after the release of the latest issue in the city's prestigious magazine. 

(Pratap Singh)

Pratap was anxious about the interview that he had given the other day explaining about his future plan and his vision about covering the pharma industries.

"...coz I told them to not...Papa..." Shivaay entered the cabin with his rugged look. He slumped on the seat and told the secretary to show the news published last evening about their rival company which he had got a whiff of.

The news showcased the splendid grandeur of their rival company and their endearment to cover the globe target with belittling Singh Medicals in a rather cruel manner. Pratap gritted his teeth with cussing in hush tone which didn't go unnoticed by his concerned son.

"...Papa, relax?...this is not the end of the world...we still have a long way to go...and trust me...I know exactly how to give back to them...you just concentrate on the new tender with the Korean press...we need them...Papa!!...for our global reach...it's a small step...but enough for us...as for now..." as Shivaay's word blended into the strict chairman glancing over his secretary who nodded with agreeing to the young blood, Pratap smiled nodding and saw the way his son was instructing the secretary to dial the press for some minute changes in the interview alongwith the articles being screened by the editors.

As the meeting descended into a healthy conclusion, the secretary took the orders from the young lad and rushed outside to proceed with the same.

"...I am glad that you were able to handle this so effortlessly, Rocky !!...we need to be cautious now of them...they seem to know our work beforehand...I think we need to reshuffle the staff and maybe our PR team too..." Pratap sounded tensed while rubbing his son's shoulder who consoled replying

"...Papa, don't worry...I am handling this...and regarding our nemesis...I have an apt way of getting back to them...trust me...it will work out..."

Shivaay then bid bye to his father to get back home. As he needed to refresh to take his sister for her shopping as promised by him.

Sandhya was getting married next month to her long-time fiancé – Rakesh Bhatia. Rakesh was the only son of the business tycoon and was himself established in the field of wine making and hotelier.

The grandeur wedding would take place at a holiday destination in Thailand and small party would be kept for their friends who wouldn't be able to make it to the wedding. 

Singh Mansion

Woof! Woof!

Blacky ran to receive his master as he heard the bike roar in the garage to sloop him with his kisses.

"...oh boy!...you are so heavy!!...I need to buff myself up, huh?!!...yeah!!...no, Blacky!!!...not my tires!!...you are going to ruin your tummy again!!!...how many times I have told you to not chew on unwanted things, huh?...bad boy!!!" Shivaay cuddled the dog by caressing his fluffy face with his veiny hands and blabber talked to the pet with his growling voice as was liked by the pet. 

(Rocky aka Shivaay Pratap Singh)

"...Ma!!...where are you?!!...Tai?!! where is Ma?!!" he enquired with the housemaid as he kept his bag on the floor, picked by the maid.

In the living room

On the couch

A mid-40s woman in her soft georgette creamsaree with her diamond earrings and slender thin diamond necklace was rubbingher forehead with her bangle clad freshly manicured hands. 

(Karthika Pratap Singh)

Being widowed at a tender age with a youngdaughter didn't stop this smart and strong-willed woman to being bothered bythe societal norms of cowering in the four-walls of her house. 

She was a modern woman with a little heart still in her hometown of Jaisalmer where she was born and bought in the large family of 20. Being the youngest child in her father's household to becoming the daughter-in-law and second wife of Pratap Singh in the prestigious Singh family, was never her plan.

But when Pratap asked her hand in marriage seeing her genuine love towards him after their brief business meeting and post marriage towards his children – Shivaay and Akash made the man fall in great respect which eventually turned to love.

"...and yes...I will talk to Vyjanthi regarding this...Priya?!!...don't say that!!...you know I don't believe in this creed and status thing...she has been my friend since we came to the city...so what if they were not able to make it big like Pratap?!!...still she is my good friend...and I won't let you order me to not invite them to my only daughter's wedding!!..." saying so Karthika kept the call from her sister who hated her contacts with the Ahujas.

It was true. The Ahujas helped them a lot when the Singhs first came to the city. It was only with the hard-work and dedication of Pratap that Singh Medicals would capture the pharma industry.

But the new friends and old relatives, hated the involvement of the prestigious Singh family with the middle-class Ahujas. It was like a speck of dust in their status quo.

Pratap had many a times tried to help Siddarth but the stars seems to not work in his accord. Even the slightest order would go down the drains for the struggling perfume business.

As the Ahuja family was trying to hold onto the business, Siddarth's own brother would often interfere in his brother's business meetings and take away his clients with his sweet talks and offers.

Pratap had warned Siddarth n number of times to not let any of his family siblings involve in his business undertakings. But Siddarth being the family man didn't pay heed to his wise words and fall prey under the hands of the conniving snake of a brother – Anand Ahuja.

"...Sandy!!...so, which shop you wanna go first, huh?...KJB, GardenSilks...your pick...." Shivaay was munching on the grapes as he laid down the known line of shops for his sister who shaked her head.

"...Well...not them...we are going to my friends boutique in the southside...ok?!!" Sandhya then adjusted her watch and signalled the boy to drive her off to the shop.

"...Rocky !!...Wait!...here have this juice...and then you can leave..." Karthika came rushing towards the siblings before the boy would leave. Shivaay had skipped his lunch and was randomly munching on fruits and savouries, totally disliked by his mother.

Shivaay pecked his mother's side hairs and bid her bye to take his sister to shopping.

"...Shivaay?!..." to her call, a smiling Shivaay turned with bringing his right palm above his head to show the almighty, then kissed the very palm and blew the kiss towards his mother. 

The gesture showing that his god is his mother. 

"...*sigh*...I do hope Gayatri would be able to give you the same love that you shower on all of us..." Saying so the emotionally driven Karthika went inside the mansion to instruct the maids for the dinner menu as per the family's likings, especially Shivaay. 

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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 💖