"Hey Mira!" Greeted Tia from her desk as she made way to the company's R&D Centre.
"Hi there!" Mira smiled back greeting her friend in return. "Give me a minute will you? Or better yet let's go for coffee after?"
"Yes that would be better," she replied grinning brightly. "Norway was so awesome that I can't wait to share it with you!"
"It's a date then!" Mira confirmed. "I'll text you the details. Catch you later!"
"Bye." she replied as Mira walked down the floor towards the elevators. Although Mira's Father was the founder of the company, she worked here as a Software Engineer, a job she loved and adored. Her love for it came from her Father who had first started his Cyber Security business in a hole in the wall shop. It was his sheer grit and determination and not to forget his fascination with technology that had him rising towards the sky.
After getting her bachelor's degree in India, she had went on to do her Master's in London, doing an internship in a leading Tech Firm alongside it. After graduating with honours, she hadn't applied for any of the on-campus jobs, preferring to head straight back home to work alongside her Father. And it had been a good sailing, being surrounded by the security of familiar faces, she had been developing her skills quiet steadily. Her new project was testimony to the above fact, not to forget her Father's wealth of knowledge and his willingness to listen and share.
Shaking herself from her thoughts she hurried inside the elevator all the while texting the meet-up details to her friend. She stumbled into the elevator and might have fallen if not for a pair of hands catching her fast.
"Careful," the voice said from above her and she couldn't help but shiver at the richness of his voice. A husky, clear drawl that could narrate a bedtime story as effectively as charm someone completely. She straightened herself and looked up at her saviour only to find eyes the colour of black tea with flecks of bright sand staring back at her intensely. She stilled for a moment unable to tear herself from their enchanting spell. His hand shifting on her back, broke her from her trance. She blinked her eyes to clear her daze and without looking at him whispered in a small, breathy voice, "Sorry."
She pulled out of his arms, immediately noticing the loss of heat. Pushing the button for her floor she stood beside him looking at him from beneath her Kohl rimmed lashes. She caught a glimpse of his dark as night hair and lashes as dark as them. His muscles strained, his custom made suit doing a poor job of containing them. He leaned against the elevator, his hands folded a picture of masculine grace. The man was beautiful, she concluded with a breathy sigh. She yearned to follow the trail of her eyes with her hands, wanting to test whether whatever was displayed was real or not.
'Stop it Mira, you with your nerdy looks, will never be able to attract a man like him,' the voice of her conscience broke her from her perusal. Mira averted her gaze from the delicious sight beside her quickly brought back to reality. She felt clumsy, and a little conscious in the presence of the godlike specimen.
When the elevator dinged indicating her floor she stepped out breathing a sigh of relief. Unable to resist, she turned back to catch one last glimpse of the man inside. Her eyes collided with his a chill sweeping through her as he stared back with his cold gaze stopping her in her place. The doors closed and finally she was able to move her feet to get on with her day.
||||||
Aditya was in a bad mood. Just last night when he had been having a night cap at their family mansion in his Father's study he had been on the receiving end of some bad news. His Father, the ruthless Arnav Oberoi had put a damper on his plans of being the Head of the Oberoi Empire.
Aditya had been trained since the day he was born to helm the Oberoi Empire. With two generations of efforts, Oberoi Empire was one of the largest corporations in all of India. His aim ever since he could think for himself was to be the head of this Empire and to expand its reach throughout the world. Acing through all of his exams he had successfully completed his Master's in Yale.
After coming back home he had worked his way to the top of Oberoi Securities and Solutions, one of the subsidiaries of Oberoi Empire. Currently they provided security for some of the most high profile government officials and billionaires. They provided top of the line security systems whose price would make a common man cry. Apart from that their recruited only the cream of the crop to protect the elites.
Previously, only a small company under the Oberoi Empire, Aditya had taken it as a challenge and raised it to the height that it was today. He had wanted to prove to his Father that he was ready to be the commander in chief and that is why had taken on such a difficult challenge. Oberoi Empire was not a small corporation. It had it's hands in all the profit making pies that the world could offer with it's largest revenue coming from their shipping industry. With a fleet of ships, planes and containers at their service they had firmly established their name when the Industrial Revolution began in India.
They also had their hands in Real Estate which was currently under the control of his younger brother, Vihaan. His youngest brother Siddharth had just now been appointed to head over the various hotels and luxury cruise lines under their name.
Aditya was 30 now and he felt that he was at the right point in his life where he could tell his tyrannical Father to step down and hand over the reins of the Empire. In fact he was itching for it. That was the reason why he had accepted his Mother's invitation to come home and have dinner with his family.
He liked his peace and solitude so the moment he came to India he had bought a great penthouse in one of the properties developed by Oberoi Real Estate and settled there. He knew that if he stayed home he would have to endure the incessant nagging from his Mom and Grandmother to get married and have kids. Also he would have to be under his Father's scrutiny and bow to his impossible demands.
He had driven to the Oberoi Family Mansion situated in one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Mumbai. The last and the grnadest mansion in Paradise Vista he drove his Mercedes and parked it in the driveway. The door opened just as he got out of his car and he was greeted by the Head Butler Roger. He was a man that had come into the position when his Mom and Dad had married. His Mother was a lady from Goa whose Father owned a very successful Hotel chain in Goa. His Father wanting to expand into the Hospitality sector had married her. Her Father had sent some maids along with their Family Butler to ensure that his only successor was well taken care of.
When Roger saw that the Young Master had finally come home greeted him with a small bow, "Welcome home Sir."
"Good to see you Roger." Aditya replied to him.
"Everyone has gathered in the lounge and is waiting for you sir," Roger added on.
"Okay." He thanked the Butler and headed to the lounge where his family was sitting in. His Grandmother was sitting comfortably reading some book while his Mother, Rhea Oberoi, was scolding her youngest Siddharth for some reason. His brother Vihaan was sitting in a corner sipping what seemed like Whisky enjoying his Brother's misery. Their Father was nowhere to be seen - probably cosseted in his Study.
When he walked into the room the first person who noticed his presence was his Grandmother. A lady of great stature and a well respected person in the social circles of the city she squealed with joy when she saw her eldest Grandson return home.
"Aditya!" she said gesturing towards him. "Come here! It's been a long time since you have come home. How have you been?"
"I am fine Grandmother," he replied with an upward quirk of his lip. Meanwhile his Mother stopped scolding her youngest and gave him a huge smile.
"Hello son! So you finally remembered that you have a family." His mom said sarcastically.
"Big Brother you're back!" Siddharth cried while he came to sit next to Aditya on the lounge. "Help me convince Mom that I cannot be tied down to a single woman. If I am gone how will all the ladies survive!?"
"Don't listen to his nonsense Aditya," said his Mother. "It's high time he change his ways!"
Aditya just stared at them all with a blank expression without taking sides. He knew that if he were to do that the heat would come on him.
"Mom I am just 25! Look at your other sons to! Vihaan is 27 now and Big Brother is 30! Why don't you hound them first!?" cried Siddharth with a miserable expression while the people mentioned stilled in their seats.
"It's because you worry me the most! I fear one day some woman will come here looking all miserable and crying that you have her pregnant! Can't you control yourself!? Look at your brothers! At least they know how to be discreet," his Mother replied while the men in question gave out little coughs.
In order to divert the topic so that they wouldn't be dragged into the hot waters, Vihaan got up from his seat, poured a glass of Whiskey from the open jar and came to sit next to him.
"Brother," he said offering the glass to him while nursing his own. Aditya acknowledged him with a nod and then they started talking business.
Just then the Butler came in and announced that dinner was ready. Everyone got up from their seats and went to the dining room. Just as they were taking their seats, their Father came in with a blank expression on his face. The Butler greeted him and he sat down.
Dinner was served in silence. After sometime his Grandmother spoke, "Aditya as just now Siddharth mentioned you are going to turn 30. You need to find yourself a wife and settle down soon. I want to hold my great-grandson once before I pass away. So tell me when are you going to find yourself a good girl?"
Saying that she frowned.
Aditya knew that he couldn't possibly evade this question as everyone was looking at him. His Mother had an expectant and hopeful expression while his Brother's were looking at him with undisguised glee on their face. His Father, as usual had a blank expression on his face.
"Soon." he said and continued eating hoping that his answer would appease the audience.
"Aditya, if you don't mind I could introduce you to Mrs. Sen's daughter. She's 25 and the youngest daughter of the Sen's. Also she has an outstanding background and is currently a Fashion Designer. Her temperament is good and I think you guys will be a suitable match. If you want I could arrange for you to meet-up and get to know each other." his Mother said with a hopeful expression on her face.
"We'll see," he replied.
His Mother knew his personality very well. She knew that he would only do something if he wanted to do it. No matter how much someone pushed him he wouldn't budge unless and until it was what he wanted. She knew that his once in a blue moon visits were due to this reason too. So she let him be. Already he came to the mansion this infrequently. If they pushed him he would stop coming altogether.
She and Grandmother shared a look and with a sigh they all ate their dinner. After dinner was over Aditya stood up and turned to his Father. "Dad I need to have a word with you."
His Father who hadn't uttered a word since his arrival nodded. "Let's go to the study then."
They both stood up and he followed behind his Father.
Once in the study his Father took his seat in the leather chair and lit up a cigar. He took a seat opposite him and remained quiet.
"You wanted to say something," Arnav Oberoi broke the silence puffing up some smoke.
"Yes." he replied. "Father, you know that Oberoi Securities has made it's mark in the corporate world now. You have been following it's progress since the past few years. I think it's high time that you let me take the position that I was raised to head. I want to become the Head of Oberoi Empire."
"No." his Father said while extinguishing the cigar in the vintage ash tray.
"Why not?" he asked calmly hiding the frustration he felt.
"You aren't capable."
He felt infuriated at his Father's harsh words. How could he say that he wasn't capable. He had single-handedly brought his company to the position it was at today and that too in a few years time. Yet he spoke deliberately, "And why am I not capable?"
"Because you don't have a family of your own," his Father said turning in his chair to gaze out of the window. "Do you think the Board members would just accept you as their head if there was no guarantee for the future. You aren't even married yet. Even I wouldn't want you in the state that you are in."
"So you want me to marry. Is that it?" he replied through clenched teeth. He knew his Father was being impossible yet he couldn't say a word against it. He had to keep a calm head. He knew that the goal was near.
"Yes I do. More specifically...," his Father trailed off while he slid a thin folder towards him.
Knowing that these was something his Father wanted him to do he took the folder off the table and opened it. There was a photo of a woman there smiling innocently as she gazed into nothing when someone clicked the photo. His heart skipped a beat while he stared at her. Then he saw the details of the woman.
Realizing what his Father wanted he scoffed and said, "Okay."
Hi there! Uploading a new chapter today! I hope you all enjoy it! Do consider leaving comments so that I know what you think of A and M!
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