Chapter 59

Rishi was completely shocked on hearing Manjari’s words. He realised that she hasn’t changed a bit over the months. He watched her hold the handle of the door to leave his room but he stopped her.

Rishi: Manjari, we are not done yet. Get back here and please be seated.

Manjari huffed and returned to the seat opposite to him. Rishi rosed to his feet and picked a water bottle from the fridge and passed it to her before he got settled in his comfy seat.

Rishi: Manjari, this is our family business and you have equal rights over everything in our family which includes this business too. If you want to join our business then you are most welcome. I agree you worked at your friend’s office still I want you to work here, gain more knowledge. I will be here around to train you and once you are ready then we shall take a call to decide your position in business.

Manjari: Thank you bro, when should I join ?

Rishi: Don’t you have notice period to be relieved from your current job ?

Manjari: No, actually I can speak to Hema and get relieved may be in a week so how about I join next week ?

Rishi: Sure, As of now you will work as an asistant to our finance head, she is a very kind woman and I will have a word with her to train you. And I will talk to Vimal and he will understand everything.

Manjari: No please, now that I will quit my job and join our business there won’t be anymore problem between us, we will be fine.

Rishi: I understand but I think it would be right to have a word with him.

Manjari: I don’t think it would be a good for any of us. You had a problem with Aadhi once but you never let anyone interfere and solved the problem on your own so this is our personal too and we will work on this. Please don’t think that I m hurting you, I m just being practical.

Rishi: I don’t want you to feel that you don’t have anyone to guide you in a right path. Life has never been easy to anyone Manjari and not everyone get a partner who is ready to love despite our flaws and in that way you and me are lucky. Despite every wrong we did, Aadhi and Vimal have been with us. I realized the meaning of life and love and I want you to realize too. My life is the best example for you to learn.

Manjari: There is nothing serious that you worry so much bro.

Rishi: I wish the same. Talk to Vimal, tell him I invited you both for for dinner tomorrow.

Manjari Mv: God, how do I avoid this plan now ?

Manjari: Sure bro, I will talk to Vimal and let you know but don’t feel sorry if we couldn’t make it. Vimal is very busy these days and we were actually planning a dinner date.

Rishi: No problem, go ahead with your plans and we shall meet in the weekend.

Manjari groaned mentally and bobed her head before she bid bye to him and walked out of his office. Rishi leaned back in his seat and processed the entire conversation he had with Manjari. He decided to have a conversation with his father to let him know that something was aloof between Manjari and Vimal.

By evening Rishi returned home and saw Aadhi busy in her studies but on seeing him she wrapped up and rushed into his arms just like always. Rishi kissed her first before they got settled on the couch in the living. Aadhi was about to leave to fetch water for him but Rishi stopped her and leaned on her shoulder.

Rishi: Manjari wanted to join business…

He explained the complete conversation he had with Manjari and raised his head when there was no reply and saw Aadhi lost in thoughts.

Rishi: Aadhu, what are you thinking ?

Aadhi: Rishu, I never seen Vimal so broken, they might say that everything is fine but I know Vimal, he is the not the man whom I have known for years. He is lost and all I see is only pain in his eyes.

Rishu: Manjari hasn’t changed Aadhu, I invited them for lunch to see if there is any change in the relationship.

Aadhu: Rishu, what if…

Rishi: Aadhu, they are not kids and we shall respect any of their decision. We shall hope for the best and nothing will change in any of our relationships even if things don’t work between them. We shall support them and this time I m sure our parents will understand too.

Aadhi: Rishu, do you think Manjari was demanding or wishing for her share of business indirectly or in a subtle way ?

Rishi: You are smart baby, yes she wants her share or may be the whole of our business and its not like I will deny her but grandpa, dad and I have shed sweat and blood in this business so it would be very hard to give up completely to her. I don’t think dad and grandpa will be happy to give her the business completely. I would be happy to have her as partner and we shall share the profits too.

Aadhi: Rishu, I believe in you and you are so talented that you could start your own business from scratch. Now that I will be done with my studies so we shall start together. Just imagine you don’t have to stay away from me even during office hours. We shall work and work out too.

Rishi knew her intentions and pulled her head and pecked her lips.

Rishi: Don’t worry too much Aadhu baby and whatever happens between Vimal and Manjari, one thing will never change… Aadhu and Rishu. Now lets not ponder over something that hasn’t happened yet or may be we are overthinking and everything would be fine. Now lets have some fun so how about watch a series ?

Aadhi gasped and started hitting him that he never stop teasing her with the one incident. Rishi pulled her close holding her hands and gave a bite on her cheek. Later he carried her to the kitchen and they started cooking forgetting everything.

A week passed by and Vimal arrived at his parents home and Hari, Kavitha were so happy on seeing him. Vimal sat next to his father and gestured his mother to be seated beside him on the other side. Both Hari and Kavitha were perplexed on seeing his face and now his gestures scared them.

Kavitha: Vimal, is everything ok ? you don’t look good, what is happening ? Is your health ok ?

Vimal took an exaggerated breathe and revealed everything happening in his life. Hari froze whereas Kavitha broke down and hugged Vimal who tried to console her.

Hari: What have you decided now ?

Vimal: Dad, first thing I want to clear is we don’t have to worry about Aadhi, my life will never make any impact in her life, not anymore so I have decided to divorce her but I conviced her as of now that I will not divorce her.

Kavitha: Vimal, what does she want now ?

Vimal: She is demanding 50%  of what I own but I m not ready for that so I need your help to get out of this. I want dad to take over business and I will transfer most of the assets to mom. I will be an employee and I m looking for an apartment. I will sell the home I live now and all these will happen without her knowledge. I m ready to give her 20 or 25% of my assets so I will own only that much as my wealth.

Hari: I will talk to her parents and we shall get this settled out of court mutually. Rishi can speak to her and we shall settle with a decent alimony.

Vimal: Dad, she is sick, she locked herself in the room when Rishi and Aadhi showed up to spend time with us. You should have seen that man, he felt so bad. Please lets go by my plan and carry out everything. We shall reveal that you have taken over the business only on the day I serve her the papers.

Hari: You have us Vimal, you don’t deserve all these. Go ahead with your plan.

Vimal: Thank you dad, I will get the papers ready by tomorrow and we shall do this at the earliest possible.

Kavitha was still crying and Vimal wiped her tears and engulfed her in a hug.

Vimal had food and slept in his room for a while before he left to meet his lawyer.

Aadhi and Malini walked out of their class and saw Yuvraj waiting to meet them. They had become friends during the culturals and Yuvraj even introduced Aadhi and Malini to his friends. Both Aadhi and Malini smiled at him and saw he was holding some cards in his hand.

Malini: Hello senior, what are you doing here ?  Weren’t you suppose to be at office at this hour ? Or have you plans on joining college once again.

Yuvraj: I m here to meet you both. Didn’t I say about the ongoing talks about my sister’s marriage ? Her engagement is fixed and I m here to invite you both. Only close friends and relatives are invited and I want both of your presence without fail. Aadhi, don’t fail to come with your crushy baby. If you want I will speak to him to invite him personally.

Aadhi: Don’t worry senior, we will arrive for sure and I will drag Malu with me.

Yuvraj: My pleasure ladies, let me treat you today so how about lunch in the nearby restaurant ?

Aadhi felt lazy and denied having food but Malu forced her and they reached the restaurant by walk since it was close to their college. Two more close friends of Yuvraj joined them and they had lunch together. Malini noticed Aadhi’s eyes dropping and shook her shoulder.

Malini: Hey Aadhi, don’t be a lazy goose and have your food.

Aadhi: Malu, I m really tired and I still haven’t completed learning my missed lessons.

Yuvarj: Madam, finish your food and you are free to go home. Please don’t tell me any reason to skip the engagement party.

Aadhi: No senior, I will come for sure so don’t worry.

Aadhi returned home and saw Latha ready to leave and smiled at her.

Latha: Aadhi, are you ok ? Why do you look so tired ?

Aadhi: Just feeling drowsy aunty, I just some sleep.

She locked the door and plopped on the couch feeling lazy to even change her costume. She planned to wake up after an hour to refresh and prepare dinner and pulled a cushion to hold. She stirred in sleep on hearing sound of some of utensils and instantly sat up rubbing the sleep off her eyes. She saw the time was already 8 and Rishi’s blazer was lying on the head rest of the couch. She rushed to the kitchen and saw Rishi cooking and he hadn’t changed his outfits he wore to office. His sleeves were rolled and he was flipping something in the pan.

Rishi: How long you will stand over and watch me Aadhu ?

Rishi sauntered to her and holding her waist he pecked her eyes.

Rishi: What happened Aadhu, I have never seen you so tired and you were sleeping not aware of my arirval too. Should we visit a doctor ?

Aadhi: Rishu, I was just tired and I feel better now.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. Rishi caressed her back and kissed her crown but suddely raised her head and kissed her lips gently.

Rishi: Today is the first day I missed your kiss.

Aadhi: Chorry grumpy uncle, let me compensate.

She pulled him holding his collars and started kissing him. Rishi smiled into the kiss and hoisted her and wrapped her legs around his waist. After their kiss he let Aadhi sit on the counter and continued his cooking.

Aadhi: Rishu, Yuvraj has invited us to his sister’s engagement.

Rishu: Alright baby, we shall go.

She continued to rant about their lunch in the restaurant and Rishi shared about his day at office.

Rishi: Manjari will be joining work tomorrow Aadhu and she denied having lunch with us saying she and Vimal made plans for weekend too.

Aadhi: May be this would bring change in them so lets not force further. You will be watching her at office everyday so use this opportunity to get close to her.

Rishi bobed his head and Aadhi jumped onto his back and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Aadhi: Come on Rishu baby, lets go for a ride.

Rishi: I m always ready for you baby, I love when you ride me.

Aadhi: Rishuuuuuuuuuuuu, you dirty fellow, pervert … I didn’t mean that ride.

Rishi: You should be clear with your words Aadhu, your husband is so innocent.

Aadhi bit his cheek on hearing his words and they returned to the kitchen after a short ride in the living.