Unveiling Love

Chapter 1

The house was as huge as a palace, with Italian furnishings, black leather furniture, white shining marble on the floor, which reflected like a mirror, Mrs. Preeti Sharma was walking briskly towards a staircase. She climbed the staircase and entered the corridor of first floor, which looked like a five star hotel, with adjacent rooms, so many doors, red carpet on the floor and a broad walk-way, she stopped in front of a particular door and knocked it several times. A young man of around 27 years of age and about 6 ft. tall, opened the door in his pyjamas and a black coloured tight fitted vest. His hair were all messed up and his eyes were partly closed. He was still sleeping! It was Aarav, her only son and it was his 27th birthday today!

‘Happy Birthday my sweetheart…’ Preeti kissed his forehead.

‘Thanks Maa, now please let me sleep, I’ve been awake the whole night. You know the rascals Shravan and Dhruv.’

‘Yes, yes. I know. You sleep now. But get ready by evening, your father is coming back today!’ Preeti said and turned away.

‘You’re the best, Maa.’ Aarav yawned and closed the door.

The Sharma’s were a brand in the city. Their agro-chemical plants were the largest in the state, and their political contacts made them all the more influential. Mr. Sameer Sharma, Aarav’s father was an inspiration to many. Today he had several important announcements to make. On this special occasion of Aarav’s 27th birthday, he was gifting him his own unit of industry and also prepared a unique surprise for his son.

‘Are you ready, son?’ Preeti again knocked Aarav’s door.

‘Maa, please 5 minutes.’

‘It’s already been 3 hours, your father can be here any moment. We also need to leave for the party, son. Be quick!’ Preeti said and walked down the walkway.

Within an hour, Aarav and Preeti both left for the party. Mr. Sharma was to arrive directly from the airport only, so they didn’t bother waiting for him at home. The hall was full of VIPs and VVIPs. Aarav felt important and influential. The security was tight and Aarav was greeted at every step. It was the first time he was tasting fame. He was aware of his father’s name and repute in the city, but tonight was the time, when he also emerged as a brand in front of the important people.

Mr. Sharma soon arrived with an army of bodyguards dressed in black and carrying deadly weapons with them. His brisk walk made him look smarter and he climbed up the stage and held the mike.

‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen!’ Mr. Sharma, a man in his fifties, was addressing the crowd in a way someone half his age would do, yet he looked graceful in his own way.

‘Aarav…happy birthday, son!’ Mr. Sharma called him on stage.

Aarav jumped with joy and climbed up the stairs. He touched his father’s feet and stood next to him.

‘I can’t believe that you’re 27! See, he’s as tall as me, no, even an inch taller, eh?’ Mr. Sharma chuckled and everyone laughed.

‘I have two very important announcements to make, ladies and gentlemen. First and foremost, our agro-chemical industries are doing pretty awesome since the beginning, but now it’s the time we expand our business and explore other areas of commerce. So, me and my financial team have decided to open up a pharmaceutical industry, which will solely be managed by my one and only son, Aarav Sharma…’ the hall was thrilled and thunderbolts of claps could be heard all around. The background of stage showed a brief presentation about the upcoming project and their missions. The news was huge for businessmen and media people. Journalists could be seen taking up notes as quickly as possible, trying to jot down every word uttered by one of the most prominent business personalities of the city.

‘And the second most important news of the evening, ladies and gentlemen!’ Mr. Sharma once again caught the attention of the crowd.

‘My son is now 27, and I’m also getting older. Someday or the other a man has to realize his responsibility. Being a parent, my foremost responsibility is happiness of my son, a dream of seeing him settled. I think many of you got what I’m trying to say, but let me be clear. I’ve decided to expand Sharma Agro-Chemicals and collaborate it with Malhotra Industries, but in a personal and exclusive way. This collaboration won’t only change the market scenario but will get so many new jobs for hundreds of people. This collaboration is also important from my family’s point of view, as this way, I’ll get a daughter in my home too, by marrying my son Aarav, to Mr. Malhotra’s daughter, Kanika. Come’on Mr. Malhotra…’ Mr. Sharma called up his old friend and colleague, Mr. Malhotra on stage, and they hugged for few moments.

Aarav was shocked and speechless. Expanding business and starting up new industry was one thing, but making a public announcement about his marriage, and that too on his 27th birthday, was something bizarre and totally unexpected! The decision Mr. Sharma made, was unacceptable. He couldn’t materialize his son’s life, and he couldn’t make decisions about his marriage. This was so not happening!

‘Kanika…sweetheart, come on, come up…’ Mr. Malhotra signalled towards the crowd.

A slim, tall and fair girl, in blue chiffon saree, took a step forward. Sliding a silky flick of her hair behind her ear, she was walking with her head held down. While media was busy taking a glimpse of the beauty, she preferred to hide it.

Aarav saw her, and as his eyes wandered from her head to her face, to her figure and her feet, he was totally blown away. He was the kind of guy who never had any relationship longer than a year. But Kanika was a different girl. So simple, so homely, totally not like his previous girlfriends. He wanted to know her more, before getting married, and he said to himself that he was definitely not in love with this girl unless he knew everything about her!

‘Come on, sweetheart! That’s my princess…’ Mr. Malhotra hugged Kanika, and she blushed. She touched Mr. Sharma’s feet and he blessed her by gently placing his hand on her head. Then she moved forward to shake hands with Aarav. She nervously put forward her hand and Aarav immediately held it, and left it in a microsecond. She couldn’t assume what just happened, but just a touch of Aarav, gave her shivers down her spine…

Chapter 2

‘Mom, are you positive about this alliance?’

‘About whom, son?’

‘Me and Kanika? I mean, she’s so dumb…’

‘What? Why so?’

‘Didn’t you look at her yesterday? How she was so nervous, and remained mutely silent till the whole party. When I cut the cake, I offered a piece to everyone, even to Malhotra aunty, but she was the one who stepped back. What kind of behaviour was that maa? Am I an untouchable?’

‘She’s not dumb, beta. She’s typically Indian, shy and sweet, full of dignity and manners! I used to be the same before marriage, and she’s no different…’

‘But maa, times have changed…’

‘Beta, for some people, times are still the same, and Malhotra’s are one of them. Don’t you notice the simplicity in their clothing and lifestyle? Despite owning a billion dollar multinational-corporation, they’re so down to earth and homely people…’

‘I don’t think I’m ready for this marriage business, maa!’

‘Aarav! Don’t you dare do anything absurd now. Your father’s reputation is on the stake and moreover, Malhotra’s are like a family. You can’t disappoint so many people just because you want an ultra-modern girl for yourself!’

‘And mom, you cannot impose this marriage upon me, like anything!’ Aarav almost shouted and Mr. Sharma entered the hall.

‘What’s going on? And how are you talking to your mother?’

‘I’m sorry dad, sorry maa.’ Aarav shut up immediately.

‘Dad, can I say something?’ Aarav broke the ice after a few minutes of deep silence.

‘Of course, but first, let me have my word, son’ Mr. Sharma sat down on the couch and signalled Aarav to sit in the front chair. Aarav quietly sat down.

‘Son, first of all, I’m sorry…’

‘No, dad…’

‘Let me finish, son! I never wanted to announce your marriage in such a way. But yesterday, while returning back from Austria, Mr. Malhotra talked to me about his expansion plans of future. I enthusiastically said that I also wanted to invest and become a share-holder. Mr. Malhotra caught the tone and put forward the proposal of his daughter’s marriage with you. I couldn’t say anything at that moment. I just told him that I cannot say anything without talking to you, but yesterday in that hustle-bustle, I simply got no chance to talk to you, and since I gave a word to Mr. Malhotra, that if the news of collaboration will hit the market, it will hit along with the alliance news, so I had to break it to everyone yesterday. Now is the time that I got to talk to you, so tell me one thing son, frankly…do you love someone else?’

Aarav was quiet for a moment. He still couldn’t understand that how his father could take such a major decision of his life, without even asking him.

‘No, dad. I don’t…’

‘Good, do you like Kanika?’

‘Dad…’

‘Come’on son! Be a man…’

‘I haven’t talked to her, I don’t know her then how can I like her?’

‘You’ve got a point there, young man!’

‘But dad, what if I don’t like her at all? Ever?’

‘That is also thought about, son. If you don’t think you guys can stay together, then we’ll support your decision. I talked about this to Mr. Malhotra also, he also said that his daughter may also oppose such sudden news, so we decided to give you guys 6 months, to know each other, and in those 6 months, if you still don’t feel like staying together, we’ll call it off. We’re not pressurizing you at all for this alliance. We totally understand how huge responsibility is a marriage. And if you don’t feel like getting married at this age, then we can delay it to next year too. Whatever you want son, whatever…excuse me now…’

Mr. Sharma saw the time in his newly bought Rolex watch and got up from the soft and fluffy couch. Aarav was dumbstruck. His life was rolling in the hands of two oldies who were more interested in making money than the lives of their kids.

‘Aarav…’ Preeti called him from kitchen.

‘Yes, maa…’

‘Beta, Mrs. Malhotra called up. They’re coming home tonight, for dinner. Kanika will also be coming. So get ready and dress up smartly! You’re going to meet your future wife for the first time, after all…’ Preeti chuckled.

‘Future WIFE! Yeah, why not?’ Aarav banged the door of his room shut.

Chapter 3

‘Welcome everyone…’ Preeti greeted everyone warmly.

Mr. Malhotra, his wife and Kanika, entered Sharma Mansion, late in the evening. Mr. Sharma was sitting on the couch, waiting for them. He had a whisky glass in one hand and a newspaper in the other hand. The television showed current situation of share market.

‘We business people can never live a normal life, can we?’ Mr. Malhotra said.

‘Why so, Mr. Malhotra?’ Mr. Sharma asked.

‘Because majorly our lives revolve around newspaper and television, and nowadays, internet is a new tension in our lives…’ Mr. Malhotra laughed.

They both hugged, and Mr. Sharma greeted Mrs. Malhotra with folded hands. He also blessed Kanika, who was still quiet and nervous.

‘Kanika, beta, can you call Aarav from his room? It’s been two hours that he’s locked, up there.’

‘Ugh…aunty…actually…’

‘Third door on the left, go from these stairs…’ Preeti said and got busy in conversation with Mrs. Malhotra.

Kanika had no choice left. She couldn’t refuse Preeti’s request and so she started climbing up the stairs one by one. With a million thoughts running in her mind, Kanika almost started trembling. She heard some footsteps approaching her from the top. It was Aarav.

He was dressed in black shirt and blue jeans, with his hair styled up and a shining iphone-5 in his hand, he was climbing down the stairs two at once. Kanika held the railing tightly, seeing him coming at such a fast speed.

‘What are you doing here?’ Aarav asked, adjusting his collar.

‘I…actually…aunty…’

‘I haven’t got whole evening to stand here, miss. Be a little quick!’ Aarav saw the time, it was 09:30pm. He was getting late for his friend’s birthday.

‘Aunty sent me to get you, from your room…’

‘And?’

‘And, I was coming…’

‘At this speed? Seriously?’ Aarav said and walked towards the door, leaving Kanika in the middle of the staircase and ignoring the people sitting in the lobby.

‘Aarav!’ Mr. Sharma called up loudly.

‘Fuck fuck fuck!’ Aarav whispered to himself. He wanted to disappear under everyone’s nose but Kanika ruined his plan.

‘Where are you going, son?’

‘Dad, I didn’t notice you guys! Hello uncle, hey aunty, you look younger!’ Aarav greeted everyone, ‘Dad, don’t you remember? It’s 23rd today?’

‘So? What’s on 23rd?’

‘Oh, dad! 21st is my birthday and 23rd is Dhruv’s!’

‘Oh! Yes, yes, why not! Dhruv Singh Rajput, that smart army boy!’

‘Yeah…thank god you remember!’

*Now please let me leave* Aarav was talking to himself.

‘You said anything?’

‘Yeah, I was leaving for his party. It was about to start at 9. And it’s already 09:40 now…’

‘You didn’t tell me about the party, Aarav. Otherwise we would have scheduled the dinner for some other day?’ Mrs. Sharma spoke up.

‘Actually, I myself got the invitation just an hour back. And I couldn’t refuse him, mom. You know we’re friends since 20 years!’

‘I understand, son…but…’

‘Mom, I’ll try to be back soon…’

‘Beta, do one thing. Take Kanika along with you. She’ll get bored here, at home.’ Preeti requested Aarav and gave him a broad smile. Aarav was hating his mom for tricking him into their plans and ideas. But in front of his and her parents, he couldn’t say anything, but agreed reluctantly.

‘Fine…’

Aarav took out his shining silver Audi-A4. Kanika was standing on the front gate. She wore a simple top with a skirt and looked elegant. Her hair were open, flowing into the air, and she carried a huge red handbag with her.

Kanika kept staring at him for a moment. Aarav lowered down the window of opposite side.

‘What now? Do you expect me to open a door and make you sit in the car? Well, this is all I can do…’ Aarav opened the door from inside with a violent push and the door almost tore