IPKKND Bitter sweet 2: An acquired taste C11 p28 23rd May ! - Page 11

Originally posted by: jagrutid

thanks always lovely to hear from you
Highlighted in bold not sure which bit you mean ??
Please do come back for more

I meant in Arnav’s business which led to arhi separation

Lovely update, i just want them together under one roof

Hope you're feeling better now! Take care!

If Aman is there with Arnav, Riya is there for Khushi. Loved how she was uplifting Khushi's spirits and at the same time encouraging Aarav with his business proposal.

Arnav still the astute business but did not discourage Aarav even though he felt that the idea was not marketable. He recognized Khushi for her efforts in upbringing Aarav even though she feels it's not up to Arnav's standards.

Just hope that Aarav makes it big with everyone's support. After all he's doing it to help with repaying the family debt.

The bonding between Aarav and kushi is something that I love in this story. Aarav shares the same passion for food as kushi. His latest business proposal is also about the beverage drink (coffee).

Just like how Aman is close confidante of Arnav so also Mrs Aman alias Riya is not only close to kushi but also with Aarav. He Shares his business ideas with Riya.

Arnav of course being a shrewd and successful business man shares with kushi that Arav’s proposal is weak and not up to the mark leaving kushi in a dilemma that as a mother she has failed in his upbringing .Arnav on the contrary felt it otherwise she has been an excellent mother and it was not her fault and Aarav will learn from his mistakes.

Will update soon sorry just having a busy phase with being back at work

No problem. Take it easy. Update when you can.

Originally posted by: coderlady

No problem. Take it easy. Update when you can.

Really want to get away and right abit so I’ll try tonight

NICE STORY.

Can you please PM me when you update your any stories...

👏

Hi

All thank you for all your wonderful comments can’t tell you how important they become when I think of what has to come next in each chapter. Read all of them will respond to some I’ve missed after this chapter.

Sorry for the delay in this hopefully you’ll enjoy it. Please let me know how you get on all up for some conversation on this thread.

Chapter 6

Whilst Aarav headed towards the board room to make a catering pitch to his father

Khushi entered Arnavs office curtsey of the receptionist who obviously recognised khushi as Mrs Raizada.

Knowing she probably ought not to be here she was because there was something tempting about being in her husbands space. It was comforting.

She walked from the entrance and circled the room slowly, stirring her fingertips across the side table. Glancing at the picture frames that had evolved but not changed, the CEO chair which he sat at so masterfully.

Many a meeting had Khushi transcribed as his PA at one time.

Many a strategic plan had she watched,

him come up with as he mentored her in her early days

Many a debate as a challenging mind had she given him here

Many a coffees had she served and shared.

There was also out of hours intimacy which now was a little embarrassing to her.

Not to mention heated arguments both personal and professional.

..

The warm reminiscence was broken when Khushi thought about that one bad deal had caused a lot of disturbance to their lives.

Flashback:

Arnav was being treated for the sudden worsening of his diabetes in America at which time Khushi had taken the CEO chair of Raizada industries.

An old friend of Khushis Gauravi Nayar, had bought a multimillion dollar proposition to the table, Khushis only vault was that she’d made a call based on her heart rather than her mind.

“I trust your judgment Khushi” is what Arnav would say when she called him and he was preoccupied.

End of flashback

That particular time however Khushi had made a mistake.

“Coffee” said Arnavs receptionists walking into break away the rabbit whole Khushi was digging into. After all bygones were bygones.

“Looks like Aaravs pitch is going well, only the good ones go on for this long “predicts the lady who must see tonnes of people try their luck with Raizada industries. The lady was too polite to ask why the CEOs soon was pitching to his father but like all else it didn’t mean she wasn’t intrigued to know.

“I hope so” says Khushi taking the coffee offered to her looking out of the window of the office towards the direction of the boardroom.

.. 15 or so mins later

“I think I messed up” - says Aarav as he comes out of the AR boardroom after facing his father walking towards Khushi who was waiting just outside for him but out of sight.

As Khushi sees her sons predicament and watches Arnav walk out into the corridor she whispers into Aaravs ear. If he really thought it hadn’t gone as well as he’d like there was one way to soften any judgement and that was remind Arnav that this was his son.

Taking heed from his mother Aarav walks towards his father stopping him in his steps as he walked with Aman.

“Dad” Aarav called out, Arnav turned around to see Aarav walking towards him. Aman gave them space.

Aarav walked closer and touched his fathers feet. Pulling on his heartstrings like that worked everytime, that was something Khushi knew. Whenever he’d be the harsh businessman reminding him of his heart would tip the scales.

Arnav patted aarav on the shoulder the way a father would his son, “I’m proud of you son, well done - a little bit rough around the edges but good work non the less.”

He said with meaningful eyes and that meant a lot to Aarav. As was it heart warming for Khushi to see, Aarav felt like all his mistakes had been overpowered by what felt like Arnavs approval.

Passing khushi by intentionally Arnav pauses momentarily.

“His proposal is weak slide 4, 6 and 12.” He says, Khushi dips her eyes exactly the same way she would have all those years ago when he gave her feedback on her work. More so as Aarav was under her wing at this time.

“He’ll work on it” - she said reassuring him in some ways asking him to be a little lenient but he was well aware of his sons ability. She didn’t need to advocate for him.

Whilst Khushi was under the impression she’d done a bad job as a mother and a mentor Arnavs mind was in a different place .

“Thank you Khushi you’ve done a wonderful job with our son.

If you’re not in a rush I can take Aarav through the changes he might want to make”

He couldn’t have suggested anything better “he’d like that” said Khushi with a flourishing heart.

Arnav smiled back and then excused himself he needed to take a quick call.

She knew what his office live was like, he took a turn away but there was one more thing.

“Sune”- (“listen”) she said not thinking about how wifely that sounded in a setting like this. There was a split second where Arnav turned around to hear her and he was sure she wanted to say something other than the “Thank you” that came from her lips.

Stepping into his office, taking a seat into his armchair feeling Khushi in the air around him Arnav looks at the phone system in front of him tries to dial into the meeting he should be at but gives in.

Through the glass of his office could he see his wife and his son.

He sat back in a sigh feeling his heart cave in slowly and him pulling it back into shape.

Getting up from his chair he walks out into the corridor..

“Aarav” he calls out seeing both his son and his wife out in the corridor.

“Go on”, says Khushi to Aarav smiling, “and focus don’t get sidetracked by ” she reminds him gently.

“I’ll be at Aman uncles” kissing aarav goodbye.

Before Khushi leaves she waits to get a glimpse of Aarav with his father. Seeing them together and Aarav Inspired by what his father had to say bought a smile to her face.

..

Within Arnavs office Aarav has very little trouble working with his father as he was certainly passionate about his his work. What was driving Aarav was wanting to make money to help his mother and his family that was clear.

He took any criticism his father gave and applied it constructively. Working with him to change, learn and do all could do with time he had with his father.

It was the first time Aarav realised what made Arnav Singh Raizada the success he was, he was a remarkable business mind. In a moment of silence when Aarav looked at his laptop screen as did Arnav aarav noticed something in his fathers office that had been a lost memory.

Toy train set, the kind you had to assemble carefully, add parts to and paint. The very same one Arnav had bought him for his 6th birthday and they had worked on together. That was their first ever project together and the one thing that had helped them put back together a very broken relationship.

“This is where it’s at” says Aarav looking at the masterpiece sat next to the family picture on a corner table of the office.

“You want it back?” Comments Arnav

“Maybe” shrugs aarav thinking now

“Though” - replies Arnav off the cuff who is focused on Aaravs laptop screen.

Aarav smiles knowing his father was all soft at heart whether he knew it or not.

..

Whilst Khushi was in the city spending time with Aditi was a must. She was able to meet her at the mall for Coffee after she was done shopping with her friends.

Khushi smiled as she saw her daughter walk into the coffee shop, trendy pair of loose fitted jeans a T-shirt, her favourite trainers, she looked a lot like Khushi, her skin tone her eyes, her hair, her smile Khushi but just cooler. Until Aditi spoke that’s when every one noticed the Arnav in her outweighed the Khushi by far.

You’ll come to the ball right? Stressed her friend, Aditi made a face she really wasn’t up for it but Khushi jumped in.

“She’ll be there..” smiled Khushi just streching her voice enough to be heard.

When her friend had left Khushi walked over to the table her mom was sat at.

“Mom!! Did you have to..”

Khushi gave aditi a big hug and they sat down. After sharing some common heart on being happy to see each other Khushi noticed the odd shopping bag around Aditi. “Have you been shopping?” Asked khushi excited

“Yep for food ..”Aditi says putting her bags to aside

Khushi is impressed.

“I’m cooking dinner today for Pa”

Khushi smiles trying not to let off the shock too much.

“Aur tume return mein kuch chahiyey hoga I guess” (“and you want something in return I guess”)

“Of course,” added Aditi after a moment of trying to be angelic “I want Pa to give me permission and money to write a newspaper article something amazing that will make us look brilliant not all this rubbish these stupid journalists are coming up with.”

Khushi admired Aditis practical mind. Avid follower of her father in the business news.

“Samajti hoon beta, it’s difficult to read things you know are not true or but you shouldn’t get caught up in all this.. focus on having a good time at college, spending time with your friends.”

“This is fun”, she claimed just like her father she was thought Khushi in her mind

“I’m not going to the ball, you forced me to go last year and I hated it”

“Khushi looked unmoved on the matter she didn’t want Aditi to make the same mistakes they had over the years where work and career complicated love.”

Love was more important Khushi wanted Aditi to give herself enough chances to find and fall in love. - the hardest thing in this was Aditi had the same sort of flame for business, career, power as Khushi and Arnav had that one time she was already walking down that path.

..

Back at AR, Aarav had changed his presentation with the help of his father.

“Thanks Dad” he said as he shut his laptop getting ready to take his leave.

The look of confidence from his father was what Aarav would take away with pride.

Aarav take it with you, says Arnav stopping aarav as he’s about to leave the office referring to their childhood train project.

Aarav turns Back walking to the side table he takes one half the train set and leaves the other for his father. Now they both had a share of the memory they cherished.

Before leaving Aarav had one last ask,

“Ma ke liyey koi message.. “

The way he said Ma and not mom, was a expression of Aaravs concern.

“Tell her I see her struggle” said Arnav who was wise enough to know his son was playing Cupid.

Aarav agrees to take on the message safely with him.

Just as he leaves the office he gets as far as at the elevator and realises he’d left his walletphone behind.

Back in Arnavs cabin, ASR now on his own is sat back in his chair with his head back.

With no need to be the business man nor the father either shun his heart or his mind just be himself with no eyes watching he faces the images that won’t leave him when he closes his eyes.

The image of Khushi distant, aloof , the look of emotional longing in her eyes shed been compelled to hide before the world.

His son who is forced to preform before him rather than be nurtured under his wing.

For anyone who would have been in the room with Arnav they would noticed his the tense atmosphere around him. Shimmering of tears in the corner of his eyes.

“ASR I’m off now”, says Aman after knocking lightly at the door of the cabin. His car keys to hand add that the effect of man ready to get home from the office.

Knowing Arnav enough to know when there was something on his mind Aman pauses for a second to let Arnav break his silence. The fact that he looked distressed was enough to make Aman take him very seriously.

“Khushi is falling to pecies with every day that passes, he spoke with concern floating in his eyes,

“Aur tum?” And you? Asks Aman making Arnav make eye contact.

He didn’t think about his own feelings in this even if they showed in the debts of his eyes, eyes in which Aman could see a fragile man in heart ache.

Arnav ignored reference to himself, he was good at shifting the focus and his next words turned into a demand.

“Do whatever you have to get us out of this sooner or I’ll look for alternative legal advice!”

...

Aarav who had returned to pick up his phone had just witnessed his father and his conversion with Aman.

For the first time in a life time did Aarav see his father in another light.

Aman leaving the office, catches Aarav but takes it lightly, “ive got your phone he smiles, let’s talk in the car”

Talk in the car is what they did,

“Dads not really going to fire you ..”

Says Aarav trying to make his Aman uncle feel better.

“Of course he’s not smiles Aman. He had been Arnavs friend and business companion since college.”

Aarav had been quietly thinking about what he had seen of his father just moments ago.

“I don’t think I ever really understood what it is about dad that mom respects so much. I get you can love someone but I never understood the respect.

It’s hard to see beyond the power persona but I see it now . I see that it takes a strong person to be like Pa. To be practical despite what goes on inside his heart.”

Aman looks towards Aarav and nods, it seemed as iff Aarav had seen and overheard more than he realised.

“I hope I can be like him some day.” Aarav says with ease - he’d grown far from the little boy that hid beyond his Khushi mom afraid of his father.

Khushi would be pleased thought Aman who had seen the boy through all his phases of life till date.

..

On the other hand as Arnav gathers his stuff to leave the office he realises he’s late for dinner with his daughter!

...

Next chapter:

“Can I borrow your phone” Khushi asks Riya as the dinner table at Amans house is being cleared by everyone but her.

“If you’re going to call who I think you’re going to call..brace yourself”

Whispers Riya making sure the boys in the kitchen don’t hear.

Khushi taking herself into the corner on looking the garden makes the call hears it ring but then cuts it.

He’d only be angry, she tells herself.

Arnav on the other side sees the miss call his intuition tells him who’d called but changed their mind.

He returns the call, Khushis heart beats rapidly for a moment but then with poise she takes the call.

“Aap naraz ho use pehle mein phone rakhti hoon”, (I’m putting the phone down before you tell me off)

“I’m listening to whatever you want to tell me”

She pauses for a moment ..

Swallowing a little bit of a lump in her throat that was foaming just like in the office he got the feeling that she couldn’t say what she really wished to say to him.

“Aap ki aawaz suni thi that’s all ”

( I wanted to hear your voice)

Originally posted by: ranogill

Lovely update, i just want them together under one roof

it will happen I just want to play around with the duo dynamics a little of Aarav and his mom and aditi and her dad.

Thanks