Prologue
From: Aman Mathur (mailto:Arch.Mathur@aliendesigners.com)
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 7:57 PM
To: Arnav S Raizada (mailto:Arch.Raizada@aliendesigners.com)
Cc:
Subject: Report time
Mr. Bose is expecting you at 10 AM. I hope you had a safe journey.
PS: Do not screw this, Raizada. The deal is important.
From: Arnav S Raizada (mailto:Arch.Raizada@aliendesigners.com)
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 8:00 PM
To: Aman Mathur (mailto:Arch.Mathur@aliendesigners.com)
Cc:
Subject: Re: Report time
Yes, boss. It was fine, thanks for asking.
PS: I really want to, but left with professional decency.
From: Aman Mathur (mailto:Arch.Mathur@aliendesigners.com)
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 8:03 PM
To: Arnav S Raizada (mailto:Arch.Raizada@aliendesigners.com)
Cc:
Subject: Re: Report time
Good.
PS: Professional decency never stopped you from snapping. It is natural for me to be worried about my chief Architect's anger as I am forcing him to stay in the Pearl City for a month. Cannot blame me, can you? ;)
PPS: Enjoy with your Hyderabadi biriyani in the meanwhile.
Flipping his mobile, Arnav stared out of the taxi with a defeated sigh. He had been arguing with Aman that he was not interested in the deal nor was he in staying away from his family and friends for a month. He might not say it loud, but Arnav was a family person. He liked to spend some quality time with his family every weekend. He never missed any of their gatherings. Though he never liked the noise and the interrogation that followed by them, he could not help but stay close to them, just to see them happy. He was not a decent man as many thought he was with the fact he spent time with family. He was just like any other man, who drinks occasionally, have few flings and loads of parties. The only reason people often misjudge him was, he knew how to balance his life and he would make sure to show a part of him. He was a natural charmer.
The city covered with downpour and the traffic as its result. In the past one and a half hour, he had been travelling from airport to the place where he was going to stay this month, he knew he was not going to like the place. The roads were nothing but a mass of punctures in it as soon as he entered the city. There were auto rickshaws everywhere. The downpour and it being a Sunday did not make any of the citizens to rest in peace in their comfortable place their homes provided. He watched a bunch of street kids jumping in muddy puddles and cars zoomed past, without a care about others. He shook his head, his brows narrowed, when he saw an argument be. This was going to be his residence now. And he already missed Mumbai.
There was another angle to the Pearl City, as it is known. It held a great importance in its history. One of the most attractive places is the Hussain Sagar built on Musi River, covering 5.7 square kilometers and the monolithic statue of Gautam Buddha - a peaceful place, and a token of gratification from the ruler of that era to Hussain Shah Wali for his help to recover from an illness. There are statues of 33 famous personalities, showing the history and hereditary of the Telugu region and language of the country.
He watched the city that spread in front of him under the streetlights, as the taxi entered from the heavy traffic roads to one of the peaceful residence areas. True to it, Arnav took in the huge trees that lined on either sides of the road, with individual portions - what seemed like well built cottages over decades. Soon, his mind gathered as much he could in the partly lit area. To his surprise, he felt instant liking for the area. Unlike the metropolitan city in a whole, this particular area is something that captured his interest. He mentally noted to thank Aman for providing his stay in such a peaceful place, rather than in a hotel.
He thanked the cab driver as the man helped him unload his luggage and placed them in the covered foyer. After paying the fair, Arnav ran to the foyer, covering his head with his hand. Shaking his head to let the droplets leave his hair, he pressed the bell button, waiting for it to be attended.After a long minute, he watched a woman standing in front of him. The man in him made a quick calculation and concluded that she might be in her early twenties. She was clad in a blue kurta with her hair left open. "Hi," he greeted her with a smile, "is this Mr. Arvind Yalavarti's residence?"
She smiled with a slight nod. "Yes," she confirmed, "how can I help you?"
"I am Arnav," he introduced himself, extending his hand to her, "Arnav Raizada from Mumbai."
He watched the reorganization in her eyes. "Please come in," she moved aside to let him enter the home, "Papa has been expecting you." She then shook his hand gently, "Bindu."
He followed her, leaving his luggage at the doorsteps. The room was painted in cream, with a tint of brown furniture. His tiredness taking a troll over his sense and he blinked twice, pushing it back. He noticed an elderly woman standing near the couch and a man in his fifties sitting on it. His eyes then fell on a figure, with her back facing him. "This is my final decision," the man spoke seriously, "we are not having this discussion further, Khushi. Do you get it?"
Before the girl could reply, Arnav heard Bindu calling the man in her language. The girl, who had been clearly having a heated discussion with the man, left the place without any delay. He smiled at the man and introduced himself. The man, Arvind Yalavarti, shook hands with him. "I have been waiting for your arrival, Mr. Raizada," he said and turned towards Bindu and asked, "show him the place." He then turned to Arnav and said, "settle down in the room, and then come, join us for dinner."
"No sir," Arnav rejected smoothly, "I had it on my way here. Thank you for asking."
He then followed Bindu out of the house and climbed the stairs. He looked around the terrace area. It had open place, covering the foyer downstairs and a small room behind it. He noticed that the area was filled with such small residence houses. "Wow," he smiled at her, "I loved this place already!"
"I am glad you liked it," Bindu replied with a smile while unlocking the door, "the place is yours Arnav. Feel free to call us if you need anything. Good night."
Arnav watched her walking towards the flight of stairs. "Good night," he called out on her behind and entered the place. Placing his luggage aside, he fell on the bed, too tired to take in the kind of room. Too tired after the long journey to even change into comfortable cloths.
***~***~***~***~***~***
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