Avantika got coffee for everyone from the coffee shop below. Just as she entered the Lounge, she saw Karan and Neha with two adorable buns. Varsha came to her, to help her in giving everyone their morning coffee dose. At the same time, she also informed her about the arrival of Elder Ahluwalia couple and the twins.
Avantika went to greet the Ahluwalia Couple,
"Hello, Mr. Ahluwalia, Mrs. Ahluwalia.", this was her first time meeting them and she didn't know why but she felt quite nervous. She was cursing herself for avoiding going to those business parties with her family, else she would at least have some idea about them.
"Hello, Avantika. How are you??", Manisha said softly taking Avantika's hands in her own." And please don't go with the formalities. We are all family here. You can call us by our names or Grandpa Ajit and Grandma Manisha just like the rest.", to which even Ajit nodded his head, agreeing with Manisha.
"As you wish Grandma Manisha. And please call me Avi, just like the rest.", Avantika said shyly. "I'll go and introduce myself to the buns over there, excuse me."
Karan was waiting for Avantika with Aarushi in his arms, who was super excited to meet her.
"Hello guys. Hey Princess.", said Avantika. Turning around, she noticed the second bun observing her, as if trying to figure her out. She got down on her knees in front of him, "Hello."
"Hi."
"Can I know both your names?", she asked softly. The first to answer was Aarav this time, surprising Karan because the rest may not know but he knows what a strong introvert Aarav was. Aarushi also introduced herself,
"Hello Pretty Aunty. I am Aarushi.", saying this, Aarushi realised that she called Avantika as Pretty Aunty and covered her mouth with both her hands, eyes wide open. Avantika could not control herself and pulled her cheeks, taking her in her arms, Avantika replied, "No need to be shy Princess. You can call me anything you want."
"Even Pretty Aunty.", asked Aarushi doubtfully.
"Even Pretty Aunty.", to this Aarushi clapped her little hands and said, "Bro, you heard that."
"Yes, yes. I heard now stop moving around in Aunt Avantika's arms or you will fall.", said Aarav helplessly. When will his sister grow up was what he thought.
"Never.", replied Aarushi, making everyone around her confused. "I know Bro you were thinking when will I grow up and that was your answer.", said Aarushi cheekily, making Karan, Neha and Avantika chuckle at her cheekiness.
Finally it was time to board their flight as everything was ready. They all started moving, except Aarushi. Aarav was trying to convince her to get on the plane but she was refusing to even move.
"Roo, we should go now. See even Granny and Grampy are waiting for us with everyone else. It is not good to make everyone wait. He will come Roo."
"No, I am not going, I will go when Daddy comes.", said Aarushi stubbornly, with her hands crossed in front. Aarav knew why she was acting that way. This was the first time that they were going somewhere in a plane and she was scared. Aarav and Aryan have both tried to bring her out of her fear of planes but nothing worked. At last, Aryan told Aarav to let it be. He told Aarushi that since all of them will go together there was nothing to be scared of. He promised her he would be with them the entire way and wont let anything happen to them. Thus Aarushi was fairly excited to go on the plane with all her dear ones. But now the problem arose. Aryan was not there yet. At the last moment, he had to leave for a bidding abroad. Though he promised he would be there but still there was a chance of error.
Avantika and everyone else wanted to try convincing her but were stopped by the Ahluwalia Couple.
"He has promised them that he will be here and in no case will he break his promise. Trust me.", said Manisha with full confidence. "At what time did he tell he will be here?", she asked Ajit.
"In exact 2 minutes."
"Lets see."
All of them were worried seeing the situation. None of the people there wanted the little bun to be hurt or disappointed in any way. When it was almost time up, Karan started walking towards them. He hadn't even taken two steps when Aarushi flashed by him like a bullet with Aarav in tow. Though he was trying to walk normally, no one could miss the excitement in his eyes. All of them turned around but no one was there.
"Three...two....one...and...",Manisha did the countdown.
"Daddy.....", shouted Aarushi. They all saw a man coming in, his hair dishevelled giving him a slight casual look, his coat laid folded on his arms, the top button of his shirt unbuttoned with the loosened tie and a briefcase in his other hand. He was giving instruction to the people following him. The moment he heard the shout, he turned around to see the little bullet shooting towards him.
.........
Aryan had been hurrying around to wrap up the last minute work related to the bidding. He was giving the final minute instructions to his personal secretary, Harish Deshpande. The moment he entered the Lounge, he heard Aarushi. His heart which was in knots since leaving them, relaxed instantly. He turned around only to see Aarushi rushing towards him at her full speed.
Aryan dropped everything from his hands and went on his knees, to catch his little fire. Due to her momentum, both of them fell down, with Aarushi on top of Aryan, her head covered by his hand to prevent any sort of injury. Seeing this, Aarav rushed towards them only to see Aarushi giving a toothy grin to Aryan and Aarav knew the cause was lost and his sister managed to save herself from yet another round of scolding.
"Roo, sweatheart, why were you running, hmm?", saying this Aryan got up with Aarushi, pinching her cheek. He checked whether she was okay and once he was sure, he kissed Aarushi on her forehead, leading to a blissful and content smile on her face.
"Because Daddy was coming.", listening to her reasoning, Aryan, who couldn't help but feel warm in his heart, chuckled. He himself didn't have any idea how dashing he was looking with that smile.
Aryan turned towards Aarav and they did their special handshake which they discovered a few days back, which ended with Aarav giving a hug to Aryan. Aryan knew Aarav was a little shy and hence figured out a way to get his quota of hugs from Aryan in this way.
"How are you champ? Everything okay? I know you must have taken care of everyone pretty well in my absence.", Aarav nodded to this. Listening to Aryan's words of praise, Aarav felt proud on his success in helping out his father.
While the trio was busy in their own world, others could not help but admire them.
"I knew the twins would not move without their father. In the last one month, if there is something I am sure about then it would be the trust they have on Aryan and his promises.", said Manisha.
"And Aryan is someone who will never break his promises. I am a living proof of that.", said Karan. No one paid attention to his last words except Neha. She felt something wrong with them and decided to confront him later about it.
Aryan took both the kids in his arms and started walking towards his Grandparents.
"You all should take a day off today. Take some rest. I have already informed the company. Thank you everyone for your time and efforts in such a short notice. Take care.", hearing the CEO say so, all the employees felt touched and soon left after wishing him a safe journey and a happy vacation, except Harish, who was still following Aryan. "And where are you going Harish? Do you want your wife to kill me? Go home."
"But sir..."
"No if, no but. I have mailed you the rest of the instructions. Just drop my luggage with Karan and go. See you later."
The Singhs and The Singhanias had long noticed the changes in his vibes from the time he entered. His aura changed from strict, no nonsense to warm and endearing to grateful. It was easy to become a tyrranical businessman and succeed but it was even more difficult to stay humble, remembering your roots and succeed. Alok and Adarsh had initially thought that Aryan will face problems in transitioning from army life to the business life, but it seems they were wrong. A person who knows when to exert his dominance and when to recced cannot be a simple person.
Karan took his bags and asked the staff to get it to the plane.
"Hello man, how are you?"
"I am good.", Karan noticed the eyebags under his eyes but didn't say anything but he was not the only one, Avantika noticed it as well. Avantika had, you could say a skill, which she developed with a lot of effort and practice and that was reading micro-expressions. Still she was not able to read much into Aryan. But from what she got, he was dead tired and was still greeting everyone with a smile, chatting with the twins and Karan and Neha.
Aryan had met everyone present around him in some meeting or party in last one month except one. That one person has been busy observing him since the time he came in. Aryan could not hold it in anymore and walked to Avantika,
"Hello, I am Aryan."
"Hi, Avantika.", at this time Karan saw them talking. He came to them and introduced, " Aryan you remember, I told you about the cupid of my love story, well here she is. Avantika, my sister and this is Aryan my best buddy.", saying this he took the kids to chat with Neha who was waiting for them.
"The kids seem more....free.. now.", Avantika blurted out. Curing herself, she said," Sorry, I didn't mean it that way.....I just...", stammered Avantika when she noticed Aryan becoming quiet.
"Please don't say sorry. I know the twins are reserved sometimes. I am slowly trying to bring them out of their shell. But I guess it will take time.",replied Aryan and Avantika agreed with it.
Children are like soft clay which can be moulded in any way you want but it needs time and patience. This was what Avantika believed in.
Soon all of them boarded the private jet.