Somber and melancholic. That was the kind. The kind of music poking my ears, when I was drowned in my perfect, deep sleep. After yesterday's huge commotion in the office, all I needed was this peaceful sleep, but then again, how could I forget that I had a family, full of people who are just as melancholic as this typical jazz music that they have been listening to, the first thing in the morning.
I took my side pillow, and covering my ears with it, turned to the other side, still in my semi perished slumber when I heard my door creak open. I didn't really bother opening my eyes as I knew that only Choti dadi would bother coming into my room first thing, that too this early in the morning.
She had been working for our family even before I was born, and even before my mom came to this house as their new baahu. Nobody ever really treated her like a maid and she was more like a family to us, or even more than that. To the elders because she had been there for and with the Singhania family even before my dad was born. She was almost our dadijaan's age but we were far closer to her than dadi. One of the reasons was, growing up, me and my cousins never really saw our Dadi as she spent a major part of her life in Varanasi, dedicating herself to gods and prayers, after Dadaji passed away. She would come home once in a while but wasn't exactly fond of me, as I was the naughtiest and youngest among all my cousins. So for me, choti dadi, was my strongest pillar, my only close friend in the world, and someone I had largely relied on, all throughout my childhood and teenage and even till date.
I came out of my thoughts when I felt a slight squeeze on my shoulder and I couldn't miss the warmth those dry, rough hands radiated on my arms - it almost gave me goosebumps in the rest of the body that was most definitely cold and seeking this extreme comfort.
"Aryan beta, wake up. It's 8 am already, you need to wake up my child. I made you your favorite pyaaz kachori and kalmi vada for breakfast. C'mon wake up, I have ironed your clothes for the office and your toiletries are ready. And also take a bath, you are stinking beta."
I finally woke up after five minutes and said in my morning voice, "kya dadi, sone bhi nahi deti aap, shanti se kuch der." Eventually I woke up and freshened up all well and dressed up for office. Today was quite important for me as I was going to attend a meeting with my dad and chachu for the first time since I joined as ceo. Although I did not really show it, I was quite a bit nervous about this meeting as it was more like a progress check about the work I had done so far and would determine if I was going to become the CEO of our main company, Singhania Groups, in the long term.
Going down the stairs, I noticed how everyone except for everyone except Ruhika and Shanaya were present in the room. Dad and Chachaji were busy talking about today's interview and meeting while Daiwik was eating, not bothering to join in any conversation. Chachi and maa were most probably in the kitchen with choti dadi preparing breakfast for all of us.
Chachaji on seeing me come down the stairs, called me to sit with them to discuss business, something they had always wanted not me, but Daiwik to be a part of which unfortunately never happened due to the course of events. Nevertheless I went up to them and sat opposite Papa when chachu said, "So Aryan beta we have the meeting with you today, remember? I hope you have prepared well for it otherwise things could go to the wrong ends for you." His voice held a warning that I couldn't fathom quite well but I didn't take it to heart. I knew Chachu really wanted me to be the CEO, maybe even more than his own son and that is possibly one of the reasons why Daiwik was so distant from him.
I replied in a very jovial, my typical nonchalant voice, "Yes Chacha, I prepared for it quite well. Don't worry about it, I will make sure that you and Papa will definitely like it-." I was going to continue my sentence when Dad cut me off mid sentence saying, "that's for us to decide Aryan. You just show us the work you have done for us. And just like I had said previously, if we like it then you can become the CEO of our Singhania Groups, and if not then I will just have someone hired to run my company. Moreover "Lavaints" is one of the most important buildings under our entire group. If you can't manage it well, then forget the rest of the company."
I gently sighed and smiled quite cheekily answering, "Yes Papa, of course it is for you to decide. I just have enough confidence to know that you won't not like it. Afterall I am your son, and I have the blood in me, I know how to make things work, trust me."
"Ha ha, mera bacha bahut hi imandar he. Aap aise na kahein usse. Humara beta zarur aisa kuch hi kiya hoga taki wo aapko proud kar paye." My mom said, entering the room with one bowl, and I could see my favorite pyaaz kachori in them.
We all were busy having our breakfast when I heard two giggly voices coming from the background. "Shanaya, Ruhika, come here have your breakfast. We made your Aryan bhaiya's favorite food today. It is a big day for him in the office today, remember?" Hearing this both my sisters came down and sat on the other side of the table, facing me.
"C'mon it's our little brother Aryan, we know he will perfectly ace it. After all, he has worked super hard for this position and he deserves it too." Shanaya said being a very supportive sister as always while Ruhika just gave me a thumbs up, while trying to gulp down that big kachori piece.
We were all having our breakfast, talking to one another, with Daiwik and Ruhika discussing something about his upcoming book signing event, Papa and Chachu being back to talking about business, and Maa and chachi talking about some new sarees and other things.
Suddenly Shanaya said, "Achha Papa, Tayajan, what are you going to do about the Malhotra's? I mean...aren't we still business partners with them? After all, just like us, they are also one of the oldest event managing companies in India? Do y'all really think this one marriage is going to hamper our reputation...we managed it already, didn't we?" Her sudden questions made us all stop eating and fall into an awkward silence. Sensing the tension, Chacha intervened, "Of course, of course we are, beta. In fact we even have a meeting with Mrinal tomorrow about this whole wedding fiasco. We have been friends with them for so long and this one incident most definitely can't change that. And the most important thing right now is not the wedding...the problem is that nobody knows where Naina is. And it is scaring all of us because we all know how headstrong that girl can be."
After listening to Chachaji, I realized that they still hadn't found Naina yet. She most probably a very self dependent and self centered girl and that was why even someone like my dad hasn't said a word about her running away. She is probably very good at business, just the way my dad likes. Maybe that's why he wanted us married in the first place. To have someone like her beside me maybe because he can't really have his company relied on me. I sighed remembering how happy he was on our wedding day and how moody and cranky he has become these days. There is a clear contrast and it shows how much he must have wanted Ms Naina to be his daughter in law..or should I say, another pawn in his business!
Flashback - On the wedding day
It was beautiful. The wedding I mean. A royal palace in Rajasthan had been booked for five days. All those sumptuous delicacies were placed on the table to satiate our hunger. The ravishing gorgeous flowers and decorations symbolized the upcoming unity of the two biggest event managing companies in India. So everything had to be perfect. On point.
I stood there, talking to some guests after my haldi ceremony, while they were busy congratulating me about my new chapter in life when Dad came up to us with a huge grin on his face. He had been like that ever since this alliance was decided and that smile isn't ready to come off anytime soon thinking about all his new profits I suppose.
"So Naitik ji, you must be very happy that the youngest is getting settled at a proper age." One of the guests asked when Papa replied with, "Yes, of course hamara beta ab bada ho gaya he, shaadi bhi kar raha khush toh hum bahut he."
I smiled listening to his conversation, and turned my head to talk with some business partners when I heard him saying, "Ghar mein lakshmi arahi he. Aur kya chahiye. Naina is a smart, beautiful and intelligent girl. She will most definitely bring great wealth to both our house and business. I am telling you all today, and you all will see tomorrow that Naina is indeed one in a billion. Her business brain is just like me. Ab woh ayegi toh mein bhi business shanti se chod dunga, retirement lekar world trips mein jaunga apni Neeti ke saath."
It felt nice seeing him talk about his wishes once and I was happy seeing him content with my marriage and being all over the moon while praising my to be bride. I still hadn't seen her yet but I was certain that she was going to be very bright and intellectual with the way everyone was talking about her. I wonder how a woman like her agreed to marry me when I am clearly far below her standards, a fun loving man who doesn't take his career seriously, known for being really funny and not matching the business standards properly, while she was clearly someone who was loved and respected by everyone. I wonder how Papa and Maa managed to get her to marry me. Or maybe even she was forced just the same way as I was-
I was busy thinking about this entire marriage, and talking to some business partners, when Ruhika came down telling me that Maa was calling me. I followed Roo and Maa was there in my room placing my sherwani on bed when I entered. Seeing me she gently made her way towards me and said while patting my shoulders, "Aryan beta, you're gonna get married today. You have grown up so much, my child. I just hope you treat our bahu well and make more name in our business. This marriage may just be for convenience, but I really want you to try and work it out with her. Naina is a nice girl, and I know she will keep you happy. She may not be the best choice for you...but she's your dad's choice. And he wants the best for you."
Maa had tears in her eyes for some reason foreign to me, so I gently wiped her tears off while saying, "If you're saying, I will most definitely try to work this marriage Maa..of course if Naina wants to as well. But don't cry Maa, it's a happy day for everyone so you should be happy too."
"But you're not happy with this. With this marriage, with every decision that's been taken so far in your life. I know you always try to playfully shrug it off, but I know u don't-". My mom was going to keep talking about emotions which I have never been that good with, so I gently hugged her and said, "I am ok maa. Don't worry I gave my consent to this marriage and everything, so I am okay. I have always been so don't worry."
Roo was standing there all along, while we were talking and she joined in this little family hug with me and maa. We three were busy talking and spending some time together when we heard some great commotions going on outside. It was getting bizarre so we immediately left the room and rushed downstairs only to find Mrinal uncle and Rohan running and trying to catch their breaths. The guards were all over the place and Shahana aunty was in tears while Divya and Ahana were trying to console her. It was all in chaos.
Everything was happening so fast yet it didn't even take me minutes to realize what had actually happened. My to be bride, Naina whom I hadn't even met up with, had run away. On our wedding day and from our wedding. It was not too much to take in for me though, I had already expected something like this to happen anyway. I was even surprised in the first place, when everyone told me how a girl like Naina was even ready to get married to me in the first place.
"I- I went to call Naina for her haldi as it was her turn now, but t-then she was not in the room. I-i entered the room b-but my baby was not there." Shahana aunty was by now hiccuping and trying to tell Mrinal uncle the entire situation. We were all there. Amid everything, Manjiri aunty, who I suppose is Naina's aunt, happened to say, "Don't worry Shahi, Naina must be here somewhere. Did you check properly? Why don't we all search the palace first. It's big enough and I am sure she must have gone for her usual morning walk ....forgetting about the haldi ceremony."
Everyone was trying to find her, even me, dad, Chachu and Daiwik were gone to the outskirts of the city to find her but there was no sign. Of anyone. By evening Mrinal uncle and Randeep uncle were gone to the police station and Mayank, Randeep uncle and Manjiri aunt's son was somehow trying to hack Naina's phone which was also going all in vain.
Both the Malhotra's and Singhania's were busy with finding Naina and there I was, standing in the balcony, looking at the peaceful, serene night sky with the stars twinkling and shining. Exactly 14 hours had passed since Naina had disappeared, and the whole place was a mess. Everything and everyone was a mess. Today, which was supposed to be our wedding day, became a day of pain and second thoughts for everyone. It was sad and upsetting.
And yet, I was feeling nothing. My mind was a void and so was my heart. I wasn't sad, I wasn't angry, I wasn't feeling anything at all. And it was scaring me. What was this feeling? This feeling of sudden emptiness that I was being engulfed into. What was this? It had never happened before and I was scared. Scared that it was the feeling before getting pulled into some universe of depression and anxiety. My heart wasn't hurt, then why, why was I feeling so low? It was getting hard to cope up with this....my heart was hurting. For someone I had never seen and most probably never will, even in the upcoming future. Or was it not hurt at all? Am I just emotionless? Behind this curtain of joviality?