Time flies away with the speed of thought when you need it most to slow down. And the more you crave to close your eyes and breathe for at least a few seconds in your haphazard moments, the harder it lets the course of change set its feet in your already struggling life. Change is bound to happen and, perhaps, despite bracing yourself to face it, it shakes the foundation sometimes.That was one similar condition to what Kiara was going through these days. The supposed day came much faster than she expected. Another change awaited her while she braced herself to fight like a warrior yet one more time.On the cloudy morning of Friday, Kiara was checking her luggage. It was around ten and she just had gotten her bandages removed a few minutes ago. Without wasting a second, she excused herself and come back to her room. Now she was preparing to leave in a few minutes as the interview was scheduled at sharp 1 pm. Though she didn’t have much in the name of belongings, a white gold chain wit
“Your achievements are impressive, Miss Jones. Not every day do we see a fresh graduate making such remarkable financial models.” The interviewer, Miss Angelina Parker, praised Kiara as she went through her file. The lady in her late forties had small round glasses sat on her nose, which she was pushing now and then, scanning through her documents.“Thank you, Ma’am!” The latter smiled politely. An involuntary gulp bobbed her throat up and down as she waited for the lady to speak again. It has been more than thirty minutes that Angelina was looking at her documents and asking numerous questions to her.Seated on the leather chair inside the interview room, Kiara was fidgeting with her fingers, shunning the nervousness, or perhaps trying.She was the last candidate to be called for the interview and by that time all nerves in her body freaked out in the fear of rejection. So the state of impatience and tension was tenfold in her.“Okay, tell me one thing, Miss Jones. If we give you a c
‘I didn’t send her there; she herself has opted for the company without gathering information about its boss. So, I’m not to be blamed if something happens.’ Viaan said, convincing himself that Leo was wrong to ask that. ‘Moreover, why should I care about her?’ He dismissed the final thoughts with a frown and a careless shrug.A quick vision of Kiara’s gloomy face flashed in front of his eyes, which he again shook off brutally.However, deep down his consciousness was now nagging him at certain something which he didn’t take another minute to push back in the most rejected section of his brain.A few minutes later, the mighty businessman immersed himself in the upcoming projects and was working with an utter focus on his laptop. He prepared a quick presentation and was going to play the slideshow when Neil knocked on his door.“Sir, the new team has been handed over the required materials and they also have started working. This is their first report.” He slid a file towards his boss.
“And that’s how I ended up meeting the woman whose son had not thought twice before throwing me out.” Kiara chuckled bitterly, remembering the recent but life-changing events.“What a small world it is!” Rachel wondered, shaking her head at the newly found information.Rachel has been sitting with Kiara in her one-bedroom apartment, which was obviously not enough for two people, but Rachel, being a genuine friend, discarded Kiara’s plea of staying at some random hotel.Ignoring a possible invasion of privacy, she had been ecstatic to have her best friend live with herself and help Kiara in need. The excitement failed the compactness of space in the apartment and allowed the two friends to mingle after a long time, overlooking the incommodious arrangement.After much insistence, Kiara had told her how one night her life changed forever. From her help to the stranger to her getting kicked out with her estranged husband; she narrated everything except the name and identity of her husband
With the sudden demand of his mother, Viaan felt all his breaths knocked up. His eyes widened before a gust of wind compelled him to cough.“Uh-uh-uh…” The poor man choked horribly on air. His hands went automatically to his chest as he rubbed the area to soothe.It appalled Leena to look at him, coughing so badly and all of a sudden. She immediately rubbed his back while concerned words came out of her mouth.“Viaan, oh my god, what happened, son?” It scared her to see his red face due to the terrible cough. “Peter, get water for Viaan!” she shouted for the house help head.A man in his late forties came running with a glass of water, hardly keeping the liquid from splashing all over.“Here, drink it!” Leena brought the glass to Viaan’s lips.Having relaxed a bit from the strenuous act of his body, Viaan held the glass over his mother’s hand and drank it sip by sip.He took two more minutes to relax entirely; leaning on the back of the sofa.However, his mother’s words were still scr
“What happened, sister? Why are you looking at me like I asked something forbidden?” Kiara inquired, pulling her eyebrows together. Something was off. She can quickly figure it out from Mary’s face.“No, no, nothing like that. They are sleeping. That’s why no one is here.” Mary said reluctantly, forcing a smile. “Why don’t you go and sit in my room until I ask Ruby to fetch the kids?” She suggested and immediately turned around to call the girl Ruby, who was a helper in the orphanage. Noticing her at a distance, Mary walked with long strides.“Why did she pale like she saw a ghost?” Rachel murmured, walking with Kiara.“You noticed it, too?” Kiara asked in a surprised tone, widening her eyes and confirming her doubts. Perhaps their guesses were not totally wrong.The girls then reached Sister Mary’s office room, still thinking about her strange behavior, when she came in with some papers. She signed the girls to take seats in the two chairs in front of her table.“I have told Ruby to
There are moments in life when you are diving into the ocean of melancholy, but the impending situation didn’t let you grieve over your miseries and aches and demand your constant presence of livelihood.How heartbreaking is it to smile through tears?How hard it is to appear merry when practically your heart is splitting into two halves?Kiara had answers to all these agonizing questions, for this was her plight of the despondent moment. The girl couldn’t even let her heart scream and ask god why the worse targeted only her and her people. The grief, suffering, anguish — all the gifts of her fate, perhaps!But, the braves have to be brave in the storm too. Kiara sucked in a deep breath and hurriedly wiped her tears, bringing her shoulders back to a stiff position.“Oh, yeah, it’s really you!” came the confirming reply to his earlier question as the child answered for himself.The door creaked open to full turn as the child merrily stepped in.Hearing the clumsy footsteps padding towa
“Ah, still the same bitter tone? Why Adams? After all, we have been good friends back in our college days.” Hunter mocked, smirking at Viaan.Standing at a height of 5 feet 11, Hunter Brown was a man of sharp features. The thin lips formed a rogue smirk and his clever eyes shone while he messed up with Viaan’s mood.However, despite having a charming face, he looked leaner and inferior to Viaan. The Elysian features of Viaan’s chiseled jaws, shining green eyes, sexy lips, and manly frame of 6 feet 1 overshadowed Hunter Brown.Consequently, the man was never intimidated but pissed at his rival’s presence.“Last time I checked, we were never civil, let alone friends, Hunter,” Viaan replied in coldly. He had his gaze darkened at Hunter’s mocking words.“Pfft, no matter how I try, you chose to be the snobbish, arrogant man. Ha! Okay, what can I do then? Let’s keep it your way.” Hunter exhaled in a fake upsetting tone before smirking back at Viaan.“I like snatching things you admire the m
Writer’s POV:-Mr. Moore wiped the sweat off his forehead while waiting for the call to be received.“Hello!” The reply came as soon as the call was received.“I have done my work. Now give me my thing back!” He said over the call.“I am impressed with your quickness, Mr. Moore.” a masculine heavy voice was heard from the other side. “I thought you would still take a few more days. But no. You proved why this is priceless to you. Excellent, old man.” With a dark chuckle, the man added. The words were more like a mocking of Mr. Moore’s efforts, and that made the elderly man clench his fingers.Mr. Moore’s entire body shook with rage. At that moment, he wanted nothing but to thrash everything around. To get the man in a chokehold and punch him straight across the face for making him dance on his fingers. However, the helplessness of the situation had him holding from behind. He can’t act repulsive. Not at this stage when he is so close to the one thing that he has been finding for sever
Viaan’s POV:-I helped Maa get down from the car, supporting her gently as she stepped onto the gravel path. As soon as her eyes fell on the scene in front of us, she froze. Her fingers tightened around my palm, clutching mine with a grip that spoke volumes.“Viaan, this…” She began, her voice trailing off as disbelief washed over her.Not believing what she saw, she was struggling to find the right set of words. Her lips wobbled putting an impromptu pause. She looked back at me, her gaze searching for confirmation, her body trembling slightly.That was my cue to confirm her doubts.With pride and emotions lacing my own voice, I squeezed her shoulders and nodded. “Paradis d’Amour, Maa. Our dream.” I announced, taking my mother in a half hug from sideways, holding onto her as tightly as I could.She averted her gaze back to the property. With a dip in her brows, she looked at me once again, “Huh?”I knew, I knew she was getting the meaning of my words but the yearning self of hers want
Writer’s POV:-“Where are you taking us, Viaan? At least tell me now.” Leena asked for the nth time, getting annoyed at her son’s silence over the matter.Viaan, like the previous times, smiled mischievously and answered without looking back. “Patience, Maa, patience. You’ll come to know soon.”Leena scoffed audibly, narrowing her eyes at her son’s mischief, and scolded him lightly. “That ‘soon’ of yours has not come since the last three and a half hours of our journey. How long more would you keep it a secret?” Her eyes wrinkled at the corners while her nose flared in annoyance.Her anger didn’t seem to affect Viaan a bit as the man chuckled loudly. “As I said, it is a surprise, Maa. I’m not telling you to spoil the fun already.” He refused to reveal, making his mother smack his arms from the backseat.“You have become too naughty these days.” She said through her gritted teeth, only to get a burst of hearty laughter from her son.Huffing, she crossed her hands across her chest and s
Writer’s POV:-“Thank you so much, Guys.” An emotional Viaan expressed his gratitude to the two of the constant pillars of his life.Receiving brotherly pats on his back as a response, he reluctantly broke the hug. His dull face was uplifted with the pure essence of their support throughout his life.“You —” Ryan started to speak, but then his eyes narrowed as he studied Viaan’s features more closely. “Were you crying, Viaan?” His eyes scanned Viaan’s face with concern.On cue, Leo also took a closer look. “Yeah, you look off!” He exclaimed, pointing out the obvious signs of distress.Viaan stilled. His smile dropped into a thin line. Immediately, he averted his eyes away from them and looked everywhere around.How come Ryan observed that? His shoulders tensed once again.“No. Why would I cry?” He chuckled nervously shrugging his shoulders, not wanting them to read his face further.“Then why are your eyes red and moist?” Ryan scoffed, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t lie through your teeth
Back in the present time, The PenthouseViaan’s POV, :Looking at the keys, I fisted them tightly. I was in my penthouse where I had come just an hour ago to get freshened up. Last night, I had to lie to Kia and Maa as I had spent entire hours in planning for the surprise for Maa. Then this morning the leftover documentation took my time while I also went to check for last-minute preparations. I just happened to come here one hour ago as I can’t go directly to home. And as soon as I came here, the first thing I did was to call Maa. She deserves the surprise the most.All through this while, I also kept myself reassured that this was not a dream anymore but a reality.A beautiful reality.A certain kind of peace filled my heart. I felt the cores of my eyes moistening up. Our dream was finally completed.“Paradis d’Amour is finally ours, Papa. I completed your and Maa’s dreams.” My voice choked with emotions as I looked at the picture frame on my desk while placing the keys reverently b
Writer’s POV:-“Did Viaan tell when will he come?” Leena asked Kiara who was serving her breakfast.Her hands stopped in the air and she raised her head to her mother-in-law. “No, Maa. He had just dropped the text last night that he wouldn’t be coming home tonight as he had an urgent meeting and some important work. So, he is perhaps staying at the penthouse itself.” Kiara sighed, continuing to fill Leena’s plate.Leena nodded recalling the text Kiara showed her last night. Viaan had specifically mentioned to tell Leena about it, he himself didn’t text her thinking she must be asleep by then.It was around eleven in the morning. Both the ladies were having a late breakfast today, as Kiara was nauseous and not feeling good this morning; thus she had delayed her meal.Although Leena had something light earlier as she had to have medicines as well, she still joined Kiara in the late meal.It was Leena’s assistance that she was even eating, lest she was all ready to ditch the breakfast to
Writer’s POV:-“And the man said that Mr. Adams is ready to meet at the earliest possible date,” Daniel revealed, sounding serious and firm.Hunter sat straight with a jerk, his brows dipping in. “How come he agreed this early? Didn’t he and his lawyer want time?” The question triggered his mind, he inquired in a disbelieving tone.The frown went deeper on his face; his eyeballs moving constantly as he tried to figure out Viaan’s step. One thing was crystal clear neither Viaan nor his lawyer saw this proposal as a simple invitation to get rid of legal troubles. Hence it was very much acceptable for his rival to seek time to agree or even deny.That’s why, even when this frustrated Hunter, he was ready for any secret investigation Viaan did on him. But little did he expect, that his acceptance would come this early and fast.He heard Daniel huffing from the other end and came out of his thoughts. “I have no idea, Sir. But if they are ready then why not proceed? This was the plan after
Writer’s POV:-“Kia, calm down. Ryan said that he won’t reveal anything to Viaan.” Sophie tried to calm her down, but the girl was far from calming down.A ready havoc was created in her mind and heart and she had no idea how to deal with it.“But he didn’t even give me any time, Soph. All he allowed me is tonight.” Kiara retorted, holding her breath in apprehension.She can hear her heart pounding in her ears, and sweat beads adorning her temples even after the decreased temperature of AC.Her words followed a silence before Sophie sighed audibly. “You have taken more than you should, Kia. You can’t avoid it any longer. Dr. Ryan was right when he said the more delay you are making the harder it would be to make Viaan understand.” Sophie indirectly quoted Ryan’s words from the last evening.“Out of all people, you should be understanding my dilemma, Soph.” Kiara clicked her tongue, getting annoyed at not finding any solution. “I didn’t wait for Tyler to just wake up, but I needed to k
Writer’s POV:-“Not only this but also the fact that Aaron is Tyler and Sophie’s son!” Ryan’s voice was steady, but there was a hint of solemnity in his tone.As Ryan dropped the bombshell, Kiara and Sophie froze, their eyes widening in shock. The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the revelation.A revelation that Kiara least expected today.The room fell into a stunned silence. The only thing audible at that moment was the ticking of the clock and the lazy evening wind coming through the open windows of Ryan’s cabin.With a composed face, Ryan watched the two women in front of him, trying hard to digest the truth he just disclosed.He knew this was going to be their reaction once her tells them the truth, but still watching them doing so, made him amused.Did they really think they would keep this massive truth away from him?Did they seriously think he wasn’t going to find it out, ever? He was a doctor, for God’s sake. It was impossible for this truth to be a secret fr