Chapter 2 : The Meeting

Silence." Somewhere we know that without silence, words loose their meaning. "

                            "Silence isn't empty , its full of answer."

                                                        ......

                              "Listen to silence it has so much to say"

                                                        .......

                               "Silence is a true friend who never betrays".

                                                        .......

The same case happens with Vaibhav. Silence. It's the only way to deal with his relationship. After a long, what seems an eternity, about twenty years, he's visited his grandmother. The time he saw her, his heart ached, feeling contained at the same time.

She was completely changed.

Her fragile weak body was the evidence. She looks no more joyous. She was quiet; silence; her fragile hand isn't helping much, hiding her trembling, shivering body, making her look more vulnerable and weak. 

She was laying on a bed, peacefully. Her eyes were closed and the wrinkles on her face were visible clearly.

87, she turned last month!

Sighing deeply, he walked inside embodying perfect and unfaltering masculinity. The guards stood out, while he settled himself and drew a chair close to her. The screeching sound, made her eyes open which looks as weak as a parched leaf.

On observing his physique, which had turned more charming and handsome since she last saw him. The eight-year-old boy has beautifully turned into a handsome adult. 

The Charm, no one could resist. 

She passed him a small smile and struggled to seat. He immediately aid her, making her seat comfortably.

"It's been long since you came to meet me" she spoke looking at him, longingly.

"How are you been doing? You look, vulnerable" he initiated.

She chuckled, making him frown," I never thought, Shekhar would leave too early" she choked, emotionally.

He immediately straightened himself on her words, uncomfortably. 

Seems, Shekhar's demise has left a bad and vulnerable impact behind.

"He would be at peace, still alive in our hearts, grandma." Spoke Vaibhav, looking into her fragile weak eyes. The moistening didn't get unnoticed by him.

"I know" she mumbled." Btw, you turned out to be more handsome and charming" she spoke diverting the topic, to which he didn't exaggerate.

"And you look more beautiful" he complimented, lovingly. She smiled and none uttered. Breaking the silence he spoke," you wanted to meet me inevitably."

"Yes, I've something for you. The second drawer from right, there is a blue file encrypted confidential" she instructed. Vaibhav took out the file, following her instruction, and flipped the pages, unfaltering.

"Shekhar always wanted you to take over the charge of his empire, but he was too way scared to voice out. He's endowed everything on your name, making you the proprietary." She informed.

"But that's not needed, I've my own company to look after, and I can't shift here for my entire life, grandma" he sneered.

"Stop making those expressions young man. And, I'm not asking you, it's my order to either merge the company or take over the charge as President" she demanded authoritatively." Don't underestimate still this fragile, trembling hand,  can pull your ears anytime- anywhere."

"It's not needed, you know, I've my company over there and I don't want to live here, as it reminds me of my mother" he mumbled the latter part, staring at the file in his hand.

"Vaibhav" she called softly," I know you love your mother, but that doesn't mean you keep on running from reality. One or other day, you had to accept, why not today." He stiffened at the mention of her name. 

"Day after tomorrow, I've flight in the morning" he spoke unabashedly.

"What! Don't say that, I have already planned to get you marry." She gasped.

"WHAT " He stood dumbfounded.

"Yes, and you are not moving anywhere until you get married, and, Shekhar too wanted to see, get you settled" she spoke alarming him, for his protest.

"Wait. Before you go further on your protesting mode, let me tell you, Poonam,your mother wished you get settled after you're capable to hold the responsibility of Shergill's Empire" she completed .

I was dumbfounded. 

"Your mother wanted this, Vaibhav," she said softly.

My heart froze.

"To see you happily married and settled" she looked at me hopefully. 

My heart clenched.

"This was her last wish."

Her last wish!

I didn't know, I was holding my breath since don't know how long. The word marriage is itself a thunder bomb and now talking about my mother. She is my everything, still. 

How should I get marry to someone else, when already someone has taken that place in my heart, in my life? I can't betray her, that is so unfair.

But mom. And, what about her last wish. Looking at old figure towering over me like giant, I feel to break everything apart in this room.

Should I tell her about my love affair. But, I know she won't agree as dad wasn't agree with the acquaintance before.

Her last wish!

The word echoed, and I feel suffocated and dizzy simultaneously. I kept the two buttons of my shirt open, hastily.

Marrying someone else whom I don't know, is making me feel disgusted. 

My heart clenched painfully in my chest, and memories of my mother invaded my mind, system, and neurons. It felt every cell of my body started working together, making me suffocate more.

The hand-made food of my mom, I still remember; how she used to feed me; how we played with each other in our garden. These memories are still fresh as flowers.

Her last wish. These three words were enough to snatch earth beneath me. Why I wasn't knowing about these earlier? Dad too never informed me.

My arms were limbs on my side and my hands were balled into fists, my nails digging into the skin of my palm, but I couldn't care less as my focus was on the current situation.

I averted my gaze and looked at the old fragile tyrant, who loves to play with me in childhood and now with my life.

But I can't ignore the softness in her eyes and the sad look on her face. Though, she was looking at me hopefully.

She clearly knows how much I love mom. Back to the moon. Talking about my mom, I can do anything for her. Since my childhood to now, the present situation, I still love her and can do everything for her, let alone her last wish and she knows this.

I can do anything to see, just to see, a small smile on her face, enough to lighten my world. 

Nothing is more important than my mom.

I have never been in such a complex and morose situation. It's a very conflicted position. I've to choose between my heart, and my mind, whether to live my life or destroy it with my own hand. 

Loving someone and marrying someone is what you say. Disaster!

I looked at her with firm determination, " Fine. I agree"

I announced! Quick-decision. Just couldn't bear this country. I need to move back. Can't hold it anymore.

Her face lights up hearing me and she smiles. A genuine smile. She's happy. Anyways, at least she's happy unlike me.

She patted my cheeks pulling it lightly," I know you could never say No to your mom." She exclaimed.

God!

"What if girl says ,no !" I asked hesitantly.

"Uh! Who can say NO to my grandson and that to the President of Shergill Empire" she flaunts.

"Grandma!" I sighed.

"Anyways, I'm leaving." I declared and stood to leave.

"Wait. Don't you wanna know , who's the girl?" This left me shocked to the core. Had she everything planned? . Is this marriage was planned?. I can't belive this man!

On reading my inner monologue, she spoke sheepishly," yes, son, I've already searched your bride"

Fuck.

Before I could answer back, a few morons stuck as lees in my life, my friends marched inside. Oh sorry, they are exceptional and they can't do anything sane, so yeah! they barged inside like insane.

I think , its high time to make new friends.

"Hello. Did anyone missed me" Ranbir, the most joyous person in our gang. He seems to be actually 25, which he is; but the act is of 5-year-old kid.

"Aww, my babies" grandma coaxed sweetly,actually too sweetly. I control, urge to roll my eyes on their antics.

"Anyways kids, do congratulate your friend, he's gonna marry soon" she announced, taking me aback.

Oh god , not now! I wasn't prepared for her sudden outburst. Now these morons won't leave me in peace.

"WHAT !!" They shouted in unison.

I mentally face-palmed.

I peeped out knowing they would pounce on me anytime. I looked at them, they were looking at me as wide as saucers, jaws were dropped down. Aanya, look baffled, while Abhimanyu and Dhruv stared at me dumbfounded.

I know this is hard to believe, but believe me, it's hard for me too.

Here, I'm in love with someone else and going to marry someone other. Its complicated. But whenever I see the happiness in my grandmom's eyes, I feel contained. After mom, she is the one who is , was , always close to my heart. No matter what, I'll make my best to keep her happy; if marrying someone gives happiness to my mom, it's my pleasure.

"Love is when another person's happiness is equally as important as your own".