Chapter 8

Aryan's eyes turned blood red as he tried to control his emotions, and maintain a calm profile in front of Vikram. He sincerely didn't know how to react. He was lost in his own turmoil.

Should he be happy that Chandni found such an understanding husband who didn't let her past affect their current relationship, or should he feel even worse, to know that Chandni had no qualms to put all their precious memories behind her, to start a happy life with Vikram!!

Frankly speaking, he didn't give a damn what Vikram thought of him. His equation was with Chandni and no one else. And his life was already ruined because of her. He had no intention to seek redemption for his past, or good impression from Vikram who was no way involved in what happened between him and Chandni....

Aryan couldn't help but smile to himself as he wondered what a fool he was, to fall in love with such a woman, who has effectively fooled and managed to sway, not just one, but three men with her charms.

But the very next moment, as Vikram began to speak, every opinion that he had about Vikram turned upside down and caused a Volte-Face.  All his animosity towards Vikram lay forgotten, which was soon replaced by respect and gratitude.

His brow suddenly cleared as he finally understood the missing puzzle of Chandni's wedding with Rahul Ahluwalia seven years ago, and her current husband who sat across the table, explained calmly.

"I am sure no matter how hard you both try to behave like mature adults, there is bound to be some lingering animosity towards each other, but I want you both to overcome it. I have said almost the same words to Chandni too this morning. I want you to respect her and vice versa. She has been through a lot already and she has finally ventured out to establish herself in the business world. Trust me when I say this, she has a lot of business acumen which was just rotting behind the demands of motherhood and household management. She has completed her studies in Business Administration and has been preparing herself for this role for quite some time, and I haven't appointed her just because she's my wife." Vikram paused briefly, clearly trying to put aside any assumptions that Chandni was here purely because of Nepotism.

"You see Aryan, when I first met Chandni, she was already a married woman and pregnant with Atharv. But I never let her past interfere our lives, and had always looked upon Atharv as my own son. You might wonder why I am telling you all this, but I just want to explain what a tough woman Chandni is, and I want you both to have a healthy, non-confrontational relationship in the office. "

 Vikram let out a deep sigh, as if opening up to Aryan like this took a toll on him as well. Aryan began to believe that Vikram was also quite an emotional person, but just better at concealing himself, behind the aura of military upbringing and the tough business tycoon image. 

No matter what happened between him and Chandni, he could never wish ill things for her. Aryan shuddered to think what difficulties Chandni must have been through, or how compelling her circumstances were, as it looked like her marriage with Rahul failed and she was pregnant before Vikram came to her rescue.

He could feel nothing less than deep gratitude towards Vikram for that.

Aryan's mind was whirling with contrasting thoughts as he tried to digest what Vikram just shared with him, in good confidence.

What had happened in Chandni's life after Goa? It looks like her life hasn't been exactly a bed of roses either. Don't they say that Karma is a bitch and comes to bite you. Perhaps she and her family deserved this! No... No! He threw away that distasteful thought from his mind.

No matter what happened to him, however horrible turns his life had taken, he always strove to maintain a positive attitude in his life and never thought of ill to others, even if it was Chandni.

He had a million things to say, but just managed to blurt out something totally unexpected, surprising himself, as if it has been wrenched out of his subconscious.

"Atharv, Huh! Lovely name, it has got a great meaning." Aryan paused again, unsure how to proceed.

Vikram smiled back at him, relieved that Aryan was not hostile towards him anymore.

"He must be a very lucky boy to have a father like..."

Vikram cut him short with a loud chuckle.

"Yeah Aryan, even I thought so. But you know what he says to me? You are so lucky to have such a good boy like me as your son...Hahaha!"

Aryan's face too broke into a smile listening to the doting father's reminisces. For a moment he completely forgot the animosity between them, and just felt happy as he observed the proud father's guilty pride in his son's antics.

"He sounds like a cheeky monkey!!" He blurted out, and regretted it immediately, unsure why he is doing so many slip ups today, even though he was talking to a complete stranger. Control yourself, Aryan, he chided himself.

But Vikram put him to ease by laughing even louder.

"You are exactly right, he is a cheeky monkey indeed and I am so glad that at least you got a good hang of him much faster than us, the poor parents. He makes us dance to his little tunes, especially Chandni, who pampers and spoils him too much."

The smile on Aryan's evaporated as quickly as it came, at the mention of Chandni's name, and Vikram too noticed it with a sudden pang.

He got up quickly and approached Aryan who had cast his head down by then.

"Aryan, as I said I know it is very hard on both of you, but please try not to be antagonistic towards each other, as a start. If you give Chandni a chance and I am including you too Raj Ji, you will realise that she has got a good business head and can contribute her share in making this organisation even better. I know that most of you have been in this company for a long time, and are almost like a family. And that's why asking I am requesting you and Raj Ji to make Chandni a part of that family. What do you say?" Vikram asked him sincerely.

Raj Singh who had been a mute spectator to the whole conversation so far, chose to spoke for the first time.

"Vikram Ji, I know you have good intentions and of course it is imperative on everyone in the office to get along with Mrs Rajput as she will be heading the operations. But what you just asked of Aryan, to forget everything and behave normally would be extremely difficult."

Aryan looked sharply at him and silently signalled him to stop, but Raj Singh chose to ignore him.

"Trust me, I advised him the same this morning, but when I heard the same words coming from you, I could feel what pressure we are putting on this young soul here. Your justification, pardon me for my choice of words, is that Chandni had been through some rough times, and so Aryan and the rest of us need to be sympathetic towards her, and understand what a strong woman she had been, and embrace her, right? I completely understand your sentiments and agree with them wholeheartedly, but If only you knew what my Aryan had been through because of her and her evil Parents..."

"Chacha ENOUGH!!" Aryan's voice roared and both Vikram and Raj could feel the pain and the anger in his voice.

"I am... I am sorry Chacha!! I shouldn't have raised my voice against you." Aryan looked guiltily at Raj Singh.

"It's Okay Aryan, I don't mind, not in this instance. But he got to understand what happened!!" Raj's voice trembled.

"NO and Please don't make me shout again. Mr Rajput has got nothing to do with what I had been through. In fact, as far as I am concerned, he has got nothing to do with whatever happened between me and Chandni all those years ago either, and I want to keep it that way. I absolutely prohibit you to talk about my personal life with anyone, including him. Do you understand?" Aryan was controlling his temper with difficulty.

Raj Singh looked helpless as he felt compelled not to go against Aryan's explicit wish.

Aryan raked his fingers through his unruly hair in frustration as he faced Vikram.

"Please forget whatever

Raj Chacha... I mean Raj Ji said, Mr Mathur!"

"Aryan, I DO want to know exactly what happened. Because I only know one side of the story, but if you don't want to tell me, then I completely respect your decision and would not impose on you. But please keep this in your mind, any time you have a change of heart and want to talk about this, I am always there to hear. And I understand that you hardly know me, so whatever I say about myself, would only sound like I am blowing my own trumpet, but all I am interested in, is to make sure that you both work together in the office with as little discomfort as possible." Vikram implored.

"And my answer to you would be the same as what I just said to him now. Whatever happened between me and .... Well, it stays between us. Period.” Aryan said firmly.

"Oh!! You can’t even say her name now is it? But you were ready to shout at me for being protective about you. You really think that..." Raj Singh Sneered at Aryan.

"Chacha Please!! I know how much you love me and feel protective about me, but you can’t fight on my behalf. This is my problem, my trauma and I know how to deal with it. If I falter, I will learn and get better. There's no point in talking to a third person when the relationship between two people is broken and cannot be fixed between themselves. Especially a relationship that is in the past and has no present or future. And to me, Mr Mathur is nothing but a third person." Aryan said furiously.

***  

A/N

I hope you appreciate the turmoil Aryan is going through. Meeting his ex after so many years is one thing, but having to discuss his private life with her "husband" Vikram is another. Considering the fact that Chandni is now his CEO and they have to work together, is there any choice for him?

Was Aryan's outburst justified?

Share your thoughts and if you like this story, please recommend to your freinds and fellow readers.