Shravan Maheswari was having breakfast with his family in their ancestral haveli in Jodhpur.
To say that he is here under sufferance will be an understatement.
His mother had literally dragged him here, kicking and screaming, when he is supposed to be in Bangalore working on an important business deal.
Why Bangalore?? Is that what you people are wondering??
From Jodhpur to Bangalore, it has been really a long journey. Not just literally!!
His grandfather Tej Maheswari is the wealthiest landowner in Jodhpur and belongs to one of the oldest royal families here.
His father Pratap Maheswari wanted to make a name of his own and so after his studies he had started a business of his own and shifted to Mumbai.
Mumbai is where his mother is from.
Dad met mom, sparks flew, they got married and it resulted in him and his two siblings.
And as he grew up his father became his inspiration and he decided to follow his footsteps.
So instead of taking over Maheshwari Textiles, he made his own empire.
And at twenty seven, he is the proud co - CEO of SM groups of luxury resorts.
And his business is based in Bangalore where he did his undergraduate.
He did his post graduation in Harvard.
Oh Yes!! He is smart.
You can call him pompous if you want because it really doesn't matter to him.
He simply don't care what people think of him.
He has been called many names by many people since he made his first billion and made an appearance in Times of India.
"Shravuu. Have one more roti," His mother said and he inwardly cringed.
He hates being called shravuu.
What am I?? A five year old?
"I am full, mom. And please stop calling me that." He told her again knowing very well that she isn't going to stop that.
"Why should I?? I am your mother. I had carried you in my womb for nine months. I went through the labour pain for hours and hours to give birth to you. And is this how you behave to your mother?" His mom, ever the drama queen said and he saw his dad rolling his eyes besides her.
"Whatever mom," he said and continued eating.
Then he heard some whisperings between his parents and looked up to see them nudging each other and pointing at him with their eyes.
He sat back in his chair and gave them his whole attention.
Anyway, they have dragged him away from his business.
Let's hear what it is that they want.
"Shoot," he said.
"Shravuu. You know we love you , don't you??" His mother asked and he raised an eyebrow in confusion.
What's happening??
"Of course Mom."
"Then you should also know that we would love you regardless of your preferences," his mother said making him frown.
"What's going on?? I am missing something??" He asked sipping the water from his tumbler.
"Do you?? Do you have a man in your life, Shravu??" His mother asked and he choked spluttering the water and he heard a snicker and turned to see Isha, his friend trying to hide her laughter.
"Mom. What the hell!!" He yelled in disbelief.
She had been after him for a while to get him married and he had outright refused to be tied to anyone.
And how did she come to such a conclusion from that.
"You mean you are....???"
"Of course I am straight mom!!" He shook his head, still in disbelief.
His mother grinned widely.
"I knew. I was just making sure."
"And now please don't start the topic of you and me not getting any younger. Today's quota is over mom," he said and she pouted.
"Shravan. I want you to attend the community wedding ceremony held tomorrow as a part of your dadu's birthday celebration." Dad said and he inwardly groaned.
Yes, he knows it's a wonderful thing that his family is doing by getting ten orphan girls married.
But he hate attending weddings.
It's not really the wedding that bothers him.
It's all the aunties attending the wedding, who take it upon themselves to find a suitable bride for him, that bothers him.
I mean,like seriously!! What's their problem?? Why can't they just mind their own business?
"Is it really necessary for me to attend dad??"
"Of course. Both of your siblings are not here. So you will be there representing all three of you," his father said.
"And I have brought a new sherwani for you to wear on the wedding," his mother said.
"Wah!! Shravan in a sherwani?? It would be a vision to see." Isha said winking at him and he glared at her.
Why did he bring her with him again??
"Mom?? Why the hell should I wear a sherwani? I am attending the wedding. I am not getting married."
"Who knows if some pretty girl would see you in sherwani and fall in love with you. I could get you married, maybe tomorrow itself," his mom said and he rolled his eyes.
"You are just impossible, mom!"
"Aunty, girls always fall in love with your son. It's your son who doesn't. So wearing a sherwani or not wouldn't matter. Maybe we will have to do a heart transplant surgery for him. Maybe a new heart is what he needs," Isha said.
"Very funny," he said sarcastically.
"Oh I am very serious, shravuu." Isha teased him.
"Just shut up. We have business to do Isha. If you forgot, let me remind you, I brought you here so that we could work on the deal here. Not for you to gang up with my mom against me."
"Sure boss. It's your command." Isha said with a mock salute.
They both stood up from dining table and were going to the study when his mom called him again.
"I really want you to get married, Shravan. I am dying to be a grandma," she said.
"Mom. I have to focus on my business. I am working on an important business deal now. Please don't bring the topic of marriage and spoil my mood," he said and walked away.
"What are we going to do with him, Pratap ji." Anuradha Maheswari asked her husband who simply shrugged in return.
"We can't force him to get married, Anu. If we do, he won't be happy in his life."
"He is twenty seven. I want him married before he turns thirty."
"If he is destined to get married before thirty ,he would, Anu. Stop worrying and give him some space. He will come around." Pratap Maheswari said making his wife sigh in defeat.
She is leaving it all to destiny
In the study ,Shravan was ready to pull out his hair.
"What do you mean by we can't get an appointment with the man for another two months??" Shravan asked in frustration.
He had been trying very hard for this deal with the Malhotras for a while.
"Vihaan Malhotra and his family are abroad on a vacation. They won't be coming back for another two months."
"Damn it!! I want that island. It's the best spot for our new resort."
"I think we are wasting time on this deal, Shravan. I did a little research. The island holds personal significance for Vihaan Malhotra and his family. I don't think he would be willing to sell it."
"Well ,Vihaan Malhotra is a fool. Who would turn their back on such a fortune for sentimental reasons. He could have built a resort there and it would have been the paragon of his business ventures. He failed to do it. It's about time someone made some smart decisions."
"Sometimes you can be so cold hearted, Shravan. I don't understand why? You have a wonderful family who all love each other and you grew up happily. Then how come you turned into a stone??" Isha asked.
"Cold hearted?? I am not being cold hearted, Isha. I am just being practical. And I am not a stone. I do have feelings. I am just not very expressive like other people. And for me emotions exist between people. Their hearts. I don't understand the significance of a place, a date or any materialistic things where feelings are concerned."
"Whatever Shravan. I am not arguing with you."
"That's good. I have to get D Love. And the first thing I do, will be to change that stupid name of the island."
Drishti Singhania was pacing the room like a caged tiger.Damn!! she muttered under her breath.She just hopes everything will be alright and she could escape from here without any harm.Her phone rang at that exact moment and when she saw the caller ID she sighed in relief.About time he called, she thought.She picked up the call on the second ring."I have been waiting and waiting for God knows how long," she said to the person on the other end of the phone aka her best friend Siddharth Agnihotri. In short Siddhu."Don't exaggerate. It has been only ten minutes since my last call," he said and she can literally see him rolling his eyes at her. He always does that."Whatever, Siddharth Agnihotri. What's the status now?? Is everything set there?" She asked straight to the point."Yeah almost. Kiara bhabhi went ballistic when she realised she was being kidnapped. Now she is getting calm and listening to bhai. We are on the way to the airport. D?? I think it's better we come and pick y
"What???" Shravan gaped at his grandfather in horror Had he lost it finallyIs old age catching up with him at this most unfortunate time"You heard me""You must be crazy if you think I'm going to go through with this" Shravan muttered in disbelief "Bauji. You are not thinking this through clearly. Marriage is not a decision to be taken hastily. It's their life" Pratap Maheswari said trying to appeal to his fatherBut Tej Maheswari was having none of it"Kiara is a very nice girl" Tej said"Who is Kiara??" Shravan asked "The girl you are going to marry" Tej said confidently "The girl you want me to marry?? I'm not marrying anyone dadu" Shravan said in exasperation"So you will stand by and watch your dadu bow down his head in shame?? You wouldn't do anything to safeguard his honor??" Tej asked looking straight into his eyes"That's emotional blackmailing dadu. You know it very well""Are you willing to protect and safeguard the Maheswari honor Shravan??" Tej asked and Shravan kn
Drishti stared at the haveli through her veil in aweIt felt as if she had stepped back into eighteenth centuryThe place looks like royalty Oh yes!! She is married now to a man she didn't know from the AdamShe didn't even ask for his name??How could she?? Everything happened in a blurAnd yet that one moment when their eyes met. When he had lifted the veil to apply sindoor on her God!! She could still feel the sizzle of that moment"Kiara beta. Come sit here. We will do the mooh dikhaayi ceremony first as we all still haven't seen your face. Sorry beta ,the function is small and there are only family here. It happened all of a sudden. I promise we will arrange a grand reception for you guys in a day or two" Anuradha Maheswari said to her new daughter in lawDrishti held back a hysterical giggle from coming outReception??She would be lucky if they didn't throw her into a dungeon in this haveli when they realise they have been duped.She was pretty darn sure there is a dungeon s
Anuradha took Drishti to the guest bedroom"Aunty. I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I caused. Not even in my wildest imaginations did I see this happening aunty" Drishti said as soon as Anuradha made her sit on the bed"Relax Drishti. It will take time for everyone to accept what happened. I don't know anything about you Drishti, but I know people. I have seen all kinds of people and I can say that you are a good person" Anuradha saidOnly if she knows.... Drishti thought to herself"Listen to me beta. Marriage is a sacred bond. Our ancestors used to say marriages happen in heaven. It's true to an extend. The one up there na?? He might have decided who is for who even before we are born. And Shravan is the one who is written in your destiny" "Aunty. You can't really expect us to go through with this wedding. We don't know each other" Drishti said"I'm not forcing you Drishti. Just give it a try. And still you find it difficult to adjust, I will help you in a separation.""I don't
Shravan walked out of his bedroom, with his bag, after Isha, to get ready to leave. As he came to the living room his mother glared at him."I am leaving Mom.""What about your wife??" Anuradha asked in disbelief."What about her?? She can stay here as long as she wants and then can apply for annulment when she is ready." Shravan said coolly."You told me you would give your cent percent into this marriage, Shravan. You promised." Anuradha reminded her son of the promise he made before tying the knot.Damn!! His mother is furious. She just called him Shravan."I said that believing that I would be marrying Kiara. Kiara, who was supposedly left at the altar. Not trying to work out a marriage with her would be sin when I thought she was deeply hurt by her ex fiance." Shravan said."Oh my!! I can see you picturing yourself as a Prince charming riding a white horse and coming to rescue the princess from a miserable future," he turned around when he heard his brand new wife's voice and
The private jet landed in the Bangalore International Airport."You don't even have any luggage with you?? What's your plan?? A shopping spree with Shravan's credit card??" Isha asked and Shravan groaned mentally.What had happened to the sweet natured Isha?? Where did this bitchy avatar come from?? "Of course yes. I am a newly wed bride. New brides are entitled to their shopping spree with their husband's credit card." Drishti said, batting her eyelashes innocently at them."Of course I know girls like you." Isha said with derision."You ought to. You must be looking at the mirror at least twice a day." Drishti said sarcastically."For the love of God!! Will you two please shut up?" Shravan was finally losing it.What did he do to deserve this?? "Isha, I will drop you at your place. Will see you first thing in the morning. We have to get this deal somehow." Shravan said and Isha nodded her head.Business!! Drishti rolled her eyes!Shravan is reminding her of her father. Her fath
Damn it!! She is Drishti Singhania!The boys in her college are crazy over her and begging her for a single glance and this guy here, who was lucky enough to marry her, wants to keep their marriage a secret.Fine!! It's not as if she cares. "Fine. I am not dying to advertise it either." Drishti said with a casual shrug."And where is the bedroom??" Drishti asked and Shravan cursed himself for not thinking about it before.Where would she stay?? This is a two bedroom apartment and he had turned the guest room into a study for his office work."Actually there's only one bedroom." Shravan said and Drishti again shrugged as if sharing a bedroom isn’t a big deal for her."The kitchen is over there. The fridge is fully stocked. Rajesh kaka's wife comes thrice a week to clean and cook. She might have kept some food in the freezer too." Shravan said and guided her towards his roomLuckily his bedroom has a recliner in addition to a bed and he mentally thanked his interior designer for that.
Shravan woke up to find the girl all over himHer legs were thrown over his and hands were around his neck and her head in the crook of his shoulderHer hair is spread all over her face, some spilled over his chestGod!! What a torture to wake up with He pulled out from her hold not so gently, but her highness didn't wake up. She simply cuddled into the pillow instead of him and continued sleepingThere was drool near her mouth and she looked utterly adorable like a babyAdorable?? Have you gone crazy early in the morning Shravan?? He shook his head to clear his thoughts and walked into the en suite to get ready for the dayEven after he got ready for office Drishti was still asleepHe thought of leaving a note for her but then decided against itWhy make new habits?? ****Drishti woke up to the continuous vibration of her phoneLast night her phone had been battery dead and she had plugged it in near the bedside tableDoes the phone gets switched-on on it's own once charged??
5 years later.Diya draped her saree and was about to wear the sindoor when a hand caught hers, stopping her. Vihaan took the box of vermilion from her with a charming smile."Do I have to remind you every day that this is my haqq biwi?" Vihaan asked as he took the vermilion between his thumb and forefinger and applied it on her partition."I thought you would be busy downstairs with preparations," Diya said, smiling contentedly."I'm never too busy for you, love," Vihaan said as he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest."Vihaan, what are you doing?? Someone will come. We have lots of work to do," Diya said, trying to wriggle out of his hold."No one will come, and all works are done. The house is all set for Diwali," Vihaan said before bending down and pecking her on her lips.Vihaan caressed her exposed waist with his fingers, earning a light moan from Diya."Vihaan. It's morning.""So?? Do I have to wait till night to love my wife??"Diya wound her arms ar
Drishti walked to the front door, pausing before making her exit, sweeping them both with another grin, her eyes twinkling like stars. "Happy Diwali," she called out. Then off she went down the hallway singing.As Drishti went out of sight, Vihaan's hands slid around Divyaa, turning her around to face him, making her heart flutter wildly. "Thank you. Thank you for being you, for having my child and giving her to me. But above everything else, thank you for waiting for me, Diya.""Oh Vihaan," Relief gushed through her. The love in his voice was unmistakable. "I'm sorry I gave up on you. I...""No..." He placed a finger on her lips, hushing the stream of regret. "I was wrong. You don't have anything to answer for. God knows I've seen enough, been with you enough to appreciate, in some small measure, how it's been for you. I'm sorry I got so screwed up about being left out.""Well, at least I'm not too young for you anymore."He frowned, pained by the reminder."I don't know that you eve
Tears streamed down Drishti's cheeks, but she seemed unaware of them. She was still staring at Vihaan, her desperate plea for him to make things right for her evident in her gaze. Twisting the hem of her nightshirt, her open hair hung around her face, giving her a bedraggled appearance. She looked like a lost little waif, and Divyanshi wanted to gather her child in her arms and hug her insecurities away. However, it was to Vihaan that her daughter looked for what she needed now, and Divya held herself back. It was up to him to answer his daughter, to answer all the questions now.Yet, Vihaan looked as lost as Drishti, struck by the realisation of all she might have overheard - the role her adoptive parents had played in taking her from Divyanshi, in preventing Vihaan from knowing about his fatherhood, ensuring he didn't reunite with her mother, and keeping the knowledge of her real parentage from her. The world they had known had been torn up, and the pieces couldn't be put togethe
"This is the final round, Drishti," Vihaan warned as he set up the game board again."You're just jealous that I've been winning all the games so far," Drishti crowed proudly."Yeah, by cheating," Vihaan said, and Drishti rolled her eyes as if it wasn't a big deal.They had played three rounds of Snake and Ladder and two rounds of Ludo at Drishti's insistence. Drishti had won all the games, using her sneaky tricks to avoid the snakes and win at Ludo.He looked tired. He had been rather quiet, almost distant, all evening, only responding to Drishti's demands.Divya hoped he wasn't too tired to stay up with her after Drishti went to bed. It had been an active day filled with swimming, windsurfing, drawing rangolis, decorating the house, and setting up the pooja room. Besides, he couldn't have had much sleep last night as he had been up early with Drishti this morning. What would she do if he suggested they retire early?"It's Diwali tomorrow, Vihaan Uncle. I'm too excited to go to bed,"
Not knowing was killing him. He knew that he had unsettled Divya with his brooding. Well, she wouldn't have the slightest idea as to what was eating him up, and he couldn't just blurt it out. If she realised what he was thinking, and if he was wrong, she would think he had lost his marbles, imagining himself to be her one great love. He didn't want to confuse her feelings for him. But... he had to know!He paced the living room, impatient to get a little time to himself so that he could make the much-needed phone call. If anyone would know the critical details of what had happened to him that Diwali season thirteen years ago, Omkara and Aditya had the inside track. They'd been with him from the start to the end of the vacation, and they had told him nothing worth mentioning had happened during the trip. Is there any point in asking them again? What is he going to lose anyway?The sculptures set along the corner Divya had set up to do the pooja caught his eyes, and he stopped, struck b
Vihaan engaged Drishti in conversation while Divya had her breakfast.Observing the two of them together, so similar in more ways than they realised, was heartwarming.Is it wise of her to leave the past in the past?It felt wrong for Vihaan not to know he was Drishti's father.She shouldn't keep such a special flesh and blood bond from him, from either of them. They both had a right to know.Telling him was not going to be easy, especially after she had briefly mentioned the adoption last night.Her reasoning for holding back had seemed right at the time.She didn't want to burden him with a truth he'd find disturbing and painful, considering the part his sister had played in taking responsibility from him, the long-played deceit that had denied him his true relationship with his own child.However, the circumstances are different now.Vihaan felt the same about her as he had all those years before, and Sandhya Rathore was out of the picture.Now she wouldn't be putting any sense of
Diyaa!The name echoed persistently in Vihaan's mind, as if it belonged to this moment, an enchanting magic of their union."Divyanshi," he said aloud, trying to dispel the echo, to overpower it."Yes?" she replied."I could never have dreamt of what we've shared," he murmured, lifting himself from her embrace to tenderly brush his lips against hers, a loving tribute to her generosity. "It transcends dreams."He rolled onto his side, bringing her along, and wrapped an arm around her as she lay on his chest, their legs entwined in intimacy.She felt so right, so perfect, as though she had been created exclusively for him. How could she have loved another man? No other woman had ever been like her for him."It's a miracle," she whispered, her warm breath caressing his skin, making it tingle. "A Diwali miracle." Her voice carried a happy smile.Diwali.Diyaaa.The special name stirred an unease, a sense of wrongness he tried to resist, but it persisted. He remembered the grieving look on
Warning: This work is purely fictional. You might find certain things illogical... Read at your own risk 😂Vihaan gazed at the ceiling, unable to sleep at the moment. He relished the feeling that something extraordinary had entered his life. Divyanshi Trilok seemed to offer him everything he had desired in a woman. The problem was, he couldn't be sure how much his dreams of her were influencing him. Was this strong attraction driven by wishes or was it genuinely real? The emotions she stirred in him were so intense and rapid that he had barely restrained himself from pursuing a deeper connection with her tonight. He used the excuse of Drishti's early rising tomorrow to keep his desires in check. He wanted her. He wanted to hold her, embrace every part of her, but he knew he had to be cautious. Drishti was closely involved in this relationship, and he couldn't make hasty moves.The wisest thing to do was to wait. Divya wasn't going anywhere. He needed to make sure that whatever he did
"Two Irish coffees coming up," Vihaan announced as he came out to the verandah.As soon as she saw him, her hard-won sense of peace shattered, and her heart started galloping again. She tried hard to get herself under control.He set the tray of coffee on the small tea table and took a seat next to her. "This is life. Far from the maddening crowd of the city and pressures of business. Sun, sand, and surf. Nothing could beat it for a wonderful holiday," Vihaan said and took a sip of the coffee.Divyanshi smiled. That hadn't changed for him."It must be very stressful being the CEO and leading a multimillion-dollar empire," Divya said, smiling. She was so proud of him, of what he had become with his own hard work."Well, I have my moments. But it's what I am trained for," Vihaan said."Then it was worth going to Harvard," she said.His head snapped around. "How do you know I went to Harvard?"Divya's heart rate increased in panic. The comment had slipped out, and now she had to answer f