Chapter 7 #2
For the first time in years, the rigid boundaries between them seemed to soften completely. Away from the pressure of Mumbai high society and family expectations, they were simply Akhil and Shruti, two souls connected by years of shared history, laughing together ten thousand feet in the air.
***
By four o'clock in the afternoon Italian local time, the private jet made a smooth landing at Milan Malpensa Airport in northern Italy.
The cool, crisp European air greeted Shruti as she stepped down the airstrip stairs. The weather in Lombardy was a refreshing contrast to the humid heat of Mumbai, clear blue skies, a gentle alpine breeze, and pleasant, mild sunshine.
Waiting on the tarmac right beside the jet was a sleek, dark blue vintage Alfa Romeo convertible sports car, along with a black luggage SUV.
Standing beside the Alfa Romeo was Leonardo Bianchi, Akhil’s sharp, well-dressed Italian lawyer and personal advisor in Europe. Leonardo was a handsome man in his late thirties with dark, slicked-back hair, wearing a sharp Italian linen suit.
"Akhil, amico mio!" Leonardo greeted warmly, stepping forward to give Akhil a brief, firm hug. "Welcome back to Italy!"
"Grazie, Leonardo," Akhil smiled, clapping his lawyer on the shoulder. "It's good to be back."
Leonardo’s dark Italian eyes shifted to Shruti, expanding with immediate, appreciative warmth. He stepped forward, took Shruti’s hand, and brushed a polite, aristocratic kiss over the back of her knuckles.
"And you must be the famous Miss Shruti Malhotra," Leonardo said in smooth, charmingly accented English. "Raghav’s sister, and Akhil’s special guest. It is an absolute honor to meet you, Signorina. Welcome to Italia!"
Shruti smiled, charmed by the classic Italian greeting. "Thank you, Leonardo! It's wonderful to be here."
Beside them, Akhil’s jaw tightened subtly. His dark eyes narrowed as he watched Leonardo holding Shruti’s hand for a second longer than strictly necessary.
Step gently, Akhil subtly stepped into the space between them, smoothly taking Shruti’s camera bag from her hand and placing it into the back of the convertible.
"Is the villa fully prepared, Leonardo?" Akhil asked, his deep voice carrying a quiet, possessive edge that didn't go unnoticed by his sharp Italian lawyer.
Leonardo’s lips twitched with a subtle, amused smirk as he realized his boss’s protective reaction. "Si, Akhil. Gia Moretti has been at the villa since yesterday morning. The staff has prepared the master guest wing, the private boat is fueled, and dinner is being arranged. Everything is secure."
"Good," Akhil nodded, opening the passenger door of the vintage Alfa Romeo convertible for Shruti. "We will drive to the lake directly. Follow us with the luggage SUV."
"Buon viaggio!" Leonardo smiled, waving them off.
Shruti slid into the low, rich leather passenger seat of the classic Italian sports car.
Akhil walked around to the driver's side, started the powerful engine, which let out a deep, satisfying roar, and smoothly glided out of the airport grounds onto the highway heading north towards the Italian lake district.
***
The drive from Milan to Lake Como was an experience Shruti knew she would never forget for the rest of her life.
As the sports car left the busy highway and entered the winding, scenic regional roads of Lombardy, the landscape transformed into something out of a fairytale painting.
The air grew crisp and fragrant with the scent of wild pine, blooming jasmine, and fresh mountain water.
Towering, majestic green mountains wrapped around narrow, sun-drenched valleys.
Ancient stone villages with colorful pastel-painted houses, shades of terracotta orange, buttery yellow, and dusty rose, were built into the rocky hillsides.
Shruti leaned her head back against the leather headrest, the wind whipping her dark hair wildly around her face, her eyes wide with unadulterated awe.
"Enjoying the view?" Akhil asked, glancing at her through the corner of his eye with a soft, affectionate smile as he navigated the winding mountain curves with practiced, effortless skill.
"Akhil... this is unbelievable!" Shruti exclaimed, her face lit up with pure joy as she pointed towards a dramatic cliffside view. "Look at those colors! I’ve traveled to so many countries, but this... Italy is magic!"
Akhil looked at her, taking in her glowing, joyful face, the bright wind-kissed flush on her cheeks, and the pure, childlike wonder in her dark eyes.
"Yes," Akhil whispered softly, his dark eyes lingering on her face before returning to the road. "It is magic."
Thirty minutes later, the car rounded a high mountain bend, and Lake Como opened up before them in all its legendary, breathtaking glory.
The lake was an enormous, upside-down Y-shaped body of crystal-clear deep blue water, surrounded on all sides by dramatic alpine mountains rising straight out of the shore.
Elegant, centuries-old historic villas with manicured terrace gardens, marble statues, and private stone docks lined the water’s edge.
Small wooden speedboats glided smoothly across the sparkling blue surface, leaving white trails of foam behind them.
Shruti let out a breathless gasp, completely mesmerized.
Akhil guided the Alfa Romeo down a private, narrow cobblestone driveway lined with tall cypress trees and blooming purple bougainvillea vines. The driveway descended steeply towards a private peninsula jutting directly into the quiet waters of the lake.
At the end of the driveway stood Villa Raheja.
Shruti’s jaw literally dropped.
The villa was an architectural masterpiece of classic Italian elegance.
Built out of honey-colored ancient stone, it featured tall arched windows, wrought-iron balconies dripping with pink climbing roses, terracotta tiled roofs, and sprawling stone terraces stepping down all the way to the water's edge.
A private stone boathouse stood on the water, housing a polished mahogany Venetian speedboat.
"Welcome to Villa Raheja," Akhil said softly, pulling the car to a stop near a grand stone fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Before Shruti could even process the breathtaking beauty of the estate, the grand wooden double doors of the villa flew open.
Stepping out onto the stone patio was Gia Moretti.
Gia was thirty-two years old, gorgeous, vibrant, and effortlessly stylish. She was Akhil’s trusted Italian hotel general manager and one of his closest personal friends in Europe. She was wearing a chic white linen jumpsuit, gold hoop earrings, and had her dark Italian curls styled in a loose bun.
"Akhil!" Gia shouted in joy, hurrying down the stone steps with open arms.
Akhil stepped out of the car and wrapped Gia in a warm, friendly embrace. "Ciao, Gia. It's good to see you."
"You look exhausted, boss!" Gia teased in her melodious Italian accent, stepping back to inspect his face before her sharp, warm eyes shifted to Shruti, who was stepping out of the passenger side.
Gia’s face lit up with a massive, warm smile. She walked right past Akhil and wrapped Shruti in a warm, enthusiastic hug.
"Signorina Shruti!" Gia exclaimed delightedly. "Finally! Akhil has talked about you for years, but meeting you in person... mama mia, you are stunning!"
Shruti blinked in surprise, hugging Gia back with a chuckle. "Thank you, Gia! It's so wonderful to meet you!"
Beside them, Akhil let out a quiet, warning cough, his face turning slightly rigid. "Gia... let’s not overwhelm our guest on her first ten minutes here."