Chapter 2
Reyansh
“We need to celebrate tonight,” Aditya declares with a twinkle in his eye .
I lean back in my black leather chair and grin at my business partner and best friend, Aditya Thakur, who is sitting across from me at my office desk in his dapper grey designer suit. This guy always needs an excuse to party. Parties, drinks, and women are what keeps him going. Well, I am no saint, either. I enjoy having fun from time to time as well. And today, we definitely have every reason to celebrate. Our company has just sealed a groundbreaking hundred-crore deal and has earned recognition as one of the top ten IT companies in the world.
“What do you have in mind?” I ask.
Aditya leans back with a confident grin. “Why don’t we hit the club tonight? With me by your side, we’ll get all the attention we need.”
I laugh at his cocky statement, which is totally true. With his striking good looks—dark complexion, chiselled jawline, and muscular six-foot frame—women are easily drawn to him.
“I don’t need you by my side to catch a woman’s eye,” I say with a cocky grin. Besides the zeros in my bank account, I’ve got charm, wit, and personality in spades, all of which can turn heads on their own. Standing as tall as Aditya, my dark hair and deep brown eyes often turn heads. Add to it a strikingly handsome chocolate complexion and a well-built physique, that always leave an impression. And there’s that charming dimple of mine that always seems to drive women wild . In fact, I’ve been hailed as one of the country’s most eligible bachelors for the past five years.
“Well, aren’t you an overconfident jerk?” he replies with a smirk.
“Guilty as charged,” I retort, matching his smirk.
He throws his hands up in mock surrender . “How about we agree that we’ve both been blessed in that department, and together, we’re the ultimate winning combination?” He grins and then adds, “So, are you up for making women’s hearts race tonight?”
It’s Friday, and the idea of hitting the club to unwind feels too tempting to pass up. These past few months have been draining with trying to finalise this deal. I am completely worn out. My mind drifts back to the early days when we started this company . It’s been a long, tough road to get here. When Aditya and I launched ApexTech Innovations, our parents weren’t pleased. They had hoped we’d join their respective businesses—Aditya in import-export and me in telecom. As their only children, we were their only hope. But we wanted to carve out our own path; we wanted something of our own. So, we compromised: we agreed to manage both our family businesses and our IT firm together. Now, even our parents are proud of what we’ve accomplished.
“You’re right. Let’s hit the club tonight,” I agree, running my hand over my jaw and feeling the rough stubble . I could definitely use a shave, and a clean-up too.
Aditya nods in excitement. “I’ll book a table for us. Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you. Tomorrow is my parents’ anniversary, and they’re expecting you and your parents to come over.”
“We’ll be there,” I assure him.
“I don’t want to dampen the mood, but you know how our parents have been acting lately . I am not sure it’s a good idea for them to meet , especially since they’re both equally stubborn about what they want from us.”
His words weigh heavily on me, and a headache begins to form as I turn in my chair, gazing out from the high-rise in Bangalore, my fingers gently massaging my right temple. Over the past few months, my parents have been relentless with their nagging demand about my marriage. They constantly remind me that I am thirty-five and am not getting any younger, and also how they long to see their grandchildren. Their pleas are now becoming hard to ignore. But the very idea of marriage doesn’t sit well with me… yet. While I’ve had my fair share of relationships, I haven’t found that special someone who truly captivates me. To me, marriage feels like an overhyped concept, and so far, no one has come along to challenge that belief.
“They’re really sticking to their guns on this, but I am not sure how much longer I can avoid it. I suppose eventually I might have to give in, especially when they pull out the classic emotional blackmail,” I admit with a sigh. I know my parents inside and out. Don’t get me wrong, they’re amazing, the best anyone could ask for. But they can be incredibly persuasive when they want things their way. The only times they’ve really compromised for my happiness is when I told them that I wanted to live separately. But the reason I moved out wasn’t because I don’t love them—I adore them. They’re my life. But I just needed a bit of space without their constant interference and judgement.
“Are you really ready to tie the knot?” Aditya’s incredulous voice cuts through the air, jolting me back to reality. I turn in my chair to meet his gaze.
“Not immediately, but if it leads to my parents’ happiness, then I’ll eventually concede. They mean the world to me. They’ve always compromised for my happiness, and if this is something they truly desire, then I won’t deny them that.”
Aditya nods thoughtfully, but uncertainty flickers in his eyes. “ I hear you, man, and I won’t argue with you on that. Our parents have gone above and beyond for us, and if this is something we can do to make them happy, then why not? Maybe marriage won’t be as daunting as we fear. Just look at our parents—they’ve been happily married for years .”
“But they both had love marriages. They were childhood sweethearts, and we’ll be marrying someone of our parents’ choice. It might not lead to the same happily ever after,” I point out.
He shrugs. “Whether it’s a love marriage or arranged, they all end up in the same place. We just need to master the art of keeping our wives happy before they start draining our blood.”
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s rich coming from you, considering you’ve never even been in a serious relationship.”
“I don’t need to be in a relationship to understand women’s psychology. In the end, it all boils down to giving them expensive gifts and showering them with praise,” he replies with a smirk.
“Can’t argue with you on that. I guess we’ll need a lifetime, no-limit credit card,” I reply, chuckling.
“We’re both in for quite the ‘investment,’” he nods, making air quotes around the word ‘investment.’
“Well, we’ll worry about that when the time comes. For now, let’s celebrate our victory,” I remind him. “ Just let me know the time and place , and I’ll be there,” I say, reaching for my phone on the desk. “I need to call Dad and share the good news before he starts getting antsy about not hearing from me.”
Understanding the dismissal, Aditya rises to his feet. “I’ll send you a message once I’ve booked the table,” he says before leaving the room.
I dial my dad’s number, and he answers after the second ring. “Congratulations, son!” he exclaims before I have a chance to open my mouth. Only Dad would be so sure of my success before I even tell him . He’s one of a kind, always having faith in me. Rajesh Kundra isn’t just a brilliant businessman; he’s the best Dad anyone could ask for . And my mom, Raima, is no different. She’s our biggest supporter , proving time and again that she’s the perfect housewife and mother.
“Thanks, Dad,” I reply, smiling.
“So, are you going to celebrate with your old parents, or are you planning to go out with friends?”
“I intend to do both,” I reply with a grin . “ Actually, I was thinking of coming over tomorrow and staying with you and Mom for a few days. It’s been way too long since I’ve been there .” Lately, work has kept me so busy that I hardly get time to see my parents. It’s usually just quick dinners or Dad dropping by the office. That’s why I figured spending some quality time with them would do us all good .
There’s a moment of silence, and I can’t help but wonder if one of us accidentally ended the call. Then, I hear Dad’s voice in the background, sharing the news with Mom. Soon after, Mom’s enthusiastic voice bursts through the speaker, her happiness palpable.
“Son, please tell me your dad isn’t joking and you’re really coming to stay with us?” I can hear the excitement in her voice, her smile evident even through the phone.
“Yup, I am really coming,” I confirm. Now, I am happy that I have made that decision. It’s amazing how sometimes these little things can bring so much joy.
“I’ll have your dad ask the movers and shifters to get all your stuff back here. Oh, now you can fill your room again! I used to hate going into that empty room of yours,” Mom rambles excitedly, and I can’t help but shake my head.
“Whoa, Mom, hold your horses. We don’t need to shift anything since I am just coming there for a day or two,” I interject gently.
“Just two days,” I can hear the disappointment in Mom’s voice.
“Hey, now don’t guilt trip me. I am coming; you should be happy with that,” I argue, leaning forward on my desk with my elbows as if gearing up for a debate.
“Honey, cut that boy some slack. Despite his packed schedule, he’s making an effort. That’s all that matters. You have two days to spoil him rotten,” Dad chimes in.
“Thanks, Dad,” I breathe out, relaxing back in my chair.
“ Both of you , father and son, are always teaming up,” Mom complains, but then her voice softens. “When are you planning to come?”
“Tonight, I have plans with Aditya, so I’ll get there in time for lunch tomorrow. It’s been ages since I’ve had your chicken biryani. Could you please make that for lunch?”
“I’ll make that, and your favourite fruit custard too,” Mom promises.
God, I love my parents so much.
“If you keep this up, Mom, I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave home,” I tease.
“That’s the plan, son,” Mom replies, her voice brimming with affection and a hint of playfulness.
I chuckle, knowing better than to argue with her on this ; I know where that conversation will end up. So, I better steer the conversation back to where it’s supposed to be. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“I also have photos of a few girls — ” Mom begins, but I groan and cut her off, knowing it’s another conversation I need to steer clear of.
“Mom, I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, eager to end the conversation and avoid any further discussions about potential suitors.
“I know you’re trying to avoid it, but once you’re here tomorrow, there’s no escaping, son,” she warns in a mock-serious tone before saying goodbye, and I can’t help but chuckle at her stern ‘Mom’ voice.
I drop the phone on my desk with a heavy sigh, running a hand through my hair. I am excited about spending time with my parents , but the whole marriage talk? Nah! It feels like a storm brewing in my gut. How do I break it to Mom without hurting her that I am not ready to give up my freedom just yet? I am still living it up, enjoying the single life. Yet, deep down, I know I can’t refuse her forever. Damn, I am stuck in a real bind. I suppose I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
With that thought in mind, I push myself back into work, trying to focus on the tasks at hand.